Condiment receptacle for food container

Abstract

A condiment receptacle for use with a food container configured to hold a food item in the container's food chamber. The condiment receptacle attaches to or is integral with one of the container's upstanding sidewalls. The condiment receptacle comprises a front panel that extends outward from the sidewall by a first side panel and a second side panel when the receptacle is placed in the open position to define a condiment chamber for receiving a quantity of condiment therein. Each side panel has one or more fold lines to collapse the receptacle generally against the sidewall to place the receptacle in its closed position for transport and storage of the food container, which is also configured to collapse substantially flat. The condiment receptacle can also include a back panel that attaches to the sidewall with an adhesive material and/or a bottom panel, each of which further define the condiment chamber.

1 . A condiment receptacle for use with a food container having one or more upstanding sidewalls, said condiment receptacle comprising:
 a front panel;   a first side panel attached to or integral with said front panel; and   a second side panel attached to or integral with said front panel in spaced apart relation to said first side panel, each of said first side panel and said second side panel configured to extend said front panel outward from one of said one or more upstanding sidewalls to place said condiment receptacle in an open position and configured to collapse so as to place said condiment receptacle in a closed position, said front panel, said first side panel and said second side panel defining a condiment chamber for receiving a condiment therein when said condiment receptacle is in said open position, said condiment chamber open at an upper end and closed at a lower end thereof.   
   
   
       2 . The condiment receptacle according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said first side panel and said second side panel comprise means for folding located thereon, said folding means configured to substantially fold each of said first side panel and said second side panel so as to place said condiment receptacle substantially flat against said sidewall. 
   
   
       3 . The condiment receptacle according to  claim 2 , wherein said folding means is one or more fold lines on each of said first side panel and said second side panel. 
   
   
       4 . The condiment receptacle according to  claim 3 , wherein said folding means comprises a plurality of fold lines on each of said first side panel and said second side panel, said plurality of fold lines configured to substantially accordion said first side panel and said second side panel. 
   
   
       5 . The condiment receptacle according to  claim 1  further comprising a back panel attached to or integral with each of said first side panel and said second side panel opposite said front panel, said back panel attached to said sidewall and configured to further define said condiment chamber when said condiment receptacle is in said open position. 
   
   
       6 . The condiment receptacle according to  claim 5 , wherein said front panel generally abuts said back panel when said condiment receptacle is in said closed position. 
   
   
       7 . The condiment receptacle according to  claim 5  further comprising an adhesive material disposed between said back panel and said sidewall, said adhesive material configured to securely attach said back panel to said sidewall. 
   
   
       8 . The condiment receptacle according to  claim 5  further comprising a bottom panel attached to or integral with each of said front panel, said first side panel, said second side panel and said back panel to further define said condiment chamber. 
   
   
       9 . The condiment receptacle according to  claim 8 , wherein said bottom panel comprises one or more bottom fold lines, said bottom fold lines configured to fold said bottom panel when said condiment receptacle is placed in said closed position. 
   
   
       10 . The condiment receptacle according to  claim 1  further comprising a pair of back members, one of said back members attached to said first side panel and the other of said back members attached to said second side panel, each of said back members attached to said sidewall. 
   
   
       11 . The condiment receptacle according to  claim 1  further comprising a bottom panel attached to or integral with each of said front panel, said first side panel and said second side panel to further define said condiment chamber. 
   
   
       12 . The condiment receptacle according to  claim 11 , wherein said bottom panel comprises one or more bottom fold lines, said bottom fold lines configured to fold said bottom panel when said condiment receptacle is placed in said closed position. 
   
   
       13 . The condiment receptacle according to  claim 1 , wherein said front panel has a top edge and a bottom edge, said bottom edge of said front panel in abutting relation to said sidewall when said condiment receptacle is in said open condition and said closed condition, an outward edge of each of said first side panel and said second side panel extending generally downwardly and inwardly from said top edge toward said bottom edge at said sidewall. 
   
   
       14 . A condiment receptacle for use with a food container having one or more upstanding sidewalls, said condiment receptacle comprising:
 a front panel;   a first side panel attached to or integral with said front panel, said first side panel having one or more fold lines;   a second side panel attached to or integral with said front panel in spaced apart relation to said first side panel, said second side panel having one or more fold lines, each of said first side panel and said second side panel configured to extend said front panel outward from one of said one or more upstanding sidewalls to place said condiment receptacle in an open position and configured to collapse so as to place said condiment receptacle in a closed position;   a back panel attached to or integral with each of said first side panel and said second side panel opposite said front panel, said front panel, said first side panel, said second side panel and said back panel defining a condiment chamber for receiving a condiment therein when said condiment receptacle is in said open position, said condiment chamber open at an upper end and closed at a lower end thereof; and   an adhesive material disposed between said back panel and said sidewall, said adhesive material configured to securely attach said back panel to said sidewall.   
   
   
       15 . The condiment receptacle according to  claim 14 , wherein said folding means comprises a plurality of fold lines on each of said first side panel and said second side panel, said plurality of fold lines configured to substantially accordion said first side panel and said second side panel. 
   
   
       16 . The condiment receptacle according to  claim 14  further comprising a bottom panel attached to or integral with each of said front panel, said first side panel, said second side panel and said back panel to further define said condiment chamber, said bottom panel comprising one or more bottom fold lines configured to fold said bottom panel when said condiment receptacle is placed in said closed position. 
   
   
       17 . The condiment receptacle according to  claim 14 , wherein said front panel has a top edge and a bottom edge, said bottom edge of said front panel in abutting relation to said sidewall when said condiment receptacle is in said open condition and said closed condition, the outward edge of each of said first side panel and said second side panel extending generally downwardly and inwardly from said top edge toward said bottom edge at said sidewall. 
   
   
       18 . A food container for holding a food item, comprising:
 a plurality of upstanding sidewalls;   a bottom wall attached to at least two of said upstanding sidewalls to define a food chamber open at an upper end and substantially closed at a lower end thereof, said food container configured to lay substantially flat when said food chamber is not utilized to hold said food item; and   a condiment receptacle attached to one of said one or more sidewalls, said condiment receptacle comprising a front panel, a first side panel attached to or integral with said front panel and a second side panel attached to or integral with said front panel in spaced apart relation to said first side panel, each of said first side panel and said second side panel having at least one fold line configured to extend said front panel outward from said sidewall to place said condiment receptacle in an open position and configured to collapse so as to place said condiment receptacle in a closed position, said front panel, said first side panel and said second side panel defining a condiment chamber for receiving a condiment therein when said condiment receptacle is in said open position, said condiment chamber open at an upper end and closed at a lower end thereof.   
   
   
       19 . The condiment receptacle according to  claim 18 , wherein said condiment receptacle further comprises a back panel and an adhesive material disposed between said back panel and said sidewall, said back panel attached to or integral with each of said first side panel and said second side panel opposite said front panel and configured to further define said condiment chamber when said condiment receptacle is in said open position, said adhesive material configured to securely attach said back panel to said sidewall. 
   
   
       20 . The condiment receptacle according to  claim 18 , wherein said condiment receptacle further comprises a bottom panel attached to or integral with each of said front panel, said first side panel, said second side panel and said back panel to further define said condiment chamber, said bottom panel comprising one or more bottom fold lines configured to fold said bottom panel when said condiment receptacle is placed in said closed position.