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.
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.
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.
In one embodiment, the spacing member is generally unshaped, and its side is attached to the vertical wall.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The invention is generally directed to a bottle organizer. Referring to
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.
Each of the side walls 16 and 18 has at least one set of supporting members attached to it. In the embodiment illustrated in
Referring to
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.
As can be seen in
Shown merely by way of example in
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.