Wine cabinet

Abstract

A wine storage cabinet maintains wine bottles in two separate compartments at different temperatures and humidities. Temperature controls for each compartment are installed on the exterior of the cabinet. An interchangeable rack system allows some bottles in a vertical position in one compartment, while other bottles are maintained in a horizontal position in the other compartment.

1 . A wine storage cabinet comprising:
 a first compartment, including a first door, first sealing means and a first internal storage area, said first compartment being substantially isolated from the ambient environment when said first door is closed;   a second compartment, independent of said first compartment, including a second door, second sealing means and a second internal storage area, said second compartment being substantially isolated from the ambient environment and said first compartment when said second door is closed; and   refrigeration means, attached to said first and second compartments, for cooling said internal storage areas;   wherein said storage areas can be maintained at different temperatures, and further wherein both said storage areas are suitable for storing bottles of wine.   
   
   
       2 . The wine storage cabinet of  claim 1 , wherein said first door and said second door are independently operable to access bottles of wine, stored in the two compartments. 
   
   
       3 . The wine storage cabinet of  claim 1 , wherein one of said internal storage compartments includes means for vertically supporting bottles of wine. 
   
   
       4 . The wine storage cabinet of  claim 1 , wherein one of said internal storage compartments includes means for horizontally supporting bottles of wine. 
   
   
       5 . The wine storage cabinet of  claim 1 , including temperature setting means coupled to said refrigeration means for independently setting temperatures for said first and second storage areas. 
   
   
       6 . The wine storage cabinet of  claim 1 , wherein the storage areas of said first compartment and said second compartment are maintained at different humidities. 
   
   
       7 . The wine storage cabinet of  claim 1 , wherein said first compartment further includes illumination means. 
   
   
       8 . The wine storage cabinet of  claim 1 , wherein said second compartment further includes illumination means. 
   
   
       9 . A wine storage cabinet comprising:
 an external casing, to provide protection and aesthetic appeal to the exterior of the cabinet;   a first storage compartment within said external casing;   a first door, hingedly affixed to said casing for sealing said first storage compartment from the atmosphere when said first door is closed;   a second storage compartment, within said external casing;   a second door, hingedly affixed to said casing for sealing said second storage   compartment from the atmosphere when said second door is closed;   refrigeration means, for maintaining separate temperatures in said first and second compartments; and   control means affixed to said exterior casing for regulating the temperatures of said first and second compartments.   
   
   
       10 . The wine storage cabinet of  claim 9 , wherein said first storage compartment and said second storage compartment each contain a plurality of modular rack sections to accommodate both vertical and horizontal placements of wine bottles. 
   
   
       11 . The wine storage cabinet of  claim 9 , wherein said first and second compartments are maintained at different humidities. 
   
   
       12 . The wine storage cabinet of  claim 9 , wherein said first compartment further includes illumination means. 
   
   
       13 . The wine storage cabinet of  claim 9 , wherein said second compartment further includes illumination means. 
   
   
       14 . The wine storage cabinet of  claim 9 , wherein said first door and said second door include a glass pane. 
   
   
       15 . A wine storage cabinet comprising:
 an external casing, to provide protection and aesthetic appeal to the exterior of the cabinet;   a door, hingedly affixed to said external casing for sealing said storage cabinet from the atmosphere when said door is closed;   a first storage compartment within said external casing, wherein said first storage compartment is substantially isolated from the ambient environment when said door is closed;   a second storage compartment, within said external casing;   a plurality of modular rack sections to accommodate vertical placement of a wine bottle in one of said compartments and horizontal placement of a wine bottle in the other of said two compartments;   refrigeration means, for maintaining separate temperatures in said first compartment and said second compartment; and   control means affixed to said exterior casing for regulating the temperatures of said first compartment and said second compartment.   
   
   
       16 . The wine storage cabinet of  claim 15 , further including a second door, wherein each of said doors sealingly isolates one of said compartments. 
   
   
       17 . The wine storage cabinet of  claim 15 , wherein said first compartment and said second compartment are maintained at different humidities. 
   
   
       18 . The wine storage cabinet of  claim 15 , wherein said refrigeration means maintain said first compartment and said second compartment at different temperatures. 
   
   
       19 . The wine storage cabinet of  claim 15 , wherein said first and second compartments further include illumination means.