KR20080082680A - Tapered filament container - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention provides a multi-compartmentalized container (10) made of a thermoplastic material for packaging bundles of tapered filaments. The container has a bottom receiving section (12) comprising a plurality of wells (18) and a cover (14) containing wells (20) that correspond to the wells (18) in the receiving section. The receiving section wells (18) contain ribs (26) that aid in guiding the filament bundles into the well. The container allows ease of handling filaments during packaging and securely holds the filaments during shipping to reduce filament damage.

Description

Tapered Filament Containers {TAPERED FILAMENT CONTAINER}

The present invention relates to a container for packing a filament bundle, and more particularly to a plastic container for packing a plurality of tapered filament bundles.

The use of tapered filaments mainly relates to toothbrushes, painting brushes and cosmetic brushes. Tapered filaments are particularly useful for toothbrushes. The tapered tip may reach spaces such as indentations between the teeth that are difficult to reach, and transitions in the teeth and gums. Tapered filaments more effectively remove calculus from such difficult-to-reach spaces than non-tapered filaments.

The present method of packaging tapered filaments is to first wrap the filament bundles selectively with a rubber band, then wrap the bundle with a piece of paper and fix the wrapped bundle with a rubber band. The wrapped bundle is then packaged in a paper pouch. The paper bag is packaged in a paper container and the paper container is stacked in a box. Such packaging means are insufficient for use in tapered filaments. The ends of the tapered filaments are sensitive to very small forces and easily break or bend. The ends of the filaments are not protected through current packaging. In addition, the surface of the filament is slippery, making it difficult to handle when wrapping or unpacking the bundle, thereby increasing the risk of breakage or damage.

Therefore, there is a need for an improved container for packaging a tip filament bundle that makes it easy to handle the bundle while keeping the bundle of tipped filaments fixed, thereby reducing the risk of damage or breakage.

Summary of the Invention According to one aspect, the present invention provides an improved multi-compartment for holding a filament bundle comprising a receiving section having a plurality of wells and a cover for the receiving section. provide compartmentalized containers; The cover may have a plurality of wells with open ends aligned with openings of the plurality of wells of the receiving section to form a receptacle for the filament bundles.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides an improved container for a filament bundle, wherein the container is formed by vacuum forming, thermoforming or injection molding.

According to another aspect of the invention, the invention provides a method for removing a tapered filament bundle from a multi-compartment container for holding a filament bundle, comprising a receiving section having a plurality of wells and a cover for the receiving section. To provide. The cover includes a plurality of wells to form a receptacle for holding a bundle of filaments (eg, fibers), the open end of each of the plurality of wells of the cover when the cover is in place. Forming an array aligned with the open ends of the corresponding wells. The filament bundle fits into the depth of the cover and the depth of the corresponding receiving section well when the cover is closed over the receiving section.

The invention will be more fully understood by the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a filament container according to the present invention;

2 is a side view of a receiving well;

3 is a side view of the cover well.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiment, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above embodiment. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover all modifications, modifications and equivalents falling within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Justice:

The following definitions are provided by reference as if intended in the context of this specification and the appended claims.

As used herein, the term "well" refers to a compartment or indentation area.

As used herein, the term "cover well" refers to the well within the cover.

As used herein, the term "accepting well" refers to the well in the receiving section.

As used herein, the term “tipped” is a chemically or mechanically tapered or rounded filament, which means that the diameter of the filament gradually decreases as it approaches the end of the filament.

As used herein, the term "array" refers to a rectangular arrangement of rows and columns.

As used herein, the term "PET" refers to poly (ethylene terephthalate).

As used herein, the term "PETG" refers to poly (1,4-cyclohexylene dimethylene terephthalate-co-isophthalate) (poly (1,4-cyclohexylene dimethylene terephthalate-co-isophthalate)).

As used herein, the term "HIPS" means high impact polystyrene.

As used herein, the term "OPS" means oriented polystyrene.

As used herein, the term "PVC" refers to polyvinylchloride.

As used herein, the term "PC" refers to polycarbonate.

As used herein, the term "PMMA" refers to poly (methyl methacrylate).

As used herein, the term "PP" refers to polypropylene.

As used herein, the term "rib" refers to a long, slender member that projects from the surface of the well, which serves to guide the filament bundle when the filament bundle is inserted into the well.

As used herein, the term "bundle" refers to a group of filaments that are bundled together for convenient handling.

As used herein, the term "multi-compartment" is meant to include at least two separate indent areas for holding a filament bundle.

As used herein, the term "mm" means millimeters.

A container according to a preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a multi-compartment container for wrapping tapered filaments, having a lower receiving section and a cover. The receiving section has a plurality of wells. Typically, the number of wells in the receiving section depends on the size and number of bundles to be packaged. Typically, the wells in the receiving section are arranged to form an array (ie, a well-ordered and ordered sequence). The cover may or may not include a well, depending on the length of the bundle and the depth of the well of the receiving section.

If the cover also comprises a well, the cover well is arranged so that the open end of each well of the cover is aligned with the open end of the well of the receiving section when the cover is in place to form a receptacle for fiber bundles. To form an array.

The multi-compartment container may be made of a thermoplastic polymer. Preferably the thermoplastic material is selected from PET, PETG, HIPS, OPS, PVC, PC, PMMA and PP. One particular class of HIPS that can be used is K-resin ^® , a transparent HIPS manufactured by Phillips 66. The multi-compartment container can be formed in various ways such as vacuum molding, thermoforming or injection molding.

Reference is made to the drawings for a detailed description of the invention.

Reference is made to Figure 1, which shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the filament container 10 according to the present invention. The embodiment shown in FIG. 1 generally specifies a rectangular container having a lower receiving section 12 comprising a plurality of filament bundle receiving wells 18 and an upper cover 14 comprising a plurality of wells 20. . A more detailed view of the bundle receiving well 18 is shown in FIG. The cover and the receiving section are optionally connected by a hinge 16. The wells of the receiving section 12 have a depth that is at least 66% of the total length of the filaments. If the depth of the wells 18 of the receiving section 12 is 100% of the total length of the filament, the cover is a flat sheet. The wells of the receiving section 12 have progressively tapered ribs 26 as shown in FIG. 2 which guides the filament bundle into the receiving well 18. The ribs 26 begin at the base 28 of the well 18 of the receiving section 12 and are the widest in that portion. The ribs 26 gradually taper while extending axially upward along the sides of the receiving well 18 so as not to exceed 50% of the total height of the receiving well 18. The ribs 26 help to accommodate the filament bundles stored in the wells. The diameter of the well is sufficient to allow the bundles to fit firmly into the receiving well 18. Close fitting by the well diameter keeps the bundle firmly in place, which reduces the risk of damage or breakage of the filaments. The well diameter is generally at least 30 mm to accommodate filament bundles of conventional size.

3 shows a side view of a well 20 embodiment of a cover 14. The depth of the well 20 of the cover 14 is 0% to 33% of the total length of the filament. If the well 20 of the cover 14 has a depth of zero, the cover is a flat sheet and can be replaced by a paperboard. One advantage of having a cover well 20 having a depth greater than zero is that tapered filament bundles can be easily removed. The bundle may be difficult to remove from the container at the tip end side of the filament. The tip ends are fragile and have slippery properties that make the bundle difficult to grip. The new packaging technique overcomes this problem by placing the untipped large end of the filament bundle into the receiving well 18. When unpacking the bundle the container is turned upside down with the receiving section 12 on top and the cover 14 on the bottom. The receiving well end is lifted up to open the container 10 to expose the untipged end. The bundle can then be easily removed from the cover well 20 of the container by gripping the protruding non-tip end.

In addition, the cover 14 comprising the well 20 has a depth of up to 33% of the total length of the filament so that at least 66% of the bundle of filaments is covered when the container is turned over. Since it protrudes from), it also has advantages for filaments having tip-shaped ends on both sides. Thus, even when the filament has a tip-shaped end on both sides, the bundle can be easily gripped.

The cover 14 may be fastened to the receiving section 12 using any suitable device known in the art, such as hinges, studs, fasteners. Preferably, a cooperating press-stud-fastening device is used. In this case, the cover 14 includes a convex stud 24 protruding outwardly from the bottom surface thereof. The receiving section 12 includes concave studs 22 that protrude inwardly and are aligned to engage studs 24 on the cover 14. The press-studd-fastening device may be located along the empty edge of the container. The container may have from one to four pressure-stud-fastening devices on each of the empty sides, depending on the length of the empty sides.

Thus, it is evident by the present invention that a container is provided for protecting a bundle of filaments which satisfies the objects and advantages described above sufficiently. While the present invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications and variations are possible. Accordingly, the invention is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims (14)

A multi-compartment container for holding a filament bundle, a. A receiving section having a plurality of wells, b. A multi-compartment container for holding a filament bundle, comprising a cover for the receiving section. The multi-compartment container of claim 1, further comprising a hinge connecting the receiving section and the cover. The cover of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a plurality of wells, the plurality of wells having an open end of each of the plurality of wells of the cover such that a receptacle for holding the filament bundle is formed when the cover is in place. Forming an array aligned with the open ends of the corresponding wells of the receiving section, the wells of the cover having depths, and the wells of the receiving section having depths. The multi-compartment container of claim 1, wherein the depth of the wells of the receiving section is at least 66% of the total length of the filaments included in the filament bundle. 4. The multi-compartment container of claim 3, wherein the depth of the wells of the cover is 0 to 33% of the total length of the filaments included in the filament bundle. The multi-compartment container of claim 1, wherein a diameter of the wells in the receiving section and the cover is at least 30 mm. The multi-compartment container of claim 1, wherein the filament bundle comprises a plurality of filaments and the filament is a tipped filament. The multi-compartment container of claim 1, wherein the container is formed of a thermoplastic material. The multi-compartment container of claim 8, wherein the thermoplastic material is selected from the group comprising PET, PETG, HIPS, OPS, PVC, PC, PMMA and PP. The multi-compartment container of claim 8, wherein the container is vacuum molded, thermoformed or injection molded. The multi-compartment container of claim 1, wherein the wells of the receiving section comprise ribs starting at the base of the wells and extending axially upward along a side of the well. 12. The multi-compartment container of claim 11, wherein said axially extending ribs are tapered such that a portion having the widest width of said rib is at the base of said well. 4. The multi-compartment container of claim 3, wherein the container includes a pressure-stud-fastening device that cooperates to secure the cover to the receiving section. A method for removing a tapered filament bundle from a container of claim 3, a. Overturning the container such that the receiving section is at the top and the cover is at the bottom; b. Exposing the filament bundle by opening or removing the cover; And c. Gripping the bundle through the ends of the bundle protruding from the well of the cover.

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