Abstract:
The present invention provides an aesthetically pleasing portable wine bottle carrier that folds into something with the general size, shape, and appearance of a wallet. The invention comprises a tote bag having a semi-rigid bottom and non-rigid front, rear, and side sections, and an open top, along with creases in the material to facilitate easy folding into what has an outward appearance of a wallet.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    When carrying a wine bottle in public, such as into a restaurant, many people often wish not to transport the bottle in a paper or plastic bag. Carrying alcoholic beverages this way is often considered to be un-refined. As such, canvas carrying cases, or other carriers made of other materials have become popular. However, after the bottle has been removed, one then has to keep track of and carry the empty wine bag around with them for the remainder of the evening, much to the annoyance of the user. This also tends to create a situation where wine carriers are misplaced or lost. A need therefore exists for a portable wine bottle carrier that is aesthetically pleasing, and is also easily held and carried after use. Such a carrier should be adapted to carry one or two standard size wine bottles. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention provides an aesthetically pleasing portable wine bottle carrier that folds into something with the general size, shape, and appearance of a wallet. 
         [0003]    Briefly, the portable wine bottle carrier comprises a tote bag having a semi-rigid bottom and non-rigid front, rear, and side sections, and an open top, along with creases in the material (preferably along the front/rear sections and horizontal to the long axis—the long axis being vertical from the top to bottom) to facilitate easy folding into what has an outward appearance of a wallet. The creases are preferably perpendicular to the length of the bag to facilitate the folding of the bag into a wallet sized position. The invention preferably also comprises a means to secure the device into the wallet configuration. These means may take a variety of forms, such as hook and loop fasteners (hereinafter referred to as “Velcro”, a registered trademark of Textol Systems, Inc.), snaps, buttons, etc. located at two locations on the device such that when folded, the securing means are conveniently located. For example, after folding the bag along the creases, the ‘wallet’ configuration would then be prevented from unfolding by securing abutting sections of the wallet via Velcro or snaps located on each end. 
         [0004]    The device will include one or two vertical compartments suitable for receipt of one or two wine bottles. If the device is configured to accommodate two bottles, a partition located in the interior compartment of the carrier that separates the two bottles and keeps them from directly colliding is suggested. While it is conceivable that a wine carrier could be sized to accommodate more than two wine bottles, such a device would be difficult to then fold into a wallet size configuration. 
         [0005]    The bottom of the bag preferably is generally rectangular, and is preferably the approximate height and length of the device in the folded, ‘wallet’ configuration. In a preferred construction, the bag has seams defining the union of the bottom and at least two opposed sides thereof. In the two bottle configuration, the partition is preferably secured to the bag along at least one of the side seams and additionally at the middle of the bottom of the bag. The insert preferably includes creases for convenient folding and storage purposes. The bag is preferably formed from a single piece of fabric material such as cotton or canvas, such piece having a medial portion forming the bottom of the bag and end portions extending upwardly from the medial portion to form the sides of the bag, such end portions having vertical juxtaposed edges stitched together. 
         [0006]    In addition, a handle is secured to the bag for use during bottle transport. In one configuration, a strap is attached to two front and rear sections near the top (or open section) to produce a handle. Alternatively, handles are secured to opposing sections of the bag at the respective tops thereof whereby the bag is ported in a suspended state. 
         [0007]    A rear pocket, located on the exterior of a rear section, can be included to carry related items, such as a corkscrew, etc. This may also be a convenient location for the securing means, such as Velcro or snaps, with the securing means located at the top of the rear pocket, as well as the bottom. Another embodiment comprises a flap located at the bottom of the rear section pocket that facilitates a portion of the securing means. 
         [0008]    To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of the portable wine bottle carrier constructed in accordance with the invention, wherein the securing means comprises snaps located on the flap; 
           [0010]      FIG. 1   a  is a rear perspective view of a portable wine bottle carrier, wherein the securing means comprises sections of Velcro located on the flap; 
           [0011]      FIG. 1   b  is a rear perspective view of the embodiment shown of  FIG. 1 , shown with a bottle in the carrier. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a top down view of the front of the carrier lying flat, completely unfolded and showing the front sides of the first, second, third and fourth panels, a crease line between each of the panels, and the strap. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a top down view of the front of the carrier shown in  FIG. 2  shown with snaps, where bottom section  46  has been folded onto panel  2 , exposing the flap, the rear of bottom section  46 , and the front of panel  2 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 3   a  is a top down view of the front of the carrier shown in  FIG. 2  shown with Velcro securing means, where bottom section  46  has been folded onto panel  2 , exposing the flap, the rear of bottom section  46 , and covering panel  2 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a top down view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , where panel  4  and the strap have been folded onto panel  3 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 4   a  is a top down view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3   a,  where panel  4  and the strap have been folded onto panel  3 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a top down view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , where panels  4  and  3  have been folded onto bottom section  46  and panel  2 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 5   a  is a top down view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4   a,  where as panels  4  and  3  have been folded onto bottom section  46  and panel  2 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a top down view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , where the first snap (located on the flap) has been snapped onto the second snap (located on the rear pocket) completing the transformation into the wallet configuration. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6   a  is a top down view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5   a,  where the first Velcro section (on the flap) has been attached onto the second Velcro section (on the rear pocket) completing the transformation into the wallet configuration. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a perspective side view of the invention in the unfolded configuration. 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a perspective rear view of the invention configured in the two chamber embodiment to accommodate two bottles. 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a perspective rear view of the invention configured in the two chamber embodiment to accommodate two bottles, and wherein the bottles are depicted in the carrier. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    Referring now in detail to the drawings showing a portable wine bottle carrier constructed in accordance with the invention as designated generally by reference numeral  10 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of the portable wine bottle carrier  10  constructed in accordance with the invention, wherein the securing means  26  comprises snaps located on the flap  40 . 
         [0026]    The rear section  16  is shown having an attached rear pocket  38 . The rear pocket is preferably sized and shaped to accommodate a variety of items. The rear pocket is shown comprising securing means  26  and, in this view, the securing means comprises snaps located on the top of the rear pocket and on the flap. When the carrier  10  is folded into the wallet configuration, the snaps are located to provide a convenient way to secure the invention into that configuration. The side section  18  and bottom section  12  are also shown, along with the open top  20 . The open top shows the top section of the vertical compartment  28  within the carrier. The strap  36  is attached to the top of the front  14  and rear  16  sections to provide a handle during the wine transport. 
         [0027]      FIG. 1   a  is a rear perspective view of a portable wine bottle carrier, wherein the securing means comprises sections of Velcro located on the flap. Also shown are the vertical axis  24 , and the horizontal axis  44 . These axes are perpendicular to each other. 
         [0028]      FIG. 1   b  is a rear perspective view of the embodiment shown of  FIG. 1 , shown with a bottle  54  in the carrier. 
         [0029]      FIG. 2  is a top down view of the front section  14  of the empty carrier lying flat, completely unfolded and showing the front sides of the first, second, third and fourth panels, a crease line  22  between each panel and the strap. In one embodiment, the bottom section  46  is shown coving the bottom section  46 . Panel  2  ( 48 ), panel  3  ( 50 ) and panel  4  ( 52 ) are shown with crease lines  22  in-between the panels. Utilizing this embodiment, a user could fold the carrier into the wallet configuration by folding bottom section  46  onto panel  2  along the crease line  22  between them, then fold panel  4  onto panel  3  along the crease line  22  between them; then fold panels  3  and  4  onto panels  1  and  2  along the crease line  22  between the second and third panels ( 48  and  50  respectively). 
         [0030]    Then, to secure this into the wallet configuration, the securing means could then be activated, such as snapping the snaps, or adhering the Velcro sections together, etc. The bottom section ( 46 ) preferably has the size and shape of a typical wallet, making transport of the wine wallet convenient. The crease lines  22  are preferably parallel to the horizontal axis  44  and perpendicular to the long/vertical axis  24 , while the side/lateral sections  18  are generally parallel to the long/vertical axis  24  and perpendicular to the horizontal axis  44 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 3  is a top down view of the front of the carrier shown in  FIG. 2  shown with snaps, where bottom section  46  has been folded onto panel  2  along a crease line  22 , exposing the flap, the rear of bottom section  46 , and covering panel  2 . The strap  36  is lying flat. 
         [0032]      FIG. 3   a  is a top down view of the front of the carrier shown in  FIG. 2  shown with Velcro securing means  26 , where bottom section  46  has been folded onto panel  2 , exposing the flap ( 40 ), the rear of bottom section  46 , and covering the front of panel  2 . 
         [0033]      FIGS. 4 and 4   a  are top down views of the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 3 and 3   a,  respectively, where panel  4  has been folded onto panel  3  ( 50 ), and the strap  36  is shown lying across bottom section  46  and panel  2  ( 28 ) not shown.  FIG. 4  shows the securing means  26  as snaps on the flap  40 , while  FIG. 4   a  shows Velcro securing means  26 . 
         [0034]      FIGS. 5 and 5   a  are top down views of the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 4 and 4   a,  respectively, where panels  4  and  3  are been folded onto panels  1  and  2 . At this stage of folding, only one side of panel  3  ( 50 ) is visible, along with the flap  40 , a portion of the strap  36 , and the securing means  26 . The rear pocket  38  is also shown. 
         [0035]      FIG. 6  is a top down view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , where the first snap  26  (located on the flap  40 ) has been snapped onto the second snap  26  (located on the rear pocket  38 ) completing the transformation into the wallet configuration. 
         [0036]      FIG. 6   a  is a top down view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5   a,  where the first Velcro section  26  (on the flap  40 ) has been attached onto the second Velcro section  26  (on the rear pocket  38 ) completing the transformation into the wallet configuration. 
         [0037]      FIG. 7  is a perspective side view of the invention in the unfolded configuration. The bottom section  46  is shown, along with panel  1  ( 12 ), panel  2  ( 48 ), panel  3  ( 50 ), panel  4  ( 52 ), and the strap  36  and crease lines  22 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 8  is a perspective rear view of the invention configured in the two chamber embodiment to accommodate two bottles. Here, the open end is divided into two vertical compartments  28  separated by a partition  30 . The partition  30  should separate two bottles  54  along the length of the carrier to keep the bottles from colliding with each other directly. 
         [0039]      FIG. 9  is a perspective rear view of the invention configured in the two chamber embodiment to accommodate two bottles, and wherein the bottles  54  are depicted in the carrier. 
         [0040]    Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to a preferred embodiment, it is obvious that equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of the specification. The present invention includes all such equivalent alterations and modifications, and is limited only by the scope of the following claims.