FR2567731A1 - Case for storing bottles in an oblique position - Google Patents

Abstract

Case for bottles, in particular wine bottles, having a rectangular bottom and four side walls which are formed from open structures, characterised by the fact that it is equipped with support planes 13, which are known per se, so that it can be stored in a lying position, and that the side wall, which is to face downwards in such a position, is equipped with internal support members 21 for the bottles which project into the bottle compartments in the central and upper parts and which impart an oblique position to the bottles.

Description

BOX FOR OBLESSLY STORING BOTTLES
The invention relates to a bottle case, bottles of wine in particular, with rectangular bottom and four side walls which are formed of open structures.

 The production and distribution of wine bottles are currently carried out mainly manually, from bottling to delivery of the bottles to the consumer. These processes are time consuming, expensive, and increase the sale price of wine. For example, wine bottles are usually transported in relatively large crates and the crates are unloaded manually in stores and other sales locations for sale to consumers.

Consumers must pick up the bottles one by one from the shelves and transport them to their own ripening location. Sometimes the bottles of wine are also stored between the place of bottling and the place of sale.

 The main object of the invention is, therefore, to create a bottle case, in particular provided for wine bottles, which can simplify the transport of wine bottles from the place of bottling to the consumer. It is also an object of the invention to create a case which is adapted to the needs of handling, position of shopping etc. bottles of wine, and which is also suitable for the necessary transport from producer to consumer. A particular aim is to create a bottle case which allows mechanical loading of bottles.

 According to the invention this object is achieved by the fact that the body is equipped with support planes, known per se, to be arranged in a lying position and that the side wall, intended to remain face down in such a position is equipped with internal support members for the bottles which protrude into bottle compartments in the central and upper parts and which ensure an oblique position for the bottles.

 Such a box can be rationally stacked, in a manner known per se, by giving the bottles a lying position during transport and storage.

The box can be equipped with a suitable carrying handle, and it can also be provided with a cover suitable for the placement of labels.

 These provisions make it possible to store the bottles properly both at the producer and at the merchant. Such a bottle case is easy to handle and transport and can easily be adapted to the storage system of the small trader, where it gives the bottles a satisfactory exposure effect, without them being taken out of the case.

Finally, the box according to the invention is practical for storage for maturation in consumers, of the bottles arranged in a suitable position, because it is entirely suitable for being stacked.

The detailed description of the invention is given below with reference to the drawings in which
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an implementation of a box according to the invention,
FIG. 2 is a view in vertical section of the box of FIG. 1,
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the box of FIG. 1,
FIG. 4 is a side view of the handle which is used for the box of FIG. 1,
FIG. 5 is a plan view of a cover provided for the box of FIG. 1,
FIG. 6 is a side view of the cover of FIG. 5, and
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a handling pallet loaded with boxes according to FIG. 1.

 The box shown in Figure 1 has a rectangular bottom 11, two opposite gable walls 12 and two opposite side walls 13. The side walls 13 are joined in the middle by a handle 14 which is located at the upper edge of said side walls .

This will be described in detail below.

 Each gable wall 12 has a lower opening and an upper opening (respectively 15 and 16), both rectangular. These openings allow a bottle (not drawn) placed near a pinion wall 12 to be clearly visible.

 Each side wall has a similar rectangular upper and lower opening (respectively 17 and 18). The lower opening 17 of the two side walls is covered with a series of bars 19 (five bars in the example shown), which form six openings 20. The case shown by way of example is sized for six ordinary bottles stored on a single file, so that each opening 20 makes a bottle visible, more precisely at the location of the label.

 The bars 19 are usually formed integrally with the other parts of the body, in a suitable plastic material. The case of the example shown is configured for stacking in the supine position on the side and arranged with one side intended to be placed face down and the other side to be placed face up. The side of the box which is tiné to be placed face down when the box is stacked, and which is turned backwards in Figure 1, is provided with ribs 51 or similar projections, intended to cooperate in elements of corresponding construction provided on the opposite side of a box located below. These corresponding elements can be of a construction known per se and are therefore not described in more detail.

 The side wall 13 intended to be placed face down is fitted a little above the middle! see Figure 2) of a support wing 21 projecting from the side. This wing will be explained more precisely in relation to FIG. 3.

 Figure 2 shows a vertical section through the body of Figure 1, the vertical position being defined here with the opening of the body turned up. On the left, in FIG. 2, the cut is made through a central upright 22 which goes from the bottom 11 of the body to the middle of the upper edge of each side wall and which is part of the central bar 19 while the section, on the right in FIG. 2, is made through the open parts of the openings 17 and 18 of the side wall.

 The central uprights are made with a double wall and an open central area. At the upper edge of each side wall is a transverse upper upright 23 which is closed upwards and which has a double wall open downwards. In parallel there is a transverse central upright 24 in the middle of each side wall and a transverse lower upright 25 at the bottom. The support wing 21 extends over the greater part of the length of the transverse central upright 24. This transverse wing will be described in more detail below.

 At the upper edge of the body, on all sides, a recess 28 is produced for a cover, the description of which will be given below.

 To delimit bottle compartments in the box, the latter is provided with five dividing walls 26. The dividing walls 26 go to the edge of the transverse central uprights 24, which at the same time constitute the upper edge of the support wing 21. The separating walls 26 have a rounded recess 27 formed in the upper edge to facilitate the placement of the bottles, particularly for mechanized placement.

 The bottom 11 of the box is composed of a mesh formed integrally with the rest of the box. The bottom 11 can advantageously be opened, for example in the lower half when the body is placed in the supine position. This gives the bottles better exposure and gives the possibility of seeing part of the bottom of the bottles. Figure 3 is a top plan view which illustrates more precisely the support wing 21. Each bottle compartment has a curved depression 29, corresponding to the curvature of the bottles which will be placed there. The support wing 21 extends a little beyond the middle of the last bottle compartment at each end, so that an opening 30 is formed towards the neighboring pinion wall 12. The curvature of the depression 29 s' extends, in the example under consideration, over approximately 90 "from the circumference of the bottle, but this extent may be greater or less.

 The bottom of the recess 29 is at a distance "a" from the side wall 13. This distance could be for example about 1 mm. As shown in Figure 2, this arrangement will give the bottles a relatively oblique position relative to the side walls 13, the body being stored or transported in the supine position. Such a position of the bottles is indicated with broken lines in FIG. 2. On the upper edge of the side walls in the upper transverse uprights are produced four (open) slots 31 ad, intended to give space for closing parts a cover, the description of which will follow below. At each corner of the body there is a rounded hole 32 at the upper edge for technical production reasons.

 A corresponding hole 33 is located above each central upright 22.

 Figure 4 shows the handle 14 in more detail.

The handle 14 has a central gripping part 34. The gripping part 34 has the form of a plate and at each end it is equipped with a projecting tab (respectively 35 A and 35 B), which is joined to the gripping part 34 by a forestay (respectively 36 A and 36 B). The legs 35 AB are intended to be introduced into two vertical slots 37 A and 37 B respectively located inside the upper edge of each central upright 22. In the fixed position the legs 35 AB will be engaged in the open part of the uprights (see Figure 2) and below the plane of the edge of the opening of the box, the slot 37 AB being dimensioned in length so that the grip portion 34 of the handle can be pushed to a lowered position.

 So that the side walls remain together at the upper edge when the body is carried by the handle 14, a notch 38 A and 38 B respectively in the vicinity of the forestay 36 is produced on the upper edge of each leg 35 AB. A respectively 36 B.

This notch is located above a flange 39 at the upper edge of each central upright 22.

 Figures 5 and 6 show a cover 40 intended to cover the rectangular opening of a box, defined by the recess 28. The cover 40 is formed in the form of a plate, and it is rectangular on the outside, with a transverse wing 41 for each bottle compartment. Between the two central ends and the two transverse outer ends is an open space 42 and 43 respectively, while the last median space 44 is closed. In this space is further developed a transverse recess 45 over the entire width of the cover, intended to give place to a label (not drawn) which at the same time acts as a sealing strip, since it can extend to upper transverse uprights 23, in transverse recesses 46 thereof (FIG. 3). To save on the weight of the cover, there is a slot 47 at each transverse wing 41. At each end of the outer edge of the cover is an opening 48.

 Figure 7 shows how a bottle case according to the invention can be stacked on a pallet. On the upper case, the cover necessary for the bottles to remain in place when the case is stored in such a lying position has been omitted. In principle, it will be possible to manufacture wine bottle cases which will be sized for a number of bottles greater or less than that shown in the example. The bottle case according to the invention can be used for purposes other than the transport and storage of wine bottles, for example for transporting and storing bottles of mineral water, milk or spirits.

 The most important advantage of the bottle crate according to the invention is that it simplifies the handling of the bottles, since now they can be transported on a handling pallet from the place of bottling in passar.

by distribution offices to the small trader, without being reinstalled. The box is designed to allow good monitoring of the bottles, among other things so that the label is partially visible through the side walls. In addition, it is possible to equip the case with a suitable label by sealing the cover.

 The support wing 21 whose support plane for the bottles is formed by a slot 49, as shown in FIG. 2, ensures that the bottles do not slip from the box while they are stored and also ensures the guidance when the bottles are placed mechanically.

 The case according to the invention can be produced at a price so reasonable that it will be possible, economically, to use it as a shelving system for the maturation of wine among consumers.

Claims (7)

Claims  1. Bottle case, in particular for wine bottles, having a rectangular bottom and four side walls which are formed of open structures, characterized in that it is equipped with support planes (13), known per se, for be stored in a lying position and the side wall, intended to remain face down in such a position, is equipped with internal support members (21) for the bottles which protrude into the bottle compartments in central parts and higher and which give an oblique position to the bottles.  2. Box according to claim 1, characterized in that at the edge of the opening, it is equipped with a recess (28) for a cover (40) in the form of a plate, this cover being provided, on its side turned towards the body, projecting elastic tabs (50) which are intended to form a removable connection with slots (31 AD) corresponding to the upper edge of the body.  3. Box according to claim 2, characterized in that the legs consist of two feet (50) which project from the plane of the cover and which are spaced from one another.  4. Box according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the side walls (13), at the edge of the opening, are joined by a handle (14).  5. Box according to claim 4, characterized in that the handle (14) is at each end equipped with a gripping tab (35 A-B) intended to cooperate with an interior opening of the upper edge of each side wall.  6. Box according to claim 5, characterized in that the opening of the upper edge of each side wall is shaped into a slot (37 AB), so that the handle (14) can be moved from a rest position lowered to a raised carry position.  7. Box according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the support members are arranged in the form of a transverse support wing (21) projecting inwardly, and which for each compartment to bottle is provided with a curved recess (29).