Beverage holder adapters for non-cylindrical, multi-sided food containers

Abstract

Adapters are provided for stable holding of non-cylindrical multi-sided food containers in beverage container receptacles, and also packaged food products integrating such adapters.

1 . An adapter comprising a self-supporting pedestal structure comprising bottom and top panels connected by an intermediate structure comprising a plurality of elongate strip panels joined at longitudinal ends thereof, wherein the top panel includes at least one flap which is adapted to be attached to a groove in a bottom of a food container, and wherein the pedestal structure is configured to be seated in a cylindrical shape-supporting cavity, and wherein the adapter is operable to restrict lateral movement of the food container relative to the beverage receptacle while being held therein.  
     
     
         2 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the adapter comprises a paperboard member.  
     
     
         3 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the top panel includes a flaps foldable about lines of weakness into upright positions receivable in a plurality of respective grooves in the bottom of a food tray.  
     
     
         4 . The adapter of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of lines of weakness extend generally parallel with one another.  
     
     
         5 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the line of weakness is selected from the group consisting of a scored line and an intermittent cut line.  
     
     
         6 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate strip panels further have a plurality of spaced-apart score lines extending generally perpendicular to lateral side edges thereof effective to facilitate curling of the elongate strips into an arced configuration.  
     
     
         7 . An adapter for stably supporting a food container over a beverage container receptacle defining a cylindrical shape-supporting cavity, the adapter comprising: 
 a unitary paperboard blank including:    (A) a first elongate strip panel having a first medial portion, opposite first and second lateral side edges, a first latching tongue extending from a longitudinal end thereof, a first latching slit adjacent an opposite longitudinal end thereof, and a second latching slit adjacent the first lateral side edge at the first medial portion;    (B) a bottom panel foldably attached to the first medial portion along the second lateral side edge of the first elongate strip panel;    (C) a second elongate strip panel having a second medial portion, opposite third and fourth lateral side edges, a second latching tongue extending from a longitudinal end thereof, a third latching slit adjacent an opposite longitudinal end thereof, wherein the bottom panel is foldably attached to the second medial portion along the third lateral side of the second elongate strip panel;    (D) a top panel foldably attached to the second medial portion along the fourth lateral side edge of the second elongate strip panel, a third latching tongue extending from a side edge of the top panel opposite to where the top panel is foldably attached to the second elongate strip panel, and at least one line of weakness defining a foldable flap in the top panel, wherein the flap is adapted to be folded into an upright position relative to an unfolded part of the top panel and is fittable into a complementary groove in the bottom of a food tray sufficient to restrict lateral movement of a food container attached thereto relative to a beverage receptacle to hold the tray in position;    wherein the unitary blank is adapted to be erected into an adapter, wherein:    (i) the first and second elongate strip panels are foldable in an upright position relative to the bottom panel;    (ii) the first latching tongue is latchable to the third latching slit and the second latching tongue is latchable to the first latching slit;    (iii) the top panel is positionable into a generally coplanar orientation to the bottom panel;    (iv) the third latching tongue of the top panel is latchable to the second latching slit of the first elongate strip panel, wherein the resulting erected adapter is operable to be seated in a cylindrical shape-supporting cavity of a beverage container.    
     
     
         8 . The adapter of  claim 7 , wherein the first, second, and third latching tongues comprise a rectangular tab portion and a pronged distal end.  
     
     
         9 . The adapter of  claim 8 , wherein the first, second and third latching slits comprise a u-shaped cut through the paperboard.  
     
     
         10 . The adapter of  claim 8 , wherein the pronged distal end of the first latching tongue is wider than the u-shaped cut of the third latching portion sufficient that the distal end can latch the u-shaped cut after insertion therethrough.  
     
     
         11 . The adapter of  claim 9 , wherein the pronged distal end of the second latching tongue is wider than the unshaped cut of the first latching portion sufficient that the distal end can latch the u-shaped cut after insertion therethrough.  
     
     
         12 . The adapter of  claim 9 , wherein the pronged distal end of the third latching tongue is wider than the u-shaped cut of the second latching portion sufficient that the distal end can latch the u-shaped cut after insertion therethrough.  
     
     
         13 . The adapter of  claim 7 , wherein the adapter, as erected, has a general disc shape.  
     
     
         14 . A packaged food product comprising: 
 (I) a food container containing a food product; and    (II) an adapter comprising a self-supporting pedestal structure comprising bottom and top panels connected by an intermediate cylindrical structure comprising a plurality of elongate strip panels Joined at longitudinal ends thereof, wherein the top panel includes at least one flap foldable into an upright position which is adapted to be attached to a groove in a bottom of a food container, and wherein the pedestal structure is configured to be seated in a beverage container receptacle, wherein the adapter is operable to restrict lateral movement of the food container relative to the beverage container receptacle.    
     
     
         15 . The packaged food product of  claim 14 , wherein the food container has a generally rectangular bottom side.  
     
     
         16 . The packaged food product of  claim 14 , wherein the food product is selected from the group consisting of cooked meat pieces, vegetable pieces, fruit pieces, nachos, cheese, crackers, lunchmeat, confections, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         17 . The packaged food product of  claim 14 , wherein the adapter comprises a paperboard member.  
     
     
         18 . The packaged food product of  claim 14 , wherein the top panel includes a plurality of lines of weakness foldable into upright positions receivable in respective grooves in the bottom of a food tray.  
     
     
         19 . The packaged food product of  claim 14 , wherein the adapter comprises a unitary paperboard blank including: 
 (A) a first elongate strip panel having a first medial portion, opposite first and second lateral side edges, a first latching tongue extending from a longitudinal end thereof, a first latching slit adjacent an opposite longitudinal end thereof, and a second latching slit adjacent the first lateral side edge at the first medial portion;    (B) a bottom panel foldably attached to the first medial portion along the second lateral side edge of the first elongate strip panel;    (C) a second elongate strip panel having a second medial portion, opposite third and fourth lateral side edges, a second latching tongue extending from a longitudinal end thereof, a third latching slit adjacent an opposite longitudinal end thereof, wherein the bottom panel is foldably attached to the second medial portion along the third lateral side of the second elongate strip panel;    (D) a top panel foldably attached to the second medial portion along the fourth lateral side edge of the second elongate strip panel, a third latching tongue extending from a side edge of the top panel opposite to where the top panel is foldably attached to the second elongate strip panel, and at least one line of weakness defining a foldable flap in the top panel, wherein the flap is adapted to be folded into an upright position relative to an unfolded part of the top panel and is fittable into a complementary groove in the bottom of a food tray sufficient to restrict lateral movement of a food container attached thereto relative to a beverage receptacle to hold the tray in position;    wherein the unitary blank is adapted to be erected into an adapter, wherein: 
 (i) the first and second elongate strip panels are foldable in an upright position relative to the bottom panel;  
 (ii) the first latching tongue is latchable to the third latching slit and the second latching tongue is latchable to the first latching slit;  
 (iii) the top panel is positionable into a generally coplanar orientation to the bottom panel;  
 (iv) the third latching tongue of the top panel is latchable to the second latching slit of the first elongate strip panel, wherein the resulting erected adapter is operable to be seated in a cylindrical shape-supporting cavity of a beverage container.  
   
     
     
         20 . A method for stably supporting a food container over a beverage container receptacle, comprising: 
 (A) providing an adapter comprising a self-supporting pedestal structure comprising bottom and top panels connected by an intermediate structure comprising a plurality of elongate strip panels joined at longitudinal ends thereof, wherein the top panel includes at least one flap folded into an upright position which is adapted to be attached to a complementary groove in a bottom of a food container, and wherein the pedestal structure is configured to be seated in a cylindrical shape-supporting cavity;    (B) fitting the at least one folded top panel flap into a complementary groove in the bottom of a food container sufficient to attach the adapter to the food container;    (C) seating the adapter in the beverage container receptacle, wherein lateral movement of the food container is restricted relative to the receptacle to hold the food container in position.