Patent US1689799A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4773554A
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US
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Crate
Assignee: Metal Box South Africa Ltd
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Filing: 1987-12-07
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Granted: 1988-09-27
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Expires: 2007-12-07
Abstract
Abstract A bottle crate has an upper part which is upwardly open and a lower part receivable in an upper part of an identical subjacent crate and having a single, lower-most, relatively-smooth floor. Separating posts extend upwardly from the floor to provide upwardly opening primary sockets in which lower portions of bottles are receivable. Each primary socket has a seat on which a lower part of a bottle received in the primary socket is supportable. The crate also has downwardly opening secondary sockets within which neck portions of bottles in a subjacent crate are receivable in use.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael J. Warwick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 17:56
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D71/00; B65D71/70; B65D1/00; B65D1/22; B65D1/24; B65D1/243; B65D2501/00; B65D2501/24; B65D2501/24006; B65D2501/2405; B65D2501/24063; B65D2501/24082; B65D2501/24089; B65D2501/24101; B65D2501/24197; B65D2501/24203; B65D2501/2421; B65D2501/24216; B65D2501/24235; B65D2501/24242; B65D2501/24254; B65D2501/24261; B65D2501/2428; B65D2501/24343; B65D2501/2435; B65D2501/24363; B65D2501/24509; B65D2501/24535; B65D2501/24541; B65D2501/24554; B65D2501/2456; B65D2501/24566; B65D2501/24585; B65D2501/24649; B65D2501/24656; B65D2501/24694; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S220/00; Y10S220/15
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
A bottle crate, comprising: an upper part which is upwardly open; a lower part connected to the upper part and comprising a single, lowermost, relatively-smooth floor, the lower part being receivable in the upper part of an identical, subjacent crate; separating means extending upwardly from the floor at least partially for defining upwardly open primary sockets in which at least lower portions of bottles are respectively receivable; supporting means above the floor at a height therefrom less than the extent of the separating means for providing each primary socket with a seat on which a lower part of a bottle received in the primary socket is supportable; and downwardly opening secondary sockets in the floor within which neck portions of bottles in the subjacent crate are respectively receivable in use, the secondary sockets having respective socket mouths with respective peripheral surface means for resting on the neck portions of the bottles in the subjacent crate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
155 words
A bottle crate, comprising: an upper part which is upwardly open; a lower part connected to the upper part and comprising a single, lowermost, relatively-smooth floor, the lower part being receivable in the upper part of an identical, subjacent crate; separating means extending upwardly from the floor at least partially for defining upwardly open primary sockets in which at least lower portions of bottles are respectively receivable; supporting means above the floor at a height therefrom less than the extent of the separating means for providing each primary socket with a seat on which a lower part of a bottle received in the primary socket is supportable; and downwardly opening secondary sockets in the floor within which neck portions of bottles in the subjacent crate are respectively receivable in use, the secondary sockets having respective socket mouths with respective peripheral surface means for resting on the neck portions of the bottles in the subjacent crate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A crate according to claim 1, which includes a peripheral wall extending upwardly from and surrounding the floor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
66 words
A crate according to claim 2, in which the floor is an elongated rectangle and the peripheral wall has two side portions and two end portions, the side and end portions being so shaped that an upper part of each portion forms part of the upper part of the crate and a lower part of each portion forms part of the lower part of the crate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
A crate according to claim 3, in which the portions are stepped into a stepped formation or rebate where the upper and lower parts of the wall meet, whereby to facilitate at least partial location of the lower part of the crate within the upper part thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A crate according to claim 1, in which the supporting means project upwardly from the floor and at least partly define the secondary sockets.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A crate according to claim 5, wherein the supporting means comprises generally hollow support posts which open out at the bottom surface of the floor of the crate and define the secondary sockets.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A crate according to claim 2, wherein the separating means comprises free-standing separating posts projecting from the floor in spaced relationship.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A crate according to claim 7, wherein the wall is provided with further spaced separating posts aligned with the free-standing posts.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A crate according to claim 7, wherein at least the lower parts of the separating posts are generally hollow or formed by suitable wall formations.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A crate according to claim 8, wherein the separating posts are of a height greater than the height of the wall and the support posts have a height less than the height of the wall.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A crate according to claim 7, wherein the separating posts and support means are interconnected by means of webs extending between them.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
60 words
A crate according to claim 7, wherein, to enable the crate to be stacked, when empty, receiving means are defined by the lower parts of the hollow separating posts and, if necessary, recesses in the wall, so that the tops of the separating posts of one crate can fit into the receiving means of a higher identical crate spigot-socket fashion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
A crate according to claim 2, wherein at least some of the separating means are in the form of planar partitions which co-operate with separating posts and the peripheral wall to define primary sockets of substantially square cross-section
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-09-27 | 1992-03-28 | 1992-09-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-09-27 | 1996-03-28 | 1996-09-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-09-27 | 2000-03-28 | 2000-09-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |