Abstract: A carrier for containers, such as bottles, the carrier being made of plastic, being nestable with identical carriers when empty and being formed to be stacked, when filled, with other filled carriers in a manner such that the weight load of the stack is supported by the bottles, the carrier including a grid-like bottom, a top frame, columns connecting the bottom to the top frame and stacking projections extending downwardly from the bottom and having parts which project laterally outwardly from the bottom while being laterally inset from the outer edge of the rim.

Abstract: A crate for beverage bottles and the like has separators for the bottles in the form of clusters of pillars extending upward from the lattice work bottom of the crate, each cluster being centered on the intersection of four bottle cells of the crate. The pillars of the same cluster are separated by one or two vertical slot-like gaps extending to the crate bottom to receive the partitions of a disposable bottle pack, so that the bottles can be loaded in the crate after they have already been placed in the disposable bottle packs in which they will go to consumer. The bottom of the bottle pack is provided with holes to allow the bottle separator pillars of the crate to extend up into the bottle pack. Instead of a single bottle pack fitting into the crate, two or more smaller bottle packs may fit adjacently into the crate, with their adjoining walls fitting into the same slot-like gaps of the pillar cluster.

Abstract: A plastic bottle case for holding two rows of bottles has two inner walls which extend between opposite ends of the case and slope upwardly and inwardly at an acute angle to one another. Lower edges of the inner walls are spaced inwardly from the respective sides of the case a distance less than the diameter of bottles to be received in the case. Openings having horizontal projections conforming to the cross sectional shape of the bottles are provided in the inner walls to receive the bottles so as to hold them erect and keep them from bumping one another. The bottles are supported by ledges at the bottoms of the openings in the inner walls, the bottom of the case being otherwise open. This construction permits a saving in weight and hence in the amount of plastic material required for the bottle case. A further saving of material is achieved by making the sides and ends of the case of vertically spaced horizontal bands extending between angular columns at the corners of the case.

Abstract: A carton for carrying a plurality of bottles, the carton having a stacking capability when both empty and when filled with bottles. Registration for stacking of empty cartons is provided by reception of the handles of each carton in a recessed open area in the bottom of the next carton in the stack. Each carton comprises side and end walls connected in a generally rectangular shape, a central dividing member having an extension thereof forming a handle, partition walls cooperating with the central dividing member to form cells for holding bottles, and a carton bottom coupled to the partition walls and central member. The carton bottom, partition walls and central dividing member are relieved so as to form a slotted region for receiving the handle of a similar empty carton therebelow. Appropriately disposed upward protrusions on the carton bottom maintain the separation of bottles in the relieved region of the carton.

Abstract: A protective packaging for bottles having different neck lengths includes a support block having circular recesses that receive the bottle bottoms, and a unitary, box-shaped bottle-neck-receiving retainer. The retainer has a flat bottom which serves as a web to support a plurality of inverted cups into which the bottle necks project. Each cup is frangible, and when the closed upper end is broken of, the remaining truncated conical cup wall receives a bottle neck that is too long to be accomodated completely within the unbroken cup, as can a shorter necked bottle. In this way both short and long necked bottles can be securely contained together in a single protective package.

Abstract: A plastic carrying case is constructed with a special elevated center divider and an inner depressed ledge portion and also with a special lower grooved portion that allows the center divider of a lower case to enter and be guided by the lower grooved portion of an upper case to facilitate movement of an upper case onto the ledge portion of the lower case. There is a special interrelationship between the center divider and the lower grooved portion of an adjacent case that assures rigidity yet facilitates intentional removal. The case walls are of thin construction for economy reinforced, however, by vertical beads through which compressive forces are transmitted.

Abstract: Bottle carrying crate which has six bottle receiving compartments arranged in two rows. The crate is also provided with an over-top handle for facilitating single hand carrying of the crate. The design of the crate is such that a plurality of crates can be stacked one on the other with minimum vertical dimension.

Abstract: A bottle packing comprises a plastic bottle case receiving a plurality of cardboard or plastic bottle carriers. The case is divided by wedge-like compartment walls having sloping sides in which cutouts are provided to receive lower portions of bottles. The bottle carriers have a narrow bottom and sloping sides conforming to the compartment walls of the case and likewise having cutouts for the bottles. The carriers may also have cutouts for upper portions of the bottles and cutouts near the top to provide a handle. The carriers may receive one or two rows of bottles. The bottles can be placed in the case with or without carriers. When no carriers are used, the compartment walls prevent the bottles from striking one another.

Abstract: A packaging device for a fragile article which can be stacked in nested relationship with similar packaging devices when not holding such an article. The packaging device comprises a base insert for holding a lower portion of the fragile article, a base for protecting the base insert from impact, a top insert for holding an upper portion of the fragile article and a top for protecting the top insert from impact.

Abstract: A package is described for storing, shipping, displaying, and serving articles such as glass or plastic tumblers. The package is formed of molded plastic sections including a base, a top, and a handle. The preferred base is adapted to receive the bottoms of pairs of tumblers in cups positioned on opposite sides of a central panel so that the package will accommodate a number of pairs of articles in the assembled base and a snap-on top. A handle is slidably mounted in the top for movement between a recessed position and a raised package carrying position.

Abstract: A temperature insulating receptacle, e.g. of styrofoam or polyurethane, which is composed of two sections hinged together so as to be adapted to be folded like a suitcase while the ends opposite the hinging means are provided with interengaging closure means a part of which simultaneously serves as a handle.