Collapsible bottle holder

Abstract

A holder system is provided for protecting valuable and/or breakable objects such as wine and liquor bottles. The holder system can comprise a body with inflatable panels and/or foam panels that define an interior volume. Inflatable and/or foam inserts are positionable within this interior volume to define pockets in which to place valuable objects such as wine or liquor or other bottles. The inflatable panels and inserts surround each pocket to cushion and protect a valuable and/or breakable object in the pocket from accidental drops, jostling, other objects in the holder system, and any other forces that may damage the object. When not in use, the panels and inserts may be deflated to fold the holder system to a smaller size so that the holder system may be more easily transported when not holding and protecting valuable and/or breakable objects.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A holder system for protecting a plurality of objects, comprising:
 a body that defines an interior volume configured to receive the plurality of objects, the body having:
 a top panel with a plurality of inflatable chambers; 
 at least one side panel, each side panel having a plurality of inflatable chambers, wherein the top panel is joined to one side panel; 
 a bottom panel with a plurality of inflatable chambers, wherein the bottom panel is joined to each side panel; and 
 wherein each of the top panel, the at least one side panel, and the bottom panel is joined to another panel via fluid passages such that all inflatable chambers of the top panel, the at least one side panel, and the bottom panel are fluidly connected. 
   
     
     
         2 . The holder system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of inflatable chambers of each side panel is defined by at least one inner seam, and wherein inner seams that define the plurality of inflatable chambers are oriented in a common direction to support a shape of the body. 
     
     
         3 . The holder system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an insert assembly that is positionable in the interior volume of the body, wherein the insert assembly and the body define a plurality of pockets configured to receive objects.   
     
     
         4 . The holder system of  claim 3 , wherein the insert assembly comprises:
 a first insert having a plurality of inflatable chambers, wherein a first gap is positioned between two adjacent inflatable chambers of the first insert; and   a second insert having a plurality of inflatable chambers, wherein a second gap is positioned between two adjacent inflatable chambers of the second insert, and wherein the first and second inserts are secured to one another such that the first and second gaps are configured to pass each other and part of the second insert is positioned in the first gap and part of the first insert is positioned in the second gap.   
     
     
         5 . The holder system of  claim 4 , wherein the first insert comprises a radiused end that defines part of the first gap, and the second insert comprises a radiused end that defines part of the second gap. 
     
     
         6 . The holder system of  claim 4 , wherein the first insert comprises:
 a first sheet joined to a second sheet at an inner seam to at least partially define the plurality of inflatable chambers of the first insert; and   wherein a width of the inner seam is between 10% to 40% of a width of a chamber of the plurality of inflatable chambers of the first insert, and wherein each of a top end and a bottom end of the chamber have a rounded end, and a radius of each rounded end is half of the width of the chamber.   
     
     
         7 . The holder system of  claim 1 , wherein the top panel comprises:
 a first sheet joined to a second sheet at an inner seam to at least partially define the plurality of inflatable chambers of the top panel; and   wherein a width of the inner seam is between 10% to 40% of a width of a chamber of the plurality of inflatable chambers of the top panel, and wherein each of a top end and a bottom end of the chamber have a rounded end, and a radius of each rounded end is half of the width of the chamber.   
     
     
         8 . A holder system for protecting a plurality of objects, comprising:
 a body having a plurality of panels that define an interior volume configured to receive the plurality of objects, wherein one of the panels comprises:
 a first sheet joined to a second sheet at an inner seam; 
 a chamber that is at least partially defined by the first sheet, the second sheet, and the inner seam, wherein the chamber is configured to change shapes between an inflated state and a deflated state; and 
 wherein a width of the inner seam is between 10% to 40% of a width of the chamber, and wherein each of a top end and a bottom end of the chamber have a rounded end, and a radius of each rounded end is half of the width of the chamber. 
   
     
     
         9 . The holder system of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of panels comprises:
 a top panel with a plurality of chambers;   at least one side panel, each side panel having a plurality of chambers, wherein the top panel is joined to one side panel;   a bottom panel with a plurality of chambers, wherein the bottom panel is joined to each side panel; and   wherein each of the top panel, the at least one side panel, and the bottom panel is joined to another panel via fluid passages such that all chambers of the top panel, the at least one side panel, and the bottom panel are fluidly connected.   
     
     
         10 . The holder system of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one side panel comprises a first side panel, a second side panel, a third side panel, and a fourth side panel, wherein the top panel is joined to the third side panel, and wherein the side panels, the top panel, and the bottom panel are arranged in a rectangular prism shape. 
     
     
         11 . The holder system of  claim 10 , wherein a first fluid passage fluidly connects the bottom panel to the first side panel, wherein a second fluid passage fluidly connects the bottom panel to the second side panel, wherein a third fluid passage fluidly connects the bottom panel to the third side panel, wherein a fourth fluid passage fluidly connects the bottom panel to the fourth side panel, and wherein a fifth side panel fluidly connects the top panel to the third side panel. 
     
     
         12 . The holder system of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 an insert assembly that is positionable in the interior volume of the body, wherein the insert assembly and the body define a plurality of pockets configured to receive objects.   
     
     
         13 . The holder system of  claim 8 , wherein a further chamber is at least partially defined by the first sheet, the second sheet, and the inner seam, and wherein a fluid passage bridges the inner seam and fluidly joins the chamber and the further chamber, wherein a height of the fluid passage is between 10% to 40% of a height of the chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The holder system of  claim 8 , wherein the body has only one valve located on one of the panels, and wherein the valve is configured to receive air to inflate all chambers in all panels. 
     
     
         15 . A holder system for protecting a plurality of objects, comprising:
 a body having a plurality of panels that define an interior volume configured to receive the plurality of objects, wherein one of the panels comprises:
 a first sheet joined to a second sheet at an inner seam; 
 a first chamber and a second chamber that are each at least partially defined by the first sheet, the second sheet, and the inner seam, wherein each of the first chamber and the second chamber is configured to change shapes between an inflated state and a deflated state; and 
 a fluid passage that bridges the inner seam and fluidly joins the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein a height of the fluid passage is between 10% to 40% of a height of the first chamber. 
   
     
     
         16 . The holder system of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of panels comprises:
 a top panel with a plurality of chambers;   at least one side panel, each side panel with a plurality of chambers, wherein the top panel is joined to one side panel;   a bottom panel with a plurality of chambers, wherein the bottom panel is joined to each side panel; and   wherein each of the top panel, the at least one side panel, and the bottom panel is joined to another panel via further fluid passages such that all chambers of the top panel, the at least one side panel, and the bottom panel are fluidly connected.   
     
     
         17 . The holder system of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 an insert assembly that is positionable in the interior volume of the body, wherein the insert assembly and the body define a plurality of pockets configured to receive objects, and wherein the insert assembly comprises:   a first insert having a plurality of chambers; and a second insert having a plurality of chambers, wherein the chambers of the first insert, the second insert, and the at least one side panel are all oriented in a common direction.   
     
     
         18 . The holder system of  claim 15 , wherein the fluid passage is offset from a top end of the first chamber by a first distance, and wherein the fluid passage is offset from a bottom end of the first chamber by a second distance. 
     
     
         19 . The holder system of  claim 18 , wherein the first and second distances are equal. 
     
     
         20 . The holder system of  claim 15 , wherein a width of the inner seam is between 10% to 40% of a width of the first chamber, and wherein each of a top end and a bottom end of the first chamber have a rounded end, and a radius of the rounded end is half of the width of the first chamber.