AU2016101404A4

AU2016101404A4 - Wine Shelf

Info

Publication number: AU2016101404A4
Application number: AU2016101404A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Cory Allan
Original assignee: Golden Bear Entpr Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Golden Bear Enterprises Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2016-08-04
Filing date: 2016-08-04
Publication date: 2016-09-08
Anticipated expiration: 2024-08-04
Also published as: AU2016101404B4

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a storage system for storing bottles. The storage system comprises a shelf structure, and a plurality of support assemblies. Each support assembly is able to support a bottle above the shelf structure and comprises a 5 cradle for cradling the bottle. The cradle comprises a mount configured to adjustably mount the cradle to the shelf structure so as to allow adjustment of the spacing between the support assemblies. 7894039_6 (GHMatters) P103476.AU .. .. . ~ .. . .. .. . . . . .. . . .. .. .. .0.

Description

STORAGE SYSTEM Technical Field

This disclosure relates to a storage system for storing bottles. The storage system has particular, but not exclusive, use for storing wine bottles.

Background Art

Storage systems are known for storing bottles (e g. containing wine, spirits, chemicals, etc). Often such bottles have standardised sizing, and the shelving is configured to accommodate a particular number of bottles of a particular size (e.g. according to the standardised sizing). This ensures that bottles may be spaced from one another in a regular manner.

One issue with such shelves is that they are not able to accommodate bottles of different sizes or shapes whilst maintaining adequate and/or regular spacing.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the prior art forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

Summary

Disclosed herein is a storage system for storing bottles. The storage system comprises a shelf structure, and a plurality of support assemblies. Each support assembly is able to support a bottle above the shelf structure and comprises a cradle for cradling the bottle. The cradle comprises a mount configured to adjustably mount the cradle to the shelf structure so as to allow adjustment of the spacing between the support assemblies.

The adjustment of the spacing of the support assembly means that the shelf system is capable of supporting bottles of various sizes and shapes. Where larger bottles are to be supported by the shelf system, the spacing between the support assemblies may be increased (e.g. by adjusting the mounting of the cradle to the shelf). Each cradle may be a unitary structure, or may be formed of a number of components. Where the cradle is formed of a number of components, these components may be secured to one another in such a way that allows the cradle to be adjusted as a single structure.

In one embodiment each cradle may be adjustable along an axis that is generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of a bottle when supported by the respective support assembly.

In one embodiment each cradle may be adjustable along an axis that is generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of a bottle when supported by the respective support assembly.

In one embodiment each cradle may be slideably mounted to the shelf so as to be slideable along a sliding axis. The storage system may comprise a plurality of cradles disposed along each sliding axis, each cradle on a sliding axis for supporting a respective bottle.

In one embodiment the mounting of each cradle to the shelf may be such that rotation of the cradle about its respective sliding axis is restricted.

In one embodiment each support assembly may comprise a plurality of cradles. A bottle may be able to be supported across, and cradled by, the plurality of cradles. The cradles may be aligned (i.e. by way of their adjustable mounting) along a longitudinal axis of the bottle in order to support the bottle. The cradles may each have a different shape in order to conform to different parts of the bottle. For example, one cradle may be shaped to support a neck of a bottle, whilst another may be shaped to support a base of the bottle.

In one embodiment a portion of each cradle may be formed of an elastomeric material. This may allow the cradle to dampen vibrations from e.g. a fridge compressor, nearby traffic, etc. In some cases, vibrations can be detrimental to liquids (e.g. wine) stored within bottles supported by the shelf system.

In one embodiment each cradle may comprise a cradling surface and a mount for mounting the cradle to the shelf. At least a portion of a bottle may be able to rest on the cradling surface.

In one embodiment, when a bottle is received on the cradling surface, the cradling surface may support the bottle at two or more support points. The support points may be spaced from one another so as to be positioned either side of a plane extending longitudinally and centrally through the bottle. That is, the support points may support the bottle either side of the centre of mass of the bottle.

In one embodiment the support surface may be arcuate.

In one embodiment the support surface may be formed of an elastomeric material.

In one embodiment the shelf may comprise a plurality of spaced rails. Each mount may be mountable between two spaced parallel rails so as to be slideable along the rails. The shelf may be in the form of a wire shelf and the rails may be wires of the shelf that also provide support to the shelf. In this way, the shelf may require minimal modification from a regular wire-type shelf in order to be suitable for receipt of one or more cradles.

In one embodiment each mount may comprise a base that rests on an upper side of the rails. The mount may additionally or alternatively comprise a plurality of hook members that may protrude from the base and extend to an underside of the rails so as to resist dislodgement of the mount from the rails. This arrangement may also help to prevent rotation of the cradle about the sliding axis of the cradle.

Also disclosed herein is a storage system for storing bottles. The storage system comprises a structure, and a plurality of support assemblies. Each support assembly comprises a cradle having a support surface for supporting the bottle about a portion of the circumference of the bottle, and a mount, below the cradle, for mounting the cradle to the structure. The mount allows adjustable positioning of the cradle of the respective support assembly to the structure. In use, a bottle is arranged to be supported by a plurality of support assemblies spaced along the length of the bottle.

Also disclosed herein is a support assembly for storing bottles. The support assembly comprises a plurality of cradles, each for supporting a bottle about a portion of its circumference and having at least one support surface that is angularly displaced about a longitudinal axis of the cradle. The support assembly further comprising a mounting arrangement for mounting the cradles to a structure. The mounting arrangement allows adjustable positioning of the cradles relative to the structure transverse to their longitudinal axes.

In one embodiment the cradle may be positioned above the mounting arrangement.

In one embodiment the mounting arrangement may be configured to restrict rotation of the cradles about an axis that is generally perpendicular to their respective longitudinal axes.

In one embodiment the mounting arrangement may be configured to allow adjustment of the positioning of each cradle along an axis that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cradle.

In one embodiment each cradle may be a unitary structure.

In one embodiment each cradle may inhibit transverse movement of a respective bottle when supported thereon.

In one embodiment the portion of the circumference supported by the cradle may be at least 25% of the total circumference of the bottle.

Also disclosed herein is a cradle for supporting a bottle above a shelf structure, the cradle comprising an arcuate surface for supporting the bottle, and a mount for adjustable mounting the arcuate surface above the shelf structure so as to allow adjustment of the position of the cradle relative to the shelf structure.

In one embodiment the mount may be configured to be slideably mounted in an opening in the shelf structure.

In one embodiment the opening may be defined between rails of the shelf structure. The mount may be slideably mounted between the rails.

In one embodiment the mounting of the mount between the rails may restrict rotation of the cradle about a sliding axis of the cradle.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1A is an upper perspective view of an embodiment of the storage system;

Figure IB is a lower perspective view of the embodiment of the storage system supporting a plurality of bottles;

Figure 1C is an upper perspective view of a cradle of the embodiment of the storage system shown in Figures 1A and IB.

Figure ID is a lower perspective view of the cradle shown in Figure 1C. Detailed Description

In the following detailed description, reference is made to accompanying drawings which form a part of the detailed description. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, depicted in the drawings and defined in the claims, are not intended to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilised and other changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein and illustrated in the drawings can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are contemplated in this disclosure.

Referring firstly to Figures 1A and IB, the storage system 100 (for storing bottles) comprises a shelf structure 102 and a plurality of support assemblies 104. Each support assembly 104 comprises two cradles 106 that are each slideably mounted to the shelf structure 102, and that are each able to cradle a bottle 108 (as shown in Figure IB), so as to support the bottle above the shelf structure 102. By supporting the bottle 108 above the shelf structure 102 (i.e. as opposed to below the shelf structure 102), the bottle is readily accessible to a user, and any label on the bottle may be visible to a user (i.e. rather than being obscured by the shelf structure 102).

The adjustable (in this case slideable) mounting of the cradles 106 to the shelf structure 102 means that the spacing between the support assemblies 104 can be adjusted. This allows the shelf structure 102 to accommodate bottles 108 of various sizes and shapes. The spacing between support assemblies 104 that are to support large bottles can be increased, whilst the spacing between support assemblies 104 for supporting smaller bottles may be decreased.

The shelf structure 102 is generally of wire construction and comprises two side members 110, and a plurality of parallel and spaced cross-members 112 extending between the side members 110. The spacing of these cross-members 112 is not even, such that some of the cross-members 112 form more closely spaced pairs. These closely spaced pairs of cross-members 112 are rails 114 that support the plurality of cradles 106 (the mounting of these cradles 106 is discussed in more detail below).

The side members 110 of the shelf structure 102 are mounted to inner slide members 116 of two opposing shelf slide assemblies 118. This inner slide members 116 are slideably mounted to respective outer slide members 120 that, in use, may be mounted to the inner sidewalls of a fridge, storage cupboard, display cabinet, etc. In other words, the shelf structure 102 can be slideably mounted (via the slide assemblies 118) between two surfaces, in order to facilitate access to the bottles by a user when stored within a constricted space.

The cradles 106 are depicted in more detail in Figures 1C and ID. In the illustrated embodiment each cradle 106 is integrally formed as a single piece (i.e. is of unitary construction) and comprises an upper arcuate cradling surface 122 suitable for receiving a bottle thereon. The shape of this arcuate surface 122 is such that it can cradle bottles of various diameters (e.g. without the bottle being dislodged and falling either side of the support). Each cradle 106 is formed of an elastomeric material (e.g. silicone), which also facilitates the support of bottles of various diameters. The elastomeric material may deform around a portion of the bottle (when received thereon) so as to reduce the likelihood of the bottle being dislodged from the arcuate surface 122.

This elastomeric material is also capable of absorbing vibrations that could otherwise be detrimental to fluid (e.g. wine) stored in the bottles supported by the storage system 100. Such vibrations could, for example, be caused by a compressor (when the shelf is located in a fridge) or by foot traffic in the vicinity of the storage system 100.

The arcuate surface 122 forms an upper surface of generally arcuate platform 124. This platform 124 is secured to a mount 126, which allows the cradle 106 to be mounted to the shelf structure 102. The mount 126 comprises a generally planar base 128 that is tangential to the bottom of the arcuate platform 124. Ribs 130 extend between the arcuate platform 124 and the base 128, which provide additional strength to cradle 106.

The mount 126 also comprises two opposing hook members 132 that protrude downwardly (in use) from the planar base 128. The hook members 132 are oriented in a back-to-back configuration (i.e. they face outwardly) such that they can be received between two rails 114 of the shelf structure 102 to mount the cradle 106 to the shelf structure. When mounted in this way, the hook members 132 partially wrap around the inner and lower portions of the rails 114, whilst a lower surface 134 of the planar base 128 rests on the upper portions of the rails 114. In other words, the hook members 134 snap engage (or clip) between the rails 114 to mount the cradle 106 to the rails 114.

When mounted to the rails 114 in this way, movement of the cradle 106 is limited to the direction of the longitudinal axes of the rails 114. That is, the support is slideable along the rails 114 transversly between the side members 110 of the shelf structure 102.

As is set forth above, and is apparent from the figures 1A and IB, the storage system 100 comprises a plurality of cradles 106. Each of these cradles 106 is slideable along a respective pair of rails 114. In the illustrated embodiments, there are four pairs of rails 114. Two of these rail pairs 114a, 114b are for a first set of support assemblies 104a, whilst the other two pairs of rails 114c, 114d are for a second set of support assemblies 104b. In particular, the first set of support assemblies comprises a total of three support assemblies 104a that are able to support three respective bottles 108. The second set of support assemblies comprises a total of two support assemblies 104b which are able to cradle two respective bottles 108. In use, the bottles 108 of each set can be oriented such that they oppose one another (i.e. the bottles 108 being positioned such their necks are adjacent to one another).

Each support assembly 104 comprises two cradles 106 (on separate and spaced pairs of rails 114). In use, the two cradles 106 of each support assembly 104 can be aligned so that a bottle 108 can be received across the cradles 106 (so as to be supported by the support assembly 104).

As set forth above, the ability to reposition the cradles 106 relative to one another means that the spacing between the support assemblies 104 (along a respective rail axis) can be adjusted. This may be desirable where bottles of various sizes are to be supported by the storage system 100. For example, where a combination of large and small bottles are stored on the shelf, the support assemblies 104 for the large bottles can be spaced further apart than those for the small bottles.

Variations and modifications may be made to the parts previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the disclosure.

For example the support may be only partially formed of an elastomeric material. Only the support surface or support platform may be formed of the elastomeric material and the remaining portions of the support may instead be formed of a harder material.

The support may also comprise one or more coatings. The support surface may comprise a high grip coating or layer that resists movement of a supported bottle. The mount may comprise a low friction coating in order to facilitate sliding of the mount along the rails.

The shelf and support assemblies may comprise other means (i.e. other than rails) to facilitate adjustment of the support assemblies. For example, the mounts of the support assemblies may be in the form of a projection that is received in a track of the shelf. Alternatively, the adjustment may be way of a projection (on the cradle) and aperture (in the shelf) arrangement. The shelf may comprise a plurality of apertures and the cradles may be mounted at any one of those apertures.

Each support assembly may comprise only a single cradle that is sufficient to support a bottle above the shelf. Alternatively, and as shown above, each support assembly may comprise a plurality of support assemblies.

In the illustrated embodiment, the support assemblies are adjustable in a direction that is perpendicular to longitudinal axes of the bottles. In other embodiments, the support assemblies, or individual cradles, may additionally be adjustable in a direction that is parallel to the longitudinal axes of the bottles.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

Claims

Claims

1. A storage system for storing bottles, the storage system comprising: a shelf structure; and a plurality of support assemblies, each support assembly able to support a bottle above the shelf structure and comprising a cradle for cradling the bottle, the cradle comprising a mount configured to adjustably mount the cradle to the shelf structure so as to allow adjustment of the spacing between the support assemblies.
2. A storage system according to claim 1 wherein each cradle is adjustable along an axis that is generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of a bottle when supported by the respective support assembly.
3. A storage system according to claim 1 or 2 wherein each cradle is slideably mounted to the shelf structure so as to be slideable along a sliding axis, and the mounting of each cradle to the shelf structure is such that rotation of the cradle about its respective sliding axis is restricted.
4. A support assembly for storing bottles comprising: a plurality of cradles each for supporting a bottle about a portion of its circumference and having at least one support surface that is angularly displaced about a longitudinal axis of the cradle; and a mounting arrangement, positioned below the cradles, for mounting the cradles to a structure, the mounting arrangement allowing adjustable positioning of the cradles relative to the structure transverse to their longitudinal axes.
5. A cradle for supporting a bottle above a shelf structure, the cradle comprising an arcuate surface for supporting the bottle, and a mount for adjustably mounting the cradle to the shelf structure so as to locate the arcuate surface above the shelf structure, and so as to allow adjustment of the position of the cradle relative to the shelf structure.