NL2001382C2 - Crate for bottles. - Google Patents

Description

P6020692NL Crate for bottles. Background of the invention

The invention relates to a crate for bottles.

The rectangular bottle crates, such as beer crates, are generally known with a circumferential wall with recesses as handles. These crates generally have openworks provided with so-called pinoles or upright wall parts that hold bottles in place in the crate.

There is room for improvement in these crates, which have long been known per se, or for a crate with new uses.

Summary of the invention

The invention has for its object to provide an alternative to the known bottle crates with more design options.

The invention has, alternatively or additionally, the object of providing a bottle crate with new uses.

To this end, the invention provides a crate for bottles, comprising a cylindrical circumferential wall, and a cylindrical, removable bottom part fitting within the circumferential wall, provided with receiving parts for receiving the bottom of bottles.

An advantage of a cylindrical crate over a rectangular crate is that in a simple manner a label with, for example, a brand name can be applied by means of a circumferential shrink film. An innovative design becomes possible. Furthermore, this crate has new uses.

The crate according to the invention is cylindrical. The definition of a cylinder as given in NEN1728 of December 1973 is intended. A cylinder generally has a set of base surfaces and a circumferential wall. According to the invention, the wall can here also be formed by a collection of curved lines. The wall can therefore be bulging inwards or outwards, so that the crate can be barrel-shaped.

The ground planes will generally be flat. That is, the top edge and the bottom edge are each in a straight plane.

It will further be clear that the horizontal section of the crate can thus be both round and oval. In one embodiment the crate is substantially circular cylindrical, in one embodiment in particular a straight cylinder. In that embodiment, the cross-section of the crate is circular or almost circular. There is then a "round crate". These designs are relatively easy to make and moreover offer new and surprising design options.

As stated, the crate according to the invention makes possible new designs that have a surprising appearance. It will be clear that such a surprising appearance itself is not the subject of this patent. For example, the appearance can be designed in such a way that the crate looks like a beer keg. The specific appearance may be the subject of 15 other intellectual property rights.

In an embodiment of the crate according to the invention, the cylindrical, circumferential wall is circular cylindrical. This makes the crate simpler and extra designs are possible. In addition, the round shape offers extra strength when stacking crates. The wall needs no or fewer reinforcements.

In a further embodiment the receiving parts comprise openings for the underside of bottles. Bottles are easily protected against damage.

In a further embodiment, the openings are continuous openings or holes. This is easy to make.

In a further embodiment, the bottom part forms a cooling element for cooling or keeping bottles and their contents cool. As a result, the crate has a further use, or the contents can, for example, be kept cool when purchased. In combination with the holes in the bottom part, bottles can be cooled well and remain.

In a further embodiment the bottom part comprises a hollow plastic part which is provided with a cooling agent, preferably a liquid or gel with a high heat capacity, such as a saline solution.

In a further embodiment, the crate further comprises a closed bottom connected to the surrounding wall. This limits the requirements for the bottom part.

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In a further embodiment, the bottom part can be connected within the surrounding wall, for example to snap.

In a further embodiment the bottom part forms the bottom of the crate. The surrounding wall is then easy to make, in addition, the cooling element can easily be placed in a cooling space, separate from the rest of the crate.

In a further embodiment, the bottom part can be connected from below into the surrounding wall.

In a further embodiment, the bottom part can herein be snapped or screwed into the surrounding wall.

In a further embodiment the outer wall of the bottom part is thereby provided with a screw thread, and the inside of the surrounding with a screw thread that is complementary thereto. A separate bottom part that can be fixed and can be replaced gives the possibility of an additional use function.

In a further embodiment, the crate comprises a cover fitting within the surrounding wall. This allows cooling for longer. Moreover, bottles can be kept in place, to prevent damage during transport, among other things.

In a further embodiment, the inside of the surrounding wall is thereby provided with a stop for holding the lid.

In a further embodiment, the circumferential wall herein comprises a top band projecting outwardly from the top side, wherein in one embodiment a bottom edge of the top band in the inner side of the circumferential wall forms a stop for the cover. The lid can be fixed easily. Moreover, bottles in combination with means for holding the bottles can be well protected.

In a further embodiment, the lid herein comprises a handle.

In a further embodiment, lid comprises means for holding bottles.

In a further embodiment the lid is thereby provided with through-holes. In a further embodiment the crate further comprises a label outside the circumferential wall, wherein the label is of a circumferential shrink film. In particular, when the cat has two edges such as an upper band and a lower band, the film is moreover held between them. Reuse is also easier.

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The invention further relates to a bottom part, apparently intended and suitable as a bottom part for a crate according to the preceding claims.

The invention further relates to a lid, apparently intended and suitable for a crate according to a preceding claim.

The invention further relates to a crate provided with one or more of the characterizing measures described in the attached description and / or shown in the attached drawings.

It will be clear that the various aspects mentioned in this patent application can be combined and can each qualify separately for a split-off patent application.

Brief description of the figures

In the accompanying figures, embodiments of a crate according to the invention are shown in which is shown in:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of two embodiments of a crate according to the invention; Fig. 2 is an exploded view of one of the crates of Fig. 1.

Description of embodiments

Figure 1 shows two embodiments of crates according to the invention. It will be clear that in addition to the technical features for which protection is claimed in this patent, the crates also have a special appearance that is made possible by the various aspects of the invention. These aspects of appearance are eligible for other forms of intellectual property protection, such as copyright and design rights.

The two embodiments of Figure 1 differ essentially in the use of materials. The left-hand embodiment of the crate 1 is of an opaque plastic, for example the usual plastic for crates such as polyethylene or polypropylene. Because of this and the other external characteristics and the use of color, that crate has the impression of a beer keg.

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The right-hand embodiment is made of a transparent plastic. For an improved scratch resistance, for example, a polycarbonate could be chosen, but other transparent plastics may also be suitable. In this embodiment the design refers to a beer cask, but an exclusive and luxurious appearance is obtained by opting for a transparent plastic. In addition, this makes the content clearly visible and a label may be less necessary and unnecessary.

Crate 1 has a circumferential wall 2. Circular wall 2 is provided here will have recesses 3 which have the function of providing handles. The circumferential wall 2 here furthermore has an outwardly projecting upper band 4, an outwardly projecting lower band 5 and a middle part 6 which is recessed with respect to the upper band 4 and lower band 5. This firstly gives the optical effect of a beer keg. Furthermore, edges are thereby created, so that a preferably circumferential label 7, here a shrink film which is known per se, can be held in place. In addition, in the case of the upper belt 4 when the crate 1 is provided with a cover 8, when the wall thickness remains the same on the inside of the surrounding wall 2, an edge can be obtained which can serve as a stop for holding the cover 8 . In addition, when cams are additionally provided on the inside of the wall upwards away from the circumferential edge, that cover can be snapped into its closing position and held in the position as shown in the figures. Alternatively, the cover 8 can be provided with a thread and the cams can act as a thread, or the inside of the surrounding wall can be provided with a thread so that the cover 8 can be screwed on.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, a relatively thick cover 8 of a plastic has been chosen. That can be solid or from a foamed plastic or save weight and material.

Lid 8 is here provided with a handle 9. In particular when the snap connection is certain or a thread is provided, the crate 1 could then also be lifted and transported by, for example, a consumer on the handle 9.

The lid 8 furthermore has openings 12 through which the necks of the bottles 12 extend. An aesthetic effect is that a consumer has a view of the content and the producer can present himself through the caps and the brands on it.

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A technical effect of this is that the bottles are kept in place. It is, however, conceivable that a completely closed lid is chosen with provisions for keeping the bottles in place on the lower, inner side of the lid. The provisions can then engage on the top of the bottles, but alternatively also lower, on the necks. The lid can for instance be provided with non-continuous holes, or projecting parts.

Furthermore, in the left-hand embodiment, a bottom part 10 is visible which will be further explained in Figure 2.

Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the right crate 1 of Figure 1.

The openings 12 in the lid 8 of this embodiment are better visible. The openings are a simple embodiment of a device for holding the bottles in place.

Furthermore, the bottom part 10 is clearly visible here. The bottom part 10 here has openings 13 which can be continuous or non-continuous. When the openings 13 are continuous holes, it is preferable if the crate 1 has a closed bottom 15. The bottom 15 shown is co-formed with the encircling wall 2. Alternatively, crate 1 has provisions that form an open bottom and support the bottles 11. At the through holes in the bottom part 10, the bottom part 10 can for instance be lifted out of the crate 1 over the bottles 11. Alternatively, a co-formed bottom cannot be provided on the surrounding wall 2, and the bottom part 10 can serve as a bottom. The holes 13 are then not continuous. The bottom part 10 can then be snapped or screwed into the surrounding wall 2, for example.

In one embodiment, the openings 13, as also shown in Figure 2, have parts running into the holes that can clamp the bottles 11 at their undersides.

Bottom part 10 is here a straight circular cylinder. The bottom part 10 is further adapted to the inner dimension of the encircling wall 2, to fit tightly there, preferably without rattling ..

In a further embodiment the bottom part 10 is designed as a cooling element. Cooling elements are known per se. Such cooling elements can be placed in a refrigerator or freezer and placed thereof, for example, in a cooling box to cool or keep products cool. Such elements are usually filled with a liquid with a large heat capacity. In an embodiment of the invention, the bottom part is a hollow plastic part that is filled or can be filled with such a liquid or gel with a large heat capacity. Such a liquid or gel, or possibly other means for that purpose, is known per se to a person skilled in the art. A cheap and known liquid is, for example, a saline solution.

In use, the bottom part 10 can be cooled in a refrigerator or freeze and that bottom part 10 can then be placed in the rest of the crate 1, clicked / snapped, from above or from below, depending on the embodiment. The bottles 11 can then be placed and then, if desired, the lid 8. The bottles are then cooled or remain cooled and can be transported in the crate. Alternatively, the crate with contents as a whole can of course be cooled in a refrigerator and the contents of the bottles remain cool for a long time after the crate has been taken out of the fridge.

It is to be understood that the above description is included to illustrate the operation of preferred embodiments of the invention, and not to limit the scope of the invention. Starting from the above explanation, many variations will be evident to those skilled in the art that fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims (22)

CLAIMS 1. A crate for bottles, comprising a cylindrical circumferential wall, and a cylindrical, removable bottom part fitting within the circumferential wall, provided with receiving parts for receiving the underside of bottles. 2. Crate according to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical, circumferential wall is circular cylindrical. 3. Crate according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the receiving parts comprise openings for the underside of bottles. The crate of claim 3, wherein the openings are continuous openings or holes. 5. Crate as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the bottom part forms a cooling element for cooling or keeping bottles and their contents cool. 20 6. Crate as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the bottom part comprises a hollow plastic part which is provided with a cooling agent, preferably a liquid or gel with a high heat capacity, such as a saline solution. 7. Crate as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, further comprising a closed bottom connected to the surrounding wall. 8. Crate as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the bottom part can be connected, for instance snap, within the surrounding wall. 30 9. Crate as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the bottom part forms the bottom of the crate. 10. Crate as claimed in claim 9, wherein the bottom part can be connected from below into the surrounding wall. 11. Crate according to claim 10, wherein the bottom part can be snapped or screwed into the surrounding wall. 12. Crate as claimed in claim 11, wherein the outer wall of the bottom part is provided with a screw thread, and the inside of the surrounding with a screw thread that is complementary thereto. 10 A crate according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a lid fitting within the circumferential wall. 14. Crate according to claim 13, wherein the inside of the surrounding wall 15 is provided with a stop for holding the lid. 15. Crate as claimed in any of the foregoing claims 13 or 14, wherein the circumferential wall comprises upper band projecting outward at the top, wherein in one embodiment a lower edge of the upper band in the inner side of the circumferential wall forms a stop for the cover. A crate according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lid comprises a handle. 17. Crate as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein lid comprises means for holding bottles. 18. Crate as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the lid is provided with continuous holes 30 19. Crate as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, further comprising a label outside of the circumferential wall, wherein the label is of a circumferential shrink film 20. Bottom cell, apparently intended and suitable as bottom part for a crate according to the preceding claims. 21. Lid, clearly intended and suitable for a crate according to a preceding claim. 22. Crate provided with one or more of the characterizing measures described in the attached description and / or shown in the attached drawings. -o-o-o-o-o-o-