GB2084084A

GB2084084A - Pencil, having a sleeve made of plastic, and process for the manufacture of same

Info

Publication number: GB2084084A
Application number: GB8127711A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: LOreal SA
Current assignee: LOreal SA
Priority date: 1980-09-22
Filing date: 1981-09-14
Publication date: 1982-04-07
Also published as: FR2490470B1; GB2084084B; DE3137486A1; FR2490470A1

Abstract

A pencil (1) comprises a core (2), e.g. of a make-up composition, surrounded by a sleeve (3) of an expanded thermoplastic externally coated with a layer (4) of a composition which is impermeable to solvents and/or other volatile products in the core. The sleeve of plastic, and process for the manufacture of same. A pencil (1) comprises a core (2), (3) and its outer covering (4) can be sharpened with a pencil sharpener as required. The sleeve (3) is closed off at one end before the core (2) is cast in situ. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Pencil, having a sleeve made of plastic, and process for the manufacture of same It is known that many active products which are in a solid or pasty state can be packaged in the form of pencils which permit easy application of the products and which have the further advantage that they can be sharpened, for example by means of a pencil sharpener, when the point is blunted. This is the case, for example, with make-up products such as eye shadows or eyebrow make-up.

It has already been proposed to substitute a plastic sleeve for the conventional wooden sleeve in which the core of active product is placed. Reference may be made, in this context, to French Patent No. 76/22,856, in the name L'Oreal. The plastic sleeve is of very particular interest for certain uses, especially in cosmetics; if the core is pasty in character, it is essential that it should be possible to cut the sleeve easily, and this is not always the case with wooden sleeves which can have more resistant zones due to the presence of a knot.

Furthermore, the core of make-up pencil can, for ease of manufacture, be directly extruded into a plastic sleeve, whilst the production of a make-up pencil having a wooden sleeve is generally carried out by edge-to-edge assembly of two elements of semi-circular section around a stick of preformed product, followed by gluing together of the two assembled elements, to form the wooden sleeve. Consequently, the make-up pencil having a plastic sleeve is easier to manufacture, and hence has a lower cost price, than the same pencil with a wooden sleeve.

Nevertheless, the use of this plastic sleeve has certain disadvantages; during in situ casting of the active product in the sleeve, the product generally shrinks as it hardens, so that the mechanical bond between the moulded core and its plastic sleeve can occasionally leave something to be desired. Furthermore, to improve the aesthetic appearance of the pencils, it has been proposed to apply coats of paint to them, but these can be attacked by the solvents which are present in the core and which can migrate through the sleeve.

The object of the present invention is to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a pencil comprising a core of active product; surrounding said core, a sleeve consisting of an expanded thermoplastic which is compatible with the solvents or products present in the composition of the core, and which can be cut at the time of sharpening the pencil; and, surrounding said sleeve, an external coating which is impermeable to the said solvents.

In a preferred embodiment, the expanded thermoplastic of which the sleeve is made is a polystyrene or a polyvinyl chloride; the expanded thermoplastic based on polyvinyl chloride contains about 60% by weight of polyvinyl chloride, the remainder consisting of fillers; the thickness of the sleeve of the pencil is between 1.5 mm and about 4 mm.

In a first embodiment of the pencil according to the invention, to compensate for the external roughnesses of the sleeve, and to ensure better impermeability of the pencil to the internal solvents or to other volatile products in the core of the pencil, the impermeable external covering which surrounds the sleeve of expanded thermoplastic is a sheath made of a plastic, preferably a mass-coloured plastic, which is impermeable to those solvents or volatile products. Advantageously, the plastic of which the sheath is made can - like the expanded thermoplastic forming the sleeve - be cut when sharpening the pencil; the plastic of which the external sheath is made is chosen from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polyesters, polystyrene, polyvinyl acetate and polyamides.

In a second embodiment, the impermeable external covering of the pencil is formed by a least one impermeable film of a preferably transparent plastic, which film is applied to a priming layer of adhesive with which the sleeve of the pencil is coated. This layer of adhesive not only serves to bond the film, but also serves to cause the surface roughnesses, which the sleeve of expanded thermoplastic exhibits, to disappear.

The adhesive primer used is chosen from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene and polyvinyl acetate. The film of plastic used is advantageously a polyester, preferably a polyethylene terephthalate known by the trade name of "Mylar", (Registered Trade Mark).

According to an advantageous characteristic, the pencil, in this second embodiment, possesses two transparent plastic films of which at least one carries, on its surface facing the other film, a decorative coating and/or inscriptions. The decorative coating can be a metallised coating deposited on one of the two transparent films and the inscriptions carried thereon can be applied by a well-known printing technique.

The present invention also relates to a process for the manufacture of a pencil comprising a sleeve of expanded thermoplastic enclosing a core and provided with an impermeable external coating, comprising the steps of: extruding the sleeve and externally covering it with said impermeable covering; bringing the active products constituting the core to the liquid state at a temperature below the temperature at which the sleeve deteriorates; casting the said active products directly inside the extruded sleeve; and allowing the core which has thus been moulded in the sleeve to cool and harden.

In a first embodiment of the process, a sheath made of plastic, preferably of pigmented plastic, is co-extruded with the sleeve of expanded thermoplastic, this sheath constituting the impermeable external covering of the pencil.

In a second embodiment, a priming layer of adhesive is co-extruded with the expanded thermoplastic sleeve to coat the sleeve as it leaves the extrusion die, and thereafter at least one impermeable, preferably transparent, plastic film is applied around the extruded sleeve and the extruded layer of adhesive; the film used is advantageously a polyester, preferably a polyethylene terephthalate known under the trade name of Mylar (Registered Trade Mark); the film to be applied is heated and is then arranged in the form of a gutter around the sleeve which has been coated with the layer of adhesive on leaving the extrusion die, after which the film is closed up on itself and shaped around the sleeve. Preferably, two impermeable plastic films are provided, of which at least one carries a decorative coating and/or inscriptions on its surface facing the other film.If one of the two films which are applied has a metallised coating, the latter has the effect of improving the heat transmission when the core is cast hot, and consequently of improving the crystallisation characteristics of the said core.

It should be emphasized that the pencil according to the invention can find numerous applications, not only in cosmetics but also in other fields, for example for packaging a stain-removing product. In cosmetics, depending on the formulation chosen for the core, the pencil according to the invention can be used in particular as an eye shadow, as a means of counteracting rings round the eyes, as a rouge, as a lipstick, as a lip-gloss, as a make-up foundation, as a deodorant, as a perfume or as an anti-acne agent.

In order that the subject of the present invention shall be better understood, several embodiments, shown on the attached drawing, will now be described by way of purely illustrative examples which do not imply any limitation.

In the drawing: Figure 1 schematically represents, in axial section, a pencil according to the first embodiment of the invention and Figure 2 schematically represents, in axial section, a pencil according to the second embodiment of the invention.

On referring to the drawing, it will be seem that 1 denotes a pencil in its entirety, of which the core 2 consists of a stick of active product, for example of a cosmetic product which can be used as an eye shadow or eyebrow make-up. The stick 2 has a thick pasty appearance and its formulation is one of those usually employed for the cores of make-up pencils.

The core 2 is arranged inside a sleeve 3 of an expanded thermoplastic, which can be cut when the pencil is sharpened and which is chemically compatible with the products present in the composition of the core 2.

The expanded thermoplastic of which the sleeve 3 is made is, in the present embodiment, a polyvinyl chloride containing additives, the content of polyvinyl chloride in this polymer being of the order of 60% by weight. Around the sleeve 3 is arranged a sheath 4, made of a pigmented plastic. The plastic of which the sheath 4 is made can be sharpened, for example with a knife or a pencil sharpener, and constitutes an impermeable barrier for the volatile products or the solvents contained in the core 2. The plastic used for the sheath 4 is polyvinyl chloride.

The pencil 1 can be sharpened with a pencil sharpener like any pencil having a wooden sleeve. The pencil has a point 5 which can be located inside a cap so as to prevent solvents or volatile products contained in the core 2 from evaporating during storage.

The pencil in this embodiment has a length of about 10 cm and a diameter of about 11 mm. The core 2 has a diameter of about 4 mm; the sleeve 3 has a thickness of about 3 mm and the impermeable sheath 4 has a thickness of about 0.5 mm.

The pencil 1 is produced by the following method of manufacture: the sleeve 3 is co-extruded with the impermeable sheath 4 in a conventional manner, after which one of the ends of the sleeve 3 thus obtained is closed; the cosmetic product is poured into the sleeve 3, this cosmetic product being brought to a liquid state by heating. The cosmetic product, which has been moulded in situ inside the sleeve 3, is then left to cool to allow it to solidify. The cooling of the cosmetic product inside the sleeve can be accompanied by shrinkage, but thr roughnesses which the sleeve of expanded material exhibits make it possible to hold the core 2 efficiently even if it has shrunk during cooling.The sheath 4 serves the purpose of ensuring better impermeability of the pencil to solvents or volatile products contained in the core 2, so that possible inscriptions or decorations carried by the sheath 4 are not prone to being attacked by these solvents.

Furthermore, the sheath 4 serves the purpose of compensating the roughnesses which the external surface of the sleeve 2 exhibits, so that the pencil 1 externally has a substantially smooth surface.

On referring now to Figure 2 of the drawing, it will be seen that 10 denotes in its entirety a pencil according to the second embodiment of the invention. The pencil 10 contains a stick 11 of moulded product, which constitutes the core of the pencil. The composition of the core 11 depends on the use of the pencil 10. If it is a make-up pencil to serve as a lipstick, the formulation of the core 11 is substantially that of a lip-stick. The core 11 has a diameter of about 6 mm; it is enveloped by a sleeve 12 of expanded thermoplastic. The sleeve 12 is chemically inert to the solvents or other products contained in the core 11 and can be cut when sharpening the pencil. The sleeve 12 is made of an expanded polyvinyl chloride containing additives, the polyvinyl chloride content of the polymer being about 60%. The thickness of the sleeve 12 is about 4 mm.

The sleeve 12 is externally coated with a priming layer 13 which serves as an adhesive for a film 14; this priming layer is also used to cause the roughnesses of the external surface of the sleeve 12 to disappear. The priming layer 13 consists of polyvinyl chloride; its thickness is 0.4 mm. The film 14 which adheres to the priming layer 13 has a metallised coating 15 carrying inscriptions, this coating in turn being covered by a further film 16. The two films 14 and 16 are transparent and consist of a polyethlene terephthalate sold under the trade name "Mylar" (Registered Trade Mark). The thickness of the films 14 and 16 is about 0.8 mm.

In orderto manufacture the pencil 10 which has just been described, the sleeve 12 and the priming layer of adhesive 13 are first of all co-extruded. As the extrudate leaves the die, the two films 14 and 16 are presented along the extruded primed sleeve in such a way that the metallised coating 15 of the film 14 is covered by the superposed film 16. The two films 14 and 16 are heated and shaped in the form of a gutter, i.e. a hemi-cylinder which surrounds the extruded sleeve and priming layer as they leave the die; the gutter is progressively closed up on itself by means of a suitable device, and then applied around the priming layer 13 in a shaping apparatus of a known type.Thus the operation of covering the sleeve 12, coated with its priming layer 13, by means of the two superposed films 14 and 16 takes place continuously at the exit of the extrusion die. Once this operation has been completed, it is possible to proceed to the in situ casting of the product constituting the core 11, after having heated the product sufficiently to cause it to pass into the liquid state.

After cooling and solidification of the core 11 which has been cast in situ, the internal roughnesses of the sleeve 12 permit efficient anchoring of the core 11,even if latter shrinks during cooling. It is found that the use of a metallised film has the effect of improving the heat transmission at the time of casting the core and, consequently, of improving the crystallisation characteristics of the said core.

The metallic coating 15 and the inscription which it carries are perfectly protected because they are held between the two films 14 and 16. Furthermore, the coating 15 and the inscription which it carries are brought into position at the actual time of manufacture of the sleeve of the pencil, by continuous covering of the sleeve and of its layer of adhesive on leaving the extrusion die, so that the cost price of the final pencil is lower than that of a pencil of a conventional type where the decoration and inscription are effected once the sleeve of the pencil has been finished. Furthermore, the use of the two films 14 and 16 increases the impermeability of the pencil 10 and thus makes it possible to use formulations containing a high proportion of solvents or of volatile products.

In place of the metallic coating 15 it is of course possible to provide other decoration which is protected by the two films, both internally, against solvents contained in the formulation of the core, and externally, against scratching, rubbing or oxidation by atmospheric oxygen.

The invention is further illustrated by the following examples of its application: Example 1 Awater-resistant eye shadow composition corresponding to the following formula is introduced, as previously indicated in the description, into a pencil of the type corresponding to Figure 1: ozokerite .................. 2 g carnauba wax ................................... 5 g acetylated lanoline .................. 6 g magnesium carbonate .................. 1 g iron oxides ............... 16 g organic pigment ............... 3 g pearlescent agents (mica/titanium dioxide) .................. 20 g di-tertiary butyl-hydroxytoluene ................... 0.2 g isoparaffin ............... 46.8 g A water-resistant eye shadow pencil is thus obtained.

Example 2: A water-free eye shadow composition corresponding to the following formula is introduced, as previously indicated in the description, into a pencil of the type corresponding to Figure 2: hydrogenated castor oil .................................. 10 g propylene glycol monomyristate .................. 10 g cetyl lactate ................... 7 g ozokerite ............... 5 g paraffin oil ............. 29.7 g kaolin .................. 3 g organic pigment ................... 10 g titanium dioxide ............... 10 g di-tertiary butyl-hydroxytoluene ............. 0.3 g pearlescent agents (mica/titanium dioxide) ................... 15 g A water-free eye shadow pencil is thus obtained.

Example 3: A composition against rings under the eyes corresponding to the following formula is introduced, as previously indicated in the description, into a pencil of the type corresponding to Figure 1: beeswax ................... 10 g carnauba wax ................................... 10 g acetylated lanoline 5 9 rice starch ................. 3 g propylene glycol monomyristate ................... 5 g paraffin oil ............... 22.7 g isopropyl palmitate ............. 15 g isoparaffin ................. 10 g iron oxides ................... 5 g titanium dioxide ............... 14 g di-tertiary butyl-hydroxytoluene ............. 0.3 g A pencil against rings under the eyes is thus obtained.

Example 4: A rouge composition (water-in-oil emulsion) corresponding to the following formula is introduced, as previously indicated in the description, into a pencil of the type corresponding to Figure 2: magnesium lanolate 4 9 hydrogenated lanoline ................... 3 g paraffin oil W 5 g microcrystalline wax .............................17 g glycerides of saturated fatty acids ................. 5 g methyl para-hydroxybenzoate ................... 0.3 g perfume ............... 0.2 g iron oxides ............. 2.5 g titanium dioxide 1 9 red colorant "D and C RED 7" ................... 0.3 g sterile softened water q.s.p. ................... 100 g A rouge pencil is thus obtained.

Example 5: A water-free rouge composition corresponding to the following formula is introduced, as previously indicated in the description, into a pencil of the type corresponding to Figure 1: beeswax ............... 10 g carnauba wax ................................ 16 g 2-octyl-dodecanol .................. 38.8 g isopropyl lanolate ................... 10 g kaolin ...................... 4 g silica , 10 g propyl para-hydroxybenzoate ................. 0.2 g iron oxides ................. 4 9 red colorant "D and CRED 21" ...................... 1 g titanium dioxide ................. 6 g A water-free rouge pencil is thus obtained.

Example 6: A lipstick composition corresponding to the following formula is introduced, as previously indicated in the description, into a pencil of the type corresponding to Figure 2: ozokerite ....................... 25 g triglycerides of saturated fatty acids ........................ 10 g hydrogenated lanoline ................................ 18 g isopropyl lanolate ................... 11.9 g liquid lanoline ................... 10 g isocetyllanolate 15 9 di-tertiary buty-hydroxytoluene ............... 0.1 g organic pigments ................. 10 g A lipstick pencil is thus obtained.

Example 7 A lipstick composition corresponding to the following formula is introduced, as previously indicated in the description, into a pencil of the type corresponding to Figure 1: ozokerite ...................... 26 g carnauba wax ................................ 5 g hydrogenated lanoline 6 9 lanoline ........................ 10 g cetylricinoleate 14 14 g vaseline oil ................................. 18.9 g oleyl alcohol ................... 10 g di-tertiary butyl-hydroxytoluene ................... 0.1 g colorants ...................... 10 g A lipstick pencil is thus obtained.

Example 8: A lip-gloss composition corresponding to the following formula is introduced, as previously indicated in the description, into a pencil of the type corresponding to Figure 2: microcrystalline waxes , 24 g lanoline ................... 15 g liquid lanoline ................... 18 g cetyl ricinoleate ..................... 20 g lanoline alcohols .................................... 10 g vaseline oil ......................................... 10.9 g di-tertiary butyl-hydroxytoluene ................... 0.1 g organic pigments ................... 2 g A lip-gloss pencil is thus obtained.

Example 9: A foundation composition (water-in-oil emulsion) corresponding to the following formula is introduced, as previously indicated in the description, into a pencil of the type corresponding to Figure 1: magnesium lanolate ............... 3.5 g hydrogenated lanoiine 5.2 9 ozokerite ................ 17 g isopropyl palmitate ................... 9.5 g paraffin oil ................... 10.5 g iron oxides ............... 2.3 g titanium dioxide ................. 8 g propyl para-hydroxybenzoate ................... 0.2 g sterile demineralised water ...q.s.p. ................. 100 g A foundation pencil is thus obtained.

Example 10: A water-free foundation composition corresponding to the following formula is introduced, as previously indicated in the description, into a pencil of the type corresponding to Figure 2: carnauba wax ............................... 5 g paraffin oil ...................... 18 g isopropyl lanolate ..................... 4 g isopropyl myristate 33.3 9 propyl para-hydroxybenzoate ........................... 0.1 g "Volatile silicone 7158" silicone liquid sold by Union Carbide ..................... 9 g magnesium carbonate ...................... 6 g talc ........................................12 g titanium dioxide 9 g iron oxides ...................... 2.6 g A water-free foundation pencil is thus obtained.

Example ii: A water-free foundation composition corresponding to the following formula is introduced, as previously indicated in the description, into a pencil of the type corresponding to Figure 1: beeswax ....................... 3 g candelilla wax .................................... 1.5 g ozokerite ...................... 7 g alcohols from lanoline and mineral oil ................. 6 g paraffin oil ...................... 28.6 g "Volatile Silicone 7158" silicone liquid sold by Union Carbide ................................. 10 g isononyl isononanoate ...................... 8 g Isopropyl palmitate ................................... 12 g magnesium carbonate ................... 4 g talc ................... 10 g titanium dioxide 7.6 9 iron oxides ............... 2.1 g propyl para-hydroxybenzoate ............. 0.2 g A water-free foundation pencil is thus obtained.

Example 12 A deodorant composition corresponding to the following formula is introduced, as previously indicated in the description, into a pencil of the type corresponding to Figure 2: stearic acid acid 5 5 g propylene glycol x 40 g glycerol ................... 19.3 g nonylphenol polyoxyethyleneated with 15 mols of ethylene oxide ................... 1.6 g 5% strength solution of a plant-extract deodorant based on agaricic acid " 5 g pure soda ............... 0.8 g perfume ............. 2 g colourant .................... 0.01 g water.....q.s.p. ...................................... 100 g A deodorant pencil is thus obtained.

Example 13: A deodorant composition corresponding to the following formula is introduced, as previously indicated in the description, into a pencil of the type corresponding to Figure 1: stearic acid ................... 7 g myristic alcohol ................... 2 g 2,4,4'-trichloro-2'-hydroxy-diphenyl ether ............... 0.2 g propylene glycol ............. 20 g glycerol .................... 2 g pure soda .............................................. 1.2 g perfume ................... 2 g colorant ................... 0.01 g 960alcohol q.s.p. ............... 100 g A deodorant pencil is thus obtained.

Example 74: A perfume composition corresponding to the following formula is introduced, as previously indicated in the description, into a pencil of the type corresponding to Figure 2: paraffin .................... 5 g cacao butter ....................................... 10 g ozokerite ..................... 20 g oleyl alcohol , 5 g antioxidants (alkyl gallates) ...................... 0.05 g lanoline ................... 10 g perfume ................... 10 g colorant ............... 0.01 g paraffin oil .....q.s.p. ........................... 100 g A perfume pencil is thus obtained.

Example 15: A perfume composition corresponding to the following formula is introduced, as previously indicated in the description, into a pencil of the type corresponding to Figure 1: stearic acid ................... 5 g propylene glycol ................... 30 g glycerol ............... 19.3 g nonylphenol polyoxyethyleneated with 15 mols of ethylene oxide ............. 5 g pure soda ................... 0.8 g perfume ................... 10 g colorant ............... 0.01 g water .....q.s.p. ................................... 100 g A perfume pencil is thus obtained.

Example 16: An anti-acne composition corresponding to the following formula is introduced, as previously indicated in the description, into a pencil of the type corresponding to Figure 2: stearic acid .......................................... 20 g sodium hydroxide solution, 50'B 5 9 propylene glycol ...................................... 10 g polyethylene glycol (molecular weight = 400) ................... 5 g 96" ethanol ................... 45 g S-carboxy-methyl-cysteine ............................... 2 g 2,4,4'-trichloro-2'-hydroxy-diphenyl ether .................... 0.1 g water q.s.p E 100 g An anti-acne pencil is thus obtained.

Example 17: An anti-acne composition corresponding to the following formula is introduced, as previously indicated in the description, into a pencil of the type corresponding to Figure 1: stearic acid , 20 g sodium hydroxide solution, 50"B 5 9 propylene glycol .......................................... 10 g polyethylene glycol (molecular weight = 400) .............. 10 g lanoline oxyethyleneated with 7.5 mols of ethylene oxide ........................................... 15 g S-carboxy-methyl-cysteine ................... 2 g 2,4,4'-trichloro-2'hydroxy-diphenyl ether ................... 0.1 g titanium oxide 2 9 iron oxides ................. 1.4 g water.....q.s.p. .......................................... 100g An anti-acne pencil is thus obtained.

Claims

1. A pencil comprising a core of active product; surrounding said core, a sleeve consisting of an expanded thermoplastic which is compatible with the solvents or products present in the composition of the core, and which can be cut at the time of sharpening the pencil; and, surrounding said sleeve, an external coating which is impermeable to the said solvents.

2. A pencil according to claim 1, wherein the expanded thermoplastic of which the sleeve is made is a polystyrene or a polyvinyl chloride.

3. A pencil according to claim 2, wherein the expanded thermoplastic is based on polyvinyl chloride and contains substantially 60% by weight of polyvinyl chloride, the remainder consisting of fillers.

4. A pencil according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the impermeable external covering which surrounds the sleeve of expanded thermoplastic is a sheath made of a plastic which is impermeable to the solvents or to the volatile products contained in the core of the pencil.

5. A pencil according to claim 4, wherein said plastic of the sleeve is a pigmented plastic.

6. A pencil according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the impermeable external covering of the pencil is formed by at least one impermeable film, a transparent plastic, and including a priming layer of adhesive coating the sleeve of the pencil, said film being applied to said priming layer.

7. A pencil according to claim 6, wherein said film is formed of plastic and is transparent.

8. A pencil according to claim 6 or 7, wherein it possesses two said transparent plastic films, of which at least one carries, on its surface facing the other film, a decorative coating and/or inscriptions.

9. A pencil according to claim 6,7 or 8, wherein the or each film of plastic is a polyester.

10. A pencil according to claim 9, wherein said plastic is a polyethylene terephthalate.

11. A process for the manufacture of a pencil comprising a sleeve of expanded thermoplastic enclosing a core and provided with an impermeable external coating, comprising the steps of; extruding the sleeve and externally covering it with said impermeable covering; bringing the active products constituting the core to the liquid state at a temperature below the temperature at which the sleeve deteriorates; casting the said active products directly inside the extruded sleeve; and allowing the core which has thus been moulded in the sleeve to cool and harden.

12. A process according to claim 11, comprising closing one of the ends of said sleeve before casting the core in situ.

13. A process according to claim 11 or 12, including the step of co-extruding, with the sleeve of expanded thermoplastic, a sheath constituting the impermeable external covering of the pencil.

14. A process according to claim 13, wherein said sheath is formed of pigmented plastic.

15. A process according to claim 11 or 12, including co-extruding the sleeve with a layer of adhesive as it leaves the extrusion die, and thereafter applying at least one impermeable plastic film around the extruded sleeve and extruded layer of adhesive.

16. A process according to claim 15, wherein said at least one film is heated and is then arranged in the shape of a gutter around the co-extruded sleeve and layer of adhesive, as the co-extrudate leaves the extrusion die, and the film is then closed up on itself and shaped around the co-extruded sleeve and adhesive layer.

17. A process according to claim 15 or 16, wherein two of said impermeable plastic films are applied, of which at least one carries a decorative coating and/or inscriptions on its surface facing the other film.

18. A pencil substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figure 1 or Figure 2 of the accompanying drawing.

19. A process for the manufacture of a pencil, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.