Bottle Crate Layout for Mixed Single Bottles and Multipacks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bottle crates lack the ability to efficiently accommodate both individual bottles and multipacks of various sizes while maintaining a standardized format for logistical ease and compatibility with deposit return systems.

Innovation Solution

A box design featuring a frame with external dimensions of 300 mm x 400 mm, incorporating ribs, a partition wall, and solid or web pins that form compartments for individual bottles and multipacks, allowing for flexible storage of bottles up to 62.3 mm diameter and accommodating multipacks of 4 or 6 bottles, with features like centering aids and ribbed corners for stability and visibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the box frame is made flat on the outside without circumferential ribs, then the manufacturing simplicity is improved, but the stacking stability and structural strength deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidstacking stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The rib structure is pre-integrated into the box frame during manufacturing, creating protruding elements that automatically provide stacking stability and structural reinforcement without requiring additional assembly steps or complex manufacturing processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The rib structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it reinforces the box frame structurally, provides stacking stability, and is manufactured as an integrated part of the frame, combining structural reinforcement and manufacturing efficiency in a single element

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Productivity

If the bottle crate uses a standardized grid format, then the logistical processing efficiency is improved, but the adaptability to different bottle arrangements deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelogistical processing efficiencyVSAvoidadaptability to different bottle arrangements

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The partition wall can be positioned at different locations within the box frame, allowing the crate to dynamically adapt between a standardized 6x4 grid configuration for individual bottles and alternative arrangements for multipacks, maintaining logistical efficiency while providing versatility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The interior space is divided into compartments by the partition wall, which can be configured to create different section arrangements, enabling the same crate structure to accommodate both individual bottles in a grid and multipacks in alternative configurations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4253263B1Bottle crate

Publication Date: 2026.04.01 OBERLAND M & V

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AI summary

The present invention relates to a box (10) for receiving bottles (40) comprising a box frame (12), a partition wall (18), solid pins (20) and/or web pins (22) and a box base (16), wherein the external dimensions of the box frame (12) are 300 mm x 400 mm. Inside the box (10), the box frame (12), the partition (18), the solid pins (20) and the bridge pins (22) form a compartment with bottle holders (11) in a 4 x 6 grid, wherein the bottle holders (11) are designed to hold individual bottles (40) with a diameter of up to 62.3 mm and wherein six of these bottle holders (11) are arranged in a 2 x 3 grid to hold a multipack (42) of six of these bottles (40) and/or four of these bottle holders (11) are arranged in a 2 x 2 grid to hold a multipack (42) of four of these bottles (40).