WO1998046502A1

WO1998046502A1 - Protective cover

Info

Publication number: WO1998046502A1
Application number: PCT/GB1998/001125
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Arthur Hugh Farrington; Richard Hill
Original assignee: Corrugated Plastic Products Limited
Priority date: 1997-04-17
Filing date: 1998-04-17
Publication date: 1998-10-22
Also published as: EP0975534B3; DE69804437T2; EP0975534B1; EP0975534A1; ATE215045T1; DE69804437D1; GB9707752D0; DE69804437T3; AU7063498A

Abstract

A cover (1) for protecting an annular portion of a roll (11) of material having a hollow core (10), comprising a sleeve (2), a brim surrounding the sleeve (2), and means for adjusting the circumference of the cover (1) to enable the sleeve (2) to be inserted into the hollow core (10).

Description

PROTECTIVE COVER

The present invention relates to a protective insert or cover and, more particularly, to a cover for fitting into the hollow or open core of a hollow or open cored roll or coil of sheet material. The invention also relates to a method of protecting the annular end surface of such a roll from inadvertent damage .

Manufactured sheet steel is wound into a roll with a substantially cylindrical hollow core so that an arm or arms of lifting or packaging machinery may be inserted therein to allow the roll to be lifted, transported or sheet wrapped. The annular end surface of the roll, particularly at the corner edge where it meets the hollow core, is vulnerable to damage, for example by being dented or torn, especially during transportation and lifting. Any portion of the steel which is so damaged is unfit for use and, therefore, must be discarded as waste.

In order to protect against such damage, protective covers are fitted about the open ends of each roll's hollow core before it is lifted, or shipped from the steel mill where it was produced. A first form of previously used cover comprises a sleeve member shaped to fit inside the hollow core in contact with the inner curved surface of the roll, and an annular flange member dimensioned to surround the opening into the hollow core. Such a cover would be installed by inserting the sleeve member into the hollow core, to contact the inner curved surface of the roll adjacent to an annular end surface thereof, with the annular flange member lying flat against the end surface of the roll, surrounding the opening into the hollow core. The two cover components are held in place by the application of a shrink wrapped plastic resin sheet extending around the roll and through its hollow core. The cover components are manufactured from hardboard, sandwiched between layers of bitumen impregnated craft paper, laminated with polyethylene. This material is available under the Trade Mark LAMIF EX.

A second known form of protective cover is formed from an elongate strip of an impact absorbing flexible material, such as corrugated polypropylene sheeting, shaped into two flange portions joined at a crease line. One flange portion is unbroken and intended for insertion into the hollow core of a roll of steel, while the other portion consists of an array of flaps or teeth which, after the first flange has been inserted into the core of the roll, is folded over and into covering contact with the annular end surface of the roll. The flaps or teeth prevent the insert from being irregularly folded or kinked. The cover is finally held in place by shrink-wrapping the assembly of roll and cover with a plastic resin sheet in completion of the packaging process. A disadvantage of both of the aforementioned types of insert is that they are slow and labour intensive to fit. For example, in order to accommodate roll-to-roll variations in core diameter, cover material of the second type is supplied in rolls and must be cut precisely to the required length before insertion. Also, the sleeve members of the first type of cover are often difficult to install as they can be either too loose or tight to be a good fit within a hollow core of a given roll of steel.

Although covers of the first type are made from relatively high impact absorbing material, when a highly concentrated pressure is applied thereto, for example, by the pressure exerted at the nip between a lifting arm and the inner cylindrical curved surface of the roll, an imprint of the lifting arm can be formed on the inner turns of steel. This problem is particularly acute for thin gauges of steel and can also be caused by other handling procedures .

A further disadvantage of the second known type of cover is that, once installed, gaps remain between each of the flap or tooth like portions and the so adjacent annular end face of the roll remains inadequately protected.

The appearance of steel rolls protected by either of the known types of cover is not particularly good and, moreover, no economies of scale can be gained by manufacturing either in large quantities.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cover which does not suffer from at least one of the aforementioned drawbacks of known arrangements.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cover for protecting an annular portion of a roll or coil of material having a hollow core, comprising a sleeve, a brim surrounding the sleeve, and means for adjusting the circumference of the cover to enable the sleeve to be inserted into the hollow core. The circumferential adjustability of the cover enables roll-to-roll variations in core diameter to be accommodated and so the need to have several covers of different sleeve diameters is reduced.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a cover for protecting a roll of material having a hollow core, comprising a sleeve and a brim surrounding the sleeve, wherein the cover is integrally pre-formed and the brim and sleeve protect an annular portion of the roll when the sleeve is inserted into the hollow core. As the cover is integrally pre-formed, it is much easier to install than the previously known arrangements and provides an improved fit within the hollow core of a given roll of steel . In a preferred embodiment of the second aspect of the invention the cover includes means for adjusting the circumference of the cover. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the means for adjusting the circumference of the cover enable the circumference to be adjusted after the cover has been inserted into the hollow core of a roll of material. This permits the cover to be inserted readily into the hollow core and subsequently adjusted until it forms a snug fit. In an equally preferred embodiment, the adjustment means are adapted to adjust the circumference of the cover during its insertion into the hollow core. Preferably, the cover is self-adjusting, in the sense that the circumference of the cover adjusts itself automatically as the cover is inserted into the core. Advantageously, this enables fine adjustments to be made to the cover in si tu to allow for variations in batch size of the rolls of material.

In a further embodiment, the adjustment means permit the circumference of the cover to be substantially fixed after it has been inserted into the core, to provide a snug fit and prevent movement of the cover within the hollow core. In another embodiment, the adjustment means are adapted to fix the conformation or shape of the sleeve after it has been inserted into the hollow core. Preferably, the adjustment means are further adapted to render the sleeve substantially rigid or non-flexible following insertion into the hollow core. Advantageously, these various embodiments help to ensure that the ends of the sleeve adjacent to the break are held tightly against the inner core of the material and, therefore, cannot impede or hinder the ingress of a packing arm or sheet-wrapping shuttle through the hollow core .

Preferably, in either aspect of the invention, the means for adjusting the circumference of the cover includes a break between adjacent portions of the sleeve and the cover is sufficiently deformable to enable said adjacent sleeve portions to be overlapped and thereby the circumference of the cover to be adjusted. Preferably, the adjacent sleeve portions include engagement means, such as interlocking means, that are adapted to engage with one another upon overlap of the sleeve portions and to hold the sleeve portions together. In an embodiment, one or both adjacent sleeve portions has a groove or an openable channel defined therein that is adapted to receive or engage with an opposing adjacent sleeve portion. Preferably, the openable channel is in the form of a series of perforations or deep indentations in the sleeve material that break under pressure to form an open channel. In an especially preferred embodiment, each adjacent sleeve portion has a groove or openable channel running from the break into the adjacent sleeve region and adapted to receive an opposing adjacent sleeve portion. Preferably, the groove or openable channel further comprises detent means at one end, to lock the opposing adjacent sleeve portions together following engagement .

Conveniently, said adjustment means includes a second break defined between adjacent portions of the brim so that, in preferred embodiments, both the adjacent portions of the sleeve and adjacent portions of the brim can be overlapped to adjust the circumference of the cover. Preferably, the adjacent brim portions also include engagement means of the kind described above in relation to the adjacent sleeve portions. In a preferred embodiment , such engagement means are in the form of a groove or openable channel, preferably with an enlarged opening at at least one end to facilitate engagement with an opposing adjacent brim portion. The groove or openable channel may further comprise an enlarged opening at its other end to assist in interlocking of the brim portions.

Advantageously, the sleeve portions and, preferably, the brim portions adjacent to the break taper in thickness towards the break.

In preferred embodiments, said sleeve portions can be tapered sufficiently so that, when overlapped, the combined thickness of said portions is less than or corresponds substantially to that of the remainder of the elimination of abrupt variations in the thickness of the sleeve or brim in the area or areas of overlap and a consequential reduction in the risk of an imprint of the edge of an overlapped sleeve or brim portion being formed in the material of the roll .

Preferred embodiments of either aspect of the invention include a weakening defined in a portion of the sleeve adjacent to the break, sufficient to facilitate removal of a portion of the sleeve between said weakening and the break. In many instances, the inner end or 'tang' of the material on the roll protrudes into the hollow core and makes installation of the cover difficult. Removing the portion of the sleeve from between the weakening and the break allows the cover to be installed, with the inner end or tang of the material on the roll located in the resulting enlargement to the break.

Conveniently, an additional weakening is formed in the brim adjacent to the second break, sufficient to facilitate removal of a portion of the brim between said weakening and the second break.

In a preferred embodiment of either aspect of the invention, the sleeve tapers in thickness and, preferably, in its radially outer circumference away from the brim to facilitate its insertion into the hollow core . Embodiments of either aspect of the invention can comprise at least one circumferentially compressible or crushable region. This advantageously enables greater variations in roll-to-roll core diameter to be accommodated and further reduces the need for covers with different sleeve diameters.

Preferably, the compressible or crushable region comprises a plurality of fold- like formations arranged to concertina on compression.

In preferred embodiments, the annular portion of the roll, covered by the inventive covers, is disposed about a rim of its hollow core.

Covers in accordance with the present invention can be formed by injection moulding, blow moulding, vacuum forming or mechanical forming (between rollers) from plastics materials, including polyurethanes , polypropylene and polyethylene, or, depending upon the process, certain metals, including steel. Preferably, covers in accordance with the invention are formed by an injection moulding process, preferably from polyethylene. An advantage of injection moulding techniques is that they allow for economics of scale to be achieved and polyethylene is relatively inexpensive and remains flexible at low temperatures. In preferred embodiments, the cover can be resiliently deformable to enhance the ease with which the circumference of the sleeve can be adjusted to accommodate roll-to-roll variations in core diameter.

The material of the roll or coil is conveniently in sheet form and is, preferably, sheet steel.

The brim advantageously can include buffer zones, in the form of raised sections, for increasing its impact resistance and to prevent damage to the annular portion of the roll.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of protecting an annular portion of a roll of material having a hollow core and disposed about a rim of the hollow core, comprising fitting a cover as claimed in any of the preceding claims to the roll with the sleeve extending into the hollow core and the brim and sleeve protecting said annular portion.

In a preferred embodiment, the roll is a coil or roll of sheet steel and, preferably, at least two covers are fitted to said coil or roll.

Conveniently, the resulting assembly of roll and covers is stretch-wrapped with plastic resin sheeting, preferably, with polyethylene sheeting. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a roll of material, preferably steel, fitted with one or more covers in accordance with the first or second aspect of the invention.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of a cover in accordance with the invention, in the direction of arrow X in Figure 2.

FIGURE 2 is a front view of the cover shown in Figure 1.

FIGURE 3 is a side view of a second embodiment of a cover in accordance with the invention, in the direction of arrow Y shown in Figure 4.

FIGURE 4 is a front view of the cover shown in Figure 3.

FIGURE 5 is a side view of a third embodiment of a cover in accordance with the invention, in the direction of arrow Z shown in Figure 6.

FIGURE 6 is a front view of the cover shown in Figure 5.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view through the line A-A of the covers shown in Figures 2-4 and 6; and

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of a roll of sheet steel fitted with a cover as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

FIGURE 9 is a partial side view of a fourth embodiment of a cover in accordance with the invention, in the direction of arrow W in Figure 10.

FIGURE 10 is a partial front view of the cover shown in Figure 9.

A first embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figures 1,2,7 and 8, and comprises an annular cover 1 having a substantially tubular sleeve 2 upstanding from the radially inner margin of an annular flange portion or brim 3. As the sleeve 2 extends away from the brim 3 , it tapers both in radial thickness and overall circumference

(see Figure 7) .

A break 4 is defined in the sleeve 2 and the brim 3 , between facing end surfaces 6 thereof . A pair of grooves 5 are provided in the sleeve 2 and brim 3, spaced from the break 4 by end portions 12 and 13 of the sleeve 2 and brim 3.

In addition to tapering away from the brim 3, the end portions 12 also taper in thickness towards the break 4. s a result, the two facing end surfaces 6 of the sleeve 2 diverge as they extend away from the brim 3 (see Figure 1) .

The brim 3 has two radially parallel circumferentially extending ridges 7,8 on its outer face and complementary channels (not shown) on its inner face from which the sleeve 2 extends. Both ridges 7,8 terminate short of the grooves 5 and are located outside the end portions 12 and 13 of the sleeve 2 and brim 3. The radially inner circumferential ridge 7 is comprised of three individual sections, 7a, 7b and 7c.

The annular cover 1 is pre-formed from injection moulded polyethylene .

The cover 1 is fitted to a roll of steel 11 (see Figure 8) by the following procedure. The cover 1 is resiliently deformed, such that the end portions 12 and 13 of the sleeve 2 and brim 3 overlap and the circumference of the cover 1 is reduced sufficiently for the sleeve 2 to fit inside the roll 11' s hollow core 10. The sleeve 2 is then pushed into the hollow core 10, until the inner surface of the brim 3, from which the sleeve 2 extends, comes into covering contact with the annular end surface 9 of the roll of steel 11.

The insertion procedure is assisted by the tapers in radial thickness and overall circumference of the sleeve 2.

After insertion, the cover 1 expands until the sleeve 2 contacts and presses against the inner cylindrically curved surface 14 defining the hollow core 10 of the roll of steel 11. The pressure exerted upon the surface 14 by the sleeve 2 assists in preventing the cover 1 from becoming dislodged.

By virtue of their being tapered towards the break 4 , the overlapped end portions 12 and 13 of the sleeve 2 and brim 3 have a combined thickness which is less than or equal to that of the corresponding portions of the sleeve 2 and brim 3.

Sometimes, the inner end (not shown) of the steel sheet on the roll 11 is bent back on itself to form a "tang" protruding radially inwardly into the hollow core 10, thus making insertion of the annular cover 1 potentially difficult. To deal with this problem, the end portions 12 of the sleeve 2 and, if necessary, the end portions 13 of the brim 3 , can be removed by breaking or cutting them off along the groove (s) 5. The cover 1 can then be installed so that the inner end or "tang" of the roll 11 fits in the space provided by the removal of the end portions 12 and possibly 13. To facilitate the separate removal of the end portions 12 of the sleeve 2, a pair of second grooves (not shown), extending from each groove 5 to the adjacent end surface 6 of the sleeve 2, can be formed in the sleeve 2 where it meets the radially inner margin of the brim 3. It is not always necessary for the end portions 12 of the sleeve 2 to be removed for the tang to be adequately accommodated. Thus, it may be sufficient for the end portions 12 and 13 to be cut apart along said second grooves and for the end portions 12 of the sleeve 2 to be bent radially inwardly and out of the way of the tang.

The ridges 3 on the outer face of the brim 3 can deflect inwardly under pressure and thus can act as buffers to increase the cover's ability to withstand impact and prevent damage to the annular end of the roll of steel 11.

A second embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 7 in which the same reference numerals are used to refer to those features which are common to the first embodiment.

As can be seen from Figure 3, the annular cover 20 of the second embodiment is the same as the cover 1, shown in Figure 1, except that it includes four identical equally spaced circumferentially compressible or crushable regions 15. Each compressible region 15 extends a short circumferential distance in both the sleeve 2 and the brim 3 and comprises a series of circumferentially spaced creases or folds 17 similar in appearance and form to a concertina bellows.

The cover 20 can be installed in a roll of steel in generally the same way as the cover 1, except that compressible regions 15 may be compressed, to further reduce the overall circumference of the cover 20.

The second preferred embodiment of the invention can be used when the circumference, of the hollow core 10 of the steel roll 11, is substantially smaller than the circumference of the sleeve 2, and when overlapping the end portions 12,13 of the sleeve 2 and brim 3, on either side of the break 4, does not sufficiently reduce the overall circumference of the cover 1 to enable insertion.

The compressible regions 15, thus, enable the overall circumference of the cover 20 to be altered to a greater extent than is possible using the cover 1 to accommodate greater variations in roll-to-roll core diameter.

A third embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figures 5,6 and 7 in which the same reference numerals are used to refer to those features which are common to the first and second embodiments. The third embodiment comprises a cover 30 which is the same as the cover 20 of the second embodiment, except that the end surfaces 6 of the brim 3, which define the break in the brim 4, are spaced further apart, being where the grooves 5 are located in covers 1 and 20. The end portions 13 of the brim are not tapered in this embodiment .

When the cover 30 is fitted to a roll 11 of steel, only the end portions 12 of the sleeve 2 are overlapped as the annular cover 1 is compressed for insertion into the hollow core 10 of the roll. The end surfaces of the brim 3 (see Figure 6) can be brought into abutting contact with each other or left space apart to accommodate a tang.

It will be appreciated that annular covers 1, 20 or 30 can be fitted to both ends of the core 10 of a roll of steel 11. The completed assembly of roll 11 and two covers 1, 20 or 30 can then be stretch wrapped with a plastics resin sheeting, or otherwise packaged, before delivery to the customer.

A fourth embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figures 9 and 10 in which the same reference numerals are used to refer to those features which are common to the first, second and third embodiments. Only the relevant features of the fourth embodiment are shown; the remaining features not shown are as previously described in relation to any of the previous embodiments.

As can be seen from Figure 9, the annular cover 31 of the fourth embodiment is essentially the same as the cover 1, shown in Figure 1, except that it includes two lines of perforations 32 in adjacent sleeve portions 12 and two grooves 32 in adjacent brim portions 13. The lines of perforations 32 extend circumferentially a short distance from the break 4 into the adjacent sleeve portions 12 in a direction parallel to the plane containing the adjacent brim portions 13 and divide the sleeve portions 12 into regions 33, 34, 35, 36. The grooves 37 extend circumferentially a short distance from the break 4 into the adjacent brim potions 13 and divide the brim portions into regions 40, 41, 42, 43. Each groove has a widened opening 38 at the end in contact with break 4 and a recess 39 at the opposite end.

The cover 31 is installed in a roll of steel by the following procedure. The cover 31 is resiliently deformed until the end portions 12 and 13 of the sleeve 2 and brim 3 are in contact and the lines of perforations 32 in the sleeve 2 and grooves 37 in the brim 3 are aligned. The two ends of the cover 31 adjacent to the break 4 are then twisted relative to one another whilst compressing the ends together to engage the lines 32 in adjacent sleeve portions 12 and grooves 37 in adjacent brim portions 13. During this process, sleeve region 33 slides under sleeve region 35 and sleeve region 34 slides over sleeve region 36, as shown in Figure 9. At the same time, brim portion 40 slides behind brim portion 42 and brim portion 41 slides in front of brim portion 43, as shown in Figure 10.

As the cover is compressed, the lines of perforations 32 are broken, one by one, until the circumference of the sleeve 2 is of the correct diameter to fit the core of the roll of steel snugly. Thus, the interleaved regions of the sleeve and brim form a tight frictional fit and help to maintain the cover in a substantially rigid shape within the core and so prevent movement of the adjacent sleeve portions 12 and adjacent brim portions 13 relative to one another. In this embodiment, the cover may be resiliently compressed until it is of smaller diameter than the diameter of the core of steel, inserted into the core and allowed to resiliently expand to fit the core snugly. More preferably, however, the cover is compressed until its diameter is sufficiently small for the free end of the sleeve 12 to be inserted into the hollow core and then simply rammed home, adjusting its own circumference automatically to fit the core snugly when fully inserted.

Claims

1. A cover, for protecting an annular portion of a roll of material having a hollow core, comprising a sleeve, a brim surrounding the sleeve, and means for adjusting the circumference of the cover to enable the sleeve to be inserted into the hollow core.

2. A cover, for protecting a roll of material having a hollow core, comprising a sleeve and a brim surrounding the sleeve, wherein the cover is integrally pre- formed and the brim and sleeve protect an annular portion of the roll when the sleeve is inserted into the hollow core.

3. A cover as claimed in claim 2, including means for adjusting the circumference of the cover.

4. A cover as claimed in claims 1 or 3 , wherein said means are adapted to adjust the circumference of the cover following insertion into the core.

5. A cover as claimed in claims 1 or 3 , wherein said means are adapted to adjust the circumference of the cover during insertion into the core.

6. A cover as claimed in claim 5, wherein said means are adapted to reduce the circumference of the cover automatically during insertion into the core.

7. A cover as claimed in any of claims 1 and 3 to 6, wherein said means are adapted to fix the circumference of the cover following insertion into the hollow core.

8. A cover as claimed in any of claims 1 and 3 to 7, wherein said means are adapted to fix the conformation of the sleeve following insertion into the hollow core.

9. A cover as claimed in claim 8, wherein said means are adapted to render the sleeve substantially rigid following insertion into the hollow core.

10. A cover as claimed in any of claims 1 and 3 to 9, wherein said means includes a break defined between adjacent portions of the sleeve and the cover is sufficiently deformable to enable said adjacent sleeve portions to be overlapped and thereby the circumference of the cover to be adjusted.

11. A cover as claimed in claim 10, wherein adjacent sleeve portions include engagement means adapted to engage with one another upon overlap of said sleeve portions and thereby restrict movement of the sleeve portions after insertion into the hollow core.

12. A cover as claimed in claim 11, wherein the engagement means comprise interlocking means.

13. A cover as claimed in claims 11 or 12, wherein at least one of the adjacent sleeve portions has a groove or a line of weakness defined therein and adapted to engage with an opposing adjacent sleeve portion.

14. A cover as claimed in claim 13, wherein said groove or the line of weakness runs from the break into said at least one adjacent sleeve portion.

15. A cover as claimed in claims 13 or 14, wherein each adjacent sleeve portion has a groove or a line of weakness defined therein and adapted to engage with a groove or a line of weakness defined in an opposing adjacent sleeve portion.

16. A cover as claimed in any of claims 13 to 15, wherein said line of weakness comprises a series of perforations through or indentations in the surface of the sleeve portion.

17. A cover as claimed in any of claims 10 to 16, wherein said adjustment means includes a second break defined between adjacent portions of the brim.

18. A cover as claimed in claim 17, wherein adjacent brim portions include engagement means adapted to engage with one another upon overlap of said brim portions.

19. A cover as claimed in claim 18, wherein at least one of the adjacent brim portions has a groove or a line of weakness defined therein and adapted to engage with an opposing adjacent brim portion.

20. A cover as claimed in claim 19, wherein said groove runs from the second break into said at least one adjacent brim portion.

21. A cover as claimed in claim 20, wherein at least one end of said groove has a widened orifice to facilitate engagement with an adjacent brim portion.

22. A cover as claimed in claims 20 or 21, wherein each adjacent brim portion has a groove or a line of weakness defined therein and adapted to engage with a groove or a line of weakness defined in an opposing adjacent brim portion.

23. A cover as claimed in any of claims 17 to 22, wherein a brim portion adjacent to the second break tapers in thickness towards said second break.

24. A cover as claimed in claim 23, wherein the brim portions adjacent to the second break are tapered sufficiently so that, when overlapped, the combined thickness of said portions is less than or corresponds substantially to that of the remainder of the brim.

25. A cover as claimed in any of claims 10 to 24, wherein a sleeve portion adjacent to the break tapers in thickness towards the break.

26. A cover as claimed in claim 25, wherein the sleeve portions adjacent to the break are tapered sufficiently so that, when overlapped, the combined thickness of said portions is less than or corresponds substantially to that of the remainder of the sleeve.

27. A cover as claimed in any of claims 10 to 26, wherein a weakening is defined in a portion of the sleeve adjacent to the break, sufficient to facilitate removal of a portion of the sleeve between said weakening and the break.

28. A cover as claimed in claim 27, wherein said weakening is defined in a surface of the sleeve that is brought into contact with an inner surface of the hollow core.

29. A cover as claimed in claims 27 or 28, wherein an additional weakening is formed in the brim adjacent to the second break, sufficient to facilitate removal of a portion of the brim between said weakening and the second break.

30. A cover as claimed in claim 29, wherein said additional weakening is formed in an outer surface of the brim that is not brought into contact with said annular surface of said roll of material .

31. A cover as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the sleeve tapers in thickness away from the brim to facilitate its insertion into the hollow core.

32. A cover as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the radially outer circumference of the sleeve tapers away from the brim to facilitate its insertion into the hollow core.

33. A cover as claimed in any of the preceding claims comprising at least one circumferentially compressible or crushable region.

34. A cover as claimed in claim 33, wherein said compressible or crushable region comprises a plurality of fold-like formations arranged to concertina on compression.

35. A cover as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the annular portion of the roll is disposed about a rim of the hollow core.

36. A cover as claimed in any of the preceding claims formed by an injection moulding process.

37. A cover as claimed in claim 36 formed from polyethylene .

38. A cover as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein said cover is resiliently deformable.

39. A cover as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the material is in sheet form and, preferably, is sheet steel .

40. A cover as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the brim includes buffer zones, in the form of raised sections, for increasing its impact resistance.

41. A method of protecting an annular portion of a roll of material having a hollow core and disposed about a rim of the hollow core, comprising fitting a cover as claimed in any of the preceding claims to the roll with the sleeve extending into the hollow core and the brim and sleeve protecting said annular portion.

42. A method as claimed in claim 41, wherein the roll is a coil or roll of sheet steel and, preferably, at least two covers, as claimed in any of claims 1-40, are fitted to said coil or roll.

43. A method as claimed in claims 41 or 42, wherein the resulting assembly of roll and covers is stretch-wrapped with plastic resin sheeting, preferably, with polyethylene sheeting.

44. A method according to any of claims 41 to 43, wherein the material is a roll of sheet steel.

45. A roll of sheet steel fitted with an annular cover according to any of claims 1 to 40 or protected by a method according to any of claims 41 to 44.