TITLE: CONDIMENT CUP
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
This invention relates generally to condiment cups, and more particularly to a condiment
cup having a sealed lid.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART:
There is a need in the marketplace for a secondary container that can be readily attached
to a storage container. An example of a market for such a product is in the fast food
industry. In the sale of fast food, it is desirable to be able to dispense condiments such as
ketchup in a condiment cup that can be readily carried with their associated foods, such as
french-fries.
It is highly desirable that the condiment cup be securely attachable to the storage container
so as to prevent spillage; and it is also desirable that the containers be inexpensive to
manufacture, store, ship, and use. To meet this goal, the container must have an
attachment arm or arms for attaching the condiment cup to the storage container. It is
highly desirable that the condiment cup be constructed so that the attachment arm securely locks onto the storage container.
Garrett, U.S. 2,597,468, teaches a supplementary container for holding cream on the rim
of a coffee cup. The supplementary container includes a hook-shaped member for
mounting the container on the coffee cup, and a positioning rib that is positioned beneath the hook-shaped member for clamping the coffee cup.
Waterston et al., U.S. 5,097,975, teaches a recyclable materials caddy that can be attached
to a waste receptacle. The caddy is constructed of a linear blank of corrugated plastic and includes a metal hangar member that allows the caddy to be mounted on the rim of a
wastebasket.
The prior art teaches various supplementary containers that can be mounted upon another
container or cup. However, the prior art does not teach a container that includes the
features described below. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides further
related advantages as described in the following summary.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention teaches certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to
the objectives described below.
The present invention provides a condiment cup for containing a condiment and for attachment to a storage container sidewall of a storage container. The condiment cup
includes a condiment container for storing the condiment, an attachment arm for attaching
the condiment container to the storage container, and a sealing lid for sealing the opening of the condiment container. The condiment container is typically filled with the
condiment, such as ketchup, sealed with a sealing lid, and then distributed to a consumer.
The consumer then peels off the sealing lid and hangs the condiment container on the
storage container using the attachment arm.
A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a condiment cup having
advantages not taught by the prior art.
Another objective is to provide a condiment cup that is adapted to be filled with a
condiment, sealed with a sealing lid, distributed to a consumer, and then unsealed and
hung on a storage container by an attachment arm, thereby facilitating consumption of the
condiment by the consumer.
A further objective is to distribute the condiment to consumers in an condiment cup that is
economical to produce and easy to use.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the
following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention. In such drawings:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view thereof;
FIGURE 3 is a rear side elevational view thereof;
FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view thereof;
FIGURE 5 is a top plan view thereof;
FIGURE 6 is a bottom plan view thereof;
FIGURE 7 is a perspective view illustrating how a sealing lid is peeled off of a condiment container;
FIGURE 8 is a perspective view illustrating how the condiment container is attached
to a storage container with an attachment arm;
FIGURE 9 is a is a sectional view thereof taken along line 9-9 in Figure 8;
FIGURE 10 is a front elevational view of an alternative embodiment having a second attachment arm adjacent a grip enhancer opposite the attachment arm;
FIGURE 11 is a side elevational view of an alternative embodiment in which the
condiment cup is mounted inside the storage container;
FIGURE 12 is a side elevational view of an alternative embodiment in which the
attachment arm includes a curved spring portion;
FIGURE 13 is a top plan view of an alternative embodiment that includes a divider
sidewall that separates the condiment container into first and second compartments;
FIGURE 14 is a perspective view illustrating a locking button of the attachment arm and a plurality of locking ribs of the grip enhancer;
FIGURE 15 is a sectional view thereof taken along line 15-15 in Figure 14;
FIGURE 16 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment illustrating a condiment cup having a perimeter lip in the shape of a half-circle;
FIGURE 17 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment illustrating a
condiment cup having a perimeter lip in the shape of a triangle; and
FIGURE 18 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment illustrating a
condiment cup having a perimeter lip in the shape of a half-trapezoid;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The above described drawing figures illustrate the invention, a condiment cup 10 for
containing a condiment 16 and for attachment to a storage container sidewall 14 of a
storage container 12. The condiment cup 10 includes a condiment container 20 for storing
the condiment 16, an attachment arm 30 for attaching the condiment container 20 to the
storage container 12, and a sealing lid 40 for sealing the condiment container 20. The
condiment container 20 is typically filled with the condiment 16, such as ketchup, sealed
with a sealing lid 40, and then distributed to patrons of fast food restaurants. The patrons
then peel off the sealing lid 40 and hang the condiment container 20 on the storage
container 12, such as a container of French fries.
As shown in Figs. 1-18, the condiment container 20 has a base 22 and an upwardly
extending sidewall 24 that together define a storage space 26. The upwardly extending
sidewall 24 terminates in a perimeter lip 28 that defines an opening 29 for accessing the
storage space 26. The perimeter lip 28 extends outwardly for bonding the sealing lid 40
onto the condiment container 20, as described below. The opening 29 is shaped and sized
to enable the patron to easily access the condiment 16 in the condiment container 20,
typically by dipping a food product such as French fries into the condiment 16 such as
ketchup. The condiment container 20 is preferably constructed of molded plastic,
although alternative embodiments might be constructed of paperboard or similar material.
The condiment container 20 is preferably generally rectangular in shape; however, as
shown in Figs. 16-18, the condiment container 20 can be constructed of almost any shape, including but not limited to a half-circle, triangular, half-hexagonal, or any other shape,
including round or elliptical. The condiment container 20 can also be conical in shape, as
the base 22 does not necessarily have to be formed as a flat surface.
As shown in Figs. 1-18, the condiment cup 10 further includes an attachment arm 30
extending downwardly from the perimeter lip 28. The attachment arm 30 preferably
includes an outwardly extending portion 32, a downwardly extending portion 34, and ends
at a terminal end 38. The outwardly extending portion 32 and the downwardly extending
portion 34 are at least semi-rigid to support the condiment cup 20 as described. The
outwardly extending portion 32 functions to outwardly space the downwardly extending
portion 34 from the upwardly extending sidewall 24. The attachment arm 30 is preferably
integrally molded with the condiment container 20 and extends far enough downward to
provide a secure anchor point for the condiment cup 10, but not so far as to interfere with
shipping and handling of the condiment cup 10. The attachment arm 30 preferably
extends approximately half of the height of the upwardly extending sidewall 24.
Once the condiment container 20 has been filled with the condiment 16, the sealing lid 40
is attached to the condiment container 20. The sealing lid 40 has a lid perimeter 42 that is
shaped and adapted to be bonded to the perimeter lip 28 such that the sealing lid 40 seals
the opening 29 of the condiment container 20. The sealing lid 40 preferably includes a
pull tab 44 that extends outwardly from the lid perimeter 42 for facilitating the peel-
removal of the sealing lid 40 from the condiment container 20. The sealing lid 40 is
preferably constructed of a thin material such as foil or plastic. The lid perimeter 42 of
the sealing lid 40 is preferably bonded to the perimeter lip 28, either with an adhesive or a
heat welding, although those skilled in the art may devise other equivalent mechanisms
for bonding the two surfaces, and these alternatives should be considered within the scope
of the claimed invention.
In use, the patron of a fast food restaurant is given the condiment cup 10 with their meal.
For example, when the patron orders French fries, he or she is given a condiment cup 10
that contains ketchup. This of course will vary depending upon the restaurant. A
Mexican restaurant might serve nachos, in which case the condiment cup 10 might be
filled with salsa or cheese. A chicken restaurant might serve chicken with a condiment
cup 10 full of barbeque sauce. Since the condiment cup 10 can hold a large amount of
condiment 16, a single container is all that is required, rather than a large number of small
packets of the condiment. The condiment cup 10 reduces waste of the condiment by
including the condiment in a single container, rather than dispensing large numbers of
small packets
As shown in Fig. 7, when the patron is ready to consume the meal, he or she simply peels
the sealing lid 40 from the condiment container 20 to expose the condiment 16. The
patron then can hang the condiment container 20 on the storage container sidewall 14 of
the storage container 12, as shown in Fig. 8, and dip the food through the opening 29 of
the condiment container 20 and into the condiment 16. The condiment cup 10 provides a
handy method of dispensing the condiment 16 while the patron eats his or her meal.
As shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 6-10, the condiment cup 10 preferably includes at least one grip
enhancer 50 extending outwardly from the upwardly extending sidewall 24 adjacent the
attachment arm 30. The at least one grip enhancer 50 provides an outwardly extending
sidewall 52 that supports a grip surface 54. The outwardly extending sidewall 52 is
preferably integral with the upwardly extending sidewall 24 and extends outwardly from
the upwardly extending sidewall 24 approximately the same distance as the outwardly
extending portion 32 of the attachment arm 30. For purposes of this application, when we
say that the outwardly extending sidewall 52 extends outwardly from the upwardly
extending sidewall 24 approximately the same distance as the outwardly extending
portion 32 of the attachment arm 30, this is intended to include the situation when the
outwardly extending sidewall 52 extends outwardly from the upwardly extending sidewall
24 a distance that is slightly less than the outwardly extending portion 32 of the
attachment arm 30 - as long as the relationship between the outwardly extending sidewall
52 and the attachment arm 30 is functional to grip the storage container sidewall 14.
The grip surface 54 is preferably an elongate surface that is generally parallel to the
attachment arm 30. The grip surface 54 is vertically aligned with and horizontally spaced
from the attachment arm 30. For purposes of this application, vertically aligned means
that at least a portion of the grip surface 54 is the same distance from the base 22 as at
least a portion of the attachment arm 30; and specifically, that a top edge 56 of the grip
surface 54 is higher than a terminal end 38 of the attachment arm 30. In the preferred
embodiment, the grip surface 54 is positioned between the outwardly extending portion
32 of the attachment arm 30 and the terminal end 38. As shown in Fig. 9, the grip surface
54 is adapted to cooperate with the attachment arm 30 to clamp the storage container
sidewall 14 and thereby support the condiment cup 10 on the storage container sidewall
14.
In a first embodiment, as shown in Fig. 1 , the at least one grip enhancer 50 includes two
grip enhancers 50, each of the two grip enhancers 50 being horizontally spaced on either
side of the attachment arm 30. The grip surface 54 of the grip enhancers 50 are adapted to
cooperate with the attachment arm 30 to clamp the storage container sidewall 14 and
thereby support the condiment cup 10 on the storage container sidewall 14.
In a second embodiment, as shown in Fig. 10, the condiment cup 10 includes a second
attachment arm 60 and a single grip enhancer 50. The grip enhancer 50 is positioned
between the attachment arm 30 and the second attachment arm 60. The grip surface 54 of
the grip enhancer 50 is adapted to cooperate with the attachment arm 30 and the second
attachment arm 60 to clamp the storage container sidewall 14 and thereby support the
condiment cup 10 on the storage container sidewall 14.
In an alternative embodiment, as shown in Fig. 12, the attachment arm 30 includes a
curved spring portion 36 extending to the terminal end 38 that is outturned away from the
upwardly extending sidewall 24. The attachment arm 30 is preferably constructed of a
resilient material that enables the curved spring portion 36 to bend and accommodate the
storage container sidewall 14 when the terminal end 38 captures the storage container
sidewall 14, the curved spring portion 36 then functioning to bias the attachment arm 30
against the storage container sidewall 14, thereby further enhancing the grip of the
attachment arm 30 against the storage container sidewall 14.
In an alternative embodiment, as shown in Fig. 13, the condiment cup 10 further includes
a divider sidewall 62 that is integral with the base 22 and the upwardly extending sidewall
24 and positioned to separate the storage space 26 into a first compartment 64 and a
second compartment 66. The divider sidewall 62 includes a divider lip 68 that is adapted
to be bonded to the sealing lid 40, thereby sealing the divider sidewall 62 and separating
the first compartment 64 from the second compartment 66. This enables the storage of
both the condiment 16 and a second condiment 18 within the condiment cup 10. For
example, the condiment cup 10 could be used to store ketchup and barbeque sauce, cheese
and salsa, chocolate and sprinkles, or any number of combinations of condiments.
In an alternative embodiment, as shown in Figs. 14 and 15, the condiment cup 10 further
includes a locking button 70 or buttons extending from an inner surface of the attachment
arm 30. The locking button 70 functions to increase the strength of the connection
between the condiment cup 10 and the storage container sidewall 14. The connection can
be especially strong if the storage container sidewall 14 includes a dimple that matches
the locking button 70.
In an alternative embodiment, as shown in Figs. 10, 14, and 15, the condiment cup 10
further includes a plurality of locking ribs 74 extending from the grip surface 54 of the at
least one grip enhancer 50. The plurality of locking ribs 74 further function to increase
the strength of the grip of the at least one grip enhancer 50 upon the storage container
sidewall 14.
The condiment container 20 preferably has a base 22 that is angled, as shown in Figs. 3
and 15, to facilitate dipping the food into the condiment 16. In one embodiment, as
shown in Fig. 12, the condiment cup 10 further includes at least one support leg 76
extending downwardly from the base 22 of the condiment container 20. The at least one
support leg 76 is adapted to cooperate with the base 22 to support the condiment container
20 in an upright orientation when the condiment container 20 is placed upon a surface.
In an alternative embodiment, as shown in Fig. 15, the base 22 is planar and adapted to
support the condiment cup 10 on a surface such as a table, in addition to attaching the
condiment cup 10 onto the storage container sidewall 14.
While the invention has been described with reference to at least one preferred
embodiment, it is to be clearly understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is
not limited thereto. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be interpreted only in conjunction with the appended claims.