Bottomless bag

Abstract

A bottomless bag that provides a funnel-shaped receptacle designed to support the upper portion of a tapered container, such as a beverage cup or popcorn container, and allowing the bottom portion of the container to protrude through the open bottom of the bag. The bag design can include a compartment, located above the receptacle, to accommodate one or more additional items, such as a food item or other containers. The shape of the additional compartment, which is determined during manufacture, can take on a wide variety of shapes as required to accommodate the additional items or containers to be carried. A handle with handholds or fingerholds facilitates carrying the bottomless bag with one hand. The bag may also be draped over one's wrist or hooked on one's finger to free the hands to carry other items. The handles of multiple bags may be bunched together to allow one person to carry multiple bottomless bags.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A carrying device for articles that are substantially circular in cross-section and inwardly tapered from top to bottom, comprising: 
 a. A funnel-shaped receptacle having top and bottom apertures of predetermined size and spaced apart sufficiently to conform with and grip the upper-mid region of the selected article; and    b. Means for carrying said receptacle so that the center of gravity of said receptacle and said article are below said carrying means.    
     
     
         2 . The carrying device of  claim 1  wherein said carrying means further includes means for retaining a separate item placed on top of said article.  
     
     
         3 . The carrying device of  claim 2  further including removal tabs adjoining said receptacle to facilitate releasing said carrying device from said article.  
     
     
         4 . The carrying device of  claim 3  wherein said carrying means includes cutouts of sufficient size to allow insertion of the fingers or hand and permit carrying said device while holding additional articles.  
     
     
         5 . The carrying device of  claim 1  further including removal tabs adjoining said receptacle to facilitate releasing said carrying device from said article.  
     
     
         6 . The carrying device of  claim 1  wherein said carrying means includes cutouts of sufficient size to allow insertion of the fingers or hand and permit carrying said device while holding additional articles.  
     
     
         7 . The carrying device of  claim 1  further including a compartment of predetermined size and shape formed between and contiguous with said receptacle and said carrying means.  
     
     
         8 . The carrying device of  claim 7  further including removal tabs adjoining said receptacle to facilitate releasing said carrying device from said article.  
     
     
         9 . The carrying device of  claim 8  wherein said carrying means includes cutouts of sufficient size to allow insertion of the fingers or hand and permit carrying said device while holding additional articles.  
     
     
         10 . A bag for carrying a drinking cup or similarly shaped container that is substantially circular in cross-section and inwardly tapered from top to bottom, comprising: 
 a. A funnel-shaped receptacle having top and bottom apertures of predetermined size and spaced apart sufficiently to conform with and grip the upper-mid region of the selected container; and    b. A handle portion attached to said top aperture of said receptacle and located above said receptacle so that said receptacle and said container hang below said handle when carried.    
     
     
         11 . The bag of  claim 10  wherein said handle portion further includes means for retaining a separate item placed on top of said container.  
     
     
         12 . The bag of  claim 11  further including removal tabs adjoining said receptacle to facilitate releasing said bag from said container.  
     
     
         13 . The bag of  claim 12  wherein said handle portion includes a pair of aligned apertures disposed adjacent to the top edges thereof and are of sufficient size to allow insertion of the fingers or hand and permit carrying said bag while holding additional items.  
     
     
         14 . The bag of  claim 10  further including removal tabs adjoining said receptacle to facilitate releasing said bag from said container.  
     
     
         15 . The bag of  claim 10  wherein said handle portion includes a pair of aligned apertures disposed adjacent to the top edges thereof and are of sufficient size to allow insertion of the fingers or hand and permit carrying said bag while holding additional items.  
     
     
         16 . The bag of  claim 10  further including a compartment of predetermined size and shape formed between and contiguous with said receptacle and said handle portion.  
     
     
         17 . The bag of  claim 16  further including removal tabs adjoining said receptacle to facilitate releasing said bag from said container.  
     
     
         18 . The bag of  claim 17  wherein said bag includes a pair of aligned apertures disposed adjacent to the top edges thereof and are of sufficient size to allow insertion of the fingers or hand and permit carrying said device while holding additional articles.