Ring and container for coiled wire

Abstract

A ring suitable for riding upon a coil of wire is provided. The ring includes a substantially planar member extending between an inner edge defining a central aperture and an outer edge, the member including a substantially planar portion that extends radially inwardly of the outer edge and toward the inner edge, and a upwardly extending central portion that extends from the planar portion to the inner edge. The substantially planar portion includes a top surface that faces away from a top surface of a coil of wire when the member rests thereupon and an opposite bottom surface that faces toward a top surface of the coil of wire when the member rests thereupon, the bottom surface of the substantially planar portion includes a plurality of projections that extend therefrom away from the bottom surface.

1 . A ring suitable for riding upon a top surface of a coil of wire, comprising:
 a substantially planar member extending between an inner edge defining a central aperture and an outer edge, the member including a substantially planar portion that extends radially inwardly of the outer edge and toward the inner edge, and a upwardly extending central portion that extends from the planar portion to the inner edge,   the substantially planar portion includes a top surface that faces away from a top surface of a coil of wire when the member rests thereupon and an opposite bottom surface that faces toward a top surface of the coil of wire when the member rests thereupon, the bottom surface of the substantially planar portion includes a plurality of projections that extend therefrom away from the bottom surface.   
     
     
         2 . The ring of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of projections are a plurality of lines that extend radially outward along the substantially planar portion from a portion proximate the upwardly extending central portion toward the outer edge. 
     
     
         3 . The ring of  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of lines are continuous and are curved to define a concave side and a convex side, wherein the concave side of a first continuous line faces a convex side of a neighboring second continuous line, and the convex side of the first continuous line faces a concave side of a neighboring third continuous line positioned on an opposite side of the first continuous line from the second continuous line. 
     
     
         4 . The ring of  claim 2 , wherein the outer edge of the member is generally arcuate and includes a plurality of vertices, wherein each of the vertices extend radially further outward from the central aperture than the remainder of the outer edge of the member. 
     
     
         5 . The ring of  claim 4 , wherein an extended end of each of the respective plurality of lines extends to a respective one of plurality of vertices. 
     
     
         6 . The ring of  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of lines extends axially from the bottom surface of the member about the same distance as a thickness of the substantially planar portion of the member. 
     
     
         7 . The ring of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of lines comprise four curved and continuous lines, wherein each of the four curved lines are equally spaced around the bottom surface of the planar portion of the member, and each of the curved lines include the same curvature along their length between a first end proximate to the central aperture and a second end proximate to the outer edge. 
     
     
         8 . The ring of  claim 7 , wherein each of the curved lines extend to the outer edge of the member. 
     
     
         9 . The ring of  claim 1 , wherein the outer edge comprises a plurality of vertices that extend radially outward from the central aperture a greater distance than the remaining portions of the outer edge. 
     
     
         10 . The ring of  claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of flexible members disposed proximate to the outer edge of the substantially planer member, wherein each of the flexible members are operatively engaged with the substantially planer member proximate to a respective one of the plurality of vertices, such that one of the plurality of plurality of flexible members is disposed proximate to one of the respective the plurality of vertices. 
     
     
         11 . The ring of  claim 10 , wherein each flexible member includes a first portion that extends radially outward from the outer edge a greater distance than the plurality of vertices each extend radially outward. 
     
     
         12 . The ring of  claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of each flexible member is configured to be urged axially when the flexible member engages an inner surface of a container enclosing the ring. 
     
     
         13 . The ring of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially planer member supports a plurality of flexible members each disposed proximate to the outer edge, wherein each of the flexible members includes a first portion that extends radially outward from the substantially member past the outer edge. 
     
     
         14 . The ring of  claim 13 , wherein each of the first portion of each of the plurality of flexible member is biased into an oblique angle with respect to a plane through the outer edge. 
     
     
         15 . The ring of  claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of flexible member is engaged with a post that is disposed upon the ring. 
     
     
         16 . The ring of  claim 15 , further comprising a plurality of ledges disposed upon the substantially planar member, each ledge of the plurality of ledges disposed proximate to a respective post disposed upon the planar member, wherein a portion of the respective flexible member engaged with the respective post contacts the respective ledge to prevent rotation of the flexible member about the post. 
     
     
         17 . The ring of  claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of flexible members spacingly disposed proximate to the outer edge of the substantially planar member, wherein each of the plurality of flexible members is disposed between two adjacent vertices and a portion of each of the plurality of flexible members extends radially beyond the outer edge. 
     
     
         18 . The ring of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of vertices are made from a material that exhibits a greater flexibility than a material that forms the remaining portion of the substantially planar portion of the ring. 
     
     
         19 . The ring of  claim 18 , wherein the vertices are made from rubber and the remaining portion of the substantially planar portion are made a metal or a plastic. 
     
     
         20 . The ring of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of projections are a plurality of continuous lines that extend radially outward along the substantially planar portion from a portion proximate the central aperture toward the outer edge, wherein a respective end of each of the plurality of continuous lines extends to a respective one of the plurality of contact points. 
     
     
         21 . The ring of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of projections are a plurality of discrete bumps that are spacingly arranged around the bottom surface. 
     
     
         22 . The ring of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of bumps are each substantially semi-circular. 
     
     
         23 . The ring of  claim 21 , wherein the bottom surface of the planar portion includes a plurality of similarly sized and shaped sections, wherein the plurality of bumps disposed within each section are disposed with a uniform pattern and uniform spacing from neighboring bumps within each of the sections. 
     
     
         24 . The ring of  claim 1 , further comprising two or more support members disposed upon the planar portion and disposed on opposite sides of the central aperture, wherein the support members are configured to receive and support a dowel that extends therebetween and across the central aperture. 
     
     
         25 . The ring of  claim 24 , wherein the two or more support members each include a valley disposed upon a top surface of the support member, wherein each of the valleys are configured to receive the dowel therein when provided upon the support member. 
     
     
         26 . The ring of  claim 24 , further comprising two or more sockets disposed upon the planar portion and disposed on opposite sides of the central aperture, wherein the sockets are disposed at a spacing that is consistent with a spacing of the opposed support members such that when two similar rings are disposed in a stacked configuration with the support members of a lower ring of the two stacked rings are aligned with the sockets of an upper ring of the two stacked rings at least a portion of the support member from the lower ring extends into a void defined by the upper ring. 
     
     
         27 . A system for supporting a coil of wire, comprising:
 a container including a bottom surface, side walls collectively defining an internal volume that is configured to receive an elongate wire coiled therein, the elongate coiled wire defining a top surface that faces an open top of the container, and a substantially cylindrical side surface that radially faces an inner surface of the container;   the container receives a ring that rests upon the top surface of the elongate coil of wire, the ring extends between an inner edge defining a central aperture and an outer edge, the ring including a substantially planar portion that extends radially inwardly of the outer edge and toward the inner edge, and a upwardly extending central portion that extends from the planar portion to the inner edge,   the substantially planar portion includes a top surface that faces away from a top surface of a coil of wire when the ring rests thereupon and an opposite bottom surface that faces toward the top surface of the coil of wire when the ring rests thereupon, the bottom surface of the substantially planar portion includes a plurality of projections that extend therefrom away from the bottom surface, and   wherein the ring is configured to slide downwardly within the internal volume of the container as the elongate wire is withdrawn from the container.   
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the outer edge of the ring is generally arcuate and includes a plurality of vertices, wherein each of the plurality of vertices extend radially further outward from the central aperture than the remainder of the outer edge of the member, and wherein the plurality of vertices are configured to contact an inner surface of the side walls of the container. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the plurality of projections are a plurality of lines that extend radially outward along the substantially planar portion from a portion proximate the upwardly extending central portion toward the outer edge. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein each of the plurality of lines extends axially from the bottom surface of the member about the same distance as a thickness of the substantially planar portion of the ring. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the plurality of lines comprise a plurality of curved and continuous lines, wherein each of the plurality of lines are equally spaced around the bottom surface of the planar portion of the member, and each of the lines include the same curvature along their length between a first end proximate to the central aperture and a second end proximate to the outer edge. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the portions of the ring defining the plurality of vertices are made from a material that exhibits a greater flexibility than a material that forms the remaining portion of the ring. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the outer edge of the ring comprises a plurality of vertices that extend radially outward from the central aperture a greater distance than the remaining portions of the outer edge, wherein the plurality of vertices are configured to make contact with the inner surface of the side walls of the container when the ring is disposed within the internal volume of the container, wherein the each of the respective plurality of continuous lines includes an outer end portion that disposed below a respective one of the plurality of vertices. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the plurality of projections are a plurality of discrete bumps that are spacingly arranged around the bottom surface, and
 the bottom surface of the planar portion includes a plurality of similarly sized and shaped sections, wherein the plurality of bumps disposed within each section are disposed with a uniform pattern and uniform spacing from neighboring bumps within each of the sections.   
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the outer edge of the ring comprises a plurality of vertices that extend radially outward from the central aperture a greater distance than the remaining portions of the outer edge, and
 further comprising a plurality of flexible members disposed proximate to the outer edge of the ring, wherein each of the flexible members are operatively engaged with the ring proximate to a respective one of the plurality of vertices, such that one of the plurality of plurality of flexible members is disposed proximate to one of the respective the plurality of vertices.   
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein each flexible member extends radially outward from the out edge a greater distance than the plurality of vertices each extend radially outward, and at least a portion of each flexible member is configured to be urged axially when the flexible member engages an inner surface of a container enclosing the ring. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the ring supports a plurality of flexible members each disposed proximate to the outer edge, wherein each of the flexible members includes a first portion that extends radially outward from the ring past the outer edge, and
 wherein each of the first portion of each of the plurality of flexible member is biased into an oblique angle with respect to a plane through the outer edge.