Carrying bag and trivet for cookware

Abstract

According to one example, a carrying bag for storing and transporting a container with a lid positioned on the container, includes a bottom, at least four pliable sidewalls coupled to a perimeter of the bottom and that extend upward to an upper opening of the carrying bag, and a releasable closure configured to apply pressure to the lid so as to hold the lid in place on top of the container. Each of the four pliable sidewalls has a diagonal crease to collapse portions of the respective sidewall on opposing sides of the diagonal crease into each other as the four pliable sidewalls fold inward to form a trivet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a) a container having a bottom and sidewalls that extend upward from the bottom to terminate at a rim to provide an interior volume for one or more food items;   b) a lid configured to cover an opening of the container when positioned on the container; and   c) a carrying bag for storing and transporting the container with the lid positioned on the container, the carrying bag comprising:
 i) a generally rectangular bottom; 
 ii) at least four pliable sidewalls coupled to a perimeter of the bottom and that extend upward to an upper opening of the carrying bag; 
 iii) two or more handles positioned on opposing sidewalls of the carrying bag in a location proximal to the upper opening; and 
 iv) a releasable closure configured to apply pressure to the lid so as to hold the lid in place on top of the container. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the four pliable sidewalls has a diagonal crease to collapse portions of the respective sidewall on opposing sides of the diagonal crease into each other as the four pliable sidewalls fold inward to form a trivet. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the releasable closure comprises two of the sidewalls of the carrying bag, and further comprises one or more fasteners positioned on the two sidewalls of the carrying bag in a location in-between the bottom and the upper opening. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the one or more fasteners comprise one or more buttons, hook and loop fasteners, snaps, bands, and/or buckles. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the releasable closure comprises two or more straps attached to an inside portion of the bottom of the carrying bag and/or an inside portion of two of the sidewalls of the carrying bag, and further comprises one or more fasteners positioned on the two or more straps. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the one or more fasteners comprise one or more buttons, hook and loop fasteners, snaps, bands, and/or buckles. 
     
     
         7 . A carrying bag for storing and transporting a container with a lid positioned on the container, the carrying bag comprising:
 a) a generally rectangular bottom;   b) at least four pliable sidewalls coupled to a perimeter of the bottom and that extend upward to an upper opening of the carrying bag;   c) two or more handles positioned on opposing sidewalls of the carrying bag in a location proximal to the upper opening; and   d) a releasable closure configured to apply pressure to the lid so as to hold the lid in place on top of the container; and   e) wherein each of the four pliable sidewalls has a diagonal crease to collapse portions of the respective sidewall on opposing sides of the diagonal crease into each other as the four pliable sidewalls fold inward to form a trivet.   
     
     
         8 . The carrying bag according to  claim 7 , wherein the releasable closure comprises two of the sidewalls of the carrying bag, and further comprises one or more fasteners positioned on the two sidewalls of the carrying bag in a location in-between the bottom and the upper opening. 
     
     
         9 . The carrying bag according to  claim 8 , wherein the one or more fasteners comprise one or more buttons, hook and loop fasteners, snaps, bands, and/or buckles. 
     
     
         10 . The carrying bag according to  claim 7 , wherein the releasable closure comprises two or more straps attached to an inside portion of the bottom of the carrying bag and/or an inside portion of two of the sidewalls of the carrying bag, and further comprises one or more fasteners positioned on the two or more straps. 
     
     
         11 . The carrying bag according to  claim 10 , wherein the one or more fasteners comprise one or more buttons, hook and loop fasteners, snaps, bands, and/or buckles. 
     
     
         12 . The carrying bag according to  claim 7 , wherein the releasable closure is configured to cause one or more portions of the generally rectangular bottom to extend upward beyond a bottom of the container. 
     
     
         13 . The carrying bag according to  claim 7 , wherein the generally rectangular bottom includes thermally insulating material disposed between opposing layers of fabric that form the generally rectangular bottom, or wherein the generally rectangular bottom includes a pocket for receiving a thermally insulating pad. 
     
     
         14 . A carrying bag for storing and transporting a container with a lid positioned on the container, the carrying bag comprising:
 a) a bottom;   b) at least four pliable sidewalls coupled to a perimeter of the bottom and that extend upward to an upper opening of the carrying bag; and   c) a releasable closure configured to apply pressure to the lid so as to hold the lid in place on top of the container; and   d) wherein each of the four pliable sidewalls has a diagonal crease to collapse portions of the respective sidewall on opposing sides of the diagonal crease into each other as the four pliable sidewalls fold inward to form a trivet.   
     
     
         15 . The carrying bag according to  claim 14 , wherein the releasable closure comprises two of the sidewalls of the carrying bag, and further comprises one or more fasteners positioned on the two sidewalls of the carrying bag in a location in-between the bottom and the upper opening. 
     
     
         16 . The carrying bag according to  claim 15 , wherein the one or more fasteners comprise one or more buttons, hook and loop fasteners, snaps, bands, and/or buckles. 
     
     
         17 . The carrying bag according to  claim 14 , wherein the releasable closure comprises two or more straps attached to an inside portion of the bottom of the carrying bag and/or an inside portion of two of the sidewalls of the carrying bag, and further comprises one or more fasteners positioned on the two or more straps. 
     
     
         18 . The carrying bag according to  claim 14 , wherein the bottom has a polygonal or curvilinear perimeter. 
     
     
         19 . The carrying bag according to  claim 14 , wherein the releasable closure has at least one elastic member that is configured to be extended from a first sidewall proximal the upper opening of the carrying bag to couple to an opposing sidewall to secure the container by extending over the lid of container. 
     
     
         20 . The carrying bag according to  claim 19 , wherein the at least one elastic member is an elastic loop and the loop is configured to be coupled around one or more buttons affixed to the opposing sidewall of the container.