US3100056A - Reusable bottle cases - Google Patents
Reusable bottle cases Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3100056A US3100056A US3666960A US3100056A US 3100056 A US3100056 A US 3100056A US 3666960 A US3666960 A US 3666960A US 3100056 A US3100056 A US 3100056A
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- walls
- end walls
- container
- elements
- cases
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- Expired - Lifetime
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D1/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material, by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material
- B65D1/22—Boxes or like containers with side walls of substantial depth for enclosing contents
- B65D1/24—Boxes or like containers with side walls of substantial depth for enclosing contents with moulded compartments or partitions
- B65D1/243—Crates for bottles or like containers
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D43/00—Lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
- B65D43/14—Non-removable lids or covers
- B65D43/16—Non-removable lids or covers hinged for upward or downward movement
- B65D43/162—Non-removable lids or covers hinged for upward or downward movement the container, the lid and the hinge being made of one piece
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2251/00—Details relating to container closures
- B65D2251/10—Details of hinged closures
- B65D2251/1016—Means for locking the closure in closed position
- B65D2251/1041—The closure having a part penetrating in the dispensing aperture and retained by snapping over integral beads or projections
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2251/00—Details relating to container closures
- B65D2251/10—Details of hinged closures
- B65D2251/1083—Closures formed of several sections hinged to the container or base
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2501/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece
- B65D2501/24—Boxes or like containers with moulded compartments or partitions
- B65D2501/24006—Details relating to bottle crates
- B65D2501/24012—Materials
- B65D2501/24019—Mainly plastics
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2501/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece
- B65D2501/24—Boxes or like containers with moulded compartments or partitions
- B65D2501/24006—Details relating to bottle crates
- B65D2501/24012—Materials
- B65D2501/24044—Two or more different materials
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2501/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece
- B65D2501/24—Boxes or like containers with moulded compartments or partitions
- B65D2501/24006—Details relating to bottle crates
- B65D2501/2405—Construction
- B65D2501/24063—Construction of the walls
- B65D2501/24082—Plain
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2501/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece
- B65D2501/24—Boxes or like containers with moulded compartments or partitions
- B65D2501/24006—Details relating to bottle crates
- B65D2501/2405—Construction
- B65D2501/24063—Construction of the walls
- B65D2501/24089—Height of the side walls
- B65D2501/24095—Height of the side walls corresponding to the full height of the bottles
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2501/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece
- B65D2501/24—Boxes or like containers with moulded compartments or partitions
- B65D2501/24006—Details relating to bottle crates
- B65D2501/2405—Construction
- B65D2501/24121—Construction of the bottom
- B65D2501/2414—Plain
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2501/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece
- B65D2501/24—Boxes or like containers with moulded compartments or partitions
- B65D2501/24006—Details relating to bottle crates
- B65D2501/2405—Construction
- B65D2501/24146—Connection between walls or of walls with bottom
- B65D2501/24152—Integral
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2501/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece
- B65D2501/24—Boxes or like containers with moulded compartments or partitions
- B65D2501/24006—Details relating to bottle crates
- B65D2501/24197—Arrangements for locating the bottles
- B65D2501/24203—Construction of locating arrangements
- B65D2501/2421—Partitions
- B65D2501/24216—Partitions forming square or rectangular cells
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2501/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece
- B65D2501/24—Boxes or like containers with moulded compartments or partitions
- B65D2501/24006—Details relating to bottle crates
- B65D2501/24197—Arrangements for locating the bottles
- B65D2501/24203—Construction of locating arrangements
- B65D2501/24286—Adjustable or removable constructions
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2501/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece
- B65D2501/24—Boxes or like containers with moulded compartments or partitions
- B65D2501/24006—Details relating to bottle crates
- B65D2501/24197—Arrangements for locating the bottles
- B65D2501/24343—Position pattern
- B65D2501/2435—Columns and rows
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2501/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece
- B65D2501/24—Boxes or like containers with moulded compartments or partitions
- B65D2501/24006—Details relating to bottle crates
- B65D2501/24363—Handles
- B65D2501/24541—Hand holes
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2501/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece
- B65D2501/24—Boxes or like containers with moulded compartments or partitions
- B65D2501/24006—Details relating to bottle crates
- B65D2501/24764—Reinforcements
- B65D2501/2477—Parts reinforced
- B65D2501/24777—Side walls
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2501/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece
- B65D2501/24—Boxes or like containers with moulded compartments or partitions
- B65D2501/24006—Details relating to bottle crates
- B65D2501/24764—Reinforcements
- B65D2501/24789—Means used for reinforcing
- B65D2501/24808—The wall being reinforced by making it thicker or double-walled
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2501/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece
- B65D2501/24—Boxes or like containers with moulded compartments or partitions
- B65D2501/24006—Details relating to bottle crates
- B65D2501/24859—Covers
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2501/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece
- B65D2501/24—Boxes or like containers with moulded compartments or partitions
- B65D2501/24006—Details relating to bottle crates
- B65D2501/24866—Other details
- B65D2501/24872—Information, identification or detection means
- B65D2501/24904—Engraved or moulded indicia
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02W—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT
- Y02W30/00—Technologies for solid waste management
- Y02W30/50—Reuse, recycling or recovery technologies
- Y02W30/80—Packaging reuse or recycling, e.g. of multilayer packaging
Definitions
- This invention relates broadly to reusable containers for bottles and the like and is particularly useful for beverage bottle cases, such as beer cases where the con tainer is subjected to frequent reuse.
- beer cases are subject to hard usage and frequent reuse.
- such cases are made of fibreboard or of wood.
- a beer case made of fibreboard may be reused approximately a dozen times and it will be completely worn out.
- Wooden cases are objectionably heavy and expensive.
- Men skilled in the art have attempted to develop returnable bottle cases made of material strong enough to last through many more reuses than prior fibreboard cases and yet lightweight and inexpensive enough to be favorably received.
- Bottle cases made of plastic material have been earlier invented, such as disclosed in United States Patents Nos. 2,535,493 to Gerber and 2,830,729 to Brackett, which have good wearing qualities, but are lacking in other respects hereinafter discussed.
- top flaps thereto which are suitably hinged for frequent openings and closings that will not readily pull out or break off and will lie flat upon closing and will stay closed or open as desired.
- plastic cases Still another problem particularly present with plastic cases is that of slippage. Entirely smooth plastic surfaces permit the cases to slip or slide in stacking or in palletizing them or when transporting stacked cases.
- I provide a reusable case for bottles and the like comprising, in combination, a unitary molded container having side walls, end walls, a bottom wall and opposed top flap elements, all of said elements and walls being integrally formed complete in a single piece of plastic material and a plurality of longitudinal and lateral cell-forming partition members disposed in said container, said end walls having handle means comprising openings in the upper central portions thereof, said top flap elements having lockable closing means selectively engageable with said handle means.
- hinge means comprising thinned flexible portions in said top flap elements adjacent said side walls.
- I provide convex bulges in the side and end walls at the corners of the container. Further, I provide roughened surfaces on particular portions of the container to prevent slippage between the cases from occurring when stacking or transporting them.
- a bottle case that is a unitary container which is integrally formed as a single piece of plastic, which is tough and durable and may be used many times over and above the ordinary case.
- My case ice has a lockably closable top for the complete protection of the bottles contained therein and bulged corners for the protection of the printed material on the sides and ends of the container.
- FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the invention
- FIGURE 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken on the line IIII of FIGURE 1;
- FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line III-III of FIGURE 1;
- FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken on the line IVIV of FIGURE 3;
- FIGURE 5 is an enlarged detail cross-sectional view of the hinge area in a preferred embodiment of the invention.
- FIGURE 6 is a partial isometric view of one end of a preferred embodiment of the invention.
- a returnable bottle case comprising a container 9 molded of a plastic material such as polyethylene, having end walls 10, side walls 11, a bottom wall 12 and top flaps 15, all of which are integrally formed complete as a single piece of plastic.
- Longitudinal partitions 13 and lateral partitions 14 intersect to form cells 16 into which the bottles being encased are placed.
- Partitions 13 and 14 may be made of the usual fibreboard material because wear is not particularly a problem with the case interior including the partitions.
- the partitions are not integral with container 9 and in that sense are readily removable; nevertheless, when placed in their intersecting cell-forming relationship within the container, they do provide a substantial measure of support to the container walls and thus augment the natural rigidity and strength of the case.
- End walls 10 have hand openings 17 formed therein in their upper central portions to provide handle means for lifting or otherwise handling the case. Additionally, as best shown in FIGURE 4, end walls 10 have a thickened portion 10a the purpose of which is to reinforce the area of end walls 10 adjacent hand opening 17. This is necessary to prevent end walls 10 from pulling out or tearing in the area near hand opening 17, which area bears the weight of the case and its contents when it is lifted by hand holds 17.
- Bottom Wall 12 has openings 18 formed therein centrally indexed within cells 16, as shown in FIGURE 2, to provide drainage means whereby the interior of the case may be readily cleaned with or 'without removing partitions 13 and 1 -5.
- openings 18 perform a drainage function, but they also lighten the container considerably so that the actual weight of the case is substantially the same or only slightly heavier than prior fibreboard cases. This is an important consideration because one of the main objections to the earlier wooden cases was their heavy weight and this was one of the factors that led to their substantial replacement by the fibreboard cases.
- the adjoining ends of the Walls 10 and 11 have :been offset outwardly to form convex bulges 19 at the corners of the container.
- Bulges 19 protect the sides and ends of the cases from scufiing that otherwise occurs, as for example, when the cases Iu'b against the side rails of various conveyor devices.
- the bulges 19 provide the rubbing and bumping surfiaces and the Walls therebetween are thus protected.
- Top flaps 15 have hinges or thinned portions 20 illustnatively detailed in FIGURE 5. Hinges 20 are formed stood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.
- a reusable case for bottles and the like comprising, in combination, a unitary molded container having side Walls, end walls, a bottom wall, and opposed lockably closable top flap elements, all of said elements and Walls being integrally formed complete as a single piece of plastic material and a plurality of longitudinal and lateral cell-forming partition members disposed in said container, said end walls having hand openings in the upper central portions thereof, said container having protective bulges formed at its corners in the side and end Walls, said top flap elements having hinge means comprising a thinned flexible portion adjacent said side Walls and lockable closing means comprising tab members integrally attached and depending from the edges of said top flap elements adjacent said end Walls, said end walls and tab members having interengaging locking elements adapted when engaged to hold the top flap elements against opening.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
- Rigid Containers With Two Or More Constituent Elements (AREA)
Description
6, 1963 J. A. FRIDAY, JR 3,100,056
REUSABLE BOTTLE CASES Filed June 16, 1960 INVENTOR. John A. Friday, Jr.
his ATTORNEYS Unit aten
This invention relates broadly to reusable containers for bottles and the like and is particularly useful for beverage bottle cases, such as beer cases where the con tainer is subjected to frequent reuse.
It is well known that beer cases, for example, are subject to hard usage and frequent reuse. Generally, such cases are made of fibreboard or of wood. A beer case made of fibreboard may be reused approximately a dozen times and it will be completely worn out. Wooden cases are objectionably heavy and expensive. Men skilled in the art have attempted to develop returnable bottle cases made of material strong enough to last through many more reuses than prior fibreboard cases and yet lightweight and inexpensive enough to be favorably received. Bottle cases made of plastic material have been earlier invented, such as disclosed in United States Patents Nos. 2,535,493 to Gerber and 2,830,729 to Brackett, which have good wearing qualities, but are lacking in other respects hereinafter discussed.
The packaging equipment of the present day brewery, as well as the handling of the cases in transit and at their ultimate destination, scuifs the sides of the ordinary cases so severely that after several reuses it is very difficult to discern any of the information printed on the sides of the case.
Another problem has been how to attach top flaps thereto which are suitably hinged for frequent openings and closings that will not readily pull out or break off and will lie flat upon closing and will stay closed or open as desired.
Still another problem particularly present with plastic cases is that of slippage. Entirely smooth plastic surfaces permit the cases to slip or slide in stacking or in palletizing them or when transporting stacked cases.
In my invention, I provide a reusable case for bottles and the like comprising, in combination, a unitary molded container having side walls, end walls, a bottom wall and opposed top flap elements, all of said elements and walls being integrally formed complete in a single piece of plastic material and a plurality of longitudinal and lateral cell-forming partition members disposed in said container, said end walls having handle means comprising openings in the upper central portions thereof, said top flap elements having lockable closing means selectively engageable with said handle means. I further provide hinge means comprising thinned flexible portions in said top flap elements adjacent said side walls. In addition, I provide convex bulges in the side and end walls at the corners of the container. Further, I provide roughened surfaces on particular portions of the container to prevent slippage between the cases from occurring when stacking or transporting them.
Thus, I have invented a bottle case that is a unitary container which is integrally formed as a single piece of plastic, which is tough and durable and may be used many times over and above the ordinary case. My case ice has a lockably closable top for the complete protection of the bottles contained therein and bulged corners for the protection of the printed material on the sides and ends of the container.
The advantages of a unitary structure are, inter alia, that the case is free of connections that are weaker than the case itself. There is less likelihood of weak spots. It also eliminates costly assembly operations and thus, is not only stronger but less expensive.
Other details, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description of a present preferred embodiment thereof proceeds.
In the accompanying drawing, I have shown a preferred embodiment of the invention in which FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;
FIGURE 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken on the line IIII of FIGURE 1;
FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line III-III of FIGURE 1;
FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken on the line IVIV of FIGURE 3;
FIGURE 5 is an enlarged detail cross-sectional view of the hinge area in a preferred embodiment of the invention; and
FIGURE 6 is a partial isometric view of one end of a preferred embodiment of the invention.
Referring now to the drawing and initially to FIGURES 1 and 3, I have illustrated a returnable bottle case comprising a container 9 molded of a plastic material such as polyethylene, having end walls 10, side walls 11, a bottom wall 12 and top flaps 15, all of which are integrally formed complete as a single piece of plastic. Longitudinal partitions 13 and lateral partitions 14 intersect to form cells 16 into which the bottles being encased are placed. Partitions 13 and 14 may be made of the usual fibreboard material because wear is not particularly a problem with the case interior including the partitions. Although the partitions are not integral with container 9 and in that sense are readily removable; nevertheless, when placed in their intersecting cell-forming relationship within the container, they do provide a substantial measure of support to the container walls and thus augment the natural rigidity and strength of the case.
As shown in FIGURE 2, the adjoining ends of the Walls 10 and 11 have :been offset outwardly to form convex bulges 19 at the corners of the container. Bulges 19 protect the sides and ends of the cases from scufiing that otherwise occurs, as for example, when the cases Iu'b against the side rails of various conveyor devices. In my invention the bulges 19 provide the rubbing and bumping surfiaces and the Walls therebetween are thus protected.
I claim:
1. A reusable case for bottles and the like comprising, in combination, a unitary molded container having side Walls, end walls, a bottom wall, and opposed lockably closable top flap elements, all of said elements and Walls being integrally formed complete as a single piece of plastic material and a plurality of longitudinal and lateral cell-forming partition members disposed in said container, said end walls having hand openings in the upper central portions thereof, said container having protective bulges formed at its corners in the side and end Walls, said top flap elements having hinge means comprising a thinned flexible portion adjacent said side Walls and lockable closing means comprising tab members integrally attached and depending from the edges of said top flap elements adjacent said end Walls, said end walls and tab members having interengaging locking elements adapted when engaged to hold the top flap elements against opening.
2,093,280 Koppelman Sept. 14, 1937 6 Boeye Mar. 29, 1938 Seharfi Ian. 14, 1947 Riemenschne-ider Oct. 23, 1953 Knieriem Dec. "11, 1956 Vahle Apr. 19, 1960 Mitchell May 3, 1960 Gustafson Oct. 24, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Aug. 28, 1947 Great Britain Sept. 19, 195 1
Claims (1)
1. A REUSABLE CASE FOR BOTTLES AND THE LIKE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A UNITARY MOLDED CONTAINER HAVING SIDE WALLS, END WALLS, A BOTTOM WALL, AND OPPOSED LOCKABLY CLOSABLE TOP FLAP ELEMENTS, ALL OF SAID ELEMENTS AND WALLS BEING INTEGRALLY FORMED COMPLETE AS A SINGLE PIECE OF PLASTIC MATERIAL AND A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINAL AND LATERAL CELL-FORMING PARTITION MEMBERS DISPOSED IN SAID CONTAINER, SAID END WALLS HAVING HAND OPENINGS IN THE UPPER CENTRAL PORTIONS THEREOF, SAID CONTAINER HAVING PROTECTIVE BULGES FORMED AT ITS CORNERS IN THE SIDE AND END WALLS, SAID TOP FLAP ELEMENTS HAVING HINGE MEANS COMPRISING A THINNED FLEXIBLE PORTION ADJACENT SAID SIDE WALLS AND LOCKABLE CLOSING MEANS COMPRISING TAB MEMBERS INTEGRALLY ATTACHED AND DEPENDING FROM THE EDGES OF SAID TOP FLOP ELEMENTS ADJACENT AND INWARD OF SAID END WALLS, SAID TAB MEMBERS HAVING A CATCH PORTION PROJECTING THEREFROM ADAPTED TO ENGAGE AN END WALL IN THE HAND OPENING THEREOF, SAID BOTTOM WALL, BULGES AND TOP FLAP ELEMENTS HAVING ROUGHENED OUTSIDE SURFACES WHEREBY HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL SLIPPAGE BETWEEN STACKED CASES IS LESSENED.
Priority Applications (5)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US3666960 US3100056A (en) | 1960-06-16 | 1960-06-16 | Reusable bottle cases |
GB2071161A GB925477A (en) | 1960-06-16 | 1961-06-08 | Re-usable bottle cases |
BE604936A BE604936A (en) | 1960-06-16 | 1961-06-13 | Reusable bottle crate |
LU40262D LU40262A1 (en) | 1960-06-16 | 1961-06-14 | |
ES0268227A ES268227A1 (en) | 1960-06-16 | 1961-06-14 | Re-usable bottle cases |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US3666960 US3100056A (en) | 1960-06-16 | 1960-06-16 | Reusable bottle cases |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3100056A true US3100056A (en) | 1963-08-06 |
Family
ID=21889967
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US3666960 Expired - Lifetime US3100056A (en) | 1960-06-16 | 1960-06-16 | Reusable bottle cases |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3100056A (en) |
BE (1) | BE604936A (en) |
LU (1) | LU40262A1 (en) |
Cited By (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3220603A (en) * | 1963-06-19 | 1965-11-30 | Gen Am Transport | Containers for egg cartons, or the like |
US3282461A (en) * | 1964-01-21 | 1966-11-01 | Dow Chemical Co | Tote case for bottles and the like |
US3317097A (en) * | 1964-12-28 | 1967-05-02 | Benedict J Giordano | Fishing equipment storage box |
US3357092A (en) * | 1963-02-04 | 1967-12-12 | Kewaunee Mfg Company | Method of making a plastic sink mold |
US3381879A (en) * | 1966-02-04 | 1968-05-07 | Owens Illinois Inc | Beverage bottle case |
US3409202A (en) * | 1966-02-04 | 1968-11-05 | Owens Illinois Inc | Plastic beverage bottle case |
US3438825A (en) * | 1965-04-27 | 1969-04-15 | Du Pont | Method of applying anti-skid agents to shaped plastic articles by spin-welding |
US4625908A (en) * | 1983-10-31 | 1986-12-02 | Emery Roy W | Container lock construction |
US4984691A (en) * | 1989-10-31 | 1991-01-15 | Styropack (Uk) Limited | Container |
WO2022224094A1 (en) * | 2021-04-19 | 2022-10-27 | Loadhog Limited | Improvements in or relating to containers |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
BE1008016A3 (en) * | 1994-01-04 | 1995-12-12 | Michiels Hugo | Bottle crate and holder for such bottle crates |
Citations (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2093280A (en) * | 1934-12-06 | 1937-09-14 | Koppelman Morris | Self-locking carton and packing |
US2112433A (en) * | 1936-03-27 | 1938-03-29 | Waldorf Paper Prod Co | Box |
US2414171A (en) * | 1944-10-09 | 1947-01-14 | Gerber Plastic Company | Beverage bottle case |
GB591782A (en) * | 1944-09-14 | 1947-08-28 | Julius Veit | Improvements in or relating to boxes and like receptacles and containers |
GB657516A (en) * | 1948-11-05 | 1951-09-19 | Universal Metal Products Ltd | Improvements relating to containers with captive lids or closures |
US2656066A (en) * | 1949-11-23 | 1953-10-20 | Union Metal Mfg Co | Metal box rim construction |
US2773624A (en) * | 1954-09-20 | 1956-12-11 | Calresin Ind Inc | Plastic case for transporting packaged fresh milk |
US2933227A (en) * | 1956-09-25 | 1960-04-19 | Continental Can Co | Molded egg carton |
US2935221A (en) * | 1958-08-11 | 1960-05-03 | Nat Brewing Company | Bottle case |
US3005572A (en) * | 1959-09-28 | 1961-10-24 | Prophylactic Brush Co | Plastic case construction |
-
1960
- 1960-06-16 US US3666960 patent/US3100056A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1961
- 1961-06-13 BE BE604936A patent/BE604936A/en unknown
- 1961-06-14 LU LU40262D patent/LU40262A1/xx unknown
Patent Citations (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2093280A (en) * | 1934-12-06 | 1937-09-14 | Koppelman Morris | Self-locking carton and packing |
US2112433A (en) * | 1936-03-27 | 1938-03-29 | Waldorf Paper Prod Co | Box |
GB591782A (en) * | 1944-09-14 | 1947-08-28 | Julius Veit | Improvements in or relating to boxes and like receptacles and containers |
US2414171A (en) * | 1944-10-09 | 1947-01-14 | Gerber Plastic Company | Beverage bottle case |
GB657516A (en) * | 1948-11-05 | 1951-09-19 | Universal Metal Products Ltd | Improvements relating to containers with captive lids or closures |
US2656066A (en) * | 1949-11-23 | 1953-10-20 | Union Metal Mfg Co | Metal box rim construction |
US2773624A (en) * | 1954-09-20 | 1956-12-11 | Calresin Ind Inc | Plastic case for transporting packaged fresh milk |
US2933227A (en) * | 1956-09-25 | 1960-04-19 | Continental Can Co | Molded egg carton |
US2935221A (en) * | 1958-08-11 | 1960-05-03 | Nat Brewing Company | Bottle case |
US3005572A (en) * | 1959-09-28 | 1961-10-24 | Prophylactic Brush Co | Plastic case construction |
Cited By (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3357092A (en) * | 1963-02-04 | 1967-12-12 | Kewaunee Mfg Company | Method of making a plastic sink mold |
US3220603A (en) * | 1963-06-19 | 1965-11-30 | Gen Am Transport | Containers for egg cartons, or the like |
US3282461A (en) * | 1964-01-21 | 1966-11-01 | Dow Chemical Co | Tote case for bottles and the like |
US3317097A (en) * | 1964-12-28 | 1967-05-02 | Benedict J Giordano | Fishing equipment storage box |
US3438825A (en) * | 1965-04-27 | 1969-04-15 | Du Pont | Method of applying anti-skid agents to shaped plastic articles by spin-welding |
US3381879A (en) * | 1966-02-04 | 1968-05-07 | Owens Illinois Inc | Beverage bottle case |
US3409202A (en) * | 1966-02-04 | 1968-11-05 | Owens Illinois Inc | Plastic beverage bottle case |
US4625908A (en) * | 1983-10-31 | 1986-12-02 | Emery Roy W | Container lock construction |
US4984691A (en) * | 1989-10-31 | 1991-01-15 | Styropack (Uk) Limited | Container |
WO2022224094A1 (en) * | 2021-04-19 | 2022-10-27 | Loadhog Limited | Improvements in or relating to containers |
GB2622149A (en) * | 2021-04-19 | 2024-03-06 | Loadhog Ltd | Improvements in or related to containers |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
LU40262A1 (en) | 1961-08-14 |
BE604936A (en) | 1961-12-13 |
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