Clipped condiment container

Abstract

A condiment container having a receptacle, a clip, a pivot to vary the angle between the receptacle and the clip and a stop member to fix the angle between the receptacle and the clip in a user determinable position. The condiment container can be clipped to a food container having virtually any shape and/or configuration while maintaining the receptacle in a vertical orientation.

1 . A condiment container comprising a receptacle, a clip, a pivot and a stop member, said pivot placed intermediate the receptacle and the clip to vary the angle between the receptacle and the clip and wherein the stop fixes the angle between the receptacle and the clip. 
     
     
         2 . The condiment container of  claim 1  wherein the pivot comprises a first pivot element and a second pivot element. 
     
     
         3 . The condiment container of  claim 2  wherein the first pivot element is associated with the receptacle and the second pivot element is associated with the clip. 
     
     
         4 . The condiment container of  claim 2  wherein the first pivot element comprises at least a portion of a toothed wheel and the second pivot element comprises one of a receiver for receiving an axel and an axle on which the toothed wheel rotates. 
     
     
         5 . The condiment container of  claim 4  wherein the stop member comprises a detent for engaging the space between adjacent teeth on the toothed wheel. 
     
     
         6 . The condiment container of  claim 5  wherein the detent is formed on a leaf spring to permit the detent to be moved and the toothed wheel to be rotated. 
     
     
         7 . The condiment container of  claim 2  wherein the first pivot element comprises one or more cylindrical extensions from the receptacle and the second pivot element comprises one or more circular apertures for receiving the one or more cylindrical extensions. 
     
     
         8 . The condiment container of  claim 7  wherein the cylindrical extensions have a mushroom head for retaining the cylindrical extensions on the circular apertures. 
     
     
         9 . The condiment container of  claim 8  wherein the circular apertures comprise a step with a larger circumference on the side opposite the receptacle for receiving the mushroom end. 
     
     
         10 . The condiment container of  claim 1  wherein the stop member comprises a contact face which is moved from a release position to a locked position, wherein when in the locked position the contact face of the stop member is advanced into frictional engagement with a portion of at least one of the receptacle and the clip. 
     
     
         11 . The condiment container of  claim 10  further comprising a cammed lock for advancing the contact face of the stop member into frictional engagement with at least one of the receptacle and the clip. 
     
     
         12 . The condiment container of  claim 1  wherein the clip comprises two clip arms with a fulcrum there between. 
     
     
         13 . The condiment container of  claim 12  where the clip further comprises a spring for forcing first ends of the spring arms into a closed relation. 
     
     
         14 . The condiment container of  claim 1  wherein the clip comprises clip arms with pads at first ends of clip arms. 
     
     
         15 . The condiment container of  claim 14  wherein the pads are formed of an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         16 . The condiment container of  claim 15  wherein the pads are formed of an elastomeric material comprising silicone. 
     
     
         17 . The condiment container of  claim 15  wherein the pads are ribbed.