U.S. patent application number 13/811420 was filed with the patent office on 2013-05-16 for bottle rack.
The applicant listed for this patent is Frank Lange. Invention is credited to Frank Lange.
Application Number | 20130119004 13/811420 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44462025 |
Filed Date | 2013-05-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130119004 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lange; Frank |
May 16, 2013 |
BOTTLE RACK
Abstract
The invention relates to a bottle rack (1), which comprises a
base element (2) and a cover element (7) arranged above the base
element. A receiving unit (37) for a neck of a bottle is arranged
on the cover element (7) such that the receiving unit (37) is
arranged between the base element (2) and the cover element (7).
The base element (2) comprises two support units (38, 39) for a
bottom of a bottle which are arranged parallel to each other.
Additionally, further modules (42 to 45) can be arranged between
the base element (2) and the cover element (7).
Inventors: |
Lange; Frank; (Dreieich,
DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Lange; Frank |
Dreieich |
|
DE |
|
|
Family ID: |
44462025 |
Appl. No.: |
13/811420 |
Filed: |
July 20, 2011 |
PCT Filed: |
July 20, 2011 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2011/062476 |
371 Date: |
January 22, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/74 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 73/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/74 |
International
Class: |
A47B 73/00 20060101
A47B073/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 23, 2010 |
DE |
10 2010 032 008.0 |
Claims
1. Bottle rack (1) comprising a bottom element (2) and a cover
element (7) disposed superjacently thereto, wherein the bottom
element (2) is connected with the cover element (7) across webs
(3-6) and wherein on the cover element (7) a receiving device (37)
is disposed for a bottle neck of a bottle (54-56, 64-67) wherein
the receiving device (37) is disposed between the bottom element
(2) and the cover element (7), wherein between the bottom element
(2) and the cover element (7) at least one module (42-45) is
disposed and wherein at least one module (42-45) comprises two
support units (20, 21, 21', 22, 23, 23') disposed parallel to one
another which are connected with one another across a receiving
device (24-27, 40).
2. Bottle rack as in claim 1, wherein the modules (42-45) are
disposed one above the other, wherein each module (42-45) is
rotated with respect to the subjacent module (42-45) by 90.degree.
about a rotational axis (C).
3. Bottle rack as in claim 1, wherein the receiving devices (24-27,
37, 40) are comprised of two receiving arrangements (32, 32', 33,
33', 34, 34', 35, 35', 36, 36', 70, 70') disposed parallel to one
another.
4. Bottle rack as in claim 1, wherein the two receiving
arrangements (36, 36') disposed parallel to one another of the
receiving device (37) are connected with the cover element (7)
across webs (28-31).
5. Bottle rack as in claim 1, wherein the two support units (20,
20', 21, 21', 22, 22', 23, 23') disposed parallel to one another of
module (42-45) are inclined at an angle .alpha. with respect to the
receiving devices (24-27, 37, 40).
6. Bottle rack as in claim 3, wherein each receiving arrangement
(32, 32', 33, 33', 34, 34', 35, 35', 36, 36', 70, 70') includes
several support faces (53, 57-63, 80-87) for receiving a bottle
neck of a bottle (54-56, 64-67).
7. Bottle rack as in claim 6, wherein the support faces (53, 57-63,
80-87) for receiving a bottle neck of a bottle (54-56, 64-67) at
the two opposing receiving arrangements (32, 32', 33, 33', 34, 34',
35, 35', 36, 36', 70, 70') are disposed offset with respect to one
another.
8. Bottle rack (1) comprising webs (3-6) which are connected with
one another across at least two modules (42 -45) one disposed
superjacently to the other, wherein the at least two modules
(42-45) are disposed vertically offset with respect to one another
by 90.degree. referred to a rotational axis (C).
9. Bottle rack as in claim 8, wherein the module (42-45) comprises
two support units (20, 20', 21, 21', 22, 22', 23, 23') disposed
parallel to one another, which are connected with each other across
a receiving device (24-27, 40).
10. Bottle rack as in claim 9, wherein the receiving devices
(24-27, 40) are comprised of two receiving arrangements (32, 32',
33, 33', 34, 34', 35, 35', 36, 36', 70, 70') disposed parallel to
one another.
11. Bottle rack as in claim 8, wherein the support units (20, 20',
21, 21', 22, 22', 23, 23') disposed parallel to one another of the
module (42-45) are inclined at an angle .alpha. with respect to the
receiving device (24-27, 40).
12. Bottle rack as in claim 10, wherein each receiving arrangement
(32, 32', 33, 33', 34, 34', 35, 35', 36, 36', 70, 70') comprises
several support faces (53, 57-63, 80-87) for receiving a bottle
neck of a bottle (54-56, 64-67).
13. Bottle rack as in claim 12, wherein the support faces (53,
57-63, 80-87) for receiving a bottle neck of a bottle (54-56,
64-67) at the two opposing receiving arrangements (32, 32', 33,
33', 34, 34', 35, 35', [36, 36',] 70, 70') are offset with respect
to one another.
14. Bottle rack as in claim 8, wherein on the webs (3-6) rail
systems are provided on which the modules (42-45) can be moved in
the vertical direction whereby the spacing of the individual
modules (42-45) with respect to each other can be varied.
15. Bottle rack as in claim 14, wherein on the webs (3-6) further
modules (42-45) are disposed, wherein each further module (42-45)
is disposed with respect to the subjacent module (42-45) vertically
offset by 90.degree. referred to the rotational axis (C).
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a bottle rack according to the
preamble of patent claim 1 and according to the preamble of patent
claim 8.
[0002] Bottle racks serve for the purpose of disposing as many
bottles as possible such that they are visible and save space.
[0003] Known is a wine rack which can be filled from four sides (AU
2003100491 A4). This wine rack is rotatably disposed on a base
enabling rotating the wine rack about 360.degree..
[0004] Known further is a wine rack which comprises several
arrangements one above the other for storing wine bottles (U.S.
Pat. No. D 591,569 S). On each of these arrangements several wine
bottles can be disposed. Each of these arrangements is comprised of
a center disposed in the middle of a circular margin section. The
circular margin section is connected with the center via several
rod-shaped elements. Since the center is disposed above the margin
section, the arrangement has substantially the form of a roof.
[0005] The present invention addresses the problem of providing a
bottle rack that is accessible from different sides and in which
several bottles can be stored in such a manner that they save space
and are readily visible so that the bottle labels of the bottles
are clearly readable.
[0006] This problem is resolved according to the features of patent
claim 1 as well as of patent claim 8.
[0007] The invention consequently relates to a bottlerack
comprising a bottom element and a cover element disposed
thereabove. Bottom element and cover element are connected with one
another via webs. On the cover element a receiving device for a
bottle neck of a bottle is disposed such that the receiving device
is disposed between the bottom element and the cover element. The
bottom element comprises herein two parallel disposed support units
for a bottle bottom of a bottle. Between the bottom element and the
cover element additionally further modules can be disposed.
[0008] The bottle rack thus comprises at least one storage unit in
which several bottles can be disposed. The bottle rack can herein
be filled with bottles from several sides. Of advantage is that the
bottles can be stored in oblique position. This oblique position is
obtained thereby that the bottle rack comprises support units for a
bottle bottom of a bottle, which are vertically offset with respect
to the receiving units for the bottle neck of this bottle. Through
this oblique position is attained that approximately two thirds of
the closure of bottles disposed here is moistened. This is
especially important if the bottles are bottles filled with wine
since it is essential to avoid that the cork dries out. Of
advantage is further that through the oblique position of the
bottles the bottle label of the bottles is clearly visible and
readable. It is further advantageous that the bottles can be stored
in the bottle rack independently of the length of their bottle
necks.
[0009] An embodiment example is depicted in the Figures and will be
described in further detail in the following. In the drawing
depict:
[0010] FIG. 1 a perspective depiction of a bottle rack;
[0011] FIG. 2 a perspective depiction of the bottle rack depicted
in FIG. 1 in which some bottles are disposed;
[0012] FIG. 3 a storage unit of the bottle rack depicted in FIG.
2;
[0013] FIG. 4 an enlarged segment of the bottle rack depicted in
FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 5 a section A-A through the bottle rack depicted in
FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 6 a view from above onto the bottle rack depicted in
FIG. 1 according to section B-B;
[0016] FIG. 7 a further view of the bottle rack depicted in FIG. 6,
with four bottles being disposed in the bottle rack;
[0017] FIG. 8 a segment of the view of the bottle rack depicted in
FIG. 6 according to section C-C;
[0018] FIG. 9 a segment of the view of the bottle rack depicted in
FIG. 7 according to section D-D.
[0019] In FIG. 1 is shown a perspective view of a bottle rack 1.
The bottle rack 1 comprises a bottom element 2 connected across
four webs 3 to 6 to a cover element 7. The cover element 7 and
bottom element 2 are disposed parallel to one another. The bottom
element 2 as well as the cover element 7 have substantially the
same shape and size as is depicted in FIG. 1. The bottom element 2
comprises a bottom 9 encompassed by a wall 8. The wall 8 is
comprised of four sections 10 to 13 which are at least partially
disposed above the bottom 9 and consequently form a margin section
14. This bottom 9 has a substantially square area wherewith the
bottom 9 comprises four corners 16 to 19. The cover element 7
includes a cover 15 located opposite to the bottom 9. It is
understood that the bottom element 2 as well as the cover element 7
can also have a different form, for example a round form.
[0020] Each of the four webs 3 to 6 is disposed in the corners 16
to 19 of bottom 9 of the bottom element 2 respectively in the
corners of cover 15 of cover element 7. The corners of cover 15 are
not visible in FIG. 1. Each web 3 to 6 is connected with the two
webs located nearest to the corresponding web via several support
units 20, 21, 21', 22, 23, 23, onto which at least one bottle can
be placed with its bottle bottom. Thereby two support units each
are located parallel and oppositely, wherein those support units
which are opposite the support units 20, 22 are not shown for the
sake of clarity. For the sake of clarity a bottle is also not
depicted in FIG. 1.
[0021] Beneath the support units 20, 21, 21', 22, 23, 23'
oppositely located to one another [sic], in each instance one
receiving device 24 to 27 is disposed. In these receiving devices
24 to 27 a bottle neck of at least one bottle can be stored. The
support units 20, 21, 21', 22, 23, 23' are at least partially
disposed in the webs 3 to 6. Moreover, a further receiving device
37 for a bottle neck of a bottle can be seen which is connected via
webs 28 to 31 with the cover element 7.
[0022] Through the disposition of the support units 20, 21, 21',
22, 23, 23' for a bottle bottom, which are vertically offset with
respect to the receiving devices 24 to 27 and 37 for a bottom neck
of this bottle, the bottles stored in the bottle rack 1 can be
disposed in oblique position. This makes the bottle labels of the
bottles readily readable. In order to move the bottles still
further into oblique positions, the support units 20, 21, 21', 22,
23, 23' can be inclined with respect to the plane in which they are
disposed, as is depicted in FIG. 1.
[0023] The receiving devices 24 to 27 and 37 can be implemented as
a single piece or, as is the case in FIG. 1, in two parts. As can
be seen in FIG. 1, each receiving device 24 to 27 and 37 is
comprised of two parallel disposed receiving arrangements 32, 32',
33, 33', 34, 34', 35, 35', 36, 36'.
[0024] In FIG. 1 can also be seen several modules 42 to 45. Each
module 42 to 45 is comprised of two parallel disposed support units
as well as the corresponding receiving unit [sic: device] which
connects the two support units with one another.
[0025] The particular modules 42 to 45 are disposed in the bottle
rack 1 such that each module 42 to 45 is rotated with respect to
the subjacent or the superjacent module by 90.degree. with respect
to a rotational axis C. Therewith the first and the third module
42, 44 as well as the second and the fourth module 43, 45 are
congruently disposed one above the other.
[0026] Several storage units 46 to 50 can also be seen. In these
storage units 46 to 50 the corresponding receiving devices 24 to
27, 37 are each located above the particular two opposing support
units 20, 21, 21', 22, 23, 23' for a bottle bottom, which means
that in the storage units 46 to 50 the support units 20, 21, 21',
22, 23, 23' are located in a first plane and the receiving devices
24 to 27, 37 in a second plane, wherein the second plane is located
directly above the first plane. A person of skill in the art thus
recognizes also that two opposing sides 51 and 52 of the margin
section 14 together with the bottom 9 form one support unit 39
respectively 38 for a bottle bottom of a bottle. These support
units 38, 39 can herein also have the form of an indentation sunk
into bottom 9 in which the bottle bottom of the bottle can be
disposed. However, this is not depicted in FIG. 1.
[0027] The particular storage units 46 to 50 are disposed one above
the other such that each storage unit 46 to 50 is rotated with
respect to the subjacent or the superjacent storage unit by
90.degree. with respect to a rotational axis C. Therewith the first
and the third storage unit 46, 48 as well as the second and the
fourth storage unit 47, 49 are congruently superjacent with respect
to one another.
[0028] In FIG. 1 thus the storage unit 46 forms the lowest storage
unit of the bottle rack 1. It is comprised of the two support units
38 and 39 as well as the directly superjacent receiving device 24.
The two support units 38 and 39 are disposed in a first plane which
is located beneath the second plane in which the receiving device
24 is disposed.
[0029] The storage unit 47 superjacent to the storage unit 46 is
comprised of two support units disposed parallel to one another as
well as the receiving device 25, with only the support unit 20
being depicted in FIG. 2. The support unit located oppositely to
the support unit 20 is not depicted for the sake of clarity.
[0030] Above the storage unit 47 is located the storage unit 48
comprised of the two support units 21 and 21' as well as the
receiving device 26. The storage units 47 and 49 are consequently
located congruently one above the other, whereas the storage unit
47 with respect to the two storage units 46 and 48 is rotated about
90.degree. with respect to the rotational axis C.
[0031] In addition, on the cover element 7 or on the bottom 9 light
sources can be provided with which the bottles disposed in the
bottle rack can be illuminated from above or from below. It is also
feasible to provide on webs 3 to 6 light sources, for example in
the form of light emitting diodes, with which the bottles located
in the bottle rack can be illuminated from the side. However, light
sources are not shown in FIG. 1.
[0032] It is understood that the bottom element 2 as well as the
cover element 7 can be omitted. In this case the webs 3 to 6 would
exclusively be stabilized through the individual modules 42 to 45
which connect the webs 3 to 6 with one another. In order, however,
to be able to dispose bottles in such a bottle rack 1, at least two
modules disposed one above the other must be provided which are
rotated with respect to one another by 90.degree. with respect to
the rotational axis C.
[0033] On the webs 3 to 6, moreover, rail systems can also be
disposed on which the individual modules 42 to 45 can be shifted
along the webs 3 to 6, that is in the vertical direction. The
spacing of the individual modules 42 to 45 can thereby be varied
with respect to one another. Therewith it becomes also feasible to
omit disposing the support units 20, 21, 21', 22, 23, 23' at an
incline with respect to the plane in which they are disposed. The
oblique position of the bottles in this case is obtained
exclusively thereby that the spacing of the individual modules 42
to 45 with respect to one another is varied by moving the modules
42 to 45 along the rail systems disposed on webs 3 to 6 toward or
away from one another in the vertical direction. Such rail systems
disposed on webs 3 to 6 are, however, not shown in FIG. 1.
[0034] In addition to moving the modules 42 to 45 alongwebs 3 to 6,
the individual receiving arrangements 32, 32', 33, 33', 34, 34',
35, 35', 36, 36' of the corresponding receiving devices 24 to 27,
37 can also be moved toward or away from one another, that is in
the horizontal plane. In order to vary the spacing of these
receiving arrangements 32, 32', 33, 33', 34, 34', 35, 35', beneath
the corresponding support units 20, 21, 21', 22, 23, 23', for
example, a rail system could also be disposed along which the
receiving arrangements 32, 32', 33, 33', 34, 34', 35, 35' can be
moved.
[0035] In order to be able to move the receiving arrangements 36
and 36' toward or away from one another, the corresponding rail
system can be disposed in the cover element 7. However, these rail
systems are not shown in FIG. 1.
[0036] FIG. 2 shows a perspective depiction of the bottle rack 1
depicted in FIG. 1 with the storage units 46 to 50. Each storage
unit 46 to 50 forms herein an imaginary equilateral prism. The
support units opposite the support units 20 and 22 are again not
shown in FIG. 2.
[0037] In the bottle rack 1 there are also several bottles 54, 55,
56, with the bottle 54 being disposed in the storage unit 49 and
the bottle 55 in the storage unit 50. These bottles 54 to 56 can
be, for example, wine bottles wherewith the bottle rack 1 would
serve as a wine rack.
[0038] The bottles 54 to 56 are herein disposed in the particular
storage units 46 to 50 with their neck in a receiving device 27 and
40, respectively, and with their bottle bottom at least partially
on the corresponding support unit 22 and 23', respectively. Thereby
that in the storage units 48 to 50 the support units 22, 23', on
which the bottle bottom of the corresponding bottles 54 to 56 is
stored, are disposed beneath the receiving devices 27 and 40,
respectively, the bottles 54 to 56 have an oblique position in the
storage units 48 to 50. The oblique position is preferably
18.degree. such that the bottle labels of the bottles 54 to 56 are
disposed easily readable. Of special advantage is such an oblique
position of 18.degree. in the case of wine bottles since thereby
approximately two thirds of the bottle cork of the corresponding
wine bottle is moistened.
[0039] The receiving devices 24 to 27, 37, 40 for a bottle neck are
herein implemented as two parallel receiving arrangements. The
example of receiving device 27 shows that both receiving
arrangements 35 and 35' of the receiving device 27 include several
support faces. Of the receiving arrangement 35 the support faces 57
to 60 are visible, wherein in the support face 60 the bottle neck
of bottle 54 is disposed. Of the receiving arrangement 35' only the
support faces 61 to 63 are evident. The support faces 57 to 60 of
receiving arrangement 35 are disposed offset with respect to the
support faces 61 to 63 of receiving arrangement 35' such that the
support faces 61 to 63 of receiving arrangement 35' are disposed
obliquely with respect to the support faces 57 to 60 of the
receiving arrangement 35.
[0040] Of advantage in this bottle rack 1 is that the bottle bottom
is disposed in the direction toward a person standing in front of
the wine rack. Consequently through the oblique position of the
bottles the label can be disposed such that it is readily visible
and readable.
[0041] FIG. 3 shows a segment of the bottle rack 1 depicted in FIG.
2, wherein only the storage unit 50 in which the bottle 55 is
disposed is shown. The dashed lines indicate very clearly that the
storage unit 50 has the form of an imaginary equilateral prism.
[0042] The storage unit 50 includes the two support units 23 and
23' which are disposed parallel to one another and are located in a
first plane E1. The support units 23, 23' are herein inclined. In a
second plane E2 located directly above the first plane E1 is
located the receiving device 40. The receiving device 40 is
comprised of two parallel receiving arrangements 70, 70', each of
which includes four support faces 80 to 83 and 84 to 87,
respectively. On the support face 85 of receiving arrangement 70'
rests the bottle neck of bottle 55. The bottle 55 is herein
disposed on a face 41 of the imaginary equilateral prism.
[0043] The support faces 80 to 83 of the receiving arrangement 70
are herein disposed offset with respect to the support faces 84 to
87 of the receiving arrangement 70'. This has the advantage that,
if there are eight bottles disposal in the storage unit 50, the
bottle necks of the opposing bottles cannot come into contact with
one another. Therewith in the storage unit 50 bottles can be
disposed which have bottle necks of different lengths.
[0044] In FIG. 4 is depicted an enlarged segment of the bottle rack
1 shown in FIG. 1. This Figure is intended to demonstrate the
manner in which the support units are disposed in webs 3 to 6 of
bottle rack 1. This segment shows the web 5 on which the two
support units 22 and 23' are disposed. Both support units 22 and
23', respectively, include each a support bar 71 and 72',
respectively, on which a bottle bottom of a bottle can at least
partially be stored. However, a bottle is not shown in FIG. 4 for
the sake of clarity.
[0045] On each of the particular support bars 71 and 72' one
backing element 73 and 74', respectively, is disposed which
prevents a bottle disposed on the support bar 71 and 72',
respectively, from falling from the support unit 22 and 23',
respectively.
[0046] In FIG. 4 can also be seen the manner in which the support
units 22 and 23' can be disposed in the web 5. The web 5 includes
two milled slots 75 and 76, respectively, in which the
corresponding support bar 71 and 72', respectively, is at least
partially disposed. The support units 22 and 23' are thereby
fixedly anchored in the web 5 under form closure. The support bars
of the particular support units are introduced at an angle .alpha.
obliquely from below into the corresponding web 5. This angle
.alpha. is preferably 18.degree. wherewith the bottles disposed in
the bottle rack 1 also have an oblique position of 18.degree..
Herein the surfaces of the support bars 71 and 72' are directed
outwardly. Precisely when wine bottles are stored in the bottle
rack 1, an angle .alpha. of 18.degree. is preferred since in this
case the wine bottles have an oblique position in which two thirds
of the bottle cork is covered with wine and consequently is kept
moist.
[0047] In the configuration shown in FIG. 4 the bottle rack 1
therewith comprises no rail system on webs 3 to 6 on which the
individual modules can be moved in the vertical direction, which
means along webs 3 to 5, since the support bars are fixedly
anchored in webs 3 to 6, as can be seen in the support bars 71, 72'
which are fixedly connected with web 5.
[0048] FIG. 5 shows a section A-A through the bottle rack 1
depicted in FIG. 1. The two rear webs 3 and 6 connect the bottom 2
with the cover element 7. Between the webs 3 and 6 the support
units 20' and 22' can be seen which are located opposite the
support units 20 and 22. The support units 20 and 22, however,
cannot be seen in FIG. 5. Each of these support units 20' to 22'
includes a support bar 88, 89 disposed between the two webs 3 and 6
and which is at least partially connected with these webs 3 to
6.
[0049] These support bars 88, 89 of the support units 20', 22' can
be connected with the webs 3 to 6 in the manner shown in FIG. 4.
Thus, the webs 3 to 6 can include milled slots in which the support
bars 88, 89 are at least partially disposed. These milled slots,
however, are not shown in FIG. 5.
[0050] However, it is also feasible for the individual webs of the
bottle rack 1 to comprise rail systems. Along these rail systems
the individual modules can subsequently be moved in the vertical
direction whereby the spacing of the modules with respect to one
another can be varied. The rail systems of the two webs 3, 6 are,
however, not shown in FIG. 5. For the sake of clarity, the modules
do not carry any reference numbers.
[0051] On each of these support bars 88, 89 a backing element 90,
91 is disposed by which bottles disposed on the support units 20',
22' are prevented from slipping and falling off the bottle rack 1.
Beneath the particular support bars 88, 89 of the support units
20', 22' are disposed the corresponding receiving devices 24, 26.
These receiving devices 24, 26 are connected with the support units
20, 20', 22, 22' opposing one another which, in turn, are comprised
of a support bar with a backing element disposed thereon. Evident
is also that the receiving arrangements 25 to 27 are connected with
the support units 21, 21', 23, 23' via the undersides of the
support bars.
[0052] In the interior of the bottom element 2 the bottle rack 1
comprises a rotary arrangement 93. This rotary arrangement 93
comprises a rotary plate 94 connected across connection elements,
for example webs, with the bottom element 2. Only the connection
elements 95 and 96 are evident in FIG. 5. Evident are also two ball
bearings 97, 98 between which the rotary plate 94 is disposed.
Using this rotary arrangement 93 makes it feasible to rotate the
bottle rack 1 about the rotational axis C.
[0053] It is understood that the rotary arrangement 93 can also
have another structure, provided that with it the bottle rack can
be rotated about its own axis.
[0054] In FIG. 5 can be seen that the support units 21, 21', 23,
23' are inclined with respect to the plane in which they are
disposed. The support units 21, 21', 23, 23' have thereby a certain
angle of inclination. If bottles are now stored with their bottle
bottom on these support units 21, 21', 23, 23', these bottles have
also an oblique position which corresponds to the angle of
inclination of the support units 21, 21', 23, 23'. However, it
should be understood that an oblique position of the bottles can
also be obtained in different ways.
[0055] The oblique position can also be obtained thereby that, for
example, not the support units 21, 21', 23, 23' are inclined but
rather that the receiving arrangements are displaceable along the
planes, which means vertically. For that purpose, for example,
beneath the corresponding support bars of the support units a rail
system can be disposed on which the receiving arrangements can be
displaced.
[0056] The example of the two receiving arrangements 34 and 34'
intends to illustrate this. These receiving arrangements 34, 34'
are disposed parallel to one another beneath two opposing support
bars, wherein in FIG. 5 only the support bar 89 of support unit 22'
is depicted. The two opposing support bars herein comprise on their
underside one rail system each, on which the receiving arrangements
34 and 34' are disposal. Along these rail systems the receiving
arrangements 34 and 34' can be moved. When the two receiving
arrangements 34 and 34' are spaced further apart from each other,
the oblique position of the bottles increases. When, on the other
hand, the two receiving arrangements 34 and 34' are disposed
directly next to one another, the oblique position of the bottles
decreases correspondingly. If the receiving arrangements can be
displaced in the bottle rack 1, a further advantage consists in
being able to store bottles of different sizes in the bottle rack
1.
[0057] It is understood that the oblique position of the bottles
can also be set thereby that the support units can be inclined as
well as also the spacing of the parallel disposed receiving
arrangements can be varied.
[0058] It is also conceivable for the individual modules 42 to 45
to be moved along a rail system disposed on webs 3 to 6 in the
vertical direction, which means along webs 3 to 6. Therewith the
spacing of the individual modules 42 to 45 with respect to one
another can be varied, whereby also the oblique position of the
bottles can be set. However, the modules do not carry any reference
numbers in FIG. 5 since these modules are only partially shown.
[0059] The bottle rack 1 can be comprised of any desired material,
for example of wood, metal or synthetic material. However, it is
preferred for the bottle rack 1 to be comprised of wood, for
example of coniferous wood.
[0060] FIG. 6 depicts the bottle rack 1 shown in FIG. 1 according
to section B-B. On the bottom element 2 are seated the four webs 3
to 6. Between the webs 4 and 5 is disposed the support unit 22
which opposes the support unit 22'. The support unit 22' is herein
seated between the webs 3 and 6. The two support units 22, 22' are
connected with one another across the receiving device 26. The
receiving device 26 is comprised of the two receiving arrangements
34 and 34'. Above the receiving device 26 is disposed the receiving
device 27 which connects the two opposing support units 23 and 23'
for a bottle bottom of a bottle. The receiving arrangements of the
corresponding receiving devices are connected with the, in each
instance, opposing support units with a connection means, such as
for example bolts or an adhesive agent.
[0061] The receiving device 27 is also comprised of two receiving
arrangements 35 and 35' disposed parallel to one another. The
receiving arrangement 35 includes support faces 57 to 60 which are
offset with respect to the support faces 61 to 63, 53 of the
receiving arrangement 35'. The support faces of the two receiving
arrangements 34 and 34' are also disposed offset with respect to
one another. However, the support faces of the two receiving
arrangements 34, 34' do not carry any reference numbers. In each of
these support faces one bottle neck each of a bottle can be
disposed.
[0062] FIG. 7 shows a further view of the bottle rack 1 depicted in
FIG. 6, wherein four bottles 64 to 67 are disposed in the bottle
rack 1.
[0063] The bottle 65 rests with its bottle bottom on the support
unit 22' and with the bottle neck in the support face 53 of the
receiving arrangement 35'. The bottle bottom of the bottle 65 rests
on the support bar 71' and is at least partially disposed on the
backing element 73'. The backing element 73' prevents the bottle 65
from sliding from the support bar 71' and thus from being able to
fall from bottle rack 1. On the other hand, the bottle 64 disposed
opposite bottle 65 rests with its bottle bottom on support unit 22.
The backing element 73 prevents here also the bottle 64 from
falling off bottle rack 1. Bottle 64 rests with its bottle neck on
the support face 60 of the receiving arrangement 35. Since the
support faces 57 to 60 of the receiving arrangement 35 are disposed
such that they are offset with respect to the support faces 61 to
63 and 53 of the receiving arrangement 35', they cannot come into
contact with the bottle necks of the two bottles 64 and 65. The
bottle necks of the bottles that can be disposed in the storage
unit 49, can consequently also have bottle necks of different
lengths without the bottle necks of the bottles disposed here
coming into contact.
[0064] The same applies correspondingly also to the two bottles 66
and 67. In this case the support faces of the receiving
arrangements 34 and 34' are here also obliquely opposite to one
another since the support faces are disposed offset with respect to
each other. Through this disposition of the support faces of the
two receiving arrangements 34 and 34' with respect to one another,
the bottle necks of the two bottles 66, 67 are prevented from
coming into contact with one another.
[0065] FIG. 8 shows a segment of the view of bottle rack 1 depicted
in FIG. 6 according to section C-C. In this view the storage unit
49 is depicted which is comprised of the two opposing support units
22 and 22' as well as the receiving device 27 which is disposed
above the two support units 22 and 22'. The support units 22 and
22' are consequently located in the first plane E1 and the
superjacent receiving device 27 in the second plane E2. Both
support units 22 and 22' are comprised of a support bar 71 and 71',
respectively, on which one backing element 73 and 73',
respectively, is disposed. Both support bars 71 and 71' are
connected with one another across the receiving arrangement 34' of
the receiving device 26. Thus, in FIG. 8 a portion of module 44 is
depicted which is comprised of the receiving arrangement 26 and the
two opposing support units 22 and 22'. The receiving arrangement
34' is herein disposed beneath the support bars 71, 71'. With
respect to plane E1, which means to the first plane of the storage
unit 49, the support bars 71, 71' are inclined at an angle .alpha..
In the second plane E2 the two opposing receiving arrangements 35,
35' of the receiving unit [sic: device] 27 can be seen. Evident is
also a portion of the support face 62 on which can be disposed a
bottle neck of a bottle when this bottle rests with the bottle
bottom on the support unit 22'.
[0066] In FIG. 9 is depicted a segment of the view of bottle rack 1
shown in FIG. 7 according to section D-D, wherein only the two
bottles 64 and 65 are shown. These bottles 64 and 65 are disposed
in the storage unit 49. The bottle neck of bottle 65 rests on the
support face 53 of receiving arrangement 35'. The support face 53,
however, is not visible in FIG. 9. The bottle bottom of bottle 65
herein rests on the support bar 71' of support unit 22'. Since with
respect to plane E1 the support unit 22' is inclined at an angle
.alpha., bottle 65 is also inclined at the angle .alpha.. Through
this oblique position of the bottle the bottle closure is at least
partially moistened. This is especially important if a wine bottle
is involved since it is important in the case of wine bottles that
the cork is always moistened. The backing element 73' disposed on
the support bar 71' prevents the bottle 65 fom sliding from the
bottle rack 1.
[0067] Bottle 64 is disposed with its bottle neck on a support face
60 of the receiving arrangement 36, wherein the support face 60 is
not visible since the support face 60 in this view is disposed
behind the support face 62. Bottle 65, consequently, in this view
is disposed behind bottle 64.
[0068] Bottle 64 rests with its bottle bottom on the support unit
22, wherein the support unit 22 is also inclined at an angle
.alpha. with respect to plane E1, which means with respect to the
receiving device 26. The backing element 73 disposed on the support
bar 71 of the support unit 22 prevents the bottle 64 from falling
off the bottle rack 1.
[0069] The angle .alpha. is preferably 18.degree. since at this
angle the bottle has an oblique position that ensures that
approximately two thirds of the bottle closure is moistened. This
is especially important if the bottle is a bottle filled with wine.
In this case approximately two thirds of the cork is always in
contact with the wine.
[0070] Of advantage in this bottle rack 1 is that the bottle bottom
is disposed in the direction toward a person standing in front of
the wine rack. Through the oblique position of the bottles 64, 65
consequently the label of bottles 64, 65 can be disposed such that
it is easily visible and readable.
[0071] However, the angle .alpha. can also be set thereby that not
the support units are inclined but rather that the receiving
arrangements are displaceable along the planes, which means
horizontally. For this purpose beneath the corresponding support
bars of the support units a rail system can be disposed on which
the receiving arrangements can be displaced. If, for example, the
two receiving arrangements 35 and 35' in FIG. 9 are spaced further
apart from one another, the angle .alpha. is increased. If, in
contrast, the two receiving arrangements 35 and 35' are disposed
directly next to one another, the angle .alpha. is decreased. A
further advantage, if the receiving arrangements in the bottle rack
1 could be displaced, comprises that bottles of different sizes
could be stored in the bottle rack 1. It can be useful for this
purpose to dispose the modules also such that they are movable on
the webs of the bottle rack 1. If, for example, the module 44
depicted in FIG. 9 is moved downwardly, which means further away
from the receiving device 27, then angle .alpha. is increased.
[0072] Angle .alpha., and therewith the oblique position of the
bottles, can thus be set as follows: [0073] 1. through the angle of
inclination of the support units disposed parallel to one another
and/or [0074] 2. by varying the spacing of the receiving
arrangements disposed parallel to one another and/or [0075] 3. by
varying the spacing of the modules with respect to one another.
[0076] Although in FIG. 1 the bottle rack 1 comprises ten storage
units 46 to 50, it is conceivable to provide a bottle rack with
only one storage unit or even more than ten units. A bottle rack
with only one storage unit can be obtained thereby that in the
bottle rack 1 the cover element 7 with the receiving device 37
disposed thereon is disposed directly above the bottom element 2.
Modules 42 to 45 are consequently omitted in this variant.
[0077] The smallest bottle rack with the simplest structure can
consequently be structured as follows. [0078] 1. The bottle rack 1
comprises the bottom element 2 and the cover element 7 disposed
superjacently thereto, wherein on the cover element 7 the receiving
device 37 is disposed such that the receiving device 37 is located
between the bottom element 2 and the cover element 7. The bottom
element 2 is herein connected with the cover element 7 across webs
3 to 6. [0079] 2. The bottle rack 1 comprises webs 3 to 6, wherein
the webs 3 to 6 are connected with one another, and consequently
also stabilized, across two modules 42 to 45 disposed one above the
other. The modules are herein disposed such that they are
vertically offset by 90.degree. with respect to one another
referred to a common rotational axis C.
[0080] If the bottle rack is to be expanded, it is only necessary
to dispose additional modules 42 to 45 between the cover element 7
and the bottom element 2. Such a module 42 to 45 is comprised of
two opposing support units for a bottle bottom as well as the
receiving unit [sic: device] connecting the two opposing support
units with one another. For each additional module 42 to 45 that is
added, a further storage unit is obtained.
[0081] Of advantage in this bottle rack is further that the bottle
rack can simultaneously be filled with bottles from four sides. Of
advantage in this bottle rack is also that the bottles can be
disposed obliquely in the storage unit. Through this oblique
position is attained that approximately two thirds of the closure
of the bottle is moistened. This is especially important if the
bottle is a bottle filled with wine since the bottle cork must be
prevented from drying out. It is furthermore of advantage that
through the oblique position of the bottles the bottle label is
disposed such that it is readily visible and readable. Advantageous
is also that in the bottle rack bottles can be disposed
independently of the length of their bottle necks.
[0082] Of advantage is further that the bottles are disposed
conveniently and clearly visible in the bottle rack. Since the
bottle rack comprises a rotary plate, the bottles can be placed
simply into the bottle rack and removed from it.
[0083] Although the embodiment examples of the invention have been
described above in detail, the invention is not limited to these
embodiment examples. A person of skill in the art understands that
the invention also comprises several different variants with which
the same result is obtained as with the embodiment examples
described here. It is therefore obvious to the person of skill in
the art that with the embodiment examples described here the scope
of the protection of the claims is not restricted and that there
are further variants, modifications and alternatives which fall
within the protective scope of the claims.
REFERENCE SYMBOLS
[0084] 1 Bottle rack [0085] 2 Bottom element [0086] 3 to 6 Web
[0087] 7 Cover element [0088] 8 Wall [0089] 9 Bottom [0090] 10 to
13 Section of wall 8 [0091] 14 Margin section [0092] 15 Cover
[0093] 16 to 19 Corner of bottom 9 [0094] 20, 20' Support unit
[0095] 21, 21' Support unit [0096] 22, 22' Support unit [0097] 23,
23' Support unit [0098] 24 to 27 Receiving device [0099] 28 to 31
Web [0100] 32, 32' Receiving arrangement [0101] 33, 33' Receiving
arrangement [0102] 34, 34' Receiving arrangement [0103] 35, 35'
Receiving arrangement [0104] 36, 36' Receiving arrangement [0105]
37 Receiving device [0106] 38 Support unit [0107] 39 Support unit
[0108] 40 Receiving device [0109] 41 Face [0110] 42 to 45 Module
[0111] 46 to 50 Storage unit [0112] 51 Side of 14 [0113] 52 Side of
14 [0114] 53 Support face [0115] 54 to 56 Bottles [0116] 57 to 63
Support face [0117] 64 to 67 Bottles [0118] 70, 70' Receiving
arrangement [0119] 71, 71' Support bar [0120] 72, 72' Support bar
[0121] 73, 73' Backing element [0122] 74, 74' Backing element
[0123] 75 Milled slot [0124] 76 Milled slot [0125] 80 to 87 Support
faces [0126] 88, 89 Support bars [0127] 90, 91 Backing element
[0128] 93 Rotary arrangement [0129] 94 Rotary plate [0130] 95, 96
Connection elements [0131] 97, 98 Ball bearing
* * * * *