Travel Container for Transporting Of Beverage Containers

Abstract

A collapsible travel container allowing a consumer to safely transport beverage containers acquired abroad as baggage aboard a plane, ship, or other form of mass transit, while reducing the likelihood of breakage or compromise of one or more of the beverage containers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A travel container for transporting beverage containers comprising:
 a. a bottom panel;   b. at least four side panels integrally coupled to the bottom panel;   c. a top panel coupled to at least one of the side panels;   d. one or more fasteners for coupling/fastening the top panel to the side panels such that when fastened, the bottom panel, side panels, and top panel form a substantially rectangular-shaped closed container having:
 i. an interior for receiving a rigid box designed to enclose one or more beverage containers during transit, the interior having interior dimensions comprising an interior length, interior width, and interior height; and 
 ii. an exterior; and 
   e. a handle coupled to the exterior for allowing the container to be transported as luggage aboard a plane, ship, or other form of mass transit;   the bottom panel, top panel, and side panels being constructed of a flexible/collapsible material for compact storage when the travel container is not in use.   
     
     
         2 . The travel container of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener couples/fastens a side edge of one or more side panels to a side edge of any adjacent side panels. 
     
     
         3 . The travel container of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener further comprises a hook-and-loop fastener. 
     
     
         4 . The travel container of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener further comprises a zipper, wherein the zipper further comprises:
 a. a first set of teeth disposed along at least one side edge of the top panel;   b. a second set of teeth disposed along a top edge of at least one of the side panels; and   c. a slider coupled to the first set of teeth and the second set of teeth in such a way that when the slider is operated in a first direction, the side edge(s) of the top panel are non-permanently fastened to the top edge(s) of the side panel(s), and when the slider is operated in a second reverse direction, the side edge(s) of the top panel are unfastened from the top edge(s) of the side panel(s).   
     
     
         5 . The travel container of  claim 4  wherein the first set of teeth extends to a side edge of at least one side panel and the second set of teeth extends to a side edge of an adjacent side panel in such a way that when the slider is operated in the first direction, the side edge of the side panel is non-permanently fastened to the side edge of the adjacent side panel, and when the slider is operated in a second reverse direction, the side edge of the side panel is unfastened from the side edge of the adjacent side panel. 
     
     
         6 . The travel container of  claim 1  further comprising rollers. 
     
     
         7 . The travel container of  claim 6 , wherein the rollers further comprise two or more wheel assemblies coupled to the exterior. 
     
     
         8 . The travel container of  claim 7  wherein at least two wheel assemblies can freely pivot. 
     
     
         9 . The travel container of  claim 6 , wherein the rollers further comprise captive ball bearings. 
     
     
         10 . The travel container of  claim 6  further comprising a rigid, telescoping handle. 
     
     
         11 . The travel container of  claim 1  further comprising sliders. 
     
     
         12 . The travel container of  claim 1  further comprising a gusset for expanding and collapsing at least one interior dimension for accommodating contents of varying sizes during use. 
     
     
         13 . The travel container of  claim 12 , further comprising a spring for ensuring the gusset remains collapsed until expansion is needed. 
     
     
         14 . The travel container of  claim 12 , further comprising a fastener for ensuring the gusset remains collapsed until expansion is needed. 
     
     
         15 . The travel container of  claim 14 , wherein the fastener for ensuring the gusset remains collapsed until expansion is needed further comprises a hook-and-loop fastener. 
     
     
         16 . The travel container of  claim 14 , wherein the fastener for ensuring the gusset remains collapsed until expansion is needed further comprises a zipper, wherein the zipper further comprises:
 a. a first set of teeth disposed along one or more side panels substantially perpendicular to an axis corresponding to the interior dimension to be collapsed or expanded;   b. a second set of teeth disposed along one or more side panels substantially parallel to the first set of teeth; and   c. a slider coupled to the first set of teeth and the second set of teeth in such a way that when the slider is operated in a first direction, the travel container is collapsed perpendicular to the axis, and when the slider is operated in a second reverse direction, the travel container is expanded perpendicular to the axis.   
     
     
         17 . The travel container of  claim 1 , wherein the interior dimensions are approximately the same as exterior dimensions of a container commonly used in the industry for shipping eases of beverages. 
     
     
         18 . The travel container of  claim 17 , wherein the beverages are wine bottles. 
     
     
         19 . The travel container of  claim 17 , wherein the interior length is between 44 cm and 50 cm, the interior width is between 30 cm and 36.5 cm, and the interior height is between 38 cm and 46.5 cm. 
     
     
         20 . The travel container of  claim 17 , wherein the interior length is 49.8 cm, the interior width is 31.4 cm, and the interior height is 39.4 cm. 
     
     
         21 . The travel container of  claim 1  further comprising two or more strap attachments for allowing a carrying strap to be attached to the exterior. 
     
     
         22 . The travel container of  claim 21 , wherein the strap attachments are metal rings. 
     
     
         23 . The travel container of  claim 22 , wherein the metal rings are “D” rings.