US 5,405,042 AGranted

Bottle case and divider assembly

AssigneesRehrig Pacific Company, The Coca-Cola Company

InventorsWilliam P. Apps, Gerald R. Koefelda, Larry E. Shermer

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Abstract

A full-depth bottle case and at least one divider which is releasably snapped into the floor of the case and together therewith defines a plurality (e.g., nine) of bottle receiving pockets. The pattern of pockets thereby defined and thus the case are asymmetrical about both longitudinal and lateral axes thereof. To ensure that the case is properly aligned with respect to conveyors and other case handling equipment indicator arrows are provided on the outside case walls. The divider cannot be unsnapped from the case floor simply using fingers, to deter unauthorized removal. Rather, with the case inverted, tool is actuated downward at each of the divider snap locks to unlock them so that the divider can be removed and, if desired, replaced with a different divider to accommodate different sized bottles.

Claims32

Dependent claims

A full-depth bottle case assembly for different sets of bottles of different sizes, said assembly comprising:

a full-depth bottle case including a full-depth wall structure, a floor construction secured to said wall structure, and locking floor members on said floor construction;
a first divider having a first set of locking divider members positioned such that, when said first divider is in a snapped-in position in said bottle case, said locking divider members of said first set are releasably engaged relative to at least some of said locking floor members, said first divider being configured such that when in the snapped-in position said first divider and said bottle case together form a plurality of first pockets for holding upright therein a plurality of first bottles;
and
a second divider having a second set of locking dividers members positioned such that, when said second divider is in a snapped-in position in said bottle case, said locking divider members of said second set are releasably engaged relative to at least some of said locking floor members, said second divider being configured such that when in the snapped-in position said second divider and said bottle case together form a plurality of second pockets, of a different width size than said first pockets, for holding upright therein a plurality of second bottles of a different bottle width than that of the first bottles;
said bottle case being asymmetrical about both longitudinal and lateral axes thereof;
and
said first divider being asymmetrical about both longitudinal and lateral axes thereof, such that said first divider can only be inserted into said bottle case and into the snapped-in position in one relative orientation.

4 more elements

A full-depth bottle case assembly for different sets of bottles of different sizes, said assembly comprising:

a full-depth bottle case including a full-depth wall structure, a floor construction secured to said wall structure, and locking floor members on said floor construction;
a first divider having a first set of locking divider members positioned such that, when said first divider is in a snapped-in position in said bottle case, said locking divider members of said first set are releasably engaged relative to at least some of said locking floor members, said first divider being configured such that when in the snapped-in position said first divider and said bottle case together form a plurality of first pockets for holding upright therein a plurality of first bottles;
and
a second divider having a second set of locking dividers members positioned such that, when said second divider is in a snapped-in position in said bottle case, said locking divider members of said second set are releasably engaged relative to at least some of said locking floor members, said second divider being configured such that when in the snapped-in position said second divider and said bottle case together form a plurality of second pockets, of a different width size than said first pockets, for holding upright therein a plurality of second bottles of a different bottle width than that of the first bottles;
said wall structure including an interior wall column whose horizontal cross-section is asymmetrical, and having an interior long side and an interior short side;
said long side forming a portion of one of said first pockets with said first divider in the snapped-in position;
and
said short side forming a portion of one of said second pockets with said second divider in the snapped-in position.

5 more elements

A full-depth bottle case assembly for different sets of bottles of different sizes, said assembly comprising:

a full-depth bottle case including a full-depth wall structure, a floor construction secured to said wall structure, and locking floor members on said floor construction;
a first divider having a first set of locking divider members positioned such that, when said first divider is in a snapped-in position in said bottle case, said locking divider members of said first set are releasably engaged relative to at least some of said locking floor members, said first divider being configured such that when in the snapped-in position said first divider and said bottle case together form a plurality of first pockets for holding upright therein a plurality of first bottles;
and
a second divider having a second set of locking dividers members positioned such that, when said second divider is in a snapped-in position in said bottle case, said locking divider members of said second set are releasably engaged relative to at least some of said locking floor members, said second divider being configured such that when in the snapped-in position said second divider and said bottle case together form a plurality of second pockets, of a different width size than said first pockets, for holding upright therein a plurality of second bottles of a different bottle width than that of the first bottles;
said wall structure having along one wall thereof an interior wall surface configured relative to said first divider when in the snapped-in position such that said plurality of first pockets includes first and second peripheral pockets adjacent said interior wall surface with said first peripheral pocket being spaced a distance further from the bottle case axis parallel to said one wall than said second peripheral pocket;
said bottle case being sized to allow for only one of said dividers to be in the snapped-in position.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.