Bottle holder

Abstract

A bottle holder including a body having a first bottle-holding surface adapted to hold a first plurality of bottles at a first orientation, and a second bottle-holding surface adapted to hold a second plurality of bottles at a second orientation, wherein the first orientation is different from the second orientation. Preferably, each bottle-holding surface includes an aperture adapted to receive a cap end of each bottle, and a slot in communication with the aperture and adapted to support a bottle neck of each of the bottles.

Description

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to article carriers and holders, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a bottle holder useful for storing and transporting bottles.[0002]Ready-to-drink beverages such as soft drinks, water, and juice form a large and growing consumer market in many countries. As a trip to the local supermarket can attest, many of these beverages are provided in plastic bottles. The bottles come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, such as, for example, the familiar tall and bulbous family-size bottle commonly used for soft drinks and water. Other examples include short, rectangular, wide-necked bottles sometimes used for juice and iced tea, and small half-liter bottles for individual use.[0003]One consequence of the popularity of bottled beverages is that consumers tend to accumulate large numbers of the empty bottles in their homes. Proper disposal of the empty bottles can be a problem....

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides an improved bottle holder with multiple bottle-holding surfaces that can hold bottles in different orientations. The holder has a body with a hinge that allows the surfaces to fold against each other for easy storage and transportation. The holder also has a closeable slot for easy loading and unloading of bottles. The technical effects of the invention include improved storage and transportation of bottles, flexibility in bottle orientation, and convenient loading and unloading of bottles."

Problems solved by technology

Proper disposal of the empty bottles can be a problem.

Since the bottles are relatively bulky and non-biodegradable, it is environmentally unacceptable to simply throw them out with regular garbage.

However, practical inconveniences involved in storing, handling, and transporting the empty plastic bottles can cause frustration and non-cooperation on the part of some consumers.

For example, the bottles generally have a non-standard and often bulbous shape, are bulky, very light in weight, and unable to be stacked.

As a result, they tend to take up a relatively large amount of space in the home and are prone to being tipped or knocked over.

Tipped bottles tend to roll randomly around the room, where they can be a tripping hazard, and accordingly have to be picked up and put back.

These problems are magnified for consumers living in apartments or smaller homes lacking a garage or storage room.

Further, carrying the bottles or transporting them by vehicle to the recycling collection site can also be inconvenient, again due to their bulky and unwieldy nature.

However, carrying around the large container after depositing the bottles can itself be inconvenient and make use of the container impractical.

Further, the ungainly shape of the bottles leads them to fit somewhat unevenly, often extending partly out of the bag.

As a result, inefficient storage remains an issue because the multiple bags still take up space, are prone to tipping over, and are difficult to stack.

Carrying several of the bags, when full of bottles, is awkward and usually requires use of both hands.

In addition, there is the inconvenience of keeping a supply of bags on hand, and the problems presented to recycling equipment when the bottles are deposited while still in the bags.

The device however is not freestanding, and is limited by its length in the number of bottles that it can hold.

Insertion of the individual bottle necks however requires active physical effort to thread or press-fit the bottle neck.

Further, the device is fairly large and inconvenient to carry around after use.

The bottles are connected at their necks by the tape and accordingly tend to flop around when carried.

However, this creates unnecessary extra waste that has to be recycled.

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