Systems and Methods for Storing Beverage Containers During Transport Shipping and Warehousing

Abstract

A crate for supporting liquid-filled containers each with a sealed opening, has a bottom and connected sidewalls, and at least one insert engaging two or more of the sidewalls, the insert enabled, by virtue of through-openings of a common diameter, to support a plurality of liquid-filled containers in a horizontal array, as a layer of containers in the crate, in a manner that the liquid-filled containers are positioned with the caps below liquid level in the containers, and such that the liquid-filled containers are prevented from contact with one another.

1 . A crate for supporting liquid-filled containers each with a sealed opening, comprising:
 a bottom and connected sidewalls; and   at least one insert engaging two or more of the sidewalls, the insert enabled, by virtue of through-openings of a common diameter, to support a plurality of liquid-filled containers in a horizontal array, as a layer of containers in the crate, in a manner that the liquid-filled containers are positioned with the caps below liquid level in the containers, and such that the liquid-filled containers are prevented from contact with one another.   
   
   
       2 . The crate of  claim 1  further comprising two or more inserts positioned in the crate and engaging at least two sidewalls, in a manner providing two or more layers of liquid-filled containers in one crate. 
   
   
       3 . The crate of  claim 1  wherein two inserts, one having an array of through-openings of a first diameter, and the other having an array of through-openings of a second diameter, the inserts spaced vertically in the crate, providing support for a single layer of liquid-filled containers. 
   
   
       4 . The crate of  claim 2  further comprising divider panels between layers of supported liquid-filled containers. 
   
   
       5 . A crate for supporting liquid-filled containers, each container having an axis of symmetry and a sealed opening, comprising:
 a bottom and connected sidewalls; and   at least one insert engaging two or more of the sidewalls, the insert comprising an upper surface positioned at an angle to horizontal, with indentions in the surface shaped for holding individual ones of the liquid-filled containers in an array such that each container is supported with the axis of symmetry at an angle and the container positioned with the sealed opening below liquid level in the containers.   
   
   
       6 . The crate of  claim 5  further comprising two or more inserts positioned in the crate and engaging at least two sidewalls, in a manner providing two or more layers of liquid-filled containers in one crate. 
   
   
       7 . The crate of  claim 5  wherein the insert is implemented from a sheet of plastic material by heat-molding over a form. 
   
   
       8 . The crate of  claim 6  further comprising divider panels between layers of supported liquid-filled containers. 
   
   
       9 . A carrier for liquid-filled containers having each a sealed opening, comprising:
 a plurality of compartments in a rectangular array;   a support funnel in each compartment shaped to support one liquid-filled container in an inverted position with the sealed opening below liquid level in the container; and   a carrying handle extending above the plurality of compartments, the handle having at least one opening for a portion of a person's hand in carrying the carrier.   
   
   
       10 . The carrier of  claim 9  implemented as a heavy paper construction foldable from a flat aspect to the rectangular array of compartments.