WO1998041453A1 - Nestable display crate for bottle carriers - Google Patents
Nestable display crate for bottle carriers Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO1998041453A1 WO1998041453A1 PCT/US1997/016889 US9716889W WO9841453A1 WO 1998041453 A1 WO1998041453 A1 WO 1998041453A1 US 9716889 W US9716889 W US 9716889W WO 9841453 A1 WO9841453 A1 WO 9841453A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- crate
- floor
- wall portion
- lower wall
- bottle
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- 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
- B65D71/00—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans or pop bottles; Bales of material
- B65D71/70—Trays provided with projections or recesses in order to assemble multiple articles, e.g. intermediate elements for stacking
-
- 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
-
- 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
- B65D21/00—Nestable, stackable or joinable containers; Containers of variable capacity
- B65D21/02—Containers specially shaped, or provided with fittings or attachments, to facilitate nesting, stacking, or joining together
- B65D21/0233—Nestable containers
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45F—TRAVELLING OR CAMP EQUIPMENT: SACKS OR PACKS CARRIED ON THE BODY
- A45F5/00—Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping
-
- 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
- B65D2501/24108—Height of the side walls corresponding to part of the height of the bottles
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a nestable display crate for transporting and storing bottle carriers, more particularly, the present invention relates to crates that combine nestability and high strength with high visibility for multi-packs of bottles. Bottles, particularly for soft drinks and other beverages, are often stored and transported during the distribution stages thereof in crates or trays.
- the term "crate” or "tray” as used herein includes crates, trays and similar containers having a floor bottom and peripheral sidewall structure.
- crates generally are configured to be stacked on top of each other when loaded with bottles, and nested together when empty of bottles.
- the plastic crates provide advantages such as conservation of storage space and efficient, easy handling and recyclability.
- many crates today are made with a shallow peripheral sidewall structure. These generally are referred to as "low depth” crates in which the bottles bear most of the load of above-stacked crates.
- Crates having a higher peripheral sidewall, approximately the same height as the bottles generally are referred to as "full depth” crates in which the crates themselves bear most of the load of above- stacked crates.
- Low depth crates are generally less expensive and lighter in weight than full depth crates. Thus, low depth crates are used extensively. Generally, it is desirable to design low depth crates with a wall structure that provides lateral support for the bottles while also allowing the bottles to be visible. with a wall structure that provides lateral support for the bottles while also allowing the bottles to be visible.
- An example of a known low depth bottle crate for bottles of single serve capacity is disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Patent No. 5,060,819, the disclosure of which is also hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
- the bottle crate of the '819 patent has a sidewall structure with upright adjacent panels, alternating ones of which are raised such that their lower surfaces are spaced above the floor.
- Crates for single serve bottles are customarily stacked on top of each other.
- One way of handling the loaded crates is to stack the cases on pallets which can be lifted and moved about tiy fork-lift trucks.
- a technique for interconnecting loaded crates is called cross-stacking, and is often used to improve stability of a stack of crates for transport or for display purposes by a retailer.
- An aspect of crate design is to provide the structural features which facilitate handling of stacked and cross-stacked loaded crates to enhance the stability of stacked crates, while providing maximum visibility of the bottles or bottle carrier, especially in a retail setting.
- Another object of the present invention is to provide a low depth, nestable crate which has sufficient structural strength to withstand repeated and rough handling. Another object of the present invention is to provide a sturdy low depth, nestable crate which also provides maximum visibility of the bottle carriers for display purposes. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a low depth, nestable crate which makes efficient use of space both when loaded and stacked and when empty and nested. When loaded and stacked, the present invention also has structural features which securely engage the tops of variously sized bottle tops. Directed to achieving these objects, a new low depth, nestable display crate for bottle carriers is herein provided. The preferred configuration is for four six-pack carriers of bottles.
- the crate may be used to store or transport any type of container and differently grouped multi-packs.
- This crate is formed by integrally molding from plastic, two basic components — a floor and a wall structure extending up from the floor and extending around the periphery of the floor.
- the wall structure comprises a wall of double thickness with a lower wall portion adjacent the floor and a plurality of integrally formed contoured upper wall portions extending upward from the lower wall portion.
- the wall structure is hollow throughout allowing the contoured upper wall portions to be received within the lower wall portion of a crate nested thereabove.
- the contoured upper wall portions are tapered to be smaller in cross section at the top and larger near the lower wall portion to enable easy nesting and to avoid nested crates from becoming wedged together due to interference.
- the contoured upper wall portions are preferably arranged along the opposing sidewalls of the crate and the endwalls.
- the upper wall portions along the sidewalls are positioned so that they are between six-pack carriers when the crate is loaded, and the space in between the upper wall portions is a window that allows for a bottle carrier to be visible.
- the endwalls of the crate comprise integrally molded handles which are configured to allow for palm-up or palm-down gripping.
- the crate of the present invention combines the advantages of a nesting crate with sufficient strength afforded by its double-walled construction with maximum, unobstructed visibility of bottle carriers.
- the floor preferably has an open lattice design which not only allows unwanted fluids to drain out of the crate, but also requires less material and thus is lighter than a solid floor design.
- the floor also has bottle carrier support areas, preferably in an array.
- the floor of the crate has an outer or bottom surface which is configured for accommodating the tops of bottles in a similar crate underneath.
- the floor bottom surface preferably has upwardly recessed receiving areas disposed to receive the tops of bottles contained in a similar crate therebeneath.
- FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a crate in accordance with the present invention
- FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the crate of FIG. 1
- FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a sidewall of the crate of FIG. 1
- FIG. 4 is an elevational view of an endwall of the crate of FIG. 1
- FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the crate of FIG. 1;
- FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the crate of FIG. 1;
- FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the crate of FIG. 1 shown loaded with six-pack carriers ofbottles;
- FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the crate taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 5;
- FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the crate taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 5;
- FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the crate taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 5;
- FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the crate taken along line 11-11 of FIG. 5;
- FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the crate taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 5.
- crate 10 of the preferred embodiment comprises a wall structure with a lower wall portion 12, an upper wall portion 14 and a floor 16.
- Crate 10 is preferably rectangular and the wall structure comprises sidewalls and endwalls. Although a rectangular crate is shown and described, the present invention is not limited thereto and may comprise sidewalls and endwalls of equal length resulting in a square crate.
- the wall structure is of double-thickness and defines the periphery of crate 10 with opposing sidewalls and opposing end walls.
- Lower wall portion 12 includes a plurality of interior panels 18 which are connected to floor 16, and an exterior surface 20 which forms an uninterrupted band along each of the sidewalls.
- Upper wall portion 14 comprises a plurality of trapezoid or rectangular shaped sidewall teeth 22 resembling gear teeth spaced along the sidewall, FIG. 3.
- Two endwall teeth 24 on each of the endwalls provide the supports for a handle 26, FIG. 4.
- the exterior surfaces of the lower wall portion and teeth of the upper wall portion are integral and include a contoured step 28 where the teeth are inwardly directed and extend above the lower wall portioa Step 28 is integral with top surfaces 30 of the lower wall portion that are arranged between teeth. Step 28 and top surfaces 30 form a shoulder which generally defines the the portion of a crate that will be visible when crates are nested together.
- the interior surfaces of the wall structure include interior teeth panels 32 which are connected to interior lower panels 18 of the lower wall portions. Interior teeth panels 32 provide upper lateral supports for bottle carriers, and interior lower panels 18 provide lower lateral supports for the bottle carriers. Interior lower panels 18 are arranged along the periphery of the floor and alternate with cut-outs 34 which reduce the amount of material making the crate lighter in weight. Since the interior panels 18 are connected to the floor, free edges of the floor extend across cut-outs 34 in between panels 18.
- these panels Viewed from the inside of the crate, these panels are arranged in alternating zig-zag fashion. The surfaces of these panels are flat to support the flat cardboard walls of carriers loaded with bottles.
- the exterior surface of lower wall portion 12 has a central flat label portion 36 which can be used for molded in information, logos, advertisements and the like.
- Teeth 22 and 24 are provided with internal ribs 23 and 25 respectively which bear against the tops of corresponding teeth in a similar crate when the crates are nested together. These nesting supports ensure that the weight of a column of nested crates is borne by sufficiently strong elements of the crate to provide stability and ensure that the wall structures do not fray from repeated use.
- Ribs 23 and 25 are integrally formed in the hollow spaces inside teeth 22 and 24. Ribs 23 and 25 are shown in FIG. 6 and in cross-section in FIGS. 8 and 9. Ribs 23 and 25 preferably are located in the upper part of teeth 22 and 24, and hidden from view by the interior and exterior surfaces of the teeth. FIG. 6 best illustrates how ribs 23 and span the inside of teeth 22 and 24, bridging their interior and exterior surfaces.
- teeth 22 along the sidewalls are specifically configured to provide openings that make the labels of cardboard bottle carrier visible. This is best seen in FIG. 7 which illustrates cardboard carriers C loaded with bottles B with the having a label L on their long sides. Labels L are visible through the openings defined between teeth 22 due to the configuration of teeth 22.
- the center tooth is slightly larger to support portions of both carriers.
- Handles 26 on the endwalls of crate 10 are integrally molded with the lower wall portion but extend upward so that the tops of the handles are flush with the tops of endwall teeth 24.
- Relatively large handle cut-outs 38 are provided to the outside so handles 26 are bar-like in construction in that there is complete clearance both above and below the handles for a user's hands to grasp the crate in either the palm-up or palm-down positions.
- the handles are spaced slightly outwardly from endwall teeth 24, more space is provided between the bottle carriers loaded in the crate and the handles.
- the palm-up position refers to the position of a user's hands when the fingers are inserted below handle 26 from the outside of the crate such that the palms generally face up and inward.
- the palm-down position refers to the position of a user's hands when the fingers are inserted below handle 26 from the inside of the crate such that the backs of the hands are facing each other and the palms are generally facing down and/or outward.
- the height of handles 26 and their length ensure that a user's hands have sufficient clearance to grasp the handle in either the palm-up or palm-down positions. Providing a user with the option of handling the crate in either hand position helps alleviate fatigue and prevent hand-wrist injuries since a natural grasping motion can be used.
- FIGS. 3 and 4 show that exterior of lower wall portion 12 is preferably not quite flush with the floor bottom surface so that the floor bottom surface is left exposed somewhat in profile. Leaving lower wall portion 12 slightly higher than the floor bottom surface facilitates handling by allowing hand trucks to slide easily under the crate, and prevents the exterior lower wall portion from fraying and catching on bottle tops in stacked columns of crates.
- the crate of the present invention combines the features of nestability, strength and visibility.
- Floor 16 preferably has a lattice-like configuration having a pattern of open spaces as best seen in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6.
- the floor comprises a system of grid-like longitudinal and lateral struts traversing the floor in perpendicular relation to one another and connecting circular lattice elements together.
- a plurality of circular lattice elements define the locations of bottle tops in a loaded crate stacked therebeneath, and curved lattice members generally surround the circular elements to define bottle top location areas.
- Interstitial circular members are provided between bottle tops areas as well.
- the open floor design provides a light weight crate, and is practical for allowing any liquids to drain through floor 16.
- the floor is generally flat and open so as not to interfere with the bottle carriers.
- Floor 16 has an upper or top surface 40 which is generally flat and includes a plurality of support areas for supporting bottle carriers thereon.
- the support areas are arranged in rows and columns to thereby define an array.
- crate 10 is designed to hold four six-packs of bottles in cardboard carriers.
- the support areas are configured so that bottles in an array are retained in relatively close relation so as to prevent jostling of the bottles during handling. Excess movement of the bottles is to be avoided in order to ensure that the bottles remain in a vertically upright position to most advantageously bear the load of bottles stacked or cross-stacked thereabove.
- Floor 16 has a bottom surface 44 which has distinctive structural features.
- Floor bottom surface 44 is configured to allow for stacking and cross-stacking of loaded crates. Cross-stacking is done by rotating a top crate 90 degrees about a vertical axis and lowering onto a bottom crate or crates. During shipping and handling crates may be moved by machines and it is advantageous to use crates which can be stably stacked or cross-stacked.
- Floor bottom surface 44 has a plurality of bottle top location areas defined by curved lattice elements 46, best seen in FIGS. 2 and 6.
- the positions of curved lattice elements 46 are determined to provide a range within which the bottle tops in a loaded crate therebeneath may reside and still provide safe stacking and cross-stacking.
- the bottoms of curved lattice elements 46 extend downward slightly from the bottom of the rest of the floor bottom surface. The receiving areas help retain bottles in vertically upright positions to bear the load of bottles stacked or cross-stacked thereabove.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
- Details Of Rigid Or Semi-Rigid Containers (AREA)
- Stackable Containers (AREA)
- Containers Having Bodies Formed In One Piece (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
CA002255699A CA2255699C (en) | 1997-03-20 | 1997-09-19 | Nestable display crate for bottle carriers |
AU44929/97A AU4492997A (en) | 1997-03-20 | 1997-09-19 | Nestable display crate for bottle carriers |
BR9709257A BR9709257A (en) | 1997-03-20 | 1997-09-19 | Attachable display crate for bottle holders |
Applications Claiming Priority (6)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US6820597 | 1997-03-20 | ||
US29/068,205 | 1997-03-20 | ||
US29/070,776 USD400012S (en) | 1997-05-15 | 1997-05-15 | Bottle crate |
US29/070,776 | 1997-05-15 | ||
US08/921,153 US5979654A (en) | 1994-02-03 | 1997-08-29 | Nestable display crate for bottle carriers |
US08/921,153 | 1997-08-29 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO1998041453A1 true WO1998041453A1 (en) | 1998-09-24 |
Family
ID=27371291
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US1997/016889 WO1998041453A1 (en) | 1997-03-20 | 1997-09-19 | Nestable display crate for bottle carriers |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
AU (1) | AU4492997A (en) |
BR (1) | BR9709257A (en) |
CA (1) | CA2255699C (en) |
PE (1) | PE104198A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1998041453A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CA2837801C (en) | 2013-01-11 | 2015-09-29 | Parmalat Canada Inc. | Stackable trays for jugs, stacked arrangements and stacking methods |
CA153482S (en) | 2013-10-15 | 2014-11-19 | Parmalat Canada Inc | Tray for jugs |
USD750975S1 (en) | 2013-10-15 | 2016-03-08 | Parmalat Canada Inc. | Tray for jugs |
CA153484S (en) | 2013-10-15 | 2014-11-19 | Parmalat Canada Inc | Tray for jugs |
Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3347405A (en) * | 1965-12-02 | 1967-10-17 | Phillips Petroleum Co | Article carrying case |
US3368709A (en) * | 1966-02-28 | 1968-02-13 | Joseph B. Waller | Bottle carrying case or the like |
US3473690A (en) * | 1967-06-15 | 1969-10-21 | Arnaud De Cazenove | Fruit packing box |
US3506154A (en) * | 1968-07-08 | 1970-04-14 | Laidlaw Corp | Plastic case for milk bottles |
US4364477A (en) * | 1977-06-17 | 1982-12-21 | Stromberg Per S | Plastics fish box |
US4823955A (en) * | 1987-08-27 | 1989-04-25 | Rehrig-Pacific Company, Inc. | Nesting and stacking storage container |
US5191994A (en) * | 1992-06-10 | 1993-03-09 | Stauble Alfred G | Water bottle crate |
-
1997
- 1997-09-19 CA CA002255699A patent/CA2255699C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1997-09-19 AU AU44929/97A patent/AU4492997A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1997-09-19 PE PE00084497A patent/PE104198A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1997-09-19 BR BR9709257A patent/BR9709257A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1997-09-19 WO PCT/US1997/016889 patent/WO1998041453A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3347405A (en) * | 1965-12-02 | 1967-10-17 | Phillips Petroleum Co | Article carrying case |
US3368709A (en) * | 1966-02-28 | 1968-02-13 | Joseph B. Waller | Bottle carrying case or the like |
US3473690A (en) * | 1967-06-15 | 1969-10-21 | Arnaud De Cazenove | Fruit packing box |
US3506154A (en) * | 1968-07-08 | 1970-04-14 | Laidlaw Corp | Plastic case for milk bottles |
US4364477A (en) * | 1977-06-17 | 1982-12-21 | Stromberg Per S | Plastics fish box |
US4823955A (en) * | 1987-08-27 | 1989-04-25 | Rehrig-Pacific Company, Inc. | Nesting and stacking storage container |
US5191994A (en) * | 1992-06-10 | 1993-03-09 | Stauble Alfred G | Water bottle crate |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CA2255699C (en) | 2006-10-24 |
BR9709257A (en) | 1999-08-10 |
AU4492997A (en) | 1998-10-12 |
PE104198A1 (en) | 1999-02-03 |
CA2255699A1 (en) | 1998-09-24 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US5979654A (en) | Nestable display crate for bottle carriers | |
US8672161B2 (en) | Nestable display crate for bottle carriers | |
US5704482A (en) | Nestable display crate with extended handles | |
US5855277A (en) | Nestable display crate for bottles with handle feature | |
US5495945A (en) | Low depth nestable tray for bottles or the like | |
EP0587254B1 (en) | Reusable stackable tray for cans | |
US9321572B2 (en) | Nestable crate for containers | |
US5230601A (en) | Method for stacking trays | |
AU777659B2 (en) | Stackable low depth case with handle structure | |
AU2002347901A1 (en) | Nestable crate for containers | |
AU691994B2 (en) | Nestable display crate | |
CA2002417A1 (en) | Nestable tray | |
CA2255699C (en) | Nestable display crate for bottle carriers | |
MXPA98009790A (en) | Nestable display crate for bottle carriers |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AK | Designated states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AL AM AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BY CA CH CN CU CZ DE DK EE ES FI GB GE GH HU ID IL IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MD MG MK MN MW MX NO NZ PL PT RO RU SD SE SG SI SK SL TJ TM TR TT UA UG UZ VN YU ZW |
|
AL | Designated countries for regional patents |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): GH KE LS MW SD SZ UG ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN ML MR NE SN TD TG |
|
ENP | Entry into the national phase |
Ref document number: 2255699 Country of ref document: CA Ref country code: CA Ref document number: 2255699 Kind code of ref document: A Format of ref document f/p: F |
|
WWE | Wipo information: entry into national phase |
Ref document number: PA/a/1998/009790 Country of ref document: MX |
|
121 | Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application | ||
REG | Reference to national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: 8642 |
|
122 | Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase | ||
NENP | Non-entry into the national phase |
Ref country code: JP Ref document number: 1998540471 Format of ref document f/p: F |