Contour for tube seals to facilitate mounting of a product evacuation device

Abstract

A tube is provided for containing a product to be squeezed from the tube when the tube is used in conjunction with a wrapping tool. The tube has a deformable main body for storing the product prior to the product being squeezed from the tube, the main body having a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, a first end and a second end opposite the first end in the longitudinal direction of the main body. The tube has an opening at the first end of the main body, the opening being an outlet for the product when the product is squeezed from the tube, and a seal at the second end of the main body, the seal having a contour, the contour having a bearing surface that is non-parallel to the longitudinal direction of the main body. The bearing surface is for receiving a wrapping force from the wrapping tool for wrapping the main body around the seal.

1 . A tube for containing a product to be squeezed from the tube when the tube is used in conjunction with a wrapping tool, the tube comprising: 
 a deformable main body for storing the product prior to the product being squeezed from the tube, the main body having a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, a first end and a second end opposite the first end in the longitudinal direction of the main body;    an opening at the first end of the main body, the opening being an outlet for the product when the product is squeezed from the tube; and    a seal at the second end of the main body, the seal having a contour, the contour having a bearing surface that is non-parallel to the longitudinal direction of the main body,    wherein the bearing surface is for receiving a wrapping force from the wrapping tool for wrapping the main body around the seal.    
     
     
         2 . The tube of  claim 1 , wherein the bearing surface is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the main body.  
     
     
         3 . The tube of  claim 1 , wherein the bearing surface is continuous along an entire length of the seal in the transverse direction of the main body.  
     
     
         4 . The tube of  claim 3 , wherein the contour is a U-shaped trough along the transverse direction of the main body.  
     
     
         5 . The tube of  claim 3 , wherein the contour comprises a first thickened portion of the seal, the first thickened portion protruding in a first protrusion direction perpendicular to both the longitudinal and transverse directions of the main body.  
     
     
         6 . The tube of  claim 5 , wherein the bearing surface is planar and the plane of the bearing surface is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the main body.  
     
     
         7 . The tube of  claim 5 , wherein the contour further comprises a second thickened portion of the seal, the second thickened portion protruding in a second protrusion direction opposite to the first protrusion direction and being located on an opposite side of the seal from the first thickened portion.  
     
     
         8 . The tube of  claim 7 , wherein the bearing surface comprises a first bearing surface on the first thickened portion and a second bearing surface on the second thickened portion, the first and second bearing surfaces being planar and the planes of the bearing surfaces being perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the main body.  
     
     
         9 . The tube of  claim 7 , wherein the contour is cross-shaped such that the first thickened portion protrudes in the first protrusion direction a greater distance than the first thickened portion is thick in the longitudinal direction of the main body, and 
 the second thickened portion protrudes in the second protrusion direction a greater distance than the second thickened portion is thick in the longitudinal direction of the main body.    
     
     
         10 . The tube of  claim 1 , wherein the bearing surface is discontinuous along the transverse direction of the main body.  
     
     
         11 . The tube of  claim 10 , wherein the bearing surface is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the main body.  
     
     
         12 . The tube of  claim 10 , wherein the contour is a U-shaped trough along the transverse direction of the main body.  
     
     
         13 . The tube of  claim 10 , wherein the contour comprises a first thickened portion of the seal, the first thickened portion protruding in a first protrusion direction perpendicular to both the longitudinal and transverse directions of the main body.  
     
     
         14 . The tube of  claim 13 , wherein the bearing surface is planar and the plane of the bearing surface is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the main body.  
     
     
         15 . The tube of  claim 13 , wherein the contour further comprises a second thickened portion of the seal, the second thickened portion protruding in a second protrusion direction opposite to the first protrusion direction and being located on an opposite side of the seal from the first thickened portion.  
     
     
         16 . The tube of  claim 15 , wherein the bearing surface comprises a first bearing surface on the first thickened portion and a second bearing surface on the second thickened portion, the first and second bearing surfaces being planar and the planes of the bearing surfaces being perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the main body.  
     
     
         17 . The tube of  claim 15 , wherein the contour is cross-shaped such that the first thickened portion protrudes in the first protrusion direction a greater distance than the first thickened portion is thick in the longitudinal direction of the main body, and 
 the second thickened portion protrudes in the second protrusion direction a greater distance than the second thickened portion is thick in the longitudinal direction of the main body.    
     
     
         18 . A tube evacuation system comprising: 
 the tube of  claim 1;  and    the wrapping tool, the wrapping tool comprising 
 a tube contour receiver for receiving the contour of the tube.  
   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the tube contour receiver comprises a slot that receives the contour of the tube.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the slot has an open end such that the contour of the tube is removable from the slot.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein a portion of the slot contacts the bearing surface of the contour of the tube.