Article for safely transporting wine and spirit glass bottles and the like

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a packaging article for safely transporting wine and spirit bottles and the like. Accordingly, an article is provided comprising one or more layers of material in a general shape of a bottle to be contained therein and an opening in the article for insertion of a bottle to be contained therein, and means for closing the opening for transporting the bottle contained therein.

1 . An article comprising:
 an outer layer of material in a general shape of a bottle to be contained therein;   an inner layer of cushioning material generally conforming in shape to said outer layer;   an opening in said outer and inner layer for insertion of a bottle to be contained therein such that the bottle may contact the inner layer of cushioning material; and   means for closing the opening for transporting the bottle contained therein.   
   
   
       2 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the means for closing the opening substantially prevents liquids from leaking from within the article. 
   
   
       3 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the outer layer is fabricated of malleable vinyl or plastic. 
   
   
       4 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the outer layer is transparent. 
   
   
       5 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the outer layer is colored. 
   
   
       6 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the outer layer depicts logos, symbols or decorative features. 
   
   
       7 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the cushioning material comprises an air-cushioned material. 
   
   
       8 . The article of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the inner layer is attached to the outer layer. 
   
   
       9 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the means for closing the opening is one or more sections of adhesive. 
   
   
       10 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the means for closing the opening comprises a first portion of adhesive configured to adhere an inner surface of said article to an opposite facing inner surface of said article. 
   
   
       11 . The article of  claim 10  wherein the means for closing the opening further comprises a second portion of adhesive on a flap extending from the opening of said article, said second portion of adhesive configured to be folded over and to adhere said flap to an outer surface of said article. 
   
   
       12 . The article of  claim 11  wherein at least one of said first and said second portion of adhesive is covered by a release liner configured to be removed prior to adhering said first and/or said second portion of adhesive to said article to close said opening. 
   
   
       13 . The article of  claim 11  wherein said flap includes two holes which form a handle when said second portion of adhesive is folded over and adhered to an outer surface of said article. 
   
   
       14 . An article comprising:
 a member of cushioning material in a general shape of a bottle to be contained therein, said member of cushioning material having an outer surface and an inner surface;   an opening in said member for insertion of a bottle to be contained therein such that the bottle may contact the inner surface of cushioning material; and   means for closing the opening for transporting the bottle contained therein.   
   
   
       15 . The article of  claim 14  wherein the cushioning material comprises an air-cushioned material. 
   
   
       16 . The article of  claim 14  wherein the means for closing the opening comprises a member selected from the group consisting of snaps, hook-and-loop fasteners, zippers, and zip-lock fasteners. 
   
   
       17 . The article of  claim 14  wherein the means for closing the opening is one or more sections of adhesive. 
   
   
       18 . The article of  claim 14  wherein the means for closing the opening comprises a first portion of adhesive configured to adhere an inner surface of said article to an opposite facing inner surface of said article. 
   
   
       19 . The article of  claim 18  wherein the means for closing the opening further comprises a second portion of adhesive on a flap extending from the opening of said article, said second portion of adhesive configured to be folded over and to adhere said flap to an outer surface of said article. 
   
   
       20 . The article of  claim 19  wherein at least one of said first and said second portion of adhesive is covered by a release liner configured to be removed prior to adhering said first and/or said second portion of adhesive to said article to close said opening. 
   
   
       21 . The article of  claim 19  wherein said flap includes two holes which form a handle when said second portion of adhesive is folded over and adhered to an outer surface of said article. 
   
   
       22 . The article of  claim 14 , further comprising a housing at least partially surrounding said member.