Bottle shipper

Special receptacle or package – Portable segregating carrier for plural cylindrical... – Pendent from handle

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C206S592000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06290057

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to protective shipping materials, and more particularly for a protective shipper for bottles, such as wine bottles.
In the wine industry, shipping of bottles of wine is an issue. In order to minimize cost, it is important to reduce the amount of time needed to pack a 12 bottle case of wine for shipping. Currently, primarily foam shipping protectors are employed, which comprise two (typically) blocks of foam that fit together, the interior thereof defining receiving zones for the wine bottles.
However, the foam packaging takes up a great deal of space, as it cannot be shrunk or nested together for shipping or storage prior to use. Many wine sellers are retail establishments, where space is at a premium. To store a large number of foam shippers becomes expensive, as the space to store shipping materials prior to use would be better used for display of revenue producing products or for storage of higher value items. Further, foam is perceived as environmentally unfriendly, and recycling of foam is not widespread.
The aesthetic appearance of a wine bottle is important to the consumer and retailer. If the labeling on the bottle is abraded or otherwise scraped or damaged during shipping, then the value of the bottle, or its perceived value, is reduced. It is therefore important that the packaging materials employed during shipping provide protection against breakage of the bottles, while not resulting in abrasion or damage to the bottle labels.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the invention, a bottle shipping protector has an upper and lower tray. The trays are suitably made of molded fiber, each of the upper and lower trays folding together to define a three dimensional shipping structure. The tray portions engage the bottle at the heel and neck thereof, leaving the label portion free from contact with any structure.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved bottle shipping protector that is easily and quickly assembled.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved wine bottle shipping protector that minimizes contact with the bottle label.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved bottle shipper that will accommodate a variety of bottle sizes with a single protector assembly.
A further object of the present invention to provide an improved bottle shipper that is recyclable.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved shipping system that minimizes the space required for storage, prior to use in shipping.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved wine bottle shipping protector with a 3 dimensional shock absorbing zone around a bottle.
Still a further object of the invention is to provide an improved molded fiber shipping protector having a tall three dimensional profile.
The subject matter of the present invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of this specification. However, both the organization and method of operation, together with further advantages and objects thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like elements.


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