Mandrel for disposing a stretchable wrapper around an object

1. A mandrel comprising:

a) a body portion having an outer surface for receiving a stretchable closed wrapper,

b) an end adapted for mounting on a self supporting object to be wrapped such that the wrapper can be slid over the mandrel and delivered therefrom onto the outer surface of the object, and

c) an engaging portion which engages with the object to allow the mandrel to seat on an end of the object,

wherein the engaging portion locates the mandrel both laterally and longitudinally relative to the object, and is defined by a lower surface and a tapered inner surface which locates the mandrel both laterally and longitudinally relative to the object, and wherein the inner surface is shaped selected from i) so as to allow the mandrel to seat on the end of the object, or ii) where its lower portion at said one end is locatable around the object, and the inner surface is affected by one or more inwardly directed projections, which are formed by indentations of the outer surface thereof, and which locate the mandrel longitudinally relative to the object.

2. A mandrel according to claim 1 in which the outer surface has a diameter which is greater than that of the wrapper, such that the wrapper can be slidably expanded over the mandrel.

3. A mandrel according to claim 1 wherein four of said inwardly directed projections are provided, substantially equi-spaced around the inner surface.

4. A mandrel according to claim 3 wherein the inwardly directed projections are formed by indentations of the outer surface thereof.

5. A mandrel according claim 1 in which the engaging portion is able to locate the mandrel relative to the object laterally or longitudinally or both.

6. A mandrel according to claim 5 wherein the engaging portion locates the mandrel both laterally and longitudinally relative to the object and is shaped to include a stepped profile having a first surface to locate the mandrel laterally relative to the object, and a second surface to locate the mandrel longitudinally relative to the object.

7. A mandrel according claim 1 in which the engaging portion is able to locate the mandrel relative to the object laterally or longitudinally or both.

8. A mandrel according to claim 7 wherein the engaging portion locates the mandrel both laterally and longitudinally relative to the object and is shaped to include a stepped profile having a first surface to locate the mandrel laterally relative to the object, and a second surface to locate the mandrel longitudinally relative to the object.

9. A mandrel according to claim 1 in which the engaging portion of the mandrel is at least partly defined by a projection.

10. A mandrel according to claim 1 in which the outer surface flares outwardly towards one end.

11. A mandrel according to claim 1 , formed as a substantially hollow shell.

12. A mandrel according to claim 1 , wherein said one end thereof is of substantially cylindrical or rectilinear configuration.

13. A mandrel according to claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the mandrel has a generally frusto-conical upper portion flared outwardly into and terminating in a substantially cylindrical portion at its said one end.

14. A mandrel according to claim 1 , formed by molding of plastics material.

15. A mandrel according to claim 1 in which the mandrel is portable thereby enabling a wrapper to be applied remote from a manufacturing line.

16. A mandrel according to claim 1 , and in addition at least one closed, stretchable wrapper, sized to be a stretch fit onto the mandrel over the flared surface thereof.

17. A mandrel and wrapper according to claim 16 , wherein the wrapper is in the form of a labelling sleeve that is made of plastic.

18. A method of disposing a closed, stretchable wrapper around the outer surface of an object, comprising:

seating the mandrel of claim 1 on an object of circumference substantially equal to that of a lower portion of the mandrel, wherein a stretchable closed wrapper defining a circumference slightly less than the circumference of the object (i) is urged over the smaller end of an upper portion of the mandrel, (ii) is slidably urged along the entire length of the mandrel, thereby being transversely stretched, and (iii) is slidably urged off the mandrel so as to relax onto the adjacent outer surface of the object in conformity therewith.

19. A method according to claim 18 in which the object has a base upon which it sits in normal use, and the mandrel is seated on the base of the object.