BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

[0001] This disclosure relates to a container or package comprising a bag or pouch made of heat-shrinkable film with a reinforced end having a hand-hold cutout formed therein. The bag or pouch is particularly suited for containing a coil of filamentary material although it is not limited thereto. A packaged coil includes the bag or pouch which is heat- shrunk over the coil but with the reinforced end having the hand-hold cutout remaining intact such that the packaged coil can be carried by using the hand-hold. The disclosure further relates to methods for packaging the coil with the heat-shrinkable film such that the package retains a reinforced end having a hand-hold cutout.

SUMMARY

[0002] A bag or pouch of heat-shrinkable material is formed or obtained preformed from one or more sheets of heat-shrinkable material (i.e., shrink-wrap) and includes a reinforced handle section defining a hand-hold cut-out. The bag is sealed on two sides and on the handle end below the hand-hold, and is left open on a second end opposite the hand-hold. A coil of filamentary material is inserted into the bag or pouch via the open second end. Once the coil is inserted, the open end of the pouch is optionally sealed. The bag or pouch with the coil is then subjected to heat in order to cause the bag or pouch to shrink around the coil. However, the reinforced handle section with the hand-hold is sufficiently isolated from the heat process forming the package so that the handle section is able to retain its original form as the shrink wrap material encases the coil.

[0003] The package or container design enables two distinct characteristics, namely: one of a heat shrunk container/package designed to tightly contain the loops or wraps of a coil; and one of a handle that, had it not been isolated from the heat source which caused encasement of the wound coil in a heat-shrinkable material, it would have shriveled upon itself and thus not been functionable as a hand-hold. [0004] The end-user of the container/package of coil of filamentary material can use the container/package to dispense the coil through a payout tube attached to the side of the container/package through the shrunk shrink-wrap material.

[0005] In one embodiment, the coil of filamentary material is a coil wound in a figure-eight configuration and may be dispensed from the inside-out without twists, tangles, snags or overruns. Such coils are known in the art as REELEX-type coils (REELEX being a trademark of Reelex Packaging Solutions, Inc.). REELEX-type coils are wound to form a generally short hollow cylinder, with the ends of the cylinder sometimes extending radially outward beyond the radial extension of the middle of the cylinder, and with a radial opening formed at one location in the middle of the cylinder. A payout tube may be located in the radial opening, and the end of the coil may be fed through the payout tube for ease in dispensing.

[0006] In one embodiment, the bag or pouch is formed from two or more sheets of heat- shrinkable material that are sealed on multiple edges, and the reinforced handle section of the bag into which the coil is inserted is formed by doubling at least one of the sheets of the heat- shrinkable material on itself or around the other sheet to form a triple-ply section. In another embodiment, the bag or pouch is formed from a single sheet of heat-shrinkable material that is folded on itself and sealed along multiple edges, and the reinforced handle section of the bag is formed by inserting a reinforcement between the folded heat-shrinkable material, thereby forming a triple-ply section. The reinforcement may be a narrow sheet of plastic or other material and may be thinner, thicker, or the same thickness as the sheet of heat-shrinkable material. The reinforcement may be held in place by sealing along edges and seams.

[0007] Cut-outs that constitute the hand-hold in the reinforced handle section may be made in the material before or after the bag or pouch is formed, and the heat-shrinkable material may be sealed about the hand-hold.

[0008] In one embodiment the heat-shrinkable material is a linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE). In another embodiment the heat-shrinkable material is a cross-linked polyolefm. In another embodiment the heat-shrinkable material is a polyvinylchloride (PVC) heat shrink film. In one embodiment, the heat-shrinkable material is substantially (i.e., ±10%) 5 mils (0.005 inches) thick. In another embodiment the heat-shrinkable material is between 3 and 10 mils (between 0.003 and 0.01 inches) thick. In one embodiment the non-heat-shrunk handle is between 7.5 and 30.0 mils thick. In another embodiment, the handle is substantially 15.0 mils thick.

[0009] According to one aspect, the characteristics of the package having a heat-shrunk pouch portion tightly containing a coil and an integral handle portion formed from the same material that is heat-shrunk around the coil are obtained by preventing the handle portion from shrinking during the heat-shrinking process. In one embodiment, the handle portion is prevented from shrinking by an insulating barrier in the form of a cylindrical tube with a slit running along its entire length and mounted within a heat shrink oven. The cylindrical tube is located lengthwise inside the heat shrink oven, with the slit in the cylindrical tube facing towards the center of the oven. At one end of the cylindrical tube a small section can be cut away to provide a platform for resting a portion of the plastic shrink-wrap film prior to entry of the package into the shrink wrap oven and entry of the portion of the shrink wrap material into the slit in the cylindrical tube. The package and the portion of the film entering into the slit in the cylindrical tube travel the length of the oven together. A cooling fan can be mounted on the opposite end of the cylindrical tube to force relatively cool (e.g., ambient) air through the length of the cylindrical tube thereby maintaining a temperature inside the tube low enough to prevent shrinkage of that portion of the plastic shrink-wrap film as it passes through the cylindrical tube in the oven. Thus, the portion of the plastic shrink-wrap film to be isolated from the heat of the oven is placed into the slit in the cylindrical tube and remains there the entire time the film and the package is inside the oven, thereby enabling the portion of the shrink-wrap film outside the tube to shrink and the portion of the shrink-wrap film inside the cylindrical tube to remain in its pre-shrunk form.

[0010] In another embodiment, the handle portion is prevented from shrinking by isolating the handle portion from the effects of heat in a repeatable and reliable manner suitable to a mass production environment. More particularly, the handle is isolated in a heat isolation apparatus which may include a lockable clamp-like mechanism. The heat isolation apparatus may rest in a track that transports the plastic film in an upright manner though a heat source (e.g., a heat tunnel). The heat isolation apparatus may be equipped with customizable and adjustable guides which keep an object placed into the shrink film pouch upright and secured during the heat shrinking process. [0011] In one aspect, a heat isolation apparatus for preventing the handle portion from shrinking during the heat-shrinking process is part of an apparatus having several components working in sequence to create a finished package in which an object is packaged in a heat- shrinkable film bag. The package is transported through the apparatus via a trolley-like device in which the package is captured and supported. This device is set into motion from below via a continuous belt and is restricted in movement by a track designed to bring the package and device to each component in the apparatus.

[0012] In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises four distinct sections. A first section is a loading/unloading zone that is located at one end of the circuit of the apparatus. The second section is an area in which the open portion of the heat-shrinkable bag may be sealed shut via a band sealer. The third section is a heat tunnel in which heat is applied directly to all areas of the plastic film not captured by the trolley (heat isolation) device. The fourth section is a long section of straight track where the package may cool from the application of heat in the third section.

[0013] In one embodiment, a heat shrink packaging system utilizes a heat isolation apparatus for capturing a specific area of a heat-shrinkable plastic film used for packaging objects suitable for packaging as a heat-shrinkable package to prevent heat from reaching a specific area of the heat-shrinkable plastic film, and the heat shrink packaging system comprises: a slotted track for transporting the heat isolation apparatus on which the heat- shrinkable plastic film and object to be packaged are carried throughout the heat isolation apparatus; means for capturing a portion of said heat-shrinkable plastic film that forms a designated area removed from the application of heat by inserting the heat shrinkable plastic film in an area of the heat isolation apparatus; means for propelling the heat isolation apparatus with heat-shrinkable plastic film and object to be packaged about the slotted track; heat tunnel means for applying heat to the heat shrinkable plastic film surrounding the object to be packaged; said means for propelling moving said object and heat-shrinkable plastic film to and through said heat tunnel; and said means for capturing securely capturing said designated area of heat-shrinkable plastic film to be isolated from the heat within the heat tunnel so that said heat tunnel does not heat shrink the heat shrinkable plastic film at the designated area captured by the heat isolation apparatus. [0014] In one embodiment, an apparatus for producing heat-shrinkable packaging with an integrated hand-hold, comprises: a circuitous path extending from an input loading/unloading zone, a section where the open portion of a heat-shrinkable bag is sealed shut and creating a container in which an object is enclosed, a section in which heat is applied directly to exposed areas of the plastic film of the package for sealing the package, and a section of path enabling the package to cool; a trolley device for supporting the package and engaging the circuitous path for movement of the package along the circuitous path; and protrusions positioned along the circuitous path for propelling the device along the designated track route.

[0015] In one embodiment a method of producing a heat-shrinkable plastic bag with an integrated handle, comprising the steps of: pre-sealing a bag made from heat-shrinkable material to form a container with an open end; placing an object to be packaged into the container portion of the heat-shrinkable material; sealing the open end of the container;

applying heat to the entire bag except for a portion of the heat-shrinkable material which is left undisturbed thereby shrinking the container portion of the package with the rest of the heat- shrinkable material remaining in its natural state; the finished package consists of a container portion shrunk around the object and a non-shrunk portion that has been left unmolested and forming a handle for the finished package.

[0016] In one embodiment a package comprises: a wound coil of filamentary material; and a heat shrink film having a first portion extending and shrunk around said wound coil and a second portion integral with said first portion and constituting a reinforced non-shrunk handle section with at least two layers of the heat shrink film.

[0017] In one embodiment a system for making a package including a heat-shrinkable plastic film extending around an object, comprises: a shrink-wrap oven; means for moving the object through the shrink-wrap oven with the heat-shrinkable plastic film extending around the object; and means for isolating a first portion of the heat-shrinkable plastic film from heat of the shrink-wrap oven such that said first portion of the heat-shrinkable plastic film does not shrink while a second portion of the heat-shrinkable plastic film is caused to shrink about the object.

[0018] In one embodiment a method of making a package of a wound coil having heat shrunk plastic thereabout and an integral handle, comprises: placing a wound coil inside a heat shrink film bag or pouch having a handle portion defining a hand-hold; and applying heat to said heat shrink film bag or pouch while isolating said handle portion from the heat, thereby causing said heat shrink film to shrink about the wound coil without impacting said hand-hold of said handle portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The objects, features and advantages of the invention are readily apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein:

[0020] Fig. 1 A is a front view of a first embodiment of a heat shrink apparatus with a cylindrical tube positioned along the full length of a heat shrink oven and showing a slit running the full length of the cylindrical tube and a platform formed at the entry end of the cylindrical tube. A package comprising an object encased with shrink-wrap film is placed in the heat shrink-wrap oven alongside the cylindrical tube;

[0021] Fig. IB is a perspective view of the heat shrink oven of Fig. 1A illustrating the suction of cool air into the cylindrical tube, the flow of the ambient air through the cylindrical tube and exiting at the far end of the tube, the placement of the package having a portion (handle) being placed in the slit in the cylindrical tube, and the movement of the package with the portion of the shrink wrap placed in the slit running the length of the heat shrink wrap oven;

[0022] Fig. 2A is a perspective view of a coil of filamentary material wound in a figure- eight configuration with an inner end of the coil inserted in a payout tube extending from the inner wind of the coil to the outer wind of the coil and with the coil and payout tube wrapped in a heat-shrunk material with an integral handle section that is not heat-shrunk resulting from utilizing the heat shrink apparatus of Figs. 1A and IB;

[0023] Fig. 2B is a front view of Fig. 2A;

[0024] Fig. 3 shows a circuitous track placed within a flat table for a second embodiment of a heat shrink apparatus;

[0025] Fig 4 is an underneath perspective view of the circuitous track of Fig. 3 illustrating details of the continuous belt with pulley wheels driven by an electric motor and several protrusions positioned to be always in line with the track cutout; [0026] Fig. 4A shows the engagement of respective protrusions of a heat isolation trolley device with the track cutout and with the protrusion of the continuous belt.

[0027] Fig 5 illustrates the second embodiment of the heat shrink apparatus with multiple sections and with the progression of a coil and a heat shrink bag as they move along the apparatus.

[0028] Figs. 6A and 6B are top and bottom perspective views respectively of plates of the heat isolation trolley device equipped with roller bearings on their bottom surfaces which enable the device to slide in any direction over a flat surface;

[0029] Fig. 7 shows hinged sculpted plates of Fig. 6A and 6B in an open position so that the heat-shrinkable plastic film may be inserted and captured, and then the hinged plates may rotate and lock shut via a spring-loaded locking mechanism;

[0030] Fig. 8 shows the plates of the trolley device, to which all other components are attached, with a protrusion designed to slide within a slotted track. The protrusion extends below the horizontal plane or track upon which the heat isolation trolley device can be propelled from below;

[0031] Fig. 9 illustrates the heat insulating plate components of the trolley device sculpted to match the product being packaged by the shrink film bag so that the product rests on top of the plates shown in Fig. 8 and is restricted from movement or shifting; and

[0032] Fig. 10 shows the progression of the trolley device, the heat-shrink bag and the coil at six locations identified as A-G. Location A shows the heat isolation trolley device positioned in front of a loading area such that when a release lever is activated, the heat insulating plates unload and are open. Location B illustrates the trolley and the bag after a heat-shrinkable plastic film is placed between the heat insulating plates and the plates are closed. Location C shows the closed plates securely capturing the area of plastic film that is to be sufficiently isolated from the heat, and the plastic film bag being open on the opposite end from the captured area. Location D illustrates the object (coil) placed inside the plastic bag to define a package, the object resting on top of the sculpted trolley panels and between the centering arms mounted on the outside of each panel. Location E shows the package and trolley device together positioned so that the open end of the plastic bag is inserted into a sealing device to create a sealed package. Location F shows the complete package after it has passed through the heat tunnel to cause the bag to shrink around the coil and with the package removed from the heat isolation trolley device by unlocking and separating the heat insulating plates. Location G shows the package being carried by the handle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0033] Shown in Figs. 1A and IB is a heat shrink wrap oven 10 including a movable platform 11 for supporting an object 12 (e.g., a coil of filamentary material such as coil wound in a figure-eight (REELEX-type) configuration with a payout tube 13 extending therethrough) covered by a layer of shrink wrap film 14 which is to tightly cover the object 12 after its passage through the heat shrink wrap oven 10. Cylindrical tube 16 is mounted above and parallel to platform 11 and runs the length of the heat shrink wrap oven 10 as shown in Figs. 1A and IB. Cylindrical tube 16 is stationary and has a slit 18 cut into its side that runs the length of the tube. A platform or ledge 20 is cut into the end of the cylindrical tube 10 enabling a portion 22 of the shrink wrap film 14 to rest on ledge 20 prior to being fed into slit 18. Portion 22 of the shrink wrap film can be a handle or some other portion of the shrink wrap film 14 that is desired to be maintained cooler than the shrink wrap material surrounding the wound package.

[0034] Figs. 1 A and IB also depict the flow of air into the platform end of the cylindrical tube 16 that is created by an electric fan (not shown) mounted at the far end of the platform 20 on the cylindrical tube 10.

[0035] It is to be understood that while the provided arrangement has general application to objects that are covered with shrink wrap material and include a handle section made from the shrink wrap material which is not shrunk, the arrangement has particular application to packages of coils wound in a figure eight configuration such as the REELEX-type coils known to the wound filament material trade.

[0036] In the perspective view of Fig. IB, the object 12 is shown placed on platform 11 of the heat shrink wrap oven 10 in a position adjacent the cylindrical tube 16 with handle 22 resting on platform 20 and engaged in the slit (not shown) of the cylindrical tube 16. A fan (not shown) mounted in the end portion 26 of the cylindrical tube 16 sucks relatively cool air 24 into the end of the cylindrical tube 16 having the platform 22 and out of the far end 26 of the cylindrical tube as the package and filament material in the oven move through the oven as shown in Fig. IB.

[0037] From the above description it is readily apparent that the embodiment provides an apparatus for dividing the heat-shrinkable plastic film into different temperature regions. For example one section of the heat-shrinkable plastic film has heat applied to it by a heat shrink oven, and another section of the film is substantially isolated from the heat and maintained at a cooler temperature when passing through the heat shrink oven. This allows a single shrink- wrap material to assume the characteristics of a shrunk portion and a non-shrunk portion.

[0038] Turning to Figs. 2A and 2B, a package 50 resulting from subjecting the coil 12 inside the shrink-wrap film bag 14 to the heat shrink oven 10 with the cooling tube 16 is seen. Package 50 includes the coil of filamentary material 12 wound in a figure-eight configuration with an inner end 54 of the coil inserted in a payout tube 56 extending from the inner wind of the coil through a payout hole in the side of the wound coil (not shown) to the outer wind of the coil. The shrink-wrap film bag 14 is shrunk around the sides of the coil and on the portion of the coil opposite the handle portion 22 of the heat-shrink film bag. Portion 22 is seen to be unaffected by the oven, and a hand-hold 58 formed in the bag portion 22 is usable to carry the package 50.

[0039] With continuing reference to Figs. 2A and 2B, the hand-hold 58 is formed as a part of the bag or pouch of heat-shrinkable film 14 within which the coil of filamentary material 12 is deposited. In one embodiment, one end of the heat shrinkable film is folded back on itself to form portion 22 in which a hand-hold cutout 58 is formed. The other end of the pouch is open to receive a coil of filamentary material 12 which may be inserted therethrough into the pouch 14. Once the coil is inserted in the pouch, the open end of the pouch distant from the handle portion 22 is sealed and heat is applied to the pouch portion of the package, thereby shrinking the film around the coil. The handle portion 22 of the container/package is isolated from the heat and is thereby prevented from shrinking. The completed package/container can be described as a single sheet of material having both the features of a heat-shrunk pouch portion tightly containing a coil of filamentary material, and an attached handle portion which has not been exposed to sufficient heat to shrink, and thus is not shrunk. [0040] Fig. 2B is a front view of the finished container/package 50 wrapped in a heat shrinkable material 14 and showing the inner end of the coil of filamentary material which is wound in a figure-eight configuration inserted in the payout tube 13 which in turn is inserted and extends through a payout hole (not shown) of the coil. The heat-shrinkable material 14 is seen with un-shrunk portion 22 containing the hand-hold 58.

[0041 ] It is to be understood that the embodiments have broader application than to just coils of filamentary material wound in a figure-eight configuration. For example, the embodiments have application to all types of wound coils whether made of filamentary material or not and whether wound in the figure-eight REELEX-type configuration or not.

[0042] According to another embodiment seen in Figs. 3-9, apparatus 100 (Fig. 5) and methods related to a continuous process are provided for manufacturing packages 50 comprising objects such as coils 12 contained within a heat-shrunk film 14 and having a non- shrunk hand-hold 58 formed from the film.

[0043] Fig. 3 illustrates a circuitous track 132 defined within (i.e., cut out of) a flat table 131 having support legs 133 which are part of apparatus 100. As described hereinafter, the circuitous track 132 defines a path for a trolley device that holds a heat-shrinkable film bag.

[0044] Fig. 4 shows a continuous belt 143 under most of the circuitous track 132. The belt 143 is driven by pulley wheels 144 supported by table 131. The pulley wheels 143 are driven by an electric motor (not shown). Attached at predetermined intervals along the belt 143 are protrusions or driver arms 145. Driver arms 145 serve the purpose of propelling trolley devices 147 (Fig. 4A) along the designated track route by physical contact with protrusions or extension bars extending from and located below the trolley device 147. The trolley device 147 is described in more detail hereinafter with respect to Figs. 6A-9.

[0045] As seen in Fig. 4, the path of the belt 143 and the circuitous track 132 diverge at a first location 148 along the track. As will be described in more detail hereinafter, the track length from first location 148 until the track again aligns with the belt 143 at a second location 149 is an area where the extension bars 146 of the trolley 147 will not contact the driver arms 145 of the belt. Thus, the trolley 147 is not automatically driven at that area, which as described hereinafter is used as a loading and unloading zone. [0046] Turning now to Fig. 5, an apparatus 100 is seen for a continuous process for manufacturing packages 50 comprising objects such as coils 12 contained within a heat-shrunk film 14 and having a non- shrunk hand-hold 58 formed from the film. The apparatus 100 includes the table 131, track 132, belt 143, trolley 147, etc., described with respect to Figs. 3 and 4, as well as an oven 10 and other hereinafter described elements. The apparatus 100 is illustrated in Fig. 5 as including four sections. The first section A is a "loading/unloading" zone and is located at one end of the circuit described with respect to Figs. 3 and 4 (e.g., between first and second locations 148 and 149). In this zone, the track 132 is designed to maneuver the trolley device 147 away from the driving belt 143 to allow the trolley devices 147 movement free of propulsion along the track. By removing (decoupling) the trolley device 147 from the driving motion of the belt 143, the trolley device 147 stops and remains motionless. This allows the operator to manipulate the trolley device at will. For example, at one location in zone A, the apparatus 100 delivers completed packages 50 resting atop the track. The finished packages may be removed or ejected from the apparatus by a human operator or automatically (e.g., by opening the trolley clamp as described hereinafter with reference to Figs. 6A - 9), and the trolley 147 may be moved along the track 132 without being driven by the belt 143 and positioned (e.g., at location 151) to load a new film bag 14. A new object (coil) 12 may be loaded into the bag 14 at the same location or at another location. Once loaded, the trolley 147 which is separated from the drive belt, may be pushed manually along the track 132 to location 149 where it is again driven by the drive belt 143. The operation then proceeds to section B.

[0047] The second section B is an area in which the open portion of the heat-shrinkable bag may be sealed shut via a band sealer 153. In this section the trolley device 147 upon which the coil 12 rests and in which the film material 14 is captured, is propelled through the band sealer 153, thereby sealing the bag and creating a container in which the object 12 is enclosed. In one embodiment the band sealer 153 is adjustable for height so that a wide range of objects may be packaged in this manner and a seal may be made as close as possible to the object.

[0048] The third section C of apparatus 100 is an heat-shrink wrap oven 10 in which heat is applied directly to all areas of the plastic film not captured in an insulating manner by the trolley device 147. During this heat application, the plastic film heats to a temperature where the material transforms from its original state and to an activated state. In one embodiment, the oven temperature is between 300°F and 360°F, and the trolley device 147 holding the object 12 is inside the oven for a period of between 10 and 30 seconds.

[0049] The fourth section D is substantially a long section of straight track where the package 50 may cool from the heat application such that the heat- shrink film shrinks around object 12. The package 50 and trolley device 147 move down this section of track for a distance enabling the film to shrink and the package to cool and be safely handled by a human operator if desired. The trolley device 147 and package 50 then return to the first section A, where the trolley 147 disengages from the drive belt and the completed package 50 is removed. The trolley is then optionally advanced to a location where a new film bag 14 is inserted into the trolley device 147 and a new coil 12 is inserted into the bag as described above. This process continues in a continuous manner as desired ad infinitum.

[0050] While the apparatus and process have been described with respect to the movement of a single package carried by a single trolley 147 of the apparatus 100, it will be appreciated that apparatus 100 may include multiple trolleys such that multiple packages 50 are being processed at different stages at any given time. In addition, the apparatus and process can be more or less mechanized. For example, rather than unloading a finished package 50 by hand, an overhead crane or other mechanism may be used to unload the package from the trolley. Similarly, rather than loading a trolley device 147 with a new film bag 14 by hand, an automatic machine may be used to load the bag into the device. A machine or support may be used to hold the bag open in place, and a machine or other assist may be used to place a coil in a bag. Further, the trolley may be advanced along the track between locations 148 and 149 in an automated manner.

[0051] Turning now to Figs. 6A - 9, details of one embodiment of a trolley device 147 are seen. In Figs. 6 A and 6B the trolley device 147 is seen as comprising one or more base plates 201 equipped with roller bearings 202 on the bottom surface of the plates allowing the apparatus to slide in any direction over a flat surface. Attached to the plates 201 is a clamp comprised of two sculpted heat insulating blocks 203, 204 or clamping blocks constructed with a heat insulating material. The blocks 203, 204, when pressed together, capture an area of heat- shrinkable plastic film and substantially isolate the captured area from exposure to heat that would cause shrinkage of the film, thereby preventing heat shrinking of the captured film. At least one of the blocks 203, 204 is attached to the plate(s) 201 via a hinge (not shown) that permits the clamp to open. As previously described, trolley device 147 includes a protrusion arm 146 extending from the base 201 and adapted to be driven by a driver arm extending from the circulating continuous belt 143 of the apparatus 100. As will be described in more detail hereinafter, trolley device 147 also includes a locking lever 205 for the insulating blocks 203, 204, a track guide element 206 extending from the plate(s) 201, and a plurality of package stabilizing arms 207 extending from blocks 203, 204. In another embodiment, the stabilizing arms 207 may extend from the base 201. The track guide element 206 together with the protrusion arm 146 act to keep the trolley 147 in the track 132 as the trolley circumnavigates the track, with the track guide element preventing rotation of the trolley about the protrusion arm 146.

[0052] As seen in Fig. 7, at least one of the sculpted insulating clamp blocks 203, 204 can rotate open so that a plastic film bag 14 may be inserted between the blocks. In one

embodiment, the blocks define a narrow gap or slot (not shown) of a thickness that matches the thickness of the handle portion of the bag 14 which is to be placed therein. In one embodiment, the thickness of the gap is adjustable. In another embodiment, the clamp blocks 203, 204 are designed so that their inside flat surfaces 210 press firmly against each other (with some give to permit the handle portion 22 of the bag 14 to be located therebetween). Regardless, the insulating clamp blocks 203, 204 prevent the area within the flat surfaces from being exposed to heat sufficient to cause heat shrinking of the handle portion of the bag.

[0053] As shown in Fig. 7, the inside face 210 of one of the clamp blocks is provided with a recess or hollow 208, and the other is provided with a protrusion 209 standing proud of the face 210 that is sized and shaped to fit into the hollow 208. The shape of the protrusion is shaped and sized to match the hand-hold 58 of the bag 14 so that the hand-hold is captured between by the protrusion 209 of the clamp block. This aspect of the heat insulating clamp locks the shrink bag (not shown) made of plastic film material in place, preventing it from being pulled free of the heat isolation apparatus during the heat-shrinkable packaging operation, as the surrounding plastic film shrinks and pulls on the isolated area of the plastic film. As previously suggested, at least one of the sculpted clamp blocks 203, 204 rotates, and the clamp is locked shut via a spring-loaded locking mechanism activated by locking lever 205. By pressing lever 205 and unlocking the clamp blocks, at least one of the blocks can be swung away from the other, thus allowing the plastic film to be inserted into or removed from the heat isolating clamp block apparatus.

[0054] It is noted that each insulating clamp block 203, 204 is effectively a beam 211 of rectangular cross-section with a ledge 212 extending along the upper outer part of the beam (away from the inside faces 210). The ledge is shaped ("sculpted") with an arc 214 extending along its central area which is adapted to help stably support a coil which sits on the beams 211 and over the ledges 212. More particularly, and as seen also in Figs. 8 and 9, the heat insulating clamp components are shaped to match the product being packaged in the shrink film bag (not shown in Figs. 8 and 9 for reasons of clarity) so that the product may rest on top of the heat insulating beams and be restricted from movement or shifting. Package stabilizing arms 207 attached to the outside of the heat insulating clamp blocks press against the plastic shrink film bag to keep the plastic shrink film bag from falling to either side of the heat isolation apparatus while it is in motion. The stabilizing arms 207 can be custom designed to match the dimensions of the plastic shrink bag and coil 12 and maintain it in a vertical position.

[0055] With respect to Fig. 8 and 9, a coil 12 is shown resting on the beams of a trolley device 147 situated on a table 131. The package stabilizing arms 207 are shown cradling the coil 12 (the bag 14 not shown for purposes of clarity). The extension bar 146 of the trolley 147 is shown extending from the plate(s) 201 on the bottom of the trolley through and beyond the horizontal plane of the slot (track) 132 of the table 131. As previously suggested, the extension bar 146 provides a means through which the trolley can be propelled from below.

[0056] With reference to Fig. 10, a sequence is shown with respect to the production of a package having a heat-shrunk film and a coil, where the heat-shrunk film extends around the coil and includes an integral handle portion that is not heat-shrunk. At position A, the trolley 147 is positioned in front of a loading area (see Fig. 5) where the locking lever 205 (Fig. 6A) is manually pushed, allowing the heat insulating clamp blocks 203, 204 to unlock and swing open as in Fig. 7. A preformed heat-shrinkable bag 14 is separately shown. Bag 14 has a handle portion 22 which is heat sealed along a seam 14a, and includes sealed side panels 14b, 14c, and an open end 14d. At position B, a human operator or a machine places a designated area (e.g., the handle) of the heat-shrinkable plastic film or bag 14 into the space between the heat insulating clamps 203, 204 with the hand-hold 58 (Fig. 2A) extending over the protrusion 209 (Fig. 7). At position C, the human operator or machine closes the insulating clamp blocks 203, 204 so that the handle portion 22 of the bag 14 is captured between the clamp faces 210 (Fig. 7) and so that the handle portion will be sufficiently isolated from the application of heat during the production process described herein. The heat-shrinkable plastic film or bag 14 is open on the end 14d opposite from the captured handle portion previously described to receive the object to be packaged. At position D, the object (e.g., coil 12) desired to be packaged is placed inside the plastic film or bag 14 and rests on top of the trolley 147 with part of the object resting on the beams 211 of the insulating clamp blocks, and the edges of the object extending over the sculpted areas 214 (Figs. 8-9). The object 12 is also supported between the stabilizing arms 207 mounted on the outside of each clamping block (Figs. 8-9). At position E, the object to be packaged and the heat-shrinkable bag are together positioned so that the open end 14d of the plastic bag 14 can be inserted into a sealing device 153 (Fig. 5), thus creating a package of the object and a sealed bag. The trolley and package then proceed into a heat tunnel which applies heat to the plastic bag, but the handle portion of the bag which is captured by the heat insulating clamping blocks of the trolley is sufficiently isolated from the heat to prevent shrinkage of the heat-shrink film in a manner that would impact the handle portion from its intended use; i.e., the insertion of a human hand through the hand-hold of the handle portion. The result is that the plastic bag (at locations other than the insulated handle portion) becomes more plastic (pliant), and after exiting the heat tunnel the bag shrinks as it cools, resulting in a package of a heat- shrunk film that is formed around and on the object, and with a handle portion that is substantially unaffected by the heat. Thus, the sealed package 50 is complete and may be removed from the heat isolation trolley by unlocking and separating the heat insulating clamp blocks of the trolley. At position F, the clamping blocks of the trolley are shown opened and the package is shown removed from the trolley 147. At position G, the package 50 is shown being carried by a human hand 300 at the hand-hold of the handle portion. At position G, the strength of the shrunk heat shrink wrap 14 is supporting the weight of the coil 12.

[0057] While the heat isolation trolley apparatus has been described with reference to heat- shrinkable packaging for a particular type of coil of filamentary material (REELEX-type coil), the heat isolation trolley apparatus can be used in any instance in which an object is to be packaged using heat-shrinkable plastic film, and where a designated area (e.g., a portion defining a hand-hold) of the plastic film must be kept sufficiently isolated from the application of heat during the packaging process. [0058] In one embodiment the heat-shrinkable material is a linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE). In another embodiment the heat-shrinkable material is a cross-linked polyolefm. In another embodiment the heat-shrinkable material is a polyvinylchloride (PVC) heat shrink film. In one embodiment, the heat-shrinkable material is substantially (i.e., ±10%) 5.0 mils (0.005 inches) thick. In another embodiment the heat-shrinkable material is between 3.0 and 10.0 mils (between 0.003 and 0.01 inches) thick. In one embodiment the non-heat-shrunk handle portion is between 7.5 and 30.0 mils thick. In another embodiment, the handle portion is substantially 15.0 mils thick.

[0059] In one embodiment, the bag or pouch is formed from two or more sheets of heat- shrinkable material that are sealed on multiple edges, and the reinforced handle section of the bag into which the coil is inserted is formed by doubling at least one of the sheets of the heat- shrinkable material on itself or around the other sheet to form a triple-ply section. In another embodiment, the bag or pouch is formed from a single sheet of heat-shrinkable material that is folded on itself and sealed along multiple edges, and the reinforced handle section of the bag is formed by inserting a reinforcement between the folded heat-shrinkable material, thereby forming a triple-ply section. The reinforcement may be a narrow sheet of plastic or other material and may be thinner, thicker, or the same thickness as the sheet of heat-shrinkable material. The reinforcement may be held in place by sealing along edges and seams. Cut-outs that constitute the hand-hold in the reinforced handle section may be made in the heat shrink material before or after the bag or pouch is formed, and the heat-shrinkable material may be sealed about the hand-hold.

[0060] It will be appreciated that for purposes herein, the term "filamentary coil" is to be understood broadly to a coil formed from cable, wire, optical filaments, and other materials. The coil may have different diameters, widths, and weights. By way of example and not by way of limitation, a first coil of THHN (thermoplastic, high heat-resistant, nylon coated) wire may have a diameter of 7.5 inches, a width of 3.0 inches, and a weight of 4.0 pounds. An LLDPE bag for that coil may have a width of 12.0 inches, a height of 16.0 inches, and a thickness of 5.5 mils (the handle being substantially 16.5 mils thick). By way of example and not by way of limitation, another coil of THHN may have a diameter of 9.0 inches, a width of 4.0 inches and a weight of 8.0 pounds. An LLDPE bag for that coil may have a width of 15 inches, a height of 19 inches, and a thickness of 5.5 mils. By way of example and not by way of limitation a first category 5e cable may have a diameter of 9 inches, a width of 6.25 inches and a weight of 6.75 inches, and an LLDPE bag for that coil may have a width of 17 inches, a height of 21 inches, and a thickness of 5.5 mils. By way of example and not by way of limitation a second category 5e cable may have a diameter of 14 inches, a width of 8 inches and a weight of 27 inches, and an LLDPE bag for that coil may have a width of 22 inches, a height of 30 inches, and a thickness of 5.5 mils. By way of example and not by way of limitation, a category 6 cable may have a diameter of 15 inches, a width of 10 inches and a weight of 35 inches. An LLDPE bag for that coil may have a width of substantially 25 inches, a height of substantially 30 inches, and a thickness of 6.0 mils. It will be appreciated by those in the art that many different size and weight coils may be packaged with bags of different widths, heights, wall thicknesses, and shrink-wrap materials.

[0061] Although only a few example embodiments have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the example embodiments without materially departing from this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure as defined in the following claims. Thus, while particular shrink-wrap materials have been disclosed, it will be appreciated that other shrink-wrap materials may be used as well. In addition, while particular types of coils have been disclosed for being packaged, it will be understood that the package may include any type of coil or different object in conjunction with the shrink-wrap material. Further, while a trolley having specific elements such base plates equipped with roller bearings, a clamp comprised of two pieces of sculpted heat insulating material, a protrusion arm extending from the base and adapted to be driven by a continuous belt, a locking lever, a track guide element, and a plurality of package stabilizing arms, it will be appreciated that the trolley may assume many different configurations with or without many of the specifically described elements, provided the trolley is capable of insulating a portion of the shrink-wrap material from heat that would otherwise cause that portion of the shrink-wrap to deform. Thus, by way of example and not by way of limitation, different means may be used for causing and permitting the trolley to be transported to different stations which need not necessary be arranged in a closed loop. Similarly, depending upon the object of the package and the construction of the trolley, stabilizing arms may not be necessary. It will therefore be appreciated by those skilled in the art that yet other modifications could be made to the provided invention without deviating from its spirit and scope as claimed.