Integrated Design

This design of a rotationally molded bottle rack is available to anyone at a modest cost. The rack is specifically designed to store four 5 gallon water bottles which can be stacked with a conventional fork lift truck. It weighs about 35 lbs with a 4 mm wall. The design was evolved through a number of iterations as shown in the following concept illustrations.

• The first concept is based on a half height rack which can be molded with a simple two piece mold. Racks can be stacked on atop the other to form a completely enclosed bottle rack as shown in the following illustrations.
• The second concept is a variation of the first. It is also molded with a two piece mold. However the rack fully protects the bottles and is reinforced with cross ribs which are formed with by-passes in the mold. Racks stack and interlock with mating features compatible with conventional fork lift trucks.
• A third, more structurally robust concept was derived from the previous design as shown in the following illustration. This concept is very similar to the final design with the exception of cored side walls. Racks can be easily lifted and stacked with conventional fork lifts and well as labeled for inventory control.

The final design which weighs about 35 lbs or 17 kg is extremely robust and durable. It can be stacked and nested for easy transport with a forklift as illustrated in the following illustrations.