Condiment holder

Abstract

A container configured to hold condiments or other items on a table that has an umbrella, with the container configured to be secured around the shaft of the umbrella.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A container for holding items, said container to be used on a table with an umbrella, said umbrella having a shaft with an outside diameter, said table having an aperture through which the shaft of the umbrella is placed, said container comprising
 a frame, said frame having a substantially closed bottom and a substantially opened top, said frame formed of a first portion and a second portion, with the frame having an open mode whereby the first portion of the frame and the second portion of the frame are at least partially separable from each other, and the frame having a closed mode whereby the first portion of the frame and the second portion of the frame are adjacent and in close proximity to each other;   a plurality of compartments, with at least one of said compartments located within the first portion of the frame and at least one other of said compartments located within the second portion of the frame; and   a central aperture, said central aperture formed when the frame is in closed mode, said central aperture having an inside diameter just slightly larger than the outside diameter of the shaft of the umbrella;   whereby the shaft of the umbrella is accommodated within said central aperture of the container by placing the frame in open mode, positioning the frame around the shaft of the umbrella, then placing the frame in closed mode.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein
 the first portion of the frame comprises a first connection point and a second connection point, and 
 the second portion of the frame comprises a first connection point and a second connection point, 
 with the first connection point of the first portion of the frame corresponding to and aligned with the first connection point of the second portion of the frame when the frame is in closed mode, and the second connection point of the first portion of the frame corresponding to and aligned with the second connection point of the second portion of the frame when the frame is in closed mode. 
 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2  wherein the first connection point of the first portion of the frame is hingedly connected to the first connection point of the second portion of the frame. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3  wherein the second connection point of the first portion of the frame releasably engages with the second connection point of the second portion of the frame,
 whereby when the second connection point of the first portion of the frame is engaged with the second connection point of the second portion of the frame the first portion of the frame is secured to the second portion of the frame and the frame is in closed mode, and 
 when the second connection point of the first portion of the frame is released from the second connection point of the second portion of the frame the first portion of the frame is positioned at least partially away from the second portion of the frame and the frame is in open mode. 
 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4  further comprising a securing mechanism, wherein a first portion of the securing mechanism is attached to the first portion of the frame at the second connection point of the first portion of the frame, and a second portion of the securing mechanism is attached to the second portion of the frame at the second connection point of the second portion of the frame, whereby the securing mechanism is configured to engage and release. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5  wherein the securing mechanism is a latch. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 5  wherein the securing mechanism is comprised of hook and loop material. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 5  wherein the securing mechanism is comprised of a magnet and metallic material. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 5  wherein the securing mechanism is comprised of one or more pegs and a like number of corresponding holes, each said hole configured to receive its corresponding peg, whereby each peg is retained within its corresponding hole by frictional forces. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 2  wherein
 the first connection point of the first portion of the frame releasably engages with the first connection point of the second portion of the frame, and 
 the second connection point of the first portion of the frame releasably engages with the second connection point of the second portion of the frame, 
 whereby when the first connection point of the first portion of the frame is engaged with the first connection point of the second portion of the frame and the second connection point of the first portion of the frame is engaged with the second connection point of the second portion of the frame the first portion of the frame is secured to the second portion of the frame and the frame is in closed mode, and 
 when the first connection point of the first portion of the frame is released from the first connection point of the second portion of the frame and the second connection point of the first portion of the frame is released from the second connection point of the second portion of the frame the first portion of the frame is separable from the second portion of the frame and the frame is in open mode. 
 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 10  further comprising a first securing mechanism and a second securing mechanism, wherein
 a first portion of the first securing mechanism is attached to the first portion of the frame at the first connection point of the first portion of the frame and a second portion of the first securing mechanism is attached to the second portion of the frame at the first connection point of the second portion of the frame, and 
 a first portion of the second securing mechanism is attached to the first portion of the frame at the second connection point of the first portion of the frame and a second portion of the second securing mechanism is attached to the second portion of the frame at the second connection point of the second portion of the frame, 
 whereby the first securing mechanism is configured to engage and release and the second securing mechanism is configured to engage and release. 
 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 11  wherein the first securing mechanism is a latch, and the second securing mechanism is a latch. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 11  wherein the first securing mechanism is comprised of hook and loop material, and the second securing mechanism is comprised of hook and loop material. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 11  wherein
 the first portion of the first securing mechanism is a magnet and the second portion of the first securing mechanism is comprised of magnetically attractive material, and 
 the first portion of the second securing mechanism is a magnet and the second portion of the second securing mechanism is comprised of magnetically attractive material. 
 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 11  wherein
 the first portion of the first securing mechanism is one or more pegs and the second portion of the first securing mechanism is a like number of corresponding holes, each said hole of the first securing mechanism configured to receive its corresponding peg, 
 the first portion of the second securing mechanism is one or more pegs and the second portion of the second securing mechanism is a like number of corresponding holes, each said hole of the second securing mechanism configured to receive its corresponding peg, 
 whereby each peg of the first securing mechanism is retained within its corresponding hole by frictional forces and each peg of the second securing mechanism is retained within its corresponding hole by frictional forces. 
 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the bottom of the frame is covered with a felt material. 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the container further comprises a handle, said handle being attached to a lateral side of the frame. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of compartments is configured to have substantially the same dimensions as each other of the plurality of compartments. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the plurality of compartments is configured to have different dimensions from at least one other of the plurality of compartments. 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the frame is substantially rectangular. 
     
     
         21 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the frame is substantially square. 
     
     
         22 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the frame is substantially circular.