circular cross section bars having square or rectangular cross sections and films or tapes which are thin and have widths larger than their thicknesses fig1 is a sectional view of a funicularly shaped article of the invention having a rod like shape in which 10 is the hot melt adhesive core and in which 12 is the plastic sheath fig2 is a sectional view of a similar article having a bar like shape in which 20 is the hot melt adhesive core and 22 is the plastic sheath fig3 is a sectional view of a tape like article in which a thick film of hot melt adhesive 30 is supported by a thin plastic film 32 when this structure is wound around a tubular core both surface of the film 30 are protected by film 32 which functions as a sheath fig4 illustrates an article similar to that shown in fig3 and differs therefrom only in that two thin plastic films 38 and 42 which can be identical films if desired are bonded to the top and bottom surfaces of hot melt adhesive film 40 hot melt adhesives are materials containing one or more components and which are solid at ambient temperature but which are liquid at elevated temperatures as such the term generally includes sealants as well likewise hot melt adhesives as a class are also considered to include 34 hot applied 34 adhesives not all of which have a sharp 34 melt 34 point in addition in the context of the present invention the encased hot melt adhesives can include semi solid materials which are anaerobically or otherwise activated upon rupture of the sheath to form.