CN113397360B

CN113397360B - Wine container bracket

Info

Publication number: CN113397360B
Application number: CN202110660353.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 托马斯·德克尔
Original assignee: Tuo MasiDekeer
Current assignee: Tuo MasiDekeer
Priority date: 2020-06-18
Filing date: 2021-06-15
Publication date: 2022-10-18
Anticipated expiration: 2041-06-15
Also published as: CN113397360A; GB2596132A; GB202009357D0; GB2596132B

Abstract

The present invention provides a wine container carrier 10 for carrying a plurality of wine containers V1. The carrier 10 includes a base 12, a support bracket 14 extending upwardly from the base 12, and first and second (at least) shelves 100ab on the support bracket 14. Each shelf 100ab includes a plurality of wine container supports in the form of 110abcd through-holes, each of which carries a wine container V1 via one of the first and second shelves 100ab. A first shelf 100a is spaced above the base 12 for supporting a first set of wine containers above the base 12. The second-level shelf 100b is spaced above the first-level shelf 100a for supporting a second set of wine containers above the first-level shelf 100a.

Description

Wine container bracket

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a wine container tray, particularly but not exclusively for use in a location where wine is to be served, such as a bar or restaurant. The invention also relates to a kit of parts which can be assembled into a wine container carrier, a shelf for a wine container carrier and a method of using the wine container carrier.

Background

In a social setting such as a restaurant or bar, a person may order a glass of wine directly at the bar or seat, usually while served by an attendant or waiter (hereinafter referred to as an attendant for brevity).

When a group of people start to order wine, a waiter can hold wine with the tray, and when the waiter moves among tables, chairs, customers and other workers in a field, the waiter needs to be careful not to overturn the tray so as to prevent wine from being spilled. For large wine orders, the attendant may not be able to place all of the wine on one tray, requiring multiple trips to the end.

In practice, one attendant will typically serve multiple tables at the same time, and may need to serve multiple servings of wine at a particular time. This typically requires multiple trips to the bar (or anywhere the wine is poured) to collect all the wine and bring it to the respective table.

Delivering multiple orders for drinks can take a lot of time and can delay the delivery of the wine to people with different wines, especially if other tables are being held by these attendants. In addition, if the attendant forgets which cup of wine is which customer ordered, the order for the wine is sometimes confused during the meal delivery process. This can occur, for example, if two or more visually similar alcoholic beverages (wine, beer, cider, spirits, etc.) or soft drinks (cola, lemonade, fruit juice, etc.) are contained in visually indistinguishable containers that are in the same tray.

In addition, sometimes the waiters may spill wine even if they are careful in the course of serving. For example, the attendant inadvertently tips the tray and wine container, or someone hits the tray or attendant. In this case, it is necessary to at least remove the wine that overflows, replace or top up the affected wine, these steps being very time-consuming. Worse yet, wine may be spilled on one or more people, giving the customer a negative experience, and also affecting the reputation of the restaurant, as well as the position of the attendant at the restaurant or company. In some cases, the glass container may break and the broken glass must be immediately cleaned. Furthermore, in crowded locations, the attendant inevitably comes into physical contact with all persons while passing by the patron, the likelihood of breaking the glass is relatively high, and the cost of replacing these containers is high.

It is an object of the present invention to reduce or substantially eliminate the above problems.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention provides a wine container bracket capable of bearing a plurality of wine containers. The carrier includes a base and a support (or post) extending upwardly from the base. The carrier also includes at least a first level of shelves and a second level of shelves (also referred to as trays or levels) on the base. Each shelf includes a plurality of wine container supports in the form of through-holes, each through-hole being adapted to receive a wine container through a respective shelf. The first shelf is spaced above the base for carrying the first set of wine containers and supporting the wine containers above the base. The second shelf is spaced above the first shelf for carrying a second set of wine containers and supporting the wine containers above the first shelf.

The present invention provides a multi-layer wine tray which allows a person to serve multiple servings of wine at the same time, typically a tray which can carry over 10-12 wine containers. This is much greater than the number of wine containers that a conventional tray can safely carry. Therefore, the multilayer wine tray can provide multiple servings of wine for multiple customers on multiple different tables, and a waiter does not need to go back and forth for multiple times, so that more efficient overall service can be provided. It also allows for quicker and easier collection of used or empty wine containers. This is useful in any location where wine is provided or carried, including but not limited to: home, bar, restaurant, hotel, cruise ship, holiday, etc.

The placement of the wine container through the shelf also reduces the likelihood of the container tilting and spilling liquid when moving the carriage. It also reduces the likelihood of the wine container breaking because each container is securely held in its respective holder. More than half of the containers are located below the shelf, particularly when the containers are located in the rack.

The base may allow the assembled wine container carrier to be held upright on a table or other flat surface for loading and unloading the wine container.

The term "wine container" includes any suitable container for drinking or pouring wine. Including goblets, such as wine glasses, gin glasses, choking glasses, short and tall wine glasses, pint glasses, such as beer glasses and apple glasses, and cans of various sizes (such as beer cans, functional beverage cans, and can tonics). Bottles also include any of the following: wine, beer, cider, spirit, soft drink and water. The container may be made of glass, plastic or any other material suitable for containing liquids and drinking.

A handle can be arranged on the bracket to bear the wine container bracket. The handle may be provided at the top of the support above the location of the uppermost shelf. A handle may be substituted or added to the side of the bracket.

In this way, the carriage can be moved by hand between different positions. When the tray is filled with the wine container, it is easier to move the wine container at a comfortable height, usually at the hip level. The handle also facilitates manual lifting of the carriage onto a table or other support surface for easier unloading of one or more wine containers. The side handles greatly assist in lifting the tray when it is loaded with a wine container.

Typically, n shelves (where n is a positive integer) may be provided. The n-th shelf may include a plurality of wine container holders in the form of through-holes for holding each wine container passing through the nth shelf. The (n + 1) th shelf may be above the nth shelf, spaced apart from the nth shelf, for carrying the (n + 1) th group of wine containers on or above the nth shelf and the nth group of wine containers.

For example, a third tier of shelves may be provided on the support. The third shelf may include a plurality of wine container supports in the form of through holes for carrying each wine container passing through the third shelf. A third shelf may be spaced above the second shelf for carrying wine containers above the second shelf and the second set of wine containers. This increases the wine carrying capacity of the tray.

Any suitable number of shelves may be used. For example, two-level shelves or three-level shelves may be more suitable for transporting relatively large and heavy containers of wine or beer. More shelves may be used where a bite-stifled wine container and some other larger wine container are primarily provided. The carrier is preferably carried by hand and therefore the number of shelves and wine containers to be carried is to some extent dependent on the physical strength of the carrier and the required space or vertical height of the wine containers in each tier.

Some or all of the shelves may be non-fixedly supported by or connected to the brackets.

Providing a controllable support or connection allows easy reconfiguration of the carrier, including the shelves corresponding to the wine containers to be carried. The controllable connection allows the shelf to be removed, left on a particular table or to be left to a group of people, so that the empty wine container can be collected by the shelf after the wine container has been removed. In addition, the shelves may be cleaned more easily, whether by hand washing or dishwasher insertion (providing appropriate shelf size and materials). For example, wood shelves are not suitable for washing in a dishwasher, but plastic or metal shelves are suitable.

The bracket may include a plurality of open-ended slots spaced along the bracket. Each shelf may include a corresponding open-ended slot that is slidable into engagement with one of the plurality of open-ended slots on the bracket.

The slots in the brackets allow easy assembly and disassembly of the brackets, which is useful for quickly rearranging or replacing shelves, thereby customizing the brackets for a particular set of wine containers.

The spacing between a particular pair of slots along the rack may be greater than the height of the wine container to be carried. For example, if beer or wine glasses are to be placed on a shelf, the shelf above or below the shelf should be spaced far enough from it so that the glasses on the second shelf do not hit the glasses on the first shelf. For example, the spacing between adjacent shelves may be equal to or greater than about 15 centimeters to accommodate containers such as pint glasses. The spacing should be at least as large as the highest wine container supported by the particular shelf.

The shelves may be provided with one or more shelf seats or shelf pins for connecting the brackets to support each shelf against falling off. The or each shelf seat may be provided on one or both sides of the support to support the underside of the shelf.

The shelf mounts help secure the shelf to the bracket so that the shelf remains in a fixed position when filled with the wine container. The shelf deck may be fixed in place, may use an adhesive, or may be friction fit into holes in the brackets.

Some or all of the through holes may include a movable handle, such as a rubber handle. One or more movable handles may be provided on or around the interior of the respective through-holes for engaging the outer surface of the wine container. One or more movable handles may be secured to the respective shelves or through holes, and an adhesive may be used.

Each movable handle may secure a respective wine container when the carriage is moved between different positions. The movable handle is particularly suitable for wine containers with well-defined edges, which otherwise may not fit securely in the through hole. The movable handle can also be used for wine containers made of glass to avoid the breakage of glass cups. However, without the use of a movable handle, the through-hole may still support a container with sidewalls that taper slightly outward.

Each movable handle may comprise a circular or C-shaped body. The body may be used to support a cylindrical container or a space of a wine container having a bowl portion. A plurality of movable projections (or castellations) may be spaced apart on the inside of the body. The protrusion may extend toward the middle of the space. The movable handle may be non-fixedly connected to the through hole.

The projection may deflect or deform downwardly toward the base when the wine container is received by the movable handle. Their flexibility allows them to conform at least in part to the shape of the container, thereby increasing the adhesion to the container to hold it in place while the carrier is moving.

One or more through holes may be provided at the outer edge of the shelf. For each through hole, an open-ended slot or notch may extend inwardly from the shelf edge to the respective through hole to provide a path for lateral insertion or removal of the stemmed container.

Where one or more moveable handles are provided having a C-shaped body, the body defines a slot which, if aligned with the inner end of a corresponding slot connecting the through-hole to the peripheral edge of the shelf, allows passage of a wine container goblet, such as a wine glass or a gin.

For example, in some cases slots may be provided for through holes sized to accommodate pint glasses. In this way, the reception of the wineglasses is more flexible, while also minimizing the weight of the tray. It is also possible to use a thicker wine goblet, such as a gin that requires support (which may be too large to fit in a wine glass through hole).

It should be noted that different sizes of movable handles (or projections thereof) may be provided, and different sizes and/or shapes of wine containers may be provided with different handles. The size of the handle may vary depending on the size of the space within the handle in which the container is to be received. The movable handle is interchangeably mountable in the through hole so that a relatively large through hole receives a wine container which otherwise would not fit correctly in the through hole if the container were too small.

This improves the versatility of the carrier if the available shelves do not have suitable through holes to carry a particular set of wine containers, but have spare holes therein that are larger than the required through holes. For example, the largest through-hole is often used for pint glasses or similar sized containers, and a suitable flexible handle can be used to match other types of containers.

At least one of the shelves may comprise one or more open-ended or open-topped bottle holders. Each bottle holder may comprise a bottom wall located below a through hole in the respective shelf or shelves for supporting the bottom of a bottle. This applies to carriers carrying bottled wine water, such as water, wine (including champagne and the like), beer, cider and spirits.

Preferably, the bottle holder is sized to accommodate a single bottle. For example, each rack may be sized to hold one 750 ml bottle. However, it is contemplated that larger bottles (e.g., large wine bottles) may be loaded into the bottle holder.

The bottle holder may be sized to receive ice around the bottles to cool the bottles. In this case, the bottle rack may be considered a bottle cooler or cooler (e.g., an ice bucket) for supporting bottles. If the ice cubes are contained in an ice bag, the ice bag is sized to fit within the holder adjacent the bottle. In some cases, the bottle holder may include a liquid-tight sealed or water-resistant inner surface for retaining water in the bottle holder. The ice bag can indirectly cool the bottle through the water in the bottle rack.

Where each bottle rack is provided, it is usually attached to the lowest shelf on the tray in order to lower the centre of gravity of the tray when carrying wine containers.

The bottle holder may be non-fixedly attached to the shelf. In some cases, a transverse hook is provided at the upper edge of the bottle holder so that the bottle holder can be hung on the shelf as it moves transversely relative to the shelf. Corresponding slots through the shelf may be provided in the shelf on either side of the Guan Pingzi through-holes. The use of a hook connection or a random fit is preferred over a friction fit connection, which may fail under the load of the bottle.

Each bottle holder may be formed as a single piece or be constructed from a plurality of joined panels.

The base may comprise a frame or be a frame itself. The base frame may comprise one or more cut-outs or through-holes in order to minimize the weight of the base. For example, the base may include a body that is generally circular in shape. One or two semicircular through holes may pass through the base and be provided to one or both sides of the bracket. This provides a circumferential band comprising a central rod located below the shelf portion of the bracket.

The support may comprise a frame or be a frame itself. The frame may comprise one or more cut-outs or through-holes in order to minimize the weight of the bracket. For example, the stand may comprise a planar rectangular or trapezoidal body orthogonal to the base. A rectangular or trapezoidal aperture through the support may be provided between the base and the first shelf. A rectangular or trapezoidal through-hole may be provided through the bracket between each nth shelf and each (n + 1) th shelf, or between the slots for receiving shelves (if the slots are used as part of the shelf attachment means).

The appropriate apertures greatly reduce the amount of material from which the bracket is constructed, minimizing weight without compromising the structural integrity of the bracket.

A rectangular or trapezoidal through hole through the support above the topmost shelf may provide a handle which may be ergonomically shaped, for example with spaced undulations to provide a comfortable grip.

The bracket support may be attached or non-fixedly attached to the base. The bracket support may be aligned along a central rod of the circumferential band. The rack support helps to keep the rack orthogonal to the base when the wine container is loaded. The stent support may include a movable clip that non-fixedly engages the stent.

The base and each shelf may be substantially aligned along a central vertical axis of the support. This concentrates the centre of gravity of the tray so that it does not accidentally tip over when the tray is supporting a wine container.

The finger support may be provided by a shelf so that the shelf may be spaced from the support. The finger support may be an aperture or recess sized to receive a finger or thumb. Finger supports are useful in situations where the shelf is detachable or removable from the support stand, allowing the shelf to be pulled away from the support stand, or placed onto the support stand, in a controlled manner. That is, the shelf may be moved in a direction substantially parallel to a central vertical plane of the bracket to be disconnected or connected to the bracket. If the shelf is equipped with a wine container, the user can lift the shelf from above with one finger (e.g., thumb) while applying a counterbalancing force to the bottom of the shelf with the other finger or palm (or the other hand).

One or more wine container identifiers may be provided as indicia on the upper side of some or all of the shelves to deliver wine containers on a particular shelf to a particular customer. If there are many wines with similar appearances, these logos can easily identify the names of these wines, even if the person who got the wine does not remember or know which kind of wine is what customer's point.

Indicia identifying the container may be engraved or affixed to the surface for viewing from above the shelf. The indicia may be adjustable if provided on an adjustable display, such as a flat bottom glass. A plurality of markers (e.g., logos, marks, or other indicia) with suitable indicia may be interchangeably mounted to the shelf, adjacent each through-hole, or to each wine container.

Thus, the wine container can be marked with the specific contents or the person to whom the wine should be delivered. This helps to distinguish whether the same beverage is a "regular beverage" or a "reduced sugar beverage". For example, the marker may also be used to identify wine containers that do not contain a particular allergen.

In some cases, the indicia may include a number corresponding to a reference number on a menu or receipt. In other cases, letters or text markings may be provided on the surface of the shelf, or a surface that can support writing. The surface may be suitable for use with a marker pen to facilitate wiping it clean for reuse.

Shelf markings or displays (e.g., glasses) may be provided on some or all of the shelves to convey particular wine container shelves to corresponding tables or groups of people. This is different from the single wine container identification mentioned above, as the shelf identification may assist the attendant in delivering wine on the shelf to a particular table or group of people.

Indicia identifying the shelf may be engraved or affixed to the surface for viewing from above the shelf. For example, the shelf identification may be adjustable, corresponding to the table number. Each marker (e.g., logo, insignia, or other indicia) with appropriate indicia may be interchangeably mounted on each shelf, respectively. These identifiers may help the attendant remember which shelf's wine is which table or group of people.

The stent is at least about 50 centimeters high. The maximum height is about 90 cm.

The base is at least about 20 centimeters wide. The width is about 40 cm at most.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a shelf for attachment to a wine container carrier, the shelf being operable to carry a plurality of wine containers. The shelf comprises a substantially rigid body including open-ended slots for connecting the shelf to wine container holders, the open-ended slots extending from an outer edge of the shelf to a central region of the shelf, and a plurality of wine container supports in the form of through-holes in the body for carrying wine containers through the shelf body, including first and second sets of through-holes on respective sides of the slots, each of the first and second sets of through-holes including any one or more of the following types:

a) One or more through-holes sized and/or shaped to receive and support a substantially cylindrical container (e.g., a pint glass or a goblet);

b) One or more through-holes sized and/or shaped to receive and support a goblet and one or more slots extending inwardly from the shelf edge to the respective through-hole for lateral insertion or removal of a goblet (e.g., a wine glass or a gin);

c) One or more through-holes sized and/or shaped to receive and support a one-time-sealed container (e.g., a wine glass or canned beverage);

d) One or more through-holes are sized and/or shaped to receive a bottle, such as a wine bottle or beer bottle, and a bottle holder including a bottom wall that underlies one of the through-holes in the shelf for supporting the bottom of the bottle.

The number of different types of wine containers that may be required for a particular site may vary. For example, a restaurant may often offer wine bottles and wine glasses to tables, but rarely offer small wine glasses. For example, wine from bar and club is often contained in stemware containers (beer mugs, small wine mugs, etc.), and in rare cases wine mugs are used. The demand may vary by time of day, weather, and/or customer. It would therefore be advantageous if the shelves were configured to provide different combinations of through-holes for different wine containers, so that an end user could customize a wine container carrier with the appropriate set of shelves.

The shelf may include any one or more of the features presented by any of the shelves of the first aspect of the present invention.

The upper edges of some or all of (b) the hole types may be inclined toward the middle of the corresponding through-hole. This may provide a C-shaped inclined surface to engage the bowl of the stemmed glass container. The sloped region may be considered a countersink.

The sloped region of the stemmed glass receptacle through hole may better engage and support the bowl of the stemmed glass receptacle, minimizing the extent to which the bowl is sloped relative to the shelf as the shelf is moved.

The first set of vias may include at least two of the three via types (a), (b), and/or (c).

The first and second sets of vias may include at least two of the four via types (a), (b), (c), and (d).

Where the shelf includes (c) type of through-holes, the first and/or second sets of through-holes may include one or more additional holes of type (a), (b) and (d). By locating the small wine glass through holes in the dead space, adjacent to the larger through holes of pint glasses, wineglasses, etc., better use is made of the space within the shelf. The term "dead space" refers to a space that is too small to accommodate wine containers such as pint glasses, wine glasses or bottles, because if these large volume wine containers were provided in the space, they would hit adjacent wine containers due to their volume occupying above and/or below the shelf.

The first set of vias may include vias of one (d) type. The second set of vias may include (i) one (d) type of via and/or (ii) one or more (d) types of via. This applies, for example, to the case where two bottles on either side of the rack are substantially equal in weight and balanced, or where multiple cups are provided on one side and a single bottle is provided on the other side.

When most or all of the wine container holders are occupied during use, the position of each through hole in the first and second sets may be located on either side of the central vertical plane (through the slot) for weight balance. This ensures that the weight on both sides of the support is substantially balanced when the shelf is mounted on the wine container carrier by the slot.

An open ended slot may be provided through the shelf body for connection to a corresponding slot on the wine container carrier. The open-ended slot may extend from an outer edge of the shelf to a central region of the shelf. Other features and advantages of the slot as a connection means are discussed in relation to the first aspect of the invention.

One or more movable handles may be positioned within the one or more through holes for engaging an outer surface of the wine container. The or each movable handle may comprise a circular or C-shaped body defining a space for supporting a generally cylindrical container. A plurality of movable projections or castellations may be spaced inwardly of the body and extend toward the middle of the space. Other features and advantages of the movable handle are discussed in relation to the first aspect of the invention.

One or more stabilizing walls or support legs may be provided. A stabilizing wall or support leg may depend from the underside of the shelf. For example, two support walls may be provided. The support wall may prevent the shelf from tipping over when on the table if the center of mass of the shelf-without the support wall-falls outside the total area of the elements on the shelf that engage the table.

A plurality of shelves may be provided as part of the kit. It may be useful to provide some shelves that perform the same or substantially similar if the shelves are dirty and require cleaning. Some shelves may have different through hole arrangements to optimize the wine container carrier carrying a set of customized wine containers.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a kit for assembly into a wine container rack for carrying a plurality of wine containers, the kit comprising a base for supporting the assembled wine container rack upright on a table, a support for attachment to the base, and a support extending upwardly from the base when attached to the base, and first and second shelves for attachment to the support, each shelf comprising a plurality of wine container supports in the form of through holes, each support accommodating a wine container via either the first or second shelf, the first shelf being attached to the support at a position above (spaced from) the base for supporting a first group of wine containers above the base, the second shelf being attached to the support at a position above (spaced from) the first shelf for supporting a second group of wine containers and a first group of wine containers above the first shelf.

The advantages are substantially similar to those of the first aspect of the invention, with the additional advantage that the carrier can be packed flat for delivery and disassembled when not in use to save space.

The kit may include any of the features of the wine container holder of the first aspect of the invention. Any shelf in the kit may comprise any feature of the shelf of the second aspect of the invention.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of dispensing a plurality of wine containers to a plurality of locations within or at a facility, the method comprising the steps of:

a) Providing a wine container carrier according to the first aspect of the invention, or a wine container carrier assembled from a kit according to the third aspect of the invention;

b) Loading a plurality of wine containers into a portion of the plurality of through-holes of the first shelf and loading other plurality of wine containers into a portion of the plurality of through-holes of the second shelf above the first shelf and associated wine containers;

c) Bringing the wine container carrier to a first position and delivering one or more of the wine containers to one or more persons; and

d) The wine container carrier is brought to one or more subsequent locations and the remaining wine containers are shipped to one or more persons at the one or more subsequent locations.

Advantages similar to those presented in the foregoing aspects of the invention may allow for more rapid and easier delivery of a variety of wines to multiple locations within or at a site, freeing up time for an attendant to provide services to others.

In some cases, the shelf may be attached to the support frame when the wine container is received in the through hole. In other cases, they may be loaded and then attached to the bracket (e.g., as may be possible during assembly of the kit in some cases). It is also possible for both methods to be operated simultaneously. The loading may be from the lowermost shelf but this is not essential as there is sufficient space between the shelves to allow the wine container to be added to the rack without spillage of the wine. These features may also be applied to the method of the fifth aspect of the invention.

Note that the wine container may be placed on a shelf already filled with wine, or wine may be poured into the container after the wine container is filled.

During step (b), an identification may be added to the shelf to indicate the intended destination or customer, and/or the contents of the wine container. However, if the person carrying the wine can easily distinguish between different wines, it is not necessary to label each shelf or wine container.

The method may include the step of placing a plurality of drink orders prior to pouring the wine and loading the wine container into the rack.

The method may include the step of selecting a shelf for the tray that appropriately corresponds to the particular wine container group that needs to be carried.

The method may include the step of removing the first and/or second shelves (and other shelves if applicable) from the rack to remove wine from the rack, including the optional subsequent replacement of shelves on the rack. The shelf may be removed from the bracket by pulling the shelf laterally away from the bracket. The movement of the shelf may be in a plane substantially parallel to the base and substantially perpendicular to the central vertical axis of the support.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of collecting a plurality of wine containers from a plurality of locations within or at a facility, the method comprising the steps of:

a) According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a wine container carrier, or according to a third aspect of the invention, a wine container carrier assembled from a kit, and according to a second aspect of the invention, there may optionally be provided one or more shelves;

b) Bringing the wine container carrier to a first position and loading one or more wine containers in that position into one or more unoccupied (or empty) through-holes in the first and/or second shelves;

c) If one or some of the through holes are unoccupied, optionally, bringing the wine container rack to at least a second position, and loading one or more wine containers in the second position into the remaining one or more unoccupied (or empty) through holes on the first shelf and/or the second shelf; and

d) The wine container bracket is taken to the unloading position, and the collected wine container is unloaded from the wine container bracket.

Advantages similar to those presented in the previous aspects of the invention, containers of wine can be collected from multiple locations in a field more quickly and easily, freeing up time for an attendant to service others. After the wine container is collected, the wine container can be rinsed clean or placed in a dishwasher. The shelves of the rack may also be washed or placed in a dishwasher. The shelving material can be referred to in connection with the matter previously discussed.

Step (c) may be skipped if a single table or other location within the venue has a sufficient number of used wine containers to be able to fill or substantially fill the tray. However, when collecting used wine containers, it may be necessary to place the tray in two, three or more positions to fill most or all of the through holes.

It should be noted that in some cases the shelves of the trays in step (a) may have been left on a particular table (where the shelves are detachable from the supports), in which case the method may require bringing the trays without shelves to the surrounding field and placing the shelves on the supports.

Any one or more features presented in relation to one aspect of the invention may be provided in any other aspect of the invention.

Drawings

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a wine container carrier.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the base and support of the wine container carrier of FIG. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a support element of a support for supporting the wine container carrier of fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a first layer of shelf support elements for supporting a shelf of the wine container stand of fig. 1.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a second tier of shelf support elements cooperating with the first tier of shelf support elements of FIG. 4 to support shelves on the wine container rack of FIG. 1.

Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of the shelf of the wine container carrier of fig. 1, including a gripping element for the wine container.

Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of the shelf of fig. 6 without the gripping elements.

Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of one of the gripping elements of the shelf of fig. 6.

Fig. 9 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a wine container carrier.

Fig. 10 shows a perspective view of the shelf of the wine container tray of fig. 9.

Fig. 11 shows a perspective view of the bottle support of the shelf of fig. 10.

FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a bottle support;

fig. 13 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a shelf suitable for use in the wine container rack of fig. 1 or 9.

Fig. 14 shows a perspective view of a third embodiment of a shelf suitable for use in the wine container rack of fig. 1 or 9.

Fig. 15 shows a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a shelf suitable for use in the wine container stand of fig. 1 or 9.

Fig. 16 shows a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a shelf suitable for use in the wine container rack of fig. 1 or 9.

Fig. 17 shows a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of a shelf suitable for use in the wine container rack of fig. 1 or 9.

Fig. 18 shows a perspective view of a numbering unit of a shelf, such as the shelf of fig. 17.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of a wine container carrier, generally designated 10. In this embodiment, the wine container holder 10 is specially designed to hold 12 wine containers V1 simultaneously with one hand. Fig. 1 shows six containers V1.

The carrier 10 includes a base 12 for supporting the carrier upright on a flat surface, such as a table or countertop. The base 12 has an annular track to ensure multi-directional stability. In this embodiment, the base 12 is approximately 30 centimeters wide. The support rod 12a penetrating through the base 12 and the small through hole 12b of the semicircle opposite to either side of the support rod 12a make the whole structure of the base in a circular ring shape. In this embodiment, the support rod 12a passes through the middle of the base 12. In this embodiment, the base 12 is made of wood, such as plywood, to minimize the weight of a person required to lift or end the container. For other embodiments, other materials, such as plastic and/or metal, are also contemplated.

A stand or upright frame 14 is connected through the central support bar 12a of the base 12. The support 14 is perpendicular to the base 12. The height of the rack 14 is approximately 66 cm. In this embodiment, the pair of projections are fitted into corresponding through holes (not shown) in the base 12 by partial engagement by a pair of projections (not shown) on the lower end of the bracket 14, but it should be noted that other suitable attachment means may be used instead.

The holder 14 generally comprises a planar body. The bracket 14 is substantially trapezoidal in shape when viewed from the front. That is, the sides of the holder 14 are slightly tapered, converging with each other as the vertical distance of the base 12 increases. The upper corners of the brackets 14 are rounded. In this embodiment, the bracket 14 is made of wood, such as plywood, to minimize the weight of a person required to lift or end the container. For other embodiments, other materials, such as plastic and/or metal, are also contemplated.

The bracket 14 includes three slots 16abc spaced along one side of the bracket 14. The outer corners of the slots 16abc are rounded. In this embodiment, all of the slots 16abc are disposed on the same side of the holder 14. It should be noted, however, that the slots may be provided on different sides of the bracket 14.

Each slot 16abc extends from an open end on one side of the holder 14 to the other side of the holder 14 and terminates at a closed end approximately midway along the holder 14. The first slot 16a is spaced about 15 cm to about 20 cm above the base 12. The second slot 16b is spaced about 15 cm to about 20 cm above the first slot 16 a. The third slot 16c is spaced about 15 cm to 20 cm above the second slot 16 b.

An approximately rectangular or trapezoidal through hole or window 18abc is provided in the bracket 14 below the corresponding slot 16abc. Another approximately rectangular through hole 18d is provided above the third slot 16 c. The side bars 14abc of the bracket extend between or adjacent respective through holes 18abcd and the support bars 14abc are of sufficient width (typically a few centimetres depending on the material used) to give structural integrity to the wine container carried thereby. The through holes 18abc reduce the weight of the holder 14, while a handle 20 is provided in the fourth through hole 18d at the top end of the holder 14. The handle 20 is located approximately 10 centimeters above the third slot 16 c.

Note that some embodiments may also include a second handle or grip on the angled side of the ladder support 14 (preferably on the upper half of the angled side, which is positioned toward the handle 20).

A plurality of through holes 22 are provided in the holder 14 adjacent to and below the slot 16abc. In this case, four through holes 22 are provided per slot 16abc. Through holes 22 are provided in the slots 16abc when engaged for receiving shelf supports for supporting shelves.

Three shelves 100abc are provided on the support brackets 14 in respective slots 16abc. In this embodiment, the method of positioning shelves 100abc is substantially the same as discussed below with reference to FIGS. 6-8. Although only the first-tier shelf 100a is discussed directly, it should be noted that corresponding features also apply to the second-tier and third-tier shelves 100bc.

Fig. 3 shows a support for the rack 14, generally indicated by the support element 24. In this embodiment, the stent support 24 is made of plastic. The bracket support 24 may be screwed or otherwise fixed (e.g., by an adhesive) to the support rod 12a of the base 12 for receiving the bracket 14.

The stent support 24 includes an elongated body 26, the elongated body 26 defining a range of U-shaped channels for receiving the bottom end of the stent 14, generally indicated by U-shaped channel 28. In this embodiment, the U-shaped channel 28 includes first and second collinear portions. An opposing set of upstanding walls 30 are provided. An external support 32 in the shape of a triangular wall is perpendicular to the set of upstanding walls 30 to keep the rack 14 upright in the support 24. The clip 34 is integrally connected to the body 26 for rotation about the living hinge for engagement or securement with a corresponding through hole or slot (not shown) toward the lower end of the bracket 14.

Fig. 4 and 5 illustrate the shelf supports, generally indicated at 36, attached to the brackets 14. In this embodiment, each shelf support 36 is substantially identical, and the perspective views shown in fig. 4 and 5 are equivalent to viewing opposite sides of the same support. Therefore, the following features are applicable to the support 36.

Each shelf support 36 includes an elongated body 38. The elongated body 38 is provided with a top surface or ledge 40a for receiving the underside of the shelf. The top surface 40a is a substantially smooth, planar surface that allows the shelf to slide laterally therealong as the bracket 14 is removed from or inserted into the bracket 14. The elongated body 38 also includes a beveled surface 40b that forms an undercut, side surfaces, and a bottom surface 40cde below the top surface 40a. The corners and edges of the support 36 are rounded. In this embodiment, the support 36 is made of plastic.

The back of the elongated body 38, generally indicated at 40f, includes a pair of projections or support posts 42 extending through the two through holes 22 adjacent one of the slots 16abc. The back face 40f also includes a pair of projection or support bar carrying through-holes (or recesses) 44 aligned with the remaining two through-holes 22 adjacent one of the slots 16abc for receiving a pair of projections or support bars from the other shelf support 36. It should be noted that in other embodiments, other numbers of support rods and bearing through holes may be used.

In this embodiment, support rods 42 and through holes 44 are alternately disposed along the body 38. The spacing of the support rods 42 and support rod carrying through holes 44 along the body 38 is the same as the spacing of the through holes 22 in a particular combination. The protrusion 42 is of sufficient length to extend from the other side of the through hole 22 to engage the other shelf support 36. Fasteners are also provided, although other means of securing the support 36 are contemplated, such as adhesives or non-return mechanisms.

Fig. 6 shows one of the shelves 100a of the pallet 10 of fig. 1. The shelf 100a includes a substantially rigid planar body 102. The shelf 100a is made of wood, such as plywood. For other embodiments, other materials, such as plastic and/or metal, are also contemplated.

The periphery of the body 102 is approximately circular or oblong when viewed from above. A dot or point 104 is provided on the body 102 to receive a thumb or finger hole 106. Thumb hole 106 includes a drilled upper edge 106a. In other embodiments, the bore 106a may be rounded. The thumb hole 106 may be used to remove the shelf 100a from the support bracket 14 for lateral support by hand.

A slot 108 is provided through the shelf 100a. The slot 108 is sized and shaped to engage a corresponding slot on the holder 14. The slot 108 is disposed opposite the dots 104. The slot 108 extends from the edge of the shelf opposite the dots 104 to the center of the shelf 104. It is particularly noted that the slot 108 is parallel to the central vertical plane, bisecting the shelf body 102 by the dots 104.

Through the shelf main body 102, four through holes 110abcd are provided, each for receiving and supporting the wine container V1. Each of the apertures 110abcd is sized to receive a serving of beer. The four through holes 110abcd are spaced at 90-degree intervals around a central axis perpendicular to the plane of the shelf main body 102. Each through-hole 110 is substantially C-shaped when viewed from above. A respective V-shaped cut or slot, generally indicated by cut 112abcd, is provided at the "C" open end of each through-hole 110 abcd. The cut 112abcd connects the inner edge of each through hole 110abcd to the outer edge of the body 102.

Four movable rubber handles 114abcd are provided through the respective through holes 110abcd for clamping the respective wine container V1. Fig. 8 depicts the movable handle in detail. It should be noted that in this embodiment, each movable handgrip is substantially identical, and thus the description of the first handgrip 114a applies accordingly to the other handgrips 114bcd.

Indicia 116 showing "1" to "4" (including "1" and "4") are provided adjacent to the respective through holes 110abcd for identifying different wine containers (or their contents), or for identifying different persons or tables who will transport different wine containers.

Adjacent to the dots 104, a recess 118 is provided in the side of the shelf body 102 for receiving a shelf identification device, such as one or more numerically controlled wheels. Examples of such recognizers are discussed with reference to fig. 18.

Fig. 7 is substantially the same as fig. 6, but does not show movable handle 114. A plurality of grooves or notches 120 are provided in the underside of each through-hole 110abcd for engaging corresponding nubs on each movable handle 114abcd to mitigate the effect of rotation of the handle within through-hole 110 abcd. In this embodiment, each through-hole 110abcd is provided with four grooves 120 spaced around the sides of the through-hole 110 abcd. For reasons of perspective, the two recesses 120 of each through-hole are not visible in fig. 7, but in this embodiment each through-hole is substantially identical, so that the position of the remaining part of the recess 120 is in each case very marked.

Fig. 8 shows that one of the movable handles 114a isolated from the shelf 100a is a substantially C-shaped body when the handle 114a is viewed from above. The C-shaped body has an opening or gap 122 for alignment with the shelf through-hole cutout 112 a. The C-shaped body includes an upper edge 124, a sidewall 126, and a lower edge 128. The side walls 126 are perpendicular to the upper and

lower edges

124, 128. The

edges

124, 128 are parallel to each other. The edges 124,128 and sidewalls define the extent of a majority of the annular outer recess for fitting the sidewall of the through-hole 110a of the shelf 100a (largely because the recess is obscured by the opening 122).

Movable projections or castellations 130 project radially inwardly from the upper edge 124. In this embodiment, there are five castellations 130 of equal size, spaced substantially equidistantly around the inner side of the upper edge 124. Other numbers of protrusions are also contemplated. Two castellations flank the edge of the opening 122. As the wine container V1 is pushed downwardly by the handle 114a, the castellations 130 can deflect or rotate downwardly, approaching or abutting the side walls 126. The gaps 132 between the castellations 130 facilitate the castellations to flex independently of one another. Each gap 132 is about the same size (in the overhead layer) as one of the castellations 130, but if the projections 130 are able to flex sufficiently independently, it is not particularly important in each embodiment to provide a gap.

Nubs 134 adjacent side walls 126 are spaced about lower edge 128 for fitting into recesses 120 of through-holes 110abcd when handles 114a are attached to the shelf. Note that additional securing means, such as an adhesive, may be used to more securely attach movable handle 114abcd to shelf 100a.

Note that although in the above description and figures movable handle 114 is C-shaped, a circular handle could also be used to fit within a closed circular hole.

In this embodiment, the carrier 10 is constructed of a kit of parts, wherein the carrier 10 may be assembled with the base 12, the support 14, and other components.

However, other embodiments are also contemplated in which the carrier 10 includes a carrier body that may include a base 12 and a stand 14, possibly with integral base supports and/or integral shelf supports. In some cases, the shelf 100abc may also be integrally connected to the bracket 10.

In use, the bracket 10 may be pre-assembled or may be first assembled using the components described above. In this case, the holder 10 is optimized for 12 similar wine containers V1, either straight-sided or substantially frusto-conical, held in place within the movable handle 114 abcd. Assuming that the appropriate order is received, the attendant may pour the drink into the wine container and load the wine container into the through hole 110abcd in the shelf 100 abc. The attendant need not fill all 12 through holes, but may fill them where possible, if programmatically effective.

The attendant can then pick up the device 10 by means of the handle 20 and end it in turn to the different persons ordering the drink, removing the relative container along the way. This may require removal of the respective glass or sliding out of the wine container of the entire shelf before removal of the glass. After delivery of the wine container, similar steps may be repeated for another beverage order as needed. This may be selected to include exchanging or replacing shelves 100abc as necessary, such as the replacement shelves discussed below.

Referring to fig. 9, in a second embodiment, a wine container carrier is generally indicated at 10'. It should be noted that many of the features of the bracket 10' are similar or identical to those previously discussed for the first bracket 10. For the sake of brevity, these features will not be discussed in detail herein. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used to refer to the same features.

In this embodiment, the wine container holder 10' is specifically designed to hold two bottles of wine V2 and four wine glasses V3 simultaneously with one hand of a person. In this embodiment, only two

shelves

200a, 200c are provided, omitting the intermediate shelf, to make room for wine bottles V2 that might otherwise contact the containers carried by such shelves. The uppermost shelf 200c is substantially identical to the corresponding shelf 100c of fig. 1.

Thus, in contrast to fig. 1, only the first and third shelves are present, with a slot 16b' in between. Of course, the slot may accommodate a shelf if the bottle carried is shorter than a wine bottle (e.g. a beer bottle), or if the lower shelf is exchanged for another shelf not suitable for accommodating a bottle.

Fig. 10 shows the lowermost shelf 200a in more detail. Like shelf 100a in fig. 6, there is a slot 208, a thumb hole 206 and a recess 218 for placement of a shelf identifier. This shelf embodiment is only suitable for supporting a pair of bottles. The through-hole 210ab is not C-shaped but closed circular. The bottle through-holes 210ab are equally spaced from either side of the slot 208. The through-hole 210ab is located substantially at the center of one half of the shelf body.

A first pair of slots 238a is provided on one side of each through-hole 210 ab. A second pair of slots 238b is provided on the other side of each through-hole 210 ab. Each pair of slots is located in a common line and separated by a portion 238c of shelf 200a. These pairs of slots 238ab are adapted to support first and second bottle holders 240ab, respectively, beneath shelf 200a. In particular, each slot may include an inner edge (not shown) for supporting a bottle holder. In this embodiment, the bottle holder 240ab is secured to the shelf by sliding the bottle holder sideways toward the inner edge.

Fig. 11 shows one of the bottle holders 240a in more detail. In this embodiment, the bottle holders 240ab are identical, and therefore the features described apply.

The bottle holder 240a is substantially cuboidal in shape, with an open end at the top end for carrying bottles. The bottle holder 240a includes four side walls 242 and a base, generally indicated at 244, for supporting the bottom of the bottle in order to assemble the bottle holder 240a using plate type components, the base 244 is provided with end pieces 244a which plug the end pieces 244a into through holes in both side walls 242, the other side wall 242 may be interlocked using tongue and groove engagement plates or complementary slot arrangements at the edge of each wall, one of which is indicated at 246.

A pair of L-shaped hooks 248 are provided on the top edges of the two opposing side walls 242 for hooking the bottle holder into the slot 238 ab. The L-shaped hooks point in the same direction for engaging the inner edges of the slots 238 ab.

Fig. 12 shows an alternative arrangement for the bottle holder 240, which may be provided as a connected integral arrangement. The corner edges 250 of the device are rounded. As shown in fig. 11, the top end may be provided with a hook for attachment of a shelf. The device may optionally be glued or otherwise attached to or form part of the shelf. Flanges may be provided at the top end to increase the surface area to attach the bracket 240 to the shelf.

The carrier 10' is for carrying wine bottles and glasses and is substantially similar to the use described in the first embodiment. In this case, wine bottles V2 are loaded into the bottle holders 240ab in the lower shelf 200a and wine glasses (e.g., 250 ml size) are inserted laterally into the wine container bottle holders with the glasses V3 passing through corresponding cutouts in the edge of the shelf 200 c. The glass bowl of the glass V3 is supported by the movable handle 114 abcd. The glass may be removed by a reverse procedure, lifted to release it from the corresponding handle 114abcd, and then removed through the adjacent slot.

Some alternative embodiments of the shelf will now be described, although the skilled person will understand that these are only examples and that other combinations of through hole types and other features are within the scope of the claims. Like reference numerals refer to like features.

Fig. 13 shows another form of shelf 300, suitable for use as a shelf in the ideal case of the brackets 10, 10', as a bottom shelf. The shelf 300 features the same shelf of fig. 11, with the addition of a wine glass holder bracket 310. Two container bottle holders 310cd are provided on either side of the first bottle holder 340a, and the other two container bottle holders 310ef are provided on either side of the second bottle holder 340 b. Each additional container holder 310cdef has a countersink on the upper side. The through-holes are sized to receive a wine glass which may be a smaller sized wine glass (e.g. 125-175 ml) and the wine glass bowl may be better supported by the countersink. A V-shaped slot is provided adjacent each through hole 310cdef for passage of the cup stem.

Fig. 14 shows another form of shelf 400 suitable for use as a bottom shelf in the ideal case of the brackets 10, 10'. Some features of shelf 400 are the same as the shelf of fig. 11. Unlike the previous shelves 100abc, 200ac, 300, which have symmetrically distributed through holes for receiving wine containers, the shelf 400 is provided with asymmetrically arranged through holes. Although the through-holes 410a and the bottle holders 440a are similar to those of the shelf in fig. 10, the through-holes and the bottle holders on the other side of the shelf 400 are different. In this case, there are no bottle holders, nor slots for connecting the bottle holders, but three through holes 410bcd are provided near the peripheral edge of the shelf body. Each through hole 410bcd has a counterbore. A V-shaped slot is provided next to each through hole 410bcd. These through holes are adapted to receive wine glasses. If three 250 ml glasses filled with beverages are used, a 750 ml wine bottle filled with beverages can be substantially balanced, balancing the weight on both sides of the shelf slot 408.

In this embodiment, the shelf 400 also includes stabilizing walls (or support legs) 442. The support legs 442 are used to keep the individual wine cooler shelf 400 upright and stable when placed on a table or other surface. Otherwise, if the total weight of the wine container on one side of the shelf 400 exceeds the total weight of the other side (including the wine cooler 440 a), the shelf 400 will be dumped. The support legs 442 are suspended below the shelf 400. The legs 442 are positioned adjacent the slot 408. The support legs 442 are positioned relatively far from the middle of the shelf 400 and do not interfere with any wine containers carried by the shelf 400.

The support legs 442 provide a stable base for supporting the shelf 400, which is held upright, for use with the bottle holder 440 a. It should be noted that in some embodiments, the support legs may be integral with the shelf 400. However, in this embodiment, the supporting legs 442 may be released and coupled to the shelf 400 by the coupling means of the slots 438b and the tips of the supporting legs 442. L-shaped hooks (not visible) at the tips of the support legs 442 are attached to the shelf 400 in a manner similar to the attachment of the bottle holder wall 242 hooks described in fig. 10-11.

It should be noted that the arrangement of the stabilizing wall or the support leg is not limited to a particular embodiment. One or more support legs may be provided in any shelf embodiment. For example, in some embodiments, two support legs may be provided on the underside of the shelf. The support legs may be substantially parallel to each other. Support legs may be provided adjacent the shelf slot where the slot is provided. The spacing between the support legs, or the individual support legs and the proximal side of the rack, should be maintained at a sufficiently wide spacing to ensure that the center of gravity of the shelf is located substantially between these supports regardless of the through hole assembly occupied by the wine container on the shelf.

The support legs are preferably installed if dispensing of a drink on a particular shelf (whether fully or partially filled) is deemed to result in a loss of balance on the shelf, or when the wine container is removed from the shelf, or when the drink is placed on a flat surface after the shelf is set down, it is possible for the shelf to tip over. When multiple types of wine containers are mounted in the shelf, and/or the wine containers are asymmetrically distributed (typically aligned with the shelf slot along which the slot is provided, in view of the wine containers being provided in through holes passing through either side of the central plane of the shelf), the shelf is more likely to be or become unbalanced. Thus, for example, one or more stabilizing walls may be provided to mitigate this effect and allow any particular shelf to be placed on the table.

Fig. 15 shows another form of shelf 500 suitable for use with the brackets 10, 10'. Shelf 500 has the same features as the shelf of fig. 7 and is adapted to receive a movable handle similar to that described in fig. 8. In this case, the additional features include two spirit cup holders 510ef. In other embodiments, more than two beaker supports may be provided if there is sufficient space remaining on the shelf. Each beaker support 510ef is in the shape of a closed circle. A countersink is also provided in each bottle holder 510ef. The brackets 510ef are located on opposite sides of the shelf 500 and are disposed in unused spaces between the perimeter of the shelf and the other through holes 510 abcd.

Fig. 16 shows another form of shelf 600 suitable for use with the brackets 10, 10'. The shelf 600 is similar to that of fig. 6, but includes six wine container holders 610 instead of four. The stand 610abcdef is adapted to receive a narrow drink can, such as a red bull drink can. The brackets 610 are equally spaced around the shelf 600. The shelf 600 is substantially the same size as the shelf of fig. 6, but the through-holes 610 are relatively small to fit within the available space. Suitable for use in a semi-pint glass, or wine or champagne glass. Accordingly, the size of the movable handle shown is correspondingly smaller. Six numbers are arranged beside the six brackets, and the numbers are increased from 1 to 6 in turn in the clockwise direction.

Fig. 17 shows another form of shelf 700 suitable for use with the brackets 10, 10'. The shelf 700 is dedicated to carrying glasses (not shown) and is provided with 15 glasses supports, one of which is indicated at 710. Seven bottle holders are provided on one side and eight bottle holders are provided on the other side through the plane of the shelf slot 708. A shelf numbering device or identifier 800 is attached to the shelf near the finger hole.

Fig. 18 shows the shelf identifier 800 coupled to the shelf 700. The identifier 800 includes a plastic body 802 having upper and

lower flanges

804, 806 and a sidewall 808. Three numbered wheels 810 are rotatable mounted on axles 812, the axles 812 engaging opposite sides of the sidewall 808. A tumbler or dial is provided similar to a combination lock.

Each wheel 810 is made of plastic. On the surface of the wheel, each numbered wheel 810 is labeled with the numbers 0-9 with gaps between each numbered segment. It should be noted that letters or symbols may be used instead of numbers, or different types of mark combinations may be used. The shelf identifier 800 may be installed in any of a variety of shelf embodiments that are configured with corresponding recesses.

The wheels may be rotatable to set a particular number of shelves, for example, to aid in transferring the shelves to a particular table. In some cases, one attendant may click on a drink, another attendant or staff may pour the drink, and a third attendant may also deliver the drink. The proper numbering of the shelves allows a group of attendants to transport the wine containers to the correct location or person even if the attendant and other staff are unable to talk or otherwise communicate directly.

In any embodiment, the following features may be applicable. The thickness of the wood may be 9 mm or 12 mm to reduce weight while maintaining sufficient strength of the pallet. Other materials of suitable thickness are also contemplated, provided the selected material thickness has sufficient strength and rigidity. Some or all of the wood used in the pallets may contain melamine. For example, some or all of the wood or melamine-containing wood (if provided) may be coated with a water-resistant coating, such as a varnish, to extend the life of the base, support and/or shelf. This is preferred to allow the components of the carrier to be easily wiped and/or safely washed in a dishwasher.

It should be noted that in any embodiment, two, three, four or more brackets may be used. The shelves on a particular bracket may be the same, similar or different in terms of the through-holes and other features it includes. Shelf brackets may be attached to each shelf, rather than to the brackets. The different sets of through holes for the different types of glasses may be arranged in any combination, although the expected frequency of certain orders may be considered (e.g. one set ordering several pints of beer, another set ordering one bottle of wine and several cups of drink, a third set ordering several cups of spirit). Within the scope of the claims it is possible to provide shelves with two or three or more through holes for carrying a plurality of drinks containers.

In one embodiment as well as in different embodiments, the size of the through hole may be different, and the largest through hole is generally most suitable for carrying the largest wine container. Beer mugs often require the largest aperture of the through-hole, followed by the wine glass, and then the spirit glass (although this list is very incomplete). For example, various sizes of movable handles may be used to convert a large aperture to a variety of smaller sized containers.

The carrier is adapted to support the bottle horizontally rather than standing it upright in the bottle holder. For example, the base may include supports for carrying bottles on the base, on either or both sides of the rack. End stops and/or side stops on the base prevent the bottle from sliding on the base. This reduces the required vertical height of the bottles, which can be carried by the carrier, whilst possibly providing three or more wine container shelves, with appropriate clearance between the lowermost shelf and the base. In some cases, the bottle may stand upright on the base while being supported by the through-hole in the lowermost shelf.

The above-described embodiments are provided by way of example only, and various alterations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A wine container carrier for carrying a plurality of wine containers, the carrier comprising a base, a support extending upwardly from the base, and at least a first shelf and a second shelf on the support, each shelf comprising wine container holders in the form of a plurality of through-holes, each through-hole for carrying a wine container; the brackets penetrate through the corresponding shelf to space the first shelf above the base for bearing a first group of wine containers above the base, and space the second shelf above the first partition for bearing a second group of wine containers above the first shelf; a handle is arranged above the shelf at the top end of the support and is used for bearing the wine container bracket, and the other handle is arranged on the side surface of the support; a third layer of shelf is arranged on the bracket and is spaced above the second layer of shelf for bearing the wine and water container above the second layer of shelf, the third layer of shelf comprises a wine and water container bottle rack in the form of a plurality of through holes, and each through hole is used for bearing the wine and water container through the third layer of shelf; each shelf is detachable and is supported or connected to the bracket through the bracket; the bracket including a plurality of slots or grooves spaced along the bracket, each shelf including a respective slot or groove for engaging one of the plurality of slots or grooves on the bracket; wherein one or more movable handles are provided inside or around the one or more through holes for engaging the outer surface of the wine container.

2. A wine container carrier as claimed in claim 1 in which each movable handle comprises a circular or C-shaped body defining a space for supporting a generally cylindrical container or wine container having a bowl portion, and a plurality of movable projections or castellations spaced inwardly of the body and extending towards a central region of the space.

3. A wine container carrier as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein one or more through-holes are provided adjacent the outer edge of the shelf and for each of these through-holes, a slot extends inwardly from the edge of the shelf to the respective through-hole to allow lateral insertion or removal of a stemmed container.

4. A wine container carrier as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one shelf comprises one or more bottle holders, each bottle holder including a wall seat below the through-hole in the respective shelf for supporting the base of a bottle.

5. A wine container carrier according to claim 1 or 4 wherein the support includes a frame having one or more cut-outs or through-holes for minimising the weight of the support and/or wherein the base includes a frame having one or more cut-outs or through-holes for minimising the weight of the base.

6. A wine container rack as claimed in claim 1 wherein the base and each shelf are aligned along a central vertical axis of the support.

7. The wine container carrier according to claim 1 wherein the through hole is disposed through at least one shelf substantially coincident with the shelf slot for retaining the shelf independent of the bracket.

8. A wine container carrier according to claim 1 wherein one or more wine container identifiers or adjustable wine container identifiers are provided on the upper side of one or more shelves as indicia to assist in the delivery of wine containers from a given shelf to a person in need thereof.

9. A wine container rack according to claim 1 wherein shelf identifiers or adjustable shelf identifiers are provided on one or more shelves to assist in accurate delivery of a given shelf of wine containers to a dining table or to a desired group of people.