Methods and apparatus for cup holder adapter

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for a cup holder adapter according to various aspects of the present invention comprise a container comprising a substantially circular exterior surface and a multi-faceted interior surface. The exterior surface may be suitably configured to be positioned within a round cup holder device. The multi-faceted interior surface is suitably configured to receive a square, rectangular, or otherwise quadrilaterally shaped beverage container. The cup holder adapter may also comprise an upper section and a lower section such that the cup holder adapter may be positioned within round cup holders of various sizes while also being able to receive quadrilaterally shaped beverage containers of varying sizes.

1 . An adapter for receiving a quadrilateral shaped container into a circular shaped cup holder, comprising:
 a container having:
 a lower section having a substantially circular base and a first sidewall section disposed along peripheral edges of the base and extending upwardly therefrom to define an interior of the lower portion; and 
 a second sidewall section extending upwardly from the lower section to define an open ended an upper section of the container; and 
   a multi-faceted surface disposed along an interior surface of the upper section and configured to engage one or more corners of the quadrilateral shaped container.   
     
     
         2 . An adapter according to  claim 1 , wherein the lower section comprises a smaller diameter than a diameter of the upper section. 
     
     
         3 . An adapter according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first sidewall section extends upwardly and outwardly from the base to form an increasingly larger cross-sectional area between the base and an upper portion of the lower section; and   the second sidewall section extends upwardly and outwardly from the upper portion of the lower section to form an increasingly larger cross-sectional area between the upper portion of the lower section and a lip portion of the upper section.   
     
     
         4 . An adapter according to  claim 1 , wherein the multi-faceted surface comprises a series of angled surfaces joined together to form a plurality of substantially right angled quadrilateral receiving sections arranged around a central axis of the upper section. 
     
     
         5 . An adapter according to  claim 1 , wherein the multi-faceted surface extends from a lip portion of the upper section to a bottom portion of the upper section adjacent to an upper portion of the lower section. 
     
     
         6 . An adapter according to  claim 1 , wherein the multi-faceted surface further extends along an interior portion of the lower section. 
     
     
         7 . An adapter for receiving a quadrilateral shaped container into a circular shaped cup holder, comprising:
 a container having a substantially circular base and a sidewall disposed along peripheral edges of the base and extending upwardly therefrom to define an interior of the container; and   a multi-faceted surface disposed along at least a portion of the interior of the container wherein the multi-faceted surface forms a quadrilateral receiving section configured to engage one or more corners of the quadrilateral shaped container.   
     
     
         8 . An adapter according to  claim 7 , wherein the multi-faceted surface comprises a series of angled surfaces joined together to form a plurality of substantially right angled quadrilateral receiving sections arranged around a central axis of the upper section. 
     
     
         9 . An adapter according to  claim 7 , wherein the multi-faceted surface extends from an upper lip portion of the container to a transition section of the container. 
     
     
         10 . An adapter according to  claim 9 , wherein:
 the transition section separates a lower section of the container from an upper section of the container; and   the lower section comprises a smaller diameter than a diameter of the upper section.   
     
     
         11 . An adapter according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 the lower section comprises a first sidewall section that extends upwardly and outwardly from the base to form an increasingly larger cross-sectional area between the base and the transition section;   the upper section comprises a second sidewall section that extends upwardly and outwardly from the transition section to form an increasingly larger cross-sectional area between the transition section and the upper lip portion.   
     
     
         12 . An adapter according to  claim 7 , wherein the sidewall extends upwardly and outwardly from the base to form an increasingly larger cross-sectional area between the base and an upper lip portion of the container.