Patent ID: 7214218

Claim:
A tampon for feminine hygiene comprising an insertion end, a withdrawal end, a longitudinal axis, and an outer surface; said tampon being comprised of compressed fibrous material; said tampon having a vaginally insertable self-sustaining shape: wherein said outer surface of said tampon comprises a plurality of raised portions; each of said raised portions comprising a first width dimension x, and the width dimension x 1 and a second width dimension y, and a second width dimension y 1 ; wherein the insertion end comprises the first width dimension x and the second width dimension y and the withdrawal end comprises the first width dimension x 1 and the second width dimension y 1 ; and wherein said first width dimension x is greater than said second width dimension y said first width dimension x is greater than said first width dimension x 1 ; said second width dimension y is greater than said second width dimension y 1 ; each of the raised portions is elongated in the direction of the longitudinal axis and extends from the insertion end to the withdrawal end; the raised portions are arranged in a pattern; the raised portions have a maximum width as measured adjacent to the outer surface of from about 0.5 mm to about 6 mm; and the raised portions have amplitude as measured orthogonal to the outer surface of from about 0.5 mm to about 6 mm.