Bottle Carrier

Abstract

A bottle carrier including a body defining at least two openings each for receiving the neck of a bottle to be carried, and a side wall which extends around part of the periphery of each opening. A lip associated with each of the openings is formed on the side wall. A bottle locking arm associated with each opening extends from the body to a free end so that the free end is movable radially of the opening towards and away from the lip to permit insertion of the bottle neck into the opening. A locking arrangement is connected to the body between the openings and is movable to a locking position to engage the bottle locking arms and prevent movement of same away from the lip to permit withdrawal of the neck of the bottle from the opening, thereby locking the bottle carrier to the bottle or bottles.

1 . A bottle carrier comprising:
 a body defining at least two openings each for receiving a portion of the neck of a bottle to be carried by means of the bottle carrier and having side wall means which extend around a part of the periphery of each of said openings;   a lip associated with each of said openings and formed on the side wall means extending partially around the periphery thereof, each said lip projecting radially-inwardly of said opening;   a bottle locking arm associated with each opening and extending from said body to a free end so that said free end is movable radially of the opening towards and away from the lip formed on the side wall means around the periphery of said opening to permit insertion of the neck of a bottle to be carried into the opening and the free end of the bottle locking arm and the lip formed on the side wall means cooperating to engage an abutment formed on the neck of the bottle or by the bottle cap to oppose withdrawal of the bottle from the opening; and   locking means connected to the body between said openings, said locking means being movable in use to a locking position in which it engages the bottle locking arms so as to prevent movement of the bottle locking arms away from the lip on the side wall means to permit withdrawal of the neck of said bottle from the opening, thereby locking the bottle carrier to the bottle or bottles.   
     
     
         2 . The bottle carrier of  claim 1  wherein the bottle locking arms are resilient and can flex to move the free ends thereof towards and away from the associated lip on the side wall means. 
     
     
         3 . The bottle carrier of  claim 1  wherein the locking means is hingeably fixed to the body so that hinging movement thereof moves said locking means into the locking position, in use. 
     
     
         4 . The bottle carrier of  claim 1  wherein the body, bottle locking arms and locking means are formed integrally by molding. 
     
     
         5 . The bottle carrier of  claim 1  wherein said side wall means extend along the periphery of the body between said openings and said locking means is so shaped and dimensioned that, in the locking position, its edges engage said side wall means between said openings so that said side wall means and said bottle locking arms together engage substantially the whole peripheral edge of said locking means. 
     
     
         6 . The bottle carrier of  claim 5  wherein the locking means is provided with projecting stop means which, as the locking means is moved into the locking position, is brought into engagement with the body to prevent movement of the locking means beyond the locking position. 
     
     
         7 . The bottle carrier of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the body is shaped to form a carrying handle for said bottles. 
     
     
         8 . The bottle carrier of  claim 1  further comprising a container for a gift or other item secured to said body.