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: The positioning compartments of a bottle crate are divided in a transverse direction by transverse dividing elements which include supporting projections with hollows halfway up, and dividing tongues which project downwards in an elastically deformable manner below them. Arranged opposite the supporting projections, on an outer wall, are supporting fingers. If the bottle crate is placed on one of the outer walls while containing bottles, each lower bottle tilts about a support formed by the supporting fingers, the bottom of the bottle being displaced in the process against the respective outer wall, and each upper bottle is likewise tilted, about a support formed by the hollows, into a position in which it is secured against sliding out of the respective positioning compartment, this tilting movement involving deformation of the respective dividing tongue. Each dividing tongue is located between the respective bottles at all times and prevents them from banging against one another.

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: 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 bottle carrier case having a crenelated side wall, for transporting bottles of beverage. The case has locating means on the bottom of the case for stably stacking the case and has openings provided in the concavities for easily removing the case from overlying bottles. The bottle carrier case is able to both directly stack and cross-stack up to about 50% of its overall depth.

Abstract: A bottle carrier case for transporting bottles of beverage having locating means on the bottom of the case for stably stacking the case and having openings provided in the concavities for easily removing the case from overlying bottles.

Abstract: In a stackable bottle crate from plastic material, the side walls are reinforced by vertical hollow profiled columns which are extended up to the upper marginal edge of the crate side walls and together with the upper marginal edge from a circumferential piling edge for load reduction.

Abstract: A combination tray is used for the transportation, storage, and gravity feed dispensing of beverage bottles. The tray includes flaps pivotally mounted on a top edge of each side wall for converting the tray between a storage and transportation configuration and a gravity feed dispensing configuration. When in the storage and transportation configuration, the flaps are generally perpendicular to the side walls and have a number of arcuate recesses to position and stabilize the bottles in the tray in an upright position. A bottom surface of each tray has a number of bottle cap receiving sockets. When the bottles are positioned with the arcuate recesses of the flaps, filled trays can be stacked one upon another so that the bottle caps of a subjacent tray are received within the sockets in the base of a superjacent tray thereby creating a stable stack of filled trays.

Abstract: The device includes a tray for bottles, particularly two-liter soda bottles, wherein the bottle retaining pockets include raised portions for engaging, and thereby being supported by, the caps of the bottles from a lower tray. The tray includes vertical channels with a stop element to allow rods to be inserted between the trays to support the trays at a given distance from one another in a display configuration. The tray further includes male and female elements for the locking nestable configuration of successive empty trays.

Abstract: A molded plastic low-depth tray for beverage cans or the like. The low-depth tray walls angle inwardly to provide for deep empty tray nesting. Outer abutment tabs depending down from the top lip and on the outside of the walls prevent the empty trays when nested from wedging together. The walls each have a plurality of can receiving openings out through which lower portions of cans, when held in the tray on the tray floor, partially extend. Interior surfaces of the walls above the openings are outwardly curved to conform to the cylindrical sidewalls of the adjacent cans. The tray floor thereby has smaller length and width dimensions than that of the array of cans held in the tray. Redoubts or standoffs on the bottom of the floor lock on to the rims of cans in subjacent trays. Stable palletized stacking and cross-stacking of these trays when loaded with cans is thereby provided.

Abstract: A dual purpose low depth nestable tray for holding either cans or bottles of similar capacities with 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. A nesting nub is disposed on the floor and nesting ledges are disposed on at least one column along each side of the wall structure. The nub and 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 both bottles and cans. 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 can tray system including a bottom tray loaded with a layer of cans each having a top rim, an upper tray having a plurality of spaced members depending down from a bottom floor surface of the tray, and a layer of cans in the upper tray. With the upper tray in a normal stacked position on the bottom layer of cans, the spaced members engage relative to the top rims of the cans and thereby block substantial movement of the tray and hold it in a secure position. A generally lateral force applied to the upper tray repositions the spaced members such that the upper tray filled with the layer of cans has its spaced members on the top rims of the cans and it can be slidingly pulled on top of the layer of cans in the bottom tray beneath it, and thereby unstacked.

Abstract: A cardboard tray for cylindrical packs having a base section, parallel to the longitudinal edges of which are arranged receivers aligned in longitudinal rows for longitudinal rows of packs. The technical problem is to reduce the consumption of materials and to utilize the space better within a stack, as well as to improve the functional value of the cardboard trays. Adjacent longitudinal rows of receivers are displaced relative to one another. The transverse edges of the base section follow a meandering line, and the base section has cut-in border flanges which are bent up and joined.

Abstract: A container for beads and the like has a body connecting a group of individual compartments. Each compartment is relatively shallow for providing easy access to the contents; and, the bottom of each compartment is sloped so beads will move towards the wall of the compartment, and the bottom is concave so it will not be scratched when resting on surfaces. The container has a plurality of alignment posts to facilitate stacking of containers. The compartments have separate, individually removable, lids so any number of selected compartments can be uncovered for use while the rest remain covered for safety. The compartments are uniformly spaced so a plurality of compartments can be uncovered simultaneously, and beads in a plurality of compartments poured from one container to another.

Abstract: The present invention involves a tamper-proof apparatus and method for assuring the integrity of containers of consumer goods. A special carton, which becomes part of the retail display, has a plurality of controlled dispensing openings such that once a container has been removed, it cannot be replaced in the carton. Accordingly, a container cannot be removed from the carton, its contents altered, and the container replaced in the carton to be purchased by an unwitting consumer. Several alternative systems are employed for assembling the carton in a secure, tamper-proof manner. Further, if the carton is loaded at the point of manufacture or distribution, once the carton is loaded, the carton is sealed to provide indicia of potential tampering between the point of manufacture or distribution and the ultimate point of sale at a retail location.

Abstract: A carrier moldable from plastic, aluminum, paper mache and the like for collecting and transporting empty containers such as soda bottles or cans.

Abstract: An article protector, such as may be used to protect bottles during transportation, is assembled from a plurality of interfitting parts which may be interfitted to provide an open framework within which a bottle may be supported and securely held for protection, the members are produced by being stamped from cellular plastics material providing in sheet or slab form. The interfitting members may be permanently secured together to provide to superstructures which may be located together around the articles to be protected, being secured together by releasable securing means or may be provided y members which are retained in an enclosing condition by virtue of being located within a carton.

Abstract: A modular unit, suitable for above-ground cellaring of bottled wine, including a body member of insulating material which defines a cellaring chamber region therein for bottled wine, the body member having a front access opening, and a separable cover member of insulating material able to be fitted to the body member for closing the opening and to be removed for access. The cover member is adapted to be retained by means of a friction fit in the opening and has inner and outer surfaces, and a peripheral edge between those surfaces. The cover member is fitted to the body member by being at least partially received in the opening to achieve a friction fit around the peripheral edge between that edge and an opposed sealing surface defined around the opening; with the peripheral edge and the sealing surface being configured such that the friction fit is achieved only in a final stage of application of the cover member.

Abstract: Reusable plastic trays for storing and transporting beverage containers, such as twelve-ounce metal cans and two-liter PET bottles. The tray floor has thereon an array of support areas for the containers. The tray rail thereof is spaced high enough above the floor and in a "low-depth" design to prevent the containers on the support areas from tipping during transport. A generally rectangular band having upright inside and outside faces and an outward lip on top of the band form the rail. Columns between adjacent support areas interconnect the rail and the floor and angle downwardly and inwardly therebetween. The columns open outwardly and thereby define vertical slots into which the columns of a similar tray can be slidingly received. The trays when empty can thereby be stacked in a deeply nesting position whereby each additional tray adds generally only the height of its narrow rail to the height of the nested trays.

Abstract: The invention concerns assemblies or displays of plastic bottle carriers. Bottle carriers are assembled for palletization or display on an assembly plate having upstanding prongs which fit into corresponding sockets in the base of adjacent bottle carriers. The prongs and sockets are such that when the assembly is subjected to lateral pressure, for example, by palletizing machinery each prong is gripped in its socket so that the bottle carriers and the plate are an assembled unit. Preferably when no under lateral pressure, the prongs are freely slidable in the socket.