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Patent 2195137 Summary

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Claims and Abstract availability

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(12) Patent Application: (11) CA 2195137
(54) English Title: CRATE
(54) French Title: ASIER A BOUTEILLES
Status: Deemed Abandoned and Beyond the Period of Reinstatement - Pending Response to Notice of Disregarded Communication
Bibliographic Data
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):
  • B65D 6/02 (2006.01)
  • B65D 1/24 (2006.01)
  • B65D 71/70 (2006.01)
  • B65D 81/133 (2006.01)
(72) Inventors :
  • WARWICK, MICHAEL JAMES (South Africa)
(73) Owners :
  • METAL BOX SOUTH AFRICA LIMITED T/A MEGAPAK
(71) Applicants :
  • METAL BOX SOUTH AFRICA LIMITED T/A MEGAPAK (South Africa)
(74) Agent: RUSSELL REYNEKE
(74) Associate agent:
(45) Issued:
(22) Filed Date: 1997-01-15
(41) Open to Public Inspection: 1997-07-19
Availability of licence: N/A
Dedicated to the Public: N/A
(25) Language of filing: English

Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT): No

(30) Application Priority Data:
Application No. Country/Territory Date
96/0410 (South Africa) 1996-01-18

Abstracts

English Abstract


A bottle crate includes a body portion which defines a plurality
of primary sockets. A lower portion of a bottle is receivable
in each primary socket. A base portion is detachably attached
to a bottom region of the body portion. The base portion defines
a plurality of secondary sockets in each of which an upper
portion of a bottle is receivable. Complementary attaching
formations are carried by the body portion and the base portion
to facilitate the detachable attaching of the base portion to the
body portion.


French Abstract

asier dont le corps principal définit des compartiments pouvant loger la partie inférieure d'une bouteille, comprenant en outre une base amovible définissant également des compartiments pouvant recevoir la partie supérieure d'une bouteille. Le corps principal et la base amovible sont munis de dispositifs complémentaires permettant de les assujettir l'un à l'autre

Claims

Note: Claims are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.


THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A bottle crate which includes
a body portion which defines a plurality of primary sockets
in each of which a lower portion of a bottle is receivable;
a base portion, detachably attached to a bottom region of
the body portion, the base portion defining a plurality of
secondary sockets in each of which an upper portion of a bottle
is receivable; and
complementary attaching formations carried by the body
portion and the base portion to facilitate the detachable
attaching of the base portion to the body portion.
2. The crate as claimed in Claim 1 in which the base
portion includes a plurality of secondary socket defining
member, each of which defines one of the secondary sockets, the
arrangement being such that, when the base portion is attached
to the body portion, the secondary socket defining members of the
base portion are aligned with and in register with the primary
sockets of the body portion.
3. The crate as claimed in Claim 2 in which the attaching
formations of the base portion comprise clip-like elements
arranged at an operatively upper end of each of at least certain
of the secondary socket defining members.

11
4. The crate as claimed in Claim 3 in which the bottom
region of the body portion defines a floor of each of the primary
sockets, the attaching formations of the body portion comprising
receiving formation defined in the floors of at least certain
of the primary sockets, the receiving formations receiving and
holding the clip-like elements therein.
5. The crate as claimed in Claim 4 in which the receiving
formations are recessed below an upper surface of the floor
said primary sockets.
6. The crate as claimed in Claim 5 in which the floor of
each primary socket is annular and has a raised inner periphery,
the receiving formations of said primary sockets being arranged
in the raised inner periphery and being recessed with respect to
an upper surface of said raised inner periphery.
7. The crate as claimed in Claim 5 or Claim 6 in which the
clip-like elements are shaped to be received in said receiving
formations without protruding above the upper surface of the
floor of said primary sockets.
8. The crate as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 7
inclusive in which the floor of each primary socket has a central
opening define therein, the opening being shaped and dimensioned
to receiver a closure member of a bottle in a subjacent crate at
least partially therein when the base portion is not attached to
the body portion.

12
9. The crate as claimed in Claim 8 in which, to facilitate
insertion of the closure member into the opening, guiding
formations are defined in a bottom surface of the floor of each
primary socket about the opening.
10. The crate as claimed in Claim 9 in which the guiding
formations extend radially outwardly from the opening.
11. The crate as claimed in Claim 9 or Claim 10 in which
the guiding formations have an angled portion extending towards
the opening to guide the closure member of the bottle into the
opening and to bear against a bottle ring arranged below the
closure member of the bottle.
12. The crate as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 11
inclusive in which an entrance to each secondary socket defines
a bearing surface which bears against a neck of the bottle, below
a closure member of the bottle, in a subjacent crate, in use.
13. The crate as claimed in Claim 12 in which the bearing
surface comprises an angled region in a bottom of the base
portion, the bearing surface having an angle corresponding to an
angle of the neck of the bottle in the subjacent crate to seat
on said neck to effect neck-loading of the bottles in the
subjacent crate when the base portion is attached to the body
portion.

13
14. The crate as claimed in Claim 13 in which a length of
each secondary socket is such that, in use, when a neck of a
bottle is received in the secondary socket, the closure member
of such bottle is spaced from the floor of a primary socket above
it.

Description

Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.


2195I37
A CRATE
THIS l~v~.-l~0~ relates co ~ crate. More particularly,
the invention relate~ to a bottle crate.
According ~o the inven~ion, there i9 provided a ~ottle
crate which includes
a body portion which de~ines a plurality o~ primary sockets
in each of which a lower portion of a ~ottle is recei~able~
a base portion, detach~bly attached to a ~ottom region o~
~he body po~tion, the base portion defining a plurality o~
se~n~ry soc~ecs in each o~ which an upper portion o~ a bottle
is receivable; a~d
complemen~ry at~aching formations carried by the ~ody
portion and the ba~e portion to facili~ate the detachable
attaching of the ~a~e portion to the b~dy por~ion.
The ba e portion may incl~e a plurality of secnnd~ry
socket defining mem~ers, each of which defines one of the
~eC~n~ry ~ookets, the arrange~ent being such that, when ~he ~ase
po~tion is attached to the bo~y por~ion, the sec~ndary socke~
de~ining m~mbers o~ the b~se portion are aligned with and in
re~i~te~ with the pximary sockets of the body portion.

2195137
_ 2
The at~aching ~ormations of ~e base portion ~ay
comprise clip-like elemen~s arrange~ at an operatively upper end
af each o~ at least certain of the secondary socket de~ining
member~. The bot~m region of the body portion may de~ine a
floor of each of ~he primary socke~, the att~h~ or~ations
o~ the body por~ion then comprising receiving formations de~ine~
in the floors o~ at least certain of the primary ~ockets, the
receiving formations receiving and holding the ~lip-like elements
therein. ~he re~eiving ~ormations may be reces~ed below an upper
surfa~e o~ the floor of sai~ p~imary sockets.
Further, the ~as~ portion may have side walls which
carry engaging elements which engage complementary engagea~le
formation* in t~e bottom region of the body portion. The
engagi~ elements may be in the form of clips which en~age
compleme~tary ribæ in the bottom r~gion of the body portion.
The floox of each pri~ary so~ket may be annular andlnay
have a raised inner periphery, ~he receiving forma~ions o~ said
primary so~kets being arranged in the xaised inner periphery and
bein~ recessed with respect to an upper su~ace o~ said ~aiæed
inner periphery. ThU~, the clip-like elements may ~e shaped to
be received in said recei~ing formations wit~out pro~ruding abo~e
the upper sur~ace o~ the ~loo~ o~ said primary socke~s.
T~e cra~, in accordance with the invention, i~
intended particularly ~or use in the tran~portation o~ so~tdrink
~ottles, more speci~ically, non-return type softdrink bottle~

2195137
_ 3
made of ~ synthetic plastic~ material. ~ertain type~ o~ such
~ottles ha~ a base region which carries a plu~ality of
protrusion~ thereon rendering such base region non-flat. Hence,
due to th~ slightly dished annula~ shape ~ the floo~, t~e
protr~ions o~ ~e bottle~ can be recei~ed out~ardly o~ the inner
periphery on a ~u~tantially planer region o$ the floor. Ill 90
doing, i~ oved 6tability is i~parted to a bot~le received in the
primary socket.
The floor o~ each primary socket, being annular, may
ha~e a central op~n;~ de~ined therein, t~e ope~ing being shaped
and ~ n~ioned to recei~e a clo~ure member o~ a bottle in a
su~jacent cra~e at least partially therein w~en the b~se por~ion
i8 not atta~hed to the body portionl To ~acilitate insertion o~
the c~osure ~emhe~ into the openi~g, guiding ~ormations may be
de~ined in a bottom surface of the ~loor of eac~ primary 60cket
about the or~n;~. The ~uiding formation~ ~ay extend r~dially
outwardly ~rom the opening.
The guiding ~ormations may be ~u~ee-plate like and may
have an angle~ portion ext~nA;ng toward~ the open;n~ to guide the
closure ~emhe~ o~ the bo~tle into the ope~ing and to bear against
a bottle ri~g arran~ed below the closure me~ber ~f the botcle.
An entrance to each ~econdary ~ocket ~ay de~ine a
be~Lring sur~ace w~ich b~ar~ agains~ a neck of the bottle, below
a closure m~mber 0~ the l:~ottle, in a ~ub~ acent cra~e, ln use .
The ~earing sur~ace ~nay comp~ise an aIlgled region in a bottom o~

~195137
_ 4
the base portion, ~he bearing surface h~vi~g a~ an~le
corresponding to an angle of the neck o~ the ~ottle in the
6U~j acent crate ~o seat on said neck to e~fect neck-loadi~ of
the bot~les in the ~u~j~cent crate ~en ~he ba~e portio~
attached to the body portion.
A length o~ each secondary soc~et may be ~h that, in
use, when the neck of the bottle is received in ~he ~econdary
~ocket, the closure m~mber o~ such bottle i8 spaced ~rom ~he
~loor o~ a pri~ary socket ~bove it.
The invention i8 now de~cribed by way o~ example wi~h
refer~n~e to t~e accompanying diagrammatic ~awings.
In the drawin~s,
Figure 1 show~ a three ~en-cional view o~ a bct~le crate,
in a~co~da~ce with the in~ention;
Figure 2 6how~ a plan view of a body po~tion of the crate;
Figure 3 show~ a bot~o~ view of the body portion of tlle
~rate;
Figure ~ shows a par~-~ectional view of the ~ody portion of
the ~rate taken along line IV - IV in Figure 2;
Figure 5 sho~ a sectional ~iew of ~he ~ody portion o~ the
crate taken al~ng line V - V in Figur~ 2;
Figure ~ sho~s a three ~imensional view of a ~a~e portion
o~ the crate;
Figure 7 ~how~ a plan view of the base portion of the cxa~e;
Fi~ure H show~ a bottom view of the ba~e portion o~ ~he
cra~e;

2 1 9 5 1 3 7
Pigure 9 shows a ~ide view of the b~se po~tion o~ the crate;
Figure lO s~ow~ a part-~ect~onal Yiew o~ the ba~e ~ortion
of ~he Crate taken along line X - X in Figure 7; and
Figure 11 shows a detailed, se~tional side view o~ the
clipping together o~ ~e base po~tion and ~he ~o~y portion of the
crate.
Re~erring ~o ~he draWin~B, a bottle cra~e, in
accordance with t~e in~ntion, is illustrated ~d i6 desi~nated
generally ~y ~he reference nu~eral lO. The crate 10 Comprises
a bod~ portion 12 which de~ines a plurality o~ ~rimary soc~e~s
14 in each of which a lower portion of a bottle (not shown) i~
receivable. ~ ba~e portion 16 i~ detach~ly a~ta_hed to a bot~o~
18 o~ the ~ody por~ion 12. The ~a~e portion 16 de~ines a
plurality of sec~ ry ~ockets 20 (~igures ~ to 10) in each o~
~hich an upper portion of ~ bottle i8 ~eceivable. T~e
arrange~nt i~ BU~ tha~, when the ~ase portion 16 i~ at~ached
to ~he bod~ portion 12, t~e ~econdary sockets 2~ lie below, and
in re~iste~ with, the pri~ary ~ockets 14.
As illustr~ted more clea~ly in Figure 1 of the drawin~3
the ~ody portion 12 comprise~ a pair of end panels 20, a pai~ o~
spaeed sid~ pO~ts 22 on ea~h side of the ~ody portion 12 and
pair of space~ central post~ 2~. The end panel~ Z0, side pos~
~2 and ce~tral ~o~t 24 de~ine the primary socke~s 14. ~s
illu~rated in the draw1ngs, ~ix such primary ~ockets 14 are
defined in ~e body portion 12.

2195137
~_ 6
In addition, in respec~ of che end 60ckets 14, these
are each partially defined by an end ~all 25. The end walls 25
ar~ provided to improve the ~ength of the crate~ 10 and, hence,
the stackability of empey crate8 10. Thus, the end walls 25
~erve to inhibit buckling o~ the empty crates 10 when they are
s~acked.
Each primary ~ocket 14 has a floor 26 which is annula~
and whi~h is sli~htly dished, as illu~trated more cl~arly in
Figure~ 4 and 5 o~ the dr~wings, th~ floor 2~ having a raised
inner periphery 28 and a central opening 30. The ~loor 26 o~
each primary ~ocke~ lg is shaped to aCcom~A~te basal protrusion6
of a bottle thereon in a ~ubstanti~lly stable ~annPr with the
raised pe~iphery 28 of ths $100r 26 bearing against a central
part of a bottom o~ the ~ottle.
The base portion 16 is detac~ably att~ohed to t~e body
portion 12 via a plur~lity of co~plementary receiving ~ormations
32 and clip~ 34 tFigures 6 to 10) carried on the ~ody porti~n 12
~nd ~he ~ase portion 16, respectively. The receiving ~ormations
32 of the ~ody portion 12 are in the form o~ stepped slo~s
axranged in the raiBed periphery ~8 of the floor 26 of each
prima~y socket 14. ~he slot~ 32 are arranged in a
aircum~exentially sp~ced relatlonship in the ~loor 26 o~ eacn
primary soc~et 14.
Re~erring now to Figure 6 ~o 10 o~ the ~rawings, the
~ase portion 1~ of the c~ate 10 i~ described in greater detail.

2195137
The ~ase po~tion 16 comprises a pair o~ opposed ~ide w~ 3~ and
a pair o~ opposed, ~owed end w~ 38. Cylind~ical form~tion$
40 are arranged within the wall~ 36, 38, the formations 40 ~eing
inte~connected by we~s 42. These ~ylindrical forma~ion~ 40
de~ine the secondary ~ockets 20 of the ba~e portion 16. rhe
clips 34 of the ~ase portion 16 are arranged at operati~ely upper
end~ o~ the cylindrical formation~ 40. It is to be noted that
the clipR 34 are ~o shaped t~at, when they eng~ge the ~lots 32
o~ the body portion 12, the~ a~e recessed below the raised
periphery 28 o~ the floor 26 o~ each primary ~ocket 14.
Accordin~ly, the clips 34 do not a~versely a~e~t the s~ability
o~ bottles received in the primary sockets 14.
Additionally, slots 44 are define~ at operatively uppe~
ends o~ each c~landrical ~ormation 40. ~hese slots 44 ~eceive
rei~orcin~ 6trut~ 46 (Figure 3) defined on an op~r~ti~ely outer
surface 48 o~ the ~loor 2~ of each primary ~ocket 14,
The struts 46 also co-operate with lo~t~n~ formations
50 carried by the webs 4~ o~ t~e base portion 16 ~or locating t~e
~ase portion 16 and the ~ody portion 12 wit~ respect to e~h
~t~er. To enh~n~e the rigidity o~ the crate ~rther~ webs 62 are
arranged on a~ a~ter 6ide o~ each c~lindrical formation 40.
Additionally, rein~orcing posts 64 are defined in the web~ ~2.
Clips 52 are ca~ried on each side wall 3~ of the b~s~
portion 16 . The6e clip6 5~ e~age ri~s 54 (Figure 3~ in the
bottom 18 o~ the body porti~n 12 to secure the ba~e porti~n 16

219S137
_ 8
to the body portion 12. To improve ~he stabil~ty of the c~e
10 further, rei~orcing ribs 56 are carried on an inner sur~ace
o~ each ~ide wall 36 of the base portion 16. Free ends of the
ribs 56 bear against an inner surace of the bottom 18 o~ tlle
~ody portion 12.
Referring now to Figure 10 o~ the drawings, it i~ to
~e noted th~t an entra~ce 58 to each 6econ~ary socket 20 has an
angled shoulder 60. The angle o~ the ~houlder ~0 correspond~ to
an angle of a neck of the bottle recei~ed in the ~eco~ry ~cket
20 ~o that the crate 10 i8 ~upported on ~he necks o~ ~he bot~l~s
of a subjacen~ crate 10 when loaded crate6 are stacked Further,
the length o~ each cylindrical formation 40 is euch that, when
the ~houlder 60 bear~ on the neck of the bottle, a clo~ure of the
bottle does no~ protrude beyond the upper end of the cylindrical
formation 40 and very lit~le, if any, ver~ical loading is
imparted to the clo~ure o~ the ~otele when the crates are
6tacked .
In u~e, a dual purpo~e cra~e 10 is pro~i~ed. By
clipping the base portlon 16 onto the bot~ol~l 18 of the body
portion 12, the cra~e~ 10, with bottles therein, can be ~tacked
in a neck-loading m~nnQr. Conver~ely, the base portion 60 can
be ~ ved ~rom the body portion 12. In the latter ca~e, a
closure o~ a bottle in ~ 8U~j ~cent crate is recei~ed in the
openin~ 30 o~ the floor portion 26 of a primary socket 14 of tl~e
upper cnrlt~; ner a~d the crate 1~, ~ith bottles therein, can be
et~cked in ~ clo~ure~ fl; ~ m~n~Q~ of the bottles. The

2195137
g
rei~orcing ~truts 46, where they termin~te at the openings 30
~re chamfere~ to bear against the clo~ure and a ri~g o~ ~e
bottle below ~he closure to s~abilise the stacked, packed
crates.
Hence, iS is a particul~r advantage of the in~en~ion
that a d~al-purpose ~rate 10 is provided which can be u~ed either
in a clo-~ure-lo~ng mann~r or ~ neck-loA~in~ m~n~e~.
Additionally, d~e to ~h~ configur~tion o$ the ~loor 26 o~ the
primary sockets 14 of the body portion 12, bottles of ~axious
capacitie~ can be packed in the crate 10 and the cxate 10 i9 not
restricted to u~e with bot~les of one capaci~y Or size only.

Representative Drawing
A single figure which represents the drawing illustrating the invention.
Administrative Status

2024-08-01:As part of the Next Generation Patents (NGP) transition, the Canadian Patents Database (CPD) now contains a more detailed Event History, which replicates the Event Log of our new back-office solution.

Please note that "Inactive:" events refers to events no longer in use in our new back-office solution.

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Event History

Description Date
Inactive: IPC from MCD 2006-03-12
Inactive: IPC from MCD 2006-03-12
Time Limit for Reversal Expired 2000-01-17
Application Not Reinstated by Deadline 2000-01-17
Deemed Abandoned - Failure to Respond to Maintenance Fee Notice 1999-01-15
Letter Sent 1997-09-12
Application Published (Open to Public Inspection) 1997-07-19

Abandonment History

Abandonment Date Reason Reinstatement Date
1999-01-15

Fee History

Fee Type Anniversary Year Due Date Paid Date
Registration of a document 1997-08-06
Owners on Record

Note: Records showing the ownership history in alphabetical order.

Current Owners on Record
METAL BOX SOUTH AFRICA LIMITED T/A MEGAPAK
Past Owners on Record
MICHAEL JAMES WARWICK
Past Owners that do not appear in the "Owners on Record" listing will appear in other documentation within the application.
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Document
Description 
Date
(yyyy-mm-dd) 
Number of pages   Size of Image (KB) 
Representative drawing 1997-08-13 1 11
Abstract 1997-04-29 1 17
Description 1997-04-29 9 306
Claims 1997-04-29 4 123
Drawings 1997-04-29 10 332
Courtesy - Certificate of registration (related document(s)) 1997-09-11 1 118
Reminder of maintenance fee due 1998-09-15 1 115
Courtesy - Abandonment Letter (Maintenance Fee) 1999-02-14 1 184
Courtesy - Office Letter 1997-02-17 1 37
Prosecution correspondence 1997-08-11 1 30