DE9016357U1 - Bottle crate - Google Patents

Abstract

In a bottle crate (1) with partitioning (6) which exhibits at least one compartment (7) for a bottle, whereby each compartment exhibits a base (22) and compartment walls (21), which extend over part of the bottle placed in each compartment, and the base is provided with devices to centrally position the bottles, secure positioning of the bottles in the compartment is achieved in that the devices are designed as a graduated support (24,27,28) on their side facing the inside of the compartment, and exhibit at least two ledges (31,35) to take the bottoms of the bottles. In this way bottles of differing diameters can be stored in the crate. <IMAGE>

Description

Bottle crate

The invention relates to a bottle crate with a compartment having at least one storage compartment, each storage compartment having a base and supports engaging laterally on the bottles, which extend over a portion of the bottles stored in each storage compartment, and the base is provided with means for centrally receiving the bottles, the means being designed as a step-shaped support on their side facing the interior of the storage compartment and having at least two shoulders receiving the bottle bases.

Bottles, especially wine bottles, are generally sold lying down and packed in boxes, for example, or standing up in bottle crates. Bottles packed in boxes pose a risk of damage during transport as they lie on top of each other touching one another. In addition, the stacking height of such boxes is limited due to the weight of the full boxes and the resulting pressure on the bottles in the lower boxes. Such problems do not occur with bottles placed in bottle crates as they do not touch one another in the self-contained storage compartments in the bottle crate and are not subjected to any stress when the bottle crates are stacked on top of one another. The stacking height of bottle crates is primarily determined by the stability of the bottle crates.

Bottle crates are usually designed for one type of bottle, that is, for bottles of either the same height or the same diameter, so that the storage compartments in the compartments have a shape that is adapted to the bottles. For the different types of bottles, bottle crates with appropriately designed storage compartments are therefore required. However, this has the disadvantage that, on the one hand, the manufacturer has to keep the right bottle crates for the bottles on hand, and, on the other hand, the middleman faces significant logistical problems, as he has to cope with increased storage costs due to the different bottle crates and incompatible bottle crates. The end user is also faced with complex storage requirements with the bottle crates specially tailored to the different types of bottle.

DE-Gm 19 34 560 has disclosed a bottle crate which has conical columns arranged on the shelf, which are arranged in such a way that they form rows in the lengthwise and crosswise direction of the bottle crate and are each at a certain distance from one another. These conical columns each form a support which engages the side of a bottle placed in the crate. The distance between the columns is chosen so that they form a snug fit for the bottle and thus hold the bottle in the bottle crate. This has the significant disadvantage that, due to the snug fit, only bottles can be placed in the crate which have a diameter that corresponds to the snug fit or a smaller diameter. If the diameter of the bottle is even slightly larger than the snug fit, it is not possible to place the bottle in the crate. However, the bottle can only be held securely if the diameter of the bottle corresponds exactly to the snug fit. Signs of wear, e.g. B. on the edge bead on the bottom of the bottle, or by applying labels, which can sometimes also consist of a bulky material, the diameter of the bottle is changed, so that it is not always guaranteed that the diameter of the bottle corresponds to the snug fit.

The bottle crate also has recesses that are located within the fitting seat and into which bottles of a different diameter format can be inserted. It has been found to be disadvantageous that in order to hold the bottle vertically in the bottle crate, a grid is required on the lid side, which is put over the bottle mouths so that the bottle necks reach through the openings in the grid. With this grid, however, bottles of different diameters can be placed in a crate.

Only bottles of the same design, especially bottles of the same height, can be secured. If there are bottles of different shapes in the crate, the grid cannot guarantee that they will be securely secured.

Another disadvantage is that such a box does not allow long-term storage of bottles sealed with corks, for example, as the cork gradually dries out. Furthermore, the box cannot simply be placed on one of its side walls without the risk of the bottles slipping out of the box.

The invention is therefore based on the object of designing a bottle crate of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that the transport and long-term storage of bottles of different designs is made possible and it is ensured that the bottles are held in the normal position and upside down centrally in the respective storage compartments of the bottle crate.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that the bottles are held exclusively at the bottle bottoms by the shoulders, that the supports are designed as compartment walls that extend at least over the cylindrical part of the inserted bottle, and that the support is provided with a central holder for receiving a bottle mouth of a bottle standing on the mouth and inserted into the insertion compartment.

This bottle box designed according to the invention now allows bottles of different designs to be placed. For example, 1-1 and 0.75-1 bottles can be placed in the bottle box, ensuring that

that each bottle is precisely centered in the storage compartment via its bottle base and is held in a vertical position by the compartment walls. This is achieved by arranging the bottle with the larger diameter, for example a 1-liter bottle, in the storage compartment in such a way that its bottle base is received in the first step of the stepped support on the bottom of the storage compartment. A bottle with a smaller diameter, for example a 0.75-liter bottle, is held securely in a storage compartment of the same design by its bottle base engaging in a second step of the support, with this second step being provided within the first step. This ensures that even with this bottle with a smaller diameter, the bottle axis runs in the direction of the axis of the storage compartment, i.e. that this bottle is also held vertically in the storage compartment. The two steps of each support mean that bottles of two types of bottle, i.e. with different diameters, can be transported in the same bottle crate. Bottles of different heights can also be transported, e.g. B. Bottles of the 310 or 330 version can be placed in the bottle crate. The support can also be provided with more than two steps, which has the advantage that an even greater variety of bottles can be transported with the same bottle crate. The steps are preferably arranged point-symmetrically to the axis of the storage compartment.

It is also possible to place the bottles not only upright, but also upside down, i.e. with the bottle mouth facing downwards into the storage compartments of the bottle crate. In this position, the bottle body rests on the inside of the compartment walls and the bottle mouth rests in the central holder of the support. The central

The support bracket is designed so that it holds the bottle mouth and protrudes over a certain area. This ensures that the bottle mouth of a bottle placed upside down in the storage compartment does not slip on the floor of the storage compartment. The bottle is also aligned vertically in this position. The brackets are preferably designed as recesses. These recesses now form the lowest point of the shelf floor.

In a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the support is designed as crosswise arranged webs. These webs can either be placed on a base, but they can also form the base of the storage compartment themselves. The bottle crate is then largely open at the bottom, which makes thorough cleaning of the bottle crate much easier. The webs are either arranged diagonally at the lower end of the storage compartment, where they cross each other in the axis of the compartment, in another embodiment, the webs extend from one compartment wall to the opposite one and are each connected to the compartment walls in the middle of the compartment. In another embodiment, it is provided that the supports are designed as concentric rings, with the next inner ring being arranged slightly lower. Instead of rings, ring elements or partial rings are also conceivable as supports for the bottle base.

In a further development of the invention, it is provided that the steps are arranged in descending order from the compartment wall of the storage compartment towards the middle of the compartment. This design allows the central arrangement of bottles with different diameters, whereby the bottles with smaller diameters

in the heels that are located towards the middle of the compartment and further down in relation to the outer heels.

In an advantageous embodiment, the sections separating the steps from one another have guide surfaces that are slanted towards the base and the middle of the compartment. When a bottle is placed in the compartment, the side edge of the bottle base rests against the guide surfaces, which means that the bottle is held securely on the steps of the supports. This prevents the bottle from slipping within the compartment. The guide surfaces also have the advantage that a bottle that is placed at an angle into the compartment is automatically aligned vertically by the fact that the bottle base is guided onto the corresponding steps via the guide surfaces. If a bottle jumps out of the support due to improper handling of the bottle crate, the guide surfaces ensure that the bottle base gradually slides back to its original position. In this stable position, several guide surfaces then grip the side edge of the bottle base again.

Advantageously, the steps are designed like a step and the sections like a riser. The riser is advantageously arranged slightly inclined relative to the vertical. Preferably, the steps are flat or slightly inclined in the direction of the shelf and the middle of the shelf, which supports the automatic centering of the bottle within the storage compartment.

It is advantageous if the brackets are connected to the next section via slanted sections.

Sections ensure that a bottle inserted at an angle into the storage compartment is automatically aligned vertically, with the bottle mouth automatically sliding into the central holder. In the area of the shelf base, means are advantageously provided to prevent the bottle mouth from reaching through the bottom of the box when inserted at an angle.

The bottles are held securely in the individual storage compartments by the fact that the compartment walls extend at least over the cylindrical part of each stored bottle. This measure ensures that, even if the bottle crate is handled incorrectly, bottles that tip over in the storage compartment do not hit one another and, after being deflected, tip back into their vertical position. The height of the compartment walls is at least high enough so that when a bottle is tilted and resting against the compartment wall, its center of gravity is always between the middle of the bottle base and the tipping point, both when full and when empty. By tipping the bottle back and always being in a central position within the storage compartment, it is ensured that the bottles can be easily removed or reinserted into the storage compartments using automatic packers whose lateral deflection is limited. It is also guaranteed that bottles of different heights, such as 12 cm, can be easily removed and placed back into the storage compartments. For example, for the 0.75-1 bottle, the 310 and 330 versions with a length of 310 mm and 330 mm respectively can be transported in the bottle crate according to the invention.

Advantageously, the compartment walls have an opening in the area of their longitudinal central axis that extends to the floor. The opening is advantageously designed in such a way that

When the bottle crate is lying on its side, a bottle placed in the storage compartment at least partially reaches through the opening. This ensures that when the bottle crate is lying on its side, the bottles cannot slide out of the storage compartment. This is prevented by the bottle being displaced in the storage compartment in such a way that the belly of the bottle reaches at least partially through the opening, slightly engaging the adjacent storage compartment below. This causes the bottle to assume an inclined position within the storage compartment, with its longitudinal axis inclined to the axis of the storage compartment in such a way that it rises in the direction of the bottle neck. This prevents the bottle from sliding out when the bottle crate is lying on its side.

The invention also relates to an insert for a bottle crate according to the design described above, wherein the insert can be fastened to the bottom of the storage compartment and has the means for centrically holding the bottles. With this insert, conventionally designed bottle crates can be easily converted so that bottles of different types, in particular of different diameters and different heights, can now be stored equally well.

In a preferred embodiment, the shelf in the center of each storage compartment is closed. This protects the bottom of the bottle or the bottle mouth and in particular the bottle cork. The storage compartment is thus protected against objects penetrating from below.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention emerge from the following description, in which a particularly preferred embodiment is described in detail with reference to the drawing. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a bottle crate according to the invention with six storage compartments;

Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of a setting compartment;

Fig. 3a - 3c a section III-III according to Fig. 2 in an enlarged reproduction, wherein a bottle with a large diameter, a bottle with a small diameter, each in an upright position, and a bottle with the mouth pointing downwards are placed in the storage compartment.

In the embodiment of a bottle crate 1 according to the invention shown in Figure 1, 2 designates a front side wall and 3 a rear side wall. The two side walls 2 and 3 form a compartment 6 with side walls 4 and 5, which in this embodiment is divided into six storage compartments 7. The side walls 2 to 5 have openings 8 to 15, whereby the openings 8 and 10 are provided on the front and rear side walls 2 and 3, respectively, and the openings 9 and 11 are provided on the side walls 4 and 5 in their upper area. These openings 8 to 11 form access openings so that the bottle crate 1 can be grasped and carried by the frames 16 to 19, and the label of a bottle inserted into the storage compartments 7 can be inserted through the openings 12 to 15.

placed bottle (as shown in Figures 3a and 3b). The openings 12 to 15 thus allow the contents of the box to be seen without the bottles having to be removed from the storage compartments 7.

In addition, knobs 20 are provided on the front side wall in the area of the corners, which protrude slightly above the surface of the side wall 2. Knobs are arranged correspondingly in the area of the corners on the rear side wall 3. The knobs 20 have the task of preventing two bottle crates lying on top of one another from slipping when they are lying either on their front side wall 2 or on their rear side wall 3. In this position, the knobs 20 on one side wall of one bottle crate engage between the knobs 20 on the other side wall of the other bottle crate, causing the two bottle crates to hook together. In this way, a shelf can be constructed from the bottle crates 1 according to the invention.

In the section of the compartment shown in Figure 2

6 shows a storage compartment 7 which has compartment walls 21 and is provided with a base 22. The compartment walls 21 are provided with openings 23 which extend along the center line of the compartment walls 21 and to the base 22 of the storage compartment

7. The openings 23 have a greater width in the area of the base 22 than at the upper end of the storage compartment 7. It can also be seen that the base 22 of the storage compartment 7 consists of a support 24, which is arranged in the form of two webs 25 and 26 diagonally at the lower end of the storage compartment 7 in such a way that the webs 25 and 26 connect opposite corners. The two webs 25 and 26 intersect in the central longitudinal axis of the storage compartment 7. In addition, further supports 27 and 28 of adjacent storage compartments or

Sections of these supports can be seen through the openings 23. In another embodiment, not shown, the webs 25 and 26, which form the support 24, are placed on a base, so that the storage compartment 7 is closed in the direction of the base.

The design of the support 24 is explained in more detail using the illustrations in Figures 3a to 3c, in which the section III-III according to Figure 2 is shown, in which the web 25 is shown with a bottle 29 inserted into the storage compartment 7. The bottle 29 has a diameter that is essentially the distance between two opposing compartment walls 21. The bottle base 30 of this bottle 29 sits on two shoulders 31 that are provided in the support 24. The shoulders 31 have a guide surface 32 at their end facing the compartment wall 21, which runs slightly outwardly inclined upwards from the shoulder 31. This guide surface 32 rests against the side bottom edge of the bottle 29 and thereby prevents the bottle 29 from slipping on the support 24. It can also be seen that the compartment wall 21 extends over the cylindrical part of the bottle 29, so that the bottle 29 is housed in the storage compartment 7 in a largely protected manner.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 3b, a bottle 33 with a smaller diameter than the bottle 29 is inserted in the storage compartment 7. The shape of the bottle 33 corresponds, for example, to a 0.75-liter bottle, which can have a height of 310 mm or 330 mm, whereas the bottle 29 corresponds to a 1-liter bottle. Since the bottle 33 has a smaller diameter, its base 34, which therefore also has a smaller diameter, is in the

bearing 24 is inserted in recesses 35. These recesses 35 are located radially inside the recesses 31 and are arranged axially below the recesses 31. Between the recesses 31 and 35 there are again guide surfaces 36, which also run slightly diagonally from the recess 31 to the recess 35. These guide surfaces 36 also lie on the peripheral edge of the bottle base 34 and thus ensure that the bottle 33 is held securely in the support 24. A further advantage of the guide surfaces 36 and the guide surfaces 32 is that, for example, if a bottle 33 is inserted diagonally into the storage compartment 7, the guide surfaces 32 and 36 cause the bottle base 34 to gradually slide towards the recesses 35. This sliding is supported by slight vibrations of the bottle crate 1, for example during transport. Finally, if the bottle base 34 is in the recesses 35, it is in its stable position there. In this arrangement, the compartment walls 21 also have a height that essentially corresponds to the height of the cylindrical part of the bottle 33. This has the advantage that when the bottle 33 is pivoted, which is possible in this case because the diameter of the bottle is smaller than the distance between the two compartment walls 21, neighboring bottles 33 are prevented from hitting each other. In addition, the height of the compartment walls 21 is selected so that the center of gravity of both a full and an empty bottle 33 is always above the base 34, so that the bottle 33 automatically tilts back into its stable starting position, in which it is aligned coaxially with the axis of the storage compartment 7.

In the arrangement example in Figure 3c, a bottle 37 is inserted into the storage compartment 7 with its bottle mouth 38 facing downwards. The bottle mouth 38 engages in another

Recess 39 of the support 24. Here too, the recess

39 is surrounded on both sides by guide surfaces 40, which overlap the bottle mouth laterally. This holds the bottle mouth 38 securely in the recess 39. The guide surfaces 40 are also slightly inclined in accordance with the guide surfaces 36 and 32. The recess 39 and the guide surfaces

40 therefore form a holder for the bottle mouth 38. This design also ensures that when a bottle 37 is inserted at an angle into the storage compartment 7, the bottle mouth 38 automatically slides over the guide surfaces 32, 36 and into the recess 39. Advantageously, means (not shown) are provided which prevent the bottle mouth 38 from slipping off the web 25 or 26.

In Figures 3a to 3c it can be seen that the support 24 is designed in such a way that the steps 31 and 35 and the recess 39 with the guide surfaces 36 and 40 provided between them are designed in a step-like manner, whereby the steps 31 and 35 and the recess 39 are arranged essentially flat or slightly inclined towards the middle of the compartment and each form a step. The guide surfaces 32, 36 and 40, which also have a slight inclination compared to the vertical, form the risers. Bottle crates 1 with a base 22 designed in this way can accommodate bottles 29 and 33 with two different diameters in the embodiment of the support 24 shown in the figures. However, supports are also conceivable which have a larger number of steps, so that the variety of bottle types of the adjustable bottles can be increased. In addition, the support 24 can be arranged on the floor 22 of the storage compartment instead of intersecting webs 25 and 26, which are arranged either diagonally in the storage compartment 7, or parallel to the compartment walls

7, for example by concentric rings, the upper sides of which form the shoulders 31 and 35 as well as the recess 39.

The high compartments 6 also provide the advantage that the labels of the bottles located in the compartments 7 are not damaged.

Claims (15)

Protection claims 1. Bottle crate with a compartment (6) having at least one storage compartment (7), each storage compartment (7) having a base (22) and supports engaging laterally on the bottles, which extend over a part of the bottle stored in each storage compartment (7), and the base (22) is provided with means for centrally receiving the bottle, the means being designed as a step-shaped support (24, 27 and 28) on their side facing into the interior of the storage compartment (7) and having at least two shoulders (31 and 35) receiving the bottle bases, characterized in that the bottles are held exclusively at the bottle bases by the shoulders, that the supports are designed as compartment walls which extend at least over the cylindrical part of the stored bottle and that the support (24) is provided with a central holder for receiving a bottle mouth (38) of a bottle (37) standing on the mouth and stored in the storage compartment (7). provided is. 2. Bottle crate according to claim 1, characterized in that the support (24) is designed as webs (25, 26) arranged in particular crosswise. 3. Bottle crate according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the steps (31, 32) are arranged descending from the compartment wall (21) of the adjustment compartment (7) towards the middle of the compartment. 4. Bottle crate according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sections separating the steps (31, 35) from one another have guide surfaces (32, 36 or 40) which are inclined in the direction of the base (22) and the middle of the compartment. 5. Bottle crate according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shoulders (31 or 35) are designed in the manner of a step. 6. Bottle crate according to claim 4, characterized in that the sections are designed in the manner of a riser. 7. Bottle crate according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shoulders (31 or 35) are flat or slightly inclined in the direction of the shelf and the middle of the shelf. 8. Bottle crate according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support (24) is formed from concentric rings or partial rings. 9. Bottle crate according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holder is designed as a recess (39). 10. Bottle crate according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holder is connected to the nearest shoulder (35) via inclined sections (guide surface 40). 11. Bottle crate according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the compartment walls (21) extend at least over the cylindrical part of a bottle placed therein. 12. Bottle crate according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the compartment walls (21) have an opening (23) extending to the bottom (22) in the region of their longitudinal central axis. 13. Bottle crate according to claim 12, characterized in that the opening (23) is designed in such a way that when the bottle crate (1) is lying on its side, a bottle placed in the storage compartment (7) passes at least partially through the opening (23). 14. Bottle crate according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means for centrally holding the bottles are designed as an insert that can be subsequently fastened to the base (22) of the storage compartment (7). 15. Bottle crate according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shelf (22) is closed in the center of each storage compartment (7).