Patent Publication Number: US-10779644-B2

Title: Rotating bottle rack

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of Australian Provisional Application Serial Number 2018903372, filed on Sep. 9, 2018; the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates a rotating bottle rack especially one where the bottles are presented in such a way that the labels can be easily viewed. 
     BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
     Most wine racks used in cellars and wine stores support the bottles along the length of the bottle within a grid of generally rectangular cavities stacked upon and next to each other, each rectangular cavity typically formed by pairs of parallel wood supports held in position by front and rear frame structures. 
     These wine racks are generally longitudinal and are solidly built wooden structures. The cavities are capable of storing one or more bottles of wine vertically stacked on top of each other. 
     The wine rack is typically configured such that a user places a bottle of wine longitudinally within one of the rectangular cavities. When the rack is full of wine bottles, only the top ends of the wine bottles are generally visible when viewing the wine rack—and the labels on the wine bottle are not generally visible by the user. Accordingly, viewing wine labels is often difficult. Many wine collectors and retailors desire to more fully display their wine bottles. 
     The racks further do not provide a flat surface to provide a platform to hold a selected bottle of wine or even glasses. 
     The object of this invention is to provide a wine display that overcomes at least some of the above mentioned problems or provides the public with a useful alternative. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In a first aspect the invention comprises a wine display rack comprising:
     a base supporting a pole;   at least one shelf adapted to engage the pole through a central aperture;   the shelf including a plurality of rods extending inwardly and upwardly to the centre of the pole, so configured that two rods support a bottle of wine therein between;   the shelf including an outer wall whereby the rods are connected towards the bottom of   the wall to provide a surface to engage the bottom of the bottle sitting on top of the rods.   

     In preference located above the shelf and attached, to the pole is a flat surface acting as a cover or a table for the rack. 
     Preferably the flat surface is adjustable in height with respect to the shelf. 
     In preference there are a plurality of shelves, each shelf separated by a cylinder engaging the pole, the cylinder including an upper flange fixedly connected to the shelf above and a lower flange sitting on top of the shelf below and wherein a bearing is located between the lower flange and the shelf below to enable for independent rotation of the shelves. 
     In preference the support rods are cylindrical in shape. 
     In preference the base includes a cover adapted to enclose the base. 
     Preferably each shelf is adapted to hold sixteen bottles of wine. 
     It should be noted that any one of the aspects mentioned above may include any of the features of any of the other aspects mentioned above and may include any of the features of any of the embodiments described below as appropriate. 
     Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view of a rotating wine display embodying the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic perspective view of a rotating wine display as in  FIG. 1  but with more shelves. 
         FIG. 3  is a partial view of the rotating wine display illustrating the construction of the base. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates the addition of the shelves to the base of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  illustrates further construction of the rotating wine display. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates the addition of the top flat surface. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the following description to refer to the same and like parts. Dimensions of certain parts shown in the drawings may have been modified and/or exaggerated for the purposes of clarity or illustration. 
     Although the invention will now be described primarily in conjunction with a display system for holding wine bottles, it should be expressly understood that the invention may be applicable to other applications where it is desired to hold and display other bottled items. Indeed it may also be used to display any other items whether it is food or collectables. 
     The Figures illustrate a rotating bottle display  10 ,  FIG. 1  illustrating a display with three shelves  12  and  FIG. 2  with eight shelves  12 . Each shelf is adapted to hold a number of bottles  14 . On top of the display is a flat surface  16 , the display supported also by base  18 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3  the base includes metal plate  20  enclosed by and covered by a cover  22  typically made of wood having an internal cavity. Extending centrally and vertically from the plate and through the cover  22  is a pole  24 . These are all attached appropriately to each other using well known means such as screws. The base is designed carefully for stability so as to withstand the weight of the bottles displayed. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5  shelves  12  include rods  26  converging towards the pole  24  from an outside circumferential wall  28 . The rods are attached to the wall at its lower end and extend upwardly so that the bottle is at an upward angle allowing for the display of the label. The bottles are held in place from slipping down by the wall  28  whereby the bottom of the bottle partially engages the wall  28 . Typically there are sufficient rods so that two rods support a bottle with there being a gap between the bottles when arranged on the display. 
     A cylinder (spacer)  30  is of a sufficient diameter to be inserted onto the pole and includes and upper flange  32  and a lower flange  34 . A shelf is fixedly attached to the upper flange  32  using screws for example, and located on top of the shelf is a bearing  36  sitting on top of the lower flange. This enables a shelf to rotate, rotating the cylinder below it that rotates freely because of the bearing located on the shelf below. The cylinder may come in multi-parts if required. Thus each shelf can rotate independent of the other. 
     To maintain the correct positioning of the bottles, each pair of rods extends radially outward from the post  24  to the wall  28 . 
     Once the desired number of shelves has so been assembled a flat surface  38  including a downward cylinder  40  engages the post  24  by typically sliding over the post, although it could engage the inside of the post. The cylinder can have multiple apertures  42  that fixedly engage the post so as to vary the height of the surface  16  to the rest of the shelves. It can thus act as a table especially where there are not too many shelves for a person to put their glasses or bottle of wine on top. 
     The reader will now appreciate the present invention which provides a rotating shelving system whereby the shelves are all supported on a central pole and can rotate freely. The shelves are not locked to the pole—rather they are supported by cylinders located between the shelves and each shelf including an individual bearing. Whilst the embodiment above teaches that each shelf is attached to a cylinder below it may also be attached to a cylinder above it and it is not intended that this mechanical configuration be the only one. 
     The display can be made from metal, MDF wood as well as other materials such as glass, acrylic, poly carbonate and other wood materials. 
     LIST OF COMPONENTS 
     The drawings include the following integers.
       10  bottle display     12  shelves     14  bottles     16  flat surface     18  base     20  metal plate     22  cover     24  pole     26  rods     28  circumferential wall     30  cylinder     32  upper flange     34  lower flange     36  bearing     40  downward cylinder     42  apertures   

     Further advantages and improvements may very well be made to the present invention without deviating from its scope. Although the invention has been shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus. Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of the common general knowledge in this field. 
     In the present specification and claims (if any), the word “comprising” and its derivatives including “comprises” and “comprise” include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers.