Container adapter

An adapter for adapting a container to be supported by a container holder in a relatively upright position, the container holder having a receptacle, said adapter comprising:

• a first adapter member having a first portion adapted for mating engagement with the receptacle and a second portion extending outwardly from the receptacle when said first portion of said first adapter member is in mating engagement with the receptacle;
• a second adapter member having a first portion adapted for mating engagement with the container and a second portion adapted for mating engagement with said second portion of said first adapter member;
• at least one male member located on said second portion of said second adapter member;
• and
• a plurality of female members located on said second portion of said first adapter member, at least one of said female members being located on an outer surface of said second portion of said first adapter member and at least another one of said female members being located on an inner surface of said second portion of said first adapter member, such that at least one of said female members is adapted for mating engagement with a male member located on said second portion of said second adapter member, irrespective of whether said male member is located on an outer surface or an inner surface of said second portion of said second adapter member.

Apparatus for supporting a container in a relatively upright position, said apparatus comprising, in combination:

• a container holder having a substantially cylindrical receptacle with a predetermined inner diameter;
• and
• an adapter for adapting the container holder to support the container in the relatively upright position, said adapter comprising:
• a first adapter member having a first portion adapted for mating engagement with the receptacle and a second portion extending outwardly from the receptacle when said first portion is in mating engagement with the receptacle, said first adapter member being substantially cylindrically-shaped and having an outer diameter which is somewhat smaller than the inner diameter of the receptacle such that said first portion of said first adapter member is in relatively snug fit engagement with the receptacle when said first adapter member is in mating engagement with the receptacle;
• a second adapter member having a first portion adapted for mating engagement with the container and a second portion adapted for mating engagement with said second portion of said first adapter member, said first portion of said second adapter member being substantially cylindrical for receiving a bottom portion of the container, said second portion of said second adapter member being substantially cylindrical and having an outer diameter which is somewhat less than an inner diameter of said first adapter member such that said second portion of said first adapter member is positionable in concentric relation about said second portion of said second adapter member, said second portion of said second adapter member being enlarged with respect to said first portion of said second adapter member such that said first portion of said second adapter member is adapted to support a container having an outer diameter which is substantially smaller than the inner diameter of the receptacle;
• at least one male member located on one of said second portion of said first adapter member and said second portion of said second adapter member;
• and
• at least one female member located on the other one of said second portion of said first adapter member and said second portion of said second adapter member, said at least one female member being adapted for mating engagement with said at least one male member for locating said second adapter with respect to said first adapter member.