IE41839B1

IE41839B1 - Improved tubular-shaped packaging means

Info

Publication number: IE41839B1
Application number: IE173675A
Authority: IE
Original assignee: Smurfit Print And Packaging Lt
Priority date: 1975-08-05
Filing date: 1975-08-05
Publication date: 1980-04-09
Also published as: GB1551299A; IE41839L

Description

This invention relates to a package containing a product in stick form arranged so that pieces of the product can be separated from the remainder and used as required.

According to the present invention there is provided a package comprising an elongated tubular container having a length substantially greater than its maximum width and a divisible product in stick form substantially filling the entire cross-section of the container and extending continuously along the lehgth thereof, the tubular container having weakened lines around its periphery at intervals along the length thereof so that the container can be readily broken along a selected weakened line and the product simultaneously divided in the region of the selected line, whereby a part of the package comprising a portion of the container and a portion of the product contained therein can be separated together from the remainder of the package.

The package advantageously comprises a cylindrical container spirally or convolutely wound from a sheet material such as paper, board,' impregnated paper, resin or plastics coated paper, plastics film, cellulose based film, or any other suitable material, the winding operation being performed to give the tube a number of layers so that the tube has a required rigidity. Once the container has been formed it is scored circumferentially so that the material forming the container is cut to form the weakened lines at spaced apart intervals along the length of the container. The cylindrical container is not cut right through, rather it is cut only to provide adequately weakened score lines. Some or all of the layers of the container may, if necessary, be coated to increase resistance to the product contained within.

The invention will be understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is an elevational front view of a package FIGURE 2 FIGURE 3 FIGURE 4 according to the present invention; is a plan view of the package of Figure 1; is an exploded perspective view of the package of Figure 1; and is a perspective view of the package of Figure 1 with a portion thereof cut away to illustrate the product contained within.

Referring to the drawings, the package comprises' a tubular container 10 which is spirally wound from paper strip material to form an elongated cylinder having a length substantially greater than its width and comprising a plurality of paper layers adhered together. The rigid container 10 thus formed is scored partially through the thickness thereof at regular intervals along its length to form weakening lines 11. In the present embodiment the tube is 10 long and is scored every 2 to give five pieces each 2 long. The tube is provided at one end with a closure member 12 and at the other end with a second, similar closure member 13. The closure members 12 and 13 may be secured to the tube by a press fit or they may be secured by an adhesive. The container 10 contains a divisible product 16 (fig 4). in the form of a stick substantially filling the entire cross-section of the containei and extending continuously along the length thereof.' The nature of the product 16 and the extent of the weakening of the lines 11 is such that the container can'be readily broken along a selected weakened line and tho product simultaneously divided in the region of the selected line.

Thus pieces of the product 16 can be broken off or separated from the remainder thereof together with a corresponding portion of the container 10. 4ί®39 The embodiment illustrated has particular application for the packaging of firelighters. In such instance the container 10 is first formed and one of the closure members, for example the closure member 13, placed in position. The firelighter material in the form of a liquid paraffin-based material is poured into the top end of the container 10 and the other closure member 12 applied. The liquid is then allowed to harden in the tube to form the stick-like product 16. When the liquid solidifies it becomes rigid and the container may then be broken along each score line 11 by the consumer and a clean fracture is achieved at each score line. When the container 10 is used to contain paraffin based material as in the case of firelighters, the container is preferably constructed in such manner that the container can in first instance contain the material in its liquid form, and secondly prevent during shelf life prior to use any seepage of the solidified firelighter material 16 to mark the exterior surface of the container . It will be readily appreciated that in many .instances the container 10 will have printed matter on its exterior surface and in such instances any marking of the exterior surface would be unacceptable, ·. In the present embodiment the container 10 is preferably wound from paper strip material such that at least the innermost layer 14 of the tube consists of paper coated with PVC. It is also envisaged that as an alternative to the PVC coated paper material, the innermost layer 14 may to advantage comprise cellulose film, parchment, or greaseproof paper. It is also envisaged that in certain cases the innermost layer 14 may be a release coated paper on a lacquered aluminium foil, so that the product 16 can be pushed out of the release coated paper of the snapped off piece.of container, if so desired. With respect to the closure members 12 and 13, such closure members· may be of plastics, metal, paper or other packaging material.

It will be readily appreciated that while the embodiment described above is particularly suitable for the packaging of firelighters or like products that solidify by a chemical reaction, the package also has application in the packaging of other breakable or otherwise dividable products such as toffee or other sugar confectionery, dough mixes, fats and lards and such building materials as mastics and putty. In all such cases the container may be broken along the score lines to give predetermined sized portions of the contained product. The portion of the product contained in the portion of the container which is broken-off may then be used, while the remainder of the container still forms a suitable package for storage of the remainder of the product, it Will be appreciated that the container 10 described above is thus most useful when only a portion of the product contained within the container is to be used at any one time, and especially if the contained product is a material which is unpleasant or toxic or corrosive to handle, provided that the closure member 12 or 13 can be replaced on the container to close the opening at the bioken off end.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment described above which may of course be modified or varied without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A package comprising an elongated tubular container having a length substantially greater than its maximum width and a divisible product in stick form substantially filling the entire cross-section of the container and extending continuously along the length thereof, the tubular container having weakened lines around its periphery at intervals along the lengththereof so that the container can be readily broken aiong a selected weakened line and the product simultaneously divided in the region of the selected line, whereby a part of the package comprising a portion of the container and a portion of the product contained therein can be ' · separated together from the remainder of the package. .

2. A package according to Claim 1, in which the · · .= . weakened lines are spaced so as to divide the container into a plurality of parts of equal length. · ’

3. A package according to claim 1 or 2, further ' 7. ··. comprising end caps· closing the ends of the container. · ·.· '

4. A package according to any preceding claim,'in which' the weakened lines arc formed by scoring.

5. A package according to any preceding claim,in which the product comprises a paraffin-based material.

6. A package according to claim 5, in which the product is a firelighter.

7. A package according to any preceding claim, in which the container is a cylinder formed by spirally winding strip material to form a number of layers which are adhered together.

8. A package according to claim 7, in which the strip material comprises paper.

9. A package according to claim 7 or 8, in which at least the innermost layer of the cylinder comprises PVC coated paper.

10. A package according to claim 7 or 8,in which the innermost layer of the cylinder comprises a releasecoated paper on a lacquered aluminium foil to enable the product to be readily pushed out of a broken-off portion of the container. 41639

11. Λ package according to any preceding claim, in which the product is introduced into the container in a liquid condition after closing one end of the container, the material of the product being such that it subsequently 5 solidifies.

12. A package substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.