US20140246554A1

US20140246554A1 - Inclined bottle holding device

Info

Publication number: US20140246554A1
Application number: US14/193,089
Authority: US
Inventors: Diane V. Forbus
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-03-01
Filing date: 2014-02-28
Publication date: 2014-09-04

Abstract

A flexible support for the necks of bottles stored within a refrigerator has a sling suspended from a refrigerator shelf compatible with the shelf surface. The sling attains a generally U shape to retain objects at the bottom of the sling when placed inside of it. The sling holds the neck of a bottle when the bottle is at an angle upon the shelf below the sling as when the bottles are too tall, to stand upright and to prevent leakage at the cap. The sling connects to a shelf using cooperative fasteners such as clips, hooks, suction cups, and adhesives. The clips can be used in pairs or as a single clip made as a plate. The sling resists the moisture and cool temperatures found within a refrigerator. The sling collapses readily towards a shelf when not in use.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This non-provisional patent application claims priority to the provisional patent application having Ser. No. 61/771,186, which was filed on Mar. 1, 2013 and is commonly owned by the same inventor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The inclined bottle holding device, also known as a bottle buddy, generally relates to housewares and more specifically to a sling supporting the neck of an inclined bottle and suitable for use within a refrigerator.
People have consumed beverages since the beginning of time. Some beverages are better served cold, such as beer, wine, and spirits. Initially such cold beverages were served from caves or with ice harvested in the previous winter. In time, mechanical refrigeration provided for year round service of cold beverages. The beverages were cooled with ice placed in the beverage or the is bottle of a beverage entirely placed within a refrigerator.
Refrigerators come in various sizes and applications. Large commercial and industrial refrigerators and coolers store bottles of various sizes readily. Residential refrigerators have a size to fit through a people door and an appealing visual appearance as many people see them. The typical residential refrigerator has both a freezer compartment and a cooling compartment. The freezer compartment generally occupies less than one third of the volume of the refrigerator and bottled beverages are generally not stored within a freezer compartment. Bottle beverages are generally stored in the cooling compartment of a refrigerator.
The cooling compartment occupies the remainder of the refrigerator's total volume. The cooling compartment generally has at least two shelves that aid the storage and retrieval of foods and beverages placed in the cooling compartment. Each owner organizes the shelves, and some bins, to suit personal taste. Often, the shelves support larger items towards the bottom of the cooling compartment and shorter items towards the top of the cooling compartment. Generally the shelves span across the width of the cooling compartment.
Bottled beverages are placed in the cooling compartment often upright near other beverages. Wine bottles, being the tallest of beverage bottles, often set the shelf location. An owner may set one shelf, often above the bottom of a refrigerator, to the height of a wine bottle. That height is generally when the wine bottle has not been opened. This height allows for upright wine bottle storage with a minimum of shelf space taken per bottle and permits storage of other shorter items on other shelves. However, once a wine bottle is opened and a cork re-installed, the wine bottle becomes effectively taller than the shelf space. Owners are reluctant to set shelves at the height of a corked bottle for losing is volume for other shorter articles in the cooling compartment. As an accommodation, re-corked wine bottles and other beverage bottles are stored at an angle or even flat in a refrigerator. This storage often leads to leaks, spills, and breakage of bottles and subsequent mess.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Over the years, various devices have sought to support bottles of beverages within refrigerators. The devices hold bottles at an angle with the holders resting upon shelves.
The U.S. Pat. No. 1,633,083 to Fite shows a bottle holder for placement upon a flat surface such as a dresser top in a nursery. This holder has a hollow base with parallel, spaced apart, and angled yokes. The yokes are inclined downward and support a portion of the length of a bottle in a tip down position.
The U.S. Pat. No. 4,515,334 to Horne provides a container rack to support elongated bottles. The rack has a flat elongated base with depressions to receive the bottom, or the shoulder, of a bottle and a support upon the end of the base and perpendicular to the base that receives the neck of a bottle. This rack generally occupies similar surface area as a bottle.
The U.S. Pat. No. 4,776,470 to Chap provides a wire frame structure that supports bottles lying down. The structure also allows for removal of the bottles from the ends or one side of the structure. The structure has two levels that guide bottles toward one end.
The U.S. Pat. No. 5,323,917 to Johnson et al. describes a rack for bottles, or cans, mounting to the edge of a refrigerator shelf. This rack has a generally C shaped cross section with one flange resting upon the top of a shelf and the opposite flange supporting a wine bottle lengthwise. The flange has a depression to fit the bottom of the wine bottle. This rack generally occupies the width and length of a wine bottle but raises it above the active surface of a shelf below the rack.
The U.S. Pat. No. 5,983,662 to Luetsch shows a beverage holder that is self cooling. This holder has a plurality of holes upon its surface and admits a can, or other container, inside the holder. The holder is generally of a sponge material that receives water. Water evaporating from the holder generally cools the beverage contained therein. This device does not support the neck of a bottle as in the present invention.
The U.S. Pat. No. 6,050,104 to Corona provides an open cylinder with a perforated surface for retaining a bottle. The cylinder is supported at an angle upon a stand and the stand rests upon a refrigerator shelf. In an alternate embodiment, the cylinder 10 is suspended from a clip 20, as in FIG. 3, that secures to a commercial ice maker. Presumably the cylinder and bottle therein are balanced upon the clip.
Then the second U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,360 to Corona shows a beverage holder located within an ice making compartment of a refrigerator, or commercial ice machine. This beverage holder appears related to the '104 patent but has an elongated slotted cylinder in this embodiment. The slots permit conduction of heat from a beverage within the holder to ice adjacent to the holder. However, the slots do not permit ice cubes to contact the surface of a bottle placed in the holder.
And the design patent to Friedlander, U.S. Pat. No. D453,894 provides a combined dispenser and bottle holder. The holder has a cylindrical form with a closed bottom and partially open sidewall. The holder has a partially longitudinal handle perpendicular to the sidewall and centered between the openings. The holder accepts a typical two liter beverage bottle. This holder though lacks structure for suspension of it from two points and flexibility for adapting to the is shape of a bottle's neck.
The present invention overcomes the difficulties of the prior art. The present invention includes a sling suspended from a shelf above a bottle from at least one point and the sling receiving the neck of a re-corked, or re-closed bottle while the bottom of the bottle rests upon a shelf below the sling. The sling supports an inclined and re-corked bottle without adjusting the height of a shelf within a refrigerator. Further, when the sling is not in use, the sling remains connected to the shelf and the shelf space below the sling remains available for storage of items in residential and commercial refrigerators.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Generally, the present invention provides a flexible support for the necks of bottles stored within a refrigerator. The invention has a sling suspended upon both ends from a refrigerator shelf, such as by hooks or suction cups compatible with the shelf surface. The sling attains a generally U like shape to retain objects at the bottom of the sling when placed inside it. The sling holds the neck of a bottle when the bottle is at an angle upon the shelf below the sling, because the bottles are too tall for the height between adjacent shelves. Such too tall bottles are often open wine bottles that have been re-corked and no longer fit upright between shelves in a refrigerator. Other bottles suitable for the sling also have narrow necks, such as soda bottles and magnums of champagnes and sparkling wines. The sling resists the moisture and cool temperatures found within the refrigerator and freezer environments. During a period of non-usage, the sling remains connected to the shelf and storage space below the sling remains available.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be is better understood and that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. The present invention also includes rings at each end for receiving hooks, grommets at each end also for receiving hooks, sufficient width of the sling to minimize abrasions upon the bottle label, and a spacer upon the sling for holding two or perhaps three bottles simultaneously. The spacer supports adjacent wine bottles. Generally, a recapped bottle has less weight than a full bottle with most of the weight located towards the bottom of the bottle and less towards the neck. Thus, at least two bottles can be supported upon a longer sling with a spacer. The present invention also remains installed in the temperature and moisture conditions of a refrigerated environment.
Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims attached.
Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of the presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiment of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Before explaining the current embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
One object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved bottle storage device.
Another object is to provide such a bottle storage device that stores is bottles at an angle between two shelves in a refrigerator.
Another object is to provide such a bottle storage device that prevents leaks and spills within a refrigerator from re-corked, or re-capped, bottles.
Another object is to provide such a bottle storage device that attaches to shelves in a refrigerator without marring the shelves.
Another object is to provide such a bottle storage device that allows utilization of shelf space below the sling without removal of the sling from a refrigerator shelf or door.
Another object is to provide such a bottle storage device that has a low cost of manufacturing so the consuming public can readily purchase the bottle storage device through existing retail outlets.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In referring to the drawings,

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of refrigerator shelves storing various bottles thereon;

FIG. 2 shows a front view of the present invention storing an inclined bottle;

FIG. 3 shows a front view of the present invention when collapsed against a shelf above refrigerator contents;

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the present invention storing a bottle;

FIG. 5 describes an exploded view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 describes an exploded view of an alternate embodiment;

FIG. 7 provides a front view of an alternate embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 provides a top view of the alternate embodiment of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 illustrates a front view of the preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 illustrates a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 shows a front view of the plate of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 shows an end view of the plate of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 provides a top view of the plate of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 9; and,

FIG. 14 shows an alternate embodiment of the band of the present invention.

The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention overcomes the prior art limitations and provides a temporary support for a container tilted at an incline such as a beverage bottle with a neck or a wine bottle. The present invention also has the trade name of a is bottle buddy. The present invention generally is for usage within a refrigerator having mutually parallel and spaced apart shelves as shown in FIG. 1. Two adjacent shelves have a spacing to admit bottles of various kinds. Such bottles include a re-corked wine bottle B, a wine bottle positioned flat as in C, an unopened bottle D, and a soda bottle, typically two liter size, as at E among others. Occasionally, two liter soda bottles leak when the cap is not secured tightly. A loosely secured cap leaks when the bottle B is flat upon a shelf. The inclined bottle holding device holds a bottle E at an angle from about 1 degree to about 45 degrees thus preventing leaks from beneath the cap. The flat bottle C generally fits between two shelves while the remaining bottles B, D, E may or may not fit depending upon shelf spacing. An unopened wine bottle, D, attains a greater length when its cork is replaced or other stopper installed as at B. The cork or stopper lengthens the bottle so it no longer fits upright upon its bottom between two shelves.
The present invention 1 as shown in FIG. 2 remedies the storage of a re-corked bottle B between shelves without moving the shelves. Each bottle, as in B, has a base F, a body G, a shoulder H above the body and opposite the base, a neck J centered upon the shoulder, an opening in the neck, and a cork K placed in the opening. The present invention 1 suspends beneath the upper, as at S′, of two shelves, S′, S″ to receive the neck J of a bottle B slightly tilted upon its base F to fit between the shelves. The present invention has a sling 2 with two ends 3, each end suspending beneath the upper shelf S′. The sling is flexible and elongated and has a generally flat shape where the shape aids the sling in gripping the smooth surface of a bottle. The spacing of the ends away from each other allows the sling to attain a curved shape, often catenary, that receives the neck of a bottle. The sling attains a curved orientation when supporting the neck of a bottle and the sling achieves a greater radius of is curvature than the radius of the neck. Alternatively, the present invention is located upon a refrigerator door. Upon the door, the sling extends on edge, generally horizontally, to prevent bottles from tipping out of a door. Suction cups and adhesives, as later described, engage the surface of a refrigerator door's interior to secure the sling. Locating the sling upon the door of the refrigerator prevents tipping and falling of bottles placed in the door when a person opens the door a little too quickly. Often these refrigerators have a low shelf upon the inside of the door. Placing the sling upon the door at the height of the neck of the bottle keeps the bottle upright when the door opens abruptly, quickly, or is jerked open. The sling can be mounted on both left opening and right opening doors. In an alternate embodiment, both ends of the sling are suspended from a single hook which allows the sling to grip more of the circumference of the bottle neck.
FIG. 3 shows the invention 1 when pressed against a shelf S′ in the absence of supporting any bottle. Moreover, other refrigerator contents, such as milk jugs M, may gently push, or urge, the sling 2 upwardly.
FIG. 4 then shows the present invention 1 supporting a re-corked bottle B in a side view or into the shelves of a refrigerator. A person typically inserts a bottle B with its neck J into the shelving, that is, with the neck away from the refrigerator door, as in the right of the figure as at T, and towards the back of the refrigerator door, as in the left of the figure as at W. Inserting a bottle in this orientation allows the bottleneck to extend over the contents N in the back of a refrigerator. In this position of the bottle, a user can read the label upon opening the door as at T. This bottle position also utilizes the available space within a refrigerator so that a user need not rearrange existing contents, N, within the refrigerator. Each end 3 of the sling secures to an upper shelf S′ with a clip like member such as hook 4 and the like. The hook has a form compatible with the is type of shelf, wire rung, glass, plastic, or polymer. The hook has a generally smooth surface so that it avoids abrading and tearing of the sling during usage.
FIG. 5 describes the preferred embodiment of the invention. The inclined device for holding a bottle has its sling 2 formed of an elongated, flexible band 6 of material non-abrasive to glass. In this figure, the band 6 shows its top surface 6 b that generally abuts the neck of a bottle. This surface has a slight texture of roughness that allows for gripping of the foil upon the tip of a bottle but does not tear that foil by having smoothness as well. The band has a width as at 25 generally greater than the thickness and in the range of 0.0625 inch to 2 inches with a preference for a one inch width. The band has two opposite ends 3 upon its lateral sides. Proximate each end, the band has a pattern of apertures as at 6 a generally along the centerline as shown which allows a user to adjust the length of the band for the sizes of various bottlenecks. In this embodiment, each end forms a loop that receives a ring 7 often D shaped. The flat part of a D shaped ring locates proximate the band while the rounded part of the D shaped ring engages a clip such as a hook 4. The hook has at least one bight 8 of a bent shape that grasps the ring 7. Opposite the bight, the hook has an end 9 for gripping a wire rung shelf, usually a counterpart bight. The hook may attain an S, Z, or J shape, among other shapes. In usage, two hooks 4 have their ends 9 placed upon rungs of a wire shelf, slightly spaced apart and then the rings 7 are each placed upon a hook. The band then suspends beneath the hooks forming a sling 2 to receive the neck of a bottle. Alternatively, the rings adjoin to the shelf using a releasable adhesive securement, such as a stretchable adhesive based connector, like Command® made by 3M® of Minneapolis, Minn. Alternatively, the rings connect with a suction hook 10 used for glass, polymer, metal, or other smooth shelves. The suction hook has a suction cup 11, generally round and of flexible material as is known, with a knob upon one surface and a hook member with one end 12 bent into a partially circular shape that engages the knob and an opposite bight 13, generally curved that receives a ring 7. Alternatively, the opposite bight 13 may have a straight but inclined shape to retain the ring. The alternate embodiment can be located upon a refrigerator door. Upon the door, the sling extends on edge with its wide band generally parallel to the plane of the door, to prevent bottles from tipping out. Hooks upon suction cups secure to the smooth surface of the door at suitable locations to secure the sling and retain upright bottles upon the door during fast opening and closing.
Then the band has an alternate embodiment shown in FIG. 6. Here, the band 6 has a flexible elongated form as before with two spaced ends 3 upon the lateral edges of the band. Upon each end, the band has an aperture 14 centered therein and proximate to the end. The aperture has sufficient diameter to admit the bight 13 of a hook. In an alternate embodiment, the aperture is reinforced with a grommet 15 extending for the entire perimeter of the aperture. In the preferred embodiment, the band has its width generally greater than the thickness and in the range of 0.0625 inch to 2 inches with a preference for a one inch width. In this figure, the band 6 shows its surface 6 b that abuts the neck of a bottle. This surface has a slight texture that grips the foil upon the tip of a bottle without tearing it. The band has a width as at 25 generally greater than the thickness and in the range of 0.0625 inch to 2 inches with a preference for a one inch width and the two opposite ends 3 upon its lateral sides. Proximate each end, the band has a pattern of apertures as at 6 a generally along the centerline as shown for adjustment of the length of the band for the sizes of various bottlenecks.
FIG. 7 provides a front view of an alternate embodiment of the invention with the two ends 3 of the sling 2 suspended from two clips 20. Each clip is contains an integral hook 21 oriented collinear with the length of the clip. The clip adjoins to the shelf, S′, using a releasable adhesive securement 22, such as a stretchable adhesive based connector, like Command® made by 3M® of Minneapolis, Minn. The sling attains a catenary curve as the band 6 deflects under its own weight, as shown. Upon placing a bottle upon the band, the sling then deflects linearly under the point load of the bottle neck's weight.
FIG. 8 provides a partial exploded view of the alternate embodiment of FIG. 7. The sling 2 has an elongated band 6 having two spaced apart ends 3, an upper surface 6 b and an opposite lower surface 23. The upper surface and the lower surface have a spacing apart of a thickness as at 24 of the band. The band has a width as at 25 generally greater than the thickness and in the range of 0.0625 inch to 2 inches with a preference for a one inch width. The thickness provides sufficient support proximate a grommet or aperture while the sling still remains flexible. The width is at least ten times that of the thickness. Proximate each end, the band has a pattern of apertures as at 6 a generally along the centerline as shown which allows a user to adjust the length of the band for the sizes of various bottlenecks and desired elevations of the bottlenecks when in a refrigerator. In this embodiment, the ends have a generally rounded form.
The apertures allow the band to connect with the two clips 20. Each clip has an elongated form, with a length upon its longitudinal axis, upon an adhesive layer 22 protected by a release layer 26. The release layer is removed by a user just prior to installation. The adhesive layer, generally of stretchable material extends beneath the length of the clip. The length of adhesive provides a sufficient bond to a refrigerator shelf and supports the weight of a full wine bottle, typically 750 ml. Each clip has its elongated form, typically rectangular with rounded corners. Each clip has its own two ends, generally spaced apart by the length of the clip. Proximate one end, a clip has its hook 21 that extends is partially along the length of the clip and outwardly from the adhesive layer, that is, away from the clip. The extension of the hook allows it to receive the band as an aperture 6 a is placed upon the hook 21 during installation as shown in FIG. 7 above.
Having described various embodiments, FIG. 9 shows a front view of the preferred embodiment of the invention. This embodiment has the clip formed as a plate 30 with a length and a generally rectangular form. The plate's length represents the maximum width sought for the sling when not loaded with a bottle. In one embodiment, the plate is molded to a preferred dimension, effectively the sought after maximum width. The plate has two hooks 31 spaced apart by the plate's length. The hooks each receive an end of the sling 2 as shown. The hooks form integral parts with the remainder of the plate so that the plate and hooks can be formed and manufactured as a unit. The plate connects to a solid, smooth refrigerator shelf, metal, glass, or polymer, using an adhesive layer, or securing strip 32. The securing strip extends for the length of the plate and provides sufficient adhesion to support the weight of a full wine bottle, typically 750 ml.
FIG. 10 provides a partial exploded view showing the sling 2 formed of the plate 30 and the band 6. The band has its width 25 generally more than its thickness 24 and in the range of 0.0625 inch to 2 inches with a preference for a one inch width. The thickness provides sufficient support proximate a grommet or aperture while the sling still remains flexible. The width is at least ten times that of the thickness. The band has its upper surface 6 b with a rough texture and its opposite lower surface 23 and the thickness separates both surfaces 6 b, 23. Proximate each end 3, the band has a pattern of apertures as at 6 a generally along the centerline as shown so a user can adjust the length of the band to fit a bottleneck before the user and the desired elevation of the bottleneck in a refrigerator. In this embodiment, the ends have a generally rounded form. Allowing for the bottleneck to suspend below the plate, the band has a length greater than that of the plate 30.
The plate 30 has a generally elongated rectangular form with its corners rounded as shown. The plate has its length, as at 33, and its thickness as at 34. The length and thickness cooperate to provide rigidity to the plate as it supports the band loaded with a bottle or unloaded as in FIG. 9. The plate has two mutually parallel and spaced apart longitudinal sides 35 and two mutually parallel and spaced apart ends 36 generally perpendicular to the sides 35. The hooks 31 extend outwardly from each end, preferably from the center. In a further alternate embodiment, the ends mutually deflect inwardly along bend lines 37 and subsequently alter the effective position of the hooks 31 because of the deflection.
Opposite the hooks 31, the plate has its adhesive layer 32 beneath the thickness of the plate. Beneath the adhesive layer, the plate has its release layer 26 that a user removes just prior to installation. The adhesive layer, generally of stretchable material extends beneath the length of the plate. In an alternate embodiment, the adhesive layer is provided in two spaced apart portions, or pads. FIG. 9 previously showed the plate secured beneath a shelf of a refrigerator with the sling beneath. The plate also installs upon an interior surface of a door of a refrigerator or other vertical surface. The hooks 31 allow for orienting the plate on orthogonal surfaces, such as horizontal and vertical, while still connecting the band and supporting a bottle neck placed within the band. The hooks operate to support the band 6 as a sling 2 when the plate can have one of two orientations, ninety degrees apart.
FIG. 11 then shows a front view of the plate 30 and its constituent layers with a longitudinal side 35 in the foreground. The plate has its own thickness 34, is then the adhesive layer 32, and the release layer 26 shown towards the top of the figure. Proximate each of its ends 36, the plate has a hook 31 that extends outwardly from the end and away from the adhesive. Both hooks mutually extend outwardly from the adhesive layer for symmetric connection and support of the band. The plate has the hooks being integral and opposite the adhesive layer.
FIG. 12 describes an end view of the plate 30 with an end 36 in the foreground. Each hook 31 extends downwardly and outwardly from the adhesive layer 32 and towards one side 35. The hooks on both ends extend toward the same side 35, that is, mutually. The hooks extend downwardly and slightly upward to receive the band when the plate has a horizontal position, that is, beneath a shelf. The hooks extend and curve towards one side to receive the band when the plate has a vertical position, that is, upon a door or a wall of a refrigerator. Each hook depends from the plate generally opposite the adhesive layer.
Then FIG. 13 provides a top view of the plate 30 and has the hooks 31 generally collinear when at the ends 36. The hooks then mutually curve inwardly towards one side 35 as shown. The hooks have a rounded tip, or alternatively, a blunted tip. The ends of the hooks ease placement of an aperture of the band upon the hooks. In an alternate embodiment, the plate has two spaced apart apertures 38 through its thickness slightly inward from the ends. These apertures 38 have a round shape with a diameter to admit a screw or bolt for mechanical attachment of the plate to a refrigerator shelf or wall.
FIG. 14 then shows an alternate embodiment of the invention where the bottle buddy can support multiple bottles. In this alternate embodiment, this sling as at 5 has an elongated flexible band 6 with a ring 7 upon each end of the band. The band has two opposed surfaces, a top surface 6 b and a bottom surface. Upon the top surface, the band has a plurality of spacers 16, here is shown as three, though other numbers of spacers are foreseen. Each spacer extends upwardly from the top surface for approximately half of the diameter of the neck J of a bottle B. The spacers prevent adjacent necks of bottles from colliding. Generally the spacers allow the sling to support one more bottle than the number of spacers. In use the rings of the alternate embodiment connect with hooks as before and the sling suspends below the upper shelf S′. Necks J of adjacent bottles are then placed between the spacers with one bottle between each pair of spacers.
From the aforementioned description, an inclined bottle holding device has been described. The inclined bottle holding device is uniquely capable of supporting the neck of a bottle inclined between shelves in a refrigerator thus storage of re-corked, or re-capped, bottles. The inclined bottle holding device is preferably made from polymer and the hooks from stainless steel. The inclined bottle holding device and its various components may be manufactured from many materials, including but not limited to, polymers, polyvinyl chloride, high density polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, steel, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, their alloys, canvas, rugged textiles, and composites.
Various aspects of the illustrative embodiments have been described using terms commonly employed by those skilled in the art to convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced with only some of the described aspects. For purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials and configurations have been set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the illustrative embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without the specific details. In other instances, well known features are omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the illustrative embodiments.
The preceding references to dimensions, proportions, angles, and parameters remain as estimates by the Applicant calculated with accepted engineering and product design principles using reasonable assumptions and appropriate simplifications. The Applicant asserts that the parameters of the invention have not approached finality but rather show that the invention remains plausible and feasible given known product design principles.
Various operations have been described as multiple discrete operations, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the present invention, however, the order of description should not be construed as to imply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. In particular, these operations need not be performed in the order of presentation.
Moreover, in the specification and the following claims, the terms “first,” “second,” “third” and the like are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their objects.
The above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described examples (or one or more aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. Other embodiments can be used, such as by one of ordinary skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The Abstract is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b), to allow the reader to ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. Also, in the above Detailed Description, various features may be grouped together to streamline the disclosure. This should not be interpreted as intending that an unclaimed disclosed feature is essential to any claim. Rather, inventive subject matter may lie in less than all features of a particular disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each is claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. Therefore, the claims include such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and the scope of the present invention.

Claims

I claim:

1. A device supporting at least one container tipped at an incline, such as a beverage bottle having a neck, said device locating within a refrigerator, comprising:

a flexible elongated sling, said sling having two opposite ends, each of said ends having at least one aperture and a top surface having a texture, said top surface adapted to adjoin the container; and,

at least one clip, said clip having at least one hook with a bight, said bight engaging one of said at least one aperture in said sling, said clip being adapted to engage one of a refrigerator shelf and a refrigerator door;

wherein said device supports said at least one container when upon a refrigerator shelf or a refrigerator door.

2. The inclined container support device of claim 1 further comprising:

is each of said at least one aperture including a grommet.

3. The inclined container support device of claim 1 further comprising:

two clips, each of said clips including one of an S shaped wire hook, a Z shaped wire hook, a J shaped wire hook, and a hook connected to a suction cup wherein said clip is adapted to engage cooperatively one of a wire shelf, a polymer shelf, a metal shelf, and a glass shelf of a refrigerator.

4. The inclined container support device of claim 1 further comprising:

two clips, each of said clips is adapted to engage one of a polymer shelf, a metal shelf, and a glass shelf of a refrigerator; and,

each of said clips having a releasable adhesive layer opposite said hook, and a release layer upon said adhesive layer, said adhesive layer adapted to secure aid clip to one of a polymer shelf, a metal shelf, and a glass shelf of a refrigerator wherein said adhesive layer detaches from one of a polymer shelf, metal shelf, and a glass shelf upon stretching of said adhesive layer.

5. The inclined container support device of claim 1 further comprising:

said at least one clip including a plate, said plate having two spaced apart ends and two spaced apart sides having a length greater than a length of each of said ends, said plate having an elongated rectangular form, said plate having two spaced apart hooks, said hooks extending mutually outwardly and downwardly and mutually turning towards one of said sides, an adhesive layer opposite said hooks, and a release layer upon said adhesive layer;

said adhesive layer adapted to secure said plate to one of a polymer shelf, a metal shelf, and a glass shelf of a refrigerator and said adhesive layer detaching from one of a polymer shelf, a metal shelf, and a glass shelf upon stretching of said adhesive layer;

wherein said plate supports said sling installed upon one of a refrigerator is shelf and a refrigerator door; and,

wherein said sling remains upon said hooks when installed upon one of a refrigerator shelf and a refrigerator door.

6. The inclined container support device of claim 1 further comprising:

said sling attaining a curved orientation when supporting the neck of a bottle wherein said sling has a greater radius of curvature than the radius of the neck of a bottle.

7. The inclined container support device of claim 1 further comprising:

said texture of said top surface having sufficient roughness adapted to grasp the neck of the container and sufficient smoothness adapted to avoid tearing any wrapper upon the neck of the container.

8. The inclined container support device of claim 7 further comprising:

said top surface having at least two spacers providing a resting place for a bottle between each pair of spacers wherein said devices holds the necks of multiple bottles.

9. A device supporting at least one bottle tipped at an incline, said at least one bottle having a neck, said device locating within a refrigerator, comprising:

a flexible elongated sling, said sling having two opposite ends, each of said ends having at least one aperture, a grommet upon each of said at least one aperture, and a top surface having a texture, said top surface adapted to adjoin the container; and,

two clips, each of said clips having at least one hook with a bight, said bight engaging one of said at least one aperture in said sling, said clip being adapted to engage either a refrigerator shelf or a refrigerator door, each of said clips including one of an S shaped wire hook, a Z shaped wire hook, a J shaped is wire hook, and a hook connected to a suction cup wherein said clip is adapted to engage cooperatively one of a wire shelf, a polymer shelf, a metal shelf, and a glass shelf of a refrigerator;

10. The inclined container support device of claim 1 further comprising:

each of said clips is adapted to engage one of a polymer shelf, a metal shelf, and a glass shelf of a refrigerator, and each of said clips having a releasable adhesive layer opposite said hook, and a release layer upon said adhesive layer, said adhesive layer adapted to secure said clip to one of a polymer shelf, a metal shelf, and a glass shelf of a refrigerator wherein said adhesive layer detaches from one of a polymer shelf, a metal shelf, and a glass shelf upon stretching of said adhesive layer.

11. The inclined container support device of claim 10 further comprising:

12. A device supporting at least one bottle tipped at an incline, said at least one bottle having a neck, said device locating within a refrigerator, comprising:

a flexible elongated sling, said sling having two opposite ends, each of said ends having at least one aperture, a length, a top surface having a texture, said top surface adapted to adjoin the container, and, said sling attaining a curved orientation when supporting the neck of a bottle wherein said sling has a greater radius of curvature than the radius of the neck;

a generally rectangular plate having two spaced apart ends and two is spaced apart sides having a length greater than a length of each of said ends, said plate having an elongated rectangular form, said plate having two spaced apart integral hooks, said hooks extending mutually outwardly and downwardly and mutually turning towards one of said sides, an adhesive layer opposite said hooks, and a release layer upon said adhesive layer, said plate having a length less than the length of said sling;

said adhesive layer adapted to secure said plate to one of a polymer shelf, a metal shelf, and a glass shelf of a refrigerator and said adhesive layer detaching from one of a polymer shelf or a glass shelf upon stretching of said adhesive layer;

wherein said plate supports said sling installed upon one of a refrigerator shelf or a refrigerator door;

wherein said texture of said top surface has sufficient roughness adapted to grasp the neck of the container and sufficient smoothness adapted to avoid tearing any wrapper upon the neck of the container; and,

wherein said sling remains upon said hooks when installed upon one of a refrigerator shelf or a refrigerator door.