Tray for stacking layers of structural bottles

Abstract

The present invention provides a tray for stacking layers of structural bottles. The tray has an upper surface and an opposed lower surface. The upper surface has a plurality of wells and the lower surface has a plurality of pockets, the pockets and wells are disposed in a corresponding array of columns and rows. An annular seating surface of a well is segmented with each segment having a generally concave surface facing radially inwardly of the well. The concave surface has a vertical portion that extends downwardly and radially inwardly to a radial segment. The radial segment forms a horizontal support surface for receiving a bottom of one of the structural bottles. A first rotational interlock structure extends outward from the concave surface along one of the segments.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A tray for stacking layers of structural bottles comprising:
 a web of material having an upper surface and an opposed lower surface, the upper surface has a plurality of wells disposed in an array of columns and rows, the lower surface has a plurality of pockets disposed in an array of columns and rows, each pocket having a complementary shape to a corresponding well, each well has an annular seating surface circumjacent a cylindrical post and separated therefrom by an annular recess, the annular seating surface being segmented with each segment having a generally concave surface facing radially inwardly of the well, the concave surface having a vertical portion that extends downwardly and radially inwardly to a radial segment, the radial segment forms a horizontal support surface for receiving a bottom of one of the structural bottles, and a first rotational interlock structure extending outward from the concave surface along one of the segments.   
     
     
         2 . The tray of  claim 1  wherein the first rotational interlock structure is a rib. 
     
     
         3 . The tray of  claim 2  wherein the first rotational interlock structure has more than one rib. 
     
     
         4 . The tray of  claim 3  wherein the rib extends axially of the tray. 
     
     
         5 . The tray of  claim 1  wherein the cylindrical post has a flat upper surface essentially coplanar with the seating surface. 
     
     
         6 . The tray of  claim 1  further comprising a corner well having a second rotational interlock structure spaced from the first rotational interlock structure. 
     
     
         7 . The tray of  claim 6  further comprising a recess in one of the pockets for receiving a handle of one of the structural bottles. 
     
     
         8 . The tray of  claim 1  wherein the rotational lock structure comprises a generally rectangular notch in one of the segments. 
     
     
         9 . A tray for stacking layers of structural bottles comprising:
 a web of material having an upper surface and an opposed lower surface, the upper surface has a plurality of wells disposed in an array of columns and rows, the lower surface has a plurality of pockets disposed in an array of columns and rows, each pocket having a complementary shape to a corresponding well, each well has an annular seating surface circumjacent a post and separated therefrom by an annular recess, the annular seating surface being segmented with each segment having a generally concave surface facing radially inwardly of the well, the concave surface having a vertical portion that extends downwardly and radially inwardly to a radial segment, the radial segment forms a horizontal support surface for receiving a bottom of one of the structural bottles, and a first rectangular shaped notch in one of the segments for receiving an edge of one of the structural bottles.   
     
     
         10 . The tray of  claim 9  further comprising a second rectangular shaped notch in one of the segments and spaced from the first rectangular shaped notch by an angle of rotation about an axis through the well. 
     
     
         11 . The tray of  claim 10  wherein the angle of rotation is about 90°. 
     
     
         12 . The tray of  claim 11  wherein the post has a generally square base, a generally round top, and a surface connecting the base to the top. 
     
     
         13 . The tray of  claim 12  wherein the post has a generally flat upper surface generally coplanar with the seating surface. 
     
     
         14 . A stacking arrangement for structural bottles comprising:
 a tray of a web of material having an upper surface and an opposed lower surface, the upper surface has a plurality of wells disposed in an array of columns and rows, the lower surface has a plurality of pockets disposed in an array of columns and rows, each pocket having a complementary shape to a corresponding well, each well has an annular seating surface circumjacent a cylindrical post and separated therefrom by an annular recess, the annular seating surface being segmented with each segment having a generally concave surface facing radially inwardly of the well, the concave surface having a vertical portion that extends downwardly and radially inwardly to a radial segment, the radial segment forms a horizontal support surface for receiving a bottom of one of the structural bottles, and a first rotational interlock structure extending outward from the concave surface along one of the segments; and   a structural bottle having a bottom surface, a sidewall and a handle, the bottom surface in the well and the first rotational interlock structure engaging a portion of the bottle to resist rotation about an axis of the well.   
     
     
         15 . The stacking arrangement of  claim 14  wherein the first rotational interlock structure is a rib. 
     
     
         16 . The stacking arrangement of  claim 15  wherein the first rotational interlock structure has more than one rib. 
     
     
         17 . The stacking arrangement of  claim 16  wherein the rib extends axially of the tray. 
     
     
         18 . The stacking arrangement of  claim 14  wherein the cylindrical post has a flat upper surface essentially coplanar with the seating surface. 
     
     
         19 . The stacking arrangement of  claim 14  further comprising a corner well having a second rotational interlock structure spaced from the first rotational interlock structure. 
     
     
         20 . The stacking arrangement of  claim 14  wherein the rotational interlock structure comprises a generally rectangular notch in one of the segments.