Abstract: A gift packaging container is provided further adapted for a secondary use function as a coin piggy bank. A hollow volume formed of solid planar surfaces forms and circumscribes a container volume adapted to receive and retain gift contents in a manner that seals them within the volume by a resealable top lid. The lid further forms an entry orifice that is covered and sealed by an access plate. The access plate forms a coin slot capable of receiving currency coins for access into the container volume. The entire gift packaging container/piggy bank combination may be a crate formed of wood. A least one outer surface further has a visibly accessible advertising or marketing indicia. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tensioning ring (1) having a tensioning section (3), the tensioning section (3) comprising a wedge element (6), a guide member (7a) and a tensioning screw (5), wherein a width of the tensioning section (3) and thus a circumference of the tensioning ring (1) can be changed by tightening the tensioning screw (5), for which purpose the wedge element (6) is guided at the guide member (7a) and is movable in this guide along a movement way (20a) at the guide member (7a) by tightening the tensioning screw (5), the movement way (20a) having a portion in a width direction (4) determining the width of the tensioning section (3), wherein the wedge element (6) and the guide member (7a) engage in one another with an undercut in such a way that they are held together in a form-locking manner with respect to the width direction (4).

Abstract: A wooden water tank for a building has a wooden tank wall, a tank bottom and a wooden dividing wall across the tank defining at least two water compartments. There are attachments between the foregoing parts, and leak preventing connections between parts. Each wall is a sequential series of staves or boards secured together for leak prevention. The staves of the circumferential tank wall extend vertically. The staves of the dividing wall extend horizontally. The staves are all pressed together so that neighboring staves are sealed to each other preventing leakage through the walls. There are hoops and hoop segments around the circumferential wall, and connections to the hoops press the staves of the circumferential wall toward each other for sealing.

Abstract: A device for the non-deleterious, passive aging of wine wherein the interior of the semi-permeable wall of the aging container, which provides the interface between the wine and the atmosphere, has a substantially larger interface area per unit volume of wine than does that of the prior art device. The device employs a polyhedron shaped aging container or vessel having a volumetric capacity of greater than 30 gallons; and, a relationship (ratio) of the interior surface area of the container to the volume of the container from 0.33 square inches to 1.0 cubic inch to 4.0 square inches to 1.0 cubic inch. In one advantageous embodiment, the container is a rectangular hexahedron. In another advantageous embodiment, the container is a trapezoidal hexahedron.

Abstract: A cask for whisky (10), e.g. in a hexagonal or triangular prism shape for ease of stackability. The cask is comprised of a number of staves (11), bound together to form the prism shape. Accordingly, stacking multiple casks naturally compresses the staves together and reduces spirit loss through the side wall of a cask. A method for stacking casks is also described, wherein the cask may be hexagonal, triangular or square ended.

Abstract: A barrel made of wood, in particular oak wood, for containing a liquid, such as wine, the barrel comprising a hollow body closed by two barrel heads, each barrel head comprising an assembly of substantially rectangular wooden battens assembled parallel to one another via facing lateral faces, the barrel being characterized in that the adjacent lateral faces (101, 201) of two assembled-together battens (100, 200) are in intimate leaktight contact, with fibers of the wood of each of said battens being tangled together and held in a matrix of fused intercellular materials.

Abstract: A barrel includes a plurality of wood slats that have an inner face, an outer face and side edges, grooves formed in the edges of the slats and keys that join the slats by engaging grooves in the side edges of adjacent slats.

Abstract: A wood joint is disclosed which comprises a first heading having a first profile comprising an upper lobe, a lower lobe, and a valley section intermediate the lobes, a second heading having a second profile comprising an upper socket, a lower socket, and a ridge section intermediate the sockets, and the first profile for engaging the second profile for securing the headings together.

Abstract: A wood joint is disclosed which comprises a first heading having a first profile comprising an upper socket, a lower socket, and a flat section intermediate the sockets, a second heading having a second profile comprising an upper socket, a lower socket, and a flat section intermediate the sockets, and a spline member having a pair of tongue portions with each of the tongue portions having an upper lobe and a lower lobe, the spline member for fitting within the first profile and the second profile.

Abstract: A wood joint is disclosed which comprises a first heading having a first profile comprising an upper lobe, a lower lobe, and a valley section intermediate the lobes, a second heading having a second profile comprising an upper socket, a lower socket, and a ridge section intermediate the sockets, and the first profile for engaging the second profile for securing the headings together.

Abstract: A wood joint is disclosed which comprises a first heading having a first profile comprising an upper lobe, a lower lobe, and a valley section intermediate the lobes, a second heading having a second profile comprising an upper socket, a lower socket, and a ridge section intermediate the sockets, and the first profile for engaging the second profile for securing the headings together.

Abstract: A wood-stave barrel having an access port and sealable inlet and outlet holes which offers housing for plumbing and electrical systems. Primarily, a barrel adornment for a novelty shower which, when cradled above the user, provides an attractive mounting surface for a showerhead and creates the illusion that the shower is supplied by a barrel full of water. Alternatively, the present invention insulates, protects, and conceals sensitive valves, pipe fittings, manifolds, electrical junctions, and wire-nut connections within the sturdy confines of a barrel.

Abstract: A wine barrel (1) is described having an open rigid frame (2) having sides, a top and a bottom. A plurality of wooden side panels are sealingly arranged on the sides of the open frame and a top and a bottom plate are provided for completing the barrel. The barrel can be refurbished by removing the wooden panels, exposing new wood by removing a portion of the panels which has been exposed to the wine and replacing the panels.

Abstract: A wine barrel provides a stainless steel barrel body having at least one removable end, with at least one circumferential stave holder member secured to the barrel inside surface. This stave holder bears a plurality of stave receiving portions for releasable capture of oak stave elements.

Abstract: A method for producing and using oak chips or other divided forms of the oak for aging wine is described. The chips or other divided forms are provided in a permeable container. In particular a method is described for removing undesirable flavors from the oak by soaking the oak in an aqueous solution of water or water and ethanol and toasting the oak to enhance desirable flavors prior to or after the soaking. The method produces wines which are comparable to the best barrel aged wines.

Abstract: A rectangular barrel having four flat sides. Each side comprises a plurality of board of substantially square cross section. Each board has right angular grooves extending laterally near the end and has a tongue on one edge and a groove on the other edge which interfit to form each side. Both end of the barrel are square with tongues extending into the right angular grooves of the boards and partially into the tongues and grooves of all the boards for sealing the ends of the barrel.

Abstract: A device for protecting wine against the harmful oxidation and spoilage resulting from ullage (air space) which develops in wine aging containers. An inflatable bladder within the container, but free of contact with the inner surface thereof, is in communication with a reservoir of water disposed above the container, enabling it to expand to replace the volume of wine that normally seeps out of the container. A second duct allows the escape of air usually trapped, and a third duct may be opened to allow the water in the bladder to force out a sample of wine for tasting.

Abstract: A wooden box-like container for the aging of alcoholic beverages. The container is in the form of a box having six panels or sides in which any three mutually adjacent panels are mutually perpendicular to one another and join one another at a corner. Any one of the panels of a group of three mutually adjacent panels contacts one adjacent panel in face to edge relation and the third panel of the group in edge to face relation. Each of the corners are formed in this fashion and all of the panels are held together in tight box-like form by prestressing means. This preserves the liquid tight contact at the face to edge and edge to face junction of the panels. Where the panels meet a cubical gap is left which is plugged by plug means. The prestressing means may be in the form of clamps of headers connected by prestress rods provided with tightening nuts.

Abstract: A multiple ply wood article having a first wood veneer ply defining a generally tubular shape, which may be generally cylindrical, with a pair of confronting ends providing a first seam. A second wood veneer ply defining a generally tubular shape generally similar to the shape of the first wood veneer ply with a pair of confronting ends providing a second seam. The second wood veneer ply being disposed exteriorly of the first wood veneer ply in general surface to surface adjacency. The grain orientations of the first and second wood veneer plies being oriented generally parallel with respect to each other. Adhesive means securing the wood veneer plies to establish a multiple ply tubular body. The first and second seams are preferably in generally relative nonaligned position. Additional wood veneer plies having similar structural features may be secured over the first two plies. Closure elements may be secured to one or both ends of the tubular body in order to establish a container.

Abstract: Two symmetrical, axially separable barrel halves of plastic material are provided at their confronting end faces with peripheral edge beads each forming a set of axially projecting teeth alternating with gaps of like width, the teeth of each half fitting into the gaps of the other. The free ends of the teeth are provided with radially extending bosses forming two annular crenelations separated by a substantially flat ring zone upon the interfitting of the teeth, this zone receiving a broad strap inserted between the two crenelations to hold the barrel halves together. The peripheral edge beads are further provided, radially inwardly of the teeth and gaps, with axially extending tenons and mortises or equivalent tongue-and-groove formations to provide a supplemental bracing effect. The inner strap surface may be correspondingly beveled to exert upon the free tooth ends an elastic biasing force urging the two barrel halves toward each other in the axial direction.