Vertically Connecting Bottles for Wine and Other Liquids

Abstract

A stackable bottle system is a modular apparatus used to present a tasting set of wines, or other separate beverages and liquids, in a user-configurable unit assembled from multiple independent containers. The stackable bottle system utilizes a plurality of interlocking bottles, each individually formed from a core container, a convex neck, a concave base, and an intermediary connector. The core container provides a hollow body to retain any liquid beverage into each separable, modular bottle of the stackable bottle system. The convex neck and the concave base are connected to the core container to provide equal and opposed compatible mounting contours for each modular bottle. The intermediary connector is fixably mounted into the concave base to facilitate a mechanical connection between any two modular bottles. More specifically, the intermediary connector mounts into the concave base of any first bottle to releasably capture the convex neck of any second bottle.

Claims

1. A stackable bottle system comprising: a plurality of interlocking bottles; each of the plurality of interlocking bottles comprising a core container, a convex neck, a concave base, and an intermediary connector; the convex neck being terminally connected to the core container; the concave base being terminally connected to the core container, opposite the convex neck; the intermediary connector being positioned into the concave base of a first bottle from the plurality of interlocking bottles; and the convex neck of a second bottle from the plurality of interlocking bottles being releasably mounted into the intermediary connector.

2. The stackable bottle system as claimed in claim 1 comprising: the intermediary connector comprising a connector body and at least one radial protrusion; the concave base comprising a mounting cavity and at least one keyway; the at least one radial protrusion extending laterally from the connector body; the mounting cavity being formed into the core container, opposite the convex neck; the at least one keyway extending laterally from the mounting cavity; the connector body being positioned into the mounting cavity; and the at least one radial protrusion being positioned into the at least one keyway.

3. The stackable bottle system as claimed in claim 2 comprising: the outer perimeter of the connector body and the at least one radial protrusion defining an insert profile; the inner perimeter of the mounting cavity and at least one keyway defining a socket profile; and the insert profile being non-rotatable within the socket profile.

4. The stackable bottle system as claimed in claim 2 comprising: the at least one keyway being a plurality of indexing channels; and the at least one radial protrusion being positioned into at least one selected channel from the plurality of indexing channels.

5. The stackable bottle system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the at least one radial protrusion is an elongated section of the connector body.

6. The stackable bottle system as claimed in claim 1 comprising: a volume of adhesive; the volume of adhesive being positioned into the concave base, between the intermediary connector and the concave base; and the intermediary connector displacing the volume of adhesive within the concave base into a uniform dispersion across the intermediary connector.

7. The stackable bottle system as claimed in claim 1 comprising: the intermediary connector further comprising at least one retention track; the convex neck comprising at least one retention member; the retention track being internally distributed along the connector body; the at least one retention member extending laterally from the convex neck; and the at least one retention member being terminally positioned along the at least one retention track.

8. The stackable bottle system as claimed in claim 7 comprising: each of the at least one retention track comprising an entry segment, a traverse segment, and a catch segment; the entry segment extending into the connector body opposite to the concave base; the traverse segment being connected perpendicular to the entry segment about a central axis of the connector body; and the catch segment being terminally connected to the traverse segment opposite the entry segment along the traverse segment.

9. A stackable bottle system comprising: a plurality of interlocking bottles; each of the plurality of interlocking bottles comprising a core container, a convex neck, a concave base, and an intermediary connector; the convex neck being terminally connected to the core container; the concave base being terminally connected to the core container, opposite the convex neck; the intermediary connector being positioned into the concave base of a first bottle from the plurality of interlocking bottles; the convex neck of a second bottle from the plurality of interlocking bottles being releasably mounted into the intermediary connector; the intermediary connector comprising a connector body and at least one radial protrusion; the concave base comprising a mounting cavity and at least one keyway; the at least one radial protrusion extending laterally from the connector body; the mounting cavity being formed into the core container, opposite the convex neck; the at least one keyway extending laterally from the mounting cavity; the connector body being positioned into the mounting cavity; and the at least one radial protrusion being positioned into the at least one keyway.

10. The stackable bottle system as claimed in claim 9 comprising: the outer perimeter of the connector body and the at least one radial protrusion defining an insert profile; the inner perimeter of the mounting cavity and at least one keyway defining a socket profile; and the insert profile being non-rotatable within the socket profile.

11. The stackable bottle system as claimed in claim 9 comprising: the at least one keyway being a plurality of indexing channels; and the at least one radial protrusion being positioned into at least one selected channel from the plurality of indexing channels.

12. The stackable bottle system as claimed in claim 9 wherein the at least one radial protrusion is an elongated section of the connector body.

13. The stackable bottle system as claimed in claim 9 comprising: a volume of adhesive; the volume of adhesive being positioned into the concave base, between the intermediary connector and the concave base; and the intermediary connector displacing the volume of adhesive within the concave base into a uniform dispersion across the intermediary connector.

14. The stackable bottle system as claimed in claim 9 comprising: the intermediary connector further comprising at least one retention track; the convex neck comprising at least one retention member; the at least one retention track being internally distributed along the connector body; the at least one retention member extending laterally from the convex neck; and the at least one retention member being terminally positioned along the at least one retention track.

15. The stackable bottle system as claimed in claim 14 comprising: each of the at least one retention track comprising an entry segment, a traverse segment, and a catch segment; the entry segment extending into the connector body opposite to the concave base; the traverse segment being connected perpendicular to the entry segment about a central axis of the connector body; and the catch segment being terminally connected to the traverse segment opposite the entry segment along the traverse segment.

16. A stackable bottle system comprising: a plurality of interlocking bottles; each of the plurality of interlocking bottles comprising a core container, a convex neck, a concave base, and an intermediary connector; the convex neck being terminally connected to the core container; the concave base being terminally connected to the core container, opposite the convex neck; the intermediary connector being positioned into the concave base of a first bottle from the plurality of interlocking bottles; the convex neck of a second bottle from the plurality of interlocking bottles being releasably mounted into the intermediary connector; the intermediary connector comprising a connector body and at least one radial protrusion; the concave base comprising a mounting cavity and at least one keyway; the at least one radial protrusion extending laterally from the connector body; the mounting cavity being formed into the core container, opposite the convex neck; the at least one keyway extending laterally from the mounting cavity; the connector body being positioned into the mounting cavity; the at least one radial protrusion being positioned into the at least one keyway; the intermediary connector further comprising at least one retention track; the convex neck comprising at least one retention member; the at least one retention track being internally distributed along the connector body; the at least one retention member extending laterally from the convex neck; the at least one retention member being terminally positioned along the at least one retention track; a volume of adhesive; the volume of adhesive being positioned into the concave base, between the intermediary connector and the concave base; and the intermediary connector displacing the volume of adhesive within the concave base into a uniform dispersion across the intermediary connector.

17. The stackable bottle system as claimed in claim 16 comprising: the outer perimeter of the connector body and the at least one radial protrusion defining an insert profile; the inner perimeter of the mounting cavity and at least one keyway defining a socket profile; and the insert profile being non-rotatable within the socket profile.

18. The stackable bottle system as claimed in claim 16 comprising: the at least one keyway being a plurality of indexing channels; and the at least one radial protrusion being positioned into at least one selected channel from the plurality of indexing channels.

19. The stackable bottle system as claimed in claim 16 wherein the at least one radial protrusion is an elongated section of the connector body.

20. The stackable bottle system as claimed in claim 16 comprising: each of the at least one retention track comprising an entry segment, a traverse segment, and a catch segment; the entry segment extending into the connector body opposite to the concave base; the traverse segment being connected perpendicular to the entry segment about a central axis of the connector body; and the catch segment being terminally connected to the traverse segment opposite the entry segment along the traverse segment.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] FIG. 1 is a bottom-right-rear exploded view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention, wherein the insertion direction of the separable components is indicated by a dashed-line and arrow.

[0007] FIG. 2 is a detail view of area 3 in FIG. 2.

[0008] FIG. 3 is a detail view of area 4 in FIG. 2.

[0009] FIG. 4 is a front elevational view thereof, wherein any separable components are rendered in dashed-line to show construction and arrangement.

[0010] FIG. 5 is a section view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 4.

[0011] FIG. 6 is a detail view of area 6 in FIG. 5.

[0012] FIG. 7 is a low-perspective view of a spline-type embodiment of the present invention, wherein a single-plane representation of the mechanical lockup displayed therein is illustrated separately.

[0013] FIG. 8 is a low-perspective view of an oblong-type embodiment of the present invention, wherein a single-plane representation of the mechanical lockup displayed therein is illustrated separately.

[0014] FIG. 9 is a low-perspective view of a tandem-type embodiment of the present invention, wherein a single-plane representation of the mechanical lockup displayed therein is illustrated separately.

[0015] FIG. 10 is a low-perspective view of a triangle-type embodiment of the present invention, wherein a single-plane representation of the mechanical lockup displayed therein is illustrated separately.

[0016] FIG. 11 is a low-perspective view of a quad-type embodiment of the present invention, wherein a single-plane representation of the mechanical lockup displayed therein is illustrated separately.

[0017] FIG. 12 is a low-perspective view of a hex-type embodiment of the present invention, wherein a single-plane representation of the mechanical lockup displayed therein is illustrated separately.

[0018] FIG. 13 is an inverted perspective view of the quad-type embodiment of the present invention, wherein a volume of adhesive is shown cementing the separable elements of the present invention into a finished product.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

[0019] All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. The present invention is to be described in detail and is provided in a manner that establishes a thorough understanding of the present invention. There may be aspects of the present invention that may be practiced or utilized without the implementation of some features as they are described. It should be understood that some details have not been described in detail in order to not unnecessarily obscure focus of the invention. References herein to “the preferred embodiment”, “one embodiment”, “some embodiments”, or “alternative embodiments” should be considered to be illustrating aspects of the present invention that may potentially vary in some instances, and should not be considered to be limiting to the scope of the present invention as a whole.

[0020] In reference to FIG. 1 through 13, the present invention is a stackable bottle system comprising a plurality of interlocking bottles 20. The plurality of interlocking bottles 20 broadly refers to a series of mutually compatible, positionally-agnostic modular units that may individually define varying dimensions, capacities, and physical properties as may be suitable for storing a variety of liquid compounds. In a preferred mode of use, each of the plurality of interlocking bottles 20 is filled with differing varieties of wines, whereby a customizable tasting of said varieties may be stored, transported, and presented as a single assembled unit. However, no limitations should be implied to alternate embodiments of the present invention utilized for handling other liquids; any type or combination of fluid or semi-fluid compound may be stored within the plurality of interlocking bottles 20 without departing from the original spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0021] In reference to FIG. 1 through 3, each of the plurality of interlocking bottles 20 further comprises a core container 21, a convex neck 22, a concave base 23, and an intermediary connector 24. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the plurality of interlocking bottles 20 is functional as a standalone beverage container with all necessary internal volumes and capacities being separable contained by individual closures. The convex neck 22 is configured in opposite formations to the concave base 23, such that the convex neck 22 may be positioned inside the concave base 23 to create a segmented ‘stack’ of the plurality of bottles. The intermediary connector 24 is configured to releasably interconnect the convex neck 22 to the concave base 23 by mechanical means. More specifically, the intermediary connector 24 is conceptualized as a separately manufactured component utilizing materials and techniques suitable for creating a durable mechanical part. This is in contrast to the core container 21, which is generally conceptualized as a conventional wine bottle in composition, excepting the structures of the concave base 23.

[0022] Accordingly, the core container 21 constitutes the primary beverage storage medium for any liquids stored within each of the plurality of interlocking bottles 20. The core container 21 may be manufactured from any suitable material or combination of materials, though this component is ideally formed from blown glass to retain similarity to conventional wine bottles for presentation purposes. Alternate embodiments of the core container 21 may also be manufactured any suitable material, including any plastics, polymers, metallic materials, or any combination thereof.

[0023] In the preferred embodiment, the core container 21 extends between the convex neck 22 and the concave base 23, wherein the convex neck 22 is roughly analogous to the tapered shoulder and neck of a conventional wine bottle and the concave base 23 defines a flared support base for the core container 21. According to conventional wine bottle construction an opening is formed into or adjacent to the concave neck into an internal volume suitable for storing various beverages (e.g., wine). The dimensions of the reservoir may vary across multiple embodiments, dependent on the necessary wall thickness of the core container 21 to maintain the integrity of the reservoir (e.g., a metallic core container 21 may have a larger reservoir than a glass core container 21 relative to the thickness of the core container 21 material).

[0024] The convex neck 22 and the concave base 23 each define correspondingly dissimilar components suitable for engagement to each other. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the convex neck 22 is terminally connected to the core container 21 as a contiguous formation of the glass (or other constituent material) thereof. The concave base 23 is terminally connected to the core container 21, opposite the convex neck 22, and likewise formed of a similarly contiguous manufacture to the core container 21 in the exemplary embodiment. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the opposed complimentary geometry of the convex neck 22 and the concave base 23 enables each of the bottles defined within the plurality of interlocking bottles 20 to effectively nest together, creating a relatively uniform silhouette and profile between adjacent bottles. As further illustrated in FIG. 6, the intermediary connector 24 is positioned into the concave base 23 of a first bottle 25 from the plurality of interlocking bottles 20 such that the convex neck 22 of a second bottle 26 from the plurality of interlocking bottles 20 is releasably mounted into the intermediary connector 24. The application of the intermediary connector 24 as the primary mechanical fixture between the first bottle 25 and the second bottle 26 enables the simplifies the manufacture of the plurality of bottles by relaxing the dimensional tolerances of any corresponding features of the first bottle 25 and the second bottle 26 that might otherwise be employed as a mechanical fastener. Further, the conventional materials used in the manufacture of the core container 21 (i.e., the types and formulations of glass used in wine bottles generally) are unsuitable for finer mechanical features—creation of such an embodiment would likely result in cracks, shorn-off features, or a generally loose fit between the plurality of interlocking bottles 20.

[0025] Accordingly, the independent manufacture of the intermediary connector 24, separate from the core container 21, enables the tolerances of the core container 21 to remain relatively loose in comparison to the finer tolerances of intermediary container. Further, the separation of these components prior to final assembly into the plurality of bottles enables the use of differing composite materials in the manufacture of the core container 21 and the intermediary connector 24. The use of a durable, flexible plastic or polymer is considered optimal for cost and performance as a single-body mechanical fastener, however the intermediary connector 24 may likewise be constructed of any material as might be realized by any reasonably skilled individual without departing from the original spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0026] It is further proposed that the intermediary connector 24 is clearanced around or otherwise non-disruptive of any caps, corks, lids, or other closures as may be realized by an individual of ordinary skill. More specifically, the convex neck 22 of the core container 21 may be fitted with a closure that is separate from the intermediary connector 24, thereby enabling each core container 21 to remain individually sealed even when detached from the plurality of interlocking bottles 20. Further, the intermediary connector 24 may be employed in the role of such a closure in at least one embodiment. For example, the first bottle 25 may be sealed by a separate closure and the second bottle 26 may be sealed by the intermediary connector 24 of the first bottle 25.

[0027] In reference to FIG. 1, the intermediary connector 24 comprises a connector body 28 and at least one radial protrusion 29; and the concave base 23 comprises a mounting cavity 30 and at least one keyway 31. The connector body 28 broadly defines any durable, semi-rigid structure suitable for receiving and supporting the convex neck 22 as the plurality of bottles is arranged into a stacked configuration. The at least one radial protrusion 29 extends laterally from the connector body 28, ideally formed as an integral portion of the connector body 28 during a single-stage injection molding process. Initially separate from the intermediary connector 24, the mounting cavity 30 is formed into the core container 21, opposite the convex neck 22 with the at least one keyway 31 extending laterally from the mounting cavity 30. The overall concave formation of the mounting cavity 30 and the at least one keyway 31 may be manufactured with minimal restrictions to final tolerances, according to best practices for industrial glassmaking. Likewise, the mounting cavity 30 and the at least one keyway 31 may eschew any sharp edges or minute structures in any manufacturable design. Conversely, the connector body 28 and the at least one radial protrusion 29 are ideally manufactured utilizing any high-precision, repeatable process by which a tight-tolerance mechanical component may be produced. Once separately completed into an assembly-ready form, the connector body 28 is positioned into the mounting cavity 30 with the at least one radial protrusion 29 positioned into the at least one keyway 31 as shown in FIG. 7 through 12 in various embodiments.

[0028] The preferred method of detaching the second bottle 26 from the first bottle 25 involves rotating said bottles through a threaded or half-turn mechanical interlock. Accordingly, the most likely potential point of failure for the present invention would be the intermediary connector 24 twisting loose from the concave base 23, collapsing the plurality of interlocking bottles 20. As shown in FIG. 5, the exemplary connector body 28 cannot rotate freely within the mounting cavity 30 so long as the at least one radial protrusion 29 is positioned within the at least one keyway 31. It is proposed that this functionality may be expanded to include any combination of non-rotatable geometry defined between the concave base 23 and the intermediary connector 24, thereby enabling a variety of visually distinct embodiments to fall within the scope of this functional arrangement.

[0029] In broader terms, the outer perimeter of the connector body 28 and the at least one radial protrusion 29 defines an insert profile 33, wherein the insert profile 33 constitutes a planar silhouette of the intermediary connector 24 as a whole. Likewise, the inner perimeter of the mounting cavity 30 and at least one keyway 31 defines a socket profile 34, wherein the socket profile 34 constitutes a planar silhouette of the concave base 23 as a whole. As shown in the exemplary embodiments in FIG. 7 through 12, the insert profile 33 is non-rotatable within the socket profile 34 regardless of the given geometry of any corresponding set of the intermediary connector 24 and the concave base 23. This arrangement further simplifies the assembly process and design of the present invention overall, as the intermediary connector 24 may be installed to the concave base 23 with no fixed prescription for angular position, provided only that any corresponding instance of the insert profile 33 matches the corresponding socket profile 34.

[0030] In a preferred embodiment, the at least one keyway 31 is configured to maximize potential effective lockup positions by embodying a spline-like arrangement as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7. As illustrated, the at least one keyway 31 is a plurality of indexing channels 36 radially positioned about the mounting cavity 30 with a uniform dispersion. The at least one radial protrusion 29 is positioned into at least one selected channel from the plurality of indexing channels 36, wherein the selected channel may be any of the plurality of indexing channels 36. Although the exemplary and preferred embodiment makes use of the entire plurality of indexing channels 36 by positioning at least one radial protrusion 29 into every available channel, it is understood that this is not a prescribed arrangement. In alternate embodiments, the alignment of the at least one radial protrusion 29 and the at least one selected channel may leave some of the plurality of indexing channels 36 vacant. This allows a manufacturer to selectably ‘clock’ the concave base 23 (and the core reservoir by extension) into a desired position onto the intermediary connector 24. This might be done to align the plurality of bottles in a desired presentable configuration, such as alignment of content labels or ornamental features of each bottle to adjacent bottles in the stack.

[0031] In another embodiment, the at least one radial protrusion 29 may not be delineated as a singular or discrete extension of the connector body 28. According to the requisite functions of the intermediary connector 24 in re the concave base 23, the intermediary connector 24 only needs to be suitably non-rotatable within the concave base 23 while inserted. In reference to FIG. 8, the at least one radial protrusion 29 is an elongated section 38 of the connector body 28, wherein the at least one radial protrusion 29 may be selectably inserted into the concave base 23 at any angular relationship according to the users' needs and use-cases. Further, the formation of the at least one radial protrusion 29 in this manner enables the intermediary connector 24 to assume various aesthetic forms and contortions that may not otherwise be possible within the confines of a n overtly mechanical interface, e.g., the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7. More specifically, the elongated embodiment may be particularly suitable for instances wherein the core container 21 is elongated, or otherwise non-cylindrical, e.g., flask-type bottles. In such an elongated embodiment the at least one radial protrusion 29 may conform to the elongation of the core container 21, thereby retaining the non-rotatable engagement between the concave base 23 and the at least one radial protrusion 29 without structurally diverging from the contours of the core container 21.

[0032] As indicated in FIG. 13, it is further considered that the present invention comprises a volume of adhesive 40, wherein the volume of adhesive 40 is employed to permanently bond the intermediary connector 24 into the concave base 23 without disrupting the visual affectations of the present invention. In an ideal embodiment, the volume of adhesive 40 constitutes a semi-fluid, transparent epoxy suitable for bonding directly to glass surfaces. Further, the volume of adhesive 40 is preferably composed to visually resemble the constituent material of the core container 21 (e.g., glass) once cured, such that a seamless transition between the volume of adhesive 40 and the core container 21 may be observed. Minimizing the visual disruption of the volume of adhesive 40 (e.g., aeration, discoloration, stringing, etc.) mat be preferably, particularly in embodiments wherein a more-transparent glass composition is used in the construction of the core container 21. Accordingly, the volume of adhesive 40 is positioned into the concave base 23, between the intermediary connector 24 and the concave base 23. The intermediary connector 24 displaces the volume of adhesive 40 within the concave base 23 into uniform dispersion across the intermediary connector 24, thereby eliminating air pockets and minimizing the overall prevalence of the volume of adhesive 40 to a casual observer. In at least one embodiment the intermediary connector 24 is configured as a manifold body to allow the volume of adhesive 40 to over-fill the concave base 23, wherein any excess adhesive may be removed during manufacturing as the intermediary connector 24 is inserted into the concave base 23.

[0033] In the broadest conception of the present invention, the first bottle 25 and the second bottle 26 are selectably conjoined via the intermediary connector 24 across various functionally equivalent embodiments. Accordingly, any type of releasable fixture may be employed to this end; inclusive of any threaded couplings, quick-detach fittings, retained-ball collars, friction-fit assemblies, or any other type or combination of mechanical coupling as may be realized by any reasonably skilled individual. However, it is herein proposed that the implementation of a retained quarter-turn locking mechanism provides an optimum balance between a rigid connection and a releasable fitting suitable for rapid reassembly into new configurations. Accordingly, the intermediary connector 24 further comprises at least one retention track 42 and the convex neck 22 comprises at least one retention member 43 as shown in the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 3 and 2, respectively. The at least one retention track 42 defines a channel or pathway formed into the intermediary connector 24 configured to capture and retain the at least one retention member 43 under force from a user (i.e., a quarter-turn). Accordingly, the at least one retention feature defines a lobed protrusion or suitable dimensions to engage along the at least one retention track 42 between a locked and unlocked position.

[0034] In reference to FIG. 1 the at least one retention track 42 is internally distributed along the connector body 28 to receive the at least one retention member 43 as the convex neck 22 traverses into the concave base 23. Accordingly, the at least one retention member 43 extends laterally from the convex neck 22 corresponding to the position of the at least one retention track 42. The at least one retention member 43 is terminally positioned along the retention track to lock the first bottle 25 and the second bottle 26 together, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. This engagement is reversed to disengage the first bottle 25 from the second bottle 26, whereby the at least one retention member 43 is extracted along the at least one retention track 42 as the convex neck 22 of the second bottle 26 is removed from the concave base 23 of the first bottle 25. In the exemplary embodiment, the at least one retention track 42 and the at least one retention member 43 at mirrored across the core container 21 in a double-pair arrangement, wherein both instances of the at last one retention member align with the corresponding instances of the at least one retention track 42. In alternate embodiments, the instances of the at least one retention member 43 and the at least one retention track 42 may be mismatched to allow the end-user to clock (i.e., selectably position about a central rotational axis) the core container 21 by selectably engaging the at least one retention member 43 into any instance of at least one retention track 42.

[0035] In a preferred embodiment, the at least one retention track 42 comprises an entry segment 45, a traverse segment 46, and a catch segment 47 as shown in FIG. 3. The entry segment 45 extends into the connector body 28 opposite to the concave base 23 to enable the direct insertion of the convex neck 22 of the second bottle 26 into the concave base 23 of the first bottle 25. More specifically, the at least one retention member 43 initially engages into the entry segment 45 to guide the first bottle 25 and the second bottle 26 into a lock-ready configuration with the first bottle 25 atop the second bottle 26. It is further considered that the entry segment 45 may be tapered or flared to assist the user with the initial insertion of the at least one retention member 43 thereto. The traverse segment 46 is connected perpendicular to the entry segment 45 about a central axis of the connector body 28, defining the approximate ‘quarter turn’ rotation between the first bottle 25 and the second bottle 26. The at least one retention member 43 is forced about the central axis of the first bottle 25, through the traverse segment 46, until the at least one retention member 43 reaches the catch segment 47. More specifically, the catch segment 47 is terminally connected to the traverse segment 46 opposite the entry segment 45, such that the insertion of the at least one retention member 43 into the catch segment 47 locks the first bottle 25 and the second bottle 26 together. This mechanical engagement may be reinforced by a tapering of the traverse segment 46 immediately adjacent to the catch segment 47, whereby the at least one retention member 43 must be forced into and out of the catch segment 47 with a deliberate force to overcome the additional resistance therein. In various alternate embodiments, this engagement may also be reinforced by elastic sidewalls arrayed along the catch segment 47 such that the at least one retention member 43 deforms the catch segment 47 to form a captive pocket, or other comparable retentive structure as may be realized by any reasonably skilled individual.

[0036] Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.