Abstract:
A method and device for handling and deploying a sheet of material are provided. In a first version, a rigid rod is positioned within a flexible cylindrical core and the sheet is wrapped around the core. The rod is then removed from the core and the core and sheet may be folded and reshaped for storage or shipment. The core and sheet may then be unfolded and the sheet may be unwrapped from the core. The rigid rod may be positioned within the core after the core is unfolded and to enable easier removal of the sheet from the core. A dispenser may be provided that attaches to the core and/or the rod and enables an operator to unwrap the sheet from the core. The core may be sufficiently rigid to allow the dispenser to be coupled with the core and without positioning of a rigid rod within the core.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of handling rolled sheets of material. More particularly, the method of the present invention relates to storing, shipping, dispensing, unrolling and deploying rolled sheets of material. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Sheet materials, such as textiles, paper, tarpaulin, canvas, flexible plastics, fencing materials, flexible solar energy conversion circuitry panels, often have surface areas that extend for dozens or hundreds of square feet. Where the surface area of a deployed sheet is defined as extending in a width dimension that is orthogonal to a length dimension, prior art sheets include sheets having widths greater than six feet and lengths longer than ten feet. 
     Sheet materials are often packed for shipment by folding into flat layered sections and in some cases then rolled after this flattened folding. In an optional additional step, the sheet material may be wrapped about an axis that is parallel with the width dimension of the instant sheet in order to package and ship the sheet material with a reduced maximum length in any one dimension. In certain cases, consumers and business purchasers of sheet material would prefer to dispense and deploy sheet material by a single action of rolling out the sheet material from a rolled state. The extension and dispensing of the packaged sheet material from a rolled state is made more difficult when the material is received by the consumer (a.) folded into flattened layers, or (b.) folded into flattened layers and then rolled in this layered state. 
     As used herein, the terms “sheet material” and “sheet” mean a material that is thin in comparison to its length and breadth. For example, certain sheet materials may be less than 0.20 inch thick, or less than 0.01 inch thick, while presenting a surface area that is several feet in width and several feet in length. Generally speaking, sheet materials should exhibit a relatively flat planar configuration and be flexible to permit folding, rolling, stacking, and the like. Exemplary sheets and sheet materials include, but are not limited to, flexible materials such as a netting, elastomer netting, deer netting, tarpaulin, canvas, fencing materials, barrier materials, plant protection materials, organic fabric, textile, cloth, metallic threaded fabric, aramid fiber, polyester film, elastomer sheet, metallic foil, metallic film, paper tissue, paper towels, label rolls, or other fibrous, film, flexible solar energy conversion circuitry panels, polymers, and filamentary products. As can be seen from the breadth of materials that sheet materials may comprise, materials shaped into sheets are widely used in agricultural, agrarian, domestic, and urban environments. Yet the prior art fails to optimally enable reconfiguration of the form factor of rolled sheets while also protecting the sheet material. 
     It is understood that the scope of meaning of the term “flexible solar energy conversion circuitry panel” as used herein is defined to include (1.) a thin film solar panel marketed by Nanosolar Corporation of San Jose, Calif. and (2.) a thin film solar panel marketed by First Solar Corporation of Tempe, Ariz. It is further understood that the scope of meaning of the term “netting” as used herein is defined to include one or more sheets of polyethylene mesh, trellis netting, a Ross Deer Netting™ deer netting material, a sheet of Wild Life Netting™, a Burpee Garden™ trellis netting marketed by W. Atlee Burpee and Co. of Warminster, Pa., and other suitable flexible netting known in the art. 
     There is therefore a long felt need to provide methods and devices that more broadly enable the placement of sheet material into a rolled state for storage and shipment, and for dispensing and deploying sheet material from a rolled state. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This and other objects of the present invention are made obvious in light of this disclosure, wherein a method and device for configuring the shape of rolled sheet material is presented. In a first preferred embodiment, a flexible cylindrical core presents an inner channel that extends along a longitudinal axis of the core. A rigid member is removably positioned within the core inner channel and a flexible sheet is then wrapped around an external curved surface of the core. After the sheet is wrapped around the core, the rigid member is removed form the core inner channel and the core and sheet are folded along the core longitudinal axis. 
     The core and sheet may then be unfolded and the same rigid member, or another rigid member, may be placed into the inner channel, and the sheet may be unwrapped and detached from the core. 
     According to an additional aspect of the method of the present invention, a handling tool may be provided that couples with at least one end of the rigid member. The handling tool may optionally be rotatably coupled with the rigid member, whereby the rigid member may be rotatable while coupled with the handling tool. The sheet may be unwrapped from the core while the rigid member is coupled with the handling tool. 
     According to another additional aspect of the method of the present invention, the folded core and sheet may be maintained in a certain shape by restraints and optionally placed within a container or protective covering for storage and shipment. 
     According to another additional aspect of the method of the present invention, the inner channel may be filled with a pressurized gas or gas mixture, such as air, to support the integrity of the extended shape of the core and sheet when the care is unwrapped from a folded state and returned to an extended shape. The core may optionally include an inner channel surface layer that supports the maintenance of the gas in a pressurized state within the inner channel. 
     According to yet another additional aspect of the method of the present invention, the sheet may be unwrapped from the core in the extended shape without deploying a rigid member within the inner channel of the core. 
     The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages will be apparent from the following description of aspects of the present invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
     All publications mentioned herein are incorporated herein by reference to disclose and describe the methods and/or materials in connection with which the publications are cited. All publications, patents, and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety and for all purposes to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent, or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. 
     Such incorporations by reference include US Patent Application Publication No. 20050098770 (Inventor: Schell); U.S. Pat. No. 6,092,792 (Inventor: Camara); U.S. Pat. No. 5,937,883 (Inventor: Camara); U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,355 (Inventor: Camara); U.S. Pat. No. 6,264,570 (Inventor: Yoon); U.S. Pat. No. 5,029,819; (Inventor: Kane); U.S. Pat. No. 3,537,688 (Inventor: Stein); U.S. Pat. No. 7,175,548 (Inventor: McNulty); and U.S. Pat. No. D376,636 (Inventor: Betz). 
     The publications discussed or mentioned herein are provided solely for their disclosure prior to the filing date of the present application. Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that the present invention is not entitled to antedate such publication by virtue of prior invention. Furthermore, the dates of publication provided herein may differ from the actual publication dates which may need to be independently confirmed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       These, and further features of various aspects of the present invention may be better understood with reference to the accompanying specification, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a cut-away front view of a flexible cylindrical core having an inner channel along a longitudinal access; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the flexible cylindrical core of  FIG. 1  with a sheet of material wrapped around an external surface of the flexible cylindrical core; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the sheet of material wrapped around the external surface of the flexible cylindrical core of  FIGS. 1 and 2  and maintained in position relative to the flexible cylindrical core by a plurality of restraints; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the sheet of material and flexible cylindrical core of  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3  in combination with a rigid rod that may be removably inserted into the inner channel of the flexible cylindrical core; 
         FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of the sheet of material and flexible cylindrical core of  FIGS. 1 through 4  folded once along a longitudinal axis and optionally bound by at least one restraint into a first folded shape for insertion into a first box; 
         FIG. 5B  is a perspective view of the sheet of material and flexible cylindrical core of  FIGS. 1 through 4  folded three times along a longitudinal axis and optionally bound by at least one restraint into a second folded shape for insertion into a second alternate box; 
         FIG. 6A  is a front cut-away view of a dispenser engaged with the rod of  FIG. 4  thereby coupled with the flexible core of  FIGS. 1 through 5B ; 
         FIG. 6B  is a front cut-away view of the dispenser of  FIG. 6A  engaged directly with an alternate flexible core; 
         FIG. 6C  is a front cut-away view of the dispenser of  FIG. 6A  engaged with the flexible core of  FIGS. 1 through 5B , wherein a gas is maintained under pressure within the inner channel of the flexible core; 
         FIG. 7A  is a cut-away side view of a first coupling end of the dispenser of  FIG. 6A  inserted into an inner radius of the rod of  FIG. 4  with the rod positioned with the inner channel of the flexible core of  FIGS. 1 through 6A ; 
         FIG. 7B  is a cutaway side view showing a first coupling end of the dispenser of  FIG. 6A through 6C  engaged with the alternate resilient core of  FIG. 6B ; 
         FIG. 7C  is a cutaway side view showing a first coupling end of the dispenser of  FIG. 6A through 6C  engaged with the flexible core of  FIGS. 1 through 5B , wherein a gas is maintained under pressure within the inner channel of the flexible core of  FIGS. 1 through 5B ; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a human operator manually positioning the dispenser of  FIGS. 6A-6C  and  7 A- 7 C and applied to roll out the sheet of  FIGS. 2 through 8  while the dispenser is coupled with (a.) the rod of  FIG. 4 , (b.) the flexible core of  FIG. 1  while maintaining a gas under pressure within the core inner channel, or (c.) the alternate flexible core of  FIG. 6B ; 
         FIG. 9A  is a front cut-away representation of the flexible core of  FIG. 1  and a pair of hermetically sealing plugs; 
         FIG. 9B  is a front cut-away representation of the flexible core of  FIGS. 1 and 9A  and showing a single hermetically sealing plug inserted into the flexible core while gas is blown into the flexible core; 
         FIG. 9C  is a front cut-away representation of the flexible core of FIGS.  1  and  9 A- 9 B and illustrating both hermetically sealing plugs inserted into the flexible core while maintaining the gas of  FIG. 9B  under pressure within the inner channel of the flexible core; and 
         FIG. 10A  presents a sheet of netting material coupled with and extending from the flexible core of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10B  presents a sheet of deer netting material coupled with and extending from the flexible core of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10C  presents a sheet of a plant protection material coupled with and extending from the flexible core of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10D  presents a sheet of a fabric material coupled with and extending from the flexible core of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10E  presents a sheet of a textile material coupled with and extending from the flexible core of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10F  presents a sheet of a cloth material coupled with and extending from the flexible core of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10G  presents a sheet of a tarpaulin material coupled with and extending from the flexible core of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10H  presents a sheet of a canvas material coupled with and extending from the flexible core of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10I  presents a sheet of a flexible solar energy conversion circuitry panel material coupled with and extending from the flexible core of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10J  presents a sheet of a metallic threaded fabric material coupled with and extending from the flexible core of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10K  presents a sheet of an aramid fiber sheet material coupled with and extending from the flexible core of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10L  presents a sheet of a polyester film material coupled with and extending from the flexible core of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10M  presents a sheet of an elastomer sheet material coupled with and extending from the flexible core of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 10N  presents a sheet of an elastomer netting material coupled with and extending from the flexible core of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to particular aspects of the present invention described, as such may, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only, and is not intended to be limiting, since the scope of the present invention will be limited only by the appended claims. 
     Methods recited herein may be carried out in any order of the recited events which is logically possible, as well as the recited order of events. Where a range of values is provided herein, it is understood that each intervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, between the upper and lower limit of that range and any other stated or intervening value in that stated range, is encompassed within the invention. The upper and lower limits of these smaller ranges may independently be included in the smaller ranges and are also encompassed within the invention, subject to any specifically excluded limit in the stated range. Where the stated range includes one or both of the limits ranges excluding either or both of those included limits are also included in the invention. 
     Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can also be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, the methods and materials are now described. 
     It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. It is further noted that the claims may be drafted to exclude any optional element. As such, this statement is intended to serve as antecedent basis for use of such exclusive terminology as “solely,” “only” and the like in connection with the recitation of claim elements, or use of a “negative” limitation. 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIGS. 1 and 2 ,  FIG. 1  is a front view of an exemplary flexible cylindrical core  2  (“flexible core”  2 ) positioned in a first extended position P 1  in parallel with a longitudinal axis L. The flexible core  2  extends for seven feet from a first end  2 A to a second end  2 B along the longitudinal access L and has an outer radius R 1  of one inch. A curved outer surface  4  of the flexible core  2  has a circular cross-section positioned along the one inch outer radius R 1  from the longitudinal axis L. The flexible core  2  may be or comprise, but not limited to, plumbing insulation, closed or open cell polymer foam, polyethylene closed cell foam or polyethylene open cell foam, KFLEX™ insulation  56 C THERMACEL™ pipe insulation as marketed by NOMACO of Zebulon, N.C., or other suitable flexible material known in the art. 
       FIG. 2  presents a side view of the flexible core  2  with a unified sheet  6  wrapped around the curved outer surface  4 , wherein the unified sheet  6  forms a sheet layer thickness T of approximately one inch plus or minus 0.25 inches extending from outer surface  4  of the flexible core  2 . 
     The unified sheet  6  is a sheet material having at least two parallel sides  6 A &amp;  6 B, as shown in  FIG. 8 , that may be or comprise a netting, a deer netting, a plant protection sheet, a fabric, a textile, a cloth, a tarpaulin, a canvas, a netting, a metallic threaded fabric, an aramid fiber sheet, a flexible solar energy conversion circuitry panel, a polyester film, an elastomer sheet, and an elastomer netting. 
     An inner channel  8  of the flexible core  2  extends fully through the flexible core  2  about the longitudinal axis L when the flexible core  2  and the unified sheet  6  are placed in the first extended position P 1 . The inner channel  8  is sized to accept a rigid member  10  (as shown in  FIG. 4 ). The inner channel  8  allows the rigid member  10  to removably pass through the flexible core  2 , as per  FIG. 4 . An optional inner channel surface layer  11  of the flexible core  2  enables the flexible core  2  to maintain a pressurized gas G within the inner channel  8 . The inner channel surface layer  11  may be or comprise a flexible tubing of organic or synthetic rubber or other suitable flexible hermetically sealing material known in the art. The inner channel surface layer  11  preferably presents a thickness along the direction of the outer radius R 1  of from 0.01 inch to 0.10 inch. 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 3  is a front view of the unified sheet  6  wrapped about the flexible core  2  and secured to the flexible core  2  by a plurality of restraints  12 . One or more restraints  12  may be or comprise a fiber string, a detachable strap, an elastic band, an organic or synthetic rubber band, or other suitable restraints known in the art. 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 4  is a front view of the core  2  and the rigid member  10  (“rod”  10 ). The rod  10  is sized to detachably fit into the core inner channel  8  and extend through and into the flexible core  2 . For example, the inner channel  8  may have an inner diameter R 2  of 0.51 inches and the rod  10  R 3  may have an outer diameter of 0.50 inches. The rod  10  may be or comprise aluminum or other rigid metal alloy, or alternatively a hard plastic, or other suitable rigid material known in the art. 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIGS. 5A and 5B ,  FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of the flexible core  2  and sheet  6  in combination and folded once to form a first optional folded shape S 1 . The flexible core  2  and sheet  6  are optionally maintained in the first folded shape S 1  by one or more restraints  12 . The flexible core  2  and sheet  6  are shaped in the first folded shape S 1  to fit into a first shipping box  14 . Referring now to  FIG. 5B ,  FIG. 5B  is a perspective view of the flexible core  2  and sheet  6  in combination and folded twice to form a second optional folded shape S 2 . The flexible core  2  and sheet  6  are optionally maintained in the second folded shape S 2  by two or more restraints  12 . The flexible core  2  and sheet  6  are shaped in the second folded shape S 2  to fit into a second shipping box  16 . 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIGS. 6A ,  6 B and  6 C,  FIG. 6A  is a front cut-away view of a dispenser  18  engaged with the rod  10  and thereby coupled with the flexible core  2 . The rod  10  is positioned within the inner channel  8 . The inner channel surface layer  11  may optionally be configured to further protect an alternate resilient core  24  from wear and tear and enable an easier insertion of the rod  10  into the inner channel  8 . 
     The dispenser includes two arms  18 A and  18 B, wherein a first arm  18 A is shaped to partially and removably insert into a second arm  18 B to position a first coupling end  20 A of the first arm  18 A and a second coupling end  20 B of the second arm  18 B. Each coupling end  20 A and  20 B forms a detachable friction fit with the rod  10 . A spring loaded pin assembly  22  retains the first arm  18 A and the second arm  18 B in a dispensing position P 2 . A pin  22 A of the pin assembly  22  is forced from the first arm  18 A and through a pin aperture  22 C of the second arm  18 B by a spring  22 B of the pin assembly  22  to maintain the dispenser  18  in the dispensing position P 2 . A human operator may disengage the first arm  18 A from the second arm  18 B by manually depressing the pin  22 A fully through the pin aperture  22 C of the second arm  18 B, toward the first arm  18 A and fully through the second arm  18 B. 
       FIG. 6B  is a front cut-away view showing the dispenser  18  engaged directly with the alternate resilient core  24 . The resilient core  24  is comprised of a resilient material that independently resumes the first extended position P 1  to enable dispensing of the unified sheet  6  without need of the rod  10  or pressurized gas G. The resilient core  24  may be or comprise resilient materials including, but not limited to, a resilient open cell or resilient closed cell foam, such as Polyethylene (PE) foam, Polyurethane (PU) foam, Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) foam, Silicone rubber foam, Latex rubber foam, or other suitable resilient materials known in the art. Resiliency of the resilient core  24  can be varied or selected by the choice of material, molecular weight, porosity and density of foam, and, for some materials (e.g. PE and EVA), and a degree of cross-linking thereof. The resilient core  24  preferably exhibits a degree of resiliency that caused the resilient core  24  to return to the first extended position P 1  upon removal of restraints  12  or in transition from the first folded shape  51  and the second folded shape S 2  without application of external force. 
     The dispenser  18  may be placed in the dispensing position P 2  and coupled with the alternate resilient core  24 . The resilient core  24  may optionally include an inner channel  8  that is included in the design of the flexible core  2 . The optional inclusion of the inner channel  8  in the design of the alternate resilient core  24  allows a human operator to have the option to employ the rod  10  in combination with the alternate resilient core  24 . The inner channel surface layer  11  may optionally be included in the design of the alternate resilient core  24  to further protect the alternate resilient core  24  from wear and tear. 
       FIG. 6C  is a front cut-away view of the dispenser  18  that forms a hermetic seal with the flexible core  2  and maintains a pressurized gas G within the inner channel  8 . The pressurized gas G maintains the flexible core  2  in the first extended position P 1 . The inner channel surface layer  11  may optionally be included in the design of the alternate resilient core  24  to further provide a hermetic seal to maintain the gas G under pressure within the inner channel  8 . 
     Referring generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 7A ,  FIG. 7A  is a cut-away side view of the second coupling end  20 B of the second dispenser arm  18 B having a second insertion length  20 B. 1  and a second insertion plate  20 B. 2 . The second insertion length  20 B. 1  is shaped to fit into the rod inner radius R 4  of the rod  10 . The rod inner radius R 4  extends at a 90 degree angle from the longitudinal axis L. The second insertion length  20 B. 1  is shaped as a cylinder having an insertion outer radius R 5 . The insertion outer radius R 5  extends at a 90 degree angle from the longitudinal axis L. The second insertion length  20 B. 1  may be sized, or slightly oversized by, for example, 0.02 inch, i.e., to present a dimension R 5  greater than the magnitude of the rod inner radius R 4 , and to cause the second coupling end  20 B to form a friction fit with the rod  10  and thereby inhibit rotation of the rod  10  about the longitudinal axis L when the flexible core  2  is rotating and a human operator is dispensing the unified sheet  6 . Alternatively, the second insertion length  20 B. 1  may be sized, or slightly undersized by, for example, 0.02 inch, i.e., to have a dimension R 5  lesser than the magnitude of the rod inner radius R 4 , to enable the rod  10  to rotate about the longitudinal axis L when second insertion length  20 B. 1  is placed within the rod  10  and the flexible core  2  is rotating about the longitudinal axis L while a human operator is dispensing the unified sheet  6 . 
     The second insertion plate  20 B. 2  is positioned and configured to fit against the flexible core  2  or alternate resilient core  24  when the dispenser  18  is placed in the dispensing position P 2  and coupled with the flexible core  2  or alternate resilient core  24 . The second insertion plate  20 B. 2  is further configured to maintain a hermetic seal of pressurized gas G within the inner channel  8  and/or stabilize the flexible core  2  or alternate resilient core  24  along the longitudinal axis L. 
     Similar to the second coupling end  20 B, the first coupling end  20 .A includes a cylindrical first insertion length  20 A. 1  and a first insertion plate  20 A. 2 . The first insertion length  20 A. 1  may be sized, or slightly oversized by, for example, 0.02 inch, to cause the first coupling end  20 A to form a friction fit with the rod  10  and inhibit rotation of the rod  10  about the longitudinal axis L when the flexible core  2  is rotating and a human operator is dispensing the unified sheet  6 . Alternatively, the first insertion length  20 A. 1  may be sized, or slightly undersized by, for example, 0.02 inch, to enable the rod  10  to easily rotate about the longitudinal axis L when the flexible core  2  is rotating about the longitudinal axis L and a human operator is dispensing the unified sheet  6 . 
     The first insertion plate  20 A. 2  is positioned and configured to fit against the flexible core  2  or alternate resilient core  24  when the dispenser  18  is placed in the dispensing position P 2  and coupled with the flexible core  2  or alternate resilient core  24 . The first insertion plate  20 A. 2  is further configured to maintain a hermetic seal of pressurized gas G within the inner channel  8  and/or stabilize the flexible core  2  or alternate resilient core  24  along the longitudinal axis L. 
       FIG. 7B  is a cutaway side view showing the second coupling end  20 B of the second arm  18 B dispenser  18  engaged with a cylindrical recess  26  of the alternate resilient core  24 . The cylindrical recess  26  has an inner recess radius R 6  extending 90 degrees from longitudinal axis L. The inner recess radius R 6  of the cylindrical recess  26  is shaped and sized to accept insertion of the second insertion length  20 B. 1  to form a friction fit between the alternate resilient core  24  and the dispenser  18 , when the alternate resilient core  24  is placed into the first extended position P 1  and the dispenser  18  is placed in the dispensing position P 2 . The cylindrical recess  26  has an inner radius R 6  extending 90 degrees from longitudinal axis L. 
     As per  FIG. 6B , the resilient core  24  further comprises an additional cylindrical recess  28 . The alternate cylindrical recess  28  is shaped to accept insertion of the first insertion length  20 A. 1  of the first arm  18 A to form a friction fit between the alternate resilient core  24  and the dispenser  18 , when the alternate resilient core  24  is placed into the first extended position P 1  and the dispenser  18  is placed in the dispensing position P 2 . The alternate cylindrical recess  28  presents the inner radius R 6  extending 90 degrees from longitudinal axis L. 
       FIG. 7C  is a cutaway side view showing the second coupling end  18 B of the dispenser  18  engaged with the flexible core  2 , wherein the gas G is maintained under pressure within the inner channel  8  of the flexible core  2 . A pair of cylindrical plugs  30  present a plug inner radius R 6  and a plug outer radius R 7 . Each plug  30 ,  30 A and  30 B may be or comprise organic or synthetic rubber, or other suitable hermetic sealing material known in the art. The plug outer radius R 7  is sized or oversized by, for example, 0.02 inch, to form a hermetic seal with the inner channel surface layer  11  and to maintain the gas G under pressure within the inner channel  8 . The plug inner radius R 6  is sized or undersized by, for example, 0.02 inch, to form a friction fit with either the first insertion length  20 A. 1  or the second insertion length  20 B. 1  and to couple the dispenser  18  with the flexible core  2 , when the flexible core  2  is in the first extended position P 1  and the dispenser  18  is in the dispensing position P 2 . 
     Referring generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 9 ,  FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a human operator  26  manually positioning the dispenser  18  while coupled with the rod  10  to roll out the sheet  6  away from the core  2 . The exemplary sheet  6  may present a width of seven feet, a length of 20 feet. The exemplary sheet  6  preferably presents a thickness of less than 0.02 inches, more preferably presents a thickness of less than 0.10, and even more preferably presents a thickness of less than 0.01 inches. Alternatively, the exemplary sheet  6  preferably may present a thickness of greater than 0.02 inches. 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIGS. 9A ,  9 B and  9 C,  FIG. 9A  is a front cut-away representation of the flexible core  2  and a pair of hermetically exemplary sealing plugs  30 , namely a first plug  30 A and a second plug  30 B. The sealing plugs  30 A and  30 B are sized to partially fit into the inner channel  8  and to maintain the pressurized gas G within the inner channel  8  in combination with the inner surface layer  11 . Referring now to  FIG. 9B , the first plug  30 A is placed within the inner channel  8  to form a hermetic seal while the pressurized gas G is blown into the inner channel  8  under a greater pressure than the ambient air. The pressurized gas G may be blown into the inner channel  8  from human lungs (not shown). Referring now to  FIG. 9C , the second plug  30 B and the first plug  30 A are both placed within the inner channel  8  to form a hermetic seal and maintain the pressurized gas G within the inner channel  8 . The core  2  and the sheet  6  may then be folded into the first folded position S 1 , the second folded position S 2 , or another folded position, and stored or shipped. 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 10A ,  FIG. 10A  presents a sheet of netting material  32 A coupled with and extending from the flexible core  2 . 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 10B ,  FIG. 10B  presents a sheet of deer netting material  32 B coupled with and extending from the flexible core  2 . 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 10C ,  FIG. 10C  presents a sheet of plant protection material  32 C coupled with and extending from the flexible core  2 . 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 10D ,  FIG. 10D  presents a sheet of fabric material  32 D coupled with and extending from the flexible core  2 . 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 10E ,  FIG. 10E  presents a sheet of textile material  32 E coupled with and extending from the flexible core  2 . 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 10F ,  FIG. 10F  presents a sheet of cloth material  32 F coupled with and extending from the flexible core  2 . 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 10G ,  FIG. 10G  presents a sheet of tarpaulin material  32 G coupled with and extending from the flexible core  2 . 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 10H ,  FIG. 10H  presents a sheet of canvas material  32 H coupled with and extending from the flexible core  2 . 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 10I ,  FIG. 10I  presents a sheet of flexible solar energy conversion circuitry panel material  32 I coupled with and extending from the flexible core  2 . 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 10J ,  FIG. 10J  presents a sheet of metallic threaded fabric material  32 J coupled with and extending from the flexible core  2 . 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 10K ,  FIG. 10K  presents a sheet of aramid fiber sheet material  32 K coupled with and extending from the flexible core  2 . 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 10L ,  FIG. 10L  presents a sheet of polyester film material  32 L coupled with and extending from the flexible core  2 . 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 10M ,  FIG. 10M  presents a sheet of elastomer sheet material  32 M coupled with and extending from the flexible core  2 . 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 10N ,  FIG. 10N  presents a sheet of elastomer netting material  32 N coupled with and extending from the flexible core  2 . 
     The foregoing disclosures and statements are illustrative only of the present invention, and are not intended to limit or define the scope of the present invention. The above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Although the examples given include many specificities, they are intended as illustrative of only certain possible applications of the present invention. The examples given should only be interpreted as illustrations of some of the applications of the present invention, and the full scope of the Present Invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described applications can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that the present invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein. The scope of the present invention as disclosed and claimed should, therefore, be determined with reference to the knowledge of one skilled in the art and in light of the disclosures presented above.