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.

Description

COPYRIGHT STATEMENT[0001]All material in this document, including the figures, is subject to copyright protections under the laws of the United States and other countries. The owner has no objection to reproduction of this document or its disclosure as it appears in official governmental records. All other rights are reserved.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]The technical field is travel baggage and shipping containers.BACKGROUND ART[0003]Alcohol-related tourism has exploded in the past few decades. Many breweries, wineries, and distilleries have developed handsome alternative income streams by marketing themselves as travel “destinations”, offering anything from tastings to hosting and catering major events. However, there are many restrictions governing the transportation of alcoholic beverages. For example, in the United States, while adults can purchase wine in person, shipping is often a problem. In 24 states, shipping wine from a vintner to a consumer is felony offense carrying a five-yea...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention is a flexible container made of lightweight materials that can be easily folded when not in use and expanded into a compact form for easy transport. It is designed to fit industry standard beverage shipping containers. This allows consumers to conveniently fold the container and carry it with them when traveling, such as to a winery or airport, while still protecting the wine bottles. This invention makes transporting and handling wine more convenient for both the consumer and baggage handlers.

Problems solved by technology

However, there are many restrictions governing the transportation of alcoholic beverages.

For example, in the United States, while adults can purchase wine in person, shipping is often a problem.

Given the increasing importance of wineries as tourist destinations, not being able to ship wine to consumers visiting from out-of-area is a barrier to commerce.

However, this is modernly infeasible.

In the past decade, the United States government has imposed severely heightened restrictions on individuals traveling by air, which prohibits such activity.

While there is currently no per-passenger quantity limit on beverages with less than 24 percent alcohol—such as wine and beer—transport is difficult because containers capable of holding more than three ounces of fluid are prohibited in carry-on luggage.

Subject to airline bag and weight limitations and fees, wine purchasers may still transport wine in checked luggage, but this presents several difficulties.

First, travel luggage is often not designed for efficiently and properly protecting wine bottles.

Second, wine-specific shipping containers exist, but are often ill-suited for air travel.

They often comprise cardboard boxes with foam interiors surrounding bottle-shaped cavities, but are difficult for passengers and airline workers to handle.

Furthermore, interior foam is bulky and difficult to collapse, making it impractical for consumers to bring their own shipping containers to a winery.

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