Stackable bottle carrier

Abstract

A carrier for carrying a plurality of bottles, the carrier having a stacking capability when filled with bottles and an improved stacking capability when empty. Each carrier is comprised of two body members. The upper body member comprises side and end walls connected in generally rectangular shape, a central dividing member having an extension thereof forming a handle, and upper partition walls cooperating with the central dividing member to form cells for holding bottles. The lower body member comprises a bottom with side and end walls and lower partition walls extending upwardly therefrom. The upper body member is slidably attached over the lower body member to form the carrier, with the two body members interfitting for limited motion therebetween. The carrier is in its extended position when it is carried filled with bottles; the carrier effectively having end and side walls of a length substantially equal to the vertical dimensions of the walls of the upper body member plus the walls of the lower body member for providing protection and lateral support for the bottles contained therein. When the carrier is empty, the upper body member is pushed down over the lower body member. In this contracted position many more carriers can be stacked as bottle carriers of normal dimensions. Registration for stacking of empty carriers is provided by reception of the handles of each carrier in a recessed open area in the bottom of the next carrier above in the stack. The carrier bottom, partition walls and central dividing member are relieved to form a slotted region for receiving the handle of the empty carton below.