Abstract:
A suspended bottle holder has substantially vertically disposed first and second straps, each of which has an upper strap portion and a lower strap portion. A bottle base holding loop has proximal and distal longitudinal ends, the bottle base holding loop being attached to the upper and lower portions of the first strap, for engaging at least a portion of a bottle base. A bottle neck holding loop has proximal and distal longitudinal ends, the bottle neck holding loop being attached to the upper and lower portions of the second strap, for engaging at least a portion of a neck of the bottle. A connector connects the first and second straps to a structural member. The bottle base holding loop and the bottle neck holding loop are sufficiently spaced and the first and second straps are of a substantially equal length both when a bottle is removed from, or received in, the bottle base and bottle neck holding loops, so as to maintain the bottle in a substantially horizontal disposition.

Description:
This application claims benefit of Ser. No. 60/996,666, filed Nov. 29, 2007 in the United States and which application is incorporated herein by reference. To the extent appropriate, a claim of priority is made to the above disclosed application. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to hanging racks, stands, or holders for cradling, generally horizontally, wine bottles or the like and for the securing of containers such as bottles for wines and liquors and the maintenance thereof in substantially horizontal position. More particularly, the present invention relates to modular wine bottle holders that are suspended, foldable and portable, and to methods of assembling them. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various devices have been developed that relate to bottle holders and the like. U.S. Pat. No. 3,746,179 discloses hanging racks for the securing of containers such as bottles for wines and liquors and the maintenance thereof in substantially horizontal position, in such manner that the labels are in full view and the position of the containers may be adjusted by loosening or tightening the retaining members forming a part of the rack. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,826,731 discloses a wine rack with four wire panels of bottle holders and a wire base assembly, each being a separate component and packaged together in a small carton. The two lower panels are fitted into the base assembly, the two upper panels are fitted into the tops of respective lower panels, and the panels are all clipped together. The two lower panels are also cradled in a cross bar of the base assembly. All of the bottles, when held in storage positions in the rack, are sloped downwardly at an angle towards their cork ends. The bottles on one panel-column side face one direction and those on the other face the other direction. The entire unit with its snap-fit and clipped connections and its balanced bottle arrangement can be safely lifted at its top when fully loaded with bottles. 
     WO 99/53807 discloses a bottle carrier especially for wine bottles, that comprises frame with end stop opposite compression spring between which bottle is placed, frame vertical part tops terminated by hooks and bottom cross member having complementary fixing grooves. The carrier consists of a modular system for maintaining pressed, horizontally and suspended one or several bottles with their labels still visible. It consists of a frame with a stop device and a compression spring between which are respectively engaged a bottle base and neck. The distance between the stop device and the cylindrical spring is such that it maintains the inserted bottle pressed. Each frame has at its lower level on the crosspiece two grooves, and at its upper level two hooks designed to cause the modules to be mutually locked. The centre-to-centre spacing between the hooks is slightly greater then the centre-to-centre spacing between the grooves. 
     All the methods described above have not yet provided satisfactory solutions to the problem of securing of containers such as bottles for wines and liquors and the maintenance thereof in substantially horizontal position. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for securing of containers such as bottles for wines and liquors and the maintenance thereof in substantially horizontal position, which is reliable, foldable. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for the securing of containers such as bottles for wines and liquors, in which the substantially horizontal position of bottles is maintained even after one or more bottles are removed. 
     Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a suspended bottle holder that comprises:
         a) substantially vertically disposed first and second straps, each of which having an upper strap portion and a lower strap portion;   b) a bottle base holding loop having proximal and distal longitudinal ends, the bottle base holding loop being attached to the upper and lower portions of the first strap, for engaging at least a portion of a bottle base; a bottle neck holding loop having proximal and distal longitudinal ends, the bottle neck holding loop being attached to the upper and lower portions of the second strap, for engaging at least a portion of a neck of the bottle; and   c) connecting means for connecting the first and second straps to a structural member,   wherein the bottle base holding loop and the bottle neck holding loop are sufficiently spaced so as to maintain the bottle in a substantially horizontal disposition.       

     The bottle base holding loop and the bottle neck holding loop may be connected to the first and second straps, respectively, at one connection point and may be connected to the first and second straps, respectively, at two connection points. The bottle base holding loop and bottle neck holding loop may be made of elastic material. 
     The first and second straps may be of a substantially equal length both when a bottle is removed from, or received in, the bottle base and bottle neck holding loops. 
     The bottle base holding loop and bottle neck holding loop may be entirely or partially made of inelastic material. 
     The bottle holder may further comprise a connecting strap with a segment substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bottle for connecting the first and second straps. 
     The connecting strap may be connected to both the bottle base holding loop and the bottle neck holding loop. Alternatively, the connecting strap may be connected at a first connecting point to a first circumferential portion of the bottle neck holding loop, at a second connecting point to a first circumferential portion of the bottle base holding loop, and at a third connecting point to a second circumferential portion of the bottle base holding loop, the first circumferential portion of each of the bottle base holding loop and of the bottle neck holding loop being on a common transversal side of the longitudinal axis of the bottle and the second circumferential portion of the bottle base holding loop being on a transversal side of the longitudinal axis of the bottle which is opposite to that of the first circumferential portion of the bottle neck holding loop. 
     The connecting strap may longitudinally extend from the second connecting point, away from the bottle neck holding loop (herein “distally”), transversally extend to the second circumferential portion of the bottle base holding loop, and be connected at the distal longitudinal end of the bottle base holding loop. The second and the third connecting points may be common longitudinal ends of the bottle base holding loop and may be different longitudinal ends of the bottle base holding loop. 
     The connecting strap may be further connected to the bottle base holding loop at a fourth connection point located at the distal longitudinal end of the first circumferential portion of the bottle base holding loop, the second connection point being located at the longitudinal end closer to the bottle neck holding loop (herein “proximal”) of the first circumferential portion of the bottle base holding loop. 
     The length of the connecting strap, when not stretched, between the first and second connection points and between the third and fourth connection points may be such that the bottle base is insertable in the bottle base holding loop and that the bottle neck is insertable in the bottle neck holding loop after the connecting strap is stretched. 
     The connection strap segment may be inelastic between the first and second connection points or between the third and fourth connection points. The connecting strap may be releasably attachable to the bottle neck holding loop. 
     First and second circumferential portions of the bottle base holding loop or of the bottle neck holding loop may be releasably attachable to each other. 
     The bottle holder system may comprise a plurality of bottle holders, wherein an upper bottle holder is connected to a structural member and a lower bottle holder is connected to a bottle holder located thereabove. Each bottle holder may further comprise a supporting strap attached to the upper strap portions of the first and second straps, respectively, or to the lower strap portions of the first and second straps, respectively. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better understood through the following illustrative and non-limitative detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, with reference to the appended drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a first and a second straps with holding loops, according to embodiments of the present invention, the first strap designed to hold the base end of the bottle and the second strap designed to hold the neck end of the bottle; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates the base and neck straps shown in  FIG. 1 , holding a bottle horizontally; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates the base and neck straps shown in  FIG. 1 , whereas the loops are disposed on the straps such that they hold the bottle slightly diagonal; 
         FIG. 4A  is a front prospective view of the base strap shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4B  is a side view of the base strap shown in  FIG. 1 ;  FIG. 4C  is a front prospective view of the neck strap shown in  FIG. 1 ; and  FIG. 4D  is a side view of the neck strap shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5A  is a side view of the base strap, according to other embodiments of the present invention;  FIG. 5B  is a side view of the neck strap coupled with the base strap shown in  FIG. 5A ; 
         FIG. 6A  is a side view of the base strap, according to other embodiments of the present invention;  FIG. 6B  is a side view of the base strap shown in  FIG. 6A ;  FIG. 6C  is the neck strap coupled with the base strap shown in  FIG. 6A ;  FIG. 6D  is a side view of the neck strap shown in  FIG. 6C ; 
         FIG. 7   a  illustrates a single bottle holder, according to embodiments of the present invention, the first strap designed to hold the base end of the bottle and the second strap designed to hold the neck end of the bottle; 
         FIG. 7   b  is a top view of the single bottle holder shown in  FIG. 7   a;    
         FIG. 8  illustrates the single bottle holder shown in  FIG. 7   a , whereas the neck loop holder is detachable; 
         FIG. 9   a  illustrates the single bottle holder shown in  FIG. 7   a , having an additional supporting strap; 
         FIG. 9   b  is a top view of the single bottle holder shown in  FIG. 9   a;    
         FIG. 10   a  illustrates a wall with two hooks affixed to the wall; 
         FIG. 10   b  illustrates a wall with two straps affixed to the wall, the straps having hooks; 
         FIG. 11   a  illustrates a ceiling with two hooks affixed to the ceiling; 
         FIG. 11   b  illustrates a ceiling with two straps affixed to the ceiling, the straps having hooks; 
         FIG. 11   c  illustrates a single bottle holder, as shown in  FIG. 9   a , attached onto straps affixed to a ceiling, as shown in  FIG. 11   b;    
         FIG. 12  illustrates a chain of four single bottle holders, as shown in  FIG. 9   a , attached onto straps affixed to a ceiling, as shown in  FIG. 11   b;    
         FIG. 13  illustrates a chain of four single bottle holders, as shown in  FIG. 9   a , attached onto straps affixed to a ceiling, as shown in  FIG. 11   b , the chain with a different configuration; 
         FIG. 14  illustrates a connecting strap, according to embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 15  illustrates an example configuration including five single bottle holders, as shown in  FIG. 9   a , and two connecting straps, as shown in  FIG. 14 , attached onto hooks affixed to a ceiling, as shown in  FIG. 11   a ; and 
         FIG. 16  illustrates parameters of the design of the base and neck straps shown in  FIG. 5  such that both straps, if they are made from flexible materials, are equal in total length both when holding a bottle and when vacant and thereby extended in length. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided, so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. 
     Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The methods and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting. 
     By way of introduction, the principal intentions of the present invention include providing a modular suspended bottle holder, for example a wine bottle. One bottle holder can be attached to either affixed hooks on a wall or ceiling, or to another bottle holder, according to the present invention. 
     Reference is now made to the drawings.  FIG. 1  illustrates a bottle holder  100 , having a first strap  110  with holding loop  116 ; and a second strap  120  with holding loop  126 , according to embodiments of the present invention. First strap  110  is designed to hold the base end of a bottle, herein referred to as base strap  110 , and second strap  120  is designed to hold the neck end of the bottle, herein referred to as neck strap  120 . Base strap  110  includes an upper strap portion  112 , a lower strap portion  114  and a holding loop  116 . Neck strap  120  includes an upper strap portion  122 , a lower strap portion  124  and a holding loop  126 . Holding loop  116 , which has proximal  117   a  and distal  117   b  longitudinal ends, should be wide enough to host the bottom part of the base of target bottles. Holding loop  126 , which has proximal  127   a  and distal  127   b  longitudinal ends, should be wide enough to host the neck part of the neck of target bottles. In embodiments of the present invention loops  126  and/or  116  are made of elastic (stretchable) materials and thereby can fit to wide variety of bottle sizes. 
     In other embodiments of the present invention loops  126  and/or  116  are made of non-elastic (non-stretchable) or rigid materials (for example, plastic, metal or non-elastic fabric) and thereby fit to limited variety of bottle sizes. 
     A hook  119  is disposed at the end of lower strap portion  114  and a connecting loop  118  is disposed at the end of upper strap portion  112 . A hook  129  is disposed at the end of lower strap portion  124  and a connecting loop  128  is disposed at the end of upper strap portion  122 . In other embodiments of the present invention, hook  119  is disposed at the end of upper strap portion  112  and a connecting loop  118  is disposed at the end of lower strap portion  114 . Respectively, hook  129  is disposed at the end of upper strap portion  122  and a connecting loop  128  is disposed at the end of lower strap portion  124 . Hooks  119 / 129  and coupling connecting loops  118 / 128  are connecting means given by way of example only and any other connecting means such as buckles, clasps, or Velcro straps can be used. 
     Reference is now made to  FIG. 2 , which illustrates bottle holder  100 , shown in  FIG. 1 . The positioning of loops  116  and  126  are such the bottle  10  having a longitudinal axis  8  is kept substantially horizontal. In this embodiment, the positioning of loops  116  and  126  along straps  110  and  120  respectively can be higher or lower, as long as bottle  10  is kept substantially horizontal. The distance d, shown in  FIG. 1 , between strap  110  and strap  120  should be such that bottle  10  is held in holding device  100  safely and comfortably. 
     Another embodiment of the present invention is shown on  FIG. 3 , which illustrates the base and neck straps shown in  FIG. 1 , whereas loops  116  and  126  are disposed on the straps such that they hold bottle  10  slightly diagonal, whereas the neck side of bottle  10  is slightly lower. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, base strap  110  is formed by first creating a loop  116  and then attaching to loop  116  upper strap portion  112  and lower strap portion  114 . In another embodiment of the present invention, base strap  110  is formed by taking a single long strap, and attaching to the long trap a shorter strap, having a measured length. The short strap can be attached to the long strap anywhere along the long strap, except the ends. The short strap can be attached to the long strap at a single location or in two locations, the two locations being apart by a pre-measured distance. The attaching method can be any method known in the art such as sawing, gluing or any other way suited for the materials the straps are made of. Neck strap  120  is formed the same way base strap  110  is formed. The above description of ways to form straps  110 / 120  are given by way of example only and in other embodiments of the present invention, other ways known in the art can be used to form these straps. 
     Reference is now also made to  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6  which show examples of different connection/forming of loops  116  and  126 , respectively. The connectivity is better illustrated on the side views shown in FIGS.  4 B/ 4 D,  5 A/ 5 B and  6 B/ 6 D. In FIGS.  4 B/ 4 D loops  116 / 126  straps  112  and  114 , and  122  and  124 , are connected to loops  116 / 126  at two locations  113   a / 123   a  and  113   b / 123   b  symmetrically about the respective loop. In FIGS.  5 A/ 5 B straps  212  and  214 , and  222  and  224 , are connected to loops  216 / 226  at two locations  213   a / 223   a  and  213   b / 223   b  on the side the respective loop. In FIGS.  6 B/ 6 D straps  312  and  314 , and  322  and  324 , are connected to loops  316 / 326  at one  313 / 323  location on the side the respective loop. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 1 , it should be noted that the length h of straps  110  and  120  should be substantially the same. Both straps  110  and  120  should be equal in total length both when holding bottle  10  and when vacant. Thereby, if straps  110  and  120  are made from flexible materials they should extend in length to the same extent. 
     In embodiments of the present invention, the way to ensure that both straps  110  and  120  are equal in total length, both when holding bottle  10  and when vacant, is to make loops  116  and  126  from rigid materials so that they do not extend in length when vacant. In other embodiments of the present invention, the way to ensure an equal in total length of straps  110  and  120  is by designing the connectivity of loops  116  and  126  to straps  110  and  120  respectively. 
     Reference is now also made to  FIG. 16  which illustrates the parameters of the design of the base and neck straps  210  and  220  shown in  FIG. 5 , such that both straps, if they are made from flexible materials, are equal in total length both when holding a bottle and when vacant. This enables using flexible materials for straps  110  and  120  and loops  116  and  126 . When loops  116  and  126  are made of flexible, inelastic material, the length of straps  110  and  120  will increase after the bottle is removed from the loops. 
     According to the present invention, α is computed as follows: 
     The difference in loops  216  and  226  radiuses is:
 
 X =( R 1 −R 2);
 
L 1 , which is ½ of the final length of the vacant strap  110 , is computed by:
 
 L 1=(α/360°)×(2 ×π×R 1)+( R 1 −R 1×Sin α);
 
L 2 , which is ½ of the final length of the vacant strap  120 , is computed by:
 
 L 2=(2 ×π×R 2)/4 +X;  
 
Setting:
 
 L 1 =L 2
 
Implies:
 
(α/360°)×(2 ×π×R 1)+( R 1 −R 1×Sin α)=(2 ×π×R 2)/4+( R 1 −R 2);
 
Example:
 
 R 1=3.5 cm;
 
 R 2=1.5 cm;
 
 X=R 1 −R 2=3.5−1.5=2 cm;
 
Substituting:
 
(α/360°)×(2×3.1415×3.5)+(3.5−3.5×Sin α)=(2×3.1415×1.5)/4+(3.5−1.5)
 
Yields:
 
α=66.6°
 
(End of Example)
 
     In embodiments of the present invention, loops  116 / 126 ,  216 / 226 ,  316 / 326 ,  416 / 426  or a portion thereof are made of rigid materials and thereby respective straps pairs  110 / 120 ,  210 / 220 ,  310 / 320 ,  410 / 420  are kept in fixed and equal length. 
     Reference is now made to  FIG. 7   a  which illustrates a single bottle holder  400 , according to embodiments of the present invention.  FIG. 7   b  is a top view of bottle holder  400  shown in  FIG. 7   a . Bottle holder  400  includes a first strap  410  with holding loop  416 ; and a second strap  420  with holding loop  426 , according to embodiments of the present invention. First strap  410  is designed to hold the base end of a bottle, herein referred to as base strap  410 , and second strap  420  is designed to hold the neck end of the bottle, herein referred to as neck strap  420 . Base strap  410  includes an upper strap portion  412 , a lower strap portion  414  and a holding loop  416 . Neck strap  420  includes an upper strap portion  422 , a lower strap portion  424  and a holding loop  426 . Holding loop  416  should be wide enough to host bottom part of the base of target bottles. Holding loop  426  should be wide enough to host the neck part of the neck of target bottles. In embodiments of the present invention loops  426  and/or  416  are made of elastic materials and thereby can fit to wide variety of bottle sizes. Straps  410  and  420  are similar to straps  110 / 210 / 310  and  120 / 220 / 320  respectively and all variations that apply to straps  110 / 210 / 310  and  120 / 220 / 320  also apply to straps  410  and  420  respectively. 
     Bottle holder  400  further includes a strap  430  which connects straps  410  and  420 . Strap  430  can be all elastic (stretchable) or partially elastic. Strap  430 , which has a segment  432  that is generally parallel to longitudinal axis  8  of the bottle  10  ( FIG. 2 ) to be held by holder  400 , is connected to straps  410  and  420  as follows: one end  431  of strap  430  that is proximal to segment  432  is connected at location G to a first circumferential portion  429   a  of holding loop  426 , typically between connecting point  423   a  and  423   b . Segment  432  is connected at location H or E or both H and E of a first circumferential portion  419   a  of holding loop  416 , typically between connecting point  413   a  and  413   b . Circumferential portions  419   a  and  429   a  are on a common transversal side of the longitudinal axis  8  of the bottle  10 . Location H coincides with the proximal end  417   a  of holding loop  416  and location E coincides with the distal end  417   b  of holding loop  416 . Segment  432  longitudinally extends distally from location E to segment  433 . Segment  433 , which is substantially parallel to distal end  417   b  of holding loop  416 , transversally extends to segment  434 , which is substantially parallel to segment  432 . One end  436  of segment  434  is distally spaced from holding loop  416 . Segment  434  longitudinally extends from end  436 , and then is connected at location F coinciding with the distal longitudinal end  417   b  and the second circumferential portion  419   b  of holding loop  416 , opposite to location E, typically between connecting point  413   a  and  413   b.    
     The length of strap  430  between points G and H and between points E and F, when strap  430  is not stretched, is such that enables to insert a bottle base end into loop  416 , stretch strap  430  and insert the bottle neck into and through loop  426 . 
     Segment G-H of strap  430  need not be elastic if segment E-F of strap  430  is sufficiently elastic to allow the bottle insertion into holder  400 , and vice versa: segment E-F of strap  430  need not be elastic if segment G-H of strap  430  is sufficiently elastic to allow the bottle insertion into holder  400 . 
     Referring also to  FIG. 8 , which illustrates bottle holder  400 , according to embodiments of the present invention, whereas neck loop holder  426  is detachable, having parts  425  and  427  capable be attached and detached, as needed. Any known way in the art to attach and detach parts  425  and  427  can be used, for example, Velcro. This enables strap  430  to be made of non-elastic materials or rigid materials, whereas when inserting a bottle into holder  400 , the bottle base end is inserted into loop  416 , parts  425  and  427  are detached, the bottle neck is inserted into loop  426  and  425  and  427  are reattached. 
     Reference is now made to  FIG. 9   a  which illustrates bottle holder  400 , according to embodiments of the present invention, having an additional supporting strap  440 .  FIG. 9   b  is a top view of bottle holder  400  shown in  FIG. 9   a . Supporting strap  440  is typically non-elastic and is desirable if segment G-H of strap  430  is elastic. 
     Supporting strap  440  is attached either to both upper strap portion  412  and to upper strap portion  422 , or to both lower strap portion  414  and to lower strap portion  424 . Supporting strap  440  prevents the stretching of another bottle holder  400  when the second bottle holder  400  is connected to bottle holder  400 . When a first bottle holder  400  is stretch to remove a bottle, the second bottle holder  400  connected to the first bottle holder  400  may also stretch and thereby accidentally drop the bottle the second bottle holder  400  holds. If segment G-H of strap  430  is not elastic the problem does not arise. 
     In embodiments of the present invention a label  450  can be placed on strap  440 . Label  450  may serve as an advertising media. It should be noted the label may be placed not only on strap  440  but on any other surface of the bottle holder  400 . 
     In embodiments of the present invention strap  440  may include one or more pouches or compartments to hold or store glasses, bottle openers, corks or any other thing. 
     A bottle holder  400  can be attached to other one or more bottle holders  400  to form any desired configuration of a wine rack. The upper one or more bottle holders  400  are typically connected to hooks (or any other connecting means) which are affixed to a wall or a ceiling.  FIG. 10   a  illustrates a wall  25  with two hooks  30  affixed to the wall.  FIG. 10   b  illustrates a wall  26  with two straps  40  affixed to the wall, straps  40  having hooks.  FIG. 11   a  illustrates a ceiling  27  with two hooks  30  affixed to the ceiling.  FIG. 11   b  illustrates a ceiling  28  with two straps  40  affixed to the ceiling, straps  40  having hooks.  FIG. 11   c  illustrates single bottle holder  400  attached onto straps  40  affixed to a ceiling  28 . 
       FIG. 12  illustrates a simple example configuration  510  including a chain of four single bottle holders  400  attached onto straps  40  affixed to a ceiling.  FIG. 13  illustrates a simple example configuration  520  including a chain of four single bottle holders  400  attached onto straps  40  affixed to a ceiling, the chain having a different configuration. While in configuration  510  shown in  FIG. 12  all bottles  10  point to the same direction, in  FIG. 13  bottles  10  alternate in the direction they point to. When a chain of bottle holders is employed, one circumferential portion  419   a , e.g. a half, of bottle base holding loop  416  and one circumferential portion  429   a , e.g. a half, of bottle neck holding loop  426  ( FIG. 7   b ) may be made of elastic or non-rigid material, while the remaining portions of the bottle base and neck holding loops may be made of a rigid material, to ensure that straps  410  and  420  will continue to be of the same length if a bottle is removed from one of the bottle holders. 
       FIG. 14  illustrates a connecting strap  490 , according to embodiments of the present invention. Connecting strap  490  is used to replace a single bottle holders  400  attached in a complex configuration, to enhance the configuration stability or due to esthetic considerations.  FIG. 15  illustrates an example configuration  530  including five single bottle holders  400  and two connecting straps  490 . 
     In embodiments of the present invention the straps  110 / 120  and/or loops  116 / 126  and/or straps  210 / 220  and/or loops  216 / 226  and/or straps  310 / 320  and/or loops  316 / 326  and/or straps  410 / 420  and/or loops  416 / 426  and/or strap  440  and/or other parts can be made of variety materials (such as metal, plastic or fabric) and the above mentioned straps can be in a variety of widths and thickness and can be made of clear or transparent materials. 
     In embodiments of the present invention configurations are made with fixed connections between bottle holders  100 ,  200 ,  300  or  400 , thereby the configurations are constant and non-modular. 
     The above examples and description have of course been provided only for the purpose of illustration, and are not intended to limit the invention in any way. As will be appreciated by the skilled person, the invention can be carried out in a great variety of ways, employing more than one technique from those described above, all without exceeding the scope of the invention.