Bottle Carrying Device

Abstract

A bottle carrying device includes a tubular cloth sleeve that fits snugly over a bottle, such as a bottle of water. The tubular cloth sleeve includes a welt top formed by folding over an end portion of the cloth sleeve onto itself and securing the folded-over end portion. Preferably, the welt top includes a pair of openings to accommodate entry of a cord within the welt. The cord functions as a drawstring to allow the device to be tightened around the neck of the bottle. Preferably, the cord includes a shoe lace lock type fastener to allow the cord to be kept tightly around the bottle neck when the bottle is being carried. Preferably, the cord further extends outwardly from the welt top forming an elongated loop to facilitate carrying the device. Preferably, the fastener can be unlocked and the cord loosened so as to remove the bottle.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of carrying devices for liquid containers.

BACKGROUND

Many people carry around a liquid beverage, such as water or a sports drink, in anticipation of later usage. Typically, such beverages are stored in a plastic bottle. However, lugging the bottle around can present difficulty.

Although various containers exist that can be used for carrying a plastic bottle, often the bottle will not be firmly secured within the container. Moreover, bottles often collect water condensation which can be messy to store in a conventional carrying device.

In the prior art, many bottle sleeves are disclosed. However, most prior art bottle sleeves are used for insulative purposes. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,701,720 to Stone et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,240,741 to Doshier, and U.S. Published Patent No. 2007/0017924 disclose insulated beverage bottle holders that include thermally insulating sleeves. Such bottle sleeves are typically constructed of a foam or neoprene material and have a body that wraps around the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A bottle carrying device includes a tubular cloth sleeve that fits snugly over a bottle, such as a bottle of water. The tubular cloth sleeve includes a welt top formed by folding over an end portion of the cloth sleeve onto itself and securing the folded-over end portion. Preferably, the welt top includes a pair of openings to accommodate entry of a cord within the welt. The cord functions as a drawstring to allow the device to be tightened around the neck of the bottle. Preferably, the cord includes a lock to allow the cord to be kept tightly around the bottle neck when the bottle is being carried. Preferably, the cord further extends outwardly from the welt top forming an elongated loop to facilitate carrying the device. Preferably, the device can be unlocked and the cord loosened to remove the bottle.

Preferably, the cloth sleeve is made of a material that exhibits sufficient wickability so that water condensation on the surface of the bottle is absorbed. Additionally, the material chosen will be a stretch fabric that exhibits at least moderate elongation (e.g., between about 15% to about 30% elongation). An example of a suitable material would be a cotton blend having about 1% to 15% of an elastomer, such as spandex, neoprene, or synthetic rubber. However, other blends, including acrylic/elastomer, may suffice.

These and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary bottle carrying device carrying a bottle of water, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a close-up detail of the material used in constructing the carrying device of FIG. 1, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; and

FIGS. 3(a) to (c) show the exemplary bottle carrying device made in a variety of shapes and sizes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary bottle carrying device 100 for carrying a bottle 180, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The carrying device 100 includes a tubular cloth sleeve 150 that fits snugly over the bottle 180. The tubular cloth sleeve 150 includes a welt top 155 formed by folding over an end portion of the tubular cloth sleeve 150 onto itself and securing (most preferably by sewing) the folded-over end portion. Preferably, the welt top 155 includes a pair of openings 110 to accommodate entry of a cord 120 within the welt top 155. The cord 120 functions as a drawstring to allow the tubular cloth sleeve 150 to be tightened around the neck of the bottle 180.

Optionally, and as shown, the bottle carrying device 100 will include indicia 130, such as a corporate logo, a school insignia, an advertisement, etc. Although the indicia 130 is shown in a separate part of the tubular cloth sleeve 150, it is to be understood that the indicia 130 could be placed on any part of the tubular cloth sleeve 150. In alternate embodiments, the cloth material itself used for tubular sleeve 150 could itself be the indicia 130, e.g., dyed pink to signify breast cancer awareness.

Preferably, the cord 120 includes a lock 140 to allow the cord to be kept tightly around the neck of the bottle 180 when carried. Most preferably, and as shown, the lock 140 will be a dual cord type fastener (“lace lock” fastener) with a push button 145 to allow for quick release. Most preferably, the lock 140 will be adapted to allow ends of the cord 120 to pass through and to lock two prescribed points on the length of the cord 120 from moving relative to the fastener. For reference, such dual cord type fasteners are used in many of the shoes manufactured by Keen, Inc., of Portland, Oreg., such as, for example, the KEEN SYLINE WP shoe (Style 9627). Additional examples of such fasteners that may be used are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,026,548 to Jackson, which is herein incorporated by reference.

Preferably, the cord further extends outwardly from the welt top forming an elongated loop to facilitate carrying the device, as shown. Preferably, the elongated loop will include cord stop 148, as shown, to keep the cord 120 in place. Preferably, the device can be unlocked by pressing the push button 145 and the cord loosened to remove the bottle 180.

Preferably, the cloth sleeve 150 is made of a material that exhibits sufficient wickability so that water condensation on the surface of the bottle is absorbed. In general, wickability refers to the ability of liquid water to be transported through fabric by capillary action. The wicking of liquid water through the fabric draws water away from the surface of the bottle 180 thereby reducing collection of water condensation.

Furthermore, the material chosen for the tubular cloth sleeve 150 will be a stretch fabric that exhibits at least moderate elongation (e.g., between about 15% to about 30% elongation). In general, stretch is the ability of a textile to extend when a pulling force is applied and then to recover quickly and substantially fully to its original position when the pulling force is removed. An example of a suitable material would be a cotton blend having about 1% to 15% of an elastomer, such as spandex, neoprene, or synthetic rubber. More particularly, suitable blends include (1) 80% cotton, 16% nylon, 2% rubber, 1% polyester, 1% spandex; and (2) 85% cotton, 10% stretch poly, 2% Lycra, 2% nylon, 1% spandex. However, other blends, including acrylic/elastomer, may suffice.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up detail of a material for the tubular cloth sleeve 150 used in constructing the bottle carrying device 100, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. As shown in Detail A, the material used for the tubular cloth sleeve 150 is knitted. In this embodiment, preferably, a single (or a double) cylinder knitting machine will be used to construct the cloth sleeve 150. For reference, this is the type of machine usually used to fabricate socks and other tubular clothing articles. In alternative preferred embodiments, the cloth sleeve 150 can be fabricated from more than one piece of material, and then the pieces can be serge stitched together, for example. In still other embodiments, the tubular cloth sleeve 150 can be hand knitted or otherwise fabricated by hand.

Placement of the indicia 130 on the tubular cloth sleeve 150 can be done by any suitable method. In the case where the tubular cloth sleeve 150 is knitted using a circular knitting machine, the indicia 130 can be knit into the tubular cloth sleeve 150 during manufacture or sewn in afterwards. In cases where the material can accommodate printing, the indicia 130 can be silk screen printed, for example. Such printing has the advantage of being able to produce more complex artwork. In general, any suitable method of placing the indicia 130 onto the tubular cloth sleeve 150 may be used.

FIGS. 3(a) to (c) show the exemplary bottle carrying device made in a variety of shapes and sizes. By way of example, the exemplary bottle carrying devices shown in FIG. 3(a) and FIG. 3(b) could be used to carry an 8-oz bottle of water and a 12-oz bottle of water, respectively. The exemplary bottle carrying device 100 shown in FIG. 3(c) could be used to carry a 20-oz GATORADE bottle, for example.

While this invention has been described in conjunction with the various exemplary embodiments outlined above, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A bottle carrying device, comprising:

a cloth sleeve for holding a bottle, the cloth sleeve including a welt top; and

a cord extending through the welt top.

2. The bottle carrying device of claim 1, wherein the welt top is formed by folding over an end portion of the cloth sleeve onto itself and securing the folded over end portion.

3. The bottle carrying device of claim 1, wherein the cloth sleeve is made of a stretch fabric.

4. The bottle carrying device of claim 3, wherein the stretch fabric exhibits between about 15% to about 30% elongation.

5. The bottle carrying device of claim 3, wherein the stretch fabric includes about 1% to 15% an elastomer.

6. The bottle carrying device of claim 1, wherein the cloth sleeve is a cotton blend, the cotton blend being at least 50% cotton and about 1% to 5% an elastomer.

7. The bottle carrying device of claim 6, wherein the elastomer is a synthetic rubber.

8. The bottle carrying device of claim 7, wherein the elastomer is spandex or neoprene.

9. The bottle carrying device of claim 1, wherein the cloth sleeve is a acrylic blend, the acrylic blend being at least 50% acrylic and about 1% to 5% an elastomer.

10. The bottle carrying device of claim 1, wherein the cloth sleeve is knit using a circular knitting machine.

11. The bottle carrying device of claim 1, wherein the welt top includes a pair of openings to accommodate entry of the cord within the welt top.

12. The bottle carrying device of claim 11, wherein the cord extends outwardly from each of the pair of openings in the top welt forming an elongated loop to facilitate carrying the bottle.

13. The bottle carrying device of claim 12, wherein the elongated loop is fastened at the welt top with a fastener.

14. The bottle carrying device of claim 13, wherein the fastener is a lock lace fastener.

15. The bottle carrying device of claim 1, wherein the cloth sleeve includes indicia imprinted thereon.

16. The bottle carrying device of claim 1, wherein the cloth sleeve includes indicia cross stitched thereon.

17. The bottle carrying device of claim 1, wherein the bottle carrying device can accommodate a 12-ounce bottle of water.

18. A method for manufacturing a bottle carrying device,

using a circular knitting machine, forming the cloth sleeve of claim 1;

forming the welt top; and

placing the cord through the welt top.