Apparatus for retaining the configuration of an aperture formed through a coil

An apparatus for retaining the configuration of an aperture formed through the center of a coil of material when said coil is supported on a saddle along a horizontal axis, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) a first member having a surface approximately equal in configuration to a segment of said aperture and having a length sufficient to support said coil;
• (b) a second member spaced apart from said first member and having a length sufficient to span said saddle;
• (c) a pair of arms pivotably attached to said first member, each arm having a surface approximately equal in configuration to a segment of said aperture;
• and
• (d) means for joining each of said arms to said second member, said means enabling said arms to move between a first position in which said respective surfaces are spaced apart from the perimeter of said aperture when said second member is not in contact with said saddle and a second position in which said respective surfaces cooperate with said first member to support said coil when said second member is in contact with said saddle.

An apparatus for retaining the configuration of a circular aperture formed through he center of a coil of material when the weight of said coil is supported on a saddle along a horizontal axis, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) a first member having an arcuate surface approximately equal to an arcuate segment of said aperture and having a length equal to at least 75% of the width of said coil;
• (b) a second member spaced apart from said first member and having a length sufficient to span said saddle;
• (c) a pair of arms pivotably attached to said first member, each harm having an arcuate surface approximately equal to an arcuate segment of said aperture;
• and
• (d) a pair of links pivotably attached between said pair of arms and said second member, said links enabling said arms to move between a first position in which said respective surfaces are spaced apart from the perimeter of said aperture when said second member is not in contact with said saddle and a second position in which said respective surfaces cooperate with said first member to contact and support said coil when said second member is in contact with said saddle.