Drink container adapter

Abstract

Embodiments relate to a drinking container, and specifically to an adapter configured to be placed within the container and to receive and hold a tube. The adapter is configured with a primary aperture, through which fluid may flow. A tube is configured to be placed in direct contact with the primary aperture, or in indirect contact with the primary aperture through use of a connector. The adapter holds the tube in a position while fluid and/or frozen fluid are placed into the container. Once the container is filled, the tube is received by a container top, and the container is closed. Accordingly, the adapter functions to hold the tube within the container as the container is filled with fluid and frozen fluid, and mitigates interference with placement of a tube into the container after the container has been filled with fluid and/or frozen fluid.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 an adapter having a body with first and second surfaces and a primary openings formed in the body extending from the first surface to the second surface;   a connector in communication with the primary aperture, wherein the connector is sized to be received by the primary aperture;   the connector to project in a direction relatively perpendicular to one of the surfaces of the adapter following receipt by the primary aperture; and   the connector having a connector aperture formed therein.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising the connector having a perimeter sized to receive a tube. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further the connector having an extension, the extension size to hold the connector in communication with one of the surfaces of the adapter adjacent to the primary aperture. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising placement of the adapter in a drinking vessel, including placing the tube in communication with the connector. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising the vessel having a bottom interior surface, and placement of fluid into the vessel to force the adapter in a direction proximal to the bottom surface. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising the vessel having a lid adaptively secured to a top surface of the vessel, the lid having a tube receiver to secure the tube to the top of the vessel. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising the connector having a stepped exterior surface, wherein a first step is sized to receive the tube having a first perimeter, and a second step is sized to receive the tube having a second perimeter, and wherein the first and second perimeters are different sizes. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising the connector having a sloped exterior surface sized to receive the tube. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising the connector having a convex shape relative to a concave shape of the adapter prior to placement of fluid in the container. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising application of suction to the tube to release the fluid from the container, and the connector to retain the convex shape upon application of the suction and the shape of the adapter to change. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a placement change of the connector, including removal of the connector from the primary aperture, and placement of the connector in a second primary aperture formed in the surfaces, the second opening being one of the plurality of openings in the adapter. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an adapter release, including a projection to be received through the primary aperture and to communicate with a bottom wall of the adapter, wherein a pull of the release forces the adapter from the position proximal to the bottom surface. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus comprising:
 an adapter having a first surface and an oppositely disposed second surface;   a primary aperture formed in the adapter, the primary aperture extending from the first surface to the second surface;   two or more secondary apertures formed on a perimeter of the adapter, each secondary aperture extending from the first surface to the second surface.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising the primary aperture sized to receive and hold a distal end of a tube in communication with the adapter. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising the adapter placed in communication with a vessel, including placement of the tube through the primary aperture, wherein the tube is releasably secured to the adapter. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising placement of a fluid into the vessel following placement of the tube, wherein the fluid to force the adapter in a direction proximal to a bottom interior surface of the vessel. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising the tube having a proximal end oppositely positioned from the distal end, the proximal end received by a lid adaptively secured to a top surface of the vessel, including a tube receiver to secure the proximal end to a top of the vessel. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising an adapter release, including a projection to be received through the primary aperture and to communicate with a bottom wall of the adapter, wherein a pull of the release forces the adapter from the position proximal to a bottom surface of the vessel. 
     
     
         19 . A method comprising:
 forming an adapter having first and second opposing surfaces and a primary aperture formed and extending between the surfaces, and a secondary aperture formed adjacent to a perimeter of the adapter;   placing a tube in communication with the primary aperture, wherein the primary aperture holds and receives the tube in a first position.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising placing the adapter into an interior of a container, and placing fluid into the interior. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising securing a proximal end of the tube to a container top in conjunction with closing the container.