Method and apparatus for the transport of bottled liquids

Abstract

A luggage carrier for transporting a plurality of beverage bottles, including a substantially rectangular-shaped housing including a bottom panel, a top panel, a front panel, a back panel, a right panel and a left panel that define an interior hollow compartment having an interior length, width and height. The luggage carrier further includes a pre-formed bottle shipping container having an exterior length, width and height substantially equal to the interior length, width and height of the interior hollow compartment. The pre-formed bottle shipping container is positioned within the interior hollow compartment. The pre-formed bottle shipping container contains a plurality of cavities each configured and dimensioned to accept a beverage bottle. A method of transporting a plurality of beverage bottles is also disclosed.

1 . A luggage carrier for transporting a plurality of beverage bottles, comprising:
 a substantially rectangular-shaped housing comprising a bottom panel, a top panel, a front panel, a back panel, a right panel and a left panel that define an interior hollow compartment having an interior length, width and height;   a pre-formed bottle shipping container having an exterior length, width and height substantially equal to the interior length, width and height of the interior hollow compartment, wherein the pre-formed bottle shipping container is positioned within the interior hollow compartment, and wherein the pre-formed bottle shipping container contains a plurality of cavities each configured and dimensioned to accept a beverage bottle.   
     
     
         2 . The luggage carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the front panel of the housing includes a zipperable opening for the insertion or removal of the pre-formed bottle shipping container into and out of the interior hollow compartment. 
     
     
         3 . The luggage carrier of  claim 2 , wherein the front panel includes four sides, and the zipperable opening extends along at least three of the four sides of the front panel. 
     
     
         4 . The luggage carrier of  claim 1 , further comprising a first wheel and a second wheel each attached to the substantially rectangular-shaped housing at an intersection of the back panel and the bottom panel. 
     
     
         5 . The luggage carrier of  claim 4 , further comprising a pulling device attached to the front panel of the substantially rectangular-shaped housing. 
     
     
         6 . The luggage carrier of  claim 5 , wherein the pulling device is positioned substantially at a lower one-third of the top panel of the substantially rectangular-shaped housing to engage the first and second wheels for transport when pulled. 
     
     
         7 . The luggage carrier of  claim 1 , wherein interior length of the interior hollow compartment is about 19 inches, the interior width of the interior hollow compartment is about 14 inches, and the interior height of the interior hollow compartment is about 15.5 inches. 
     
     
         8 . The luggage carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the pre-formed bottle shipping container comprises a Styrofoam wine bottle shipper. 
     
     
         9 . The luggage carrier of  claim 8 , wherein the pre-formed bottle shipping container further includes a cardboard box surrounding the Styrofoam wine bottle shipper. 
     
     
         10 . The luggage carrier of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the bottom panel, top panel, front panel, back panel, right panel and left panel of the substantially rectangular-shaped housing comprises a first fabric wall and a second fabric wall surrounding a foam insert. 
     
     
         11 . The luggage carrier of  claim 1 , further comprising a first handle attached to the top panel of the substantially rectangular-shaped housing and a second handle attached to the bottom surface of the substantially rectangular-shaped housing, wherein the first handle and the second handle are substantially parallel to one another on opposite sides of the internal hollow compartment. 
     
     
         12 . A method for transporting a plurality of beverage bottles, comprising the steps of:
 placing the plurality of beverage bottles in respective cavities of a pre-formed beverage shipping container, the pre-formed beverage shipping container defining an exterior length, width and height;   opening a front panel of a substantially rectangular-shaped housing a zipper device, the substantially rectangular-shaped housing including a bottom panel, a top panel, a front panel, a back panel, a right panel and a left panel that define an interior hollow compartment having an interior length, width and height;   placing the pre-formed beverage shipping container into the interior hollow compartment of the substantially rectangular-shaped housing, wherein the interior length, width and height of the interior hollow compartment is substantially equal to the external length, width and height of the pre-formed beverage shipping container; and   closing the front panel of the substantially-rectangular shaped housing the zipper device.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the steps of:
 placing the pre-formed beverage shipping container into a cardboard box, wherein the interior length, width and height of the cardboard box is substantially equal to the exterior length, width and height of the pre-formed beverage shipping container; and   placing the cardboard box into the substantially rectangular-shaped housing, wherein the interior length, width and height of the internal hollow compartment is substantially equal to an external length, width and height of the cardboard box.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the steps of:
 pulling a pull strap attached to the front panel of the substantially-rectangular shaped housing; and   thereby rolling the substantially-rectangular shaped housing on a first wheel and a second wheel, wherein the first wheel and the second wheel are each attached to the substantially rectangular-shaped housing at an intersection of the back panel and the bottom panel.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the steps of:
 folding the bottom panel, top panel, right panel and left panel; and   thereby collapsing the front panel in towards the back panel for storage of the substantially rectangular-shaped housing.   
     
     
         16 . A luggage carrier for transporting a plurality of beverage bottles, comprising:
 a substantially rectangular-shaped housing comprising a bottom panel, a top panel, a front panel, a back panel, a right panel and a left panel that define an interior hollow compartment, the interior hollow compartment defining an interior length, width and height that are substantially equal to an exterior length, width and height of a pre-formed bottle shipping container;   a zipperable opening located along at least three of the four sides of the front panel of the substantially rectangular-shaped housing for the insertion or removal of the pre-formed bottle shipping container into or out of the interior hollow compartment, and   wherein the bottom panel, top panel, right panel and left panel are flexible such that the front panel collapses towards the back panel for storage of the substantially rectangular-shaped housing.   
     
     
         17 . The luggage carrier of  claim 16 , further comprising a first wheel and a second wheel each attached to the substantially rectangular-shaped housing at an intersection of the back panel and the bottom panel. 
     
     
         18 . The luggage carrier of  claim 17 , further comprising a pulling device attached to the front panel of the substantially rectangular-shaped housing. 
     
     
         19 . The luggage carrier of  claim 18 , wherein the pulling device is positioned substantially at a lower one-third of the top panel of the substantially rectangular-shaped housing to engage the first and second wheels for transport when pulled. 
     
     
         20 . The luggage carrier of  claim 16 , wherein the interior length of the interior hollow compartment is about 19 inches, the interior width of the interior hollow compartment is about 14 inches, and the interior height of the interior hollow compartment is about 15.5 inches. 
     
     
         21 . The luggage carrier of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the bottom panel, top panel, front panel, back panel, right panel and left panel of the substantially rectangular-shaped housing comprises a first fabric wall and a second fabric wall surrounding a foam insert.