Felting needle package

#This application claims the benefit of foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 based on European 08 156 671.3, filed May 21, 2008, the entire disclosure of which application is hereby incorporated by reference.

#The invention relates to felting needle packages. Felting needles are required in very large numbers by felt manufacturers. Felting needles are components that are supply materials subject to wear and that are purchased to be stored for ready availability for use as needed. In so doing, needle manufacturers have to address the problem of packaging felting needles in an economical way in such a manner that the packages are not damaged, even when they are roughly handled and kept in long-term storage. However, in so doing, said needles are also supposed to be packaged in such a manner that the user can easily remove the felting needles from the package. This means, that the risks of injury are to be minimized.

#The felting needles have an elongated working part and a holding part with an angled foot, said holding part being an extension of said working part. As a rule, the working parts have a smaller diameter than the holding parts. If the felting needles are arranged side by side and oriented parallel to each other, as well as compressed, a wedge-shaped bundle is being created.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of a felting needle package in closed state.

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the felting needle package in accordance with FIG. 1, with the lid removed.

#FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of a felting needle out of the package in accordance with FIG. 1 or 2.

#FIG. 1 shows a felting needle package 1 that is configured as a rectangular case. It comprises a container 2 and a lid 3 for closing the container 2 toward the top. The lid 3 and the container 2 abut against each other along a dividing joint 4.

#FIG. 2 shows the container 2 in greater detail. It comprises four lateral walls 5, 6, 7, 8 that delimit a rectangular interior space. Preferably, said walls extend at a 90° angle from the bottom 9 up. For example, the corresponding 90° angle α is shown in FIG. 5. The bottom 9 and each of the lateral walls 5, 6, 7, 8 are rectangular, thin, preferably essentially flat, plate-shaped elements that consist of the same material and abut against each other in a gapless and seamless manner along their edges. The container 2, for example, may consist of an injection-molded part of plastic material. Preferably, said element consists of a recyclable plastic material.

#The interior space 10 that is enclosed by the container 2 is diagonally divided by a dividing wall 11. The dividing wall 11 preferably is a one-piece component of the container 2. In this case, again, said dividing wall is connected in a gapless and seamless manner with the bottom 9 as well as with one of the lateral walls 5, 6, 7, 8. The dividing wall 11 may be provided with a central opening 12 that extends through to the bottom 9 and thus divides said dividing wall into two dividing wall sections 13, 14. Preferably, they are in alignment with each other and thus are located essentially on a common plane or (see FIG. 4) on a common line. This plane or line intersects opposing lateral walls 5, 7 and is located at least close to the diagonal of the rectangle described by the bottom 9. Accordingly, the dividing wall 11 and the dividing wall section 13 adjoin the smaller lateral wall 7. Similarly, this applies to the dividing wall section 14 that adjoins the smaller lateral wall 5. Preferably, the larger lateral walls 6, 8 do not have adjoining dividing walls. Together, the dividing wall section 13 and the lateral wall 7 subtend an angle β that is smaller than 90°. The long lateral wall 8 and the dividing wall section 13 also subtend an angle γ that is smaller than 90°. The sum of the two angles β and γ is 90°. The dividing wall 11 as a whole and, in particular, the dividing wall section 14 or 13, and the bottom 9 subtend a right angle δ (see FIG. 5).