Protector for Stacked Sheet Material

The present invention concerns generally a protective device for placement between a strap or band and the uppermost sheet of a stack of sheet material to protect the sheet from being marred by the strap or a clamp joining the ends of the strap.

In the wood products industry it is standard practice to secure stacks of sheet material such as plywood for example by a tensioned strap. Previously used are right angular protectors in place on the stack corners to isolate the top and bottom sheets of material from contact with a strap or tensioned band extending thereabout. The problem arises when stacks are placed on one another to cause the span segment of the strap extending across the stack to be displaced downwardly into contact with the uppermost sheet of the stack. The problem is further complicated by the use of a clamp extending about the end segments of the band which adds to the thickness of the band and further jeopardizes the finish or surface of the uppermost sheet.

Various types of edge protectors have been proposed for use on stack sheet material including molded articles such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,120,441, and 4,742,916 and 4,202,449 which discloses a protector of extruded shape. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,443,684 and 4,292,901 disclose protectors for placement on the corners of stacked material to isolate a tension band or cord from contact therewith.

It has been found that sheet material is carefully inspected by most purchasers and sheets having any surface irregularity are rejected resulting in a reimbursement to the customer and an expense to the seller.

Another problem encountered with protective devices used on stacked sheet material is that any contact between a strap and the surface of the sheet material can cause a surface irregularity to depreciate sheet value. Accordingly, it is preferable to isolate the horizontal spans of the band extending about the stack from contact with the material.

The present invention is embodied in a protective strip for stacked material having displaceable end segments.

The strip open area receives a clamp securing the ends of the band to one another so as to space or elevate the clamp from an adjacent sheet surface. End segments of the protective strip are cut partially to leave a flexible web which permits the end segment to be swung into perpendicular relationship with the main portion of the strip. The present strips may be formed from inexpensive fibrous material such as cardboard to permit economical, one way use of the strips and low cost disposal of the strips.

Important objectives of the present protective strip include the provision of the strip having an open area therein in which may be received a clamping element joining the ends of the band extending about a stack of sheet material; the provision of a protective strip having die cuts extending thereacross to partially sever the strip to leave a flexible web of material joining end segments with the strip with a material permitting hinged displacement of the end segments into place against the sides of the stack; the provision of a protective strip which isolates a horizontal span of the band from the outer surfaces of an uppermost and a lowermost sheet of stacked material.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stack of sheet material with bands thereabout and the present protector in place;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view taken downwardly along line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing a strip end segment prior to bending.

With continuing attention to the drawings wherein applied reference numerals indicate parts similarly hereinafter identified. The reference numeral 1 indicates generally a stack of sheet material 2 secured in a stack by bands at 3.

Extending horizontally across the stack are spans or segments 3A or bands 3 with the ends of the bands joined by clamps at 4. Clamps 4 may be of the well known type having deformed portions at 4A (FIG. 2) for the purpose of securing the band end portions into engagement with one another in a non-slip manner.

The present invention is embodied within a protector indicated at 5 which is of strip or elongate configuration for overlying the width of the uppermost sheet 2 of the sheet material. Displaceable end segments at 5A of strip 5 are positionable through 90 degrees into abutment with the sides 1A of stack 1. Preferably an open area 6 of strip 5 is defined as by an interior wall 7 of the strip which preferably extends entirely through the strip. Open area 6 is disposed off center in strip 5 so as to be positioned to receive clamp 4 adjacent an end of the strip. As shown in FIG. 3 strip thickness is of a dimension to provide an open area 6 within which clamp 4 may be displaced without contacting the upper surface 2 of the sheet. Strips having a thickness of approximately one quarter inch have proved to be of sufficient thickness. Accordingly sheet surface 2A is protected from being marred by clamp 4 and band 3 even when stacks 1 are superimposed on one another with the clamp being displaced downwardly by a band extending about a superimposed stack (not shown). Further, the open area 6 facilitates the application of a clamp 4 to the band using conventional tools.

With attention to FIGS. 4 and 5, end segments 5A of strip 5 may be formed by transverse die cutting of strip 5 to provide a cut 8 extending through the strip so as to leave a web 9 intact. Opposed strip walls 10 and 11 are thereby formed respectively on the primary portion of strip 5 and the end segments 5A. A suitable material for strip 5 is cardboard of fibrous construction which results in web 9 being flexible to permit positioning of end segments 5A into perpendicular relationship with the main portion of strip 5.

While I have shown but a few embodiments of the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied still otherwise without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be secured by a Letters Patent is: