Patent Publication Number: US-6981597-B2

Title: Storage unit and system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to a storage unit and particularly to a storage unit and system to store and display multiple items such as wine bottles. 
     2. Discussion of the Prior Art 
     Storage units known in the art are used to store and display a variety of different objects. Some units include racks to display stored items. Others include cabinets or drawers to conceal and store items. Many storage units also include a locking ability. 
     For storing particular items such as wine bottles, there is also a variety of types and styles of storage units available to meet a user&#39;s particular needs. Several simple wine cellar rack designs inefficiently allow for both storage and display of wine collections. In contrast, other designs can be very expensive and include features such as refrigeration or thermal controls, or other complicated components and structures. Both simple and complex units are inflexible and frequently designed specifically for a particular type of bottle or object. 
     Thus, there is a desire and need in the art to provide a simple, flexible and cost effective unit for storing and displaying items such as wine bottles. Such unit should provide storage of multiple items in a variety of display orientations with efficient utilization of space. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention provides a storage unit configured to store and display items such as wine bottles in a variety of configurations and efficiently utilize the capacity of the storage unit. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, a storage unit configured to store and display items includes a frame member having a plurality of vertically extending walls and a plurality of shelves slidably attached to the frame member. The plurality of shelves is configured to store a plurality of items. An insert may be positioned within at least one of the plurality of shelves and supports and substantially minimizes movement of the stored items. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, a storage unit includes a frame member having a top, a base and a plurality of vertically extending walls. A plurality of shelves is slidably attached to the frame member having a front edge and a plurality of retainer brackets extending substantially upwardly from said front edge. The plurality of shelves is configured to store a plurality of items. 
     In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a storage unit includes a frame member and a plurality of shelves slidably and removably coupled to the frame member. The plurality of shelves and frame member define a first plurality of spaces to store a plurality of items in a first configuration. The plurality of shelves is reconfigurable to provide a second plurality of spaces to store a plurality of items in a second configuration. 
     Other features of the present invention will become more apparent to persons having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains from the following description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       The foregoing features, as well as other features, will become apparent with reference to the description and figures below, in which like numerals represent like elements, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a storage unit of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 2A ,  2 B and  2 C are top views of a shelf of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3A  is an exploded perspective view of a shelf of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3B  is an assembled perspective view of the shelf shown in  FIG. 3A ; 
         FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of a shelf of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4B  is a sectional view taken along line  4 B— 4 B in  FIG. 4A ; 
         FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of a shelf of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5B  is a sectional view taken along line  5 B— 5 B in  FIG. 5A ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the storage unit of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating a second bracket and strap connection of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded view illustrating a first bracket and strap connection of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a side view illustrating a lock attached to the strap of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 10A and 10B  illustrate a comparison of storage capacity between the present invention and a prior art wine rack; 
         FIGS. 11A and 11B  are front views of a portion of a storage unit of the present invention illustrating objects stored and displayed in a bottom space of the storage unit. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to a storage unit and system configured to store and display items such as wine bottles. The storage unit of the present invention is capable of storing different sizes of bottles and provides greater storage capacity than traditional wine racks. The present invention also provides an improved system of storing wine bottles by providing a reconfigurable storage unit that may be modified to meet the needs of a particular user. Such modifications may include reconfiguring the shelves to provide for less or more vertical space as needed for storing different sized bottles or other objects. Other modifications may include modifying an insert placed within the shelves for purposes such as to accommodate different sized bottles, and to support and substantially minimize movement of the bottles while in storage. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a storage unit  20  includes a frame member  22  having a top  24 , a base  26  and a plurality of vertically extending walls  28 . A plurality of shelves  30  may be slidingly connected to walls  28  using mechanics well known in the art. Shelves  30  may include a bottom surface  37  (shown in  FIGS. 2A-2C ) and are configured to store or display items such as wine bottles as shown in FIG.  1 . Shelves  30  may alternatively include an interior peripheral ledge  39  instead of bottom surface  37  as shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B . For purposes of illustration, wine bottles are shown and referred to in the figures and specification. It is to be understood that other items could alternatively be stored within storage unit  20 . Wine bottles are used to illustrate the benefits of the present invention since they exist in a variety of bottle shapes and sizes. Also, there are various levels of value associated with the variety of wine products available to consumers and collectors. Some wine products are very rare and expensive and require a higher level of protection during storage, while others require only a simple storage system. The present invention provides a versatile storage unit and system capable of achieving the various degrees of protection that may be required by the particular user. 
     Shelves  30  may be releasably and slidably connected to frame member  22  as shown in  FIG. 1 , using a standard smooth action slide assembly readily available in the art. Many different types of slide mechanisms are available that may be easily incorporated into the storage unit  20  such as a ball bearing type currently manufactured and sold by SCHOCK METAL AMERICA, INC. of Chesapeake, Va. A high quality, smooth action slide assembly is desired to reduce vibration of the contents of shelves  30  when they are being opened and closed. This is particularly important when rare and expensive wine vintage items are being stored. A slide assembly of the present invention may be designed to permit shelves  30  to be removed from frame member  22  and may include a pair of first slide brackets  66  attached to shelves  30  as shown in  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B,  4 A, and  5 A, and a pair of mating second slide brackets  68  mounted on an inside surface of opposing vertical walls  28  as shown in FIG.  1 . In use, shelves  30  are able to slide to an open position substantially outside of frame member  22 , where there is greater accessibility and easy retrieval of the items stored within storage unit  20 . Shelves  30  may also be removable from frame member  22  by opening shelves  30  to a fully opened position and lifting shelves  30  out of second slide brackets  68 . A slide assembly allows more capacity for storage since space is not needed for each shelf to allow removal of items. 
     Removable shelves  30  from frame member  22  further add to the flexibility of storage unit  20 . The resultant space  36  from the removed shelf allows for storage of different sized items, such as a case of wine bottles shown at  80  in FIG.  11 A. Based on the desired size of space  36 , any number of shelves  30  may be removed to reconfigure storage unit  20 , and several spaces  36  may be configured if so desired. In  FIGS. 1 ,  11 A and  11 B, storage space  36  is shown at a bottom location, but storage space  36  may alternatively be configured at different areas within storage unit  20 . The shelves  30  that are removed from frame member  22  may be stored on top  24  and can be reinserted into frame member  22  at a later time as the storage needs of the user change. Stacking or latching mechanisms may also be added to secure the removed shelves  30  using means known in the art. Such latching mechanisms may alternatively allow for mounting the shelves  30  to an outer surface of the plurality of vertically extending walls  28 . For instance, hanging them on a peg mounted on the plurality of vertically extending walls  28 . Thus, storage unit  20  is reconfigurable to accommodate a particular user&#39;s storage and space requirements. 
     Shelves  30  of the present invention allow for greater storage capacity than traditional display and storage racks for items such as wine bottles, because the bottles can be oriented in several different configurations as shown in  FIGS. 2A-2C . This variety of possible orientations of the bottles helps maximize use of storage unit  20 . The capacity of traditional storage units having slots or racks configured for individual items is limited by the particular number of slots designed into the rack, and by the particular size of the slots.  FIGS. 10A and 10B  illustrate the capacity of a typical prior art wine rack compared to the capacity of a storage unit of the present invention. In this example, the storage unit  20  of the present invention provides for approximately twenty-seven percent more capacity than a prior art unit having the same overall dimensions. Because the space within shelves  30  of storage unit  20  is not limited to any specific design configuration, a variety of sizes (see  FIGS. 1 and 11 ) and orientations of the bottles may be achieved. In contrast, in some prior art wine racks such as the wine rack shown in  FIG. 10A , the size of the bottle is limited to one specific space size. 
     In the present invention, bottles may be arranged lengthwise as shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B  (i.e., perpendicular to a front edge of the storage unit  20 ) or laterally as shown in  FIG. 2C  (i.e., parallel to the front edge of the storage unit  20 ). Bottles may also be oriented in a staggered configuration into two or more rows, depending on the size of the shelves as shown in  FIGS. 2B and 2C . In other prior art wine racks, bottles may be stored inefficiently because the space occupied by the neck of the bottles is wasted. As shown in  FIGS. 2B and 2C , the unused space typically occupied by the area surrounding the neck of the bottles is minimized by staggering the bottles within shelves  30 . Combining this efficient use of the shelves  30 , with the slidability of the shelves  30 , allows for increased storage capacity within storage unit  20 . Storage unit  20  may also include labels  62  as shown in FIG.  1 . Labels  62  may be attached to frame member  22  or to the individual shelves  30 , or both, to identify the contents of the storage unit  20  or shelves  30 . 
     Shelves  30  may also include an insert  32  that may be positioned on either bottom surface  37  or ledge  39 , as shown in  FIGS. 3A through 5B . Insert  32  may also be positioned on a floor surface  82  as shown in  FIG. 11B  to aid in stacking wine bottles or other objects within space  36 . The storage unit  20  may come to the consumer as a kit having several types of inserts or the insert may be purchased separately to allow for maximum flexibility. Such inserts may include the examples as shown, foam inserts or any other type of removal insert known to those in the art. 
     In one embodiment, insert  32  may be configured having a plurality of brace members  33  extending from front to back (as shown in FIGS.  2 A and  2 B), or alternatively extending laterally across shelves  30  (as shown in  FIGS. 2C ,  3 A and  3 B) to allow for different orientations of the bottles within the same shelf  30 . In this embodiment, insert  32  may be constructed of wire, stainless steel, plastic or any other suitable material capable of supporting and maintaining the position of the bottles on shelves  30 . Thus, insert  32  prevents the bottles from rolling and hitting into one another when shelves  30  are being opened and closed. Insert  32  may alternatively include arcuately shaped channels  35  configured to support the bottles within the arcuately shaped channels  35  to prevent them from rolling and hitting one another as shown in  FIGS. 4A-5B . In this embodiment, insert  32  may be formed out of plastic, foam (such as STYROFOAM or a closed or open celled foam), or any other suitable material. Insert  32  in this embodiment may also be oriented either lengthwise (from front to back as shown in  FIG. 5A ) or laterally (side to side as shown in  FIG. 4A ) as with the first embodiment of insert  32  depending on the desired storage configuration. Also, insert  32  may include various sized channels  35  depending on how the user desires to store and orientate the bottles. In  FIG. 4B , there are more channels  35  than in  FIG. 5B , and the channels in  FIG. 4B  are also smaller in width. This allows the bottles to be staggered as shown. 
     Shelves  30  may also include a front lip  38  ( FIGS. 1 ,  4 A, and  5 A) connected to front edge  42  (FIGS.  3 A and  3 B), to prevent the bottles from falling or rolling off shelves  30 . Alternatively, shelves  30  may include a plurality of retainer brackets  40  connected to front edge  42  of shelves  30  as shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B . Retainer brackets  40  prevent the bottles from falling or rolling off shelves  30  and allow visibility of bottle labels, unlike other storage systems. This unique configuration enables the user to identify and select a specific bottle/vintage without having to first remove it from the device to inspect the label. Such retainer brackets  40  may also be useful to include along a back edge of the shelves  30  to prevent the bottles from rolling off the back edge of the shelf  30 . 
     Another feature that may be added to storage unit  20  is a means to prevent movement of the shelves  30 . A strap  44  is shown in  FIG. 6  as an illustration of one such means that prevents shelves  30  from being opened. Other means to secure shelves  30  and items contained therein are known in the art, such as locking means found in filing cabinets. One such locking means is found in STEELCASE U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,643 incorporated herein by reference. In the example show in  FIG. 6 , strap  44  may be removably attached to frame member  22 . As shown, frame member  22  may include a first bracket  46  extending outwardly from top  24  of frame member  22  and a second bracket  48  connected to base  26 . First and second brackets  46  and  48  may be connected to frame member  22  in a variety of methods depending on the material used to construct frame member  22 . For example, brackets  46  and  48  may be welded, threadably attached or nailed to frame member  22 , or alternatively molded integrally with frame member  22 . First bracket  46  includes a slot  50  configured to slidingly receive a first end  52  of strap  44 . Second bracket  48  is configured to receive an opposite second end  54  of strap  44  and includes a bottom  56  (not visible) and side walls  58  defining an open-ended pocket  60  as shown in FIG.  7 . In use, first end  52  of strap  44  may be inserted up through slot  50  as shown in FIG.  8 . Strap  44  can then be lowered such that second end  54  is positioned within pocket  60  of second bracket  48 . Strap  44  in its installed position extends substantially transverse across shelves  30  and prevents them from being opened. 
     To further secure storage unit  20  and prevent access to the items contained within shelves  30 , an optional lock may be added. As shown in  FIGS. 6 ,  8  and  9 , first end  52  of strap  44  may include a hole  70  for which a standard lock apparatus  64  may be inserted and secured in a locked position. With lock apparatus  64  secured, strap  44  will be prevented from being removed. In a traditional prior art rack, as that shown in  FIGS. 10A and 11A , a locking system such as strap  44  or those found in filing cabinets would not be effective in preventing access to the wine bottles since each bottle is contained within its own pocket or rack and there is no way to couple the pockets together to prevent access. Thus, a shelving storage system as in the present invention that is capable of being locked, provides yet a further advantage over the prior art. 
     Storage unit  20  may be constructed using a variety of different materials depending on where the unit will be stored and the specific aesthetic requirements of the user. In one embodiment, storage unit  20  may be constructed using traditional building and cabinetry material such as any variety of wood or wood laminated products. This embodiment would be appropriate for commercial uses such as within a retail store. In another embodiment, storage unit  20  may be constructed with specialized materials suited to a typical wine cellar environment. A typical wine cellar is maintained at a constant temperature of approximately 12 degrees Celsius and a constant humidity of approximately seventy percent. Traditional wood products that are susceptible to mold are often not well suited for a wine cellar environment because of the potential detrimental effects the mold can cause to the products that are stored therein. Therefore, certain wood products, such as Redwood and Cedar, that are naturally resistant to mold and better suited for a wine cellar environment. 
     While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, the present invention attempts to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.