Abstract:
A rack for holding a plurality of crates includes a plurality of vertically-spaced support surfaces. Each support surface is configured to support a crate and may be an arm extending from a vertical support. The arms may be arranged in pairs so that each pair of support surfaces supports one crate. The arms may be retractable so that the rack can be collapsed after the crates have been removed.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Reusable crates are often used for shipping goods to grocery stores and merchandizing goods to the consumers. For example, beverage crates are used to ship beverage bottles or cans to the store. The customers view and select the goods from the crates. When empty, the crates are stacked or nested and returned to the distribution facility for reuse. 
         [0002]    Typically, the crates are stacked on one another on a pallet to be shipped to the store. The pallet must then be unloaded at the store for customers to purchase the goods. Sometimes the goods are removed from the crates and sometimes the goods are merchandized directly from the crates. This is not always ideal for the customers to view and select the goods. Further, unloaded the pallets is additional work at the store. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    A rack holds a plurality of crates, such a plastic beverage crates. Plastic beverage crates of many different types are well-known. The crates include a base, side walls and end walls. A plurality of bottles are received in each of the plurality of crates. 
         [0004]    The racks may be loaded with beverage crates at the distribution facility and shipped as a unit to a store and placed on a floor in the store. It is not necessary to unload the crates or the goods from the rack. In the store, customers can view and select bottles from the crates on the racks. When empty, the crates can be removed from the racks and nested within one another to minimize volume and the rack is collapsed. The crates and rack are returned to the distribution facility for reuse. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a rack holding a plurality of beverage crates. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the rack and crates of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the rack of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the rack of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a rear view of the rack of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of the rack of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of a lower portion of the rack of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a front perspective of the rack of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged view of an upper portion of  FIG. 8 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 10  is a partially exploded view of the upper portion of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the rack of  FIG. 3  in a collapsed configuration for shipping and storage. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]      FIGS. 1-6  illustrate a rack  10  for holding a plurality of crates, such a plastic beverage crates  30 . Plastic beverage crates  30  are well-known and the crates  30  shown in the figures are just one example of many different types of beverage crates  30 . The crates include a base  32 , side walls  34  and end walls  36 . A plurality of bottles  40  (in this case, multi-serving, e.g. 2-liter bottles) are received in each of the plurality of crates  30 . Crates for single serving bottles or cans could also be used. Bakery trays or other containers could also be used. 
         [0017]    Each rack  10  holds a plurality of beverage crates  30 . The racks may be loaded with beverage crates  30 , shipped to a store and placed on a floor in the store (optionally, all on top of a pallet—not shown). In the store, customers can view and select bottles  40  from the crates  30  on the racks  10 . When empty, crates  30  are removed from the racks  10  and nested within one another to minimize volume (as is known) and the rack  10  is disassembled. The crates  30  and rack  10  are returned to the distribution facility for reuse. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the rack  10  includes a base having pair of feet  12  connected by cross-bar  22 . Vertical supports or poles  14  extend upward from the base. Each pole  14  has a rectangular (e.g. square cross-section) and supports a plurality of vertically-spaced arms  16 . Adjacent arms  16  (one on each pole  14 ) support the base  32  of each crate  30 . The arms  16  provide support surfaces for the beverage crates  30  ( FIG. 1 ). Each arm  16  is slidably connected to the pole  14  by a sleeve  18  and secured in place by connectors  20  ( FIG. 2 ; e.g. U-shaped rods). A display  24  (cardboard or plastic) may be secured at upper ends of the poles  14 . 
         [0019]    As shown, the crates  30  do not contact one another. Because the crates  30  are not stacked on one another, the customer is able to select a bottle  40  from any of the crates on the rack  10 . For example, different goods, such as different flavors, or even different products altogether in different types of crates could be supported on different pairs of arms  16 . For example, some pairs of arms  16  could support bakery trays, while some support beverage crates  30 . In this application, the term “crates” includes trays, crates, totes, tubs, or any type of container unless otherwise specified. 
         [0020]      FIGS. 3-5  show the rack  10  without the crates  30 . As shown, the arms  16  are cantilevered from the poles  14 .  FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of the rack  10 .  FIG. 7  is a rear perspective view of the lower portion of the rack  10  of  FIG. 6 . The arms  16  each have a lower, horizontal portion  26 , a rear upright portion  28  adjacent the horizontal portion  26  and an upright end portion  29 , perpendicular to both the horizontal portion  26  and the rear upright portion  28 . A spring  30  keeps the U-shaped connector  20  in place. 
         [0021]    A lower cross-bar  22  extends from one foot  12  and pole  14  to the other. The lower cross-bar  22  includes an outer bar  50  into which is inserted an inner bar  52 . The outer bar  50  is connected at one end to a collar  56  slidably and rotatably secured to a cylindrical portion  54  at a lower end of the pole  14 . The inner bar  52  is secured to a collar  56  slidably and rotatably secured to a cylindrical portion  54  at a lower end of the other pole  14 . A cross-bracket  58  is secured at a lower end of each cylindrical portion  54  at the lower end of each pole  14 . Each cross-bracket  58  includes a first rectangular recess  60  and a second rectangular recess  62  perpendicular to the first rectangular recess  60 . As shown, in the assembled position, the feet  12  are received in the first rectangular recesses  60 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged perspective view of the top portion of the rack  10 . An upper cross-bar  34  extends from the upper end of one pole  14  to the upper end of the other pole  14 .  FIG. 10  is an exploded view of the top portion. The upper cross-bar  34  includes an outer bar  38  and an inner bar  36 , each connected to a collar  42  rotatably connected to a cylindrical portion  40  at the upper end of each pole  14 . In this manner, the poles  14  are rotatable relative to the upper cross-bar  34 . 
         [0023]    In  FIG. 11 , the poles  14 , along with their sleeves  18 , arms  16  and feet  12 , are shown rotated inward. In this position, the rack  10  can be placed flat without taking up much volume when empty for returning to the distribution facility to be reused. 
         [0024]    In order to collapse the rack  10  from the position shown in  FIG. 7  to the position shown in  FIG. 11 , the lower cross-bar  22  is lifted, with the collars  56  sliding upward on the cylindrical portions  54 . This causes the feet  12  to be released from the rectangular recesses  60 . After rotation inward, the lower cross-bar  22  is lowered so that the feet  12  are received in the rectangular recesses  62 . 
         [0025]    The components of the rack  10  may be mostly metal (steel, aluminum, etc) however it would be possible to make a lighter-weight rack  10  of plastic or composite materials. The crates  30  are preferably each injection molded as a single piece of plastic. 
         [0026]    In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes and jurisprudence, exemplary configurations described above are considered to represent a preferred embodiment of the invention. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope.