Snap Top Tote Apparatus

Abstract

A tote bag apparatus includes a central bounded opening and a top closure allowing a contained item to urge the tote outwardly while forming a seamless bottom member into close contact with the contained item. During use, the tote bag stands upright without an unsightly bunching at an interface between the bottom member and side members, and enables a strap to secure both the contained item from unintended separation and optionally the tote bag to an external support for ready and secure transport.

1 . A tote apparatus, comprising: 
 a first flexible member including a supporting bottom portion joining a front side portion and a rear side portion in a substantially continuous manner and bounding at least one container receiving region there between;    a first attachment member projecting from said first side portion distal from said bottom portion;    a second attachment section on said second side portion distal from said bottom portion;    means for releasably securing said first projecting attachment member and said second attachment section, whereby said means for releasably securing enables a secure joining between said front side portion and said rear side portion for securing an external container within said container receiving region of said tote apparatus during a use; and    at least a first and a second notch region defining a flexible transition region between said supporting bottom portion and proximate portions of said front and rear side portions, whereby during said use said first and second notch regions enable said first flexible member to flex and smoothly bound a bottom region of said external container without distending and provide a smooth support surface to said external container.    
     
     
         2 . A tote apparatus, according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said first front side portion and said rear side portion are joined by one of a seamed and a seamless construction.    
     
     
         3 . A tote apparatus, according to  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said front and rear side portions are joined by a seamed construction.    
     
     
         4 . A tote apparatus, according to  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said first flexible member is a continuous elastomeric member; and    said elastomeric member being one of a closed cell and an open cell rubber material, whereby said tote apparatus enables a thermal retention and an elastic protection of said external container during said use.    
     
     
         5 . A tote apparatus, according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said first attachment member continuously projects from said first side portion distal from said bottom portion.    
     
     
         6 . A tote apparatus, according to  claim 4  wherein: 
 said elastomeric member includes is at least one of a neoprene material and an SBR (Styrene Butadiene Rubber) material.    
     
     
         7 . A tote apparatus, according to  claim 6  wherein: 
 said elastomeric member is coated on at least one side by at least one of an artificial textile material, natural textile material, and a flexible film material, whereby said elastomeric member is protected from unintended abrasion.    
     
     
         8 . A tote apparatus, according to  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 means for dividing said at least one container region into at least two container receiving regions for containing multiple external containers; and    the means for dividing including a dividing stitch line joining regions of said front side and said rear side portions whereby said first flexible member enables secure transport of more than one external container.    
     
     
         9 . A method of constructing a flexible tote apparatus for releasably containing at least one external container, comprising the steps of: 
 forming at least a first elongate continuous flexible member including a supporting bottom portion joining a front side portion and a rear side portion in a substantially continuous manner;    said continuous member including a first attachment member projecting from said first side portion distal said bottom portion;    said continuous member including a second attachment member on said second side portion distal said bottom portion;    said step of forming including a second step of forming at least at least a first and a second notch region defining a flexible transition region between said supporting bottom portion and proximate portions of respective said front and rear side portions, whereby during a use said first and second notch regions enable said first flexible member to flex and smoothly bound a support region of said external container without distending and to provide a smooth support surface to said external container;    securing respective attachment sides of respective said front side and respective rear side portions and bounding at least one container receiving region there between; and    securing at least a first means for releasably securing said first projecting attachment member and said second attachment member on respective said first and second side portions, whereby said means for releasably securing enables a secure joining between said front side portion and said rear side portion for securing said external container within said container receiving region of said tote apparatus during a use.    
     
     
         10 . A flexible tote apparatus for securely transporting at least one external container, comprising: 
 an elongate continuous member; further comprising:    a first side portion and a second side portion;    a bottom portion continuously joining said first and second side portions at proximate ends thereof;    a first and a second notch portion on opposing sides of said bottom portion at said proximate ends of said first and second side portions;    means for joining respective portions of said opposing sides of said first and said second side portions thereby defining a container bounding region there between for receiving said at least one external container;    an extending attachment member having an attachment end projecting from a distal end of said first side portion;    a receiving portion defined on said distal end of said second side portion proximate said attachment end of said attachment member;    means for releasably affixing said attachment end of said extending attachment member to said receiving portion thereby preventing an unintended separation of said external container from said container bounding region during a use.    
     
     
         11 . A flexible tote apparatus, according to  claim 11 , wherein: 
 said means for joining includes at least one of stitching, gluing, heat sealing, stapling, riveting, and binding, whereby said means for joining enables substantial flexibility along joined portions of said opposing sides of said first and second side portions and enables said flexible tote apparatus to remain flexible after joining during a use.    
     
     
         12 . A flexible tote apparatus, according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said elongate continuous member is an elastomeric member.    
     
     
         13 . A flexible tote apparatus, according to  claim 12 , wherein: 
 said elastomeric member is one of a closed cell and an open cell foam material.    
     
     
         14 . A flexible tote apparatus, according to  claim 13 , wherein: 
 said elastomeric member includes a surface cover of one of an artificial textile, a natural textile, and a film material, whereby a surface of said elastomeric member is protected from minimal abrasion.    
     
     
         15 . A flexible tote apparatus, according to  claim 11 , wherein: 
 said means for joining includes stitching;    said elongate continuous member is an elastomeric member;    said elastomeric member is one of a neoprene material and a SBR (Styrene Butadiene Rubber) material; and    said at least one elastomeric member includes a protective covering of a textile material, whereby a surface of said flexible tote apparatus minimizes abrasion.