Condiment packet holder for use with an automobile cupholder or air vent
View Patent ↗A condiment packet holder of molded plastic has a generally centrally located aperture sized to receive and suspend a body of a condiment packet. The condiment packet holder has a generally cylindrical body surrounding the aperture, sized to be received by an automobile cup-holder and rest on the rim of an insert therein, just below the opening of the cup-holder at a height convenient for dipping food items into an open-top condiment packet supported by the condiment packet holder.
1. A condiment packet holder for use in an automobile, comprising:
a molded body having a thickness of between 0.25 inches and 0.0625 inches,
wherein the molded body includes a cylindrical portion having an outer diameter of between 3.5 inches and 4.5 inches, the cylindrical portion configured to be received by an automobile cup-holder and supported by a rim for an insert within the cup-holder around at least part of a periphery of the cylindrical portion; and
an aperture through the body, the aperture sized and shaped to receive a body of a condiment packet and to suspend the condiment packet by receiving a portion of the condiment packet body and holding in compression sloped sidewalls around an upper periphery of the condiment packet body.
2. The condiment packet holder according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an extension protruding from the cylindrical portion of the body, the extension configured to support the body from an automobile air vent.
3. The condiment packet holder according to claim 2 , wherein the extension includes a slot configured to receive a slat within a closure structure for the automobile air vent and support the body from the slat.
4. The condiment packet holder according to claim 2 , wherein the extension includes a tooth protruding from a portion thereof configured to hold the body within a closure structure for the automobile air vent.
5. The condiment packet holder according to claim 1 , wherein the aperture is keyed to the perimeter shape of the body of a condiment packet for a specific vendor.
6. The condiment packet holder according to claim 1 , wherein the aperture is generally rectangular.
7. The condiment packet holder according to claim 6 , wherein the generally rectangular aperture includes at least one clipped corner.
8. A condiment packet holder for use in an automobile, comprising:
a molded cylindrical body having a central region and a peripheral rim and having an outer diameter of between 3.5 inches and 4.5 inches, the central region of the condiment packet holder body having a thickness of between 0.25 inches and 0.0625 inches,
wherein the central region is sized and shaped to be received within a recess of an automobile cup-holder, and
wherein the peripheral rim is sized and shaped to support the condiment packet holder body above a bottom of the cup-holder by contact with an insert within the cup-holder; and
an aperture through the central region of the condiment packet holder body, the aperture sized and shaped to receive a body of a condiment packet and to suspend the condiment packet by receiving a portion of the condiment packet body and holding in compression sloped sidewalls around an upper periphery of the condiment packet body.
9. The condiment packet holder according to claim 8 , wherein the aperture is keyed to the perimeter shape of the body of a condiment packet for a specific vendor.
10. The condiment packet holder according to claim 8 , wherein the aperture is generally rectangular.
11. The condiment packet holder according to claim 10 , wherein the generally rectangular aperture includes at least one clipped corner.