Patent ID: 6321511
Filing Date: 2001-11-27
Classification: B65B,B65D,B65H

Abstract:
A package comprising:at least one stack of a strip of material;the strip having a first side edge, a second side edge, a first surface and a second surface;in said at least one stack the strip being repeatedly folded back and forth so that the stack contains a plurality of folded overlying strip portions of the strip, with each strip portion being folded relative to one next adjacent strip portion about a first fold line transverse to the strip and relative to a second next adjacent strip portion about a second fold line transverse to the strip and spaced from the first fold line;the strip portions forming a plurality of first fold lines at one end of the at least one stack and a plurality of second fold lines at an opposed end of the at least one stack;the strip portions being arranged such that the first surface of each strip portion lies in contact with the first surface of one next adjacent strip portion and such that the second surface of each strip portion lies in contact with the second surface of the other next adjacent strip portion;the strip portions being arranged with the first side edges thereof lying on top of and generally aligned with the first side edges of others of the strip portions of the stack and with the second side edges thereof lying on top of and generally aligned with the second side edges of others of the strip portions;the strip portions being arranged with the first and second surfaces thereof generally parallel to a top surface and bottom surface of the at least one stack;the at least one stack being substantially upright and having a splice tail portion of the strip extending from a bottom strip portion and extending beyond an end of the at least one stack so as to be accessible for splicing;wherein the entire top surface and the entire bottom surface of the that least one stack is compressed from an external force in a direction at right angles to the top surface and the bottom surface of the at least one stack, and the at least one stack is engaged by packaging which maintains the compression.