Beverage container packaging

• US 10,696,441 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2018
• Issued: 06/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acorn West LLC
• Original Assignee: Acorn West LLC
• Inventors: Gilligan, John, Gant, Rick, Weissberg, David, Valtierra, Ron, Heyting, Gord, Russell, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): Ortiz, Rafael A
• Application Number:
  US16/180,840
• Publication Number:
  US 20190071208A1
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 206433, 206427, 206436, 206139-203, 206147, 206161, 206561, 2065213, 206429, 2065211, 206477, 217 19, 220510, 220512-516, 220529, 220528, 220556, 220628, 220630, 220632
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/30 Groups of containers joined together end-to-end or side-by-side
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/34 Trays or like shallow containers B65D81/3813 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 21/04 Open-ended containers shaped to be nested when empty and to be superposed when full
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/5028 Elements formed separately from the container body
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/133 of a shape specially adapted to accommodate contents, e.g. trays B65D81/053 takes precedence; thermally insulated trays B65D81/3816, B65D81/3827
• CPC Class Codes: D21J 3/10 of hollow bodies
• CPC Class Codes: D21J 7/00 Manufacture of hollow articles from fibre suspensions or papier-mâché by deposition of fibres in or on a wire-net mould

Abstract

Beverage container packaging assemblies including a bottom tray, center support, and top tray are disclosed. The bottom tray includes a plurality of cup-shaped elements. The cup-shaped elements are configured to accommodate a bottom portion of a beverage container. The center support is disposed between and in contact with the bottom tray and a top tray of a molded paper pulp. The center support includes a plurality of center support posts, a plurality of recessed elements, and a plurality of beverage container support cavities that are bounded by at least one of the center support posts. The support cavities are configured to surround at least a portion of the beverage container. The top tray includes a plurality of vertical members comprising at least one deformable element and a plurality of bottle neck accommodating spaces each bounded by the at least one deformable element.

Claims

1. A beverage container packaging assembly comprising:

a bottom tray of molded paper pulp including a plurality of cup-shaped elements, the cup-shaped elements;

configured to accommodate a bottom portion of a beverage container, and

including at least a first deformable element and a second deformable element, the first and second deformable elements including different widths, wherein at least one of the first deformable element and the second deformable element includes at least two overlapping elements;

a top tray of molded paper pulp including;

a plurality of vertical members comprising one or more deformable elements; and

a plurality of bottle neck accommodating spaces each bounded by at least one of the deformable elements, the bottle neck accommodating spaces each configured to accommodate a neck portion of the beverage container;

a center support of molded paper pulp disposed between the bottom tray of molded paper pulp and the top tray of molded paper pulp, the center support including;

a plurality of center support posts;

a plurality of recessed elements, each of the plurality of recessed elements situated between at least two of the center support posts; and

a plurality of beverage container support cavities bounded by at least one of the center support posts, wherein one or more walls of the beverage container support cavities are configured to surround at least a portion of the beverage container.

2. The beverage container packaging assembly of claim 1, wherein the recessed elements allow a first center support post to move relative to a second center support post.

3. The beverage container packaging assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least two overlapping elements form a cross shape.

4. The beverage container packaging assembly of claim 1, wherein the center support posts contact one of the plurality of vertical members when the beverage container packaging assembly is assembled.

5. The beverage container packaging assembly of claim 4, wherein at least one first flat surface of the center support posts contacts at least one second flat surface of the vertical members.

6. The beverage container packaging assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the beverage container support cavities comprises a draft.

7. The beverage container packaging assembly of claim 1, wherein the beverage container support cavities decrease in diameter from a bottom end to a top end of the center support.

8. The beverage container packaging assembly of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the bottle neck accommodating spaces are bounded by vertical members, the vertical members including at least one of the deformable elements.

9. The beverage container packaging assembly of claim 1, wherein the beverage container support cavities include one or more of a quarter circle shape, a half circle shape, and full circle shape.

10. The beverage container packaging assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the vertical members comprises a vertical post.

11. The beverage container packaging assembly of claim 1, wherein the deformable elements extend towards a center of the bottle neck accommodating space.

12. The beverage container packaging assembly of claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional area of the center support decreases between a top end of the center support and a bottom end of the center support.

13. The beverage container packaging assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the beverage container support cavities include a semi-circular shape and at least one of the beverage container support cavities include a fully circular shape.

14. The beverage container packaging assembly of claim 1, wherein the walls of each of the beverage container support cavities are configured to fully encapsulate a beverage container.

15. The beverage container packaging assembly of claim 1, wherein a first set of the beverage container support cavities are configured to fully encapsulate a beverage container and a second set of the beverage container support cavities are configured to partially encapsulate a beverage container.

16. The beverage container packaging assembly of claim 1, wherein the bottom tray, center support, and top tray are configured to contact the beverage container.

17. The beverage container packaging assembly of claim 1, wherein the first deformable element includes at least two overlapping elements and the second deformable element includes at least two overlapping elements.

18. A beverage container packaging assembly comprising:

a bottom tray of molded paper pulp including a plurality of cup-shaped elements, the cup-shaped elements;

configured to accommodate a bottom portion of a beverage container, and

including at least a first deformable element and a second deformable element, the first and second deformable elements including different widths, wherein at least one of the first deformable element and the second deformable element includes at least two overlapping elements;

a top tray of molded paper pulp including a plurality of bottle neck accommodating spaces each bounded by at least one deformable element, the bottle neck accommodating spaces each configured to accommodate a neck portion of the beverage container; and

a center support of molded paper pulp disposed between and in contact with the bottom tray and the top tray, the center support including;

a plurality of beverage container support cavities bounded by a plurality of center support posts, the beverage container support cavities configured to surround the beverage container; and

a plurality of recessed elements, the recessed elements situated between the center support posts.

19. The beverage container packaging assembly of claim 18, wherein the recessed elements allow a first center support post to move relative to a second center support post.

20. The beverage container packaging assembly of claim 18, wherein the at least two overlapping elements form a cross shape.

21. The beverage container packaging assembly of claim 18, wherein at least one of the center support posts comprises a circular cavity.

22. The beverage container packaging assembly of claim 18, wherein at least one first flat surface of the center support posts contacts at least one second flat surface of one or more vertical members.

23. The beverage container packaging assembly of claim 18, wherein the beverage container support cavities comprise a draft.

24. The beverage container packaging assembly of claim 18, wherein the beverage container support cavities decrease in diameter from a bottom end to a top end of the center support.

25. The beverage container packaging assembly of claim 18, wherein a cross-sectional area of the center support decreases between a top end of the center support and a bottom end of the center support.

26. The beverage container packaging assembly of claim 18, wherein each of the beverage container support cavities are configured to fully encapsulate a beverage container.

27. The beverage container packaging assembly of claim 18, wherein each of the first deformable element and the second deformable element include a cross shape.

28. The beverage container packaging assembly of claim 18, wherein a first set of the beverage container support cavities are configured to fully encapsulate the beverage container and a second set of the beverage container support cavities are configured to partially encapsulate the beverage container.

29. The beverage container packaging assembly of claim 18, wherein the bottom tray, center support, and top tray are configured to contact the beverage container.

30. The beverage container packaging assembly of claim 18, wherein the first deformable element includes at least two overlapping elements and the second deformable element includes at least two overlapping elements.

31. A beverage container packaging assembly comprising:

a bottom tray of molded paper pulp including;

a plurality of cup-shaped elements, the cup-shaped elements;

configured to accommodate a bottom portion of a beverage container, and

including at least a first deformable element and a second deformable element, the first and second deformable elements including different widths, wherein at least one of the first deformable element and the second deformable element includes at least two overlapping elements;

a plurality of bottom tray posts; and

a plurality of bottom tray recessed elements, each of the bottom tray recessed elements situated between at least two of the bottom tray posts;

a top tray of molded paper pulp including;

a plurality of vertical members comprising at least one deformable element; and

a plurality of bottle neck accommodating spaces each bounded by the at least one deformable element, the bottle neck accommodating spaces each configured to accommodate at least a neck portion of the beverage container; and

a center support of molded paper pulp disposed between and in contact with the bottom tray and the top tray of a molded paper pulp, the center support including;

a plurality of center support posts, at least one of the center support posts including a thru hole;

a plurality of recessed elements, each of the plurality of recessed elements situated between at least two of the center support posts; and

a plurality of beverage container support cavities bounded by at least one of the center support posts, the beverage container support cavities configured to surround at least a portion of the beverage container and the support cavities including a draft such that the cavities decrease in diameter from a bottom end to a top end of the center support.

32. The beverage container packaging assembly of claim 31, wherein the first deformable element includes at least two overlapping elements and the second deformable element includes at least two overlapping elements.

33. A beverage container packaging assembly comprising:

a bottom tray of molded paper pulp including a plurality of cup-shaped elements, the cup-shaped elements;

configured to accommodate a bottom portion of a beverage container, and

including at least a first deformable element and a second deformable element, the first and second deformable elements including different widths, wherein each cup-shaped element includes one or more deformable elements forming a cross shape;

a top tray of molded paper pulp including;

a plurality of vertical members comprising one or more deformable elements; and

a plurality of bottle neck accommodating spaces each bounded by at least one of the deformable elements, the bottle neck accommodating spaces each configured to accommodate a neck portion of the beverage container;

a center support of molded paper pulp disposed between the bottom tray of molded paper pulp and the top tray of molded paper pulp, the center support including;

a plurality of center support posts;

a plurality of recessed elements, each of the plurality of recessed elements situated between at least two of the center support posts; and

a plurality of beverage container support cavities bounded by at least one of the center support posts, wherein one or more walls of the beverage container support cavities are configured to surround at least a portion of the beverage container.

34. A beverage container packaging assembly comprising:

a bottom tray of molded paper pulp including a plurality of cup-shaped elements, the cup-shaped elements;

configured to accommodate a bottom portion of a beverage container, and

including at least a first deformable element and a second deformable element, the first and second deformable elements including different widths, wherein each cup-shaped element includes one or more deformable elements forming a cross shape;

a top tray of molded paper pulp including a plurality of bottle neck accommodating spaces each bounded by at least one deformable element, the bottle neck accommodating spaces each configured to accommodate a neck portion of the beverage container; and

a center support of molded paper pulp disposed between and in contact with the bottom tray and the top tray, the center support including;

a plurality of beverage container support cavities bounded by a plurality of center support posts, the beverage container support cavities configured to surround the beverage container; and

a plurality of recessed elements, the recessed elements situated between the center support posts.

35. A beverage container packaging assembly comprising:

a bottom tray of molded paper pulp including;

a plurality of cup-shaped elements, the cup-shaped elements;

configured to accommodate a bottom portion of a beverage container, and

including at least a first deformable element and a second deformable element, the first and second deformable elements including different widths, wherein each cup-shaped element includes one or more deformable elements forming a cross shape;

a plurality of bottom tray posts; and

a plurality of bottom tray recessed elements, each of the bottom tray recessed elements situated between at least two of the bottom tray posts;

a top tray of molded paper pulp including;

a plurality of vertical members comprising at least one deformable element; and

a plurality of bottle neck accommodating spaces each bounded by the at least one deformable element, the bottle neck accommodating spaces each configured to accommodate at least a neck portion of the beverage container; and

a center support of molded paper pulp disposed between and in contact with the bottom tray and the top tray of a molded paper pulp, the center support including;

a plurality of center support posts, at least one of the center support posts including a thru hole;

a plurality of recessed elements, each of the plurality of recessed elements situated between at least two of the center support posts; and

a plurality of beverage container support cavities bounded by at least one of the center support posts, the beverage container support cavities configured to surround at least a portion of the beverage container and the support cavities including a draft such that the cavities decrease in diameter from a bottom end to a top end of the center support.