Patent ID: 8029485

Claim:
A tampon ( 20 ) for feminine hygiene comprising an insertion end ( 24 ), a withdrawal end ( 26 ), a central portion ( 28 ) between said insertion end and said withdrawal end, a length, a longitudinal axis (L), a radial axis (R), and an outer surface ( 22 ); said tampon being comprised of a compressed pledget; said insertion end ( 24 ) comprising a plurality of longitudinal grooves ( 40 ) formed in the outer surface ( 22 ) of the compressed pledget, said withdrawal end ( 26 ) comprising a plurality of longitudinal grooves ( 42 ) formed in the outer surface ( 22 ) of the compressed pledget, characterized in that said longitudinal grooves ( 40 ) of said insertion end ( 24 ) and said longitudinal grooves ( 42 ) of said withdrawal end ( 26 ) extend in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis (L) and wherein said longitudinal grooves ( 40 ) of said insertion end ( 24 ) are offset and disconnected from said longitudinal grooves ( 42 ) of said withdrawal end ( 26 ).