GB2189387A

GB2189387A - Rack or storage system

Info

Publication number: GB2189387A
Application number: GB08709530A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sergio Kowensky
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-04-24
Filing date: 1987-04-22
Publication date: 1987-10-28
Also published as: GB2189387B; GB8709530D0

Abstract

A rack system for containers, such as bottles of wine, comprises a cylindrical, preferably oval, housing (10) open at one end and closed at the other and support means (24, 26) in and extending transversely across the housing for supporting containers (22) therein. Stacking pieces (32) that fit over and match an end region of the housing (10) are provided for stacking housings vertically on top of each other and for forming, with the housings and shelves (34), tables, shelving systems, wall units, and the like. The rack may be sold as a kit of parts comprising two shells (12, 14), a selection of cross-bars (24, 26) and two sets of bands and bolts (20), the bands encircling the assembled shells to hold them together. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Rack or storage system Field of the Invention The invention relates to a rack or storage system and is particularly concerned with a rack system for storing bottles, such as a wine rack.

Wine racks and racking systems, as such, are known. This invention seeks to provide a racking system which is attractive in appearance and flexible in use.

Summary of the Invention According to the invention there is provided a rack system comprising a cylindrical housing open at one end and closed at the other and support means in and extruding transversely across the housing for supporting at least one container.

Preferably, the housing is oval in cross-section.

Preferably, at least the exterior of the housing is formed of intersecting linear sections, i.e. staves or strips. Such strips or staves impart the appearance of a cask to the housing.

The cross-section of the housing may be such that a plurality of housings may be stacked on top of one another. Preferably, when so stacked end regions of laterally adjacent housings define with each other a recess which is substantially complementary to a portion of the end region of a housing so that relatively close interfitting of the stacked housings may be obtained.

Preferably stacking pieces are provided, each stacking piece having on one side a profile corresponding to the profile of an end region of a housing and on the other side a second, desired profile. The second profile is preferably linear so that the housing can be used, in combination with a planar surface to form a table, shelf and the like. The second profile may alternatively correspond to the profile of the end region of a housing to permit relatively close vertical stacking of the housings.

Preferably the stacking piece is formed with recesses at each end, the recesses being so shaped that adjacent stacking pieces in combination with end regions of adjacent housings form a space to accommodate at least one bottle.

Preferably, the supporting means comprises a plurality of cross-bars, the opposite ends of each of which engage in appropriate recesses in the housing. The cross-bars may be provided with suitable indentations for laterally locating bottles thereon. The cross-bars are preferably positioned to support a bottle at positions spaced along the length of the bottle and are preferably positioned relatively to one another so that, in use, supported bottles will be at desired orientations, e.g. for wine such that the cork is in contact with liquid in the bottle.

Preferably at least one band of metal or metal appearance, such as of brass or copper, is provided around the exterior of the housing to clamp the strips forming the housing or if not required for clamping purposes simply to impart an attractive appearance to it.

In one form of the invention, the housing is of modular construction comprising two shells, the supporting means being engageable with each of the shells and the band being constructed to clamp the shells and thereby also to locate the cross-bars.

In this event the band is a strip provided with clamp means for forming it into an endless loop.

The invention is now illustrated by way of nonlimiting example in the following description made with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 shows a front end view of an embodiment of wine rack of the invention; Figure 2 shows a side view of the rack of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows the components of the rack of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 shows a front view of part of a racking system formed by stacking a plurality of wine racks; Figure 5 shows a front of another stacking system for the wine racks of Figure 1; and Figure 6 shows front view of doors for the wine racks of Figure 1.

Description of Preferred Embodiments Referring to the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 show a portion of wine racking system 8 including a wine rack 10 comprising a housing in the shape of an oval wine cask.

The housing 10 comprises two similarly shaped shells 12 and 14 adjacent each other and a back wall 16. The front of the housing is open. A pair of bands 18, each of which encircles the housing holds the shells 12 and 14 together with the free ends of each band being connected by a nut and bolt 20 arranged in oppositely facing channel formations 21.

Wine bottles 22 are supported in the housing on forward 24 and rear 26 cross-bars arranged at appropriate heights. The ends of each of the cross bars24and26 fit into recesses formed in the shells.

Each of the cross-bars 24 and 26 has a suitably shaped indentation 28 and 30, respectively, for laterally locating bottles stored on them.

In this example-the wine rack is made and sold in kit form, the kit being arranged in a package as shown in Figure 3. Each kit includes two shells, a selection of cross-bars 24, 26 suited to the dimensions of the sheiks, and two sets of bands 18 and bolts 20.

Alternatively, the housings may be sold fully assembled, in which event each housing is made of a plurality of strips or staves held in position by the bands 18, the ends of which are secured to each other by being folded together several times.

In practice, each wine rack 10 may be used on its own, but the system is adapted for using the wine racks in a number of ways. For example the wine racks 10 may be stacked one on top of the other as illustrated in Figure 4. In this event end regions of laterally adjacent wine racks form a cavity adapted to receive the end region of a wine rack placed on top of them to obtain a close packed arrangement of racks. If the racks are used in a single horizontal row, then the spaces formed between end regions of adjacent casks can be used for storing further bottles.

Preferably the racks are used with one or more stacking pieces 32 to form various articles of furniture, e.g. a table as shown in Figure 1. In this event a stacking piece 32 is placed at the top and bottom of a rack or housing 10. The lower stacking piece 32 supports the housing on a floor, while the upper stacking piece supports a planar surface or table top 34, shown in dashed lines. Each stacking piece has an edge formed with a profile matching that of the end region of a housing 10 and an opposed flat profile.

The stacking pieces 32 may also be used for stacking the housings on top of each other as shown in Figure 5. In this event clips 38 having opposed channel sections 40 interconnect the pieces 36. Clips 42 connect laterally adjacent housings to each other.

The clips 38 and 42 are of brass or copper to match the bands 18. Complete wall units, room dividers, side-boards, credenzas, tables and so on may thus be formed using arrangements or housings, stacking pieces, shelving strips, and table tops.

The shells 12 and 14 are formed with intersecting linear sections, i.e. strips or staves, to create an attractive appearance of a cask and to ensure that when stacked the housings seat reliably on one another, Figure 6 show several versions of doors that may be fitted to a cask. Figure 6A shows two doors 44 provided substantially to close the front of a cask.

Figure 6B also shows two doors 46, this time in the form of slatted saloon (or bar or pub) type doors.

Figure 6C shows a single door 48, hinged at one side, and provided with a dummy tap 50.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise constructional details shown in the drawings and described above and many modifications may be made thereto as may other embodiments become apparent without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example the shape and dimensions of the wine rack are not limited to that shown in the drawings and may be varied as desired to accommodate any desired number of bottles such as 6, 8, or 12. The casks may be substantially cylindrical in shape. The doors of Figure 6 may be transparent or translucent, e.g. of Perspex(TM). Also fewer, suitably positioned crossbars may be used to store one or more bag-in-a-box wine vat in a housing. The cross-bars may comprise two telescopic sections biassed away from each other so that they can be rearranged buy a user when desired.

The claims are to be regarded as an integral part of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A rack system comprising a cylindrical housing open at one end and closed at the other and support means in and extending transversely across the housing for supporting at least one container in the housing.

2. A rack system as claimed in claim 1, in which the housing is oval in cross-section.

3. A rack system as claimed in either of claims 1 or 2, in which at least the exterior of the housing is formed of intersecting linear sections.

4. A rack system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, in which the end regions of each of the housings are so shaped that the end regions of laterally adjacent housings define with each other a recess that is substantially complementary to a portion of the end region of a housing.

5. A rack system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, which includes stacking pieces, each stacking piece having on one edge a profile corresponding to the profile of an end region of a housing and on the other side a second, desired profile.

6. A rack system as claimed in claim 5, in which the second profile is substantially linear.

7. A rack system as claimed in claim 5, in which the second profile corresponds substantially to the profile of the end region of a housing.

8. A rack system as claimed in any of claims 5 to 7, in which each stacking piece is formed with a recess at each end, the recess being so shaped that adjacent stacking pieces in combination with end regions of adjacent housings form a space to accommodate at least one bottle.

9. A rack system as claimed in any of claims 5 to 8, including clip means engageable with each of two adjacent stacking pieces to hold the stacking pieces with respect to each other.

10. A rack system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9, in which clip means is provided for holding adjacent housings with respect to each other.

11. A rack system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10, in which the supporting means comprises a plurality of cross-bars, the opposite ends of each of which engage in appropriate recesses in the housing.

12. A rack system as claimed in claim 11, in which the cross-bars are provided with suitable indentations for laterally locating bottles placed thereon.

13. A rack system as claimed in either of claims 11 or 12, in which the cross-bars are positioned to support a bottle at positions spaced along the length of the bottle, the cross-bars for supporting any particular bottle being arranged relatively to one another to support a bottle at a desired orientation.

14. A rack system as claimed in any of claims 11 to 13, in which at least some of the cross-bars are removably engageable in the housings.

15. A rack system as claimed in claim 14, in which the removably engageable cross-bars comprise outwardly biassed teiescopic sections.

16. A rack system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 15, in which at least one band of metal or metal appearance is provided around the exterior of the housing.

17. A rack system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 16, in which each housing is formed of a plurality of strips or staves.

18. A rack system substantially as herein described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

18. A rack system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 17, in which each housing is of modular construction comprising two shells, the supporting means being engageable with each of the shells and a band being provided to hoid the shells in position relative to each other.

17. A rack system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 16, in which hinged door means is provided for removably closing the open end of the housing.