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(11) | EP 0 548 230 B1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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| (54) |
PLASTIC CRATE FLASCHENKASTEN AUS KUNSTSTOFF CAISSE A CLAIRE-VOIE EN PLASTIQUE |
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| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). |
[0001] The present invention relates to a plastic crate for bottles or the like according to the preamble of claim 1.
[0002] Plastic crates with large openings in the sides have been produced for a long time, see, for example, US-A-4 884 712. However, at such a design there is often a problem with the sides of the crate. Thus, they are not strong enough. Therefore, it is usual to form such crates with horizontal cross-beams or several vertical beams over the openings.
[0003] This construction, however, has the disadvantage that bottles cannot be taken out through the openings of the sides.
[0004] According to the present invention the above disadvantages have been avoided and a strong plastic crate for bottles or the like is provided by a crate including the features of claim 1. As a result of this inventive construction the crate is provided with large openings in all sides through which bottles can be taken out, because the openings lack horizontal cross-beams. The crate also has an open-work bottom surface, an upper horizontal rim and a lower horizontal rim which two rims are connected by vertical pillars in the corners of the crate.
[0005] The crate is reinforced with a vertical beam along each of two opposite sides, which beams connect the upper and the lower rims, whereby the beams are placed in the middle of two opposite sides. The beams are directed inwards and situated inside the vertical plane of respective side of the crate. The upper and the lower rim are performed with curved recesses corresponding to the shape and the size of the bottles. The bottom surface is performed with upwards directed towers which together with the curved recesses in the lower border divide the bottom surface into a desired number of compartments, one for each bottle. Whereby the bottles can be taken out through openings of the sides.
[0006] The bottom surface suitably comprises circular parts of different sizes connected by spokelike parts, which parts constitute a support for one bottle in each compartment. Preferably the different bottom parts in each compartment are also connected with each other by spokelike parts. Of course the whole bottom surface is made in one piece with the rest of the crate.
[0007] Generally the crate is made of polypropylene, polyethylene or impact resistant polystyrene. However, polyethylene is usually preferred due to its good impact strength in cold surroundings.
[0008] The invention will be further explained in connection with the enclosed figures 1 and 2 which in perspective show one embodiment of a plastic crate 1 according to the invention from two different directions.
[0009] The plastic crate 1 is provided with large openings 2 in all sides. The crate 1 has an open-work bottom surface 7, an upper horizontal rim 5 and a lower horizontal rim 6. The two rims 5 and 6 are connected by thin vertical pillars 3 in the corners of the crate. The crate is reinforced with an inwards directed vertical beam 4 along each of two opposite sides. These beams 4 connect the upper and the lower rim 5 and 6 respectively. The beams 4 are then placed in the middle of the two opposite sides and inside the vertical plane of these sides and have an outwards facing concave horizontal cross-section. The upper and the lower rim 5 and 6 respectively are performed with curved recesses 8 corresponding to the shape and the size of the bottles. The bottom surface is performed with upwards directed towers 9, which together with the curved recesses 8 in the lower rim 6 divide the bottom surface 7 into a desired number of chambers, one for each bottle. The bottom surface 7 suitably comprises circular parts 10 of different sizes connected by spokelike parts 11. These parts 10 constitute a support for one bottle in each compartment. The different bottom parts 10 in each compartment are also connected with each other by spokelike parts 11. The case is also provided with handles 12 in the connection between the vertical beams 4 and the upper horizontal rim 5 and the lower horizontal rim 6 respectively. Bottles can be taken out through openings 2.
- openings (2) in all sides, which openings lack horizontal cross-beams as seen in the upright crate position,
- an open-work bottom surface (7),
- an upper horizontal rim (5) and
- a lower horizontal rim (6), wherein
- the two rims (5, 6) are connected by vertical pillars (3) in the corners of the crate, and by a vertical reinforcement beam (4) provided at the middle of each of two opposite sides of the crate, and
- the upper rim (5) and the lower rim (6) are provided with curved recesses (8) corresponding to the shape and the size of the bottles,
characterized in that- the reinforcement beams (4) are situated inside the vertical plane of the respective sides of the crate and have an outwards facing concave horizontal cross-section, and
- the bottom surface (7) is provided with upwards directed towers (9) which together with the curved recesses (8) in the lower rim (6) divide the bottom surface (7) into a desired number of bottle compartments.
- Öffnungen (2) in allen Seiten, die keine horizontale Querträger in der aufrechten Position der Getränkekiste gesehen besitzen,
- eine durchbrochene Bodenfläche (7),
- einen oberen horizontalen Rand (5) und
- einen unteren horizontalen Rand (6), worin
- die zwei Ränder (5, 6) durch vertikale Säulen (3) in den Ecken der Getränkekiste verbunden sind, und durch einen vertikalen Verstärkungsträger (4) der in der Mitte jeder der zwei entgegengesetzten Seiten der Getränkekiste vorgesehen ist, und
- der obere Rand (5) und der untere Rand (6) sind mit gekrümmten Ausnehmungen (8) entsprechend der Form und der Größe der Flaschen versehen,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß- die Verstärkungsträger (4) innerhalb der vertikalen Ebene der jeweiligen Seiten der Getränkekiste gelegen sind und einen nach außen gerichteten, konkaven horizontalen Querschnitt besitzen, und
- die Bodenfläche (7) mit nach oben gerichteten Erhebungen (9) versehen ist, die zusammen mit den gekrümmten Ausnehmungen (8) in dem unteren Rand (6) die Bodenfläche (7) in eine erwünschte Anzahl von Flaschenkammern unterteilen.
- des ouvertures (2) dans tous ses côtés, ces ouvertures, ne comportant pas de traverses horizontales, le casier étant vu dans la position verticale,
- une surface inférieure ajourée (7),
- un bord supérieur horizontal (5) et
- un bord inférieur horizontal (6), sachant que
- les deux bords (5, 6) sont raccordés par des piliers verticaux (3) aux angles du casier, et par des montants verticaux de renforcement (4) disposés au milieu de chacun de deux côtés opposés du casier, et
- le bord supérieur (5) et le bord inférieur (6) sont pourvus d'évidement incurvés (8) correspondant à la forme et au diamètre des bouteilles,
caractérisé en ce que- les montants de renforcement (4) sont situés à l'intérieur du plan vertical des côtés respectifs du casier et ont une section droite horizontale concave dont la concavité est orientée vers l'extérieur, et
- la surface inférieure (4) est pourvue de saillie (9), en forme de tours, qui sont dirigées vers le haut et qui, conjointement avec les évidements incurvés (8) du bord inférieur (6), divisent la surface inférieure (7) en un nombre désiré de compartiments à bouteille.