Rack for stem glasses

Abstract

A rack for holding stem glasses of the type comprising a stem portion interconnecting a foot portion and a cup portion. The rack is elongated and defines first and second horizontally spaced-apart ends. The rack comprises elongated lower and upper rails both extending between the first and second rack ends, the upper rail being positioned vertically over the lower rail in the operative position of the rack. The rack also defines an elongated foot channel formed between the lower and upper rails and sized for accommodating the foot portion of the stem glass. An elongated insertion slot is also made between the lower and upper rails, the insertion slot being narrower than the foot channel. Furthermore, the rack also defines an elongated clearance positioned above the foot channel for allowing the foot portion of the stem glass to partially and temporarily enter therein when a glass is being inserted or removed from the rack. The foot portion of the stem glass may be inserted into and removed from the foot channel at any point along the elongated insertion slot, and the stem glass may be mounted in the rack in a substantially horizontal cantilevered position where the foot portion is located in the foot channel with an upper portion of the foot portion abutting on the upper rail and a lower portion of the foot portion abutting on the lower rail.

1 . A rack for stem glasses of the type comprising a stem portion interconnecting a foot portion and a cup portion, said rack being elongated and defining first and second ends destined to be horizontally spaced-apart in an operative position of said rack, said rack comprising: 
 an elongated lower rail extending between said first and second ends;    an elongated upper rail extending between said first and second ends, said upper rail destined to be positioned substantially vertically over said lower rail in said operative position of said rack;    an elongated foot channel between said lower and upper rails and extending between said first and second ends, said foot channel sized for accommodating the foot portion of a stem glass;    an elongated insertion slot made between said lower and upper rails and being narrower than said foot channel, said insertion slot extending between said first and second ends; and    an elongated clearance positioned above said foot channel and extending between said first and second ends, for allowing the foot portion of the stem glass to partially and temporarily enter said clearance when a glass is being inserted or removed from said rack;    wherein the foot portion of the stem glass may be inserted into and removed from said foot channel at any point along said elongated insertion slot, and wherein the stem glass may be mounted in said rack in a cantilevered position where the foot portion is located in said foot channel with an upper portion of the foot portion abutting on said upper rail and a lower portion of the foot portion abutting on said lower rail.    
   
   
       2 . The rack according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein said elongated lower rail comprises a foot supporting groove for accommodating the lower portion of the stem glass foot portion.    
   
   
       3 . The rack according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein said upper rail comprises an upper rail wall having front and rear surfaces, said insertion clearance being located about said rear surface thereof, and wherein said upper rail wall is for allowing the upper portion of the stem glass foot portion to abut against said rear surface thereof.    
   
   
       4 . The rack according to  claim 3 , 
 further comprising a shelf affixed to said front surface of said upper rail wall and projecting therefrom, said shelf destined to overhang the stem glasses held in said rack, said shelf acting as a deflector means for causing at least a portion of rising fumes to be deflected away from said rack and thus away from the glasses mounted therein, and also for preventing dust to settle on the stem glasses mounted in said rack and located under said shelf.    
   
   
       5 . The rack according to  claim 1 , 
 further comprising wall mounting means for mounting said rack to a wall, said rack also comprising spacer means for maintaining said upper rail plank spaced apart from the wall in order for said clearance to be defined between said upper rail plank and the wall.    
   
   
       6 . The rack according to  claim 5 , 
 further comprising a wall mounting bracket, said wall mounting bracket comprising said wall mounting means and said spacer means.    
   
   
       7 . The rack according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein said elongated upper and lower rails each define first and second lateral extremities, both said first extremities of said upper and lower rails fixedly interconnected by a first lateral bracket, both said second extremities of said upper and lower rails being fixedly interconnected by a second lateral bracket, said first and second lateral brackets thus fixedly interconnecting said upper and lower rails.