FLOATING WALL WINE RACK

Abstract

A wall wine rack designed to give the illusion that the wine bottles held in a substantially parallel manner, i.e., the label of the first wine bottle is visible to a person standing in front of the wine rack, are floating.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/792,322 filed Jan. 14, 2019, whose contents are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general to racks for storing and/or displaying wine bottles, and more specifically, to modular wine racks.

BACKGROUND

Wine bottles are typically placed in storage racks that are attached directly to a wall, but floor to ceiling racks for holding wine bottles are limited because standard lengths often do not fit the intended vertical spaces and often require customization by the manufacturer to fit the intended space. In addition, current wine storage racks are not easily configured to add and/or remove one or more wine bottle support arms, and adjust the racks to desired positions according to an individual's preferences.

As such, there is a need in the industry for a vertically mounted modular wine rack storage apparatus that addresses the limitations of the prior art, which provides the user to option to use stock sizes and allows the user to modify the vertical wine rack storage apparatus to accommodate the user's desires and spaces, and thereby avoid the costs and time associated with customization.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention's vertical connection system is designed to attach to an upper support structure, such as ceiling, and a lower support structure, such as a floor, which serves to hold a panel in a vertical orientation to allow the panel to hold one or more wine bottles. It will be appreciated that there are endless number of ways that such attachments can occur, and further that known attachment mechanisms can be used to attach the present invention to a wall in place of attachment to the upper support structure and/or the lower support structure. The present invention's vertical connection system is designed in a manner that gives the illusion of floating wine bottles.

The present invention's vertical connection system is further designed to be height adjusted on the user's site to accommodate an endless number of possible height requirements. In this regard, the present invention's vertical connection system includes height adjustment mechanisms that easily permit the user to install the vertical a connection system in accordance with the user's height requirements.

The present invention is constructed in a way that allows for interchangeable wine bottle support arms of differing orientations dependent on user requirements to be connected to the panel, and there are a variety of support arms commercially available that will work with the present invention. Specifically, for example, the present invention can be used with pins to create single, double or triple deep wine bottle configurations.

The present invention system allows for a large number of shapes and bottle support configurations. Further, the present invention's system can be used to create room dividers or against walls. Additionally, multiple panels can be installed adjacent to each other to provide a desired width for the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded two dimensional view of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded two dimensional view of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a view of the panel 100 of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is modular wine bottle storage apparatus mounted to an upper surface, such as for example a ceiling or counter, and a lower surface, such as for example a floor, and configured to vertically secure a panel having a plurality of interchangeable wine bottle support arms.

With reference to FIG. 1, a wine bottle storage apparatus comprises a panel 100, a first vertical frame 110 coupled to one side of the panel 100 and a second vertical frame 111 coupled to the opposite side of the panel 100. Preferably the first vertical frame 110 and the second vertical frame 111 are identical and interchangeable. The panel 100 preferably is comprised of transparent material, such as for example, acrylic or glass. As shown in the FIG. 1, the vertical frames 110 and 111 are shown as the same length as the side of the panel 100. However, the length of the vertical frames 100 and 111 may vary in accordance with the rigidity of the panel 100, and may be less than the same length as the side of the panel 100. Furthermore, the panel 100 further comprises multiple pre-drilled holes that are suitable to receive a racking mechanism to store and display wine bottles is a manner that is substantially parallel to the ground. Additional, the panel 100 is preferably manufactured in predetermined heights and widths, such as for example heights of 3 feet, 4 feet, 8 feet and 10 feet, and widths of 1.5 feet (e.g, one bottle width), 2.5 feet (e.g., two bottle width) and 3.5 feet (e.g., 3 bottle width). Finally, the first and second vertical frames 110 and 111 are preferably constructed from C-channel.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, the wine bottle storage apparatus further comprises top frame 120 and a bottom frame 121, each comprising a portion 122 that extends from either end of the respective frames 120 and 121. Preferably, the top frame 120 and the bottom frame 121 are identical and interchangeable. The top frame 120 is attachable to an upper surface, such as for example a ceiling or under counter, and the bottom frame 121 is attachable to a lower surface, such as for example a floor. The top frame 120 and a bottom frame 121 are preferably constructed from steel and the portions 120 comprise C-channels welded to the top frame 120 and a bottom frame 121. As shown in the FIG. 1, the top and bottom frames 120 and 121 are shown with the same length as the width of the panel 100. However, the length of the top and bottom frames 120 and 121 may be less than the same length as the width of the panel 100, and may not be one continuous frame, but rather a two pieces.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, the wine bottle storage apparatus further comprises a top height adjustment mechanism 125 and a bottom height adjustment mechanism 126. Preferably, the top height adjustment mechanism 125 and the bottom height adjustment mechanism 126 are identical and interchangeable. The top height adjustment mechanism 125 further comprises a top bracket 130 and extenders 140. The bottom adjustment mechanism 126 further comprises a bottom bracket 131 and extenders 141. The extenders 140 and 141 preferable comprise steel tubing that mates with the C-channels. The top bracket 130 further comprises an intermediate frame portion 132, a first end portion 135 that extends above the intermediate frame 132 at both ends of the intermediate frame 132 and a second end portion 136 that extends below the intermediate frame 132 at both ends of the intermediate frame 132. Similarly the bottom bracket 133 further comprises an intermediate frame portion 131, a first end portion 137 that extends above the intermediate frame 131 at both ends of the intermediate frame 132 and a second end portion 138 that extends below the intermediate frame 131 at both ends of the intermediate frame 132. Preferably, the intermediate frames 132 and 133 are preferably constructed from C-channels and the first end portions 135, 137 and the second end portions 136 and 138 comprise C-channels welded to the ends of the intermediate frames 132 and 133. As shown in the FIG. 1, the intermediate frames 132 and 133 are shown with the same length as the width of the panel 100. However, the length of the intermediate frames 132 and 133 may be less than the same length as the width of the panel 100, and may not be one continuous frame, but rather a two piece frame.

With reference to FIG. 2, an assembled modular wine bottle storage apparatus in accordance with the present invention is shown. In this regard, the first vertical frame 110 is attached to one side of the panel 100 and the second vertical frame 111 is attached to the opposite side of the panel 100. The intermediate frame 130 is attached to the top of the panel 100 and the intermediate frame 131 is attached to the bottom of the panel 100. In this regard, the end portions 136 mate with the top portion of the frames 110 and 111 and the end portions 137 mate with the bottom portion of the frames 110 and 111. The extenders 140 mates with the end portions 135 and the portion 122 to connect the top frame 120 to the intermediate frame 130. Similarly, the extenders 141 mates with the end portions 138 and the portion 122 to connect the top frame 121 to the intermediate frame 131. Once constructed, the assembled modular wine bottle storage apparatus is positioned into place and the top frame 120 is attached to an upper surface, such as for example a ceiling or under counter, and the bottom frame 121 is attached to a lower surface, such as for example a floor.

With continued reference to FIG. 2, arms 200 of differing orientations dependent on user requirements are connected to the panel 100 to hold and display a wine bottle. Preferably, the present invention is used with pins screwed into the panel 100 using pre-cut tapped holes to create single, double or triple deep wine bottle configurations.

An important aspect of the present invention is that the top height adjustment mechanism 125 and/or the bottom height adjustment mechanism 126 are adjustable to accommodate the user's height requirements. For example, with reference to FIG. 3, a user may wish to accommodate the wine rack of the present invention in an installation where the floor to ceiling height is 9 foot 6 inches. In this example, the user could use an 8 foot panel 100 and make-up for the difference—1 foot and 6 inches—by adjusting (e.g., cutting) the length of the extenders 140 and 141 to accommodate the remaining 1 foot 6 inches of extra space. Alternatively, the present invention can be configured with just one of the top height adjustment mechanism 125 or a bottom height adjustment mechanism 126 to accommodate the extra space. If a top height adjustment mechanism 125 is used, the bottom frame 121 is attached to bottom of the panel 100. Similarly, if a bottom height adjustment mechanism 126 is used, the top frame 120 is attached to top of the panel 100.

With reference to FIG. 4, a user may wish to accommodate the wine rack of the present invention in an installation where the floor to counter height, for example, a height of 5 foot 6 inches. In this example, the user could use a 4 foot panel 100 and make-up for the difference—1 foot and 6 inches—by adjusting (e.g., cutting) the length of the extenders 140 and 141 to accommodate the remaining 1 foot 6 inches of extra space. Alternatively, the present invention can be configured with just one of the top height adjustment mechanism 125 or a bottom height adjustment mechanism 126 to accommodate the extra space. If a top height adjustment mechanism 125 is used, the bottom frame 121 is attached to bottom of the panel 100. Similarly, if a bottom height adjustment mechanism 126 is used, the top frame 120 is attached to top of the panel 100.

With reference to FIG. 5, the panel 100 preferably is comprised of transparent material, such as for example, acrylic or glass. Furthermore, the panel 100 further comprises multiple pre-drilled holes 300 that are suitable to receive a racking mechanism to store and display wine bottles is a manner that is substantially parallel to the ground. Preferably, the present invention is used with pins screwed into the panel 100 using pre-tapped threaded holes 300 to create single, double or triple deep wine bottle configurations.

All directional references used herein (e.g., upper, lower, upward, downward, left, right, leftward, rightward, top, bottom, above, below, vertical, horizontal, clockwise, and counterclockwise) are only used for identification purposes to aid the reader's understanding of the present invention, and do not create limitations, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use of the invention.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to various embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various other changes in the form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A wine rack wall comprising:

(a) a panel configured to support a plurality of interchangeable wine bottle support arms;

(b) a first vertical frame for coupling to one side of the panel and a second vertical frame for coupling to the opposite side of the panel;

(c) a top frame for attaching the panel to an upper surface and a bottom frame for attaching the panel to a lower surface;

(d) an upper height adjustment mechanism, comprising: (i) a first intermediate bracket for coupling to the top of the panel; (ii) two extenders for connecting the first intermediate bracket to the top frame;

(e) a lower height adjustment mechanism, comprising: (i) a second intermediate bracket for coupling to the bottom of the panel; (ii) two extenders for connecting the second intermediate bracket to the bottom frame.

2. A wine rack wall comprising:

(a) a panel configured to support a plurality of interchangeable wine bottle support arms;

(b) a first vertical frame coupled to one side of the panel and a second vertical frame coupled to the opposite side of the panel;

(c) a top frame for attaching the panel to an upper surface and a bottom frame for attaching the panel to a lower surface, wherein the bottom frame further couples to the panel;

(d) an upper height adjustment mechanism, comprising: (i) a first intermediate bracket for coupling to the top of the panel; (ii) two extenders for connecting the first intermediate bracket to the top frame.

3. A wine rack wall comprising:

(a) a panel configured to support a plurality of interchangeable wine bottle support arms;

(b) a first vertical frame coupled to one side of the panel and a second vertical frame coupled to the opposite side of the panel;

(c) a top frame for attaching the panel to an upper surface and a bottom frame for attaching the panel to a lower surface, wherein the top frame further couples to the panel;

(d) a lower height adjustment mechanism, comprising: (i) an intermediate bracket for coupling to the bottom of the panel; (ii) two extenders for connecting the second intermediate bracket to the bottom frame.