WO2005111521A1

WO2005111521A1 - Wine cabinet bottle rack

Info

Publication number: WO2005111521A1
Application number: PCT/FR2005/050287
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean-Denis Budin
Original assignee: Muller Vinosafe Sas
Priority date: 2004-04-29
Filing date: 2005-04-28
Publication date: 2005-11-24
Also published as: FR2869517A1; FR2869517B1

Abstract

A wine cabinet bottle rack characterised in that it comprises a frame (2) essentially consisting of a front cross-member (3), a rear cross-member (4) and two side profile sections (5, 6), which frame (2) is designed to releasably hold at least one bottle rack construction (7, 7A).

Description

SHELF SUPPORT FOR BOTTLES FOR WINE CABINET.

The invention relates to a bottle support shelf for a wine cabinet.

Since there is not always a house with a cellar at a depth underground sufficient to store wines in ideal conditions, it has been developed wine cabinets with means adapted to store bottles at a stable temperature regulated in an atmosphere of an ideal degree of hygrometry.

In the manner of large riggers, these wine cabinets have, internally, shelves on which bottles can rest in the supine position and aligned side by side.

The depth of these cabinets is usually such that on the same shelf can be arranged, transversely, two rows of bottles head to tail, especially in staggered rows so as to be able to be juxtaposed at their neck. ru

In addition, these shelves are often designed to be able to support several rows of identical bottles in a stacked position. For this purpose, it is very common to be able to adjust the spacing between two shelves in a cabinet.

In particular, these shelves are usually designed in the manner of drawers and, by longitudinal sliding, can be extracted through the front door of the cabinet to be repositioned in height in the latter.

This design also makes it possible to partially advance a shelf to make it easier for a user to identify the bottle sought. However, each shelf has a structure allowing them to accommodate only a certain type of bottles, in particular which have a well-defined section.

In this regard, it should be remembered that there are bottles of different sections. For example, the one corresponding to Burgundy wines is different from the section for bottles of Bordeaux wines or bottles of white Alsace wines or those containing sparkling wines.

In fact, if there are shelves suitable for a large number of these different bottles, in a wine cabinet the user only has a limited number of shelves that he cannot use indifferently for such or such bottles. without sacrificing, moreover, the optimization of the space available in its cabinet.

If the shelves at his disposal are not those suitable for the wines he wishes to store, he has no other solution than to replace a shelf with another that he has previously purchased from his supplier of wine cabinets. .

In short, apart from the shelves in his cupboard, this user must have a certain number of replacement shelves to adapt the configuration to his cupboard in relation to the stock of bottles making up his cellar.

It will also be noted that a shelf capable of supporting two rows of bottles, the bottles in each row are necessarily identical.

Finally, it will be noted that these bottles are systematically stored lying on these shelves. However, it is more and more common to design wine cabinets with a glass door letting glimpse the stored bottles. However, in an exhibition context, by For example in an oenotheque or in a restaurant, it may be advisable to distinguish the labels of at least some of the bottles stored, or even to be able to keep tasting bottles there while standing.

It should be noted that it is also known, from document DE-l € 54,596, of transport and storage cases for bottles. These are stackable plastic boxes and do not concern shelves for wine cabinets.

Likewise, it is known from document US-A-4,546,887 of wine racks designed in metallic wires and which differ significantly from shelves for wine cabinets.

In particular, these lockers are not defined by a frame inside which a bottle support structure can be positioned in a removable manner.

We also know from document US-A-2,273,233 a bottle refrigerator. It is a box inside which can be placed baskets containing bottles.

Document US-2,169,763 relates to a refrigerator compartmentalized by means of shelves in the form of wire mesh. Some of these shelves have a modular structure to adapt the interior volume of the refrigerator to its contents.

In accordance with the provisions of article 54 (3), document EP-1,442,674 is known concerning a shelf for refrigerator of the wine cabinet type, comprising a frame in which is pivotally mounted a bottle support device . Thus, the frame of the shelf is intended to be slidably mounted in the refrigerator, while the bottle support device is in the form of a wire mesh. This consists of a plurality of longitudinal rods connected at their ends by transverse support bars, the one of which, at the front edge, constitutes the pivot axis of this bottle support device. The ends of this front crossbar are rotatably mounted in reservations provided for this purpose at the lateral sides of the shelf frame. Finally, this pivoting bottle support structure is not intended to be interchangeable in nature.

The present invention proposes to provide a solution to all of these problems and to respond, thus, to the drawbacks of the state of the art.

To this end, the invention relates to a bottle support shelf for wine cabinet, comprising a frame consisting of a front cross member, a rear cross member and two lateral profiles, this frame receiving, in a removable manner, at least one structure. bottle holder.

Advantageously, the bottle support structure is formed in the form of a wire mesh, made of plastic or wood, adapted to receive, in a row aligned, bottles of a determined section.

According to another embodiment, this bottle support structure, in the form of a wire mesh, made of plastic or wood, is designed capable of receiving bottles of different section.

According to another feature of the present invention, the bottle support structure is designed capable of receiving bottles in an inclined position. According to another feature of the present invention, on the shelf can be positioned a structure for holding the bottles in a standing position.

According to another embodiment, a support structure is in the form of a tray designed capable of receiving bottles in a standing position.

According to yet another embodiment, the frame comprises an intermediate crosspiece to receive, in a removable manner, two bottle support structures according to any one of the abovementioned embodiments.

According to another feature of the invention, a support structure in the form of a wire mesh is coated with a resilient synthetic material, in particular capable of absorbing the noise of colliding with a bottle.

According to yet another feature of the invention, a canvas is spread over a support structure in the form of a wire mesh, made of plastic or wood.

The present invention will be better understood on reading the following description relating to embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a shelf according to the invention comprising two removable support structures, in the form of a wire mesh for positioning two rows of bottles in the supine position; Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of a shelf according to the invention comprising a removable support structure in the form of a wire mesh for the presentation of bottles in an inclined position; - Figure 3 is a schematic representation, in elevation and side view of the shelf illustrated in Figure 2;

- Figure 4 shows schematically a first embodiment of a shelf capable of receiving bottles in the standing position;

- Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 corresponding to a second embodiment to allow a standing arrangement of the bottles on a shelf;

- Figure € schematically illustrates a third embodiment for storing the bottles in a standing position on a shelf, these bottles being here contained in bottle holder baskets.

As visible in the figures of the attached drawings, the present invention relates to shelves 1 for wine cabinets.

In a very particular way, such a shelf 1 comprises a frame 2 essentially consisting of a front cross member 3, a rear cross member 4 and two lateral connecting sections 5, 6.

In this connection, such shelves 1 are usually designed in the manner of drawers and are therefore extractable, longitudinally, from the wine cabinet. Also, the lateral connection profiles 5, 6 can be designed in the form of slides capable of cooperating with suitable sliding means arranged along the side walls of the wine cabinet.

In a simpler design, these lateral connecting profiles 5, 6 can engage between pairs of battens that these lateral walls of said cabinet have. Anyway and according to the invention, the frame 2 of the shelf 1 is designed capable of receiving, in a removable manner, at least one bottle support structure 7. In this regard and as visible in the different figures, the frame 2 can be completed by one or more intermediate crosspieces 8 so as to receive several bottle support structures 7 7A juxtaposed in the longitudinal direction, with reference to the longitudinal mobility of the drawer defined by the shelf 1 in the cabinet.

Note that such a bottle support structure 7, 7A can rest directly above the frame 2 or else on support flanges 9 formed inside the latter. Thus, these support flanges 9 can equip both the crosspieces 3, 4 and the connecting sections 5, 6 as well as an intermediate crosspiece 8.

More particularly, a bottle support structure 7, 7A can be formed in the form of a wire mesh, made of plastic or wood.

Thus, such a trellis can be defined by a plurality of longitudinal bars 10 equidis antes, secured at their ends to transverse bars 11, 12, the spacing between two longitudinal bars 10 being determined according to the section of a type of bottle. ; Bordeaux wine, Burgundy wine, sparkling wine, etc.

In particular, in a configuration where the support structures are defined to receive the bottles in the supine position, two of these structures 7, 7A juxtaposed longitudinally on a shelf 1 are designed capable of designing rows of bottles arranged in staggered rows.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, these bottle support structures 7, 7A can also be defined to receive a row of bottles, not in the supine position, but tilted to make the label on this bottle more visible.

This inclination may result from a suitable configuration of the longitudinal bars 10 designing the metallic mesh of plastic or wood of such a bottle support structure 7, 7A.

As visible in FIG. 5, this bottle support structure 7 can also take the form of an optionally perforated tray capable of taking position in the frame 2 of the shelf 1. Thus, the bottles can be arranged therein in a standing position .

Note that, in addition, on the shelf 1 can be positioned a holding structure 13 of these bottles in this standing position. Again, this retaining structure 13 can be in the form of a trellis defining a grid at a certain distance above the plane corresponding to the frame 2. As regards a metallic trellis, the ends of the rods composing this trellis can be bent to form the feet 17 keeping the latter above the plane of the frame 2.

Figure 4 differs from the embodiment corresponding to Figure 5 in that the support structures 7, 7A adopt a configuration similar to that illustrated in Figure 1, namely that of a wire mesh, plastic or wood resting in frame 2 to receive lying bottles. However, the structure 13A for maintaining the bottles in a standing position defines, here, corridors 14, 15 juxtaposed longitudinally above the support structures 7, 7A. More particularly, these corridors are designed with an elastically adjustable width for the section of a bottle. In sum, these corridors 14, 15, delimited by metal or plastic rods 16 of a certain elasticity, are likely to adapt in width to the section of a bottle.

The embodiment corresponding to FIG. 6 is to be compared to that of FIG. 4 insofar as the support structure (s) 7, 7A take the form of a wire mesh, while the structure 13B for holding the bottles in position standing is constituted, here, by one or more baskets for carrying bottles 18. In particular, said support structures 7, 7A comprise means 19 for indexing and immobilization in translation designed capable of cooperating with this or these baskets 18 to perfectly position these on shelf 1 and prevent them from moving or overturning during handling of the latter.

According to a feature of the present invention, a bottle support structure 7, 7A designed in the form of a wire mesh is coated, as regards its longitudinal bars 10 and transverse bars 11, 12, with a resilient synthetic material intended to absorb shocks and therefore the noise of contact between the bottle and said support structure.

On the latter can also be extended a fabric capable of ensuring this same function of shock and noise absorption, but which, moreover, can absorb any flows from a bottle. Such a fabric can be provided removable allowing its cleaning.

Claims

1. Bottle support shelf for wine cabinet, comprising a frame (2), consisting of a front crosspiece (3), a rear crosspiece (4) and two lateral profiles (5, 6), this frame (2 ) receiving, in a removable manner, at least one bottle support structure (7, 7A).

2. Shelf according to claim 1, characterized in that the frame (2) is completed by one or more intermediate crosspieces (8) so as to receive several bottle support structures (7, 7A), juxtaposed.

3. Shelf according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a bottle support structure (7, 7A) is designed in the form of a wire mesh, made of plastic or wood, suitable for receiving, aligned in a row, bottles of a given section.

4. Shelf according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that a bottle support structure is formed in the form of a wire mesh, plastic or wood, suitable for receiving bottles of different section .

5. Shelf according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a bottle support structure (7, 7A) is formed in the form of a wire mesh, made of plastic or wood, suitable for receiving bottles in position inclined.

6. Shelf according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that a bottle support structure is in the form of a tray designed capable of receiving bottles in a standing position.

7. Shelf according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and 6, characterized in that it comprises a holding structure (13, 13A, 13B) of the bottles in the upright position.

8. Shelf according to claim 7, characterized in that the holding structure (13) of the bottles in the standing position is in the form of a trellis defining a grid at a certain distance above the plane corresponding to the frame (2 ).

9. Shelf according to claim 7, characterized in that the holding structure (13A) of the bottles in the standing position defines corridors (14, 15) juxtaposed longitudinally above the support structures (7, 7A), said corridors being designed to be elastically adjustable in width to the section of a bottle.

10. Shelf according to claim 7, characterized in that the holding structure (13B) of the bottles in the standing position is constituted by one or more bottle holder baskets (18).

11. Shelf according to claim 10, characterized in that the said support structure (s) (7, 7A) comprise means (19) for indexing and immobilization in translation designed capable of cooperating with this or these bottle carrier baskets ( 18).

12. Shelf according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a support structure (7, 7A) in wire mesh is coated with a resilient synthetic material.

13. A shelf according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that above a support structure (7, 7A) is extended a canvas.