Abstract
A wooden cask for storing and aging wine. The cask may comprise a top panel, a bottom panel, a front panel, a rear panel and two side panels assembled together to define an internal storage volume. The cask may further comprise at least two associated pairs of vertical beams forming a buttress against external faces of two opposite side panels, and at least two compression rods per an associated pair of vertical beams. The compression rods may exert a horizontal force tending to bring together opposite vertical beams of a pair of associated vertical beams and opposite side panels against which these two vertical beams rest. The compression rods may pass at a distance above a surface of the top panel along an external face thereof or below the bottom panel in the vicinity of lower edges of at least one of the front, rear, and side panels.
Claims
1-16. (canceled)
17. A wooden cask for storing and aging wine and other beverages, comprising: a top panel, a bottom panel, a front panel, a rear panel and two side panels, each comprising external and internal substantially planar faces and assembled together so as to define an internal storage volume, wherein the front panel, the rear panel and the two side panels define an upper edge and a lower edge, wherein the top panel and the bottom panel define a front edge and a rear edge, wherein the front panel and the rear panel define two side edges, and wherein the top panel is inclined upwards from the rear edge towards the front edge and the bottom panel is inclined downwards from the rear edge towards the front edge; at least two associated pairs of vertical beams, wherein each vertical beam has two ends and forms a buttress against the external faces of the two opposite side panels, wherein the two ends of each vertical beam extend beyond the lower and upper edges of the side panel against which the vertical beam is mounted, and wherein each vertical beam is connected to another vertical beam bearing against the external face of an opposite side panel to form a pair of associated vertical beams; at least two compression rods per an associated pair of vertical beams, wherein each end of the vertical beam is connected to another end of the vertical beam of a pair of associated vertical beams via a compression rod able to exert a horizontal force tending to bring together the opposite vertical beams of two associated vertical beams and the opposite side panels against which these two vertical beams rest, wherein each end of the vertical beams is pierced by a horizontal through hole and each side panel is pierced by a plurality of horizontal through holes, wherein each horizontal through hole of the side panel is aligned with the neighboring horizontal through hole of the vertical beam, and wherein the compression rods pass through the neighboring horizontal through holes; and at least one fill hole in the top panel near the front edge thereof and at least one drain hole in the front panel near the lower edge thereof, wherein the compression rods pass at a distance above the surface of the top panel along the external face thereof or below the bottom panel in the vicinity of the lower edges of the front, rear, and/or side panels, wherein the joints between the top panel and the front and rear panels and between the bottom panel and front and rear panels comprise half-blind sliding half dovetail joints, and wherein the joints between the front panel and the side panels and between the rear panel and the side panels comprise chamfered dado joints.
18. The wooden cask of claim 17 wherein the compression rod passing below the bottom panel in the vicinity of the lower edge of the front panel is inserted in a groove extending along the lower edge of the front panels.
19. The wooden cask of claim 17 wherein each compression rod comprises two threaded ends, and wherein a fixation means comprising a nut or a fixation screw is screwed to each threaded end.
20. The wooden cask of claim 19 wherein the horizontal through hole of the vertical beam comprises a milled area to accommodate the fixation means.
21. The wooden cask of claim 17 wherein each half-blind sliding half dovetail joint comprises a half dovetail-shaped tail and a corresponding half dovetail-shaped socket, and wherein the half dovetail portion of each tail is oriented towards the external face of the bottom, front, and/or rear panels.
22. The wooden cask of claim 17 wherein the half-blind sliding half dovetail joints comprise: a first half-blind sliding half dovetail joint comprising a first half dovetail-shaped socket arranged on the internal face near the front edge of the top panel and a first half dovetail-shaped tail arranged on the upper edge of the front panel; a second half-blind sliding half dovetail joint comprising a second half dovetail-shaped socket arranged on the internal face near the rear edge of the top panel and a second half dovetail-shaped tail arranged on the upper edge of the rear panel; a third half-blind sliding half dovetail joint comprising a third half dovetail-shaped socket arranged on the internal face near the lower edge of the front panel and a third half dovetail-shaped tail arranged on the front edge of the bottom panel; and a fourth half-blind sliding half dovetail joint comprising a fourth half dovetail-shaped socket arranged on the internal face near the lower edge of the rear panel and a fourth half dovetail-shaped tail arranged on the rear edge of the bottom panel.
23. The wooden cask of claim 17 wherein: each chamfered dado joint comprises a chamfered tail and a corresponding chamfered socket; the chamfered portion of each chamfered tail is oriented towards the external face of the front and/or rear panels; and each chamfered dado joint comprises: a through joint along the entire side edge of the front and/or rear panel; or a stopped joint near the lower edge of the front and/or rear panel.
24. The wooden cask of claim 17 wherein the chamfered dado joints comprise: a first chamfered dado joint comprising a first chamfered socket arranged on the internal face near the front edge of one of the side panels and a first chamfered tail arranged on one of side edges of the front panel; a second chamfered dado joint comprising a second chamfered socket arranged on the internal face near the rear edge of one of the side panels and a second chamfered tail arranged on one of side edges of the rear panel; a third chamfered dado joint comprising a third chamfered socket arranged on the internal face near the front edge of the other of the side panels and a third chamfered tail arranged on the other of side edges of the front panel; and a fourth chamfered dado joint comprising a fourth chamfered socket arranged on the internal face near the rear edge of the other of the side panels and a fourth chamfered tail arranged on the other of side edges of the rear panel.
25. The wooden cask of claim 17 wherein the top panel is inclined at an angle α in the range of 90.5° to 135° with respect to the internal side of the rear panel, and wherein the bottom panel is inclined at an angle β in the range of 90.5° to 135° with respect to the internal side of the rear panel.
26. The wooden cask of claim 17 wherein the top panel is inclined at an angle α in the range of 90.5° to 100° with respect to the internal side of the rear panel, and wherein the bottom panel is inclined at an angle β in the range of 90.5° to 100° with respect to the internal side of the rear panel.
27. The wooden cask of claim 17 wherein the dovetail angle γ of the half dovetail portion of each tail with respect to the external face of the bottom, front, and/or rear panels is in the range of 0.5° to 45°.
28. The wooden cask of claim 17 wherein the dovetail angle γ of the half dovetail portion of each tail with respect to the external face of the bottom, front, and/or rear panels is in the range of 5° to 25°.
29. The wooden cask of claim 17 wherein the chamfer angle δ of the chamfered portion of each tail with respect to the side edge of the front and/or rear panels is in the range of 91° to 179°.
30. The wooden cask of claim 17 wherein the chamfer angle δ of the chamfered portion of each tail with respect to the side edge of the front and/or rear panels is in the range of 110° to 140°.
31. The wooden cask of claim 17 wherein: the fill hole is adapted to receive a fill neck terminated with a blinded nut with a cover; a reverse cone is arranged inside the fill neck; and the vertical axis of the fill hole is in parallel to the front panel.
32. The wooden cask of claim 17 wherein a de-aeration indentation is arranged in the internal face of the top panel between the fill hole and a corner of the internal faces of the top and front panels.
33. The wooden cask of claim 17 wherein: the drain hole is threaded and adapted to receive a threaded neck fastenable to the external face of the front panel by means of a flange; a threaded cylindrical groove is arranged in the internal face of the bottom panel near the front edge thereof and adapted to receive the threaded neck; the lower edge of an inner radius of the threaded neck is in contact with and forms an uninterrupted continuation of the internal face of the bottom panel; and the drain hole is arranged in parallel to the lower edge of the front panel.
34. The wooden cask of claim 17 wherein: a top end of the vertical beam is fitted with a tenon; a bottom end of the vertical beam is fitted with a mortise to connect two of the vertical beams along their vertical axes; and the tenon and the mortise are of conical frustum shape.
35. The wooden cask of claim 17 wherein: the top panel, the bottom panel, the front panel, the rear panel, and the two side panels are constructed as battenboards made of strips joined with a longitudinal multiple tongue and groove joint; the strips of the top and bottom panels are oriented perpendicular to the compression rods; the strips of the two side panels are oriented perpendicular to the vertical beams; the strips of the front and rear panels are oriented parallel to the side edges thereof; and the multiple tongues and grooves comprise right-angled faces.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0048] The essence of the invention is further illustrated on the basis of exemplary embodiments which are described with the aid of the accompanying drawings, where:
[0049] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the wooden cask according to the invention;
[0050] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the wooden cask according to the invention;
[0051] FIG. 3 shows a front view along the A-A section of FIG. 2 of the wooden cask according to the invention;
[0052] FIG. 4 shows a side view along the C-C section of FIG. 3 of the wooden cask according to the invention;
[0053] FIG. 5 shows a top view along the B-B section of FIG. 2 of the wooden cask according to the invention;
[0054] FIG. 6 shows a side view of detail I of FIG. 4 of the second half-blind sliding half dovetail joint between the rear and the top panels;
[0055] FIG. 7 shows a side view of detail H of FIG. 4 of the fourth half-blind sliding half dovetail joint between the rear and the bottom panels;
[0056] FIG. 8 shows a side view of detail J of FIG. 4 of the first half-blind sliding half dovetail joint between the front and the top panel and showing the fill hole;
[0057] FIG. 9 shows a side view of detail G of FIG. 4 of the third half-blind sliding half dovetail joint between the front and the bottom panel and showing the drain hole;
[0058] FIG. 10 shows a top view of detail E of FIG. 5 of the first chamfered dado joint between the front and the side panel;
[0059] FIG. 11 shows a side view of the half dovetail-shaped tail with a marked dovetail angle γ of the half dovetail portion of the tail;
[0060] FIG. 12 shows a top view of the chamfered tail with a marked chamfered angle δ of the chamfered portion of the tail; and
[0061] FIG. 13 shows a side view of the longitudinal multiple tongue and groove joint for joining of the strips in the battenboard construction.
EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0062] These embodiments illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention, which, however, have no limiting effect on the scope of protection.
[0063] FIG. 1 shows a wooden cask in a perspective view that illustrates the front panel 3, the top panel 1 and the side panels 5, wherein the bottom panel 2 and the rear panel 4 are not visible in this view. The opposite side panels 5 are provided with three pairs of associated vertical beams 7 along the external faces thereof, which beams form buttresses or supporting pillars. Each vertical beam 7 has the bottom end 9 and the top end 10, wherein the two ends 9, 10 of each vertical beam 7 extend beyond the lower and upper edges of the side panel 5 against which the vertical beam 7 is mounted. Within one pair of associated vertical beams 7, the top and bottom ends 10, 9 are connected by a total of six compression bars 8 (three are shown) passing at a distance above the surface of the top panel 1 along the external face thereof and below the bottom panel 2 near the lower edges of the front, rear and/or side panels 3, 4, 5. Each compression rod 8 comprises two threaded ends to which a fixation means (e.g. a nut with a washer) located in the milled area 11 adjoining the horizontal through hole 12 of the vertical beam 7 is screwed. The top end 10 is provided with a tenon 18 and the bottom end 9 is provided with a mortise 19 (not shown) for connecting two vertical beams 7 in their vertical axes. In the top panel 1 near the front edge thereof, there is a fill hole 14 and in the front panel 3 near the lower edge thereof, there is a drain hole 15.
[0064] FIG. 2 shows a wooden cask in a side view from the outside of the side panel 5. The top panel 1 is connected to the front panel 3 and the rear panel 4 by means of two half-blind sliding half dovetail joints 16 and the front panel 3 and the rear panel 4 are further connected to the bottom panel 2 by means of two further half-blind sliding half dovetail joints 16, thus creating the internal storage volume 6. The top panel 1 is further inclined upwards from the rear edge towards the front edge at an angle α (e.g. in the range of 92° to 96°) and the bottom panel 2 is inclined downwards from the rear edge towards the front edge at an angle β (e.g. in the range of 92° to 96°). The compression rods 8 extend at a distance above the surface of the top panel 1 along the external face thereof (i.e. without contact to the surface of the external face of the top panel 1) or below the bottom panel 2 near the lower edges of the front, rear and/or side panels 3, 4, 5 (i.e. without or with contact to the surface of the external face of the bottom panel 2). The position of the compression rods 8 thus approximately copies the inclination of the top and bottom panels 1, 2. In the case of vertical beams 7, the tenons 18 at the top ends 10 and the mortises 19 at the bottom ends 9 are shown and the fill hole 14 and the drain hole 15 are also visible.
[0065] FIG. 3 shows a wooden cask in a front view along the AA section of FIG. 2, where the vertical beams 7 rest on the opposite side panels 5 and by means of the compression rods 8 passing via the horizontal through holes 12 and spaced above the surface of the top panel 1 along the external face thereof or below the bottom panel 2 near the lower edges of the front, rear and/or side panels 3, 4, 5, they exert a horizontal force tending to bring the opposite vertical beams 7 and the opposite side panels 5 together. In the front view, the fill and drain holes 14, 15 are shown in the middle of the top panel 1, or the front panel 3 respectively.
[0066] FIG. 4 shows a wooden cask in a side view along the C-C section of FIG. 3 and analogously to FIG. 2, wherein the individual half-blind sliding half dovetail joints 16 are indicated in more detail, see FIGS. 6 to 9 below.
[0067] FIG. 5 shows a top view of the wooden cask along the B-B section of FIG. 2, where the vertical beams 7 rest on the opposite side panels 5 and exert a horizontal force by means of the compression rods 8 passing via the horizontal through holes 12 of vertical beams 7 and the horizontal through holes 13 of the side panels 5 which force tends to bring the opposite vertical beams 7 and the opposite side panels 5 together. The individual chamfered dado joints 17 are also indicated in more detail, see FIG. 10 below. In the top view, the drain hole 15 is shown in the middle of the front panel 3.
[0068] FIG. 6 shows a side view in detail I of FIG. 4 of the second half-blind sliding half dovetail joint 16 between the rear panel 4 and the top panel 1, wherein this joint 16 comprises the half dovetail-shaped tail 20 at the upper edge of the rear panel 4 and the corresponding half dovetail-shaped socket 22 on the internal face of the top panel 1 near the rear edge thereof. The half dovetail portion 21 of the tail 20 is oriented towards the external face of the rear panel 4, i.e. pointing away or outwards from the internal storage volume 6.
[0069] FIG. 7 shows a side view in detail H of FIG. 4 of the fourth half-blind sliding half dovetail joint 16 between the rear panel 4 and the bottom panel 2, wherein this joint 16 comprises the half dovetail-shaped tail 20 at the rear edge of the bottom panel 2 and the corresponding half dovetail-shaped socket 22 on the internal face of the rear panel 4 near the lower edge thereof. The half dovetail portion 21 of the tail 20 is oriented towards the external face of the bottom panel 2, i.e. pointing away or outwards from the internal storage volume 6.
[0070] FIG. 8 shows a side view in detail J of FIG. 4 of the first half-blind sliding half dovetail joint 16 between the front panel 3 and the top panel 1, wherein this joint 16 comprises the half dovetail-shaped tail 20 at the upper edge of the front panel 3 and the corresponding half dovetail-shaped socket 22 on the internal face of the top panel 1 near the front edge thereof. The half dovetail portion 21 of the tail 20 is oriented towards the external face of the front panel 3, i.e. pointing away or outwards from the internal storage volume 6. The fill hole 14 in the top panel 1 near the front edge thereof is further shown in more detail. The fill hole 14 is adapted to receive the fill neck 27 terminated by the blinded nut 29 with the cover 30, wherein the reverse (inverted) cone 28 is arranged inside the fill neck 27 for expelling excess liquid and air from the internal storage volume 6. The fill neck 27 can be secured by screws passing through the wall of the fill neck 27 into the top panel 1. The fill hole 14 is parallel in its vertical axis to the front panel 3, and not perpendicular to the inclined top panel 1. For even better venting, the de-aeration indentation 33 is arranged between the fill hole 14 and the corner of the internal face of the top panel 1 and the internal face of the front panel 3 on the internal face of the top panel 1, through which excess air or liquid can escape through the fill hole 14 from the area of the first half-blind sliding half dovetail joint 16.
[0071] FIG. 9 shows a side view in detail G of FIG. 4 of the third half-blind sliding half dovetail joint 16 between the front panel 3 and the bottom panel 2, wherein this joint 16 comprises the half dovetail-shaped tail 20 at the front edge of the bottom panel 2 and the corresponding half dovetail-shaped socket 22 on the internal face of the front panel 3 near the lower edge thereof. The half dovetail portion 21 of the tail 20 is oriented towards the external face of the bottom panel 2, i.e. pointing away or outwards from the internal storage volume 6. Also, the groove 26 for the compression rod 8 is shown in the lower edge of the front panel 3, through which groove passes the compression rod 8 below the bottom panel 2 near the lower edge of the front panel 3. The drain hole 15 in the front panel 3 near the lower edge thereof is further shown in more detail. The drain hole 15 is threaded and is adapted to receive the threaded neck 31 that can be fastened by the flange 32 on the external face of the front panel 3. In the internal face of the bottom panel 2 near the front edge thereof, the threaded cylindrical groove 34 is arranged and adapted to receive the threaded neck 31, wherein the lower edge of the inner radius (diameter) of the threaded neck 31 contacts and seamlessly adjoins the internal face of the bottom panel 2. The drain hole 15 is arranged in parallel to the lower edge of the front panel 3, and not in parallel to the inclined bottom panel 2.
[0072] FIG. 10 shows a top view in detail E of FIG. 5 of the first chamfered dado joint 17 between the front panel 3 and the side panel 5, wherein this joint 17 comprises the chamfered tail 23 and the corresponding chamfered socket 25. The chamfered portion 24 of the tail 23 is oriented towards the external face of the front panel 3, i.e. pointing away or outwards from the internal storage volume 6. Further to be seen is the alignment of the groove 26 for the pulling rod 8, the horizontal through hole 13 of the side panel 5 and the horizontal through hole 12 of the vertical beam 7 together with the milled area 11 for locating the fixation means for the pulling rod 8.
[0073] FIG. 11 shows a side view of the half dovetail-shaped tail 20 with a marked dovetail angle γ of the half-dovetail portion 21 of this tail 20 (e.g. in the range of 12° to 16°). The self-sealing ability of the half dovetail joint 16 is due to the fact that after soaking the wood with the stored liquid, the half dovetail-shaped tail 20 expands and moves slightly along the inclined surface of the half-dovetail portion 21 towards the half dovetail-shaped socket 22 (see arrow in FIG. 11). Thus, the sealing itself occurs on the right-angled surfaces of the half dovetail-shaped tail 20, which are opposite to the surface of the half-dovetail portion 21 and are highlighted by a broken line. In comparison, the above-mentioned sealing of both right-angled surfaces of the half dovetail-shaped tail 20 oriented towards the internal face of the internal storage volume 6 cannot be achieved with other half-blind T-shaped joints (e.g. a full dovetail joint, a right-angled groove joint, a right-angled or a bevelled dado joint, a tongue and groove joint or a joint reinforced with biscuits etc.).
[0074] Analogously, FIG. 12 shows a top view of the chamfered tail 23 with a marked chamfer angle δ of the chamfered portion 24 of the tail 23 (e.g. in the range 124° to 128°). The self-sealing ability of the chamfered dado joint 17 is due to the fact that after the wood has been soaked with the stored liquid, the chamfered tail 23 expands and moves slightly along the inclined surface of the chamfered portion 24 towards the chamfered socket 25 (see arrow in FIG. 12). Thus, the sealing itself occurs on the right-angled surfaces of the chamfered tail 23, which are opposite to the surface of the chamfered portion 24 and are highlighted by a broken line. In comparison, the above-mentioned sealing of both right-angled surfaces of the chamfered tail 23 oriented towards the internal face of the internal storage volume 6 cannot be achieved with other T-shaped grooved joints (e.g. a right-angled dado joint or a bevelled dado joint without right angles etc.). Compared to full dovetail or half dovetail joints, the chamfered dado joint 17 can be easily disassembled after removing the compression rods 8 and the vertical beams 7, whereby the side panels 5 can be easily disassembled for cleaning and reuse.
[0075] FIG. 13 shows the construction of the battenboard made of the strips 35 joined with a longitudinal multiple tongue and groove 37 joint 36. This battenboard is used in all panels 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. This longitudinal joint 36 is formed (milled) along the entire length of the strips 35. The multiple tongues and grooves 37 themselves are formed by several interlocking teeth and comprise only right-angled faces without bevelled or chamfered surfaces, which advantageously ensures the expansion and sealing of said joint after soaking the wood with the stored liquid.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0076] The wooden cask according to the invention can be used for storing and aging wine and spirits. After disposal, the wooden cask can be disassembled, and the individual wooden parts used in furniture industry or for parquet production.
LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
[0077] 1 top panel [0078] 2 bottom panel [0079] 3 front panel [0080] 4 rear panel [0081] 5 side panel [0082] 6 internal storage volume [0083] 7 vertical beam [0084] 8 compression rod [0085] 9 lower end of the vertical beam 7 [0086] 10 upper end of the vertical beam 7 [0087] 11 milled area [0088] 12 horizontal through hole of the vertical beam 7 [0089] 13 horizontal through hole of the side panel 5 [0090] 14 fill hole [0091] 15 drain hole [0092] 16 half-blind sliding half dovetail joint [0093] 17 chamfered dado joint [0094] 18 tenon [0095] 19 mortise [0096] 20 half dovetail-shaped tail [0097] 21 half dovetail portion of the tail 20 [0098] 22 half dovetail-shaped socket [0099] 23 chamfered tail [0100] 24 chamfered portion of the tail 23 [0101] 25 chamfered socket [0102] 26 groove for the compression rod 8 [0103] 27 fill neck of the fill hole 14 [0104] 28 blinded nut of the fill hole 14 [0105] 29 reverse cone of the fill hole 14 [0106] 30 cover of the fill hole 14 [0107] 31 threaded neck of the drain hole 15 [0108] 32 flange of the drain hole 15 [0109] 33 de-aeration indentation [0110] 34 cylindrical groove [0111] 35 strip [0112] 36 tongue and groove joint [0113] 37 tongues and grooves [0114] α inclination angle of the top panel 1 [0115] β inclination angle of the bottom panel 2 [0116] γ dovetail angle of the half dovetail portion 21 [0117] δ chamfer angle of the chamfered portion 24
