Alexander Schmidt-Foerst, Erlangen, Germany; Mary L. McDaniel, Appleton, WI; Charles R. Tomsovic, Omro, WI; and Garry R. Woltman, Appleton, WI.
Assigned to Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc., Neenah, WI.

Filed: 4/30/12
Issued: 4/4/17
A tampon for insertion into a vaginal cavity, said tampon comprising: a tampon absorbent having a longitudinal direction including an insertion end and a withdrawal end and an outer exterior surface, said tampon absorbent further comprising, in the longitudinal direction of the tampon absorbent, a first absorbent region at said insertion end, the first absorbent region comprised solely of a first absorbent material for storing body fluid and demonstrating a first expansion capacity, a second absorbent region at said withdrawal end, the second absorbent region comprised solely of a second absorbent material for storing body fluid and demonstrating a second expansion capacity wherein the second absorbent material is different from the first absorbent material, and a third absorbent region situated between the first absorbent region and the second absorbent region, the third absorbent region comprised of both the first absorbent material and the second absorbent material, wherein the first absorbent region is bonded to the second absorbent region at the third absorbent region such that the second absorbent region overlaps the first absorbent region at the third absorbent region, and the third absorbent region is situated along the tampon absorbent longitudinal direction between the insertion end and the withdrawal end; a withdrawal string attached to and extending from said withdrawal end of said tampon absorbent; and a cover material which wraps completely around the outer exterior surface of the tampon absorbent.