Wine Bag

Abstract

A bag for transporting one or more wine bottles has a detachable strap for secure attachment to a car seatbelt to prevent tipping over of the bag during transport. Further, the bag preferably has two or more elastic sides that conform to the bottle(s) shape to prevent movement within the bag, which along with other sides may provide cushioning and thermal insulation.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of priority to the US Provisional Patent application of the same title that was filed on Oct. 10, 2011, having application Ser. No. 61/545,484 and is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The present invention relates portable bottle carriers, and more particularly to bags suitable for transporting and carrying one or more bottles of wine.

Prior art bags can tip over when not held, and thus not only present the possibility of bottle breakage, but also disturb the settled sediment in older red wines, precluding the careful separation thereof from the wine during decanting.

It is therefore a first object of the present invention to provide an improve transporting container that prevents tipping and otherwise disturbing wine sediment, as well as other benefits such as thermal insulation, and the ability to support multiple bottles, as well as bottles of different sizes.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In the present invention, the first object is achieved by providing a wine transporting bag comprising a bottom portion, upright sides that extend upward from said bottom portion, to provide an upper opening, at least one handle attached to one or more of said upright sides at the upper opening thereof and a horizontal strap member extending across one or more of said upright sides.

The above and other objects, effects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of the embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the wine bag.

FIG. 2A is a front elevation view of the wine bag of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2B is a side elevation view of the wine bag of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2C is a top view of the wine bag of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2D is a bottom view of the wine bag of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2E is a cross-sectional elevation view of the wine bag of FIG. 1 at reference line E-E in FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2F is a cross-sectional elevation view of the wine bag of FIG. 1 at reference line F-F in FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment with all the sides and bottom laid flat before attachment of sides 114 to each other at seams 113.

FIG. 4A is a horizontal cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the wine bag of FIG. 1 below the horizontal strap.

FIG. 4B is horizontal cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the wine bag of FIG. 4A with two wine bottles inserted in the bag.

FIG. 4C is horizontal cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the wine bag of FIG. 4A with a single large wine bottle inserted in the bag.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, wherein like reference numerals refer to like components in the various views, there is illustrated therein a new and improved wine transporting bag, generally denominated 100 herein.

In accordance with the present invention the wine bag 100 comprises a container 110 having a bottom 112 and two or more flexible sides 114 terminating an upper opening 116, with one or more handle members 120 attached proximal to the upper opening 116. An externally disposed strap member 130 preferably extends horizontally over at least a portion of one of sides of the wine bag 100.

Handle 120 preferably has two sides, 121a and 121b, each attached to opposing front and rear sides 114b and 114d respectively. The handle can be any shape, and preferably is contiguous with the top of opposing flexible sides with an opening for inserting the users hand to simultaneously grip both sides 121a and 121b.

In additional to holding one or more bottles, such as wine bottles, in the cavity 118 with the sides 114 and bottom 112, it also is preferably cushioned to prevent breakage if tipped over after or during carrying by handle 120.

It should be noted that the bottom and sides are shaped to hold one or more bottles upright to prevent disturbance of sediment when safely transporting, either by handle or in an automobile. In particular the bag 110 is conveniently attached and detached from an automobile safety belt while maintained in an upright position without disturbing the wine sediment. The seat belt loops through strap 130. The exterior horizontal strap 130 is preferably located within the upper 3rd half of the container. The horizontally disposed strap 130 is preferably capable of ready detachment and re-attachment at one side where connected to the sidewall 114b, generally proximal to one end thereof, via attachment means 132 which can include hook and loop fasteners (“Velcro”™), buttons, snaps, buckles and the like. This permits the attachment and detachment of the seat belt loop to the wine bag 100 by fastening and unfastening the horizontally disposed strap 130 so the bottle 10 need not be jarred or titled, which would disturb sediment. The externally disposed strap member 130 preferably extends horizontally over at least a portion of one of sides of the wine bag 100, but can optionally extend vertically depending on the desired orientation for wine bottle placement in the automobile. More preferably, the wine bag 100 can have a plurality of external detachable straps at different or adjustable orientations to accommodate alternations or seat belt positions in an automobile, and hence serve as a detachable supporting means for transporting the bottle 10.

As shown in FIG. 3, other preferred aspects of the wine bag 100 include two or more sides 114a and 114c, preferably being formed of a stretchable elastic foam rubber material, such as “NEOPRENE”™ foamed rubber sheet or fabric and more preferably these sides along with the bottom 112 are formed from a continuous expanse 117 of the rubber material that extends there between to cover the bottom of the container.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4A-C, there is also preferably a dividing flap 210 connected to a midpoint of a interior wall defined by side 114b or 114d that is optionally not substantially stretchable, the dividing flap 210 extending upward from the bottom of the container to the opening thereof and attached to the rear wall on one side so as to be able to fall against the same interior wall.

Further, the opposing sides 114b and 114d disposed between the sides of the continuous expanse of the rubber material are preferably a quilted fabric, to provide cushioning, as well as thermal insulation. A quilted fabric should be understood to mean a sheet of fabric having 2 more layers, in which one generally interior layer is thicker, bulkier or comprises a padding material, in which the 2 or more layers are stitched together across portion or patterns in the surface to hold them together.

As shown in FIG. 4B, two bottles 10 can insert in the bag 100 on opposite sides of divider 110, the divider provides cushioning between them, and hence is also preferably covered or formed of foam on another compliant material.

Note that stretchable sides 114a and 114b an thus stretch to accommodate the round bottle shape. In FIG. 4C, the same bag 100 now accommodates a larger single bottle 10, while sides 114a and 114b stretch, intervening opposing sides 114c and 114d being a soft quilted or otherwise flexible material, fold around the bottle.

Further, as shown in an alternative embodiment in FIG. 2G, there is thermally insulated interior lining 220 in the interior o the wine bag 100. The thermally insulating lining can be fabric, foam, plastic film, metalized plastic film, metal foil or any combination or lamination of these materials. Alternative stretchable fabrics for forming one or more sides in additional to “NEOPRENE”™ rubber also includes “LYCRA”™ fabric, and any laminate o a fabric with a foamed sheet material. It should be understood that Neoprene is just a representative form of a foamed elastic rubber sheet or fabric material, and Lycra is just one form on an elastic fabric material formed by the weaving of at least some elastic threads or fibers. As the sides 114a-c and bottom 112 are flexible the wine bag 100 is easily laid flat or folded for storage when not holding wine bottles 10.

While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1) A wine bottle transporting bag comprising:

a) a bottom portion,

b) a plurality of upright sides that extend upward from said bottom portion, the upright sides terminating at an upper opening of the bag,

c) at least one handle attached to one or more of said upright sides proximal to the upper opening thereof,

d) a strap member extending across one or more of said upright sides.

2) The wine bottle transporting bag of claim 1, wherein the strap member is detachably horizontally disposed and connected to the exterior of the wine transporting bag.

3) The wine bottle transporting bag of claim 1, having two or more upright sides that are formed from a rubber material.

4) The wine bottle transporting bag of claim 1, wherein two upright sides opposite each other are formed from a continuous expanse of the rubber material that extends there between to cover the bottom of the container.

5) The wine bottle transporting bag of claim 1, having a first pair of two upright sides opposite each other are not substantially stretchable.

6) The wine bottle transporting bag of claim 5 and further comprising a dividing flap having a hinged connected to a midpoint of an interior facing surface of one of the two upright sides, the dividing flap extending upward from an interior bottom portion of the container to the opening thereof to fall against the same interior facing surface when not separating adjacent wine bottles.

7) The wine bottle transporting bag of claim 5, having a second pair of two upright sides opposite each other are interposed between the first pair of two upright sides, in which the second pair are substantially stretchable.

8) The wine bottle transporting bag of claim 7, and further comprising a dividing flap having a hinged connected to a midpoint of an interior facing surface of one of the two upright sides of the first pair, the dividing flap extending upward from a bottom portion of the container to the opening thereof to fall against the same interior facing surface.

9) The wine bottle transporting bag of claim 1, further comprising a thermally insulating interior lining.

10) A wine bottle transporting bag comprising:

a) a bottom portion,

b) four upright sides that extend upward from said bottom portion to provide an upper opening to the bag, the four upright sides comprising; i) a first pair of two upright sides opposite each other are not substantially stretchable, and ii) a second pair of two upright sides opposite each other that are interposed between the first pair of two upright sides, in which the second pair of upright sides are substantially stretchable.

c) at least one handle attached to one or more of said upright sides at the upper opening thereof

11) The wine bottle transporting bag of claim 10, and further comprising a dividing flap having a hinged connected to a midpoint of an interior facing surface of one of the upright sides, the dividing flap extending upward from a bottom portion of the container to the opening thereof to fall against the same interior facing surface.

12) The wine bottle transporting bag of claim 10, in which the first pair of two upright sides opposite each other are not substantially stretchable are a quilted fabric.

13) The wine bottle transporting bag of claim 10, in which the second pair of two upright sides opposite each other that are substantially stretchable are a rubber material.

14) The wine bottle transporting bag of claim 10, in which the second pair of two upright sides opposite each other that are substantially stretchable are a foamed rubber material.

15) The wine bottle transporting bag of claim 14, in which the second pair of two upright sides opposite each other connect at the bottom of the bag to provide a continuous expanse of the foamed rubber material.

16) The wine bottle transporting bag of claim 10, which further comprises a thermally insulated interior lining.

17) A wine bottle transporting bag comprising:

a) a bottom portion,

b) a plurality of upright sides that extend upward from said bottom portion, the upright sides terminating at an upper opening of the bag,

c) at least one handle attached to one or more of said upright sides proximal to the upper opening thereof,

d) a detachable supporting means extending across one or more of said upright sides.

18) The wine bottle transporting bag of claim 17, in which two or more upright sides are formed of a quilted fabric.

19) The wine bottle transporting bag of claim 17 in which the detachable supporting means is at least one of a vertical and horizontal detachable strap.

20) The wine bottle transporting bag of claim 17, further comprising a thermally insulating interior lining.