AU732570B3

AU732570B3 - Bottle support apparatus

Info

Publication number: AU732570B3
Application number: AU34018/00A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Gregory John Short; John Whalan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-01-17
Filing date: 2000-05-10
Publication date: 2001-04-26
Anticipated expiration: 2006-05-10

Description

I-

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990

ORIGINAL--

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION PETTY PATENT Invention Title: BOTTLE SUPPORT APPARATUS Name of Applicant: JOHN WHALAN GREGORY JOHN SHORT The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: -2 BOTTLE SUPPORT APPARATUS Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bottle support apparatus for the transportation of bottled materials.

The device can be applied to reduce breakage and improve the efficacy and safety of bottle transportation in boxes and will primarily be described with reference to this context. It should be remembered, however, that the invention has broader use in bottle storage and retrieval safety for domestic or industrial applications.

Background Art The transportation of glass bottled beverages such as expensive wines is reliant on the secure nature of the transportation box used for such a task to prevent breakage of the contents during transfer. The presently accepted cardboard carton contains a large amount of polystyrene packaging that generally reduces breakage of the bottles but creates a volumetric storage problem.

There are also difficulties in disposing of the foam in an environmentally acceptable manner after use in the box.

Breakage of bottles during transfer and the rigours of transportation still occurs using the currently available apparatus.

Summary of the Invention The present invention provides bottle support apparatus for use in a box including at least one panel which is V-shaped in end section, the panel having an apex at the base of the V-shape, and two members extending out from the apex, with one member configured for laterally urging the bottle towards an opposing support for restraining the bottle against movement in the box, wherein the panel is positioned adjacent to the bottle such that one of the members engages the bottle at a lower or upper longitudinal part thereof, with the apex being Spec: 377U 3spaced therefrom and adjacent to an upper or lower longitudinal part thereof respectively.

Preferably the support is either a like member located on an opposite side of the bottle or a side wall of the box.

Preferably, for a bottle generally centrally disposed within the box, four panels are positioned around- the bottle, a first two opposing members of opposing respective panels being arranged for engaging against a relatively upper part of the bottle, and a second two opposing members of opposing respective panels being orthogonally disposed to the first two panels and arranged for engaging against a relatively lower part of the bottle.

Preferably at least one slot is formed in each panel element extending therein from a base of the V, the slots being arranged for aligning with and sliding into a respective slot in a similar or like element to enable the elements to be stacked interlockingly with each other and in use to allow a bottle to fit within the spaces formed by the interlocked panel elements.

Preferably the slots extend away from the base of the V to a position at least midway into the element.

Preferably the slots are V-shaped in use to engage and restrain the angle of opening of the V-shaped panel element.

Preferably the panel element is defined from a rectangular panel which in use is folded along a centreline to form the apex of the V-shape.

Preferably the panel element is formed from cardboard.

Preferably the apparatus further includes a reinforcement element for positioning on a base of the box S and under the or each member.

'K Spec:377U 4 Preferably the apparatus further includes an element for positioning in the box above the or each member, the element having a plurality of holes, with each hole being positioned for aligning with and receiving therethrough a respective bottle neck.

Preferably each hole is circular in shape, the circumference of the circle having one or more radial slits to enable a deformable fit around a respective bottle neck.

Preferably the apparatus further includes a concertina folded element for positioning in the box above the element and defining upper folds that are each located above one or more respective bottle tops and lower folds that are each seated upon the element.

Preferably the upper folds align with the top of a line of bottles.

Preferably the box is a square or rectangular prism.

Preferably the entire apparatus is formed from cardboard.

Brief Description of the Drawings Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred forms of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of a device for use as a bottle support apparatus located in a carton, in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a portion of the bottle support apparatus of Figure 1 when removed from the carton.

Figure 3 shows a perspective schematic view of part of the embodiment of Figure 2.

Spec: 37772 A, I 5 Figure 4 shows another perspective view of a portion of the bottle support apparatus of Figure 1 when removed from the carton.

Figure 5 shows a similar view to Figure 2, but with bottles and a top plate positioned in the apparatus.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention Bottle support apparatus 10 for use in a rectangular box 12 is shown including members 14 in the form of a Vshaped panel in end section, with the free end 16 of the stems of each V being arranged to laterally urge the bottle 18 towards an opposing support for restraining the bottle 18 against movement in the box 12.

The opposing supports can be in the form of either a like V-shaped panel member 14 located on an opposite side of the bottle 18 or a side wall 20 of the box 12.

When a bottle 18 is centrally disposed within the box, four such like V-shaped panels are positioned around the bottle 18, a first two opposing panels 22, 24 being arranged for engaging against a relatively upper part of the bottle 18, and a second two opposing panels 26, 28 being orthogonally disposed to the first two opposing panels 22, 24 and arranged for engaging against a relatively lower part of the bottle 18.

Apparatus is depicted which is sized to hold 12 bottles. Five slots 30 are formed in one panel element 14 while four slots 32 are formed in each orthogonally disposed panel, as shown in Figure 3. The slots 30 formed in each V-shaped panel element 14 extend from a base of the V, and are arranged for aligning with and sliding into a respective slot 32 in an inverted similar or like panel 14 to enable the elements to be stacked interlockingly with each other and in use to allow a bottle- 18 to fit within the spaces formed by the interlocked panel elements. As shown, the slots extend away from the base Spec: 37772 6 of the V to a position at least midway into the element.

In this case each of the twelve equivalently shaped square compartments can tightly restrain bottles from movement, due to the complimentary interlocking of V-shaped panels 14 with each other, both at the top and bottom region of each bottle 18. Any number of slots 30, 32 and V-shaped members 14 are within the scope of the invention to produce single, or multiple bottle holding apparatus.

The slots 30, 32 are V-shaped in order to restrain the angle of opening of the V-shaped panel 14 disposed within each slot, ensuring a tight fit of the bottle (i.e.

depending on the selected slot 30, 32 width dimensions).

The panel elements 14 themselves are formed from a rectangular panel which in use is folded along a centreline to form the apex of the V-shape.

The apparatus 10 further includes a reinforcement element 34, which preferably comprises four layers of internally ribbed cardboard panels for protection from carton abuse and accidental droppage. This material is laid on the internal surface of the box 12 base to strengthen the support and shock absorbance directly under the V-shaped panels and bottle contents.

A panel member 36 is positioned in the box above the V-shaped panels 14, the member 36 having a plurality of circular holes 38 formed therein so that each hole 38 is positioned for aligning with and receiving therethrough a respective bottle 18 neck in use. Radial slits on the circumference of each hole enable a deformable and tight fit around a respective bottle neck. This panel 36 is made of a double layer thickness cardboard panel which in use further prevents vibration of the bottles 18 during motion of the apparatus The apparatus 10 further includes a concertina folded element 40 for positioning in the box 12 above the member Spec: 37772 7- 36, wherein upper folds 42 are each located above and align with one or more respective bottle top and lower folds 44 are each seated upon the panel member 36. This concertina-shaped panel 40 gives extra protection to the bottles and can prevent any marking, wear or scratching of bottle caps, labels etc which can otherwise damage the appearance and saleability of a wine bottle product.

The apparatus 10 shown in the Figures can be used with a box or carton 12 constructed of a double layer of ribbed cardboard with outside dimensions of approximately 320 mm wide by 470 mm long by 400 mm high. The box is typically configured to hold one dozen bottles of wine.

The remainder of the parts of the apparatus 10 are formed from ribbed cardboard or the like.

The apparatus was subjected to physical testing, as outlined in the following example.

Example Testing Regime A box was packed with twelve normal shaped glass wine U bottles full of water and then dropped from heights ranging from 1 metre to 4 metres. Failure occurred when the box was dropped from 4 metres to a concrete driveway.

This failure resulted in one bottle being broken. Failure was attributed to the following factors: a. the box became wet due to prevailing conditions on a rain-soaked driveway; b. all drop tests were carried out using the same box thus resulting in the box structure being adversely affected by the unusually harsh treatment; c. the test box was sealed with tape and not with the normal glue.

d. Another box that was glued together was packed with glass wine bottles and sent via normal freight Spec: 37772

Claims

1. Bottle support apparatus for use in a box including at least one panel which is V-shaped in end section, the panel having an apex at the base of the V-shape, and two members extending out from the apex, with one member configured for laterally urging the bottle towards an opposing _support for restraining the bottle against movement in the box, wherein the panel is positioned adjacent to the bottle such that one of the members engages the bottle at a lower or upper longitudinal part thereof, with the apex being spaced therefrom and adjacent to an upper or lower longitudinal part thereof respectively.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support is either a like member located on an opposite side of the bottle or a side wall of the box.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein, for a bottle generally centrally disposed within the box, four panels are positioned around the bottle, a first two opposing members of opposing respective panels being arranged for engaging against a relatively upper part of the bottle, and a second two opposing members of opposing respective panels being orthogonally disposed to the first two panels and arranged for engaging against a relatively lower part of the bottle. Dated this 7 th day of December 2000 GREGORY SHORT and JOHN WHALAN By their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK. Spec: 37792