Modular wine rack with multiple linear connectors

Abstract

A modular wine rack has multiple panel assemblies, multiple linear connectors and multiple connecting tubes. Each panel assembly is connected to adjacent panel assemblies and has a front panel and a rear panel. The linear connectors are mounted respectively between each two adjacent panel assemblies to connect the adjacent panel assemblies. Each two adjacent linear connectors are attached securely to each other. Each linear connector has a body, a first projection, a second projection and two branches. The first and second projections are formed on an abutting surface of the body and misalign with each other. The branches are formed respectively on two ends of the body. The connecting tubes are mounted respectively between the front and rear panels of each panel assemblies to connect the front and rear panels. Therefore, the modular wine rack is kept from collapsing easily by the linear connectors.

1 . A modular wine rack comprising:
 multiple panel assemblies, and each panel assembly being connected to adjacent panel assemblies and having
 a front panel having multiple through holes being formed through the front panel; and 
 a rear panel having multiple through holes being formed through the rear panel; 
   multiple linear connectors being mounted respectively between each two adjacent panel assemblies, each linear connector being mounted between two adjacent panels of the adjacent panel assemblies, and each linear connector comprising:
 a body having
 an abutting surface; 
 a longitudinally central axis; 
 a transversely central axis; 
 a first end; 
 a second end, wherein the first and second ends are respectively at two sides of the longitudinally central axis; 
 a first side surface being parallel to the transversely central axis; and 
 a second side surface being parallel to the transversely central axis; 
 a first projection being formed on and protruding out from the abutting surface of the body, being formed near the first end and the first side surface of the body; 
 
 a second projection being formed on and protruding out from the abutting surface of the body, being formed near the second end and the second side surface, misaligning with the first projection; and 
 two branches being formed respectively on the first and second ends of the body, and each branch having a through hole being formed longitudinally through the branch and having an inner annular wall; 
   each two adjacent linear connectors being attached securely to each other wherein the first projection of one linear connector corresponds to and is attached securely to the second projection of the other one linear connector; and   multiple connecting tubes being mounted respectively between the front and rear panels of each panel assemblies, and each connecting tube having
 two ends being mounted respectively through the through holes of the branches of two corresponding linear connectors; and 
 an outside wall. 
   
   
   
       2 . The modular wine rack as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein
 the first projection of each linear connector is flush with the first side surface of the linear connector and the longitudinally and transversely central axes of the linear connector; and   the second projection of each linear connector is flush with the second side surface of the linear connector and the longitudinally and transversely central axes of the linear connector.   
   
   
       3 . The modular wine rack as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein
 the body of each linear connector has a nub being formed on and protruding out from the abutting surface of the body and being formed between the transversely central axis and the first side surface of the body;   the first projection of each linear connector has
 an outside wall; and 
 a groove being formed longitudinally in the outside wall of the first projection; and 
   the nub of the body of one linear connector engaging the groove of the first projection of the adjacent linear connector.   
   
   
       4 . The modular wine rack as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein
 the body of each linear connector has a nub being formed on and protruding out from the abutting surface of the body and being formed between the transversely central axis and the first side surface of the body;   the first projection of each linear connector has
 an outside wall; and 
 a groove being formed longitudinally in the outside wall of the first projection; and 
   the nub of the body of one linear connector engaging the groove of the first projection of the adjacent linear connector.   
   
   
       5 . The modular wine rack as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein
 each branch of the linear connectors has a guiding slot being formed in the inner annular wall of the through hole of the branch and communicating with the through hole of the branch; and   each connecting tube has two guiding protrusions being formed on the outside wall of the connecting tube and corresponding to and selectively aligning with the guiding slots of the branches of the corresponding linear connectors.   
   
   
       6 . The modular wine rack as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein
 each branch of the linear connectors has a guiding slot being formed in the inner annular wall of the through hole of the branch and communicating with the through hole of the branch; and   each connecting tube has two guiding protrusions being formed on the outside wall of the connecting tube and corresponding to and selectively aligning with the guiding slots of the branches of die corresponding linear connectors.   
   
   
       7 . The modular wine rack as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein
 each panel of the panel assemblies has multiple fastening holes being formed through the panel, wherein the fastening holes of the front panel of one panel assembly respectively aligning with the fastening holes of the rear panel of the panel assembly;   the through hole of the branches of each linear connector respectively align with the fastening holes of the adjacent panels;   each connecting tube is mounted between the aligning fastening holes of the front and rear panels of a corresponding panel assembly and has
 two fastening holes being respectively formed longitudinally in the ends of the connecting tube, aligning with the fastening holes of the front and rear panels of the corresponding panel assembly; 
   multiple panel fasteners are mounted respectively through the fastening holes of the panels and are mounted securely in the fastening holes of the connecting tubes;   the first projection of each linear connector has a through hole being formed longitudinally through the first projection;   the second projection of each linear connector has a through hole being formed longitudinally through the second projection;   the through holes of the corresponding projections align with each other; and   each two adjacent linear connectors have two connector fasteners being mounted respectively through the aligning through holes to securely attach the adjacent linear connectors.   
   
   
       8 . The modular wine rack as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein
 each panel of the panel assemblies has multiple fastening holes being formed through the panel, wherein the fastening holes of the front panel of one panel assembly respectively aligning with the fastening holes of the rear panel of the panel assembly;   the through hole of the branches of each linear connector respectively align with the fastening holes of the adjacent panels;   each connecting tube is mounted between the aligning fastening holes of the front and rear panels of a corresponding panel assembly and has
 two fastening holes being respectively formed longitudinally in the ends of the connecting tube, aligning with the fastening holes of the front and rear panels of the corresponding panel assembly; 
   multiple panel fasteners are mounted respectively through the fastening holes of the panels and are mounted securely in the fastening holes of the connecting tubes;   the first projection of each linear connector has a through hole being formed longitudinally through the first projection;   the second projection of each linear connector has a through hole being formed longitudinally through the second projection;   the through holes of the corresponding projections align with each other; and   each two adjacent linear connectors have two connector fasteners being mounted respectively through the aligning through holes to securely attach the adjacent linear connectors.   
   
   
       9 . The modular wine rack as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising multiple additional panels being mounted respectively between each two adjacent panel assemblies, wherein each additional panel has
 two ends;   a bottom surface;   two mounting channels being formed in the bottom surface of the additional panel, being respectively near the ends of the additional panel and being mounted respectively around corresponding connecting tubes; and   two pairs of notches being formed respectively in the ends of the additional panels, respectively communicating with the mounting channels and being mounted respectively around the branches of corresponding linear connectors.   
   
   
       10 . The modular wine rack as claimed in  claim 8  further comprising multiple additional panels being mounted respectively between each two adjacent panel assemblies, wherein each additional panel has
 two ends;   a bottom surface;   two mounting channels being formed in the bottom surface of the additional panel, being respectively near the ends of the additional panel and being mounted respectively around corresponding connecting tubes;   two pairs of notches being formed respectively in the ends of the additional panels, respectively communicating with the mounting channels and being mounted respectively around the branches of corresponding linear connectors; and   four additional fasteners being mounted respectively through the additional panels, being mounted securely in the fastening holes of the corresponding connecting tubes.   
   
   
       11 . The modular wine rack as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein
 the fastening holes of the connecting tubes of the panel assemblies are threaded holes;   the panel fasteners are screws;   the through holes of the first and second projections of the linear connectors are threaded holes;   the connector fasteners are screws; and   the additional fasteners are screws.   
   
   
       12 . The modular wine rack as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein
 the fastening holes of the connecting tubes of the panel assemblies are threaded holes;   the panel fasteners are screws;   the through holes of the first and second projections of the linear connectors are threaded holes;   the connector fasteners are screws; and   the additional fasteners are screws.   
   
   
       13 . The modular wine rack as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second projections of each linear connector are circular in cross section. 
   
   
       14 . The modular wine rack as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the first and second projections of each linear connector are circular in cross section. 
   
   
       15 . The modular wine rack as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second projections of each linear connector are rectangular in cross section. 
   
   
       16 . The modular wine rack as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the first and second projections of each linear connector are rectangular in cross section. 
   
   
       17 . The modular wine rack as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the additional panels are rectangular in cross section. 
   
   
       18 . The modular wine rack as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the additional panels are rectangular in cross section. 
   
   
       19 . The modular wine rack as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the additional panels are curved in cross section. 
   
   
       20 . The modular wine rack as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the additional panels are curved in cross section.