BE1025094B1 - Combination of a crate for beverage bottles and a lid fitting thereto and use of such a combination - Google Patents

Abstract

A combination (1) of a crate (2) for beverage bottles (4) or for beverage cans or for beverage boxes and a lid (3) fitting thereto, the lid (3) being at least partially made of thermally insulating material and / or the lid (3) is provided with at least one reservoir (6) that is filled with coolant. Such a combination can be used for cooling or keeping cool drinks in a bottle (4) or other package, the bottle or other package (4) being in the crate (2).

Description

(30) Priority data:

(73) Holder (s):

BELLIVO, société anonyme

1930, LUXEMBOURG

Luxembourg (72) Inventor (s):

OEYEN Jan

2250 OLES

Belgium (54) Combination of a crate for drink bottles and a matching lid and use of such a combination (57) A combination (1) of a crate (2) for drink bottles (4) or for drink cans or drink boxes and a suitable one lid (3), wherein the lid (3) is at least partly made of thermally insulating material and / or the lid (3) is provided with at least one reservoir (6) filled with coolant. Such a combination can be used to cool or keep a beverage contained in a bottle (4) or other package, the bottle or other package (4) being in the crate (2).

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Combination of a crate for drink bottles and a matching lid and use of such a combination.

The invention relates to a combination of a crate for beverage bottles and a lid fitting thereon and the use of such a combination.

Beverages contained in plastic or glass bottles or other packaging, such as liquid-tight multilayer boxes, cans, etc., where those bottles or other packaging are placed in crates, are not easy to cool or keep cool for a long time. Firstly, the crates take up a lot of space in a refrigerator, and often there is no, or not enough, refrigerator available. Once the crates are out of the refrigerator, the drink in them also heats up quickly. This is reinforced by the fact that there is a development going on to make crates lighter, so that they have relatively many openings to the outside.

It is also usually not practical if you want to take a bottle or tin or box of drinks to get them from a cooling room.

The present invention aims to provide solutions to the problem of cooling or keeping drinks in bottles or other containers in a crate cool by providing a combination of a crate for drink bottles or for drink cans or for drink boxes and an appropriate lid, wherein the lid has at least one, but preferably both, of the following characteristics: that the lid is at least partly made of thermally insulating material and that the lid is provided with at least one reservoir filled with coolant.

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Such a reservoir is also called a eutectic plate plate.

Such a lid allows drinks in the bottles or other containers in the crate to be kept cool longer, because the open top of the crate is covered insulatingly, but can also be cooled if the coolant in the reservoir has been pre-cooled or frozen.

Preferably, the crate is provided with separate compartments, each of which is adapted to receive a separate beverage bottle or beverage box or beverage can.

The lid may be a lid with one or more fixedly attached coolant reservoirs, but in a preferred embodiment, the lid is provided with at least one reservoir filled with coolant, the at least one reservoir and the rest of the lid being arranged to be able to repeatedly remove and reapply at least one reservoir to the rest of the lid.

This allows to loosen at least one reservoir and cool or freeze separately and then reattach it to the rest of the lid. This takes up less space in a refrigerator and freezer than a full lid with one or more tightly attached coolant reservoirs.

In a preferred embodiment, the cover is provided on its underside with support points or a support surface with which it can rest on an upper edge of the crate, the cover being provided with one or more parts protruding from the underside outside the support surface or through the

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BE2017 / 5225 supports defined geometric plane to prevent lateral movement of the lid when the lid is placed on the crate.

After all, the one or more parts that protrude at the bottom bump against the crate with a small lateral movement, so that they prevent further lateral movement.

The bottom side is the bottom side when the lid is in an orientation in which it can cover a crate that is in a normal usage orientation.

Preferably, the cover has a peripheral edge, wherein the support points or the support surface are closer to the peripheral edge than the said one or more parts which protrude at the bottom.

As a result, the one or more parts that protrude at the bottom are located on the inside, and not on the outside, of the crate and the lid does not have to protrude outside the circumference of the crate and therefore does not disturb the possibility of compacting crates against each other to place, which is important, for example, when placing standardized crates measuring 30 by 40 cm on standardized pallets.

In a preferred embodiment, the combination is arranged to be stably stackable on an identical combination when the lid is mounted on the crate in both combinations.

This means that the lid must be strong enough to support the weight of at least one, and preferably at least three, filled combinations and that the top of the

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BE2017 / 5225 the lid and the bottom of the crate are designed in such a way that stable stacking is possible.

In a further preferred embodiment, the top of the lid and the bottom of the crate are provided with complementary guide members.

When stacking two combinations, the combinations are hereby guided to a mutual preferred orientation and in a stacked state a lateral movement of the combinations relative to each other is prevented.

In a preferred embodiment, the combination comprises at least one cover element to cover one or more sides, and preferably all sides, of the crate.

Such cover elements cover holes, for example holes that serve as handles or which serve to reduce weight, in the sides of the crate and thereby help to keep drinks in the crate cooler for longer.

Such a covering element can be made of any material, for instance cardboard or plastic foil, but is preferably at least partly made of a thermally insulating material, so that such a covering element is more insulating.

Preferably also the at least one cover element is provided with at least one internal cavity which is filled with coolant.

This coolant can be pre-cooled, so that the cover element will actively contribute to cooling the contents of the crate.

In a preferred embodiment, it is at least one

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BE2017 / 5225 cover element designed as a sleeve to enclose the sides of the crate.

This is a practical embodiment, because it is then possible to obtain a covering from all sides with one cover element, and sleeves are generally relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

With a sleeve is meant an annular body with a geometric central axis. The sleeve is open at two ends, i.e. two sides more or less perpendicular to the central axis, these open ends corresponding to the top and bottom of the crate when the sleeve is used.

The sleeve is preferably arranged to be folded flat without being damaged thereby, for instance because the sleeve is made of flexible material, or is made of rigid material, but is arranged in the places corresponding to the corners of the crate to be able to hinge, for example by means of a film hinge.

The invention further relates to the use of a combination as described above for cooling or keeping a beverage contained in a bottle or tin or box, the bottle or tin or box being in the crate, and preferably in one of the compartments of the crate.

In a preferred variant, the drink is beer.

The invention also relates to a combination defined by the following clauses:

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Clause 1. A combination of a crate for drink bottles or for drink cans or for drink boxes and at least one cover element (10) to cover one or more sides, and preferably all sides, of the crate (2).

Clause 2. A combination according to clause 1, in which the at least one cover element is at least partly made of a thermally insulating material and / or has at least one internal cavity filled with coolant.

Clause 3. A combination according to clause 1 or 2, in which the at least one cover element is designed as a sleeve to enclose the sides of the crate.

Clause 4. A combination according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the sleeve is arranged to be folded flat without being damaged.

Clause 5. A combination according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the crate is provided with separate compartments, each of which is arranged to receive one drink bottle or drink can or drink box.

Clause 6. A combination according to any one of the preceding clauses, wherein the crate is provided with separate compartments, each of which is arranged to receive one drink bottle or drink can or drink box.

Clause 7. Use of a combination according to any of the preceding clauses for cooling or keeping drinks, preferably beer, contained in a bottle or can or box, the bottle or can or box being in the crate located.

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Clause 8. Use according to clause 7, characterized in that the combination is a combination according to clause 5, wherein more than one of the compartments, and preferably all compartments, are provided with a said bottle or can or box.

In order to better explain the invention, a preferred embodiment is described, without the invention being limited to this embodiment, referring to the following figures:

Figure 1 shows in perspective a combination according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective and bottom view of a component of the combination of Figure 1;

Figures 3 and 4 show parts of the component of Figure 2;

Figure 5 shows in cross-section as indicated by line VV in figure 1 a combination of the combination according to the invention in the state of use;

Figure 6 shows an additional component of a preferred embodiment of a combination according to the invention;

Figure 7 shows the use of a combination with the additional component of Figure 6, in a cross-section analogous to Figure 5;

Figure 8 shows a preferred embodiment of a combination according to the invention and its use in a section as in Figure 7.

The combination 1 shown in Figures 1 to 5 comprises as main components a crate 2 and a lid 3 fitting thereon.

The lid 3 is separate from the crate 2. The two main components are therefore not attached to each other.

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The crate is a crate 2 with separate compartments for beer bottles 1 and is partially filled with beer bottles 1 filled with beer. The crate 2 has a length L of 40 cm and a width B of 30 cm in the horizontal plane.

The lid 3 has the same dimensions in horizontal plane as the crate 2.

The lid 3 consists of two main parts, namely a lid body 5 made of polystyrene foam and a cooling element 6 clamping therein, which is formed by a closed plastic reservoir filled with a coolant.

Alternatively, the lid body 5 can be made of a hard plastic shell filled with a thermally insulating substance.

The cooling element 6 can be taken out of the lid body 5 and put back therein, keeping it in place by clamping.

As can especially be seen in figure 5, the lid has a support surface 7 with which it rests on the top edge of the crate 2 during use. This support surface 7 is formed by a flat part which is adjacent to the peripheral edge 8 of the cover 3.

The cooling element 6 and a collar 9 on the lid body 5 protrude downwards from the supporting surface 7.

The operation of the combination 1 is simple and as follows.

In preparation for use, the cooling element 6 is removed from the lid body 5 and placed in a freezer, for example a household freezer, until

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BE2017 / 5225 the coolant is sufficiently cooled. Depending on the temperature and the nature of the coolant, the coolant may or may not freeze.

The cooling element 6 is then placed back in the lid body 5, after which the lid 3 thus formed is placed on the crate 2 provided with bottles 4 containing beer.

This produces a double effect. Firstly, the contents of the crate 2 are isolated from the outside environment, so that less heat exchange between the beer and the outside environment can take place, so that cool beer in the bottles 4 heats up less quickly. Secondly, the cold cooling element 6 cools the beer in the bottles 4 or, if the beer has already been cooled, keeps it cool for longer.

In a preferred embodiment, the combination 1 also comprises a sleeve 10 which can be fitted around the crate 2, so that the top and bottom of the crate 2 are not enveloped by the sleeve 10, but the sides of the crate 2 are. Such a sleeve 10 is shown in figure

6.

This sleeve 10 is made of a multilayer flexible and deformable foil, in which thermal insulation material 11, for example flexible polyurethane foam, is provided and in which cavities 12 are provided which are filled with coolant.

Such casings are known, in a much smaller size, for cooling individual wine bottles.

The operation of the preferred embodiment is illustrated in Figure 7, and is different from the

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BE2017 / 5225 the above-described operation of the first embodiment in that the sleeve 10 is also placed in a freezer for some time in preparation in order to cool the refrigerant and possibly freeze it therein.

To take up less space, the sleeve is folded flat for this purpose.

After the sleeve 10 has cooled sufficiently, it is wrapped around the crate

2 slid to cover the sides. As a result, the contents of the crate are even better thermally insulated from the outside environment, and additional cooling of the contents of the crate 2 is obtained.

It is noted that, in order to have a cooling effect on the crate content, it is sufficient if the cooling element 6 or the sleeve 10 are pre-cooled, although it is preferred that both be cooled. Therefore, the cooling effect can also be obtained in an embodiment in which only one of the lid 3 or the sleeve 10 is provided with coolant, and the other has only an insulating effect.

In the preferred embodiment of figure 8, the lid 3 is provided at its top with a recess 13 surrounded by an upright edge 14 and the crate 2 is provided at its bottom with a projecting edge 15.

When two combinations 1 are stacked, the projecting edge 15 on the crate 3 falls into the recess 13 of the lid.

The recess 13, the upright edge 14 and the protruding edge hereby form guide members which, when stacked, guide two combinations 1 to a preferred orientation, namely

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BE2017 / 5225 an orientation in which the sides of the crates 3 lie mutually in the same planes, and which stabilize stacking in this preferred orientation by preventing lateral movement of stacked combinations 1 to one another.

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Claims (15)

Conclusions 1.- A combination (1) of a crate (2) for drink bottles (4) or for beverage cans or for drink boxes and a lid (3) fitting on the crate (2), the lid (3) being at least partly made of thermally insulating material and / or the lid (3) is equipped with at least one reservoir (6) that is filled with coolant. 2. A combination according to claim 1, characterized in that the lid (3) is provided with at least one reservoir (6) which is filled with coolant. A combination according to claim 2, characterized in that the at least one reservoir (6) and the remainder (5) of the lid (3) are arranged to be able to repeatedly remove the at least one reservoir (6) from and the rest (5) of the cover (3). A combination according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (3) is provided on its underside with support points or a support surface (7) with which it can rest on an upper edge of the crate (2), the cover (3) is provided with one or more parts (6, 9) which protrude at the bottom outside the support surface (7) or the geometric plane defined by the support points for thereby a lateral movement of the cover (3), when the cover ( 3) is placed on the crate (2). A combination according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the combination (1) is arranged to be stably stackable on an identical combination (1) if in both combinations (1) the lid (3) is placed on the crate ( 2) is fitted. 2017/5225 BE2017 / 5225 A combination according to claim 5, characterized in that the top of the lid and the bottom of the crate are provided with complementary guide members. A combination according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the crate (2) is provided with separate compartments, each of which is adapted to receive one drink bottle (4) or drink can or drink box. A combination according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lid (3) is a thermally insulating lid (3) which is at least partly made of a thermal insulating material or filled with a 15 thermal insulation material. A combination according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the crate (2) is rectangular in plan view and has outer dimensions (L, B) of 30 cm. 20 by 40 cm. A combination according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the combination (1) also comprises at least one cover element (10) around one or more sides, and 25 preferably cover all sides of the crate (2). A combination according to claim 10, characterized in that the at least one cover element (10) is at least partly made of a thermally insulating material (11) and / or 30 has at least one internal cavity (12) filled with coolant. A combination according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the at least one cover element is formed 2017/5225 BE2017 / 5225 as a sleeve (10) to enclose the sides of the crate (2). A combination according to claim 12, characterized in that the sleeve (10) is arranged to be folded flat without being damaged thereby. Use of a combination (1) according to any one of the preceding claims for cooling or keeping drinks, preferably beer, contained in a bottle (4) or can or box, the bottle (4) or the can or box is in the crate (2). Use according to claim 14, characterized in that the combination is a combination (1) according to claim 7, wherein more than one of the compartments, and preferably all compartments, are provided with a said bottle (4) or can or box . BE2017 / 5225 BE2017 / 5225 BE2017 / 5225 BE2017 / 5225