Patent Publication Number: US-2017360195-A1

Title: Wine rack

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/061,118 filed Mar. 4, 2016 and entitled “Wine Rack,” which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/230,933 filed Mar. 31, 2014 and entitled “Wine Rack”, which is now U.S. Pat. No. 9,364,085; which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/524,789 filed Jun. 15, 2012 and entitled “Wine Rack”, which is now U.S. Pat. No. 8,684,194; which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/334,374 filed Dec. 12, 2008 and entitled “Wine Rack”, which is now U.S. Pat. No. 8,231,015; which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/314,575, filed Dec. 20, 2005 and entitled “Wine Rack” which is now U.S. Pat. No. 7,850,017; which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/615,638, filed Jul. 8, 2003, and entitled “Wine Rack” which is now U.S. Pat. No. 6,991,117; which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/394,623, filed Jul. 8, 2002 and entitled “Wine Rack”; the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates, in general, to wine racks and wine racking devices. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Conventionally, wine racks are used in wine cellars or other wine storage areas to store numerous bottles of wine in a desired area. In one example of a conventional wine rack  30  shown in  FIG. 1 , the bottles of wine are supported along the length of the bottle within a grid of generally rectangular cavities  32  stacked upon and next to each other, each rectangular cavity typically formed by pairs of parallel wood supports  34 ,  36  held in position by front and rear frame structures. In this example of a conventional wine rack, the wine rack is typically configured such that user places a bottle  38  of wine lengthwise within one of the rectangular cavities such that when the rack is full of wine bottles, only the top ends  40  (i.e., where the foil is wrapped around the top end) of the wine bottles  38  are generally visible when viewing the wine rack—and the labels on the wine bottle are not generally visible by the user. As such, in order to determine which type of wine (e.g., varietal/grape type, winery name, vintage/year, etc.) is stored in a particular cavity  32  of such a wine rack, the user may need to remove the bottle from the wine rack in order to view the label on the bottle. 
     As recognized by the present inventor, what is needed is a wine rack that provides storage for numerous wine bottles while permitting the user to view the label of the bottle of wine as the wine bottle rests in the wine rack. 
     It is against this background that various embodiments of the present invention were developed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In light of the above and according to one broad aspect of one embodiment of the invention, disclosed herein is a wine rack that permits a user to view the wine labels on the bottles as the bottles sit in the rack. Various configurations of wine racks may be formed using embodiments of the present invention. 
     According to one broad aspect of one embodiment of the present invention, disclosed herein is a wine rack for attachment to a wall or other surface. In one example, the wine rack may include a first frame element for attachment to the wall; a first support member extending perpendicularly from the first frame element, the first support member having a recess portion for supporting a first portion of a wine bottle (i.e., a portion of the neck); a second frame element for attachment to a wall; and a second support member extending perpendicularly from the second frame element, the second support member having a recess portion for supporting a second portion of a wine bottle (i.e., a portion of the body of the bottle). When the wine bottle is placed in the rack, the label of the wine bottle may be seen and read by person standing in front of the wine rack. 
     In one embodiment, the first support member may include a second recess portion for supporting a first portion of a second wine bottle. The second support member may include a second recess portion for supporting a second portion of the second wine bottle. In another example, the first support member may include a third recess portion for supporting a first portion of a third wine bottle, and the second support member may include a third recess portion for supporting a second portion of a third wine bottle. The first and second support members may be formed from steel rods. In one example, the first and second frame elements may be positioned in a parallel relation to each other. The recess portion of the support members may take many different shapes such as U-shaped, V-shaped or other shapes. 
     According to another broad aspect of another embodiment of the invention, disclosed herein is a wine rack for mounting on a wall or other surface, the wine rack including at least a first and second pair of support members. In one embodiment, the first pair of support members may support at least a first and a second wine bottle in a substantially parallel relation to the wall, wherein the second bottle is positionable proximate the wall, and wherein the label of the first wine bottle is visible to a person standing in front of the wine rack. The second pair of support members may support at least a third and a fourth wine bottle in a substantially parallel relation to the wall, wherein the fourth bottle is positionable proximate the wall, and wherein the label of the third wine bottle is visible to the person standing in front of the wine rack. 
     In one example, the first pair of support members may extend perpendicularly relative to the wall surface, each of said first pair of support members having a first recess for supporting a portion of the first wine bottle and a second recess for supporting a portion of the second wine bottle. In another example, the second pair of support members may extend perpendicularly relative to the wall surface, each of said second support members having a first recess for supporting a portion of the third wine bottle and a second recess for supporting a portion of the fourth wine bottle. 
     According to another broad aspect of another embodiment of the invention, disclosed herein is a support member for a wine rack having a vertically oriented frame portion. In one embodiment, the support member may include a first end adapted to be attached in a perpendicular orientation to the vertically oriented frame portion; a shaft portion extending from the first end; and a recess portion for supporting a portion (such as the neck or body) of a wine bottle, the recess portion having a downwardly sloped portion and an upwardly shaped portion, the downwardly shaped portion being coupled with the shaft portion. 
     In one example, the support member may be a steel rod, and may have a round cross section. The recess portion may be implemented as a U-shape, V-shape or other shapes. 
     In another example, the support member may also include an end portion coupled with the upwardly shaped portion of the recess, wherein the end portion terminates on a distal end with an upwardly extending tip. 
     In another example, the support member may also include an intermediate portion having a first end and a second end, the first end coupled with the upwardly shaped portion of the recess portion, and a second recess portion having a downwardly sloped portion and an upwardly shaped portion, the downwardly shaped portion being coupled with the second end of the intermediate portion. An end portion may be coupled with the upwardly shaped portion of the second recess, wherein the end portion terminates on a distal end with an upwardly extending tip. 
     Alternatively, the support member may include a second intermediate portion having a first end and a second end, the first end coupled with the upwardly shaped portion of the second recess portion, and a third recess portion having a downwardly sloped portion and an upwardly shaped portion, the downwardly shaped portion being coupled with the second end of the second intermediate portion. In this example, the support member may include an end portion coupled with the upwardly shaped portion of the third recess, wherein the end portion terminates on a distal end with an upwardly extending tip. 
     Other embodiments of the invention are disclosed herein. The foregoing and other features, utilities and advantages of various embodiments of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of the various embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an example of a conventional wine rack. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an example of a wine rack, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates another example of a wine rack with wine bottles resting therein with the labels of the bottles visible, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates another example of a wine rack with wine bottles resting therein with the labels of the bottles visible, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an example of a frame element, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an example of a support member for supporting a portion of a neck of a wine bottle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates an example of a support member for supporting a portion of a body of a wine bottle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates another embodiment of a support member of  FIG. 6 , for supporting the neck portions of two bottles of wine, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates an example of a support member of  FIG. 7 , for supporting the body portions of two bottles of wine, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates another example of a support member of  FIG. 6 , for supporting the neck portions of three bottles of wine, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates another example of a support member of  FIG. 7 , for supporting the body portions of three bottles of wine, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  illustrates another embodiment of a support member, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  illustrates another embodiment of a support member, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  illustrates another embodiment of a support member, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 15  illustrates another embodiment of a support member, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 16  illustrates another embodiment of a support member, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 17  illustrates another embodiment of a support member, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 18  illustrates another embodiment of a support member, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 19  illustrates another embodiment of a support member, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 20  illustrates another embodiment of a support member, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 21  illustrates another embodiment of a support member, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 22  illustrates a wine rack wherein the frame elements are attached at an angle to the wall or surface, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 23  illustrates a wine rack wherein the frame elements are interconnected, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 24  illustrates a wine rack wherein the support members are connected to a support surface in lieu of frame elements, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 25  illustrates a wine rack wherein the frame elements are connected to a ceiling, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, disclosed herein is a wine rack for supporting multiple bottles of wine for storage in a manner that allows for the labels of one or more bottles stored in the rack to be visible to a person viewing the wine rack. Various different configurations of wine racks are possible, and the wine racks may be formed by attachment to walls, ceilings, or other surfaces or structures. 
     As shown in the accompanying drawings such as  FIG. 2 , a wine rack  50  may include a first frame element  52  and a second frame element  54 , wherein, in one example, the first and second frame elements are adapted to be secured to a wall  56  or other surface, preferably positioned vertically along the wall surface  56  in a parallel arrangement to one another. Various rows  58  of the wine rack  50  are formed, wherein each row  58  has at least a first and second support member  60 ,  62 , preferably each support member  60 ,  62  attached to and extending perpendicularly from a respective frame element  52 ,  54 . 
     Each pair of the support members  60 ,  62  in a row  58  support at least one bottle of wine (and may support two or three or more bottles of wine as shown below) in a generally horizontal position and in a parallel relation to the wall surface  56  so that the labels of one or more bottles (i.e., the front-most bottle stored in each row) stored in the rack  50  are visible to a person viewing the wine rack. Hence, a user of the wine rack  50  can easily see the labels of many, and possibly all, of the bottles of wine stored in the wine rack. Using the frame elements  52 ,  54  and support members  60 ,  62 , various different configurations of wine racks  50  are possible—for instance, the size (i.e., capacity) of the rack  50  can be varied, the number of rows can be varied, the number of bottles per row can be varied, the rack  50  can be varied to support different size bottles of wine (i.e., standard 750 ml, magnum 1.5 liter, half bottles 375 ml, champagne bottles, pinot noir bottles, etc.), and other characteristics of the wine rack  50  can be varied. Various embodiments of the invention will now be described. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , a wine rack  50  having 12 rows in this example is formed using a first and second frame element  52 ,  54  from which, for each row, a first and second support member  60 ,  62  extend perpendicularly therefrom. The system in  FIG. 2  is adapted to support 3 wine bottles per row. The wine bottle to be stored is placed to rest on the first and second support members  60 ,  62  which are supported by the frame elements  52 ,  54 . 
     While  FIG. 2  shows each row  58  adapted to support 3 bottles, it is understood that each row could be designed to support 1, 2, 3 or more bottles, depending upon the implementation. As shown herein, a number of various configurations of the wine rack are possible depending on the particular implementation. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a portion of an example of a wine rack  50  having a first and second frame element  52 ,  54  attached in parallel relation to a wall  56 . In  FIG. 3 , three rows  58  of wine bottles  64  are shown, wherein each row  58  supports two wine bottles  64 . On the top row, a first support member  60  extends perpendicularly from the first frame element  52  for supporting the necks  66  of the wine bottles in the top row, and a second support member  62  extends perpendicularly from the second frame element  54  for supporting a portion of the body  68  of the bottle  64 . The wine bottles of the top row are positioned with the rear bottle behind the front bottle, and can be arranged such that the label  70  of the front bottle may be visible to a person standing in front of the wine rack  50 . A portion of the label of the rear bottle of the top row may be visible to a person standing in front of the wine rack as well. 
     In the middle row of  FIG. 3 , a first support member  60  extends perpendicularly from the first frame element  52  for supporting the necks  66  of the wine bottles  64  in the middle row, and a second support member  62  extends perpendicularly from the second frame element  54  for supporting a portion of the body  68 . The wine bottles  64  of the middle row are positioned with the rear bottle behind the front bottle, and can be arranged such that the label  70  of the front bottle may be visible to a person standing in front of the wine rack. A portion of the label of the rear bottle of the middle row may be visible to a person standing in front of the wine rack as well. 
     In the bottom row of  FIG. 3 , a first support member  60  extends perpendicularly from the first frame element  52  for supporting the necks  66  of the wine bottles in the bottom row, and a second support member  62  extends perpendicularly from the second frame element  54  for supporting a portion of the body  68 . The wine bottles  64  of the bottom row are positioned with the rear bottle behind the front bottle, and can be arranged such that the label  70  of the front bottle may be visible to a person standing in front of the wine rack. A portion of the label of the rear bottle of the bottom row may be visible to a person standing in front of the wine rack as well. While  FIG. 3  illustrates 3 rows in the rack  50 , it is understood that the number of rows in the wine rack is a matter of choice and can be greater or less than 3 rows, as desired. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an example of a wine rack  50  that may be formed using embodiments of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 4 , three sets  80  of frame elements  52 ,  54  are attached in parallel to a wall  56  wherein each pair  80  of frame elements  52 ,  54  has fourteen pairs of support members extending therefrom, thereby providing a  42  bottle wine rack if each pair of support members supports a single bottle. As described above, the example of  FIG. 4  may also be designed to support two or three wine bottles per pair of support members, thereby increasing the capacity of the example of  FIGS. 4  to 84 wine bottles or 126 wine bottles, depending upon the particular implementation. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an example of a frame element or strip ( 52  or  54 ) having a plurality of holes  82  adapted to receive a support member rod  60 ,  62 , and a plurality of holes  84  for receiving a fastener  86  (not shown) to fasten the frame element  52 ,  54  to a surface such as a wall. In one example, the frame elements  52 ,  54  may be made from oil pickled ASTM A500 rectangular steel framework pieces. 
     For example, for each frame element or strip  52 ,  54 , there may be six pre-drilled points  84  for fasteners  86  which are used to secure the frame element to a surface such as a wall. In one example, each fastener  86  may be selected so as to support approximately twenty pounds, primarily in sheer or vertical force. The top fastener of a frame element  52 ,  54  typically experiences the greatest amount of horizontal force tending to pull the frame element from the wall or other surface, and accordingly, during installation, the top fastener of the frame element should be secured solidly between the frame element and the wall or other surface. 
     Different fasteners  86  may be used to secure the frame elements to a surface (i.e., a wall) and may vary based on the type of surface that the frame element is being attached. Although various fasteners or securing means  86  may be used to attach a frame element  52 ,  54  to a surface such as a wall, number 10 woodscrews, two inches long, along with spiral inserts or toggle bolts may be used with surfaces such as wood or drywall. For surfaces such as concrete or stucco over concrete, tapcons such as 3/16 inch×1¾ or 2¼ may be used, for example. 
     Also, while the first and second frame elements  52 ,  54  are shown as attaching to a wall, it is understood that they may be attached to some structure other than a wall or may be provided with legs to be supported from the floor, or may be supported from a ceiling. 
     As shown in the examples of  FIGS. 2 and 6-11 , the rows of a wine rack  50  may include a first and second support member  60 ,  62 . Depending on the configuration of the support members, each row can support one, two, three or more bottles of wine. A first support member  60  may be used to support a portion of the neck  66  of the wine bottle, and a second support member  62  may be used to support a portion of the body  68  of the wine bottle. These support members can take different shapes, as shown and described herein. 
     In one example and as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 6 , the first support member  60  is fixed on one end  90  to a portion of the first frame element  52 , and the first support member is free on the other end  92 . The first support member  60  has a recess or downwardly curved indentation  94  adapted to receive or support a portion of the neck  66  of the wine bottle, as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     In one example, the second support member  62  is, on one end  100 , fixed to the second frame element  54 , and has a free end  102 . In  FIG. 7 , the second support member  62  has a recess or downwardly curved indentation  104  adapted for receiving or supporting a portion of the body portion  68  of the bottle. 
     The first and second support members  60 ,  62  are positioned relative to one another along the frame elements  52 ,  54  such that a wine bottle  64  can be rested or positioned to rest on the respective recesses  94 ,  104  of the first and second support members  60 ,  62 . In one example, the first and second support members  60 ,  62  are welded to the respective frame elements  52 ,  54  such that the support members extend perpendicularly from the frame elements. 
     In one example, the support members  60 ,  62  may be made using the high tensile ASTM A1018 cold rolled steel rods. Preferably, the support members  60 ,  62  are welded to the frame elements  52 ,  54  using gas tungsten ark welding (TIG) and/or gas metal arc welding (MIG) technologies, and a powder coating may be provided and baked on to the support members and frame elements for providing a durable and attractive finish, such a green, pewter, and may be further treated to provide a brushed steel appearance. 
     In one example, the free end  92 ,  102  of the one or both of the support members  60 ,  62  may be provided with a cap or rubber bumper to cover the free end of the support member. 
     In one example and as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 10-11 , the first and second support members  60 ,  62  each have three recesses ( 94  and  104 ) so that a wine rack  50  can support three wine bottles per row. Alternatively, the first and second support members may be provided with one recess ( 94  and  104 ) to support one bottle per row (see  FIGS. 6-7 ), or may be provided with two recesses ( 94  and  104 ) per support member as shown in  FIGS. 8-9  to support two bottles per row. 
     The support members  60 ,  62  may be provided with recesses  94 ,  104 . As shown in the examples of  FIGS. 6-7 , the support members  60 ,  62  may include a first end adapted  90 ,  100  to be attached in a perpendicular orientation to a vertically oriented frame portion  52 ,  54 . A shaft portion  95  extends from the first end  90 ,  100  and a recess portion  94 ,  104  is coupled with the shaft portion  95 . The recess portion  94 ,  104  supports a portion (such as the neck or body) of a wine bottle, and the recess portion  94 ,  104  may have a downwardly sloped or shaped portion  96  and an upwardly shaped portion  97 , the downwardly shaped portion  96  being coupled with the shaft portion  95 . As shown in  FIGS. 6-7 and 12-21 , the recess portions  94 ,  104  may be implemented as different shapes, such as U-shaped, V-shaped or other shapes. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6-7 , the support members  60 ,  62  may also include an end portion  92 ,  102  coupled with the upwardly shaped portion  97  of the recess  94 ,  104 , wherein the end portion  102  terminates on a distal end with an upwardly extending tip  98 . 
     In another example of  FIGS. 8-9 , the support members  60 ,  62  may also include an intermediate portion  99  having a first end  101  and a second end  103 , the first end  101  coupled with the upwardly shaped portion  97  of the recess portion  94 ,  104 , and a second recess portion (also shown as  94 ,  104 ) having a downwardly sloped portion  105  and an upwardly shaped portion  106 , the downwardly shaped portion  105  being coupled with the second end  103  of the intermediate portion  99 . An end portion  107  may be coupled with the upwardly shaped portion  106  of the second recess, wherein the end portion terminates on a distal end with an upwardly extending tip  98 . 
     Alternatively, as shown in  FIGS. 10-11 , the support members  60 ,  62  may include a second intermediate portion  108  having a first end  109  and a second end  111 , the first end  109  coupled with the upwardly shaped portion  106  of the second recess portion, and a third recess portion (also shown as  94 ,  104 ) having a downwardly sloped portion  113  and an upwardly shaped portion  115 , the downwardly shaped portion  113  being coupled with the second end  111  of the second intermediate portion  108 . In this example, the support members  60 ,  62  may include an end portion  117  coupled with the upwardly shaped portion  115  of the third recess, wherein the end portion terminates on a distal end with an upwardly extending tip  98 . 
     Because the support members  60 ,  62  may be designed to support a single bottle, two bottles deep, or three bottles deep, for example, various different configurations and capacities for wine racks can be made. For example, in a single deep design (i.e., one bottle per row), the rods  60 ,  62  holding the bottles  64  may be spaced four inches apart and may be five and a half inches long, in one example. Where the wine rack is designed for supporting two bottles per row (i.e., two bottles deep), the rods  60 ,  62  may be spaced four inches apart and may be eight and a half inches long each, in one example. Where the wine rack is a three bottle deep design (i.e., three bottles per row), the rods  60 ,  62  holding the bottles may be spaced four inches apart and be twelve inches long each, in one example. 
     The support members  60 ,  62  have a generally round or circular cross-section, or may have square, rectangular, triangular, or other differently shaped cross-sections. Further, the support members  60 ,  62  may take various shapes as shown in  FIGS. 12-21 .  FIGS. 12-21  illustrate various different shapes that can be used when forming the support members  60  or  62  and the recesses ( 94  or  104 ) therein and may be used for supporting either a portion of the neck  66  or body  68  of a wine bottle  64 . It is understood that these are by way of example only. 
     In  FIG. 12 , the support member ( 60  or  62 ) has a pair of recesses ( 94  or  104 ) that are defined by flat or straight sidewalls  110  and a flat or straight lower portion  112 . In  FIG. 13 , each recess  94 ,  104  is defined by a circular or oval shape, while in  FIG. 14  each recess  94 ,  104  is defined by straight sidewalls  114  that form an obtuse angle relative to the lower portion  116 . In  FIG. 15 , each recess  94 ,  104  has straight sidewalls  118  and a curved lower portion  120 , while in  FIG. 16 , each recess  94 ,  104  has angled sidewalls  122  and a curved lower portion  124 . In  FIG. 17 , each recess  94 ,  104  is generally curved and between recesses, an upwardly curved portion connects  126  the first recess to the second recess. In  FIG. 18 , the portion  128  between the recesses is shaped so as to prevent a bottle from moving from the first recess to the second recess, and in this example, the height of the intermediate portion  128  is lower than the height of the end portions  130  of the support member. 
     In  FIG. 19 , each recess  94 ,  104  is defined by a first slanted or angled sidewall  132  joined to a flat lower portion  134  joined to a straight sidewall  136 , while in  FIG. 20 , each recess  94 ,  104  has a front curved sidewall  138  and a curved lower portion  140  which joins to a straight rear sidewall  142 . In both  FIGS. 19 and 20 , the front sidewall  132 ,  138  of each recess assists in placement of the bottle within the recess  94 ,  104 . In  FIG. 21 , the recesses  94 ,  104  are generally V-shaped. 
     Embodiments of the present invention can be utilized to support wine bottles of differing sizes, including standard sized wine bottles of 750 ml, magnum sized wine bottles of 1.5 liters, and half bottles of 375 ml. Other wine bottle sizes may be supported utilizing embodiments of the present invention as well. For instance, 375 ml bottles are typically nine and a half inches long, and therefore ten to eleven inches per row can be allocated in a layout. For 750 ml bottles, which are typically twelve inches long, thirteen to fourteen inches per row may be allocated. For magnum 1.5 liter bottles which are typically fourteen inches long, fifteen to sixteen inches per row may be allocated. 
     As an example of a layout for a wine rack  50  for supporting standard 750 ml bottles on a wall  56  that is eleven and a half feet long, eleven and a half feet (which is 132 inches) divided by thirteen inches per row yields 10.15. This means that ten sets  80  of racks may be utilized with approximately one inch extra on each end of each rack. 
     Starting from the left side of the wall, a frame element  54  may be coupled with a support member  62  for supporting the larger end of the wine bottle should be placed a minimum of three inches from the end of the wall, and the next frame element  52  adapted for receiving the support member  60  (for supporting the neck of the bottle) should be placed seven and a half inches from the frame element  54  for a standard 750 ml bottle. For a 375 ml bottle, the distance may be six inches from the first strip; and for a 1.5 liter bottle, the distance may be ten inches from the first strip. For the second set  80  of frame elements positioned on the wall, a frame element  54  of this second set may be placed five and a half to six and a half inches for a standard 750 ml bottle from the frame element  52  of the first set of frame elements, for example (and for a 375 ml bottle, four to five inches from the frame element  52  of the first set  80  of frame elements; and for a 1.5 liter bottle, the distance may be five to six inches from the frame element  52  of the first set of frame elements). In this example, these dimensions are referenced from the center of a frame element to the center of the next frame element. 
     While  FIG. 2  illustrates the frame elements  52 ,  54  aligned vertically with respect to the wall  56  or other surface, a wine rack  50  may be formed wherein the frame elements  52 ,  54  may be positioned in non-vertical orientations.  FIG. 22  illustrates another embodiment wherein the frame elements  52 ,  54  are mounted to a surface  56  at an angle. 
     Further, in place of first and second frame elements  52 ,  54  as shown in  FIG. 2 , a wine rack  50  may be formed using a single unitary frame element  150  having a first and second portion  52 ,  54  for respectively receiving the first support member  60  and the second support member  62 , as shown in  FIG. 23 , or a surface  152  may be used as shown in  FIG. 24  for receiving securably the first and second support members  60 ,  62  of a row of a wine rack in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The surface  152  may be integral to a wall  56  or may attach to a wall  56 . 
     Further, a wine rack  50  may be formed using embodiments of the present invention that attaches to the ceiling  160  of a room. For instance and as shown in  FIG. 25 , a first pair of frame elements (including first and second frame elements  52 A,  54 A) can be secured to a ceiling joist or an I-beam and suspended therefrom. In this way, a wine rack can be formed that gives the appearance of hanging down from the ceiling. If desired, a second pair of frame elements  52 B,  54 B can also be secured from ceiling structures and this second pair of frame elements  52 B,  54 B can be securably attached to the back or rear of the first pair  52 A,  54 A of frame elements so as to create a two-sided wine rack suspended from a ceiling. 
     In another embodiment, a band may be included to secure a wine bottle to one or more of the support members  60 ,  62 , such as a band that would extend over and across the wine bottle. This would secure the wine bottle  64  in the rack  50  to prevent the bottle from moving during a small earthquake or other disturbance. 
     Accordingly, it can be seen from the various embodiments shown and described herein that when compared with conventional wine racking systems—such as wood wine racks where the bottle is positioned axially within a compartment of the racking—embodiments of the present invention provide for improved air circulation around each bottle, as well as provide easy viewing of the labels of bottles in the rack  50 . 
     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&#39;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.