Barrel rack system

Abstract

A barrel rack system that may be modular and customizable to fit an existing storage space. The barrel rack system may include first and second rack units, each defining a hexagonal storage cell that is configured to hold and store a barrel. The first and second rack units may be detachably coupled together so that the hexagonal storage cells thereof are adjacent and parallel to one another. The first and second rack units, when coupled together, may collectively define an elevated storage cell that is capable of holding/storing yet another barrel. The elevated storage cell may be offset relative to the hexagonal storage cells. Additional rack units may be coupled to the first and second rack units horizontally and/or vertically to effectively conform the barrel rack system to the existing storage space.

1 . A barrel rack system comprising:
 at least one first rack unit and at least one second rack unit, each of the first and second rack units comprising:
 a first hexagonal frame and a second hexagonal frame, each of the first and second hexagonal frames comprising an inner surface that defines an opening, an outer surface opposite the inner surface, a front surface, a rear surface, a first lower side, a second lower side, a first upper side, and a second upper side; and 
 a plurality of struts, each of the struts connected to and extending between the rear surfaces of the first and second hexagonal frames to maintain the first and second hexagonal frames in a spaced relation to define a storage cell between the opening of the first hexagonal frame and the opening of the second hexagonal frame; 
   the first and second rack units being detachably coupled together so that the storage cells of the first and second rack units are adjacent to one another, and wherein an elevated storage cell is defined by the second upper side of each of the first and second hexagonal frames of the first rack unit and the first upper side of each of the first and second hexagonal frames of the second rack unit;   at least one wheel coupled to at least:
 each of the first and second lower sides of each of the first and second hexagonal frames of each of the first and second rack units; 
 the second upper side of each of the first and second hexagonal frames of the first rack unit; and 
 the first upper side of each of the first and second hexagonal frames of the second rack unit; and 
   wherein the wheels coupled to the first and second lower sides protrude from the inner surface of the first and second hexagonal frames and the wheels on the first and second upper sides protrude from the outer surfaces of the first and second hexagonal frames so that barrels located in the storage cells and on the elevated storage cell are rotatably supported by the wheels.   
     
     
         2 . The barrel rack system according to  claim 1  wherein each of the first and second lower sides of each of the first and second hexagonal frames comprises a hole that extends from the inner surface to the outer surface, and wherein the at least one wheel that is coupled to each of the first and second lower sides of each of the first and second hexagonal frames of each of the first and second rack units is disposed within the hole so that at least a portion of the at least one wheel protrudes from the inner surface. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The barrel rack system according to  claim 1  wherein each of the first and second hexagonal frames further comprises a first lateral side extending between the first lower side and the first upper side and a second lateral side extending between the second lower side and the second upper side, and wherein the second lateral sides of the first and second hexagonal frames of the first rack unit are adjacent to the first lateral sides of the first and second hexagonal frames of the second rack unit, respectively, wherein the first and second rack units are coupled together with first fasteners that extend through the second lateral side of the first hexagonal frame of the first rack unit and the first lateral side of the first hexagonal frame of the second rack unit and second fasteners that extend through the second lateral side of the second hexagonal frame of the first rack unit and the first lateral side of the second hexagonal frame of the second rack unit. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The barrel rack system according to  claim 1  wherein each of the first and second hexagonal frames is formed from a flat metal sheet having a top surface and a bottom surface, the flat metal sheet comprising a plurality of plate segments and a plurality of hinge portions located between adjacent ones of the plurality of plate segments, wherein the flat metal sheet is configured to be bent at each of the plurality of hinge portions to form at least a portion of one of the first and second hexagonal frames. 
     
     
         7 . The barrel rack system according to  claim 6  wherein the plurality of plate segments comprises at least a first plate segment and a second plate segment, the first and second plate segments comprising a hole that extends from the top surface of the metal sheet to the bottom surface of the metal sheet, wherein the hole is configured to receive a wheel. 
     
     
         8 . The barrel rack system according to  claim 6  wherein the flat metal sheet comprises a longitudinal axis, and wherein each of the plurality of plate segments comprises a central axial portion and first and second side axial portions located on opposite sides of the central axial portion, wherein each of the first and second side axial portions is configured to be bent relative to the central axial portion to form a U-shaped section of the metal strip prior to bending the flat metal sheet at each of the plurality of hinge portions. 
     
     
         9 . The barrel rack system according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 a base component that is configured to rest atop of a floor surface, the base component comprising a first V-shaped rack support member and a second V-shaped rack support member; 
 each of the first and second hexagonal frames comprising a plurality of sides and a plurality of apexes; and 
 wherein the base component is configured to support the first and second rack units by resting one of the apexes of each of the first and second hexagonal frames of the first rack unit on the first V-shaped rack support member and resting one of the apexes of each of the first and second hexagonal frames of the second rack unit on the second V-shaped rack support member. 
 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The barrel rack system according to  claim 1  further comprising at least one wheel lock mechanism, each of the at least one wheel lock mechanism associated with one of the at least one wheel, the wheel lock mechanism configured to lock the one of the at least one wheel and prevent or impede rotation of the one of the at least one wheel, wherein the wheel lock mechanism comprises a locking member that is alterable between a first position whereby the locking member is not in contact with the one of the at least one wheel and the one of the at least one wheel can freely rotate and a second position whereby the locking member contacts the one of the at least one wheel and prevents or impedes rotation of the one of the at least one wheel. 
     
     
         13 .- 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The barrel rack system according to  claim 1  further comprising a first rack assembly comprising a first one of the first rack units and a first one of the second rack units and a second rack assembly comprising a second one of the first rack units and a second one of the second rack units, wherein the second one of the first rack units is coupled to the first one of the second rack units to form the barrel rack system, and wherein the barrel rack system is capable of holding seven barrels. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A barrel rack system comprising:
 a first rack unit and a second rack unit, each of the first and second rack units comprising:
 a first hexagonal frame and a second hexagonal frame, each of the first and second hexagonal frames comprising an inner surface that defines an opening and an outer surface opposite the inner surface; and 
 a plurality of struts, each of the struts connected to and extending between the first and second hexagonal frames to form a storage cell having a cell axis, each of the storage cells configured to hold a barrel; 
   the first and second hexagonal frames of the first rack unit coupled to the first and second hexagonal frames of the second rack unit, respectively, so that the cell axes of the storage cells of the first and second rack units are parallel to one another, and wherein an elevated storage cell is defined by portions of the outer surfaces of the first and second hexagonal frames of the first and second rack units, the elevated storage cell configured to hold another barrel; and   a base component configured to be positioned on a floor surface, wherein the first and second rack units are positioned on and supported by the base component.   
     
     
         20 . The barrel rack system according to  claim 19  wherein each of the first and second hexagonal frames comprises a plurality of sides and a plurality of apexes, and wherein the first and second rack units are oriented so that one of the apexes forms a bottommost portion of the first and second rack units and is in contact with the base component, wherein the base component comprises a first V-shaped rack support member and a second V-shaped rack support member, wherein the one of the apexes of the first and second hexagonal frames of the first rack unit rests atop of the first V-shaped rack support member and wherein the one of the apexes of the first and second hexagonal frames of the second rack unit rests atop of the second V-shaped rack support member, and wherein fasteners affix the first and second hexagonal frames of the first and second rack units to the first and second V-shaped rack support members. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The barrel rack system according to  claim 19  further comprising:
 for each of the first and second rack units, the first hexagonal frame comprising a first pair of wheels and the second hexagonal frame comprising a second pair of wheels, wherein the barrel held in the storage cell is supported on the first and second pairs of wheels so that the barrel is able to be rotated while remaining positioned in the storage cell. 
 
     
     
         23 . The barrel rack system according to  claim 22  further comprising at least one wheel lock mechanism, each of the at least one wheel lock mechanism associated with one of the wheels of one of the first and second pairs of wheels, the at least one wheel lock mechanism configured to lock the one of the wheels and prevent or impede rotation of the one of the wheels, wherein the at least one wheel lock mechanism comprises a locking member that is alterable between a first position whereby the locking member is not in contact with the one of the wheels and the one of the wheels can freely rotate and a second position whereby the locking member contacts the one of the wheels and prevents rotation of the one of the wheels, thereby preventing rotation of the barrel positioned in the storage cell. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The barrel rack system according to  claim 22  wherein for each of the first and second rack units, the first hexagonal frame comprises a first pair of holes extending from the inner surface of the first hexagonal frame to the outer surface of the first hexagonal frame and the second hexagonal frame comprises a second pair of holes extending from the inner surface of the second hexagonal frame to the outer surface of the second hexagonal frame, and wherein each of the wheels of the first pair of wheels is coupled to the first hexagonal frame within one of the holes of the first pair of holes and wherein each of the wheels of the second pair of wheels is coupled to the second hexagonal frame within one of the holes of the second pair of holes. 
     
     
         26 . The barrel rack system according to  claim 19  further comprising:
 for each of the first and second rack units, the first and second hexagonal frames further comprising a first lower side and a second lower side that form a V-shape; 
 a first wheel coupled to the first lower side of the first hexagonal frame and a second wheel coupled to the second lower side of the first hexagonal frame; 
 a third wheel coupled to the first lower side of the second hexagonal frame and a fourth wheel coupled to the second lower side of the second hexagonal frame; and 
 wherein the barrel that is positioned within the storage cell is supported on the first, second, third, and fourth wheels so that the barrel is able to be rotated while remaining positioned in the storage cell; 
 the first and second hexagonal frames further comprise a first upper side and a second upper side, wherein the first and second rack units are coupled together so that: (1) the second upper side of the first hexagonal frame of the first rack unit and the first upper side of the first hexagonal frame of the second rack unit form a V-shape; and (2) the second upper side of the second hexagonal frame of the first rack unit and the first upper side of the second hexagonal frame of the second rack unit form a V-shape; 
 a fifth wheel coupled to the second upper side of the first hexagonal frame of the first rack unit and a sixth wheel coupled to the first upper side of the first hexagonal frame of the second rack unit; 
 a seventh wheel coupled to the second upper side of the second hexagonal frame of the first rack unit and an eighth wheel coupled to the first upper side of the second hexagonal frame of the second rack unit; and 
 wherein the additional barrel located at the elevated storage cell is supported on the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth wheels so that the additional barrel is able to be rotated while remaining located at the elevated storage cell. 
 
     
     
         27 .- 36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . A barrel rack system comprising:
 a first rack unit defining a first hexagonal storage cell having a first cell axis, the first hexagonal storage cell being configured to store a first barrel;   a second rack unit defining a second hexagonal storage cell having a second cell axis, the second hexagonal storage cell being configured to store a second barrel, the second rack unit being detachably coupled to the first rack unit so that the first and second cell axes are parallel;   wherein upper portions of the first and second rack units collectively define an elevated storage cell having a third axis that is parallel to the first and second cell axes, the elevated storage cell being configured to store a third barrel.   
     
     
         38 . The barrel rack system according to  claim 37  wherein the first rack unit comprises a plurality of first wheels upon which the first barrel is configured to be supported when positioned in the first hexagonal storage cell, wherein the second rack unit comprises a plurality of second wheels upon which the second barrel is configured to be supported when positioned in the second hexagonal storage cell, and wherein the upper portions of the first and second rack units comprise a plurality of third wheels upon which the third barrel is configured to be supported when positioned in the elevated storage cell. 
     
     
         39 . The barrel rack system according to  claim 37 , further comprising:
 the first rack unit comprising a first hexagonal frame, a second hexagonal frame, and a first plurality of struts connected to and extending between the first and second hexagonal frames;   the second rack unit comprising a third hexagonal frame, a fourth hexagonal frame, and a second plurality of struts connected to and extending between the third and fourth hexagonal frames; and   wherein the first hexagonal frame of the first rack unit is detachably coupled to the third hexagonal frame of the second rack unit and the second hexagonal frame of the first rack unit is detachably coupled to the fourth hexagonal frame of the second rack unit.   
     
     
         40 . The barrel rack system according to  claim 39  wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth hexagonal frames comprises a first lower side and a second lower side that define a lower apex, and wherein at least one wheel is coupled to each of the first and second lower sides of each of the first, second, third, and fourth hexagonal frames, wherein the first and second barrels stored in the first and second hexagonal storage cells are supported by the wheels so that the first and second barrels can be rotated about an axis that is parallel to the first and second cell axes; wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth hexagonal frames comprise a first upper side and a second upper side that intersect to form an upper apex, and wherein the elevated storage cell is defined by the second upper side of each of the first and second hexagonal frames and the first upper side of each of the third and fourth hexagonal frames, wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth hexagonal frames comprises a first lateral side that extends between the first upper side and the first lower side and a second lateral side that extends between the second upper side and the second lower side, and wherein the second lateral sides of the first and second hexagonal frames are detachably coupled to the first lateral sides of the third and fourth hexagonal frames to couple the first and second rack units together, further comprising at least one wheel coupled to the second upper side of each of the first and second hexagonal frames and to the first upper side of each of the third and fourth hexagonal frames so that the third barrel located in the elevated storage cell is rotatably supported by the wheels. 
     
     
         41 .- 43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . The barrel rack system according to  claim 37  wherein the first and second rack units are non-integral with one another and are detachably coupled together with fasteners. 
     
     
         45 .- 55 . (canceled)