[0001] This Utility Model Application is for a rack to support and horizontally store bottles
with new features giving it numerous advantages as will be shown in this report.
[0002] The invention is for general application for storing bottles of sparkling wine, wine
bottles and other packaging of a similar shape.
[0003] The technique for racks horizontally storing bottles are well known as they are essentially
formed by a body with a surface in relief. This relief defines a series of compartments
which are designed to store each bottle horizontally.
[0004] To store bottles in the appropriate manner, each compartment has a wider area for
the base and body of the bottle and an opposite, narrower area for the neck of the
bottle.
[0005] On conventional racks the compartments are made up of pairs of parallel and aligned
pairs which also define another symmetrical compartment in the narrower area between
the pair of compartments. All compartments formed by the relief of the rack surface
are on the same plane.
[0006] The main drawback with this configuration is the large space occupied by the bottles
when they are stacked up, necessitating an excessive amount of storage space.
[0007] To solve this problem of space, the invention proposes a simple and effective solution.
It has been found that this invention uses a simple and economic method to considerably
reduce the space occupied by the bottles in the aforementioned storage system.
[0008] To do this the invention proposes a rack with a new configuration designed and developed
to fulfil the proposed aims. In particular it is a rack to store bottles as previously
described using the previous technique which has a surface manufactured in a laminate.
This surface defines an upper and lower relief. The lower relief allows another rack
to be enclosed and in this way racks may be stacked one on top of another.
[0009] An important feature of this rack invention is that the configuration of the surface
in relief in each set of compartments is defined by the first two parallel compartments
running next to each other on the same plane and a second additional inverted compartment
on a parallel plane which is elevated with regard to the plane of the first two compartments.
[0010] In this particular configuration the narrower area of the second additional compartment
is enclosed between the corresponding narrower areas of the first compartments and
is substantially in contact with the wider area of these compartments.
[0011] In this way the plane of the second additional compartment is somewhat elevated.
In particular this height is substantially equal to the width of the wider area of
the compartments.
[0012] Comparing the specific configuration of the aforementioned rack with this invention,
it has been found that it is possible to save 30% of the space used by conventional
bottle storage systems.
[0013] In this way the layout of the second additional inverted compartment on an elevated
plane with regard to the plane of the first two compartments allows the bottle stored
in the second compartment to be inserted more deeply between the aforementioned pair
of compartments. Therefore the distance between the end of the first pair of compartments
and the opposite end of the second compartment is considerably reduced. In consequence
it also reduces the width of each row of compartments.
[0014] On the other hand, the narrower area (for the bottle neck) in the second compartment
between the pair of compartments allows the pair of compartments to be closer to each
other because of the slightly elevated plane which is formed by the second compartment.
In consequence the length of each row is also considerably reduced, because, as previously
stated, the distance between each compartment in the aforementioned pair of compartments
is reduced.
[0015] Preferably, the relief of the rack is formed by at least two rows of these compartments.
Each row has a length which is predetermined by each set of three compartments (that
is to say, the first pair and the second compartment inserted between them) and a
length which depends on the number of sets of compartments in the rack.
[0016] In this configuration of two or more rows, the aforementioned first, parallel compartments
in each set of compartments may be laid out symmetrically within the different rows
or laid out in the same direction.
[0017] The advantages of the invention will be clearer with the description of an example
of a rack to support and horizontally store bottles which is given below. This description
will be in conjunction with the drawings accompanying it.
[0018] In these drawings:
Figure 1 is an elevation of a rack in accordance with the invention which illustrates
several bottles placed on it;
Figure 2 is a top view which illustrates the bottles laid out in figure 1;
Figure 3 is an elevation of several racks in the invention stacked one on the other;
Figure 4 is an elevation of the bottles on the rack in cross-section in plane AA'
in figure 1;
Figure 5 is an elevation of the bottles on the rack in cross-section in plane BB'
in figure 1.
[0019] The drawings illustrate a possible practical layout of a rack in accordance with
the invention which has been given the number (10) as a reference.
[0020] The rack (10) is for storing bottles in an effective way and occupying minimal space
(20).
[0021] This rack is manufactured in a laminate material defining an upper surface in relief
(30) and a lower in relief (40). The lower relieve (40) is designed in such a way
that it encloses another rack (10) to be able to stack other racks (10) one on top
of each other, as shown in the example in figure 3 in the drawings.
[0022] The aforementioned relief on the rack surface (10) is specific to the invention.
More specifically, the relief defines a series of compartments designed to store bottles
(20).
[0023] As the drawings illustrate, the series of compartments is formed by the first compartments
(50, 60). These compartments (50, 60) are the same size and substantially run along
side each other. The compartments (50, 60) are parallel and are on the same plane
designated by (P1) in the drawings.
[0024] The series of compartments is completed by a second, additional compartment (70).
This additional compartment (70) is on a plane (P2) which is slightly elevated and
parallel to plane (P1) on the first two compartments (50, 60).
[0025] With the described configuration for rack (10) illustrated in the drawings the narrower
area (103) on the second additional compartment (70) is completely enclosed between
the corresponding narrower areas (100) in the compartments (50, 60), which is substantially
in contact with the wider area (101) for them, as shown by figure 2 of the drawings
attached to this report.
[0026] In this way, the plane (P2) on which the second additional compartment (70) is supported,
is slightly elevated with regard to plane (P1) as previously stated. The height to
which this plane (P2) is elevated with regard to plane (P1) is substantially equivalent
to the width of the wider area (101, 102) for compartments (50, 60, 70). This is a
suitable height for the bottle (20) stored in the compartment (70) to be more deeply
inserted between the pair of compartments (50, 60), thereby reducing the distance
between the end of the pair of compartments (50, 60) and the opposite end of the compartment
(70) Consequently, the total width of each row of compartments (50, 60, 70) is reduced.
[0027] The fact that plane (P2) of compartment (70) is elevated by a distance also allows
the narrower area (100, 103), that is to say, the area for the bottle neck (20) to
be advantageously reduced and in consequence the length of each row of compartments
is also shorter.
[0028] The surface to the rack (10) may be formed by two or more rows of compartments (50,
60, 70). The width of each row is determined by the compartments (50, 60, 70) and
the length of a row will depend on the number of compartment sets (50, 60, 70) in
the rack (10) - figure 2 shows two of these sets of compartments -.
[0029] In this described configuration of the rack (10) formed by at least two rows (each
formed by a series of compartments (50, 60, 70)), the compartments (50, 60) in each
set of compartments may be laid out in symmetrical rows (as shown in the drawings)
or may be laid out in the same direction.
[0030] As the composition of this invention for racks (10) horizontally supporting and storing
bottles has been sufficiently described with attached drawings, it is understood that
any modification to the same, where these are judged to be appropriate and where the
essential features of the summarised invention stay the same, will mean that the following
claims will remain unaltered.
1. Rack (10) for horizontally supporting and storing bottles (20) which includes a surface
with an upper relief (30) which defines several sets of compartments (50, 60, 70)
designed to accept a bottle in each (20) laid out horizontally, each compartment (50,
60, 70) defining a wider area (101, 102) and an opposite narrower area (100, 103).
This rack (10) is characterised by the fact that each set of compartments (50, 60, 70) is defined by the first two compartments
(50, 60) which are equal in length, parallel and substantially running together on
the same plane (P1) and a second, additional, inverted compartment (70) on an elevated
plane (P2) with regard to the aforementioned plane (P1) for the aforementioned two
first compartments (50, 60). The narrower area (103) on the second, additional compartment
(70) is enclosed between the corresponding narrower areas (100) on the aforementioned
first two compartments (50, 60) and substantially in contact with the wider area (101)
on the same.
2. Rack (10) for horizontally supporting and storing bottles (20) according to the 1st claim, characterised by the fact that plane (P2) of the aforementioned second, additional compartment (70)
is elevated with regard to plane (P1) where the first two compartments (50, 60) are
located. This height is the same size as the wider area (101, 102) for the compartments
(50, 60, 70).
3. rd- Rack (10) for horizontally supporting and storing bottles (20) according to the
1st claim, characterised by the fact that the aforementioned relief is formed by at least two rows of the aforementioned
sets of compartments (50, 60, 70).
4. th- Rack (10) for horizontally supporting and storing bottles (20) according to the
3rd claim, characterised by the fact that the aforementioned first parallel compartments (50, 60) in each set
of compartments have different rows laid out symmetrically.
5. th- Rack (10) for horizontally supporting and storing bottles (20) according to the
3rd claim, characterised by the fact that the aforementioned first compartments (50, 60) in each set of compartments
have different rows in the same direction.
6. th- Rack (10) for horizontally supporting and storing bottles (20) according to the
1st claim, characterised by the fact that the surface of the rack (10) is manufactured in a laminate material.
7. th- Rack (10) for horizontally supporting and storing bottles (20) according to the
1st claim, characterised by the fact that the upper relief (30) also defines a corresponding lower relief (40)
designed to allow another rack (10) to be enclosed and to allow racks (10) to be stacked
one on another.