U.S. patent application number 10/839363 was filed with the patent office on 2005-11-10 for sidewall protector for a steel coil.
Invention is credited to Bergnach, Mark.
Application Number | 20050247589 10/839363 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35238468 |
Filed Date | 2005-11-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050247589 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bergnach, Mark |
November 10, 2005 |
Sidewall protector for a steel coil
Abstract
A sidewall protector for a steel coil having a generally
sheet-shaped and easily foldable structure, configured to
accommodate and generally conform to the surfaces of the steel
coils. The sidewall protector includes a top surface guard, a
sidewall surface guard, and an integrally-formed hinge. The top
surface guard and sidewall surface guard are positioned adjacent to
each other on opposite sides of the integral hinge. The integral
hinge extends longitudinally at least partially through the
protective sheet. The top surface guard is configured for engaging
the top surface of the steel coil and the sidewall surface guard is
configured for engaging the sidewall surface of the steel coil. The
integral hinge is configured so that said top and sidewall guards
can be oriented angularly to each other and engage, respectively,
both the top surface and the sidewall surface of the steel
coil.
Inventors: |
Bergnach, Mark; (Burr Ridge,
IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MICHAEL J. BERGNACH
822 Sheridan Road
Kenosha
WI
53140
US
|
Family ID: |
35238468 |
Appl. No.: |
10/839363 |
Filed: |
May 5, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/389 ;
248/682 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 81/053 20130101;
B65D 81/054 20130101; B65D 85/67 20130101; B65D 2581/057
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/389 ;
248/682 |
International
Class: |
B65D 085/66 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A device for protecting a steel coil comprising: a generally
sheet-shaped structure having a top surface guard, a sidewall
surface guard, and a means for folding said structure; said top
surface guard and said sidewall surface guard positioned adjacent
to each other on opposite sides of said means for folding; said top
surface guard configured for engaging the top surface of the steel
coil; said sidewall surface guard configured for engaging the
sidewall surface of the steel coil; and said means for folding
configured so that said top and sidewall guards can be oriented
angularly to each other and engage, respectively, both the top
surface and the sidewall surface of the steel coil.
2. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein said top surface guard
includes a middle portion that integrally connects to said means
for folding and two outer flanges that protrude in opposite lateral
directions from said middle portion.
3. The device as defined in claim 2, wherein said outer flanges are
configured to generally conform to the generally radial top surface
of the steel coil.
4. The device as defined in claim 3, wherein said outer flanges
each include at least one means for bending on the front surfaces
of the outer flanges, whereby said outer flanges can bend to
generally conform and accommodate the generally radial shape of the
top surface of the steel coil.
5. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein said sidewall surface
guard is flat and rigid to generally conform to the generally flat
sidewall surface of the steel coil.
6. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein said sidewall surface
guard includes curved upper edges on opposite sides of said means
for folding, whereby said curved upper edges are configured to
generally conform to the generally radial front edge of the top
surface of the steel coil.
7. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for folding
has relief fillets on opposite lateral sides.
8. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein said sidewall
protector is made from a cardboard, fiberboard, or plastic
material.
9. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein said sidewall
protector is made out of a single piece of material.
10. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein said sidewall
protector is made out of multiple pieces of material.
11. A device for protecting a steel coil in combination with a
steel coil comprising: a generally sheet-shaped structure having a
top surface guard, a sidewall surface guard, and a means for
folding said structure; said top surface guard and said sidewall
surface guard positioned adjacent to each other on opposite sides
of said means for folding; said top surface guard configured for
engaging the top surface of the steel coil; said sidewall surface
guard configured for engaging the sidewall surface of the steel
coil; and said means for folding configured so that said top and
sidewall guards can be oriented angularly to each other and engage,
respectively, both the top surface and the sidewall surface of the
steel coil.
12. The device as defined in claim 11, wherein said top surface
guard includes a middle portion that integrally connects to said
means for folding and two outer flanges that protrude in opposite
lateral directions from said middle portion.
13. The device as defined in claim 12, wherein said outer flanges
are configured to generally conform to the generally radial top
surface of the steel coil.
14. The device as defined in claim 13, wherein said outer flanges
each include at least one means for bending on the front surfaces
of the outer flanges, whereby said outer flanges can bend to
generally conform and accommodate the generally radial shape of the
top surface of the steel coil.
15. The device as defined in claim 11, wherein said sidewall
surface guard is flat and rigid to generally conform to the
generally flat sidewall surface of the steel coil.
16. The device as defined in claim 11, wherein said sidewall
surface guard includes curved upper edges on opposite sides of said
means for folding, whereby said curved upper edges are configured
to generally conform to the generally radial front edge of the top
surface of the steel coil.
17. The device as defined in claim 11, wherein said means for
folding has relief fillets on opposite lateral sides.
18. The device as defined in claim 11, wherein said sidewall
protector is made from a cardboard, fiberboard, or plastic
material.
19. A device for protecting a steel coil comprising: a generally
sheet-shaped structure having a top surface guard, a sidewall
surface guard, and a means for folding said structure; said top
surface guard and said sidewall surface guard positioned adjacent
to each other on opposite sides of said means for folding; said top
surface guard configured for engaging the top surface of the steel
coil; said sidewall surface guard configured for engaging the
sidewall surface of the steel coil; said means for folding
configured so that said top and sidewall guards can be oriented
angularly to each other and engage, respectively, both the top
surface and the sidewall surface of the steel coil; said top
surface guard including a middle portion that integrally connects
to said means for folding and two outer flanges that protrude in
opposite lateral directions from said middle portion; said outer
flanges configured to generally conform to the generally radial top
surface of the steel coil; said outer flanges each including at
least one means for bending on the front surfaces of the outer
flanges, whereby said outer flanges can bend to generally conform
and accommodate the generally radial shape of the top surface of
the steel coil; said sidewall surface guard that is flat and rigid
to generally conform to the generally flat sidewall surface of the
steel coil; said sidewall surface guard including curved upper
edges on opposite sides of said means for folding, whereby said
curved upper edges are configured to generally conform to the
generally radial front edge of the top surface of the steel coil;
said means for folding having relief fillets on opposite lateral
sides; and said sidewall protector being made from a cardboard,
fiberboard, or plastic material.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to devices for protecting the
surfaces and edges of steel coils especially during handling,
lifting, and transporting and, more specifically, to a sidewall
protector for a steel coil.
[0002] Known devices for protecting steels coil have focused on
packaging, that is, properly packaging a steel coil to contain it
during handling and transporting. Similarly, more dedicated
protection devices for steel coils have specifically concentrated
on protecting the steel coil in the packaging process, i.e.,
protecting the steel coil from packaging materials. These known
devices include corner packaging guards, which are used in
conjunction with steel banding to securely wrap a steel coil and
contain it during handling and transporting. The corner packaging
guards protect the corner edges of a steel coil from deforming upon
pressure from the banding and upon any impacts with the bands by
supporting the corner edges and separating the steel coil from
contact with the bands. These devices are relatively small and only
cover the portion of the steel coil that would come into contact
with the banding material at the corners of the steel coil. They do
not cover or protect the surfaces of the steel coil, which can come
into contact with machinery during lifting, moving, and
positioning. Thus, despite the protection that the corner packaging
guards offer from banding, they leave other substantial surfaces of
the steel coil susceptible to damage.
[0003] U.S. Pat. D461,394, issued to Bergnach and incorporated by
reference, shows an ornamental design for a steel coil sidewall
guard. FIGS. 1-6 in Bergnach '394 are relevant to the present
invention.
[0004] Steel coils are extremely heavy objects that are awkward and
very difficult to lift, handle, and transport. Heavy, powerful
equipment like over-head cranes with large hooks, large fork lifts,
and other strong lifting/moving equipment is required to lift,
move, and position a steel coil. Handlers must give much attention
and take great care in the use of this equipment to try to avoid
damaging the surfaces of the steel coil, because the equipment is
more powerful, heavier, and harder than the surfaces of a steel
coil. Nevertheless, due to the harsh and busy environments in which
steel coils are used, mistakes are likely, and can result in dings,
dents, impressions, and abrasions to surfaces of the steel coil.
This damage can make the steel coil material wholly or partially
unusable, creating excessive and expensive waste and scrap. It may
reduce the value of a steel coil, which ultimately leads to lost
income.
[0005] Even taking the best precautions may not prevent damage to a
steel coil during engagement and handling due to the difficulty in
locating the inner diameter or other secure location from which the
steel coil can be hoisted for movement. Poor sight lines for an
equipment operator or a relatively distant steel coil may make a
secure lifting surface on the inner diameter of the steel coil or a
safe engagement trajectory difficult for a crane or fork lift
operator to visually ascertain. The crane or fork lift operator may
accidentally bump into the steel coil or scrape against the
sidewall or top surface of the steel coil with the equipment while
attempting to position the hook or forks against a secure lifting
surface. The surfaces that are especially susceptible to damage are
the top and sidewall surfaces of a steel coil, because of their
close proximity to the lifting or engagement surface at the top of
the inner diameter. Moreover, a lifting crane hook may swing out of
control around the top surface and the sidewall surface during
engagement with the steel coil before being secured within the
inner diameter of the steel coil. Also, the forks from a fork lift
may inadvertently contact the top and sidewall surfaces of a steel
coil causing damage during engagement.
[0006] Thus, a need exists for a device for protecting the surfaces
of a steel coil, specifically the top surface and sidewall surface,
during engagement with cranes, fork lifts, and other handling
equipment and during lifting, moving, and positioning of a steel
coil. There is also a need for a device to help equipment operators
more easily visually locate an engagement position on a steel coil.
Lastly, there is a need for a sidewall protector for steel coils
that is more easily fitted to a steel coil and better conforms to
the shape of a steel coil.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The above-listed needs are met or exceeded by the present
sidewall protector for a steel coil. The sidewall protector has
both a top surface guard and a sidewall surface guard that cover
and protect a greater amount of surface area of a steel coil than
material configured just for packaging and containing. The top and
sidewall guards have been configured to cover a large enough area
of the top and sidewall surfaces of the steel coil to protect the
coil during engagement with heavy lifting equipment. Moreover, the
sidewall protector has been configured to be positioned on the top
of the coil, an area especially susceptible to damage during
handling and engagement with heavy moving equipment. It follows
then that since this area is the area of engagement with heavy
equipment, the current sidewall protector more clearly designates
this area, which enables operators of heavy equipment to more
easily see, guide, and position their equipment for engagement with
a steel coil.
[0008] More specifically, the present invention provides a device
for protecting a steel coil including a generally sheet-shaped
structure having a top surface guard, a sidewall surface guard, and
an integrally-formed hinge. The top and sidewall guards are
positioned adjacent to each other on opposite sides of the integral
hinge. The top surface guard is configured for engaging the top
surface of the steel coil. The sidewall surface guard is configured
for engaging the sidewall surface of the steel coil. The integral
hinge enables the structure to fold, so that the top and sidewall
guards can be oriented angularly to each other and generally
conform, respectively, to both the top surface and the sidewall
surface of the steel coil.
[0009] Further, the sidewall protector has been configured to
better accommodate and more fully conform to the surfaces of a
steel coil with which it engages. The top surface guard has outer
flanges that generally conform and embrace the radial top surface
of a steel coil. Also, in the preferred embodiment, the outer
flanges include at least one bending impression or score, which
allows the outer flange to more easily bend or form a radial
surface, and keep this form. Therefore, the sidewall protector can
be easily fitted and installed, staying in position during banding.
The sidewall surface guard, on the other hand, has a flat, rigid
structure configured to generally match the generally flat sidewall
surface of a steel coil. Therefore, the present sidewall protector
can more easily be installed on a steel coil and more completely
support the top and sidewall surfaces of a steel coil.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of
the present sidewall protector for a steel coil showing a steel
coil as part of the environment in which the present sidewall
protector is used;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a front view of the preferred embodiment of the
present sidewall protector for a steel coil in an open or unfolded
configuration;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a top view of the preferred embodiment of the
present sidewall protector for a steel coil in a folded
configuration;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the
present sidewall protector for a steel coil in a folded
configuration; and
[0014] FIG. 5 is a front view of the preferred embodiment of the
present sidewall protector for a steel coil in a folded
configuration.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] Referring now to FIGS. 1-5, a preferred embodiment of the
present sidewall protector for a steel coil is generally designated
10. As best shown in FIG. 2, the sidewall protector 10 has a
generally sheet-shaped structure and includes a top surface guard
12, a sidewall surface guard 14, and an integral hinge 16.
Preferably, the top guard 12 and the sidewall guard 14 will be
large and broad enough to cover as much of the top and sidewall
surfaces of the steel coil as possible, while remaining practically
and easily handled by packaging equipment and packaging operators.
Also, as best shown in FIG. 2, the top guard 12 and the sidewall
guard 14 are positioned adjacent to each other on opposite sides of
the integral hinge 16. The integral hinge 16 extends longitudinally
at least partially through the protective sheet. Therefore, the
integral hinge 16 enables the top guard 12 and the sidewall guard
14 to rotate in relation to each other. When rotated, the top guard
12 can be configured at a 90 degree angle relative to the sidewall
guard 14, as best shown in FIG. 4. FIGS. 1,3,4, and 5 all show,
that as the top guard 12 and the sidewall guard 14 are configured
angularly to each other, they maintain integral connections with
each other and with the overall structure of the sidewall protector
10. Another embodiment of the present sidewall protector may use
another structural device, which is apparent to one of ordinary
skill in the art, in the place of the integral hinge to enable the
sidewall protector to fold.
[0016] FIG. 1 shows how the present sidewall protector 10 is
configured to engage the surfaces of a steel coil to protect those
surfaces from heavyweight hooks, fork lifts, or other heavy
equipment during engagement and disengagement with the steel coil
and during lifting, moving, and positioning of the steel coil. The
integral hinge 16 allows the top surface guard 12 and the sidewall
surface guard 14 to be oriented angularly to each other to engage
and generally conform with the top surface and the sidewall
surface, respectively, of a steel coil, as shown in FIG. 1.
Further, in FIG. 1, the top guard 12 is shown to engage the top
surface of the steel coil, while, at the same time, the sidewall
guard 14 is shown to engage the sidewall surface of the steel coil.
FIG. 2 best shows that the top guard 12 has a middle portion 19,
which integrally connects to the integral hinge, and also has two
outer flanges 18 that protrude in opposite lateral directions from
the middle portion 19. As depicted in FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, the outer
flanges 18 have neither a direct connection to the sidewall guard
14 nor the integral hinge 16. Therefore, the outer flanges 18 are
free to bend and curve without structural restriction from the
sidewall surface guard 14, which is rigid and flat. Hence, the
outer flanges 18 are able to generally conform to the generally
radial top surface of the steel coil. In the preferred embodiment,
as especially depicted in FIGS. 1,2, and 3, the outer flanges 18
include bending impressions or scores 24 on the front surfaces of
the outer flanges 18, which enable the outer flanges 18 to bend
more easily and remain in a prone bent or curved configuration.
These bending impressions or scores 24 enable the sidewall
protector 10 to more readily conform to the radial top surface of a
steel coil and remain in an engaged position with that surface
during packaging or banding of a steel coil. Another embodiment of
the present sidewall protector does not include bending impressions
or scores in the outer flanges.
[0017] Further, as depicted in FIGS. 1,2,4, and 5, the sidewall
surface guard is flat and rigid to better conform to the generally
flat sidewall surface of the steel coil. Also, as best shown in
FIG. 2, the sidewall surface guard has curved upper edges 20 on
opposites side of the integral hinge 16. The curved upper edges 20
are configured to generally conform to the generally radial profile
edge of the top surface of the steel coil.
[0018] Therefore, the present sidewall protector is configured to
protect surfaces of a steel coil, which may be most susceptible to
destructive contact with heavy equipment during handling. The
present sidewall protector is configured to generally conform to
the steel coil to support its features and be more easily fitted
onto a steel coil.
[0019] FIG. 2 most clearly shows that at opposite lateral sides of
the integral hinge 16, there resides two relief fillets 22. The
relief fillets 22 enable the sidewall protector to better
accommodate and fit a steel coil and make it easier for an operator
or machine to package a steel coil into the sidewall protector 10.
A better fit means that the top guard 12 and the sidewall guard 14
more fully engage the surfaces of the steel coil with most or all
of their surface area. This situation provides the most protection
for the steel coil. Further, the relief fillets 22 create a
separation space at the hinging or folding point between the top
guard 12 and the sidewall guard 14, lowering the sidewall guard 14,
moving it more toward the center of the sidewall of a steel coil
where side to side cord lengths are longer, which can accommodate
coils with smaller diameters. The relief fillets 22 also prevent
interference between the top guard 12 and sidewall guard 14 while
accommodating steel coils with varying diameters and shapes.
Therefore, the relief fillets 22 allow more room for error during
packaging to maintain a good fit on a steel coil. Further, the
relief fillets 22 make it easier to install the sidewall protector
10 on a steel coil by locating the top guard 12 on a steel coil and
bending the outer flanges inward against the diameter of the steel
coil before sliding the sidewall guard 14 against the sidewall of
the steel coil.
[0020] While various embodiments of the present invention have been
shown and described, it should be understood that other
modifications, substitutions, and alternatives are apparent to one
of ordinary skill in the art. Such modifications, substitutions,
and alternatives can be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention, which should be determined from the
appended claims. The general shape of sidewall protector 10 may
vary in size and proportions to achieve the best surface protection
for steel coils of varying dimensions. Also, the shapes of the
sidewall protector, the integral hinge, the bending impressions or
scores, and all other elements of this invention are configured to
be mass produced by processes well-known and apparent to one of
ordinary skill in the art. Lastly, it should be understood that the
present sidewall protector may be made out of a single piece or
multiple pieces of cardboard, fiberboard, plastic, or other capable
material.
* * * * *