Water bottle delivery, storage and retrieval system

Abstract

A water bottle delivery, storage, and retrieval system is provided which comprises an enclosed structure having an upper shelf and a lower shelf having opposing inclines. The structure may also have access doors positioned to allow storage and retrieval of the full and empty water bottles. Bottles filled with water may be loaded onto the bottom shelf. The shelf is inclined so the bottles can roll along the plastic ribs of the bottles guided by rails which are attached to the upper surface of the bottom shelf. The rails are attached to the shelf so that they are positioned between the ribs of the bottles. The empty bottles may also be stored in the dispenser on the upper shelf. The upper shelf may be inclined in a direction opposite to the incline of the lower shelf. The upper shelf may also have rails to guide the empty bottles as they roll along the shelf. Other embodiments of the invention may be freestanding systems with or without enclosures.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A water bottle delivery, storage and retrieval system comprising: 
 an enclosure having a plurality of doors; and    an upper shelf and a lower shelf for receiving water bottles, the upper shelf and lower shelf each located adjacent at least one of the doors and positioned on an angle within the enclosure so that the water bottles roll toward at least one door when placed on each shelf.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein at least one shelf has one or more rails positioned along a portion of the length of the shelf to provide for the one or more rails to guide the water bottles as they roll along the shelf.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein at least one shelf has one or more slides positioned along the width of one or more ends of the shelf to provide for the water bottles to be easily moved onto or off of the shelf.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the doors has a means for securing the door.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the enclosure has a top, a bottom, a rear wall, two sides and an open front portion.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein at least one door is located proximate the lowest portion of the lower shelf.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein at least one door is located proximate the lowest portion of the upper shelf.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a means for maintaining the temperature inside the enclosure.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a means for insulating the enclosure.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein at least one shelf has a bottle stopping means located at the end of at least one shelf.  
     
     
         11 . A water bottle delivery, storage and retrieval system comprising: 
 one or more shelves for receiving water bottles, at least one shelf having a lip disposed on at least one edge of the shelf to prevent the water bottles from rolling off the shelf, and    a plurality of supports to maintain the one or more shelves in a fixed position to accept and hold water bottles.    
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein at least one shelf has one or more rails positioned along a portion of the length of the shelf to provide for the one or more rails to guide the water bottles as they roll along the shelf.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11  wherein at least one shelf has one or more slides positioned along the width of one or more ends of the shelf to provide for the water bottles to be easily moved onto or off of the shelf.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11  wherein one or more shelves are wide enough to accept a water bottle that is placed on the shelf so that the bottle longitudinal axis is parallel to the shelf longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the shelves are shaped to conform the curvature of the water bottles when the bottles are placed on the shelf.  
     
     
         16 . A water bottle delivery, storage and retrieval system comprising: 
 an upper shelf and a lower shelf for receiving water bottles, the upper shelf and the lower shelf each positioned on an angle so that the water bottles roll toward one end of the shelf when placed on the shelf; and    at least one of the shelves having a lip disposed on at least one edge of the shelf to prevent the water bottles from rolling off of the shelf.    
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  wherein at least one shelf has one or more rails positioned along a portion of the length of the shelf to provide for the one or more rails to, guide the water bottles as they roll along the shelf.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16  wherein at least one shelf has one or more slides positioned along the width of one or more ends of the shelf to provide for the water bottles to be easily moved onto or off of the shelf.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16  wherein at least one shelf has a bottle stopping means located at the end of at least one shelf.  
     
     
         20 . A water bottle delivery, storage and retrieval system comprising: 
 an enclosure having one or more openings;    one or more shelves positioned within the enclosure and located adjacent at least one opening; and    a means for guiding water bottles attached to at least one shelf and that enables bottles to freely move along the length of the shelf.    
     
     
         21 . A water bottle delivery storage and retrieval system for installation in an enclosure having one or more openings comprising: 
 one or more shelves positioned within the enclosure and located adjacent at least one opening; and    a means for guiding water bottles attached to at least one shelf and that enables bottles to freely move along the length of the shelf.