Bottle carrier

Abstract

A bottle is comprised of a centerboard and pockets attached to the centerboard on opposite sides thereof wherein the pockets have an open top, a generally peripheral semi-cylindrical side wall and an air passage in the bottom of the pocket. The pockets and the centerboard are fabricated from an elastomeric material so that a bottle may be snuggly inserted within the carrier. Two or more bottles are typically provided in pockets arranged on opposite sides of the centerboard of the carrier device.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In a principal aspect the present invention relates to a bottle carrier and more particularly, to a bottle carrier designed to carry two or more bottles, for example, glass bottles.

When attending recreational events, it is often desired to provide liquid refreshment retained in bottles. The bottles may be fabricated from plastic and glass or other materials including clay or ceramics. Often it is desirable to provide two or more bottles for such an event. Packaging or carrying the bottles is often a challenging undertaking. That is, containers or cases which hold the bottles are often bulky and potentially unsightly. Further, the bottles or containers may not be adequately protected. That is, they can be easily broken if the container or carrier associated therewith is not adequately protective.

Thus, there has developed a need for an improved bottle carrier. For example, a bottle carrier which would be useful for easily carrying two or more water bottles would be especially beneficial.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, the present invention comprises a bottle carrier which includes a centerboard or center element with a handle. The centerboard is a generally planar member with first and second pockets arranged on or affixed to the opposite sides of the centerboard. The pockets are each constructed from an elastomeric material and include a peripheral or lateral wall which is generally semi-cylindrical in shape and a bottom wall with an air passage so that when bottles are inserted into the pockets, air will not inhibit sliding placement of the bottle fully within the pocket. The elastic material forming the pockets facilitates holding and gripping the bottles which are being carried in a safe or protected manner. Two or more such pockets may be incorporated in a bottle carrier of the type described.

Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved bottle carrier.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a bottle carrier wherein the bottles are snuggly held within pockets associated with the bottle carrier.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bottle carrier which enables easy carriage of two or more bottles.

Another object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive, highly durable and functional bottle carrier device.

These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

In the detailed description which follows, reference will be made to the drawing comprised of the following figures:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the bottle carrier of the invention fabricated for transport or carrying two bottles;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view similar to FIG. 1 wherein a portion of the two bottle carrier is depicted in a cut away view;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view illustrating the manner of placing a bottle in the bottle carrier of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front plan view of the bottle carrier of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a back plan view of the carrier of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the carrier of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of an alternative embodiment of the invention for the purpose of carrying four separate bottles;

FIG. 8 is an isometric view wherein a portion of the four bottle carrier of FIG. 7 has been cut away to detail reconstruction;

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the carrier of FIG. 7 depicting the manner of placing a bottle within the carrier; and

FIG. 10 is a front plan view of the carrier of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring first to FIGS. 1-6, there is illustrated an embodiment of the carrier of the invention designed to transport two bottles. The carrier thus has utility for the transport of wine bottles, milk bottles, water bottles or the like. The carrier may be fabricated in any of a number of desired sizes and thus may be used with bottles or other containers of many sizes.

Referring therefore to the figures, the two bottle carrier construction includes a center board or element 20 which is a generally flat planar elongate member having an upper end 22, a lower end 24, a first lateral side 26 and a second lateral side 28. The lateral sides 26 and 28 are generally parallel and connect the edges of the upper and lower ends 22, 24. In practice, the centerboard 20 may be fabricated from an outer layer 30 of elastomeric fabric with a generally rigid or stiff polypropylene board stiffening member 32 encapsulated by a second elastomeric or fabric covering 34. The member 32 provides a means for rendering the center board generally rigid, particularly at the upper end 22, to facilitate the placement of bottles within the carrier and for attachment to a handle 36. That is, the member 32 may be incorporated in upper end 22 only or throughout the length of centerboard 20.

A binding 38 is provided around the peripheral edges of the centerboard 20. The binding 38 is thus sewn to effect assembly of the component parts. Board 20 is preferably comprised of the outside layers 30 and 34 and the member 32 at the upper end 22.

Affixed to the center board 20 on the opposite or front and back sides thereof are first and second pockets 40 and 42, respectively. In the embodiment shown, each of the pockets 40 and 42 is substantially identical in size and configuration. Each includes a generally semi-cylindrical outer wall 44 and 46, respectively and a bottom wall 48 and 50, respectively with at least one air passage 52 and 54, respectively through the bottom wall 48 and 50, respectively. The first pocket 40 includes a downwardly depending or concave upper margin or edge 56 when the pocket is viewed in elevation, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 4. The edge 56 is secured in a manner to prevent unraveling by means of a binding 60 which is sewn thereto. The pocket 40 is affixed to the center board or backboard 28 by being sewn thereto, for example, by being attached by means of the binding 62. The second pocket has a generally similar construction, size and shape.

An important feature of the invention is the material which is used for the first pocket and second pocket 40 and 42. That material is an elastomeric material such as styrene butadiene rubber (SBR). The binding 60 is also preferably slightly elastomeric. Thus, the pockets 40 and 42 have the capacity to stretch somewhat.

As a result of the construction, a bottle 70 in FIG. 3, for example, may slide into the pocket 40 and slightly stretch the material comprising the pocket 40 so as to be tightly held within the pocket 40. Similarly, a bottle (not shown) can be inserted into the pocket 42. The concave curved rim or edge 56 facilitates the insertion of bottle 70 into the pocket 40. The air passage 52 enables air to flow from the pocket 40 as a bottle 70 is inserted therein inasmuch as the elastic material forming the pocket 40 will tend to snuggly adhere to the bottle 70 and would otherwise tend to prevent insertion of the bottle into the pocket 40. However, air flow through the passage 52 ensures that the bottle 70 may be easily inserted into the pocket 40.

It is to be noted that the centerboard 20 has an elongate configuration and is generally planar. However, the material used for the fabrication of the centerboard 20 may be identical to the material used for the construction of the first and second pockets 40 and 42. Thus, when a bottle 70 is inserted into the pocket 40, for example, not only will the outer wall or lateral side wall 44 deform elastically to hold the bottle 70 in place, but the centerboard 20 associated with the lateral wall 44 forming the pocket 40 will also deform slightly. Preferentially, the pockets 40 and 42 are symmetrical and positioned on opposite sides of the centerboard 20. Further, a handle 36 is attached by sewing or tacking, for example, tacking 74 and 76 to the centerboard 20.

FIGS. 7-10 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the invention designed for packaging and carrying four bottles. The construction is from the same materials as described with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6. However, a centerboard 80 with a handle 82 attached thereto includes an upper end 84 which preferably is made rigid or semi-rigid by means of an internal stiffening board (not shown). The lower section or lower region or remaining part of the center board 80 is adapted to receive four pockets. First and second pockets 86 and 88 are thus positioned on a front side of the board 80. Third and fourth pockets 90 and 92 are positioned on the back or opposite side of the centerboard 80. The construction is adapted to receive a bottle, for example, bottle 98 which fits into a pocket 88 as depicted in FIG. 9. An air opening or air passage 100 is provided in a bottom wall 102 associated with the pocket 88. In a preferred embodiment, each of the pockets is a similar size and shape and thus results in a very symmetrical arrangement wherein four bottles of generally equal size and configuration will be easily carried and balanced by means of the bottle carrier of the invention. Further, the lateral sides of the pockets are generally comprised of material having an arcuate or generally semi-cylindrical form without passages for air flow. However, the lateral sides may include openings or passages for air flow preferably near the bottom of the lateral sides. Thus, the elastomeric material provides multiple functions of insulating the carrier container, protecting the carrier container and transporting the container.

The utilization of elastomeric materials as described insures that the bottles will be kept tightly contained within the carrier. Further, because the elastomeric material is generally resilient, it serves a protective function for the bottles within the carrier. Again, the binding associated with the edges of the pockets, for example pocket 88, is fabricated from an elastic material which tends to retain the contents of the carrier in a safe and secure position.

Many variations of the construction are possible. That is, the size of each of the pockets may be varied. The diameter of the pockets may be varied. The shape of the pockets may be varied. The height of the pockets may be varied. The number of pockets mounted on a centerboard, both the front and back thereof may be varied. Thus, the invention is to be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof. What is claimed is:

Claims

1. A bottle carrier comprising, in combination:

a centerboard having a generally flat, planar configuration, a front side, a back side, a lower end, an upper end, and first and second lateral sides generally connecting the lower end and upper end;

a handle at the upper end for manual transport of the carrier;

a reinforcing element generally at the upper end to maintain the generally flat planar configuration of the centerboard generally at the upper end;

a first pocket attached to the front side of the centerboard between the first and second lateral sides, said first pocket including a bottom side, an open top, a generally arcuate lateral side extending between the first and second lateral sides; and

an air passage generally at the bottom side of the first pocket;

a second pocket attached to the backside of the centerboard, said second pocket including a bottom side, an open top, a generally arcuate lateral side extending between the first and second lateral sides, and an air passage generally at the bottom side of the second pocket,

at least one of said first and second pockets formed from a generally elastomeric material whereby a bottle inserted into said pocket is engaged by the elastomeric material and snuggly held against the centerboard.

2. The carrier of claim 1 wherein the first and second pockets are generally of equal size.

3. The carrier of claim 1 wherein at least a part of the centerboard is formed of the same elastomeric material as one of said pockets.

4. The carrier of claim 1 wherein the first and second pockets are formed of an elastomeric material.

5. The carrier of claim 1 wherein at least the front side of the centerboard includes at least two pockets in side by side array, each of said pockets comprising an elastomeric material and each of said two pockets including a bottom side with an air passage.

6. The carrier of claim 1 wherein the first pocket and the second pocket are each formed from the same elastomeric material.

7. The carrier of claim 1 wherein at least one of side pockets includes an upper margin which comprises a concave curve depending downwardly from the upper end of the centerboard.

8. The carrier of claim 1 wherein the elastomeric material comprises styrene butadiene rubber.