Patent ID: 9089214
Filing Date: 2015-07-28
Classification: A47B,A47F

Abstract:
1. A gravity feed storage unit for stacking, storing, transporting and dispensing bottles, the storage unit having a front and a rear, the storage unit comprising: a forklift-sortable modular structure, the modular structure comprising: the top structure, first side wall, second side wall and support structure collectively defining a rear opening that facilitates rear loading of the at least one bottle in an upright position through the rear of the storage unit, and a front opening that facilitates dispensing of the at least one bottle in an upright position from the front of the storage unit, the support surface defining an axis that is at an acute angle ø with respect to a horizontal plane, the top structure defining a plurality of rails extending longitudinally from the front to the rear of the storage unit, the rails defining at least one bottle-neck shaped alignment groove inside the storage area that is configured to engage and complement the shape of a bottle neck of a bottle placed in an upright position in the storage area, the rails of the top structure also defining tapered surfaces at inner portions of the rails, the tapered surfaces funneling toward the at least one alignment groove, the storage unit further comprising a plurality of posts that extend below the support structure, the posts defining a first channel that extends between the posts and beneath the at least one storage area, the plurality of rails being interconnected by bridge portions projecting upwardly from the storage area, the bridge portions being separated from one another by a second channel that extends between the bridge portions and above the at least one storage area, the first channel exposed on at least one side of the storage unit to receive a forklift tine or the like beneath the at least one storage area, and the second channel exposed on the at least one side of the storage unit to receive a forklift tine or the like above the at least one storage area, the storage unit being positionable in a stacked condition on top of a secondary storage unit that is configured identically to said storage unit, wherein, in a stacked condition, the first channel of the storage unit is alignable with the second channel of said secondary storage unit to allow a forklift tine or the like to be inserted between the storage units.