US3265237A - Beverage bottle cases - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 9, 1966 JT l- I MM a wn o v o \O @@@Qfm @w62 o,

TQLIV I DO, o -'J Sin 20 f n @j Y fljghLQL/tw fi/ Aug. 9, 1966 R. A. PACI-IE ETAL 3,265,237 BEVERAGE BOTTLE CASES Filed Jan. 2. 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTORS 34 ROBERTA. PACHE Louls H. PETERS ATTORNEY R. A. PACHE ETAL 3,265,237

BEVERAGE BOTTLE CASES Filed Jan. 2. 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS ROBERT A. PACHE LOUIS H. PETERS ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,265,237 BEVERAGE BTTLE CASES Robert A. Pache, South River, Louis H. Peters, Somerville, and James H. Versteeg, Middlesex, NJ., assignors to Union Carbide Corporation, a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 335,161 6 Claims. (Cl. 220-21) This invention relates to beverage bottle cases and more particularly to features of construction of molded cases.

Beverage bottle cases of moldable :materials such as thermosetting or thermoplastic resins, hard rubber and the like, have many desirable properties not normally found in wooden cases such as freedom from splintering, Swelling and rotting, light weight and ability to be `readily cleaned as by Washing. In molded beverage cases, features such as maximum strength with minimum material, ability to resist slipping when stacked upon another case filled with bottles, ability to receive six-packs without damage to the Iconventionally employed cardboard container, ability to resist high impact forces and generally to be adapted for hand-ling in modern equipment, are of prime importance.

It has now been found that beverages cases can be provided which meet the aforementioned requirements. In accordance with the present invention, stacking of filled beverage bottle cases having two end walls, two side walls, a bottom wall and which provide for the lcarrying of twenty-four bottles in a pattern of six bottles in each of four coextensive, parallel rows, is yfacilitated through the use of grommets located at least in the third and fourth bottle positions of the first and fourth rows respectively, and in the first and sixth bottle positions of both the second and third rows.

In cases used for carrying twelve bottles in a pattern which consists of three bottles in each of four coextensive, parallel rows, the grommets :are located at least in the first and third positions of the second and third rows and in the first and fourth rows between the rst and second positions and between the second and third positions.

The grommets have slip resistant surfaces and preferably are of about 60 to 85 durometer rubber.

It has also been found that damage to cardboard, four pack or six pack carriers or the like which occurs due to contact between the bottom edge of the carrier and the bottom edge of the handle opening, can be prevented by means of an advantageous hand hole configuration.

The hand hole of the present invention comprises in the end wall of the beverage case, an opening, of which the portion of the perimeter proximate the top edge of the end wall is straight and parallel to the bottom wall of the case. This portion of the opening gradually changes iat each end to perimeter portions which, advantageously, slope forward the bottom wall and which extend to a position substantially equal to the upper most part ofthe bottom wall.

A further aspect of the present invention involves a reinforced structure wherein the side walls and end walls have double wall sections at least in the region of the four corners of the case. Reinforcin-g ribs are provided between the inner and outer walls of the side and end walls. The ribs are positioned proximate the corners of the case and the side Wall ribs are in a plane substantially parallel to the planes of the end walls while the end wall ribs are in a plane substantially parallel to the planes of the side walls.

Patented August 9, H556 ICC The invention will be more fully understood from the following description taken with the drawings wherein:

FIGURE l is a top plan view of a beverage case of the present invention,

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational View of the beverage case of FIGURE l,

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view of the beverage case of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 4 is an end elevational view of the beverage case of FIGURE l,

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along lines 5-5 of FIGURE l, and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary, perspective view, partly in section showing a modification of an intersection of partition walls.

Thebeverage bottle case 10, as shown in FIGURE l, is provided with a reinforcing grid pattern which provides the strength and rigidity required of a twenty-four beverage bottle case. The grid is formed by a plurality of specifically positionedvertical ribs 12, 12a and 12b which are seen in elevation in FIGURE 5.

Four partition walls lift, are seen in the modilication of FIGURE 1. This modication would normally be employed for carrying four six-pack containers. These containers are commonly of paper, cardboard and the like and have six interior compartments for beverage bottles. It is readily apparent that theribs 12b, which lie parallel to the partition walls 14, and which, in combination with a partition wall or an outer wall in affect enclose a beverage bottle position, can be of a height similar to that of the partition walls 14, thus providing twenty-four individual compartments. Conversely, less than four partition walls can be employed, thus providing a one or two compartment design, as well as a four to twenty-four compartment design.

It should be noted that, although FIGURE l shows a twenty-four beverage bottle case, the case can, obviously, be used to hold other quantities of beverage bottles (e.g., six, twelve, fteen or twenty) as desired. Advantageously, the grid pattern is modified according to the number of bottles to be carried by making the required proportional changes in the lengths and positions of the ribs.

Each of the beverage bottle positions which do not have agroinmet 16 therein, consists of crossed ribs I2, within a square (in some instances, an open square) formed by ribs i261. The square ofribs 12a, is in tum, within a square formed byribs 12b in combination with a partition wall 14 or a side or end wall.

The beverage cases are subjected during handling, as for example on automatic conveyers, to .severe impact forces. The double wall construction as seen in FIGURE l, provides adequate strength without unduly increasing the weight of the case or the complexity of manufacture. In the corner zone, the side wall 2t), is combined with a second, outer wall 29a. A vertically extendingrib 22 serves to transmit impact forces fromouter wall 20a, to theinner wall 20 and the end wall 24. An outer,end wall 24a, corresponds to theouter wall 20a, and similarly through a vertical rib 26, transmits impact forces from theouter wall 24a to theinner walls 24tand 20.

Theside wall 20 has a flange portion 2S, located at its upper edge, as seen in FIGURE 2. Similarly, as seen in FIGURE 4, aange member 30 is provided at the upper portion of the end wall 24.

Conventional rectangular or oblong handle openings have been found to interfere with the insertion of cardboard six packs into cases in whichvertical spacing ribs 18 could not be used against the end walls 24, be-

cause of space requirements or the like. Theupper portion 32 of the perimeter of the handle opening is in the form of a straight line which is parallel to thebottom wall 34 of the beverage case. At each end of the straight portion of the perimeter of the opening, the perimeter gradually changes from a line parallel with the bottom wall, to aportion 36 which slopes, that is, is at an incline to the bottom wal-l. The angle must be such that the lowest portion of theopening 38, is at a height about equal to that of the uppermost part of thebottom wall 34. The uppermost part of the bottom wall, as seen in FIGURE 5, is formed by the upper edge of theribs 12, 12a and 12b. Advtantageously, the descending portion o"c the perimeter of the opening is in the form of a straight line inclined with respect to the bottom wall, at an angle of fro-m 40 to 60 degrees, preferably 45 degrees,

Aange member 40 provides in combination with theridges 42, a convenient gripping surface. Theflange member 40 extends from the end wall and lies in a plane parallel to the plane of the bottom wall. Thevertical ribs 44 act as reinforcing members between theflange members 30 and 40.

Thevertical ribs 18, as seen in FIGURE 5, serve as reinforcing members as well as spacers and thus add to the overall rigidity of the case. In beverage cases such as twelve compartment, quart bottle cases, the vertical spacer ribs which are located at the mid point of each of the four walls of a compartment, may not be adequately rigid to withstand the twisting forces exerted by the bottle against the rib. As a rib bends, the effective area within a compartment increases thus permitting a bottle to wobble. In addition, the partition walls are not adequately rigid to support heavy bottles and the resultant flexibility permitted the spacer ribs to act like a doctors knife and peel paper labels off the bottles. Hollow, tubular spacers having an appearance in side view, the same as the pair of spacer ribs 18a, of FIGURE 5, but having a circular plan configuration, not only will'not deform under the pressure of a heavy bottle, but also increase the rigidity of the partition wall.

Molded beverage cases are commonly provided with mechanical means such as recesses in the bottom of the case to receive the top of the bottles in the case below, and thus provide stability when cases are stacked. However, recesses adequately deep to provide stacking stability, tend to remove the caps or even break the necks of bottles when the top case is removed by the commonly employed horizontal sliding process.

Grommets 16 are placed in lopenings in the bottom wall of themold case 10, in order to provide the case with a slip resistant surface. Thegrommets 16 must be of a sufiiciently hard material so that they can resist dirt pick-up and abrasion which interferes with their performance vand yet, must be of a sufiiciently soft material to provide a slip resistant surface. The grommets are preferably made of a non-marking rubber having about an 85 durometer hardness.

As seen in FIGURE 3, the lower surface of thegrommet 16, is provided with annularly positioned ridges orprotrusions 46, which advantageously are ring-like n shape. The protrusion should extend from about 2/100 to 4/100 of an inch from the surface of the grommet, preferably about 57100 of an inch. The ring shapedprotrusions 46, are about 1A of an inch in diameter and in combination form an annular ridge or protrusion having an inner diameter of from about 1% to 1% inches.

Thegrommets 16, are employed in a pattern which permits the minimum number of grommets to be used while providing adequate stability when cases are stacked. In cases for carrying twenty four bottles such as seen for example in FIGURE 1, wherein the bottles are positioned in four rows, six bottles to a row, at least six grommets should be used. The first row contains a grommet in the bottom wall of the case, in the third f i bottle position, the second and third rows contain grommets in the first and sixth positions and the fourth row contains a grommet in the fourth bottle position.

In cases, such as those used for carrying quart size bottles, the pattern usually consists of four rows, having three bottle positions to a row. At least six grommets are used and are placed between 'the first and second bottle positions and between the second and third positions in the first and fourth rows. The second and third rows contain grommets positioned in particular bottle positions rather than between positions, and specifically in the first and third positions.

It should be noted that in the twenty four bottle case, the grommets in the second and third rows are displaced sligh-tly from the midpoint of the bottle position. As seen in FIGURE 1, the grommets in the first and sixth positions of the second rows are diagonally displaced in the direction of the second and fifth positions respectively, of the first row. Correspondingly, the grommets in the first and sixth positions of the third row are diagonally displaced in the direction of the second and fth positions respectively of the fourth row.

As seen in FIGURE 6, consistent with the use of a minimum amount of material, partition intersections may be provided with apertures which reduce weight and facilitate drainage of fluids.

Although the invention has been described in its preferred forms with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred forms has been made only by way of example, and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangements of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a molded beverage bottle case having two end walls, two side walls and a bottom wall, for carrying twenty-four bottles in a pattern which consists of six bottles in each of four coextensive, parallel rows, the improvement which comprises a plurality of grommets having slip resistant surfaces positioned in the bottom wall of the case and extending downwardly therefrom, said grommets being located substantially in the center of the third and fourth bottle positions of the first and fourth rows respectively, and in the first and sixth bottle positions of both the second and third rows, wherein a portion of each of the grommets in the first and sixth positions of the second and third rows extends inwardly towards the second and fifth positions respectively, whereby the weight of one case superimposed upon a second case will be supported by engagement of at least some of the grommets thereof with the bottle caps of the second case.

2. The molded beverage bottle case of claim 1, wherein each end wall is provided with handle means, said means including an opening, the portion of the perimeter of the -opening proximate the top edge of the end wall, being straight and parallel to the bottom wall of the case, the straight parallel perimeter portion gradually changing at each end lto sloping perimeter portions which meet at a position proximate the bottom wall of the container.

3. The molded beverage bottle case of claim 1, wherein the grommets have an annular pattern of discontinuous protrusions on their outer surface.

4. In a molded beverage bottle case having two end walls, two side walls and a bottom wall for carrying twelve bottles in a pattern which consists of three bottles in each of four coextensive, parallel rows, the improvement which comprises a plurality of grommets having slip resistant surfaces positioned in the bottom wall of the case and extending downwardly therefrom, said grommets being located substantially in the center of the first and third positions of the second and third rows respectively and in the first and fourth rows between the first and third positions whereby the weight of one case superimposed upon a second case will be supported by engagement of at least some of the grommets thereof with the bottle caps ofthe second case.

5. The molded beverage bottle case of claim 4, Wherein the grommets have an annular pattern of discontinuous protrusions on their outer surface.

6. The molded beverage bottle case of claim 2, Wherein said handle means includes la ange member extending outwardly from the end Wall of the case and lying in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the bottom Wall, the lower inner edge of the handle forming said straight parallel perimeter portion of said opening, said end wall having a ange member proximate its upper edge lying in a plane parallel to the plane of the handle ange member and a plurality of reinforcing ribs extending between the flange members of the end Wall and the handle.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1932 Lanz 248-350 12/1932 Carlson 248-350 4/ 1952 Erickson 220-69 4/ 1958 Brackett. 10/ 1963 Kazimier 220-21 9/ 1964 Cl-oyd 220-21 FOREIGN PATENTS 9/ 1963 France. 7/ 1961 Great Britain.

15 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

GEORGE E. LOWRANCE, LOUIS G. MANCENE,

Examiners.

Claims (1)

1. IN A MOLDED BEVERAGE BOTTLE CASE HAVING TWO END WALLS, TWO SIDE WALLS AND A BOTTOM WALL, FOR CARRYING TWENTY-FOUR BOTTLES IN A PATTERN WHICH CONSISTS OF SIX BOTTLES IN EACH OF FOUR COEXTENSIVE, PARALLEL ROWS, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES A PLURALITY OF GROMMETS HAVING SLIP RESISTANT SURFACES POSITIONED IN THE BOTTOM WALL OF THE CASE AND EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY THEREFROM, SAID GROMMETS BEING LOCATED SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE CENTER OF THE THIRD AND FOURTH BOTTLE POSITIONS OF THE FIRST AND FOURTH ROWS RESPECTIVELY, AND IN THE FIRST AND SIXTH BOTTLE POSITIONS OF BOTH THE SECOND AND THIRD ROWS, WHEREIN A PORTION OF EACH OF THE GROMMETS IN THE FIRST AND SIXTH POSITIONS OF THE SECOND AND THIRD ROWS EXTENDS INWARDLY TOWARDS THE SECOND AND FIFTH POSITIONS RESPECTIVELY, WHEREBY THE WEIGHT OF ONE CASE SUPERIMPOSED UPON A SECOND CASE WILL BE SUPPORTED BY ENGAGEMENT OF AT LEAST SOME OF THE GROMMETS THEREOF WITH THE BOTTLE CAPS OF THE SECOND CASE.

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