Wine rack

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wine bottles stored vertically can dry out due to exposure, and existing storage solutions lack flexibility for convenient storage and display, especially when needing to be transported or stored.

Innovation Solution

A lightweight, foldable wine rack with flexible materials and adjustable side walls that can be rolled into a stowed position, allowing wine bottles to be stored or displayed horizontally, accommodating various bottle sizes and configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If wine bottles are stored vertically, then space utilization is improved, but cork moisture is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidcork drying

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional vertical storage orientation by implementing horizontal storage. The rack structure with side walls and support arms creates a configuration where bottles rest horizontally on their sides, allowing the liquid wine to contact and moisten the cork, thereby preventing cork drying while still achieving efficient space utilization through compact rack design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Stability of the object's composition

If a rigid wine rack structure is used, then stability is improved, but flexibility for transport and storage is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverack stabilityVSAvoidflexibility for transport

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The rack is divided into separable components including side walls and support arms that can be detached from one another. This segmentation allows the stable rack structure to be disassembled into manageable parts for easy transport and storage, while maintaining structural integrity and stability when assembled for use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The support arms are designed with rotatable attachments to the side walls, enabling dynamic adjustment and folding capabilities. This allows the rack to transition between a stable extended configuration for holding bottles and a compact folded configuration for transport, providing both stability during use and flexibility for movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If a foldable rack design is implemented, then ease of transport is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of transportVSAvoidrack structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The foldable capability is achieved through rotatable support arms that attach to the side walls. This dynamic mechanism allows the support arms to be folded against the side walls for compact transport, while providing simple rotational movement for deployment, balancing ease of transport with minimal structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The support arms serve multiple functions: they provide structural support for bottles, enable the folding mechanism for transport, and connect the side walls together. By combining these functions into a single component, the design achieves foldability without proportionally increasing overall complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS12114789B2Wine rack

Publication Date: 2024.10.15 SKRYPEK MICHAEL V

AI summary

Provided is a wine rack having a mat, a first side wall, and a second side wall. The wine rack is configured to support a plurality of wine bottles between the first side wall and the second side wall. The wine rack is further configured to roll into a stowed position for storage, transportation, distribution, or advertising. Alternatively, the wine rack has a pair of scissor arms located between the first side wall and the second side wall such that the rack is configured to pivot between an extended position and a retracted position.