Carrying Bag with Expandable Volume

Abstract

This invention is directed toward a carrying bag, suitable for carrying one or more fragile items for which a snug fit in the bag is desirable. The bag has a single zipper that extends down one side and across the bottom, and the two halves of the zipper are connected with a pleat, which expands the volume of the bag when it is unzipped. In the middle of the bag is a baffle that rests on one side of the bag when it is in its single-bottle configuration, but separates two items when the bag is in its two-bottle configuration. The bag has a hand loop and a shoulder strap for ease of carrying, several zippered pockets for storage, and a cinch toggle drawstring around the top of the bag for easy and adjustable closure.

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . A bag for carrying one or two bottles or other containers, consisting of:
 a bottom, a side, an expansion zipper, a pleat, a baffle,   where the bottom is a circular bottom attached to the side, where the side is a cylindrical side, where the bottom has a bottom diameter and the side has a side diameter,   where the side forms a cavity, where the cavity is bounded on a cavity bottom by the bottom and on a cavity side by the side, and where the cavity has a cavity diameter, which is equal or less than the side diameter, where the cavity has a cavity circumference,   an expansion zipper that bisects both the circular bottom and the cylindrical side, where the expansion zipper has a first zipper side and a second zipper side,   where the pleat has a pleat top, a pleat bottom, and two pleat sides, where one pleat side attaches to the first zipper side and the other pleat side attaches to the second zipper side,   where, when the expansion zipper is in a zipped up position, the side diameter is approximately large enough to snugly contain a single bottle, and when the expansion zipper is a zipped down position, an expanded side diameter is approximately twice the side diameter that occurred when the expansion zipper was in the zipped up position,   where the baffle has a baffle top, a baffle bottom, and two baffle sides, a baffle height and a baffle width, where a first baffle side attaches to a first cavity side of the cavity, and the second baffle side attaches to a second cavity side of the cavity, where when the expansion zipper is in the zipped up configuration, a zipped up cavity circumference is equal to approximately twice the baffle width, such that the baffle, when the expansion zipper is in the zipped up configuration, lies along a side of the cavity, and such that when the expansion zipper is in the zipped down configuration, the baffle width is approximately the same as an expanded cavity diameter, such that the baffle bisects the cavity, thereby allowing for a snug two-bottle container,   where the cavity is bounded on a cavity top by a top opening, where the top opening is defined by a tunnel, where the tunnel comprises a hollow tunnel through which a drawstring runs, where the drawstring can the tightened and loosened by a toggle, such a top opening diameter can be adjusted by the drawstring and toggle,   additionally comprising a shoulder strap and a side grip handle, where the shoulder strap has a comfort shoulder slide and where the shoulder strap extends from a first clip located on a lower portion of the side to a second clip located on an upper portion of the side,   additionally comprising one or more side pockets and one or more small, zippered pockets.   
     
     
         2 . The bag of  claim 1 , where the baffle has a relaxed shape, and where the relaxed shape is an accordion fold. 
     
     
         3 . The bag of  claim 1 , where the zipper extends at least 95% across the bottom. 
     
     
         4 . The bag of  claim 3 , where the side grip handle additionally comprises a second side grip handle, where the second side grip handle extends at least seven inches down the side of the bag. 
     
     
         5 . A bag for carrying one or two bottles or other containers, comprising:
 a bottom, a side, an expansion zipper, a pleat, a baffle,   where the bottom is a circular bottom attached to the side, where the side is a cylindrical side, where the bottom has a bottom diameter and the side has a side diameter,   where the side forms a cavity, where the cavity is bounded on a cavity bottom by the bottom and on a cavity side by the side, and where the cavity has a cavity diameter, which is equal or less than the side diameter, where the cavity has a cavity circumference,   an expansion zipper that bisects both the circular bottom and the cylindrical side, where the expansion zipper has a first zipper side and a second zipper side,   where the pleat has a pleat top, a pleat bottom, and two pleat sides, where one pleat side attaches to the first zipper side and the other pleat side attaches to the second zipper side.   
     
     
         6 . The bag of  claim 5 , where, when the expansion zipper is in a zipped up position, the side diameter is approximately large enough to snugly contain a single bottle, and when the expansion zipper is a zipped down position, an expanded side diameter is approximately twice the side diameter that occurred when the expansion zipper was in the zipped up position. 
     
     
         7 . The bag of  claim 6 , where the zipper extends at least 95% across the bottom. 
     
     
         8 . The bag of  claim 6 , where the zipper extends 100% across the bottom. 
     
     
         9 . The bag of  claim 6 , where the baffle has a baffle top, a baffle bottom, and two baffle sides, a baffle height and a baffle width, where a first baffle side attaches to a first cavity side of the cavity, and the second baffle side attaches to a second cavity side of the cavity, where when the expansion zipper is in the zipped up configuration, a zipped up cavity circumference is equal to approximately twice the baffle width, such that the baffle, when the expansion zipper is in the zipped up configuration, lies along a side of the cavity, and such that when the expansion zipper is in the zipped down configuration, the baffle width is approximately the same as an expanded cavity diameter, such that the baffle bisects the cavity, thereby allowing for a snug two-bottle container. 
     
     
         10 . The bag of  claim 9 , where the zipper extends 100% across the bottom. 
     
     
         11 . The bag of  claim 10 , where the cavity is bounded on a cavity top by a top opening. 
     
     
         12 . The bag of  claim 11 , where the top opening is defined by a tunnel, where the tunnel comprises a hollow tunnel through which a drawstring runs, where the drawstring can be tightened and loosened by a toggle, such that a top opening diameter can be adjusted by the drawstring and toggle. 
     
     
         13 . The bag of  claim 12 , additionally comprising a shoulder strap and a side grip handle, where the shoulder strap has a comfort shoulder slide and where the shoulder strap extends from a first clip located on a lower portion of the side to a second clip located on an upper portion of the side. 
     
     
         14 . The bag of  claim 13 , additionally comprising a second side grip handle. 
     
     
         15 . The bag of  claim 13 , where the second side grip handle extends at least seven inches down the side of the bag. 
     
     
         16 . The bag of  claim 13 , additionally comprising one or more side pockets and one or more small, zippered pockets. 
     
     
         17 . The bag of  claim 16 , where the baffle has a relaxed shape, and where the relaxed shape is an accordion baffle. 
     
     
         18 . The bag of  claim 17 , where the accordion baffle extends from the bottom of the bag all the way to the top opening of the bag. 
     
     
         19 . The bag of  claim 17 , where the accordion baffle extends from the bottom of the bag a length of seven inches up toward the opening of the bag. 
     
     
         20 . The bag of  claim 19 , where the accordion baffle has a minimum of four folds.