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Wetness indicating roll wrap system, and methods

Wetness indicating roll wrap system, and methods description/claims

The present disclosure is directed to rolls of sheet good products, such as rolls of paper sheet goods. The disclosure relates to wrap systems for the rolls.

Paper rolls, or other rolls of sheet material, usually have the roll covered with a roll wrap protective system, such as a sheet (i.e., an outer wrap) wrapped around the circumference of the roll. Any wrap material overhanging the ends of the roll is usually crimped radially inwardly over the ends of the roll. A header assembly may be located internally and/or externally of the crimped over projecting wrap portion at each end of the roll. This protection system, including the roll wrap and the header assembly, is common.

The roll wrap system protects the roll of material (e.g., paper) throughout the storage and distribution process. Once a roll of material is formed, it is desirable to cover the roll to protect the material from damage until it is used.

It is common that during storage or shipping, the wrapped roll may come into contact with water, for example, as a puddle on the floor on which the roll is stored, rain or snow falling on the roll during transport, or the like. Many times, the water soaks through the roll wrap and/or header and contacts the material, damaging the material.

As mentioned, paper is a common rolled material that is wrapped with a roll wrap system for storage and transportation. Wet paper can generally not be used. Even after drying, however, although the paper may have not visible indication of damage, the paper may no longer be suitable for use or may not perform as expected. Often, the paper dries before it has been noticed that it had been wet, thus creating a surprise for the paper user when the paper roll is unwrapped.

What is needed in a system to notify one if a wrapped roll has been exposed to water or other aqueous material.

The present disclosure provides a roll wrap system that provides an indication to the user if the roll wrap system has been exposed to liquid water or other aqueous material. The wetness indicating wrap system of this invention includes a water contact indicator on an outer surface of the roll wrap system, the water contact indicator configured to bleed, run, or otherwise distort when exposed to water or other aqueous material. The water contact indicator dries in its distorted image, thus providing an indication that the water contact indicator, and thus the roll wrap system, had been exposed to liquid water or other aqueous material.

Having evidence that the roll has been exposed to liquid water, and possibly damaged, has numerous benefits.

Having a water contact indictor on the roll wrap system increases the confidence level of the user of the roll material that the material has not been exposed to liquid water and thus not damaged or rendered unusable. Further, knowing that the roll of material has not been damaged, those handling the roll may be more careful than if they were not certain the material was still useable, quality material. Also, those handling the roll may be more careful knowing that it would be traceable back to them if water contact occurred while the roll was under their control. As possession of the rolls passes from one to another, the subsequent handler would know if the roll was damaged prior to his possession of the roll, thus providing an indication of under whose control the damage occurred. Knowing where and when water damage occurred would also save time and money, reducing the handling and transport of damaged rolls.

One particular embodiment of this disclosure is a wetness indicating wrap system that includes a roll wrap system having a water contact indicator thereon. The roll wrap system includes a roll wrap and at least one header (often two headers), with the water contact indicator on at least one of the roll wrap and the at least one header. The water contact indicator may be indicia formed from a water soluble dye.

These and other embodiments are described in the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a roll of sheet material;

FIG. 2 is a partially exploded, schematic perspective view of a roll having a roll wrap system, the roll wrap system including an outer protective roll wrap, an optional inner header, and an outer header;

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a roll having the wetness indicating wrap system of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 4 is the roll of FIG. 3 after having been exposed to a water or aqueous liquid source, showing the benefits of the wetness indicating wrap system of the present disclosure.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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