Reconfigurable beverage crate

Abstract

A beverage crate includes a base and a plurality of walls extending upward from the base. The base together with the plurality of walls define a container interior for receiving beverage containers. By reconfiguring the crate, the storage volume of the container interior is selectively adjustable to accommodate different size beverage containers. Thus, the same crate could be used for different size beverage containers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A beverage crate comprising:
 a base; and   a plurality of walls extending from the base, the base together with the plurality of walls defining a container interior for receiving beverage containers, wherein a storage volume of the container interior is selectively adjustable to accommodate different size beverage containers.   
     
     
         2 . The beverage crate of  claim 1  further including at least one spacer movable between a stowed position in which the storage volume of the container interior is larger and a deployed position in which the storage volume of the container interior is smaller. 
     
     
         3 . The beverage crate of  claim 2  wherein the at least one spacer is pivotably secured to one of the plurality of walls. 
     
     
         4 . The beverage crate of  claim 3  wherein the at least one spacer is pivotable into a recess in the one of the plurality of walls to the stowed position. 
     
     
         5 . The beverage crate of  claim 4  further including a plurality of beverage containers received in the storage volume and contacting the at least one spacer in the deployed position. 
     
     
         6 . The beverage crate of  claim 2  wherein the plurality of walls are pivotably connected to the base and movable between an upright position and a collapsed position on the base. 
     
     
         7 . The beverage crate of  claim 2  further including at least one spacer movable into a recess in the base in the stowed position and movable out of the recess in the base in the deployed position. 
     
     
         8 . The beverage crate of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of walls are hingeably connected to the base, and wherein the plurality of walls are movable between a first position in which the plurality of walls extend in a first direction perpendicular to the base and a second position in which the plurality of walls extend in a second direction, opposite the first direction, perpendicular to the base, wherein the plurality of walls in the first position provide a first storage volume, and wherein the plurality of walls in the second position provide a second storage volume, wherein the first storage volume is larger than the second storage volume. 
     
     
         9 . The beverage crate of  claim 2  wherein one of the plurality of walls includes a recess formed on an interior surface thereof for partially receiving a beverage container, wherein the beverage crate further includes a spacer movable between a stowed position in which the recess is accessible from the container interior to increase the storage volume and a deployed position in which the recess is blocked from the container interior to reduce the storage volume. 
     
     
         10 . The beverage crate of  claim 9  wherein the plurality of walls are pivotably connected to the base and movable between an upright position and a collapsed position on the base. 
     
     
         11 . The beverage crate of  claim 9  further including a plurality of beverage containers received in the storage volume and contacting the at least one spacer in the deployed position. 
     
     
         12 . The beverage crate of  claim 9  wherein the spacer is pivotable between the stowed position and the deployed position. 
     
     
         13 . The beverage crate of  claim 12  wherein the spacer is receivable in a recess in the base in the stowed position. 
     
     
         14 . The beverage crate of  claim 13  wherein the plurality of walls are pivotably connected to the base and movable between an upright position and a collapsed position on the base. 
     
     
         15 . The beverage crate of  claim 9  wherein the spacer is pivotably connected to the one of the plurality of walls or to the base. 
     
     
         16 . The beverage crate of  claim 3  wherein the at least one spacer includes a plurality of recesses that align with recesses on an interior surface of the one of the plurality of walls when the at least one spacer is in the stowed position. 
     
     
         17 . The beverage crate of  claim 16  further including a plurality of beverage containers received in the storage volume and contacting the at least one spacer in the deployed position. 
     
     
         18 . The beverage crate of  claim 17  wherein the plurality of walls are pivotably connected to the base and movable between an upright position and a collapsed position on the base. 
     
     
         19 . A method for using crate including:
 a) configuring the crate in a first configuration having a first interior storage volume defined between a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls extending upward from a base;   b) after said step a), placing a first number of first beverage containers on the base of the crate, abutting the pair of side walls and the pair of end walls;   c) after said step b), reconfiguring the crate to a second configuration having a second interior storage volume defined between the pair of side walls and the pair of end walls, wherein the second interior storage volume is less than the first interior storage volume; and   d) after said step c), placing a second number of second beverage containers in the crate, wherein the second number is less than the first number or the second beverage containers are smaller than the first beverage containers.