GB2404915A

GB2404915A - Packaging for stackable bottles

Info

Publication number: GB2404915A
Application number: GB0417435A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Patrick Rigney; Gillian Murphy; Stephen Beasley
Original assignee: CASTLE BRANDS
Current assignee: CASTLE BRANDS
Priority date: 2003-08-06
Filing date: 2004-08-05
Publication date: 2005-02-16
Anticipated expiration: 2024-08-05
Also published as: IE20040530A1; IES20040526A2; GB0417435D0; GB2404915B; IE20030577A1

Abstract

A package for a number of bottles (a-c), eg of different beverages, which are stackable in a partly nested configuration comprises a tray (3) having recesses to accommodate the bottles with a portion of at least one bottle extending into an adjacent recess. The tray (3) is received in an outer casing (2), preferably of folded transparent material.

Description

24049 1 5 "Packaging"

Introduction

The invention relates to packaging for stackable articles.

In our GB2344095A we have described a bottle assembly comprising a number of bottles stacked one upon the other and a stabilising means in the form of a joining tape extending between and bonded to the bottles.

This assembly of stackable bottles has considerable advantages for packing, display and storage. However, there is a need for a packaging for such articles which will enhance the stackable aspect of the articles whilst providing a packaging which will have substantial stability, in use.

The invention is directed towards providing such a packaging.

Statements of invention

According to the invention there is provided a packaging for packaging a number of stackable bottles, the packaging comprising a tray having a number of recesses to accommodate the bottles, wherein the recesses are configured to at least partially space- apart the bottles.

in one embodiment the recesses are configured such that a portion of at least one of the bottles is accommodated in an adjacent recess.

In another embodiment the recesses in the tray have different relative orientations to space-apart the stackable bottles. À

À e e À .e e e À À À e '.e À À ace e e c À À e e e - 2 In a further embodiment the recesses in the tray are configured such that the spaced-apart stackable bottles do not contact each other.

In one embodiment the bottles have a packaging orientation and a stacking orientation, the bottles each having a longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axes of the bottles being substantially co-linear in the stacking orientation and being offset in the packaging orientation.

In another embodiment at least some of the bottles have a base recess in the base thereof for receiving a neck of another bottle in the stacking orientation.

In a further embodiment the neck of a bottle is partially received in a base recess of another bottle in the packaging orientation.

In one embodiment the bottles comprise nestable bottles.

In another embodiment the tray is comprised of a transparent material.

In a further embodiment the tray comprises a front plane and the recesses for accommodating the bottles are recessed from the front plane.

In one embodiment the tray comprises side wall means depending from the front plane.

In another embodiment the side wall means comprises top, base and side walls defining a generally parallelepiped form.

In a further embodiment the side wall means of the tray define a tray support rim at the open end thereof. c

À d C À C I À C d C C C C À À À C C C In one embodiment at least a portion of the side wall means of the tray comprises a stand member.

In another embodiment the stand member is arranged substantially at right angles to the side wall means.

In a further embodiment the stand member is located at the tray support rim.

In one embodiment the tray comprises a support member protruding from the front plane of the tray.

In another embodiment at least a portion of the side wall means comprises a curvilinear form.

In a further embodiment the packaging comprises an outer casing for receiving the tray.

In one embodiment the outer casing comprises top and base ends and a side wall means extending therebetween.

In another embodiment the side wall means comprises front, back, and side walls defining a substantially parallelepiped form.

In a further embodiment the outer casing is of a transparent material.

In one embodiment the front wall is connected to the side walls at front sight lines.

In another embodiment the front sight lines comprise a curvilinear form.

In a further embodiment the outer casing between the front sight lines comprises a curvilinear form.

À 1 À À À e À In one embodiment the front sight lines comprise strengthening means.

In another embodiment the side walls comprise front and rear side wall panels connected at side fold lines.

In a further embodiment the side fold lines comprise strengthening means.

In one embodiment the side walls comprise a substantially convex form.

In another embodiment the front and rear side wall panels extend outwardly to the side fold line.

In a further embodiment the side walls of the casing are configured such that they are spaced apart from the side walls of the tray, when the tray is received in the casing, to cushion the tray and the bottles therein.

In o ne e mbodiment t he support m ember i s c onfigured t o contact t he front w all o f t he outer casing, when the tray is received therein.

In another embodiment the support member is configured to support the bottles spaced apart relative to front wall of the outer casing.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 1 À À q 8 1 À 1 À -. t t À t b À b 8 t Fig. 1(a) is a perspective exploded view of a number of bottles configured to enable them to be stacked, Fig. l (b) is a cross sectional view of the bottles of Fig I (a); Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a packaging of the invention with bottles in place; Fig. 3 is a perspective view from the front of an outer casing of the packaging of the invention; Fig. 4 is a perspective view from the rear of the outer casing of the packaging of the invention; Fig. 5 is a plan from below view of the outer casing of the packaging; Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the outer casing of the packaging; Fig. 7 is a side plan view of the outer casing of the packaging; Fig. 8 is an end view of the outer casing of the packaging; Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view on the line II-II in Fig. 2; Fig. lO is a perspective view from above of an inner tray of the packaging with bottles in place; Fig. l l is a perspective view from above of the inner tray of the packaging with bottles removed; Fig. 12 is a perspective view from the rear of the inner tray of the packaging; ? 1 1 1 1 1 À ' 8 1 1 À 8 1 1' À À b I . - 6 Fig. 13 is a side elevational view of the inner tray of Fig. 1 1; and Fig. 14 is an end view of the inner tray of Fig. 11; Referring initially to Figs. 1 (a) and 1 (b) there is illustrated an assembly of three bottles a, b, c which are stackable. T he bottles a, b, c used in the assembly are typically glass bottles which may be used to hold different beverages, such as different flavoured spirits.

The bottles may hold the s ame or different volumes. T he bottles a, b, c each h eve a recess d in the base thereof to receive a corresponding projecting neck portion e of another bottle. When stacked, the neck portions of the bottles a and b are inserted into the recesses d in the bases of bottles b and c respectively. Thus in a stacking orientation or configuration the topmost bottle c rests on the middle bottle b which in turn rests on top of the lowermost bottle a.

In Fig. 1 (b) the bottles are shown arranged at different orientations relative to each other.

The neck of the lowermost bottle a is partially inserted into the recess d in the base of the middle bottle b, and the neck of the middle bottle b is partially inserted into the recess d in the base of the uppermost bottle c. Such an arrangement enables each of the separate bottles to be viewed while at the same time emphasising the stackable or nestable nature of the bottles.

Referring to Figs. 2 to 14 a packaging 1 comprises an outer casing 2 and an inner tray 3.

The packaging I is designed to hold a plurality of stackable items, bottles a, b, c securely during shipment, storage, and for display. The bottles a, b, c, are placed in the inner tray 3 which is in turn inserted into the outer casing 2. The inner tray 3 and outer casing 2 are designed to co-operate to closely confine, support and hold the bottles securely. The packaging 1 comprises means to at least partially space-apart the stackable bottles a, b, c in an arrangement similar to that shown in Fig. 1 (b).

t t' I 1 8 e 8 8 8 8 8 118 e e'.

8 8 8 8 8 - 7 The tray 3 comprises recesses 21, 22, 23 configured to receive and support the bottles a, b, c. The recesses 21, 22, 23 are arranged to at least partially space-apart the stackable bottles a, b, c as will be apparent from the drawings. The recesses 21, 22, 23 have different relative orientations so that in a packaging orientation or configuration the bottles a, b, c are offset from one another. In this way the bottles a, b, c are retained and stabilised in a packaging configuration. The packaging configuration emphasises the presence of separate articles, in this case the bottles a, b, c and also demonstrates that the bottles are stackable and that they can be readily stacked in a stacking configuration with one on top of another when removed from the packaging.

It will be noted that the bottles a, b, c have central longitudinal axes which are co-linear when they are stacked one on top of another in the stacking configuration and which are offset in the packaging configuration of Fig. 2.

The outer casing 2 of the packaging apparatus is described in more detail with reference to Figs. 3 to 8. The outer casing 2 comprises a top 8 and base 9, side walls 10 and 13 and front and back walls 17 and 16. The base 9 and top 8 of the outer casing 2 are substantially rectangular in form are comprised of flaps which can opened and closed as required. The flaps comprise co-operating locking member 40 and 41 and 42 and 43 to enable the packaging to be securely closed, as shown in Figs. 5 and 8.

The back wall 16 is generally rectangular in form with straight side edges and is substantially planar on assembly of the casing. The sidewall 10 comprises front and back panels 1 1 a nd 1 2 j Dined a t a s ide fold I ine 1 8, as i 11ustrated i n Fig. 7. S imilarly, the sidewall 13 comprises front and back sidewall panels 14 and 15 joined at a side fold line 19 as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. The back sidewall panels 12 and 15 are substantially rectangular in form. The front sidewall panels 11 and 14 are joined to the front wall 17 at front fold lines or front sight lines 24 and 25 which are curvilinear in form. The front wall 17 and front sidewall panels 11 and 14 are curvilinear by virtue of the curvilinear ::: :e fold/sight lines 24 and 25. The front fold/sight lines 24 and 25 have a wave like form and are substantially parallel.

The fold lines 18 and 19, 24 and 25 enable the casing 2 to be folded flat for example, for transport to a location for packing. When the casing 2 is assembled the fold lines 18 and 19 which comprise strengthening means or reinforcing means act as strengthening ribs.

The fold/sight lines 24 and 25 also comprise strengthening means.

As noted above, when the outer casing 2 is assembled the front wall and side walls are curved and contoured as a result of the curvilinear form of the front fold/sight lines 24 and 25. The manner in which the front wall and side walls are curved produces an optical effect when viewing the contents of the packaging therein. It is the combination of spacing of the contents relative to the walls of the casing and the way in which the outer casing is shaped which together produce an effect when viewing the contents through the casing.

The assembled form of the casing also provides excellent security for the bottles therein as shown in Fig. 2. The side walls 10, 13 of the casing are curved on assembly and the front and back panels of the side walls effectively extend outwardly to the fold lines 18 and 19 in relation to the back and front walls 16 and 17 of the casing. The side walls 10 and 13 have a substantially convex form, the fold lines 18 and 19 forming the peak of the convex form.

The inner tray 3 is described in more detail with reference to Figs. 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14.

The inner tray 3 comprises recesses 21, 22 and 23 recessed from an open front plane 37 of the tray. Side walls 31 and 33, and top and base end walls 32 and 34 depend from the front plane 37. The open ends of the walls 31, 33, 32 and 34 define a tray support rim 30.

A support member 36 extends outwardly from the front plane 37 of the tray at the upper portion thereof. The support member 36 contacts the inner side of the front wall of the casing, when the tray is inserted into the casing, to provide stability and to prevent the À 8 À 8 À 8, 8 e * tray from being displaced. The support member 36 also spaces the bottles apart from the front wall of the tray providing increased security. The base end wall 34 comprises a support 35 which protrudes relative to the base and provides increased support and security for the bottles when the tray is in the upright position in the outer casing.

Each of the moulded recesses 21, 22, 23 defines a support for receiving a bottle a, b and c. The recesses have a depth of approximately half of the depth of the bottles and are shaped for conformity with the bottle a, b, and c to hold the bottle securely in place against the inner surface of the recess. It will be appreciated that the recesses may be of a depth greater or less than the depth ofthe bottles. By virtue of its form each recess effectively grips the bottle accommodated therein. When the bottles are in place in the recesses the front of each bottle protrudes out from the open front plane 37 of the inner tray 3. The orientations of the recesses 21, 22, 23 are different. The base of the lowermost recess 21 is substantially horizontal. The recesses 22 and 23 are offset in orientation relative to the lowermost recess 21 and to each other. In the present embodiment, the bottles a, b, c which are stackable. Thus a portion of the neck e of the bottle a, which is supported in the lowermost recess 21, is accommodated within the adjacent middle recess 22 and the base recess d in the base of the bottle b which is supported in the middle recess 22. As illustrated in Figs. 2 and l O a portion of neck e of the bottle b, which is supported in the middle recess 22, is accommodated within the base recess d in the bottle c and within the topmost recess 23. In the present embodiment the recesses 21, 22, and 23 are formed such that when the bottles a, b and c are in place in the recesses they do not contact each other, even though a portion of at least one of the bottles in accommodated within the adjacent recess and the base recess of an adjacent bottle. Such an arrangement provides excellent security for handling, transport and display purposes.

The side walls 31 and 33 of the tray are curved in form and each comprise a stand member, or foot 38, 39 arranged substantially at right angles thereto at the tray support :: ees * :: :: : - 10 rim 30. The stand members/feet 38,39 provide stability and support for the tray 3 when resting on the support rim 30 on a supporting surface or when in place in the outer casing.

The tray support rim 30 together with stand member or foot member have a form substantially corresponding to the form to the back wall of the casing so that the tray is securely held in place in the casing, with the support rim 30 and stand members 38 and 39 resting against the back and side walls of the outer casing.

The side walls 31 and 32 are curved with a form substantially similar to the curved form of the front fold or sight lines 24,25 of the outer casing. When the tray is inserted into the casing 2 the side walls 31 and 33 of the tray are spaced apart from the outwardly extending side walls of the casing. The side walls of the casing have some flexibility and resilience which provides an increased cushioning effect for the bottles contained in the tray and the casing.

The outer casing 2is transparent and is a 350 micron PVC material which may be silk screen printed and foil backed. The inner tray 3is vacuum formed of a 600 micron PVC material. The inner tray 3is moulded in a single operation. It will be appreciated that the casing and tray may be manufactured of any suitable material. The inner tray and casing may be manufactured of a transparent material.

The packaging of the invention has the advantages of providing a secure packaging for stackable articles that enables display of the separate articles while at the same time demonstrating that they are stackable. The packaging of the invention effectively provides a partially nested display configuration.

The packaging has the further advantages that the configuration minimises the amount of packaging required to achieve these objectives.

::: Be. : :: À ce. ace: - 11 Each of the casing and inner tray are advantageously designed to maximise display and security of the contents. The inner tray is designed to maximise viewing of the contents, while not requiring that the contents be laid out entirely separately from each other - an arrangement which would require increased amounts of packaging material relative to the amounts required in the present embodiment. Also the inner tray is configured such that the bottles are securely held in place but do not contact each other when in place. This arrangement provides the advantage excellent security for the bottles while not avoiding increased amounts of packaging to hold the bottles entirely separate from each other or to provide a cushioning between adjacent bottles.

The outer casing is advantageously configured to be easy to handle while having a strengthened form.

The outer casing and inner tray are configured to provide excellent cushioning and security for the bottles contained therein. The outer casing has a curved form which is flexible and resilient. The side walls of the tray and outer casing are configured such that when the tray is received in the casing the side walls of the tray are spaced apart from the side walls of the casing. The space between the side walls of the tray and outer casing together with the flexibility of the casing provides increased cushioning and protection for the bottles during transport, handling and storage.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described but may be varied in construction and detail.

Claims

: . .: :: :e - 12 Claims l. A packaging for packaging a number of

stackable bottles, the packaging comprising a tray having a number of recesses to accommodate the bottles, wherein the recesses are configured to at least partially space-apart the bottles.
2. A packaging as claimed in claim I wherein the recesses are configured such that a portion of at least one of the bottles is accommodated in an adjacent recess.
3. A packaging as claimed in claims 1 or 2 wherein the recesses in the tray have different relative orientations to space-apart the stackable bottles.
4. A packaging as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the recesses in the tray are configured such that the spaced-apart stackable bottles do not contact each other.
5. A packaging as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the bottles have a packaging orientation and a stacking orientation, the bottles each having a longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axes of the bottles being substantially co-linear in the stacking orientation and being offset in the packaging orientation.
6. A packaging as claimed in any preceding claim wherein at least some of the bottles have a base recess in the base thereof for receiving a neck of another bottle in the stacking orientation.
7. A packaging as claimed in claim 6 wherein the neck of a bottle is partially received in a base recess of another bottle in the packaging orientation.

8. A packaging as claimed in claim 7 wherein the bottles comprise nestable bottles.
8 8 8, 8 8 8 8 - 13
9. A packaging as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the tray is comprised of a transparent material.
lo. A packaging as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the tray comprises a front plane and the recesses for accommodating the bottles are recessed from the front plane.
11. A packaging as claimed in claim 10 wherein the tray comprises side wall means depending from the front plane.
12. A packaging as claimed in any of claim 11 wherein the side wall means comprises top, base and side walls defining a generally parallelepiped form.
13. A packaging as claimed in claims 11 or 12, wherein the side wall means of the tray define a tray support rim at the open end thereof.
14. A packaging as claimed in claims 11 to 13, wherein at least a portion of the side wall means of the tray comprises a stand member.
1S. A packaging as claimed in claim 14, wherein the stand member is arranged substantially at right angles to the side wall means.
16. A packaging as claimed in claims 14 or 1 S wherein the stand member is located at the tray support rim.
17. A packaging as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the tray comprises a support member protruding from the front plane of the tray.
18. A packaging as claimed in any of claims 11 to 17, wherein at least a portion of the side wall means comprises a curvilinear form. À - 14
19. A packaging as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the packaging comprises an outer casing for receiving the tray.
20. A packaging as claimed in claim 19, wherein the outer casing comprises top and base ends and side wall means extending therebetween.
21. A packaging as claimed in claim 20 wherein the side wall means comprises front, back, and side walls defining a substantially parallelepiped form.
22. A packaging as claimed in claims 19 to 22, wherein the outer casing is of a transparent material.
23. A packaging as claimed in claims 19 to 23, wherein the front wall is connected to the side walls at front sight lines.
24. A packaging as claimed in claim 23 wherein the front sight lines comprise a curvilinear form.
25. A packaging as claimed in claims 23 or 24, wherein the outer casing between the front sight lines comprises a curvilinear form.
26. A packaging as claimed in claims 23 to 25, wherein the front sight lines comprise strengthening means.
27. A packaging as claimed in claims 21 to 26, wherein the side walls comprise front and rear side wall panels connected at side fold lines.
28. A packaging as claimed in claim 27, wherein the side fold lines comprise strengthening means. 1

:: À c.e À :: :: À À À À À - 15
29. A packaging as claimed in claims 20 to 28, wherein the side walls comprise a substantially convex form.
30. A packaging as claimed in claim 27 to 29, wherein the front and rear side wall panels extend outwardly to the side fold line.
31. A packaging as claimed in any of claims 19 to 30, wherein the side walls of the casing are configured such that they are spaced apart from the side walls of the tray, when the tray is received in the casing, to cushion the tray and the bottles therein.
32. A packaging as claimed in any of claims 16 to 31, wherein the support member is configured to contact the front wall of the outer casing, when the tray is received therein.
33. A packaging as claimed in any claim 32, wherein the support member is configured to support the bottles spaced-apart relative to front wall of the outer casing.
34. A packaging substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.