Travel shoe bag

Abstract

A travel bag for carrying and packing shoes or boots in a suitcase includes a front panel, a rear panel, a bottom, opposite ends, and an open top communicating with an interior and having a closure mechanism (e.g., zipper, drawstring, elastic, snap tab or magnets). A padded divider wall extending longitudinally within the interior separates left and right shoe compartments. A window on at least one of the front or rear panels allows for visibility of the shoes carried in the bag. A drawstring or elastic band on at least one of the front or rear panels secures the shoes in place. A carry handle (e.g., a strap or chain) extends from the top of the bag for convenience of carrying and hanging the shoe bag.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shoe bag comprising:
 a front panel, a rear panel, a bottom, opposite ends and an open top communicating with an interior of the shoe bag;   a padded divider wall extending longitudinally within the interior and separating left and right shoe compartments on opposite sides of the padded divider wall, the left and right shoe compartments each being sized, structured and configured for receiving and protectively surrounding a single item of footwear therein;   a closure mechanism for at least partially and releasably closing the open top;   a carry handle; and   a cinching mechanism extending between the opposite ends on at least one of the front and rear panels for pulling the opposite ends toward one another and reducing the size of the left and right shoe compartments.   
     
     
         2 . The shoe bag as recited in  claim 1  further comprising:
 at least one window on at least one of the front and rear panels for visibly exposing the single item of footwear in at least one of the left and right shoe compartments from an exterior of the shoe bag to thereby allow visual identification of the particular item of footwear carried in the shoe bag. 
 
     
     
         3 . The shoe bag as recited in  claim 2  wherein the at least one window is formed of a mesh material. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe bag as recited in  claim 2  wherein the at least one window is formed of a transparent flexible film. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe bag as recited in  claim 1  wherein the closure mechanism is a zipper. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe bag as recited in  claim 1  wherein the closure mechanism is a drawstring. 
     
     
         7 . The shoe bag as recited in  claim 1  wherein the closure mechanism is an elastic band. 
     
     
         8 . The shoe bag as recited in  claim 1  wherein the closure mechanism is a snap closure device. 
     
     
         9 . The shoe bag as recited in  claim 1  wherein the closure mechanism comprises magnets. 
     
     
         10 . The shoe bag as recited in  claim 1  wherein the cinching mechanism is a drawstring. 
     
     
         11 . The shoe bag as recited in  claim 1  wherein the cinching mechanism is an elastic band. 
     
     
         12 . The shoe bag as recited in  claim 1  wherein the carry handle is a strap. 
     
     
         13 . The shoe bag as recited in  claim 1  wherein the carry handle is a chain. 
     
     
         14 . The shoe bag as recited in  claim 1  wherein the carry handle is releasably attachable to the shoe bag. 
     
     
         15 . A shoe bag comprising:
 a front panel, a rear panel, a bottom, opposite ends and an open top communicating with an interior of the shoe bag;   a padded divider wall extending longitudinally within the interior and separating left and right shoe compartments on opposite sides of the padded divider wall, the left and right shoe compartments each being sized, structured and configured for receiving and protectively surrounding a single item of footwear therein;   a closure mechanism for at least partially and releasably closing the open top;   a carry handle;   a cinching mechanism extending between the opposite ends on at least one of the front and rear panels for pulling the opposite ends toward one another and reducing the size of the left and right shoe compartments; and   at least one window on at least one of the front and rear panels for visibly exposing the single item of footwear in at least one of the left and right shoe compartments from an exterior of the shoe bag to thereby allow visual identification of the particular item of footwear carried in the shoe bag.   
     
     
         16 . The shoe bag as recited in  claim 15  wherein the at least one window is formed of a mesh material. 
     
     
         17 . The shoe bag as recited in  claim 15  wherein the at least one window is formed of a transparent flexible film.