GB2265304A

GB2265304A - Bottle-rack

Info

Publication number: GB2265304A
Application number: GB9209799A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Joaquin Selma
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-03-06
Filing date: 1992-05-07
Publication date: 1993-09-29
Also published as: DE4214961A1; NL9201392A; ITMI920847A0; ITMI920847A1; GB9209799D0

Description

2265304 1 Title: "Bottle-rack" THIS INVENTION relates to a bottle-rack.

Numerous types of bottle-rack are known which are used both in private homes and in bottle sales establishments or stores: of particular note, given their functionality and simplicity, are the modular types of rack which are made up of parts which can be put together so as to extend the bottle-rack as required, said parts being formed by strips and lengthwise beams to define a type of "bed" in which the bottles are perfectly positioned.

This type of bottle-rack, while efficient, simple and thus economical and easy to set up and dismantle, has the drawback that it takes up considerable space. Nor do such bottle-racks allow the bottles or, rather their labels, to be seen unless they are taken out.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a bottle-rack which is simple to manufacture and which avoids the above-noted drawbacks.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a bottle-rack comprising an elongate strip having a plurality of transverse holes therethrough, each to receive the -neck of a respective bottle whereby such bottle may be supported by its neck, with the bottle body extending outwardly from the strip.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a bottlerack designed to hold and secure a number of bottles in the horizontal position wherein, 2 essentially, said bottle-rack is made from a parallelepiped body much longer than it is wide or thick, forming a type of strip through the two larger sides of which there are a number of openings in a lengthwise line, said openings being alternatively slightly angled for the necks of the bottles so as to hold them in the horizontal position in vertical lines on each side of the parallelepiped body of the bottle-rack.

In a preferred embodiment a bottle-rack embodying the invention is made up of what may be taken to be a simple heavy strip, of rectangular crosssection, with a number of openings through it between the two wider sides, said openings being slightly inclined, alternately one up and one down, whereby each can admit the neck of a bottle in such a way as to hold said bottle firmly in a horizontal position in the opening. The bottles are thus arranged alternately on one side and the other of the body or strip making up the bottle-rack so as to form vertical lines of bottles alternately on one side and the other of the body of the bottle-rack, always horizontal, as said bottle-rack is designed to be secured on one side to a facing or wall. A line of such bottle-racks can be formed merely by arranging them one after the other in the vertical direction, joining them together with a dowel or some similar element.

on the other hand, there is preferably provision for securing the strip to a wall or other surface. For example, a bore may be f ormed near one end of the strip, extending transversely to the strip and to the bottlereceiving openings, said bore being adapted to receive a screw to secure the strip to the wall or other surf ace. The bore may be countersunk or counter-bored to allow the head of the screw to be concealed. There may indeed be two 3 such openings, one close to each end, for mounting just a single bottle- rack since, if several are arranged successively in the vertical direction and linked together, one of the ends is secured by the dowel which f orms the coupling between the adjacent ends of two consecutive bottle-racks.

The angle of the openings f or the bottles is not only intended to ensure that the bottles remain horizontal but also to prevent the bottle necks, for any reason, from slipping in the openings and allowing the bottles to fall. Such angle ensures that the standard classic rib on a bottle neck close to the mouth will act as a stop against the edge of the outside mouth of the respective opening in the strip should the bottle's neck slip in such opening.

The bottle-rack may also be secured horizontally, that is, in a position in which the openings form a horizontal alignment, e.g. under a shelf or the like, in which case the bottles would form horizontal lines rather than the vertical ones of the normal application of the bottle-rack.

An embodiment of the invention is described below, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- FIGURE 1 shows a perspective view of a rack embodying the invention, FIGURE 2 shows an elevation view of the rack of Figure 1 in use, secured vertically, e.g. on a wall, and containing a number of bottles in vertical lines arranged alternately on one side and the other of the bottle-rack, the bottles all extending horizontally, and 4 FIGURE 3 is a view in section along the line A-B in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, a bottle-rack 1 comprises a body, preferably of wood, forming a thick strip, i.e. of parallelepiped form, much longer than it is wide and thick, and which has a number of openings or bores 2 and 21 between its two broader f aces each said opening or bore 2., extending at a predetermined small angle to the horizontal (assuming the longest dimension of the strip to extend vertically). Alternate said openings or bores, referenced respectively 2 and 21, are inclined downwardly towards one side of the strip 1 and downwardly towards the opposite side of the strip, respectively. That is to say, the openings 2 and 21 are arranged alternately and on opposite sides.

on the other hand, the body 1 of the bottle-rack has, close to its upper end, a transverse bore 3 through it extending between the two narrower faces of the body 1 of the rack. This hole or bore 3 has a step or counterbore, as shown in broken lines. A screw or mooring element can be extended through bore 3 to f ix the bottle-rack to a vertical wall or support: the head of the screw or mooring element is concealed within the counter-bore. A similar counter-bored hole or bore 3 is preferably provided also close to the lower end of the strip 1.

Such a bottle-rack is fitted with one of its narrower longitudinal faces, specifically that furthest from the counter bores of the holes 3, lying against a vertical wall or other surface as shown in Figure 2. The lower end of the strip can be supported on the ground or close to it. The strip 1 can be secured to the wall or other vertical surface by means of screws through the holes 3 or a single such screw through one (e.g. the upper) hole 3.

Preferably, as shown in Figure 1, the openings 2,21 are displaced somewhat with respect to the longitudinal centre lines of the broader f aces of the strip 1, in the direction away from the narrower f ace of the strip which is intended to engage the wall or other vertical surface.

The bottles 4 are held by their necks in the openings (2 and 21) (see Figure 2), the bottles being placed alternatively on either side as shown in Figure 2. The inclination of said openings is such that the bottles (4) remain exactly horizontal when held by the neck, the lower edge of the respective bore 2,21 at the end of the bore nearest the bottle body engaging the underside of the neck and the upper edge of the respective bore 2,21 at the end of the bore furthest from the bottle body engaging the upper side of the neck. Unintentional slipping of the bottle necks from their openings 2,21 is prevented by abutment of the face of the strip, remote from the respective bottle body with the rib normally found adjacent the mouth of the bottle neck.

Clearly, such a design of bottle-rack not only takes up a minimum of space, but it is also easy to manufacture, economical and at the same time enormously practical, since the bottles are held in place with no additional elements, horizontally, easily removed, and with their labels on full view, by contrast with conventional bottle-racks.

It will be appreciated that the bottle-rack may be of any desired length, with corresponding variation in the number of holes 2,21 provided therein.

6 The bottle-rack described is easy to manufacture, being made up as it is of a strip with a number of openings in which to place the necks of the bottles so as to secure them in a completely horizontal position.

The bottle-rack is of considerable simplicity, occupies little space and allows the whole of a bottle supported thereby to be seen, (but for that part of the neck inserted into the rack).

It is not considered necessary to extend this description further in order for any expert in the field to grasp the scope of the invention and the benefits arising from it.

The materials, shape, size and arrangement of the elements may be varied, provided that this does not involve an alteration to the essence of the invention.

The terms of these specifications are to be understood in all cases in a broad sense, without limitation.

7

Claims

CLAIMS:

A bottle-rack comprising an elongate strip having a plurality of transverse holes therethrough, each to receive the neck of a respective bottle whereby such bottle may be supported by its neck, with the bottle body extending outwardly from the strip.
2. A bottle-rack designed to hold and secure a number of bottles in the horizontal position wherein, essentially, said bottle-rack is made from a parallelepiped body much longer than it is wide or thick, f orming a type of strip through the two larger sides of which there are a number of openings in a lengthwise line, said openings being alternatively slightly angled for the necks of the bottles so as to hold them in the horizontal position in vertical lines on each side of the parallelepiped body of the bottle-rack.
3. A bottle-rack as set forth in Claim 2, wherein the openings f or housing the necks of the bottles and to secure them are placed of f the central lengthwise line of the parallelepiped body.
4. A bottle-rack as set f orth in the above Claims, wherein, close to the ends of the parallelepiped body, there are two stepped holes for the insertion of elements such as screws with which to secure said body to a wall or vertical support.
5. A described bottle-rack substantially with reference to and as accompanying drawings.

as hereinbefore shown in the 8
6. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.