U.S. patent application number 11/353438 was filed with the patent office on 2007-08-16 for bottle tote apparatus.
Invention is credited to Aaron Lown, John R. Swartz.
Application Number | 20070187443 11/353438 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38367325 |
Filed Date | 2007-08-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070187443 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Swartz; John R. ; et
al. |
August 16, 2007 |
Bottle tote apparatus
Abstract
A bottle tote is provided. The tote has a front panel defining a
right side, a left side, a bottom, and a top terminal edge; a rear
panel defining a right side, a left side, a bottom, and a top
terminal edge, the top terminal edge defining a strap, the front
and rear panels defining an opening therebetween; a connector
disposed on said strap for attaching said strap to said front
panel, the strap securing said bottle in said tote, and a grip
disposed on said rear panel.
Inventors: |
Swartz; John R.; (Ridgewood,
NJ) ; Lown; Aaron; (Tuxedo, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LACKENBACH SIEGEL, LLP
LACKENBACH SIEGEL BUILDING
1 CHASE ROAD
SCARSDALE
NY
10583
US
|
Family ID: |
38367325 |
Appl. No.: |
11/353438 |
Filed: |
February 14, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
224/148.4 ;
224/240; 224/674 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 11/20 20130101;
A45F 5/02 20130101; A45F 2200/0583 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/148.4 ;
224/674; 224/240 |
International
Class: |
A45F 5/00 20060101
A45F005/00; A45F 5/02 20060101 A45F005/02; F42B 39/02 20060101
F42B039/02 |
Claims
1. A tote for carrying and transporting a bottle or bottles
comprising: a front panel defining a right side, a left side, a
bottom, and a top terminal edge; a rear panel defining a right
side, a left side, a bottom, and a top terminal edge, the top
terminal edge defining a strap, the front and rear panels defining
an opening therebetween; a connector disposed on said strap for
attaching said strap to said front panel, the strap securing said
bottle in said tote, and a grip disposed on said rear panel,
wherein the rear panel is secured to the front panel along at least
the right side, the left side and the bottom terminal edges, and
wherein at least one of the front and rear panels is fabricated
from an elastic, insulative, impact absorbent material.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein said connector removably attaches
said strap to said front panel.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein said connector is a strong
connecter of the type selected from the group consisting of Velcro,
snap, loop and zipper closures.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein said connector is sufficiently
strong to maintain a sound closure during rigorous movement.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein said connector is a Lamprey.TM.
system connector having a Velcro closure and a snap closure.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein said grip is attached to said
rear panel by any means known in the art such as sewing, gluing,
adhering, welding, stapling and the like.
7. The device of claim 1, wherein said grip is formed of the same
material as the front and rear panels.
8. The device of claim 1, wherein said grip is formed integrally
with said rear panel.
9. The device of claim 1, wherein said opening is sized to house a
wide mouth bottle.
10. The device of claim 1, wherein said opening is sized to house a
commercially available sports drink.
11. The device of claim 1, wherein said opening is sized to house a
commercially available water bottle.
12. The device of claim 1, wherein said front and rear panels are
formed of a thermal material.
13. The tote according to claim 1, wherein the front and rear
panels are fabricated from an elastomeric material.
14. The device of claim 1, wherein said front and rear panels are
formed of at least one of neoprene and SBR (Styrene Butadiene
Rubber).
15. The tote according to claim 1, wherein the front and rear
panels have a thickness of between about 3 mm to about 5 mm.
16. The tote according to claim 14, wherein the neoprene is
sandwiched between layers of stretch nylon.
17. The tote according to claim 1, wherein the front and rear
panels are secured to one another by at least one of stitching,
adhering, welding, and stapling.
18. A tote for carrying and transporting a bottle or bottles
comprising: a front panel defining a right side, a left side, a
bottom, and a top terminal edge; a rear panel defining a right
side, a left side, a bottom, and a top terminal edge, the top
terminal edge defining at least one strap, the front and rear
panels defining a plurality of openings therebetween; at least one
connector disposed on said strap for attaching said strap to said
front panel, the strap securing said bottle in said tote, and at
least one attachment means disposed on said rear panel, wherein the
rear panel is secured to the front panel along at least the right
side, the left side, and the bottom terminal edges, wherein at
least one of the front and rear panels is fabricated from an
elastic, insulative, impact absorbent material, and wherein the
tote is foldable to a substantially flattened condition.
19. A tote for carrying and transporting a bottle or bottles
comprising: a front panel defining a right side, a left side, a
bottom, and a top terminal edge; a rear panel defining a right
side, a left side, a bottom, and a top terminal edge, the top
terminal edge defining a strap, the front and rear panels defining
an opening therebetween; a connector disposed on said strap for
attaching said strap to said front panel, said connector having a
Velcro closure and a snap closure, and a grip disposed on said rear
panel, wherein the rear panel is secured to the front panel along
at least the right side and the left side; at least one gusset
panel, said gusset panel member joining the front panel and the
rear panel proximate respective bottom terminal edges, wherein at
least one of the front and rear panels is fabricated from an
elastic, insulative, impact absorbent material, and wherein the
tote is foldable to a substantially flattened condition.
20. The device of claim 1, wherein said front and rear panels are
formed of an elastomeric material.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Priority Claim
[0002] This application claims priority from U.S. Design
application Ser. No. 29/244,170filed Dec. 6, 2005, the contents of
which are fully incorporated herein by reference.
[0003] 2. Field of the Invention
[0004] The present invention relates to a tote for a bottle or
bottles. More particularly, the present invention relates to tote
for a bottle or bottles that securely attaches to a belt or bag
during vigorous activity and securely maintains a bottle or bottles
therein.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0005] Portable bottle carriers exist for carrying a beverage
during exercise or other on the go activity. However, conventional
bottle carriers do not have means for securing a bottle within the
carrier during vigorous activity. A common difficulty with these
carriers is that a bottle can easily jar loose during performance
of an activity for which the carrier is meant. Such carriers also
do not have means for securely attaching the bottle to a bag or
belt during active movement.
[0006] Moreover, convention carriers are incapable of regulating
and/or maintaining the temperature for an extended period of time
of the bottle retained therein. In addition, conventional carriers
are incapable of protecting and/or otherwise cushioning a bottle
against impact.
[0007] Therefore, a need exists for a bottle tote having a means
for securely attaching to the clothing or bag of a user, thereby
allowing the user to undertake vigorous activity. A need also
exists for a bottle tote that has a means for securely holding a
wide mouth or other large size bottle in place during activity. A
need further exists for a light weight bottle tote that maintains
the temperature of the beverage contained within the bottle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a bottle
tote having a means for securely attaching to the clothing or bag
of a user, thereby allowing the user to undertake vigorous
activity.
[0009] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
bottle tote that has a means for securely holding a wide mouth or
other bottle in place during activity.
[0010] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide
a tough yet light weight bottle tote that maintains the temperature
of the beverage contained within the bottle.
[0011] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
bottle tote that is flexible and collapsible for compact
storage.
[0012] These and other objects and advantages of the present
invention are achieved by a tote for carrying and transporting a
bottle or bottles comprising a front panel defining a right side, a
left side, a bottom, and a top terminal edge; a rear panel defining
a right side, a left side, a bottom, and a top terminal edge, the
top terminal edge defining a strap, the front and rear panels
defining an opening therebetween; a connector disposed on said
strap for attaching said strap to said front panel, the strap
securing said bottle in said tote, and a grip disposed on said rear
panel, wherein the rear panel is secured to the front panel along
at least the right side, the left side and the bottom terminal
edges, wherein at least one of the front and rear panels is
fabricated from an elastic, insulative, impact absorbent material,
and wherein the tote is foldable to a substantially flattened
condition.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The foregoing and still other objects and advantages of the
present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed
explanation of the preferred embodiments of the invention in
connection with the accompanying drawings.
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bottle tote according to
the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a front plan view of bottle tote of FIG. 1, with
the strap in the closed position;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a plan view, opposite the view of FIG. 2, of the
bottle tote according to the present invention, with the strap in
the closed position;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a right side view of the bottle tote according to
the present invention in the extended position;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a front plan view of bottle tote of FIG. 1 with
the strap in the open position; and
[0019] FIG. 6 is a right side view of the bottle tote according to
the present invention in the collapsed position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] Referring to the drawings and, in particular, FIG. 1, there
is illustrated a bottle tote according to the present invention
generally represented by reference numeral 100. Tote 100 has a
front panel 102 and a rear panel 104 operatively secured to one
another along a number of sides thereof forming a contact line 110.
Referring now to FIG. 2, front panel 102 has a right side edge
102a, a left side edge 102b, a bottom edge 102c, and a top edge
102d. Referring to FIG. 3, rear panel 104 has a right side edge
104a, a left side edge 104b, a bottom edge 104c, and a top terminal
edge defining a strap 104d.
[0021] Referring again to FIG. 2, front panel 102 and rear panel
104 together define a pocket or opening 106 therebetween. Opening
106 is preferably sized to fit bottles of varying sizes as well as
varying shapes. For example, bottles having uniform and/or
non-uniform diameters along the length thereof, bottles of various
diameters and non-circular bottles. Preferably, opening 106 is
sized to fit a wide rimmed bottle such as a 32 ounce wide mouth
Nalgene.RTM. bottle, a large size sports drink or any other
commercially available sports drink and bottled water.
[0022] Preferably, front panel 102 is secured to rear panel 104
along at least three side edges thereof, namely, right side edge
102a, 104a, left side edge 102b, 104b, and bottom edge 102c, 104c.
Front panel 102 is preferably secured to rear panel 104 by
stitching along right side edges 102a, 104a, left side edges 102b,
104b and bottom edges 102c, 104c. While stitching is preferred, it
is envisioned that front panel 102 can be secured to rear panel 104
by adhering, welding, stapling and the like. Top edges 102d, 104d
define opening 106 in tote 100. As illustrated in FIG. 4, front
panel 102 and rear panel 104 are secured (e.g., stitched, glued,
welded, etc.) to one another along contact line 110 located between
right side edges 102a, 104b and left side edges 102b, 104a (not
shown).
[0023] Rear panel 104 defines strap 104d. As shown in FIG. 5, strap
104d has a connector 112 disposed thereon for securing strap 104d
to front panel 102, thereby securing a bottle (not shown) within
opening 106 during rigorous movement or activity. It is also
conceivable that strap 104d may be a separate component that is
attached to rear panel 104. Strap 104d and connector 112 also serve
to securely attach bottle tote 100 to the clothing or accessory of
the user during rigorous movement or activity. Conceivable clothing
or accessories may include a belt or bag. Connector 112 may be any
type closure known in the art for providing a sturdy connection.
Non-limiting examples of such closures include Velcro, snap, loop
and zipper closures. Preferably, connector 112 is a system
employing more than one such closure. More preferably, connector
112 is a Lamprey.TM. system having a Velcro closure 112a and snap
closure 112b. Velcro closure 112a of connector 112 has a male part
112a disposed on strap 104d and a female part 112a' disposed on
front panel 102. Snap component 112b of connector 112 has a male
part 112b disposed on strap 104d and a female part 112b'disposed on
front panel 102. As illustrated, Velcro closure 112a preferably
surrounds snap closure 112b, however, any suitable configuration
for achieving a strong closure may be employed.
[0024] Referring again to FIG. 3, bottle tote 100 also has a grip
108 disposed on rear panel 104. Grip 108 may be used for ergonomic
grasping of bottle tote 100. Grip 108 may also be employed as an
alternate means for securely attaching bottle tote 100 to the
clothing or accessory of the user during rigorous movement or
activity. Grip 108 is preferably secured to rear panel 104 by
stitching. While stitching is preferred, it is envisioned that
front grip 108 can be secured to rear panel 104 by adhering,
welding, stapling and the like. Alternately, grip 108 may be formed
integrally with rear panel 104. Grip 108 is preferably fabricated
from a neoprene rubber material, thereby providing a degree of
comfort for the carrier. However, grip 108 may be formed from any
material capable of providing a durable gripping means such as
rubberized or non-slip materials. Grip 108 may further be
reinforced with plastic, rubber or other supportive material.
[0025] As illustrated in FIG. 4, in an alternative embodiment of
the present invention, bottom edges 102c, 104c of front and rear
panels 102, 104 further define a lobe or gusset 114 as an
additional panel member or as an extension of either of the front
or rear panels 102, 104. Those of skill in the art of consumer
fabrication will readily recognize that pattern cutting may be
adapted to employ lobe or gusset 114 as a member continuing from
one of the front or rear panels or as a separate panel. As an
additional consideration, those of skill in the art will recognize
that the entire length (front panel, lobe, and back panel) may be
cut from one continuous sheet of material to further speed
manufacturer. In the embodiment shown, lobe or gusset 114 is
foldable relative to the side seams and enables tote 100 to store
in a flattened position when not in use and to stand upright when a
bottle is fully inserted therein. FIG. 1 illustrates bottle tote
100 in an extended position, wherein tote 100 may substantially
conform to the shape and/or outer contour of a bottle "B" placed
and/or inserted into opening 106, thereby forming lobe or gusset
114. Where lobe 114 is merely an extension of front and rear panels
no stitch line may be provided as in FIGS. 1, 5, and 6; however,
where lobe or gusset 114 are a separate panel stitch lines or other
joining methods are required to secure the same.
[0026] FIG. 6 illustrates tote 100 in a collapsed position, wherein
tote 100 is substantially flat, i.e., front panel 102 is at least
substantially in contact with rear panel 104. In this manner, when
tote 100 is not in use, tote 100 can advantageously be stored in a
substantially flat configuration, rolled-up, or otherwise
manipulated as needed.
[0027] Each panel 102, 104 of tote 100 is preferably fabricated
from neoprene rubber, more preferably, neoprene rubber having
stretch nylon (or any other suitable textile product-natural or
man-made) laminated to the front and back thereof to provide
additional abrasion resistance. Thus, while the present
construction is preferred, it should be understood by those of
skill in the art that there is no requirement for the use of an
external textile protective or supportive member. In a similar
sense, those of skill in the art will recognize that alternative
elastomeric materials may be substituted for the neoprene discussed
above. For example, in alternative embodiments, neoprene may be
replaced by SBR (Styrene Butadine Rubber) which may be employed
with a similar result. Each panel 102, 104 preferably has a
thickness of between about 3 mm to about 5 mm. The neoprene rubber
material acts as a shock absorber to dissipate and/or otherwise
absorb forces which may impact on tote 100. Fabrication of tote 100
from neoprene rubber material allows for tote 100 to be fabricated
with no moving parts or separate parts/hardware and yet at the same
time substantially grip the bottle retained therein. Since the
neoprene rubber material has a degree of resiliency, tote 100 can
accommodate receipt of and retention of bottles of varying sizes
(e.g., bottles having uniform and/or non-uniform diameters along
the length thereof, bottles of various diameters and non-circular
bottles). The neoprene rubber material also provides tote 100 with
a degree of insulation greater that a tote fabricated from paper or
the like and thereby allows tote 100 to better maintain the
temperature of the bottle retained therein.
[0028] Since tote 100 is preferably fabricated from neoprene and
has a degree of elasticity, tote 100 substantially conforms to the
contour and/or shape of a bottle and effectively grips a bottle,
thereby effectively reducing the tendency for a bottle to "slip out
off" opening 106. In addition, the neoprene provides tote 100 with
a degree of cushion for absorbing impact and shock which would
otherwise be transmitted to a bottle.
[0029] It is envisioned and within the scope of the present
disclosure that bottle tote 100 may have two or more openings 106
for holding beverages having he same or different dimensions from
one another. In this embodiment, bottle tote 100 has one or more
straps 104b and one or more connectors 112. The present invention
has been described with particular reference to the preferred
embodiments. It should be understood that the foregoing
descriptions and examples are only illustrative of the present
invention. Various alternatives and modifications thereof can be
devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the
spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present
invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives,
modifications, and variations that fall within the scope of the
appended claims.
* * * * *