U.S. patent application number 09/772398 was filed with the patent office on 2001-10-25 for holders for a roll core.
Invention is credited to Liu, An-Hsia.
Application Number | 20010032904 09/772398 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25094931 |
Filed Date | 2001-10-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010032904 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Liu, An-Hsia |
October 25, 2001 |
Holders for a roll core
Abstract
A roll core supporting apparatus comprises a pair of cylindrical
handles. Each of the handles provides a generally circular side
wall having a plurality of arcuate side wall segments adapted for
compressive constraint within the roll core and outward spring bias
deflection for gripping the roll core interiorly at one end. The
pair of handles, then, are placed in each end of the roll core. The
arcuate side wall segments may be axially oriented or
circumferentially oriented. The side wall further provides a
plurality of spaced-apart, axially-directed stiffening ribs. The
roll core is supported by the two handles which allows the film to
be dispensed from the roll as it rotates about the handles.
Inventors: |
Liu, An-Hsia; (Torrance,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Patent Law & Venture Group
3151 Airway Ave., Suite K-105
Costa Mesa
CA
92626
US
|
Family ID: |
25094931 |
Appl. No.: |
09/772398 |
Filed: |
January 29, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60179382 |
Jan 31, 2000 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
242/571.4 ;
242/588.2; 242/613.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 75/242 20130101;
B65H 75/185 20130101; B65H 2402/41 20130101; B65H 2301/5154
20130101; B65H 2407/10 20130101; B65H 2701/1752 20130101; B65H
2301/41346 20130101; B65H 2402/412 20130101; B65H 16/06 20130101;
B65H 2701/5122 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
242/571.4 ;
242/588.2; 242/613.5 |
International
Class: |
B65H 016/06; B65H
075/24 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A roll core supporting apparatus comprising at least one
cylindrical handle, the at least one handle providing a generally
circular side wall, the side wall comprising a plurality of
side-by-side arcuate side wall segments adapted for outward spring
bias deflection for gripping a roll core interiorly at one end
thereof.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the arcuate side wall segments
are axially oriented.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the arcuate side wall segments
are circumferentially oriented.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the side wall further provides
a plurality of spaced-apart, axially-directed stiffening ribs.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 further providing an integral outwardly
directed flange at a proximal end of the side wall wherein the
outwardly directed flange providing a peripheral stiffening
lip.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the outwardly directed flange
provides a plurality of integral spaced-apart corner ears extending
radially outwardly therefrom.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 further providing an integral end wall
at a distal end of the side wall.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the end wall provides a finger
access aperture.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the side wall provides an
axially directed seam enabled for parting the side wall.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a means for sealing
the axially directed seam.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a proximal portion of the side
wall is generally non-tapered and a distal portion of the side wall
is tapered, the tapered portion providing a sliding fit within the
roll core, the non-tapered portion providing a compression fit
within the roll core.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 constructed of a material having a low
coefficient of friction for sliding in contact with a roll core.
Description
[0001] The present invention claims the priority date of a prior
filed provisional patent application having Ser. No. 60/179,382 and
an official filing date of Jan. 31, 2000 and which discloses
substantially the same material as described herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates generally to roll core holders and
more particularly to a cup-shaped flexible handle adapted for
insertion into an open end of a film dispensing roll.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] The following art defines the present state of this
field:
[0006] Parry, U.S. Pat. No. 4,179,081 describes an improved
apparatus for the manual application of plastics stretch films to
materials and items to be packaged and secured as a unit or
packaged and secured to a shipping and transporting means. The
apparatus consists of an extended core for the supply of plastics
stretch film and a pair of tubular-like grip means for said
extended core. Said grip means serving as a manual control means
for the speed of paying out the plastics stretch film material, and
as a manual means for applying tension on the film during the
course of applying it to materials and items.
[0007] Parry, U.S. Pat. No. 4,248,392 describes an improved
apparatus for the application of plastics stretch films to
materials and items to be packaged and secured as a unit or
packaged and secured to a shipping and transporting means. The
apparatus consists of a pair of insertable adapters for the ends of
a cylindrical core which holds a supply of plastic stretch films
and a pair of tubular-like grip means for said insertable adapters.
The grip means serves as a control means for the speed of paying
out the plastics stretch film material, and as a means for applying
tension on the film during the course of applying it to materials
and items. The apparatus may be used for manual or machine
application of film to materials. Brake shoe equivalents of the
grip means may be used for machine applications.
[0008] Parry et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,722,493 describes a holder for
dispensing stretch film from a roll comprising a cylindrical body
and an arbor rotatably supported on the body. A flexible grip
having internal ribs covers the body and the arbor, so that one
can, by applying finger pressure to the grip, brake rotation of the
arbor and thus control film tension.
[0009] The prior art teaches the use of roll core holders but does
not teach a relatively flimsy cylindrical handle held within a roll
core at either end by compressive elastic material bias. The
present invention fulfills these needs and provides further related
advantages as described in the following summary.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention teaches certain benefits in
construction and use which give rise to the objectives described
below.
[0011] A roll core is made of compressed paper stock or plastic. It
is used to wind up plastic, metal and paper sheets into rolls.
These sheet materials are subsequently dispensed from the rolls.
Rolls of this sort may be supported on a core chuck or similar
equipment whereby the roll goods are pulled from the roll core by
revolving the core on the core chuck. This may be a mechanized or
manual operation. In some cases the roll goods is dispensed by
simply holding the roll core and pulling the sheet roll goods from
the roll core. This is difficult and can cause burns as the roll
slips in the hands of one holding the core. The several Parry
references teach that a manually held support can be used with a
core for the dispensing step. The present invention improves on the
state of the art in this field by providing a very low
manufacturing cost roll holder which is effective and may be
discarded after use. In fact, the cost of the present invention is
low enough to supply a pair of the present invention handles with
every roll of goods that is shipped without driving up the cost of
this commercial product. The present inventive supporting apparatus
comprises a single or pair of cylindrical handles. For a short
length core, a single handle may be used. For longer cores, a pair
of the handles are necessary. Each of the handles provides a
generally circular side wall having a plurality of arcuate side
wall segments adapted for compressive constraint when inserted into
an end of the roll core and provides outward spring bias deflection
for gripping the roll core interiorly. The pair of handles, then,
are placed in each end of the roll core. The arcuate side wall
segments may be axially oriented or circumferentially oriented. The
side wall of the invention further provides a plurality of
spaced-apart, axially-directed stiffening ribs. These ribs are used
to apply finger pressure to prevent the handles from revolving with
the roll core. The roll core is supported by the one or two handles
which allows the film to be dispensed from the roll as the roll
rotates about the stationary handle(s).
[0012] A primary objective of the present invention is to provide
an apparatus and method of use of such apparatus that provides
advantages not taught by the prior art.
[0013] Another objective is to provide such an invention capable of
being produced at low cost.
[0014] A further objective is to provide such an invention capable
of compressing into a roll core and this providing support while
the core is rotated.
[0015] A still further objective is to provide such an invention
capable of being formed from a flat strip and rolled into a
cylindrical for use as a roll core handle.
[0016] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by
way of example, the principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention.
In such drawings:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the
present invention;
[0019] FIG. 2 is an end elevational view thereof;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a further embodiment thereof wherein an end wall
provides an aperture;
[0021] FIGS. 4 and 5 are still further embodiments thereof having
square and round flanges respectively; and
[0022] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a further embodiment thereof
shown unrolled;
[0023] FIG. 7 is the embodiment of FIG. 6 shown rolled into a
cylinder with the seam fastened;
[0024] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a still further embodiment
of the invention having circumferential ribs encircling the side
wall; and
[0025] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a roll of goods with the
invention inserted in one end.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0026] The above described drawing figures illustrate the invention
in several of its preferred embodiments, which are further defined
in detail in the following description.
[0027] A roll core 50 (not a part of the invention) is supported by
one or a pair of cylindrical handles 10 preferably made of
thin-wall plastic. Such roll cores are made of paper or plastic and
are simple tubes with open ends. The handles 10 may be formed by
injection molding, vacuum forming or spin molding. Each handle 10
is an integral, one-piece part providing a generally circular side
wall 20 having a plurality of side-by-side arcuate side wall
segments 22 adapted for compressive constraint within the roll core
50 and derives from such compressive constraint, an outward spring
bias deflection which is used for gripping the roll core 50
interiorly at one of its ends. In compressing, each of the arcuate
segments 22 flex to form a smaller radius of arc, thereby
diminishing the overall outside diameter of the side wall 20. The
handles 10, are placed in one end or alternately, in each end of
the roll core 50 and are manually gripped to support the roll core
while the core is rotated for unwinding the film previously wound
on the core. This is best seen in FIG. 9, The arcuate side wall
segments 22 may be axially oriented as shown in FIG. 7 or
circumferentially oriented, as shown in FIG. 8. The side wall 20
further provides a plurality of spaced-apart, axially-directed
stiffening ribs 42.
[0028] Preferably, an integral, outwardly directed flange 30 is
positioned at a proximal end of the side wall 20 and preferably
provides a peripheral stiffening lip 32. This flange 30 preferably
provides a plurality of integral spaced-apart corner ears 34 which
extend radially outwardly, as clearly shown in FIGS. 1-3.
Preferably, an integral end wall 40 is positioned at a distal end
of the side wall 20, and may be filly closed (FIG. 4), or it may
provide a finger access aperture (FIG. 5). The side wall 20 may be
formed with an axially directed parting seam 24 enabled for parting
the side wall 20 so it may be unrolled as is shown in FIG. 6. This
seam preferably incorporates a means for sealing 26 the seam 24
such as the embossed dimples 28' and corresponding surface
depressions 28" shown in FIG. 6. When the side wall 20 is rolled-up
as shown in FIG. 7, the embossed dimples 28' are pressed into the
surface depressions 28" to secure or fasten the parting seam
24.
[0029] Preferably a proximal portion 21 of the side wall 20 is
generally non-tapered while a distal portion 23 of the side wall 20
is tapered inwardly. The distal tapered portion 23 is sized so that
it provides a sliding fit within the roll core 50, and the proximal
non-tapered portion 21 provides a compression fit within the roll
core 50. To illustrate this, the internal diameter of certain
standard core rolls is exactly 3 inches. Correspondingly, the side
wall is approximately 3 inches in length. The proximal portion 21
of the side wall 10 is preferably between 3{fraction (1/16)} and
3{fraction (1/64)} inches in diameter for a distance of about 1.5
inches from the flange 30 measured axially. For the distal 1.5
inches the side wall 20 tapers uniformly to 23/4 inches. Other
dimensions may be used as well to achieve a handle that is easily
slipped into the roll core and which is secured in it.
[0030] As shown in FIG. 8, the inventive device may comprise
primarily the side wall 20 with circumferentially directed arcuate
ribs 22 as previously stated. In this embodiment, the flange 30 may
comprise several small tabs 32. the compressive flexing of the side
wall 20 when inserted into the roll core is primarily accomplished
when the stiffening ribs 42 move radially inwardly. This causes a
strong spring force to apply gripping power to the interior of the
roll core 50.
[0031] In use, the apparatus enables holding a spinning core
without finger contact so that friction burns are avoided. The
arcuate ribs 22 provide spring-like action which absorbs vibration
forces which would otherwise be passed to the hands. The low
friction material used in construction of the invention enables the
roll core to slip as it rolls, yet also enables holding the roll
core securely. The invention is preferably light in weight such
that the total weight is not significantly changed by using the
handles. The side wall is typically 0.020 in thickness or less.
Thus the cost of the handles is insignificant allowing them to be
discarded after use. The flanges may be used as a brake against the
roll core, and otherwise protects the hands from burns.
[0032] While the invention has been described with reference to at
least one preferred embodiment, it is to be clearly understood by
those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited thereto.
Rather, the scope of the invention is to be interpreted only in
conjunction with the appended claims.
* * * * *