Wine barrel rack

Abstract

A wine barrel rack comprises a unitary molded plastic base including a generally rectangular planar wall around a periphery of the base connected to a formed wall to provide an upwardly opening space. The formed wall defines outer legs at opposite longitudinal ends of the base. An inner leg is disposed centrally between the outer legs. The legs are provided for resting on a support surface. First and second cradles are each disposed between one of the outer legs and the inner leg. Each cradle is contoured for supporting a barrel in the upwardly opening space, in use.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of provisional application No. 61/213,903, filed Jul. 24, 2009.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to storage of wine barrels and, more particularly, to unitary molded plastic wine barrel rack.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Barrels have historically been used for the storage and transportation of wine. Wine barrels are traditionally made of oak or other woods. A typical wine barrel is made from staves of wood that are shaped into a cylinder which is bulging in the middle and includes a flat or planar head at each end. A plurality of metal hoops surround the staves to hold them in place. The barrels typically weigh between 125 and 140 lbs. when empty. The shape of the wine barrel allows it to easily be rolled. A bung hole is typically provided in the side wall for filling and emptying the barrel.

The dimensions of the barrels can vary. However, there are two common barrel sizes. One is referred to as a Bordeaux barrel. The other is referred to as a Burgundy barrel. Both are sized to hold about 225 liters. The Burgundy barrel has a length of about 880 mm with a head diameter of 580 mm and a center diameter of 720 mm. The Bordeaux barrel has a length of about 950 mm, with a head diameter of about 565 mm and a center diameter of about 700 mm.

Wine barrels are traditionally stored on their side. Because of the bulging cylindrical shape, the barrels are typically placed on racks to maintain them in position. Many modern rack designs support barrels on a floor as well as stacked on other barrels. Particularly, most racks are made of tubular metal or the like and include bars which can support one or more barrels on the ground as well as support stacking. While the metal racks satisfy basic requirements, they are also very heavy, can be subject to rusting and can be difficult to dispose of.

The present application is directed to an improved wine barrel rack design.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a wine barrel rack formed of plastic and molded as one piece.

Broadly, in accordance with one aspect of the invention there is disclosed a rack comprising a unitary molded plastic base including a generally rectangular planar wall around a periphery of the base connected to a formed wall to provide an upwardly opening space. The formed wall defines end legs at opposite ends of the base. A middle leg is disposed centrally between the end legs. The legs are provided for resting on a support surface. First and second cradles are each disposed between one of the end legs and the middle leg. Each cradle is contoured for supporting a barrel in the upwardly opening space, in use. It is a feature of the invention that the base is of substantially uniform wall thickness.

It is another feature of the invention that inwardly facing surfaces of the end legs are contoured corresponding to shape of a barrel to alternatively support the rack on subjacent barrels.

It is a further feature of the invention that the legs provide spacing for receiving forks of a forklift. The formed wall may include aligned coplanar supports for engaging forks of a forklift.

It is still another feature of the invention that the cradles are formed at upper ends of the legs.

It is an additional feature of the invention that the formed wall comprises an end leg at each corner of the base. Each end leg may comprise a pair of feet and a support between each pair of feet for engaging forks of a forklift.

It is yet another feature of the invention that the formed wall further defines a side leg along each longitudinal side of the base centrally between the end legs.

It is still a further feature of the invention that the planar wall includes a plurality of upwardly extending stops. The stops are positioned at longitudinal edges of the planar walls proximate the cradles to limit lateral movement of barrels in the cradles.

It is a further feature of the invention that the base has a wall thickness in a range of about 0.25″ to 0.5″.

It is still another feature of the invention that the base has a wall thickness of about 0.43″.

It is still another feature of the invention that the base has a draft to enable nesting of a plurality of racks.

There is disclosed in accordance with another aspect of the invention a wine barrel rack comprising a unitary molded plastic base of substantially uniform wall thickness including a generally rectangular planar wall around a periphery of the base connected to a formed wall to provide an upwardly open space. The formed wall defines a corner leg at each corner of the base for resting on a support surface and first and second cradles. Each cradle is contoured for supporting a wine barrel in the upwardly opening space, in use.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the specification and from the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of first and second wine barrel racks in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, each rack supporting a pair of wine barrels with one rack stacked atop the barrels in the other rack;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the wine barrel rack of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the wine barrel rack of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the stacked wine barrel racks of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an end elevation view of the stacked wine barrel racks of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the stacked wine barrel racks of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the lines 7-7 of FIG. 6, illustrating an edge configuration of the wine barrel rack;

FIG. 8 is an elevation view of nested wine barrel racks in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the lines 9-9 of FIG. 8 illustrating an edge configuration;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of first and second wine barrel racks in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, each rack supporting a pair of wine barrels with one rack stacked atop the barrels in the other rack;

FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of the wine barrel rack of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a bottom perspective view of the wine barrel rack of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 13 is an end elevation view of the wine barrel rack of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention, a wine barrel rack is formed of plastic and molded as one piece. The wine barrel rack is formed as a tray having integral legs. The tray supports two horizontal wine barrels. The legs provide spacing for receiving the forks of a forklift. The legs are adapted to rest on a ground surface. The legs are also provided for stacking on barrels supported in a lower rack. Plural racks can be nested for storage when not in use.

Referring initially to FIG. 1, a pair of wine barrel racks 10 are illustrated each supporting a pair of wine barrels B. The wine barrels B are not part of the invention, but rather illustrate use of the wine barrel rack 10. The wine barrels B are of conventional construction and in the illustrated embodiment of the invention may comprise Burgundy barrels or Bordeaux barrels, as previously described. Particularly, the wine barrel rack 10 is adapted to support either the Burgundy barrel or Bordeaux barrel. Similarly, the wine barrel rack 10 could be adapted, as will be apparent, to support other different sized barrels.

The wine barrel rack 10 is adapted for storing and transporting wine barrels, or the like. As is apparent, the barrels could be used for materials other than wine. Thus, reference herein may be to a barrel or a wine barrel. The invention is not limited to the particular material stored in the barrel and reference to one or the other is for convenience only herein.

Each wine barrel rack 10 is adapted to support two wine barrels B with another wine barrel rack 10 supported on the wine barrels B, as illustrated in FIG. 1. This can be repeated so that numerous levels of wine barrel pairs can be stored.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the wine barrel rack 10 comprises a unitary molded plastic base 12 of one piece construction. The base 12 is vacuum formed from sheets of high molecular weight polyethylene. Thus, the base 12 is impervious to liquids and other products. Vacuum forming produces a stress-free base with maximum resistance to cracking from impact and other environmental conditions. Because the base 12 is formed from a sheet of high density polyethylene, it has a substantially uniform wall thickness throughout. As is apparent, there may be slight differences in wall thickness. In an illustrated embodiment of the invention, the base 12 is drawn from polyethylene sheets to a wall thickness that is in the range of 0.25″ to 0.5″ substantially throughout. In one embodiment, the wall thickness may be about 0.43″ throughout. The base 12 is of generally parallelepiped configuration with an approximate 5° draft to enable nesting, as described below, and to enhance moldability during vacuum forming.

The base 12 includes a generally planar wall 14, that is generally rectangular at its outer edge, around a periphery of the base and having a downwardly turned lip 16. The planar wall 14 is connected to and surrounds a formed wall 18 to provide an upwardly opening space 20. In an illustrated embodiment of the invention, the planar wall 14 has opposite longitudinal edges 22 connected between opposite lateral edges 24. The longitudinal edges 22 may be on the order of 61″ in length. The lateral edges 24 may be on the order of 47″ in length. The lateral edges 24 define opposite ends of the base 12. The longitudinal edges 22 define opposite sides of the base 12.

The formed wall 18 defines a pair of end or corner legs 26 adjacent each end 24, one at each corner thereof, for a total of four. The formed wall 18 also defines middle legs centrally positioned between the ends 24 and including a center leg 28 disposed centrally between the corner legs 26 and opposite side legs 30 located midway along each side 22. Each of the legs 26, 28 and 30 is of substantially the same height so that the overall height of the base 12 is on the order of 14-⅞″ from the bottom of the legs to a top surface of the planar wall 14. As will be apparent, the formed wall 18 could include fewer middle legs, such as only the center leg 28 or only the side legs 30 or could include a continuous middle leg combining the functionality of the center leg 28 and the side legs 30.

Each corner leg 26 includes a pair of feet 32 separated by a corner leg support 34. The support 34 is coplanar with and in line with a corresponding support 34 of a corner leg 26 at a corner along the same side 22, as shown in FIG. 3. Moreover, the corner leg supports 34 are coplanar with an elongate rib support 36 extending therebetween. These supports 34 and 36 are for engaging forks of a forklift entering from the ends 24, as is apparent in FIG. 5.

The rib supports 36 extend parallel to the sides 22 just inside the adjacent side leg 30 and are coplanar with one another to provide a support for receiving forks of a forklift entering along the sides 22, as seen in FIG. 4. The center leg 28 is located laterally between the rib supports 36 and extends longitudinally along a centerline of the base 12.

Referring particularly to FIG. 3, inwardly facing surfaces of the feet 32, closest to the sides 22, are contoured as at 38, and inwardly facing surfaces of the feet 32 closest to the ends 24 are contoured as at 40. Similarly, each longitudinal end of the center leg 28 is contoured as at 42. These contoured surfaces 38, 40 and 42 are contoured to the shape and size of the barrels B so that the wine barrel rack 10 can also rest on a pair of subjacent barrels B, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5. The side legs 30 do not contact the subjacent barrels B. This provides five points of support on each subjacent barrel B.

Referring particularly to FIG. 2, the formed wall 18 further defines a pair of cradles 44. Each cradle 44 is located between the corner legs 26 at each end 24 and the center leg 28. Particularly, each cradle 44 is defined by a first contoured wall 46 joining tops of the corner legs 26 at each end 24, opposite second contoured walls 48 at a top of each corner leg 26 proximate the sides 22, near the side legs 30, and a third contoured wall 50 at a top of each longitudinal end of the center leg 28. Particularly, the contour of the contoured walls 46, 48 and 50 corresponds to that of the conventional wine barrels B, described herein. Each cradle 44 thus provides four points of support to cradle each barrel, one near the end 24 and the other three inwardly therefrom. Associated with each cradle 44 are a pair of stops 52 that extend upwardly from the planar wall 14 just outside the opposite lateral second contoured walls 48. The stops 52 limit lateral movement of the wine barrels B in the cradles 44. The stops 52 for each cradle 44 are spaced apart corresponding to height of the Bordeaux barrel to prevent movement. Likewise, the contoured surfaces 38, 40 and 42 on the bottom of the legs 26 and 28 prevent movement of the rack 10 placed on a lower row of barrels B.

When used with the Burgundy barrel, the barrel B is not locked in place by the stops 52 because it is shorter. However, the larger circumference in the center will keep the Burgundy barrel in place. Should the barrel shift, it will travel only about 2″ until it hits the stops 52 which thus limit lateral movement of the Burgundy barrel in the cradle 44.

In accordance with the invention, when the wine barrel racks 10 are not in use, they can be nested for storage and take up minimal storage space. As described above, the uniform wall thickness and draft provides a taper on each of the legs, 26, 28 and 30 to enable nesting, as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. This minimizes requirements for storage space when not in use.

The racks 10 being formed of plastic are relatively light weight so that they are easy to handle and are not subject to corrosion. The weight of the rack 12 is in the order of 50 lbs. The outer leg supports 34 provide an access opening for a forklift of about 6-⅝″ across and 3-⅛″ in height when stacked on barrels B, see FIG. 5. Similarly, along the longitudinal edge 22, the rib supports 36 provide a forklift access of about 9- 11/16″ across and a 2-½″ forklift front open height above stacked barrels B. Moreover, the configuration of the rack 10 provides access to a bung opening BO, see FIG. 7, for a “thief” T to draw wine for testing during fermentation.

Referring to FIG. 10, a pair of wine barrel racks 110, in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, are illustrated each supporting a pair of wine barrels B. The wine barrel rack 110 is generally similar to the wine barrel rack 10, discussed above, with changes in construction of the corner legs, as described below. For consistency, reference numerals for the wine barrel rack 110 correspond to reference numerals for the wine barrel rack 10 except for being in a 100 series. For example, the reference numeral 20 of the wine barrel rack 10 corresponds to the reference numeral 120 of the wine barrel rack 110.

Referring also to FIGS. 11-13, the wine barrel rack 110 comprises a unitary molded plastic base 112 of one piece construction. The dimensions and formation of the base 112 are similar to those discussed above relative to the base 12 and thus are not repeated herein.

The base 112 includes a generally planar wall 114, that is generally rectangular at its outer edge, around a periphery of the base and having a downwardly turned lip 116. The planar wall 114 is connected to and surrounds a formed wall 118 to provide an upwardly opening space 120. The planar wall 114 has opposite longitudinal edges 122 connected between opposite lateral edges 124. The lateral edges 124 define opposite ends of the base 112. The longitudinal edges 122 define opposite sides of the base 112.

The formed wall 118 defines a pair of end or corner legs 126 adjacent each end 124, one at each corner thereof, for a total of four. The formed wall 118 also defines middle legs centrally positioned between the ends 124 and including a center leg 128 disposed centrally between the corner legs 126 and opposite side legs 130 located midway along each side 122. Each of the legs 126, 128 and 130 is of substantially the same height.

A rib support 136 extends parallel to the sides 122 just inside the side legs 130 and coplanar with one another to provide a support for receiving forks of a forklift entering along the sides 122, similar to that seen in FIG. 4. The center leg 128 is located laterally between the rib supports 136 and extends longitudinally along a center line of the base 112.

Referring particularly to FIG. 12, inwardly facing surfaces of the corner legs 126 are contoured as at 138. Similarly, each longitudinal end of the center leg 128 is contoured as at 142. These contoured surfaces 138 and 142 are contoured to the shape and size of the barrels B so that the wine barrel rack 110 can also rest on a pair of subjacent barrels B, as illustrated in FIG. 10. The side legs 130 do not contact the subjacent barrels B. This provides three points of support on each subjacent barrel B.

Referring particularly to FIG. 11, the formed wall 118 further defines a pair of cradles 144. Each cradle 144 is located between the corner legs 126 at each end 124 and the center leg 128. Particularly, each cradle 144 is defined by a first contoured wall 146 joining tops of the corner legs 126 at each end 124, opposite second contoured walls 148 at a top of each corner leg 126 proximate the sides 122, near the side legs 130, and a third contoured wall 150 at a top of each longitudinal end of the center leg 128. Particularly, the contour of the walls 146, 148 and 150 corresponds to that of the conventional wine barrels B, described herein. Each cradle 144 thus provides four points of support to cradle each barrel B, one near the end 124, and the other three inwardly therefrom. Associated with each cradle 144 are a pair of stops 152 that extend upwardly from the planar wall 114 just outside the opposite lateral second contoured walls 148. The stops 152 limit lateral movement of the wine barrels B in the cradles 144, as above.

In accordance with the second embodiment of the invention, the use of the enlarged corner legs 126 provides additional strength and support at each corner. As a result, with the second embodiment, forklift access is provided only at sides of the base 112, as discussed above, rather than at the end, as is apparent in viewing the wine barrel rack 110 in FIG.

13.

Thus, in accordance with the invention, there is provided a wine barrel rack in the form of a unitary molded plastic base formed from one piece of sheet plastic.

The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is intended to be illustrative of the broad concepts comprehended by the invention.

Claims

1. A rack for supporting barrels comprising:

a unitary molded plastic base including a generally rectangular planar wall around a periphery of the base connected to a formed wall to provide an upwardly opening space, the formed wall defining end legs at opposite ends of the base, a middle leg disposed centrally between the end legs, the legs for resting on a support surface, and first and second cradles each disposed between one of the end legs and the middle leg, each cradle being contoured for supporting a barrel in the upwardly opening space, in use.

2. The rack of claim 1 wherein the base is of substantially uniform wall thickness.

3. The rack of claim 1 wherein inwardly facing surfaces of the end legs are contoured corresponding to shape of a barrel to alternatively support the rack on subjacent barrels.

4. The rack of claim 1 wherein the legs provide spacing for receiving forks of a forklift.

5. The rack of claim 4 wherein the formed wall includes aligned coplanar supports for engaging forks of a forklift.

6. The rack of claim 1 wherein the cradles are formed at upper ends of the legs.

7. The rack of claim 1 wherein the formed wall comprises an end leg at each corner of the base.

8. The rack of claim 7 wherein each end leg comprises a pair of feet and a support between each pair of feet for engaging forks of a forklift.

9. The rack of claim 1 wherein the formed wall further defines a side leg along each longitudinal side of the base centrally between the end legs.

10. The rack of claim 1 wherein the planar wall includes a plurality of upwardly extending stops, the stops positioned at longitudinal edges of the planar wall proximate the cradles, to limit lateral movement of barrels in the cradles.

11. The rack of claim 1 wherein the base has a wall thickness in a range of 0.25″ to 0.5″.

12. The rack of claim 1 wherein the base has a wall thickness of about 0.43″.

13. The rack of claim 1 wherein the base has a draft to enable nesting of a plurality of racks.

14. A wine barrel rack comprising:

a unitary molded plastic base of substantially uniform wall thickness including a generally rectangular planar wall around a periphery of the base connected to a formed wall to provide an upwardly opening space, the formed wall defining a corner leg at each corner of the base for resting on a support surface and first and second cradles, each cradle being contoured for supporting a wine barrel in the upwardly opening space, in use.

15. The wine barrel rack of claim 14 wherein inwardly facing surfaces of the corner legs are contoured corresponding to shape of a wine barrel to alternatively support the wine rack on subjacent wine barrels.

16. The wine barrel rack of claim 14 further comprising a middle leg disposed centrally between the corner legs.

17. The wine barrel rack of claim 14 wherein the legs provide spacing for receiving forks of a forklift and the formed wall includes aligned coplanar supports for engaging forks of a forklift.

18. The wine barrel rack of claim 14 wherein the cradles are formed at upper ends of the legs.

19. The wine barrel rack of claim 14 wherein each corner leg comprises a pair of feet and a support between each pair of feet for engaging forks of a forklift.

20. The wine barrel rack of claim 14 wherein the formed wall further defines a side leg along each longitudinal side of the base centrally between the corner legs.

21. The wine barrel rack of claim 14 wherein the planar wall includes a plurality of upwardly extending stops, the stops positioned at longitudinal edges of the planar wall proximate the cradles, to limit lateral movement of wine barrels in the cradles.

22. The wine barrel rack of claim 14 wherein the base has a wall thickness in a range of 0.25″ to 0.5″.

23. The wine barrel rack of claim 14 wherein the base has a wall thickness of about 0.43″.

24. The wine barrel rack of claim 14 wherein the base has a draft to enable nesting of a plurality of wine barrel racks.