Patent Publication Number: US-6658815-B1

Title: Bottle carrier system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to bottle carrier systems and more particularly pertains to a new bottle carrier system for enabling a user to quickly and easily divide bottled beverages into six packs. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of bottle carrier systems is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 3,946,862 describes a container package having a plurality of containers. Another type of bottle carrier systems is U.S. Pat. No. 3,633,962 describing a bottle carrier for supporting a plurality of bottles. U.S. Pat. No. 5,413,395 describes a carrier for bottles and like containers. U.S. Pat. No. 3,912,075 describes a plastic carrier for containers. U.S. Pat. No. 4,235,468 describes an integrally formed bottle carrier in which an upper frame contains a plurality of bottle supporting collars for receiving and supporting the necks of bottles. U.S. Pat. No. Des. 407,637 describes an ornamental design for a container carrier. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a device that would allow a retailer to create their own six-pack of beverages. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention meets the needs presented above by providing a user with a beverage carrier that would allow the user to create custom beverage packs. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a new bottle carrier system that would eliminate the need to press the tray into place with the fingers and could eliminate cuts caused by the sharp-edged bottle caps. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new bottle carrier system that would be easy to use and simple to place and remove. 
     To this end, the present invention generally comprises a plurality of bottles. A bottle carrier has a plurality of apertures, each aperture is structured to frictionally engage a top of an associated one of the plurality of bottles when the top of the associated one of the bottles is inserted through the aperture. A rigid planar member has a plurality of holes. Each of the holes is positioned to align with an associated one of the apertures when the rigid planar member is positioned over the bottle carrier, whereby applying a downward force to the rigid planar member when the bottle carrier is positioned between the plurality of bottles and the rigid planar member urges the top of each the bottle through the associated aperture to secure the bottle carrier to the plurality of bottles. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a new bottle carrier system according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 4 thereof, a new bottle carrier system embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the bottle carrier system  10  generally comprises a plurality of bottles  12 . A bottle carrier  11  has a plurality of apertures  14 , each aperture  14  is structured to frictionally engage a top  16  of an associated one of the plurality of bottles  12  when the top  16  of the associated one of the bottles  12  is inserted through the aperture  14 . A rigid planar member  18  has a plurality of holes  20 . Each of the holes  20  is positioned to align with an associated one of the apertures  14  when the rigid planar member  18  is positioned over the bottle carrier  11 , whereby applying a downward force to the rigid planar member  18  when the bottle carrier  11  is positioned between the plurality of bottles  12  and the rigid planar member  18  urges the top of each the bottles  12  through the associated aperture  14  to secure the bottle carrier  11  to the plurality of bottles  12 . 
     The rigid planar member  18  is structured to include a pair of finger openings  22  each adapted for receiving a finger of a hand therethrough for facilitating lifting of the rigid planar member  18  from the bottle carrier  11  after securing the bottle carrier  11  to the plurality of bottles  12 . 
     The plurality of holes  20  is six holes arranged into two rows of three holes. The three holes in each row are spaced to provide bearing surfaces between adjacently positioned holes for receiving the downward force. 
     The holes  20  in the rigid planar member  18  are symmetrically arranged with respect to a longitudinal axis and with respect to a transverse axis of the rigid planar member  18  for facilitating even distribution of the downward force about a center of the rigid planar member  18  to prevent tipping over of the bottles  12  while securing the bottle carrier  11  to the plurality of bottles  12 . 
     In use, a user would simply open a 24-bottle cardboard box and place a plastic six pack tray on top of six bottles. The present invention could then be used to press downward on the plastic tray. This would cause the tray to be anchored on all six bottles in one quick easy motion. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.