AU738700B2

AU738700B2 - A crate

Info

Publication number: AU738700B2
Application number: AU91423/98A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Ian Earnest Mcbean; Michael Douglas Wythe
Original assignee: Metal Box South Africa Ltd
Current assignee: Nampak Products Ltd
Priority date: 1997-11-10
Filing date: 1998-11-09
Publication date: 2001-09-27
Anticipated expiration: 2018-11-09
Also published as: AU9142398A; BR9804601A; NO985234L; EP0915021A1; AR017181A1; NZ332660A; NO985234D0

Description

FiUUiui1 26/5M91 Regulation 3.2(2)

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION 9 9 9 9. S S S *5

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OS* S .5 STANDARD PATENT Application Number: Lodged: Invention Title: A CRATE The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us This invention relates to a crate. More particularly, the invention relates to a bottle crate.

According to the invention, there is provided a bottle crate which includes a base-defining portion; a wall portion bounding, and extending upwardly from, the base-defining portion to define a cavity; a primary socket-defining means arranged in the cavity for sub-dividing the cavity into a plurality of primary sockets in each of which at least a part of a bottle is removable receivable; a seat-defining member arranged in at least certain of the primary sockets, each seat-defining member defining a seat on which a bottom of the bottle is receivable; a secondary socket-defining means arranged between each seat-defining

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member and the base-defining portion, each secondary socket-defining means defining a secondary socket which opens out into a bottom region of the basedefining portion, each secondary socket being shaped and dimensioned to accommodate a closure of a bottle therein; and a bearing means forming part of each secondary socket-defining means for bearing on a rim of the closure of a bottle in a subjacent crate, in use, for effecting 20 rim loading on the closure of the bottle in the subjacent crate, each secondary i socket having a cylindrical portion for surrounding and embracing said closure of the bottle in the subjacent crate, and a flared entrance opening into the cylindrical portion.

Preferably, the base-defining portion is substantially flat, i.e. without having protrusions projecting beyond a bottom surface thereof, for facilitating movement of the crate along a conveying means.

Each primary socket may have a set-defining member arranged therein, each seat-defining member having a secondary socket-defining means associated therewith.

The primary socket-defining means may be partly constituted by the wall Nportion partially to define those primary sockets arranged about a periphery of the 2 crate. The primary socket-defining means may further include a plurality of spaced support elements projecting upwardly from the base-defining portion with additional support elements arranged at spaced intervals along the wall portion to extend above the wall portion, the primary socket-defining means further including webs extending between opposed, aligned support elements.

Each seat-defining member may comprise a platform extending parallel to the base defining portion, the support elements protruding through the platforms.

A recess may be defined in each platform.

Ce o *o o *e *go *ee Each secondary socket-defining means may comprise a boss arranged in register with the recess of its associated seat-defining member.

Each boss may have a cylindrical portion having an opening in the base-defining portion. Then, the bearing means may be arranged at an end of each cylindrical portion opposite the opening. The bearing means may be in the form of a radially inwardly projecting lip.

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At least an operatively lower surface of a free end of each lip may

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1-Go9 be rounded or radiused to inhibit scuffing of printing on the closure of the e. C bottle received in the secondary socket, in use. Preferably, the crate is dimensioned so that when a plurality of crates are stacked on a pallet, the bottles in the topmost crate can be protected by inverting the crates of the invention and placing them over the tops of the bottles such that each lip of t the inverted crate rests on the closure of one of the associated topmost bee bottles. Thus, preferably, an operatively upper surface of the free end of each lip is also rounded to inhibit scuffing of the closure upon which it rests, in use.

Each support element may comprise a pillar, the pillars being hollow to facilitate stacking of empty crates, in use.

Each of those pillars arranged along the wall portion may be stepped along its length so that, in use, a lower edge of the wall portion of an upper crate, i.e. that part of the wall at a junction with the base-defining portion, seats on the steps of the pillars of a subjacent crate so that the wall portions of the nested crates are substantially co-planar.

The invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a three dimensional, top view of a bottle crate, in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention; e j:e. Figure 2 shows a three dimensional, bottom view of the crate of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a plan view of the crate of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a partially sectioned side view of the crate of Figure 1; Figure 5 shows an end view of the crate of Figure 1; Figure 6 shows a schematic end view of two of the crates of Figure 1, nested; Figure 7 shows a three dimensional, top view of a bottle crate, in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 8 shows a three dimensional, bottom view of.the crate of Figure 7; Figure 9 shows a plan view of the crate of Figure 7; Figure 10 shows a partially sectioned side view of the crate of Figure 7; Figure 11 shows an end view of the crate of Figure 7; Figure 12 shows a schematic end view of two of the crates of Figure 7, nested; Figure 13 shows a schematic, sectional representation of the mounting of the crate on a bottle in a subjacent crate; and Figure 14 shows a schematic, sectional representation of the mounting of an inverted crate on a bottle in a subjacent crate.

9, 9o Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings, a bottle crate, in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, is illustrated and is Be designated generally by. the reference numeral 10. The crate 10 is intended

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O 4 1 for use in the packing and transportation of 500 ml, PET cold drink bottles.

The crate 10 comprises a base-defining portion 14 defined by a lattice work 15,17 (Figure The base-defining portion is substantially planar, i.e. without protrusions protruding downwardly therefrom, for facilitating movement of the crate 10 along a conveyor (not shown). A wall portion 12 4444 #04 bounds and extends upwardly from the base-defining portion 14. The wall portion 12 comprises a pair of opposed end walls 16 and a pair of opposed side walls 18.

A centrally located recess 20 is defined in the bottom of each end wall for facilitating lifting and carrying of the crate 10. As illustrated more clearly in Figure 2 of the drawings, these recesses 20 extend into the basedefining portion 14 to serve as handles for manoeuvring the crate Centrally located pillars 24 extend upwardly from the base-defining portion 14. In addition, semi-cylindrical end pillars 26 and side pillars 26 extend upwardly from each end wall 16 and each side wall 18. Still further, a quarter-cylindrical pillar 28 extends upwardly from each corner 30, formed at each junction between an end wall 16 and a side wall 18.

A web 32 extends between opposed, aligned central pillars 24 or between a central pillar 24 and an aligned, opposed side or end pillar 26, as the case may be. Thus, the pillars 24, 26 end walls 16, side walls 18 and webs 32 define a plurality of primary sockets 34 in each of which of bottom part of a bottle is receivable. 'In the case of the crate illustrated in Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings, twelve such primary sockets 34 are defined.

0: A platform 36 is arranged above the base-defining portion 14 of the crate 10 in each primary socket 34. A recess 38 is defined in each platform 36 to form a seat on which a petalloid base (not shown) of a bottleis received.

A boss 40 is centrally located below the platform 36 in register with each recess 38. An inner, cylindrical portion 42 (Figure 2) of the boss defines a secondary socket 44 having a flared entrance opening 46 which opens out into the base-defining portion 14 of the crate 10. Each secondary socket 44 is shaped and dimensioned to accommodate a closure 48 (Figure 13) of a bottle 50 snugly 20 therein. To facilitate the insertion of the closure 48 into the socket 44, the entrance opening 46 is defined by an angled wall portion 52 of the boss 36.

A bearing means in the form of a radially inwardly extending lip 54 is defined at an operatively inner end of the cylindrical portion 42 of the boss 40. As illustrated in Figure 13 of the drawings, the lip 54 bears on a S periphery or rim 56 of the closure 48 to effect rim loading on the closures 48 S o of the bottles 50 in a subjacent crate. To inhibit scuffing of printing on the *o.b° closure 56, a free end 58 of the lip 54 is rounded or radiused to reduce the •o00 o0: "footprint" of the lip 54 on the closure 48.

°S 0 0 ~Also, as illustrated schematically in Figure 14 of the drawings, it 000* S is envisaged that, to protect bottles in a topmost layer in a stack of the crates :o 10, in use, empty crates 10 will be inverted and placed on the closures 48 of 105 the bottles 50 in the topmost crates. When the crates are inverted, the lips 54 0 o of the inverted crates 10 also rest on the rims 56 of the closures 48 of the bottles in the topmost crates 10, as illustrated schematically in Figure 14 of the drawings. In so doing, the bottles in the topmost crates 10 are protected by the inverted crates To inhibit radial flexing of the cylindrical portion 42, strengthening gussets 60 extend between the cylindrical portion 42 and a concentric, outer cylindrical wall 62 extending downwardly from each platform 36.

To impart rigidity to the crate 10 and to enhance its load carrying capacity, the central pillars 24 and the side and end pillars 26 have strengthening ribs 64 (Figure In addition, the side and end pillars 26 have strengthening gussets 22.

The end pillars and side pillars 26 and the corner pillars 28 are :.oO*o stepped at their junctions with the end wall 16 and side walls 18 to form a .0 .i step 66. Then, as illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings, when a plurality of 6060 0"0 empty crates 10 is stacked, the empty crates 10 nest with bottoms of theend 0*000: 6 walls 16 and side walls 18 of an upper crate 10 seating snugly on the steps .6 66 of a subjacent crate 10 so that the end walls 16 and side walls 18 of the nested crates 10 are substantially co-planar thereby inhibiting the formation of S discontinuities which could result in snagging of the nested, empty crates Son objects.

1- 00 *0000 0° :Referring now to Figures 7 to 12 of the drawings, a bottle crate in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

With reference to Figures 1 to 6, like reference numerals refer to like parts, unless otherwise specified.

This embodiment of the crate is intended for use in the packing and transportation of 2 litre PET cold drink bottles. Thus, only six primary sockets 34 are defined in the crate 10. Apart from that, the construction of the crate is substantially as described above with reference to Figures 1 to 6 9 of the drawings.

In use, as described above, when crates 10 are packed with bottles 50, and packed crates are stacked, the crates 10 in an upper layer rest on the closures 48 of the bottles 50 in a subjacent crate 10 to effect closure loading of the bottles 50 in the subjacent crates 10. However, due to the ~arrangement of the lips 54, the load is only applied to the rims 56 of the closures 48 of the bottles 50. Further, due to the radiused shape 58 of the free end of each lip 54, scuffing of printing on the closures 48 of the bottles •••oo lG:. 50 is reduced.

l• In addition, as described above, to protect the bottles 50 in the topmost layer, empty crates are inverted and placed over the closures 48 of the bottles 50 in the topmost layer of crates. The pillars 24, 26 and 28 are dimensioned such that the tips of the pillars 24, 26 and 28 of the inverted crates 10 bear against the tips of the corresponding pillars 24, 26 and.28 of the topmost layer of packed crates 10 so that the pillars 24, 26 and 28 serve as load-bearing structures.

Hence, it is an advantage of the invention that a bottle crate is provided which effects rim loading on closures 48 of bottles 50 in packed crates 10. The radiused free end 58 of each lip 54 reduces the scuffing of printed material carried on the top of the closure 48 of the bottles 50. Further, an additional advantage is provided due to the dimension of the crate 10 which enables empty crates to be inverted and placed on bottles in the topmost layer of crates to protect such bottles.

"Comprises/comprising" when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

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Claims

1. A bottle crate which includes a base-defining portion; a wall portion bounding, and extending upwardly from, the base-defining portion to define a cavity; a primary socket-defining means arranged in the cavity for sub-dividing the cavity into a plurality of primary sockets in each of which at least a part of a bottle is removable receivable; a seat-defining member arranged in at least certain of the primary sockets, *each seat-defining member defining a seat on which a bottom of the bottle is receivable; l •i a secondary socket-defining means arranged between each seat-defining member and the base-defining portion, each secondary socket-defining means s defining a secondary socket which opens out into a bottom region of the base- defining portion, each secondary socket being shaped and dimensioned to accommodate a closure of a bottle therein; and a bearing means forming part of each secondary socket-defining means for bearing on a rim of the closure of a bottle in a subjacent crate, in use, for effecting rim loading on the closure of the bottle in the subjacent crate, each secondary socket having a cylindrical portion for surrounding and embracing said closure of the bottle in the subjacent crate, and a flared entrance opening into the cylindrical portion.

2. The crate as claimed in Claim 1 in which each primary socket has a seat- defining member arranged therein, each seat-defining member having a secondary socket-defining means associated therewith.

3. The crate as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the primary socket- defining means is partly constituted by the wall portion partially to define those primary sockets arranged about a periphery of the crate.

4. The crate as claimed in Claim 3 in which the primary socket-defining means further includes a plurality of spaced support elements projecting upwardly from the base-defining portion with additional support elements arranged at a spaced intervals along the wall portion, the primary socket-defining means further including webs extending between opposed, aligned support elements. The crate as claimed in Claim 4 in which each seat-defining member includes a platform extending parallel to the base-defining portion, the support elements protruding through the platforms. S6. The crate as claimed in Claim 5 in which a recess is defined in each :o platform. *i

7. The crate as claimed in Claim 6 in which each secondary socket-defining means includes a boss arranged in register with the recess of its associated seat- defining member. *ill

8. The crate as claimed in Claim 7 in which each boss has a cylindrical portion having an opening in the base-defining portion.

9. The crate as claimed in Claim 8 in which the bearing means is arranged at an end of each cylindrical portion opposite the opening. The crate as claimed in Claim 9 in which the bearing means is in the form of a radially inwardly projecting lip.

11. The crate as claimed in Claim 10 in which at least an operatively lower surface of a free end of each lip is radiused to inhibit scuffing of printing on the closure of the bottle received in the secondary socket, in use. 13

12. The crate as claimed in Claim 11 in which an operatively upper surface of the free end of each lip is also radiused.

13. The crate as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 12 inclusive, in which each support element includes a pillar, the pillars being hollow to facilitate stacking of empty crates, in use.

14. The crate as claimed in Claim 13 in which each of those pillars arranged along the wall portion is stepped along its length so that, in use, a lower edge of the wall portion of an upper crate seats on the steps of the pillars of a subjacent I/ crate so that the wall portions of the nested crates are substantially co-planar.

15. A bottle crate as claimed in Claim 1 substantially as described herein with reference to at least one of the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. **DATED this 17 th day of July 66 S15Metal Box South Africa Ltd. ha 290 BURWOOD ROAD HAWTHORN VICTORIA 3122 AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIA RCS/MBP/MBL