PLLC/LCC tube

A PLCC/LCC container for storing and shipping of a plurality of PLCC/LCC packages in a side-by-side arrangement, said PLCC/LCC container comprising:

• a tubular body member (24) having a first end and a second end;
• said tubular body member having a bore of a substantially rectangular cross-section extending therethrough between said first end and said second end;
• said tubular body member including an upper wall section (34), a lower wall section (36), and a pair of opposed side walls (38,40) all integrally connected together;
• a first end plug member (26a) disposed slidably and frictionally into the bore adjacent said first end of said tubular body member;
• a plurality of PLCC/LCC packages (12) disposed upside down in the bore of said tubular body member to substantially fill the same, each of said PLCC/LCC packages being of a substantially rectangular shape and having opposed side edges, opposed end edges, a top surface, and a bottom surface, said side and end edges being formed with a plurality of terminal means;
• said upper wall section having a first flat end portion (42), a second flat end portion (44), and an offset intermediate portion (46) sandwiched between said first and second end portions;
• said lower wall section having a first flat end portion (48), a second flat end portion (50), and an offset intermediate portion (52) sandwiched between said first and second end portions;
• said first and second end portions (48,50) on said lower wall section (36) supporting only small portion of said top surface adjacent to said side edges (16) of said plurality of PLCC/LCC packages so that the top and bottom surfaces (18,20) thereof are substantially suspended freely between said offset intermediate portions (46,52) on said respective upper and lower wall sections (34,36) of said tubular body member;
• said top surface of said plurality of PLCC/LCC packages having an intermediate area which is suspended above the interior surface of said offset intermediate portion (52) on said lower wall portion (36) of said tubular member so as to create a gap (58) therebetween;
• a second end plug member (26b) disposed slidably and frictionally into the bore adjacent said second end of said tubular body member;
• each of said first and second end plug members being formed of a substantially L-shaped cross-section and including an elongated horizontal portion (60) and a upwardly-extending tab portion (62) joined integrally to said horizontal portion;
• and
• the opposite sides of said horizontal portions of said plug members being provided with radially extending fin-like projections (64) which elastically engage the interior surfaces of the bore of said tubular body member.