Shipping Containers for Bottles

The present invention relates to packaging solutions, and more specifically, to an improved shipping container system designed for shipping bottles that addresses common issues related to protection and sustainability.

Many bottles are made of glass and are thus fragile, making the shipping process fraught with challenges.

Therefore, there exists a need for an improved shipping container system for bottles that overcomes these deficiencies. A solution that is environmentally sustainable, provides enhanced protection against physical damage and is easy to assemble would represent a significant advancement over the prior art.

The present disclosure is directed to shipping container systems for bottles, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims.

The following description contains specific information pertaining to implementations in the present disclosure. The drawings in the present application and their accompanying detailed description are directed to merely exemplary implementations. Unless noted otherwise, like or corresponding elements among the figures may be indicated by like or corresponding reference numerals. Moreover, the drawings and illustrations in the present application are generally not to scale, and are not intended to correspond to actual relative dimensions.

shows a diagram of an exemplary blank for an outer container of a shipping container system for bottles, according to one implementation of the present disclosure. The blank shows the single-piece blank that can be folded to form the outer container for shipping bottles. As shown in, the blank includes base flaps,,, and, sidewalls, closure flaps,,, and, and support elements,,, andextending from the corresponding base flaps.

shows a diagram of an exemplary outer container of a shipping container system for bottles, according to one implementation of the present disclosure. As shown in, outer containeris in an open configuration with closure flaps,,, andextended outwardly to allow outer containerto receive the internal components of the shipping container system. Outer containerincludes securing flapconnected to the adjacent sidewall. In some embodiments, securing flap may be attached to the adjacent wall by glue, heat sealing, heat welding, semi-permanent adhesive, tape, or other fastening method. Attaching securing flapto the adjacent wall forms the structure of outer container. Base flaps,,, andmay be folded to form the base of outer container.

shows a cross section of the exemplary container of, according to one implementation of the present disclosure. As shown in, support elementsandare shown extending into the internal volume of outer container.shows another cross section of the exemplary container of, according to one implementation of the present disclosure. As shown in, support elements support elements,, andare shown extending into the internal volume of outer container.

shows another cross section of the exemplary container of, according to one implementation of the present disclosure. As shown in, support elements,,, andare shown extending into the internal volume of outer container. The interface accommodating slots allowing the support elements to engage with each other to form support structure. Support structuremay form a cushion gap above the base of outer container. Support structuremay create rigidity in outer containerto provide structural support while simultaneously creating a cushion air gap to cushion a bottle housed by system. The combination of rigidity and cushion may allow systemto safely ship a bottle and provide safety in the case of systembeing dropped.

shows a cross section of another exemplary outer container of a shipping container system for bottles, according to one implementation of the present disclosure. As shown in, baseis formed by overlapping flaps and does not include support structure. In some embodiments, the support structure to provide a cushion gap below a bottle installed in the shipping container system may be included in other components of the system.

shows a diagram of an exemplary blank for a tray of a shipping container system for bottles, according to one implementation of the present disclosure. As shown in, the blank is configured to fold into a tray with a flat bottom for use with an outer container including support element. In other embodiments, the tray may include a support element and be utilized with an outer container with a flat bottom, as shown in. Traymay be a box configured to complement outer container, having dimensions that allow trayto be snuggly fit inside outer container. Traymay include a base, a top, and four sidewalls extending between the base and the top. In some embodiments, sidewallof traymay be hingedly attached to the top of traysuch that traymay be opened along the length of tray.

In some embodiments, sidewallmay include retention flaps for securing an insert in tray. As shown in, trayincludes body section retention flap, body section retention flap, neck section retention flap, and neck section retention flap. In some embodiments, retention flapsandform support gapfor receiving a shoulder shelf of an insert. Support gapmay be configured to engage with a shoulder shelf of insert. In some embodiments, support gapmay be formed at the distance complementing the size of the body portion of a bottle to be installed in the shipping container system. In some embodiments, support gapmay be approximately halfway between the bottom end of and the top end of tray. In other embodiments, support gapmay be approximately two thirds of the length between the bottom end of and the top end of tray, three quarters of the length between the bottom end of and the top end of tray. The distance between the bottom end of trayand support gapcorresponds to the height of the shoulder of the bottle to be shipped and may be configured to match any bottle configuration, wherein the shoulder of the bottle is the transition from the body of the bottle to the neck of the bottle.

In some embodiments, support gapmay be tapered, such that, as sidewallis closed after installation of insertcontaining a bottle, cushion gapis narrower along the side closest to sidewalland widest at the opposite end of support gap. In some embodiments, the distance between the upper side of support gapand the top end of traymay be larger than the length of a neck portion of a bottle to be shipped using system. Such a configuration allows support gapto create a support and cushion for a bottle installed in systemdue to the gap maintained by support gapand the top end of tray. In some embodiments, sidewallmay additionally include closure flap. Closure flapmay additionally include retention taband retention tab

shows a diagram of an exemplary tray of a shipping container system for bottles, according to one implementation of the present disclosure. As shown in, trayincludes support structure.shows a cross-section of the tray of, according to one implementation of the present disclosure. As shown in, support structureis shown folded from extension of the base

shows a diagram of another exemplary tray of a shipping container system for bottles, according to one implementation of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, traymay spacing tabs extending up from sidewalland opposingly from sidewallto create a cushion gap when trayis installed in outer container.

shows a diagram of an exemplary insert of a shipping container system for bottles, according to one implementation of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, insertmay be configured to receive a bottle, including a neck portion and a body portion. Insertmay be an insert that fits over the neck and a portion of the shoulder of the bottle and apply a retention force to the bottle installed in the shipping container system. The retention force resulting from engaging the bottle with insertand installing the bottle in traymay secure the bottle in the length of the shipping container system. Closing closure flapto enclose the bottle and insertin traymay secure the bottle across the lateral dimensions of the shipping container system.

In some embodiments, insertcomprises shoulder shelf. Shoulder shelfmay secure the body portion of the bottle in the body portion of the tray/outer container. Shoulder shelfmay engage with support gapto hold the body portion in place and maintain a gap between the top of the bottle and the top of tray.

The support gap allows for some movement, provides a spring force to hold the bottle in place and provides a cushion for movement due to jarring or impact that may be encountered during shipment or storage.

Shoulder shelfis folded in insertis included in insertby folding. Shoulder shelfcomprises a body layer and a neck layer. The body layer comprises a body portion aperture for engaging with the shoulder portion of the bottle. The neck layer comprises a flanged aperture for receiving the neck of the bottle to be shipped. Insertmay have a body portion panel extending to the shoulder shelf, extending to a neck portion panel.

May have a top panel that extends from the upper end of the insert panel. In some embodiments, the top panel may provide a retention force by exerting pressure and creating friction with the inside of traywhen insertis installed therein. As shown in, insertincludes side panels extending from the sides of the neck portion of insertand side panels extending from the body portion of insert. The side panels may extend partway up the sidewalls of traywhen insertis installed therein. In some embodiments, retention flaps,,, andmay engage with insertto apply a retention force when insertis installed in tray.

The neck layer of the shoulder shelf includes a flanged aperture for engaging the neck and upper shoulder portion of a bottle installed in the shipping container system. In some embodiments, the flanges may allow insertto engage a range of bottles. The flange configuration provides spring and cushion for the bottle in the length of the shipping container system extending from the base through the top of outer container. In some embodiments, the circumference of the body portion aperture and the neck portion aperture and the flanges in the neck portion aperture accommodate the particular shoulder of the bottle to be shipped or different shoulder configurations of a range of bottles.

In some embodiments, the system may be configured to accommodate bottles of any size, such as a piccolo bottle, a demi bottle, a standard wine bottle (750 ml), a Piccolo/Split bottle (187.5 ml), a Half/Demi bottle (375 ml), a Magnum bottle (1.5 L), a Jeroboam bottle (3 L), a Rehoboam bottle, (4.5 L), a Methuselah bottle (6 L), and other size wine bottles. In some embodiments, systemmay be configured to accommodate other configurations of bottles, such as sake bottles, bottles for distilled spirits, beer bottles, etc.

shows a diagram of an exemplary shipping container system, according to one implementation of the present disclosure. The system includes outer containerand a two-part bottle retention insert system. Outer containercomprises a base at a bottom end, four sidewalls extending from the base, the top ends of the sidewalls defining an aperture at a top end of the outer container. Outer containertop end comprises one or more closure flaps hingedly connected to a top end of one of the four sidewalls. The one or more closure flaps allows the outer container to be selectively closed when the closure flap is in a closed configuration. In some embodiments, the closure flap may include a retention flap configured to retain the closure flap in the closed configuration. In other embodiments, the outer container may include a complementary closure flap that may be glued or otherwise connected to the closure flap to optionally close the outer container in the closed configuration. In other embodiments, the outer container may include a closure flap hingedly attached to and extending from the upper end of each sidewall. The closure flaps may be folded inwardly, towards the center of the outer container with opposing pairs forming two layers to cover the aperture at the top end of the outer container.

In some embodiments, the bottom end of outer containermay include support structure creating an air cushion at the bottom end. As shown, support structureincludes support elementand support element. The support structure may extend from the bottom ends of the sidewalls. As shown in, support elementcomprises support elementand support elementcreated by folding closure flap extensions upwards into the volume of outer container. As shown in, support elementcomprises support elementand support elementcreated by folding closure flap extensions upwards into the volume of outer container. In some embodiments, support elementsandmay be configured to accommodate folding of the pair of support elements into outer container.

The two-part bottle retention system may include trayand insert. Trayand insertmay hold a bottle, such as a glass bottle, with the appropriate combination of rigidity and cushioning to keep the bottles safe in transit. Traymay be a box configured to complement outer container, having dimensions that allow trayto be snuggly fit inside outer container. Traymay include a base, a top, and four sidewalls extending between the base and the top. In some embodiments, sidewallof traymay be hingedly attached to the top of traysuch that traymay be opened along the length of tray. Opening the length of trayallows insertion or removal of a bottle installed in insert.

From the above description, it is manifest that various techniques can be used for implementing the concepts described in the present application without departing from the scope of those concepts. Moreover, while the concepts have been described with specific reference to certain implementations, a person having ordinary skill in the art would recognize that changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the scope of those concepts. As such, the described implementations are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. It should also be understood that the present application is not limited to the particular implementations described above, but many rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions are possible without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.