Drinking straw mountable container systems and methods

Abstract

This disclosure extends to systems, apparatus, and methods related to food serving containers that may be mountable on a drinking straw in a beverage cup in a first conformation. A body portion formed as a cup for receiving food has an elongated tab extending upwards to a distal end. A straw mounting recess passes through the tab near the distal end. The elongated tab may be sized and configured to allow the body to dangle alongside a beverage container when the container is placed over a straw in the beverage container lid. The elongated tab may have predetermined folding lines, and the container body may include a connection feature, such that in a second conformation, the elongated tab may function as a closure for retaining food in the container. The closure may allow for retaining the food with a portion thereof visible.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drinking straw mountable food serving container, comprising:
 a body portion formed as a cup for receiving food;   an elongated tab extending upwards from a side of the body portion to a distal end with a straw mounting recess passing through the elongated tab near the distal end, the elongated tab sized and configured to allow the body to dangle alongside a beverage container when the container is placed over a straw in a lid on the beverage container.   
     
     
         2 . The drinking straw mountable food serving container of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated tab has at least two predetermined folding lines that define its dangling position when placed on the straw in a lid on the beverage container with one of the at least two predetermined folding lines disposed adjacent the lid of the beverage container. 
     
     
         3 . The drinking straw mountable food serving container of  claim 2 , wherein the container body includes a first connection feature, such that in a second conformation, the elongated tab functions as a closure for retaining food in the container by securing to the first connection feature. 
     
     
         4 . The drinking straw mountable food serving container of  claim 3 , wherein the first connection feature comprises a slot formed in a front portion of the body, such that distal end of the elongated tab may be inserted through the slot to an interior of the body. 
     
     
         5 . The drinking straw mountable food serving container of  claim 3 , wherein the at least two predetermined folding lines define a lid portion and a securing portion when the elongated tab is secured to the first connection feature. 
     
     
         6 . The drinking straw mountable food serving container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is formed from a single sheet of material that is folded to form a finished container. 
     
     
         7 . The drinking straw mountable food serving container of  claim 1 , wherein the body portion formed as a cup comprises a front panel and an opposite back panel, which are connected by a floor panel and at least two side panels, with the elongated tab extending from the back panel. 
     
     
         8 . A food serving container, comprising:
 a body portion formed as a cup with an open top, the body portion comprising a front panel and an opposite back panel, wherein the front panel; and opposite back panel are connected by a floor panel and at least two side panels;   an elongated tab extending upwards from the back panel to a distal end, at least two predetermined folding lines formed in the elongated tab such that the elongated tab may be folded over the open top to contact the front panel with the elongated tab folding at the predetermined folding lines to define a medial lid portion with the open top accessible one either side of the elongated tab; and   a connection slot accessible on the front panel, such that distal end of the elongated tab may be inserted through the connection slot to an interior of the body to retaining food in the container.   
     
     
         9 . The serving container of  claim 8 , wherein the at least two folding lines define a lid portion disposed over the open top when the elongated tab is secured in the connection slot. 
     
     
         10 . The serving container of  claim 8 , further comprising a straw mounting recess passing through the elongated tab near the distal end, the elongated tab sized and configured to allow the body to dangle alongside a beverage container when the container is placed over a straw in a lid on the beverage container. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the at least two predetermined folding lines define a dangling position for the container when placed on the straw in a lid on the beverage container with one of the at least two predetermined folding lines disposed adjacent the lid of the beverage container. 
     
     
         12 . The food serving container of  claim 8 , wherein the container is formed from a single sheet of material that is folded to form a finished container. 
     
     
         13 . A method of readying a food item for service in a food serving container, comprising:
 inserting a food item into a food serving container, wherein the food serving container comprises:
 a body portion formed as a cup with an open top for receiving food, 
 an elongated tab extending upwards from a side of the body portion to a distal end with a straw mounting recess passing through the elongated tab near the distal end, the elongated tab sized and configured to allow the body portion to dangle alongside a beverage container when the container is placed over a straw in a lid on the beverage container; 
   selecting whether the food item is to be served with a beverage; and   where the food item is to be served with a beverage, placing the straw mounting recess over a drinking straw extending through a lid on a beverage container such that the elongated tab is secured to the drinking straw with the body portion alongside the beverage container.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising adjusting a position of the elongated tab on the drinking straw, such that a predetermined folding line on the elongated tab is disposed adjacent the lid of the beverage container. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising where the food item is not to be served with a beverage, folding the elongated tab over the open top of the body portion and securing the distal end of elongated tab to an opposite side of the body portion to secure the food item in the body portion with the open top accessible one either side of the elongated tab. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein securing the distal end of elongated tab to an opposite side of the body portion comprises inserting the distal end of the elongated tab through a connection slot formed in the opposite side of the body portion. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the elongated tab is drawn into contact with the food item to secure it in the body portion. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein folding the elongated tab over the open top of the body portion comprises folding the elongated tab along at least two predetermined folding lines formed in the elongated tab to define a medial lid portion over the open top. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising assembling the food serving container by folding a single sheet of material to form the food serving container. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein assembling the food serving container comprises folding the single sheet of material to form the body portion as a front panel and an opposite back panel, which are connected by a floor panel and at least two side panels, with the elongated tab extending from the back panel.