US20040112767A1

US20040112767A1 - Bottle carrier

Info

Publication number: US20040112767A1
Application number: US10/467,857
Authority: US
Inventors: Baki Ozcan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-02-15
Filing date: 2002-02-15
Publication date: 2004-06-17
Also published as: EP1414711B1; WO2002064433A3; JP2004538217A; ATE342205T1; EP1414711A2; AU2002246485A1; WO2002064433A2; DE60215354D1

Abstract

The bottle carrier (1) according to the present invention comprises two longitudinal central sections (2) which may be used as interlocked or separately. In this manner, less bottles may be carried when required, and also their storange in the refrigerators and similar places is facilitated. These two pieces can be placed in the bottle storage compartments vertically, either as separated or as joined from their short edges, whereby the same number of bottles can be stored by occupying less space as compared to other bottle carries may also be used to open the metallic caps of the bottles.

Description

The present invention relates to a bottle carrier for carrying and storing bottles or similar containers which is also used to open the caps of the metal-capped bottles.

Various bottle carrying devices have been developed for carrying more than one bottle together, at the same time. Said devices retain the bottles together by using different implementations according to the volumes of the bottles. In general, carrying devices consisting of two interconnected plastic plates, one gripping the bottles at their neck portions and the other at their bottom portions, by means of the forms in the shape of a half-or whole-rim formed along their longitudinal edges, are used for large bottles. In such embodiments, as two plates are used, the material cost increases and it is not advantageous from the economical point of view.

The plastic plate, gripping the bottles such as mineral water bottles, etc. is no more required when the volume of the bottles gets smaller. In the embodiment where a single plastic plate is utilized, the diameter of the bottle gripping sockets in a half-or whale rim shape, provided on both sides of the plastic plate and the distance between two sockets vary according to the bottle to be carried. Usually six or eight bottles, three or four each on two sides of these devices, can be carried by these devices.

In the state of Art, the U.S. Pat. No. 5,191,975, a plastic bottle packaging device which has a utility for retaining a plurality of containers, being a clip type of device comprising a longitudinal control section with a plurality of means for gripping the containers integral therewith, is disclosed.

The dimensions of the longitudinal central section and the gripping means are dependent upon the dimensions of the containers to be retained by the device. Furthermore, in the embodiment where the width of the plastic plate is increased, at least one hole is opened at the center of the said plate to facilitate its being carried by using the fingers. This is also disclosed within the scope of the said invention.

The U.S. Pat. No. 5,882,057, a bottle carrier comprising notches to accommodate the neck portion of the bottles, formed at the edges of a circular structure. By this embodiment, a plurality of bottles can be carried in a spaced apart relationship to avoid their crashing but it can accommodate a smaller number of bottles.

The diameter of the circular structure is required to be increased in order to increase the number of the bottles that can be carried, however this leads to an increase in the cost, as well as in the total volume of the bottle carrier.

In the German Utility Model Certificate, no. DE 7226648, a device consisting of three metal-capped bottle carriers and a bottle cap opener is disclosed.

The most important disadvantage of the above disclosed bottle carriers is the fact that the bottle carriers with bottles on them are not in conformity with the area where they are stored. As there are not appropriate compartments in the refrigerators or the like, for the bottle carriers with bottles on them, they occupy a lot of space therein; therefore the bottles are taken out of the bottle carrier to be placed in the refrigerator. Furthermore the inventions disclosed in said patents generally aim transportation and storage, but do not aim the opening of the bottles at the same time. Whereas the tools used to open the metallic bottle-caps only serve to open them. So a bottle opener has to be looked for in order to open them.

The object of the present invention is to realize a bottle carrier used for carrying and particularly for storing a plurality of bottles together, which can also be used to open the bottle caps and which can be split into two pieces.

The bottle carrier realized to attain the object of the present invention has been illustrated in the attached drawings, wherein; [0011]
FIG. 1, is the plan view of the bottle carrier according to the prior art, [0012]
FIG. 2[0013] a, is the plan view of the bottle carries before locking,
FIG. 2[0014] b, is the plan view of the bottle carries in a locked position,
FIG. 3[0015] a, is the plan view of another embodiment of the invention before locking,
FIG. 3[0016] b, is the plan view of another embodiment of the invention in a locked position,
FIG. 4[0017] a, is the plan view of another embodiment of the invention before locking, for a carrying position,
FIG. 4[0018] b, is the plan side view of the locking detail of another embodiment of the invention,
FIG. 5, is the plan view of one embodiment the invention, in a one row locked position. [0019]
FIG. 6[0020] a, is the plan view of another embodiment comprising a bottle opener, arranged for a single bottle;
FIG. 6[0021] b, is the plan view of another embodiment comprising a bottle opener, as arranged in a single row for four bottles;
FIG. 6[0022] c, is the plan view of another embodiment comprising a bottle opener, arranged for three bottles;
FIG. 6[0023] d, is the plan view of another embodiment comprising a bottle opener, as arranged in double rows for six bottles;
FIG. 6[0024] e, is the plan bottom plan view of another embodiment comprising a bottle opener, arranged for a single bottle;
FIG. 6[0025] f, is the view of the cap retaining claw in another embodiment comprising a bottle opener.
The components shown in the drawings are separately given reference numerals as shown below: [0026]
[0027] 1. Bottle carrier
[0028] 2. Longitudinal central section
[0029] 3. Longitudinal central section body
[0030] 4. Gripping nest
[0031] 5. Gripping members
[0032] 6. Cased catch
[0033] 7. Lock handle
[0034] 8. Lateral support part
[0035] 9. Aperture
[0036] 10. Hole
[0037] 11. Locking ring
[0038] 12. Male locking member
[0039] 13. Female locking member
[0040] 14. Male fastening element
[0041] 15. Female fastening element
[0042] 16. Side wall
[0043] 17. Handle for carrying
[0044] 18. Claw surface
[0045] 19. Claw head
The bottle container ([0046] 1) according to the invention, consists of two longitudinal central sections (2) that may be used independently of each other or together by being assembled.
Said longitudinal central section ([0047] 2) comprises a body (3), one or more gripping nests (4) formed along one longitudinal side of said body (3), and one or more locking means formed on the other longitudinal side of said body (3), at regular intervals, resilient gripping (claws) members (5) are provided. By virtue of the resilient structure of the gripping members (5) the bottle (s) can easily be put in to or taken out of the gripping nests (4). Each longitudinal central section (2) is provided with a number of gripping nests (4) depending on the number and volume of the bottles to be carried. Usually each longitudinal central section (2) is used to carry three or four bottles each, namely a total of six or eight bottles can thus be carried. By means of the lateral support part (8), the gripping members (5) located at the ends of the gripping nests (4) and the body (3) are joined. In this manner the resilience of the gripping nests (4) are kept within acceptable limits.
The holes ([0048] 10) forming the apertures (9) to facilitate the handling of the bottle carrier (I) by the user, when the two longitudinal central sections (2) are brought together, are provided on the side opposing the one with the gripping nests (4), of both longitudinal central sections (2).
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, cased catches ([0049] 6) are formed along the side of the body (3) where the holes (10) are located. Said cased catch (6) has a hollow and preferably a quadrilateral structure.
All of the cased catches ([0050] 6) having the same geometry may be located on the same surface of the body (3) or some of them may be arranged on the upper and some, on the lower surface of said body (3).
The lock handles ([0051] 7) are located near the cased catches (6) but on the reverse surface. A certain portion of the lock handle (7) is provided on the body (3) and the remaining portion extends beyond the side of the body (3). There are at least one lock handle (7) and one cased catch (6) (FIG. 2a and 2 b).
In the preferred embodiment of the bottle carrier ([0052] 1) of the present invention, there gripping nests (4) spaced apart at certain distances are formed on the longitudinal side of the body (3); whereas on its other longitudinal side, the cased catch (6) and lock handle (7) take place behind each gripping nest (4). Said case catches (6) are located on the upper and the lock handles (7) are located on the lower surface of the body (3). The bottle carrier (1) may be used as one-piece, by interlocking the two longitudinal central sections (2). Said interlocking is provided by arranging said cased catches (6) and said lock handles(7) appropriately. Two longitudinal central sections (2) are so juxtaposed that the surface of one section (2) provided with the cased catches (6) faces upwards and the surface of the other section provided with the cased catches (6) faces downwards.
Thus, on the upper surface of one piece, the cased catches ([0053] 6) are present, and on the upper surface of the other piece, the respective lock handles (7) are present. In this position, the gripping nests (4) on the longitudinal central sections (2) face to opposite directions. The lock handles (7) on both bodies (3) are inserted between the lateral sides of the cased catches (6) on the other central section (2) and thus, the two sections (2) are interlocked.
The end portion of the lock handle ([0054] 7) is slightly larger than the width of the cased catch (6) and by virtue of this structure, the lock handle (7) can easily enter the cased catch (6) but once it is in the cased catch (6), it cannot leave the cased catch (6) easily without applying a force. In this case, where both sections (2) are locked, the holes (10) provided as opposing each other on the longitudinal side of the body (3), are brought together to form one or more apertures (9). Said apertures (9) preferably two in number, facilitate the transportation of the bottle and they are wide enough for the passage of fingers.
In another embodiment of the invention, three gripping nests ([0055] 4) spaced apart at certain distances are formed on the longitudinal side of the body (3); whereas on its other longitudinal side, locking rings (11) are provided at the same level as each gripping nest (4). Two of said locking rings (11) are provided on the upper surface of the body (3) and one is on its lower surface. The two locking rings (11) on the upper surface of the body (3) are so arranged that a distance of the diameter of one locking ring (11) is left between them. Two locking rings (11) are located at the level of the gripping nest (4) at the middle section of the body (3); one of which is arranged on the upper and the other on the lower surface of the said body (3). A certain portion of all locking rings (11) is located on the body (3) and the remaining portions extend beyond the edges of the said body (3) (FIGS. 3a and 3 b).
In another embodiment of the invention, male and female locking members ([0056] 12 and 13) are provided at the rear portion of the body and the male locking member (12) is fitted into the female member (13) due to their resilient structures and thus interlocking is realized.
There is a stepped roll that widens as a mushroom on one surface of the male member ([0057] 12), and the female member (13) is provided with a through hole that allows the passage of the male member (12) but prevents it to exit once it passes through. The only difference between the two longitudinal central sections (2) is that, one of them is provided with male (12) and the other, with female (13) locking members FIG. 4a and 4 b).
In one embodiment of the invention, fastening elements ([0058] 14 and 15) that provide the locking of the longitudinal central sections (2), on the short sides of both sections (3). By means of said fastening elements one of which is male (14) and the other is female (15), the sections (2) are fastened to each other from their short sides, thus enabling the storing of a plurality of bottles in one row (FIG. 5).
By using the bottle carrier ([0059] 1) assembled as one piece, a plurality of bottles may be easily carried together. Furthermore, the bottles may be stored in refrigerators and the like that have storage compartments of appropriate width, without being taken out of the bottle carrier (1).
In another embodiment of the invention, the bottle carrier ([0060] 1) may also be used for opening the metal caps of the bottles. One or more circular gripping nests (4) provided with a handle (17), are located on the bottle carrier. On the bottom surface of the gripping nest (4), gripping members (5) comprising one or more claw surfaces (18) and claw heads (19), to which the bottle cap is engaged, and which have an elasticity sufficient for the passage of the mouth of the bottle, are provided. When the bottle carrier is pressed onto the bottle, the resilient gripping member opens and the claw heads (19) of the resilient gripping member grip the bottle mouth and the metal cap. Furthermore, in case the bottle carrier is pressed onto a single bottle, said claw heads (19) enable the opening of the metal cap (FIGS. 6a to 6 f). The bottle carrier may be used for a single bottle, or may be joined, arranged as one or double row, for more than one bottle, or a joined bottle carrier for more than one bottle, may be split and be used for carrying and storing various numbers of bottles. The number of the gripping members (5) bottle carrier is pressed onto a single bottle, said claw heads (19) enable the opening of the metal cap are shown as three or four in number on both sides of the handle (17) in the attached drawings. The number of said members (5) may be more than one on two sides of the handle band. The bottle carrier is shown with the arrows as triangular comers in the attached drawings. Said invention may be expressed by using geometrical figures such as circular, elliptical, guadrilateral, or mixed geometries. These will be assessed within the scope of the present invention.
Said two longitudinal central sections ([0061] 2) constituting the bottle carrier (1), may be used as interlocked or separately or as assembled from their short edges. In this manner, less bottles may be carried when required, and also their storage in the refrigerators and similar places is facilitated. These two pieces can be placed in the bottle storage compartments vertically, either as separated or as joined from their short edges. In this manner the same number of bottles can be stored by occupying less space as compared to other bottle carriers.
Furthermore, the bottle carrier may also be used to open the metallic caps of the bottles. [0062]

Claims

1. A bottle carrier that is used for carrying and storing a plurality of bottles in a unitary manner, comprising;

a longitudinal central section body,

at least one gripping nest formed along one longitudinal side of said body, that grips the necks of the bottles;

characterized with at least one locking means located along the other longitudinal side of said body with regular intervals, that provide the interlocking of the longitudinal central sections.

2. A bottle carrier as defined in claim 1, characterized with locking means comprising at least one cased catch (6) having a hollow, preferably quadrilateral structure, and lock handle (s) (7) that are located near the cased caches (6) but on the reverse surface, a certain portion of which is provided on the body (3) and the remaining portion extends beyond the side of the body in such a manner that the lock handle (7) can easily enter the cased catch (6) but once it is in the cased catch (6), it cannot leave the cased catch (6) easily without applying a force.

3. A bottle carrier as defined in claim 2, characterized with cased catches (6) located on the same surface of the body (3).

4. A bottle carrier as defined in claim 2 and 3, characterized with cased catches (6) some of which are arranged on the upper and some, on the lower surface of said body (3).

5. A bottle carrier as defined in claim 2 to 4, characterized with lock handles located on the same surface of the body (3).

6. A bottle carrier as defined in claim 2 to 5, characterized with lock handles (7) some of which are arranged on the upper and some, on the lower surface of said body (3)

7. A bottle carrier as defined in claim 2 to 6, characterized with two longitudinal central sections (2) wherein on the upper surface of one piece, the cased catches (6), and on the upper surface of the other piece, the respective lock handles (7) are present and which are joined by inserting the lock handles (7) on both bodies (3) between the lateral sides of the cased catches (6) on the other central section (2).

8. A bottle carrier as defined in claim 1, characterized with locking means comprising locking rings, provided on the body, at the side opposite to the gripping nests, a certain portion of which is located on the body (3) and the remaining portions extend beyond the edges of the said body (3) and which help these two longitudinal central sections (2) to be joined.

9. A bottle carrier as defined in claim 8, wherein the distance between two locking rings on the longitudinal central section, is wide enough for the resilient placement of the locking ring provided on the other longitudinal central section, in this space.

10. A bottle carrier as defined in claims 8 and 9, characterized with operetures wide enough for the passage of fingers, which are formed by the holes provided as opposing each other on the longitudinal side of the body (3), when both sections (2) are locked.

11. A bottle carrier as defined in claim 1, characterized with locking elements one of which is male and the other is female and by means of which the sections (2) are fastened to each other.

12. A bottle carrier as defined in claim 11, characterized with a male locking member provided with stepped roll that widens as a mushroom on one of its surfaces.

13. A bottle carrier as defined in claim 11 and 12, characterized with a female member provided with a through hole that allows the passage of the male member (12) but prevents its exit once it passes through.

14. A bottle carrier as defined in claim 1-13, characterized with fastening elements that provide the locking of the longitudinal central sections (2), on the short sides of both sections, thus enabling the storing of a plurality of bottles in one row.

15. A bottle carrier as defined in claim 1-14, characterized, with a lateral support piece that joins the body with in order to prevent these gripping nests form yielding more than the desired resilience.

16. A bottle carrier as defined in claim 1-15, characterized in that the bottle is carried and stored by holding said bottle carrier comprising a gripping nest provided with a circular carrying handle, and gripping members on the bottom surface of said gripping nest, consisting of a claw surface and a claw head, which has an elasticity sufficient for the passage of the mouth of the bottle and that when the bottle carrier is pressed onto the bottle, the resilient gripping member opens and the claw heads (19) of the resilient gripping member grip the bottle opening and the metal cap.

17. A bottle carrier as defined in claim 1 to 16, characterized in that, when said bottle carrier is pressed onto a single bottle, said claw heads (19) enable the opening of the metal cap.

18. A bottle carrier as defined in claim 1-17, characterized in that, the number of said gripping members on the bottom surface of said gripping nest, consisting of a claw surface and a claw head, is more than one.

19. A bottle carrier as defined in claim 1-18, characterized in that the two corners of the body is in the form of triangular arrows.