GB2123681A - Store for object(s), e.g. wine bottles - Google Patents

Abstract

A support structure (for e.g. wine bottles) comprises two abutments A1, B1 which are both horizontally and vertically spaced and separated by a free 'insertion path'. The arrangement is such that when an article is inserted therebetween in such manner that the centre of mass of the article remains on the side of A1 remote from B1, the moment generated by the mass of the article acting about abutment A1 is exactly countered by the opposing moment generated by reaction against abutment B1. In practice the abutments may be formed by the edges of an aperture through a vertical panel X, the aperture being inclined at an angle ??? to the horizontal and its diameter Rh being selected so that a bottleneck, when inserted, is held in a substantially horizontal position as shown in Fig. 2. Other embodiments include skeletal arrangements of wire forms (e.g. rods, rings, etc.) (Figs. 5-8) and an apertured oblique lamina (Fig. 9) forming part of a concertina folded strip. A theoretical treatment of the principle is given. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Store for object(s), e.g. wine bottles Customary methods of storing wine bottles place them one above the other within a frame, with the base of each bottle against a wall and the neck of each bottle away from the wall, i.e. the longitudinal directions or sides of the bottles are transversely disposed relative to the wall. Thus, floor space of at least one bottle length from the wall is occupied, and any bottle label is only visible (if not hidden by the frame) in the top bottle layer.

Further space of about a bottle length is required to withdraw any bottle from the frame. Customary methods of storing wine bottles are not economical in utilisation of space, or in convenience of inserting wine bottles into a store or withdrawing them from the store.

An aim of the present invention is to provide a store for at least one object (e.g. a wine bottle) so that various advantages can be obtained, e.g.: space occupied by stored object(s) is economized; information (e.g. optional labels) comprised by said object(s) can be detected and/or derived; and object(s) can be readily received in or withdrawn from that store. Any suitable object can be so stored, e.g.: wine bottles, or sheets of metal or paper.

A first aspect of the present invention provides a statically or movably disposable store for storing at least one object (e.g. wine bottles), said store comprising at least one set of first and second abutments, wherein any said set can be disposed such that: (a) said first and second abutments are in respective first and second spaced apart horizontal planes, said second horizontal plane being at a level above the level of said first horizontal plane; (b) said first and second abutments are in respective first and second side by side spaced apart first and second vertical planes;; (c) said first and second abutments respectively define first and second portions of opposite sides of the width of a support path extending from said first vertical plane to said second vertical plane, said first and second abutments being such that a first portion (e.g. the neck of a wine bottle) can be inserted from said first vertical plane into said support path, a second portion (e.g. the body of that wine bottle) not so inserted being actable upon by gravity such that said first object portion is urged into contact with said first and second abutments whereby said first object portion is supported in said support path, said support path preferably being substantially horizontal, said supported first object portion having sufficient directional freedom to let that object be withdrawn e.g. substantially horizontally from said set via said first vertical plane;; (d) said store provides clearance relative to said support path such that said first object portion can be tilted relative td said support path when said second object portion is lifted; and (e) optionally for any said set, a respective set of third and fourth abutments is provided for limiting the extent to which said first object portion can be tilted relative to said first support path, wherein: (i) said third abutment is in a vertical plane (preferably said first vertical plane) and in a third horizontal plane, said third horizontal plane being at a level above said second horizontal plane; and (ii) said fourth abutment is in a vertical plane (preferably said second vertical plane) and in a fourth horizontal plane, said fourth horizontal plane being at a level below said first horizontal plane; (f) optionally for said store there is at least one support means for supporting said store in a configuration corresponding to said horizontal and vertical planes, said at least one support means preferably comprising at least one fastener for fastening said store to at least one substantially vertical surface (e.g. a surface of a wall), preferably such that said supported wine bottles have their longitudinal directions or sides--facing said wall and spaced apart therefrom.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a statically or movably disposable apparatus comprising at least one store according to said first aspect of the present invention.

A third aspect of the present invention provides a method of storing at least one object (e.g. wine bottles), said method comprising providing said storing by means of at least one store according to said first aspect of the present invention and/or at least one apparatus according to said second aspect of the present invention.

The present invention is especially but not exclusively capable of being embodied for storing wine bottles. Such a wine bottle store could be used to store any other suitable object, e.g.

another kind of suitable vessel. The directional freedom provided in accordance with said first aspect of the invention enables a wine bottle to be readily removed from the wine bottle store, e.g.

when a wine bottle has an external lip around its mouth portion said tilting enables ready withdrawal of the bottle from the store. The provision of said clearance to enable said tilting will also enable ready insertion of said lipped bottle into the.store. Said store can enable the opposite ends of a said supported wine bottle to be accessible, e.g. for easy dusting of that bottle.

Said support path can constitute an axis of rotation about which a said supported wine bottle can be rotated, e.g. to enable ready viewing of an optional label on the side of the bottle. Said support path is preferably constituted by a bore whose inlet provides said first and third abutments, and whose outlet provides said second and third abutments, the lipped region of a said lipped wine bottle being able to project longitudinaily beyond said second abutment and overhang said second abutment, the overhang optionally abutting and/or touching said second abutment. Wine bottle stores can be embodied in accordance with said first aspect of the invention so as economically to utilise space, for instance such that the sides of a wine bottle are parallel to a wall, e.g. as described later below with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.In general, a said store of the first aspect of the present invention can take different forms according to the nature(s) of the object(s) to be stored, and according to the space to be utilised in that storing.

A plurality (e.g. an assemblage) of said support paths can be disposed in any suitable direction(s) in any suitable first configuration that can be adjustable or fixed. One kind of said first configuration is a linear succession of said support paths wherein at least two said first abutments are substantially aligned with each other, and at least two said second abutments are substantially aligned with each other, e.g. upwardly disposed to enable storing of a single stack of spaced apart wine bottles.Another kind of said first configuration is a linear succession of said support paths wherein a first abutment of at least one said set is substantially aligned with a second abutment of at least one other said set, those first and second abutments being in any order, e.g. an alternate or zig zag order, for instance a second abutment of a second set can be substantially aligned with a first abutment of a first set, and a first abutment of a third set can be substantially aligned with that second abutment. Such a linear succession could be upwardly disposed to enable storing of two stacks (e.g. substantially parallel to each other) of spaced apart wine bottles. Another kind of said first configuration is a succession of said support paths wherein a first abutment of at least one said set is not aligned with the first or second abutment of an adjacent said set.Said first configuration could have iocations disposed e.g.

on notional helix(es), the located sets being regarded as discontinuities or singularities in e.g.

notional helical path(s) depending on how those configurations are viewed. In general, there can be any suitable spacing between adjacent said sets, and there can be any number of said sets.

Spacings between said abutments in any said set can have any suitable value(s). Said abutments in any said set can be constituted by respective separate items or respective portions of a single item (e.g. a bore). In general, any abutment can be constituted in any suitable manner(s). Any abutment can be a projection, e.g. a peg. Any abutment can be defined by at least a portion of: an edge and/or wall of a figure wherein in a further vertical plane (transverse to a said vertical plane containing that abutment) that figure is a closed or open figure. Some examples of closed figures are defined by ends of bores or frames (e.g. rings or loops). Some open figures are defined by ends of channels, corrugations, folds, or pleats. Any abutment can be provided by at least one method, e.g. comprising any one or more of cutting, drilling, moulding, pressing, or stamping of material.At least one material can be used for making said abutments. At least a portion of a said abutment can be suitably flexible, suitably resilient, or suitably rigid, or any combination chosen from those possibilities.

At least two said first abutments can be regarded as spaced apart in a second configuration, spacings between successive said first abutments having suitable value(s). At least two said second abutments can be regarded as spaced apart in a third configuration, spacings between successive said second abutments having any suitable value(s). Said second or third configuration will be appropriate to said first configuration (i.e. the above described configuration of a plurality of said support paths).

At least two said third abutments can be regarded as spaced apart in a fourth configuration, which can correspond to e.g. said second configuration.

At least two said fourth abutments can be regarded as spaced apart in a fifth configuration, which can correspond to e.g. said third configuration. Some examples of said second, third, fourth or fifth configurations are curved, helical, straight, or zig-zag. Said second and third, or fourth and fifth, configurations can be at least partly defined by at least one respective boundary surface of a said store. Any of said second, third, fourth, and fifth configurations can be adjustably or fixedly disposed relative to each other, e.g. be movable or not movable in any predetermined direction(s). Said second and third configurations (and/or said fourth and fifth configurations) can be parallel or angularly separated in at least one plane relative to each other or disposed in any other suitable manner(s) relative to each other.

At least two said stores can be statically or movably disposable relative to each other in at least one direction. For example, a plurality of said stores can be adapted to move in at least one cyclic direction, for instance when at least one optional conveyor means (e.g. a belt or frame or table) or other means movably supports those stores.

A said store or said apparatus provided by the present invention can comprise any optional means capable of providing a useful advantage or function. For example, there can be at least one optional ejector means for at least partly ejecting at least one said stored object from a said store and/or for assisting or enabling insertion of a said object into a said store. A further example is at least one optional means for providing sterilisation, e.g. by radiation of a vessel and/or of its content(s). Another example is at least one optional means for enabling cleaning, flushing, or washing of at least a portion of a said stored object, e.g. of its interior when that object is a vessel. A further example is at least one optional fastener means for fastening at least one said store and/or at least one said apparatus to at least one support. At least one fastener means can be embodied in any suitable manner(s), e.g. a said fastener means can comprise bracket means with at least one securing device, e.g. screws. A suitable said store (e.g. a bar shaped store) can be spaced apart from a barrier (e.g. a wall) and fastened thereto, e.g. by fastening the top of the store to the wall and allowing the weight of the store to provide sufficient fixing at the foot of the store, and/or fastening can be provided at the foot of the store. Stiil another example is at least one optional means for adjustably disposing at least one said store and/or at least one said apparatus.

A further example is at least one optional means for detecting and/or deriving information comprised by any said object(s), for instance means responsive to light or other energy reflected from and/or transmitted through at least one said stored object, e.g. a wine bottle or other vessel (for instance an incubation flask) whose neck is disposed along said support path. When apparatus is provided in accordance with said third aspect of the present invention, the apparatus can utilize for any suitable purpose(s) at least one store, e.g. for storing and/or dispensing wine bottle(s) or other suitable object(s).

In some wine bottle embodiments of a vertical said store, the store comprises an elongate straight (e.g. oblong) bar of wood or other material in which sloping bores constitute pluralities of said first, second, third, and fourth abutments. In one preferred example, the first abutments are disposed one above the other, and the second abutments are disposed one above the other, at opposite sides of said bar. Those alignments are examples of linear configurations for enabling a single stack of wine bottles, e.g. with sides parallel to a wall. In another example, the first and second abutments are disposed one above the other in an alternating relationship, at opposite sides of said bar. Those alignments are examples of zig zag configurations for enabling two stacks of wine bottles, e.g. with their sides parallel to a wall.The sloping bores preferably have substantially parallel sides and declinations of substantially 50 relative to the horizontal when compared with the vertical direction (i.e. the elongate height) of the bar. The inlet of any said bore provides a set of said first and third abutments. The outlet of that bore provides a set of said second and fourth abutments. Each said inlet can receive e.g. a neck of a respective wine bottle, so that when the neck is located by means of gravity so as to abut said first and second abutments of a said set, the bottle preferably lies substantially horizontally, the supported bottle being rotatable to let any bottle label be readily visible. Optionally, the free end of the supported bottle neck can project beyond and overhang the second abutment.To withdraw the supported bottle, the base of the bottle is lifted (and the bottle neck thereby tilted) to enable the bottle to be withdrawn. The withdrawal distance will be much less than a bottle length required in a customary method of storing wine bottles. The bar can be placed against or spaced apart from a barrier (e.g. a wall) and fastened thereto, e.g. by fastening the top of the bar to the wall and allowing the weight of the bar to provide sufficient fixing at the foot of the bar.

In the accompanying drawings, which are by way of example, Figs. 1 to 9 are schematic views indicating how some different embodiments of the present invention can be provided.

Fig. 1 shows examples of zig zag configurations P, Q, R, S for successions of examples of said first, second, third, and fourth abutments. The first abutments are Al, A2, A3, A4. The second abutments are B1, B2, B3, B4. The third abutments are Cl, C2, C3, C4. The fourth abutments are D1, D2, D3, D4 Abutments Al, C1, D2, B2, A3, C3, D4, B4 are in a first vertical plane as shown. Abutments D1, B1, A2, C2, D3, B3, A4, C4 are in a second vertical plane as shown. In general, there can be any suitable numbers of corresponding abutments in any said zig zag configuration, e.g. Al, Bl-, C1, D1 and A2, B2, C2, D2.The lines interconnecting respectively A1/D1, B1/C1, A2/D2, B2/C2, A3/D3, B3/C3, A4/D4, B4/C4 are notional walls of bores constituting those abutments -- see e.g. the description below of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2shows a portion of a 1.8 to 2.0 metres long bar X of wood-of suitable thickness provided by any suitable method(s) with a plurality of bores 1, only one bore 1 is shown in Fig. 2. The bores 1 can be arranged in any suitable manner spaced apart along bar X. One example of that arrangement is shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Another example of that arrangement is shown in Fig. 4. In Fig. 2, the inlet Al, C1 and outlet Bl, D1 of the single bore 1 shown provide abutments Al, B1, Cl, Dl corresponding to Fig. 1. Each bore 1 slopes downwardly sufficiently to provide a support path along which the neck 4 of a wine bottle Z can be received and abut abutments Al, B1 when gravity acts on the body of the wine bottle Z, that body not being inserted into bore 1.The bore's upper sloping dimension 6 and/or lower sloping dimension 7 can be real or notidnal, i.e. a bar could be hollow or solid in the region of bore 1. The dispositions of inlet A1/C1 and outlet B1/D1 are in accordance with the relationship: rhw Sin 0 TB = Cos 0 and wherein: = = normal width of the bottle neck 4, this width being less than the maximum width rc of an optional bead 5 on the exterior of the bottle neck.

rh = space measured in a direction from the top edge of outlet 3 to the lower sloping dimension 7 of bore 1 , that direction being 900 to dimension 7, and rh is greater than rc when bead 5 exists.

w = horizontal length of the bore 1.

- 0 = angle of declination of the upper and lower sloping dimensions 6, 7, 0 predetermining the maximum angles of possible tilting relative to inlet Al, B 1, and outlet B1, D1 of a supported bottle B.

Bottle neck 4 has substantially parallel sides but could have a taper known from conventional wine bottles.

When w = 48 mm, rh = 32 mm, and 0 = 5 .

When w = 48 mm, rh = 37 mm, and H = 80.

The 5 or 80 need not be exact in practice. It is to be understood that any said values can have any tolerance compatible with allowing the store to enable tilting of the bottle neck 4 in its insertion or withdrawal from bore 1. An optional ejector 8 (Fig. 2) can be movable to assist or enable withdrawal of bottle neck 4 and/or assist or enable storing. The bar X can be disposed substantially vertically by means of a bracket support 9 (Figs. 3 and 4) at the top of a wall (not shown). The foot of bar X can rest on a floor or ground (not shown), but a similar bracket support (not shown) could be provided at the foot of bar X.

Bracket 9 can be screwed to bar X and to the wall.

An equivalent of bracket 9 would be to provide barX with at least one aperture that would enable a suitable fastener to pass through that aperture and into the wall.

Fig. 3 (corresponding to Figs. 1 and 2) shows two stacks of wine bottles Z utilising space economically. Fig. 4 shows a single stack of wine bottles Z utilising space economically. Fig. 4 corresponds to Fig. 1 when appropriate abutments are absent, e.g. when abutments A2, B2, C2, D2 and A4, B4, C4, D4 are absent. Each of Figs. 3, 4 shows a respective bar X suitably corresponding to Figs. 1 and 2 and substantially vertically disposed in use, with its bores 1 one above the other. Those bars could be modified such that in use they are substantially horizontally disposed, each modified bar X (not shown) having its bores 1 side by side. Suitable bracket support(s) (not shown) could be used for substantially horizontally disposing a said modified bar X, e.g. one end of that bar could be supported so that the modified bar is cantilevered, or both ends of the modified bar could be supported.The following are some examples of dimensions for an unmodified bar X or any said modified bar X: length of the bar: substantially 1.83 metre, depth of the bar (Y in Figs. 34): substantially 8.89 cm, width of the bar (w in Fig. 2): substantially 4.76 cm. Bar X in Fig. 3 could contain e.g. 35 bores 1 each having a diameter of substantially 3.49 cm and at intervals of substantially 10.16 cm along the length of the bar. The bores 1 in Fig. 3 enable a maximum of 35 wine bottles to be stored substantially 8.89 to substantially 10.16 cm from a wall, those bottles (whose necks overlap) occupying a length of substantially 50.8 cm. Bar X of Fig. 4 is a modification of bar X for Fig. 3. Thus, bar X for Fig. 4 will have less bores 1.It will be appreciated that the number of bores 1 in an unmodified bar or a modified bar could correspond to at least one case or other supplied predetermined quantity of wine bottles, e.g. a case of 1 2 or more wine bottles.

Some alternatives to bore 1 (Fig. 2) are shown in Figs. 5 to 9. In Figs. 5 to 8, at least one bore 1 is replaced by pegs 10 and/or rings 20. In Fig. 9, at least one bore 1 is replaced by flanks 30 of corrugations or pleats 31. Also or alternatively in Fig. 9, at least one optional aperture 40 (corresponding to bore 1) can be provided in flanks 30. A succession of corrugations or pleats 31 can be disposed linearly or e.g. in a helix configuration or other configuration. Pegs 10, rings 20, pleats 31 can be made from any suitable material(s), e.g. metal(s). Bar X could be other than wood.

Any suitable geometry can be utilised in the invention, e.g. a ring 20 can be statically or adjustably disposed at any suitable angle(s) for enhancing exposure of the whole stored object. A ring 20 tilted at substantially 380 is one example of providing that enhanced exposure. In general, the stores shown in the accompanying drawings can be modified in accordance with the disclosures before the detailed description of the drawings. The stores shown can be utilised for wine bottles or other suitable objects.

Some examples of wine bottles have neck diameters (excluding or including any lip when present) in the range substantially 27 to substantially 32 mm. In Fig. 2, the cork region of the wine bottle must be less than rh. Some examples of necks have parallel sides. Some examples of other necks have slightly tapering sides. A wine store of the present invention could be a permanent or temporary store of wine bottles. Any said bar X is oblong and rectangular, but any other suitable shape could have been adopted instead.

Claims (24)

1. A statically or movably disposable store for storing at least one object (optionally wine bottles), said store comprising at least one set of first and second abutments, wherein any said set can be disposed such that: (a) said first and second abutments are in respective first and second spaced apart horizontal planes, said second horizontal plane being at a level above the level of said first horizontal plane; (b) said first and second abutments are in respective first and second side by side spaced apart first and second vertical planes;; (c) said first and second abutments respectively define first and second portions of opposite sides of the width of a support path extending from said first vertical plane to said second vertical plane, said first and second abutments being such that a first portion (optionally the neck of a wine bottle) of said object can be inserted from said first vertical plane into said support path, a second portion (optionally the body of that wine bottle) of said object not so inserted being actable upon by gravity such that said first object portion is urged into contact with said first and second abutments whereby said first object portion is supported in said support path, said support path optionally being substantially horizontal, said supported first object portion having sufficient directional freedom to let that object be withdrawn optionally substantially horizontally from said set via said first vertical plane; and (d) said store provides clearance relative to said support path such that said first object portion can be tilted relative to said support path when said second object portion is lifted.

2. A store as claimed in claim 1, comprising (e) for any said set, a respective set of third and fourth abutments for limiting the extent to which said first object portion can be tilted relative to said support path, wherein: (i) said third abutment is in a vertical plane (optionally said first vertical plane) and in a third horizontal plane, said third horizontal plane being at a level about said second horizontal plane; and (ii) said fourth abutment is in a vertical plane (optionally said second vertical plane) and in a fourth horizontal plane, said fourth horizontal plane being at a level below said first horizontal plane.

3. A store as claimed in claim 1 or 2, comprising (f) at least one support means for supporting said store in a configuration corresponding to said horizontal and vertical planes, said at least one support means optionally comprising at least one fastener for fastening said store to at least one substantially vertical surface (optionally a surface of a wall).

4. A store as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein a said support path is constituted by a bore whose inlet provides said first and third abutments, and whose outlet provides said second and fourth abutments.

5. A store as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a plurality of said support paths is disposed in a first configuration that is a linear succession of said support paths wherein at least two said first abutments are substantially aligned with each other, and at least two said second abutments are substantially aligned with each other, optionally upwardly disposed to enable storing of a stack of spaced apart wine bottles.

6. A store as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a plurality of said support paths is disposed in a first configuration that is a linear succession of said support paths wherein a first abutment of at least one said set is substantially aligned with a second abutment of at least one other said set, optionally upwardly disposed to enable storing of two stacks of spaced apart wine bottles.

7. A store as claimed in claim 6, wherein those first and second abutments are in an alternate or zig zag order.

8. A store as claimed in claim 7, wherein a second abutment of a second set is substantially aligned with a first abutment of a first set, and a first abutment of a third set is substantially aligned with that second abutment.

9. A store as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a plurality of said support paths is disposed in a first configuration that is a succession of said-support paths wherein a first abutment of at least one said set is not aligned with the first or second abutment of an adjacent said set.

10. A store as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, when constituted by a bar having at least one bore according to claim 4.

11. A store, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.

12. A store, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.

1 3. A store, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A store, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.

1 5. A store, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings.

16. A store, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 6 of the accompanying drawings.

1 7. A store, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 7 of the accompanying drawings.

1 8. A store, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 8 of the accompanying drawings.

1 9. A store, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 9 of the accompanying drawings.

20. Statically or movably disposable apparatus comprising at least one store according to any one of claims 1 to 19.

21. A method of storing at least one object, said method comprising providing said storing by means of at least one store according to any one of claims 1 to 19 and/or at least one apparatus according to claim 20.

22. A method as claimed in claim 21, wherein at least one said object is a wine bottle.

23. A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein said wine bottle has an external lip around its mouth portion.

24. A method as claimed in claim 21, substantially as hereinbefore described.