The present invention relates generally to a case for carrying bottles and more particularly to a reusable carrier that can be connected to similar carriers to form display racks or storage racks.
Wine bottles are typically shipped in cardboard boxes to stores. At the store the bottles are removed from the boxes and arranged on shelves for display to customers. The wine bottles are also often displayed for sale in the store in the boxes. However, this arrangement makes it difficult for customers to see the products.
Consumers who purchase a case of wine carry the bottles home in the cardboard boxes. If the wine has been removed for display purposes the cardboard boxes must be repacked. These boxes are typically not sturdy and may be subject to damage from water, the environment, etc. These boxes are typically not reused or returned to the store.
It is therefore desirable to develop and design an improved bottle carrier for storing and displaying bottles.
A bottle carrier includes at least one base wall and a plurality of walls connected to the base and extending upward. At least one of the walls includes a recess on an exterior surface for holding a bottle. When the carrier is in a horizontal orientation, a bottle in a horizontal orientation can be partially disposed in the recess. The recess may include a plurality of concave portions formed in ribs projected from the wall.
The carrier may be stackable and connectable to similar carriers to form display or storage racks. At least one of the walls includes a plurality of feet extending therefrom. The feet are interlockable with feet on a similar carrier. When similar carriers are stacked, the feet interlock to improve the stability of the stacked carriers.
Adjacent carriers may be connected by corks or other cylindrical connectors inserted into apertures through walls in each of the carriers.
These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description.
a is an enlarged perspective view of one of the second feet.
a is a side view of the carrier.
a is a bottom view of the carrier.
A bottle carrier 10 according to one example embodiment of the present invention is shown in
Each of the side walls 14 includes a pair of first feet 18 arranged at diagonally opposite corners and a pair of second feet 20 arranged at the other diagonally opposite corners. Each of the first feet 18 includes a U-shaped outer rib 22 and a generally oval inner wall 24, nested within the outer rib 22. The outer rib 22 is substantially shorter than the inner wall 24. Each of the second feet 20 includes a generally oval outer wall 26 and a generally cylindrical oblong inner wall 28 nested therein. The inner wall 28 is substantially shorter than the outer wall 26. The inner walls 24 of the first feet 18 are sized to interlock within the outer walls 26 of the second feet 20 when similar bottle carriers 10 are stacked, as will be explained further below.
Each side wall 14 includes an upper band comprising a plurality (three in this example) of horizontal upper ribs 30 protruding outwardly from the side wall 14. The outer edges of the upper ribs 30 include a plurality (three in this example) of concave sections 32. Each side wall 14 further includes a label area defined by an elliptical rib 36. The elliptical rib 36 includes a plurality of concave portions 38.
Each side wall 14 further includes horizontal middle ribs 40, each having a plurality of concave portions 42. Corner fins 19 extend vertically in each corner just outward of each of the first feet 18 and the second feet 20. The corner fins 19 connect the upper ribs 30 and middle ribs 40.
Each side wall 14 further includes a plurality of logo ribs 46 that each define a logo (in this case, an “S” shape) and extend about the periphery of an opening through the side wall 14. Each of the logo ribs 46 includes a plurality of concave portions 48. Each side wall 14 further includes a plurality of horizontal lower ribs 50, each having a plurality of concave portions 52. The concave portions 32, 42, 48, 52 of the ribs 30, 40, 46, 50 are aligned along a vertical axis (in
A plurality of dividers 60 define a plurality of bottle-receiving pockets within the interior of the carrier 10. Each end wall 16 includes a handle 62, which as shown can be a large opening through the end wall 16. Further, each end wall 16 includes a connection aperture 64 extending through the end wall 16 above the handle 62. Each end wall 16 further includes a logo rib 68 both defining a logo (in this example, an “S” shape) and extending about the periphery of an opening into the interior of the carrier 10.
A plurality of corner ridges 70 extend upwardly from the upper edges of the corners where the side walls 14 and end walls 16 meet. The corner ridges 70 extend upwardly from the inner edge of the upper edge of each corner.
a is a partial perspective view of the carrier 10, enlarged to show one of the second feet 20 in more detail. The second feet 20 each include a plurality of vertical ribs 27 extending along an interior surface of the outer wall 26. The ribs 27 extend from the outer wall 26 to the inner wall 28. The ribs 27 also extend to an outer edge of the outer wall 26.
a is a side view of the carrier 10. The outer rib 22 of the first feet 18 include a pair of ribs 25 connected to the inner wall 24.
Recesses 76 formed on the interior surface of the bottom rib 54 are complementary to and aligned with the corner ridges 70 (
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
By combining the stacking and horizontal connection features of
While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/677,197, filed May 2, 2005.
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