The apparatus can be applied to reduce breakage and improve the efficacy and safety of bottle transportation in boxes and will primarily be described with reference to this context. It should be remembered, however, that the invention has broader use in bottle storage and retrieval safety for domestic or industrial applications.

Background Art The transportation of glass bottled beverages such as expensive wines is reliant on the secure nature of the transportation box used for such a task to prevent breakage of the contents during transfer. One presently accepted cardboard carton contains a large amount of polystyrene packaging that generally reduces breakage of the bottles but creates a volumetric storage problem.

There are also difficulties in disposing of the foam in an environmentally acceptable manner after use in the box.

Breakage of bottles during transfer, with the rigours of transportation, still occurs using currently available apparatus.

Apparatus shown in French patent FR2329525 is for a bottle storage arrangement which involves a system of compartments where bottles are laid out in an alternating upright and inverted configuration, and horizontally, with a deformable wall forming each compartment in between the bottles. The bottles are not stored vertically, nor are the walls positioned adjacent to a bottle in a biasing engagement with either an upper or a lower longitudinal part of the bottle. The wall portions in FR2329525

restrain movement along the full length of each bottle.

Such a system can increase wear on bottle labels and capping material due to vibration of the bottle against the face of the packaging materials. Bottles with worn labels or capping are often rejected by consumers at the point of sale and must therefore be sold at reduced prices.

Summary of the Invention The present invention provides bottle support apparatus for use in a box including at least one panel which is V-shaped in end section, the panel having an apex at the base of the V-shape, and two members extending out from the apex, with one member configured for laterally urging the bottle towards an opposing support for restraining the bottle against movement in the box, wherein the panel is positioned adjacent to the bottle such that one of the members engages the bottle at a lower or upper longitudinal part thereof, with the apex being spaced therefrom and adjacent to an upper or lower longitudinal part thereof respectively.

Preferably the support is either a like member located on an opposite side of the bottle or a side wall of the box.

Preferably, for a bottle generally centrally disposed within the box, four panels are positioned around the bottle, a first two opposing members of opposing respective panels being arranged for engaging against a relatively upper part of the bottle, and a second two opposing members of opposing respective panels being orthogonally disposed to the first two panels and arranged for engaging against a relatively lower part of the bottle.

Such apparatus features compartments that can tightly restrain bottles from movement, due to the complimentary

interlocking of V-shaped panels with each other, both at the top and bottom region of each bottle. Any number of interlocking V-shaped panels are within the scope of the invention to produce single, or multiple bottle holding apparatus.

Preferably at least one slot is formed in each panel extending therein from a base of the V, the slots being arranged for aligning with and sliding into a respective slot in a similar or like panel to enable the panels to be stacked interlockingly with each other and in use to allow a bottle to fit within the spaces formed by the interlocked panels.

Preferably the slots extend away from the base of the V to a position at least midway into the panel.

Preferably the slots are V-shaped in use to engage and restrain the angle of opening of the V-shaped panel.

Preferably the panel is defined from a rectangular panel which in use is folded along a centreline to form the apex of the V-shape.

Preferably the panel is formed from cardboard.

Preferably the apparatus further includes a reinforcement element for positioning on a base of the box and under the or each member.

Preferably the reinforcement element comprises one or more layers of material laid on the internal surface of the box base.

Preferably the apparatus further includes an element for positioning in the box above the or each member, the element having a plurality of holes, with each hole being positioned for aligning with and receiving therethrough a respective bottle neck.

Preferably each hole is circular in shape, the circumference of the circle having one or more radial

slits to enable a deformable fit around a respective bottle neck.

Preferably the apparatus further includes a concertina folded element for positioning in the box above the element and defining upper folds that are each located above one or more respective bottle tops and lower folds that are each seated upon the element.

Preferably the upper folds align with the top of a line of bottles.

Preferably the box is a square or rectangular prism.

Preferably the entire apparatus is formed from cardboard.

Brief Description of the Drawings Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred forms of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of a device for use as a bottle support apparatus located in a carton, in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a portion of the bottle support apparatus of Figure 1 when removed from the carton.

Figure 3 shows an exploded perspective schematic view of part of the embodiment of Figure 2.

Figure 4 shows another perspective view of a portion of the bottle support apparatus of Figure 1 when removed from the carton.

Figure 5 shows a similar view to Figure 2, but with bottles and a top plate positioned in the apparatus.

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of another embodiment incorporating a fixing device for use with the bottle support apparatus in accordance with the invention.

Figure 7 shows a plan view of part of the bottle support apparatus of Figure 6 when laid flat.

Figure 8 shows a plan view of another portion of the bottle support apparatus of Figure 6 when laid flat, not shown in Figure 7.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention Referring to the drawings, a bottle support apparatus 10 for use in a rectangular box 12 is shown including insertable members in the form of a panel 14 which is V- shaped in end section, with the free ends 16 of the stems of each V being arranged to laterally urge a bottle 18 towards an opposing support for restraining the bottle 18 against movement in the box 12.

The opposing supports can be in the form of either a like V-shaped panel 14 located on an opposite side of the bottle 18 or a side wall 20 of the box 12. When a bottle 18 is centrally disposed within the box, four such like V- shaped panels are positioned around the bottle 18, a first two opposing panels 22,24 being arranged for engaging against a relatively upper part of the bottle 18, and a second two opposing panels 26,28 being orthogonally disposed to the first two opposing panels 22,24 and arranged for engaging against a relatively lower part of the bottle 18.

Apparatus is depicted which is of a suitable size to hold 12 bottles. However, the apparatus could be adapted for use with one or any number of bottles. In the preferred arrangement, five slots 30 are formed in one panel 14 while four slots 32 are formed in each orthogonally disposed panel, as shown in Figure 3. The slots 30 formed in each V-shaped panel 14 extend from an apex A of the V, and are each arranged for aligning with and sliding into a respective slot 32 in an inverted

similar or like panel 14 to enable the elements to be stacked interlockingly with each other. In use the interlocked elements allow a bottle 18 to fit within the spaces formed by the criss-crossing of the interlocked elements.

As shown, the slots extend away from the apex A of the V to a position at least midway into the panel. In this embodiment, each of the twelve equivalently shaped square compartments can tightly restrain bottles from movement, due to the complimentary interlocking of V- shaped panels 14 with each other, both at the top and bottom region of each bottle 18 and the outward urging (bias) of opposing free ends 16, with apex A acting like a spring hinge. Any number of slots 30,32 and V-shaped panels 14 are within the scope of the invention to produce single, or multiple bottle holding apparatus.

In a preferred embodiment, the slots 30,32 are V- shaped in order to restrain the angle of opening of the V- shaped panel 14 disposed within each slot, ensuring a tight fit of the bottle (i. e. depending on the selected slot 30,32 width dimensions). The panels 14 themselves are formed from a rectangular panel which in use is folded along a centreline to form the apex of the V-shape.

The apparatus 10 can further include a reinforcement element 34, which, in one preferred embodiment, preferably comprises four layers of internally ribbed cardboard panels for protection from carton abuse and accidental droppage. This material is laid on the internal surface of the box 12 base to strengthen the support and shock absorbance directly under the V-shaped panels and bottles when the apparatus is in use.

A flat panel 36 can be positioned in the box above the V-shaped panels 14, the flat panel 36 having a plurality of circular holes 38 formed therein so that each

hole 38 is positioned for aligning with and receiving therethrough a respective bottle neck 50 in use. Radial slits 52 on the circumference of each hole enable a deformable and tight fit around a respective bottle neck 50. This flat panel 36 is made of a double layer thickness cardboard panel which in use further prevents vibration of the bottles 18 during motion of the apparatus 10.

The apparatus 10 can further include a concertina folded element 40 for positioning in the box 12 above the flat panel 36, wherein upper folds 42 are each located above and align with one or more respective bottle top and lower folds 44 are each seated upon the flat panel 36.

This concertina-shaped element 40 gives extra protection to the bottles and can prevent any marking, wear or scratching of bottle caps, labels etc which can otherwise damage the appearance and saleability of a wine bottle product.

In a further feature, as shown in another embodiment of the invention in Figures 6 to 8, opposing panels 26 and 28 include discrete slots 60 located adjacent to the free end 16 of each panel 26,28 (shown in Figure 8). When the apparatus 10 is assembled (shown in Figure 6), the slots 60 in use are able to receive the tips (ends) of a tab 64 which is formed at the apex of the V formed by panels 22 and 24 (shown in Figure 7) and oriented in between the two stems of that V. When the tabs 64 are received in the slots 60 in opposing panels 26,28, the apparatus has greater structural integrity, and is able to be lifted out of the box 12 in an assembled manner, if required.

The apparatus 10 shown in the Figures can be used with a box or carton 12 constructed of a double layer of ribbed cardboard with outside dimensions of approximately 320 mm wide by 470 mm long by 400 mm high. The box is

typically configured to hold one dozen bottles of wine.

The remainder of the parts of the apparatus 10 are formed from ribbed cardboard or the like.

The apparatus was subjected to physical testing, as outlined in the following example.

Example Testing Regime A box was packed with twelve normal shaped glass wine bottles full of water and then dropped from heights ranging from 1 metre to 4 metres. Failure occurred when the box was dropped from 4 metres to a concrete driveway.

This failure resulted in one bottle being broken. Failure was attributed to the following factors: a. the box became wet due to prevailing conditions on a rain-soaked driveway; b. all drop tests were carried out using the same box thus resulting in the box structure being adversely affected by the unusually harsh treatment; c. the test box was sealed with tape and not with the normal glue. d. Another box that was glued together was packed with glass wine bottles and sent via normal freight methods over a distance of some 8000km with no damage to the carton or its contents.

Preferred apparatus of the invention can offer cheaper transportation and storage costs because of the foldable or"flat pack"nature of the packaging components. It also eliminates the problem of disposing of environmentally contaminating styrofoam at comparable or less cost. The apparatus is easily adapted to carry the occasionally required"three-pack"or"six-pack"of wines, since use of the carton with any number of bottles

does not materially affect the tightness of fit of the compartments around an individual bottle, and is thus suitable for"sample pack"wine selections where non- identical bottle types are included in a dozen bottles of wine.

Preferred embodiments of the apparatus of the invention shown can provide improved security and strength for bottles undergoing transfer operations as well as being able to be reduced in size to decrease their storage space requirements. The bottle packing and transportation apparatus of the invention holds bottles in an upright position so that the strongest part of each of the bottles (their base) is located at the base of the box where the maximum shock load is usually developed in transportation if the box is dropped or falls during transfer. An upright positioning of bottles also more readily facilitates their identification when the box is opened.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art information is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the information forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

Whilst the invention has been described with reference to a number of preferred embodiments it should be appreciated that the invention can be embodied in many other forms.