Abrasion resistant package of wound asphaltic material of construction

Abstract

This invention relates to a package comprising a roll of asphaltic roofing or siding material wrapped with a stressed polymeric membrane having an elasticity of at least 4%.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A packaged material of construction comprising a roll of asphaltic roofing or siding material and a polymeric membrane or film having an elasticity of at least 4% wrapped in stressed condition around the circumference of said roll to provide a compact, damage resistant wrapped product.  
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the thickness of said membrane is commensurate with the weight of said roll to allow stretching without breaking the membrane.  
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 2  wherein the thickness of the membrane is between about 0.5 and about 10 mils.  
     
     
         4 . The product of  claim 1  wherein the elastic membrane is selected from the group consisting of a polymer of propylene, ethylene and vinyl chloride.  
     
     
         5 . The product of  claim 4  wherein the elastic membrane is poly(propylene).  
     
     
         6 . The product of  claim 1  wherein the elastic membrane has an elasticity of from about 5 to about 25%.  
     
     
         7 . The product of claim I wherein said roll of asphaltic material is a roll of built up roofing material.  
     
     
         8 . The product of  claim 1  wherein said elastic membrane is stretched between about 5 and about 20% around said roll.  
     
     
         9 . The product of  claim 1  wherein said membrane totally encases the roll of asphaltic material.  
     
     
         10 . The product of  claim 1  wherein said membrane partially encloses at least {fraction (1/10)} th  the width of said roll of asphaltic material.  
     
     
         11 . The product of  claim 1  wherein the roll of asphaltic material has a weight of between about 45 and about 120 pounds.  
     
     
         12 . The product of  claim 11  wherein the roll of asphaltic material has a weight of between about 70 and about 90 pounds.  
     
     
         13 . The product of  claim 1  wherein said wrapped product carries a freely movable flap extension equipped with at least one cut out area for holding or carrying the wrapped roll.  
     
     
         14 . The product of  claim 1  wherein the wrapped portion of said elastic membrane has an easily separable seam across its width or a precut incision located on at least at one side edge of the film.  
     
     
         15 . The product of  claim 13  wherein said tab extension carries at least one protuberance below said cut out area to prevent rotation of the roll.  
     
     
         16 . The process for producing the product of  claim 1  which comprises: 
 (a) introducing, in a horizontal position, a roll of asphaltic roofing or siding material having a weight of between about 45 and about 120 pounds into a roll retaining area;  
 (b) releasing the roll from said retaining area;  
 (c) allowing the horizontally positioned roll to drop by gravitational force onto a membrane of elastic film having an elasticity of at least 4%; said membrane, located beneath said retaining area and horizontally posttioned on a plane perpendicular to that of the roll, said membrane having a thickness sufficient to stretch without breaking when the weight of the roll is contacted;  
 (e) stretching the membrane around the roll while sealing the stretched sides of the membrane and  
 (f) recovering the resulting roll enwrapped in the stretched membrane as the product of the process.  
 
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 16  wherein the membrane is stretched around ¼ th  to ¾ th  the midsection of said roll.  
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 16  wherein the membrane has an elasticity of between 5 and about 25%.  
     
     
         19 . The process of any one of claims  16 ,  17  and  18  wherein the membrane has a thickness of from 0.5 to 10 mils.  
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 16  wherein the roll of asphaltic material is a roll of roofing material.  
     
     
         21 . The process of  claim 16  wherein the sealed portion has means for easy membrane separation selected from the group of a plurality of separable perforations, embossments, a release strip across its width and a precut incision at a free leading or trailing side edge of the membrane.  
     
     
         22 . The process of  claim 16  wherein the wrapped roll is separated after sealing by cutting the membrane at a distance away from said sealing operation to provide a graspable tab freely extending from the wrapped roll product.  
     
     
         23 . The process of  claim 22  wherein said tab contains a graspable cut out section.