MODULAR WINE RACK WITH MULTIPLE LINEAR CONNECTORS

A modular wine rack has multiple panel assemblies, multiple linear connectors and multiple connecting tubes. Each panel assembly is connected to adjacent panel assemblies and has a front panel and a rear panel. The linear connectors are mounted respectively between each two adjacent panel assemblies to connect the adjacent panel assemblies. Each two adjacent linear connectors are attached securely to each other. Each linear connector has a body, a first projection, a second projection and two branches. The first and second projections are formed on an abutting surface of the body and misalign with each other. The branches are formed respectively on two ends of the body. The connecting tubes are mounted respectively between the front and rear panels of each panel assemblies to connect the front and rear panels. Therefore, the modular wine rack is kept from collapsing easily by the linear connectors.

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Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a modular wine rack, especially to a modular wine rack with multiple linear connectors that uses the linear connectors to connect adjacent panels to form the modular wine rack.

2. Description of the Prior Arts

Wines such as red wines and white wines are popular in modern life. To well preserve the wines, wine racks are commonly used. The conventional wine rack has multiple panel assemblies. Each panel assembly has a front panel, a rear panel and multiple connecting tubes. The front and rear panels are connected to each other by the connecting tubes. However, the adjacent panel assemblies only abut against each other. When the conventional wine rack is shook or bumped, the panel assemblies easily falls and the conventional wine rack is collapsed easily.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a modular wine rack with multiple linear connectors to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a modular wine rack with multiple linear connectors. The modular wine rack has multiple panel assemblies, multiple linear connectors and multiple connecting tubes. Each panel assembly is connected to adjacent panel assemblies and has a front panel and a rear panel. The linear connectors are mounted respectively between each two adjacent panel assemblies to connect the adjacent panel assemblies. Each linear connector has a body, a first projection, a second projection and two branches. The first and second projections are formed on an abutting surface of the body and misalign with each other. The branches are formed respectively on two ends of the body. The connecting tubes are mounted respectively between the front and rear panels of each panel assemblies to connect the front and rear panels. Therefore, the modular wine rack is kept from collapsing easily by the linear connectors. Furthermore, when two linear connectors are attached securely to each other, the projections overlap and abut each other to keep the linear connectors detaching from each other easily because of the misaligning of the projections.

Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of two linear connectors of a modular wine rack in accordance with present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view of the linear connector in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of the linear connectors of a modular wine rack in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a modular wine rack in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the modular wine rack in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged side view in partial section of the modular wine rack in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7a is a side view in partial section of the linear connector in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 7b and 7c are operational side view in partial section of the linear connector in FIG. 2 with the connecting tubes;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of a modular wine rack in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of still another embodiment of a modular wine rack in accordance with the present invention.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, a modular wine rack in accordance with the present invention comprises multiple panel assemblies (60), multiple linear connectors (100), multiple connecting tubes (70) and multiple panel fasteners (80).

Each panel assembly (60) is connected to adjacent panel assemblies (60) and has a front panel (61) and a rear panel (62). Each panel (61, 62) has multiple through holes (611, 621) and multiple fastening holes (612, 622). The through holes (611, 621) are formed through the panel (61, 62) and correspond to a bottle of the wine. The fastening holes (612, 622) are formed through the panel (61, 62). The fastening holes (612) of the front panel (61) respectively align with the fastening holes (622) of the rear panel (62).

With reference to FIG. 1, each linear connector (100) comprises a body (10), a first projection (20), a second projection (30) and two branches (40).

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the body (10) has an abutting surface, a longitudinally central axis (11), a transversely central axis (12), a first end (13), a second end (14), a first side surface (15), a second side surface (16) and a nub (17). The first and second ends (13, 14) are respectively at two sides of the longitudinally central axis (11). The first and second side surfaces (15, 16) are parallel to the transversely central axis (12). The nub (17) is formed on and protrudes out from the abutting surface and is formed between the transversely central axis (12) and the first side surface (15).

The first projection (20) is formed on and protrudes out from the abutting surface of the body (10) and is formed near the first end (13) and the first side surface (15). The first projection (20) may be flush with the first side surface (15) and the longitudinally and transversely central axes (11, 12). The first projection (20) has an outside wall, a through hole (21) and a groove (22). The through hole (21) is formed longitudinally through the first projection (20) and may be a threaded hole. The groove (22) is formed longitudinally in the outside wall of the first projection (20).

The second projection (30) is formed on and protrudes out from the abutting surface of the body (10), is formed near the second end (14) and the second side surface (16) and misalign with the first projection (20). The second projection (30) may be flush with the second side surface (16) and the longitudinally and transversely central axes (11, 12). The second projection (30) has a through hole (31). The through hole (31) is formed longitudinally through the second projection (30) and may be a threaded hole.

With reference to FIG. 1, the first and second projections (20, 30) may be circular in cross section. With reference to FIG. 3, the first and second projections (20A, 30A) may be rectangular in cross section.

With reference to FIG. 1, the branches (40) are formed respectively on the first and second ends (13, 14) of the body (10). Each branch (40) has a through hole (41) and a guiding slot (42). The through hole (41) is formed longitudinally through the branch (40) and has an inner annular wall. The guiding slot (42) is formed in the inner annular wall of the through hole (41) and communicates with the through hole (41).

The linear connectors (100) are mounted respectively between each two adjacent panel assemblies (60) to connect the adjacent panel assemblies (60). Each linear connector (100) is mounted between two adjacent panels (61, 62) of the adjacent panel assemblies (60). The through holes (41) of the branches (40) of each linear connector (100) respectively align with the fastening holes (612, 622) of the adjacent panels (61, 62). Each two adjacent linear connectors (100) are attached securely to each other to connect four adjacent panels (61, 62) of four panel assemblies (60). When two adjacent linear connectors (100) are attached securely to each other, the first projection (20) of one linear connector (100) corresponds to and is attached securely to the second projection (30) of the other one linear connector (100). The through holes (21, 31) of the corresponding projections (20, 30) align with each other. Two connector fasteners (50) are mounted respectively through the aligning through holes (21, 31) to securely attach the linear connectors (100). The connector fasteners (50) may be screws. The nub (17) of the body of one linear connector (100) engages the groove (22) of the first projection (20) of the other linear connector (100) to provide stabler attachment between the linear connectors (100).

With further reference to FIG. 6, the connecting tubes (70) are mounted respectively between the front and rear panels (61, 62) of each panel assemblies (60) to connect the front and rear panels (61, 62). Each connecting tube (70) is mounted between the aligning fastening holes (612, 622) of the front and rear panels (61, 62) of a corresponding panel assembly (60). Each connecting tube (70) has two ends, an outside wall, two fastening holes (71) and two guiding protrusions (72).

The ends of the connecting tube (70) is mounted respectively through the through holes (41) of the branches (40) of two linear connectors (100) that are mounted respectively on the front and rear panels (61, 62) of the corresponding panel assembly (60).

The fastening holes (71) are respectively formed longitudinally in the ends of the connecting tube (70), align with the fastening holes (612, 622) of the front and rear panels (61, 62) of the corresponding panel assembly (60) and may be threaded holes.

With reference to FIGS. 7a to 7c, the guiding protrusions (72) are formed on the outside wall of the connecting tube (70) and correspond to and selectively align with the guiding slots (42) of the branches (40) of the corresponding linear connectors (100). When the guiding protrusions (70) align with the guiding slots (42), the connecting tubes (70) is allowed to pass through the through holes (41) of the branches (40). Therefore, the connecting tubes (70) are easily mounted on and dismounted from the panel assemblies (60). When the connecting tubes (70) are mounted on the panel assemblies (60), the connecting tubes (70) are rotated to misalign the guiding protrusions (70) with the guiding slots (42). Then the guiding protrusions (70) abut the bodies (10) to keep the connecting tubes (70) from sliding out.

With reference to FIG. 6, the panel fasteners (80) are mounted respectively through the fastening holes (612, 622) of the panels (61, 62) and are mounted securely in the fastening holes (71) of the connecting tubes (70). The panel fasteners (80) may be screws.

With reference to FIG. 8, the modular wine rack in accordance with the present invention may comprise multiple additional panels (90). The additional panels (90) are mounted respectively between each two adjacent panel assemblies (60) to provide additional space for placing the bottles and cups. Each additional panel (90) has two ends, a bottom surface, two mounting channels (91), two pairs of notches (92) and four additional fasteners (93). The mounting channels (91) are formed in the bottom surface of the additional panel (90), are respectively near the ends of the additional panel (90) and are mounted respectively around corresponding connecting tubes (70). The pairs of notches (92) are formed respectively in the ends of the additional panels (90), respectively communicate with the mounting channels (91) and are mounted respectively around the branches (40) of the linear connectors (100). The additional fasteners (93) are mounted respectively through the additional panels (90), are mounted securely in the fastening holes (71) of the connecting tubes (70) and may be screws.

With reference to FIG. 8, the additional panels (90) may be rectangular in cross section. With reference to FIG. 9, the additional panels (90A) may be curved in cross section.

The present invention has numerous advantages. The linear connectors (100) connect the adjacent panels (61, 62) to bind the panel assemblies (60) together. Therefore, all the panel assemblies (60) of the modular wine rack as described are stably connected to each other to keep the modular wine rack as described from collapsing easily. The two adjacent linear connectors (100) are attached to each other by aligning the projections (20, 30) and mounting the connector fasteners (50). Because first and second projections (20, 30) misalign with each other, the projections (20, 30) overlap and abut each other to keep the adjacent linear connectors (100) detaching from each other easily.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and features of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

1. A modular wine rack comprising:

multiple panel assemblies, and each panel assembly being connected to adjacent panel assemblies and having a front panel having multiple through holes being formed through the front panel; and a rear panel having multiple through holes being formed through the rear panel;
multiple linear connectors being mounted respectively between each two adjacent panel assemblies, each linear connector being mounted between two adjacent panels of the adjacent panel assemblies, and each linear connector comprising: a body having an abutting surface; a longitudinally central axis; a transversely central axis; a first end; a second end, wherein the first and second ends are respectively at two sides of the longitudinally central axis; a first side surface being parallel to the transversely central axis; and a second side surface being parallel to the transversely central axis; a first projection being formed on and protruding out from the abutting surface of the body, being formed near the first end and the first side surface of the body; a second projection being formed on and protruding out from the abutting surface of the body, being formed near the second end and the second side surface, misaligning with the first projection; and two branches being formed respectively on the first and second ends of the body, and each branch having a through hole being formed longitudinally through the branch and having an inner annular wall;
each two adjacent linear connectors being attached securely to each other wherein the first projection of one linear connector corresponds to and is attached securely to the second projection of the other one linear connector; and
multiple connecting tubes being mounted respectively between the front and rear panels of each panel assemblies, and each connecting tube having two ends being mounted respectively through the through holes of the branches of two corresponding linear connectors; and an outside wall.

2. The modular wine rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the first projection of each linear connector is flush with the first side surface of the linear connector and the longitudinally and transversely central axes of the linear connector; and
the second projection of each linear connector is flush with the second side surface of the linear connector and the longitudinally and transversely central axes of the linear connector.

3. The modular wine rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the body of each linear connector has a nub being formed on and protruding out from the abutting surface of the body and being formed between the transversely central axis and the first side surface of the body;
the first projection of each linear connector has an outside wall; and a groove being formed longitudinally in the outside wall of the first projection; and
the nub of the body of one linear connector engaging the groove of the first projection of the adjacent linear connector.

4. The modular wine rack as claimed in claim 2, wherein

the body of each linear connector has a nub being formed on and protruding out from the abutting surface of the body and being formed between the transversely central axis and the first side surface of the body;
the first projection of each linear connector has an outside wall; and a groove being formed longitudinally in the outside wall of the first projection; and
the nub of the body of one linear connector engaging the groove of the first projection of the adjacent linear connector.

5. The modular wine rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein

each branch of the linear connectors has a guiding slot being formed in the inner annular wall of the through hole of the branch and communicating with the through hole of the branch; and
each connecting tube has two guiding protrusions being formed on the outside wall of the connecting tube and corresponding to and selectively aligning with the guiding slots of the branches of the corresponding linear connectors.

6. The modular wine rack as claimed in claim 4, wherein

each branch of the linear connectors has a guiding slot being formed in the inner annular wall of the through hole of the branch and communicating with the through hole of the branch; and
each connecting tube has two guiding protrusions being formed on the outside wall of the connecting tube and corresponding to and selectively aligning with the guiding slots of the branches of die corresponding linear connectors.

7. The modular wine rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein

each panel of the panel assemblies has multiple fastening holes being formed through the panel, wherein the fastening holes of the front panel of one panel assembly respectively aligning with the fastening holes of the rear panel of the panel assembly;
the through hole of the branches of each linear connector respectively align with the fastening holes of the adjacent panels;
each connecting tube is mounted between the aligning fastening holes of the front and rear panels of a corresponding panel assembly and has two fastening holes being respectively formed longitudinally in the ends of the connecting tube, aligning with the fastening holes of the front and rear panels of the corresponding panel assembly;
multiple panel fasteners are mounted respectively through the fastening holes of the panels and are mounted securely in the fastening holes of the connecting tubes;
the first projection of each linear connector has a through hole being formed longitudinally through the first projection;
the second projection of each linear connector has a through hole being formed longitudinally through the second projection;
the through holes of the corresponding projections align with each other; and
each two adjacent linear connectors have two connector fasteners being mounted respectively through the aligning through holes to securely attach the adjacent linear connectors.

8. The modular wine rack as claimed in claim 6, wherein

each panel of the panel assemblies has multiple fastening holes being formed through the panel, wherein the fastening holes of the front panel of one panel assembly respectively aligning with the fastening holes of the rear panel of the panel assembly;
the through hole of the branches of each linear connector respectively align with the fastening holes of the adjacent panels;
each connecting tube is mounted between the aligning fastening holes of the front and rear panels of a corresponding panel assembly and has two fastening holes being respectively formed longitudinally in the ends of the connecting tube, aligning with the fastening holes of the front and rear panels of the corresponding panel assembly;
multiple panel fasteners are mounted respectively through the fastening holes of the panels and are mounted securely in the fastening holes of the connecting tubes;
the first projection of each linear connector has a through hole being formed longitudinally through the first projection;
the second projection of each linear connector has a through hole being formed longitudinally through the second projection;
the through holes of the corresponding projections align with each other; and
each two adjacent linear connectors have two connector fasteners being mounted respectively through the aligning through holes to securely attach the adjacent linear connectors.

9. The modular wine rack as claimed in claim 1 further comprising multiple additional panels being mounted respectively between each two adjacent panel assemblies, wherein each additional panel has

two ends;
a bottom surface;
two mounting channels being formed in the bottom surface of the additional panel, being respectively near the ends of the additional panel and being mounted respectively around corresponding connecting tubes; and
two pairs of notches being formed respectively in the ends of the additional panels, respectively communicating with the mounting channels and being mounted respectively around the branches of corresponding linear connectors.

10. The modular wine rack as claimed in claim 8 further comprising multiple additional panels being mounted respectively between each two adjacent panel assemblies, wherein each additional panel has

two ends;
a bottom surface;
two mounting channels being formed in the bottom surface of the additional panel, being respectively near the ends of the additional panel and being mounted respectively around corresponding connecting tubes;
two pairs of notches being formed respectively in the ends of the additional panels, respectively communicating with the mounting channels and being mounted respectively around the branches of corresponding linear connectors; and
four additional fasteners being mounted respectively through the additional panels, being mounted securely in the fastening holes of the corresponding connecting tubes.

11. The modular wine rack as claimed in claim 9, wherein

the fastening holes of the connecting tubes of the panel assemblies are threaded holes;
the panel fasteners are screws;
the through holes of the first and second projections of the linear connectors are threaded holes;
the connector fasteners are screws; and
the additional fasteners are screws.

12. The modular wine rack as claimed in claim 10, wherein

the fastening holes of the connecting tubes of the panel assemblies are threaded holes;
the panel fasteners are screws;
the through holes of the first and second projections of the linear connectors are threaded holes;
the connector fasteners are screws; and
the additional fasteners are screws.

13. The modular wine rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second projections of each linear connector are circular in cross section.

14. The modular wine rack as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first and second projections of each linear connector are circular in cross section.

15. The modular wine rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second projections of each linear connector are rectangular in cross section.

16. The modular wine rack as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first and second projections of each linear connector are rectangular in cross section.

17. The modular wine rack as claimed in claim 9, wherein the additional panels are rectangular in cross section.

18. The modular wine rack as claimed in claim 12, wherein the additional panels are rectangular in cross section.

19. The modular wine rack as claimed in claim 9, wherein the additional panels are curved in cross section.

20. The modular wine rack as claimed in claim 12, wherein the additional panels are curved in cross section.

Patent History
Publication number: 20090289018
Type: Application
Filed: May 22, 2008
Publication Date: Nov 26, 2009
Inventor: Jason YANG (Taipei)
Application Number: 12/125,056
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Bottle Or Jar (211/74)
International Classification: A47B 73/00 (20060101);