US20060065612A1

US20060065612A1 - Bottle supporting structure

Info

Publication number: US20060065612A1
Application number: US11/239,041
Authority: US
Inventors: Claude Gonneville
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-09-30
Filing date: 2005-09-30
Publication date: 2006-03-30
Also published as: GB0421686D0; CA2521942A1

Abstract

A bottle supporting structure for pivotally supporting a bottle relative to a reference surface, the bottle including a bottle base and a substantially cylindrical liquid containing section extending from the bottle base; the bottle also includes a tapering section leading to a substantially cylindrical neck section. The neck section terminates into a pouring spout. The bottle supporting structure also includes a neck supporting component for supporting the neck section so that the bottle lies substantially on its side in a substantially horizontal orientation. A mounting assembly is provided for mounting the neck supporting component in a spaced relationship relative to the reference surface. The neck supporting component is pivotally attached to the mounting assembly so as to allow the bottle to pivot relative to the reference surface about a substantially vertical pivoting axis in a substantially horizontal pivoting plane.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the general field of bottle holders, and is particularly concerned with a bottle supporting structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Bottles of wine are preferably stored in a substantially horizontal position, that is on their sides, so that the cork thereof stays moist. This prevents the cork from drying out and allowing air to enter the bottle, which could result in spoilage of the wine. Similarly, other beverages such as sparkling wine need to be stored on their side so as to also prevent a dried-out cork from allowing gas to escape, resulting in a flat wine.
The proper storage of bottled wines and spirits may prove to be important since these beverages can represent a sizable investment. Typically, wine bottle storage units should be designed so as to avoid unnecessary movement or vibration of the bottles, which can disturb sediments therein. Agitation of the sediment at the bottom of the wine bottle can affect the aging and the flavour of the beverage.
Conventional wine bins, or racks, typically provide a bottle cradling transverse to the bottle for supporting the latter. Some prior art racks are constructed so as to support the bottle at two points, namely the neck portion and near the bottom of the bottle.
Many of these racks are erected with a honeycomb framework made of wood sections, polymeric resin or metal, which are assembled to form a support stand. These structures commonly provide a support surface which is recessed to conform to a particular bottle shape.
Other variations in designs, such as diagonal cross-braced structure are also utilized wherein the bottles are stored within a cross-cross bin shaped opening.
Although somewhat useful, most prior art wine bins or racks suffer from numerous drawbacks. For example, since they typically store wine bottles so that the latter extend longitudinally towards the user, most prior art wine racks typically require a depth of at least 15 inches for conventional 750 mL bottles. Hence, they typically take up considerable valuable space.
Another shortcoming of conventional wine racks is that the bottle supporting surface, especially that portion adjacent to the bottle neck, frequently obscures the labels on the bottles. Consequently, a bottle must be provided with special tags or otherwise lifted from the rack in order to ascertain this identifying data. Such unnecessary movement of the wine bottles is not only tedious but can also have an adverse effect, and is not recommended, for proper wine storage.
Yet another disadvantage associated with some prior art wine racks relates to the fact that they are awkward to fill with bottles and are often considered unergonomical for retrieval thereof.
Accordingly, there exists a need for an improved wine bottle storage structure. It is hence a general object of the present invention to provide an improved bottle supporting structure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bottle supporting structure for pivotally supporting a bottle relative to a reference surface, the bottle including a bottle base and a substantially cylindrical liquid containing section extending from the bottle base; the bottle also including a tapering section leading to a substantially cylindrical neck section, the neck section terminating into a pouring spout; the bottle supporting structure comprising: a neck supporting component for supporting the neck section so that the bottle lies substantially on its side in a substantially horizontal orientation; a mounting assembly for mounting the neck supporting component in a spaced relationship relative to the reference surface; wherein the neck supporting component is pivotally attached to the mounting assembly so as to allow the bottle to pivot relative to the reference surface about a substantially vertical pivoting axis in a substantially horizontal pivoting plane.
Conveniently, the neck supporting component includes a supporting component body; a pair of substantially “U” shaped hooks extending substantially outwardly from the supporting component body, each of the hooks defining a corresponding concave neck engaging surface; the hooks being positioned in a substantially spaced and offset relationship relative to each other with their corresponding neck engaging surfaces facing in opposite directions; the hooks being configured, sized and positioned so that their corresponding neck engaging surfaces engage the neck section of the bottle so as to stably support the latter.
Typically, the hooks are spaced relative to each other by a spacing distance having a value of approximately between 1 inch and 3 inches.
Conveniently, the hooks are spaced relative to each other by a spacing distance having a value of approximately between 1.5 inches and 2 inches.
Typically, the supporting component body has the configuration of a truncated cylinder defining a substantially flat and axially extending truncated surface; the hooks extend substantially outwardly from the supporting component body in a substantially perpendicular relationship with the truncated surface.
Conveniently, the supporting component body has a substantially cubic configuration.
Typically, the neck supporting component is adapted to support a pair of bottles by their respective neck sections so that each bottle lies substantially on its side in a substantially horizontal orientation; a mounting assembly for mounting the neck supporting component in a spaced relationship relative to the reference surface; wherein the neck supporting component is pivotally attached to the mounting assembly so as to allow the bottles to simultaneously pivot relative to the reference surface about a substantially vertical pivoting axis in a substantially horizontal pivoting plane.
Conveniently, the neck supporting component includes a supporting component body; a first pair and a second pair of substantially “U”-shaped hooks extending substantially outwardly from the supporting component body, each of the hooks defining a corresponding concave neck engaging surface; the hooks part of a given pair of hooks being positioned in a substantially spaced and offset relationship relative to each other with their corresponding neck engaging surfaces facing in opposite directions; the hooks part of a given pair of hooks being configured, sized and positioned so that their corresponding neck engaging surfaces engage the neck section of a corresponding bottle so as to stably support the latter; whereby the first and second pairs of hooks allows a corresponding pair of bottles to be supported by a single neck supporting component.
Typically, the first pair of hooks and the second pair of hooks extend substantially outwardly from the supporting component body respectively in opposite directions relative to each other.
Conveniently, the mounting assembly includes an axle; the neck supporting component being provided with a rod receiving channel extending substantially axially therethrough for substantially fittingly receiving the axle, the rod receiving recess being configured and sized for allowing rotation of the neck supporting component about the axle.
Typically, the axle is provided with an axle length adjustment means.
Conveniently, the bottle supporting structure further comprises a mounting bracket for attachment to the reference surface; the axle being attachable to the mounting bracket so as to be in a substantially vertical orientation.
Conveniently, the bottle supporting structure further comprises a top mounting bracket and a bottom mounting bracket, the top and bottom mounting brackets being both attachable to the reference surface; the axle being attachable to the top and bottom mounting brackets adjacent respective longitudinal ends thereof so as to be in a substantially vertical orientation.
Typically, the bottle supporting structure further comprises at least two neck supporting components for each supporting a corresponding neck section of a corresponding bottle so that the bottles lie substantially on their side in a substantially horizontal orientation; a mounting assembly for mounting the neck supporting components in a spaced relationship relative to the reference surface and in a superposed relationship relative to each other; wherein the neck supporting components are pivotally attached to the mounting assembly so as to allow the bottles to pivot relative to the reference surface about a common substantially vertical pivoting axis and in corresponding substantially horizontal pivoting planes.
Conveniently, each of the neck supporting component includes a supporting component body; a pair of substantially “U”-shaped hooks extending substantially outwardly from the supporting component body, each of the hooks defining a corresponding concave neck engaging surface; the hooks being positioned in a substantially spaced and offset relationship relative to each other with their corresponding neck engaging surfaces facing in opposite directions; the hooks being configured, sized and positioned so that their corresponding neck engaging surfaces engage the neck section of a corresponding bottle so as to stably support the latter.
Typically, the mounting assembly includes an axle; each of the supporting component bodies are provided with a corresponding rod receiving channel extending substantially axially therethrough for substantially fittingly receiving the axle, the rod receiving channels being configured and sized for allowing rotation of the neck supporting component about the axle.
Conveniently, the supporting component bodies are stacked on top of each other, the bottle supporting structure being provided with a friction reducing means for reducing the friction between supporting component bodies when the latter rotate relative to each other.
Typically, wherein the friction reducing means includes a flange extending integrally and substantially axially from the supporting component bodies about the periphery of the axle receiving aperture.
Conveniently, the neck supporting component is made out of an integral piece of material.
Typically, the neck supporting component is made out of a polymeric resin.
Advantages of the present invention include that the proposed wine bottle storage structure is designed so as to allow for storage of bottles on their side in a generally horizontal orientation without unduly taking up considerable storage space.
Also, the proposed wine bottle storage structure allows for the bottles supported on their sides to be easily identified without disturbance of adjacent bottles. The bottles, while supported on their sides, can also be easily slid out of the rack without the disturbance of adjacent bottles.
Furthermore, the proposed supporting structure is designed so as to be stable and to stably support the bottles so as to prevent jiggling of the latter.
Yet still furthermore, the proposed supporting structure is designed so as to be readily mountable on a conventional supporting surface, such as partition wall or the back wall of a cellar without requiring special tooling or manual dexterity.
Also, the proposed supporting structure is designed so as to be manufacturable using conventional forms of manufacturing and conventional components, so as to provide a structure that will be economically feasible, long-lasting and relatively trouble-free in operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF the DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be disclosed, by way of example, in reference to the following drawings in which:
FIG. 1: in partial perspective view with sections taken out, illustrates a wine bottle supporting structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the supporting structure being shown supporting four wine bottles (shown in phantom lines);
FIG. 2: in a perspective view, illustrates a neck supporting component part of a bottle supporting structure such as shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3: in a partial side elevational view with sections taken out, illustrates the neck of a bottle (shown in phantom lines) being supported by a neck supporting component such as shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4: in a top view with sections taken out, illustrates a pair of bottle necks being supported by a bottle neck supporting component in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 5: in a partial side elevational view, illustrates the wine bottle supporting structure shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 6: in a top view illustrates a wine bottle supporting structure such as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 mounted on a flat wall; and
FIG. 7: in a top view, illustrates a wine bottle supporting structure such as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 mounted adjacent to the corner section of a partition wall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a bottle supporting structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, generally indicated by the reference numeral 10. The bottle supporting structure is typically used for supporting at least one bottle 12 relative to a reference surface (such as indicated by the reference numeral 14 in FIGS. 6 and 7). Typically, the bottle supporting structure 10 is intended to be used for simultaneously supporting more than one bottle 12.
The bottle supporting structure 10 is particularly well-suited for supporting bottles such as wine bottles, champagne bottles, beer bottles and the like although the bottle supporting structure 10 could be used for supporting other types of bottles without departing from the scope of the present invention. Typically, each bottle 12 includes a bottle base 16 and its substantially cylindrical liquid-containing section 18 extending from the bottle base 16.
Each bottle 12 typically also includes a tapering section 20 leading to a substantially cylindrical neck section 22. The neck section 22 terminates into a pouring spout particularly sealed off by a cork 24 or the like. Again, it should be understood that although the bottle supporting structure 10 is shown throughout the Figures as supporting conventional wine bottles 12 having specific configurations, the bottle supporting structure 10 could be used in other contexts for supporting other types of bottles having different configurations without departing from the scope of the present invention.
The bottle supporting structure 10 includes a least one neck supporting component 26 for supporting the neck section 22 of a corresponding bottle 12 so that the latter lies substantially on its side in a substantially horizontal orientation. Typically, as shown in FIG. 1, the bottle supporting structure 10 includes more than one neck supporting component for simultaneously supporting more than one bottle 12.
The bottle supporting structure 10 also includes a mounting assembly 28 for mounting the at least one neck supporting component 26 in a spaced relationship relative to the referenced surface 14. The neck supporting component 26 is pivotally attached to the mounting assembly 28 so as to allow the bottle 12 to pivot relative to the reference surface 14 about a substantially vertical pivoting axis 30 in a substantially horizontal pivoting plane. When more than one neck supporting component is used, the mounting assembly allows the neck supporting components 26 to be maintained in a superposed relationship relative to each other.
Furthermore, the neck supporting components 26 are pivotally attached to the mounting assembly so as to allow their respective bottles to pivot relative to the reference surface 14 about the common substantially vertical pivoting axis 30 and in corresponding substantially horizontal pivoting planes.
Referring now more specifically to FIGS. 2 and 3, there is shown in greater details some of the features of a typical neck supporting component 26. Each neck supporting component 26 includes a supporting component body 42. Each neck supporting component 26 also includes a pair of substantially U-shaped hooks 34 extending substantially outwardly from the supporting component body 32. In time, each of the hooks 34 defines a corresponding substantially concave neck engaging surface 36.
The hooks 34 are positioned in a substantially spaced and offset relationship relative to each other with their corresponding neck engaging surfaces 36 facing in opposite directions. The hooks 34 are configured, sized and positioned so that their corresponding neck engaging surfaces 36 engage the neck section 22 of the bottle 12 so as to stably support the latter.
Some bottles 12 may be provided with a corresponding bottle flange 48 located adjacent to the bottle pouring aperture. In such instances, one of the hooks 36 is typically positioned in an abutting relationship against the internal surface of the bottle flange 38.
Typically, although by no means exclusively, the hooks 36 are spaced relative to each other by a hook spacing distance 40 having a value of approximately between 1 inch and 3 inches. Typically, the hook spacing distance has a value of approximately between 1.5 inches and 2 inches. It should be understood that the hook spacing distance 40 could vary without departing from the scope of the present invention.
As shown more specifically in FIG. 2, in at least one embodiment of the invention, the supporting component body has substantially the configuration of a truncated cylinder defining a substantially flat and axially extending truncated surface 42. In such instances, the supporting component body 32 also defines a pair of opposed cylinder end surfaces 44 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 2). When the supporting component body 32 has the configuration of a truncated cylinder, the hooks 34 typically extend substantially outwardly from the supporting component body in a substantially perpendicular relationship with the truncated surface 42.
Although the supporting component body 32 is shown throughout most of the Figures as having the configuration of a truncated cylinder, it should be understood that a supporting component body 32 could have other configurations without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention wherein the supporting component body 32′ has a substantially cubic configuration.
Referring now more specifically to FIG. 5, there is shown in greater details some of the features of the mounting assembly 28. The mounting assembly 28 typically includes an axle 46. Each of the supporting component bodies is provided with a corresponding rod receiving channel 48 extending substantially axially therethrough for substantially fittingly receiving the axle 46. The rod receiving channels 48 are configured and sized for allowing rotation of the neck supporting components 26 about the axle 46.
The mounting assembly 28 typically includes at least one mounting bracket for attachment to the reference surface 14. The axle 46 is attachable to the at least one mounting bracket so as to be in a substantially vertical orientation. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the mounting assembly 28 includes a top mounting bracket 50 and a bottom mounting bracket 52. The top and bottom mounting brackets 50, 52 are attachable to the reference surface 14. The axle 46 is attachable to the top and bottom mounting brackets 50, 52 adjacent respective longitudinal ends thereof so as to be in a substantially vertical orientation.
In at least one embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 5, the top and bottom mounting brackets 50, 52 are secured to a mounting plate 54. The mounting plate 54 is, in turn, adapted to be mounted to a suitable reference surface 14 such as a partition wall, the back wall of a cellar or any other suitable surface using suitable fastening means such as screws, an adhesive or the like.
Typically, both the top and bottom mounting brackets 50, 52 include a brackets anchoring portion 56 for attachment to the mounting plate 54 or directly to the reference surface 14 using conventional suitable fastening means such as screws 60 or the like.
The top and bottom mounting brackets 50, 52 typically also include a bracket spacing segment 58 extending substantially outwardly from the corresponding bracket anchoring section 56 for spacing the axle 46 relative to the reference surface 14. The spacing segments 58 allows the axle 46 to be spaced relative to the outer surface of the mounting plate 54 by a mounting plate-to-axle spacing 62.
Particularly, although by no means exclusively, the axle 46 is attached to an anchoring cap 64 adjacent a lower longitudinal end thereof by a rivet 66 or other suitable means. In time, the anchoring cap 60 is anchored to the spacing segment 58 of the lower mounting bracket 52 using a screw 69 or any other suitable means.
The axle 46 is typically provided with an axle length adjustment means for allowing adjustment of the length thereof. Typically, the length adjustment means includes a length adjustment bolt 68 threaded through a length adjustment nut 70. The distal end of the length adjustment bolt 68 is typically provided with an anchoring cap 72 fitted over an anchoring nut 74. The cap 72 may be abutted against the spacing segment 58 of the upper mounting bracket 50. An anchoring screw 76 or the like may also be used for securing the anchoring nut 74 to the spacing segment 58 of the upper mounting bracket 50.
It should be understood that various other types of mounting assemblies could be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the mounting assembly could be deprived of at least one of the mounting brackets and the axle 46 could be tightly squeezed either between one of the mounting brackets 50, 52 and a horizontal supporting surface or between a pair of horizontal supporting surfaces such as the inner surfaces of the top and bottom walls of a conventional cellar using either one or two cap components 72.
As shown more specifically in FIG. 5, the supporting component bodies 32 are typically stacked on top of each other. Friction reducing means may be provided for reducing the friction between supporting component bodies 32 when the latter rotate relative to each other. The friction-reducing means may take any suitable form. In the embodiment shown throughout the Figures, except for FIG. 4, the friction-reducing means includes a flange 78 extending integrally and substantially axially from the end surfaces 44 of the supporting component bodies 32 about the periphery of the axle receiving aperture 48.
FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a neck supporting component 26′. The neck supporting component 26′ is adapted to support a pair of bottles 12 by their respective neck sections 22 so that each bottle lies substantially on its side in a substantially horizontal orientation. The neck supporting component 26 is pivotally attached to the mounting assembly so as to allow both bottles 12 to pivot simultaneously relative to the reference surface 14 in substantially the same horizontal plane.
The neck supporting component 26′ includes a first pair and a second pair of hooks 34 extending outwardly from the supporting component body 32′. Typically, the first and second pair of hooks 34 extends substantially outwardly from the supporting component 32 respectively in opposite directions relative to each other.
As shown more specifically in FIG. 1, the relative positioning between the hooks 34 is typically symmetrically inverted for neck supporting components 26 adapted to support bottles 12 extending on the right and left hand sides of the axle 46. As also shown in FIG. 1, the neck supporting components 26 are typically configured, sized and positioned so that the neck section(s) 22 of a corresponding bottle 12 may be positioned either frontwardly relative to the axle 46 as shown on the other section of the bottle supporting structure 10 or rearwardly relative to the axle 46 in the mounting plate-to-axle spacing 62 such as shown in the lower section of the bottle supporting structure of FIG. 1.
Typically, although by no means exclusively, the neck supporting components 26 are made out of an integral piece of material. Typically, although by no means exclusively, the neck supporting 26 are made of an integral piece of a polymeric material.
In use, the bottles 12 are secured by the neck section 22 thereof to cooperating hooks 24 so that the bottles 12 lie in a substantially horizontal configuration. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the bottle supporting structure 10 may be secured to a supporting surface 14 so that bottles 12 on each side thereof extend in a substantially co-linear relationship relative to each other. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 7, the bottle supporting structure 10 may be positioned adjacent to a corner section formed by intersecting reference surfaces 14 so that the bottles 12 are on opposite sides of the bottle supporting structure extend in a substantially perpendicular relationship relative to each other.
When the bottles 12 are supported by the bottle supporting structure 10, the identifying labels of the bottles 12 may be readily visible by an intended user. When a bottle 12 has been selected for removal from the bottle supporting structure 10, the corresponding neck supporting component 26 is typically pivoted approximately ¼ of a turn as illustrated by the lowermost bottle in FIG. 1. Once in this pivoted configuration, the bottle 12 may be easily removed from the bottle supporting structure 10 without interference with adjacent bottles 12.

Claims

1. A bottle supporting structure for pivotally supporting a bottle relative to a reference surface, said bottle including a bottle base and a substantially cylindrical liquid containing section extending from said bottle base; said bottle also including a tapering section leading to a substantially cylindrical neck section, said neck section terminating into a pouring spout; said bottle supporting structure comprising:

a neck supporting component for supporting said neck section so that said bottle lies substantially on its side in a substantially horizontal orientation;

a mounting assembly for mounting said neck supporting component in a spaced relationship relative to said reference surface;

wherein said neck supporting component is pivotally attached to said mounting assembly so as to allow said bottle to pivot relative to said reference surface about a substantially vertical pivoting axis in a substantially horizontal pivoting plane.

2. A bottle supporting structure as recited in claim 1 wherein said neck supporting component includes

a supporting component body;

a pair of substantially “U”-shaped hooks extending substantially outwardly from said supporting component body, each of said hooks defining a corresponding concave neck engaging surface;

said hooks being positioned in a substantially spaced and offset relationship relative to each other with their corresponding neck engaging surfaces facing in opposite directions; said hooks being configured, sized and positioned so that their corresponding neck engaging surfaces engage said neck section of said bottle so as to stably support the latter.

3. A bottle supporting structure as recited in claim 2 wherein said hooks are spaced relative to each other by a spacing distance having a value of approximately between 1 inch and 3 inches.

4. A bottle supporting structure as recited in claim 2 wherein said hooks are spaced relative to each other by a spacing distance having a value of approximately between 1.5 inches and 2 inches.

5. A bottle supporting structure as recited in claim 2 wherein

said supporting component body has the configuration of a truncated cylinder defining a substantially flat and axially extending truncated surface;

said hooks extend substantially outwardly from said supporting component body in a substantially perpendicular relationship with said truncated surface.

6. A bottle supporting structure as recited in claim 2 wherein said supporting component body has a substantially cubic configuration.

7. A bottle supporting structure as recited in claim 1 wherein

said neck supporting component is adapted to support a pair of bottles by their respective neck sections so that each bottle lies substantially on its side in a substantially horizontal orientation;

wherein said neck supporting component is pivotally attached to said mounting assembly so as to allow said bottles to simultaneously pivot relative to said reference surface about a substantially vertical pivoting axis in a substantially horizontal pivoting plane.

8. A bottle supporting structure as recited in claim 7 wherein said neck supporting component includes

a supporting component body;

a first pair and a second pair of substantially “U”-shaped hooks extending substantially outwardly from said supporting component body, each of said hooks defining a corresponding concave neck engaging surface;

the hooks part of a given pair of hooks being positioned in a substantially spaced and offset relationship relative to each other with their corresponding neck engaging surfaces facing in opposite directions; said hooks part of a given pair of hooks being configured, sized and positioned so that their corresponding neck engaging surfaces engage the neck section of a corresponding bottle so as to stably support the latter;

whereby said first and second pairs of hooks allows a corresponding pair of bottles to be supported by a single neck supporting component.

9. A bottle supporting structure as recited in claim 8 wherein said first pair of hooks and said second pair of hooks extend substantially outwardly from said supporting component body respectively in opposite directions relative to each other.

10. A bottle supporting structure as recited in claim 1 wherein said mounting assembly includes an axle; said neck supporting component being provided with a rod receiving channel extending substantially axially therethrough for substantially fittingly receiving said axle, said rod receiving recess being configured and sized for allowing rotation of said neck supporting component about said axle.

11. A bottle supporting structure as recited in claim 10 wherein said axle is provided with an axle length adjustment means.

12. A bottle supporting structure as recited in claim 10 further comprising a mounting bracket for attachment to said reference surface; said axle being attachable to said mounting bracket so as to be in a substantially vertical orientation.

13. A bottle supporting structure as recited in claim 10 comprising a top mounting bracket and a bottom mounting bracket, said top and bottom mounting brackets being both attachable to said reference surface; said axle being attachable to said top and bottom mounting brackets adjacent respective longitudinal ends thereof so as to be in a substantially vertical orientation.

14. A bottle supporting structure as recited in claim 1 comprising

at least two neck supporting components for each supporting a corresponding neck section of a corresponding bottle so that said bottles lie substantially on their side in a substantially horizontal orientation;

a mounting assembly for mounting said neck supporting components in a spaced relationship relative to said reference surface and in a superposed relationship relative to each other;

wherein said neck supporting components are pivotally attached to said mounting assembly so as to allow said bottles to pivot relative to said reference surface about a common substantially vertical pivoting axis and in corresponding substantially horizontal pivoting planes.

15. A bottle supporting structure as recited in claim 14 wherein each of said neck supporting component includes

a supporting component body;

said hooks being positioned in a substantially spaced and offset relationship relative to each other with their corresponding neck engaging surfaces facing in opposite directions; said hooks being configured, sized and positioned so that their corresponding neck engaging surfaces engage the neck section of a corresponding bottle so as to stably support the latter.

16. A bottle supporting structure as recited in claim 15 wherein said mounting assembly includes an axle; each of said supporting component bodies are provided with a corresponding rod receiving channel extending substantially axially therethrough for substantially fittingly receiving said axle, said rod receiving channels being configured and sized for allowing rotation of said neck supporting component about said axle.

17. A bottle supporting structure as recited in claim 16 wherein said supporting component bodies are stacked on top of each other, said bottle supporting structure being provided with a friction reducing means for reducing the friction between supporting component bodies when the latter rotate relative to each other.

18. A bottle supporting structure as recited in claim 17 wherein said friction reducing means includes a flange extending integrally and substantially axially from said supporting component bodies about the periphery of said axle receiving aperture.

19. A bottle supporting structure as recited in claim 1 wherein said neck supporting component is made out of an integral piece of material.

20. A bottle supporting structure as recited in claim 19 wherein said neck supporting component is made out of a polymeric resin.