Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for forming plastic tube with spiral inlayed exterior design

US5639408A · kind A · utility

10Cited by
12References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 23, 1995
Grant dateJun 17, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 23, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB29L2031/608
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A one-piece tube multi-pack and its method of manufacture are disclosed. The one-piece tube multi-pack includes an elongated thin-walled tubular element made of transparent flexible plastic material with inner and outer peripherally extending walls. At least one thin-walled web section is integrally connected to the inner peripheral extending wall of the tubular element and has greater flexibility than the tubular element in order to adjustably accommodate a plurality of separate discrete products positioned on opposite sides of the at least one integral web section. The at least one integral thin-walled web section may be connected to the inner peripherally extending wall of the tubular element at different relative locations, for example, in a spiral or curvilinear or other shaped path throughout the tubular element. The method for making the one-piece tube multi-pack includes the extrusion of the elongated thin-walled tubular element and the at least one thin-walled web section with greater flexibility than the tubular element. When formed to extend at different relative locations throughout the tubular element, such as a spiral or curvilinear or other shaped path, the tubular e…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.