Floor to ceiling wine rack post

A floor to ceiling wine rack post that is capable of holding multiple wine bottles in a substantially parallel manner, i.e., the label of the first wine bottle is visible to a person standing in front of the wine rack.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to racks for storing and/or displaying wine bottles, and more specifically, to modular wine racks.

BACKGROUND

Typically, wine bottles are placed in storage racks that are attached directly to a wall, as disclosed, for example in U.S. Pat. No. 6,991,117, wherein a wine rack for mounting to a wall is described. Moreover, typical wine racks, like the one described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,991,117, can be easily sold in set configurations, for example, in lengths of 3, 4 and 6 feet, and capable of holding bottles one, two or three-deep. As a consequence, the user of rack is able to acquire the pre-configured wine racks and easily install the wine racks themselves, thereby avoiding the extra cost associated with customizing racks and hiring installers.

Wine racks are used in many contexts. They are used in personal residences in living areas of the home, such as kitchens and great rooms, as well as dedicated wine cellars and closets. They are also used by businesses, such as restaurants, which need to store many bottles of wine both in public and private areas of the business.

However, in many contexts, a physical wall upon which a typical wine rack is attached may not be available. For example, many kitchens and great rooms are located in open areas of the residences wherein minimal wall space is available to display the wines held by the wine rack. Similarly, many restaurants are in open areas where again minimal wall space is available to display the wines held by the wine rack.

Known floor to ceiling racks for holding wine bottles are limited because standard lengths often do not fit the intended vertical spaces, and often require customization by the manufacturer/installer to fit the intended space. As such, there is a need in the industry for a floor to ceiling wine post that addresses the limitations of the prior art, which provides the user the ability to acquire posts that the user can easily accommodate to the user's desires and spaces, and thereby avoid the costs and time associated with customization and hiring installers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The wine rack post of the present invention provides a versatile floor-to-ceiling framing system to create floating wine racks by taking typical wall-mounted systems off the wall and creating the ability to design room dividers and unique decor enhancements in residential and commercial environments, including wine cellars.

The wine rack post of the present invention is a design-focused utility product that is the perfect tool for users when wall space is at a premium or user's plans call for wine to be stored in the middle of a room. Furthermore, the wine rack post of the present invention works with virtually all known wine racking systems, to provide maximum flexibility and look.

The present invention's floor to ceiling wine post is designed to attach to an upper support structure, such as ceiling, and a lower support structure, such as a floor, which serves to hold the wine post in a vertical orientation. It will be appreciated that there are numerous known ways that the post can be attached to the upper support structure (i.e., a ceiling) and/or the lower support structure (i.e., the floor). It will be further appreciated that there are numerous known attachment mechanisms can also be used to attach the post of the present invention to a wall in place or in addition to attaching the post of the present invention to the upper support structure (i.e., a ceiling) and/or the lower support structure (i.e., the floor).

The present invention's floor to ceiling wine post is designed in a manner to minimize the support structure for the wine rack and give the illusion of floating wine bottles, especially when installed away from a wall. Since the post of the present invention is attached the upper support structure (i.e., a ceiling) and/or the lower support structure (i.e., the floor), it should be appreciated that the post of the present invention does not require a wall to be installed, although it can be installed close to a wall. In this regard, the post of the present invention may be installed at any position in a room, including interior areas of the room, away from any wall structures. Moreover, the post of the present invention can be used to form a “wine wall” in the interior of the room, away from any physical walls. Importantly, when a post of the present invention is installed, wine racks are attached to the post and wine bottles are placed in the rack, the post itself blends into the background, and thereby gives the illusion the bottles of wine held by the rack are “floating.”

As will be appreciated, rooms wherein the present invention will be installed may vary widely in height. The present invention's floor to ceiling wine post is further designed to easily allow the user to adjust the height of the post to accommodate an endless number of possible height requirements, and thereby avoid the additional costs of customization and hiring an installer. The present invention post can be pre-configured in fix lengths and adjusted by the user to various heights, and thus avoid expenses and time associated with customization and installation.

The present invention is constructed in a way that allows for wine bottle support arms of differing orientations dependent on user requirements to be connected to post, and there are a variety of support arms commercially available that will work with the present invention. Specifically, for example, the present invention can be used with pins or racks. Further, the support arms can be configured one, two, three and/or four sides of the post.

The present invention system allows for a large number of shapes and bottle support configurations. Finally, multiple posts in accordance with the present invention can be oriented together to create room dividers or “wine walls.”

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is floor to ceiling wine post mounted to an upper surface, such as for example a ceiling or counter, and a lower surface, such as for example a floor, and configured to vertically secure one or more support arms to hold wine bottles.

With reference to theFIGS.1-7, a wine bottle storage post10is shown. The post10comprises two parts, a post base100that comprises on one end a C-channel end110and a base plate111on the opposite end, and a post top200that has on one end mates with the C-channel end110and a base plate111on the opposite end. When the post base100is mated with the post top200, the resulting post10comprises a smooth post with only one seem that is well hidden. The post base100and post top200preferably are manufactured in predetermined lengths such as, for example, lengths of 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet and 6 feet. It will also be appreciated that the post base100and post top200need not be manufactured in identical lengths. It will also be appreciated that base plates111may be removeably connected with the post base100and/or post top200.

With reference toFIGS.8A-8D, one embodiment of the invention with two posts10is shown. This particular embodiment is designed for higher than typical ceiling heights, for example 12 feet or higher, to provide additional support to the posts to allow wine racks to be attached to the posts and wine bottles in the rack. This embodiment further comprises support members250. Additionally, this embodiment further comprises ends300which are C-channels that are mated to the base plates112.

It will be appreciated that the post top200may be cut by the user to allow the post base100and post top200—when mated together—to fit the user's floor to ceiling space. In this regard, a user first measures the ceiling height in the place where the post10is to be installed. Next, the user lays the post base100and the post top200, interlaced as shown inFIG.9A, positioning post base100and post top200so that the measurement from the top to bottom of the base plates111equals the user's ceiling height and the user marks the post200. Using a reciprocating saw, band saw, or hack saw, the user squarely cuts the post top200at the mark made by the user as shown inFIG.9B.

The post10of the present invention is assembled by sliding the post base100and the post top200together. The post of the present invention is installed by standing up the post10in the desired location, ensuring that the post10is plumb both front and back and side-to-side using a level, and attaching the respective mounting plates111of the post10to the ceiling and floor. Installing the post10simply requires tools readily available, including a Phillips head driver or drill, level, pencil, tape measure, metal cutting saw and metal file. Each mounting plate111is pre-drilled for installing to the ceiling or floor using known fasteners. The post base100and the post top200may be secured by known fastening mechanisms or it will be appreciated that the post10becomes secure when the respective base plates111are attached to the floor and ceiling.

Additionally, the post base100and the post top200may be secured by attaching wine racks that secure the post top and post base together, as shown, for example, inFIG.9C. The post of the present invention is installed by standing up the secured post or post/rack combination in the desired location and ensuring that it is plumb both front and back and side-to-side using a level and attaching the mounting plates of the post10to the ceiling and floor, as shown inFIG.9D. Finally, inFIG.9E, an embodiment is shown wherein the wine rack is attached to the inside wall18of the post10.

With reference toFIGS.10A-10D, one embodiment of the invention with a post10and multiple wine racks400shown attached to post10. In this particular embodiment, the wine rack400, which is designed to hold the wine bottle “cork forward,” is attached to the post10on opposite sides of the post10. It will be appreciated that the wine rack400can be attached to the post10, on one side and opposite sides, and if alternated, on third and fourth (i.e., all sides).

With reference toFIGS.11A-11D, one embodiment of the invention with a post10and multiple wine racks401shown attached to post10. In this particular embodiment, the wine rack401, which is designed to hold two wine bottles “cork forward,” is attached to the post10on opposite sides of the post10. It will be appreciated that the wine rack401can be attached to the post10, on one side and opposite sides, and if alternated, on third and fourth (i.e., all sides).

With reference toFIGS.12A-12D, one embodiment of the invention with a post10and multiple wine racks402shown attached to post10. In this particular embodiment, the wine rack402, which is designed to hold three wine bottles “cork forward,” is attached to the post10on opposite sides of the post10. It will be appreciated that the wine rack402can be attached to the post10, on one side and opposite sides, and if alternated, on third and fourth (i.e., all sides).

With reference toFIGS.13A-13D, one embodiment of the invention with a post10and multiple wine racks402shown attached to post10. In this particular embodiment, the wine rack402, which is designed to hold three wine bottles “cork forward,” is attached to the post10on opposite sides of the post10. Additionally, with particular reference toFIGS.13B and13C, each level of the wine rack402alternates.

With reference toFIGS.14A-14D, one embodiment of the invention with a post10and multiple wine racks403shown attached to post10. In this particular embodiment, the wine rack403, which is designed to hold the wine bottle “label forward,” is attached to the post10on opposite sides of the post10. It will be appreciated that the wine rack403can be attached to the post10, on one side and opposite sides, and if alternated, on third and fourth (i.e., all sides).

With reference toFIGS.15A-15D, one embodiment of the invention with a post10and multiple wine racks403shown attached to post10. In this particular embodiment, the wine rack403, which is designed to hold the wine bottle “label forward,” is attached to the post10on opposite sides of the post10. Additionally, with particular reference toFIGS.15B and15C, each level of the wine rack403alternates.

With reference toFIGS.16A-16D, one embodiment of the invention with two posts10and multiple wine racks404shown attached to the posts10. In this particular embodiment, the wine rack404, which is designed to hold the wine bottle “base forward,” is attached to both posts10.

With reference toFIGS.17A-17D, one embodiment of the invention with two posts10and multiple wine racks404shown attached to the posts10. In this particular embodiment, the wine rack404, which is designed to hold multiple wine bottles “base forward,” is attached to the post10on opposite sides of the posts10.

All directional references used herein (e.g., upper, lower, upward, downward, left, right, leftward, rightward, top, bottom, above, below, vertical, horizontal, clockwise, and counterclockwise) are only used for identification purposes to aid the reader's understanding of the present invention, and do not create limitations, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use of the invention.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to various embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various other changes in the form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.