Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BEVERAGE HOLDER 7lDaPT8R8 FOR
5 NON-C~CLINDRICAL~ 1"IULTI-SIDED FOOD CONTAINERS
FIELD OF ',CFih INVENTION
The invention generally relates to adapters for holding
io food containers in beverage container receptacles, especially
non-cylindrical, multi-sided food containers, and also
relates to packaged food products and food container support
systems integrating such adapters.
zs ~cRaROUtaD o~ s~ nsvENT=oN
Many vehicles such as automobiles, vans,~buses, boats,
aircraft, and recreational vehicles, as well as stationary
searing venues, such as in stadiums, arenas, theaters, lawn
furniture, home leisure chairs, tables, and so forth, have
2o built-in receptacles sized for receipt and holding o:C
beverage containers.
Typical beverage holders of the prior art are
configured to support cylindrical-shaped beverage containers.
However, in addition to beverage containers, consumers also
25 often desire to transport packaged food items which can be
eaten directly from containers by hand without the need for
serving plates/bowls and eating utensils, e.g., Kraft
LUNCHABLES~ ready-to-eat meals and snacks. Also, for
example, many convenience restaurants and stores sell fried
30 or baked chicken pieces or nachos, etc., which are packaged
in a small hinged carton, or a tray having a removable covex.
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These food cartons and trays often have a rectangular shaped
bottom profile. Such trays and cartons generally do not have
a size and/or shape allowing them to nest in a typical
beverage container holder.
SUNmARY OP THE INVENTION
The invention provides an adapter for stably supporting
a food container such as a non-cylindrical multi-sided food
container or tray over a beverage container receptacle
io defining a cylindrical shape-supporting cavity. The adapter
has a flat first part attached to a bottom of the food
container and a second part foldable into a self-supporting
pedestal structure configured to project away from the first
part operable to be seated in the cylindrical shape-
i5 supporting cavity and restrict lateral movement of the food
container relative to the beverage receptacle.
In some embodiments, the adapter comprises a unitary
paperboard member which can be manipulated from a two
dimensional format into a three dimensional structure which
zo can be fitted snugly into a cylindrical shape-supporting
beverage cup holder to stabilize a tray attached upon the
adapter in order to minimize food spillage. The adapter
enables stable support and hands-free holding of food
containers in existing beverage holders installed on-board
25 vehicles, or in chairs, tables, locations adjacent to
audience or spectator seats, or other locations.
xn some embodiments, the adapter comprises a unitary
paperboard member having fold lines allowing portions of the
paperboard member to be folded into the pedestal structure
3o while other portions thereof remain attachable to a bottom
side of a food container. In one embodiment, the adapter, in
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an unfolded state, comprises a generally planar structure
having a polygonal peripheral shape, and preferably a
generally rectangular shape.
In a particular embodiment, the adapter comprises a
5 unitary paperboard member having a generally flat first part
having a first side attached to a bottom side of a non-
cylindrical mufti-sided food container or tray and an
opposite second side. The adaptez also has a second part
including first and second flap portions adapted to be folded
io out of their original flat orientation into upright positions
projecting away from the first part. The first flap portion
preferably is connected to the first part via a fold line
provided in the paperboard such that the first flap portion
is adapted to be foldable from an orientation generally
is coplanar with the first part into a downwardly-extending
position oriented substantially perpendicular to the first
part. The second flap portion preferably has an arch-like
structure comprising first and second arms merging with the
first part at respective fold lines and an integral bridge
2o portion connects the arms. The second flap portion is adapted
to be folded from an orientation generally coplanar with the
first part to a folded position located over the first flap
portion in sliding engagement therewith such that the second
flap portion is foldable into a downwardly-extending position
25 wherein its arms are oriented substantially perpendicular to
the first part and its bridge portion is oriented
substantially perpendicular to the folded first flap portion.
The folded fixst and second flap portions thereby are adapted
to form a self-supporting pedestal structure configured co
30 project away from the second side of the first part and
operable to be seated in the cylindrical shape-supporting
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cavity and restrict lateral movement of the food container
relative to the receptacle.
In another particular embodiment, the adapter comprises
a folded paperboard blank having a shared side edge
s comprising a first fold line connecting a generally polygonal
first paperboard layer superposed on a generally polygonal
second paperboard layer. The first and second paperboard
layers having a nonfoldable first part and a foldable second
part, wherein portions of the first and second paperboard
~o layer comprising the foldable second part are adapted to fold
into a self-supporting pedestal structure configured to
project away from nonfoldable first part and operable to be
seated in the cylindrical shape-supporting cavity and
restrict lateral movement of the food container relative to
i5 the receptacle.
In a further embodiment, packaged food products are
provided which integrate a food container containing a food
product with the indicated adapter attached to the bottom
side o~ the food container. Food container support systems
2o are also provided in which the packaged food products are
held in beverage receptacles via the adaptex, which forms a
self-supporting pedestal structure configured to project away
from the food container and be operable to be releasably
seated in the cylindrical shape-supporting cavity of a
'25 beverage receptacle to restrict movement of the food
container relative to the receptacle and thus stabilize the
food container in position over the receptacle.
30
a
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BRIEF DESCRxPTION OF THL FIGURES
Other features and advantages of the invention will
become apparent from the following detailed description of
preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the
5 drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 shows an adapter in its blank configuration in.
accordance with an embodiment of this invention.
FIG. 2 shows a partly deployed adapter of FIG. 1 in
accordance with an embodiment of this invention.
io FIG. 3 shows a fully deployed adapter of FIG. 1 in
accordance with an embodiment of this invention.
FIG. 4 shows an adapter in a preliminary blank
configuration in accordance with another embodiment of this
invention.
is FIG. 5 shows the adapter of FIG. 4 in its ready-for-use
doubled-over configuration.
FIG. 6 shows a partly deployed adapter of FIG. 5 in
accordance with an embodiment of this invention.
FIG. 7 shows a fully deployed adapter of FIG. S in
Zo accordance with an embodiment of this invention.
FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view of a packaged food
product including a food tray and the adapter of FIGS. 1-3 in
accordance with an embodiment of this invention.
FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the packaged food
2s product of FIG, 8,
FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of an alternative
packaged food product including a single well food tray and
the adapter of F=GS. 1-3 in accordance with another
embodiment of this invention.
3o FIG, il is a top front perspective exploded view of the
packaged food product of FIG. 10 suspended above a beverage
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container holder.
FIG. 12 is a top front perspective view of the packaged
food product of FIG. 10 inserted in a beverage receptacle of
the beverage container holder of FIG. 11, providing, in
5 combination, a food container support system.
The features depicted in the figures are not necessarily
drawn to scale. Similarly numbered, elements in different
figures represent similar components unless indicated
otherwise.
io
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EDZBODI~NTS
Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described
below with specific reference to an adapter convenient for
holding non-cylindrical, multi-sided food containers in
15 existing beverage container holders installed aboard vehicles
or adjacent spectator/audience seating ox leisure chairs or
tables, and so forth, as well as packaged food products which
integrate the cup adapter with a food container. Among other
advantages, the adapter enables foods served in non-
zo cylindrical, multi-sided containers to be stably held for
consumption in existing beverage holders in an ~on-the-go"
manner in moving vehicles, or, alternatively, at public
arenas or theaters and the like sv that the consumer may
enjoy the event while eating the food from the container in a
2s hands-free manner.
Referring to FIGS. 1-3, an adapter 100 for supporting a
non-cylindrical, multi-sided food container over a beverage
container receptacle according to one preferred embodiment is
shown.. The adapter 100 comprises a first flat part 101
3o attachable (via its opposite side hidden in these views) to a
bottom of a food container and a second part 103 foldable
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into a self-supporting pedestal structure 105. As shown, the
second part 103 is a two-piece construction. As discussed in
greater detail below with reference to FIGS. 9-10, the
pedestal structure 105 is configured to project away from the
s first part 101 and is operable to be seated in the
cylindrical shape-supporting cavity of a beverage container,
receptacle and restrict lateral movement of a food container
attached thereto relative to the receptacle.
Referring to FIG. 1, the adapter 100 starts, in an
1o unfolded state, as a generally planar structure having a
polygonal peripheral shape 107, such as a generally planar
structure having a generally rectangular shape. The adapter
100 can be made as a flexible yet self-supporting unitary
paperboard member, such as a discrete piece of monolayer
i5 paperboard. The adapter 100 comprises a generally flat first
part 101 having a first side 109 (best seen in FIG5. 9-10)
attachable to a bottom side of a non-cylindrical multi-sided
food container or tray and an opposite second side 111 (seen
in this view). In one embodiment, the adapter 100 also may be
2o used as a backcard attached to the bottom of a food container
or tray wherein nutritional/ingredient labeling is provided
on exposed side 111 of adapter 100.
The second part 103 of adapter 100 includes a first flap
portion 113 connected to the first part 101 via a fold line
zs 115 provided in the common paperboard blank. This fold, and
also other fold lines referred to herein, refer to lines of
weakness formed in the paperboard relative to immediately
adjoining regions of the paperboard. The lines of wealozess
can be formed by scoring, intermittent perforating, creasing,
3o and so forth, in manners generally known in the paperboard
folding arts. The first flap portion 113 has three sides
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defined by cut lines 112, 114, 116 (i.e., cut through the
entire thickness of the paperboard blank) which allow the
flap portion 113 to be folded at fold line 115 in a hinged
manner. It will be noted that cut line 114 includes cut line
5 segments i36 and 137.
As can be seen from the succession of views in FIGS. 1-3,
the first flap portion 113 is adapted to be foldable from an
orientation generally coplanar with the first part 101 into a
downwardly-extending position oriented substantially
10 perpendicular to the first part 101. The direction of folding
is indicated by arrow 102 in FIG. 2, showing an intermediate
assembly of the pedestal structure 105,
The second part 103 also includes a second flap portion
117 having an arch-shaped structure comprising first and
is second arms 118 and 119 merging with the first part 101 at
respective fold lines 120 and 121 and a bridge portion 123
connecting the arms 118 and 119. The second flap portion 117
has sides defined by cut lines 130, 132, 133, 134, and 136
(i.e., cut through the entire thickness of the paperboard
zo blank), and a free edge or side 135 of the blank, which allow
the flap portion 117 to be folded at fold lines 120 and 131
in a hinged manner and in the direction of folding indicated
by arrow 104. It will be noted that cut line 130 is a
combination of cut line segments 112 and 131.
2s As can be seen in FIGS. 1-3, the second flap portion 117
is adapted to be folded from an orientation generally
coplanar with the fixst part 101 to a folded position located
over the first flap portion 113 in sliding engagement
therewith such that the second flap portion 117 is foldable
~o into a downwardly-extending position wherein its arms 118 and
119 are oriented substantially perpendicular to the first
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part 101, and its bridge portion 123 is oriented
substantially perpendicular to the folded first portion 113.
The cut line 130 forms a bottom edge of the bridge portion
123 which slidably engages the cut line 114 forming an upper
5 edge of first flap portion 113 such that the first and second
flap portions 113 and 103 can be temporarily physically
engaged into a self-supporting pedestal struvture 105. The ,
folded first and second flap portions 113 and ll~ are adapted
to form a self-supporting pedestal structure 105 configured
io to project away from the second side of the first part 101
and operable to be seated in the cylindrical shape-
suppvrting cavity and restrict lateral movement of a food
container relative to the receptacle.
Referring to FIGS. 4-7, an adapter 201 for supporting a
is non-cylindrical, multi-sided food container over a beverage
container receptacle according to another preferred
embodiment is shown.
Referring to FIG. 4, in one embodiment, the adapter is
constructed starting with an unfolded paperboard blank 200.
2o The blank 200 has a generally planar structure comprises a
polygonal first paperboard layer 204 and a generally
polygonal second paperboard layer 205 intercoxulected near an
intervening fold line 203. The paperboard layer 204 has a
first exposed side 244 and an opposite side (hidden in this
2s view). The paperboard layer 205 has a first exposed side 245
and an opposite side (hidden in this view).
Referring to FIG.. 5, the adapter 201 has been formed by
folding the paperboard blank 200 of FIG. 4 in half along the
shared fold line 203. In the perspective of FIG. 5,
3o paperboard layer 204 is folded beneath paperboard layer 205
in the folded structure of this illustration. Fold line 203
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physically connects the generally polygonal first paperboard
layer 20d superposed on the generally polygonal second
paperboard layer 205. Referring to FIG. 5, the adapter blank
200 has been folded into an intermediate structure 206 such
5 that side 245 of layer 205 and side 244 of layer 204 (hidden
in this view) form the outer exposed sides of the adapter 201
at this juncture.
When superposed in this manner, the first and second
paperboard layers 204 and 205 have a nonfoldable first part
10 207 and foldable second part Z10. The nonfoldable first part
207 can be joined, for example, by adhesion, such as by
applying adhesive 208 and 209 to layer 204 and/or 205 (e, g.,
on the bottom (hidden) faces) thereof opposite to sides 244
and/or 245 of blank 200 at locations such as indicated by the
15 dashed lines in the perspective of PIGS. 4-5) before the
layers 204 and 205 are doubled over on one another effective
to sandwich the adhesive therebetween, After being arranged
in this manner, the adapter 201 is ready to be attached to
the bottom side of a container and used in manners described
20 in greater detail hereinafter.
Referring to FTGS. 4 and 5, the foldable second part 210
of the adapter 201 is comprised in part by portion a of
paperboard layer 204 which is defined by fold line 215 and
cut lines 217 and 219, and the remainder of foldable second
25 part 210 is comprised by portion B located in paperboard
layer 205 which is contiguous with portion ~r via shared fold
line Z03. Portion s is defined by fold line 220 and cut lines
222, 226, 224 and 228. Portion H has two regions: regions s1
and s2 which are separated by additional fold line 230 and a
3o cutout a35. Cut lines 222 and 226 are generally parallel to
cut lines 224 and 228, respectively. Cut lines 222 and 226,
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and also cut lines 224 and 228, preferably can be formed as
single continuous cut line 240 (or cut line 241, as
applicable).
In FIG. 5, the location of the fold line 215 of the
5 first paperboard layer 201 (which is hidden in this view as
layer 204 underlies layer 205 in this perspective) in the
adapter 201 is indicated by phantom lines. The portions A and
H together comprise the foldable second part 210 of the
adapter 201.
10 In a particular embodiment, the foldable second part 210
comprises the fold line 215 in the first paperboard layer 204
generally parallel to and separated by an intervening
distance x from the shared fold line a03, and parallel cut
lines 217 and 219 extend generally perpendicularly between
15 the fold lines 215 and 203, to define a first foldable
portion A of the foldable second part 210. A fold line 230 is
provided in the second paperboard layer 205 generally
parallel to and separated by an intervening second distance y
from the shared fold line 203, and parallel cut lines 222 and
20 224 extend generally perpendicularly between the fold lines
23o and 203, to define a base portion sl of the foldable
second part 210. fihe magnitude of distance y is greater than
the distance x. An additional fold line 220 is provided in
the second paperboard layer 205 generally parallel to and
25 separated by an intervening distance d from the shared fold
line 203, parallel cut lines 226 and 228 extend generally
perpendicularly between fold lines 220 and 230, and wherein
the distance d is greater than the distance y, to define a
second foldable portion 82 of the foldable second part 210
3o which is located between fold lines 220 and 230. The fold
lines 220 and 230 are separated by an intervening distance z
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arhich is the same or approximately the same as distance x.
This construction allows the first foldable portion 7i
and second foldable portion s2 to be foldable to
substantially upright positions relative to the unfolded
first part 20~ of the adapter, such that first and second
foldable portions ~ and s2, and the intervening base portion
B1, form a self-supporting pedestal structure a50 configured
to project away from the nonfoldable first part 207 of
adapter Z01. The adapter Z01 preferably includes a cutout 235
io in the foldable portion E which is operable to facilitate
manual lifting or pulling of the foldable second part 210
away from the nonfoldable first part 207.
Referring to FIGS. 6-7, foldable second part 210 of
adapter a01 (i.e., combined portions A and H (H1 and s2)) is
adapted to be folded into a self-supporting pedestal
structure 250 configured to project away from the nonfoldable
first part 207 (see FIGS. 6-7). FIG. 6 shows an intermediate,
partly deployed foldable part 210, and the direction of
displacement during folding of the foldable part 210 is
2o indicated by the arrow 233. FIG. 7, shows the fully deployed
foldable part 210. In this manner, the adapter 201 is
operable to be seated in the cylindrical shape-supporting
cavity and restrict lateral movement of the food container
relative to the receptacle, as will become more apparent from
z5 the following descriptions.
Referring to FIG. 8, a packaged food product 800 is
shown comprising non-cylindrical, multi-sided food container
or tray 801 containing a food product (not shown), and
adapter 100. It will be appreciated that the adapter used in
3o this embodiment also could be adapter 201 described above.
FzG. 9 is a side elevational view showing the upper side 109
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of adapter 100 which is integrally attached to the bottom
side 803 of food container 801 to form the unitary packaged
food product 800. Side 111 of the adaptor 100 is ea~posed and
available for deployment of the adaptor into the folded
configuration. The adapter 100 can be attached at its side
109 to the bottom side 803 of the food container 801 in any.
convenient manner, such as via adhesive bonding.
Alternatively. if adapter a01 is used, it can be attached at
its side Z44 to the bottom side 803 of the food container 801
in any convenient manner, while its side 245 is left exposed
and available for deployment of the adaptor 201 into the
folded configuration. In the illustrations of FIGS. 8-9, the
food container 801 is a non-cylindrical, multi-sided and
multi-welled food container or tray.
In an alternative arrangement shown in FIG. 10, a
packaged food product 804 may be comprised of a non-
cylindrical, multi-sided and single-welled food container or
tray 806, and the upper side 109 of adapter 100 (or side 244
of adaptor a01) is attached to the bottom side 805 of food
2o container 806 to form the unitary packaged food product 804.
In the illustration of FIG. 10, the food container 806 is a
non-cylindrical, multi-sided and single-welled food container
or tray. The food container of FIG. 10 has a polygonal bottom
side, and particularly a generally rectangular bottom side.
Referring to FIG. 11, the packaged food product BO~l of
FIG, 10 is illustrated as suspended above a beverage
container holder 1100 having a generally planar support
surface 11.1 having at least one receptacle 1111 disposed
therein which is defined by a cylindrical shaped sidewall
1112 defining a cavity 1113 having cylindrical or
substantially cylindrical cross-section and a predetermined
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cavity diametex and depth.
In this illustration, the packaged food product 804
contains food pieces 807. The food product 807 is not
particularly limited, and may be, for example, cooked meat
s pieces (e. g., fried chicken pieces), vegetable pieces, fxuit
pieces, nachos, cheese, crackers, lunchmeat, confections, and
combinations thereof,
The adapter 100 includes a flat first part 101 attached
to a bottom of a food container 806 and a second part
1o comprising foldable portions 113 and 117 which fold into a
self-supporting pedestal structure 105 configured to project
away from the first part 101, as previously discussed. In
this non-limiting illustration, the food container 806 has a
rectangular-shaped tray portion 808 in which the food product
is 807 has been placed. The tray~portion 808 of food container
806 also could have other shapes, such as, for instance,
square, hexagonal, circular, oval, etc. The pedestal
structure 105 of adapter 100 is configured for insertion into
receptacle 1111 of the beverage container holder 1100, which
2o can be a typical or conventional beverage container holder,
thereby providing lateral stability to packaged food product
804. The adapter 100 also allows the food container 806 to be
releasably held in a stable position within the beverage
holder or receptacle 1111.
zs Referring to FIG. 12, a food container support system
1200 is provided in which the pedestal structure 105 of the
adapter 10o of packaged food product 806 has been inserted
into cylindrical shage-supporting beverage container
receptacle 1111 effective to securely hold and stabilize the
3o non-cylindrical, multi-sided tray 806.
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Cylindrical shape-supporting beverage holders and
receptacles which can be adapted to support non-cylindrical,
multi-sided containers or trays in accordance with
embodiments herein include, e.g., those are commonly
5 installed in vehicles, leisure chairs, and adjacent audience
or spectator seats in various venues to hold a consumer's
beverage cup, can, glass, bottle, etc.
t~hile the invention has been particularly described with
specific reference to particular process and product
to embodiments, it will be appreciated that various alterations,
modifications and adaptations may be based on the present
disclosure, and are intended to be within the spirit and
scope of the invention as defined by the following claims,
15
IS
