Patent Abstract:
The invention disclosed herein provides an apparatus, system and method for supporting a bottle of liquid on a flat surface at an angle so as to prevent that liquid from leaking out of the bottle. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to wine storage. 
       PROBLEM STATEMENT 
     Interpretation Considerations 
       [0002]    This section describes the technical field in more detail, and discusses problems encountered in the technical field. This section does not describe prior art as defined for purposes of anticipation or obviousness under 35 U.S.C. section 102 or 35 U.S.C. section 103. Thus, nothing stated in the Problem Statement is to be construed as prior art. 
       Discussion 
       [0003]    After a wine bottle is opened, it is often stored in a refrigerator. However, when a wine bottle&#39;s cork is removed, the cork screw leaves a small hole in the cork. And, few refrigerators have shelves that are separated enough to store a wine-bottle upright. Unfortunately, if one lays the wine bottle on its side in a refrigerator (or other flat surface), wine leaks though the cork. Accordingly, there is the need for a device that enables one to lay a wine bottle on its side without leaking. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    Various aspects of the invention, as well as an embodiment, are better understood by reference to the following detailed description. To better understand the invention, the detailed description should be read in conjunction with the drawings and tables, in which: 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  illustrates an inventive wine bottle holder. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a head-on view of the wine bottle holder. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  illustrates a bottle of wine at rest in the wine bottle holder. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  shows a novelty embodiment of a wine bottle holder according to the teachings of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Interpretation Considerations 
       [0009]    When reading this section (which describes an exemplary embodiment of the best mode of the invention, hereinafter “exemplary embodiment”), one should keep in mind several points. First, the following exemplary embodiment is what the inventor believes to be the best mode for practicing the invention at the time this patent was filed. Thus, since one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize from the following exemplary embodiment that substantially equivalent structures or substantially equivalent acts may be used to achieve the same results in exactly the same way, or to achieve the same results in a not dissimilar way, the following exemplary embodiment should not be interpreted as limiting the invention to one embodiment. 
         [0010]    Likewise, individual aspects (sometimes called species) of the invention are provided as examples, and, accordingly, one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize from a following exemplary structure (or a following exemplary act) that a substantially equivalent structure or substantially equivalent act may be used to either achieve the same results in substantially the same way, or to achieve the same results in a not dissimilar way. 
         [0011]    Accordingly, the discussion of a species (or a specific item) invokes the genus (the class of items) to which that species belongs as well as related species in that genus. Likewise, the recitation of a genus invokes the species known in the art. Furthermore, it is recognized that as technology develops, a number of additional alternatives to achieve an aspect of the invention may arise. Such advances are hereby incorporated within their respective genus, and should be recognized as being functionally equivalent or structurally equivalent to the aspect shown or described. 
         [0012]    Second, the only essential aspects of the invention are identified by the claims. Thus, aspects of the invention, including elements, acts, functions, and relationships (shown or described) should not be interpreted as being essential unless they are explicitly described and identified as being essential. Third, a function or an act should be interpreted as incorporating all modes of doing that function or act, unless otherwise explicitly stated (for example, one recognizes that “tacking” may be done by nailing, stapling, gluing, hot gunning, riveting, etc., and so a use of the word tacking invokes stapling, gluing, etc., and all other modes of that word and similar words, such as “attaching”). 
         [0013]    Fourth, unless explicitly stated otherwise, conjunctive words (such as “or”, “and”, “including”, or “comprising” for example) should be interpreted in the inclusive, not the exclusive, sense. Fifth, the words “means” and “step” are provided to facilitate the reader&#39;s understanding of the invention and do not mean “means” or “step” as defined in §112, paragraph 6 of 35 U.S.C., unless used as “means for—functioning—” or “step for —functioning—” in the Claims section. Sixth, the invention is also described in view of the Festo decisions, and, in that regard, the claims and the invention incorporate equivalents known, unknown, foreseeable, and unforeseeable. Seventh, the language and each word used in the invention should be given the ordinary interpretation of the language and the word, unless indicated otherwise. 
         [0014]    It should be noted in the following discussion that acts with like names are performed in like manners, unless otherwise stated. Of course, the foregoing discussions and definitions are provided for clarification purposes and are not limiting. Words and phrases are to be given their ordinary plain meaning unless indicated otherwise. The numerous innovative teachings of present application are described with particular reference to presently preferred embodiments. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       [0015]      FIG. 1  illustrates an inventive wine bottle holder  100  (also, “holder”), having a body  102  which has channels and wedges that support a wine-bottle neck so that the cork of the wine-bottle is above the liquid level of wine in the bottle. The holder  100  is illustrated as a 30-60-90 triangle when viewed from the side shown in  FIG. 1 . The holder  100  has a vertical portion defined as a front surface  105 , and has a top corner  110 , a front corner  112  and a back corner, as well as bottom surface  107  and top surface  109 . The front surface  105  being the longest surface, and being no more than 12-inches long, and preferably no more than 6-inches long. 
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a head-on view of the wine bottle holder front surface  105 . From this view, it is seen that a front channel  120  traverses the length of the front surface  105 . The front channel  120 , a top channel  122 , and a bottom channel  124 , are shaped substantially like the neck of a wine bottle, preferably cylindrically (or technically a half-cylinder), and terminate with each other as illustrated. Each of the channels has approximately a ½ inch to two inch diameter width. Each of the front surface  105 , bottom surface  107  and top surface  109  have a high-friction no-slip coating  132 , such as a rubber epoxy, on at least a portion thereof. Although the holder  100  is substantially wedged-shaped as a 30-60-90 triangle, it is appreciated that many other shapes are available without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, an alternative holder could have a 20-70-90 angular dimensions. Similarly, in differing embodiments, a holder may have a rectangular, hexagonal or other polygonal shape. Additionally, advertisements may be placed on any flat surface of the holder  100 . 
         [0017]      FIG. 3  illustrates a bottle  300 , such as a wine bottle, at rest in the wine bottle holder  100 . Here, the wine bottle holder  100  sits on a flat surface  200 , such as a refrigerator shelf, and the neck  302  of the bottle  300  is at rest in a notch created by the intersection of front channel  120 , and the top channel  122  (not shown in  FIG. 3 ). The bottle  300  is shown having a cork  305  which has been removed and partially re-inserted into the bottle  300 . Within the bottle  300  is some liquid  310 . From  FIG. 3  it is seen that the slight elevation of the neck  302  prevents the cork  305  from coming into contact with the liquid  310 , which prevents the liquid  310  from seeping through any holes in the cork  305 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 4  shows a novelty embodiment of a wine bottle holder  400  according to the teachings of the invention. In the torso embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , notches and channels are created by body contours. For example, the holder  400  has a notch created by a neck-line contour  412  which is supporting a bottle  420  in a raised position. Additionally, the holder  400  has a notch created by a derriere contour  414 , which would support a neck of a bottle when the holder  400  is placed prone on a surface. 
         [0019]    Though the invention has been described with respect to specific preferred embodiments, many variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the present application. Specifically, the invention may be altered in ways readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the present disclosure. It is therefore the intention that the appended claims and their equivalents be interpreted as broadly as possible in view of the prior art to include all such variations and modifications.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0