WO1992006009A1

WO1992006009A1 - Recyclable container

Info

Publication number: WO1992006009A1
Application number: PCT/CA1991/000358
Authority: WO
Inventors: Danny St. Dennis
Original assignee: St Dennis Danny
Priority date: 1990-10-09
Filing date: 1991-10-09
Publication date: 1992-04-16
Also published as: AU8652891A

Abstract

A recyclable container for beverage receptacles, comprising: a base member (12) having mutually opposed end (18) and sidewalls (16) integrally connected to a bottom face (20), said base member adapted to support a plurality of beverage receptacles in a spaced relationship, and a lid member (14) having mutually opposed end (26) and sidewalls (24) integrally connected to a top face (28), said lid member adapted to co-operatively fit upon said base member (12), said top face of said base member having a plurality of apertures (32) adapted to matingly receive the extremities of said beverage receptacles to thereby maintain said beverage receptacles in a spaced relationship.

Description

RECYCLABLE CONTAINER This invention relates to a container for bev rage receptacles and, in particular, reusable containers for beverage receptacles, and a method of use of such recyclable containers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cardboard carton containers for beer bottles and the like are well known. Such cardboard cartons, however, are generally not reusable as they are highly susceptible to damage from moisture and transportation. Furthermore, the non-recyclable nature of such cardboard cartons is of a negative environmental impact. As well, it is necessary for the bottling plant to remove the beverage receptacles from such cardboard cartons in order that the bottles or other receptacles can be cleaned, refilled and resealed. Clearly, such an operation involves considerable effort and expense.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improv ^- container for beverage receptacles.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a container that facilitates the cleaning, refilling and resealing of beverage receptacles.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION According to one broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recyclable container for beverage receptacles, comprising a base member having mutually opposed end and side walls integrally connected to a bottom face, said base member adapted to support a plurality of beverage receptacles in a spaced relationship, and a lid member having mutually opposed end and side walls integrally connected to a top face, said lid member adapted to co¬ operatively fit upon said base member, said top face of said lid member having a plurality of apertures adapted to engagingly receive the extremities of said beverage receptacles to thereby maintain said beverage receptacles in a spaced relationship.

As the container is manufactured from a plastic material, the container can be reused on numerous occasions. without damage. Additionally, the insulating and wet storage capability of the plastic permits the container to be filled with ice and other materials to preserve the beverage contained therein within a chilled state.

The matrix of apertures provided in the lid member permits the extremity of each beverage receptacle to extend through the container. As a result, each beverage receptacle can be visually inspected through the matrix of apertures in the container to determine that the container is filled with beverage receptacles containing the desired beverage. Furthermore, as a result of both the wet storage capability of the plastic, as well as the extension of the beverage receptacle through the lid, each beverage receptacle within the container can be cleaned, sterilized, refilled and resealed without costly removal from, and return to, the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is perspective view of a container . constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view, in partial section, of a plurality of base members seated in stacked arrangement.

Figure 3 is a perspective view, in partial section, of a plurality of lid members of the container seated in stacked arrangement.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a base member.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the container showing the clip member that releasably secures the lid member to the base member.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to Figure 1 of the drawings, the reference numeral 10 refers generally to a container constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

The container 10 generally comprises two parts, namely, a base 12 and a lid 14. Each of these members is manufactured from a plastic material.

The base 12 includes mutually opposed side walls 16, mutually opposed end walls 18, and an integral bottom face 20. Integrally mounted to said end walls are handles 22, for grasping of the container on either end. Additionally, the side walls 16 and end walls 18 are tapered inwardly to permit convenient stacking and storage of the base members, as shown in Figure 2, as well as to facilitate the production process. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2, cases to hold 6, 12 or 24 bottles can be manufactured from the same mould, each size being stackable with each other. As a result, containers holding 6 bottles can be stacked with containers holding either 12 or 24 bottles, as the 6-pack container is 1/2 the size of the 12-pack, and is 1/4 the size of the 24-pack.

The base 12 is provided with a plurality of recesses 23, each recess permitting a bottle to be seated therein. Preferably, such recesses are rounded and cup-shaped in configuration to facilitate the lateral removal of the bottle from the base member.

The lid member 14 includes mutually opposed side walls 24, mutually opposed end walls 26 and a top face 28. The lid 14 is adapted to co-operatively fit upon the base member 12. Further, the lid is provided with an integrally moulded, one-piece tab or clip 30 that permits the lid to releasably snap fit with the base 12. Preferably, the lip of the lid may be constructed of relatively thicker plastic material for increased strength and durability.

As best seen in Figure 3, the mutually opposed side walls 24 and end walls 26 of the lid member are inclined inwardly to permit the convenient stacking and storage of a plurality of lid members. Furthermore, the lids are provided with tabs that extend outwardly and that seat within corresponding channels of base members, in order to facilitate stacking of filled containers. Furthermore, by having such stacking tabs located on the lids, rather than on the bottom face of the container, the container is stabilized and can be pushed along the floor surface without difficulty.

The top face 28 of the lid member 14 is provided with a matrix of apertures 32. These apertures 32 correspond in location with the extremities of each beverage receptacle that is seated in spaced relation within the base member 18. Thus, by way of example, each aperture 32 is aligned with the neck of a beer bottle.

In use, a beer bottle is seated in spaced relationship within the container. When the lid 14 is attached upon the base 12, the end of the neck of the beer bottle is matingly secured within the respective aperture 32, and the extremity or end of the bottle projects outwardly from said aperture. Further, these apertures 32 permit venting of air into the container as well as proper viewing of each bottle so as to provide simple visual inspection.

As this container is manufactured from plastic, it is not only reusable, but can act as an insulating cooler that can be filled with ice or other cooling materials.

Because the plastic used for the container is not susceptible to damage because of moisture, and as the matrix apertures permits the extremity of each beverage receptacle to matingly extend from the container, this arrangement dispenses with the known method of returning, reusing and re-filling beverage receptacles such as beer bottles. Rather, by use of said container, once the beer bottles have been emptied, they can be returned in the container to the bottling plant such that the bottles need not be removed from the container. Rather, the bottles are returned within the container, as a unit. This entire unit can then be cleaned and sterilized by flushing each bottle within the container with a cleaning and disinfecting solution, which is sprayed within each bottle, through the matrix of apertures within the lid. Once such cleaning and sanitizing, and subseguent drying, is complete, the bottles can be refilled with the desired beverage while still within the container, as the opening for each bottle is aligned with a corresponding aperture within the lid, so that the desired beverage can flow through the aperture and into each bottle. Finally, as the extremity of each bottle extends outwardly through a corresponding aperture, each bottle can be recapped with a crown seal or the like while still seated within the container and without the need for removal. The lid may then be resealed to the base by use of a biodegradable tape to avoid tampering and to indicate proper re-filling.

The base member 18 may also be provided with a plurality of drain holes. Additionally, viewing holes may be provided in the base member to permit optical scanning technology and the like to determine the brand of beer bottle located within each recess. Furthermore, the side walls of the base member are generally recessed and of relatively low height such that, when used, beer bottles and the like can be removed laterally from the base member with considerable ease. This arrangement is advantageous when the container is placed within a refrigerator having cramped space and low shelving.

It will be appreciated that, for manufacturing ease, a base member of uniform size may be employed for beer bottles of varying sizes, such that lids of corresponding heights are used in combination with such base members.

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Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows.

1. A recyclable container for beverage receptacles, comprising:

(a) a base member having mutually opposed end and side walls integrally connected to a bottom face, said base member adapted to support a plurality of beverage receptacles in a spaced relationship, and

(b) a lid member having mutually opposed end and side walls integrally connected to a top face, said lid member adapted to co-operatively fit upon said base member, said top face of said base member having a plurality of apertures adapted to matingly receive the extremities of said beverage receptacles to thereby maintain said beverage receptacles in a spaced relationship.

2. The method of using a recyclable beverage container for beverage receptacles, said container having a base member and a lid member in which said lid member has a plurality of apertures adapted to matingly receive the extremities of said beverage receptacles, comprising:

(a) Cleaning said beverage receptacles contained within said recyclable container, by flushing said receptacles and container with cleaning solution, said cleaning solution being sprayed within each beverage receptacle through said plurality of apertures, without removing said beverage receptacles from said recyclable container;

(b) Disinfecting said beverage receptacles and recyclable container by spraying each beverage receptacle through said plurality of apertures;

(c) Optically scanning each beverage receptacle within said recyclable container;

(d) Re-filling each beverage receptacle within said recyclable container, through said plurality of apertures; and

(e) Re-sealing the extremity of each beverage receptacle within said recyclable container, through said plurality of apertures.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET