U.S. patent application number 11/542990 was filed with the patent office on 2008-04-10 for tote bag for carrying a plurality of wine bottles.
Invention is credited to James L. Soucie.
Application Number | 20080083629 11/542990 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39274186 |
Filed Date | 2008-04-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080083629 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Soucie; James L. |
April 10, 2008 |
Tote bag for carrying a plurality of wine bottles
Abstract
A wine bottle carrier in the form of a tote bag having a
plurality of non-rigid partition members provided in the interior
thereof which define six wine bottle compartments to enable wine
bottles to be inserted downwardly thereinto. A drawstring is
provided at the upper end of the tote bag which may tightened to
draw the upper ends of the wine bottles in the bottle compartments
together to restrict the movement therebetween during carrying or
transport to prevent breakage thereof.
Inventors: |
Soucie; James L.; (Omaha,
NE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THOMTE LAW OFFICE, L.L.C.
2120 S. 72ND STREET, SUITE 1111
OMAHA
NE
68124
US
|
Family ID: |
39274186 |
Appl. No.: |
11/542990 |
Filed: |
October 4, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/170 ;
206/139; 206/162 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 13/1046 20130101;
A45C 3/04 20130101; A45C 13/02 20130101; A45C 7/0077 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/170 ;
206/139; 206/162 |
International
Class: |
B65D 75/00 20060101
B65D075/00 |
Claims
1. A wine bottle carrier, comprising: a tote bag including a
non-rigid bottom, opposite sides, opposite ends, and an open upper
end; a carry strap secured to said tote bag; a first, vertically
disposed, non-rigid partition member secured to said opposite ends
of said tote bag and extending therebetween; a second, vertically
disposed, non-rigid partition member secured to the interior of one
of said sides of said tote bag and to said first partition member
and extending therebetween; a third, vertically disposed, non-rigid
partition member secured to the interior of the other side of said
tote bag and to said first partition member and extending
therebetween in alignment with said second partition member; a
fourth, vertically disposed, non-rigid partition member secured to
said one side of said tote bag and to said first partition member
and which extends therebetween and which is spaced from said second
partition member; a fifth, vertically disposed, non-rigid partition
member secured to said other side of said tote bag and to said
first partition member and which extends therebetween and which is
spaced from said third partition member; said partition members
defining six bottle compartments having open upper ends to enable
wine bottles to be inserted downwardly thereinto; and a drawstring
at the upper end of said tote bag which may be tightened to draw
the upper ends of the wine bottles in the bottle compartments
together to restrict the movement therebetween during carrying or
transport to prevent breakage thereof.
2. The carrier of claim 1 wherein said partition members have upper
ends which are disposed below the upper ends of the bottles in the
bottle compartments.
3. The carrier of claim 1 wherein said tote bag has a generally
rectangular cross-section.
4. The carrier of claim 1 wherein each of said ends of said tote
bag have fold lines formed therein by the attachment of the ends of
said first partition member thereto.
5. The carrier of claim 3 wherein first and second semi-rigid
rectangular support members are positioned at the interior surface
of said bottom of said tote bag to provide support for the bottles
in the bottle compartments and to permit the bottom of the tote bag
to be folded in half for storage when the bottles have been removed
from the bottle compartments.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to a wine carrier and more
particularly to a tote bag for carrying a number of wine bottles,
preferably six bottles.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Many different types of bags or sacks have been previously
provided for carrying a wine bottle from place to place. When a
bottle of wine is purchased at a store or the like, the wine bottle
is normally placed in a paper sack. If less than a case of wine is
purchased, each of the bottles is usually placed in a paper or
plastic sack with the sacks being placed in a larger bag or sack.
Frequently, the bottles are broken since they may strike one
another during carrying or while being transported in a vehicle.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,428,484 discloses a carrier in the form of a tote
bag which can accommodate two wine bottles. Although the carrier of
U.S. Pat. No. 4,428,484 provides a convenient means for carrying
two bottles of wine, the necks of the bottles are unrestrained and
may strike one another during carrying or transport thereby causing
breakage of one or both bottles. Further, there are times when it
would be convenient to be able to carry more than two wine bottles
such as when a person purchases less than a case of wine.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] A wine bottle carrier is described which includes a tote bag
including a carrying strap which extends upwardly therefrom. The
tote bag has a plurality of partition members positioned in the
interior thereof which define at least four and preferably six
bottle compartments having open upper ends to enable wine bottles
to be inserted downwardly thereinto. A drawstring is provided at
the upper end of the tote bag which may be tightened to draw the
upper ends of the wine bottles in the bottle compartments together
to restrict the movement therebetween during carrying or transport
to prevent breakage thereof. The tote bag also includes a foldable
semi-rigid bottom panel which may be folded with the bag and which
may be positioned in a horizontal position to provide support to
the bottoms of the wine bottles in the compartments. The bottle
compartments are large enough to accommodate 1.5 liter wine
bottles.
[0006] It is therefore a principal object of the invention to
provide an improved wine bottle carrier.
[0007] Still another object of the invention is to provide a wine
bottle carrier of the tote bag type which is capable of
accommodating six bottles of wine therein.
[0008] Still another object of the invention is to provide a wine
bottle carrier of the type described which includes means for
drawing the necks of the wine bottles therein towards one another
to prevent breakage of the wine bottles during carrying or
transport.
[0009] Yet another object of the invention is to provide a wine
bottle carrier of the tote bag type which is capable of
accommodating 1.5 liter wine bottles.
[0010] Still another object of the invention is to provide a wine
bottle carrier of the type described which may be folded flat when
not being used.
[0011] These and other objects will be obvious to those skilled in
the art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the wine bottle carrier of
this invention with the broken lines illustrating the partition
members within the carrier;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the wine bottle
carrier of this invention in a folded position for storage;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a top view of the wine bottle carrier of this
invention illustrating wine bottles being positioned in the
compartments thereof;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a top view of the wine bottle carrier of FIG. 3
illustrating the closure at the upper end thereof being drawn
together to move the necks of the bottles towards one another to
prevent their breakage during carrying or transport;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a side view of the wine bottle carrier of this
invention with a portion thereof cut away to more fully illustrate
the invention;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 except that the closure
at the upper end of the carrier has been closed to draw the necks
of the bottles therein towards one another to prevent their
breakage; and
[0018] FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of the wine bottle
carrier with portions thereof cut away to more fully illustrate the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] The numeral 10 refers to the tote bag or wine bottle carrier
of this invention which includes opposite sides 12 and 14, opposite
ends 16 and 18, bottom 20 and an open upper end 22. Preferably, the
bag is constructed of a non-rigid polypropylene material which is
waterproof and sufficiently flexible enough to enable the bag to be
folded for storage when not in use. A strap 24 is secured to the
bag 10, as seen in the drawings, so as to provide a pair of
inverted, U-shaped handles 26 and 28 which extend upwardly from the
upper ends of sides 12 and 14, respectively. The strap 24 extends
around the bottom of the bag 10 to provide a more sturdy strap. As
seen, the bag 10 has a generally rectangular cross-section. The bag
10, as shown, is designed to carry six wine bottles, but the same
could be modified so as to carry eight, ten or twelve bottles if so
desired.
[0020] A longitudinally extending, vertically disposed, non-rigid
partition 30 is positioned within the bag 10 and has its end edges
32 and 34 secured to the ends 16 and 18, respectively, by stitching
36 and 38, respectively. Stitching 36 and 38 not only secures the
end edges 32 and 34 of partition 30 to ends 16 and 18, but also
provides fold lines in ends 16 and 18 to facilitate the folding of
the bag when not in use. As seen, the upper end of partition 30 is
spaced below the upper end of the bag 10.
[0021] Vertically disposed partition 40 has its outer end edge 42
secured to side 12 by stitching or the like and has its inner end
edge 44 secured to partition 30 by stitching or the like.
Vertically disposed partition 46 has its outer end edge 48 secured
to side 14 by stitching or the like and has its inner end edge 50
secured to partition 30 by stitching or the like.
[0022] Vertically disposed partition 52 has its outer end edge 54
secured to side 12 and has its inner end edge 56 secured to
partition 30 by stitching or the like. Vertically disposed
partition 58 has its outer end edge 60 secured to side 14 by
stitching or the like and has its inner end 62 secured to partition
30 by stitching or the like. The partitions 40, 46, 52 and 58 are
preferably constructed of a non-rigid or flexible material such as
polypropylene or the like. The upper ends or partitions 40, 46, 52
and 58 dwell in the same plane as the upper end of partition 30. As
seen, the partitions 30, 40, 46, 52 and 58 define six wine bottle
compartments C.sub.1, C.sub.2, C.sub.3, C.sub.4, C.sub.5 and
C.sub.6. If only two bottles are to be carried in the bag 10, they
may be laced in compartments C.sub.3 and C.sub.4. If four bottles
are to be carried in the bag 10, they may be placed in compartments
C.sub.1, C.sub.2, C.sub.5 and C.sub.6. The bag 10 may be
constructed in a larger manner with additional partitions being
utilized to enable the bag 10 to carry eight, ten, twelve, etc.,
bottles. The compartments are large enough to accommodate 1.5 liter
wine bottles.
[0023] Bag 10 is provided with one or more drawstrings 63 at the
upper end of the bag 10 together with a locking retainer 64 so that
the upper end of the bag 10 may be drawn together which draws the
necks of the bottles together into engagement with one another to
prevent the bottles from striking one another during carrying or
transport to prevent breakage of the bottles which could otherwise
occur if the upper ends of the bottles in the compartments were not
restrained, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6.
[0024] A pair of semi-rigid, flat, rectangular bottom supports 66
and 68 are secured to bottom 20 of bag 20 to not only provide
support to the bottles in the compartments, but to also permit the
bottom 20 to be folded at the inner edges of the supports 66 and 68
when the bag is not being used. The folding of the bag 10 is also
enhanced by the fold lines created in the ends 16 and 18 by the
stitching 36 and 38.
[0025] Thus it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least
all of its stated objectives.
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