Expandable condiment cup and storage system

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.

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.