STEMWARE RACK

Abstract

A rack for stemware pieces comprises a container having a top, a bottom, two sides and two ends, wherein the top, bottom, two sides and two ends define an interior space for holding the feet of a plurality of stemware pieces resting on the bottom of the container, wherein the bottom comprises a gap that permits a user to remove a stemware piece held in the container by grasping the stemware piece and pulling or pushing the stemware piece along the bottom to at least one of the ends where the stemware piece can then be removed from the container.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a stemware rack, for example, for glass and crystal stemware.

2. Description of Related Art

There are a large number of stemware racks for glass and crystal stemware that are well known in the art. Many have complicated structures, which are difficult to install, maintain and clean. There continues to be a need in the art to provide new and simpler structures for hanging and storing stemware.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other objects are met by the present invention, which relates in a first embodiment to a rack for stemware pieces comprising a container having a top, a bottom, two sides and two ends, the top, bottom, two sides and two ends defining an interior space for holding the feet of a plurality of stemware pieces resting on the bottom of the container, wherein the bottom comprises a gap permitting a user to remove a stemware piece held in the container by grasping the stemware piece and pulling or pushing the stemware piece along the bottom to at least one of the ends where it can then be removed from the container.

The present invention relates in a second embodiment to a cabinet comprising the stemware rack according to the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective of one embodiment of the stemware rack according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section at one end of the stemware rack of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section at a point between the two ends of the stemware rack of FIG. 1 showing a stemware piece contained in the interior space; and

FIG. 4 is a depiction of the stemware rack of FIG. 1 mounted beneath a cabinet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, in a preferred embodiment, the inventive stemware rack 10 comprises container 11, which generally has the shape of an elongated rectangular box. As can be seen from FIG. 3, the container defines an interior space for holding the feet of a plurality of stemware pieces 31 resting on the bottom of the container. The feet of these stemware pieces can be placed inside the container and pushed further in or removed therefrom by grasping the stems of the stemware pieces through gap 12 and moving the stemware pieces along the bottom either into or out of the interior space.

In a preferred embodiment, as depicted in FIG. 1, the gap occupies a central portion of the bottom. In an especially preferred embodiment, the gap runs the entire length of the bottom. However, it is also possible for the gap to be positioned more to one side than the other and/or for the gap to run less than the entire length of the bottom. The gap is usually straight, but this is not required, and the gap can have other shapes, for example, serpentine.

As shown in FIG. 1, the stemware rack in this particular embodiment has a cross-section that is rectangular. In an especially preferred embodiment, the dimensions of the rectangular cross-section, in terms of the width of the top and bottom, approximate that of the feet of the stemware pieces to be held inside. Obviously, these dimensions should be slightly greater than the corresponding dimensions of the feet of the stemware pieces themselves to allow the feet of the stemware pieces to fit comfortably into the interior space.

Keeping these principles in mind, it is possible for the stemware rack to have a cross-section that is other than rectangular. For example, the top and sides could be curved, for example, egg-shaped, or any other shape, so long as, again, the top and sides combine with the bottom to define an interior space that is adapted to removably retain the feet of a plurality of stemware pieces therein.

The stemware rack needs to be open on a least one end to permit the feet of the stemware pieces to be inserted into or removed from the interior space. In one preferred embodiment, the stemware rack has openings on both ends. In another preferred embodiment, the stemware rack is closed on one end.

In FIG. 1, the bottom portion on either side of gap 12 is flat over most of its length. However, as shown in FIG. 2, a portion 21 of the bottom at one of the ends is angled. This angling provides an obstruction that helps to prevent the stemware pieces from falling out of the interior space accidentally. In a preferred embodiment, the bottom over at least a part of its length is angled at an angle greater than 0° and less than 90°. In an especially preferred embodiment, the bottom over its entire length is angled at an angle greater than 0° and less than 90°. In this especially preferred embodiment, the portion of the bottom at one of the ends may be angled more sharply than the remainder of the bottom. In another especially preferred embodiment, the bottom only at an open end is angled at an angle greater than 0° and less than 90°. In this especially preferred embodiment, the remainder of the bottom may be flat, for example, as shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 4, the stemware rack 10 can, for example, be mounted beneath a cabinet 41 or other substrate, for example, the shelf of a cabinent, and the feet of stemware pieces 31 held therein. In an especially preferred embodiment, for this purpose the top comprises means for attaching the stemware rack to such a substrate. As shown in FIG. 1, such means may comprise holes 13 for accepting nails or screws or bolts or like fastening means. The stemware rack may also be glued or fastened by means of hook-and-loop (VELCRO®) fasteners. It is also possible for the cabinet to be constructed with the stemware rack as an integral part.

The stemware rack can be made of any suitable material, for example, wood, metal or plastic. In an especially preferred embodiment, the stemware rack is composed of molded plastic, particularly PLEXIGLAS®, LUCITE® or LEXAN®.

In the most preferred embodiment, the stemware rack is a single-sheet, one-piece molded article, especially of molded plastic, particularly PLEXIGLAS®, LUCITE® or LEXAN®, which consists of a top, a bottom, two sides and two ends, substantially as shown in FIG. 1, wherein the bottom is flat except for a portion at at least one of the ends, wherein that portion of the bottom is angled at an angle greater than 0°, and a single gap traverses the entire length of the center of the bottom. When this embodiment is employed, it can be mounted beneath a cabinet or a shelf thereof as a stand-alone unit or else multiple units may be mounted side-by-side to increase the stemware piece storage capacity.

While the present invention has been described in conjunction with the specific embodiments set forth above, many alternatives, modifications and other variations thereof will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. All such alternatives, modifications and variations are intended to fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A rack for stemware pieces comprising a container having a top, a bottom, two sides and two ends, said top, bottom, two sides and two ends defining an interior space for holding the feet of a plurality of stemware pieces resting on said bottom, wherein the bottom comprises a gap permitting a user to remove a stemware piece held in said container by grasping said stemware piece and pulling or pushing said stemware piece along said bottom to at least one of said ends.

2. The stemware rack according to claim 1, wherein the gap occupies a central portion of said bottom.

3. The stemware rack according to claim 1, wherein the gap runs the entire length of said bottom.

4. The stemware rack according to claim 1, wherein the gap runs less than the entire length of said bottom.

5. The stemware rack according to claim 1, which has a cross-section that is rectangular.

6. The stemware rack according to claim 1, which has a cross-section that is other than rectangular.

7. The stemware rack according to claim 1, which has openings on both ends.

8. The stemware rack according to claim 1, which is closed on one end.

9. The stemware rack according to claim 1, wherein the bottom over at least a part of its length is angled at an angle greater than 0° and less than 90°.

10. The stemware rack according to claim 9, wherein the bottom over its entire length is angled at an angle greater than 0° and less than 90°.

11. The stemware rack according to claim 10, wherein the bottom only at an open end is angled at an angle greater than 0° and less than 90°.

12. The stemware rack according to claim 1, wherein the top comprises means for attaching the stemware rack to a substrate.

13. The stemware rack according to claim 12, wherein said means comprise holes for accepting nails or screws or bolts.

14. The stemware rack according to claim 1, which is composed of molded plastic.

15. A cabinet comprising a stemware rack according to claim 1.