Package having a multilayer film disposed around a layered coil of filament strands

Abstract

A package comprises a layered coil of filament strands, and a multilayer film surrounding, and in direct contact with, the layered coil of filament strands. The coil has an outer surface comprising a bottom surface region, a side surface region, and a top surface region. The film has an inside surface comprising ionomer in direct contact with the side surface region of the layered coil of filaments. The strand material preferably comprises glass fiber and the sleeve preferably comprises a multilayer film having an outer layer comprising ionomer. Preferably, the film has a stiffness sufficient to maintain structural integrity of the package as the strands are being removed in order to prevent collapse of the side walls of the package and entanglement of the strands.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A package comprising: 
 (a) a layered coil of filament strands, the coil having an outer surface comprising a bottom surface region, a side surface region, and a top surface region; and    (b) a multilayer film disposed around the layered coil of filament strands, said multilayer film having a thickness of about 25 mils or less and comprising a first layer comprising ionomer resin;    wherein the ionomer resin is in direct contact with the side surface region of the layered coil of filaments.    
     
     
         2 . The package according to  claim 1 , wherein the multilayer film comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, vinylidene chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyamide, polyester, and polystyrene.  
     
     
         3 . The package according to  claim 1 , wherein the film is in the form of a bag.  
     
     
         4 . The package according to  claim 1 , wherein the multilayer film further comprises a second layer comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer, polyvinylidene chloride, polyethelene homopolymer, polypropylene homopolymer, ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer, polyvinyl chloride, polyamide, polyester, and polystyrene.  
     
     
         5 . The package according to  claim 1 , wherein the multilayer film comprises an inner layer comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer, vinylidene chloride, polyethylene homopolymer, polypropylene homopolymer, and ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer, polyvinyl chloride, polyamide, polyester, and polystyrene.  
     
     
         6 . The package according to  claim 5 , wherein the multilayer film comprises: 
 (A) an first outer layer comprising ionomer in an amount of from about 50 to 100 weight percent, based on the weight of the inside layer, the inside layer having a thickness of from about 0.05 to 1 mil;    (B) an second outer layer comprising a blend of 50 to 99 weight percent ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer and 1 to 50 weight percent linear low density polyethylene, based on the weight of the outside layer, the outside layer having a thickness of from about 0.01 to 2 mils;    (C) a first inner layer which is between the first outer layer and the second outer layer, the first inner layer comprising ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer in an amount of from about 50 to 100 weight percent, based on the weight of the first inner layer, the first inner layer having a thickness of from about 0.5 to 5 mils-I    (D) a second inner layer which is between the first inner layer and the second outer layer, the second inner layer comprising, in an amount of at least about 50 weight percent based on the weight of the second inner layer, at least one member selected from the group consisting of ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer and polyvinylidene chloride, the second inner layer having a thickness of from about 0.05 to 0.5 mil; and    (E) a third inner layer which is between second inner layer and the second outer layer, the third inner layer comprising ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer in an amount of from about 50 to 100 weight percent, based on the weight of the third inner layer, the third inner layer having a thickness of from about 0.5 to 2 mils.    
     
     
         7 . The package according to  claim 1 , wherein the layered coil of filament strands is on a spindle.  
     
     
         8 . The package according to  claim 1 , wherein the layered coil of filament strands has a hollow core.  
     
     
         9 . The package according to  claim 1 , wherein the coil of filament strands has a generally circular transverse cross-sectional shape and a generally rectangular longitudinal cross-sectional shape, and a substantially flat bottom surface and a substantially planar top surface.  
     
     
         10 . The package according to  claim 9 , wherein the coil of filament strands has a hollow core.  
     
     
         11 . The package according to  claim 1 , wherein the filament strands comprise at least one member selected from the group consisting of glass fiber, polyester, polyamide, cotton, hemp, linen, carbon, and metal.  
     
     
         12 . The package according to  claim 1 , wherein the filament strands comprise glass fiber.  
     
     
         13 . The package according to  claim 12 , wherein the glass comprises alkaline-free glass.  
     
     
         14 . The package according to  claim 12 , wherein the filament strands comprise continuous glass filaments in at least one yarn bundle having a diameter of from about 0.002 inch to 4 inches.  
     
     
         15 . The package according to  claim 1 , wherein the film has a rigidity sufficient to maintain the original package conformation after removal of the filament strand.  
     
     
         16 . The package according to  claim 1 , wherein the film has a thickness of from about 0.5 to 25 mils.  
     
     
         17 . A process of packaging a layered coil of filament strands having an outer surface comprising a bottom surface region, a side surface region, and a top surface region, comprising: 
 (A) inserting the layered coil of filament strands into a heat shrinkable sleeve, the sleeve comprising a multilayer film comprising ionomer; and    (B) shrinking the sleeve tightly around the layered coil of filament strands;    such that the ionomer is in direct contact with the side surface region of the layered coil of filaments.    
     
     
         18 . The process according to  claim 17 , wherein the film comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, vinylidene chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyamide, polyester, and polystyrene.  
     
     
         19 . The process according to  claim 17 , wherein the film further comprises a second layer comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer, polyvinylidene chloride, polyethelene homopolymer, polypropylene homopolymer, ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer, polyvinyl chloride, polyamide, polyester, and polystyrene.  
     
     
         20 . The process according to  claim 17 , wherein before the shrinking is carried out, the film has a total free shrink at 185° F. of at least about 20 percent.  
     
     
         21 . The process according to  claim 17 , wherein before shrinking the sleeve has a volume of from about 2.0× to about 1.01× the total volume of the coil of filament strands.  
     
     
         22 . The process according to  claim 17 , wherein the film, after the shrinking step, the film has a thickness of from about 0.5 to 25 mils.  
     
     
         23 . The process according to  claim 17 , wherein the sleeve is in the form of a bag.  
     
     
         24 . A process for supplying a strand material from a hollow pirn having an initial conformation, comprising a layered coil of filament strands, the coil having an outside surface and an inside surface, the process comprising continuously withdrawing the strand material from the inside surface of the layered coil of filament strands, while the outer side surface region of the layered coil of filament strands is in direct contact with a multilayer film, wherein the film has an inside surface comprising ionomer, and the ionomer is in direct contact with the outside surface of the layered coil of filaments, and wherein the initial conformation of the pirn is maintained until substantially all of the filament strands have been withdrawn.  
     
     
         25 . The process according to  claim 24 , wherein the filament strands comprise at least one member selected from the group consisting of glass fiber, polyester, polyamide, cotton, hemp, linen, carbon, and metal.  
     
     
         26 . The process according to  claim 25 , wherein the filament strands comprise glass fiber.  
     
     
         27 . The process according to  claim 26 , wherein the glass comprises alkaline-free glass.  
     
     
         28 . The process according to  claim 26 , wherein the filament strands comprise continuous glass filaments in at least one yarn bundle having a diameter of from about 0.002 inch to 4 inches.