Endless wire container and method of using the same

A container for packaging and unwinding a coil of welding wire to allow an uninterrupted flow of said welding wire from one said container to another said container, said coil of welding wire including a coiled portion having a top and a bottom, a first extension of said wire extending from said coil near said coil top to a feeding end and a second extension of said wire extending from said coil near said bottom to a transfer end, said transfer end of said one container being joinable to said feeding end of said another container, said container comprising:

• an outer packaging including at least one vertically extending side wall, a closed bottom, a top opening for removing said welding wire and a wire coil receiving cavity within said outer packaging for receiving said wire coil, said feeding end and said transfer end being positionable near said top opening;
• said container further including a plurality of transfer control tabs that are selectively securable to a portion of said cavity such that said container can be transformed into an endless wire container, said plurality of control tabs be selectively securable to said cavity near said top opening and being configured to selectively support said transfer end of said wire during the unwinding of said wire from said coil and to selectively release said transfer end during the transfer from said one container to said another container when secured to said cavity.

A method of joining a container for packaging and unwinding a coil of welding wire with another said container of welding wire to allow an uninterrupted flow of said welding wire from said one container to said another container, said method including the steps of:

• providing said container comprising said coil of welding wire including a coiled portion having a top and a bottom, a first extension of said wire extending from said coil near said coil top to a feeding end and a second extension of said wire extending from said coil near said bottom to a transfer end;
• an outer packaging having a top opening and a wire coil receiving cavity within said outer packaging for receiving said wire coil, said feeding end and said transfer end being positionable near said top opening;
• providing at least one transfer control tab in said cavity near said top opening, said at least one tab being configured to selectively support said transfer end of said wire during the unwinding of said wire from said coil and to selectively release said transfer end during the transfer from said one container to said another container;
• providing said another container comprising another said coil of welding wire including another coiled portion having a top and a bottom, a first extension of said wire extending from said another coil near said coil top to a feeding end and a second extension of said wire extending from said another coil near said bottom to a transfer end;
• another outer packaging having a top opening and a wire coil receiving cavity within said another outer packaging for receiving said another wire coil, said feeding end and said transfer end being positionable near said top opening;
• positioning said another container next to said container;
• joining said feeding end of said another container to said transfer end of said container to form a continuous wire extension between said coil in said container and said another coil in said another container;
• and,
• positioning said transfer end of said wire in said at least one transfer control tab.