Bottle case

A case includes removable upper side walls and collapsible upper end walls. The upper side walls each include a central opening for supporting the upper side wall horizontally on a bottle and a plurality of peripheral openings on which empty glasses may be supported. Each of the upper end walls includes a plurality of openings for supporting bottles in a vertical position when the upper end wall is in the collapsed position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a case for carrying bottles and more particularly to a reusable case for bottles, such as wine bottles, the case having collapsible walls and detachable members for holding accessories, such as wine glasses.

Wine bottles are typically shipped in cardboard boxes to stores. The wine bottles are often displayed for sale in the store in the boxes. Consumers who purchase a case of wine carry the bottles home in the cardboard boxes. These boxes are typically not sturdy and may be subject to damage from water, the environment, etc. These boxes are typically not reused or returned to the store.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a molded plastic bottle case that is more durable, reusable, and provides additional functionality not found in the previously known boxes.

The bottle case includes a pair of lower end walls and a pair of lower side walls integrally molded with a bottom wall. An upper side wall is mounted above each lower side wall and is detachable from the bottle case. Each upper side wall includes a central opening for receiving a bottle. After removal from the bottle case, the upper side wall can be used as a glass holder. The central opening of the upper side wall is supported on the neck of a bottle and the stems of the glasses are received in the peripheral openings.

Upper end walls are collapsible (after removal of the upper side walls) to a position supported on the lower side walls. In the collapsed position, the upper end walls support bottles in each of a plurality of openings. The remaining area inside the case can be used as a cooler or storage container and may be filled with ice and/or food.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A bottle case10according to the present invention is illustrated inFIG. 1. Although the case10will be illustrated for use with wine bottles, it could be used with any type of bottles or other beverage containers. The case10includes lower side walls12and lower end walls14extending upwardly from a periphery of a bottom wall13(visible inFIG. 2). The case10further includes a pair of upper side walls16generally vertically aligned with and detachably mounted on top of lower side walls12and upper end walls18generally vertically aligned on lower end walls14. The lower end walls14each include a handle opening15. The upper end walls18each include a plurality of openings22. Each of the upper side walls16includes a central opening24and at least one peripheral opening26(eight openings26being shown inFIG. 3.)

InFIG. 1, the case10is shown containing a dozen bottles30(in this example, wine bottles30). Each of the bottles30in the case10includes a neck32extending upwardly from a body portion34.

In use, the bottles30(a dozen shown) are shipped to the store in case10. A consumer purchases the bottles30and takes them home in the case10. The consumer then removes the upper side walls16and folds down the upper end walls18into a collapsed position as shown inFIG. 2. The upper end walls18are pivoted about living hinges36on lower end walls14and supported on the upper edges of lower side walls12. Some of the bottles30can be supported in an upright position in the case10in the openings22in the upper end walls18, leaving additional room in the case10for ice and food for a picnic. The case10, ice, food and bottles30can be carried to the dining location and displayed at the dining location.

Meanwhile, the upper side walls16can each be supported on one of the bottles30, as shown inFIG. 3. The neck32of the bottle30is inserted into the central opening24and the upper side wall16is supported on the body portion34of the bottle30. While supported on the bottle30, the upper side wall16may also support other accessories, such as glasses38. Glasses38each have a cup portion40supported by a stem42on a base44. The stem42of a glass38can be inserted the peripheral opening26in the upper side wall16. The peripheral opening26includes a slot opening46leading to a slightly larger round opening48. Stem42is inserted through the slot opening46and retained in the round opening48of the peripheral opening26. In this manner, as shown inFIG. 3, the upper side wall16can hold a plurality of glasses38while being supported on a bottle30.

When empty, the case10can be stacked with similar cases10, as shown inFIG. 4. The upper end walls18are pivoted to their collapsed position as shown to reduce the overall stacking height of the empty cases10. The upper side walls16may be simply placed inside the cases10. The empty cases10may then be shipped back to the beverage producers for reuse.

Alternatively, without the central opening24, the upper side wall16can be used as an individual plate, the upper surface of which can support food in addition to a glass38. In such an embodiment, only one peripheral openings26may be necessary, so that a user could hold the upper side wall16as a plate and support a glass (with beverage) on the peripheral opening26.

The case10may be formed of polypropylene, HDPE, polycarbonate or other suitable material via an injection molding or other suitable process. Although not shown, small interlocking tabs or snap-fit tabs around the edges of the upper side walls16may detachably connect the upper side walls16to the lower side walls12and the adjacent upper end walls18. Other means of detachably connecting the upper side walls16could also be utilized, which may or may not permit re-attachment of the upper side walls16. Although illustrated for use with wine bottles30and wine glasses38, for which the present invention is particularly well-suited, the case10could also be used with other beverage containers and other accessories.