Nicholas Scott Wolter, Greenville, WI; Charles Robert Tomsovic, Omro, WI; Wayne D. Beyer, Appleton, WI; Ronald A. Hilt, Oshkosh, WI; Joshua Fiedorowicz, Appleton, WI; Brian Alberts, Harrison, WI; Martin Gottvald, Brno, Czech Republic; and Steven Craig Gehling, Oshkosh, WI.
Assigned to Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc., Neenah, WI.

Filed: 3/2/16
Issued: 12/26/17

A method of manufacturing a tampon, the method comprising the steps of:
at least partially overlaying a web of base material with a web of absorbent material; securing the web of absorbent material to the web of base material with a first securement comprising autogenous bonding; folding an outward segment of the web of base material over the web of absorbent material after the first securement such that the web of absorbent material is between opposed layers of the web of base material; further securing the web of absorbent material to the outward segment of the web of base material with a second securement such that the web of cover material is secured in a folded configuration, the second securement being a stronger securement than the first securement, the web of absorbent material and the web of base material together defining a web of cover material; applying the web of cover material to an absorbent structure; and manipulating the web of cover material and the absorbent structure such that the web of cover material extends about a circumference of the absorbent structure to form the tampon.