Plastic dispensing tube having shaped corners

Abstract

There is a plastic dispensing tube having shaped corners. The dispensing tube has a tubular plastic sleeve and a plastic head affixed to one end of the sleeve. The sleeve has an interior surface. The head defines a neck having a passageway therethrough and a shoulder defining one or more corners therein. The head further defines one or more ribs extending from the one or more corners into the sleeve. The one or more ribs is affixed to the interior surface of the sleeve. There is also a process for making the plastic dispensing tube.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A plastic dispensing tube, comprising: a tubular plastic sleeve and a plastic head affixed to one end of the sleeve, the sleeve having an interior surface, the head defining a neck having a passageway therethrough, the head defining a shoulder defining one or more corners therein, the shoulder further defining one or more ribs extending from the one or more corners into the sleeve, the one or more ribs being affixed to the interior surface of the sleeve.  
     
     
         2 . The tube of  claim 1 , wherein the shoulder defines  4  corners therein and has a rib extending from each corner.  
     
     
         3 . The tube of  claim 2 , wherein the shoulder is rectangular in shape.  
     
     
         4 . The tube of  claim 2 , wherein the shoulder is square in shape.  
     
     
         5 . The tube of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular sleeve is extruded.  
     
     
         6 . The tube of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular sleeve is a laminate.  
     
     
         7 . The tube of  claim 1 , wherein the plastic head is heat welded to one end of the sleeve and wherein the one or more ribs is heat welded to the interior surface of the sleeve.  
     
     
         8 . The tube of  claim 4 , wherein the plastic head is heat welded to one end of the sleeve and wherein the one or more ribs is heat welded to the interior surface of the sleeve.  
     
     
         9 . The tube of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more ribs extend up to about two inches into the sleeve.  
     
     
         10 . The tube of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more ribs extend up to about two inches into the sleeve.  
     
     
         11 . The tube of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more ribs extend up to about one inch into the sleeve.  
     
     
         12 . The tube of  claim 7 , wherein the sleeve has a thickness of from about 8 to about 32 mils.  
     
     
         13 . The tube of  claim 7 , wherein the sleeve has a thickness of from about 13 to about 18 mils.  
     
     
         14 . A process for making a dispensing tube, comprising: 
 a) inserting a first die into an end of a tubular sleeve having an interior surface;    b) mating the first die with a second die, the first and second dies defining a mold, the mold defining therein a cavity in the shape of a head defining a neck having a passageway therethrough and a shoulder having one or more corners therein and one or more ribs extending from the one or more corners, the cavity extending from neck to shoulder from the second die to the first die; and    c) injecting into the cavity of the mold a plastic melt to form the head and heat weld it to the end of the sleeve with the ribs of the shoulder extending into and being heat welded to the interior surface of the sleeve.    
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 14 , wherein the shoulder defines  4  corners therein and has a rib extending from each corner.  
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 15 , wherein the shoulder is rectangular in shape.  
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 15 , wherein the shoulder is square in shape.  
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 14 , wherein the tubular sleeve is extruded.  
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 14 , wherein the tubular sleeve is a laminate.  
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more ribs extend up to about two inches into the sleeve.  
     
     
         21 . The process of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more ribs extend up to about one inch into the sleeve.  
     
     
         22 . The process of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more ribs extend up to about two inches into the sleeve.  
     
     
         23 . The process of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more ribs extend up to about one inch into the sleeve.  
     
     
         24 . The tube of  claim 14 , wherein the sleeve has a thickness of from about 8 to about 32 mils.  
     
     
         25 . The tube of  claim 7 , wherein the sleeve has a thickness of from about 13 to about 18 mils.