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Totes for bottles

Totes for bottles description/claims

The present application is a continuation of U.S. Utility application Ser. No. 11/676,587 filed on Feb. 20, 2007 which is a continuation of U.S. Utility application Ser. No. 10/816,676 filed on Dec. 12, 2006, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to portable bottle carriers and, more particularly, to tote bags suitable for carrying at least one bottle of wine.

2. Background of Related Art

Heretofore, when carrying wine bottles in a paper bag, sack or the like, the glass wine bottles, unless restrained or held separated in the bag, could jostle against each other with the result that one or more bottles may break. Even if the bag is carefully handled to prevent breakage of the bottles, the bottles still may strike against each other such that a ringing or other irritating sound is produced. Moreover, the relatively thin nature of the paper bag or sack renders the bottles contained therein vulnerable to breakage as the result of the paper bag or sack striking and/or banging against another object. In addition, paper bags or sacs are incapable of independently retaining the bottle therein, thereby resulting in bottles slipping out of or otherwise disassociating from the paper bag or sack upon transport thereof.

Conventional bags and/or sacs are incapable of regulating and/or maintaining the temperature of the bottle retained therein for an extended period of time. In addition, conventional bags and/or sacs are incapable of protecting and/or otherwise cushioning the bottle against impacts and the like.

A need therefore exists for a portable wine bottle carrier which reduces the tendency of breakage of the bottles being transported therein, which prevents the bottles from striking one another so as to eliminate any irritating sounds resulting therefrom, and/or which reduces the tendency for bottles to become disassociated therefrom. Such carrier desirably should be conveniently totable and desirably should be aesthetically pleasing in appearance.

The present disclosure relates to portable bottle carriers (i.e., tote bags) for carrying at least one bottle therein, preferably a bottle of wine therein.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a tote for carrying and transporting a bottle or bottles, is provided. The tote includes a front panel defining a right side, a left side, a bottom, and a top terminal edge, and a rear panel defining a right side, a left side, a bottom, and a top terminal edge. The rear panel is secured to the front panel along at least the right side, the left side and the bottom terminal edges. The front and rear panels define a pocket therebetween. The front and/or rear panel is fabricated from an elastic, insulative, impact absorbent material. The tote has a substantially flattened condition when no bottle is disposed in the pocket thereof.

Preferably, the front and rear panels are fabricated from neoprene. The front and rear panels may have a thickness of between about 3 mm to about 5 mm. Preferably, the neoprene is sandwiched between layers of stretch nylon.

The bottom terminal edges of the front and rear panels are arcuate when the tote is in the flattened condition. Accordingly, when a bottle is at least partially inserted into the opening between the front and rear panels, the arcuate bottom terminal edge thereof flattens.

Preferably, the front and rear panels are secured to one another by at least one of stitching, adhering, welding, and stapling. Desirably, at least one of the front and rear panels includes an aperture formed therein. The upper terminal edges of the front and rear panels may be arcuate.

In one embodiment, the front panel and the rear panel are secured to one another along a contact line positioned between the right side terminal edges and the left side terminal edges thereof. The contact line divides the pocket between the front and rear panels into a first pocket and a second pocket. The bottom terminal edges of each of the front and rear panels is scalloped. Accordingly, a first lobe of the bottom terminal edge is in operative association with the first pocket and a second lobe of the bottom terminal edge is in operative association with the second pocket.

In another embodiment, the tote further includes a third panel defining a right side, a left side, a bottom, and a top terminal edge. Accordingly, the right side terminal edge of the front panel is secured to the left side terminal edge of the rear panel, and a portion of the bottom terminal edge of the front panel is secured to the bottom terminal edge of the rear panel; the right side terminal edge of the rear panel is secured to the left side terminal edge of the third panels, and a portion of the bottom terminal edge of the rear panel is secured to a portion of the bottom terminal edge of the third panel; and the right side terminal edge of the third panel is secured to the left side terminal edge of the front panel, and a portion of the bottom terminal edge of the third panel is secured to a portion of the bottom terminal edge of the front panel. The front, rear and third panels may be secured to one another along a contact line substantially centrally located between the right and left side terminal edges of each of the front, the rear and the third panels.

In yet another embodiment, the tote includes a first front panel defining a right side, a left side, a bottom, and a top terminal edge, and a first rear panel defining a right side, a left side, a bottom, and a top terminal edge. The first rear panel is secured to the first front panel along at least the right side, the left side and the bottom terminal edges. The first front and first rear panels are secured to one another along a first contact line positioned between the right side terminal edges and the left side terminal edges thereof. The first contact line defines a first pocket and a second pocket between the first front panel and the first rear panel. The bottom terminal edge of each of the first front and first rear panels is scalloped, wherein a first lobe of the bottom terminal edge is in operative association with the first pocket and a second lobe of the bottom terminal edge is in operative association with the second pocket.

In the present embodiment, the tote further includes a second front panel defining a right side, a left side, a bottom, and a top terminal edge, and a second rear panel defining a right side, a left side, a bottom, and a top terminal edge, the second rear panel being secured to the second front panel along at least the right side, the left side and the bottom terminal edges. The second front and second rear panels are secured to one another along a second contact line positioned between the right side terminal edges and the left side terminal edges thereof. The second contact line defines a third pocket and a fourth pocket between the second front panel and the second rear panel. The bottom terminal edges of each of the second front and second rear panels is scalloped, wherein a first lobe of the bottom terminal edge is in operative association with the third pocket and a second lobe of the bottom terminal edge is in operative association with the fourth pocket. Preferably, the first contact line is secured to the second contact line.

The tote may further include a tote strap for selectively engaging the tote. The tote strap includes a hook member for selectively engaging a support structure; and a loop extending from the hook member. The loop has sufficient length to be fed through the hand hold of the tote and for the hook member to then be fed through the loop.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a tote for carrying and transporting a bottle or bottles is provided. The tote includes a front panel defining a perimetral edge; and a rear panel defining a perimetral edge. The front panel is secured to the rear panel along at least a portion of the perimetral edge so as to define a pocket therebetween and an opening into the pocket. The front and rear panels are fabricated from an elastic, insulative, impact absorbent material.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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