GB2588226A - Stackable hexagonal storage module and stackable hexagonal storage module group - Google Patents

Abstract

A storage module (M, fig. 7) formed as a hollow hexagonal prism with a central axis (X, fig. 7) has an interior cavity (H, fig. 7) and an opening at a first open end that opens from its exterior to the interior cavity. Various embodiments of this module are disclosed. A first has the open circumferential edge (SE, fig. 5) of the open end is scalloped in a wavy form. A second has the longitudinal extreme portions of the first end define a front plane that is oblique to the central axis, or a rear end opposite the open end defining a rear plane which is oblique to the central axis. A third has mutually interlocking elements (MEP & FEG, fig. 7) on two pairs of opposing faces (LUS & RLS, RUS & LLS) of the hexagonal prism, which would permit stacking of multiple modules without slippage between the modules. A fourth comprises at a closed end (Q, fig. 8), opposite the open front end, with a fixing hole (A, fig. 8) opening from the exterior to the interior cavity. The modules can be used to store, for example, wine.

Description

Title of Invention

STACKABLE HEXAGONAL STORAGE MODULE AND STACKABLE HEXAGONAL STORAGE MODULE GROUP

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a hexagonal storage module that is adapted for being vertically stacked, and to a group of such hexagonal modules including auxiliary units that help with vertical stacking.

Background Art

[0002] The storage module of the present invention is particularly suitable for storing bottles of wine. Accordingly, although the present invention is applicable to a wider field of object storage (as will be mentioned hereinafter), it will primarily be described in terms of wine bottle storage.

[0003] Various storage systems for storing elongated objects such as bottles of wine or the like are per se known. For example there are many types of racks made from wood or metal, in which bottles of wine are supported by their main body portions in a substantially horizontal orientation. A representative one of these horizontal type racks (one made from wood) is schematically shown at (a) in Fig. 1. And there is a type of storage system, an example of which is shown at (b) in Fig. 1, that supports wine bottles by their necks so that they are held in a substantially horizontal orientation or even so that they slope slightly downward.

[0004] Moreover, nowadays, a type of wine bottle storage system is becoming popular in which a number of storage modules are placed side by side and on top of one another so as to form a stack that extends both horizontally and vertically, each such module being generally formed as a tube or as several tubes joined together at their sides, and with the modules simply resting in the stack and being retained in place by their own weight, i.e. not being secured together by fastenings or by adhesive. Examples of such modules are schematically shown in Fig. 2. Terracotta is typically used as a ceramic material for making these modules. Terracotta is an effective material due to its cheapness, its pleasant appearance, its easy and relatively accurate formability by slip casting, its high frictional coefficient, and its supposedly advantageous thermal properties. Often each module is adapted to hold a single wine bottle (as in the case of the stacked modules shown at (a) in Fig. 2), although in some cases (as in the case of the modules shown at (b) and (c) in Fig. 2) multi-bottle modules are built each to hold two or more bottles.

[0005] Depending upon their external shapes, the modules are suitable for being stacked up as an array in a rectangular or hexagonal pattern as seen from the front, with the wine bottles received in the modules accordingly being held in a corresponding array. The rectangular configuration is not very common, and has typically been used with multi-bottle modules such as the one shown at (b) in Fig. 2; it is not particularly satisfactory in terms of space utilization and visual attractiveness, and will not be further discussed in detail here. The hexagonally arranged stack is the most natural, compact, efficient, and attractive configuration. Its simplest form is shown at (a) and at (d) in Fig. 2, in which the individual modules are simple tubes whose longitudinal outer surfaces are shaped as circular cylinders.

However, it is much more usual for the longitudinal outer surfaces of the modules to be shaped as hexagonal prisms, because this shape yields more compact packing, a better appearance, and better friction between the modules which leads to a more stable stack. In some cases, the hexagonal prism shapes are formed in multiples, as shown at (c) in Fig. 2.

[0006] Such hexagonal prism shaped modules can be stacked in two essentially different configurations: (1) a configuration that subsequently in this specification will be termed the "HD configuration" (an abbreviation of "horizontal-diagonal"), in which one diagonal line of the hexagonal cross section of each prism shape extends horizontally, so that two of the sides of each prism shape (its top and bottom sides) are oriented horizontally with the other four sides being sloped at 600 to the horizontal (an example of this is shown at (e) in Fig. 2), and (2) a configuration that subsequently in this specification will be termed the "VD configuration" (an abbreviation of "vertical-diagonal"), in which one diagonal line of the hexagonal cross section of each prism shape extends vertically, so that two of the sides of each prism shape (its left and right sides) are oriented vertically with the other four sides being sloped at 300 to the horizontal (an example of this is shown at (f) in Fig. 2).

Citation List Non Patent Literature [0007] URL#1: http://research.omicsgroup.org/index.php/Storage_of wine#Orientation_of the_bottle [0008] [Citation of relevant portion: "Research in the late 1990s suggested that the ideal orientation for wine bottles is at a slight angle, rather than completely horizontal. This allows the cork to maintain partial contact with the wine in order to stay damp but also keeps the air bubble formed by a wine's ullage at the top rather than in the middle of the bottle if the wine is lying on its side. Keeping the ullage near the top, it has been argued, allows for a slower and more gradual oxidation and maturation process. This is because the pressure of the air bubble that is the ullage space rises and falls depending on temperature fluctuation. When exposed to higher temperatures the bubble's pressure increases (becomes positive relative to the air outside of the bottle), and if the wine is tilted at an angle, this compressed gas will diffuse through the cork and not harm the wine. When the temperature falls the process reverses. If the wine is completely on its side then this action will eject some wine through the cork.

Through this "breathing" which can result from variations in temperature, oxygen may be repeatedly introduced into the bottle and as a result can react with the wine] [0009] URL442: https://www.voutube.corn/watch?v=z-VXi7hoHlk [0010] [This video shows a wine stack being built up in the VD configuration. Even without any external disturbance, the stack starts to slump sideways. This is similar to the situation shown at (c) of Fig. 4 in this application.] [0011] Printed Publication #1: J. Robinson, Jancis Robinson's Wine Course, Third Edition, pp. 42-44, Abbeville Press, 2003, ISBN 0-7892-0883-0.

[0012] [Citation of relevant portion: "There is a revolutionary new school of thought, which suggests that it may be better for wine to store bottles at an angle, which ensures that both wine and the air bubble are in contact with the cork. This will keep the cork damp but allow any expansion and contraction of the air bubble due to temperature variation to result in air, and not wine, passing through the cork. When bottles are stored horizontally the distance of the air bubble from the cork means that when higher temperatures cause it to expand, wine may be forced out between the cork and bottle-neck (the sugary deposits round the neck of many sweet wines are cited as evidence for this). Then when the temperature drops, the air bubble contracts to form a vacuum and oxygen may be drawn into the bottle. That amount of oxygen may reach harmful levels if temperatures fluctuate dramatically."] Acknowledgement [0013] The above two quotations, and the photographs reproduced in Figs. 1 and 2, are herein employed for the purposes of criticism and review under the doctrine of Section 30(1) of the Copyright Designs and Patent Act 1988. The other photographs are the work of the present applicant.

Technical Problem [0014] However, the prior art is subject to certain unresolved problems.

Problems of Presentation [0015] With prior art stacked modules such as described above, the presentation of the stored contents is not completely satisfactory, particularly in the case in which the stored contents are bottles of wine.

(A) The Problem of Unattractive Attitude [0016] The wine bottles stored in these prior art stacked modules are held in a horizontal or substantially horizontal orientation. This is not a visually attractive attitude for presentation and is not optimal from the psychological standpoint, especially in a public or semi-public location. When a bottle of alcoholic drink is being illustrated in a popular advertising medium, for example, it is virtually never shown as lying horizontal; it is almost always shown in either a vertical orientation or in an upwardly tilted orientation. The reason for this is probably ultimately rooted in deep human psychological attitudes to sexuality and death, as also exemplified by the common gesture "thumbs up", which is obviously phallic. This aspect of attractive presentation is very important in the context of a restaurant or bar, where bottles of alcoholic liquor are almost never displayed for sale in the horizontal orientation. To do so would subtly discourage purchase and consumption.

(B) The Problem of Label Visibility [0017] As far as is known to the present inventor, all ceramic (terracotta) wine storage modules currently upon the market suffer from the fundamental problem that the labels of the wine bottles stored in them are largely obscured and cannot be clearly seen. This disadvantage can clearly be appreciated by inspection of the various views in Fig. 2. It is apparent that only the top portions of the bottles including their necks can be seen from the exterior, while the main bottle labels virtually cannot be seen at all. This fact of course presents little problem when all the wine bottles stored in the modules of the stack are of the same type, but it is very often the case that the user will store an assortment of wines of different types in a stack that may, for example, consist of a hundred individual storage modules or more, and in this case the user often cannot easily know the types of the various bottles. The difficulty is aggravated when the wines are stored for several years, as is common in the case of red wine, in which case it is almost inevitable that the user will forget which wines he has stored at which locations in the stack. Although the metal foils typically fitted over the bottle corks do vary somewhat between wines, they do not constitute a reliable means of identification, and although some wine bottles carry small identifying labels around or upon their necks, many do not. Therefore, in order to retrieve a particular wine bottle that he has stored somewhere in the stack perhaps years before, the user is often compelled to resort to pulling out a series of bottles one after another for visual identification, until he finds the desired bottle. Not only is this troublesome, but it probably entails disturbing a number of wine bottles needlessly, which is not beneficial to their contents. The only way for the user to avoid this very annoying situation is to keep a written memorandum of the locations in the stack in which the various wines are stored, and this is obviously a troublesome and unreliable procedure.

[0018] The user can alleviate this label visibility problem to a certain extent by not inserting the bottles fully into the modules, but by rather only inserting the bottles just past their balance points, so that they remain protruding to some extent. However not only does this compromise stability, but also the problem of difficulty in identification of the bottles is by no means resolved. A typical full wine bottle of the Bordeaux type (the most common sort) balances at about 130 mm from its bottom, so that it needs to be inserted at least 135 mm into the module, and at this depth into a prior art module, in most cases, the label on the bottle is almost completely obscured.

S

(C) The Problem of Sediment Collection and Dissipation [0019] The above problems relate in general to storage of elongated objects in prior art modules, but the prior art also suffers from two specific non-psychological problems related to the orientation in which bottles of wine are stored.

[0020] When wine is stored for a long time, and especially in the case of expensive wine, very often a certain quantity of sediment progressively precipitates out of the liquid. If the wine bottle is being stored in the horizontal orientation, this sediment gradually collects along the line that extends along the lowest generator of the cylindrical interior surface of the main part of the bottle, as schematically shown at (a) in Fig. 3. (Here, SD denotes the sediment and PT denotes the punt of the bottle.) When the wine bottle is removed from storage for drinking and is held upward for being opened, this sediment immediately falls off the inner surface of the bottle down toward its bottom which is now its lowest point, while churning around and dissipating in the wine as schematically shown at (b) in Fig. 3. This is quite undesirable, but is an inevitable consequence of horizontal storage.

(D) The Problem of Wine/Air Contact with the Cork [0021] It is generally agreed in oenophilic circles that, in the case of bottles of red wine which are often stored for a long time, it is very beneficial for the wine to be kept in at least partial contact with the cork during storage, to avoid deterioration of the cork (such as mildewing) that may lead to the wine becoming "corked", in which case all the wine must be discarded. For this reason, bottles of good quality red wine are never stored in the vertical orientation. This wetting condition is of course satisfied when the bottle is stored in a horizontal or substantially horizontal orientation. However, there is a school of thought (refer to URL#1 and to Printed Document #1) that maintains that it would be optimal for only a portion of the lower surface of the cork to be actually submerged under the surface of the wine, with the remainder of the cork lower surface remaining above the surface of the wine so as to be in contact with the ullage, as illustrated at (c) in Fig. 3. (Here, CK denotes the cork, UL denotes the ullage, WN denotes the wine, SD denotes the sediment, and PT denotes the punt of the bottle.) It is contended that such an orientation allows a certain level of gas exchange between the ullage and the outside atmosphere, which it is considered would be beneficial. This attitude (hereinafter termed the "cork-partly-wetted attitude") evidently cannot be implemented if the bottle is stored in a horizontal or substantially horizontal orientation, as is the case with the prior arts described above. Even in the case of the rather crude type of wine rack illustrated at (b) of Fig. 1 where the bottles are held by their necks, in which case sometimes the bottles may be inclined somewhat downward, this cork-partly-wetted attitude is not reliably provided, because the angles of the bottles are not well controlled and can vary, for example according to the exact thicknesses of their necks. The present inventor has ascertained by experiment and measurement that the optimum angle for a filled wine bottle of the Bordeaux type to be held in order for the cork-partly-wetted attitude to be provided is at about 14° from the horizontal, with the cork being higher than the punt.

Problems of Stability [0022] Stacks of prior art hexagonal prism shaped modules such as described above also suffer from serious problems with regard to stability.

E) Transverse Slippage Stability Problems The HD configuration [0023] In the HD configuration, as schematically shown at (a) in Fig. 4, the stack essentially consists of a number of individual columns that are simply placed side by side with their substantially vertical zigzag sides being loosely fitted into one another, so that vertical "fault lines" (such as schematically shown by the line FL1 in the figure) are present between the columns, extending generally vertically. With this HD configuration, the weights of the individual modules do not exert any substantial forces tending to push the columns apart. However, no substantial friction is present between the different columns each of which consists of a simple vertical pile of individual modules, and accordingly there is also no substantial frictional effect tending to keep the columns together. The columns are essentially individual towers which are not substantially linked together sidewise, and accordingly this arrangement is very seriously laterally unstable.

The VD configuration [0024] In the VD configuration, as schematically illustrated at (b) in Fig. 4, the individual modules are held together to a certain extent by friction, since the weight of each module is mostly carried via its two lower sloping surfaces upon two of the upper sloping surfaces of the two modules beneath and to either side of it, and quite substantial friction is generated between these two pairs of mutually contacting sloping surfaces, depending upon the pressure between each pair. However potential fault lines (such as denoted by the line FL2 in the figure) between the modules still are present, and what is worse, the weights of the individual modules tend to force these fault lines apart against the frictional forces that resist this tendency, so that there is a danger of these fault lines opening up in the case of any slippage. An example of this problem is schematically shown at (c) in Fig. 4, which is a freely interpreted reproduction as a line drawing of a frame from a video upon a website devoted to promotion of a prior art wine storage system (Non-Patent Document #2). This wine storage system is shown as having actually been set up in an enclosed alcove. It can be seen that only the restricting walls on both sides are preventing the stack from slumping disastrously sideways and outward.

[0025] In both these cases -the HD configuration and the VD configuration -it cannot be said that the entire stack is properly transversely stable, and it could easily split apart or collapse catastrophically sideways, especially in the event of an earth tremor or an earthquake.

[0026] The above described problem of transverse slippage is present in the case of modules that are made from terracotta, but is much more prominent and troublesome in the case of modules that are made from plastic. In fact, the present inventor conjectures that the reason that no hexagonal storage modules made from plastic and adapted to be employed in the VD configuration are currently on the market is due to the transverse slippage problem described above.

(F) Longitudinal Upsetting Stability Problems [0027] Typically an array in which a number of such hexagonal prism shaped modules are stacked up together is set up against a backing wall. However, the higher the stack becomes, the less stable it is with respect to tilting forwards away from the backing wall and crashing down, and this stability problem is much aggravated when all the modules of the stack are loaded with full wine bottles. With a small stack the problem is not very serious, but in some larger installations the stack may be built up to a height of twenty modules or more. Particularly if an earth tremor or an earthquake occurs, there is a real possibility of part or all of such a stack tipping over forward and falling down catastrophically, and not only would this cause great financial loss if the stored wine were expensive, but also it would present a serious physical problem, because the total weight of the modules and the wine contained in the bottles that they store is quite high -typically, when the modules are completely populated with wine bottles, this weight can amount to 150 kg per square meter of vertical area (i.e. of backing wall or post area). This problem effectively rules out the use of such a stacked module arrangement in any part of the planet (such as Japan) that is prone to earth tremors or earthquakes, and indeed is a potential danger in any installation location. It is noted that, at the present and as far as known to the present inventor, no firm in Japan is marketing wine storage modules that are intended to be stacked up, and it is conjectured that this fact is due to the problem of longitudinal stability.

[0028] The transverse and longitudinal stability problems described above that are present with both these configurations (HD and VD) do not apply only to hollow hexagonal prism shaped modules that are intended for wine storage, but also apply to any type of hexagonal module or hexagonal brick that is designed for being stacked up in a hexagonal arrangement, either in the HD configuration or in the VD configuration.

[0029] Moreover, there is an unfulfilled need for provision of a single module that can be securely fixed to a wall or post, in order to store an elongated object such as a bottle of wine in an advantageous and attractive manner.

Objectives of Invention [0030] The present invention aims at solving the problems detailed above, as well as other problems that will become clear from the following description.

[0031] Two related objectives of the present invention are to provide a storage module for an object that is capable of storing an object so that part of its side can easily be visually inspected, and to provide a group of modules for object storage that is capable of storing a set of objects so that parts of their sides can easily be visually inspected.

[0032] Another two related objectives of the present invention are to provide a storage module for an object that is capable of storing an object so that it is presented in a visually inspiring manner, and to provide a group of modules for object storage that is capable of storing a set of objects so that they are presented in a visually inspiring manner.

[0033] Yet another two related objectives of the present invention are to provide a storage module for an object that is capable of storing a wine bottle so that sediment does not accumulate along the lowest generator of the cylindrical interior surface of the bottle, and to provide a group of modules for object storage that is capable of storing a set of wine bottles so that sediments do not accumulate along the lowest generators of the cylindrical interior surfaces of the bottles.

[0034] Still another two related objectives of the present invention are to provide a storage module for an object that is capable of storing a wine bottle so that it is held in the cork-partly-wetted attitude, and to provide a group of modules for object storage that is capable of storing a set of wine bottles so that each of them is held in the cork-partly-wetted attitude.

[0035] A further two related objectives of the present invention are to provide a hexagonal prism shaped module for storage of an object that provides good transverse stability when stacked together with other similar hexagonal prism shaped storage modules, and to provide a group of hexagonal prism shaped storage modules that have good transverse stability when stacked together.

[0036] A yet further two related objectives of the present invention are to provide a module that is capable of being fixed to a backing surface so as to provide good longitudinal stability for a stack of that module with other similar modules, and to provide a group of such modules of which, when they are stacked together, at least one can be fixed to a backing surface so as to provide good longitudinal stability for the stack as a whole.

[0037] A still further two related objectives of the present invention are to provide a module and a module group that confer a high degree of security, even when set up in a location that is prone to earth tremors or earthquakes.

[0038] An even further objective of the present invention is to provide a module that can be fixed by itself in isolation to a backing surface such as a wall or a post so as to project therefrom, and in which it is possible to store an object such as a bottle of wine so that it projects with respect to the backing surface in a secure manner.

[0039] Two related general objectives of the present invention are to provide a module and a module group that present a pleasant appearance.

[0040] Another two related general objectives of the present invention are to provide a module and a module group that are suitable for storage of bottles of wine.

[0041] Still another two related general objectives of the present invention are to provide a module and a module group that are suitable for holding flowers.

S [0042] Yet another two related general objectives of the present invention are to provide a module and a module group that are made from terracotta.

[0043] Even another two related general objectives of the present invention are to provide a module and a module group that are made from plastic.

[0044] Still yet another two related general objectives of the present invention are to provide a module and a module group that are suitable for receiving one or more wine bottles for storage.

[0045] And another two related general objectives of the present invention are to provide a module and a module group that are suitable for receiving earth in which one or more flowers may be grown.

Solutions to Problems [0046] Various ways in which the present invention copes with the above problems and fulfils the above objectives will now be detailed. In this description, for ease of understanding, reference symbols corresponding to the accompanying drawings are appended to various members and features, but these reference symbols are not to be considered as being limitafive of the present invention in any way.

First Aspect [0047] According to a first aspect of the present invention, one or more of the objectives of the present invention as described above are realised by a storage module (M) generally formed as a hollow hexagonal prism with a central axis (X), having an interior cavity (H), six substantially planar external side surfaces (LUS, LVS, LLS, RUS, RVS, RLS) that are pairwise parallel, and an opening at one open end (P) of the prism shape that opens from its exterior to the interior cavity (H), wherein the circumferential open end edge (SE) of the one open end (P) is scalloped in a generally wavy form.

[0048] With this scalloped end structure, it is easy to view, past part of the scalloping at the end of the module, a part of the side of a generally cylindrical or part-cylindrical object that is loaded into this module, so that it is much easier for the user to know what type of object is stored in the module, because a part of its side can easily be visually inspected. Especially when this object is a bottle of wine, this can be a very important advantage from the point of view of the user, as explained above, since it is possible to view at least part of the label on the bottle. Accordingly, this scalloping of the front edge of the module solves the problem detailed under the heading "(B) The Problem of Label Visibility" in the foregoing section entitled "Technical Problem". Furthermore, because the sides of the hexagonal prism shape are parallel to one another pairwise, it is ensured that, although the prism shape may not be a regular prism shape, a number of them can be stacked up in a honeycomb-pattern array without leaving internal voids.

[0049] And, according to a specialization of this first aspect of the present invention, one or more of the objectives of the present invention as described above are realised by a storage module (M) as described above, v%frierein, when the module (M) is viewed from its open end (P) substantially straight on with one of its diagonals extending vertically, the scalloping around the circumferential open end edge (SE) approximately follows, symmetrically and enantiomorphically on both sides of a plane that includes the bottom longitudinal outer edge (BE) of the module (M) and the top longitudinal outer edge (TE) thereof opposite to the bottom edge (BE), a form in which: [0050] from the end of the bottom edge (BE) over a first angular distance to a first turning point (a), no substantial cutting away is performed; [0051] around the circumferential direction away from the bottom edge (BE) end, from the first turning point (a) to a second turning point (p) before the end of the next lower intermediate longitudinal edge (LLE), substantial cutting back is progressively performed in a first cutting back pattern (PAT1); [0052] further along the circumferential direction, from the second turning point (13) past the end of the next lower intermediate longitudinal edge (LLE) to a third turning point (y) before the end of the next upper intermediate edge (LUE), the cutting back is continued in a second cutting back pattern (PAT2); [0053] from the third turning point (y) to a fourth turning point (5) before the end of the next upper intermediate edge (LUE), the cutting back is reduced progressively to nil in a third cutting back pattern (PAT3); [0054] from the fourth turning point (5) past the upper intermediate edge (LUE) end over a second angular distance substantially the same as the first angular distance to a fifth turning point (c) before the end of the top edge (TE), no substantial cutting away is performed; [0055] from the fifth turning point (c) to a sixth turning point () before the end of the top edge (TE), the first cutting back pattern (PAT1') is substantially reproduced; and [0056] from the sixth turning point () to the end of the top edge (TE), the part of the second cutting back pattern (PAT2) from the second turning point (p) to the end of the lower intermediate longitudinal edge (LLE) is substantially reproduced.

[0057] According to this description of the scalloping pattern, which is best understood with reference to Fig. 8, the cutting back of the circumferential open end edge of the module is performed in, and only in, the locations where it can be performed without deteriorating the support given by the module from underneath to an object stored therein. In particular, the portion of the module at and adjoining its bottom edge is not cut back. Moreover, when several of the modules are stacked together, it is arranged for the patterns of cutting back on the modules to fit neatly together. In particular, since the portions of each module adjoining its upper intermediate edges are not cut back, these edge portions remain and are capable of reinforcing the supporting of stored objects performed by the bottom edge portions of the modules that are above the module in question to the left and to the right.

[0058] And, according to a further specialization of this first aspect of the present invention, one or more of the objectives of the present invention as described above are realised by a storage module of the type proximately described above, wherein the second pattern is substantially straight around the module open end edge and runs skew perpendicular to the central axis.

[0059] According to this specialization of the scalloping pattern, the second pattern, which mostly runs along the vertical sides of the module, is formed in an aesthetic shape that gives as much visual exposure as reasonably practicable to the sides of the object stored in the module, which is a particularly important feature if the object is a bottle of wine.

[0060] And, according to yet another specialization of this first aspect of the present invention, one or more of the objectives of the present invention as described above are realised by a storage module of either of the two types described proximately above, wherein the first angular distance from the end of the bottom edge to the first turning point is at least 15°.

[0061] According to this specialization of the scalloping pattern, the trough at the bottom of the module, whose central line is its bottom edge, is sufficiently wide to be able to bear the weight of an object stored in the module, but is not unduly wide. If the module is made from terracotta, this value of 150 is thought to be the minimum practical limit for the half-width of the trough, in order for it to have sufficient strength to bear the weight of a wine bottle. However, of course, this will to some extent depend upon the thickness of the wall of the module. On the other hand, if the module is made from plastic or from some other material, then this trough might be formed to be narrower than 15° without compromising the strength of the support that it provides. As a general concept, in order to promote visibility, the scalloping at the front open end of the module should cut back as much of the front edge of the module as possible, provided that an object such as a wine bottle stored in the module still remains properly and securely supported.

Second Aspect [0062] According to a second aspect of the present invention, one or more of the objectives of the present invention as described above are realised by a storage module (M) generally formed as a hollow hexagonal prism with a central axis (X), having an interior cavity (H), six substantially planar external side surfaces (LUS, LVS, LLS, RUS, RVS, RLS) that are pairwise parallel, and an opening at one open end (P) of the prism shape that opens from its exterior to the interior cavity (H), wherein longitudinally extreme portions (LUL, RUL, LCL) of the first end (P) define a front plane that is oblique to the central axis (X).

[0063] When a number of these storage modules are stacked up in a hexagonal stack with their front planes as defined above substantially coinciding with one another and with the front edge of the stack raised by some construction so that this common front plane is substantially vertical and so that the front ends of the modules are tilted upward, and when objects, particularly bottles of wine, are stored in these modules, then the upper portions of these objects such as wine bottles On this case, their necks) protrude so as to extend somewhat upward. As described above, this is a more attractive position for presenting objects such as bottles of wine, than if the bottles were stored horizontally as is the case in the prior art. Moreover, in the case of bottles of wine, the bottles are thereby to a large extent prevented from suffering from excessive dispersal of settled sediment when they are removed from their storage in the module stack, as also described above, since, over time, such sediment will naturally settle near the punts, rather than along the lowest generators of the cylindrical surfaces of the bottles. And furthermore, in the case of bottles of wine, the bottles can be held in the "cork-partly-wetted" attitude, which, as explained in detail above, is a very beneficial bottle attitude for long-term wine storage. Accordingly, this tilting upward of the front edge of the module (M) solves the problems detailed under the headings "(A) The Problem of Unattractive Attitude", "(C) The Problem of Sediment Collection and Dissipation", and "(D) The Problem of Wine/Air Contact with the Cork" in the foregoing section of this specification entitled "Technical Problem".

[0064] An alternative way of considering this concept is that of a storage module (M) generally formed as a hollow hexagonal prism with a central axis (X), having an interior cavity (H), six substantially planar external side surfaces (LUS, LVS, LLS, RUS, RVS, RLS) that are pairwise parallel, and an opening at one open end (P) of the prism shape that opens from its exterior to the interior cavity (H), wherein the other second end (Q) of the prism shape opposite to the one end is delimited by a defining rear plane that is oblique to the central axis (X). Essentially, the same considerations as described above apply to this case as well. And this configurational concept may be combined with the concept first detailed above, so that both the front end and the rear end of the storage module are delimited by oblique front and rear planes respectively. Moreover, the front oblique plane may be generally parallel to the rear oblique plane. And the front and rear oblique planes may be perpendicular to two of the side surfaces (LVS, RVS) that oppose one another. With this arrangement, the modules will be suitable for being stacked up hexagonally in the VD configuration.

[0065] In the various cases described above, the angle of the central axis with respect to the normal to the defining oblique front plane and/or the normal to the defining oblique rear plane may be between about 10° and about 20°, and, preferably may be approximately 14°. This will promote the establishment of the "cork-partly-wetted" attitude. Finally, the other second end of the prism shape may be closed and delimited on its exterior by the defining oblique rear plane. This closed second end will stop the stored objects, such as wine bottles, from sliding downwards through the modules and protruding from their backs, when the bottles are stacked up in an inclined arrangement as explained above.

Third Aspect [0066] According to a third aspect of the present invention, one or more of the objectives of the present invention as described above are realised by a storage module (M) generally formed as a hollow hexagonal prism with a central axis (X), having an interior cavity (H, first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth substantially planar external side surfaces (LUS, RUS, RVS, RLS, LLS, LVS) arranged around its periphery in that order, and an opening at one open end (P) of the prism shape that opens from its exterior to the interior cavity (H), wherein: [0067] the first and fourth side surfaces (LUS, RLS) are mutually parallel, and the first side surface (LUS) is formed with a first set of irregularities (FEG) and the fourth side surface (RLS) is formed with a fourth set of irregularities (MEP) that are so shaped as to be capable of substantially interlocking with the first set of irregularities (FEG), and; [0068] the second and fifth side surfaces (RUS, LLS) are mutually parallel, and the second side surface (RUS) is formed with a second set of irregularities (FEG) and the fifth side surface (LLS) is formed with a fifth set of irregularities (MEP) that are so shaped as to be capable of substantially interlocking with the second set of irregularities (FEG); and [0069] the third and sixth side surfaces (LVS, RVS) are mutually parallel.

[0070] With this configuration, when a plurality of these modules are stacked up in a honeycomb array in the VD arrangement with their diagonals from their corners between their first and second surfaces (LUS, RUS) extending vertically downward to their corners between their fourth and fifth surfaces (RLS, LLS), where any two modules (M) are in mutual contact via their respective first and fourth surfaces or via their respective second and fifth surfaces, the first set of irregularities (FEG) on the first surface (LUS) of the lower module (M) interlock with the fourth set of irregularities (MEP) on the fourth surface (RLS) of the upper module (M), or similarly the second set of irregularities (FEG) on the second surface (RUS) of the lower module (M) interlock with the fifth set of irregularities (MEP) on the fifth surface (LLS) of the upper module (M). This interlocking prevents the sort of transverse or sideways slumping described previously under the heading "(E) Transverse Slippage Stability Problems" in the foregoing section entitled "Technical Problem". Accordingly it is possible to provide a storage module that confers a high degree of safety, even when a number of them are stacked up in a location that is prone to earth tremors or earthquakes.

[0071] And, according to a specialization of this third aspect of the present invention, one or more of the objectives of the present invention as described above are realised by a storage module (M) as described above, wherein the pattern of the first set of irregularities (FEG) upon the first side surface (LUS) is substantially enantiomorphic to the pattern of the second set of irregularities (FEG) upon the second side surface (RUS), and the pattern of the fourth set of irregularities (MEP) upon the fourth side surface (RLS) is substantially enantiomorphic to the pattern of the fifth set of irregularities MEP) upon the fifth side surface (LLS).

[0072] This specialization of the third aspect of the present invention ensures that the modules have a more attractive aspect when viewed from a direction generally looking at their first and second surfaces, or when viewed from a direction generally looking at their fourth and fifth surfaces.

[0073] And, according to another specialization of this third aspect of the present invention, one or more of the objectives of the present invention as described above are realised by a storage module (M) as first described above, wherein the exterior outline of the cross section of the module (M) by a plane orthogonal to the central axis (X) is substantially a regular hexagon (Fig. 7), with the exception of the interlocking irregularities (FEG, MEP).

[0074] This specialization of the third aspect of the present invention ensures that the modules are regularly formed, which is appropriate for the storage of object such as wine bottles, and that they stack up in a regular manner, which tends to enhance the appearance of a stack of the modules when viewed from the front.

[0075] And, according to yet another specialization of this third aspect of the present invention, one or more of the objectives of the present invention as described above are realised by a storage module (M) as described above, wherein the third side surface (RVS) is formed with a third set of irregularities and the sixth side surface (LVS) is formed with a sixth set of irregularities that are so shaped as to be capable of substantially interlocking with the third set of irregularities.

[0076] This specialization of the third aspect of the present invention ensures that, when stacked together, the modules are even better interlocked and mutually interlinked.

[0077] In fact, this third aspect of the present invention, in its various formulations and specializations, could also be applied to any type of hexagonal prism-shaped object that is intended to be stacked up in plurality in a honeycomb manner, either in the HD configuration or in the VD configuration, and is not only applicable to objects that have hollow interiors and that are intended for storage. This concept could, for example, be applied to hexagonal bricks.

Fourth Aspect [0078] And, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, one or more of the objectives of the present invention as described above are realised by a storage module (M) generally formed as a hollow hexagonal prism with a central axis (X), having an interior cavity (H), six substantially planar external side surfaces (LUS, LVS, LLS, RUS, RVS, RLS) that are pairwise parallel, an opening at one open end (P) of the prism shape that opens from its exterior to the interior cavity (H), and a substantially closed other end, (Q) wherein the other end (Q) is formed with a fixing hole (A) opening from the exterior to the interior cavity (H).

[0079] In this case it is possible to pass a fixing device, such as a screw with a washer mounted thereupon, into the interior cavity of the module, to protrude it outward through the fixing hole, and to attach it to a backing such as a wall or a post. This will secure the entire module (M) to the backing. If only one such module is fixed at a certain height to the backing, then it will serve as an attractive means for holding an object such as a bottle of wine. On the other hand, if several modules according to the present invention are stacked up and at least one of those modules is provided with a fixing hole as described above, then, by attaching this module to a backing as described above, it is possible to stabilize the entire stack against falling over forward, even in the event of an earth tremor or earthquake. Accordingly, this formation of the fixing hole (A) in the rear end (Q) of the module (M) solves the problem detailed under the heading "(F) Longitudinal Upsetting Stability Problems" in the foregoing section entitled "Technical Problem". With the provision of the closed other end (Q) and the fixing hole (A) therein, it becomes possible for a stack of these modules to be employed, for example for wine storage, in a part of the world that is prone to earthquakes such as Japan.

[0080] And, according to a specialization of this fourth aspect of the present invention, one or more of the objectives of the present invention as described above are realised by a storage module (M) as described above, wherein the other end is formed with a plurality of fixing holes opening from the exterior to the interior cavity.

[0081] In this case, by employing a plurality of fixing means each of which is passed through these fixing holes and is secured to a backing as described above, it is possible to secure the module to the backing yet more positively. Moreover, if a single one of these modules is used by itself by being fixed at a certain height to a backing in order to hold and store an object such as a single bottle of wine, then the fact that a plurality of fixing means are employed by being passed through these several fixing holes and being secured to the backing ensures that the module cannot rotate around a horizontal axis (as it might possibly do if there were only one fixing hole and one fixing means), and this provides important additional security. This is particularly important if the module is one of the type described above in which the rear surface Q is angled obliquely with respect to the central axis (X) of the module, because in this case rotation of the module around a horizontal axis, in the worst case, could lead to an object such as a wine bottle that is stored in the module slipping downwards and out from the module and falling.

Group Aspect [0082] According to a group aspect of the present invention, one or more of the objectives of the present invention as described above are realised by a group of storage modules, comprising a plurality of modules of any of the types described above, all being of substantially the same external shape, and further comprising a plurality of main support portions (BESP), each of which has the general shape of part of one of the modules (M) sectioned by a dividing sectional plane (G) that is angled at from 0° to about 20° with respect to its central axis (X) and that diverges from the central axis (X) toward the open end (P) of the sectioned module [0083] By employing these additional main support portions, as will be described hereinafter, it is possible securely and effectively to prop up the front edge of the stack composed of the group of storage modules stacked together so that the entire stack is angled upward, thus providing the advantages described above and solving the problems detailed under the headings "(A) The Problem of Unattractive Attitude", "(C) The Problem of Sediment Collection and Dissipation", and "(D) The Problem of Wine/Air Contact with the Cork" in the foregoing section of this specification entitled "Technical Problem".

[0084] According to a specialization of this group aspect of the present invention, one or more of the objectives of the present invention as described above are realised by a group of storage modules as described above, wherein the angle of the central axis (Q) with respect to the normal to the dividing sectional plane (G) is about 80° or less, and preferably is about 76°. In this case, the angle of the stack of storage modules will be particularly appropriate for holding wine bottles at preferable angles, as previously described.

[0085] And, according to a further specialization of this group aspect of the present invention, one or more of the objectives of the present invention as described above are realised by a group of storage modules of any of the types described above, further comprising one or two corner support portions (LBCSP, RBCSP) which have the respective general shapes of the two portions into which one of the above described main support portions (BESP) is sectioned by a sagittal plane (Y) that includes the central axis (X) and that is perpendicular to the dividing sectional plane (G). These one or two corner support portions (LBCSP, RBCSP) may, in some cases, be very important for stabilizing the support of the front edge of the stack, as will be described hereinafter.

[0086] According to another group aspect of the present invention, one or more of the objectives of the present invention as described above are realised by a group of storage modules, comprising a plurality of modules of any of the types discussed above, all being of substantially the same external shape, and further comprising a side support portion (LSFP, RSPF) which has the general shape of part of one of the modules (M) sectioned by a sagittal plane (Z) that includes the central axis (X and includes two opposite edges of the module (TE, BE). This side support portion LSFP, RSPF) aids with stabilizing the stack of modules against collapse, as will be described hereinafter.

[0087] And, according to yet another group aspect of the present invention, one or more of the objectives of the present invention as described above are realised by a group of storage modules, comprising a plurality of modules according to any of the types described above, all being of substantially the same external shape, and further comprising a plurality of main top finishing portions (TEFP), each of which has the general shape of part of one of the modules (M) sectioned by a dividing sectional plane (VV) that is angled at from 0° to about 20° with respect to its central axis (X) and that converges toward the central axis (X) toward the open end (P) of the sectioned module (M). By employing these additional top finishing portions (TEFP), it is possible to finish off the top of the stack in an aesthetic manner, and/or to provide locations for storing more objects such as wine bottles. Such wine bottles are particularly well exposed to view, because they are at the very top of the stack.

[0088] Moreover, according to even another group aspect of the present invention, one or more of the objectives of the present invention as described above are realised by a group of storage modules, further comprising one or two top corner finishing portions (LTCFP, RTCFP) which have the general shapes of the two portions into which one of the main top finishing portions (TEFP) is sectioned by a sagittal plane (K) that includes the central axis (X and that is perpendicular to the dividing sectional plane M). These one or two top corner finishing portions (LTCFP, RTCFP) do not have any function of providing additional stability to the stack, but do improve its external appearance.

Advantageous Effects of Invention [0089] According to the present invention, there are provided a hexagonal storage module and a group of such hexagonal modules, that solve the various problems detailed above under the headings (A) through (F) in the preceding section of this specification entitled "Technical Problem".

Brief Description of Drawings

[0090] Fig. 1, which relates to the prior art, shows conventional wine racks of two different types; [0091] Fig. 2, which relates to the prior art, shows tubular wine storage modules of a number of different types, individually and in stacks; [0092] Fig. 3, which relates to the prior art, schematically illustrates in side sectional view wine bottles in several orientations; [0093] Fig. 4, which relates to the prior art, schematically illustrates certain transverse stability problems when hexagonal storage modules are stacked up, [0094] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the storage module of the present invention; [0095] Fig. 6 is a schematic side view of this storage module; [0096] Fig. 7 is a schematic transverse cross section of the storage module, taken in a plane shown by the line VII-VII in Fig. 6; [0097] Fig. 8 is a schematic perspective view of the storage module as seen from a viewpoint on its central axis X in front of its open end; [0098] Fig. 9 shows in perspective view a number of these modules, stacked together in the VD arrangement; [0099] Fig. 10 is another perspective view showing a number of these modules, stacked together in the VD arrangement; [0100] Fig. 11 is a side view showing a number of these modules, stacked together in the VD arrangement; S [0101] Fig. 1215 a perspective view showing a number of these modules, stacked together in the VD arrangement and holding bottles of wine; [0102] Fig. 13 is a side view of a single storage module according to an embodiment of the present invention, attached to a post and holding a bottle of wine; [0103] Fig. 14 is a simplified schematic figure showing front views of auxiliary pieces of eight types that can be used for supporting and finishing off a stack of modules, and a simplified schematic view showing 32 modules stacked up in a 5-4-5-4-5-4-5 configuration; [0104] Fig. 15 is a simplified schematic front view of this stack of 32 modules complete with auxiliary pieces; [0105] Fig. 16 is a schematic side view showing how a bottom edge support piece has the shape of an upper part of a storage module; [0106] Fig. 17 is a simplified schematic front view, showing how left and right bottom corner support pieces have the forms of left and right halves of a bottom edge support piece; [0107] Fig. 18 is a simplified schematic front view, showing how left and right side fairing pieces have the forms of left and right halves of a storage module; [0108] Fig. 19 is a schematic side view showing how a top edge fairing piece has the shape of a lower part of a storage module; [0109] Fig. 20 is a simplified schematic front view, showing how left and right top comer fairing pieces have the forms of left and right halves of a top edge fairing piece; [0110] Fig. 21 shows perspective views of some auxiliary pieces, some in several versions; [0111] Fig. 22 shows several stacks of modules and auxiliary pieces, with the types of the auxiliary pieces indicated; [0112] Fig. 23 is a perspective view of a stack in which fully closed auxiliary pieces have been used both at the sides and at the top; [0113] Fig. 24 is a schematic sectional view showing a stackable hexagonal flower pot; and [0114] Fig. 25 is a schematic sectional view showing a stackable hexagonal flower pot of another type.

Description of Embodiments

[0115] Embodiments of the storage module according to the present invention and of the storage module group according to the present invention will now be described by way of example, and with reference to the appended drawings. Moreover, although (except for the last embodiment) these embodiments will be explained in terms of their application for storage of wine bottles, this is not to be considered as being limitative of the present invention; objects of other types could also be stored.

The First Embodiment -a Module Embodiment [0116] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a storage module M according to the first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 6 is a schematic view thereof as seen from its right side; Fig. 7 is an orthogonally transverse schematic sectional view thereof as cut by a plane shown by the line VII-VII in Fig. 6; and Fig. 8 is a schematic perspective end-on view of this storage module M as seen from its front.

[0117] This storage module M of the present invention is generally formed as an oblique hexagonal prism having a central axis X and a hollow interior H. One end P of the module M (its "front end") opens from the exterior to its interior H and will be described in detail hereinafter, and its other end Q Os "rear end") is shaped as a hexagon (not a regular hexagon) and is a substantially closed surface. Thus, the module M roughly resembles a hexagonal tube that is substantially closed at one end. This tube is of a suitable size to accommodate a Bordeaux-type wine bottle, as will be described hereinafter. And the module M is adapted so that a plurality (i.e. a group) of the modules M can be stacked in the VD configuration as shown in perspective view in Figs. 9 through 12, as will also be described in detail hereinafter.

[0118] Referring to Fig. 7 which is a cross-sectional view taken orthogonally to the axis X, the cross-sectional shape of the exterior surface of this hexagonal prism shaped module M is substantially a regular hexagon, but, although this feature is preferred, it should not be considered as being!imitative; the hexagonal orthogonal cross-sectional shape might alternatively not be regular, as long as its three pairs of opposite sides are parallel so that it can tessellate the plane. Moreover, in this particular realization, the cross-sectional shape of the interior surface of this hollow module M is also substantially a regular hexagon, although it could alternatively be a circle or an intermediate shape, i.e. a hexagon with rounded corners. However, these possibilities are not illustrated.

[0119] Reference symbols designating the various surfaces and edges of the module M are as shown in the figures, and will now be particularized. Considering the module M in its shown rotational orientation which is its orientation in the VD arrangement with one diagonal vertical, and using the terms "left" and "right" with reference to the view looking at the open end P of the module M which is its front (i.e. the view shown in Fig. 8): the left and right vertical side surfaces of the module M will be referred to as LVS ("left vertical side") and RVS ("right vertical side") respectively; its left and right upper surfaces that slope at approximately 30° to the horizontal and that are at 60° to the vertical sides [VS and RVS will be referred to as [US ("left upper surface") and RUS ("right upper surface") respectively; and its left and right lower surfaces that slope at approximately 30° to the horizontal and that are at 60° to the vertical sides [VS and RVS will be referred to as [LS ("left lower surface") and RLS ("right lower surface") respectively. Moreover, its top and bottom longitudinally extending edges will be referred to as TE ("top edge") and BE ("bottom edge") respectively; the upper left and right longitudinally extending edges of its vertical side surfaces [VS and RVS will be referred to as LUE ("left upper edge") and RUE ("right upper edge") respectively; and the lower left and right longitudinally extending edges of the vertical side surfaces [VS and RVS will be referred to as [LE ("left lower edge") and RLE ("right lower edge") respectively. Furthermore, each of the left and right upper sloping surfaces [US and RUS is formed with female engagement grooves FEG in a specific pattern (in the shown embodiment, this pattern includes three grooves FEG as shown in Fig. 6), while each of the left and right lower sloping surfaces LLS and RLS is formed with male engagement protrusions MEP in a corresponding pattern.

[0120] Moreover, the surrounding edge SE of the opening portion at the open front end P of the module M has a scalloped shape, as will be described in detail hereinafter. By "scalloped" is meant that the edge SE of the open front end P of the module M is cut back at certain portions, so that its resulting contour follows a generally wavy form rather resembling a circular cam. However, this wavy form is not a sine wave nor very much like a sine wave, and does not consist of a series of circular arcs either; its shape in this embodiment is best understood from Figs. 5 and Figs. 9 through 12. This form for the surrounding edge SE includes three protruding lip portions surrounding the opening in the front end P of the module M: upper left and upper right lip portions on either side of the top edge TE will be referred to as ULL ("upper left lip") and URL ("upper right lip") respectively, and a lower central lip portion will be referred to as LCL ("lower central lip"). Furthermore, the cutback (to be explained in detail hereinafter) between the upper left lip ULL and the upper right lip URL will be referred to as TC ("top cutback"), while the cutbacks between the lower central lip LCL and the upper left lip UL[ and the upper right lip URL will respectively be referred to as LC ("left cutback") and RC ("right cutback").

[0121] Yet further, the rear end Q of this module M is formed as a plane surface whose plane is not orthogonal to the axis X of the module M, but whose normal is at an angle of about 140 with respect to that axis X. Accordingly the shape of this surface Q, while being a hexagon, is somewhat distorted from a regular hexagon. Moreover, a circular aperture A is formed at the centre of the rear end Q, as shown in Fig. 8. (The surface Q appears to be a regular hexagon in this view because it is being viewed obliquely, although actually it is not a regular hexagon.) [0122] This module M is endowed with the following distinctive features: [0123] (A) The surrounding edge SE of the front end P is formed to be scalloped, i.e. is formed with the cutbacks TC, LC, and RC and the lips ULL, URL, and [CL, so as to have a distinctive scalloped or wavy cut back shape in three dimensions.

[0124] (B) The oblique prism shape of the module M is such that, when a number of identical modules M are stacked together and are supported at the front of the stack so that their coplanar rear surfaces Q substantially lie, in common, in a vertical plane, the modules M are all inclined upward so that their central axes X are at about 14° to the horizontal.

[0125] (C) The two upper sloping sides [US and RUS of the module M are formed with female engagement grooves FEG and the two lower sloping sides [LS and RLS are formed with male engagement protrusions MEP, and corresponding sets of these protrusions and grooves are adapted to engage with one another.

[0126] (D) The rear end Q of the module M is closed, except for the fact that it is pierced through by the aperture A. [0127] Each of these features (A) through (D) will now be described in detail, and the particular benefits which it provides will be explained.

Feature (A) -the edge SE of the front end P of the module M is cut away, i.e. is scalloped.

[0128] The primary aim of the scalloped shape of this embodiment is to address the problem connected with the prior art as described above, relating to visibility of elongated objects (such as wine bottles) when they are stored in modules M. [0129] The purpose of cutting back certain portions of the surrounding edge SE of the open end P of the module M, i.e. the cut back portions TC, LC, and RC, is to enable the user better to see outer portions of an object, such as a wine bottle, that is inserted into the interior H of the module M and is supported thereby, without deteriorating the quality of support for the object. This cutting back of the edge of the module M should be done as much as practicable.

However, it cannot be done to any arbitrary extent, because the support provided by the module M for the object should not be compromised. The logic behind the way in which the portions of the edge that are to be cut back are determined will now be explained with reference to Fig. 8 which shows the module M as seen from the front, i.e. looking axially at its open end P. [0130] First, for obvious reasons of aesthetics, the cutting back of the front edge SE of the module M should be performed symmetrically about its central vertical plane. Next, since the purpose of the module M is to store and support an object such as a bottle, accordingly the lowest portion of the edge SE of the open end P (at the end of the bottom edge BE) should not be cut back at all, because it is this portion that actually supports and stabilizes the object or bottle. This portion is the portion of the surrounding edge SE that includes the outer end of the bottom edge BE and that extends some way on either side of that edge BE. For reasons of strength, support, and stability, it is considered that at least one third of the portion of the edge SE where it defines parts of the borders of the left and right lower surfaces LLS and RLS should not be substantially cut back. However, most of the portions of the surrounding edge SE where it borders the vertical side surfaces LVS and RVS may be cut quite far back because they are not actually employed for supporting or stabilizing the bottle, and these cut back edge portions should be joined to the remaining non-cut-back edge regions on the left and right lower surfaces LLS and RLS (which together constitute the lower central lip LCL) by some aesthetically appropriate fairing curves. This cutting back structure defines the left and right cut back portions LC and RC.

[0131] At this point, however, another consideration comes into play. That is, when a plurality of the modules M are stacked together, upon a first triple line where three of the modules M meet with two of them being upper and one being lower, it is important that the end of the edge RLE of the left side upper module M, the end of the edge LLE of the right side upper module M, and the end of the top edge TE of the lower side module M should coincide.

Similarly, upon a second triple line where three of the modules M meet with one of them being upper and two being lower, it is important that the end of the edge RUE of the left side lower module M, the end of the edge LUE of the right side lower module M, and the end of the bottom edge BE of the upper side module M should coincide. Moreover, where any two side surfaces of adjoining modules M are in planar contact against one another (these will be a sloping surface LUS against a sloping surface RLS, a sloping surface RUS against a sloping surface LLS, or a vertical surface LVS against a vertical surface RVS), the cut back edges of those two side surfaces should coincide. This is in order for the module stack to present an aesthetic appearance, as exemplified in Fig. 10.

[0132] This consideration implies that the top edge TE and neighbouring portions of the surfaces LUS and RUS should be cut back to match the parts of the cut back portions LC and RC at the lower edges LLE and RLE and neighbouring portions of the surfaces LLS and RLS respectively, whereby the top cut back portion TC is defined. Similarly, it implies that the upper edges LUE and RUE should not be cut back, so that they match the bottom edge BE. And these non-cut-back edge regions, which constitute the upper lip portions ULL and URL, should be joined to the top cut back portion TC and the left and right cut back portions LC and RC by some aesthetically appropriate fairing curves. The above considerations therefore lead to the general cut back configuration shown in Fig. 5, and particularly to the provision of general cut back shapes for the four sloping sides LUS, RUS, LLS, and RLS and for the two vertical sides LVS and RVS as illustrated and described above.

Benefits Conferred by Feature (A) [0133] Due to the provision of the cut back portions TC, LC, and RC at the front end P of each of the modules M which fit together into a stack as shown in Fig. 10, when wine bottles are loaded into the modules M, it is still possible to view large portions of the labels on the sides of the bottles, as clearly appears in Fig. 12. Even in the case of modules which are located in the interior of the stack and not at the outside edges thereof, it is still possible to view sufficient portions of the wine labels to enable the viewer to know the types of the wine bottles at the various locations. Accordingly the problem is eliminated of the user forgetting which wines have been stored at which locations in the stack, possibly after the wines have been stored for a long time, and there is no question of any need to pull out some of the bottles of wine one after another for visual identification in order to determine their types. Moreover, there is no need to keep a written memorandum of the locations in the stack in which the various wines are stored. As previously explained, this provides a very positive convenience which was not available with the prior art.

[0134] The question of how far back along the module M the cut back portions TC, LC, and RC should be cut from the open end P toward the closed end Q is an open one, and is to some extent a matter of design. Each of the bottles is primarily supported by the strength in stiffness of the lower central lip [CL of its module M, backed up by the supporting strengths in stiffness of the left and right upper lips ULL and URL of the two modules M below it on left and right. In the case of modules M that are manufactured from terracotta by slip casting, it is considered by the present inventor that the general shape shown in Fig. 12 (which is an actual photograph of a stack of terracotta modules M) is at about the maximum practical upper limit for the sizes of the cut back portions IC, LC, and RC. However, in the case of modules M made from plastic by 3D printing or by injection moulding, it might be possible to form the cut back portions to be deeper without any problem; and other materials might enable other design choices.

Feature (B) -the modules M are adapted to be stacked up so that each of them is inclined.

[0135] The exterior surface of the rear end Q of this module M is delimited by a rear plane that is oblique to the central axis X at an angle of about 14° and that is perpendicular to the left and right vertical side surfaces [VS and RVS. In other words, the rear end Q of the module M (which is closed except for the aperture A) is cut off obliquely. Moreover, as will be understood from Fig. 6, the upper left and right lips ULL and URL on the front edge of the module M extend further forward (leftward in the figure along the axis X) than does the lower central lip LC[, so that a plane contacting the ends of the three lips ULL, URL, and [CL is also oblique to the central axis X at an angle of about 14°, and is substantially parallel to the abovementioned plane of the rear end Q, and accordingly the module M is generally forrned as an oblique prism, not as a right prism. And, on each module M, the left lower sloping surface LLS and the right upper sloping surface RUS are substantially congruent, except for the fact that the surface LLS is formed with the male engagement protrusions MEP while the surface RUS is formed with the female engagement grooves FEG. Similarly the right lower sloping surface RLS and the left upper sloping surface LUS are substantially congruent, with the same qualification.

[0136] Accordingly, when two of the modules M are contacted against one another with the left lower surface LLS of the upper one of the modules M contacting substantially exactly against the right upper surface RUS of the lower one of the modules M, the male protrusions MEP enter snugly into the female grooves FEG and index these surfaces substantially exactly together so that they cannot slide against one another in any direction. And similarly, when the right lower surface RLS of an upper module M is contacted against the left upper surface LUS of a lower module M, their respective protrusions MEP and grooves FEG engage with one another and index those surfaces substantially exactly together so that they cannot slide against one another in any direction. In both of these cases, the exterior surfaces of the rear ends Q of these modules M become positioned so as to be substantially coplanar. Fig. 9 shows how a number of the modules M engage together in this way, with their rear ends Q defining, in common, a planar rear surface. (In this figure, the scalloped shapes of the edges SE at the front ends P of the modules are not shown.) And Fig. 10 shows how this construction can be extended almost indefinitely, and also illustrates how the scalloped shapes of the surrounding front edges SE of the modules M fit neatly together. Moreover, Fig. 11 illustrates how, when the fronts of the bottom edges BE of the modules M of such a construction are appropriately raised (preferably by auxiliary units, as will be explained in detail hereinafter), its planar rear surface (defined in common by the rear ends Q of all the modules M) becomes vertical, due to the fact that each individual module M is angled upward.

Benefits Conferred by Feature (B) [0137] The benefits conferred by this arrangement are illustrated in Fig. 12. With the fronts of the bottom edges BE of each one of a stack of modules M being appropriately raised (in the situation shown in this figure, this is done temporarily by a wooden batten), wine bottles that are loaded into the modules M are supported at about 14° from the horizontal, with their necks extending somewhat upward. This has the following beneficial consequences. Firstly, this is a visually attractive position for presentation, and is optimal from the psychological standpoint, which is very important in the context of a restaurant or a bar in order to encourage purchase and consumption, as explained above. Secondly, sediment gradually precipitating out from the wine will collect, not along the lowest generator of the cylindrical interior surface of the main part of the bottle, but near the punt of the bottle, as shown at (c) of Fig. 3. Thus, when the wine bottle is removed from storage for drinking and is held upward for being opened, this sediment will remain near the punt, substantially undisturbed, and will not become mixed into the wine. Thirdly, the bottle is held in the cork-partly-wetted attitude described above at about 14° from the horizontal as also shown at (c) of Fig. 3, and, as explained previously, this is beneficial for allowing a certain level of gas exchange between the ullage and the outside atmosphere.

Feature (C) -the sloping sides LUS, RUS, LLS, and RLS of the module M are formed with the engagement grooves FEG and the engagement protrusions MEP.

[0138] It is convenient and aesthetic for the female engagement grooves FEG on the left and right upper surfaces [US and RUS to be of enantiomorphic matching patterns, and similarly for the male engagement protrusions MEP on the left and right lower surfaces LLS and RLS). This is the case shown in the figures. But this case is not to be considered as being!imitative of the present invention: in the most general case, it is only necessary for the left upper surface [US to be formed with irregularities that match and engage into irregularities on the right lower surface RLS so that they are locked together, and for the right upper surface RUS to be formed with irregularities that match and engage into irregularities on the left lower surface LLS so that they are locked together. Moreover, the mutually contacting vertical surfaces [VS and RVS could also be provided with mutually matching engaging protrusions and/or grooves, and mortar or adhesive could be placed between them.

Benefits Conferred by Feature (C) [0139] Due to the fact that the lower sloping sides LLS and RLS and the upper sloping sides [US and RUS are formed with the male engagement protrusions MEP and the female engagement grooves FEG respectively, and the fact that the patterns of these protrusions and grooves are the same so that they engage into one another when the modules M are stacked together, accordingly slumping down sideways of the stack along fault lines such as the line FL2 at (b) or the line FL3 at (c) of Fig. 4 is positively prevented, because (for example) the lower sloping side LLS of an upper module M cannot slide either transversely or longitudinally along the upper sloping side RUS of the module M below it, since they are relatively fixated by the mutual engagement of their respective protrusions MEP and grooves FEG. The same of course holds for a lower sloping side RLS and a corresponding upper sloping side [US.

Moreover, if the modules are made from terracotta, there is the option of placing mortar or other adhesive between the confronting sides LLS and RUS, or [US and RLS, of neighbouring modules M, and in this case the protrusions MEP and grooves FEG will serve as keying portions for reinforcing this mortar or adhesive.

[0140] If, on the other hand, the modules are made from plastic, for example by injection moulding, then provision of this feature (C) will be almost essential, because plastic is inherently more slippery than terracotta, and the danger of sideways slippage between the modules and transverse collapse of the stack is much greater than in the case of terracotta which provides a relatively high frictional coefficient. This is especially the case when the feature (B) is also provided, because then, as well as the force due to the weights of the modules M which tends to produce slippage in the downward direction between the modules M, there is also a component of this weight force that tends to produce slippage between the modules M in the longitudinal direction.

Feature (D) -the rear end Q of the module M is closed and is formed with the aperture A. Benefits Conferred by Feature (D) [0141] With this structure, in a stack of modules M, one or more of the modules M can be fixed to a backing such as a wall or a post by simply passing a fixing means such as a screw with a washer fitted thereupon through the open front end P of the module M and into its interior H, then passing the point of the screw out through the aperture A in the rear end Q of the module, and then screwing the point of the screw into the backing (using a screwdriver that is inserted into the interior of the module) and tightening the screw so that the screw and the washer hold the module M tightly to the backing. By fixing one or more of the modules M according to the present invention to the backing in the manner detailed above, the entire stack is stabilized against tipping over forward away from the backing and collapsing, due to the screw fixation and due to the engagement between the various modules by the grooves FEG and the protrusions MEP which hold them together as a group. Accordingly this aspect of the present invention makes considerable progress towards solving the problems previously described related to longitudinal stability. Particularly, if an earth tremor or an earthquake occurs, it is much more difficult for any part of such a stack to tip over forward and fall down catastrophically, which is very beneficial from the safety point of view as well as the cost point of view. This feature (D) thus enables the use of such a stacked module group for storing wine in any region of the planet, even in a region (such as Japan) that is prone to earth tremors or earthquakes.

[142] It should also be understood that fixing of one or more of the modules M according to the present invention to a backing in the manner detailed above is also very effective for improving transverse stability, as well as longitudinal stability. In other words, if several of the modules M in a stack are secured to a backing by screw fixing means or the like, then this works strongly against sideways slumping of the stack.

[0143] Moreover, there is a variant application in which a single module M may be employed by itself, i.e. individually. In the above described state in which the module M is fixed to a backing by itself at a certain height, a bottle of wine may be loaded into the interior H of the module M through its open front end P, and the bottle may thus be stored in the module M with its neck and upper portion protruding. This is an attractive way of storing and displaying wine, since the module M is formed as an oblique hexagonal prism. An example of this arrangement is shown in Fig. 13. In this case, it is further advantageous for several apertures A to be formed in the rear end Q of the module M rather than just one, and for the module M to be secured to the backing with several fixing means passed through those several apertures A. In this case axial rotation of the module M about the fixing means is positively prevented, which is an improvement. And, in this singlet case, it is naturally not necessary to provide the grooves FEG or the protrusions MEP.

The Second Embodiment -a Group Embodiment [0144] The module M described above is shaped so that as many of them as desired, up to quite a large number, can be stacked together and locked together in a group of arbitrary dimensions, as for example illustrated in Fig. 10. However, in order to realize the benefits of the present invention in an actual wine storage installation, it is necessary for the front portions of the modules M in the lowest row of the stack to be raised up and held so that the bottom edges BE of these modules become angled at about 14° to the horizontal and the common rear plane of all the modules M becomes substantially vertical, as illustrated in Fig. 12. Also, for aesthetic purposes, it is desirable for the side edges of the stack and the top edge of the stack to be finished off neatly. An embodiment of the group aspect of the present invention, i.e. a stackable storage module group, that copes with this requirement will now be described.

[0145] In the group aspect of the present invention, auxiliary pieces of at least some of the following eight types should be available in order to support a stack appropriately and in order to finish it off neatly: bottom edge support pieces BESP, left bottom corner support pieces LBCSP, right bottom corner support pieces RBCSP, left side fairing pieces LSFP, right side fairing pieces RSFP, left top corner fairing pieces LTCFP, right top corner fairing pieces RTCFP, and top edge fairing pieces TEFP. In a particular installation, pieces of some of these types may not be required. Simplified schematic front views of auxiliary pieces of these eight types are shown at (a) of Fig. 14.

[0146] As a typical example, it will be supposed that a total of 32 modules M are to be stacked up in the following configuration, which may be termed the 5-4-5-4-5-4-5 configuration: five in the bottom row (row 0); four in the next row up (row 1); five in row 2; four in row 3; five in row 4; four in row 5; and five in row 6. A simplified front view of this arrangement, only showing the 32 modules M, is schematically shown at (b) of Fig. 14.

[0147] With the addition of the following auxiliary pieces, the stack may be supported appropriately and finished off neatly: four bottom edge support pieces BESP, one left bottom corner support piece LBCSP, one right bottom corner support piece RBCSP, three left side fairing pieces LSFP, three right side fairing pieces RSFP, one left top corner fairing piece LTCFP, one right top corner fairing piece RTCFP, and four top edge fairing pieces TEFP. A simplified front view of this arrangement is schematically shown in Fig. 15. In this figure, the variants of the side and top auxiliary pieces that are schematically shown are those having side and top fairing walls, as will be explained hereinafter.

[0148] The most functionally important ones of these auxiliary pieces are the bottom support pieces BESP, and the next most important are the left and right bottom corner support pieces LBCSP and RBCSP. These pieces have the function of raising up and supporting the front portions of the modules M in the bottom row of the stack (i.e., in this example, in row 0) so that the fronts of their bottom edges BE become angled upward at about 14° to the horizontal.

[0149] Essentially, the shape of one of these bottom edge support pieces BESP is that of the top part of one of the modules M as sectioned by a plane G orthogonal to its rear end surface Q, as schematically shown at (a) of Fig. 16. (The position of this plane G in the vertical direction where it intersects the surface Q is a matter of design, and can be determined as appropriate.) This top part includes parts of the vertical sides LVS and RVS, a part of the rear surface Q, the complete surfaces LUS and RUS with their female engagement grooves FEG, and the complete edges TE, LUE and RUE; and, as schematically shown at (b) of Fig. 16, the front end of this bottom edge support piece BESP is faired off by a fairing wall FVV, which also is continued across its front P. Moreover, a bottom wall (not particularly shown) may be provided so that the interior of the bottom edge support piece BESP is substantially closed, possibly with some small hole being left for ventilation of its interior. Moreover, the fairing wall FW is brought forward to the front edge line EEL, as shown at (b) of Fig. 16, and this detail makes a significant contribution to stability of the entire stack, because the tipping point for forward toppling is thereby brought significantly forward.

[0150] Furthermore, the left and right bottom corner support pieces LBCSP and RBCSP have the forms of left and right halves of a bottom edge support piece BESP. This is schematically shown in Fig. 17, in which (a) is a front view of a bottom edge support piece BESP and a sagittal plane Y that sections it, and (b) and (c) are front views of the resulting left and right bottom corner support pieces LBCSP and RBCSP, respectively. Support walls OVS should be formed at the outer vertical sides of these corner support pieces, in order to stop them tipping over sideways and thus to ensure that they provide proper support. Moreover, the fronts of both these two corner support pieces should be closed off by front fairing walls FW, in the same way as mentioned above in connection with the bottom edge support piece BESP, and they may be provided with bottom walls (not shown), so that the interiors of the corner support pieces LBCSP and RBCSP are substantially sealed against ingress of dust or dirt, which could become an aesthetic problem because they are close to the floor or other support.

[0151] Next, the left side fairing pieces LSFP and the right side fairing pieces RSFP have the function of stabilizing the left and right sides of end modules M in intermediate rows of the stack that project outward from the modules M directly below them. For example, considering the modules M in row 4 of the stack shown at (b) of Fig. 14, the module M at the extreme left end of this row and the module M at its extreme right end project further outward from the stack than the modules M at the extreme left and right ends of row 3, and are not very stably supported. However these outer end modules M are well supported by provision of the left and right side fairing pieces LSFP and RSFP, as shown in Fig. 15.

[0152] The left side fairing pieces LSFP and right side fairing pieces RSFP have the forms of the left and right halves of a module M. This is schematically shown in Fig. 18, in which (a) is a front view of a module M and a sagittal plane Z that sections it, and (b) and (c) are front views of the resulting left and right side fairing pieces LSFP and RSFP respectively. In the simplest case no side walls are provided, and open sided fairing pieces of this type will respectively be referred to as LSFP1 and RSFPi. However, use of such open sided fairing pieces does not result in a particularly attractive stack, although the problem of stability mentioned above is resolved. It is more aesthetic to wall off the open sides of these fairing pieces LSFP and RSFP with planar side walls. This results in tubular pieces LSFP2 and RSFP2 that are open at their front ends and that have sleek side walls. Although obviously bottles of wine cannot be inserted into these pieces because they are too narrow, they may conveniently be employed for storage of small objects such as pens, bar bills, memoranda, paper money, or the like. Moreover, it would also be possible further to wall off the front openings of the fairing pieces LSFP and RSFP by front fairing walls, and this results in completely sealed fairing pieces LSFP3 and RSFP3 that have a very fine appearance. As before, small holes may be left at the backs of these side fairing pieces for ventilation of their interiors.

[0153] The left top corner fairing pieces LTCFP, the right top corner fairing pieces RTCFP, and the top edge fairing pieces TEFP have the functions of fairing off the top portion of the stack and/or of providing additional storage for wine bottles or other objects. The shape of one of the top edge fairing pieces TEFP is that of the bottom part of one of the modules M as sectioned by a plane W orthogonal to its rear end surface Q, as schematically shown at (a) of Fig. 19. (The position of this plane W in the vertical direction where it intersects the surface Q is a matter of design, and can be set as appropriate.) This bottom part includes parts of the vertical side surfaces LVS and RVS, the complete surfaces LLS and RLS with their male engagement projections MEP, and the complete edges BE, LLE and RLE, and is schematically shown at (b) of Fig. 19.

[0154] In the simplest case no top wall is provided, and an open top edge fairing piece TEFP of this type will be referred to as TEFPi. This is a particularly convenient variant, because a bottle of wine can simply be laid in the trough that it provides, thus increasing the total capacity of the stack for wine storage. This bottle of wine will be more prominently displayed than the other bottles loaded into the stack of modules M, because its upper surface is completely exposed. On the other hand, it is also possible to wall off the open top trough of the top edge fairing piece TEFP, and this tubular variant, with its front end being left open, will be referred to as TEFP2. As in the case described above, this tubular variant TEF1p2 may conveniently be used for storage of small objects. Or, further, the front end of the top edge fairing piece TEFP may be closed off with a front wall, and this fully closed variant (perhaps having a small hole for ventilation of its interior) will be referred to as TEPF3. This is the most visually attractive variant, but it provides no storage.

[0155] Finally, the left and right top corner fairing pieces LTCFP and RTCFP have the forms of left and right halves of a top edge fairing piece TEFP. This is schematically shown in Fig. 20, in which (a) is a schematic front view of one of the top edge fairing pieces TEFP and a sagittal plane K that sections it, and (b) and (c) are schematic front views of the resulting left and right top corner fairing pieces LTCFP and RTCFP, respectively. In this case, since these fairing pieces do not bear any substantial weight and do not confer any substantial additional stability to the stack, there is no absolute need for walls to be formed at their outer vertical sides. Thus, in the simplest case, no walls are formed either at their outer vertical sides or over their tops, and these variants will be referred to as LTCFP1 and RTCFPi. These variants are not particularly good looking, and are not preferred. If, however, walls are formed at the sides of the corner pieces but not over their tops, then these variants have the form of narrow troughs, and will be referred to as LTCFP2 and RTCFP2. They may be used for storage of narrow objects such as cutlery, pens, or the like. It would also be possible to form walls over the tops of the left and right top corner fairing pieces LTCFP and RTCFP so that they have the form of tubes, and these variants will be referred to as LTCFP3 and RTCFP3. And front fairing walls could also be provided so that these top corner fairing pieces are completely sealed (except possibly for small ventilation holes), and these variants will be referred to as LTCFP4 and RTCFP4. These are the most visually attractive variants.

Benefits Conferred by the Second Embodiment [0156] Fig. 21 shows perspective views of a representative selection of the auxiliary pieces described above with their types indicated, some in several versions. And Fig. 22, which is a photograph of a stack of modules M having the 3-2-3-2-3-2-3 configuration, shows stacks of modules M and auxiliary pieces, with the types of those auxiliary pieces indicated. At (a) of Fig. 22, the three types of bottom piece LBCSP, BESP, and RBCSP which support the bottom edge of the stack are labelled. As mentioned above, in the case of these bottom pieces, it is important for them to be formed with front walls, in order to prevent ingress of dust or dirt. Moreover, in the case of the corner pieces, it is virtually essential for them to be formed with outer side walls, in order for them to provide proper support for the modules above them. Furthermore, (a) of Fig. 22 shows the three different types of side fairing pieces RSVP I, RSVP2, and RSVP3. It is clearly seen that the RSVPi type is not very attractive, because it has no side wall, while the RSVP2 type provides a pocket for storage and the RSVP3 type has the cleanest appearance.

[0157] And (b) of Fig. 22 illustrates the top pieces LTCFP2, TEPF1, and RTCFP2 of the trough type whose tops are open. In the case of the corner pieces LTCFP2 and RTCFP2, small objects such as pens or memoranda can conveniently be stored; while, in the case of the main top piece TEPF1, a bottle of wine can be stored to very good effect because the top portion of the bottle is completely exposed, while still it is being held at an angle of about 14° to the horizontal. On the other hand, (c) of Fig. 22 illustrates the top pieces LTCFP3, TEPF2, and RTCFP3 of the tubular type whose tops are closed but whose fronts are open. In this case, only small objects such as pens or memoranda can be stored.

[0158] Fig. 23 shows a stack for which the fully closed versions LSVP3 and RSVP3 of the side fairing pieces and the fully closed versions LTCFP4, TEPF3, and RTCFP4 of the top fairing pieces have been employed. (Not all the modules in this stack are loaded with wine bottles.) It will be easily understood that this stack presents a very sleek appearance, because all of the pieces visible at its sides present side and end walls and all of the pieces visible at its top present top and end walls. However there is some limitation of storage capacity, because the top pieces TEPF along the top edge are of the fully closed type TEPF3, and accordingly wine bottles cannot be laid in them.

The Third Embodiment -a Flower Pot [0159] A third embodiment of the stackable hexagonal storage module of the present invention is a stackable flower pot, rather than a stackable wine storage module. Terracotta is an attractive material for manufacturing such a flower pot. An example of such a flower pot module M' is schematically shown in Fig. 24. As compared with the module M of the first embodiment described above, this module M' is shorter and the angle of its central axis with respect to the normal to its back surface is greater, around 45°. Earth E is charged into the interior of the module M', and a plant (not shown in the figure) is planted in this earth E. When the plant grows and flowers, it will naturally hang out of the open end of the module M' and present a very attractive appearance. The concept of the group embodiment described above is also applicable to this flower pot embodiment as well. A stack of flower pot modules of this type is preferably secured to a backing wall via one or more holes in rear surfaces of the modules, as previously described. By employing the various auxiliary modules described above, it is possible to construct an entire wall of flowers. It would also be possible to provide various holes (not shown) in the sides of the modules so that water can trickle down from upper modules to lower modules, and with this arrangement it might be possible to maintain the flowers by only watering the modules at the top.

[0160] A variant of this embodiment is schematically shown in Fig. 25. This module M" is much longer than the one shown in Fig. 24. As a result, a much greater amount of earth E can be charged thereinto, so as completely to cover and rise above the top edge of the interior rear surface Q of the module M". This provides a better environment for the plant to grow.

When a number of these modules M" are stacked up as previously described, they will be quite stable because the stack is relatively thick, and (depending upon the height) they may constitute a free-standing wall that does not need any backing wall for support. Mortar might be laid in between the modules M" for additional security. Furthermore, it would also be possible to construct a thick double-sided wall of flowers by building two of these walls back-to-back vvith their rear surfaces Q abutting one another, which would be a very attractive installation.

[0161] And, with this variant shown in Fig. 25, if suitable holes (not shown) are provided in the side surfaces of the modules M" so as to communicate their interiors with one another, then, in addition to the possibility of water flowing from upper to lower modules, there is also the possibility for the roots of a flower planted in one of the modules M" to penetrate into other modules M", probably and preferably ones lower in the stack. After some time, the roots of the flowers in the various modules M" will become solidly intermingled and intertwined, thus adding stability to the stack.

[0162] With a module M" of this general type, the possibility also arises of constructing at least one exterior wall of a dwelling from such modules, which obviously would need to be formed with quite thick surfaces for strength. In this manner, one or more walls of the dwelling would be "walls of plants" presented to the outside. A system would be provided for pumping irrigation water up to the tops of the exteriors of these walls, so that the water could trickle down over all the plants in sequence. Transpiration of water from the leaves of the plants, and evaporation of some of the irrigation water, would provide a very effective refrigeration effect for the interior of the dwelling. This would reduce the need for air conditioning in hot weather, and accordingly would make a serious contribution to economy of energy and reduction of global warming, especially in the case of an installation in a hot country.

Industrial Applicability

[0163] The present invention can be applied to the production of a wine rack or of an arrangement of containers for flowers, or to any case in which it is required to provide a vertical stack of receptacles for receiving objects.

Clarification of Scope [0164] Although the present invention has been described in terms of several embodiments thereof and with reference to the appended drawings, it should be understood that the present invention is not to be considered as being limited to any particular combination of the specific features of those embodiments, or of the details shown in the drawings. Not all of the features of each embodiment need be present; it is intended that the present invention and modifications and variations thereof should cover various combinations of the features described. Accordingly the present invention is to be defined only by the scope of the claims as properly interpreted. Those skilled in the art will understand that a number of variations may be made in the disclosed embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined solely by the appended claims.

Reference Signs List [0165] Fig. 3: SD -sediment; PT -punt; CK -cork; UL -ullage; WN -wine.

Fig. 4: VD -vertical diagonal configuration; HD -horizontal diagonal configuration; FL -fault line Fig. 5: M -module; TE -top edge; LUE -left upper edge; RUE -right upper edge; LLE -left lower edge; RLE -right lower edge; BE -bottom edge; LUS -left upper surface; RUS -right upper surface; LVS -left vertical surface; RVS -right vertical surface; LLS -left lower surface; RLS -right lower surface; P -front end; Q -back end. surface; X -central axis; H -interior; ULL -upper left lip; URL -upper right lip; LCL -lower central lip; TC -top cut back; LC -left cut back; RC -right cut back; MEP -male engagement projections; FEG -female engagement grooves; SE -surrounding edge.

Fig. 8: a -first turning point; p -second turning point; y -third turning point; 6-fourth turning point; E -fifth turning point; -sixth turning point; PAT1 -first cutting back pattern; PAT2 -second cutting back pattern; PAT3 -third cutting back pattern.

Fig. 14: BESP -bottom edge support piece; LBCSP -left bottom corner support piece; RBCSP -right bottom corner support piece; LSFP -left side fairing piece; RSFP -right side fairing piece; TEFP -top edge fairing piece; LTCFP -left top corner fairing piece; RTCFP -right top corner fairing piece.

Fig 16: FW -fairing wall; FEL -front edge line.

Fig 17: Y -sectional line; FRW-front wall OVS -outer vertical side.

Fig. 18: Z -sectional line.

Fig. 20: K -sectional line. Fig. 24: E -earth.

Claims (25)

1. Claims 1. A storage module generally formed as a hollow hexagonal prism with a central axis, having an interior cavity, six substantially planar external side surfaces that are pairwise parallel, and an opening at one open end of said prism shape that opens from its exterior to said interior cavity, wherein the circumferential open end edge of said one open end is scalloped in a generally wavy form.
2. 2. A storage module according to Claim 1, wherein, when said module is viewed from its open end substantially straight on with one of its diagonals extending vertically, said scalloping around said circumferential open end edge approximately follows, symmetrically and enantiomorphically on both sides of a plane that includes the bottom longitudinal outer edge of said module and the top longitudinal outer edge thereof opposite to said bottom edge, a form in which: from the end of said bottom edge over a first angular distance to a first turning point, no substantial cutting away is performed; around the circumferential direction away from said bottom edge end, from said first turning point to a second turning point before the end of the next lower intermediate longitudinal edge, substantial cutting back is progressively performed in a first cutting back pattern; further along said circumferential direction, from said second turning point past said end of said next lower intermediate longitudinal edge to a third turning point before the end of the next upper intermediate edge, said cutting back is continued in a second cutting back pattern; from said third turning point to a fourth turning point before the end of the next upper intermediate edge, said cutting back is reduced progressively to nil in a third cutting back pattern; from said fourth turning point past said upper intermediate edge end over a second angular distance substantially the same as said first angular distance to a fifth turning point before the end of said top edge, no substantial cutting away is performed; from said fifth turning point to a sixth turning point before the end of said top edge, said first cutting back pattern is substantially reproduced; and from said sixth turning point to said end of said top edge, the part of said second cutting back pattern from said second turning point to the end of said lower intermediate longitudinal edge is substantially reproduced.
3. 3. A storage module according to Claim 2, wherein said second pattern is substantially straight around said module open end edge, and runs skew perpendicular to said central axis.
4. 4. A storage module according to any one of Claims 1 through 3, wherein the first angular distance from the end of said bottom edge to said first turning point is at least 150.
5. 5. A storage module generally formed as a hollow hexagonal prism with a central axis, having an interior cavity, six substantially planar external side surfaces that are pairwise parallel, and an opening at a first end of said prism shape that opens from its exterior to said interior cavity, wherein longitudinally extreme portions of said first end define a front plane that is oblique to said central axis.
6. 6. A storage module generally formed as a hollow hexagonal prism with a central axis, having an interior cavity, six substantially planar external side surfaces that are pairwise parallel, and an opening at a first end of said prism shape that opens from its exterior to said interior cavity, wherein the other second end of said prism shape opposite to said one end is delimited by a defining rear plane that is oblique to said central axis.
7. 7. A storage module according to Claim 5, wherein the other second end of said prism shape opposite to said first end is delimited by a defining rear plane that is oblique to said central axis.
8. 8. A storage module according to Claim 7, wherein said front oblique plane is generally parallel to said rear oblique plane.
9. 9. A storage module according to Claim 8, wherein said front and rear oblique planes are perpendicular to two of said side surfaces that oppose one another.
10. 10. A storage module according to any of Claims 6 through 9, wherein the angle of said central axis with respect to the normal to said defining oblique front plane and/or said defining oblique rear plane is between about 10° and about 20°.
11. 11. A storage module according to any of Claims 6 through 9, wherein the angle of said central axis with respect to the normal to said defining oblique front plane and/or said defining oblique rear plane is approximately 14°.
12. 12. A storage module according to any one of Claims 6 through 11, wherein said other second end of said prism shape is closed and is delimited on its exterior by said defining oblique rear plane.
13. 13. A storage module generally formed as a hollow hexagonal prism with a central axis, having an interior cavity, first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth substantially planar external side surfaces arranged around its periphery in that order, and an opening at one open end of said prism shape that opens from its exterior to said interior cavity, wherein: said first and fourth side surfaces are mutually parallel, and said first side surface is formed with a first set of irregularities and said fourth side surface is formed with a fourth set of irregularities that are so shaped as to be capable of substantially interlocking with said first set of irregularities, and; said second and fifth side surfaces are mutually parallel, and said second side surface is formed with a second set of irregularities and said fifth side surface is formed with a fifth set of irregularities that are so shaped as to be capable of substantially interlocking with said second set of irregularities; and said third and sixth side surfaces are mutually parallel.
14. 14. A storage module according to Claim 13, wherein the pattern of said first set of irregularities upon said first side surface is substantially enantiomorphic to the pattern of said S second set of irregularities upon said second side surface, and the pattern of said fourth set of irregularities upon said fourth side surface is substantially enantiomorphic to the pattern of said fifth set of irregularities upon said fifth side surface.
15. 15. A storage module according to Claim 13 or Claim 14, wherein the exterior outline of the cross section of said module by a plane orthogonal to said central axis is substantially a regular hexagon, with the exception of said interlocking irregularities.
16. 16. A storage module according to any one of Claims 13 through 15, wherein said third side surface is formed with a third set of irregularities and said sixth side surface is formed with a sixth set of irregularities that are so shaped as to be capable of substantially interlocking with said third set of irregularities.
17. 17. A storage module generally formed as a hollow hexagonal prism with a central axis, having an interior cavity, six substantially planar external side surfaces that are pairwise parallel, an opening at a first end of said prism shape that opens from its exterior to said interior cavity, and a substantially closed other end, wherein said other end is formed with a fixing hole opening from the exterior to said interior cavity.
18. 18. A storage module according to Claim 17, wherein said other end is formed with a plurality of fixing holes opening from the exterior to said interior cavity.
19. 19. A group of storage modules, comprising a plurality of modules according to any one of Claims 1 through 18 all being of substantially the same external shape, and further comprising a plurality of main support portions, each of which has the general shape of part of one of said modules sectioned by a dividing sectional plane that is angled at from 0° to about 20° with respect to its central axis and that diverges from said central axis toward the open end of said sectioned module.
20. 20. A group of storage modules according to Claim 19, wherein the angle of said central axis with respect to the normal to said dividing sectional plane is about 80° or less.
21. 21. A group of storage modules according to Claim 20, wherein the angle of said central axis with respect to the normal to said dividing sectional plane is about 76°.
22. 22. A group of storage modules according to any one of Claims 19 through 21, further comprising one or two corner support portions which have the respective general shapes of the two portions into which one of said main support portions is sectioned by a sagittal plane that includes said central axis and that is perpendicular to said dividing sectional plane.
23. 23. A group of storage modules, comprising a plurality of modules according to any one of Claims 1 through 18 all being of substantially the same external shape, and further comprising a side support portion which has the general shape of part of one of said modules sectioned by a sagittal plane that includes said central axis and includes two opposite edges of said module.
24. 24. A group of storage modules, comprising a plurality of modules according to any one of Claims 1 through 18 all being of substantially the same external shape, and further comprising a plurality of main top finishing portions, each of which has the general shape of part of one of said modules sectioned by a dividing sectional plane that is angled at from 00 to about 20° with respect to its central axis and that converges toward said central axis toward the open end of said sectioned module.
25. 25. A group of storage modules according to any one of Claims 19 through 21, further comprising one or two top corner finishing portions which have the general shapes of the two portions into which one of said main top finishing portions is sectioned by a sagittal plane that includes said central axis and that is perpendicular to said dividing sectional plane.