Patent Publication Number: US-11382424-B2

Title: Bottle rack

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/980,834, filed May 16, 2018, which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/409,263, filed Jan. 18, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,004,330, issued Jun. 26, 2018, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/438,964, filed on Dec. 23, 2016, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure is directed at a bottle rack. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Wine bottles are commonly publicly displayed to permit persons to easily access wine and for decorative purposes. One way in which to display wine bottles is to publicly store them using a bottle rack. 
     Various types of bottle racks are known in the art. One type of bottle rack is a “label forward” bottle rack, in which bottles are stored such that their labels are generally outwardly facing. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to a first aspect, there is provided a bottle rack comprising a panel and support bars. The panel comprises a front surface and an opposing back surface. The support bars are cantilevered from the panel and extend from the front surface. Each of the support bars comprises a linear bottle supporting portion that is positioned, and that is at an acute angle, relative to the front surface such that at least two of the support bars can support a bottle while forcing the bottle against the front surface. 
     The linear bottle supporting portion may abut the panel. 
     The linear bottle supporting portion may be spaced from the panel. 
     The bottle may be a wine bottle and the at least two of the support bars may be offset from each other such that one of the at least two of the support bars is positioned to support the body of the bottle and the other of the at least two of the support bars is positioned to support the neck of the bottle such that when the rack is mounted, the longitudinal axis of the bottle is approximately level. 
     At least one of the support bars may comprise a panel end and the panel may comprise a support bar groove that frictionally retains the panel end of the at least one of the support bars. 
     The panel end may form a non-interlocking joint with the sides of the groove. 
     The groove may comprise a cross-section, when viewed along the length of the groove, that is a right trapezoid. 
     The linear bottle supporting portion may abut the panel and the side of the right trapezoid not adjacent a right angle of the trapezoid at an angle corresponding to the acute angle. 
     The linear bottle supporting portion may be spaced from the panel and the panel end may be shaped such that a portion of the support bar abutting the panel is approximately perpendicular relative to the panel. 
     At least one of the support bars may comprise a panel end and the panel may comprise a support bar groove. The panel end may form an interlocking joint with the groove. 
     The panel end may form a dovetail joint with the sides of the groove and the panel end may comprise the tail of the dovetail joint. 
     The linear bottle supporting portion may abut the panel and a bottle supporting side of the panel end or a bottom side of the panel end may be linear and aligned with the bottle supporting portion. 
     The linear bottle supporting portion may be spaced from the panel and the panel end may be shaped such that a portion of the support bar abutting the panel is approximately perpendicular relative to the panel. 
     At least one of the support bars may comprise a panel end, the panel may comprise a support bar slot shaped to frictionally retain the panel end of the at least one of the support bars, and the at least one of the support bars may be positioned in the support bar slot. 
     The support bar slot may extend from the front surface through to the back surface. 
     The panel end may form a non-interlocking joint with the interior of the panel. 
     The panel end may comprise a tongue that extends from a body of the at least one support bar and a portion of at least one side of the support bar may be absent to form the tongue. 
     The at least one support bar may comprise a bottle side that faces the bottle when supporting the bottle, and a portion of the at least one support bar may be absent from the bottle side to form the tongue. 
     The at least one support bar may comprise a flat bottle side that faces the bottle when supporting the bottle, a flat bottom side that is opposite the bottle side, and rounded left and right sides located between the bottle and bottom sides, and portions of the left and right sides may be absent to form the tongue. 
     The tongue may have a square or rectangular cross-section. 
     The support bar slot may be shaped to receive the tongue and not the body of the at least one support bar, and the body of the at least one support bar may abut the front surface. 
     The panel end may be linear and aligned with the linear bottle supporting portion. 
     The panel end may be linear and non-aligned with the linear bottle supporting portion. 
     The panel end may extend perpendicularly relative to the front surface. 
     One or both of the panel end or the support bar body may comprise a fastener bore extending longitudinally along the at least one support bar and the rack may further comprise a support bar fastener and washer. The support bar fastener may extend through the washer and into the fastener bore of the at least one support bar such that the washer is compressed against the back surface. 
     The washer may have a back surface through which the fastener extends and the back surface may be tapered such that the fastener bore extends perpendicularly relative to the back surface of the washer. 
     The linear bottle supporting portion may be at least 7 inches long. 
     The rack may further comprise wine bottles. Each of the wine bottles may be up to a 750 mL wine bottle having a body diameter of up to 3½ inches and at least two of the wine bottles may be supported using one pair of the support bars. 
     According to another aspect, there is provided a bottle rack comprising a panel and support bars. The panel comprises a front surface. The support bars are cantilevered from and extend approximately perpendicularly from the front surface. At least one of the support bars comprises a panel end and the panel comprises a support bar groove. The panel end forms an interlocking joint with the groove. The support bars are suitable to support bottles therebetween from the panel to ends of the support bars spaced from the panel such that the longitudinal axis of each of the bottles is approximately parallel to the support bars. 
     The support bars may comprise bottle supporting portions used to support the bottles. The bottle supporting portions may or may not be linear, and may or may not comprise the entirety of the support bars that protrude from the panel. The bottle supporting portions may abut the panel or be spaced from the panel. 
     The bottle may be a wine bottle and the at least two of the support bars may be offset from each other such that one of the at least two of the support bars is positioned to support the body of the bottle and the other of the at least two of the support bars is positioned to support the neck of the bottle such that when the rack is mounted, the longitudinal axis of the bottle is approximately level. 
     The support bar groove may frictionally retain the panel end of the at least one of the support bars. 
     The groove may comprise a cross-section, when viewed along the length of the groove, that is a right trapezoid. 
     The bottle supporting portion may abut the panel and the side of the right trapezoid not adjacent a right angle of the trapezoid at an angle corresponding to the acute angle. 
     The bottle supporting portion may be spaced from the panel and the panel end may be shaped such that a portion of the support bar abutting the panel is approximately perpendicular relative to the panel. 
     The panel end may form a dovetail joint with the sides of the groove and the panel end may comprise the tail of the dovetail joint. 
     The bottle supporting portion may abut the panel and a bottle supporting side of the panel end or a bottom side of the panel end may be linear and aligned with the bottle supporting portion. 
     At least one of the support bars may comprise a panel end, the panel may comprise a support bar slot shaped to frictionally retain the panel end of the at least one of the support bars, and the at least one of the support bars may be positioned in the support bar slot. The support bar slot may extend from the front surface through to the back surface. The panel end when inserted into one of the slots may form a non-interlocking joint with the interior of the panel. 
     The panel end may comprise a tongue that extends from a body of the at least one support bar and a portion of at least one side of the support bar may be absent to form the tongue. 
     The at least one support bar may comprise a bottle side that faces the bottle when supporting the bottle, and a portion of the at least one support bar may be absent from the bottle side to form the tongue. 
     The at least one support bar may comprise a flat bottle side that faces the bottle when supporting the bottle, a flat bottom side that is opposite the bottle side, and rounded left and right sides located between the bottle and bottom sides, and portions of the left and right sides may be absent to form the tongue. 
     The tongue may have a square or rectangular cross-section. 
     The support bar slot may be shaped to receive the tongue and not the body of the at least one support bar, and the body of the at least one support bar may abut the front surface. 
     The panel end may extend perpendicularly relative to the front surface. 
     One or both of the panel end and the support bar body may comprise a fastener bore extending longitudinally along the at least one support bar and the rack may further comprise a support bar fastener and washer. The support bar fastener may extends through the washer and into the fastener bore of the at least one support bar such that the washer is compressed against the back surface. 
     The washer may have a back surface through which the fastener extends and the back surface may be tapered such that the fastener bore extends perpendicularly relative to the back surface of the washer. 
     The rack may further comprise wine bottles. Each of the wine bottles may be up to a 750 mL wine bottle having a body diameter of up to 3½ inches and at least two of the wine bottles may be supported using one pair of the support bars. 
     This summary does not necessarily describe the entire scope of all aspects. Other aspects, features and advantages will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one or more example embodiments: 
         FIGS. 1A-1C  are perspective, right side elevation, and front elevation views of a bottle rack, according to first and second embodiments. 
         FIG. 2  is a front elevation view of a panel comprising part of the bottle rack of the first embodiment. 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are perspective and right side elevation views of a support bar comprising part of the bottle rack of the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the bottle rack of the first embodiment showing a section of the panel of  FIG. 2  and a pair of the support bars of  FIGS. 3A and 3B . 
         FIG. 5  is a front elevation view of a panel comprising part of the bottle rack of the second embodiment. 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  are perspective and right side elevation views of a support bar comprising part of the bottle rack of the second embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the bottle rack of the second embodiment showing a section of the panel of  FIG. 5  and a pair of the support bars of  FIGS. 6A and 6B . 
         FIG. 8  is a front elevation view of the bottle rack according to a third embodiment. 
         FIGS. 9-11  are sectional views of the bottle rack according to fourth through sixth embodiments. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a support bar comprising part of the bottle rack of a seventh embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     One example of a “label forward” bottle rack is a rack in which support bars are attached to and extend perpendicularly from a wall. The support bars comprise recessed portions sized to receive a predetermined type of wine bottle. The longitudinal axes of the bottles stored on the wine rack extend parallel to the wall such that the bottles&#39; labels are outwardly facing and are level relative to the floor. 
     This conventional type of label forward bottle rack suffers from several problems. For example, the recessed portions on the support bars are sized to fit only a predetermined type of wine bottle. Should a user wish to store a different type of wine bottle that is differently sized, the user may need to replace the rack&#39;s existing support bars with new support bars having differently sized recessed portions. Further, if the support bars are used to store multiple bottles, bottles stored farther from the wall may completely obstruct the user&#39;s view of the labels of bottles stored on the same support bars nearer to the wall. Another issue with conventional label forward bottle racks is that using perpendicularly extending support bars is relatively space inefficient, particularly since only the recessed portions of those bars are used to directly support the bottles; space is wasted by virtue of the fact that the bottles are not stacked on each other and that non-recessed portions of the support bars are not used to support bottles. Additionally, the curved recessed portions of the support bars used in conventional label forward wine racks make transporting them relatively awkward and inefficient given the amount of volume they require for shipping. 
     Various embodiments described herein address at least some of these issues. The depicted embodiments comprise a panel comprising a front surface and an opposing back surface, and support bars cantilevered from the panel that extend from the front surface. Each of the support bars comprises a linear bottle supporting portion that is positioned, and that is at an acute angle, relative to the panel&#39;s front surface such that at least two of the support bars can support a bottle while forcing the bottle against the panel&#39;s front surface. In the depicted embodiments, the entire portion of the support bars extending from the panel is linear. This permits relatively space efficient wine storage and rack transport. Furthermore, when the same support bars are used to store multiple bottles, those bottles are stacked on each other because the support bars are positioned at an angle. This permits the labels of all of the bottles stored using the depicted racks to always at least be partially visible to a typical user. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1A-1C , there are shown perspective, right side elevation, and front elevation views of a bottle rack  100  according to first and second embodiments. The rack  100  comprises a panel  104  that is rectangular and that has on its left and right sides mounting brackets  102  configured to mount the rack  100  to a mounting surface, such as a wall. An example type of bracket  102  that may be used is any one of the brackets  102  described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,149,115, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference. The rack  100  also comprises support bars  108  that are cantilevered from the panel  104  and that comprise a linear bottle supporting portion  112  (not labeled in  FIGS. 1A-1C , but labeled in  FIGS. 3A, 3B, 6A, and 6B ) that are inclined to form an acute angle with the panel&#39;s  104  front surface  106 . A first bottle B placed in this acute angle rolls towards the front surface  106  and is pressed against the front surface  106  by the support bars  108  and, more particularly, by the bottle supporting portions  112 . Subsequent bottles B stored on the same support bars  108  roll towards and rest against bottles B already resting on those bars  108  and are indirectly pressed against the front surface  106 . 
     In the depicted embodiments, the linear bottle supporting portion  112  comprises approximately all of the exposed portion of the support bar  108  when the rack  100  is assembled, and the bottle supporting portion  112  abuts against the front surface  106  of the rack  100 . As discussed in further detail below, in different embodiments the exposed portions of the support bars  108  may comprise portions that exclude the linear bottle supporting portions  112 . 
     The depicted embodiments of the rack  100  are for storing wine bottles in particular. Consequently, at least two of the support bars  108  are offset from each other such that one of the at least two of the support bars  108  is positioned to support the bodies of the bottles B and the other of the at least two of the support bars  108  is positioned to support the necks of the bottles B. As shown in the depicted embodiments, the support bars  108  may be offset such that when the rack  100  is mounted to the wall, the longitudinal axes of the bottles B are approximately level. In different embodiments and in particular when the rack  100  is not designed for wine bottles, pairs of the support bars  108  may be differently offset from each other or not offset from each other at all. For example, in one non-depicted embodiment the support bars  108  may be offset such that the longitudinal axes of the bottles B, and accordingly the necks of the bottles B, are angled downwards. 
       FIGS. 2-4  are directed at the first embodiment of the rack  100 . More particularly,  FIG. 2  shows a front elevation view of the panel  104  in isolation,  FIGS. 3A and 3B  show perspective and side elevation views of the support bar  108 , and  FIG. 4  shows a sectional view of the rack  100 . Each of the support bars  108  of the first embodiment comprises a panel end  114 , and the panel  104  comprises support bar slots  110  each shaped to frictionally retain the panel end  114  of one of the support bars  108 . 
     In the first embodiment, each of the support bars  108  comprises the panel end  114  and the linear bottle supporting portion  112 . The panel end  114  comprises a tongue that extends from a body of the support bar  108 , which in the depicted embodiment corresponds to the bottle supporting portion  112 . Each of the support bars  108  comprises a bottle side that faces the bottle B when supporting the bottle B, and a portion of the support bar  108  is absent from the bottle side to form the tongue. This portion of the support bar  108  may be removed through machining. In a non-depicted embodiment, a different portion of the support bar  108  may be absent; for example, one or more portions of the support bar  108  may be missing from any one or more of the bottle side, the side opposite the bottle side (the “bottom side”), or one or both of the sides between the bottle and bottom sides (“left and right sides”). For example,  FIG. 12  depicts an embodiment in which the left and right sides are removed such that the tongue has a rectangular cross-section. In a non-depicted embodiment, the tongue may have a square cross-section, or a cross-section of any other suitable shape formed by removing portions of any one or more of the top, bottom, left, and right sides of the panel end  114 . Each of the slots  110  has a constant cross-section that is approximately identical to the cross-section of the tongue and is thereby shaped to receive and frictionally retain the tongue. The support bar slot  110  extends through the entire panel  104  (i.e., from the front surface  106  to the back surface), and the tongue extends through approximately the entire slot  110  and approximately fills the slot  110 . 
     As the support bar slots  110  have a smaller cross-section than the body of the support bar  108 , which in the depicted embodiment corresponds to the bottle supporting portion  112 , the slots  110  do not receive the bottle supporting portions  112 . Instead, the bottle supporting portions  112  abut against the front surface  106 . 
     A back surface of the panel end  114  of each of the support bars  108  comprises a fastener bore  116  extending longitudinally along the support bar  108 . In different embodiments (not depicted), the support bar  108  may additionally or alternatively comprise a fastener bore  116  in the body of the support bar  108  so that the fastener  118  is directly inserted into the body. The tongue may comprise another of the bores  116  or may lack the bore  116 . The rack  100  also comprises support bar fasteners  118  and washers  120 . Each of the fasteners  118  extends through one of the washers  120  and into the fastener bore  116  of one of the support bars  108  such that the washer  120  is compressed against the panel&#39;s  104  back surface. For example, in embodiments in which the fastener  118  is a screw, the screw may be screwed into the bore  116  until the washer  120  is compressed and the bar  108  is thereby secured. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the washer  120  in  FIG. 4  has a back surface opposite the surface of the washer  120  that abuts against the panel&#39;s  104  back surface and through which the fastener  118  extends that is tapered such that the fastener bore  116  extends perpendicularly relative to the back surface of the washer  120 . This has the effect of increasing the amount of the washer  120  the fastener  118  extends through and of making the back surface of the washer  120  perpendicular to the fastener  118 , thereby facilitating insertion of the fastener  118  into the bore  116 . In a non-depicted embodiment, the washer  120  may be tapered differently, or may not be tapered at all. 
     While one embodiment of the fastener  118  is described as a screw above, different types of fasteners (e.g., a nail) may be used. Furthermore, one or more of the fasteners  118  may be used to secure a single one of the support bars  108  to the panel  104 . 
     In the first embodiment, the panel end  114  of each of the support bars  108  is linear and aligned with the linear bottle supporting portion  112 . In an embodiment in which the bar  108  comprises only the panel end  114  and the bottle supporting portion  112 , this means the entire bar  108  is linear. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5-7 , there is shown the second embodiment of the rack  100 . More particularly,  FIG. 5  shows a front elevation view of the panel  104  in isolation,  FIGS. 6A and 6B  show perspective and side elevation views of the support bar  108 , and  FIG. 7  shows a sectional view of the rack  100 . Each of the support bars  108  of the second embodiment comprises a panel end  114 , and the panel  104  comprises support bar slots  110  each shaped to frictionally retain the panel end  114  of one of the support bars  108 . 
     In the second embodiment, each of the support bars  108  comprises the panel end  114  and the linear bottle supporting portion  112 . However, unlike in the first embodiment the bottle supporting portion  112  and the panel end  114  have identical cross sections. The support bar  108  is bent at the junction between the bottle supporting portion  112  and the panel end  114  and consequently the panel end  114  of each of the support bars  108  is linear and is non-aligned with the linear bottle supporting portion  112 . 
     The panel  104  comprises support bar slots  104 , each of which has a cross-sectional area approximately identical to the cross-section of the panel end  114  and is thereby shaped to receive and frictionally retain one of the panel ends  114 . In the depicted embodiment the support bar slot  110  extends through the entire panel  104  (i.e., from the front surface  106  to the back surface), and the slot  110  extends perpendicularly to the front surface  106 . As discussed in further detail below, in another embodiment the support bar slot  110  need not extend through the entire panel  104 . The panel ends  114  of the bars  108  have lengths corresponding to the thickness of the panel  104  so that the bar  108  does not protrude past the back surface of the panel  104 . An adhesive may be used to help secure the bars  108  in the panel  104 . Alternatively, the fasteners  118  may be used to secure the bars  108  in a manner similar to the first embodiment. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 8-11 , there are shown third through sixth embodiments of the rack  100 . As in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , in  FIG. 8  the rack  100  comprises the panel  104 , support bars  108 , and brackets  102  used to mount the rack  100  to a wall. In contrast to  FIG. 1 , each of the support bars  108  is inserted into one of four grooves  122  instead of one of the slots  110 . As discussed in respect of  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the structure of the grooves  122  may vary with different embodiments of the rack  100 . Also, as described in respect of  FIG. 11  below, depending on the embodiment the bars  108  may be inserted into the grooves  122  from the front of the panel  104  (i.e., entering the groove  122  by crossing the front surface  106 ) or by being slid into the grooves  122  from the sides of the panel  104 . While the rack  100  of  FIG. 8  comprises four of the grooves  122 , in different embodiments (not depicted) the panel  104  may comprise a different number of the grooves  122  that may be used in combination with the slots  110  or another mechanism for retaining the bars  108 . For example, the panel  104  may comprise grooves  122  to retain the support bars  108  that support bottle bodies and slots  110  to retain the support bars  108  that support bottle necks. 
     In  FIG. 9 , there is shown a sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the rack  100  in which portions of some of the support bars  108  that abut the front surface  106  extend perpendicularly from the panel  104 , an example of which is depicted as the higher bar  108  in  FIG. 9 , and in which portions of some of the support bars  108  that abut the front surface  106  are inclined relative to the panel  104 , also as depicted in  FIG. 8  and an example of which is shown as the lower bar  108  in  FIG. 9 . The groove  122  is shaped to frictionally retain the panel end  114  of the top bar  108 . That is, the groove  122  has a height that is approximately equal to the height of the panel end  114 , thereby facilitating a frictional fit between the bar  108  and the panel  104 . The panel end  114  of the higher bar  108  comprises the bore  116  and receives the fastener  118 , which compresses the washer  120  against the back side of the panel  104  as described in respect of  FIG. 4 . 
     The groove  122  used to retain the lower bar  108  in  FIG. 9  is angled at the acute angle that the lower bar  108  makes with respect to the panel&#39;s  104  front surface  106  and is similarly sized to frictionally retain the panel end  114  of the lower bar  108 . The panel end  114  of the higher bar  108  comprises the bore  116  and receives the fastener  118 , which compresses the washer  120  against the back side of the panel  104  as described in respect of  FIG. 4 . As the lower bar  108  is angled, the back side of the washer  120  is tapered as it is in  FIG. 4 . 
     While the grooves  122  are used to retain the bars  108  in the embodiment of  FIG. 9 , in a different embodiment the slots  110  may be used to retain the bars  108  since the panel ends  114  and grooves  122  are shaped to permit the panel ends  114  to be inserted into the grooves  122  from the front of the panel  104  by crossing from one side of the front surface  106  to the other, as well as slid along the grooves  122  from the panel&#39;s  104  sides. In  FIG. 9 , the panel ends  110  and the grooves  122  collectively form a non-interlocking joint and are secured together using the fastener  118 . By “non-interlocking joint”, it is meant a joint that, when unsecured by the fastener  118 , permits the support bar  108  to be pulled out of the groove  122  by having the panel end  114  cross from behind the front surface  106  to in front of the front surface  106  (i.e., in the depicted embodiment, without having to slide the bar  108  out of the groove  122  via the side of the panel  104 ). 
     For each of the support bars  108 , the non-interlocking joint formed by the panel end  114  and groove  122  in  FIG. 9  is formed by having the panel end  114  abut against the sides of the grooves  122 . More specifically, in  FIG. 9  the panel end  114  abuts against the top, back, and bottom sides of the groove  122 . In different embodiments (not depicted), however, different structures are possible. For example, a portion of the panel ends  114  may abut against the sides of the groove  122  while another portion, such as at least part the panel ends&#39;  114  back surface, may be exposed via the back of the panel  104 . In embodiments in which the back surface of the panel end  114  is exposed in this way, that portion may make direct contact with one or both of the head of a screw (when a screw is used as the fastener  118 ) and the washers  120 , as depicted in  FIG. 4 . As another example, the entire back surface of the panel end  114  may be exposed via the panel&#39;s  104  back surface, as shown in  FIG. 7 . As another example, instead of the panel end  114  contacting all the sides of the groove  122  as shown in  FIG. 9 , the panel end  114  may contact only some or one of the sides of the groove  122  (e.g., only the back side). 
     Referring now to  FIG. 10 , there is shown a sectional view of a fifth embodiment of the rack  100  in which portions of some of the support bars  108  that abut the front surface  106  extend perpendicularly from the panel  104 , an example of which is depicted as the higher bar  108  in  FIG. 10 , and in which portions of some of the support bars  108  that abut the front surface  106  are inclined relative to the panel  104 , also as depicted in  FIG. 8  and an example of which is shown as the lower bar  108  in  FIG. 10 . In contrast with the embodiment of  FIG. 9 , the joints used in  FIG. 10  are shaped such that the panel ends  114  need to be slid along the grooves  122  to the their proper location on the panel  104  as opposed to inserted into the grooves  122  as is possible in  FIG. 9 . While any suitable interlocking joint may be used, the embodiment of  FIG. 10  uses a type of dovetail joint. The grooves  122  are identically shaped for both the higher and lower bars  108 . However, the panel ends  114 , comprising the tails of the dovetail joints, of the higher and lower bars  108  are differently shaped. For the higher bar  108 , the panel end  114  is symmetrical and shaped so that the portion of the bar  108  that abuts against the front surface  106  projects perpendicularly from the front surface  106 . For the lower bar  108 , the panel end  114  is asymmetrical. More particularly, the bottle side of the panel end  114  is identical to the bottle side of the panel end  114  of the higher bar  108 , but the bottom side of the panel end  114  is linear. The angle of the intersection between the tail and socket of the dovetail joint of the lower bar  108  relative to the panel surface  106  corresponds to the acute angle at which the lower bar  108  is inclined relative to the surface  106 . 
     In certain embodiments that use an interlocking joint such as the dovetail joint of  FIG. 10 , the interlocking joint permits the panel  104  and support bars  112  to support the bottles B without using the fasteners  118 . Accordingly, in those embodiments the risk of the bottles B falling and breaking due to the fasteners  118  failing is reduced. Additionally, since the fasteners  118  are not required for substantial load bearing in those embodiments, the support bars  108  may be made thinner relative to embodiments in which the fasteners  118  are used for load bearing, because the diameter of the fastener bore  116  may be made thinner than in embodiments in which the fasteners  118  are required to bear load. This may result in a significant savings of materials and weight for the support bars  112 . 
     Additionally, in certain embodiments that use an interlocking joint such as the dovetail joint of  FIG. 10 , the panel  104  itself may be made thinner than in embodiments in which the panel  104  is used in combination with non-interlocking joints without the fasteners  118 . In embodiments in which the panel  104  is used in combination with non-interlocking joints without the fasteners  118 , the panel  104  is made relatively thick to support the bars  108 . However, in embodiments comprising the interlocking joint, the panel  104  may be made thinner without compromising the rack&#39;s  100  structural integrity. This may result in significant materials and weight savings. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 11 , there is shown a sectional view of a sixth embodiment of the rack  100  in which portions of some of the support bars  108  that abut the front surface  106  extend perpendicularly from the panel  104 , an example of which is depicted as the higher bar  108  in  FIG. 11 , and in which portions of some of the support bars  108  that abut the front surface  106  are inclined relative to the panel  104 , also as depicted in  FIG. 8  and an example of which is shown as the lower bar  108  in  FIG. 11 . As with  FIG. 9 , while the grooves  122  are used to retain the bars  108  in  FIG. 11 , in a different embodiment the slots  110  may be used to retain the bars  108  since the panel ends  114  and grooves  122  are shaped to permit the panel ends  114  to be inserted into the grooves  122  from the front of the panel  104  by crossing from one side of the front surface  106  to the other, as well as inserted into the grooves  122  from the panel&#39;s  104  sides and slid to their final positions. In  FIG. 11 , the panel ends  110  and the grooves  122  collectively form a non-interlocking joint and are secured together using the fastener  118 . The grooves  122  have a right trapezoidal cross-section when viewed along their lengths, with the angle of the only side of the trapezoid not adjacent a right angle corresponding to the angle that the lower bar  108  makes relative to the front surface  104 . The bottle side of the lower bar  108  is linear. For the higher bar  108 , the bottle side of the panel end  114  has a portion absent from it that permits the portion of the bar  108  abutting the front surface  104  to extend perpendicularly therefrom. 
     In each of  FIGS. 9-11 , the inclined bottle supporting portion  112  of the lower bar  108  abuts against the panel&#39;s  104  front surface  106 , while the inclined bottle supporting portion  112  of the higher bar  108  is spaced from the panel  104 . The higher bars  108  in these embodiments comprise another segment between the inclined bottle supporting portion  108  and the panel end  114  that is linear and that perpendicularly extends from the panel  104 ; in different embodiments (not depicted), this additional segment may be non-linear, may extend non-perpendicularly from the panel  104 , or both. In certain embodiments, this additional segment causes the bottle supporting portion  108  to be spaced by less than a diameter of the body of the bottle B for which the rack  100  is designed. Consequently, the bottle supporting portion  112  is still positioned to contact the bottle&#39;s B body and press it against the front surface  106  when the bottle B is resting in the acute angle between the bottle supporting portion  112  and the front surface  106 , as occurs in the depicted embodiments. 
     The rack  100  may be sized to hold multiple bottles of various sizes. For example, the support bars  108  may be made sufficiently long to hold one, two, three, or more split bottles (2″-2⅜″ body diameter), Bordeaux bottles (2⅞″-3¼″ body diameter), Champagne bottles (3½″ body diameter), Burgundy bottles (3¼″ body diameter), large Pinot bottles (3⅜″ body diameter), Turley bottles (3 9/16″ body diameter), or magnum bottles (4″-4½″ body diameter). For example, to hold at least three magnum bottles, the bottle supporting portions  112  of the depicted embodiments should be at least 12 inches long, and in certain embodiments longer depending on the angle the bottle supporting portions  112  make with the front surface  106 . In another embodiment, the support bars  108  are at least 7 inches long. 
     While certain embodiments are depicted in the figures and certain non-depicted embodiments are described above, additional non-depicted embodiments are possible. 
     For example, while the panel  104  shown in the depicted embodiments is rectangular, in non-depicted embodiments the panel  104  may be differently shaped. For example, the panel  104  may be shaped as a different type of polygon, such as a square, or may be irregularly shaped. In those embodiments, the brackets  102  may be affixed along portions of the periphery of the panel  104 . 
     As another example, in all of the depicted embodiments comprising the groove  122  or slots  110 , the support bars  108  may be fastened to the panel  104  without using the washer  120 . 
     In another non-depicted embodiment, the support bar slots  110  may not extend all the way through the panel  104 ; that is, the slots  110  may not extend from the front surface  106  to the panel  104 &#39;s back surface as depicted in  FIGS. 4 and 7 . Instead, the slots  110  may extend only partially through the panel  104 , thereby causing the panel ends  114  of the support bars  108  to abut against the interior of the panel  104 . The support bars  108  may be frictionally retained by the panel  104 , retained using the fasteners  118  with or without the washers  120 , or both. In a related, non-depicted embodiment, the slots  110  may extend through the entire panel  104 , but the support bars  108  may not. 
     The embodiments depicted in  FIGS. 2-4 and 9-11  use the washer  120  and fastener  118  to secure the bars  108  to the panel  104 , while the embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 5-7  uses one or both of a friction fit and an adhesive to secure the bars  108  to the panel  104 . However, in non-depicted embodiments, the embodiments of  FIGS. 2-4 and 9-11  may use one or both of a friction fit and an adhesive to secure the bars  108 , and the embodiment of  FIGS. 5-7  may use the fastener  118 , the fastener  118  and the washer  120 , multiple fasteners  118 , or multiple fasteners  118  and one or more washers  120 , with one or more bores  116  being machined into the panel ends  114  accordingly. 
     The various joints used to affix the panel ends  114  to the panel  104  are described in conjunction with support bars  108  that have a linear portion that make an acute angle relative to the panel&#39;s  104  front surface  106 . However, in different embodiments, any of the joints described herein may be used to affix any type of support bar  108  to any type of panel  104  for any type of bottle rack  100 . For example, the joints may be used to affix support bars  108  that do not comprise a linear portion making an acute angle with the front surface  106 , such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,149,115. 
     In embodiments comprising the slots  110 , the panel ends  114  need not fill all or approximately all of the bar slots  110 . For example, the panel ends  114  may be rectangular or square in cross section as depicted in the embodiment of  FIG. 12 , while the slots  110  may correspondingly be rectangular or square and further comprise semicircular portions, with one semicircular portion attached to each of the left and right sides of the slots  110  such that the slots  110  have rounded sides. The semicircular portions need not be filled by the panel ends  114 . 
     In another non-depicted embodiment, the support bar  108  body portion and panel end  114  may be two distinct pieces that are releasably couplable to each other or able to be affixed to each other using a screw or other type of fastener. A portion of one of the body portion and panel end  114  may comprise a protrusion and a portion of the other of the body portion and panel end  114  may comprise a correspondingly shaped socket to receive the protrusion. The protrusion and socket may be sized so that the socket frictionally retains the protrusion. 
     Directional terms such as “top”, “bottom”, “up”, “down”, “front”, and “back” are used in this disclosure for the purpose of providing relative reference only, and are not intended to suggest any limitations on how any article is to be positioned during use, or to be mounted in an assembly or relative to an environment. The term “affix” and similar terms, and variants of them, as used in this disclosure are intended to include indirect and direct connections unless otherwise indicated. For example, if a first article is affixed to a second article, that affixing may be through a direct connection or through an indirect connection via another article. Additionally, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” as used in this disclosure are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Further, as used herein a first object “abuts” against a second object when the first object borders on or touches the second object. 
     The word “approximately” as used in this description in conjunction with a number or metric means within 5% of that number or metric. 
     It is contemplated that any feature of any aspect or embodiment discussed in this specification can be implemented or combined with any feature of any other aspect or embodiment discussed in this specification, except where those features have been explicitly described as mutually exclusive alternatives. 
     While particular embodiments have been described in the foregoing, it is to be understood that other embodiments are possible and are intended to be included herein. It will be clear to any person skilled in the art that modifications of and adjustments to the foregoing embodiments, not shown, are possible.