U.S. patent application number 11/184705 was filed with the patent office on 2007-01-25 for modular wine rack.
This patent application is currently assigned to Coast-To-Coast Int'l Corp.. Invention is credited to Jason Yang.
Application Number | 20070017884 11/184705 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37678101 |
Filed Date | 2007-01-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070017884 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yang; Jason |
January 25, 2007 |
Modular wine rack
Abstract
A modular wine rack has multiple wine rack modules and multiple
connectors. The wine rack modules are stacked to form the modular
wine rack. The connectors are mounted between the wine rack modules
to fasten the wine rack modules securely together. Therefore, the
wine rack modules can be disassembled to many wine rack modules to
occupy a small volume when stored or transported because the
connectors keep the wine rack modules from inadvertently detach
easily from each other. Furthermore, the modular wine rack will not
collapse easily. The modular wine rack can have as many wine rack
modules as the user needs.
Inventors: |
Yang; Jason; (Taipei,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Thomas E. Sisson;Jackson Walker, LLP
Suite 2100
112 E. Pecan
San Antonio
TX
78205
US
|
Assignee: |
Coast-To-Coast Int'l Corp.
|
Family ID: |
37678101 |
Appl. No.: |
11/184705 |
Filed: |
July 19, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/74 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 73/006
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/074 |
International
Class: |
A47B 73/00 20060101
A47B073/00 |
Claims
1. A modular wine rack comprising multiple wine rack modules
fastened together to form the modular wine rack assembly, and each
wine rack module comprising two panels fastened together to form a
wine rack module, and each panel having an edge; multiple through
holes formed through the panel; and multiple fastening holes formed
through the panel; multiple connecting tubes mounted between the
panels to connect two panels together to form the wine rack module,
and each connecting tube having two ends; and a fastening hole
formed longitudinally through connecting tube and aligning with the
fastening hole in the panel; and multiple fasteners extending
respectively through the fastening holes in the panels and
connecting respectively to the fastening holes in the connecting
tubes; multiple linear connectors mounted between the wine rack
modules to fasten the wine rack modules together and each having a
core; and two arms formed on and protrude radially from the core of
the connector, and each arm having a distal end; and a sleeve
formed on the distal end of the arm and mounted around a
corresponding connecting tube.
2. The modular wine rack as claimed in claim 1 further comprises at
least one complex connector having a core; more than two arms
formed on and protruding radially from the core, each arm having a
distal end; and a sleeve formed on the distal end of the arm and
mounted around a corresponding connecting tube.
3. The modular wine rack as claimed in claim 2, wherein the
fastening holes are near the edge of the panel; each connecting
tube has at least one neck formed on one end of the connecting tube
and is thinner than the connecting tube; and the sleeve of the arm
of each one of the linear and the at least one complex connectors
corresponds to and is mounted around the a neck of a corresponding
connecting tube.
4. The modular wine rack as claimed in claim 3, wherein each
connecting tube has two necks formed respectively on the ends of
the connecting tube.
5. The modular wine rack as claimed in claim 2, wherein each one of
the at least one complex connector comprises two linear connectors
fastened together to form the complex connector, and each linear
connector having at least one hole formed in the core of the linear
connector; and at least one pin mounted in the holes in the two
linear connectors to fasten the two linear connectors together.
6. The wine rack assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein each one
of at least one complex connector comprises two linear connectors
fastened together to form the complex connector, and each linear
connector having at least one hole formed in the core of the linear
connector; and at least one pin mounted in the holes in the two
linear connectors to fasten the two linear connectors together.
7. The wine rack assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
fastening holes are threaded; and the fasteners are screws.
8. The wine rack assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the
fastening holes are threaded; and the fasteners are screws.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a modular wine rack,
especially to a modular wine that not only can be built and
expanded easily but also has a compact packing size when being
transported.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Arts
[0004] Wines have been popular for thousands of years and are
particularly popular modem beverages. High-quality wine is
distributed and stored in a bottle with a cork stopper. To keep the
wine from spoiling and turning to vinegar, the cork stopper must be
kept wet so the cork will not shrink and allow outside air into the
bottle of the wine. Consequently, bottles of wine have been stored
horizontally for centuries so the wine keeps the cork stopper
wet.
[0005] With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, a conventional stackable
wine rack module (60) to hold bottles of wine was invented to
expand a wine rack for use in the home. Each conventional stackable
wine rack module (60) comprises two panels (61), multiple
connecting tubes (62) and multiple screws (70). Each panel (61) has
an upper edge, a lower edge, multiple through holes (611), multiple
fastening holes (612) and multiple notches (613). The through holes
(611) are formed through the panel (61) and correspond to a bottle
of the wine. The fastening holes (612) are formed through the panel
(61). The notches (613) are formed in the top and bottom edges of
each panel (61). The connecting tubes (62) are mounted between two
fastening holes (612) panels (61), and each connecting tube (62)
has a threaded hole (621). The threaded hole (621) is formed
coaxially through the connecting tube (62). The screws (70)
protrude through the fastening holes (612) in the panel (61) and
screw into the threaded holes (621) to fasten the two panels (61)
to the connecting tubes (62) to form a single stackable wine rack
module (60). However, a single stackable wine rack module (60) only
holds a few bottles of wine. A wine rack module that is big enough
to hold more bottles of wine is not stored or transported easily.
By placing used wine bottle corks (80) in the notches (613) on the
top edge of the panels (61), another stackable wine racks (60) can
be stacked on the first stackable wine rack (60) by placing the
notches (613) in the bottom edges of the panels (61) on the corks
(80) to expand the wine rack module to hold more bottles of wine.
However, the stacked wine racks modules (60) easily collapse when
shaken or bumped. The corks (80) and the notches (613) are not
strong enough to hold the adjacent panels (61) in place.
[0006] To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides
a wine rack that not easily collapses to mitigate or obviate the
aforementioned problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The main objective of the present invention is to provide a
modular wine rack that can be disassembled to many wine rack
modules to occupy a small volume when stored or transported. The
modular wine rack has multiple wine rack modules and multiple
connectors. The wine racks are stacked to form the modular wine
rack. The connectors are mounted between the wine rack modules to
fasten the wine rack modules securely together. Therefore, the wine
rack modules can be disassembled to many wine rack modules to
occupy a small volume when stored or transported because the
connectors allow the wine rack modules to be detached easily from
each other while keeping the modular wine rack from inadvertently
collapsing. The modular wine rack can have as many wine rack
modules as the user needs.
[0008] Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the
invention will become more apparent from the following detailed
description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a modular wine rack in
accordance with the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the modular wine
rack assembly in FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 3 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a complex
joint between wine rack modules of the modular wine rack assembly
in FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of two linear
connectors of the modular wine rack in FIG. 1 used to form a
complex connector;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one-piece complex connector
for the modular wine rack in FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 6 is an enlarged side view in partial section of a
joint between wine rack modules in the modular wine rack in FIG.
1;
[0015] FIG. 7 is an enlarged side view in partial section of an
alternate joint configuration between wine rack modules in a
modular wine rack in accordance with the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a conventional stackable
wine rack assembly in accordance with the prior art; and
[0017] FIG. 9 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a complex
joint in the conventional stackable wine rack assembly in FIG.
8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a modular wine rack in
accordance with the present invention comprises multiple wine rack
modules (100), multiple linear connectors (40) and at least one
optional complex connector (400).
[0019] Each wine rack module (100) comprises two panels (10),
multiple connecting tubes (20, 30) and multiple fasteners (50).
[0020] Each panel (10) has an outer edge, multiple through holes
(11) and multiple fastening holes (12) and may be triangular,
square, polygonal, etc. The through holes (11) are formed through
the panel (10) and correspond to bottles of wine. The fastening
holes (12) are formed through the panel (10) and may be near the
outer edge of the panel (10).
[0021] With further reference to FIGS. 3 and 7, the connecting
tubes (20, 30) are mounted between the panels (10) to connect two
panels (10) together to form the wine rack module (100). Each
connecting tube (20, 30) has two ends and a fastening hole (21,
311) and may have at least one neck (31). The fastening hole (21,
311) is formed longitudinally through connecting tube (20, 30),
aligns with the fastening hole (12) in the panel (10) and may be
threaded. The neck (31) is formed on an end of the connecting tube
(30) and is thinner than the connecting tube (30). In the preferred
embodiment, each connecting tube (20, 30) may have two necks (31)
formed respectively on the ends of the connecting tube (30).
[0022] With further reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the fasteners (50)
extend respectively through the fastening holes (12) in the panels
(10), connect respectively to the fastening holes (21, 311) in the
connecting tubes (20, 30) and may be screws.
[0023] With further reference to FIG. 5, the connectors (40, 400)
are mounted between the wine rack modules (100) to fasten the wine
rack modules (100) together. Each connector (40, 400) has a core,
and multiple arms (41). The arms (41) are formed on and protrude
radially from the core of the connector (40,400), and each arm (41)
has a distal end and a sleeve (411). The sleeve (411) is formed on
the distal end of the arm (41), is mounted around a corresponding
connecting tube (30) and corresponds to and is mounted around a
neck (31) on the corresponding connecting tube (30). Linear
connectors (40) have two arms (41) and connect two adjacent wine
rack modules (100), and complex connectors (400) have more than two
arms (41) and connect three or more wine rack modules (100)
together at a complex joint. With further reference to FIG. 4, each
complex connector (400) may comprise two linear connectors (40) and
at least one pin (43). Each linear connector (40) has at least one
hole (42) formed in the core of the linear connector (40). The pin
(43) is mounted in the holes (42) respectively in the two linear
connectors (40) to fasten the two linear connectors (40)
together.
[0024] Since the connectors (40, 400) securely fasten multiple wine
rack modules (100) together, the wine rack modules can be
disassembled to many wine rack modules to occupy a small volume
when stored or transported. Furthermore, the modular wine rack will
not inadvertently collapse easily. The modular wine rack can have
as many wine rack modules as the user needs.
[0025] Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the
present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description,
together with details of the structure and features of the
invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made
in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and
arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the
full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in
which the appended claims are expressed.
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