[0001] This invention relates to an interior core protector and, more particularly, to the
protection of the interior material in a roll of coiled'material, for example, a coil
of sheet steel.
[0002] It is well known that sheet steel, e.g., that which is used extensively in the automobile
industry, is placed in large coils by the steel producer for shipment to the user.
These coils weigh up to 15 tonnes and include a centre core or opening therethrough.
It is quite common in strapping of the coil, to prevent its uncoiling, to place steel
straps through the centre core and about the outside of the coil. Typically, at least
two and sometimes three or four of these straps spaced about the coil are used. Furthermore,
it is quite common in the transport of these heavy coils, particularly in their loading
and unloading from trucks and railway cars, to use a C-hook which comes down and passes
through the centre core and is then raised to engage the interior surface of the material
to lift the coil on and off the truck or railway car. In doing so, the C-hook often
damages the metal particularly by bending of the edges of the material located at
the centre of the coil. That is, when the C-hook is placed through the coil and raised
upwardly into engagement with the material, it is rare that the hook ever engages
the material at both edges with equal pressure. Rather, the hook typically first engages
one edge and then the other. When this happens, the pressure of the hook on the material
causes its bending. This bent material, of course, is not usable and must be scrapped.
It is not uncommon for the user to have to scrap 10 to 15 metres or more of the: sheet'metal
because of such damage.
[0003] In addition to damage by the C-hook in loading and unloading of the coil material,
it is also quite common for the transporter to throw a chain through the interior
core of the coil to secure the coil on a truck or railway car. This likewise causes
damage to the edges of the material causing waste and scrap of what would otherwise
be usable material.
[0004] It has been suggested therefore to provide some form of protection for the material
about the interior core of the coil. However, prior attempts to provide such protection
have not been wholly successful either economically or in terms of providing the protection
needed.
[0005] It is an object of this invention to provide an interior core protector for positioning
about the inner circumference of a coil of material having a core to protect the edge
of material from damage which will alleviate or eliminate the drawbacks of prior art
protectors. To this end, the protector in accordance with the invention comprises
a pair of overlapping angle members each of which has two legs one of which is provided
with a plurality of cuts permitting bending of the member to conform to the circumference
of the core, wherein the cuts in the leg of one of the members are offset with respect
to the cuts in the leg of the other of the members so that in use each cut in either
leg is covered by a portion of the other leg so as to provide protection around the
entire circumference of the core.
[0006] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the interior core protector includes
a pair of overlapping formed angular paperboard members which are manufactured in
a flat, i.e., non-arcuate configuration. One leg of each of the members includes a
series of cuts spaced along its length and extending from the free edge of the leg
to the angle joining the legs. These cuts permit bending of the core protector to
conform to the inner diameter of,the coil. The cuts in the legs of one of the members-
are offset with respect to the cuts in the other member such that when the protector
is bent to conform to the inner diameter of the coil and the spacing along each cut
correspondingly increases, i.e., the cut opens up when the protector is bent, there
is nevertheless provided a section of paperboard material overlapping each cut. The
core protector thus provides protection for the material about the complete circumference,
i.e. 360°, of the inner core of the coil. Thus, when a chain is thrown through the
core or a C-hook passing through the. coil engages the material, the edges of the
inner length of the material are protected from damage. No special locating or positioning
of the C-hook, for example, is needed. Rather, since 360° protection to the edges
of the material at the inner core is provided, the coil may be grasped at any location.
[0007] Among the many advantages of such an embodiment are the protection it provides the
coiled material including protection to the edges of the inner length of material
around the entire circumference of the inner core, the economy of the materials of
construction in that the protector is preferably formed of relatively inexpensive
paperboard, the economic use of this material in that there is very little waste in
forming the protector, the rigidity of the formed angular members whereby when the
protector is placed in the core the flanges closely conform to the material and do
not fall down or tend to flatten out, the fact that the angular members once bent
tend to want to straighten out and thus when placed in the core the protector tends
to urge itself into engagement with the inner diameter of the coil, and the fact that
the protector can be economically packaged and shipped merely by stacking up a series
of protectors one on another and shipping them in a straight or non-arcuate position.
This results in full utilization of shipping capacity with no waste of space.
[0008] The invention also extends to a coil of material provided with interior core protectors
in accordance with the invention.
[0009] An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference
to the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an interior core protector in accordance with
the present invention, positioned within a coil of sheet steel;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the interior core protector as manufactured and before
bending; and
Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing an arc of the core protector when positioned in
use.
[0010] i Referring now to Fig. 1, there is shown a coil of sheet material 10, for example,
a large and heavy coil of sheet steel of the type typically used in the automobile
industry, for purposes of illustrating the environment in which this embodiment of
the invention finds particular applicability. As shown in Fig. 1, the sheet material
is coiled to form a large roll of material having a open centre, i.e. hollow, core
12. A series of steel bands 14 are placed through the core 12 and about the coiled
material to keep the material from uncoiling. As is common practice in the industry,
paperboard angle protectors 16 are provided on the outer diameter of the coil 10 to
keep the edges of the sheet steel from cutting the steel straps. An interior core
protector 20 in accordance with the present invention is placed about the inner core
12 of the coil 10 on both sides of the coil, i.e., two protectors are used for each
coil. Thus, when the coil protectors 20 are positioned in the core 12 of the coil
10 as shown in Fig. 1, the protectors 20 form a protective barrier around both inner
edges of the coiled material.
[0011] Referring to Fig. 2, the core protector 20 is formed of two like overlapping formed
angular members 22 and 24. Each member 22 and 24 includes a pair of legs 22a and 22b
and 24a and 24b, respectively, which are generally at right angles one to another.
The protector 20 is preferably formed of a relatively inexpensive material such as
paperboard. A presently preferred thickness of the protector is of the order of 0.30
cm, this being the total thickness of the protector or sum of the thicknesses of the
two members 22 and 24. One leg 22b and 24b of each member is die cut to provide a
series of generally equally spaced cuts 26 extending from the outer edges 28 and 30,
respectively, of each leg 22b and 24b to the angles 32 and 34, respectively, at which
the two legs 22a and 22b and 24a and 24b of each member meet. These die cuts 26 permit
the protector to be bent into the generally circular configuration shown in Fig. 1.
The two members may be joined by an adhesive placed between the overlapping uncut
legs 22a and 24a of the angles 22 and 24.
[0012] In a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, the protector 20 is about 190
cm long to cover the circumference of a 60 cm diameter core and each leg is approximately
7.5 cm long. Thus, when the protector is bent to conform to the diameter of the core
and is placed in use as shown in Fig. 1, an area of protective paperboard extends
axially in the interior of the core 7.5 cm from the outer edge of the coil from both
sides of the coil and radially outwardly 7.5 cm along the face of each side of the
coil 10.
[0013] As shown in Fig. 2, the cuts 26 in one leg 22b of one member 22 are offset from the
cuts 26 in the leg 24b of the other member 24. Thus, when the protector 20 is bent
into its generally circular configuration and the width of the cuts 26 correspondingly
widens, as shown in Fig. 3, there nevertheless is maintained at each cut 26 a section
of protective material which overlies the openings caused by the cuts. As shown in
Fig. 3, a section 22b underlies the cut 26 in leg 24, and a section 24b overlies the
cut 26 in leg 22. Thus, even though the cuts 26 open up on bending of the material,
because of the overlapping legs 22b and 24b there is maintained protective paperboard
material about the entire circumference of the coil.
[0014] It is important to note that legs 22b and 24b are not glued together prior to bending
of the core protector since the sections between the cuts 26 must be free to slide
over their overlying sections to permit bending of the protector. However, in some
cases, particularly with lighter material, it may be desired to adhere the overlying
sections together after bending so that the sections do not fall or extend outwardly
where possibly they may be torn off during use. Both objectives may be accomplished
by providing the surface of leg 22b facing leg 24b with a layer of pressure sensitive
adhesive covered with a removable release paper. The release paper prevents the facing
legs from adhering before bending. To form the core protector to the shape of the
interior core of the coil: it is merely necessary to remove the release paper thereby
exposing the pressure sensitive adhesive, bend the protector to its generally circular
configuration, insert the protector in the coil, and tten press the legs 22b and 24b
together.
[0015] With the protectors 20 in place in the core 12, when the coil is grasped, for example,
by a C-mook, or a hold down chain is thrown through the cor, protection of the edges
of the inner length of the coiled material is provided about the full circumference
of the inner core. Thus, the core protector 20 provides for complete protection along
the entire 360° circumference of the core, and the C-hook can therefore enter the
core from any position about the core.
[0016] One of the advantages of the present embodiment is that when the protector 20 is
bent to conform to the diameter of the core 12 the resiliency or memory properties
of the paperboard material from which the protector is made tends to want to straighten
the material back to its flat or unbend condition. This is desirable since it causes
the protector to expand outwardly and, as a result, to tightly engage the material
about the inner core. Thus, there is no need for any special provision for either
locating or holding the core protector in position before strapping of the coil. Secondly,
since the core protector is made of a formed angular paperboard member, the angle
between the legs is rigid and maintains itself in both the unbent and bent conditions
of the core protector. Thus, the legs having the cuts 26 tend to lie flat against
the surface of the coil as contrasted to falling down as would be the case if a flat
material such as paper were only creased to lie against the face of the coil. Thirdly,
in addition to being made of relatively inexpensive paperboard material, the core
protector makes very economic use of this material. That is, there is no waste of
material as would otherwise occur if the core protector were to be made as a annular
piece. This would require cutting of an annulus out of a flat square sheet which would
waste the core as well as the material lying outside the outer diameter of the annulus.
Thus, a savings in material of the order 60% is realised with the core protector of
the present embodiment.
[0017] Still further, in the preferred embodiment the core protector can be packaged, shipped
and stored in its flat or straight, i.e. unbent, condition (as'shown in Fig. 2) such
that the core protector must be bent by the user to fit it into the coil. This permits
the protectors to be economically packaged and shipped merely by stacking them one
on another. There is none of the wasted space which would be occasioned if annular
protectors were shipped.
[0018] Thus, at least in the preferred embodiment the core protector of the present invention
provides not only excellent protection for the coiled material but is relatively economic
to produce and to ship. Since these core protectors are a disposable item, this is
very important to the producers of the coiled material.
[0019] Althought the preferred material is paperboard, other materials could be used.
1. An interior core protector (20) for positioning about the inner circumference of
a coil of material (10) having a core (12) to protect the material from damage, characterised
by a pair of overlapping angle members (22, 24) each of which has two legs (22a, 22b;
24a, 24b) one of which (22b, 24b) is provided with a plurality of cuts (26) permitting
bending of the member (22, 24) to conform to the circumference of the core (12), wherein
the cuts (26) in the leg (22b) of one of the members (22) are offset with respect
to the cuts (26) in the leg (24b) of the other of the members (24) so that in use
each cut (26) in either leg (22b, 24b) is covered by a portion of the other leg (22b,
24b) so as to provide protection around the entire circumference of the core (12).
2. An interior core protector as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the angle
members (22, 24) are formed from paperboard.
3. An interior core protector as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the
other legs (22a, 24a) of each angle member (22, 24) are joined together by means of
adhesive.
4. An interior core protector as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that
the thickness thereof is about 0.30 cm.
5. An interior core protector as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that
the length of each leg (22a, 22b, 24a, 24b) is about 7.5 cm.
6. An interior core protector as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in
that it is bent to conform to the circumference of the core (12) of the coil of material
(10) with which it is to be used.
7. An interior core protector as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that the legs
(22b, 24b) provided with the cuts (26) are joined together by means of adhesive.
8. An interior core protector as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, characterised in
that it is in an unbent condition for example for shipping or storage purposes.
9. An interior core protector as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that adhesive
means are provided for joining together the legs (22b, 24b) provided with the cuts
(26) after the protector is bent to conform to the circumference of the core (12)
of the coil of material (10) with which it is to be used.
10. A coil of material (10) having a central, hollow core (12) extending therethrough,
there being a pair of protectors (20) for the edge of the material around the circumference
of the core (12) at each end thereof, characterised in that each protector (20) is
as claimed in claim 6 or 7.