Arrangement of rack and corkscrew
An arrangement includes a rack and a corkscrew. The rack is configured to be capable of holding plural bottles. The rack includes a holder formed in the rack. The corkscrew has a size and shape to render it detachably attachable to the holder.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to racks for bottles. In particular, the invention relates to racks for wine bottles that have self storage for wine accessories.
2. Description of Related Art
Many different types of wine racks are known. Corkscrews for wine bottles are also known. However, wine has become a popular pastime, and is still becoming even more popular, and this popularity has fueled an ever increasing variety of wine accessories. For example, a portable wine rack may be desired for bringing an assortment of wines to a family picnic. It is also desired to keep the wine accessories, such as a corkscrew, foil cutter and reusable stopper, together with the wine rack.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAn arrangement includes a rack and a corkscrew. The rack is configured to be capable of holding plural bottles. The rack includes a holder formed in the rack. The corkscrew has a size and shape to render it detachably attachable to the holder.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGSThe invention will be described in detail in the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the following figures.
In
In
The back body 10 has formed therein an aperture for receiving the caddy 20. The caddy 20 has formed therein plural holders. A first holder 22 is adapted for receiving a corkscrew or similar bottle opener. A second holder 24 is adapted for receiving a foil cutter as may be used to cut off the protective foil wrapper formed over corks on traditional wine bottles. A third holder 26 is adapted for receiving an adjustable bottle stopper. In one example, the caddy 20 may be separately formed and press fitted into a corresponding aperture in back body 10. Alternatively, the caddy 20 may be integrally formed with the back body 10 so that the caddy is just a region on a surface of the back body 10. In still another alternative, the caddy 20 may be separately formed and attached to the back body with rivets, screws, adhesive or other similar methods of attachment.
In
The top edges of back body 10 and front body 40 are hinged together by one or more hinges 16 (see
The bottom edges of back body 10 and front body 40 are coupled by extension mechanism 18 (see
In an embodiment of the invention, an arrangement includes a rack 2 (
In a first variant of the embodiment, rack 2 includes a back piece 4 having a top edge 12 and a bottom edge 14 and a front piece 6 having a top edge 42 and a bottom edge 44. The top edge of the front piece is hinged to the top edge of the back piece. Rack 2 further includes an extension mechanism 18 coupled between the bottom edge of the back piece and the bottom edge of the front piece.
In an example of the first variant of the embodiment, the extension mechanism is capable of selectively expanding between a first extent and a second extent. Back piece 4 and front piece 6 are splayed at a first splayed angle defined to have a vertex where the top edges of the front and back pieces are hinged when the extension mechanism is expanded to the first extent. Back piece 4 and front piece 6 are splayed at a second splayed angle defined to have a vertex where the top edges of the front and back pieces are hinged when the extension mechanism is expanded to the second extent. The first splayed angle is less than the second splayed angle.
In a second variant of the embodiment, first holder 22 includes a first recess and a first restraint. The first recess is formed in the holder conformal to the size and the shape of the corkscrew 78. The first restraint is capable of holding the corkscrew in the first recess. Such restraint may be spring clips, bolts, etc.
As depicted in
In an example of the second variant of the embodiment, the first restraint includes flexible resilient tabs 80 (
In a third variant of the embodiment, rack 2 includes a back piece 4 and a front piece 6. The front piece has a plurality of apertures 48 formed therein sized to accommodate a corresponding plurality of bottles. The front piece includes restraints 94 (
In an example of the third variant of the embodiment (see
In a fourth variant of the embodiment, the arrangement further includes a foil cutter. The rack includes a second holder 24 formed in the rack. The foil cutter has a size and shape to render it detachably attachable to second holder 24. The means to render the foil cutter detachably attachable to second holder 24 is any one of the means that renders the corkscrew detachably attachable to the first holder 22.
In a fifth variant of the embodiment, the arrangement further includes a reusable bottle stopper. The rack includes another holder 26 formed in the rack. The reusable bottle stopper has a size and shape to render it detachably attachable to holder 26. The means to render the reusable bottle stopper detachably attachable to holder 26 is any one of the means that renders the corkscrew detachably attachable to the first holder 22.
In an example of the fifth variant of the embodiment, the arrangement further includes a foil cutter. The rack includes a third holder 24 formed in the rack. The foil cutter has a size and shape to render it detachably attachable to third holder 24. The means to render the foil cutter detachably attachable to third holder 24 is any one of the means that renders the corkscrew detachably attachable to the first holder 22.
In yet another embodiment of the arrangement that includes the rack and the corkscrew, the rack includes a back piece having a top edge and a bottom edge, a front piece having a top edge and a bottom edge and an extension mechanism. The top edge of the front piece is hinged to the top edge of the back piece. The extension mechanism is coupled between the bottom edge of the front piece and the bottom edge of the back piece.
In a first variant of this embodiment, the front and back pieces are formed of stainless steel, polished brass, bright plated steel (e.g., chrome plated steel) or equivalent. A caddy 20 (see
A first holder 22 (
In a second variant of this embodiment, the back piece has plural apertures formed therein sized to accommodate a corresponding number of bottles. In this variant, the back piece includes a restraint 98 (see
Having described preferred embodiments of a novel arrangement of a rack and a corkscrew (which are intended to be illustrative and not limiting), it is noted that modifications and variations can be made in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that changes may be made in the particular embodiments of the invention disclosed which are within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Having thus described the invention with the details and particularity required by the patent laws, what is claimed and desired protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.
Claims
1. An arrangement comprising a rack and a corkscrew, wherein:
- the rack is configured to be capable of holding plural bottles;
- the rack includes a first holder formed therein; and
- the corkscrew has a size and shape to render it detachably attachable to the first holder.
2. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the rack includes:
- a back piece having a top edge and a bottom edge;
- a front piece having a top edge and a bottom edge; the top edge of the front piece being hinged to the top edge of the back piece; and
- an extension mechanism coupled between the bottom edge of the back piece and the bottom edge of the front piece.
3. An arrangement according to claim 2, wherein:
- the extension mechanism is capable of selectively expanding between a first extent and a second extent;
- the front piece and back piece are splayed at a first splayed angle defined to have a vertex where the top edges of the front and back pieces are hinged when the extension mechanism is expanded to the first extent;
- the front piece and back piece are splayed at a second splayed angle defined to have a vertex where the top edges of the front and back pieces are hinged when the extension mechanism is expanded to the second extent; and
- the first splayed angle is less than the second splayed angle.
4. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first holder includes:
- a first recess formed therein conformal to the size and the shape of the corkscrew; and
- a first restraint capable of holding the corkscrew in the first recess.
5. An arrangement according to claim 4, wherein:
- the first restrain includes flexible resilient tabs fixed to a perimeter of the first recess; and
- the flexible resilient tabs are sized and positioned within the first recess to permit the corkscrew to be pressed into the first recess manually, to render the corkscrew held within the first recess with sufficient force to prevent it from falling out of the first recess, and to permit the corkscrew to be manually urged out of the first recess.
6. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the rack includes:
- a back piece has a plurality of apertures formed therein sized to accommodate a corresponding plurality of bottles;
- the back piece includes a restraint disposed to protrude into each aperture in the back piece in a way that provides friction between the restraint and a bottle that might be passed through the aperture;
- a front piece having a plurality of apertures formed therein sized to accommodate a corresponding plurality of bottles, each aperture in the front piece corresponding to an aperture in the back piece; and
- the front piece includes a restraint disposed to protrude into each aperture in the front piece in a way that provides friction between the restraint and a bottle that might be passed through the aperture.
7. An arrangement according to claim 6, wherein:
- the restraint in each aperture of the front piece includes plural round rubbery washers fixed to the front piece and disposed to partially protrude into the aperture; and
- the restraint in each aperture of the back piece includes plural round rubbery washers fixed to the back piece and disposed to partially protrude into the aperture.
8. An arrangement according to claim 1, further including a foil cutter, wherein:
- the rack includes a second holder formed therein; and
- the foil cutter has a size and shape to render it detachably attachable to the second holder.
9. An arrangement according to claim 1, further including a reusable bottle stopper, wherein:
- the rack includes a second holder formed therein; and
- the reusable bottle stopper has a size and shape to render it detachably attachable to the second holder.
10. An arrangement according to claim 9, further including a foil cutter, wherein:
- the rack includes a third holder formed therein; and
- the foil cutter has a size and shape to render it detachably attachable to the third holder.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 15, 2005
Publication Date: May 17, 2007
Inventor: Edward Kilduff (New York, NY)
Application Number: 11/272,681
International Classification: A47B 73/00 (20060101);