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.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Prov. App. No. 60 / 642,363 filed Jan. 8, 2005 now abandoned, is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Design App. No. 29 / 220,939 filed Jan. 8, 2005 currently pending and allowed, is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Design App. No. 29 / 230,683 filed May 25, 2005 currently pending, is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Design App. No. 29 / ,230,704 filed May 25, 2005 currently pending, and is a continuation of PCT / US2005 / ______ filed Jan. 8, 2006 (Attorney Ref. No. Built.P045), the contents of each of which is herein fully incorporated by reference.VIEW SELECTED FOR PUBLICATION [0002]FIG. 4BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] 1. Field of the Invention [0004] The present invention relates to a tote bag with a flexible enclosing member at a top section. More specifically, the present invention relates to a snap top tote bag having a simplified and rugged construction and a convenient closing mechanism that readily mi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] An object of the present invention is to provide a tote bag having a simple and robust construction that provides superior protection to a container and easy transport.

[0028] According to another alternative and optional embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a flexible tote apparatus, wherein: the means for joining includes at least one of stitching, gluing, heat sealing, stapling, riveting, and binding, whereby the means for joining enables substantial flexibility along joined portions of the opposing sides of the first and second side portions and enables the flexible tote apparatus to remain flexible after joining during a use.

Problems solved by technology

While Hamilton provides a convenient top loading wine bag it fails to provide for the option of securing the wine bottle securely within a closure to prevent unintended escape, jiggling, or for securing the product to another item for easy security or transport.

Hamilton similarly fails to optimize a convenient and speedy construction, requiring multi-dimensional stitches and the assembly of multiple pieces requiring waste during shape cut-out.

In this embodiment, the material selected is simply fabric and is therefore not readily shaped to enable thermal retention, secure a bottle from rattling and breakage, provide a tight engagement strap to retain a bottle within the bag, or provide an attachment mechanism to join the shopping bag to another item for easy security against tipping or to secure transport.

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