Vacuum-packed coil and method of packing

Abstract

A method of packaging textile coil includes the steps of providing a strand of loosely assembled textile fibers, feeding the strand into a collapsible container, compressing the container so as to cause the container to collapse and compress the strand to a preselected degree, and sealing the container to maintain the strand in a compressed state.

1 . A method of packaging textile coil, comprising:
 providing a strand of loosely assembled textile fibers;   feeding the strand into a collapsible container;   compressing the container so as to cause the container to collapse and compress the strand to a preselected degree; and   sealing the container to maintain the strand in a compressed state.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the container comprises a substantially impermeable bag. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising placing the container in a relatively rigid outer carton after the step of sealing. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the strand comprises cotton sliver. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the strand is compressed by at least about 25% of its original volume. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the strand is compressed by at least about 50% of its original volume. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of compressing is carried out by connecting a vacuum source to the container to remove air therefrom. 
   
   
       8 . A cotton coil comprising cotton sliver which is compressed at least about 25% by volume from its free state. 
   
   
       9 . The cotton coil of  claim 8  which is compressed by at least about 50% of its original volume. 
   
   
       10 . A method of protecting a subject's skin during a hair treatment, comprising:
 providing textile coil comprising a strand of loosely assembled textile fibers which has been compressed to a predetermined degree from its original volume;   placing the textile coil around a subject's head so as to form a barrier against fluid leakage;   applying a first fluid to subject's head above the textile coil, whereby the first fluid is prevented from contacting the subject's skin below the textile coil.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising:
 applying a second fluid to subject's head above the textile coil, whereby the second fluid is prevented from contacting the subject's skin below the textile coil; and   removing the textile coil from the subject's head.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first fluid is a permanent wave hair styling solution, and the second fluid is a neutralizing solution. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the strand comprises cotton sliver. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the strand is compressed by at least about 25% of its original volume. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the strand is compressed by at least about 50% of its original volume. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of compressing is carried out by first mechanically compressing the container, and then using a vacuum source to remove air from the container.