Welding rod package

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The invention having thus been described, the following is claimed: 1.
A welding rod package for use in shipping and storing welding rods in a protected environment, comprising a bundle of welding rods having a predetermined length, an elongated tube of extruded air-impervious plastics material, said tube having opposite end portions and surrounding said bundle of rods, said tube extending the length of said rods and having substantial rigidity for protecting said rods against an impact, a set of end closure members of molded air-impervious plastics material and engaging said opposite end portions of said tube in press-fit relation, each of said end closure members conforming to the corresponding said end portion of said tube and forming an air-resistant friction seal with said end portion, and at least one of said closure members being removable from the corresponding said end portion of said tube and resealable therewith to form an economical and reusable air-resistant enclosure for the welding rods.
2.
A welding rod package as defined in claim 1 wherein said tube is cylindrical, at least said one end closure member comprises a cup-shaped cylindrical body projecting into the corresponding said end portion of said tube, said body having an outer diameter slightly greater than the inner diameter of said tube when said closure member is removed from said tube, and said body has an outwardly projecting flange portion for engaging the corresponding end of said tube.
3.
A welding rod package as defined in claim 2 wherein the inner diameter of said tube is less than six centimeters and greater than three centimeters, and said one end closure member has a resiliency greater than the resiliency of said tube.
4.
A welding rod package as defined in claim 3 wherein the inner diameter of said tube is about four centimeters.
5.
A welding rod package as defined in claim 1 wherein said tube has a wall thickness greater than one millimeter and less than three millimeters.
6.
A welding rod package as defined in claim 5 wherein said tube has a wall thickness of about 1