US20090152283A1 - Expandable condiment cup and storage system - Google Patents
Expandable condiment cup and storage system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20090152283A1 US20090152283A1 US11/955,597 US95559707A US2009152283A1 US 20090152283 A1 US20090152283 A1 US 20090152283A1 US 95559707 A US95559707 A US 95559707A US 2009152283 A1 US2009152283 A1 US 2009152283A1
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- Prior art keywords
- walls
- condiment
- cup
- condiment cup
- back wall
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- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D25/00—Details of other kinds or types of rigid or semi-rigid containers
- B65D25/20—External fittings
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
- B65D81/32—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents for packaging two or more different materials which must be maintained separate prior to use in admixture
- B65D81/3205—Separate rigid or semi-rigid containers joined to each other at their external surfaces
Definitions
- the back wall 214 of the condiment cup 100 provides a planar surface configured for attaching the cup 100 to another planar surface, for example, a surface of a food scoop 104 .
- the back wall 214 has an adhesive strip 304 that extends over a portion of the length of the back wall 214 .
- the adhesive strip 304 is a section of double-sided tape that has an outer adhesion surface that is covered by a removable film 308 .
- the film 308 is removed by the user when it is desirable to affix the condiment cup 100 to a surface, such as the food scoop 104 illustrated in FIG. 1 .
- the seam line 306 illustrated on the back wall 214 indicates the edge of a first end panel 310 where it overlaps a back panel 214 .
- the back wall 214 has an outer surface to which the first end panel 310 is attached.
- the apex, or tip, 302 of the blank 600 is formed at the convergence of the vertices of the regions 208 , 210 , 212 , 214 a, 214 b, 216 , 310 .
- the transverse fold 218 is shown in the flat form in FIG. 6 .
- the transverse fold 218 is defined by a line of weakening formed in the unitary blank 600 .
- the function of providing for removing the holder 400 from a surface is implemented, in one embodiment, by a non-adhesive tab 506 extending beyond the body of the condiment cup holder 400 .
- the non-adhesive tab 506 provides an easily accessed member for pulling the adhesive strip 504 and attached condiment cup holder 400 from the surface to which it is attached.
- a collapsible condiment cup 100 for attaching to a food scoop 104 is provided.
- the food scoop 104 has an outside surface.
- the condiment cup 100 is removably attached to the outside surface of the food scoop, in one embodiment, by double-sided tape 304 .
- the condiment cup 100 in its deployed state, is an inverted, truncated pyramid forming a reservoir 102 for condiments.
- the walls of the pyramid 208 , 210 , 212 , 214 , 216 that make up the body of the condiment cup 100 are, in one embodiment, made from a single sheet of rigid paperboard 600 .
Abstract
An apparatus for an expandable condiment cup that is configured to attach to a common fast-food type food scoop or other surface to provide hands-free access to a condiment. An attachable storage device for multiple cups in the collapsed state is also disclosed. In one embodiment, the condiment cup is made of rigid sheet material and uses fold lines as hinges to change from the collapsed, storage state to its deployed, or expanded, state. In the deployed state, the cup takes on the form of an inverted pyramid forming a reservoir for a condiment. In one embodiment, the collapsed condiment cup has a substantially planar shape. The condiment cup is stored in its collapsed state in a condiment cup holder configured to hold multiple collapsed condiment cups. The condiment cup holder is removably attachable to various surfaces.
Description
- Not Applicable
- Not Applicable
- 1. Field of Invention
- This invention pertains to a condiment cup. More particularly, this invention pertains to an expandable condiment cup that is configured to attach to a common fast-food type food scoop or other surface to provide hands-free access to a condiment. This invention also pertains to an attachable storage device for holding multiple condiment cups in their collapsed state.
- 2. Description of the Related Art
- In today's fast-paced society, fast-food restaurants and take-out counters are extremely popular and useful. Fast-food restaurants and take-out counters were created to meet the demands of a mobile society. Typically, food products are purchased from such places when there is little or no time to stop for a leisurely meal. With particular food products, such as fried foods, it is often desirable to provide a condiment for dipping or scooping. In the fast-food environment, condiments, such as ketchup, mustard, and various sauces are often desired for immediate consumption with fried foods.
- People often purchase these food products with the expectation to enjoy their food while engaged in another activity, such as occupying a car, walking, waiting for a bus, etc. Condiments are typically provided in small pillow packs or cups and are often difficult to use effectively without being seated at a table. The procedure for using a condiment while in fast-paced environments can be very messy. One method of combining sauce to food products is to squeeze out the condiment from the package onto a surplus food wrapper where the consumer can dip their food into the condiment. Other methods such as pouring the condiment onto the food or dipping the food into the condiment container provided by the restaurant are also commonly employed. The condiment is subject to being dropped, which may soil clothing, fingers, and other surroundings. Each of these methods of eating food with a condiment is very inconvenient, oftentimes causing the consumer to not use any sauce, thus diminishing the culinary experience of consuming the food.
- U.S. Pat. No. 5,842,634, titled “Folding cup,” issued to Kieler on Dec. 1, 1998, discloses a folding drinking cup that is formed from a single sheet of planar plastic or paper. The folding cup has an inverted pyramid shape formed by folding a planar sheet and sealing the side edge to form a handle with the top open.
- U.S. Pat. No. 5,720,429, titled “Food container with flip-out condiment pocket,” issued to Cordle on Feb. 24, 1998, discloses a paperboard container that may be “flipped from a storage position to an operable position.” The '429 patent discloses a food container and condiment pocket formed together from a single blank of paperboard stock.
- U.S. Pat. No. 6,364,112, titled “Condiment container for attaching to other objects,” issued to Pitschka on Apr. 2, 2002, discloses a sealed condiment container that includes a hinged adhesive strip that allows the container to be attached to another object.
- U.S. Pat. No. 6,230,969, titled “Food container and sauce reservoir arrangement,” issued to Spransy on May 15, 2001, discloses different embodiments of a sauce reservoir that attach to a food container by clips or an adhesive strip. The adhesive strip, protected by a removable strip, is attached to either the food container or the sauce reservoir. Removing the removable strip exposes the adhesive, allowing the sauce reservoir to attach to the food container.
- U.S. Pat. No. 6,471,119, titled “Food scoop with condiment holder,” issued to Cai on Oct. 29, 2002, discloses a collapsible, conical food scoop that includes a condiment compartment. The food scoop with condiment holder is formed from a unitary blank of material. The '119 patent further discloses a “flat, collapsed configuration” for storage that may be “shifted to an open, use configuration by squeezing two portions of the container together.” In the flat state, there is “an upper edge portion 34 [that] extends peripherally beyond upper edges 37 and 39 and provides a finger grip location at which the condiment triangular panel 36 can be gripped and pulled out by a consumer.”
- U.S. Pat. No. D478,283, titled “Container,” issued to Shimakawa on Aug. 12, 2003, discloses a cone-shaped container formed of a single sheet in which the sides and bottom are sealed.
- U.S. Pat. App. No. 2007/0003171, titled “Condiment pouch for food containers,” published on Jan. 4, 2007 for Boosalis, discloses a condiment pouch that is adhesively attached to a food container. The Boosalis application discloses a condiment pouch with a fixed oval bottom portion and smooth, flexible front and back sides.
- According to one embodiment of the present invention, an expandable condiment cup for attaching to a food scoop is provided. The food scoop has an outside surface. The condiment cup is attached to the outside surface of the food scoop, in one embodiment, by double-sided tape. The condiment cup, in its deployed, or expanded, state, is an inverted, truncated, irregular pentagonal pyramid forming a reservoir for condiments. The five walls that make up the body of the condiment cup are, in one embodiment, made from a single sheet of rigid paperboard or other planar sheet material. When collapsed, the condiment cup is substantially the thickness of two sheets of the paperboard. Deployment of the cup, in one embodiment, is facilitated by a notch that is cut out of one of the two thicknesses of paperboard. The five walls of the condiment cup are developed, in one embodiment, by bending the paperboard along preformed fold lines, or hinges, to form a pyramid and then folding over the apex of the pyramid.
- The condiment cup is stored in its collapsed state in a condiment cup holder configured to hold multiple collapsed condiment cups. The condiment cup holder, in one embodiment, is removably attachable to a planar surface. The condiment cup holder, in one embodiment, is made removably attachable by using double-sided tape. In one embodiment, the double-sided tape has an integral non-adhesive tab extending beyond the body of the condiment cup holder to facilitate removal of the condiment cup holder from the surface to which it is attached.
- The above-mentioned features of the invention will become more clearly understood from the following detailed description of the invention read together with the drawings in which:
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FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a condiment cup in its deployed state attached to a food scoop; -
FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the condiment cup in its deployed state; -
FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the condiment cup in its deployed state; -
FIG. 4 is an exploded diagram showing the condiment cup in its collapsed state and one embodiment of a condiment cup holder; -
FIG. 5 is a rear view of the condiment cup holder; -
FIG. 6 is a plan view of one embodiment of a unitary blank for forming a condiment cup; and -
FIG. 7 is a partial plan view of another embodiment of a unitary blank for forming a condiment cup. - An apparatus for an
expandable condiment cup 100 and a system for storing thecondiment cup 100 is disclosed. Thecondiment cup 100 is attachable to a planar surface and receives a condiment after it is in its expanded state. The system includes aholder 400 that is attachable to a planar surface and receives and stores a plurality ofcondiment cups 100 in their collapsed state. -
FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of acondiment cup 100 in its deployed, or expanded, state forming areservoir 102 for a condiment. Thecondiment cup 100 is attached to afood scoop 104. The illustrated location of thecondiment cup 100 allows the consumer to easily access a condiment in thereservoir 102 when dipping thefood 106 served in thefood scoop 104. In various embodiments, thecondiment cup 100 is attachable in other locations and to other planar surfaces. The shape of thecondiment cup 100 efficiently uses the condiment. Thereservoir 102 is very small at the bottom of thecup 100 and the walls of thecondiment cup 100 are angled such that the condiment level rises substantially as the food, French fries in the illustration, 106 is inserted into the condiment. This configuration more completely coats thefood 106 than conventional, flat-bottomed containers when using the same amount of condiment. - In the illustrated embodiment, the
condiment cup 100, in its expanded state, is attached to afood scoop 104 before use. Thereservoir 102 of thecondiment cup 104 is then filled with a condiment, for example, ketchup. Thefood 106, for example, French fries, are inserted, or dipped, into thereservoir 102. Because of the inverted, pyramidal shape of thecondiment cup 100, thefood 106 displaces the condiment in thereservoir 102 and causes the condiment level to increase in thecup 100. The increased level covers more of the surface of thefood 106 as it is dipped than would be covered if the condiment container had parallel walls. -
FIG. 2 illustrates a front perspective view of thecondiment cup 100 in its deployed, or expanded, state. In one embodiment, thecondiment cup 100 is made of paperboard material. In other embodiments, thecondiment cup 100 is made of plastic, waxed paper, or other sheet-like materials impervious to condiments. In the illustrated embodiment, there is arounded notch 204 where the twofront walls edge 206. Thenotch 204 facilitates deployment of thecondiment cup 100 as well as providing improved access to the condiment within the cup. - The
walls condiment cup 100, in one embodiment, have a surface suitable for printing indicia 202-A, such as product or customer branding, slogans, logos, or other information. The pair offront walls condiment cup 100 because the indicia 202-A is exposed to the user when thecup 100 is attached to a surface for use. -
FIG. 3 illustrates a rear perspective view of thecondiment cup 100 in its deployed, or expanded, state. In the illustrated embodiment, thecondiment cup 100 has planar sheet-like walls condiment cup 100 is a formedtransverse fold 218 where the apex, or tip, 302 of thecup 100 is folded over. The apex 302 is affixed to theback walls transverse edge 218 of the folded overapex 302 of thecup 100 reduces waste of the condiment by reducing the unusable volume at the bottom of thereservoir 102. The folded overapex 302 also removes a point from the bottom of thecondiment cup 100 for the safety of those who handle thecondiment cup 100 and to ensure that thereservoir 102 is sealed at its closed bottom. - The
back wall 214 of thecondiment cup 100 provides a planar surface configured for attaching thecup 100 to another planar surface, for example, a surface of afood scoop 104. In the illustrated embodiment, theback wall 214 has anadhesive strip 304 that extends over a portion of the length of theback wall 214. In one embodiment, theadhesive strip 304 is a section of double-sided tape that has an outer adhesion surface that is covered by aremovable film 308. Thefilm 308 is removed by the user when it is desirable to affix thecondiment cup 100 to a surface, such as thefood scoop 104 illustrated inFIG. 1 . Theseam line 306 illustrated on theback wall 214 indicates the edge of afirst end panel 310 where it overlaps aback panel 214. Theback wall 214 has an outer surface to which thefirst end panel 310 is attached. - The
walls condiment cup 100, in one embodiment, have a surface suitable for printing indicia 202-B such as product or customer branding, slogans, logos, or other information. The pair offront walls condiment cup 100 when the user is deploying thecondiment cup 100 because the indicia 202-A is exposed to the user as thecup 100 is expanded and attached to a surface for use. In one embodiment, the indicia 202-B is a slogan, such as “Arrive Alive—Do not eat and Drive!” In other embodiments, the indicia 202-B include trademark information, use instructions, or information on obtaining refill oradditional condiment cups 100. -
FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded diagram showing thecondiment cup 100′ in its initial, collapsed state and acondiment cup holder 400. In the illustrated embodiment, thecollapsed state 100′ of thecondiment cup 100 is the shape of a truncated circular sector having a substantially planar shape. There are twofront walls condiment cup 100. Therounded notch 204 of the top layer of paperboard is located along the arc at the top of the twofront walls condiment cup 100′ in its collapsed configuration (illustrated inFIG. 4 ), thenotch 204 provides access to both sides of theback wall 214 to aid in separating theback wall 214 from the pair offront walls condiment cup 100′ from its collapsed state, or configuration, to its expanded state, or configuration. - In the illustrated embodiment, the
condiment cup holder 400 has afront panel 408, arear panel 404, and twoside walls 410. The bottom of theholder 400 is open to allow the bottom of thecondiment cup 100′ to pass through and protrude below theholder 400. Thecondiment cup holder 400 is configured as a truncated circular sector similar to thecondiment cup 100, such that thecondiment cup 100 is held in place when inserted vertically into thecondiment cup holder 400 as shown in the illustrated embodiment. In one embodiment, thecondiment cup holder 400 is made with paperboard. In another embodiment, thecondiment cup holder 400 is molded with plastic or made of another rigid material. In the illustrated embodiment, thefront panel 408 has a centrally located cut-awaywindow 412 extending from the arc down one-half the height of thefront panel 408. The cut-awaywindow 412 is of such a size as to leave a portion of thefront panel 408 on either side of the cut-awaywindow 412 to secure thecondiment cup 100 when installed. - In the illustrated embodiment, the front side of both the front 408 and rear 404 walls have a surface, or area, suitable for printing indicia 202-C, 202-D, such as product or customer branding, slogans, logos or other figures. The indicia 202-C on the front of the
rear wall 404 is visible when theholder 400 is empty. The location of the indicia 202-C is suitable for displaying a message to refill theholder 400 and identifying where to obtain replacements. The indicia 202-D visible on thefront panel 408 of theholder 400 is visible at all times. The location of the indicia 202-D is suitable for displaying an advertising message that is readily visible whenever a user removes acondiment cup 100′ from theholder 400. -
FIG. 5 illustrates a rear perspective view of thecondiment cup holder 400. Thecondiment cup holder 400 is removably attachable, in the illustrated embodiment, by a strip ofadhesive tape 504 attached to the rear side of therear panel 404. Theadhesive strip 504 has a lower portion attached to theholder 400 and having an outer adhesion surface that is covered by aremovable film 502 that is removable by the user when it is desirable to affix thecondiment cup holder 400 to a surface, such as the dash of an automobile. Theadhesive tape 504 has an upper portion, or tab, 506 that has no adhesive on its front and rear surfaces. Theupper portion 506 extends above the top of theholder 400 and provides a gripping member for pulling theholder 400 away from the surface it is attached to. - The rear side of the
rear panel 404 has a surface, or area, suitable for printing indicia 202-E such as product or customer branding, slogans, logos or other figures. -
FIG. 6 illustrates a plan view of aunitary blank 600 of sheet material for forming thecondiment cup 100. The unitary blank 600 is sized and configured to form thecondiment cup 100, which has two sides, the inside and the outside. The side shown inFIG. 6 is the outside. The unitary blank 600, in the illustrated embodiment, is cut from flat sheet stock in the shape of a circular sector. Sixcircular sector regions lines region - The fold lines 206, 606, 608, 612, 614, in one embodiment, are lines of weakening formed in the sheet of the blank 600. The lines of weakening are hinges about which the
regions condiment cup 100 by creating stress concentrations that will cause bending to occur along the stress concentrations when an outside force is applied. The fold lines 206, 606, 608, 612, 614 form hinges about whichadjacent walls adjacent walls adjacent wall fold line 206 joins thefront walls fold line 608 acts as the first hinge when thecondiment cup 100 is in itscollapsed state 100′ joining afront wall 208 to aback wall 216. Anotherfold line 612 acts as the second hinge when thecondiment cup 100 is in itscollapsed state 100′ joining the otherfront wall 210 to aback wall 212. Anotherfold line 614 joins thecentral back wall 214 to anadjacent back wall 212. Anotherfold line 606 joins theother back wall 216 to thepanel 310. Theback wall 214 includes theregions regions - With the
condiment cup 100′ in its collapsed state, thefold lines regions regions other fold lines collapsed configuration 100′. With thecondiment cup 100 in its expanded state, thefold lines cup 100 has a shape of an inverted pentagonal pyramid. In other embodiments, the number ofwalls - In the illustrated embodiment, the apex, or tip, 302 of the blank 600 is formed at the convergence of the vertices of the
regions transverse fold 218 is shown in the flat form inFIG. 6 . In one embodiment, thetransverse fold 218 is defined by a line of weakening formed in the unitary blank 600. After the blank 600 is formed into the collapsed state of thecondiment cup 100′, the portion between thetransverse fold 218 and thetip 302 is folded and secured to theback wall 214. With thetip 302 folded, thecondiment cup 100 has the shape of a truncated, inverted pyramid. - The
rounded notch 204 is created by cutting away an area from the unitary blank 600. In the illustrated embodiment, thecondiment cup 100 is assembled in at least two steps where the twoend regions 214 b, 312 are attached to each other and the apex, or tip, 302 is folded along thetransverse fold 218 and attached to theback wall end region 310 is adhered to the opposite surface of theother end region 214 b. In various embodiments, theend region 310 is inside or outside thereservoir 102 of thecondiment cup 100. -
FIG. 7 illustrates a partial plan view of another embodiment of thetip 302′ of the unitary blank 600′. In one embodiment, thetip 302′ is formed at the convergence of the vertices of tworegions other regions edges 702 that follow the path of thetransverse fold 218 illustrated inFIG. 6 . After the blank 600′ is formed into the collapsed state of thecondiment cup 100′, the portion between thetransverse fold 218′ and thetip 302′ is folded and secured to theback wall 214. The tworegions tip 302′ are the two front walls of thecondiment cup 100′ in the collapsed state. Thetip 302′ is the thickness of one sheet of material, so the overall thickness where thetip 302′ is folded over is thinner than where thetip 302 fromFIG. 6 is folded over. - The
condiment cup 100 andcondiment cup holder 400 includes various functions. The function of collapsing into a substantially planar configuration is implemented, in the illustrated embodiment, byfold lines fold lines condiment cup 100 is collapsed into a flat, two-layer configuration, twowalls walls fold lines - The function of providing for removing the
holder 400 from a surface is implemented, in one embodiment, by anon-adhesive tab 506 extending beyond the body of thecondiment cup holder 400. Thenon-adhesive tab 506 provides an easily accessed member for pulling theadhesive strip 504 and attachedcondiment cup holder 400 from the surface to which it is attached. - The function of containing a condiment is implemented, in one embodiment, by the
reservoir 102 defined by the walls of thepyramid lateral line 218 that are presented when thecondiment cup 100 is deployed. - The function of securing the
condiment cup 100 to another surface is implemented, in one embodiment, by anadhesive strip 304 attached to theback wall 214. The adhesive strip is covered by aremovable film 308 to be removed by the user when it is desirable to affix thecondiment cup 100 to a surface. - The function of providing for
marketing indicia 202 is implemented, in one embodiment, by various flat markable surfaces provided on thecondiment cup 100 and thecondiment cup holder 400. - From the foregoing description, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that a
collapsible condiment cup 100 andholder 400 for storing thecondiment cup 100 has been provided. Thecondiment cup 100 is presented with two states, one state is the deployed, or expanded, state, which, in the illustrated embodiment, is in the form of an inverted, truncated pyramid. The other state is the initial collapsedstate 100′. In thecollapsed state 100′, thecondiment cup 100 is stored in thecondiment cup holder 400. Thecondiment cup holder 400 is configured to hold multiple collapsedcondiment cups 100. - According to one embodiment of the present invention, a
collapsible condiment cup 100 for attaching to afood scoop 104 is provided. Thefood scoop 104 has an outside surface. Thecondiment cup 100 is removably attached to the outside surface of the food scoop, in one embodiment, by double-sided tape 304. Thecondiment cup 100, in its deployed state, is an inverted, truncated pyramid forming areservoir 102 for condiments. The walls of thepyramid condiment cup 100 are, in one embodiment, made from a single sheet ofrigid paperboard 600. When thecondiment cup 100′ is in the collapsed state, thecondiment cup 100′ is the thickness of two sheets of the paperboard except for a small section where the sheets forming theback wall 214 overlap. Deployment of thecondiment cup 100, in one embodiment, is facilitated by anotch 204. The five walls of thepyramid condiment cup 100 are developed, in one embodiment, by bending the paperboard along preformedfold lines pyramid 302. - The
condiment cup 100′ is stored in its collapsed state in acondiment cup holder 400 configured to hold multiple collapsedcondiment cups 100′. Thecondiment cup holder 400, in one embodiment, is removably attachable to another planar surface. Thecondiment cup holder 400, in one embodiment, is made removably attachable by anadhesive strip 304. In one such embodiment, theadhesive strip 304 has an integralnon-adhesive tab 506 extending beyond the body of thecondiment cup holder 400 to facilitate removal of thecondiment cup holder 400 from the surface to which it is attached. - While the present invention has been illustrated by description of several embodiments and while the illustrative embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of applicant's general inventive concept.
Claims (20)
1. An apparatus for receiving and dispensing a condiment, said apparatus comprising:
a condiment cup having a plurality of walls, said condiment cup having a collapsed state and an expanded state, said condiment cup having a substantially planar configuration when in said collapsed state, said condiment cup defining a reservoir for receiving a condiment when said condiment cup is in said expanded state, said reservoir having an opening at a top and a closed bottom, said reservoir tapering down from said top to said closed bottom; and
a holder dimensioned to receive said condiment cup when in said collapsed state, said holder having an open bottom through which a portion of said received condiment cup protrudes, said holder having a back wall attachable to another planar surface.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of walls form an inverted pyramid when said condiment cup is in said expanded state.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of walls form an inverted, irregular pentagonal pyramid when said condiment cup is in said expanded state.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein adjacent ones of said plurality of walls are hingedly connected.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of walls includes a back wall, said back wall having an outside surface that is substantially planar, and further including an adhesive disposed on said outside surface, said adhesive having a removable sheet whereby said condiment cup is attachable to another planar surface when said removable sheet is removed.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of walls include a pair of front panels, said pair of front panels having a notch adjacent said top.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 further including an area on one of said plurality of walls, said area having indicia printed within said area.
8. An apparatus for receiving and dispensing a condiment, said apparatus comprising:
a plurality of walls hingedly connected, each of said plurality of walls being substantially rigid, said plurality of walls having a collapsed state and an expanded state,
said plurality of walls having a flat configuration with two, substantially planar outer surfaces when said plurality of walls are in said collapsed state,
said plurality of walls defining a reservoir for receiving the condiment when said plurality of walls are in said expanded state, said reservoir having an opening at a top and a closed bottom, said reservoir tapering down from said top to said closed bottom; and
one of said plurality of walls being attachable to a planar surface.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said plurality of walls in said expanded configuration define an inverted pyramid.
10. The apparatus of claim 8 further including a notch in one of said plurality of walls adjacent said top of said reservoir, whereby said notch aids in separating said plurality of walls to achieve said expanded state from said collapsed state.
11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said one of said plurality of walls being attachable to a planar surface includes an adhesive disposed on an outside surface of said one of said plurality of walls, said adhesive having a removable sheet whereby said one of said plurality of walls is attachable to said planar surface when said removable sheet is removed from said adhesive.
12. The apparatus of claim 8 further including an area on one of said plurality of walls, said area having indicia printed within said area.
13. The apparatus of claim 8 further including a holder dimensioned to receive and hold said plurality of walls when in said collapsed state, said holder having an open bottom through which a portion of said received plurality of walls protrudes, said holder having a back wall attachable to another planar surface.
14. An apparatus for receiving and dispensing a condiment, said apparatus comprising:
a back wall being substantially planar;
a first rear side wall being substantially planar, said first rear side wall being hingedly connected to said back wall;
a first front wall being substantially planar, said first front wall being hingedly connected to said first rear side wall;
a second front wall being substantially planar, said second front wall being hingedly connected to said first front wall; and
a second rear side wall being substantially planar, said second rear side wall being hingedly connected to said second front wall, said second rear wall being hingedly connected to said back wall,
said back wall, said first and second rear side walls, and said first and second front walls having a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, said collapsed configuration having a substantially planar shape, and said expanded configuration with said back wall, said first and second rear side walls, and said first and second front walls defining a reservoir having a substantially inverted pyramid-shape.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said back wall and said first and second rear side walls are substantially congruent to said first and said second front walls when said apparatus is in said collapsed configuration.
16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein a tip of each of said back wall, said first and second rear side walls, and said first and second front walls is folded to form a transverse edge.
17. The apparatus of claim 14 further including a notch in said first front wall and said second front wall adjacent a top of said reservoir.
18. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said back wall has an outside surface, an adhesive is disposed on said outside surface, and said adhesive having a removable sheet whereby said back wall is attachable to another planar surface when said removable sheet is removed from said adhesive.
19. The apparatus of claim 14 further including an area on an outside surface of said first and second front walls, said area having indicia printed within said area.
20. The apparatus of claim 14 further including a holder dimensioned to receive said back wall, said first and second rear side walls, and said first and second front walls when in said collapsed state, said holder having an open bottom through which a portion of said back wall, said first and second rear side walls, and said first and second front walls protrudes, and said holder having a back surface attachable to another planar surface.
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US11/955,597 US20090152283A1 (en) | 2007-12-13 | 2007-12-13 | Expandable condiment cup and storage system |
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US11/955,597 US20090152283A1 (en) | 2007-12-13 | 2007-12-13 | Expandable condiment cup and storage system |
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Cited By (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20090090710A1 (en) * | 2006-04-17 | 2009-04-09 | Charlotte Nielsen | Attachable Condiment Cup Assembly |
GB2472600A (en) * | 2009-08-11 | 2011-02-16 | Julian Wootton | Condiment holder for portion of chips |
USD801831S1 (en) * | 2016-05-19 | 2017-11-07 | Galligreen Corporation | Food serving container with integral condiment cup |
USD805385S1 (en) * | 2016-12-21 | 2017-12-19 | Koller Enterprises, Inc. | Plastic container |
DE102016125135A1 (en) * | 2016-12-21 | 2018-06-21 | ADDIO Blue & Green Energy GmbH & Co. KG | Disposable container for the sale of ready-to-eat food, container system and folded sheet for the production of a disposable container |
USD977962S1 (en) * | 2019-04-12 | 2023-02-14 | Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.P.A. | Hinged-lid packet |
USD982388S1 (en) | 2022-06-10 | 2023-04-04 | Sctray Company | Unitary food container with condiment tray |
KR102592421B1 (en) * | 2023-05-19 | 2023-10-23 | 박수남 | container for cup holder |
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Cited By (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20090090710A1 (en) * | 2006-04-17 | 2009-04-09 | Charlotte Nielsen | Attachable Condiment Cup Assembly |
GB2472600A (en) * | 2009-08-11 | 2011-02-16 | Julian Wootton | Condiment holder for portion of chips |
USD801831S1 (en) * | 2016-05-19 | 2017-11-07 | Galligreen Corporation | Food serving container with integral condiment cup |
USD805385S1 (en) * | 2016-12-21 | 2017-12-19 | Koller Enterprises, Inc. | Plastic container |
DE102016125135A1 (en) * | 2016-12-21 | 2018-06-21 | ADDIO Blue & Green Energy GmbH & Co. KG | Disposable container for the sale of ready-to-eat food, container system and folded sheet for the production of a disposable container |
USD977962S1 (en) * | 2019-04-12 | 2023-02-14 | Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.P.A. | Hinged-lid packet |
USD982388S1 (en) | 2022-06-10 | 2023-04-04 | Sctray Company | Unitary food container with condiment tray |
KR102592421B1 (en) * | 2023-05-19 | 2023-10-23 | 박수남 | container for cup holder |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: STEINMARK INC., TENNESSEE Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:PEGRAM, ROY;MATHISEN, STEINAR;REEL/FRAME:020241/0286 Effective date: 20071206 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |