Modular Wine Rack Arms for Visible Labels and Flexible Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional wine racks fail to make wine bottle labels visible while storing, are not modular, leading to wasted space and non-replaceable components, and require multiple arms to support bottles.
Innovation Solution
A universal metal arm with uniform-sized depressions for supporting bottles, allowing adjustable orientation and modular design for wall mounting or standalone use, accommodating various bottle sizes and orientations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If wine bottles are stored orthogonally against the wall to maximize storage capacity, then the number of bottles stored is increased, but the wine bottle labels become invisible and difficult to read
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from orthogonal storage (bottles perpendicular to wall) to parallel storage (bottles parallel to wall). This dimensional change allows bottles to be positioned horizontally with labels facing outward, making them visible while maintaining storage capacity through optimized arm spacing and configuration.
2Quantity of substance
If large unit wine racks are built to cover entire walls, then storage capacity is maximized, but wasted space occurs when users do not have enough wine to fill the rack
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the wine rack into modular components: individual arms, mounting surfaces, and adjustable elements that can be configured in various quantities. Users can assemble racks of appropriate size for their needs, eliminating wasted space while maintaining the ability to expand capacity by adding more arms or mounting surfaces.
3Quantity of substance
If traditional wine racks are built as large fixed units, then storage capacity is maximized, but the racks become expensive and difficult to install
Solution Approach 1:
The rack is segmented into standardized arms and mounting surfaces that can be manufactured independently and assembled by users. This modular approach reduces production costs through standardized components and simplifies installation, while allowing flexible configuration to achieve desired storage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The arms are designed as universal components that can support bottles in multiple orientations and configurations. Each arm can be mounted in different positions and orientations on mounting surfaces, allowing the same component to serve multiple functions and adapt to various storage needs without requiring custom parts.
4Adaptability or versatility
If modular wine racks are created by stacking small complete racks, then some modularity is achieved, but space waste occurs and individual components become non-replaceable
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of creating modular units as complete small racks, the patent segments the system into individual arms and mounting surfaces. This allows users to assemble racks of precise size and configuration, eliminating wasted space while maintaining true modularity where individual arms can be added, removed, or replaced independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential storage function from complete rack units and isolates it into individual arms that can be independently configured. This extraction allows arms to be used in different positions and orientations, providing adaptability without the space waste inherent in pre-assembled modular units.
5Loss of information
If two different arms are used to support a bottle in horizontal racking, then label visibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a single universal arm design that can support bottles in multiple orientations and positions. The arm's geometry and mounting flexibility allow it to perform the functions previously requiring different specialized arms, thereby maintaining label visibility while reducing component variety and system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A modular wine rack system stores wine with the label facing the user, having at least two identical rods with indentations sized to hold a wine bottle. The rods are attached to a wall or frame to extend there from. The rods may be spaced apart so that the bottles are stored angled downwardly, with the body supported on one rod and the neck supported on the other.