System and method for packing coiled material for transport and display

Abstract

A method and assembly for packing a plurality of similar items of coiled material, each item having an annular shape with an internal circumferential surface of first diameter. A sheet of cardboard is folded to form a hollow cylindrical post having a triangular cross section with only three sides and three corners. The post is shaped so that an imaginary circle of second diameter drawn around the triangular cross section passes through each of the three corners, wherein the first diameter is equal to the second diameter The coiled material is sequentially positioned over the hollow post so that the internal circumferential surface of each item is in substantial contact with each of the three corners. At least two ties are positioned and tensioned to bind the items of coiled material to the post.

1 . A method of packing a plurality of similar items of coiled material, each item having an annular shape with an internal circumferential surface of first diameter, the method comprising:
 providing a sheet of cardboard;   folding the sheet of cardboard to form a hollow cylindrical post having a triangular cross section with only three sides and three corners, wherein an imaginary circle of second diameter drawn around the triangular cross section passes through each of the three corners, and the first diameter is substantially equal to the second diameter; and   sequentially positioning each item of coiled material around the hollow post so that the internal circumferential surface of each item is in substantial contact with each of the three corners, whereby the items are stacked upon each other and are constrained against lateral movement by the post.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising tying the post to the coiled material by means of at least one tie looped, under tension, around at least one corner of the post and the coiled material. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising positioning and tensioning at least two ties around the items of coiled material, wherein each tie extends within a corner of the hollow post, adjacent to two sides of the post, and further extends on the outside of the items of coiled material to form a loop, whereby the tie, when tensioned, compresses the items together and constrains the items against movement along the post. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the at least two ties are three in number. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein positioning and tensioning at least two ties includes using a tie that is a flat strip of material. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein folding the sheet of cardboard further includes folding a portion of a terminal end of each of the three sides of the cylindrical post to form a flange at a terminal end of the post. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein folding the sheet of cardboard includes forming a hollow cylindrical post having an equilateral triangular cross section. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein folding the sheet of cardboard includes forming a continuous sheet of cardboard around at least two of the three corners. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein folding the sheet of cardboard includes forming a continuous sheet of cardboard around each of the three corners. 
     
     
         10 . An assembly of items of coiled material packed for transport, each item having an annular shape with an internal circumferential surface of first diameter, the assembly comprising;
 an elongate hollow post having three sides made of cardboard sheeting, the three sides intersecting in three corners whereby the post has a cross sectional shape that is triangular, wherein an imaginary circle of second diameter drawn around the triangular cross section passes through each of the three corners, and further wherein the first diameter is substantially equal to the second diameter;   a plurality of items of coiled material positioned around the post so that the internal circumferential surface of each item is in substantial contact with each of the three corners.   
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 9 , further including at least two ties extending longitudinally along a corner of the hollow post adjacent to two sides of the post, and further extending on the outside of the items of coiled material to form a loop, the ties being tensioned to compress the items together and to constrain the items against movement along the post. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the at least two ties are three in number. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 10 , the ties have the shape of a flat strip. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the post includes a cardboard flange at a terminal end of the post. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the triangular cross section is an equilateral triangular cross section. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly  9 , wherein the cardboard sheeting of at least two of the three corners of the post extends continuously around the corners. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the at least two corners are three in number.