Tubular core assembly for winding paper and other sheet material having mechancially interlocked end members

A tubular core assembly for a roll of paper or other sheet material comprising:

• an elongate hollow cylindrical central core body member comprising a bodywall and having opposed ends, a predetermined outside diameter, and a predetermined inside diameter;
• inside diameter-reducing annular end members, each having an exterior periphery of which at least a portion defines the same outside diameter as said central core body member and having a predetermined inside diameter less than the inside diameter of said central core body member;
• each of said annular end members being secured to an opposed end of said central core body member in coaxial relation therewith;
• a plurality of axial grooves integrally formed in said bodywall of said central core body member, said grooves having a depth extending substantially through said bodywall;
• and
• a plurality of axially extending tongue members integrally formed in an end of each of said annular end members received in said grooves of said central core body member in interlocking relationship therewith;
• whereby said inside diameter-reducing annular end members are secured to said central core body member in positive circumferential locking relationship.