Beverage Packing System

Abstract

A beverage packaging system that includes a plurality of beverage containers and a beverage container package. The plurality of beverage containers each includes a receptacle, a first beverage portion and a sealing lid. The first beverage portion is placed in the receptacle. The sealing lid releasably engages the receptacle to retain the first beverage portion in the receptacle. The beverage container package includes a first side panel, a second side panel, a top panel and a first intermediate panel. The top panel extends between the first side panel and the second side panel. The first intermediate panel extends between the first side panel and the second side panel. The first intermediate panel is in a spaced-apart relationship with respect to the top panel. The first intermediate panel has a plurality of first apertures formed therein. Each of the first apertures is adapted to receive one of the beverage containers.

1 . A beverage packaging system comprising:
 a plurality of beverage containers that each comprise:
 a receptacle; 
 a first beverage portion placed in the receptacle; and 
 a sealing lid that releasably engages the receptacle to retain the first beverage portion in the receptacle; and 
   a beverage container package comprising:
 a first side panel; 
 a second side panel; 
 a top panel that extends between the first side panel and the second side panel; and 
 a first intermediate panel that extends between the first side panel and the second side panel, wherein the first intermediate panel is in a spaced-apart relationship with respect to the top panel, wherein the first intermediate panel has a plurality of first apertures formed therein and wherein each of the first apertures is adapted to receive one of the beverage containers. 
   
     
     
         2 . The beverage packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the beverage containers have a maximum diameter, wherein the plurality of apertures each have a diameter that is less than the maximum diameter. 
     
     
         3 . The beverage packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate panel supports the plurality of beverage containers so that upper edges of the plurality of beverage containers are lower than upper edges of the first side panel and the second side panel and wherein lower edges of the plurality of beverage containers are higher than lower edges of the first side panel and the second side panel. 
     
     
         4 . The beverage packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the beverage container package further comprises a handle operably attached hereto. 
     
     
         5 . The beverage packaging system of  claim 1 , and further comprising a bottom panel that is attached to the first side panel and the second side panel so that the first intermediate panel is between the top panel and the bottom panel. 
     
     
         6 . The beverage packing system of  claim 1 , and further comprising a second intermediate panel that extends between the first side panel and the second side panel, wherein the second intermediate panel is in a spaced-apart relationship with respect to the top panel and the first intermediate panel, wherein the second intermediate panel has a plurality of second apertures formed therein and wherein each of the second apertures is adapted to receive one of the beverage containers so that the beverage packing system includes two rows of beverage containers. 
     
     
         7 . The beverage packing system of  claim 6 , and further comprising:
 a first bottom wall that extends between the first side panel and the second side panel between the first intermediate panel and the second intermediate panel; and   a second bottom wall that extends between the first side panel and the second side panel on a side of the second intermediate panel that is opposite the first intermediate panel.   
     
     
         8 . The beverage packing system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel have an opening formed therein, wherein the opening has a height and a width and wherein at least one of the opening height is less than a height of the beverage container and the opening width is less than a width of the beverage container. 
     
     
         9 . The beverage packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of beverage containers have at least one of:
 a substantially equal height;   a substantially equal width; and   a similar shape.   
     
     
         10 . The beverage packaging system of  claim 1 , and further comprising indicia on the receptacle to indicate a combined volume of the first beverage portion and a second beverage portion that are placed in the receptacle. 
     
     
         11 . The beverage packaging system of  claim 10 , wherein the first beverage portion comprises at least one non-alcoholic liquid and the second beverage portion comprises at least one alcoholic liquid. 
     
     
         12 . A beverage packaging system comprising:
 a plurality of beverage containers that each comprise:
 a receptacle; 
 a first beverage portion placed in the receptacle; and 
 a sealing lid that releasably engages the receptacle to retain the first beverage portion therein; and 
   a beverage container package comprising:
 a first side panel; 
 a second side panel; 
 a top panel that extends between the first side panel and the second side panel; 
 a bottom panel that extends between the first side panel and the second side panel; and 
 an intermediate panel that extends between the first side panel and the second side panel intermediate the top panel and the bottom panel, wherein the intermediate panel has a plurality of apertures formed therein, wherein each of the apertures is adapted to receive one of the beverage containers. 
   
     
     
         13 . The beverage packaging system of  claim 12 , wherein each of the beverage containers have a maximum diameter, wherein the plurality of apertures each have a diameter that is less than the maximum diameter. 
     
     
         14 . The beverage packaging system of  claim 12 , wherein the intermediate panel supports the plurality of beverage containers so that upper edges of the plurality of beverage containers are lower than upper edges of the first side panel and the second side panel and wherein lower edges of the plurality of beverage containers are higher than lower edges of the first side panel and the second side panel. 
     
     
         15 . The beverage packaging system of  claim 12 , wherein the beverage container package further comprises a handle operably attached hereto. 
     
     
         16 . The beverage packing system of  claim 12 , and further comprising a second intermediate panel that extends between the first side panel and the second side panel, wherein the second intermediate panel is in a spaced-apart relationship with respect to the top panel and the first intermediate panel, wherein the second intermediate panel has a plurality of second apertures formed therein and wherein each of the second apertures is adapted to receive one of the beverage containers so that the beverage packing system includes two rows of beverage containers. 
     
     
         17 . The beverage packing system of  claim 16 , and further comprising:
 a first bottom wall that extends between the first side panel and the second side panel between the first intermediate panel and the second intermediate panel; and   a second bottom wall that extends between the first side panel and the second side panel on a side of the second intermediate panel that is opposite the first intermediate panel.   
     
     
         18 . The beverage packaging system of  claim 12 , and further comprising indicia on the receptacle to indicate a combined volume of the first beverage portion and a second beverage portion that are placed in the receptacle, wherein the first beverage portion comprises at least one non-alcoholic liquid and the second beverage portion comprises at least one alcoholic liquid. 
     
     
         19 . A method of packaging beverages comprising:
 providing a plurality of beverage containers that each comprise a receptacle, a first beverage portion and a sealing lid, wherein the first beverage portion is placed in the receptacle and wherein the sealing lid releasably engages the receptacle to retain the first beverage portion in the receptacle;   providing a beverage container package that comprises a first side panel, a second side panel, a top panel and a first intermediate panel, wherein the first side panel and the second side panel each have an upper edge and a lower edge, wherein the top panel extends between the first side panel and the second side panel, wherein the first intermediate panel extends between the first side panel and the second side panel, wherein the first intermediate panel is in a spaced-apart relationship with respect to the top panel and wherein the first intermediate panel has a plurality of first apertures formed therein;   positioning one of the plurality of beverage containers in each of the first apertures; and   supporting each of the plurality of beverage containers so that lower edges of the beverage containers are above the lower edges of the first and second side panels and upper edges of the beverage containers are below the upper edges of the first and second side panels.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , and further comprising:
 attaching a second intermediate panel to the first side panel and the second side panel so that the second intermediate panel is in a spaced-apart relationship with respect to the top panel and the first intermediate panel, wherein the second intermediate panel has a plurality of second apertures formed therein;   attaching a first bottom wall to the first side panel and the second side panel between the first intermediate panel and the second intermediate panel;   attaching a second bottom wall to the first side panel and the second side panel on a side of the second intermediate panel that is opposite the first intermediate panel; and   positioning one of the plurality of beverage containers in each of the second apertures.