US Patent 7984806 Stacking unit

A stacking unit (1) for storing bottles, cans or other articles (7) having circular cross sections comprises a strip (2) of sheet material formed along one side of the strip with at least three part circular cavities (6). The free end walls (5) of the cavities (6) at opposite ends of the strip (2) are of sufficient rigidity to retain the articles in place in the unit under the weight of other articles stacked on the row in the unit. The cavities respectively forming convex wall portions (4) on the opposite side of the strip (2). The stacking unit (1) can be seated on a first row of articles in order to stack a second row of articles on the first row.