Reel wrap

Abstract

A reel wrap for wrapping a reel, the reel having a central spool separating a pair of end plates, and a reel width extending from an outer margin of a first of the pair of end plates to an outer margin of a second of the pair of end plates, said reel wrap includes a wrap central portion, said central portion means being substantially continuous and having a width between central portion edge margins at least coextensive with the width of the reel for spanning and enclosing an area between said pair of end plates. And includes first and second side portions for securing the central portion to the reel, the first and second side portions being securable to a respective side plate of the reel proximate a circumferential edge margin of the respective side plate of the reel. A method of wrapping a reel is further included.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A reel wrap for wrapping a reel, the reel having a central spool separating a pair of end plates, said reel wrap comprising: 
 a central portion, said central portion being spannable across a distance between said pair of end plates; and    first and second side portions operably coupled to respective sides of said central portion, wherein said side portions include a plurality of tabs, each of said plurality of tabs being securable to a one selected of said pair of end plates.    
     
     
         2 . The reel wrap of  claim 1 , wherein said central portion is unitary with said side portions.  
     
     
         3 . The reel wrap of  claim 2 , wherein said central portion and said side portions are fabricated from a material selected from a group consisting of: a plastic material and a plasticized material.  
     
     
         4 . The reel wrap of  claim 3 , wherein said plastic material is a corrugated plastic material and said plasticized material is a corrugated plasticized material.  
     
     
         5 . The reel wrap of  claim 4 , wherein said corrugated plastic material and said corrugated plasticized material is selected from a group consisting of: a single-faced material and a double-faced material.  
     
     
         6 . The reel wrap of  claim 1 , wherein said tabs are securable to said at least one of said pair of end plates with a fastener selected from a group consisting of: a staple and a nail.  
     
     
         7 . The reel wrap of  claim 1 , wherein said tabs are configured to allow substantially gap-free contact between said central portion and said pair of end plates of said reel upon said tabs being secured to said at least one of said pair of end plates.  
     
     
         8 . A method of wrapping a reel, wherein said reel includes a central spool separating a pair of end plates, said method comprising: 
 forming a wrap having a central portion and two opposed side portions disposed proximate side margins of said central portion, and forming said side portion including a plurality of tabs, and forming said central portion to span a distance between said pair of end plates;    placing the wrap about a circumference of said pair of end plates;    securing said plurality of tabs of a first side portion to a first of said pair of end plates; and    securing said plurality of tabs of a second side portion to a second of said pair of end plates.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , including forming said central portion unitary with said side portions.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , including fabricating said central portion and said side portion from a material selected from a group consisting of: a plastic material and a plasticized material.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , including forming said plastic material of a corrugated plastic material and forming said plasticized material of a corrugated plasticized material.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , including selecting said corrugated plastic material and said corrugated plasticized material from a group consisting of: a single-faced material and a double-faced material.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said step of securing said plurality of tabs is selected from a group consisting of: stapling said plurality of tabs to the respective end plate and nailing said plurality of tabs to the respective pair of end plate.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said step of placing a wrap about said circumference of said pair of end plates includes overlapping ends of said wrap.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , including configuring said tabs to allow substantially gap-free contact between said central portion and said pair of end plates of said reel upon completing said step of securing said plurality of tabs.  
     
     
         16 . A reel wrap for wrapping a reel, the reel having a central spool separating a pair of end plates, said reel wrap comprising: 
 central portion means, said central portion means being substantially continuous for spanning and enclosing an area between said pair of end plates; and    first and second side portion means for securing the central portion means to the reel, the first and second side portion means being securable proximate a circumferential edge margin of a respective side plate of the reel.    
     
     
         17 . The reel wrap of  claim 16  wherein said side portion means include a plurality of tab means, each of said plurality of tab means for being secured to a one of said pair of end plates.  
     
     
         18 . The reel wrap of  claim 16 , said central portion means being unitary with said side portion means.  
     
     
         19 . The reel wrap of  claim 16 , wherein said central portion means and said side portion means are fabricated from a material selected from a group consisting of: a plastic material and a plasticized material.  
     
     
         20 . The reel wrap of  claim 19 , wherein said plastic material is a corrugated plastic material and said plasticized material is a corrugated plasticized material.  
     
     
         21 . The reel wrap of  claim 20 , wherein said corrugated plastic material and said corrugated plasticized material is selected from a group consisting of: a single-faced material and a double-faced material.  
     
     
         22 . The reel wrap of  claim 17 , wherein said tab means are securable to said at least one of said pair of end plates with a fastener selected from a group consisting of: a staple and a nail.  
     
     
         23 . The reel wrap of  claim 17 , wherein said tab means are configured to allow substantially gap-free contact between said central portion means and said pair of end plates of said reel.  
     
     
         24 . A reel wrap for wrapping a reel, the reel having a central spool separating a pair of end plates, and a reel width extending from an outer margin of a first of the pair of end plates to an outer margin of a second of the pair of end plates, said reel wrap comprising: 
 a wrap central portion, said central portion being substantially continuous and having a width dimensions extending between central portion edge margins being at least coextensive with the width of the reel for spanning and enclosing an area between said pair of end plates; and    first and second side portions for securing the central portion to the reel, the first and second side portions being securable to a respective side plate of the reel proximate a circumferential edge margin of the respective side plate of the reel.    
     
     
         25 . The reel wrap of  claim 24  wherein said side portion means include a plurality of tabs, each of said plurality of tabs for being secured to a one of said pair of end plates.  
     
     
         26 . The reel wrap of  claim 24 , said central portion being unitary with said side portions.  
     
     
         27 . The reel wrap of  claim 24 , wherein said central portion and said side portions are fabricated from a material selected from a group consisting of: a plastic material and a plasticized material.  
     
     
         28 . The reel wrap of  claim 27 , wherein said plastic material is a corrugated plastic material and said plasticized material is a corrugated plasticized material.  
     
     
         29 . The reel wrap of  claim 28 , wherein said corrugated plastic material and said corrugated plasticized material is selected from a group consisting of: a single-faced material and a double-faced material.  
     
     
         30 . The reel wrap of  claim 25 , wherein said tabs are securable to said at least one of said pair of end plates with a fastener selected from a group consisting of: a staple and a nail.  
     
     
         31 . The reel wrap of  claim 30 , wherein said tabs are configured to allow substantially gap-free contact between said central portion and said pair of end plates of said reel.  
     
     
         32 . A reel wrap for wrapping a reel, the reel having a central spool separating a pair of end plates, said reel wrap comprising: 
 a reel wrap body being securable to the reel, the reel wrap body acting in cooperation with the reel when secured to present a substantially continuous cylindrical shape having space defined therein for substantially enclosing a product wound on the central spool.    
     
     
         33 . The reel wrap of  claim 32  including a first and a second side portion, each of said side portions including a plurality of tabs, each of said plurality of tabs for being securable to a one of said pair of end plates.  
     
     
         34 . The reel wrap of  claim 33 , including a central portion, said central portion being unitary with said side portions.  
     
     
         35 . The reel wrap of  claim 34 , wherein said central portion and said side portions are fabricated from a material selected from a group consisting of: a plastic material and a plasticized material.  
     
     
         36 . The reel wrap of  claim 35 , wherein said plastic material is a corrugated plastic material and said plasticized material is a corrugated plasticized material.  
     
     
         37 . The reel wrap of  claim 36 , wherein said corrugated plastic material and said corrugated plasticized material is selected from a group consisting of: a single-faced material and a double-faced material.  
     
     
         38 . The reel wrap of  claim 33 , wherein said tabs are securable to said at least one of said pair of end plates with a fastener selected from a group consisting of: a staple and a nail.  
     
     
         39 . The reel wrap of  claim 38 , wherein said tabs are configured to allow substantially gap-free contact between said central portion and said pair of end plates of said reel.