Holder for food and beverage containers

Abstract

A holder for a squeeze pouch containing food or beverages, and for a drink box containing beverages, is described. The holder may have a one-piece construction, or the holder may include both a housing and a detachable top wall or lid. The top wall or lid of the holder includes a slot adapted to receive and secure the spout of a squeeze pouch. The housing protects the squeeze pouch or drink box from pressure that could cause food or beverages to exit the spout of the squeeze pouch. A cover may be used in conjunction with the holder.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A holder for a squeeze pouch including a flexible portion containing a food or beverage, the holder comprising:
 one single continuous side wall including an aperture, wherein the side wall surrounds a circumference of the flexible portion of the squeeze pouch when the squeeze pouch is contained in the holder to protect the flexible portion of the squeeze pouch from pressure;   a top wall including a slot contiguous with the aperture, wherein the slot is adapted to receive a spout of the squeeze pouch, said top wall having an inner edge which defines a boundary of the slot, wherein the inner edge of the top wall comprises a first wall, a second wall opposite to the first wall, and a back wall extending between the first wall and the second wall, and wherein a first portion of the slot has a first width and a second portion of the slot has a second width, the first width being greater than the second width; and   a base comprising a base aperture, wherein the base aperture is adapted to allow the squeeze pouch to be fully inserted into the holder through the base aperture before the food or beverage in the squeeze pouch is consumed, such that the spout of the squeeze pouch may be received by the slot of the top wall;   wherein a length of the aperture is less than half of a length of the side wall from the top wall to the base.   
     
     
         2 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the slot tapers inwardly as it extends from the side wall toward the center of the top wall. 
     
     
         3 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the second width of the second portion of the slot is substantially constant along a length of the second portion of the slot. 
     
     
         4 . The holder of  claim 1 , further comprising a handle extending from an exterior surface of the side wall. 
     
     
         5 . The holder of  claim 1 , the aperture having an aperture width at a widest point of the aperture, wherein the aperture width is greater than a second width of the second portion of the slot. 
     
     
         6 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the holder is substantially rigid. 
     
     
         7 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the holder has a one-piece construction. 
     
     
         8 . The holder of  claim 1 , further comprising a removable bottom wall adapted to be secured to the base of the holder. 
     
     
         9 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein an aperture width is between approximately 1.0 inches and 1.75 inches. 
     
     
         10 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of the second width of the second portion of the slot at the back wall to a widest width of the holder is in a range from approximately 1:13 to 2:13. 
     
     
         11 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein a first projection extends inwardly from the first wall of the inner edge, and a second projection extends inwardly from the second wall of the inner edge toward the first projection. 
     
     
         12 . A holder for a squeeze pouch including a flexible portion containing a food or beverage, the holder comprising:
 a housing comprising one single continuous side wall, wherein the side wall surrounds a circumference of the flexible portion of the squeeze pouch when the squeeze pouch is contained in the holder to protect the flexible portion of the squeeze pouch from pressure, said housing having a top end and a base, the base comprising a base aperture, wherein the base aperture is adapted to allow the squeeze pouch to be fully inserted into the holder through the base aperture before the food or beverage in the squeeze pouch is consumed; and   a removable bottom wall adapted to be secured to the base of the housing,   wherein the inner edge of the top wall comprises a first wall, a second wall opposite to the first wall, and a back wall extending between the first wall and the second wall.   
     
     
         13 . The holder of  claim 12 , wherein a portion of the slot has a substantially constant width. 
     
     
         14 . The holder of  claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of the slot tapers inwardly as it extends from the lid side wall toward the center of the top wall. 
     
     
         15 . The holder of  claim 12 , further comprising a handle extending from an exterior surface of the side wall. 
     
     
         16 . The holder of  claim 12 , the slot having a lid side wall slot width and a top wall slot width, wherein the lid side wall slot width is greater than the top wall slot width. 
     
     
         17 . The holder of  claim 12 , wherein a ratio of a width of the slot at the back wall to a widest width of the housing is in a range from approximately 1:13 to 2:13. 
     
     
         18 . The holder of  claim 12 , wherein a first projection extends inwardly from the first wall of the inner edge, and a second projection extends inwardly from the second wall of the inner edge toward the first projection.