OVERWRAP FOR PACKAGED ARTICLES

• US 20100000895A1
• Filed: 06/10/2009
• Published: 01/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lincoln Global Incorporated (Lincoln Electric Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lincoln Global Incorporated (Lincoln Electric Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: WEISSBROD, Paul A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,056,717 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/395
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 25/24 Packaging annular articles, e.g. tyres
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/04 for coils of wire, rope or hose

Abstract

An overwrap provides cushioning and protection for an object, stored in a bag or other container, during transport and/or storage. The overwrap has a generally smooth exterior surface and textured interior surface that is pliable for conforming to bumps or other raised portions of the object thereby providing a generally smooth exterior covering that minimizes frictional forces with the bag. The overwrap may include one or more folding scores that allow the body of the overwrap to bend into a channel. A plurality of material discontinuities may also be included that allow the overwrap of conform to the object without bunching.

Claims

1. An overwrap for covering an associated object having a body and one or more angled faces, the overwrap comprising:

an overwrap body for covering a first portion of the associated object; and

,

at least one side panel that extends from the overwrap body and that folds upon itself to cover at least one face of the associated object, wherein the at least one side panel includes webbing that constrains the at least one side panel to fold upon itself in a substantially uniform manner on the surface of the at least one face.

2. The overwrap as defined in claim 1, wherein the overwrap further includes one or more spaced apart material discontinuities incorporated into the at least one side panel thereby defining adjacent side panel segments, and,

wherein the adjacent side panel segments overlap in a substantially uniform manner at the one or more spaced apart material discontinuities.

3. The overwrap as defined in claim 1, wherein the one or more spaced apart material discontinuities comprise spaced apart slots fashioned in the at least one side panel.

4. The overwrap as defined in claim 3, wherein the slots have a tapered configuration and a width that defines the how far one panel segment overlaps an adjacent panel segment.

5. The overwrap as defined in claim 1, wherein the one or more spaced apart material discontinuities comprise spaced apart slits fashioned in the at least one side panel.

6. The overwrap as defined in claim 5, wherein the spaced apart slits are non-linear and substantially equidistantly spaced apart.

7. An overwrap for covering an associated generally cylindrical object having first and second cylinder faces spaced apart by a circumferential surface, the overwrap comprising:

an overwrap body for covering the circumferential surface;

first and second side panels extending from the overwrap body to form a concave channel that covers the first and second cylinder faces, wherein at least one of the side panels is fashioned from material having a plurality of spaced apart discontinuities that constrain the at least one of the side panels to fold at spaced apart intervals; and

,

wherein the concave channel defines an interior surface that includes a plurality of flexible undulations that conform to the associated generally cylindrical object.

8. The overwrap as defined in claim 7, wherein the channel defines an exterior surface that is substantially smooth.

9. The overwrap as defined in claim 7, wherein the plurality of spaced apart breaks are substantially equidistantly spaced apart.

10. The overwrap as defined in claim 7, wherein the at least a first side panel folds proportionately to the dimensions of the plurality of spaced apart breaks.

11. The overwrap as defined in claim 7, wherein the plurality of spaced apart breaks comprise one or more holes fashioned in the at least a first side panel.

12. The overwrap as defined in claim 11, wherein the one or more holes are generally elongate terminating at a web of material that circumscribes an inner edge of the channel.

13. A system for containing an associated coil of wire having first and second coil faces and a plurality of surface protrusions, the system comprising:

an overwrap incorporating means for conforming the overwrap to fold into a substantially smooth outer surface that covers the first and second coil faces, and wherein the overwrap is adapted to deform for leveling the plurality of surface protrusions thereby forming a smooth surface around the associated coil of wire; and

,

a hermetically sealable bag sized to receive the overwrap and the associated coil of wire.

14. The system as defined in claim 13, wherein the overwrap comprises:

an overwrap body; and

,

wherein said means for conforming the overwrap comprises;

at least a first panel extending from the overwrap body, the at least a first panel being segmented into adjacent panel sections by breaks in the at least a first panel.

15. The system as defined in claim 14, wherein adjacent panel sections are joined by a contiguous web of material at respective ends.

16. The system as defined in claim 14, wherein the breaks comprise tapered gaps that define an opening, and wherein the adjacent panel sections fold upon themselves to cover the opening.

17. The system as defined in claim 13, wherein the overwrap has a first side that includes a series of undulations that deform to substantially level out the plurality of surface protrusions.

18. The system as defined in claim 17, wherein the overwrap defines a second side that is free of undulations.

19. A method of packaging an object having one or more protrusions, the steps comprising:

providing a generally planar overwrap having an overwrap body and a side panel extending from the overwrap body, wherein the side panel is segmented into multiple panel sections by one or more slots that constrain one panel section to fold onto an adjacent panel section by a predetermined amount;

forming the generally planar overwrap in a concave channel;

conforming the generally planar overwrap onto the object; and

,

sealing the overwrap and object in a hermetically sealable bag.

20. The method as defined in claim 19, wherein the one or more slots has a width, and wherein the predetermine amount is substantially equal to the width of the one or more slots.