Bottle Case Patents (Class 220/509)
  • Patent number: 11685570
    Abstract: Beverage container packing trays, systems, and techniques of packing beverage containers include at least a beverage container tray including beverage container contoured compartments configured to receive one or more beverage containers in a lay flat configuration. The beverage container contoured compartments include at least a cradle element, a conical element, and a neck support element. The beverage container tray includes thermo pack compartments that house transport thermo packs adjacent to at least a portion of the beverage containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: ACORN WEST LLC
    Inventors: John Gilligan, Ron Valtierra, Justin Haas
  • Patent number: 10619905
    Abstract: An apparatus for conductive and convective cooling of the liquid contents of bottles in a thermally insulating chest. A plate with spaced holes each for receiving a respective bottle with a gap between each of the bottles and the side of the respective hole. A set of legs for supporting and stabilizing the plate within the chest and crushed ice, ice cubes and the like filling the volume between the plate's support surface, the exposed upper portions of the bottles and the associated sides of the chest. Conductive cooling is attained through direct contact between the bottles and the ice. Convective cooling occurs through the liquid contents of the bottles, the colder, more dense liquids in the upper portions of the bottles flowing down into and displacing the less dense and warmer liquid contents upwardly toward the ice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Inventor: Gordon Sterling Starling
  • Patent number: 10085534
    Abstract: A novel suitcase system comprising a case, partitions and a tool that is an aid in repositioning the partitions is described. The inside of the case and the partitions are lined or covered with hook or loop material such that once in contact are held together. The tool is used to easily break the bond between the hook and loop material and reposition or remove the partitions. The case also includes a flexible top that when opened can be folded or rolled into a pouch incorporated on the outside of the case. Pouches that include a strip of hook or loop material may be removably attached to the inside walls of the case or to the sides of the partitions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Inventors: Michael Quijada, John Phillips Paladino
  • Patent number: 9302834
    Abstract: A dispensing system based on secondary packaging having side panels forming a tubualar form, top and bottom panels held substantially perpendicular to the side panels of the secondary package, and optionally including a stabilizing insert. Apertures in the top panel and posts in the bottom panel are provided to stabilize and support primary packages in the secondary package. The apertures in the top panel are sized to allow a primary package to be removed individually by passing through such aperture. Primary packages within the secondary package are biaxially supported between apertures in the top panel surrounding an elongated neck on the primary package and posts in the bottom panel that interlock with a depression in the bottom of the primary package. Such dispensing system can be opened and individual primary packages removed without exposing any other primary containers held within the dispensing system, while maintaining stable storage and transportation utility in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Justin Campesino, LLC.
    Inventor: Justin Campesino
  • Patent number: 8960479
    Abstract: A crate includes a base, a pair of opposed end walls extending upward from the base, and a pair of opposed side walls extending upward from the base between the end walls. Each side wall includes a plurality of side columns extending upward from the base to a side band. Each side band includes a logo portion having a protruding portion protruding upward relative to an upper edge of the side band. Each side band further includes a curved recess formed in a lower edge of the side band, the curved recess complementary to the protruding portion of the logo portion. The protruding portions of the logo portions are offset in opposite directions from a center of the side walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Reehrig Pacific Company
    Inventors: Ryan C. Meers, William P. Apps, Suzanne Whitfield Clark
  • Patent number: 8893891
    Abstract: A tray for storing and transporting bottles includes a plurality of spaced apart base walls each for supporting a bottle thereon. A pair of opposed side walls and a plurality of interior columns are connected by a plurality of dividers. The dividers also connect the columns and the side walls to the base wall. Each divider includes a lower end having spaced apart pocket walls each connected to a different one of the base walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventor: William P. Apps
  • Patent number: 8757420
    Abstract: A nestable crate or container for holding bottles. The crate has a floor portion substantially in a first plane having a plurality of bottle seating areas, with each bottle seating area being adapted to receive a lower portion of a bottle. The crate also includes a peripheral wall surrounding the floor portion and extending upward from the floor portion, a plurality of central columns extending upward from the floor portion and oriented proximate to a longitudinal centerline of the crate, and a plurality of pylons extending upward from the floor portion along the periphery of the crate. Each central column includes at least one first bottle-contacting surface and each pylon includes at least one second bottle-contacting surface. Both the first and second bottle contacting surfaces are substantially orthogonal to the first plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Orbis Canada Limited
    Inventor: Edward L. Stahl
  • Patent number: 8714373
    Abstract: A stackable glide rack includes an elongated member having a plurality of vertical partitions forming at least one row for storing a plurality of beverage containers, multiple protrusions and indentations for allowing a group of individual glide racks to be stacked in a vertical manner and an identification unit for identifying a type of beverage container stored in each row. When so oriented, a plurality of glide racks can provide an increased product selection choices without occupying additional space in a refrigerated display case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Inventor: Devin Danehy
  • Patent number: 8701887
    Abstract: A container adapted to be stacked on top of a second container is provided. The container includes a first end wall and a sidewall having a first end and a second end. The container includes a first seam coupling the first end wall to the first end of the sidewall, the first seam including a shoulder extending inwardly from an outer surface of the first seam. The container includes an alignment feature extending from the shoulder away from the first end wall. The alignment feature is adapted to align the container relative to the second container and to resist lateral movement of the container relative to the second container when the container is stacked on top of the second container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Silgan Containers LLC
    Inventors: Gerald Baker, Thomas Murphy
  • Patent number: 8672161
    Abstract: A nestable display crate for bottle carriers having a floor and a wall structure with that is designed to reveal the labels on the bottle carriers. The wall structure is of double thickness and comprises 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 upper wall portions are in the shape of gear teeth that are spaced along the opposing sidewalls and endwalls of the crate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventor: William Patrick Apps
  • Patent number: 8636142
    Abstract: A tray includes a base, a pair of opposed side walls and a plurality of interior columns between the side walls. A plurality of dividers connect the interior columns to one another and to the side walls. Side columns project upward from the side walls. The side walls include an upper portion and a plurality of spaced-apart lower portions, thus reducing the weight of the tray while maintaining the stability of the tray. Optionally, the base could include a plurality of base walls connected by co-planar vertical ribs. The dividers include upper wall portions extending continuously between interior columns and/or an interior column and a side column and/or an interior column and an end column. The dividers include spaced apart lower wall portions each connected to one of the vertical ribs connected adjacent base walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventor: William P. Apps
  • Patent number: 8608015
    Abstract: A device capable of storing beverages is provided with a base and a lid. The base includes a central cavity capable of retaining beverage containers and a cooling component. The bottoms of beverage containers may rest in container-retaining pockets molded into the bottom of the base and the tops of beverage containers may rest in one or more pockets protruding from the lid. One advantage is that the beverage containers may come into direct contact with the cooling component located in the central cavity of the base of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Innovative Plastech, Inc.
    Inventors: Tracy C. Wolf, Sarah E. Kaiser
  • Patent number: 8579143
    Abstract: Disclosed is a reserve tank comprising a tank main body that has a plurality of chambers partitioned by partition walls, an inflow port that allows coolant to flow into the tank main body, and an outflow port that allows the coolant to flow out of the tank main body, the plurality of chambers including a first chamber and a second chamber partitioned by the partition walls, and a third chamber that accumulates the coolant that should flow from the inflow port into the first chamber, the first chamber having a first communicating portion formed to allow the coolant to flow into the second chamber, the third chamber having a second communicating portion formed to allow the accumulated coolant to flow into the first chamber, the flow rate of the coolant passing through the second communicating portion being set smaller than the flow rate of the coolant passing through the first communicating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoto Koshino
  • Patent number: 8448806
    Abstract: A crate according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a base, a pair of opposed side walls extending upward from the sides of the base and a pair of end walls extending upward from ends of the base. The end walls each include a pair of spaced apart end columns each having a side flange partially defining a bottle receiving pocket and a lower rib projecting upwardly from the base between the side flanges. A handle extends across the pair of spaced apart columns at each end wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventor: Jon P. Hassell
  • Patent number: 8387794
    Abstract: A container to hold gifts or beverage bottles is described. The container provides a unique and customizable gift for a recipient of the container. The container includes two or more compartments. The compartments are configured to hold gifts or a beverage bottle. Two or more panels removably engage to the container to close the compartments. The panels include a first side and a second side. The first side of at least one of the panels includes a first message and the second side of the at least one panel includes a second message. The first message is visible when the panel is engaged to the container, and the second message is concealed when the panel is engaged to the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Inventor: Marc Stitzlein
  • Patent number: 8373574
    Abstract: A device and advertising method utilizes a sound and light display device, which often holds a bottle of a beverage to be dispended, and customer based remote which is distributed to customers in any number of ways. In one embodiment the sound playing device can be incorporated into a chiller. In one embodiment the sound playing device is incorporate into a stand for the beverage bottle. Other display devices are also possible. Examples include, but are not limited to, a small audio sound playing device, a beverage sign or sculpture which also evokes the brand. More than one type of remote can be created, allowing different types of customers to have different control levels or access to different areas of an establishment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Inventor: Albert W. Gebhard
  • Patent number: 8353402
    Abstract: A tray for storing and transporting bottles includes a plurality of spaced apart base walls each for supporting a bottle thereon. A plurality of interior columns extend upwardly between the base walls. Longitudinal dividers connect the interior columns. Lateral dividers connect the interior columns to side columns along side edges of the tray. The side columns have tapered mid-portions, such that upwardly-opening windows between side columns are contoured convexly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventor: William P. Apps
  • Patent number: 8297441
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for protecting the surfaces and labels of beverage containers are disclosed. The invention includes a beverage tray having a floor and walls extending from the floor. The beverage tray includes a plurality of dividing sections that divide the beverage tray into beverage sections. Each beverage section may hold a single beverage container. The beverage tray may include a plurality of contact strips positioned within the beverage tray and configured to contact the surface of the beverage container. The contact strips may be placed on the walls of the beverage tray or on the dividing sections of the beverage tray. The contact strips may be applied to existing beverage trays to protect the surfaces and labels of beverage bottles from being damaged by the surface of the beverage trays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Pepsico, Inc.
    Inventor: Cherie Eugui
  • Patent number: 8109408
    Abstract: A crate according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a base, a pair of opposed side walls extending upward from the sides of the base and a pair of end walls extending upward from ends of the base. The end walls each include a pair of spaced apart end columns each having a side flange partially defining a bottle receiving pocket and a lower rib projecting upwardly from the base between the side flanges. A handle extends across the pair of spaced apart columns at each end wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventor: Jon P. Hassell
  • Patent number: 8061538
    Abstract: Wine storage system including a front panel, a back panel, and two side panels. The wine storage system can be in an assembled or disassembled state and can be assembled or disassembled by a user. When assembled, the wine storage system takes the form of a wine rack. The front panel and back panel each comprise a plurality of wine bottle apertures configured to receive wine bottles. The design of the wine storage system is such that when the wine rack is assembled, the wine bottle apertures of the front panel correspond to wine bottle apertures of the back panel to form a support structure for the wine bottles to be placed at an incline or a substantially horizontal position in the wine rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Inventor: Philip Seldon
  • Patent number: 7950521
    Abstract: A tray for containers, such as beverage bottles, includes a base and a plurality of interior columns extending upwardly from the base. A plurality of columns extend upwardly along at least a portion of the periphery of the tray. Side walls extend along the sides of the tray and end walls extend along the ends of the tray, the end walls connected to the side walls by corner walls. The corner walls protrude upwardly higher than the side walls and end walls and include an opening at a lower edge thereof for receiving a corner portion of an identical tray nested therebelow. In another, independent feature, dividers and/or the walls include recesses along uppermost edges to reduce the overall footprint of the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventor: William P. Apps
  • Patent number: 7743939
    Abstract: A nestable mid-depth beverage case has a bottom wall with upstanding side and end walls around its periphery and a plurality of container seating areas on its top surface. A continuous peripheral band forms a vertical upper wall section, and a plurality of spaced apart V-shaped columns connected between the bottom wall and the band form a lower wall section inset relative to the upper section to enable nesting of the container. Buttresses extend upwardly from the columns and across the band. The columns have flat, angled vertical surfaces facing toward adjacent seating areas to contact containers over a substantial part of their height and provide support in lateral and longitudinal directions. Each end wall has two columns and associated buttresses, and a handle with a large access opening is formed in each end wall by cutting away adjacent side edges of adjacent columns and buttresses and the bottom edge of the band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Orbis Canada Limited
    Inventor: Edward L. Stahl
  • Patent number: 7658278
    Abstract: A can tray (10) includes a floor (12) and a plurality of support members (24) extending upwardly from a periphery of the floor. A plurality of upstanding projections (18,20) extend upwardly from the floor and define can-receiving (14) areas therebetween. Each of the projections includes concave surfaces (19,21) facing the can-receiving areas. The support members are hollow, such that support members of one can tray can be nested within the support members of an identical can tray stacked thereon. The plurality of projections includes a plurality of center projections (18) along at least one of two centerlines of the tray and a plurality of non-center projections (20) not on either of the two centerlines of the tray. The center projections extend higher than the non-center projections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventors: William P. Apps, Sean T. Ogburn
  • Patent number: 7562785
    Abstract: A case includes removable upper side walls and collapsible upper end walls. The upper side walls each include a central opening for supporting the upper side wall horizontally on a bottle and a plurality of peripheral openings on which empty glasses may be supported. Each of the upper end walls includes a plurality of openings for supporting bottles in a vertical position when the upper end wall is in the collapsed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventor: Cynthia R. Meissen
  • Publication number: 20090084796
    Abstract: A container 100 includes a cover 102 and a base 104. The cover 102 of the container 100 includes a first closure portion 310, an engagement portion 308, and an alignment portion. The base 104 includes a second closure portion 212. The first closure portion 310 of the cover 102 is sealingly engageable with the second closure portion 212 of the base 104 to define a sealed storage area. Multiple covers 102 stack together in two different ways. First, the covers 102 may be stacked into an “aligned” stack. Second, the covers 102 may be stacked into a locked stack. The alignment portion of the cover 102 is engageable with the alignment portion of a second cover to form an aligned cover stack. The engagement portion 310 of the cover 102 is receivingly engageable by the engagement portion 308 of a second cover 602 to form a locked cover stack 728.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: Ryan J. Coonce, Jason R. Maxwell
  • Publication number: 20080078686
    Abstract: The claimed invention is a novel container system that adds utility and convenience for the consumer “on-the-go”. The container system claimed includes a main tray member that holds food product (e.g. carrots), and lid member that is configured so that, when it is inverted, it acts as a secondary tray member that holds food product (e.g. condiment) and is further attachable to the rim of the tray member via an interference fit or snap-fit grip fit. The resulting utility is that the consumer is able to hold the main tray member with one hand or have held the main tray member (e.g. in a recess in an automobile consol) and access the contents of both trays with a free hand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Inventor: Terry Vovan
  • Patent number: 7128234
    Abstract: A stackable case for retaining and transporting bottles includes outer side walls forming an outer shell, 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. At least one upwardly projecting column is generally disposed within the outer shell, and defines, in combination with the case bottom, the side walls and the end walls, a plurality of bottle retaining pockets. 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. The handle structure allows the bottle case to be manipulated with either a palm-up or palm-down orientation of the hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventors: William P. Apps, Philip C. Hwang
  • Patent number: 7127912
    Abstract: A modified multi-chambered container including a container body defining a central (e.g., liquid) chamber, a neck defining an opening to the central chamber, a flange extending upward from the neck, and a groove formed in the neck around the first opening. A collared O-ring includes an annular base mounted in the groove, and a ring-shaped collar extending from an upper portion of the base toward the opening. A hollow ball member is mounted on the neck such that an outer wall of the ball member contacts the O-ring collar. A housing is attached to the container body that pushes the ball member against the collared O-ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Insta-mix, Inc., Subsidiary A
    Inventor: James W. Holley, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7093715
    Abstract: A light weight low depth nestable tray for containers comprising an open lattice floor structure and a wall structure that is contoured to reduce the amount of material used for the tray. The wall structure comprises a plurality of columns interconnecting the floor to a band that is generally spaced above the floor and extends around the periphery. The band is contoured at a number of points along the periphery of the tray to reduce the number of columns as compared to the prior art trays which generally have columns at each of the corners and along the end walls and side walls. The reduction in the number of columns reduces the weight of the tray and therefore is more economical. The contour is V-shaped and the band actually connects directly to the floor at those points. The contoured wall structure provides a lighter tray that can be stacked, nested and handled in the same way as prior trays and while maintaining the structural integrity of the bulkier, heavier trays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventor: William P. Apps
  • Patent number: 7036666
    Abstract: A beverage tray has a floor with peripheral, upstanding side and end walls for holding a plurality of containers of beverage, for example in six-packs. The floor has a plurality of downwardly projecting detents on its bottom surface for cooperation with the tops of beverage containers in a sub-adjacent tray to impede free sliding movement of an upper tray over the beverage containers in a sub-adjacent tray to enable stable stacking of the trays, while at the same time enabling the upper tray to be slid over the cans in the lower tray to remove the upper tray from a stack of trays. The detents are rectilinear and present spaced, opposed, parallel, straight detents that define detent sets surrounding bottle top receiving areas. The upper edge of the side wall is smoothly sinusoidally curved to define spaced, alternating upper side wall sections and recessed areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Norseman Plastics, LTD
    Inventor: Roy Hammett
  • Patent number: 6886710
    Abstract: A multi-purpose tray including a front, a back, a first side, a second side, and a bottom. The tray can include beams extending from the front of the tray and slots defined in the back of the tray. When two trays are stacked in opposite directions with respect to one another, the beams are received by the slots. The tray also includes a domed bottom. The domed bottom has a convex profile with respect to the interior of the tray and can include transverse ribs or longitudinal ribs. The tray also includes drain apertures positioned along the front and back of the tray. The drain apertures can enhance cleaning of the tray by communicating fluid from channels defined by the front and back. The tray also includes a stop for projection for limiting sliding movement of a top tray relative to a bottom tray when two trays are stacked in a similar orientation with respect to one another. The tray also includes handles in the first and second side and a gripping portion on one of the first and second handles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Pinckney Molded Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Verna, Douglas T. Cox, Douglas Hood
  • Patent number: 6749065
    Abstract: A case for carrying a plurality of bottles comprising a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls connected to a case bottom having a plurality of bottle supporting platforms, the side walls and the end walls having a lower part including a plurality of panels separated by windows and an upper part including a substantially solid band, the solid band in the end walls having handle-forming openings therein; wherein the panels are each provided on interior surfaces thereof with a pair of relatively thick, vertically extending and laterally spaced ribs, the ribs having edges facing radially towards centers of adjacent bottle supporting platforms; and wherein the solid band is provided on an interior surface thereof with a plurality of vertically extending buttresses, each directly above a respective window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Norseman Plastics Limited
    Inventor: Roy Hammett
  • Publication number: 20030222086
    Abstract: A beverage bottle carrying case having a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls, each side wall having a bottom edge that is attached to the bottom wall to define a sealed interior space, and a divider provided in the interior space and connected to the bottom wall and the side walls. The bottom wall, the side walls and the divider are all made of a leakproof material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Inventor: Frank Yeh
  • Patent number: 6571533
    Abstract: A bottle handling device for assisting in inserting a number of similar sized bottles into a secondary container, such as a partitionless beer carton. The device comprises a frame which, when inserted into the empty carton, provides a number of similar sized cells or compartments equal to the number of bottles which would completely fill the carton. The frame is maintained by support means above the shoulders of the bottles when located in the carton. Each bottle is inserted into, and its main body passes through, the frame until the bottle sits on the carton floor, the walls of each cell preventing a bottle in that cell from toppling over and hindering the insertion of further bottles and completion of filling of the carton. Upon completion and filling of the carton, the device is readily removed for reuse and the bottles are maintained in their upright condition by contacting adjacent bottles and the carton walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Labatt Brewing Company Limited
    Inventors: Bradley John Mahood, Edward Stanley James Miziolek, Robert G. Dickie, Bernard Beasley
  • Publication number: 20030029870
    Abstract: A stackable case for retaining and transporting bottles includes outer side walls forming an outer shell, 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. At least one upwardly projecting column is generally disposed within the outer shell, and defines, 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Applicant: REHRIG PACIFIC COMPANY
    Inventors: William P. Apps, Philip C. Hwang
  • Publication number: 20020166857
    Abstract: The present invention is a generally parallelepiped shaped container including generally parallel opposite lateral side panels, generally parallel opposite longitudinal side panels and a generally flat bottom panel. A first generally flat top panel is provided near the first lateral side panel and a second generally flat top panel is provided near the second lateral side panel, the first and second top panels being interconnected to form a generally continuous top portion of the container. A dispensing neck extends upwardly from the first top panel and a cover member is removably positioned over the open end of the dispensing neck. The shape of the container and the cover member are such that the height of the cover member, when on the dispensing neck is less than the height of the second top panel so that the containers may be stacked one above the other without applying pressure to either the cover member or the dispensing neck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2002
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Inventor: William E. Schwaikert
  • Patent number: 6457599
    Abstract: A stackable case for retaining and transporting bottles includes outer side walls forming an outer shell, 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. At least one upwardly projecting column is generally disposed within the outer shell, and defines, 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventors: William P. Apps, Philip C. Hwang
  • Patent number: 6394271
    Abstract: An anti-rotational system which restrains containers therein from rotating and contacting adjacent containers so as not to abrade the outer surface of the containers features an exterior box having at least one wall having a height at least as great as a height of the containers and a bottom structure. Furthermore, a plurality of pockets are formed within the exterior box structure. Each pocket has a rigid portion and an elastic portion. The rigid portion engages a maximum diameter of the container. The elastic portion flexes so as to allow the maximum diameter region of the container to pass thereby. Once the maximum diameter region of the container has passed by the elastic region, the elastic characteristics of the elastic region allows the elastic region to flex back towards its original position thus ensuring that the elastic portion contacts a smaller diameter of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Plasticos Tecnicos Mexicanos, S.A. de C.V.
    Inventors: Raimundo Roca Vallve, Francisco Guerrero Mercado, Juan Ruiz Estrella, Andres Alvarez Vargas, Raul Gonzalez Alonso, Martin Cisneros Aguirre, Alfredo Cruz Cruz
  • Patent number: 6367645
    Abstract: A bottle that can be stacked on other similar bottles (4), either with or without an intermediate carrier plate (1), is bound together with adjacent bottles to form stable stacks. The bottom surface of the bottle includes a cavity (15, 16, 18) adapted to receive at least a part of the capsule (12) of a bottle in an underlying layer. The cavity has at least one guiding and constraining surface (15) which coacts, with a tight fit, with a corresponding guiding and constraining surface of the capsule or with some other part of the bottle in the underlying layer, or with a corresponding guiding and constraining surface (11) of a bottle-guiding and constraining device (11, 13, 17) that projects up from a carrier plate positioned between the layers of bottles and in which there is received at least a part of the capsule of the bottle in the underlying layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Inventor: Lars Erik Trygg
  • Patent number: 6237796
    Abstract: A combination chemical carrier device and bucket includes a compartmented chemical carrier for carrying a plurality of containers containing chemicals and products used in cleaning operations. The combination chemical carrier and bucket device also includes a bucket for containing liquids including chemical solutions used in cleaning operations. The bucket and chemical carrier are provided with quick coupling for readily connecting and disconnecting the chemical and bucket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Inventor: Erle N. Murphy, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6186328
    Abstract: A light weight low depth nestable tray for containers comprising an open lattice floor structure and a wall structure that is contoured to reduce the amount of material used for the tray. The wall structure comprises a plurality of columns interconnecting the floor to a band that is generally spaced above the floor and extends around the periphery. The band is contoured at a number of points along the periphery of the tray to reduce the number of columns as compared to the prior art trays which generally have columns at each of the corners and along the end walls and side walls. The reduction in the number of columns reduces the weight of the tray and therefore is more economical. The contour is V-shaped and the band actually connects directly to the floor at those points. The contoured wall structure provides a lighter tray that can be stacked, nested and handled in the same way as prior trays and while maintaining the structural integrity of the bulkier, heavier trays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventor: William P. Apps
  • Patent number: 6076697
    Abstract: A crate for storing and transporting cartons having a crate floor and four sidewalls integrally attached to the crate floor extending upward from the floor forming an interior of the crate. The cartons have a plurality of pressure points on the exterior bottom surface of the carton. The crate floor has a plurality of recesses whereby a recess is subjacent each pressure point on the carton despite the position of a carton within the crate. In addition, a recess is subjacent each pressure point wherein each carton within a crate has the same volumetric size and the volumetric size is selected from a plurality of volumetric sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Inventor: Robert Carleton Allabaugh, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6073793
    Abstract: A stackable case for retaining and transporting bottles includes outer side walls forming an outer shell, 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. At least one upwardly projecting column is generally disposed within the outer shell, and defines, 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventors: William P. Apps, Philip C. Hwang
  • Patent number: 6047844
    Abstract: A nestable crate for bottles having an upright retainer wall surrounding a horizontally disposed floor. The retainer wall has an upper portion, a lower portion, a vertically disposed interior surface and an exterior surface. A plurality of tangency pads are integrally formed in the upper portion of the retainer wall of its interior surface. A nesting window is formed in the interior surface of the retainer wall below each tangency pad. The crate accommodates both single bottles placed in the crate separated as well as bottle-filled cartons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Alpha Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick James McGrath
  • Patent number: 6041927
    Abstract: An anti-rotational system which restrains containers therein from rotating and contacting adjacent containers so as not to abrade the outer surface of the containers features an exterior box having at least one wall having a height at least as great as a height of the containers. Furthermore, longitudinal ribs connect to the walls and to the bottom structure of the exterior box to form an elastic portion. The longitudinal ribs form sets of ribs which contact a diameter of the container which is smaller than a maximum diameter of the container so as to secure the position of the container. The longitudinal ribs flex so as to allow the maximum diameter region of the container to pass thereby. Once the maximum diameter region of the container has passed by the longitudinal ribs, the elastic characteristics of the longitudinal ribs allow the longitudinal ribs to flex back towards their original position thus ensuring that the longitudinal ribs contact the smaller diameter of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Plasticos Tecnicos Mexicanos, S.A. de C.V.
    Inventors: Raimundo Roca Vallve, Francisco Guerrero Mercado, Juan Ruiz Estrella, Andres Alvarez Vargas, Raul Gonzalez Alonso, Martin Cisneros Aguirre, Alfredo Cruz Cruz
  • Patent number: 6006912
    Abstract: A nestable crate for bottles having an upright retainer wall surrounding a horizontally disposed floor. The retainer wall has an upper portion, a lower portion, a vertically disposed interior surface and an exterior surface. A plurality of tangency pads are integrally formed in the upper portion of the retainer wall of its interior surface. A nesting window is formed in the interior surface of the retainer wall below each tangency pad. The crate accommodates both single bottles placed in the crate separated as well as bottle-filled cartons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Alpha Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick James McGrath
  • Patent number: 5913424
    Abstract: A stackable reusable storage and display tray for bottles or cans having labels on the outer surface thereof, the tray including a plastic bottom having end walls and side wall molded as an integral tray, the side walls and end wall being formed by posts or pillars equally spaced around the perimeter of the bottom wall and forming openings in alignment with the longitudinal and lateral rows of bottles or cans, the pillars being located to support the trays in stacked position and being nestable by inverting one of the trays and inserting it into another of said trays for storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: Tulip Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel E. Kelly, Ted Lemke
  • Patent number: 5842572
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Rehrig-Pacific Company, Inc.
    Inventors: William P. Apps, Gerald R. Koefelda
  • Patent number: 5823376
    Abstract: A nestable crate for bottles having an upright retainer wall surrounding a horizontally disposed floor. The retainer wall has an upper portion, a lower portion, a vertically disposed interior surface and an exterior surface. A plurality of tangency pads are integrally formed in the upper portion of the retainer wall of its interior surface. A nesting window is formed in the interior surface of the retainer wall below each tangency pad. The crate accommodates both single bottles placed in the crate separated as well as bottle-filled cartons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Alpha Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick James McGrath
  • Patent number: 5772064
    Abstract: A plurality of substantially identical bottles each have a generally cylindrical body centered on a bottle axis and having a lower end and a ring on the lower end and of greater diameter than the respective body to project radially therepast. A plastic case has a plurality of side walls each formed by at least one lower web with a relatively large window opening and inner walls spaced inward from the side walls and defining therewith a plurality of seats each centered on a respective normally upright seat axis. A respective relatively short outer retaining formation projects radially of the respective seat axis below the respective window from the respective lower web into each seat and has an inner edge spaced from the respective seat axis by a distance equal generally to half the outside diameter of the bottle ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Franz Delbrouck GmbH
    Inventor: Klaus Delbrouck