Roll end support

Abstract

An endboard for supporting a roll of material is provided. The endboard consists of a substantially rigid member that is sized and shaped to receive and support the roll of material. The endboard is molded from a mixture of plastic and sawdust. The combination of plastic and sawdust provides improved loading bearing strength and allows for support of heavy rolls of material without requiring the roll to support itself on its face. The endboard design thus prevents damage to the rolled material stored in horizontal fashion. In a preferred embodiment, the endboard has a series of elongated substantially parallel recessed portions that are vertically aligned and at least partially define vertical ribbed portions. The recessed portions and ribbed portions thus reduce the amount of material needed for construction of the endboards, while maintaining the structural integrity thereof.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An endboard for supporting a roll of material comprising: 
 a substantially rigid member sized and shaped to receive and support the roll of the material in a horizontal orientation, wherein the member is molded from a mixture of plastic and sawdust.    
     
     
         2 . The endboard of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid member is substantially planar and comprises interior and exterior faces.  
     
     
         3 . The endboard of  claim 2 , wherein the rigid member further comprises at least one recessed portion formed in either of the interior or exterior faces.  
     
     
         4 . The endboard of  claim 3 , wherein the rigid member further comprises a pair of elongated substantially parallel recessed portions that are generally parallel and vertically aligned when the endboard is supporting the roll of material.  
     
     
         5 . The endboard of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one recessed portion is dumbbell-shaped.  
     
     
         6 . The endboard of  claim 3 , wherein the rigid member is about 1 inch thick and the at least one recessed portion is about ⅝ inches deep.  
     
     
         7 . The endboard of  claim 3 , wherein the rigid member further comprises at last one ribbed portion, the ribbed portion at least partially defined by the at least one recessed portion.  
     
     
         8 . The endboard of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one ribbed portion is dumbbell-shaped.  
     
     
         9 . The endboard of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid member further comprises top and bottom edges and at least one notch formed in either the top or bottom edge.  
     
     
         10 . The endboard of  claim 9 , further comprising two notches formed in the top edge and two notches formed in the bottom edge.  
     
     
         11 . The endboard of  claim 1 , wherein the plastic comprises polyethylene.  
     
     
         12 . The endboard of  claim 11 , wherein the rigid member comprises a mixture of about 40-50% by volume of sawdust and about 50-60% by volume of polyethylene.  
     
     
         13 . A packaging system for supporting a roll of material in a generally horizontal orientation, the roll of material having first and second opposed ends, the system comprising: 
 first and second endboards respectively coupled to the first and second opposed ends of the roll of material;    wherein the first and second endboards are sized and shaped to receive and support the roll of material and are molded from a mixture of plastic and sawdust.    
     
     
         14 . The packaging system of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second endboards are substantially planar and comprise interior and exterior faces.  
     
     
         15 . The packaging system of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first and second endboards further comprise at least one recessed portion formed in either of the interior or exterior faces.  
     
     
         16 . The packaging system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one of the first and second endboards further comprises a pair of elongated substantially parallel recessed portions that are generally parallel and vertically aligned when the endboards are supporting the roll of material.  
     
     
         17 . The packaging system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one recessed portion is dumbbell-shaped.  
     
     
         18 . The packaging system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one of the first and second endboards is about 1 inch thick and the at least one recessed portion is about ⅝ inch deep.  
     
     
         19 . The packaging system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one of the first and second endboards further comprises at least one ribbed portion, the at least one ribbed portion at least partially defined by the at least one recessed portion.  
     
     
         20 . The packaging system of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one ribbed portion is dumbbell-shaped.  
     
     
         21 . The packaging system of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second endboards further comprise top and bottom edges and at least one notch formed in either the top or bottom edge.  
     
     
         22 . The packaging system of  claim 21 , further comprising two notches formed in the top edge and two notches formed in the bottom edge.  
     
     
         23 . The packaging system of  claim 13 , wherein the plastic comprises polyethylene.  
     
     
         24 . The packaging system of  claim 23 , wherein the first and second endboards comprise a mixture of about 40-50% by volume of sawdust and about 50-60% by volume of polyethylene.