Abstract: A wedge for bracing cylindrical cargo elements is made from a cushioning material, especially cellular cushioning material, and is formed from a single sheet of the material. First and second wing panels are floded back on the central panel to form a wedge of increased thickness. The wedge is particularly useful for bracing rolls of paper in a cargo container so that the rolls of paper do not suffer any damage during transit.

Abstract: This invention pertains to bracing systems for bracing especially massive objects while the objects are being shipped, typically in a rail car. The invention is directed to packing arrangements where first and second end arrays of rolls of product are disposed in first and second ends of the rail car, with sets of rolls proximate but spaced from each other at the central doorway. Each pair of side-by-side rolls in a set includes a cavity therebetween, facing the opposing set. Wedges are placed in the cavities such that each set of rolls, with wedges in the cavities, presents a generally planar composite surface between the rolls at the loci of closest approach to the opposing rolls. Thus, with the wedges in place, the rolls, in combination, present two generally planar, typically parallel, and more-or-less continuous composite surfaces facing each other across the space separating the two sets of rolls.