GB2220193A - Bottle crate - Google Patents

Description

BOTTLE CRATE 2n20193 i A bottle crate presently known to the applicant is

moulded in a synthetic plastics material. It has a plurality of compartments in which bottles can be held in a spaced relationsip separate from each other. This crate is durable, it functions well, but for certain applications it is expensive.

It is an object of the invention to provide a bottle crate which is efficient but which is less expensive than the bot tle crate presently known to the applicant.

According to the invention there is provided a bottle crate which is of a composite construction including a core of a symthetic plastics material having a plurality of compartments in which bottles can be held in a spaced relationship separate from each other, and a sleeve in which the core is receivable.

The sleeve may be of a fibrous material such as cardboard, and the fibres may be of synthetic plastizs material. Alternatively, the sleeve may be of a sheet material which may be of a synthetic plastics material.

When the sleeve is of cardboard the cardboard may be in sheet form and may include a corrugated component. In this form the edges of the cardboard may be turned over in order to avoid exposing the corrugated component. Alternatively, cover strips may be provided for covering exposed regions of the corrugated component. By preventing the corrugated component from being exposed, the ingress of moisture into the cardboard is prevented and thereby the life of the cardboard is prolonged.

- 2 The core may have partitions defining the bottle holding compartments. The core may further have a base on which the partitions are supported. The partitions and the base may be of flat sheet material and apertures may be provided therethrough for saving material. The apertures through the base may serve the further function of providing stackability by permitting the tops of a lower stack of bottles to extend therethrough. In order to strengthen the base when apertures are provided therein, ridges may be provided around the apertures and/or in the base.

The core may have handles. having formations therein adapted to interlock with corresponding formations in the sleeve. Thus in one arrangement the formations m the handles may be tubular protrusions provided around apertures in the handles adapted to fit into corresponding apertures provided in the sleeve. Thereby apertures are provided extending through the sleeve and through the handles by means of which the crate can be carried.

The crate may be stackable. To permit this the base of the core may be recessed along its periphery to form a shoulder adapted to seat onto the top end of the sleeve.

The height of the partitions of the core may be less than the height of the sleeve, for example about half the height. Thereby the 0 1 core can be of a lightweight construction, resulting in the saving of material and manufacturing costs.

The invention is now described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a three dimens ional exploded view of a bottle crate in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 shows a side view, partly fragmentary and partly in section, in an assembled condition, of the bottle crate shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 shows on an enlarged scale the sectioned part of Figure 2; Figure 4 shows a plan view of the bottle crate shown in Figure 2; Figure 5 shows a bottom plan view of the bottle crate shown in Figure 2.

Referring to 'Figure 1 of the drawings, reference numeral 10 indicates in general the bottle crate of the invention before being assembled together. The crate consists of a core indicated generally by reference numeral 12 and a sleeve indicated generally by -reference numeral 14. The dimensions of the core 12 and of the sleeve 14 are such that the sleeve 14 can fit snugly over the core 12.

The core 12 is of a suitable synthetic plastics material and may conveniently be moulded, for example by injection moulding, in the synthetic plastics material. The core has a base 6 and a plurality of intersecting partitions 18 and 20 extending upwardly from, the base 16. Two handles 22 also extend upwardly from the base 16. Each handle 22 has an aperture 24 and a tubular projection 26 around the aperture as shown in Figure 1 and also in Figure 3.

The intersecting partitions 18 and 20 of the core 12 define compartments 28 in which bottles (not shown) can be held in spaced relationship separate from each other. The base 16 has a peripheral shoulder 30 onto which the sleeve 14 can seat in a snug fit. The base 16 further has a recessed region 32, shown in Figure 1, but more clearly '18. An aperture 34 extends shown in Figure 2, below each compartment. through each recessed region 32 for permitting the neck of a bottle (not shown) in a lower crate to extend therethrough during the stacking of crates 10, one upon the other. Further apertures 36 extend through the partitions 18 and 20 to save material.

Referring further to Figure 1, the height of the partitions 18 and 20 is less than the height of the sleeve 14, approximately half the height. This can be achieved by virtue of the strength and rigidity provided by the sleeve 14 when it is fitted over the core 12 in the assembled condition (as shown in Figure 2). Thereby the core 12 can be of a lightweight construction and thus less material is required for its construction, and thereby manufacturing costs can be reduced.

Referring still further to Figure 1, the sleeve 14 is of cardboard which includes a corrugated component (not shown). The sleeve 14 is made from a flat sheet of cardboard which is folded over in the shape as shown and of which the ends overlap and are secured together at 38. The sleeve has two apertures 40 for receiving the tubular projections 26 on the handles 22 when the sleeve 14 and the core 12 are in an assembled condition as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The cardboard of the sleeve 14. when it includes a corrugated component in the form of an inner layer 43, has its top ends 42 turned over or covered by strips at 42 in order to prevent the corrugated component from being exposed, and the bottom ends 44 may be similarly arranged. By preventing the corrugated component from being exposed, the ingress of moisture into 0 the cardboard is prevented, and thereby the life of the cardboard is prolonged.

Referring to Figure 2, the crate 10 is shown in the assembled condition, suitable for use, in which the sleeve 14 seats on the base 16 2 (not shown in Figure 2). As is clear from this figure, of the core 1. the recesses 32 project downwardly from the base 16 and they are spaced by a margin 46 inwardly from the periphery of the base 16. This arrangement permits the crate 10 to be stacked on top of another crate (n ot shown) by the top crate seating along the margin 46 on the top edge 0 0 2 further shows, partly in section, 42 of the lower crate. Figure 1 2 together with Figure 3, how the tubular projection 26 on the handle 22 around the aperture 24 fits into the aperture 40 in the sleeve 14 to thereby provide a carrying handle.

Figures 4 and 5 show top and bottom views respectively of the assembled bottle crate 10 shown in Figure 2. The apertures 34 extending through the recesses 32 in the base 16 of the core 12 permit the tops of bottles (not shown) in a lower crate of containers to extend therethrough to thereby permit two such crates to be stacked the one upon the other, by the margin 46 on the base 16 of the upper crate seating on the top edge 42 of the sleeve 14 of a lower crate.

If desired, in an embodiment not shown, the recesses 32 on the base 16 of the core 12 may be omitted, and the base 16 may then be flat, or it may be provided with other formations, for example indentations or projections (not shown), so as to have a different appearance. Further, if desired, in order to save material, further apertures (not shown) may be provided in the base 16.

Claims (14)

1. A bottle crate which is of a composite construction including a core of a synthetic plastics material having a plurality of compartments in which bottles can be held in a spaced relationship separate from each other, and a sleeve in which the core is receivable.

A bottle c-rate as claimed in Claim 1, in which the sleeve is of cardboard.

3.

4.

A. bottle crate as claimed in Claim. 2, in which the cardboard includes a corrugated component.

A bottle crate as claimed in Claim 3. in which the cardboard is in sheet form with the edges o L' the cardboard turned over in order to avoid exposing the corrugated component.

5. A bottle crate as clairted in Claim 3, in which cover strips are Provided for covering the exposed regions of the corrugated 0 component.

6. A bottle crate as claimed in Claim 1, in which the sleeve is of a syrnthetic plastics material.

7. A bottle crate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the core has partitions defining the bottle holding compartments and a base on which the partitions are supported.

8. A bottle crate as claimed in claim 7, in which the partitions and the base are of flat sheet material and having apertures extending through the sheet material, strengthening ridges being provided around the apertures.

9. A bottle crate as claimed in Claim 7 or Claim 8, in which the height of the partitions is less than the height of the sleeve.

10. A bottle crate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the core has handles having formations adapted to interlock with corresponding formations in the sleeve.

11. A bottle crate as claimed in Claim 10, in which the formations on the handles are tubular protrusions provided around apertures in the handles adapted to fit into corresponding apertures provided in the sleeve.

12. A bottle c-rate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which is stackable.

13. A bottle crate as claimed in Claim 12 in which the base of the core is recessed along its periphery to form a shoulder adapted to seat onto the top end of the sleeve.

14. A new bottle crate substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Published 1989 at The Patent Office, State House. 6671 I-lighHollborn. London WC1R4TP. Further copies maybe obtained from The Patent 01fice. Sales Branch, St Mary Cray, Orpington. Kent BR.5 3RD. Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd. St Mary Cray, Kent. Con. 1/87