GB1567775A

GB1567775A - Bottle carriers

Info

Publication number: GB1567775A
Application number: GB2275676A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: GPG International Ltd; Mead Corp
Current assignee: GPG International Ltd; Mead Corp
Priority date: 1977-08-23
Filing date: 1977-08-23
Publication date: 1980-05-21

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO BOTTLE CARRIERS (71) GPG INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, a British company of Cranford, Blackdown, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England, and THE MEAD CORPORATION, a corporation organised and existing under the laws of the State of Ohio, United States of America, (formerly of Talbott Tower, Dayton, State of Ohio, United States of America) now of Mead World Headquarters, Courthouse Plaza Northeast, Dayton, Ohio 45463, U.S.A., do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to bottle crates, bottle carrier cartons and combinations of such crates and cartons.More particularly, the invention is concerned with the structure of a bottle crate which is suitable for the storage and carriage of bottles which are pre-packed in carrier cartons and may con veniently be used for the storage and carriage of such bottles when free of the cartons.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a bottle crate comprising a base; opposed and substan tially parallel longitudinally extending side walls; opposed and substantially parallel laterally extending end walls, said side and end walls extending upwardly from the base, and a spaced array of bottle separators extending upwardly from the base, the bottle separators being located in rows which ex tend parallel to the side walls and are spaced therefrom; the bottle separators in each row having an arrangement whereby a substantially cylindrically bodied bottle can be located and retained between each adjacent longitudinally opposed pair of separ ators in that row or between an end wall and a separator of that row which is adja cent to said end wall so that when bottles are located in the crate they form laterally spaced longitudinally extending rows of which adjacent bottles in each row are inter-spaced by a bottle separator, and wherein the maximum lateral width of each separator in a row is not greater than the maximum diameter of substantially cylindrically bodied bottles which are capable of being received and retained between the separators of that row so that the separators in each row do not extend laterally outwardly beyond the lateral extent of bottles which are retained in that row.

The crate of the present invention was particularly developed for use in the carriage and storage of bottles pre-packed in carrier cartons whereby one or more longitudinal rows of bottles are provided as a package in an envelope comprising a bottom panel on which the bottles stand in spaced array and opposed longitudinally extending side panels which extend upwardly from the bottom panel to retain the bottles; such combinations of carrier carton and bottles will hereinafter be referred to as bottle carton packages, the forms of both the carrier cartons and the resultant packages constituting important aspect of this invention.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention therefore, there is provided, for use with a crate as specified in the immediately preceding paragraph, one or more bottle carton packages; the or each of which comprises a plurality of bottles pre-packed in a carrier carton in one or more longitudinal rows, the carrier carton comprising a tube or envelope having a bottom panel on which the bottles stand in spaced array and opposed longitudinally extending side panels which extend upwardly from the bottom panel to retain the bottles; each package being provided in its bottom panel with one or more openings each of which openings is located beneath the region where two adjacent bottles in a longitudinal row in the carton are spaced; and each package being locatable within the crate with bottle separators received through the openings in the bottom panel to maintain separation of the bottles in the or each longitudinal row thereof in the package and with the side panels of the package extending downwardly in the space c'rnied between two adjacent longitudinally extending rows of separators or between a side wafl of the crate and the longitudinally extending row of separators adjacent thereto.

a a further alternative aspect of this in- invention, we provide a blank for a wraparound carrier carton adapted to package a plurality of bottles in predetermined positions and in a single longitudinal row, the blank having a plurality of panels separated by fold lines parallel to the longitudinal direction of said row, and the blank comprising: a top wall forming panel; respective side wall forming panels foldably joined to the top wall forming panel along respective side edges thereof; and respective lap panels connected to the side wall forming panels at their edges remote from the top wall forming panel, the lap panels being arranged for connection together in overlapping relation to form a composite bottom wall, and wherein the lap panels are cut and/or apertured directly between predetermined bottle positions in the said row, without providing any substantial weakness to the side wall forming panels and to allow upward entry through said composite bottom wall of respective spacer means of a cooperating bottle carrier crate adapted to maintain a separation between the bottles of the said longitudinal row in their predetermined positions.

In a yet further aspect of this invention, we provide a blank for a wrap-around carrier carton adapted to package bottles in a plurality of parallel longitudinal rows, the blank comprising a plurality of panels separated by fold lines parallel to the longitudinal directions of said rows and including: a top wall forming panel; respective side wall forming panels foldably joined to side edges of said top wall panel; and respective lap panels connected to the side wall forming panel; the lap panels being arranged for connection together to form a composite bottom wall, and wherein the lap panels are cut and/or apertured in the space in each longitudinal row directly between respective predetermined bottle positions without providing any substantial weakness to the side wall forming panels and to allow upward entry through said composite bottom wall of respective spacer means of a cooperating bottle carrier crate adapted to maintain a separation in each longitudinal row of the respective bottles in their predetermined positions.

Although the crate can be used to advantage for the carriage of bottle carton packages, it may also be used for the carriage of bottles which are free of the cartons.

This is particularly convenient in circumstances where the bottles are initially sold in their packages and eventually returned empty by customers, the same crate may then be used for the storage and carriage ofsuch empty bottles for re-filling and packaging as the crate in which the bottle carton packages were provided. To ensure that the bottle separators firmly retain the bottles against lateral displacement in the crate (especially when such bottles are free of carton packaging) it is preferred that the bottle separators are profiled in plan to partially enclose the bottles which they separate. With this in mind the bottle separators may engage with their respective bottles at circumferentially spaced positions on, or partially around the circumference of, such bottles.For example, a bottle separator may be of concave arcuate form in plan to receive a bottle in substantially complementary relationship or may be provided with laterally extending portions which straddle the cylindrical body of the bottle.

Usually the array of bottle separators, as viewed in plan, will be of symmetrical form about laterally and longitudinally extending centre lines. This symmetrical form will likely facilitate the design of the carton for a bottle package, especially the openings in the bottom panel thereof, to provide a convenient arrangement whereby the bottle carton package may be loaded into the crate with its longitudinal row or rows of bottles aligned with the longitudinal row or rows of bottle spacers and with the bottle carton package in either one orientation or rotated in a horizontal plane through 1800 from that orientation.For convenience of manufacture, particularly by injection moulding in plastics material, it is preferred that each bottle separator is formed as a single unit which is comrnon to both bottles which it separates rather than, say, as two individual and adjacent upstanding portions of which one portion is used to locate and restrain lateral displacement of one bottle and the other portion the adjacent bottle.

By arranging for the bottle separators to have a maximum lateral width which is not greater than, and is preferably less than, the diameter of bottles which are intended to be carried by the crate, it is possible for the bottle separators to be received through the openings in the bottom panel of the carton without such openings extending laterally into the side panels of the carton.

This is particularly advantageous in that the side panels are not unnecessarily weakened by the provision of the openings in the bottom panel. Furthermore, the arrangement of the bottle separators in longitudinally extending rows should facilitate automatic loading of the crate with bottle carton packages whereby such packages may be longitudinally orientated together with the crate and moved longitudinally and down wardly into the crate by conventional pack- aging machinery.

!preferably an of the bottle separators are located in the rows which extend parallel to the side walls. if required however, the can caa be provided with a second spaced array af discrete bottle separators disposed ifi rows which extend parallel to the end tTl5 of the crate and are spaced therefrom.The bottle separators in this second Umy aft located to fonn, in effect, with 'the bottle separators of the first array and ih the side and end walls of the crate, Catartments which are of generally rect er form in plan with spaces at their deceive corners; within each of these compartments a bottle may be located and re End. A bottle carton package may con * plurality of bottles in a single longitudinal row or in two or more parallel rows (which are conveniently referred to as Sltirosv bottle packages).If the crate is prided with the second array of bottle spacers as aforementioned then the cartons df mblti-row bottle packages will be pro vided with secondary openings in their bottom panels.The secondary openings will ead be appropriately positioned beneath the region where two adjacent bottles are 1laterally spaced so that separators in the secondary openings to maintain lateral separation of the packaged bottles whilst lEe separators in the first array are simul taneously received through the openings 'with which they are associated in the bottom tans to maintain longitudinal separation of epackaged bottles.

-'f the crate is primarily intended for use with bottle carton packages each of which has a single longitudinal row of bottles, then the crate may be provided with one or more continuous partition walls the or each of which extends upwardly from the base and between the opposed end walls parallel to the side walls. The or each partition wall will be located between and spaced from two adjacent rows of bottle separators so that a single longitudinal row bottle package can be received in the crate between two adjacent partition walls or between a side wall and the adjacent partition wall. The par tition wall or walls thus provided may serve to restrain unpackaged bottles from lateral displacement in the crate.

Embodiments of a bottle crate, a bottle carton package and a carton suitable for use in the construction of such package, t'rn now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of the crate; Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the crate in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a lateral section of the crate in Figure 1, Figure 4 is a perspective view of a simple form of bottle carton package suitable for use with the crate of Figures 1 to 3; Figure 5 shows the central portion and one end of a preferred embodiment of blank for forming an embodiment of wrap-around carrier carton in accordance with this invention; Figure 6 shows the central portion and the other end of the same blank;; Figure 7 is a simplified bottom plan view of a bottle carton package formed from the blank of Figures 5 and 6; Figures 8 and 9 illustrate how the end portions of the blank of Figures 5 and 6 may be adapted for packaging of bottles in two longitudinal rows; and Figures t0 and 11 are views generally similar to those in Figures 5 and 6 of a further embodiment of blank for a carton which may be used with the crate of Figures I to 3.

The bottle crate, conveniently manufactured by injection moulding in thermoplastics material, is of generally oblong rectangular parallelepipedon form comprising a base 1, opposed and parallel longitudinally extending side walls 2 and 3 and opposed and parallel laterally extending end walls 4 and 5. The side and end walls extend upwardly from the base to define an open top to the crate. Also extending upwardly from the base l is a spaced array of twenty discrete bottle separators 6. These separators are located symmetrically in four straight rows 7 which extend parallel to the side walls 2 and 3 and are spaced therefrom.

The separators 6 are arranged in the rows 7 so that a bottle 8 can be located and retained between each adjacent pair of separators 6 in one of the rows 7 or between an end wall 4 or 5 and a separator 6 adjacent to that end wall. Furthermore, the maximum lateral width x (see Figure 3) of each separator 6 is less than the maximum diameter y of the bottles 8 which are intended to be received and retained by the separators. By this arrangement it will be seen from Figure 1 that if the crate is loaded with twentyfour bottles such bottles will form four laterally spaced longitudinally extending rows of which adjacent bottles in each row are interspaced by a bottle separator 6 and that none of the separators in a row thereof will extend laterally outwardly beyond the lateral extent of the bottles 8 which are retained in that row.

In addition to ensuring that the bottles in each row are maintained in their longitudinally spaced relationship (which alleviates the possipility of bottle breakage during transport of the crate) the separators 6 serve to restrain the bottles against displacement laterally in the crate from their respective rows. For this latter purpose each separator 6 is of generally "H"-section in plan as shown in Figure 1 comprising a centre plate 9 which extends parallel to the end walls 4 and 5 and wing portions 10 which are inclined, say at 45 , to the centre plate 9.

Each pair of wing portions 10 on the same side of the centre plate 9 diverge outwardly from each other and thus form a channel which extends upwardly from the base 1 and provide a seat within which cylindrically bodied bottle 8 is received. Consequently a bottle when located between two adjacent separators in a row thereof is partially enclosed circumferentially by those separators and is restrained thereby from lateral displacement. Conveniently, but not necessarily, each "H"-sectioned bottle separator 6 is symmetrically formed about centre lines thereof which extend parallel to the side and end walls.To provide additional restraint against lateral displacement of bottles which are located between a separator 6 and an end wall 4 or 5, such an end wall may be provided with internal upwardly extending bottle locating channels or flanges 11 (as indicated on the end wall 4 in Figure 1) which may be of similar form and size to the adjacent portion of the bottle separators which they oppose and with which they are in longitudinal alignment.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that in the absence of bottles, the diameter of such bottles which are intended to be received and retained by the bottle separators 6 may be determined, within practical tolerances, from the size and configuration of the opposed separators in each row for example in the construction shown in Figure 1 it is envisaged that the maximum diameter of each bottle would be slightly less than the longitudinal distance between the opposed faces of an adjacent pair of centre plates 9 in a row of separators (this is shown somewhat clearer in Figure 7 to be described hereinafter).

The bottle crate as above described with reference to the drawings is particularly intended for the carriage and storage of bottle carton packages such as that shown at 12 in Figure 4 which houses three cylindrically bodied bottles 8a in a single straight longitudinal row. The carton of the package 12 is of the "wrap-around" type comprising a bottom panel 13 on which the bottles 8a stand in spaced array and two opposed longitudinally extending side panels 14 which extend upwardly over the bottles 8a and engage around their necks to retain the bottles in the pack. Located in the bottom panel 13 beneath the region where two adjacent bottles 8a are spaced are two apertures 15.Each aperture 15 has a general outline in plan corresponding to that of a bottle separator 6 and extends over -a substantial part-width of the bottom panel but not into the side panels 14.

The bottle carton packages 12 are located in the crate as shown in Figures 1 to 3 by lowering each package over a row of bottle separators 6 so that two such separators are received one in each of the apertures 15 between the bottles 8a and until the bottom panel 12 rests on the crate base 1. In this way eight packages 12 may be stored and carried in the crate. If required the bottom panel 13 can be rebated on each of its ends (as shown at 13a in Figure 4) to accommodate the portion of the bottle separator 6 which may be at that end or to accommodate the channel or flanges 11 on the end walls of the crate.

It will be apparent that the crate as shown in Figure 1 may be used for the storage of multi-flow bottle packages whereby, say, each package may contain six bottles in two parallel rows of three bottles per row with apertures in the bottom panel of the carton appropriately positioned to receive the necessary four bottle separators 6. To facilitate location of the bottle carton packages on the bottle separators it will be noted from Figures 2 and 3 that the separators taper inwardly as they recede from the base 1.

The crate described herein is particularly advantageously used in conjunction with the particular form of bottle carrier carton illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.

As will be apparent, the embodiment of wrap-around carrier carton there illustrated for packaging a plurality of bottles in predetermined positions and in a single longitudinal row comprises a plurality of panels separated by fold lines parallel to the longitudinal direction of said row. The carton includes: a top wall panel 100; respective side wall forming panels 101 and 102 foldably joined to the top wall panel 100 along respective side edges 103 and 104 thereof; and respective lap panels 105 and 106 connected to the side wall forming panels 101 and 102 at their edges remote from the top wall panel 100, the lap panels 105 and 106 being adapted to be interconnected in overlapping relation to form a composite bottom wall, the lap panels 105 and 106 being cut determined bottle positions in the said row thereby to allow upward entry through said composite bottom wall of respective spacer means of a co-operating bottle carrier crate adapted to maintain a separation between the bottles of the said longitudinal row in their predetermined positions without providing any substantial weakness to the said side wall forming panels.

The packaging of primary bottles in the secondary wrap-around carrier carton is conveniently performed by high speed machinery, the primary bottles being carried in groups along a conveyor through the machine. The carrier cartons are preferably mounted as flat blanks in a hopper from which individual carton blanks are removed in timed sequence for application to respective groups of bottles.

The substantially rectangular carton blank illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 is intended for the packaging of three aligned bottles.

The top wall panel 100 thereof is provided with three bottle-neck locating apertures 109 provided with side slits 110 extending into the side wall forming panels 101 and 102 to aid in location of the flat carton blank over the tops of a group of three bottles as it is removed from the hopper.

The group of three bottles with the carton blank sitting there atop then proceeds through the machinery in which the packaging operation is completed. Machine elemeats first fold the side wall panels downwardly and alongside the group of bottles.

Thereafter the lap panels are folded around and generally underneath the bottle group.

As will be appreciated the side wall forming panel 101 is connected to its respective lap panel 105 via an auxiliary side wall panel 112 which is foldably joined to side wall forming panel 101 along fold line 121 and to lap panel 105 along fold line 107 and has three openings 113 positioned to receive the lower rims of the respective bottles as the lap panels are tightened beneath the bottle group in the manner explained below.The auxiliary side wall panel 112 folds along the line 121 relative to the side wall panel 101 so that the outwardly directed portions of e bottle rim extend through the bottle rim openings 113, the portions of auxiliary side wall panel 112 inbetween the openings 113 being at least partially drawn between the bottles to aid in maintaining them in position in the cartons. If desired, the other side wall forming panel 102 could be connected similarly to its lap panel 106 via an auxiliary panel but we find that it is sufficient in this embodiment for the one side wall forming panel 101 to be connected in this manner, and for side wall forming panel 102 to be foldably joined to lap panel 106 along fold line 108.

The lap panel 105 is provided with apertures 114 whereas lap panel 106 is provided with apertures 115. As the lap panels 105 and 106 are folded beneath the bottle group as it travels along the conveyor, respective machine elements are arranged to enter the apertures 114 and 115 respectively of the lap panels to draw or tighten the lap panels together. Free edge 116 of lap panel 106 is provided with recesses 117 to accommodate the machine elements associated with the tightening apertures 114 so that the two lap panels can be overlapped to the extent that respective locking tabs 118 provided along free edge 119 of lap panel 103 can be pushed through corresponding positioning slots defined by the edge of respective retaining tabs 120 struck from the material of lap panel 106.Slight relaxation of the lap panels following withdrawal of the machine elements associated with tightening apertures 114, 115 locks the tabs 118 in position behind lap panel 106, and the retaining tabs 120 respectively aid in maintaining the locking tabs in locked position. Further description of the use of locking tabs and retaining tabs of this general kind in the formation of composite bottom walls for wrap-around carrier cartons may be found for example in British Patent Specifications published since the date of that Specification. However, it is believed that cartons have not been proposed heretofore in which all the locking tabs are angled as are the locking tabs 118 of the carrier carton described and illustrated herein.The more usual procedure is to employ locking tabs which effectively extend longitudinally of the blank being separated from the remainder of their associated lap panel by a fold line which is parallel to the main fold lines separating the wall panels of the carton. We regard the particular positions and angles chosen for the locking tabs 118 in this embodiment to form an important subsidiary feature thereof since the chosen angles and positions retain sufficient strength for the composite carton bottom whilst maintaining the interconnection between the two lap panels despite the substantial apertures necessarily provided in the carton bottom for it to perform its functions in co-operation with an appropriate crate.

As will be clear from Figure 5 lap panel 105 includes a pair of similar but oppositely oriented openings 123, the particular shape of which is chosen for a purpose explained in later detail below. It will be noted that opposite sides of the openings 123 are generally arcuately shaped at 124 and 125, the arcs being of similar radius, with arc 124 of greater extent than arc 125. At one end thereof, the arcs 124 and 125 are connected by a straight line 126, the angle between the line 126 and the respective arcs being rounded off to avoid a point of weakness in the carton. The connection between the ends of the arcs at their other end is modified in view of the proximity of the fold line 107, again in order to avoid a point of weakness in the carton.

Since lap panel 106 overlaps the greater part of lap panel 105 in the composite bottom wall, it too must be appropriately cut and/or apertured in order that the openings 123, which serve for entry of bottle separators of a bottle crate (as will be explained in greater detail below with particular reference to Figure 7), shall not be obscured. To this end the lap panel 106 has onenings 127 (see Figure 6) each corresponding in shape to a part of an opening 123. It will be noted that each of the openings 127 includes an arcuate edge 128 corresponding to the large arcuate edge 124 of opening 123, which edge 128 is continued in a substantially complete cut along line 129.

Correspondingly, opening 127 includes a line 130 which corresponds to a part of the smaller arc 125 of opening 123, and which edge 130 is continued, somewhat less continuously than is the edge 128, in a cut line 131 into the remainder of the material of lap panel 106. The portion 132 between the two lines 129 and 131 associated with the respective openings 127 forming in effect a flap which folds upwardly along line 131 as respective bottle separators of a bottle crate make upward entry through the openings 123/127 of the composite bottom wall of the carton.

Figure 7 is a schematic view of the composite bottom wall of the carton with the positions of respective bottles 133 and respective upstanding bottle separators 134 of a co-operating crate superimposed. The various tightened apertures have been omitted from Figure 7 for clarity, but the positions of the locking tabs 118 are illustrated. It will be particularly noted that each locking tab is positioned and angled so that it defines a radius of a respective bottle.

It will also be noted that the openings 123 of the composite bottom wall are positioned in the space directly between the bottle positions and thereby allow upward entry through the composite bottom wall of the respective bottle separators 134. Since the openings 123 to not extend into the side wall forming panels, the entry of the bottle separators can be effected without providing any substantial weakness to the side wall forming panels. Equally, when the package comprising the carton and packaged bottle group is removed from the crate at the point of use, it still retains adequate integrity for transport and store by the end user.

Figure 7 also illustrates a modification to the carton shown in Figures 5 and 6 in that at the extreme ends of the carton, additional indents 135 similar in shape to the shorter arcuate edges 125 of the openings 123 are provided. This enables the 3-pack illustrated to be used in a crate space suitable for accommodating a package including more than three bottles. Parts of the next adjacent bottle separators 134 are also illustrated in Figure 7.

It will be noted that the shapes of the openings 123 nearly correspond to the preferred profile chosen for the separators 134.

The described and illustrated crate may be used to accommodate bottles in a plurality of parallel longitudinal rows; and, in this case, the wrap-around carrier carton will preferably comprise a plurality of panels separated by fold lines parallel to the longitudinal directions of said rows, and including: a top wall panel; respective side wall forming panels foldably joined to side edges of said top wall panel; and respective lap panels connected to the side wall forming panels at their edges remote from the top wall panel; the lap panels being adapted to be interconnected to form a composite bottom wall, and the lap panels being cut and/or apertured in the space in each longitudinal row directly between respective predetermined bottle positions, thereby to allow upward entry through said composite bottom wall of respective spacer means of a co-operating bottle carrier crate adapted to maintain a separation in each longitudinal row of the respective bottles in their predetermined positions without providing any substantial weakness to the side wall forming panels.

The specifically illustrated carrier carton may be suitably adapted for accommodation of say two rows of three bottles by increasing the width of the top wall panel 100 and providing it with a second similar longitudinal row of bottle-neck locating apertures 109. The side wall forming panels may be identical to those illustrated, but the lap panels require modification. Figure 8 of the accompanying drawings illustrates a suitable modification for the lap panel 106 and Fig.

9 shows a suitable modification for the lap panel 105 in a 6-pack. It will be noted that lap panel 106 has been widened by the provision of a further set of openings 127 with associated flaps 132. The free end edge of lap panel 105 is provided with an additional panel 122 connected thereto along a fold line 136 parallel to the remaining main fold lines of the carton. The resultant keel panel 122 is adapted to extend upwardly between the two longitudinal rows of bottles to provide a degree of separation and lap panel 106 is provided with a small flap 137 adapted to act as a keel panel retainer flap when folded out of the plane of lap panel 106.

Those skilled in this art will readily appreciate how cartons of the kind described hereinabove may readily be provided for packaging one or more longitudinal rows of bottles in which the number of bottles in a row is 2, 4 or more, and it is deemed unnecessary to explain in detail herein what variations require to be made in the cartons described with reference to Figures 5 to 9 to achieve this end.

Figures 10 and 11 are views generally similar to Figures 5 and 6 of a further embodiment of carton which may be used with the crate of Figures 1 to 3. It will be seen that while the carton of Figures 10 and 11 is generally similar to that of Figures 5 and 6, it differs therefrom in several respects. For example, it employs a different form of interlock, having male locking elements 138 extending outwardly beyond the edge 139 of the remainder of lap panel 140, which male locking elements are adapted to co-operate with female locking elements 141 formed at intervals along a score line 142 in the other lap panel 143. The male and female locking elements 138, 141 are of the type shown in British Patent Specification 1,210, 383.

The blank of Figures 10 and 11 has an auxiliary side wall panel 144 connectng each side wall forming panel 154 to its respective lap panel.

One of the side wall forming panels in the illustrated arrangement is provided with two openings 146, each provided with a pair of hinged doors 147 adapted to close it. As will be clear from the drawing, the openings 146 are provided in between each pair of adjacent bottle locations. The openings are adapted for the insertion therethrough, and subsequent retraction, of plunger elements of a packaging machine either for the purpose of locating the bottles relative to the carton is formed about a bottle group or for the purpose of loading a completed bottle carton package into a crate.

To assist in the direction of the bottle carton packages into the crate, the edges 148 of the carton blank are contoured as shown. This enables the carton edges 148 to slide into proper location between reinforcing ribs provided on the interior walls of the crate.

The carton of Figures 10 and 11 further includes so-called "hold-down" tabs 149.

These tabs are adapted to hold the carton in position as it travels through a packaging machine prior to the carton being tightened about the bottle group and the two lap panels interlocked.

It will further be seen in Figures 10 and 11 that each lap panel only includes a portion of the means providing each opening for the respective bottle separators. The general overall configuration of the opening in the composite bottom wall resulting from interlocking the two low panels is generally similar to the overall configuration of the similar openings in the previously described embodiments. That is, it has arcuate edges 151. However, as will be seen from the drawing, each opening is only partly formed, that is: in the space between the arcuate openings in the blank material is still present.

As will also be apparent from the drawings, one of the arcuate lines bounding this material is of greater extent on one side than the other When the bottle separators are brought into position for insertion through the opening, the small portions of connecting material at the ends of the longer arc are broken and the portion of the material bends about the other arcuate line out of the plane of the remainder of the respective lap panel.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A bottle crate comprising a base; opposed and substantially parallel longitudinally extending side walls; opposed and substantially parallel laterally extending end walls, said side and end walls extending upwardly from the base, and a spaced array of bottle separators extending upwardly from the base, the bottle separators being located in rows which extend parallel to the side walls and are spaced therefrom; the bottle separators in each row having an arrangement whereby a substantially cylndrically bodied bottle can be located and retained between each adjacent longitudinally opposed pair of separators in that row or between an end wall and a separator of that row which is adjacent to said end wall so that when bottles are located in the crate they form laterally spaced longitudinally extending rows of which adjacent bottles in each row are inter-spaced by a bottle separator, and wherein the maximum lateral width of each separator, and wherein the maximum lateral width of each separator in a row is not greater than the maximum diameter of substantially cylindrically bodied bottles which are capable of being received and retained between the separators of that row so that the separators in each row do not extend laterally outwardly beyond the lateral extent of the bottles which are retained in that row.

2. A bottle crate as claimed in- claim 1 in which the bottle separators are profiled in plan for partially enclosing the bottles which they separate to retain such bottles against lateral displacement.

3. A bottle crate as claimed in claim 2 in which the bottle separators are profiled in plan for engagement with their respective bottles at circumferentially spaced positions on, or partially around the circumference of, such bottles.

4. A bottle crate as claimed in claim 3 in which the bottle separators have laterally extending portions which straddle the cylindrical bodies of the bottles with which they respectively engage at circumferentially spaced positions.

5. A bottle crate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the array of bottle separators, as viewed in plan, are substantially symmetrical about laterally and longitudinally extending centre lines of the crate.

6. A bottle crate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which each bottle

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. seen that while the carton of Figures 10 and 11 is generally similar to that of Figures 5 and 6, it differs therefrom in several respects. For example, it employs a different form of interlock, having male locking elements 138 extending outwardly beyond the edge 139 of the remainder of lap panel 140, which male locking elements are adapted to co-operate with female locking elements 141 formed at intervals along a score line 142 in the other lap panel 143. The male and female locking elements 138, 141 are of the type shown in British Patent Specification 1,210, 383. The blank of Figures 10 and 11 has an auxiliary side wall panel 144 connectng each side wall forming panel 154 to its respective lap panel. One of the side wall forming panels in the illustrated arrangement is provided with two openings 146, each provided with a pair of hinged doors 147 adapted to close it. As will be clear from the drawing, the openings 146 are provided in between each pair of adjacent bottle locations. The openings are adapted for the insertion therethrough, and subsequent retraction, of plunger elements of a packaging machine either for the purpose of locating the bottles relative to the carton is formed about a bottle group or for the purpose of loading a completed bottle carton package into a crate. To assist in the direction of the bottle carton packages into the crate, the edges 148 of the carton blank are contoured as shown. This enables the carton edges 148 to slide into proper location between reinforcing ribs provided on the interior walls of the crate. The carton of Figures 10 and 11 further includes so-called "hold-down" tabs 149. These tabs are adapted to hold the carton in position as it travels through a packaging machine prior to the carton being tightened about the bottle group and the two lap panels interlocked. It will further be seen in Figures 10 and 11 that each lap panel only includes a portion of the means providing each opening for the respective bottle separators. The general overall configuration of the opening in the composite bottom wall resulting from interlocking the two low panels is generally similar to the overall configuration of the similar openings in the previously described embodiments. That is, it has arcuate edges 151. However, as will be seen from the drawing, each opening is only partly formed, that is: in the space between the arcuate openings in the blank material is still present. As will also be apparent from the drawings, one of the arcuate lines bounding this material is of greater extent on one side than the other When the bottle separators are brought into position for insertion through the opening, the small portions of connecting material at the ends of the longer arc are broken and the portion of the material bends about the other arcuate line out of the plane of the remainder of the respective lap panel. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A bottle crate comprising a base; opposed and substantially parallel longitudinally extending side walls; opposed and substantially parallel laterally extending end walls, said side and end walls extending upwardly from the base, and a spaced array of bottle separators extending upwardly from the base, the bottle separators being located in rows which extend parallel to the side walls and are spaced therefrom; the bottle separators in each row having an arrangement whereby a substantially cylndrically bodied bottle can be located and retained between each adjacent longitudinally opposed pair of separators in that row or between an end wall and a separator of that row which is adjacent to said end wall so that when bottles are located in the crate they form laterally spaced longitudinally extending rows of which adjacent bottles in each row are inter-spaced by a bottle separator, and wherein the maximum lateral width of each separator, and wherein the maximum lateral width of each separator in a row is not greater than the maximum diameter of substantially cylindrically bodied bottles which are capable of being received and retained between the separators of that row so that the separators in each row do not extend laterally outwardly beyond the lateral extent of the bottles which are retained in that row.

separator is formed as a single unit which is common to both bottles which it separates.

7. A bottle crate as claimed in claim 6 when appendant to claim 4 in which each single unit bottle separator is of substantially "H" section in plane view and comprises a centre plate which extends parallel to the end walls and wing portions which extend from and are inclined relative to the centre plate to form a pair of channels therewith, said channels extending upwardly from the base on each side of the separator to provide seats within which the bottles are received.

8. A bottle crate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the bottle separators taper inwardly as they recede from the base.

9. A bottle crate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the end walls are provided with internal upwardly extending bottle locating channels or flanges which oppose the bottle separators which are adjacent to the said end walls and provide additional restraint against lateral displacement of bottles located between the end walls and the bottle separators adjacent thereto.

10. A bottle crate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which all of the bottle separators are located in the rows which extend parallel to the side walls.

11. A bottle crate as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 and having a second spaced array of discrete bottle separators disposed in rows which extend parallel to the end walls of the crate and are spaced therefrom; the bottle separators in the second array being located to form, in effect, with the bottle separators of the first array and with the side and end walls of the crate, compartments which are of generally rectangular form in plan, have spaces at their effective corners and are each intended to receive a bottle.

12. A bottle crate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and having at least one continuous partition wall which extends upwardly from the base and between the opposed end walls parallel to the side walls; the or each said partition wall being located between and spaced from two adjacent rows of bottle separators so that a single longitudinal row bottle package can be received in the crate between two adjacent partition wall adjacent thereto.

13. A bottle crate substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying illustrative drawings.

14. For use with a crate according to any one of the preceding claims, one or more bottle carton packages; the or each of which comprises a plurality of bottles pre-packed in a carrier carton in one or more longitudinal rows, the carrier carton comprising a tube or envelope having a bottom panel on which the bottles stand in spaced array and opposed longitudinally extending side panels which extend upwardly from the bottom panel to retain the bottles; each package being provided in its bottom panel with one or more openings each of which openings is located beneath the region where two adjacent bottles in a longitudinal row in the carton are spaced; and each package being locatable within the crate with bottle separators received through the openings in the bottom panel to maintain separation of the bottles in the or each longitudinal row thereof in the package and with the side panels of the package extending downwardly in the spaced formed between two adjacent longitudinally extending rows of separators or between a side wall of the crate and the longitudinally extending row of separators adjacent thereto.

15. A blank for a wrap-around carrier carton adapted to package a plurality of bottles in predetermined positions and in a single longitudinal row, the blank having a plurality of panels separated by fold lines parallel to the longitudinal direction of said row, and the blank comprising: a top wall forming panel; respective side wall forming panels foldably joined to the top wall forming panel along respective side edges thereof; and respective lap panels connected to the side wall forming panels at their edges remote from the top wall forming panel, the lap panels being arranged for connection together in overlapping relation to form a composite bottom wall, and wherein the lap panels are cut and/or apertured directly between predetermined bottle positions in the said row without providing any substantial weakness to the side wall forming panels and to allow upward entry through said composite bottom wall of respective spacer means of a co-operating bottle carrier crate adapted to maintain a separation between the bottles of the said longitudinal row in their predetermined positions.

16. A blank for a wrap-around carrier carton adapted to package bottles in a plurality of parallel longitudinal rows, the blank comprising a plurality of panels separated by fold lines parallel to the longitudinaf directions of said rows and including: a top wall forming panel; respective side wall forming panels foldably joined to side edges of said top wall forming panel; and respective lap panels connected to the side wall forming panels at their edges remote from the top wall forming panel; the lap panels being arranged for connection together to form a composite bottom wall, and wherein the lap panels are cut and/or apertured in the space in each longitudinal row directly between respective predetermined bottle positions without providing any substantial weakness to the side wall forming panels and to allow upward entry through said composite bottom wall of respective spacer means of a co-operating bottle carrier crate adapted to maintain a separation in each longitudinal row of the respective bottles in their predetermined positions.

17. A blank according to claim 15 or claim 16, wherein the composite bottom wall which the lap panels are arranged to form by being connected together has a substantial region of overlap between the lap panels extending over the greater part of the bottom wall.

18. A blank according to any one of claims 15, 16 or 17, wherein said lap panels are adapted to be interlocked, one lap panel being provided with a plurality of male locking elements and the other lap panel being provided with a corresponding plurality of co-operating female locking elements.

19. A blank according to any of claims 15, 16 or 17, wherein one said lap panel is provided with a plurality of locking tabs and the other said lap panel is provided with means defining a plurality of locking apertures, whereby the lap panels are adapted to be connected together by driving respective locking tabs through corresponding locking apertures.

20. A blank according to claim 19 wherein the locking tabs are partly struck from but foldably joined to the remainder of the material of said one lap panel, and wherein each locking aperture is defined by the space in the plane of the said other lap panel occupied by a retainer tab partly struck from but foldably joined to the remainder of the material of said blank, so that driving of each locking tab through the corresponding locking aperture is effective to displace the corresponding retainer tab out of the plane of the said other lap panel to a position in which it serves to resist withdrawal of the locking tab.

21. A blank according to claim 20 where in the fold lines separating the respective locking tabs from the remainder of the material of said one lap panel each make an acute angle with the said parallel fold lines.

22. A blank according to claim 21, wherein each locking tab extends from its fold line generally outwardly along a radius from an adjacent bottle centre location.

23. A blank according to any one of claims 15 to 22, wherein the top wall forming panel is provided with a respective bottleneck locating aperture for each of the plurality of bottles; and wherein one or both of the side wall forming panel is connected to its respective lap panel via an auxiliary side wall panel which is foldably joined to and is disposed between the lap panel, and the respective side wall forming panel, the or both auxiliary side wall panel being provided with a respective bottle rim locating opening for each of the plurality of bottles.

24. A blank according to any one of claims 15 to 23, wherein the cuts and or apertures in the lap panels, which allow for upward entry of respective spacer means of a co-operating bottle carrier crate through the composite bottom wall, have a configuration which includes arcuate lines or edges arranged to run generally concentrically adjacent the arcuate edges of the respective bottles.

25. A blank according to any one of claims 15 to 24 wherein there is provided intermediate each bottle location in one or both side wall forming panels an opening together with one or more doors adapted to close it which opening is adapted for insertion and retraction of a machine element of a bottle packaging machine for correct location and spacing of the respective bottles prior to tightening of a carton blank about the plurality of bottles and connection of the lap panels together.

26. For a wrap-around carrier carton for bottles, a blank substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 5 to 11 of the accompanying drawings.

27. A bottle carton package comprising a plurality of bottles packaged in a wraparound carrier carton formed from a blank according to any one of claims 15 to 26.

28. A bottle carton package according to claim 14, wherein each of said one or more openings has a configuration which includes arcuate edges adjacent to and generally concentric with the arcuate edges of the bottoms of the respective bottles.

29. A bottle carton package according to claims 14 or 28 wherein one or both side panels of the carrier carton has an opening between each pair of bottles in the adjacent longitudinal row, the or each said opening provided with one or more doors for closing the same and being adapted for insertion and retraction of a machine element of a packaging machine.

30. A bottle carton package substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

31. A bottle crate as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13 in combination with one or more bottle carton packages as claimed in claim 14 or in any one of claims 27 to 30.