초록 ▼

The disclosed invention provides an improved means of storing and retrieving bottles of wine, other bottles of fluid, or other items. The invention provides for the labels of the bottles/items to be easily viewed. Additionally, the invention yields a format that allows the bottles/items to be stored

The disclosed invention provides an improved means of storing and retrieving bottles of wine, other bottles of fluid, or other items. The invention provides for the labels of the bottles/items to be easily viewed. Additionally, the invention yields a format that allows the bottles/items to be stored in the limited depth afforded in cabinets normally used above kitchen counters. Another aspect of this invention is directed at, but not limited to, the use a refrigeration system to keep these items at the proper storage temperature. And so this invention relates to both an isolated storage system, and to that would be used in conjunction with a cooling/environmental chamber. So this invention presents a new method for the storage, display, and retrieval of bottles/items that is suitable for use at a plurality of heights, and additionally may either be a freestanding system or used within another structure such as a home cabinet, refrigerated or not.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A bottle storage device defining a storage space useful for containing multiple wine bottles, the storage space having a front and a back with access to the storage space from the front, the bottle storage device comprising: a normally stationary support;a first hinge leaf: the first hinge leaf b

1. A bottle storage device defining a storage space useful for containing multiple wine bottles, the storage space having a front and a back with access to the storage space from the front, the bottle storage device comprising: a normally stationary support;a first hinge leaf: the first hinge leaf being supported by a first pivot defining a generally vertical first pivot axis, the first hinge leaf being pivotable with respect to the normally stationary support, and the first pivot axis being located in a fixed position with respect to the normally stationary support,the first hinge leaf having a proximal portion adjacent to the first pivot axis,the first hinge leaf having a distal portion radially further from the first pivot axis than its proximal portion, the proximal and distal portions of the first hinge leaf defining the plane of the first hinge leaf, andthe first hinge leaf being rotatable about the first pivot axis between a first position, with its distal portion closer to the back of the storage space than its proximal portion and the plane of the first hinge leaf generally perpendicular to the front, and a second position with the distal portion displaced forward of its first position;an elongated first wine bottle support supported by the first hinge leaf, projecting generally perpendicularly in its direction of elongation from the plane of the first hinge leaf, and configured for supporting at least two wine bottles each having a mouth and a base, such that the wine bottles respectively are elongated along first and second wine bottle axes extending between the mouth and the base, with each wine bottle axis extending generally perpendicularly from the plane of the first hinge leaf and the first wine bottle axis disposed above and parallel to the second wine bottle axis;a second hinge leaf: the second hinge leaf being supported by a second pivot defining a generally vertical second pivot axis spaced from the first pivot axis, the second hinge leaf being pivotable with respect to the normally stationary support, the second pivot axis being located in a fixed position with respect to the normally stationary support,the second hinge leaf having a proximal portion adjacent to the second pivot axis,the second hinge leaf having a distal portion radially further from the second pivot axis than its proximal portion, the proximal and distal portions of the second hinge leaf defining the plane of the second hinge leaf, andthe second hinge leaf being rotatable about the second pivot axis between a first position with its distal portion closer to the back of the storage space than its proximal portion and the plane of the second hinge leaf generally perpendicular to the front, and a second position with the distal portion displaced forward of its first position; andan elongated second wine bottle support supported by the second hinge leaf, projecting generally perpendicularly in its direction of elongation from the plane of the second hinge leaf, and configured for supporting a wine bottle having a mouth and a base, the wine bottle being elongated along a bottle axis extending between the mouth and the base, with the bottle axis extending generally perpendicularly from the plane of the second hinge leaf;in which the second wine bottle support is between the first wine bottle support and the back of the storage space when the first and second hinge leaves are in their first positions. 2. The bottle storage device of claim 1, further comprising at least two opposed, generally parallel walls defining the storage space between them. 3. The bottle storage device of claim 2, in which the walls comprise an upper wall and a lower wall. 4. The bottle storage device of claim 2, in which the walls comprise left and right side walls. 5. The bottle storage device of claim 4, in which the walls further comprise top and bottom side walls. 6. The bottle storage device of claim 5, further comprising a door covering at least a portion of the front of the storage space. 7. The bottle storage device of claim 2, in which the first pivot is supported by at least one of the walls. 8. The bottle storage device of claim 1, in which the second position of the distal portion of the first hinge leaf is at least as far forward as the first pivot axis. 9. The bottle storage device of claim 1, in which the second position of the distal portion of the first hinge leaf is forward of its pivot axis. 10. The bottle storage device of claim 1, in which the second position of the distal portion of the first hinge leaf extends forward outside the storage space. 11. The bottle storage device of claim 1, in which the planes of the first and second leaves in their first positions are generally coplanar. 12. The bottle storage device of claim 1, in which the first and second pivot axes are non-collinear and define a plane perpendicular to the front of the storage space. 13. The bottle storage device of claim 1, in which the first and second pivot axes are collinear. 14. The bottle storage device of claim 1, further comprising: a third hinge leaf: the third hinge leaf being supported by a third pivot defining a generally vertical third pivot axis spaced from the first pivot axis,the third hinge leaf having a proximal portion adjacent to the third pivot axis,the third hinge leaf having a distal portion radially further from the third pivot axis than its proximal portion, the proximal and distal portions of the third hinge leaf defining the plane of the third hinge leaf, andthe third hinge leaf being rotatable about the third pivot axis between a first position, with its distal portion closer to the back of the storage space than its proximal portion and the plane of the third hinge leaf generally perpendicular to the front, and a second position with the distal portion displaced forward of its first position; andan elongated third wine bottle support supported by the third hinge leaf, projecting generally perpendicularly in its direction of elongation from the plane of the third hinge leaf, and configured for supporting a wine bottle having a mouth and a base, the wine bottle being elongated along a bottle axis extending between the mouth and the base, with the bottle axis extending generally perpendicularly from the plane of the first hinge leaf. 15. The bottle storage device of claim 14, in which the second and third pivot axes are collinear. 16. The bottle storage device of claim 14, in which the second and third pivot axes are non-collinear and lie in a plane generally perpendicular to the front of the storage space. 17. The bottle storage device of claim 1, in which the first bottle support comprises first and second generally horizontally spaced rods having first ends secured to the first hinge leaf and second ends projecting generally perpendicularly from the first hinge leaf. 18. The bottle storage device of claim 17, in which the first and second generally horizontally spaced rods are positioned and sized to support a generally cylindrical elongated bottle generally horizontally on top of and between them with the rods located above the lower horizontal side wall portion of the bottle at the greatest diameter of the bottle and below and proximal of the vertical side wall portions of the bottle at the greatest diameter of the bottle. 19. The bottle storage device of claim 1, comprising a third bottle support secured to the first hinge leaf for supporting a generally cylindrical elongated bottle below the first bottle support with the third bottle axis generally parallel to the axis of a bottle supported in the first bottle support. 20. The bottle storage device of claim 19, comprising a fourth bottle support secured to the second hinge leaf for supporting a generally cylindrical elongated bottle below the second bottle support with the fourth bottle axis generally parallel to the axis of a bottle supported in the second bottle support. 21. The bottle storage device of claim 20, in which the second and fourth bottle supports are located behind the first and third bottle supports. 22. The bottle storage device of claim 20, in which the second and fourth bottle supports are vertically staggered with respect to the first and third bottle supports. 23. A bottle storage cabinet comprising: joined left and right side panels and top and bottom panels defining an enclosure, a normally stationary support, and a front opening; a first hinge leaf defining a first plane, the first hinge leaf supported by a first pivot defining a generally vertical first pivot axis, the first hinge leaf being pivotable with respect to the normally stationary support, and the first pivot axis being located in a fixed position with respect to the normally stationary support,the first hinge leaf supporting an elongated first wine bottle support projecting generally perpendicularly in its direction of elongation from the plane of the first hinge leaf, and configured for supporting a wine bottle having a mouth at one end and a base at the other end, the wine bottle being elongated along a wine bottle axis extending between the mouth and the base, with the wine bottle axis extending generally perpendicularly from the plane of the first hinge leaf,the first hinge leaf being rotatable about the first pivot axis to move the first wine bottle support between a first position supporting the bottle within the enclosure and perpendicular to the side panels, and a second position supporting the bottle with at least one of its ends projecting out of the enclosure through the front opening; anda second hinge leaf defining a second plane, the second hinge leaf supported by a second pivot defining a generally vertical second pivot axis spaced from the first pivot axis, the second hinge leaf being pivotable with respect to the normally stationary support, and the second pivot axis being located in a fixed position with respect to the normally stationary support,the second hinge leaf supporting an elongated second wine bottle support projecting generally perpendicularly in its direction of elongation from the plane of the second hinge leaf, and configured for supporting a wine bottle having a mouth at one end and a base at the other end, the wine bottle being elongated along a wine bottle axis extending between the mouth and the base, with the wine bottle axis extending generally perpendicularly from the plane of the second hinge leaf,the second hinge leaf being rotatable about the second pivot axis to move the second wine bottle support between a first position supporting the bottle within the enclosure and perpendicular to the side panels, and a second position supporting the bottle with at least one of its ends projecting out of the enclosure through the front openingin which the second wine bottle support is between the first wine bottle support and the back of the storage space when the first and second hinge leaves are in their first positions. 24. A bottle storage kit suitable for installation in a storage space, the storage space having a front and a back with access to the storage space from the front, the storage space defined at least in part by a normally stationary support, the kit comprising: a first hinge leaf having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal and distal portions of the first hinge leaf defining the plane of the first hinge leaf;an elongated first wine bottle support supported by the first hinge leaf, projecting generally perpendicularly in its direction of elongation from the plane of the first hinge leaf, and configured for supporting a wine bottle having a mouth, a base, and a wine bottle axis extending between the mouth and the base, with the wine bottle axis extending generally perpendicularly from the plane of the first hinge leaf;a first pivot mountable in a fixed position with respect to the normally stationary support in the storage space for supporting the first hinge leaf by a generally vertical first pivot axis, such that, the first hinge leaf proximal portion is adjacent to the first pivot axis,the first hinge leaf distal portion is radially further from the first pivot axis than its proximal portion, andthe first hinge leaf is rotatable about the first pivot axis between a first position, with its distal portion closer to the back of the storage space than its proximal portion and the plane of the first hinge leaf generally perpendicular to the front, and a second position with the distal portion displaced forward of its first position;a second hinge leaf having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal and distal portions of the second hinge leaf defining the plane of the second hinge leaf;an elongated second wine bottle support supported by the second hinge leaf, projecting generally perpendicularly in its direction of elongation from the plane of the second hinge leaf, and configured for supporting a wine bottle having a mouth, a base, and a wine bottle axis extending between the mouth and the base, with the wine bottle axis extending generally perpendicularly from the plane of the second hinge leaf;a second pivot mountable in a fixed position with respect to the normally stationary support in the storage space for supporting the second hinge leaf by a generally vertical second pivot axis spaced from the first pivot axis, such that, the second hinge leaf proximal portion is adjacent to the second pivot axisthe second hinge leaf distal portion is radially further from the second pivot axis than its proximal portion,and the second hinge leaf is rotatable about the second pivot axis between a first position, with its distal portion closer to the back of the storage space than its proximal portion and the plane of the second hinge leaf generally perpendicular to the front, and a second position with the distal portion displaced forward of its first positionin which the second wine bottle support is between the first wine bottle support and the back of the storage space when the first and second hinge leaves are in their first positions.