Coil holder

Abstract

A holder for a metal coil that includes a pair of spaced apart end members and a bridge member that inter-couples the spaced apart end members. Each end member has a base that includes a base receptacle for receiving opposed ends of the bridge member so as to form a unitary holder. Each end member also includes an arcuate retaining strip extending from said base and having a free end that defines an open front space through which the coil is insertable into the holder.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A holder for a coil comprised of a pair of spaced apart end members and a bridge member that inter-couples the spaced apart end members, each end member having a base that includes a base receptacle for receiving opposed ends of the bridge member so as to form a unitary holder, each said end member also including an arcuate retaining strip extending from said base and having a free end that defines an open front space through which the coil is insertable into the holder. 
     
     
         2 . The holder of  claim 1  wherein the bridge member is tubular and the base receptacle is likewise tubular in shape for receiving an opposed end of the tubular bridge member. 
     
     
         3 . The holder of  claim 2  wherein a means is provided for securing the opposed ends of the bridge member with the respective base receptacles. 
     
     
         4 . The holder of  claim 1  wherein the coil is a metal coil and each spaced apart end member also includes an outer end wall for limiting the lateral position of the metal coil. 
     
     
         5 . The holder of  claim 1  wherein each arcuate retaining strip is substantially circular in cross-section. 
     
     
         6 . The holder of  claim 5  wherein each arcuate retaining strip extends about a circumference that is greater than half the circumference of the circular cross-section. 
     
     
         7 . The holder of  claim 6  wherein the free end of the arcuate retaining strip has an upwardly turned end edge. 
     
     
         8 . The holder of  claim 1  wherein the bridge member has a flattened upper surface for receiving the coil and defining a flat surface for cutting the coil by means of a cutting blade. 
     
     
         9 . The holder of  claim 1  wherein the bridge member comprises a first bridge member and including a second bridge member that inter-couples the spaced apart end members, said second bridge member being spaced from the first bridge member and substantially disposed in parallel to the first bridge member. 
     
     
         10 . The holder of  claim 9  wherein the respective base receptacles comprises first base receptacles and further including second base receptacles at the respective bases and for receiving opposed ends of the second bridge member. 
     
     
         11 . The holder of  claim 10  wherein the second base receptacles are disposed at a rear of the respective bases. 
     
     
         12 . The holder of  claim 11  including a third bridge member extending between the respective bases and disposed over and substantially in parallel with the first base member. 
     
     
         13 . The holder of  claim 12  wherein both the first and third bridge members are disposed at a front of the holder with the coil material adapted to be disposed between the first and third bridge members. 
     
     
         14 . The holder of  claim 1  wherein the bridge member comprises one bridge member and including another bridge member that extending between the respective bases and disposed over and substantially in parallel with the first base member. 
     
     
         15 . The holder of  claim 14  wherein both the one and another bridge members are disposed at a front of the holder with the coil material adapted to be disposed between the one and another bridge members. 
     
     
         16 . The holder of  claim 1  wherein each arcuate retaining strip is substantially circular in cross-section, and each arcuate retaining strip extends about a circumference that is greater than half the circumference of the circular cross-section. 
     
     
         17 . The holder of  claim 16  wherein each arcuate retaining strip extends in a circumference that is orthogonal to a length of the bridge member, the open front space is measured between the free end of the arcuate retaining strip and the base, and the open front space has a length measured in the direction of the circumference that is greater than a radius of the circumference. 
     
     
         18 . The holder of  claim 17  wherein the free end of the arcuate retaining strip has an upwardly turned end edge. 
     
     
         19 . A holder for a coil comprised of;
 a pair of spaced apart end members and   a bridge member that inter-couples the spaced apart end members,   each end member having a base that includes a base receptacle for receiving opposed ends of the bridge member so as to form a unitary holder,   each said end member also including an arcuate retaining strip extending from said base and   having a free end that defines an open front space through which the coil is insertable into the holder,   wherein each arcuate retaining strip extends in a circumference that is orthogonal to a length of the bridge member, the open front space is measured between the free end of the arcuate retaining strip and the base, the open front space has a length measured in the direction of the circumference that is greater than a radius of the circumference, and the arcuate retaining strips are disposed in parallel to each other.   
     
     
         20 . The holder of  claim 19  wherein the free end of the arcuate retaining strip has an upwardly turned end edge and the length of the open front space is also less than a diameter of the circumference.