Spacing tool for use with bottle conveyor

A spacing tool is adapted for use with a conveyor that conveys plastic bottle containers of the type having a neck ring, a neck below the neck ring, and a body below the neck. The conveyor has a pair of support flanges that are spaced laterally from one another by a distance smaller than an outer diameter dimension of each container neck ring, but larger than an outer diameter dimension of each container neck. Thus, each container can be supported between the flanges with its neck ring in engagement with upper surfaces of the flanges. The conveyor has a pair of container guide rails that are spaced from one another by a distance larger than an outer diameter dimension of each container body so that each container can move along the conveyor between the guide rails. The spacing tool comprises a spacing member having a head portion, a neck portion below the head portion, and a spacing block below the neck portion. The head portion has a first outer diameter dimension larger than the spacing between the flanges. The neck portion has a second outer diameter dimension smaller than the spacing between the flanges. Thus, the spacing member can be supported with the head portion in engagement with the upper surfaces of the flanges, with the neck portion between the flanges, and with the spacing block suspended below the flanges adjacent the guide rails. The spacing block has a third outer diameter dimension substantially equal to the outer diameter dimension of each container body (i.e., slightly larger than the third outer diameter dimension to allow for clearance of the containers between the guide rails) so that the spacing member can be used to calibrate the lateral spacing between the guide rails.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 (1) Field of the Invention
 The present invention pertains to a spacing tool for use with air
 conveyors. In particular, the present invention relates to a spacing tool
 that can be used for calibrating the spacing between the guide rails of an
 air conveyor that transports plastic bottle containers along a conveying
 path defined by a pair of flanges and the guide rails.
 (2) Description of the Related Art
 Air conveyors are typically employed in the rapid transport of empty
 plastic bottle containers. FIG. 1 is an end elevational view of a typical
 prior art air conveyor apparatus. In FIG. 1, the air conveyor apparatus is
 indicated generally by the reference character C. The air conveyor
 apparatus C is shown with a plastic bottle container, indicated generally
 by the reference character B. The bottle container B is of the type having
 a narrow neck portion N, an annular rim or neck ring R around the neck
 portion N, and a body J below he neck portion N.
 The air conveyor C includes a pair of flanges F that are spaced laterally
 from one another defining an elongate slot between the flanges. The
 spacing between the flanges F is sufficiently large to enable the neck
 portion N of the bottle container B just below the neck ring R to pass
 through the spacing with the bottle container suspended from upper
 surfaces U of the flanges F by the neck ring R engaging on the upper
 surfaces U. A series of air ducts D are positioned along the length of the
 conveyor C adjacent the flanges F. An air plenum of the air conveyor (not
 shown) supplies a flow of air to the air ducts D. The air ducts D are
 oriented so that air ejected from the ducts will contact the plastic
 bottle containers B, thereby pushing the bottle containers B along the
 pathway defined by the flanges F with the neck rings R of the bottle
 containers B sliding along the upper surfaces U of the spaced flanges F.
 Preferably, such air conveyors transport a plurality of bottle containers
 in closely spaced succession and at a substantial speed. A typical air
 conveyor is constructed with both straight sections and curved sections in
 order to transport the succession of bottle containers from one area to
 another. Air conveyors often have guide rails for limiting the
 side-to-side movement of the bottle containers being conveyed. The air
 conveyor C shown in FIG. 1 includes guide rails G positioned below the
 flanges F on opposite sides of the conveying path defined by the flanges
 F. The guide rails G are spaced further apart from each other than are the
 flanges F to allow the width of a bottle container body J suspended from
 the flanges F to pass easily between the guide rails G. The guide rails G
 limit the side-to-side movement of the bottle containers B conveyed by the
 air conveyor C and thereby limit the extent to which the bodies J of the
 bottle containers can swing outwardly or transversely from the conveying
 path, e.g., when the air conveyor rounds a curve. Such guide rails help to
 avoid a bottle container neck or neck ring becoming jammed in the slot
 between the support flanges.
 With a typical air conveyor being capable of transporting a large
 succession of plastic bottle containers at a considerable rate of speed,
 spacings between the support flanges and guide rails must be precise in
 order to ensure efficient operation. Thus, the spacings between the
 support flanges and guide rails must be calibrated precisely during
 initial assembly of the air conveyor apparatus, and must also be
 recalibrated periodically in order to maintain the proper spacing. In
 addition, the spacings of the support flanges and guide rails must be
 calibrated each time the conveyor is to be used to transport bottle
 containers of different dimensions.
 Thus, a calibration tool is needed for setting and maintaining the proper
 spacing between the support flanges and guide rails of an air conveyor
 apparatus. It is desirable that the tool have a simple construction that
 allows it to be moved into position between the support flanges and/or
 guide rails at virtually any point along the length of the conveyor.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 The spacing tool of the present invention can be employed with virtually
 any type of air conveyor system that conveys articles along a conveying
 path. In the operative environment of the invention to be described, the
 tool is used with an air conveyor that transports plastic bottle
 containers. The bottle containers are of a conventional type with each
 bottle having a narrow neck portion at its upper end, an annular rim or
 neck ring around the neck portion, and a body below the neck portion.
 The air conveyor with which the spacing tool of the invention is described
 employs a pair of spaced flanges through which the neck and neck ring of
 the bottle container project. The neck ring rests on upper surfaces of the
 spaced flanges, thereby suspending the body of the bottle container below
 the flanges. The air conveyor includes a series of air ducts that direct a
 supply of air against the bottle containers causing the bottle containers
 to move along the length of the air conveyor with the neck ring of each
 bottle container sliding along the upper surfaces of the flanges. Air
 conveyors of this type are described in the Ouellette U.S. Pat. No.
 5,437,521, issued Aug. 1, 1995, U.S. Pat. No. 5,611,647 issued Mar. 18,
 1997, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,628,588, issued May 13, 1997, each of which is
 assigned to the assignee of the present invention and incorporated herein
 by reference.
 Air conveyors typically include a framework that supports the conveyor.
 They also often include guide rails that are supported from the framework
 or suspended from the air conveyor in positions just below the conveying
 slot that is defined by the flanges. The guide rails typically extend
 along the length of the conveyor with a spacing between the guide rails
 that is centered below the spacing between the flanges. The spacing
 between the guide rails is slightly larger than the body of the bottle
 containers to be conveyed by the air conveyor. The guide rails limit the
 extent to which bottle containers conveyed by the air conveyor can rock
 side-to-side or transversely to their direction or path of conveyance.
 In general, a spacing tool of the present invention is adapted for use with
 a conveyor of the type described above. The spacing tool comprises a
 spacing member having a head portion, a neck portion below the head
 portion, and a spacing block below the neck portion. The head portion has
 a first outer diameter dimension larger than the spacing between the
 flanges. The neck portion has a second outer diameter dimension smaller
 than the spacing between the flanges. Thus, the spacing member can be
 supported with the head portion in engagement with the upper surfaces of
 the flanges, with the neck portion between the flanges, and with the
 spacing block suspended below the flanges adjacent the guide rails. The
 spacing block has a third outer diameter dimension substantially equal to
 the outer diameter dimension of each container body (i.e., slightly larger
 than the container outer diameter dimension to allow for clearance of the
 containers between the guide rails) so that the spacing block can be used
 to calibrate the lateral spacing between the guide rails.
 In another aspect of the invention, a spacing tool comprises a spacing
 member having a head portion and a neck portion below the head portion.
 The head portion has a cross-sectional configuration with a major lateral
 dimension and a minor lateral dimension. The minor lateral dimension of
 the head portion is smaller than the spacing between the flanges. Thus,
 the head portion is allowed to pass between the flanges when the spacing
 member is oriented so that the major lateral dimension is aligned with the
 pair of flanges and the minor lateral dimension of the head portion is
 transverse to or generally perpendicular to the flanges. The major lateral
 dimension of the head portion is larger than the spacing between the
 flanges. Thus, the spacing member can be supported with the neck portion
 between the flanges and with the head portion in engagement with the upper
 surfaces of the flanges when the spacing member is oriented so that the
 major lateral dimension is positioned transverse to or generally
 perpendicular to the pair of flanges and the minor lateral dimension of
 the head portion is aligned with the pair of flanges. The neck portion of
 the spacing member has an outer diameter dimension substantially equal to
 the outer diameter dimension of each container neck (i.e., slightly larger
 than the outer diameter dimension of each container neck to allow for
 clearance of the container necks between the flanges) so that the spacing
 member can be used to calibrate the lateral spacing between the flanges.
 While the principal advantages and features of the present invention have
 been described above, a more complete and thorough understanding and
 appreciation for the invention may be attained by referring to the
 drawings and detailed description of the preferred embodiments, which
 follow.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
 A spacing tool of the present invention is indicated generally by the
 reference numeral 20 in FIGS. 2-7. In general, the spacing tool 20
 comprises a head portion 22, a neck portion 24 below the head portion 22,
 and a spacing block 26 below the neck portion 24. The spacing block is an
 assembly of three parts including a cylindrical upper portion, a
 horizontally enlarged middle portion and a guide rail spacing lower
 portion.
 FIG. 2 shows an air conveyor apparatus, indicated generally by the
 reference numeral 30, which serves as the operative environment of the
 spacing tool 20 of the present invention. The air conveyor apparatus 30 is
 similar to the air conveyor apparatus C shown in FIG. 1, and is adapted
 for transporting plastic bottle containers similar to the plastic bottle
 container B shown in FIG. 1.
 The air conveyor 30 includes a conveyor channel 32 having a generally
 inverted U-shaped configuration with a top wall 34 and laterally spaced
 side walls 36. Together, the channel top wall 34 and the side walls 36
 give the channel 32 its generally inverted U-shaped configuration
 surrounding an interior volume of the conveyor channel 32. The side walls
 36 of the conveyor channel 32 have lower sections 38 connected to the
 upper side walls 36 by threaded fasteners 40. The lower sections 38 of the
 side walls 36 have pluralities of air duct outlets 42. The configurations
 of the air duct outlets 42 direct jets of air ejected from the outlets to
 strike the shoulder and body portions (indicated by the reference
 character J in FIG. 1) of the bottle containers conveyed by the air
 conveyor 30, thereby forcing the bottle containers to travel in a
 downstream direction (forward into the page when viewing FIGS. 1 and 2)
 along the length of the air conveyor 30. Each of the air duct outlets 42
 in the side wall lower sections 38 is fed with pressurized air directed
 through ducts 44 that pass through the upper side walls 36 of the conveyor
 channel 32. These ducts 44 extend from the top surface of the conveyor
 channel top wall 34 completely through the side walls 36 to the air duct
 outlets 42 of the side wall lower sections 38. This construction of the
 air ducts and air conduits is employed in air conveyors of the type
 disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,628,588, referenced above. An air plenum
 48 extends longitudinally along the top wall 34 of the channel 32. The
 plenum 48, which is only partially represented in FIGS. 1 and 2, is an
 elongated hollow box that surrounds an interior volume of the plenum. The
 plenum 48 supplies a flow of pressurized air to the air ducts 44 and air
 duct outlets 42.
 With continued reference to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the interior volume
 of the channel 32 is comprised of an upper portion and a lower portion
 separated by a pair of laterally spaced, longitudinally extending flanges
 50. The flanges 50 extend from the opposed side walls 36 of the channel 32
 into the interior volume of the channel and define a slot between the pair
 of flanges. The flanges 50 are held between the upper portions of the
 channel side walls 36 and the lower sections 38 of the channel side walls.
 Set screws 52 are employed to secure the flanges 50 in their positions
 between the upper portions of the channel side walls 36 and the lower
 sections 38. By loosening the set screws 52, the opposed flanges 50 can be
 adjustably positioned laterally toward or away from each other to adjust
 the lateral spacing between the flanges 50.
 In a bottle conveyor of the type shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lateral
 spacing between the flanges 50 is adjusted to be sufficiently large to
 receive the neck of a bottle container (indicated by the reference
 character N in FIG. 1) therein with the neck ring (indicated by the
 reference character R in FIG. 1) of the bottle container supported on
 upper surfaces 54 of the flanges 50 and with the body of the bottle
 (indicated by the reference character J in FIG. 1) suspended below the
 flanges 50.
 Suspended below the air conveyor 30 is a plurality of brackets 60. As shown
 in FIGS. 1 and 2, a top end of each bracket 60 is connected to the
 underside of the lower section 38 of one of the channel side walls 36 by
 the threaded fasteners 40. The brackets 60 are spatially arranged along
 the length of the air conveyor apparatus 30. Pairs of supports 62 are
 attached to a lower portion of each bracket 60 with mechanical fasteners
 64. Each pair of supports 62 projects upwardly and is centered below the
 flanges 50. The spacing between each pair of supports 62 is sufficiently
 large to provide ample clearance for a bottle container to pass
 therethrough, as is shown in FIG. 1. By loosening the mechanical fasteners
 64, the supports 62 can be adjustably positioned laterally along the lower
 portion of the bracket 60 to accommodate containers of different sizes.
 Guide rails 66 are mounted to the supports 62 with mechanical fasteners 65.
 The guide rails 66 extend along the length of the air conveyor 30 and can
 be provided in sections that are positioned end to end along the length of
 the air conveyor 30 in the same manner that sections of the air conveyor
 are positioned end to end. The guide rails 66 limit the extent of
 side-to-side movement of bottles containers conveyed by the air conveyor
 30 and prevent the bottle containers from becoming jammed in the slot
 between the flanges 50 of the air conveyor 30 by excessive side to side
 movement. By loosening the mechanical fasteners 65, the guide rails 66 can
 be adjustably positioned vertically along the supports 62 to accommodate
 containers of different sizes.
 The air conveyor 30, the series of brackets 60, the supports 62, and the
 guide rails 66 are all suspended from a framework (not shown). The
 framework extends along and supports the entire length of the air conveyor
 apparatus 30. Although only a portion of the air conveyor apparatus 30 is
 represented in FIGS. 1 and 2, air conveyors are constructed with
 substantial lengths that can curve from side to side and incline upwardly
 and downwardly along their lengths.
 The air conveyor apparatus described to this point is of the type disclosed
 in the earlier referenced patents and many of the component parts of the
 air conveyor apparatus described are found in various different types of
 air conveyors. It should be understood that the air conveyor described is
 only one operative environment of the spacing tool 20 of the present
 invention and that the spacing tool 20 may be employed in different types
 of air conveyors having constructions that are different from the
 construction of the air conveyor described herein. The air conveyor
 apparatus 30 is only one operative environment of the spacing tool 20 and
 the spacing tool 20 is not limited to use with air conveyors of the type
 described.
 As shown in FIG. 3, the head portion 22 of the spacing tool 20 has an outer
 diameter dimension N.sub.1 and the neck portion 24 has an outer diameter
 dimension N.sub.2. Preferably, the head portion 22 and neck portion 24 are
 fixedly connected to one another so that the head portion 22 and neck
 portion 24 are generally not movable relative to one another. More
 preferably, the head portion 22 and neck portion 24 are of a monolithic
 (i.e., one-piece) construction. The dimension N.sub.1 is larger than the
 spacing between the flanges 50 and the dimension N.sub.2 is smaller than
 the spacing between the flanges 50. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, the
 spacing tool 20 can be supported with the head portion 22 in engagement
 with the upper surfaces 54 of the flanges 50, with the neck portion 24
 between the flanges 50. As shown in FIG. 2, when the spacing tool 20 is
 supported with the head portion 22 in engagement with the upper surfaces
 54 of the flanges 50, the spacing block 26 is suspended below the flanges
 50 adjacent the guide rails 66.
 As shown in FIG. 5, the head portion 22 of the spacing member has a
 cross-sectional configuration with a major lateral dimension D.sub.1
 (equal to the outer diameter dimension N.sub.1) and a minor lateral
 dimension D.sub.2. The minor lateral dimension D.sub.2 is smaller than the
 spacing between the flanges 50 to allow the head portion 22 to pass
 between the flanges 50 when the spacing tool 20 is oriented so that the
 major lateral dimension D.sub.1 is aligned with the pair of flanges and
 the minor lateral dimension D.sub.2 of the head portion 22 is generally
 perpendicular to the flanges 50. The major lateral dimension D.sub.1 of
 the head portion 22 is larger than the spacing between the flanges 50 so
 that the spacing tool 20 can be supported (as shown in FIG. 2) with the
 neck portion 24 between the flanges 50 and with the head portion 22 in
 engagement with the upper surfaces 54 of the flanges 50 when the spacing
 tool 20 is oriented so that the major lateral dimension D.sub.1 is
 transverse to or generally perpendicular to the pair of flanges 50 and the
 minor lateral dimension D.sub.2 of the head portion 22 is aligned with the
 pair of flanges 50. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the head portion 22
 preferably includes a beveled upper perimeter 68 that facilitates movement
 of the head portion 22 upwardly through the spacing between the flanges 50
 to move the spacing tool 20 into position between the flanges 50.
 The outer diameter dimension N.sub.2 of the neck portion 24 can be made
 substantially equal to the outer diameter dimension of the neck portions
 of the bottle containers to be conveyed by the air conveyor 30 (i.e.,
 slightly larger than the outer diameter dimension of the neck portions of
 the bottle containers to allow for clearance of the neck portions of the
 containers between the flanges) so that the spacing tool 20 can be used to
 calibrate the spacing between the flanges 50.
 As shown in FIGS. 3-7, the spacing block 26 has a generally cylindrical
 upper portion 70, a generally flat middle portion 72, and a lower portion
 74. Preferably, the middle portion 72 and the lower portion 74 are of a
 monolithic (i.e., one-piece) construction, which is connected to the
 cylindrical upper portion 70 with mechanical fasteners 76.
 As shown in FIG. 6, lower portion 74 of the spacing block 26 preferably has
 a cross-sectional configuration with a major lateral dimension D.sub.3 and
 a minor lateral dimension D.sub.4. The minor lateral dimension D.sub.4 is
 smaller than the spacing between the guide rails 66 to allow the spacing
 block middle 72 and lower 74 portions to be freely moved into and out of
 position between the guide rails 66 when the spacing block 26 is oriented
 so that the lower portion major lateral dimension D.sub.3 is aligned with
 the guide rails 66 and the minor lateral dimension D.sub.4 of the lower
 portion is transverse to or generally perpendicular to the guide rails 66.
 The major lateral dimension D.sub.3 of the spacing block lower portion 74
 is substantially equal to an outer diameter dimension of the body portion
 of the bottle containers to be conveyed by the air conveyor 30 (i.e.,
 slightly larger than the outer diameter dimension of the body portion of
 the bottle containers to allow for clearance of the bottle containers
 between the guide rails 66). Thus, the spacing tool 20 can be used to
 calibrate the lateral spacing between the guide rails 66 when the spacing
 block lower portion 74 is oriented so that the major lateral dimension
 D.sub.3 of the lower portion is transverse to or generally perpendicular
 to the guide rails 66.
 In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the spacing block 26 and head
 portion 22 are vertically adjustable relative to each other. As shown in
 FIG. 7, the spacing block 26 further comprises an externally threaded
 member 80 that extends through axial bores in the upper portion 70, middle
 portion 72, and lower portion 74 of the spacing block 26. Preferably, the
 externally threaded member 80 is journalled for rotation in the spacing
 block 26 by an upper collar 82 positioned above the middle portion 72 of
 the spacing block 26 and a lower collar 84 positioned below the lower
 portion 74 of the spacing block 26. The collars 82 and 84 are mounted to
 the externally threaded member 80 by set screws 86 (see FIG. 3). The lower
 collar 84 is adapted for engagement with the lower portion 74 of the
 spacing block 26 to limit upward movement of the externally threaded
 member 80 relative to the spacing block 26, and the upper collar 82 is
 adapted for engagement with the middle portion 72 of the spacing block 26
 to limit downward movement of the externally threaded member 80 relative
 to the spacing block 26. Preferably, the externally threaded member 80
 includes a hand-engageable actuator member 88 operatively connected to a
 lower end of the externally threaded member 80 for manual engagement by a
 user for rotating the externally threaded member 80 relative to the
 spacing block 26.
 As shown in FIG. 7, the neck portion 24 includes an internally threaded
 portion 90 extending from a lower side of the neck portion toward the head
 portion 22. The internally threaded portion 90 is sized to receive an
 externally threaded upper end 92 of the externally threaded member 80 so
 that the spacing block 26 and head portion 22 are connected to one another
 in a threaded engagement. Preferably, the externally threaded member 80
 and internally threaded portion 90 are adapted for movement relative to
 one another in a manner so that rotation of the externally threaded member
 80 relative to the internally threaded portion 90 effectuates vertical
 movement of the head portion 22 relative to the spacing block 26. Because
 the externally threaded member 80 is journalled for rotation in the
 spacing block 26 by the upper and lower collars 82 and 84, rotational
 movement of the externally threaded member 80 relative to the internally
 threaded portion 90 does not require rotational movement of the remainder
 of the spacing block 26. Therefore, the externally threaded member 80 can
 be rotated relative to the internally threaded portion 90 to effectuate
 vertical movement of the head portion 22 relative to the spacing block 26
 without requiring rotational movement of the remainder of the spacing
 block 26 relative to the head portion 22.
 Thus, the head portion 22 is vertically adjustable relative to the spacing
 block 26 between a generally retracted condition (shown in FIG. 2) and a
 generally extended condition (shown in FIG. 3) by rotating the externally
 threaded member 80 relative to the internally threaded portion 90.
 As shown in FIG. 2, when the head portion 22 is in a fully retracted
 position relative to the spacing block 26, the flanges 50 are clamped
 between the head portion 22 and the upper portion 70 of the spacing block
 26. Once the spacing tool 20 is moved to a desired location along the pair
 of conveyor flanges 50 with the head portion 22 resting on the flanges,
 the externally threaded member 80 is rotated via the hand-engageable
 actuator member 88 to move the head portion 22 to its retracted condition.
 In this way, the spacing tool 20 can be locked to the pair of flanges at a
 desired location along the conveyor 30 while the positions of the guide
 rails 66 are adjusted. To unlock the spacing tool 20, the head portion 22
 can be moved back toward its extended condition by rotating the
 hand-engageable actuator member 88 in the opposite direction.
 As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the neck portion 24 preferably includes at least
 one projection in the form of a pin 94 extending generally horizontally
 therefrom. As best shown in FIG. 3, the generally cylindrical upper
 portion 70 of the spacing block 26 includes a recess in the form of a
 vertically disposed groove 96 that extends from a top end of the upper
 portion 70 of the spacing block 26 toward the middle portion 72. The
 vertical groove 96 is adapted to receive the pin 94 in a manner for
 permitting vertical movement of the head portion 22 between its extended
 and retracted conditions relative to the spacing block upper portion 70,
 but for preventing rotational movement of the head portion 22 relative to
 the spacing block upper portion 70.
 As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, enlarged middle portion 72 of the spacing
 block 26 includes shoulders 98 that extend laterally beyond the lower
 portion 74 of the spacing block 26. Preferably, the shoulders 98 have an
 outer diameter dimension N.sub.3 that is larger that the spacing between
 the guide rails 66. The shoulders 98 each have a generally horizontal
 lower surface 100 adapted for engagement of each shoulder on one of the
 guide rails 66 in a manner that positions the spacing block lower portion
 74 between the guide rails 66 for calibrating the vertical position of the
 guide rails 66 relative to the flanges 50 and the horizontal spacing
 between the guide rails 66 as well as centering the guide rails relative
 to the flanges when the spacing tool 20 is supported between the flanges
 (as shown in FIG. 2). With the spacing tool 20 positioned as shown in FIG.
 2 with the spacing block lower portion 74 positioned with its major
 lateral dimension D.sub.3 extending between the guide rails 66, the guide
 rails 66 can be moved inwardly toward each other until they engage
 opposite sides of the lower portion 74, thereby horizontally adjusting the
 spacing between the guide rails 66 for the particular bottle body diameter
 corresponding to the spacing block lower portion 74.
 Furthermore, the head portion 22 and neck portion 24 are separable from the
 spacing block 26 by rotating the externally threaded member 80 relative to
 the internally threaded portion 90 of the neck portion 24 until the
 external threads of the externally threaded member 80 disengage the
 internal threads of the internally threaded portion 90. Thus, the head
 portion 22 and spacing block 26 can be selectively interchanged with like
 components (not shown) having different lengths and outer diameter
 dimensions. To adjust for bottle bodies having different diameter
 dimensions, the shoulder 98 which comprises middle 72 and lower 74
 portions of the spacing block can be removed and replaced with others
 having dimensions that correspond to the body diameter dimension of the
 bottle.
 In view of the above, it will be seen that improvements over the prior art
 have been achieved and other advantageous results attained. As various
 changes could be made without departing from the scope of the invention,
 it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown
 in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not
 in a limiting sense. It should be understood that other configurations of
 the present invention could be constructed, and different uses could be
 made, without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in
 the following claims.