EP2103532A1

EP2103532A1 - Bottle crate

Info

Publication number: EP2103532A1
Application number: EP09155397A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ivette Smeuninx
Original assignee: Dw Plastics Nv
Current assignee: Dw Plastics Nv
Priority date: 2008-03-17
Filing date: 2009-03-17
Publication date: 2009-09-23
Also published as: NL2001382C2

Abstract

The invention relates to a bottle crate (1), comprising a cylindrically shaped surrounding wall (2) and a cylindrically shaped detachable bottom section (10), which fits within the surrounding wall, provided with sections (13) to accommodate the underside of bottles. Among other things, these characteristics provide for innovations in design and appearance and for new options for use. In a further embodiment, the bottom section (10) may also serve as a cooling element.

Description

Background of the invention

The invention relates to a bottle crate.
Rectangular bottle crates such as beer crates, provided with a surrounding wall with recesses as carrying handles, are widely known. These crates generally have an open latticed base provided with pillars or raised wall sections that hold the bottles in place within the crate.
WO-9218391 describes a rectangular bottle crate provided with a bottom section that is adjustable to two heights within the crate walls. A guiding rail is disposed within the walls for the in two positions adjustable base which supports the bottles.
US-4938359 describes a container for bottles, wherein the lower side and the upper side thereof is provided with complementary holding means for the holders to mutually join and engage one another to form a stable stack. The side wall can be cylindrically shaped, and holders can be suitable for joining by screwing. This does not relate to a bottle crate, or to a container for bottles.
DE29918492 describes a hollow-walled bottle carrier. The void between the walls can be filled with a cooling agent. This relates neither to a bottle crate nor to a bottle container.
There is room for improvement in these crates which, in themselves have already been known for some time, or for a crate providing new options for use.

Summary of the invention

The object of the invention is to provide an alternative to the bottle crates in the prior art, with more design options.
Alternatively, or additionally, the object of the invention is to provide a bottle crate providing new options for use.
To this end, the invention provides a bottle crate comprising a cylindrically shaped surrounding wall and a cylindrically shaped detachable bottom section incorporated within the surrounding wall and provided with accommodating sections for accommodating the underside of bottles.
An advantage of a cylindrically shaped crate over a rectangular crate is that it is simple to apply a label, for example, with a brand name, using a wrap-around shrink foil. An innovative design is also feasible. Further to this, this crate also provides new options for use.
The bottle crate according to the invention is cylindrical. In this respect, the definition of a cylinder is as specified in NEN1728 dated December 1973. A cylinder generally has a series of ground planes and a surrounding wall. According to the invention, the wall can also be formed by a combination of curved lines. Therefore, the wall can be inwardly or outwardly convex in order to make the bottle crate barrel-shaped.
The ground planes will generally be flat. This means that the upper edge and the bottom edge each lies in a straight plane.
Furthermore, it will be evident that the horizontal cross-section of the bottle crate can therefore be either round or oval. In one embodiment, the bottle crate is in the shape of a substantially circular cylinder, and in a particular embodiment thereof, a straight cylinder. In that embodiment, the cross-section of the bottle crate is circular, or near-circular in shape. This is then referred to as a "circular crate". These embodiments are relatively simple to produce and, moreover, provide new and surprising design options. Accordingly, the bottle crate may also serve as a container for a set of, eventually different, bottles. This results in a new form of packaging or one which may be newly designed and which also provides a means of protection.
As stated, the bottle crate according to the invention enables new designs which may have a surprising external appearance. It will be evident that such a surprising external appearance is, in itself, not the object of this patent. Accordingly, the design of the external appearance may be such that the bottle crate has the appearance of a beer keg. The specific external appearance can be the object of other intellectual property rights.
In one embodiment of the bottle crate according to the invention, the cylindrical surrounding wall forms a circular cylinder. This makes the bottle crate more simple to produce and additional designs are also conceivable. Accordingly, in principle, such a wall can be made by means of extrusion. In addition, the circular shape provides additional strength when the bottle crates are stacked. The wall requires fewer reinforcements, or none at all.
In a further embodiment, the accommodating sections comprise openings for the underside of the bottles. This provides a simple way of protecting bottles from damage.
In a further embodiment the openings form through-going openings or holes. This is simple to make.
In a further embodiment, the bottom section forms a cooling element for cooling or keeping cool of the bottles and their contents. This gives the bottle crate a further application, or, for example, the contents can be kept cool when purchased. In combination with the holes in the bottom section, the bottles can be cooled well and remain properly cooled. In itself, a cylindrically shaped crate has a smaller internal volume in relation to a rectangular crate, certainly in relation to the "footprint" of the number of bottles it will hold.
In a further embodiment, the bottom section incorporates a hollow plastic section that is provided with a cooling agent, preferably a fluid or gel with a high thermal capacity, such as a saline solution. It is even possible to make the bottom section suitable for rectangular crates and to cool drinks in this simple manner. This cooling element is then simple to use in an existing crate. To this end, it can be optionally provided with a modified cover. Accordingly, it is also conceivable to provide a traditional rectangular crate with a tight or partially tight base, or with a tight or partially tight detachable bottom section which can be snapped upwards. All of this may constitute part of a patent right, incorporating further specified characteristics derived from this present description.
In another embodiment, the bottle crate further comprises a tight base, joined to the surrounding wall. This will restrict the requirements for the bottom section.
In a further embodiment, the bottom section is joinable within the surrounding wall, for example by means of a snap connection.
In a further embodiment, the bottom section forms the base of the bottle crate. The surrounding wall is then simple to make and, in addition, the cooling element can be easily placed in a cooling space, separate from the rest of the crate.
In a further embodiment, the bottom section is joinable with the surrounding wall from below.
In a further embodiment, the bottom section can be snap-fittable into place or be fastenable into the surrounding wall by screwing.
In a further embodiment, the outer wall of the bottom section is provided with a screw thread and the inside of the surrounding wall with a complementary screw thread. A separate bottom section that can be attached and replaced enables additional applications for use.
In a further embodiment, the crate comprises a cover that fits within the surrounding wall. This allows for longer cooling. Moreover, bottles can be held in place so as to prevent damage during transport and so forth.
In a further embodiment, the inside of the surrounding wall is provided with a stop for holding the cover.
In a further embodiment, the surrounding wall further comprises at the upper side an outwardly extending upper band, wherein, in an embodiment thereof, a lower rim of the upper band forms a stop for the cover on the inside of the surrounding wall. The cover can be secured in a simple manner. Moreover, the bottles can be properly protected, in combination with means for holding the bottles.
In a further embodiment, the cover comprises a handle.
In a further embodiment, the cover also comprises means for holding the bottles.
In a further embodiment, the cover is also provided with through-going holes.
In a further embodiment, the crate also comprises a label wrapped around the exterior of the surrounding wall, said label being of a wrap-around shrink-foil. In particular, when the crate has two rims, such as an upper band and a lower band, the film is furthermore held in position therebetween. Moreover, re-use is made simpler.
The invention relates further to a bottom section, evidently intended and suitable for use as a bottom section for a crate according to the preceding claims.
The invention relates further to a cover, evidently intended and suitable for use in a bottle crate according to the preceding claims.
The invention further relates to a bottle crate provided with one or more of the characteristic arrangements set forth in the accompanying description and/or shown in the accompanying drawings.
It will be evident that the various aspects disclosed in this patent application may be applied in conjunction with one another and that each aspect may be considered independently for the purpose of a separate patent application.

Brief description of the figures

The accompanying figures show embodiments of a bottle crate according to the invention, in which:

Fig. 1a and 1b shows a view in perspective of two embodiments of a bottle crate according to the invention;
Fig. 2 shows an exploded view of one of the bottle crates of figure 1.

Description of the embodiments

Figures 1a and 1b show two embodiments of bottle crates. It will be evident that, in addition to the technical characteristics to which exclusive rights are claimed in this patent, the bottle crates also have a particular external appearance which can be achieved with the various aspects of the invention. These aspects of external appearance may be considered in view of other forms of protection of intellectual property, such as copyright and design rights.
The two embodiments of figure 1 differ primarily with regard to the use of materials. The embodiment of the bottle crate 1 on the left, in fig. 1a, is constructed from an opaque plastic, for example from the type of plastic generally used for the production of crates, such as polyethylene or polypropylene. Accordingly, because of this and due to the other external visual characteristics and the use of colours, this bottle crate has the appearance of a beer keg.
The embodiment on the right, in fig. 1b, is constructed from a transparent plastic. For improved scratch-resistance, a polycarbonate may be selected, for example, but other transparent plastics are also suitable. In this embodiment the shape is suggestive of a beer keg, but due to the transparent plastic selected for its construction, an exclusive and luxurious appearance is achieved. In addition, this makes the contents readily visible, thus rendering the use of a label unnecessary or not at all necessary.
Here, bottle crate 1 has a circular surrounding wall 2. The surrounding wall 2 is provided with openings 3 which serve as handles. Here, the surrounding wall 2 further has an outwardly extending upper band 4, an outwardly extending lower band 5 and a centre section 6 set back relative to said upper band and said lower band respectively. As a result, this firstly gives the optical effect of a beer keg. Further to this, this also results in rims which hold a preferably wrap-around label in place, here of a shrink-wrap foil as known in the prior art. In addition, in the case of the upper band 4, if the bottle crate 1 is provided with a cover 8 and if the wall thickness remains the same on the inside of the surrounding wall 2, a rim is created that may serve as a stop or support to hold the cover 8 in place. Moreover, if ridges are additionally provided on the inside of the wall upwardly and at a certain distance from the surrounding rim, then the cover 8 can be snap-fitted into its closed position and held in the position as shown in the figures. Alternatively, the cover 8 can be provided with a screw thread and the ridges may then serve as a thread, or the inside of the surrounding wall can be provided with a screw thread so that the cover 8 can be screwed down.
In the embodiment shown in the figures, a relatively thick cover 8 has been chosen, constructed from a plastic. This can be either solid or formed from foam plastic in order to save weight and material.
The cover 8 shown here is provided with a handle 9. In particular, if the snap-connection is secure or if a screw thread is provided, the bottle crate 1 may be lifted and transported, for example, by a consumer using the handle 9.
Here, the cover 8 also has openings 12 through which here the necks of the bottles 12 may extend. An aesthetic effect is that the contents are thus visible to a consumer and the manufacturer can display the brand by using the caps and the brand markings on those caps.
As a result, a technical effect is that the bottles are held in place. It is also conceivable that a fully closed cover can be selected, with provisions on the inside and underneath of the cover for holding the bottles in place. These provisions may engage the upper side of the bottles, or, alternatively, the lower sides or necks of the bottles. For example, the cover may also be provided with blind openings or protruding parts.
Furthermore, the embodiment on the left shows a bottom section 10, which will be described in more detail in figure 2.
Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the bottle crate 1 shown on the right in figure 1. The openings 12 in the cover 8 of this embodiment are more visible here. The openings are a simple arrangement designed to provide a means for holding the bottles in place.
The bottom section 10 is also readily visible here. Here, the bottom section 10 has openings 13 which may be either blind or through-going openings. If the openings 13 are through-going holes, the bottle crate 1 preferably has a tight solid base 15. The base 15 shown is formed jointly with the surrounding wall 2. Alternatively, bottle crate 1 has provisions which form an open base and support the bottles 11. In the case of through-going holes in the bottom section 10, said bottom section 10 may, for example, be lifted out of the bottle crate 1 over the bottles 11. Alternatively, the surrounding wall 2 may not be provided with a jointly formed base and said bottom section 10 may then serve as the base. In that case the holes 13 are not through-going holes. The bottom section 10 can then be snap-fitted or, for example, be screwed into the surrounding wall 2.
In one embodiment, the openings 13, as shown in figure 2, have inwardly extending sections within the holes which can clamp the undersides of the bottles 11.
Here, the bottom section 10 is a straight circular cylinder. The bottom section 10 is also adapted to the internal dimension of the surrounding wall 2 so that it forms a close fit, preferably without rattling occurring.
In a further embodiment, the bottom section 10 is constructed as a cooling element. Cooling elements as such are well-known. Such cooling elements can be placed in a refrigerator or freezer and transferred, for example, to a cool box to cool or keep products cool. Such cooling elements are generally filled with a fluid having a high thermal capacity. In one embodiment of the invention, said bottom section is a hollow plastic section filled with or which can be filled with such a fluid or gel having a high thermal capacity. Such a fluid or gel, or other possible medium used for that purpose, is in itself well-known to those skilled in the art. A cheap and well-known fluid, for example, is a saline solution.
In use, said bottom section 10 may be cooled in a refrigerator or freezer, after which said bottom section 10 can be placed inside the rest of the bottle crate 1, either click-fitted/snap-fitted from above or from below, depending on the embodiment. The bottles 11 can then be placed inside the crate and, if desired, the cover 8 can be placed on top. The bottles are then cooled or remain cooled and can be transported in the bottle crate. Of course, alternatively, the bottle crate and contents can be cooled as a whole inside a refrigerator and the contents of the bottles will remain cool for a long period of time after removal from the refrigerator.
It will be evident that the above description is included in order to illustrate the operation of the preferred embodiments of the invention and not to limit the scope of the invention. From the above description, many variations may become apparent to those skilled in the art, which fall within the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Claims

Bottle crate (1), comprising a cylindrical surrounding wall (2), a cylindrical, detachable bottom section (10) incorporated within the surrounding wall and provided with accommodating sections for accommodating the underside of bottles.
Bottle crate (1) according to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical surrounding wall (2) is shaped in the form of a circular cylinder.
Bottle crate (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the accommodating sections comprise openings for the underside of bottles, said openings in an embodiment thereof being through-going openings or holes (13).
Bottle crate (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said bottom section (10) forms a cooling element for cooling or keeping cool of bottles and their contents.
Bottle crate (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said bottom section (10) comprises a hollow plastic section provided with a cooling agent, preferably a fluid or gel with a high thermal capacity, such as a saline solution.
Bottle crate (1) according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a tight base (15) joined to the surrounding wall (2).
Bottle crate (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said bottom section (10) is joinable within the surrounding wall (2), for example, by means of snap-fastening.
Bottle crate (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said bottom section (10) forms the base of the bottle crate.
Bottle crate (1) according to claim 8, wherein said bottom section (10) is joinable with the surrounding wall from below, in an embodiment thereof being snap-fittable or fastenable by screwing into the surrounding wall, wherein the outer wall of the bottom section in an embodiment thereof is provided with a screw thread and the inside of the surrounding wall is provided with a screw thread complementary therewith.
Bottle crate (1) according to claim 9, wherein the inside of the surrounding wall (2) is provided with a stop (14) for holding the cover (8).
Bottle crate (1) according to any of the preceding claims 9 or 10, wherein the surrounding wall (2) comprises at the upper side an upper band (4) protruding outwardly from the top of said surrounding wall, wherein, in an embodiment thereof, a lower rim of the upper band on the inside of the surrounding wall forms a stop (14) for the cover.
Bottle crate (1) according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a cover (8) fitting within the surrounding wall (2), wherein, in an embodiment thereof, the cover (8) comprises a handle (9) and/or means for holding bottles and/or is provided with through-going holes (12).
Bottle crate (1) according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a label wrapped around the outer side of the surrounding wall, said label being of a wrap-around shrink foil, said wrap-around label in an embodiment thereof being applied around the mid-section (6) of the surrounding wall and held between a lower rim and upper rim which protrude in relation to the mid-section (6) of the surrounding wall (2).
Bottom section, evidently intended and suitable for a bottom section of a bottle crate according to the preceding claims, and provided with a means, preferably a fluid or gel having a high thermal capacity, such as a saline solution, for making it suitable as a cooling element.
Cover, evidently intended and suitable for a bottle crate according to any preceding claim.