Foldable Under-Shelf Wine Rack for Space-Efficient Bottle Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wine storage solutions are bulky, inefficiently use space, and do not allow for secure storage of bottles, as they often require large vertical space and cannot be folded or mounted underneath shelves or in refrigerators.
Innovation Solution
A foldable rack system with elongated brackets, cradle members, and straps that can be attached under shelves or cabinets, allowing for the storage of wine bottles and small items, and featuring pivotable cradles that can be folded up when not in use, along with accessories like sliding shelves and anti-tip tabs for stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional multiple level racks are used for wine storage, then storage capacity is improved, but device volume becomes large and bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The rack is divided into multiple levels with individual bottle holders at each level, allowing independent positioning and storage of multiple bottles without requiring a large monolithic structure. This segmentation enables efficient use of vertical space while maintaining compact overall dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The rack utilizes vertical dimension by extending upward from the mounting surface with multiple levels, rather than expanding horizontally. This vertical orientation allows storage of multiple bottles in a compact footprint, resolving the contradiction between storage capacity and device volume.
2Adaptability or versatility
If hanging racks are used for wine bottles, then storage functionality is improved, but the rack extends substantial distance below mounting surface taking up space
Solution Approach 1:
The rack incorporates foldable legs that can be positioned in different configurations - extended for storage functionality and folded up when not in use. This dynamic capability allows the rack to adapt between providing substantial storage support and minimizing vertical extension, resolving the contradiction between functionality and extension distance.
3Volume of stationary object
If bottles are stored in upright positions inside cabinets, then space utilization is improved, but bottles are hard to retrieve and take up large vertical space
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of storing bottles upright on their bases, the rack stores bottles horizontally on their sides using individual holders. This inversion of the storage orientation makes bottles easily accessible and visible while utilizing vertical space efficiently, resolving the contradiction between space utilization and retrieval ease.
4Ease of manufacture
If bottles are stored in standing conditions, then storage simplicity is improved, but bottles can lean against each other and become broken
Solution Approach 1:
Each bottle holder is designed with specific local features including cushioning elements and positioning structures that individually secure each bottle. This localized quality control ensures each bottle is independently supported and protected, preventing leaning and breakage while maintaining storage simplicity through the modular holder design.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The foldable rack system efficiently utilizes vertical space, provides secure storage for wine bottles and small items, and can be easily mounted underneath shelves or in refrigerators, addressing the bulkiness and space issues of prior art.
Implementation Method 1
a first cradle member having a left end and a right end, the left end of the first cradle member being pivotally attached to the first elongated bracket adjacent to the front end of the first elongated bracket
Data Source
AI summary
Rack systems, devices, and methods for attaching and providing foldable storage racks underneath refrigerator shelves or cabinets or other shelves for suspending, storing and separating wine bottles and beverage cans and plates. The storage racks can include a plurality of bail cradles each having ends pivotally attached to brackets. The bail cradles can have concave support surfaces for supporting and separating bottles and cans.