The present invention relates to a plastic crate for bottles or the like with large openings in all sides, which openings lack horizontal cross-beams, an open-work bottom surface, an upper horizontal rim and a lower horizontal rim which two rims are connected by thin vertical pillars in the corners of the crate.

Plastic crates with large openings in the sides have been produced for a long time. However, at such a design there is often a problem with the sides of the crate. Thus, they are not strong enough. Therefore, it is usual to perform the crate with horizontal cross-beams over the openings.

This construction, however, has the disadvantage that bottles cannot be taken out through the openings of the sides.

According to the present invention the above disadvantages have been avoided and a strong plastic crate for bottles or the like has been brought about. The crate is provided with large openings in all sides, which openings lack horizontal cross-beams, an open-work bottom surface, an upper horizontal rim and a lower horizontal rim which two rims are connected by thin vertical pillars in the corners of the crate.

The crate is reinforced with a vertical beam along each of two opposite sides, which beams connect the upper and the lower rims, whereby the beams are placed in the middle of two opposite sides. The upper and the lower rim are performed with curved recesses corresponding to the shape and the size of the bottles. The bottom surface is performed with upwards directed towers which together with the curved recesses in the lower border divide the bottom

surface into a desired number of compartments, one for each bottle.

Suitably the vertical beams are directed inwards and situated inside the vertical plane of the respective side of the crate.

The bottom surface suitably comprises circular parts of different sizes connected by spokelike parts, which parts constitute a support for one bottle in each compartment. Preferably the different bottom parts in each compartment are also connected with each other by spokelike parts. Of course the whole bottom surface is made in one piece with the rest of the crate.

Generally the crate is made of polypropylene, polyethylene or impact resistant polystyrene. However, polyethylene is usually preferred due to its good impact strength in cold surroundings.

The invention will be further explained in connection with the enclosed figures 1 and 2 which in perspective show one embodiment of a plastic crate 1 according to the invention from two different directions.

The plastic crate 1 is provided with large openings 2 in all sides. The crate 1 has an open-work bottom surface 7, an upper horizontal rim 5 and a lower horizontal rim 6. The two rims 5 and 6 are connected by thin vertical pillars 3 in the corners of the crate. The crate is reinforced with an inwards directed vertical beam 4 along each of two opposite sides. These beams 4 connect the upper and the lower rim 5 and 6 respectively. The beams 4 are then placed in the middle of the two opposite sides

and inside the vertical plane of these sides. The upper and the lower rim 5 and 6 respectively are performed with curved recesses 8 corresponding to the shape and the size of the bottles. The bottom surface is performed with upwards directed towers 9, which together with the curved recesses 8 in the lower rim 6 divide the bottom surface 7 into a desired number of chambers, one for each bottle. The bottom surface 7 suitably comprises circular parts 10 of different sizes connected by spokelike parts 11. These parts 10 constitute a support for one bottle in each compartment. The different bottom parts 10 in each compartment are also connected with each other by spokelike parts 11. The case is also provided with handles 12 in the connection between the vertical beams 4 and the upper horizontal rim 5 and the lower horizontal rim 6 respectively.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown, since this can be modified in different ways within the scope of the invention.