Holder for packaged food

Abstract

According to embodiments, a holder for holding a packaged food item is provided, wherein the packaged food item includes an outlet, the holder including: a housing having an interior region to house the packaged food item, wherein the housing includes an upper portion having an aperture, wherein the housing opens to receive the packaged food item; and an adjustable shelf coupled with the housing, the adjustable shelf is configured to have an adjustable elevation adjustable to a first and a second elevation, the adjustable shelf is a resting portion for the packaged food item, and when the adjustable shelf is at the first elevation, the packaged food item extends through the aperture such that the outlet is at a predetermined area exterior to the housing, and when the adjustable shelf is at the second elevation, the outlet of the packaged food item is not at the predetermined area.

1 . A holder for holding at least one type of packaged food item that packages food, wherein the at least one type of packaged food item includes an outlet through which the food is accessed, the holder comprising:
 a housing including an interior region in which to house one of the at least one type of packaged food item, wherein the housing includes an upper portion having at least one aperture configured to receive the outlet, wherein the housing is configured to open to receive the one of the at least one type of packaged food item, wherein the housing includes:
 a front portion including an upper region and a lower region, wherein the front portion includes a plurality of spring arms extending rearwardly from the upper region of the front portion, wherein each of the spring arms is configured to rotate in a horizontal dimension between a compressed state and a substantially decompressed state; and 
 a rear portion including an upper region, a lower region, and a plurality of lateral sides, wherein the rear portion includes a plurality of receiving features configured to receive corresponding ones of the spring arms to selectively engage and disengage the front portion with the rear portion, wherein the rear portion further includes a plurality of handles extending laterally from corresponding ones of the lateral sides. 
   
     
     
         2 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of handles are C-shaped and configured with the rear portion to receive fingers of a user. 
     
     
         3 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the front portion and the rear portion are attached by a hinge. 
     
     
         4 . The holder of  claim 3 , wherein the front portion is configured to rotate downwardly to allow placement of the one of the at least one type of packaged food item into the interior region of the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The holder of  claim 4 , wherein the hinge is located above a lowest elevation of the holder. 
     
     
         6 . The holder of  claim 3 , wherein the hinge comprises a clamshell hinge. 
     
     
         7 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the front portion comprises at least one of a transparent or a translucent material. 
     
     
         8 . The holder of  claim 7 , wherein the rear portion comprises an opaque material. 
     
     
         9 . The holder of  claim 1 , further comprising an adjustable shelf coupled with the housing, wherein the adjustable shelf is configured to have an adjustable elevation adjustable to a first elevation and a second elevation, wherein the adjustable shelf is configured to be a resting portion for the one of the at least one type of packaged food item, and wherein when the adjustable shelf is at the first elevation, the at least one type of packaged food item extends through the aperture in the upper portion of the housing such that the outlet is at a predetermined area exterior to the housing, and wherein when the adjustable shelf is at the second elevation, the outlet of the one of the at least one type of packaged food item is not at the predetermined area. 
     
     
         10 . The holder of  claim 9 , wherein the adjustable shelf is removable from the housing. 
     
     
         11 . The holder of  claim 10 , wherein when the housing comprises at least one first receiving feature to receive the adjustable shelf and at least one second receiving feature to receive the adjustable shelf, wherein the at least one first receiving feature is above the at least one second receiving feature. 
     
     
         12 . The holder of  claim 11 , wherein when the adjustable shelf is received by the at least one first receiving feature, the adjustable shelf is adjustable into a plurality of elevations. 
     
     
         13 . The holder of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one first receiving feature comprises a plurality of slots, and wherein the at least one second receiving feature comprises a plurality of slots. 
     
     
         14 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the rear portion includes a plurality of apertures configured to receive corresponding ones of the spring arms when the front portion is engaged with the rear portion. 
     
     
         15 . The holder of  claim 14 , wherein each of the plurality of apertures is sized to receive a human finger to push the spring arms into their substantially compressed state such that the front portion is configured to be disengageable from the rear portion. 
     
     
         16 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the rear portion includes a plurality of recesses configured to receive corresponding ones of the spring arms when the front portion is engaged with the rear portion. 
     
     
         17 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the upper surface of the housing includes a second aperture smaller than the aperture in the upper surface of the housing. 
     
     
         18 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the aperture in the upper surface of the housing is formed by the front portion and the rear portion. 
     
     
         19 . The holder of  claim 18 , wherein the aperture in the upper surface of the housing is formed in part by a recess in the rear portion. 
     
     
         20 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein each of the spring arms rotates inwardly in to their compressed states, and wherein each of the spring arms rotates outwardly from their compressed states into their substantially decompressed states.