Claims
- 1. A support apparatus for receiving and supporting one or more pieces of roll stock, said support apparatus comprising:(a) a first elongated upper surface comprising a plurality of roll support cradle portions, each of said roll support cradle portions having an outward surface shaped in an arcuate segment of pre-selected dimensions adapted for securely receiving a piece of roll stock of substantially complementary shape; (b) a first pair of longitudinally running opposing sidewall portions, each of said opposing sidewall portions sloping inwardly and upwardly toward said first elongated upper surface; (c) a first base, said first base providing upward structural support to each of said opposing sidewall portions, which, in turn, each provide upward structural support for said first upper surface comprising a plurality of roll support cradle portions; (d) one or more support platforms in each of said roll support cradle portions, and wherein each of said one or more support platforms further comprises (i) first and second inwardly and downwardly sloping sidewall portions, each having a lower end portion and (ii) a transversely extending bottom support foot, said bottom support foot located adjacent said lower end portion of said first and said second inwardly and downwardly sloping sidewall portions, and (A) extending laterally across said roll support cradle portion, and (B) extending downwardly to a location substantially even with said first base.
- 2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said roll support cradle portions has a bottom portion, and wherein said bottom portion is elevated above said base.
- 3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said bottom portion of said roll support cradle portion is elevated about 0.25 inches above said base.
- 4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said opposing sidewall portions is angled upward and inward at an angle sigma (ε) of about 20 degrees.
- 5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said first and second inwardly and downwardly sloping sidewall portions of said support platforms is angled downwardly and inwardly at a preselected angle alpha and beta, respectively.
- 6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said angle alpha (α) is about 20 degrees.
- 7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said angle beta (β) is about 20 degrees.
- 8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising, between adjacent roll support cradle portions, a platform portion.
- 9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said platform portion further comprises a plurality of outwardly and upwardly protruding dimple portions.
- 10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:(a) a second elongated upper surface comprising a plurality of roll support cradle portions, each of said roll support cradle portions having an outward surface shaped in an arcuate segment of pre-selected dimensions adapted for securely receiving a piece of roll stock of substantially complementary shape; (b) a second pair of longitudinally running opposing sidewall portions, each of said opposing sidewall portions sloping inwardly and upwardly toward said second elongated upper surface; (c) a second base, said second base providing upward structural support to each of said second pair of opposing sidewall portions, which, in turn, each provide upward structural support for said second upper surface comprising a plurality of roll support cradle portions; (d) a flexible attachment portion, said flexible attachment portion adapted to flexibly connect said first base to said second base so that said first (e) one or more support platforms in each of said roll support cradle portions, and wherein each of said one or more support platforms further comprises (i) first and second inwardly and downwardly sloping sidewall portions, each having a lower end portion and (ii) a transversely extending bottom support foot, said bottom support foot located adjacent said lower end portion of said first and said second inwardly and downwardly sloping sidewall portions, and (A) extending laterally across said roll support cradle portion, and (B) extending downwardly to a location substantially even with said first base.
- 11. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, or in claim 10, wherein said apparatus in manufactured in a strong, flexible plastic material.
- 12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein the plastic material is a polyethylene terephthalate.
- 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said plastic material is a recycled plastic, material.
- 14. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein said apparatus is thermoformed.
- 15. The apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein a multiple of roll supports combine to support a multiple of rolls of roll stock, said rolls of roll stock supported by the roll supports to form a bottom tier of supported roll stock, and the bottom tier of the supported roll stock additionally supports a minimum of two additional tiers of the roll stock, and each of the two additional tiers of the cylindrical is also supported by additional roll supports.
Parent Case Info
This application is a Continuation-In-Part of prior application Ser. No. 09/330,536, filed Jun. 11, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,209,839 the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference.
US Referenced Citations (35)
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09/330536 |
Jun 1999 |
US |
Child |
09/613652 |
|
US |