초록 ▼

A low depth tray for bottles is provided which includes a first pair of opposed walls, a second pair of opposed walls attached to the first pair of opposed walls to form a wall structure, and a base attached to the wall structure. At least one interior column projects upwardly within the wall struct

A low depth tray for bottles is provided which includes a first pair of opposed walls, a second pair of opposed walls attached to the first pair of opposed walls to form a wall structure, and a base attached to the wall structure. At least one interior column projects upwardly within the wall structure, where the interior column has a height less than the height of bottles loaded in the tray. A plurality of interior divider walls of double-walled construction project upwardly from the base and extend between the one or more interior columns and the wall structure. Together, the divider walls, interior columns, base, and outer wall structure define a plurality of bottle retaining pockets, where each pocket includes at least one divider wall and is sized to receive a single bottle therein.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A low depth tray for bottles, comprising: a first pair of opposed walls; a second pair of opposed walls connected to the first pair of opposed walls to form a wall structure; a base attached to the wall structure; at least one interior column projecting upwardly from the base

What is claimed is: 1. A low depth tray for bottles, comprising: a first pair of opposed walls; a second pair of opposed walls connected to the first pair of opposed walls to form a wall structure; a base attached to the wall structure; at least one interior column projecting upwardly from the base within the wall structure, the at least one interior column having a height less than the height of bottles loaded in the tray; and a plurality of interior divider structures which project upwardly from the base, each divider structure extending from the at least one interior column, wherein the divider structures, the at least one interior column, the base, and the wall structure define a plurality of bottle retaining pockets, each pocket sized to receive a single bottle therein, wherein each divider structure includes spaced apart first and second pocket side defining portions having areas void of material between the defined pocket sides. 2. The tray according to claim 1, wherein the wall structure includes an upper wall portion having a plurality of upwardly projecting wall columns. 3. The tray according to claim 2, wherein the wall columns and the at least one interior column are substantially equal in height. 4. The tray according to claim 2, wherein the wall columns and the at least one interior column are substantially hollow. 5. The tray according to claim 2, wherein each wall column includes at least one surface contoured to the shape of bottles loaded in the tray, and wherein the at least one interior column is substantially octagonal and includes surfaces disposed on alternating sides thereof which are contoured to the shape of bottles loaded in the tray. 6. The tray according to claim 5, wherein the wall columns and the at least one interior column include an opening adjacent the base on the contoured surfaces thereof. 7. The tray according to claim 1, wherein the wall structure has a double-walled construction and includes a lower wall portion having a substantially flat outer wall and a generally contoured inner wall. 8. The tray according to claim 7, wherein the lower wall portion includes a plurality of windows formed therein. 9. The tray according to claim 1, wherein the first and second pocket side defining portions each include at least one surface contoured to the shape of bottles loaded in the tray. 10. The tray according to claim 1, wherein each of the second pair of opposed walls includes a handle, each handle including a cutout portion formed adjacent to the base, and a slot formed above the cutout portion, such that a user's fingers can be inserted into the cutout portion and through the slot in a palm-up orientation, and into the slot and through the cutout portion in palm-down orientation. 11. The tray according to claim 1, wherein the base includes an upper surface including a plurality of spaced bottle support areas, wherein each bottle support area forms part of one bottle retaining pocket and includes a generally circular central portion. 12. The tray according to claim 11, wherein each bottle support area further includes a concave perimeter portion which at least partially surrounds the central portion and is attached to the divider structure of the bottle retaining pocket. 13. The tray according to claim 1, wherein the base includes a lower surface having generally circular receiving areas having central retaining openings sized to receive bottle closures therein, wherein the receiving areas are operable to guide the bottle closures into the corresponding retaining openings. 14. A low depth tray for bottles, comprising: a base; a wall structure extending upwardly from the base; and an interior grid structure integrally formed with the wall structure, the interior grid structure including a plurality of interior columns projecting upwardly within the wall structure and a plurality of first and second interior divider structures which project upwardly from the base for contacting bottles, the interior columns having a height less than bottles loaded in the tray, each first divider structure extending between first and second interior columns and each second divider structure extending between one of the interior columns and the wall structure, wherein the interior grid structure, the base, and the wall structure together define a plurality of bottle retaining pockets capable of providing at least four lateral contact points for each bottle received therein, and wherein the first and second divider structures each include a first pocket side defining portion forming part of a first bottle retaining pocket and at least one rib extending therefrom toward a second bottle retaining pocket. 15. The tray according to claim 14, further including a second pocket side defining portion connected to the at least one rib and forming part of a second bottle retaining pocket. 16. The tray according to claim 15, wherein the divider structures each include an upper surface connecting the first and second pocket side defining portions. 17. The tray according to claim 15, wherein the first and second pocket side defining portions each include at least one surface contoured to the shape of bottles loaded in the tray. 18. The tray according to claim 14, wherein the wall structure includes an upper wall portion having a plurality of upwardly projecting wall columns. 19. The tray according to claim 18, wherein the wall columns and the interior columns are substantially hollow. 20. The tray according to claim 18, wherein each wall column includes at least one surface contoured to the shape of bottles loaded in the tray, and wherein the interior columns are substantially octagonal and include surfaces disposed on alternating sides thereof which are contoured to the shape of bottles loaded in the tray. 21. The tray according to claim 14, wherein the wall structure has a double-walled construction and includes a lower wall portion having a substantially flat outer wall and a generally contoured inner wall. 22. The tray according to claim 21, wherein the lower wall portion includes a plurality of windows formed therein. 23. The tray according to claim 14, wherein the base includes an upper surface including a plurality of spaced bottle support areas, wherein each bottle support area forms part of one bottle retaining pocket and includes a generally circular central portion. 24. A low depth tray for storing and transporting bottles, comprising: a floor member; a unitary wall structure extending upwardly from the floor member, the wall structure having a plurality of windows and a plurality of upwardly projecting wall columns disposed between the windows; and an interior grid structure disposed within the wall structure and connected thereto, the interior grid structure including a plurality of first and second divider walls extending upwardly from the floor member and a plurality of spaced interior columns projecting upwardly from the divider walls, each first divider wall including two spaced apart, generally parallel surfaces having areas void of material therebetween and extending between first and second interior columns, and each second divider wall including two spaced apart, generally parallel surfaces having areas void of material therebetween and extending between one of the interior columns and the wall structure, the interior columns having a height less than the height of bottles loaded in the tray, wherein the interior grid structure, the wall structure, and the floor member together define a plurality of bottle retaining pockets each sized to receive a single bottle therein, and the wall columns and the interior columns each include at least one contoured surface adapted to contact bottles received in the bottle retaining pockets. 25. The tray according to claim 24, wherein the wall structure has a double-walled construction, the wall structure including a lower wall portion having a substantially flat outer wall and a generally contoured inner wall adjacent the window which is adapted to contact bottles received in the bottle retaining pockets. 26. The tray according to claim 24, wherein the first and second divider walls each include at least one contoured surface adapted to contact bottles received in the bottle retaining pockets. 27. The tray according to claim 24, wherein the columns are substantially hollow. 28. The tray according to claim 24, wherein the interior columns and the wall columns extend above the floor member a distance of approximately one third of the height of bottles loaded in the tray. 29. The tray according to claim 24, wherein the wall columns and interior columns disposed along a transverse axis of the tray each include a recess formed therein which extends along the transverse axis of the tray. 30. The tray according to claim 24, wherein the wall structure includes two handles on opposite ends thereof, each handle including a cutout portion formed in the wall structure adjacent the floor member, and a slot formed in the wall structure above the cutout portion, such that a user's fingers can be inserted into the cutout portion and through the slot in a palm-up orientation, and into the slot and through the cutout portion in palm-down orientation. 31. The tray according to claim 24, wherein the floor member includes an upper surface including a plurality of spaced bottle support areas, wherein each bottle support area includes a generally circular central portion and a concave perimeter portion which at least partially surrounds the central portion and is attached to at least one divider wall. 32. The tray according to claim 24, wherein the floor member includes a lower surface having receiving areas including central retaining openings sized to receive bottle closures therein. 33. The tray according to claim 24, wherein the bottle retaining pockets are sized to receive two-liter bottles. 34. The tray according to claim 24, wherein the first and second divider walls each include an upper surface connecting the two generally parallel surfaces. 35. A plastic low depth tray for bottles, comprising: a base having an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface including a plurality of spaced bottle support areas having a central portion at least partially surrounded by a curved perimeter portion; a pair of opposed end walls extending upwardly from the base, each end wall including a handle formed therein; a pair of opposed side walls extending upwardly from the base and integrally joined with the pair of opposed end walls, wherein the side and end walls are of double-walled construction and include a lower wall portion and an upper wall portion, the lower wall portion having a substantially flat outer wall, a generally contoured inner wall, and a plurality of windows formed therein, and the upper wall portion having a plurality of spaced wall columns projecting upwardly from the lower wall portion between the windows; and an interior grid structure integrally formed with the end walls and the side walls, the interior grid structure including a plurality of spaced upwardly projecting interior columns disposed along a longitudinal axis of the tray and having a height less than the height of bottles loaded in the tray, and a plurality of first and second divider walls having areas void of material therebetween and extending upwardly from the base, each first divider wall including two spaced apart, generally parallel surfaces interconnecting first and second interior columns, and each second divider wall including two spaced apart, generally parallel surfaces having areas void of material therebetween and interconnecting one of the wall columns and one of the interior columns, wherein the interior grid structure, side walls, end walls, and base together define a plurality of bottle retaining pockets each sized to receive a single bottle therein, each pocket including a bottle support area for supporting a base of each bottle and at least one column and at least one divider wall for providing lateral support for each bottle. 36. A stackable low depth tray for storing and transporting bottles, comprising: a base having an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface including a plurality of receiving areas; a wall structure extending upwardly from the base, the wall structure including a lower wall portion having a lower surface and an upper surface, and an upper wall portion including a plurality of spaced, upwardly extending hollow wall columns; a plurality of spaced, upwardly extending hollow interior columns disposed within the wall structure, the interior columns having a height less than the height of bottles loaded in the tray; and a plurality of interior divider walls, each divider wall including two spaced apart, generally parallel surfaces having areas void of material therebetween and which continuously join a first column portion and a second column portion to form, in combination with the base and the wall structure, a plurality of bottle retaining pockets each sized to receive a single bottle therein, wherein when the tray is empty and is disposed in a stacked configuration with a like lower tray, the columns of the tray are adapted to receive at least a portion of the columns of the like lower tray and the lower surface of the lower wall portion of the tray is adapted to be supported on the upper surface of the lower wall portion of the like lower tray, and when the tray is loaded with bottles and is disposed in a stacked configuration with a like lower tray, the bottle retaining pockets of the tray are substantially aligned with the bottle retaining pockets of the like lower tray, and the receiving areas of the tray are adapted to receive the closures of bottles loaded in the like lower tray. 37. The tray according to claim 36, wherein the wall structure has a double-walled construction, and the lower wall portion includes a plurality of windows formed therein between the wall columns. 38. The tray according to claim 36, wherein each of the wall columns and interior columns includes at least one surface contoured to the shape of bottles loaded in the tray. 39. A stackable low depth tray for storing and transporting bottles, comprising: a base having an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface including a plurality of bottle support areas and the lower surface including a plurality of receiving areas substantially aligned with the bottle support areas; a wall structure attached to the base, the wall structure including a lower wall portion having a lower surface and an upper surface, and an upper wall portion including a plurality of spaced, upwardly extending wall columns; a plurality of spaced interior columns generally disposed within the wall structure and extending upwardly to a height less than the height of bottles loaded in the tray, wherein the wall columns and interior columns disposed along a transverse axis of the tray each include a recess formed therein which extends along the transverse axis of the tray; and a plurality of interior divider walls, each divider wall including two spaced apart, generally parallel surfaces having areas void of material therebetween and which interconnect a first one of the wall and interior columns with a second one of the wall and interior columns to form, in combination with the bottle support areas and the wall structure, a plurality of bottle retaining pockets within the tray each sized to receive a single bottle therein and having substantially equal center-to-center distances, wherein when the tray is empty and is disposed in a cross-stacked configuration with an upper like tray, the column recesses are adapted to receive a portion of the wall structure of the upper like tray, and when the tray is loaded with bottles and is disposed in a cross-stacked configuration with an upper like tray, the bottle retaining pockets of the tray are aligned with the receiving areas of the upper like tray. 40. The tray according to claim 39, wherein the outer wall structure has a double-walled construction, and the lower wall portion includes a plurality of windows formed therein between the wall columns. 41. The tray according to claim 39, wherein each column includes at least one surface contoured to the shape of bottles loaded in the tray. 42. The tray according to claim 39, wherein the columns are substantially hollow for receiving at least a portion of the columns of a subjacent like tray. 43. The tray according to claim 39, wherein the column recesses extend downwardly to the height of the upper surface of the lower wall portion, and the upper surface of the wall structure of the tray is adapted to support the lower surface of the wall structure of the upper like tray. 44. The tray according to claim 39, wherein each bottle support area includes a generally circular central portion and a concave perimeter portion which at least partially surrounds the central portion and is attached to at least one divider wall. 45. The tray according to claim 39, wherein the bottle support areas include apertures formed therein. 46. The tray according to claim 39, wherein the center-to-center distances between the bottle retaining pockets of the tray and the battle retaining pockets of an adjacent like tray abutting the wall structure are substantially equal. 47. The tray according to claim 1, wherein the divider structures each include an upper surface connecting the first and second pocket side defining portions. 48. The tray according to claim 14, wherein the first and second divider structures each include an upper surface connecting the the pocket side defining portion and the ribs.