DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0030] An embodiment of the laminated protective wrap 100 of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. The laminated protective wrap 100 is a rectangular sheet having a length 110 and a width 108 and includes a hard outer layer 101 with a shock absorbing inner layer 102 adhered thereto. The laminated protective wrap 100 includes a means for adhering 103 the shock absorbing layer 102 to the hard outer layer 101.

[0031] The hard outer layer 101 has a top surface 104 and a bottom surface 105. The shock absorbing inner layer 102 is preferably adhered to the bottom surface 105 of the hard outer layer 101, such that upon wrapping an object with the laminated protective wrap 100, the shock absorbing inner layer 102 is in physical contact with the object and the top surface 104 of the hard outer layer 101 is exposed to the environment.

[0032] The hard outer layer 101 is preferably a corrugated sheet of plastic, but can alternatively be made of other materials such as metal, wood, cardboard, or a composite material. Non-limiting examples of plastic that can be used for the hard outer layer 101 include: polyethylene (high-density and low-density), polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polymethyl methacrylate, polyamide, polyurethane, phenolics, melamine-formaldehyde, urea-formaldehyde, unsaturated polyesters, epoxy, and reinforced plastics.

[0033] The hard outer layer 101 depicted in FIGS. 1A and 1B is single-faced, meaning that it has a flat top surface 104 and a fluted bottom surface 105. The fluted bottom surface 105 includes one or more elongated tubes 106 adjacently joined and extending the width 108 of the hard outer layer 101.

[0034] Attached to the bottom surface 105 of the hard outer layer 101, is the shock absorbing inner layer 102. The shock absorbing inner layer 102 is the innermost layer of the laminated protective wrap 100. The shock absorbing inner layer 102 acts as a cushion between the object to be protected and the hard outer layer 101. The shock absorbing layer 100 is preferably made of a commercially available polyethylene foam, but can alternatively be made of other cushioning substances or material such as, but not limited to: natural rubber, synthetic rubber, various cloth or fibrous materials, or any composite material that is capable of cushioning.

[0035] The laminated protective wrap 100 includes a means for adhering 103 the shock absorbing inner layer 102 to the hard outer layer 101. In the preferred embodiment, the preferred means for adhering 103 is an adhesive, specifically a hot melt rubber based glue commercially available from National Starch & Chemicals, Adhesive number 34-2899. Alternatively, the shock absorbing inner layer 102 can be detachably affixed to the hard outer layer 101, for example by velcro, snaps, clips, or other mechanical fasteners, such that different shock absorbing inner layers 102 can be combined with various hard outer layers 101 depending on the desired qualities of the protective wrap needed. For example, if the laminated protective wrap 100 had to withstand great stresses, a thick hard outer layer 101 may be combined with a thick shock absorbing inner layer 102. It would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art to use velcro, snaps, clips, or other mechanical fasteners to removably attach the shock absorbing inner layer 102 to the hard outer layer 101.

[0036] FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment of a laminated protective wrap 200 in which the hard outer layer 201 is double-faced, meaning that it has a flat top surface 202, a flat bottom surface 204, and a fluted middle surface 203. The fluted middle surface 203 includes one or more elongated tubes 206 adjacently joined and extending the width 108 of the hard outer layer 201.

[0037] FIG. 3 shows another alternative embodiment of a laminated protective wrap 300 comprising a double-faced hard outer layer 301 having a flat top surface 302, a flat bottom surface 304, and a middle surface 303 having a plurality of I-beams or vertical ribs 306 running the width 108 of the hard outer layer 301. The angle, position and spacing of the vertical ribs 306 are shown in a uniform vertical arrangement for convenience purpose only. It would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art to use a hard outer layer 101 having vertical ribs 306 in a different arrangement employing a variety of angles, positions, and spaces between two adjacent vertical ribs.

[0038] In general, double-faced laminated protective wraps 200, 300 are stronger and more rigid than single-faced laminated protective wraps 100. Therefore, it is often desirable to include a means for bending in a double-faced laminated protective wrap 200, 300 to facilitate wrapping large objects. A single-faced hard outer layer 102 does not require an additional means for bending because of the inherent bending qualities in such a hard outer layer 102, that does not have a middle surface 203 or a flat bottom surface 204, when the bending radius is curved toward the bottom surface 105.

[0039] An embodiment of the means for bending is depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5 in relation to laminated protective wrap 300. The preferred means for bending is one or more transverse cuts 401 in the top surface 302 of the hard outer layer 301 extending along the width 402 of the laminated protective wrap 300, such that the transverse cuts 401 are perpendicular to the vertical ribs 306. The transverse cuts 401 are made using a conventional darting process known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Preferably, the transverse cuts 401 are uniformly spaced along the width 402 of the laminated protective wrap 300 and are about 4 inches apart. The transverse cuts 401 extend the entire length 404 of the laminated protective wrap 300. Alternatively, one or more transverse cuts 401 can be positioned at various distances or spaces along the width 402 as long as the desired effect of facilitating the bending of the laminated protective wrap 300 is retained.

[0040] The use of transverse cuts 401 is for convenience purpose only. It would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art to employ a different means for bending in a double-faced laminated protective wrap 300. For example, alternative means for bending include, but are not limited to, each traverse cut 401 may be a single cut through the hard outer layer 301 or may comprise a plurality of cuts along the same line through the hard outer layer 301, or each traverse cut 401 may extend through the hard outer layer 301 or may be a crease in the hard outer layer 301 such that each transverse cut 401 only extends through the flat top surface 302 or the flat top surface 302 and middle surface 303 of the hard outer layer 301.

[0041] FIGS. 6-8 show the laminated protective wrap 300 in use. The use of the present invention is described in terms of laminated protective wrap 300 for convenience purpose only. The disclosure is equally applicable to the alternative embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the laminated protective wrap 300 wrapped around a curved surface 601, such as a large coil or spool. The laminated protective wrap 300 is wrapped around the curved surface 601 such that the vertical ribs 306 are aligned with the perimeter, and circumference, of the curved surface 601, resulting in the transverse cuts 401 being perpendicular to the perimeter of the curved surface 601 to facilitate the bending of the laminated protective wrap 300. The laminated protective wrap 300 bends at the transverse cuts 401 when wrapped around the perimeter of the curved surface 601, thereby creating a plurality of flat surfaces 602 that approximate the curved surface 601 and allowing the shock absorbing inner layer 102 of the laminated protective wrap 300 to be in nearly continuous contact with the curved surface 601.

[0042] FIG. 7 shows a metal coil 701 packaged with a laminated protective wrap 300. The metal coil 701 is packaged by wrapping the laminated protective wrap 300 around the outer surface of the coil 701 such that the shock absorbing inner layer 102 is in contact with the metal coil 701 and the hard outer layer 301 is exposed to the environment. The laminated protective wrap 300 also has a first end 406 and a second end 408 such that when the laminated protected wrap 300 is wrapped around the outer surface of the coil 701, the first end 406 and the second end 408 are in close proximity to each other. In one embodiment, the first end 406 and the second end 408 are in contact with each other without overlapping, whereas in an alternative embodiment, the first end 406 and the second end 408 overlap to provide additional protection to the coil 701. The first end 406 and the second end 408 of the laminated protective wrap 300 are then secured using adhesive tape or other means known to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art, e.g., one or more straps, clips, or other mechanical fasteners.

[0043] FIG. 8 shows a laminated protective wrap 300 that has been secured after wrapping a metal coil 701. The first end 406 and second end 408 of the laminated protective wrap 300 are secured in place with adhesive tape 808 or other means known to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art. The packaging is then completed by binding the laminated protective wrap 300 in place with one or more strapping bands 802, 804 that run around the ends of the metal coil 701. The use of adhesive tape 808 and strapping bands 802, 804 is well known in the relevant arts.

[0044] FIG. 9 shows a metal coil 701 wrapped with a laminated protective wrap 300, wherein the ends of the coil 701 are covered with caps 808, 810 also made of laminated protective wrap 300. The caps 902, 904 are held in place by one or more strapping bands 802, 804.

CONCLUSION

[0045] While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by the way of example only, and not limitation. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.