Apparatus and system for facilitating wrapping of articles with wrapping materials

Abstract

An apparatus and a system for facilitating the wrapping of articles with wrapping materials is described. In one example, the system includes two or more apparatuses adapted to be secured in adjacent spaced relation to one another on a planar surface so as to support a roll of wrapping material above the planar surface so as to freely rotate between a pair of apparatuses. Each apparatus includes a clamp assembly adapted to be actuated by a user to removably attach its corresponding apparatus to a ledge of the planar surface so that the supported roll is parallel to and above the planar surface.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for facilitating the wrapping of articles with wrapping materials, comprising:
 a body,   an elongate holding member attached to the body and adapted for insertion into a hollow interior of an elongate tube of a roll of wrapping material, and   a clamp assembly attached to the body, the clamp assembly adapted so as to be actuated by a user to removably attach the apparatus to a ledge of a planar surface so that the holding member is parallel to the planar surface.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a second apparatus is adapted to be removably attached to the ledge in spaced relation so as to support the roll of wrapping material therebetween. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the body includes a recess formed therein and which is configured to fixedly support a removable cutting element therein. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the cutting element is a singular elongate piece with one lengthwise edge thereof having a plurality of serrated teeth adapted to cut wrapping material on the roll. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the cutting element is a singular elongate piece with a central lengthwise slot for receiving wrapping material off the roll, one lengthwise edge of the slot having a plurality of serrated teeth. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the clamping assembly further includes:
 an elongate arm pivotable at one end relative to the body,   an articulating foot attached to the arm at the other end thereof, the arm pivotable via a user action to enable the foot to engage a surface of the ledge so at to secure the apparatus to the planar surface.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein a ledge of the planar surface is secured between a contact surface of the body and the foot, the foot biased under spring pressure. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the clamping assembly further includes:
 a projection formed on one side of the body and having a slot therethreough,   a generally L-shaped member comprising an arm portion which slides up and down through the slot and a foot portion perpendicular to the arm portion and adapted to engage a surface of the ledge to secure the apparatus to the planar surface.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the projection includes a tapped hole adapted to receive a fastener therein to bear against the arm portion so as to fix the L-shaped member in place to secure the ledge between the foot portion and a contact surface of the body. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the L-shaped member is fixed to the body, and the foot portion includes a tapped hole adapted to receive a fastener therein to bear against a surface of the ledge so as to secure the ledge between the foot and a contact surface of the body. 
     
     
         11 . A system for facilitating the wrapping of articles with wrapping materials, comprising:
 two or more apparatuses adapted to be secured in adjacent spaced relation on a planar surface so as to support a roll of wrapping material therebetween, each apparatus including:
 a body, 
 an elongate holding member attached to the body and adapted for insertion into a corresponding end through a hollow interior of the roll, and 
 a clamp assembly attached to the body, the clamp assembly adapted so as to be actuated by a user to removably attach the apparatus to a ledge of the planar surface so that the holding member is parallel to the planar surface. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein each body includes a recess formed therein that is configured to fixedly support one end of a removable cutting element therein. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the cutting element arranged between a spaced pair of apparatuses is a singular elongate piece with one lengthwise edge thereof having a plurality of serrated teeth adapted to cut wrapping material on the roll. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the cutting element arranged between a spaced pair of apparatuses is a singular elongate piece with a central lengthwise slot for receiving wrapping material off the roll, one lengthwise edge of the slot having a plurality of serrated teeth. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the clamping assembly of each apparatus further includes:
 an elongate arm pivotable at one end relative to the body,   an articulating foot attached to the aim at the other end thereof, the arm pivotable via a user action to enable the foot to engage a surface of the ledge so at to secure its corresponding apparatus to the planar surface.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein a ledge of the planar surface is secured between a contact surface of the body and the foot, the foot biased under spring pressure. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the clamping assembly of each apparatus further includes:
 a projection formed on one side of the body and having a slot therethrough,   a generally L-shaped member comprising an arm portion which slides up and down through the slot and a foot portion perpendicular to the arm portion and adapted to engage a surface of the ledge to secure its corresponding apparatus to the planar surface.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the projection includes a tapped hole adapted to receive a fastener therein to bear against the arm portion so as to fix the L-shaped member in place to secure the ledge between the foot portion and a contact surface of the body. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the L-shaped member is fixed to the body, and the foot portion includes a tapped hole adapted to receive a fastener therein to bear against a surface of the ledge so as to secure the ledge between the foot and a contact surface of the body. 
     
     
         20 . A system for facilitating the wrapping of articles with wrapping materials, the system comprising two or more apparatuses adapted to be secured in adjacent spaced relation on a planar surface so as to support a roll of wrapping material between a pair of apparatuses, the roll above the planar surface so as to freely rotate each apparatus including a clamp assembly adapted to be actuated by a user to removably attach its corresponding apparatus to a ledge of the planar surface so that the supported roll is parallel to and above the planar surface.