Abstract: A stackable and nestable full-depth case for bottles having a floor structure for supporting a plurality of bottles thereon, a plurality of vertical columns extending upwards from the floor structure, a rim connecting the plurality of columns, and a bifurcated cover hingedly connected to an upper edge of the rim and positionable in open and closed positions over the bottles. The bifurcated cover includes a ceiling and a plurality of separating projections depending from an under surface of the ceiling. The separating projections engage the bottles when the cover is in the closed position thereover such that the bottles are retained in an upright position. Each separating projection is generally semi-cylindrical in shape and surrounds at least a portion of the top of each bottle. In a preferred embodiment, each separating projection includes an inner semi-cylindrical wall, an outer semi-cylindrical wall, and a sloping, semi-circular collar element connected therebetween.

Abstract: A stackable and nestable container having a bottom surface, a first pair of opposed end walls integrally joined with the bottom surface and extending upwardly away therefrom, and a second pair of opposed side walls integrally joined with the bottom surface and extending upwardly away therefrom. The first and second pairs of opposed end walls and side walls are integrally joined with each other along common end surfaces thereof to form with the bottom surface a substantially rectangular open top container. Each of the end walls and side walls includes a pair of column sections, and each of the column sections includes a recessed portion, an inner shelf and a lower column support. Each of the end walls and side walls further includes a pair of stacking sections, and each of the stacking sections includes a stacking foot and a stacking shelf.

Abstract: A low depth, nestable display crate for bottles is integrally molded from plastic and comprises two basic components--a floor and a wall structure extending up from the floor and extending around the periphery of the floor. The floor has bottle support areas. The wall structure comprises a lower wall portion adjacent the floor and a plurality of integrally formed pylons arranged along the sidewalls of the wall structure. The endwalls of the wall structure comprise extended handles which may be grasped in either a palm-up or palm-down orientation and allow for minimum crate dimensions. The handles are configured so as to provide sufficient clearance for a user's hands to grasp the handles. The extended configuration also provides for easy lifting as the handle bars are located well above the center of gravity of the crate for easy lifting.

Abstract: A stackable case for retaining and transporting bottles including outer side walls forming an outer shell having a longitudinal axis and a horizontal axis, a case bottom disposed substantially within the outer shell, and a plurality of supports for supporting the outer surfaces of the bottles and which, in combination with the outer shell and the case bottom, define a plurality of bottle retaining pockets. A first receiving structure extends above the height of a top surface of one of the side walls and has a first longitudinal recess and a first transverse recess for cross-stacking with an upper identical case by receiving a side wall of the upper identical case when the lower cross-stacking case is empty. A second receiving structure having a second longitudinal recess along the longitudinal axis of the case and a second transverse recess along an axis parallel to the transverse axis of the case is also provided in a preferred embodiment.

Abstract: A stackable case for retaining and transporting bottles including outer side walls forming an outer shell having a longitudinal axis and a horizontal axis, a case bottom disposed substantially within the outer shell, and a plurality of supports for supporting the outer surfaces of the bottles. The side walls include a lower wall portion and a plurality of spaced upwardly projecting pylons, where four corner pylons define the four corners of the case. A plurality of spaced upwardly projecting columns generally disposed within the outer shell define, in combination with the case bottom, the side walls and the end walls, a plurality of bottle retaining pockets. The columns and the pylons extend above the lower wall portions and below a top surface of the retained bottles. The end walls each include an integrally molded handle structure suspended between an upper portion of adjacent corner pylons to thereby define a generally open end wall area below the handle structure.

Abstract: The stackable low depth bottle case of the present invention includes four side walls and a bottom portion. A plurality of upwardly projecting hollow columns extend upwardly within the side walls. The columns, walls, and bottom portion define a plurality of bottle retaining pockets. The bottle retaining pockets have flat surfaces to permit retention of bottles without base indentations and to permit rotation of petaloid bottles. The columns extend upwardly from the base portion a distance approximately one third of the height of the bottles to be retained. The columns may be hollow to permit empty cases to stack top to bottom. The lower surface of the bottom portion has circular concave portions with central retaining openings to facilitate stacking of loaded cases top to bottom. When a case is disposed on a lower filled case, the bottle tops of the lower case are guided toward the central retaining openings by the circular concave portions.

Abstract: A height extension for use on top of a crate having a wall structure which extends the height of the wall structure of the crate to more stably retain containers. The extension of the present invention can be used with nestable and stackable crates to increase the heights of the crates without expensive replacement of the crates. It is particularly well suited for use with crates holding taller or differently shaped bottles. The extension also does not interfere with the nesting and stacking capabilities of the crates so that handling is not effected in any way since crates equipped with extensions are compatible with existing crates.

Abstract: A low-depth nestable tray for bottles which is deeply nestable with similar empty trays and is stackable or cross-stackable with similar loaded trays. The tray floor configured to receive the tops of bottles in a loaded tray therebeneath to stably support a stack of loaded trays. The tray wall structure includes nesting rib assemblies which comprise inwardly projecting, upwardly disposed nesting ledge and an outwardly projecting, downwardly disposed rib. The ledges and ribs positioned and configured relative to one another such that when the tray is nested a distance down into a similar empty tray the rib rests on the corresponding shelf or ledge of the similar empty tray, so that the load of nested trays is transmitted vertically downward and fraying of the tray wall structure is prevented.

Abstract: A low depth nestable tray for holding cans of similar capacities and body diameters but with varying top and bottom rim diameters. The tray has structural features that prevent spreading or fraying of the walls. The tray comprises a floor, a band around the periphery of the tray and columns interconnecting the band to the floor. Nesting ledges are disposed on columns and on corner posts of the wall structure. The ledges are equal in height and act as supports for the weight of a stack of nested empty trays which prevents the walls from having to support the weight and results in the walls maintaining their shape and structural integrity. The floor is configured with support areas for the containers and has features for accommodating bottom rims of varying diameters. The support areas have a circular groove for engaging the bottoms of cans and the bottom surface of the floor has downwardly projecting redoubts for facilitating stacking and handling of trays loaded with cans.

Abstract: A stackable and nestable container is provided which comprises a bottom surface and two pairs of opposed side walls integrally joined with the bottom surface and each other to form a substantially rectangular open-top container. The uppermost surfaces of the side walls collectively form an upper container rim. A container lid is adapted to be received along the upper container rim. Ventilation apertures are formed in each of the side walls. Also, each side wall includes a pair of column sections. Each column section includes a recessed portion, an inner shelf, and a lower column support. The column sections form outer surfaces which project outwardly away from the side walls. By using the column section design, all the support geometry for the container is located in the corners of the container. The upper container rim comprises a double thickness of material around substantially its entire periphery.

Abstract: A full-depth bottle case and at least one divider which is releasably snapped into the floor of the case and together therewith defines a plurality (e.g., nine) of bottle receiving pockets. The pattern of pockets thereby defined and thus the case are asymmetrical about both longitudinal and lateral axes thereof. To ensure that the case is properly aligned with respect to conveyors and other case handling equipment indicator arrows are provided on the outside case walls. The divider cannot be unsnapped from the case floor simply using fingers, to deter unauthorized removal. Rather, with the case inverted, tool is actuated downward at each of the divider snap locks to unlock them so that the divider can be removed and, if desired, replaced with a different divider to accommodate different sized bottles.