Patent ID: 7198152

Claim:
A package for containing and dispensing a coil of welding wire, the coil having a coil axis parallel to a package axis, a coil top transverse to the coil axis and radially inner and outer surfaces parallel to the coil axis, said package comprising a container having a bottom and an outer wall structure extending upwardly from said bottom to a top edge, said outer wall having inwardly and outwardly facing surfaces; a plurality of ribs extending parallel to said package axis, each of said plurality of ribs including inner and outer edges and being positioned between the coil outer surface and said inwardly facing surface of said outer wall thereby forming gaps between said coil outer surface and said inwardly facing surface of said outer wall; and a retainer ring for controlling the dispensing of the welding wire which includes a ring body extending between an inner edge defining an inner opening and an outer peripheral edge, said outer edge including a plurality of projections each extending beyond the outer surface of the coil and over a portion of one of said gaps.