GB2284408A

GB2284408A - Packaging for an elongate flexible member

Info

Publication number: GB2284408A
Application number: GB9424227A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kevin Turner
Original assignee: ROCKINGHAM PRODUCTS Ltd
Current assignee: ROCKINGHAM PRODUCTS Ltd
Priority date: 1993-12-03
Filing date: 1994-11-30
Publication date: 1995-06-07
Anticipated expiration: 2014-11-30
Also published as: GB2284408B; GB9324837D0; GB9424227D0

Abstract

Front and rear components 10, 11 of packaging together define a closed annular compartment 12 in which e.g. a flexible curtain track can be accommodated. The components 10, 11 are releasably secured together by means inter alia of an inter-engaging rib and recess 37, 38 which extend circumferentially of the compartment 12 in cylindrical side walls 15, 31 of the components. Fittings for the curtain track can be housed in further compartments 25, 26, 27 disposed inwardly of the annular compartment 12. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Packaging For An Elongate Flexible Member This invention relates to packaging for an elongate flexible member, such as a flexible curtain track.

According to the present invention, there is provided packaging for an elongate flexible member (such as a flexible curtain track), comprising a pair of components which when engaged with one another co-operate to define a substantially closed annular compartment for receiving the elongate flexible member in use, and securement means whereby the two components can be releasably secured together, the securement means comprising at least one inter-engaging projection and recess which form an interference or snap fit.

Preferably, the components include side walls which extend generally axially of the annular compartment and which lie in face contact when the components are mutually engaged, in which case the securement means is conveniently provided at least partly on said side walls. The securement means can include at least one rib and at least one corresponding groove extending in a direction which is generally circumferential to the annular compartment.

Desirably, the components include peripheral flanges which lie in planes generally perpendicular to the axis of the annular compartment, the flanges lying in face contact when the components are mutually engaged. The securement means is conveniently provided at least partly on these flanges.

Advantageously, the flanges have extension portions which form a hanger and/or a handle, and the securement means is provided at least partly on those portions.

Preferably, the components include land portions which are disposed generally centrally of the annular recess, and which lie in face contact when the components are mutually engaged. In this case, the securement means is conveniently provided at least partly on said land portions.

Advantageously, the components when mutually engaged also cooperate to define at least one further compartment disposed inwardly of the annular compartment, for receiving fittings for the curtain track.

One of the components can include a portion which overlies the further compartment or compartments, said portion having an opening through which access to the further compartment or compartments can be gained.

In the case where the packaging includes at least two further compartments, said overlying portion can be arranged so as to be movable, to bring the opening selectively into register with the further compartments. Preferably, said overlying portion is angularly movable about the axis of the annular compartment.

Desirably, the components form front and rear parts of the packaging, respectively, and the component forming the front part is transparent.

Conveniently, the components are made of plastics material, such as PVC or PET.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of packaging according to the present invention; and Figure 2 is a partial section taken along the line X-X in Figure 1.

The illustrated packaging comprises two components 10 and 11 which are releasably secured together. These components are formed from plastics material (such as PVC or PET) by a combination of vacuum and heat moulding. The component 10 forms a front part of the packaging and is transparent, while the component 11 forms a rear part of the packaging and is preferably transparent also. As will be described in detail later, the components 10 and 11 co-operate to define a closed annular compartment 12 in which an elongate flexible member (such as a flexible curtain track, not shown) can be received in coiled configuration.

The component 10 has a disc-shaped front face 13 with a central recessed boss 14 located on the axis (designated A) of the annular compartment 12. A generally cylindrical side wall 15 depends from the outer periphery of the face 13, such that it is generally parallel to the axis A. A peripheral flange 16 extends outwardly from the base of the side wall 15 so as to lie in a plane perpendicular to the axis A, and includes an extension portion 17 which is generally trapezium-shaped in plan. The portion 17 has an elongate slot 18 therein, and is also provided to either end of that slot with raised bosses 19.

The component 11 comprises a central raised section 20 having a land portion 21 in which there is formed a recessed boss 22, the boss 22 being located on the axis A of the annular compartment 12. Surrounding the section 20 is an annular channel 23 divided by radial dividers 24 into three compartments 25, 26 and 27. The compartments 25 and 26 are of similar size to one another, while the compartment 27 is rather smaller.

A further land portion 28 surrounds the channel 23, and this is in turn surrounded by a further channel 29 and a still further land portion 30, the aforementioned annular compartment 12 being defined by the channel 29 and an overlying part of the front face 13 of the component 10. A generally cylindrical side wall 31 depends from the outer periphery of the portion 30, and is disposed generally parallel to the axis A of the annular compartment 12. A peripheral flange 32 extends outwardly from the base of the side wall 31 so as to lie in a plane perpendicular to the axis A, and has an extension portion 33 which is substantially identical to the extension portion 17 of the component 10. In particular, the extension portion 33 includes an elongate slot 34 and raised bosses 35 which correspond in shape, size and position to the slot 18 and bosses 19, respectively.

The cylindrical side walls 15 and 31 are generally similar in diameter, so that the component 11 can nest within the component 10. As viewed in plan, the outer configurations of the two components are identical, and the extension portions 17 and 33 together form a handle or hanger.

When the components 10 and 11 are mutually engaged, the side walls 15 and 31 lie in face contact, as do the peripheral flanges 16 and 32 and their extension portions 17 and 33. In addition, the land portion 21 at the centre of the component 11 lies in face contact with a corresponding land portion 36 on the component 10, while the land portions 28 and 30 contact the underside of the front face 13 of the component 10. The releasable securement between the components is achieved in a threefold manner. Firstly, there is an interference fit between the central bosses 14 and 22. Secondly, there is an interference fit between the respective bosses 19 and 35 on the flange extension portions. Thirdly, there is snap engagement between a circumferentially-extending rib 37 on the side wall 15 and a corresponding circumferentially-extending groove 38 in the side wall 31.

As indicated previously, the curtain track is received in the compartment 12 in a coiled configuration. At one point on its circumference, an outer side wall 39 of the compartment 12 is provided with a step 40, which forms an abutment against which the end of the coiled track can rest. Although not illustrated, in its outer periphery the packaging may be provided with an opening through which the end of the track can be passed, to enable a desired length of track to be drawn lengthwise from the packaging.

The compartments 25, 26 and 27 can be used for storing fittings for the curtain track. For example, the compartment 25 can store brackets, the compartment 26 can receive glider hooks and end stops, while the compartment 27 can contain screws and other metal fixings. In a modified arrangement (not shown), the component 10 is arranged so that at least its central portion can be indexed relative to the component 11 about the axis A, and has an opening through which selective access can be gained to the compartments 25, 26 and 27.

If desired, a disc-shaped label (not shown) can be accommodated between the components 10 and 11 in the central part of the packaging. The inner periphery of the label rests on the land portion 21, while its outer periphery rests on the land portion 28 and is retained in position by an annular step 41 formed in the latter. The label can have fixing instructions for the curtain track printed on its underside.

The packaging described above is advantageous, in that it is reusable. For example, once the components 10 and 11 have been separated to enable access to be gained to the contents of the various compartments, they can be re-engaged to store any length of track and any fittings which have not been used. This reusability is facilitated by the fact that the components are secured together solely by means which are an interference or a snap fit. This is to be contrasted with, say, conventional blister packs where a transparent cover is secured to a substrate by adhesive and/or staples, which requires the packaging to be virtually destroyed in order to gain access to its contents.

The packaging is also advantageous in that it can be made recyclable. In order for efficient recycling to be achieved, the waste packaging must readily be separable into its constituent materials. This is satisfied by the arrangement described above, because it is not necessary to adhere any labels or backing cards to the plastics components. A contrast is again to be drawn e.g.

with conventional blister packs where the need to adhere a plastics cover to a cardboard substrate causes the plastics to be contaminated by the cardboard when the pack is opened.

Claims

Claims:

1. Packaging for an elongate flexible member, comprising a pair of components which when engaged with one another co-operate to define a substantially closed annular compartment for receiving the elongate flexible member in use, and securement means whereby the two components can be releasably secured together, the securement means comprising at least one inter-engaging projection and recess which form an interference or snap fit.

2. Packaging as claimed in claim 1, wherein the components include side walls which extend generally axially of the annular compartment and which lie in face contact when the components are mutually engaged.

3. Packaging as claimed in claim 2, wherein the securement means is provided at least partly on said side walls.

4. Packaging as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the securement means includes at least one rib and at least one corresponding groove extending in a direction which is generally circumferential to the annular compartment.

5. Packaging as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the components include peripheral flanges which lie in planes generally perpendicular to the axis of the annular compartment, the flanges lying in face contact when the components are mutually engaged.

6. Packaging as claimed in claim 5, wherein the securement means is provided at least partly on the flanges.

7. Packaging as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein the flanges have extension portions which form a hanger and/or a handle, and the securement means is provided at least partly on those portions.

8. Packaging as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the components include land portions which are disposed generally centrally of the annular recess, and which lie in face contact when the components are mutually engaged.

9. Packaging as claimed in claim 8, wherein the securement means is provided at least partly on said land portions.

10. Packaging as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the components when mutually engaged also co-operate to define at least one further compartment, for receiving fittings for the curtain track.

11. Packaging as claimed in claim 10, wherein the or each further compartment is disposed inwardly of the annular compartment.

12. Packaging as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein one of the components includes a portion which overlies the further compartment or compartments, said portion having an opening through which access to the further compartment or compartments can be gained.

13. Packaging as claimed in claim 10, 11 or 12, wherein the packaging includes at least two of said further compartments, and said overlying portion is arranged so as to be movable, to bring the opening selectively into register with the further compartments.

14. Packaging as claimed in claim 13, wherein said overlying portion is angularly movable about the axis of the annular compartment.

15. Packaging as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the components form front and rear parts of the packaging, respectively, and the component forming the front part is transparent, or partly transparent.

16. Packaging as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the components are made of plastics material.

17. Packaging for an elongate flexible member, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.