Tapered filament container

Abstract

This invention provides a multi-compartmentalized container made of a thermoplastic material for packaging bundles of tapered filaments. The container has a bottom receiving section comprising a plurality of wells and a cover containing wells that correspond to the wells in the receiving section. The receiving section wells contain ribs 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.

1 . A multi-compartmentalized container for holding bundles of filaments comprising: 
 a. a receiving section having a plurality of wells and    b. a cover for said receiving section.    
   
   
       2 . The multi-compartmentalized container according to  claim 1 , further comprising a hinge connecting said receiving section and said cover.  
   
   
       3 . The multi-compartmentalized container according to  claim 1 , wherein said cover contains a plurality of wells in an array such that, when the cover is in place, an open end of each of said plurality of wells in the cover is aligned with an open end of a corresponding well in the receiving section to form a receptacle for holding a filament bundle, said wells of the cover having a depth and said wells of the receiving section having a depth.  
   
   
       4 . The multi-compartmentalized container according to  claim 1 , wherein the depth of said wells in said receiving section is at least 66% of a total filament length contained in the filament bundle.  
   
   
       5 . The multi-compartmentalized container according to  claim 3  wherein the depth of said wells in said cover is 0 to 33% of a total filament length contained in the filament bundle.  
   
   
       6 . The multi-compartmentalized container according to  claim 1  wherein said wells in said receiving section and in said cover have a diameter of at least 30 mm.  
   
   
       7 . The multi-compartmentalized container according to  claim 1  wherein the filament bundle comprises a plurality of filaments, said filaments being tipped.  
   
   
       8 . The multi-compartmentalized container according to  claim 1 , wherein said container is formed from a thermoplastic material.  
   
   
       9 . The multi-compartmentalized container according to  claim 8 , wherein said thermoplastic material is selected from the group consisting of PET, PETG, HIPS, OPS, PVC, PC, PMMA and PP.  
   
   
       10 . The multi-compartmentalized container according to  claim 8 , wherein said container is vacuum formed, thermoformed or injection molded.  
   
   
       11 . The multi-compartmentalized container according to  claim 1 , wherein said wells of said receiving section contain ribs that begin at the base of said wells and extend axially up the sides of said wells.  
   
   
       12 . The multi-compartmentalized container according to  claim 11 , wherein said axially extending ribs are tapered having the widest part of said rib being at the base of said well.  
   
   
       13 . The multi-compartmentalized container according to  claim 3 , wherein said container comprises a cooperating press-stud-fastening device in order to secure said cover to said receiving section.  
   
   
       14 . A process for removing tapered filament bundles from the container of  claim 3 , comprising the steps of: 
 a. inverting said container such that said receiving section is on top and said cover is on the bottom;    b. exposing the filament bundles by opening or removing said cover; and    c. grasping the bundles by the ends protruding from the wells of said cover.