Abstract: A package for coiled welding wire includes an outer housing and a slip lift core within the outer housing. The outer housing and the slip lift core form an annular space for coiling a quantity of welding wire. The slip lift core includes a fixed core and a slip core. The slip core is capable of telescopic movement relative to the fixed core from a retracted position to an extended position. At least one of the fixed core and the slip core includes a locking mechanism integrally formed with the at least one of the fixed core and the slip core, and the locking mechanism is configured to hold the slip core in the extended position. A further example of the package for coiled welding wire can include a winding surface for the welding wire to be wound around the slip lift core in a series of turns.

Abstract: A system for packaging a product stored in a coil having an interior surface that defines a bore, the system including a container having a base and a wall extending upward from the base, the wall defining a space for receiving the coil; a pad supported on the base of the container, the pad including an outer portion that underlies the coil and a plurality of tabs extending inward from the outer portion, wherein the tabs on the pad are circumferentially spaced and define pad notches therebetween; a drum core having a first end and a second end, drum core being insertable within the bore of the coil, the first end of the drum core having a plurality of tabs extending axially outward therefrom, the plurality of tabs being circumferentially spaced from each other to define notches therebetween, wherein upon insertion, the tabs on the first end of the drum core are received within pad notches and the tabs on the pad extend radially inward into the notches defined by the tabs on the drum core.

Abstract: A wire package comprising a wire having a leading end and a trailing end; a wire retaining ring having a central opening, wherein the leading end of the wire exits the wire retaining ring through the central opening, the wire retaining ring further having a slot extending radially outward from the central opening, wherein the training end of the wire exits the slot at a radial outward extremity of the slot, a wire control strip attached to the wire retaining ring and located over a portion of the slot, the wire control strip having a release portion extending along a length of the wire control strip, the release portion adapted to progressively release the wire as the leading end of the wire is pulled upwardly after the wire is released from the wire retaining ring.

Abstract: A container and carton assembly comprising a container including a first portion and having a plurality of items that longitudinally extend between a first end and a second end of the container. The carton assembly includes at least two handles and means for securing said at least two handles about opposing sides of the container where the at least two handles extend above a horizontal plane of the container and where at least the at least two handles form an offset stacking index.

Abstract: A wire spool is disclosed that includes an elongate barrel that has a first end and a second end that are separated by a wall with an inner surface and an outer surface. A key is disposed on the inner surface of the barrel, wherein a recess is created within the key. A hook slot is disposed within the outer surface of the barrel, the hook slot is located above the recess and receives a start end of a wire to provide insulation thereof. The hook slot also directs a length of wire to be wound out of the hook slot for placement against a spool flange.

Abstract: An end-loaded collapsible carton is provided and includes a first pair of side walls extending substantially perpendicularly from a second pair of side walls. The first and second pair of side walls form a first end opening and a second end opening opposite the first end opening. The carton further includes a first carton closure extending from the first and second carton walls for covering the first end opening, and a second carton closure extending at an opposite end of the first and second carton walls for covering the second end opening. The first carton closure is formed from a first plurality of lid panels, and the second carton closure is formed from a second plurality of lid panels. The carton further includes scores for creating pleats fashioned in the carton side walls and lid panels for collapsing the side walls and lid panels in a uniform manner.

Abstract: An assembly for maintaining the orientation of a coil having a longitudinal axis and an interior diameter defining a bore, the assembly comprising a core having a longitudinal axis; a plurality of members extending from the perimeter of the core and having inner and outer surfaces, where the plurality of members are biased radially outward; where the assembly has an expanded state where the members are radially unconstrained, the expanded state defining an expanded diameter greater than the interior diameter of the coil.

Abstract: The invention described relates generally to a method and apparatus for improving existing bulk wire transfer methodologies and more particularly, to welding wire packages for use as an endless wire container such that the welding wire of multiple containers can be linked together to produce an uninterrupted flow of welding wire to a welding operation by employing a welding wire transfer guide, the guide having an outwardly-facing curvilinear groove, one end of said groove of said welding wire transfer guide positioned along a tangent line running between an outer diameter of the in-process coil of wire and an opposed end of said groove along a tangent line running between an inner diameter of the staged coil of welding wire. The apparatus further includes a magnetically positionable wire guide arm above at least two, preferably each bulk welding wire container.

Abstract: A container insert for taking up extra space may be placed in a container intended for storage and/or shipment of material to an end user. The insert may be generally longitudinal having a helical configuration that may be expanded and constricted for taking up different volumes of space within the container respective of the amount of material stored therein. The insert may also be elastically deformable or generally pliable and may absorb impact forces for preventing or minimizing damage to the material. Further, the insert may include at least one reinforcement, including at least one wire or metal strip, or portions thereof.

Abstract: A container includes a body, a panel, and a handle assembly. The body defines a closed volume of the container and further includes at least two opposing walls having a width and longitudinally extending between a first end and a second end of the body. The panel includes an inner surface fixedly secured to the panel to the body. The handle assembly is at least partially disposed within a space created between the panel and the body, the handle assembly having a dispensing aperture, and the handle assembly being slidable within the space. A method of forming a container and a method of dispensing a container are also discussed.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a hold down device for coiled wire stored in a wire storing container having a heading member that bounds a first coil face, a cover member bounding a second coil face, and a tensioning device extendable between the heading member and the cover member where the tensioning device is capable of applying compressive force between the heading member and the cover member. The heading member is fashioned having an integrally formed handle that eliminates the need to incorporate additional components for connecting to the tensioning device.

Abstract: The subject embodiments are directed to a wire packaging system for a coil of welding wire defining a bore, the system including a container adapted to receive the coil therein, the container having a base; a wire retainer having a base portion adapted to overlie the coil, the base portion defining an aperture adapted to overlie the bore of the coil; the base portion including a first support and a second support located on opposite sides of the aperture; each support extending upward from the base portion; a hold down assembly including a restraint supported near the base of the container and extending upward through the aperture to attach to a hold down member, the hold down member having first and second ends engageable with the first and second supports and the restraint adapted to apply a compressive force to the supports via attachment of the restraint to the hold down member.

Abstract: A wire spool is disclosed that includes an elongate barrel that has a first end and a second end that are separated by a wall with an inner surface and an outer surface. A key is disposed on the inner surface of the barrel, wherein a recess is created within the key. A hook slot is disposed within the outer surface of the barrel, the hook slot is located above the recess and receives a start end of a wire to provide insulation thereof. The hook slot also directs a length of wire to be wound out of the hook slot for placement against a spool flange.

Abstract: A packaging member includes a base with a central portion and a pair of opposed walls extending in the same direction from opposing edges of the central portion. The packaging member also includes a locator panel with a perimeter corresponding to the perimeter of the base central portion and an aperture defined by a sidewall. The locator panel is retained upon the base between the pair of opposed walls. Additionally, the packaging member includes a plurality of spaced apart tabs with first portions which are affixed to the sidewall and have a profile corresponding to the profile of the sidewall.

Abstract: The subject embodiments are directed to a system to allow an uninterrupted flow of a coil welding wire from one container to another container, the coil of welding wire including a coil top and a coil bottom. Each container includes at least one vertically extending side wall, a closed bottom, a top opening for removing the welding wire and a wire coil receiving cavity within the outer packaging for receiving the wire coil, the feeding end and the trailing end being positionable near the top opening. A wire retaining ring is disposed on the coil top in the container and another said container, the wire retaining ring includes a slot that extends radially from a center of the coil to allow the trailing end of the coil to be drawn at a location away from the center of the coil.

Abstract: A container includes a body, a panel, and a handle assembly. The body defines a closed volume of the container and further includes at least two opposing walls having a width and longitudinally extending between a first end and a second end of the body. The panel includes an inner surface, a width and a length, and a securing means which fixedly secures the panel to the body. The handle assembly is at least partially disposed within a space created between the panel and the body, the handle assembly having a dispensing aperture, and the handle assembly being slidable within the space. A method of forming a container and a method of dispensing a container are also discussed.

Abstract: A shipping package includes a can body having an interior volume and at least one closable end, an end closure closably engaging the closable end of the can body having a recessed portion adapted to fit within a portion of the can body adjacent the closable end, and a disposable reinforcing member corresponding to at least a portion of the recessed portion of the end closure secured adjacent to an exterior surface of the recessed portion.

Abstract: A container is provided for holding a predetermined mass of associated elongated cylindrical articles within a cavity. The container includes a bottom wall having a perimeter, a pair of spaced apart side walls extending upwardly from perimeter of the bottom wall, and a pair of spaced apart end walls extending upwardly from the perimeter of the bottom wall between the sidewalls. The container also includes at least one first step extending a height upward from the bottom wall and having a variable length, and at least one second step extending a height upward from the bottom wall and having an approximately fixed length less than the width of the container between the sidewalls.

Abstract: A bulk bag includes a shell and a gate valve assembly and is configured to retain a material. The gate valve assembly includes a gate which is slidable to selectively prevent and facilitate variation of rate of dispensation of material from the bulk bag and, more particularly, through an aperture defined by the shell of the bulk bag. The gate valve assembly has a configuration which, during movement of the gate to restrict dispensation of material through the aperture in the shell, renders the gate unlikely to snag with other portions of the bulk bag such as, for example, portions of the shell which define the aperture. Methods are also provided.

Abstract: A container and carton assembly comprising a container including a first portion and having a plurality of items that longitudinally extend between a first end and a second end of the container. The carton assembly includes at least two handles and means for securing said at least two handles about opposing sides of the container where the at least two handles extend above a horizontal plane of the container and where at least the at least two handles form an offset stacking index.