Packaging for dispensing of Flexible Pipe in a Coil, Method for Packaging Flexible Pipe in a Coil, and Method of Using Packaged Flexible Pipe in a Coil

Abstract

A package for dispensing flexible pipe in packaged in a coil includes a coil of flexible pipe and a packaging material provided around an outer perimeter of the coil of flexible pipe. The packaging is open to allow access to an inner, central portion of the coil from a top or bottom of the coil. A sheet or plate or a band is adhered to the packaging material on one of the top or bottom surface of the coil. The sheet or plate or band has an opening through which the pipe can be dispensed or a weakened portion that can be opened to provide an opening through which the pipe can be dispensed. The sheet or plate or band is made of a material having a strength suitable to prevent tearing or otherwise enlarging the opening of the packaging material beyond the inner perimeter of the band.

Claims

1. A package for dispensing flexible pipe in packaged in a coil, comprising: a coil of flexible pipe; a packaging material provided around an outer perimeter of the coil of flexible pipe, the packaging being open to allow access to an inner, central portion of the coil from a top or bottom of the coil; and a sheet or plate adhered to the packaging material on one of the top or bottom surface of the coil, the sheet or plate having an opening through which the pipe can be dispensed or a weakened portion that can be opened to provide an opening through which the pipe can be dispensed, wherein the sheet or plate has a strength greater than packaging material provided around an outer perimeter of the coil of flexible pipe.

2. A package for dispensing flexible pipe in packaged in a coil, comprising: a coil of flexible pipe; a packaging material provided around an outer perimeter of the coil of flexible pipe, the packaging being open to allow access to an inner, central portion of the coil from a top or bottom of the coil; and a band made of a material adhered to the packaging material having a strength suitable to prevent tearing or otherwise enlarging the opening of the packaging material beyond the inner perimeter of the band.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG. 1 shows a typical stretch wrap packaging of a coiled PEX pipe.

[0008] FIG. 2 shows stretch wrap packaging of coiled PEX pipe with secondary heat shrink packaging.

[0009] FIG. 3 shows the birds nesting problem that can develop when pulling coiled pipe from the inside of stretch wrap packaging (in this case with a secondary heat shrink packaging).

[0010] FIG. 4 shows a first embodiment of the packaging for dispensing of coiled pipe according to the present invention.

[0011] FIGS. 5A and 5B show two variations of a second embodiment of the packaging for dispensing of coiled pipe according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] While the concept of using a secondary heat shrink packaging over the stretch wrap packaging of coiled PEX pipe addresses the issue of birds nesting while the PEX pipe is being dispensed, applicant has found that there are some issues with the concept. One problem is that the secondary heat shrink packaging or bag easily tears and the PEX pipe can come out during installation. Also, the entire coil is covered so the only access to the inside end of the pipe is through the hole. Additionally, some contractors do not want to utilize the heat shrink feature and cut off the heat shrink bag before installation. From a manufacturing standpoint, there is added cost to packaging with this concept since there is a secondary step (heat shrink wrapping) required after the stretch wrap. This requires the coil to be installed in a heat shrink material and then sent through a heat tunnel. This requires added equipment cost and packaging cost and time.

[0013] The present invention addresses the birds nesting issue while dispensing the pipe and also addresses the problems applicant has found with the concept of using a secondary heat shrink packaging over the stretch wrap packaging of coiled flexible pipe, e.g., polyethylene pipe, especially crosslinked polyethylene (PEX) pipe.

[0014] According to a first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 4, a dispensing ring or opening 7 is adhered to a top (or bottom) of the stretch wrapped coil package 4. There are many potential variations of this concept with the size and shape of the dispensing ring hole or opening 7, material, the manner in which the dispensing ring 7 is adhered to the stretch wrap, etc. The dispensing ring can be adhered to the stretch wrapped coil package 4 while also eliminating the need for the additional heat shrink equipment. The dispensing ring 7 can be installed inline or during the stretch process before the pipe coils are palletized. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the dispensing ring or opening 7 is provided on a cardboard sheet or plate 8 having a size and shape matched to and slightly larger than the opening in the top of the stretch wrapped coil package 4. Of course, materials other than cardboard can be used and can be chosen based on strength of the material, ease of adhering to the stretch wrapped coil package 4, etc. For example, the sheet or plate 8 can be made of a plastic material. It is preferable that the sheet or plate 8 is not made of heat shrink wrap material. Rather, the sheet or plate has a strength greater than packaging material (stretch wrapping) provided around the outer perimeter of the coil of flexible pipe. The dispensing ring or opening 7 can be provided at a center portion of the sheet or plate 8 or can be offset from the center.

[0015] The dispensing ring or opening 7 can be pre-formed in the sheet or plate 8. The package can be sold with an open dispensing ring or opening 7, or the pre-formed opening 7 can be covered during shipment and sale, and opened by the contractor. Alternatively, the sheet or plate 8 can have a pre-formed weakened portion that can be used to allow the contractor to tear or break the weakened portion to provide the opening 7.

[0016] The sheet or plate 8 can adhered to the stretch wrapped coil package 4 with tape or, as shown in FIG. 4, a more aesthetic appearance can be achieved by adhering the underside of sheet or plate 8 to the top or bottom surface of the stretch wrapped coil package 4 with an adhesive composition.

[0017] While it is possible to provide the sheet or plate 8 with the dispensing ring or opening 7 on both the top and bottom sides of the stretch wrapped coil package 4, it is preferable to provide the sheet or plate 8 with the dispensing ring or opening 7 on only one of the top and bottom sides of the stretch wrapped coil package 4. This will allow the other of the top and bottom of the stretch wrapped coil package 4 to be open, allowing easy access to the coil inside. This allows the contractor to locate the end of the coil and push it through the dispensing ring or opening 7 from the open side before dispensing.

[0018] The size and/or shape of the dispensing ring or opening 7 can be adjusted from that shown in FIG. 4. For example, the cross-sectional shape of the opening 7 can be square or triangular instead of circular. The dispensing ring or opening can also be offset from the center of the sheet 8. The sheet 8 can be made of cardboard, a plastic material, etc.

[0019] The package can be manufactured by coiling the piping, stretch wrapping the coiled piping leaving top and bottom surfaces of the wrapped package open, and adhering sheet or plate 8 with the dispensing ring or opening 7 on one of the top and bottom sides of the stretch wrapped coil package.

[0020] The package can be used by the user locating the end of the coil from an open top or bottom surface of the package, push the end through the dispensing ring or opening from the open side of the package, and then dispensing the piping through the dispensing ring or opening.

[0021] FIGS. 5A and 5B show two variations of a second embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiments of FIGS. 5A and 5B, a band made of a material, such as an adhesive tape, having a strength suitable to prevent tearing or otherwise enlarging the opening of the stretch wrapping beyond the inner perimeter of the band, is used in place of the sheet 8 having the opening 7. As shown in FIG. 5A, a band 9a, in the shape of a ring, is adhered to the top and/or bottom side of the stretch wrapped coil package 4. The band 9a is made of a material, such as an adhesive tape, e.g., duct tape-like (i.e., a cloth- or scrim-backed pressure-sensitive tape, e.g., coated with polyethylene), having a strength suitable to prevent tearing or otherwise enlarging the opening of the stretch wrapping beyond the inner perimeter of the band. In the variation shown in FIG. 5B, a band 9b, in the shape of a square, is adhered to the top and/or bottom side of the stretch wrapped coil package 4. Of course, other shapes can be used, such as a triangular shape. Multiple bands may be used to form the shape, or multiple pieces of material may be used to form the shape.

[0022] The present invention addresses the problems noted above with a heat shrink bag.

[0023] 1. The plate or tape can be made of more durable material than heat shrink wrap material so it does not tear during handling or dispensing of the PEX pipe.

[0024] 2. In a preferable embodiment. Only the top (or bottom) of the coil is closed. The bottom (or top) of the coil is still open. This allows the contractor to locate the end of the coil and push it through the hole from the backside before dispensing.

[0025] 3. Some contractors do not want to dispense the PEX pipe through the dispensing ring. Since the backside (or frontside) of the coil is open, contractors can dispense the pipe from the open side without using the dispensing ring or opening and without having to remove any wrapping or packaging.

[0026] 4. There is no additional equipment necessary for the heat shrink process (e.g. tunnels).