Patent Abstract:
A bottle organizer includes a generally vertical wall, a generally horizontal floor proximate to the generally vertical wall, and a spacing member positioned along the generally vertical wall. The spacing member has a portion (which may be curved) that protrudes in a plane that is generally parallel to the horizontal floor and generally perpendicular to the vertical wall. The protruding portion is at a distance from the floor that corresponds to the height of a neck portion of a bottle standing upright on the floor. The spacing member may include alternating straight and curved portions. The vertical wall may be one of two walls, which may be generally parallel and coextensive with each other. The bottle organizer may include a generally cuboid enclosure, in which the spacing member is slidingly disposed.

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This invention relates generally to bottle organizers and, more particularly, to beverage organizers that are incorporated into refrigerated compartments, such as those used on passenger aircraft. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Keeping food and beverages chilled to the proper temperature is important in any context. In certain contexts, such as where space is limited and where quick access to the chilled items is required, proper refrigeration can be a challenge. For example, in the context of a passenger aircraft, bottled beverages such as wine or Champaign are usually stored in a refrigerated compartment near the cockpit. Due to space limitations, however, the compartment tends to be very small and difficult to organize. Furthermore, due to the individual nature of drink orders flight attendants are often hard-pressed to pull bottles out and pour drinks for passengers in a timely fashion. As a result, beverage containers are sometimes quickly placed in the refrigerator, with the containers pushed against a wall of the container and the containers pushed against each other without space between. This results in non-uniform cooling of the containers, and makes it more difficult to cool the space in the refrigerator. Another problem with many refrigerated compartments is that the beverages do not cool to a uniform temperature. Thus, for example, one bottle of chardonnay might be chilled to the appropriate temperature, while an adjacent bottle may be too warm. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    In accordance with the foregoing, a new and improved bottle organizer is provided. In an embodiment of the invention, the bottle organizer includes a generally vertical wall, a generally horizontal floor proximate to the generally vertical wall, and a spacing member positioned along the generally vertical wall. The spacing member has a portion (which may be curved) that protrudes in a plane that is generally parallel to the horizontal floor and generally perpendicular to the vertical wall. The protruding portion may be disposed at a distance from the floor that corresponds approximately to the height of a shoulder or neck portion of a bottle standing upright on the floor, so as to stabilize and maintain the bottle in an upright and spaced position The spacing member may include alternating straight and curved portions. The vertical wall may be one of two walls, which may be generally parallel and coextensive with each other. The bottle organizer may include a generally cuboid enclosure, in which the spacing member is slidingly disposed. The invention provides for easier and more convenient placement and removal of containers within a refrigeration compartment where the bottle organizer is disposed. The invention will further promote quicker “pull down” (achieving a desired cool temperature) and more even temperature distribution within the refrigeration compartment. 
         [0004]    In one embodiment, the spacing member is generally unshaped, and its side is attached to the vertical wall. 
         [0005]    In another embodiment, the vertical wall is one of at least two vertical walls, and each of the two vertical walls has a bracket attached to it. The brackets are configured to slidingly receive the spacing member. 
         [0006]    In yet another embodiment, the bottle organizer has a generally horizontal floor that extends between and is joined with first and second generally vertical walls, and a back wall that is generally vertical and generally perpendicular to the first and second walls. In this embodiment, the first and second walls, the back and the floor define an enclosure for storing bottles. 
         [0007]    In yet another embodiment, the spacing member is generally cylindrical and elongated, and spacing member runs along first and second vertical walls and along a back wall. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment of the invention, the bottle organizer includes a first generally vertical wall, a second generally vertical wall that is generally parallel to the first wall, a generally horizontal floor extending between the first and second walls and forming a junction with each of the first and second walls, and a generally unshaped, elongated member. The elongated member has a first side that is attached to the first wall, and a second side that is attached to the second wall. Furthermore, the elongated member is oriented in a plane that is generally parallel to the floor and generally perpendicular to the first and second walls. The elongated member also has a curved portion adapted to separate at least two vertically oriented bottles standing on the floor. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment, the bottle organizer includes a pair of supporting members that facilitate the attachment of the elongated member to the first and second walls. In this embodiment, one of the supporting members is secured to the first wall and the other is secured to the second wall. 
         [0010]    In another embodiment, the bottle organizer includes a first enclosure and a second enclosure disposed within the first enclosure. In this embodiment, the second enclosure includes the first and second walls and the floor. 
         [0011]    In still another embodiment, the bottle organizer includes pairs of supporting members that facilitate the attachment of the elongated member to the first and second walls. In this embodiment, one of each pair of supporting members is secured to the first wall and the other of each pair is secured to the second wall. Each pair of the plurality is disposed at a height above the floor to facilitate the storage of a different size of bottle within the elongated member. 
         [0012]    In still another embodiment, the elongated member slides into a compartment defined by the first and second walls and the floor, and engages the first and second walls via one of a plurality of pairs of brackets. In this embodiment, each pair is positioned at a height that corresponds to one of multiple sizes of bottles. 
         [0013]    In still another embodiment of the invention, the bottle organizer includes an elongated member that is generally cylindrical along its length and that is bent into a generally u-shaped configuration along a generally horizontal plane. The elongated member has generally straight portions and generally curved portions that alternate with one another. In this embodiment, at least one pair of the generally curved portions protrude inwardly along the horizontal plane toward one another. The elongated member is disposed at a height that corresponds approximately with the height of a shoulder or neck of a bottle that is oriented in a generally vertical direction. 
         [0014]    In another embodiment, the bottle organizer includes two generally vertical walls that are generally parallel to one another, and brackets attached to each of the walls to support two sides of the elongated member. One side of the elongated member may slide into one bracket and the other side of the elongated member may slide into the bracket attached to the one wall. 
         [0015]    In yet another embodiment, the bottle organizer includes a first generally vertical wall, a second generally vertical wall that is generally parallel to the first wall, and a generally horizontal floor extending between the first and second walls and forming a junction with each of the first and second walls. In this embodiment, the generally curved portions of the elongated member provide spacing between each of multiple bottles. 
         [0016]    In yet another embodiment, the bottle organizer includes a first generally vertical wall, a second generally vertical wall that is generally parallel to the first wall, a brackets attached to the first wall, one of which supports a side of the elongated member, and bracket attached to the second wall, one of which supports another side of the elongated member. In this embodiment, each of the brackets attached to the first wall correspond to one of the brackets attached to the second wall, thereby forming pairs of brackets. Each pair of brackets corresponds approximately to the shoulder or neck height of a different sized bottle than each of the other pairs of brackets. 
         [0017]    In still another embodiment of the invention, the bottle organizer includes a generally horizontal floor extending between the first and second walls and forming a junction with each of the first and second walls. In this embodiment, the generally curved portions of the elongated member provide spacing between each of multiple bottles that are standing on the floor in an upright position. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  illustrates a bottle organizer according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  illustrates a spacing member according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  illustrates a front view of the bottle organizer of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  illustrates a top-down view of the bottle organizer of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  illustrates a side view of the bottle organizer of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  illustrates the placement of bottles in the bottle organizer of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]    The invention is generally directed to a bottle organizer. Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  3 - 5 , various embodiments of the bottle organizer will now be described. The bottle organizer, generally labeled  10 , is generally cuboid in shape, and includes a first generally cuboid enclosure  12  and a second generally cuboid enclosure  14  located within the first enclosure  10 . The first generally cuboid enclosure may be a variety of things, including a compartment on a passenger aircraft, or a compartment of service cart. The second enclosure  14  has first side wall  16 , a second side wall  18  generally parallel to the first side wall, a floor  20  that is attached to, and extends between, the first and second side walls  16  and  18 . The second enclosure  14  also has a back wall  22  that is attached to the first and second side walls  16  and  18  and to the floor  20 . The back wall  22  is oriented generally perpendicular to the first and second side walls  16  and  18  as well as to the floor  20 . Each of the first and second side walls  16  and  18  has a leaf portion  24  that extends beyond the plane of the back wall  22 . Each leaf portion has a number of holes  26  through which screws, rivets, or other fasteners can be passed for the purpose of securing the second enclosure  14  to the inside of the first enclosure  12 . 
         [0025]    Behind the back wall  20  is refrigeration equipment (not shown), including a compressor unit, expansion valve, cooling coils, and a fan. The back wall  20  has a set  31  of vent holes that permit air that is blown by the fan to pass over the cooling coils and into the second enclosure  14 . A set  28  of bars helps to prevent objects from accidentally being inserted into the set  31  of vent holes. 
         [0026]    Each of the side walls  16  and  18  has at least one set of supporting members attached to it. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , each side wall has, attached to it, a first supporting member  30  (at or about 2 inches above the floor  20 ), a second supporting member  32  (at or about 4 inches above the floor  20 ), a third supporting member  34  (at or about 8.2 inches above the floor  20 ), and a fourth supporting members  36  (at or about 12.4 inches above the floor  20 ). Thus, there are four sets of supporting member in the illustrated embodiment. Each supporting member in the illustrated embodiment is a generally u-shaped bracket, although other types of supporting members are possible. At least one of the sets of supporting members on the side walls  16  and  18  holds a spacing member  38 . The spacing member  38  may be inserted and removed by sliding it into the second enclosure using one of the sets of supporting members, starting from the end farthest from the back wall  22  and pushing it toward the back wall  22 . 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , an embodiment of the spacing member  38  will now be described. The spacing member  38  includes a cylindrical, elongated member. The elongated member is generally u-shaped and has a thickness of F. The elongated member has a first side, having a length of A, and a second side, opposite the first side, whose length is also A. Starting from the upper right and moving to the left and counterclockwise, the spacing member  38  has a short straight portion  40 , followed by a quarter-circular curved portion  42 , a straight segment  44 , and a half-circular curved portion  46  whose radius is R. The length B includes twice the radius R, plus the length of the short straight portion  40 . These basic elements are repeated until the spacing member  38  turns at or about 90 degrees at a rounded corner  48 . Proximate to the rounded corner is an indentation  49  that cooperates with a protrusion in one of the supporting members to keep the supporting member  38  relatively stationary after insertion. The indent has a thickness of S. The rounded corner has length of C and a width of E. After the rounded corner  48 , the cylindrical member has a long, straight portion  50 , having a length of D, which ends in a second rounded corner  48 , at which point the cylindrical member turns at or about  90  degrees. Following the second rounded corner, the cylindrical member has short straight portions  40 , quarter-circular portions  44 , and half-circular portions  46  in a repeating pattern as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0028]    While there are many possible sizes and configurations of the spacing unit  38 , in one embodiment, A=11.56 inches, B=4.12 inches, C=0.94 inches, D=9.55 inches, E=0.66 inches, F=0.15 inches, R=0.44 inches, and S=0.125 inches. 
         [0029]    As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , the spacing member  38  has several protruding portions, each of which is made up of two straight segments  44  and one half-circular curved portion  46 . These protruding portions protrude into the plane of the spacing member  38  in pairs, with one of the pair being on one side of the spacing member  38  and the other of the pair being on the opposite side of the spacing member  38 . Each of the protruding portions provides spacing between bottles of the bottle organizer. This is more clearly illustrated in  FIG. 6 , in which bottles  60  are show as being placed within the organizer  10 . The bottles  60  are separated by protruding portions of the spacing member  38 . Note that the spacing member is attached to the walls  16  and  18  via the first supporting members  30 , and that the first supporting members are disposed at a height above the floor  20  that corresponds approximately to the height of the shoulders of the bottles  60 . The bottles  60  in this example are 8 inch tall bottles. However, the bottle organizer  10  can also accommodate 10 inch tall bottles (by sliding the spacing member  38  into the second supporting members  32 ) and 12 inch tall bottles (by sliding the spacing member  38  into the third supporting members  34 ). For each size bottle, the spacing member  38  can be placed at a height that corresponds approximately to the shoulder of that size of bottle. Furthermore, multiple spacing members  38  may be put into the bottle organizer  10  so as to accommodate different sized bottles simultaneously. For example, a spacing member  38  may be inserted into each of the first, second, and third supporting members  30 ,  32 , and  34 . 
         [0030]    Shown merely by way of example in  FIG. 2  is an embodiment of the invention used with bottles having a shoulder. The invention may also be used for bottles, such as a juice bottle, that do not have a shoulder, but have a reduced diameter neck. In that case, the spacing member  38  may be disposed approximately at the height of the neck of the bottle. In either case, according to an embodiment of the invention, the spacing member may be disposed at the neck or shoulder of a bottle—the portion of the bottle having a reduced diameter with respect to the diameter of the bottle at the bottom. In addition, the invention may be practiced to retain, stabilize and space bottles, cans or cartons, such as a substantially cylindrical metal juice can or a substantially cuboid or prism shaped cardboard milk carton, that may not have a reduced diameter portion. In such a case, the spacing member  38  may be disposed at a height less than the height of the substantially cylindrical bottle or can. As should be understood by one of skill in the art, when the term “bottle” is referred to herein, it is meant to be considered broadly and may include a variety of type and shapes, such as a wine bottle, a cuboid shaped milk carton, a cylindrical shaped juice can and other shape and types of bottles. 
         [0031]    It can be seen from the foregoing that a new and useful bottle organizer has been described. The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5