Abstract:
A support apparatus for receiving and supporting stacked tiers of bottles, particularly wine bottles. The support apparatus is (a) located below a first tier of layers of wine bottles, (b) placed between tiers of bottles, in case of multiple layers of bottles, and (c) secured above a top tier of layers of bottles, all to provide a stacked and secured arrangement of bottles that is suited for storage or transport. The support apparatus is preferably formed from a resinous plastic, polymeric material, such as PET. A multiple of the bottle supports combine to support a multiple layers of bottles in a tiered array. The bottle supports are manufactured in thin, nestable configurations, and are stored with a small, compact nested stack height.

Description:
RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This invention is related to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/371,344, filed on Apr. 9, 2002, entitled Bottle Cradle Stacking Support, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety, including the specification, drawing, and claims, by this reference. 
     
    
     
       COPYRIGHT RIGHTS IN THE DRAWING  
         [0002]    A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The applicant no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.  
         DRAWINGS  
         [0003]    The patent or application file contains at least one black and white photograph as a drawing. Copies of this patent or patent application publication with black and white drawing(s) will be provided by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee.  
         TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0004]    The invention relates to cradles for stacking bottles, and more particularly to nestable stacking supports for bottles  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0005]    Bottles containing liquids, and in particular wine bottles, present a challenge to packers and shippers. Often today, bottles are shipped in cartons, with cardboard dividers between bottles to keep them from moving around and breaking against one another. Previously, wooden crates were often provided with appropriate retainers to constrain movement of the base of bottles, such as found in old soft drink cases designs. In other fields of endeavor, such as in the shipment of light bulbs or in the shipment of bottled water, various stacking supports have typically been employed.  
           [0006]    Various materials and structures have been suggested, attempted, or actually used for receiving bottles and holding them for staking in horizontal layers. Some disclosures have suggested the use of a support and spacing member for bottles, formed from expanded polystyrene foam. However, certain characteristics of polystyrene foam make it less than ideal for use in bottle supports. This is because expanded polystyrene is rather rigid, relatively brittle, and thus has a minimum of structural flexibility. Additionally, polystyrene foam bottle cradle supports do not typically compactly nest together and thus storage of cradle supports manufactured of polystyrene or similar plastic materials usually takes up considerable space.  
           [0007]    One alternative to polystyrene foam bottle cradles has been the development and use of bottle cradles made from papier-mâché. Unfortunately, in many circumstances, papier-mâché is inadequate for bottle cradles. For example, the strength of papier-mâché supports rapidly degrades when they get wet. Consequently, papier-mâché bottle cradles must be protected from the weather, and cannot be used in some humid environments. Such weather protection is especially difficult during transport, and requires that such bottle cradles be shipped within a fully enclosed container or trailer. Further, even though bottle cradles manufactured from papier-mâché have improved stackability over foam type supports, the papier-mâché bottle cradles must be of substantial thickness to support the weight of glass bottles and their contents, especially if many layers are desired.  
           [0008]    Therefore, it can be appreciated that there still remains a need for an improved bottle cradle design which can be manufactured utilizing a material that would reduce the storage space requirements of bottle cradles, so as to free up warehouse space. And, there remains a need for a strong, weather-proof, preferably recyclable material which can be utilized in the production of compactly stackable bottle cradles. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0009]    In order to enable the reader to attain a more complete appreciation of the invention, and of the novel features and the advantages thereof, attention is directed to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the combination of a plurality of bottle support apparatus and multiple layers of wine bottles, each support apparatus having a plurality of bottle cradles on the obverse side and on the reverse side, the plurality of support apparati shown in a working arrangement to support stacked layers of wine bottles, as might be placed into a box for shipment.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the reverse side of a bottle support apparatus, showing how the support apparatus has a plurality of bottle cradles on the reverse side, and a plurality of bottle cradles on the obverse side, showing how the bottle cradle disclosed herein utilizes a “double sided” feature to allow the nesting of bottles above and below a single support apparatus, where such a support apparatus would be situated intermediate to an upper and a lower support apparatus (not shown).  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the reverse side R of one embodiment of a bottle support apparatus, showing in detail the various bottle cradle features provided for securely receiving bottles.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the obverse side  0  of the bottle support apparatus just shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and also showing in hidden lines the features on the reverse side of the support apparatus.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is a vertical cross sectional view, illustrating the shape of opposing bottle supports when matched and utilized in the reverse side to reverse side configuration, and also showing in hidden lines a plurality of wine bottles secured thereby.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of a bottle support apparatus, taken looking up at the reverse side of a bottle support apparatus, showing the provision of three bottle cradle portions for the support of three wine bottles.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a plurality of bottle support apparati nested (reverse side up) for shipment, showing the compact configuration which allows a high bottle cradle density (total number of units) for a given storage volume.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 8 is a vertical cross sectional view, similar to the view first shown in FIG. 5 above, but now showing an embodiment where a pair of bottle support apparati are stacked oriented in the same direction, cradle after cradle with the obverse side up, unlike the use of opposing pairs as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of a pair of bottle supports showing three wine bottles (in hidden lines) nested and secured therebetween, and also illustrating the use of thin, translucent or see-through bottle supports.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 10 is an end perspective view of a pair of bottle supports showing wine bottles nested and secured therebetween; the bottle supports are shown with the lower bottle support having the obverse side up, and with the upper bottle support having the obverse side down (reverse side up).  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 11 is a side perspective photograph of a pair of bottle supports showing three wine bottles nested and secured therebetween, with the bottle supports oriented with a first (lower) support having the obverse side up, and the second (upper) support also having the obverse side up, but wherein the second (upper) bottle support is oriented 180 degrees from the first (lower) bottle support.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 12 is a side perspective photograph of a pair of bottle supports showing three wine bottles nested and secured therebetween, with the bottle supports oriented with a first (lower) support having the obverse side up, and the second (upper) support having the reverse side up (i.e, obverse side down).  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 13 is an end perspective photograph of a pair of bottle supports, showing three wine bottles nested and secured therebetween, with the bottle supports oriented with a first (lower) support having the reverse side up, and with the second (upper) support also having the reverse side up, but oriented 180 degrees from the first (lower) support.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 14 is an end perspective photograph of a pair of bottle supports, showing three wine bottles nested and secured therebetween, with the bottle supports oriented with a first (lower) support having the reverse side up, and with the second (upper) support having the obverse side up.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 15 is a perspective photograph of a pair of bottle supports nested together for storage or for shipping prior to use, illustrating (similar to FIG. 7) the compact stack which can be created due to the minimal thickness and the very compact stacking height provided by the bottle support design.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 16 is a perspective photograph of a pair bottle supports located in a box for shipping, showing three wine bottles nested and secured between a pair of bottle supports. 
     
    
       [0026]    In the various figures, it should be noted that the use of subscripts still generally refers to the structure so named without the subscript, but such subscripts are merely used for convenience in identifying similar structures in either uniformly stacked or back-to-back pairs of bottle supports, to distinguish similar structures in bottle supports formed and/or used together.  
         [0027]    The foregoing figures, being merely exemplary, contain various elements that may be present or omitted from actual implementations depending upon the circumstances. An attempt has been made to draw the figures in a way that illustrates at least those elements that are significant for an understanding of the various embodiments and aspects of the invention. However, various other elements of the bottle supports providing bottle cradles are also shown and briefly described to enable the reader to understand how various features, including optional or alternate features, may be utilized in order to provide a compact, efficiently nestable, reliable material structure for a bottle cradle stacking support.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0028]    Attention is now directed to FIG. 9, wherein perspective view of one embodiment of an improved, bottle support apparatus  20  is illustrated. More specifically, an upper bottle support apparatus  201  having the obverse side  0  up is provided. Thus, the reverse side R of the support apparatus  20   1  is facing downward and contacting wine bottles W 1 , W 2  and W 3 . As shown in FIG. 8, the bottle support apparatus  20   1  has a perimeter match layer  22  of preselected thickness T. To maximize stackability of a bottle support apparatus  20 , it is preferred that the thickness T be about 40 mils or less, and more preferably, that the thickness T be about 30 mils. The perimeter match layer  22  includes, extending along at least a portion thereof, a horizontal perimeter wall  24  extending inwardly for a preselectd distance D (see FIG. 4, for another example). As is also clear in FIG. 4, the obverse side  0  has a plurality of bottle cradle portions  301 ,  302 , and  303 . Each of the bottle cradle portions  301 ,  302 , and  303  (identified by reference to the longitudinal centerline along each) has a first outward surface ( 32   1 ,  32   2 , and  32   3  shown), shaped in an arcuate segment of pre-selected dimensions adapted for securely receiving a first segment of a first wine bottle W 1  of substantially complementary shape. Also, the bottle cradle portions  30   1 ,  30   2 , and  30   3  each have a first bottle bottom receiver  34   1 ,  34   2 ,  34   3 , et cetera. The bottle support  20  also includes a plurality of obverse exterior foot portions  36 . The obverse exterior foot portions ( 36   1 ,  36   2 ,  36   3 ,  36   3 ,  36   4 ,  36   5 ,  36   6 ,  36   7 ,  36   8 , and  36   9 ) extend upwardly above the horizontal perimeter wall  24  for a preselected distance H, and each has a corresponding upper pad portion  40   1 ,  40   2 ,  40   3 , et cetera. The obverse exterior foot portions ( 36   1 ,  36   2 ,  36   3 ,  36   4 ,  36   5 ,  36   6 ,  36   7 ,  36   8 , and  36   9 ) each have an outer sidewall portion ( 42   1 ,  42   2 ,  42   3 ,  42   4 ,  42   5 ,  42   6 ,  42   7 ,  42   8 , and  42   9 , respectively) which slopes inwardly and upwardly toward its companion upper pad portion  40   1 ,  40   2 ,  40   3 ,  40   4 ,  40   5 ,  40   6 ,  40   7 ,  40   8 , and  40   9  respectively.  
         [0029]    On the obverse side  0  of the bottle supports  20 , each of the plurality of bottle cradle portions further have, situated along respective common longitudinal axes with the first outward surfaces  32   1 ,  32   2 , and  32   3 , a second outward surface  44   1 ,  44   2 , and  44   3 , shaped in an arcuate segment of preselected dimensions adapted for securely receiving a second segment of a bottle (W 1 , W 2 , or W 3 , respectively) of substantially complementary shape.  
         [0030]    Also on the obverse side  0  of the bottle supports  20 , each of the plurality of bottle cradle portions further have, situated along respective common longitudinal axes with the first outward surfaces  32   1 ,  32   2 , and  32   3 , a third outward surface  46   1 ,  46   2 , and  46   3 , shaped in an arcuate segment of preselected dimensions adapted for securely receiving a neck WN of wine bottle (W 1 , W 2 , or W 3 , respectively) of substantially complementary shape.  
         [0031]    For enhancing security of the bottles W 1 , W 2 , and W 3 , on the obverse side 0 of bottle supports  20  has on each bottle cradle portion a fourth outward surface  48   1 ,  48   2 , and  48   3 , each of which is shaped as a portion of a surface of revolution of decreasing radius along the common longitudinal axis of that particular bottle cradle portion. The fourth outward surfaces  48   1 ,  48   2 , are  48   3  of complementary size and shape to a shoulder portion W S of a bottle being secured in that particular bottle cradle portion, and the fourth outward surface is adapted to prevent movement of the relevant bottle (W 1 , W 2 , or W 3 ) toward the respective third surface  46   1 ,  46   2 , or  46   3 , along the common longitudinal axis of the particular bottle cradle portion.  
         [0032]    Also to prevent movement of the relevant bottle (W 1 , W 2 , or W 3 ) toward the top  60  or bottom  62  of the bottle support  20  (as appropriate, but toward the top W T  of the relevant wine bottle (W 1 , W 2 , or W 3 ), each of the bottle cradle portions in the obverse side is further provided with a bottle top stop  62   1 ,  62   2 , or  62   3 . Each bottle top stop  62   1 ,  62   2 , or  62   3  is sized and shaped complementary to the top W T  of the bottle and adapted to prevent the bottle (W 1 , W 2 , or W 3 ) from moving toward the bottle top stop  62   1 ,  62   2 , or  62   3  as appropriate along the relevant common longitudinal axis.  
         [0033]    For convenience, and ease of packing, I have provided one exemplary embodiment of a support apparatus  20  wherein the obverse side of the apparatus  20  has three bottle cradle portions. In such a configuration, the fourth outward surface  48   1  in a first one  30   1  of the three bottle cradle portions and the fourth outward surface  48   2  in a second one  30   2  of the three bottle cradle portions can be provided back-to-back on opposing sides of a wedge shaped foot  70  having an upper pad portion  72   
         [0034]    The first outward surface  32   1  of the first bottle cradle portion  30   1  has a first interior side portion  76   1 , and wherein said first outward surface  32   2  of the second bottle cradle portion  30   2  has a second interior side portion  76   2 , and wherein the first  76   1  and said second  76   2  interior side portions have formed therebetween a central internal foot  80  having a top pad portion  82 . The central internal foot  80  further includes an internal bottle top stop  62   3 , which is sized and shaped complementary to the top W T  top of a bottle W 3  adapted to fit into the third bottle cradle portion  30   3 . The internal bottle top stop  62   3  is adapted to prevent a bottle W 3  in the third bottle cradle  30   3  from moving toward the bottle top stop  62   3  along its longitudinal axis. Also, in the other bottle cradle portions, the bottle top stops  62   1  and  62   2  are commonly formed with and amounts to a cutout from the upper pad portion  84   3  and  84   5  of the obverse exterior foot portions  40   3  an  40   5 .  
         [0035]    The support apparatus  20  also has provided on the first bottle cradle portion  30   1  and on the second bottle cradle portion  30   2  on opposing sides of and supporting the second outward surfaces  44   1  and  44   2 , at least one interior foot portion  88   1  or  88   2 , respectively, each of which has a pad portion  90   1  or  90   2 , respectively. As shown in FIG. 4, the interior foot portions  88   1  and  88   2  commonly supports a third outward surface  46   3  in a third bottle cradle portion  30   3 . Note that the third outward surface  46   3  is shaped in an arcuate segment of preselected dimensions adapted for securely receiving a neck WN portion of a bottle W 3  of substantially complementary shape.  
         [0036]    Also, as seen in FIG. 4, the first bottle bottom receivers  34   1 ,  34   2 , and  34   3  are each carved out from, and formed by, one of the obverse exterior foot portions,  40   4 ,  40   8  or  40   9 , respectively.  
         [0037]    Due to the double sided construction of the bottle supports  20 , each of the bottle cradle portions  30   1  and  30   2  has, situated along with the second outward surface  44   1  and  44   2 , an interior support foot  92   1  and  92   2 , respectively.  
         [0038]    Turning now to FIG. 3, the reverse side R of a bottle support apparatus  20  is illustrated. The reverse side R has a plurality of bottle cradle portions  130   1 ,  130   2  and  130   3 , as indicated by reference numerals affixed to lines indicating a longitudinal axis of each. Each of the bottle cradle portions one the reverse side R has a first outward surface  132   1 ,  132   2 , and  132   3 , respectively, shaped in an arcuate segment of pre-selected dimensions adapted for securely receiving a first segment of a first bottle W 1  of substantially complementary shape. First  134   1  and second  134   2  bottle bottom end stops are provided to secure the bottom WB of the respective bottle.  
         [0039]    A plurality of reverse exterior foot portions  136   1 ,  136   2 , et cetera through  136   8  are provided. The reverse exterior foot portions extend downwardly below the horizontal perimeter wall  22  for a preselected distance D R . Each of the reverse exterior foot portions have a lower pad portion  140   1 ,  140   2 ,  140   3 , et cetera, through  140   8 . Also, each of the reverse exterior foot portions has an outer sidewall portion  142   1 ,  142   2 , et cetera through  142   8 , sloping inwardly and downwardly toward its companion lower pad portion.  
         [0040]    To assist in the support of bottles W, in each of the plurality of bottle cradle portions  130   1 ,  130   2 , and  130   3 , further comprises, situated along a common longitudinal axis with the first outward surface  132   1 ,  132   2 , and  132   3 , a second outward surface shaped  144   1 ,  144   2 , and  144   3 , respectively, in an arcuate segment of pre-selected dimensions adapted for securely receiving a second segment of said bottle W of substantially complementary shape.  
         [0041]    Additionally, each of the plurality of bottle cradle portions on the reverse side of bottle support  20  further comprises, situated along the respective common longitudinal axis, a third outward surface  146   1 ,  146   2  and  146   3  shaped in an arcuate segment of preselected dimensions adapted for securely receiving a neck portion W N  of a bottle W of substantially complementary shape.  
         [0042]    In between the second outward surface and the third outward surface in each of the bottle cradle portions on the reverse side R of bottle support  20 , and situated along the respective common axis, is a fourth outward surface  148   1 ,  148   2 , and  148   3  comprising a portion of a surface of revolution of decreasing radius along the respective common longitudinal axis. The fourth outward surface is of complementary size and shape to a shoulder portion W S  of a bottle W and is adapted to prevent movement of the bottle toward the respective third surface along the respective common longitudinal axis.  
         [0043]    At the end of each of the respective common longitudinal axes, a bottle top stop  162   1 ,  162   2 , and  162   3 , respectively, is provided. Each bottle top stop is sized and shaped complementary to the top W T  of a bottle W and adapted to prevent the bottle from moving past the bottle top stop along the respective common longitudinal axis.  
         [0044]    As depicted in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the reverse side R has three bottle cradle portions. In such an arrangement, it is possible to provide a configuration wherein a fourth outward surface of a first one of the three bottle cradle portions and a fourth outward surface of a second one of the three bottle cradle portions are provided back-to-back on opposing sides of a wedge shaped foot having an upper pad portion.  
         [0045]    Also, first outward surface of a first bottle cradle portion has a first interior side portion  176   1 , and the first outward surface of a second bottle cradle portion has a second interior side portion  176   2 , so that the first and second interior side portions have formed therebetween a central internal foot  180  having a top pad portion  182 . As already noted, the internal foot  180  has an internal bottle top stop  162   3 . The internal bottle top stop is sized and shaped complementary to the top of a bottle adapted to fit into said third bottle cradle portion, so that the internal bottle top stop is adapted to prevent a bottle W in the third bottle cradle  130   3  from moving past the bottle top stop along its longitudinal axis.  
         [0046]    On opposing sides of and supporting the second outward surface  144   1  and  144   2  is at least one interior foot portion  188   1  and/or  188   2 , which interior foot portion has a pad portion  190   1  or  190   2 , respectively. Ideally, and as noted in FIG. 3, the at least one interior foot portion between the first and third bottle cradle portions commonly supports a third outward surface  146   3  in a third bottle cradle portion  130   3 . The third outward surface  146   3  is shaped in an arcuate segment of preselected dimensions adapted for securely receiving a neck portion W N  of a bottle of substantially complementary shape.  
         [0047]    In the reverse side R, extending down from the top end  60  and/or upward from the bottom end  62  are one or more lateral foot portions  193   1 ,  193   2 , and  193   3 , each having an interior surface portion  194   1 ,  194   2 , or  194   3 , respectively. In each bottle cradle portion, the first bottle bottom stop is raised up from, and formed by an interior surface of, one of the lateral foot portions.  
         [0048]    The at least one interior foot portion in a first bottle cradle portion in each of the plurality of bottle cradle portions in the reverse side commonly supports a third outward surface in a second bottle cradle portion. The third outward surface is shaped in an arcuate segment of preselected dimensions adapted for securely receiving a portion of a bottle of substantially complementary shape.  
         [0049]    Generally, bottles are provided in cylindrical barrels lower portions, so in such cases, the outward surfaces in the obverse side comprises an arcuate segment of a circle, up to a maximum of a generally semi-circular shape.  
         [0050]    For stackability note the various foot portions, such as the obverse exterior foot portions, are angled inward at an angle sigma (Σ), such as about 20 degrees, with respect to a plane perpendicular to the horizontal perimeter wall. Likewise, on the reverse exterior foot portions, the portions are angled inward at an angle beta (β), such as at about 20 degrees, with respect to a plane perpendicular to the horizontal perimeter wall.  
         [0051]    For compact shipment of stacked or nested bottle supports, as shown for example in FIG. 7, the horizontal wall, and similar thickness of each part, is sufficiently thin so that at least 16 support apparatus units are stackable in one inch of stacking height. More preferably, the base of the support apparatus is sufficiently thin so that at least 20 support apparatus units are stackable in one inch of stacking height. Even better, the base of the support apparatus is sufficiently thin so that at least 25 support apparatus units are stackable in one inch of stacking height. To achieve the desired stacking heights, the horizontal perimeter wall should be provided in a plastic material having a thickness of approximately 30 mils.  
         [0052]    For customer appeal, one attractive feature seen in FIGS. 9 through 12 is that the support apparatus can be provided in a see-through or a translucent material. When using plastics, this material can be provided in a pleasant, light green see-through shade plastic material.  
         [0053]    The bottle support apparatus can be manufactured from a strong, flexible plastic material. Suitable materials include polyethylene terephthalate. For ease of manufacturing, the support apparatus can be formed as a thermoformed solid. It is possible to manufacture the support apparatus out of recycled plastic material.  
         [0054]    As first noted in FIG. 1, and as also shown in FIG. 2, in one embodiment, a feature of the stacking support provided hereby is the reversibility and flexibility for use in packaging a plurality of bottles. A first support layer comprising a support apparatus unit can be supplied having a support apparatus unit adapted for placement on a supporting substrate. The support apparatus unit supports thereon a 1st tier layer of bottles in a series of layers from 1 to N layers, wherein the 1st tier layer comprising multiple bottles such as the three bottles depicted herein. Then, a second support layer comprising a support apparatus unit is stacked on the 1st tier layer of bottles, to secure the 1st tier layer and to support a second tier layer of bottles. Then, additional support layers each comprising a support apparatus unit and an additional layer of bottles thereon is provided in a series of 1 to N layers. To complete a stack for packing and shipment, a final support apparatus unit is provided above an Nth and final layer of bottles. Although use of the support apparatus units is contemplated with filled bottles containing liquids such as wine, the support units can also be used to ship empty bottles.  
         [0055]    Note also from the various figures and photographic illustrations that many configurations are feasible with the unique configuration and design details of the support apparatus provided. For example, a firs support apparatus can be oriented obverse side up, and a second, identical support apparatus can be oriented obverse side up, in a stack of N layers. Alternately, a first support apparatus can be oriented obverse side up, and a second, identical support apparatus can be oriented reverse side up in a stack of N layers. For maximizing internal support, support units can be matched so that a plurality of pads of the obverse support foot portions and a plurality of pads of the reverse support foot portions are matched in opposing fashion, so as to assist in the support of the weight of a combination including support units and N layers of bottles containing liquid, for example. In the just described scenario, it is also possible to add a third layer of support apparatus oriented with the obverse side up. Then, in such a stackup, a fourth support apparatus could be provided oriented reverse side up.  
         [0056]    Alternately, a first support apparatus can be added oriented obverse side up, and a second, identical support apparatus can be added oriented obverse side up. Alternately, a first support apparatus can be oriented reverse side up, and a second support apparatus can be oriented obverse side up, so that a pair of reverse sides are brought together in mating engagement.  
         [0057]    In FIG. 11, a side perspective photograph of a pair of bottle supports is provided, showing three wine bottles nested and secured therebetween. The bottle supports are oriented with a first (lower) support having the obverse side up, and the second (upper) support also having the obverse side up. However, the second (upper) bottle support is oriented 180 degrees from the first (lower) bottle support. Thus, the versatility of the bottle supports described herein is clearly seen.  
         [0058]    Similarly, in FIG. 12, a side perspective photograph is provided of a pair of bottle supports showing three wine bottles nested and secured therebetween. The bottle supports are oriented with a first (lower) support having the obverse side up, and with the second (upper) support having the reverse side up (i.e., obverse side down). Again, the versatility of the bottle supports provided herein is illustrated.  
         [0059]    Further, in FIG. 13 an end perspective photograph is provided of a pair of bottle supports. Here, three wine bottles are nested and secured therebetween. The bottle supports are oriented with a first (lower) support having the reverse side up, and with the second (upper) support also having the reverse side up, but oriented 180 degrees from the first (lower) support. Note how the translucent nature of the bottle supports, generally shown in this and other photographs provided, allow the packer or recipient to easily see the merchandise which is being protected by the support. This contrasts dramatically with, for example, prior art paper based stacking supports.  
         [0060]    In FIG. 14, an end perspective photograph of a pair of bottle supports is shown. Here, three wine bottles nested and secured therebetween the bottle supports. The bottle supports are oriented with a first (lower) support having the reverse side up, and with the second (upper) support having the obverse side up.  
         [0061]    Attention is now directed to FIG. 15, where a perspective photograph of a pair of bottle supports nested together for storage or for shipping prior to use is illustrated. Note the compact stack which can be created due to the minimal thickness and the very compact stacking height provided by the bottle support design.  
         [0062]    Finally, in FIG. 16, a perspective photograph of a pair bottle supports is shown as located in a paperboard box for shipping, showing three wine bottles nested and secured between a pair of bottle supports.  
         [0063]    With respect to materials for fabricating a bottle support, note that a cushioning support is desired when protecting a fragile article such as glass bottles, or glass light bulbs, or the like, yet supports described herein must be sufficiently strong and resistant to deformation. Such applications are ideal for PET, since PET resin forms a high strength product with good strength in all directions. Also, many businesses now prefer that materials be manufactured from recycled materials. The disclosed bottle cradle supports are easily fabricated from recycled plastic materials. Also, use of recycled plastic material is a great advantage over most prior art cellulose materials, since recycling of cellulose materials suitable for packaging supports is considered more complex and difficult than manufacture of plastic materials from recycled materials. In the manufacture of bottle cradles, suitable recycled plastics are relatively easy to reprocess. PET, as with a great variety of plastic materials, is initially segregated at time of disposal, after which it is typically kept clean and uniform during the entire recycling process. This process substantially enhances the likelihood of retaining desirable material properties in a finished bottle cradle support made from recycled materials.  
         [0064]    As shown in FIGS. 7 and 16, another property which is provided by the use of PET is that paired supports  20  can easily stack over a previous pair with only a slight increase in height. As shown in FIG. 7, the thickness T of a support can be as little as from approximately 40 Mils to approximately 60 Mils (or from about 0.04 inches to about 0.06 inches). In one embodiment, the thickness T can be limited to not exceed the lower end of this range, or 40 Mils (0.040 inches). Thus, with such manufactured thickness, supports could be stacked from approximately 16 per inch, to about 20 per inch, and even up to as dense as about 26 per inch. Of course, it is desirable from a storage and nesting perspective that thicknesses be provided which occur at the lower end of the stated thickness range. This very small thickness, when nested, is a significant advantage over the stacked pairs of prior art papier-mâché material, since papier-mâché material prohibits such a close nested stacking of new or used supports. For example, about an eight to one advantage in stacking of PET supports is provided over commercially available fabricated in prior art papier-mâché materials. Thus, the nesting compactness of the present invention provides a substantial and significant savings in shipping and storage space, as compared to prior art papier-mâché or other foam or plastic materials. Thus, it is important to note that warehouse space saved in the storage of nested and still unused supports can be allotted to other storage needs. Alternatively, the saved storage or shipping space can be used to store or transport additional bottle supports and allow the purchase of higher quantities to realize bulk rate cost savings and substantially reduce freight costs.  
         [0065]    It is to be appreciated that the various aspects and embodiments of the bottle cradle stacking supports as described herein are an important improvement in the state of the art of structures and materials for bottle cradle stacking supports. Although only a few exemplary embodiments have been described in detail, various details are sufficiently set forth in the drawings and in the specification provided herein to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention(s), which need not be further described by additional writing in this detailed description. Importantly, the aspects and embodiments described and claimed herein may be modified from those shown without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages provided by this invention, and may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Therefore, the embodiments presented herein are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. As such, this disclosure is intended to cover the structures described herein and not only structural equivalents thereof, but also equivalent structures. Numerous modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention(s) may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Thus, the scope of the invention(s), as set forth in the appended claims, and as indicated by the drawing and by the foregoing description, is intended to include variations from the embodiments provided which are nevertheless described by the broad interpretation and range properly afforded to the plain meaning of the claims set forth below.