FR2885599A1 - Wine bottle marking device, has level marking unit combined with tags that form visualization unit positioned such that user visualizes tags, band and bottles contained in wine cellar or wine cupboard - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a level marking unit (1) that is constituted by a band (4) and magnetized on one of its sides for its fixation on a ferromagnetic support. The band marks a rack, a shelf and/or row of wine bottles on the tray or shelf. Tags (2) have a bottle identification mark and are fixed on the support by magnetization. The unit (1) combined with the tags form a visualization unit positioned such that a user visualizes the tags, band and the bottles contained in a wine cellar or a wine cupboard.

Description

The invention relates to a device for marking bottles in a

  set of bottles arranged on shelves in a wine cellar or on shelves in a wine cabinet.

  The object of the present invention is to propose a device making it possible to locate very simply a bottle placed in a cellar or a wine cabinet, in a position making the label hardly visible.

  In wine cellars bottles are usually stored in a horizontal position on racks or in cabinets specially designed for this purpose and the small spacing between two successive rows makes the label on the belly of these bottles almost invisible.

  When the neck of these bottles is oriented towards the observer, it has some chances of identifying more or less certain shape corresponding to the type of bottle sought, knowing that this form differs, usually, depending on the region of production (Alsace, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne ...).

  There are obviously not as many different bottle shapes as wine produced and it is almost essential to handle a greater or lesser number of bottles to finalize the search, ie find the one of his choice.

  If only the bottom of the bottles is made visible, as is customary in some wine cabinets, the identification of the shape of a bottle becomes more delicate. In addition, the overcap color capsule can, then, help to locate the bottle of his choice and there is little chance to see the label on the belly of the bottle, or, of course, , the collar that adorns the bottles of certain wines.

  As a result, the number of bottles to be handled to find the right one is increased in this case.

  To this, it must be added that if these manipulations are not practical to make his choice, they are not recommended for fragile wines, said of guard.

  It has been known for a very long time the cellar books, in the form of a notebook on which the user comes to report all the information necessary for the management of his wine cellar. In particular, it can refer to indications relating to the location of a given bottle inside this cellar, or cabinet.

  It is also known cellar books in the form of tables that facilitate the tracking but also limit the information that can be reported. These tables, when they are for example arranged inside a door of a wine cabinet, are particularly difficult to fill, with regard to the lowest part, to which the accessibility, both in writing and in reading, is bad; In a more advanced version, this cellar book can take the form of a wine cellar management software which offers the user the possibility of storing an unlimited number of information but which, again, can only give indications concerning the location of a bottle on a shelf of a wine cellar or a rack of a cupboard.

  In fact, it is very rare that a user finds the desired bottle without handling another bottle beforehand.

  To this it should be noted that a permutation of bottles on shelves or shelves must inevitably give rise to a modification of the information reported on the cellar book that it presents itself under one or the other embodiment exposed more high.

  It has therefore imagined bottle identification devices that are provided suitable, as appropriate, to equip the neck or the bottom of the latter.

  In particular, it is described in EP-0-865.015 a bottle identification device comprising an information carrier with fixing means for positioning it, as the case, on the neck or the bottom of the bottle . In particular, these fastening means are in the form of clip tabs or clamping. In the case of marking the bottom of a bottle, the clamping lugs are in the form of three claws enclosing the bottom of the bottle and extending in a star shape from a circular pellet constituting, substantially, the information carrier.

  Similarly, it is known from document EP-1.126.433, a bottle identification device, particularly applicable to bottles arranged so that only the bottom portion is visible to an observer.

  As described in this document, this identification device is in the form of a cup of transparent material provided adapted to be fitted on the bottom of a bottle and inside which is positioned a label serving as a means of information medium.

  In another embodiment, the bottom of the bucket can itself serve as an information carrier.

  It is understood that the solutions proposed through these two documents of the prior art have the disadvantage of being dependent on the section of bottles that we want to identify.

  Indeed, in the case of the document EP-1.126.433, the user must, in all cases, have in reserve a large stock of buckets of different sections. Likewise, unless the types of bottles that can be marked by such an identification device are selected, the manufacturer must be able to propose to his customers an invariable number of different bucket shapes, knowing that the bottles are not not all of round section.

  If the clamping tabs of the identification device proposed in the document EP-0.865.015 are designed elastically deformable, such an identification device is nonetheless dedicated to a section of well-defined bottles, otherwise the force clamping produced by these tabs is, depending on the case, too low and the identification device can not hold properly on the bottom of a bottle, too important making, thus, the identification device of use inconvenient .

  In all cases, the skirt of a cup-shaped element or the clamping tabs are elements protruding at the periphery of a bottle that can be easily hooked up by taking an adjacent bottle.

  The present invention is therefore able to respond to these problems posed by currently known tracking devices.

  Thus, the invention relates to a device for locating bottles in a set of bottles arranged on shelves in a wine cellar or on shelves in a wine cabinet, characterized in that it comprises: at least one means of materialization of level intended to materialize a shelf, a shelf, and / or a row of bottles on such a shelf or shelf; labels defined to bear an identification marking of at least one bottle, and able to be fixed by magnetization on a suitable support.

  According to a preferred embodiment, a level materialization means is defined by a magnetized strip on at least one of its faces with a view to its attachment to a ferromagnetic support, the labels themselves being magnetized to be applied to said ferromagnetic support. above or below such a band, or for receiving at least one label incorporating a ferromagnetic material.

  According to another embodiment, a level materialization means is defined by a magnetized strip on one of its faces, and which is also, on its opposite face, as the case may be, magnetized or integrating a ferromagnetic material, for the receiving at least one label respectively integrating a ferromagnetic material, or magnetized.

  According to another embodiment, a level materialization means is defined by a band comprising a ferromagnetic material on at least one of its faces, so as to serve as a support for magnetized labels, said strip further comprising means for fixation on a support, said fixing means being capable of adopting different embodiments, such as an adhesive tape, fastening screws, such fastening means may also be in the form of a dimensioning of the said strip for its reception by sliding or interlocking by complementary fixing means equipping said support.

  In either case, it should be noted that such a strip may also comprise viewing windows, in a manner adapted to reveal a label interposed between this strip and a support. wine comprising at least one inner or outer wall of ferromagnetic material or incorporating such a material, said wall comprising a tracking device according to the invention.

  Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description relating to a nonlimiting exemplary embodiment.

  The understanding of this description will be facilitated with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, partial and perspective representation of a wine cabinet equipped with tracking devices according to the invention; FIG. is a cross section of a first alternative embodiment - Figure 3 is a cross section of a second alternative embodiment - Figure 4 is a cross section of a third alternative embodiment.

  As shown in the figures, the invention relates to the field of storage of wines in bottles.

  In particular, the invention relates to a device for identifying bottles in a set of bottles stored on shelves in a wine cellar or on shelves in a wine cabinet.

  In a cellar or wine cabinet, bottles are stored lying down for reasons of wine preservation. They are stored on shelves in a cellar, on shelves in a cupboard. It is common for several rows of bottles to be stored one above the other, on the same shelf or shelf.

  A wine cabinet consists of a supporting structure, on the inner wall of which are attached shelves or slides supporting shelves. These shelves may be provided with bands on their edges located towards the front of this structure. On the front of the structure is mounted, generally pivotally, an access door, intended to confine the cabinet.

  The tracking device according to the invention results from the combination of the use of level 1 materialization means and labels 2.

  At least one level 1 materialization means is intended to materialize a shelf, a shelf, and / or a row of bottles on such a rack or shelf.

  Labels 2 are defined to carry an identification marking of at least one bottle, and are able to be fixed by magnetization on a suitable support.

  The display means, which constitute, for the user, these means of materialization of level 1 combined with these labels 2, must be positioned in a place allowing this user to view them together with the bottles contained in the cellar or the cabinet concerned.

  The support of all or part of these viewing means consists, preferably but not limited to, in visible surfaces such as doors, nose shelves or shelves bands.

  In a preferred embodiment, a means of materialization of level 1 is defined by a band 4 which is magnetized on at least one of its faces (7, 8) in order to fix it on a support 3 which is here ferromagnetic, the labels 2 themselves being magnetized to be applied to this ferromagnetic support above or below such a strip 4.

  A preferred embodiment consists of the use of a ferromagnetic support of large dimensions, such as the internal part of the door of a cabinet made of sheet steel, or a panel element attached to a non-magnetisable door (glass, plastic material, light alloy, wood, or the like).

  It is thus easy to materialize the location of different rows of bottles, especially in the horizontal plane they occupy. This materialization is performed by strips 4 having a magnetized posterior face 7, and preferably of flexible type; this magnetized posterior face 7 bears on the ferromagnetic support 3. The identification of the bottles is then done by means of labels 2 which are also magnetized, and which can be applied at any point of the ferromagnetic support, in particular between, above or below the materialization strips, as represented on FIG. 2. The labels 2 may also be affixed in superposition of the strip 4, on the anterior face 8 of the latter, opposite to the posterior face 7 of support of the strip on the ferromagnetic support, partially in the case where this anterior face 8 is not magnetized or ferromagnetic, partially or completely if this anterior face 8 is not magnetized but is ferromagnetic.

  Another embodiment is more particularly intended for cabinets with non-magnetizable elements: the level 1 materialization means are preferably in the form of materialization strips 4, which are then more particularly designed to carry bottle identification labels. For this purpose, these strips 4 comprise a magnetized face, which is turned, not towards the support, but on the opposite side, and they are thus able to receive on their anterior face 8 labels 2 incorporating a ferromagnetic material, as shown in FIG. 3. The fixing of the materializing strips 4 to the support 3, on their posterior face 7, is then achievable by conventional means, by gluing, by mechanical assembly such as screwing, insertion, sliding, interlocking or clipping, or analogous, or by combination of such fastening means. The labels 2, incorporating a ferromagnetic material, may advantageously be made of very inexpensive materials, such as steel sheet, or incorporate a blank in such a material.

  In another embodiment, a means of materialization of level 1 is defined by a magnetized strip 4 on one of its faces, and which is also, on its opposite face, as the case may be, magnetized or integrating a ferromagnetic material, for the reception of at least one label 2 respectively integrating a ferromagnetic material, or magnetized.

  In this variant, in a first embodiment, the level 1 materialization means consists of a magnetized strip 4 on its two faces, which is therefore capable of being applied by magnetization on a ferromagnetic support, and which can receive a label. 2 incorporating a ferromagnetic material, as described above.

  In a second embodiment of this variant, the level 1 materialization means consists of a band 4 magnetized on one side, and integrating a ferromagnetic material on its other side. This band 4 can therefore, as the case may be: be applied by its magnetized posterior face 7 to a ferromagnetic support 3, and receive, on its anterior face 8 incorporating a ferromagnetic material, a magnetized label 2 (this label can also take a position in any point of the ferromagnetic support 3 which serves to support the band 4) be applied by its ferromagnetic rear face 7 to a magnetized support 3, and receive, on its magnetized anterior face 8, a label 2 incorporating a ferromagnetic material.

  According to yet another embodiment, a level 1 materialization means is defined by a strip 4 comprising a ferromagnetic material on at least one of its faces, so as to serve as a support for magnetized labels, said strip 4 still comprising fixing means 5 on a support 3, said fastening means 5 being capable of adopting different embodiments, such as an adhesive tape, fastening screws. Such fastening means may also be in the form of a dimensioning of said strip 4 for its reception by sliding or interlocking by complementary fixing means equipping said support 3, as shown in FIG. 4.

  This is the case where the band 4 level materialization is fixed on a support 3 other than by magnetization, it can therefore be used on a support 3 of any material. The band 4 receives, in this case, 2 magnetized tags. These magnetized labels 2 are also able to be arranged in any ferromagnetic zone of the support 3, if they exist.

  A preferred application of this latter variant is the use of bands or songs of shelves or shelves, to accommodate a band 4 of level materialization, receiving in turn magnetized labels 2.

  In one or the other case described above, it should be noted that such a strip 4 may further comprise viewing windows, in a manner adapted to reveal a label 2 interposed between this strip 4 and a support 3 This interposition can be achieved when using flexible strips 4, it is easy to separate from the support that supports them, to insert a label, or a document, or other, of any kind, in addition to labels 2 according to the invention. The strip 4 may also include days or windows allowing, as the case may be, to enclose labels between the support and the strip, or, preferably, to insert and release labels without requiring the strip to be moved. by combining guide means incorporated in the labels, and complementary guide means incorporated in the web, such as a dovetail, or the like.

  The relative dimensions of the labels 2 and means of materialization 1 according to the invention are free. It is also understood that labels 2 can take place between the bands 4 constituting the means of materialization of level 1, or above or below these bands, as well as by overlapping them, or by being superimposed on them.

  The invention also relates to a wine cabinet having at least one inner or outer wall of ferromagnetic material or incorporating such a material, said wall comprising a tracking device according to the invention.

  The labels 2 according to the invention are more particularly intended for the identification of at least one bottle: an insulated bottle, or a group of bottles, and to serve as information carrier for the user of the cabinet or the cellar. wine.

  These labels 2 comprise a rear surface, intended to bear on a support 3, or on a means of materialization of level 1. We have seen above that they are able to be fixed by magnetization on a suitable support, by this posterior face; according to the case, the label 2: integrates a ferromagnetic material near its rear surface, without a barrier means such as a screen can not block the magnetic field of the support which is itself magnetized, - is magnetized on its posterior face, so as to cooperate by magnetization with a ferromagnetic support 3 or means of ferromagnetic level 1 materialization.

  As for the front face of the label 2 forming an information carrier, it advantageously comprises a plurality of identification areas, for example of different colors. In particular, these colors may correspond to a generic identification code of the contents of a bottle to be marked.

  It should be noted that the qualifier of color is to be taken in the broadest generic sense. In particular, on one or other of these identification zones may be reported symbols or other graphics to recognize a type of wine. Thus, the representation in one or other of these areas of small circles or spheres may correspond to sparkling wines.

  It is then enough for the user to tick one or more of these identification zones on the label to be able, in a wine cellar, to identify, very quickly, the type of wine contained in the bottle identified with the using the tracking device according to the invention.

  Advantageously, this label 2 further comprises, at its front face at least one registration area. In this area, the user can postpone any type of information intended to identify a bottle.

  Again, the registration qualifier for the zone must be taken in a generic sense. In particular, in this area can be carried a self-adhesive label pre-printed, or even carrying a bar code that can be recognized using a suitable optical reading means.

  It should be noted, in particular, that on this front face, corresponding to the information carrier of the label 2, may be affixed a self-adhesive pastille carrying the identification and inscription zones. Thus, it is sufficient, in case of reuse of the label 2, to affix a new self-adhesive patch on which the zones can be marked or reported the inscriptions corresponding to the new bottle of wine to be marked by means of said label 2.

  Finally, this information carrier corresponding to the front face may be made of a material on which any inscription carried by means of suitable writing means, pen, or the like, is erasable to allow, again, indefinite reuse of a label.

  These arrangements make such labels 2 particularly easy to fill, moreover in a normal writing position.

  In a preferred embodiment, such labels 2 according to the invention are made on flexible and printable magnetic media, in particular using desktop printers. Such supports can be easily cut, and thus adopt any shape. They are therefore easily movable.

  In the same way, level 1 materialization means according to the invention can be made from the same materials.

  The ease of preparation of labels 2, or means of materialization level 1, outside the wine cabinet, and their very easy positioning inside thereof, bring to the user a great advantage of the ergonomic point of view.

  In addition, the loading, or unloading, or the displacement, or the rotation of bottles in the wine cabinet, simultaneously with that of their identification markings becomes extremely easy, without risk of error or forgetting For the user Although the invention has been described with respect to a particular embodiment, it is understood that it is in no way limited thereto, and that various modifications of shape, materials, and combinations of these various elements without departing from the framework and the spirit of the invention.

Claims (1)

14 Claims   1. Apparatus for identifying bottles in a set of bottles arranged on shelves in a wine cellar or on shelves in a wine cabinet, characterized in that it comprises: at least one means of level materialization (1 ) intended to materialize a shelf, a shelf, and / or a row of bottles on such a rack or shelf, - labels (2) defined to bear an identification marking of at least one bottle, and able to be fixed by magnetization on a suitable support.   2. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that a means of level realization (1) is defined by a strip (4) magnetized on at least one of its faces (7, 8) for attachment to a ferromagnetic support 3, the labels (2) being themselves magnetized to be applied to said ferromagnetic support (3) above or below such a band (4), or for receiving at least one label (2) ) incorporating a ferromagnetic material.   3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that a means of level realization (1) is defined by a strip (4) magnetized on one of its faces (7, 8), and which is also on its opposite face (8, 7), as the case may be, magnetized or integrating a ferromagnetic material, for receiving at least one label (2) respectively integrating a ferromagnetic material, or magnetized.   4. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that a means of level realization (1) is defined by a band (4) having a ferromagnetic material on at least one of its faces (7, 8), so adapted to serve as a support for magnetized labels (2), said band (4) also comprising fixing means (5) on a support (3), said fixing means (5) being capable of adopting different embodiments , Such as an adhesive tape, fastening screws, such fastening means may also be in the form of a dimensioning of said strip for its reception by sliding or interlocking by complementary fixing means equipping said support.   5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that such a means of level materialization (1), in particular a strip (4), may further comprise viewing windows, in a manner adapted to reveal a label interposed between said means of materialization and a support 6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said label (2) further comprises, at its front face at least one registration area capable of being labeled by the user by means of writing means, and that said front face is erasable.   7. Wine cabinet comprising at least one inner or outer wall of ferromagnetic material or incorporating such a material, said wall comprising a marking device according to any one of the preceding claims.