GB2492345A - Bottle rack - Google Patents

Abstract

A bottle rack comprises means for supporting a plurality of bottles at an incline and in line with each other. The rack features said supporting means on both sides of the body enabling bottles to be stored on opposite sides. The rack consists of a sheet of steel folded at the centre to form a triangular frame, and having a number of rectangular panels cut from the sides at a width smaller than the diameter of the bottle to be stored. The bottom of each rectangular cut-out is shaped to secure the base of each bottle.

Description

Bottle Rack The invention relates to a bottle rack for the compact, multi-positional storage and display of bottles, wine bothes, but not exclusively.

Conventional multiple bottle storage racks can have large footprints due to the bottles being stored horizontally. This also makes it hard to view the bottle labels, as the bottles are stored on top of each other. The bottles can really only be retrieved easily from the front of the rack, where the bottles necks are visible. The rack and upper bottles obscure the bottles in the lower positions, so access from above is limited or impossible. They can also be rather bulky items and unsightly when not in use. Due to their size, storage and transport of the racks can also be an issue. The racks are often made of multiple parts, increasing cost, time and energy to produce them.

To overcome this, the present invention proposes a bottle rack to support bottles inline along both its front and back sides at an inclined angle, comprised of a rectangular shaped and folded panel cut from sheet material with openings cut through it. It forms from one side view a triangular shape. The outer edges of the openings support the bottles when inserted, the openings being slightly smaller then the diameter of a standard wine bottle, this preventing them from falling through. They hold the bottles at a secure inclined angle, the bottom edge of the openings shaped to support the base of the bottles. The side edges of the openings support the bottles up to a sufficient point, preventing the botties from toppling over. This angled insertion of the bottles creates a secure and stable storage, plus gives an aesthetic appearance.

This also positions the bottles so the labels can be clearly viewed, when the rack is placed on a table, worktop, bar or other type of flat surface.

The rack is compact in size, taking up very little space on a surface, so is easy to store away and transport. The bottle rack could be positioned in the centre of a table, as the bottles can easily be viewed and retrieved from both sides. The openings travel through both sides of the rack creating the versatility, but also increasing visibility.

The bottles can be seen through the rack even if they are positioned on the backside facing away from eyes view. Due to its shape multiple racks could be stored on top of each other compactly. This would be ideal in a transporting from manufacturer to shop scenario, reducing the amount of packaging and transport space needed. End users like restaurants and home use would also benefit from the compact storage of multiple racks. The rack can display bottles in multiple ways, in a criss-cross formation allowing bottle labels to be viewed from both sides, all bottles on the same side front or back. Many unique functional or aesthetic formations can be created.

This method can also be used to indicate full, empty and currently in use bottles. This indicated by their orientation on the rack, from one side to the other. The rack can also stably support a single bottle at any of the available positions.

Preferably rubber or other protective material feet are attached to the underside of the rack, to prevent damage to sensitive surfaces like wood.

Preferably the rack is made with openings to hold four bottles, but more or less openings can be made to hold a required amount of bottles.

The rack is preferably made from sheet stainless steel, but other sheet metals, plastics or woods could be used.

An example of the invention will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings: * Figure 1 shows a front perspective view of the bottle rack.

* Figure 2 shows perspective view of the wine rack holding 4 bottles in a criss-cross formation * Figure 3 shows a side view of the rack holding one bottle at an incline.

* Figure 4 shows a side view of the rack holding 4 bottles in a criss-cross formation to demonstrate its storage compactness and versatility.

* Figure 5 shows a side view of the rack.

* Figure 6 shows a close-up segment of the rack and its bottle storage openings.

* Figure 7 shows a front view of the rack holding four bottles in a criss-cross formation, demonstrating the visibility of the bottles in front and through the rack.

* Figure 8 shows a perspective view of rack, holding four bottles all on the same side. This could be the front or back of the rack, demonstrating its versatility.

* Figure 9 shows a perspective view of the rack holding three bottles on one side and one the other. This demonstrating the ability to single out bottles, for example different brands, content types or empty bottles. Their orientation on the rack signifying this.

Figure 1 shows a wine rack consisting of a rectangular panel 14 with four openings 1, which each are of consistent size and dimension. The panel 14 is folded horizontally at three points 7, 8 and 9 resulting in a triangular form from a side view, as shown in Figure 5. Fold 9 is in the centre of the panel 14 insuring that the angles of the front and back faces of the rack to the horizontal ground surface are equal and are as a result reflections of each other. This angle is dependent on the distance between 7 and 8, fold 9 from the side being horizontally in the middle of the distance between fold 7 and 8 as shown in figureS. Fold points 7 and 8 are of equal distance from fold 9, the distance from 7 to 9 and 8 to 9 are a result of the set perimeters of point 4 to edge 10, plus the required distance of edge 10 to base of the rack. The distance between edge and the base of the rack is only limited by bottle to surface clearances. Fold 7 and 8 are folded inwards, making both sections 15 and 16 of the panel parallel to the horizontal ground surface and parallel to each other. This creates a flat horizontal surface along both sides of the rack, this keeping the triangular structure stable and seated on a flat surface.

Figure 6 shows the openings widths from left edge 3 to right edge 6 being slightly smaller than the diameter of a standard wine bottle, or other intended bottle. This supporting a bottle along edges 3 and 6 at an inclined angle set out by the resulting angle generated by folds 7, 8 and 9 as shown in figure 3. The bottle is supported by edges 3 and 6 up to point 4, this point and overall distance from edge 10 being determined by the ideal support location on a bottle to prevent it from rolling over the rack. The distance between edges 6 and 6 being smaller than the diameter of a standard battle prevents bottles from falling through the openings.

Figure 7 shows the bottom horizontal edge 10 of the openings support the bottle from its base, the edge at its middle point is shaped to create a tab 2, this inserts into the concave 12 of a bottles 5 base, locking the bottle into position. This helps to prevent the bottle from pivoting on point 4 and sliding out of the rack, if forward force across the rack is applied to the bottle above point 4. This also insures a secure fitment, reducing the bottles movement and possible escape from its location in the rack. The bottom edge of the openings I on the back of the rack would be a reflection of the front, as the back and front of the rack are the same. The openings 1 continue from one side to the other through fold 9. The openings are spaced consistently apart this creating vertical strips 13 their width dependent on the clearance required between the bottles and the over all structural rigidity and limitations of the material used. The vertical struts at either end of the rack can be of the same width to aid structural rigidity and aesthetic consistency. The front and back of the rack are the same.

Figure 8 shows the racks ability to display four bottles in all of the available openings on one side of the rack for display purposes. The back of the bottles are also still visible through the racks openings I as shown on figure 7. Figure 9 also shows the ability to position a single bottle 11 on the opposite side of the rack for the indication purposes of dividing brands, content types of even an in use or empty bottle from the rest. This could save time and confusion when selecting a bottle from the rack.

Due to its method of construction the rack could be manufactured inexpensively and easily. Some of the process's that could be used to manufacture the rack are laser cutting, water jet cuffing or stamping. The cut panels would then be press folded or by other methods of folding. Its form could also be produced using carved block, welded wire or rod materials, but at a higher cost. Possible materials for its construction are metals, plastics or oods.

Claims (1)

1. <claim-text>Claims 1. A bottle rack comprising means for the inline storage and display of bottles at an inclined angle along both its front and back sides, with the means to alter each bottles position from front to back of the rack independently.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A bottle rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein means are provided to support bottles at an inclined angle, within rectangular openings, their parallel side edges supporting a bottle along its length, these being of distance apart less than the diameter of a specific bottle size.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A bottle rack as claimed in claim 2, wherein means are provided to support bottles at an inclined angle, within rectangular openings, their bottom edges having a shaped tab, which inserts into the concave of a bottles base.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A bottle rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein means are provided to store and display bottles in a criss-cross manner, with two or more bottles having an incline from the horizontal plane, base to top, leaning in opposite directions and crossing each other at a point between each bottles base and top.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. A bottle rack as claimed in claim I, wherein two flat rectangular inclined surfaces both meet at their top edges, forming a triangular shape from a side view.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. A bottle rack as claimed in claim 5, wherein said rack is fabricated from sheet stainless steel and folded at one or more points, with two or more cut rectangular openings for the storage of bottles.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. A bottle rack substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.</claim-text>