Bottle storage device

A bottle storage device, particularly a bottle rack, is provided for at least one double row (7) including a first row (2) and a second row (3) of bottles (1) and resting on a support assembly (11), with each support assembly (11) having a first support assembly part (6) and a second support assembly part (10) for supporting the lateral surfaces (5) of the bottles (1), and a third support assembly part (8) is arranged between them for supporting the bottle necks (4) of the bottles (1), with the support assembly parts (6, 8, 10) each being spaced apart from each other. The third support assembly part (8) projects freely from a rear side of the bottle storage device, opposite the removal side, extending towards the removal side. Stops (14) are provided for the lateral surfaces (5) of the rearmost bottle (1) of the first and the second row (2, 3), which are off-set in reference to each other in a direction of the rows (2, 3).

BACKGROUND

The invention relates to a bottle storage device, particularly a bottle rack, for at one double row of bottles formed by a first row and a second row and supported on a support assembly, with each support assembly comprising a first support assembly part for supporting the lateral surfaces of the bottles of the first row and a second support assembly part for supporting the lateral surfaces of the bottles of the second row and a third support assembly part arranged therebetween to support the bottle necks of the bottles of both rows of the double row, with the respective support assembly parts being distanced from each other.

Bottle storage devices, particularly in the form of bottle racks, for example implemented as wine (storage) racks or sales and display racks are known in various embodiments. A rack unit of the type mentioned at the outset is known from DE 43 28 660 A1, in particular for storing wine bottles of all sorts and displaying them, in particular, for sale. In this bottle rack, in which the central rack bars are continuously supported vertically at both sides, loading and/or unloading the stored material occurs parallel in reference to the longitudinal axis of the stored material from both sides of the bottle rack. This is particularly disadvantageous when using the rack unit for sales display, because signets and product information are usually applied at the lateral surfaces of the goods to be displayed and customers want to access the selected goods without any delay in case of a positive decision for purchase. A similar bottle rack is also known from EP 1 029 469 A1.

From GB 2 221 149A a bottle storage device is known in which the individual bottles can be stored laying over top of each other. For this purpose, at both sides holding parts are provided for the respective bottoms of the bottles and in the middle holding parts for the bottle necks, formed by freely projecting pins. This bottle storage device has a comparatively low storage capacity and each bottle must be inserted precisely into the holding parts which are formed relatively small.

US 2004104187A1 also shows a bottle storage device with freely projecting bars to support the lateral surface and the bottle neck of a respective bottle. When rows comprising several bottles are formed with this bottle storage device a very high stress of the projecting bars develops. Additionally, the storage capacity in reference to the volume of the device is limited as well.

SUMMARY

The object of the invention is to provide a bottle storage device, which can easily be loaded and from which the stored material again can easily be unloaded while providing a high storage capacity in reference to the volume of the device and which can be produced in a cost-effective manner.

According to the invention this is attained in a bottle storage device for at least one double row of bottles formed by a first row and a second row of bottles comprising at least one support assembly to support the double row, which comprises a first support assembly part to support the lateral surfaces of the bottles of the first row and a second support assembly part to support the lateral surfaces of the bottles of the second row and a third support assembly part arranged therebetween to support the bottle necks of the bottles of both rows of the double row, and a first stop for the lateral surface of the rearmost bottle of the first row and a stop for the lateral surface of the rearmost bottle of the second row, with the support assembly parts being spaced apart from each other and the third support assembly part being embodied freely projecting towards the removal side from a rear side of the bottle storage device, located opposite a removal side, and with the first and second stops for the lateral surface of the rearmost bottle of the first and the second row being positioned off-set in reference to each other in the direction of the rows.

According to the invention, in this way the central support assembly part is embodied projecting freely towards the removal side from a rear side of the bottle storage device opposite the removal side, i.e. it is not supported at the removal side of its rear fastening. This allows loading and unloading of the bottles, for example wine bottles, without any obstructions. Further, stops are provided for the lateral surfaces of the rearmost bottle of the first and the second row. The stop for the first row is off-set in reference to the stop for the second row in the direction of the rows.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the third support assembly part is provided with a front stopper projecting upwards in the area of its freely projecting end. In this way, the unintentional falling of bottles out of the bottle storage device at the removal side is prevented, while the stopper can be embodied so short that the removal of bottles is not hindered in the central area of the removal side.

Advantageously the bottles of the two rows of a double row are arranged on their support assemblies such that the bottles of the two rows are arranged off-set in reference to each other in the direction of the rows, with the bottle necks overlapping in the area of the central support assembly part, resulting in a space-saving storage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

When this document refers to the “left” and/or “right” these identifications of the sides each relate to a front view of the bottle storage device and/or the support assembly seen from the removal side. The statement “front” and/or “rear” are to be understood that “front” represents the removal side and “rear” the side of the rear wall of the body.

“Top” and/or “bottom” refer to the bottle storage device in its operational position.

FIGS. 1 through 3show a first embodiment of the bottle storage device according to the invention for two double rows7of bottles1, arranged one over top of the other, each of them resting on a support assembly11and formed by a first row2and a second row3of bottles1.

The bottles1each comprise a bottom of the bottle, a cylindrical lateral surface5, and a bottle neck4with its diameter being reduced in reference to the lateral surface5.

The bottle storage device has a body16with two body side walls15and rear body parts. Here, the rear wall of the body is not embodied continuously but is formed by two rear wall-side parts18of the body, each extending towards the center and a rear wall-center part9of the body extending vertically between them. Each of the two rear wall-side parts18of the body is connected fixed to the corresponding side wall15of the body. The left rear wall-side part18of the body has a slightly greater thickness than the right rear wall-side part18of the body, for reasons explained in below. The body16is embodied open at the removal side (i.e., the front), located opposite the rear wall of the body. It can also be embodied lockable, e.g., via a cabinet door. It is also embodied open at the top. However, it could also be closed with a cover part, an upper cabinet top etc.

The two support assemblies11arranged one over top of the other are arranged inside the body16. When the bottle storage device is seen from the front, here two first support assembly parts6are arranged at the left side wall of the body one over top of the other and at the right side wall of the body two second support assembly parts10arranged one over top of the other. The lateral first and second support assembly parts6,10are here each embodied as bars (beams) connected to the side walls15of the body. For example, individual support elements are also possible and can be imagined, e.g., rows of pins projecting from blind holes in the side walls15of the body. The first and second support assembly parts6,10serve to support the lateral surfaces5of the bottles1. Here, the area of the lateral surface5adjacent to the bottom of a bottle1rests on these lateral support assembly parts6,10.

Each of the two support assemblies11additionally has a third support assembly part8arranged between the lateral support assembly parts6,10to support the bottle necks4of the bottles1. In this embodiment this central support assembly part8is formed by a straight round rod each, which freely projects from the rear side of the bottle storage device (opposite the removal side) and extend towards the removal side. The two round rods are here each inserted into a blind hole of the rear wall-central part9of the body. However, they could also be connected to the rear wall-central part9of the body via screws extending through bores in the rear wall-central part9of the body into the interior of the body16. In such a case axial threaded bores or blind bores with inserted nuts for fixing the round rods were to be provided in the rear wall ends of the round rods. Other known fastening methods are also possible and can be utilized as well.

The lateral surfaces of the two rear wall-side parts18of the body facing the interior of the body16form stops14for the lateral surface5of the rearmost bottle of the first and second row2,3, offset in reference to each other in the direction of the rows2,3. However, the off-set position results, as already mentioned, from the left rear wall-side part19of the body having a slightly greater thickness than the right rear wall-side part18of the body.

The bottle necks4of the bottles1of the first row2and the second row3of a double row7are supported alternating on the round rods forming the respectively third support assembly part8, with the bottle necks4of two neighboring bottles1each overlapping, with one being part of the first row2and the other of the second row3. In other words, the bottles1of a double row7are arranged alternating off-set in the lateral direction (left/right) from the rear towards the front on a support assembly11, with their bottle necks4resting alternating overlapped on the central support assembly part8(FIG. 2.)

As clearly discernible fromFIG. 1the first support assembly part6and the second support assembly part10and the third support assembly part8of a support assembly11are arranged advantageously such that the longitudinal axes of the stored bottles1are each inclined in reference to the horizontal level. Storing wine bottles slightly inclined in reference to the horizontal achieves that the deposits precipitate at the bottom of the bottles, which is advantageous when pouring the wine.

Preferably the support surfaces of the support assembly parts6,8,10extend declining from the removal side towards the rear side, as particularly discernible fromFIG. 1. When applying one or more stoppers for the bottles in the area of the end of the central support assembly part8and/or the lateral support assembly parts6,10at the removal side, the support assembly parts6,8,10may also extend horizontally or extend declining downwards towards the removal side.

Due to the fact that for each double row a removal opening is provided continuous over the width of the double row, the bottles1can easily and comfortably be stocked and/or removed. Here, when loading a double row the bottles are inserted alternating into both rows3,2. The first bottle is here placed into the row3, in which the rear stop14is located further back, thus the row3shown at the right inFIGS. 1 through 3.

The bottle storage device according to the invention may also be embodied for only one or for more than two double rows7, with a respective number of support assemblies1being provided.

A bottle storage device similar to the first embodiment, however with a modified embodiment of the support assembly11, is shown inFIGS. 4 through 11. Here, the bottle storage device has three double rows7for bottles1. Accordingly, three support assemblies11are provided as well. However, there could also be more or less than three.

Contrary to the previously shown exemplary embodiment, the body16has a continuous rear wall17here.

Each support assembly11is here welded together from rod-shaped round steel parts (preferably via spot welding). The rods may also be made from another material, for example a metal, such as aluminum or a stiff plastic. They may also be adhered together at the connection sites or be connected to each other by another known manner, other than welding. The first and second support assembly part6,10and the freely projecting third support assembly part8are here vertically spaced from each other and welded parallel in reference to the rear wall17of the body and the horizontally extending round steel rods19, which at the rear side project into the blind holes inserted in the side walls15of the body. Here, the first and/or the second support assembly parts6,10essentially comprise a round steel rod each, with its two end sections106,206essentially being bent over at a right angle in reference to the longitudinal axis of the rod. The two bent end sections106,206are further bent into directions essentially perpendicular in reference to each other. While the end section106arranged at the rear projects upwards, the front end section206projects towards the corresponding side wall15of the body. Each of the two rear end sections106are welded to the two round rods19at their two intersecting areas. Each of the front end sections206projects into a blind hole inserted at the removal side, i.e. at the front of the side walls15of the body. The lateral surface support sections406of the first support assembly part6and the second support assembly part10here extend horizontally from the rear to the front. They could also extend inclined downwards or upwards from the rear to the front.

Preferably one of the support assembly parts, for example the first support assembly part6, has a stop14for the lateral surface5of the rearmost bottle of the row allocated thereto. It is formed e.g., by a round steel rod306, projecting upwards and thus extending parallel in reference to the rear end section106of the first support assembly part6and welded thereto with its lower end. It could also be connected thereto in a different fashion. The stop14of the second support assembly part10for the second row3is formed by the rear end section106of the second support assembly part10. As clearly discernible fromFIGS. 8,10, and11, both stops14of the first support assembly part6and the second support assembly part10are off-set in reference to each other in the direction of the rows2,3.

Due to the fact that the bottle neck support section108of the third support assembly part8serving to support the bottle necks4of the bottles1both of the first row2as well as the second row3of a double row7of bottles1, and here the lateral surface support sections406of the first support assembly part6and the second support assembly part10extend horizontally, the third support assembly part8is provided with a front stopper13projecting upwards in the area of its freely projecting end in order to prevent any the bottles1from unintentionally falling out. Such a stopper13is also and particularly advantageous in an embodiment of the bottle storage device in which the support assemblies11each extend declined downwards from the rear to the front.

The above-described embodiment of the support assembly11, shown inFIGS. 4 through 11, can also be used as an attachment, suspended at a rear wall and removable therefrom, for example a sales or display shelf. The suspension and/or fastening at the rear wall can then occur via clamping parts, for example, which on the one hand are held to the rear wall by screws, for example, and which on the other hand determine at least one of the two vertically distanced round rods19, extending parallel in reference to the rear wall and horizontally, preferably at least at two points along its longitudinal extension along the rear wall.

A third embodiment of a support assembly11is shown inFIGS. 12 through 15. This embodiment can also be used as a part inserted into a body16or as an attachment suspended at a rear wall and removable therefrom, for example in form of a sales or display shelf. However, the embodiment of the fasteners in the body or at the rear wall may be different than in the second embodiment of the support assembly11, due to the different embodiment at the rear as well as the different embodiment of the third support assembly part8. The support assembly11is here also preferably welded together from rod-shaped round steel parts (preferably via spot welding) and the progression of these rods declines from the rear towards the front in reference to a horizontal level, positioned perpendicular in reference to the rear wall.

The first and second support assembly part6,10is here formed by two sections of a round steel rod19each (FIG. 12). Here, the first and the second support assembly parts6,10each comprise, in reference to the longitudinal axis of the section of the round steel rod19arranged between the two support assembly parts6,10, sections of the round steel rod19bent at a right angle. The section of this round steel rod19arranged between the two support assembly parts6,10, when the support assembly11is inserted into a bottle rack and/or when inserted into a sales or display shelf parallel in reference to the rear wall and extending horizontally, is fixed thereto. The two, in reference to the removal side, frontal end sections206of the first and second support assembly part6,10each end in a pin20. The pins20each have a slightly smaller diameter than the remainder of the round steel rod19. When side walls or lateral supports are provided, they can project into bores in the side walls or lateral supports. By the smaller diameter the circular edges developing here can cover the edges of the bore holes. This is particularly advantageous in sales and display shelves for the look of the product appearing of higher value thereby.

Along the rear section of the round steel rod19, arranged between the first support assembly part6and the second support assembly part10, pins20are provided as well. These pins are in line with the longitudinal axis of these sections. They describe an obtuse angle α of approx. 175° with the longitudinal axes of the lateral surface support sections406of the first support assembly part6and the second support assembly part10.

Here, too, the first support assembly part6has a stop14for the lateral surface5of the rearmost bottle of the first row2, formed by a round steel rod306. It projects upwards in line with the longitudinal axis of the lateral surface support section406of the first support assembly part6. However, it could also project in a different direction upwards, for example vertically upwards.

As mentioned above, here in the inserted and/or mounted state of the support assembly11of the bottle neck support section108of the third support assembly part8and also the lateral surface support sections406of the first support assembly part6and the second support assembly part10extend inclined upwards from the rear towards the front in reference to the horizontal level. This position develops during the assembly and/or the insertion and is maintained due to a difference in length of the bottle neck support section108and a section1008of the third support assembly part8, formed in once piece therewith via a 180° return bend22at the removal side towards the rear section of the round steel rod19, arranged between the first support assembly part6and the second support assembly part10, and welded thereto. The bottle neck support section108ends in a hook21formed by bending the round steel rod twice, forming the third support assembly part8. The first bending is arranged following the bottle neck support section108. Here, in its progression the round steel rod experiences a change of direction by approximately 90° upwards. To a short straight section a second bend follows, by which the hook21is ultimately formed. As particularly discernible fromFIG. 14when the hook21is suspended at the rear wall and the rear pin20is inserted into the bores at the rear wall said incline develops. The inclination angle β in reference to the horizontal would here amount to approx. 5°.

As clearly shown in the above description, this third embodiment of the support assembly11is suitable both to form an insertion part easily insertable into the body16of a bottle storage device and easily removable therefrom, as well as suitable to form an attachment suspended at a rear wall and removable therefrom.

A fourth embodiment of a support assembly11is shown inFIGS. 16 through 19. Here, the first support assembly part6and the second support assembly part10are each formed from sheet metal. They could also comprise one or more appropriately shaped plastic parts. The lateral surface support sections406are essentially in the form of trapezoids (FIG. 19) in a top view. The first and second support assembly part6,10and the third support assembly part8are connected to two rear round steel rods19, extending parallel in reference to each other and vertically spaced apart from each other. At their ends at the removal side, the first support assembly part6and the second support assembly part10are each formed with a bend, having a relatively small curvature. The curvature of the sheet metal must be so small that a pin, serving as the rotation axis for a rotating body23, can be held by such an end at the removal side.

At its rear end the sheet metal is bent around the lower one of the two round steel rods19and is connected thereto. The lower round steel rod19could e.g., be welded or adhered to the sheet metal along this bend. Following the bend, the sheet metal extends to the upper round steel rod19, and is connected thereto. Here, it is bent around it such that an essentially cylindrical hollow space develops, in which the upper round steel rod19is held. Additional rotating bodies23are provided at the two ends of the upper round steel rod19.

The third support assembly part8here comprises a round steel rod bent in a U-shaped manner, with the ends of the legs of the U each being connected to one of the rear round steel rods19, for example welded thereto. The bend22of the U-shaped round steel rod is arranged at the removal side.

This fourth embodiment of the support assembly11can be used as an insertion and/or pushed-in part in a body of a bottle storage device, equipped with bars or rails extending from the rear to the front, e.g., horizontally. One front and one rear rotating23each can then be placed upon such a bar or rail and can be displaced along it. For example, this fourth embodiment of the support assembly11can also be used as an insertion and/or pushed-in part in a refrigerator. In such a case the body of the bottle storage device would be formed by the body of the refrigerator.

Different modifications of the described embodiments of the bottle storage device can be imagined and are possible without leaving the range of the invention. The third support assembly part8could also be formed by two horizontally distanced rods, for example, freely projecting towards the removal side.

It can also be imagined and is possible that the front stopper13or the rear stop14, if formed by an essentially rod-shaped element, is embodied telescopic and/or insertable and/or pivotal.

The cross-sections of the steel rods used could also be embodied oval or rectangular.

LEGEND OF THE REFERENCE CHARACTERS

1bottles2first row3second row4bottle neck5lateral surface6first support assembly part7double row8third support assembly part9rear wall-central part of the body10second support assembly part11support assembly13front stopper14stop15side wall of the body16body17rear wall of the body18rear wall-side part of the body19round steel rod20pin21hook22bend23rotating body106end section108bottle neck support section206end section306round steel rod406lateral surface support section1008section