Condiment holder and method of use

Abstract

A condiment holder includes a storage member that provides storage for disposable cups and trash bags. A mounting element connected to the storage member enables it to be removably mounted to a substantially vertical surface. One end has a lid with an opening therein sized to receive a disposable cup inserted into the opening. The lid when opened provides access to the cups. A slit in a sidewall of the storage member is adapted to receive a marginal lip of a condiment package retainer. The holder may be used as an advertising media by displaying marks thereon.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This application claims the benefit under 35 USC 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/269,929, entitled “Sauce Holder for Autos,” filed Jul. 1, 2009, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/271,139, entitled “Holder for Plastic Bag Dispenser, Pleated Cups, Sauces, for Autos,” filed Jul. 17, 2009. These related applications are incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this application. If any conflict arises between the disclosure of the invention in this utility application and that in the related provisional applications, the disclosure in this utility application shall govern. Moreover, any and all U.S. patents, U.S. patent applications, and other documents, hard copy or electronic, cited or referred to in this application are incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this application.

DEFINITIONS

The words “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” and “including,” and other forms thereof, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items, or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items.

The word “rectangular” includes square.

The words “substantially” and “essentially” have equivalent meanings

The word “mark” includes trademarks and service marks.

BACKGROUND

Fast foods commonly sold at many outlets use condiments such as, for example, sauces, dressings, mustard, salsa, catsup. etc. These condiments sometimes come in small packages of different configurations or sometimes are dispensed from a large storage container. Particularly when riding in an automotive vehicle, the condiments are simply placed in a bag with the food order and when opened in the vehicle are often spilled, especially when children are eating while the vehicle is being driven. It is highly desirable to have a condiment holder that would be used to hold condiments or the small packages of condiments in a manner that minimizes spillage and would be convenient and even fun for children to use. It would also be desirable to keep storage bags for trash and cleanser for washing the hands and face of children or adults riding in the vehicle.

SUMMARY

My condiment holder and method have one or more of the features depicted in the embodiments discussed in the section entitled “DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS.” The claims that follow define my CONDIMENT holder and method of use, distinguishing them from the prior art; however, without limiting the scope of my condiment holder and method of use as expressed by these claims, in general terms, some, but not necessarily all, of their features are:

One, my condiment holder includes a storage member that is adapted to store disposable cups and trash bags. A mounting element connected to the storage member enables the storage member to be removably mounted to a substantially vertical surface. When so mounted the storage member is vertically oriented, and the stored disposable cups are above the stored trash bags. The storage member has a lid with an opening therein sized to receive an individual disposable cup inserted into the opening. The lid upon being opened provides access to the stored disposable cups. A slit in a sidewall of the storage member is adapted to receive a marginal lip of a condiment package retainer adapted to hold an opened condiment package.

Two, the storage member may be a molded plastic structure that has two hollow sections, one for storing the disposable cups and the other for storing the trash bags. In one embodiment, the two sections are detachably connected together, in another embodiment the sections are integral to provide a single unitary structure. These sections may be cylindrical and aligned along a common centerline and have substantially the same diameter. The lid may be hinged and is at the top when the storage member is mounted to a substantially vertical surface. The second section may include an aperture enabling an individual bag to be withdrawn through the aperture from the second section. The first section may have a lower end with a first connector and the second section may have an upper end with a second connector. These first and second connectors are adapted to lock together upon engaging and rotating in one direction and disengaging upon rotating in the opposite direction. The mounting element may comprises at least one suction cup or the mounting element may comprise a two-component connector, one component affixed to the member and the other component adapted to be affixed to the vertical surface, or it may comprises both a suction cup and a two-component connector.

Three, the opening in the lid may have adjacent thereto a pair of spaced apart gripper elements that engage a rim of a cup inserted into the opening. The cup is inserted into the opening to a depth that allows a rim of the cup to protrude from the opening and be held by the gripper elements. The gripper elements releaseably hold the cup. A detachably figurine may be inserted in the opening and held in position by the gripper elements until the figurine is manually removed when a cup is to be inserted in the opening. My condiment holder may include a dispenser for a hand cleanser, and for example, this dispenser may be inserted in the opening and held in position by the gripper elements until removed for use. My condiment holder may have at least a portion thereof made of a luminous material.

My method includes holding in a moving vehicle condiments, trash bags, and disposable cups for condiments. It comprises the steps of

(a) detachably mounting in a substantially upright orientation on a substantially vertical interior surface of the vehicle a storage member retaining a plurality of individual trash bags and a plurality of individual disposable cups,

the storage member having

• • an open upper top into which an individual disposable cup is inserted during use and
  • attachment structure that enables an opened condiment package to be securely and removably attached to the exterior of the storage member that is mounted to the vertical interior surface of the vehicle,

(b) inserting a cup removed from the storage member and filled with a condiment into the open top either before or after detachably mounting the storage member to the vertical interior surface of the vehicle, and

(c) attaching the attachment structure to the exterior of the storage member either before or after detachably mounting the storage member to the vertical interior surface of the vehicle.

After use, the cup in the open top and the opened condiment package are removed from the storage member and discarded. My condiment holder may be used as an advertising media and may display a mark on a portion of my condiment holder. The mark may be in the form of a figurine detachable mounted to a top of the condiment holder. Such an advertising media is ideal for a fast food restaurant and comprises hanging my condiment holder inside a moving vehicle that displays a mark of the fast food restaurant. It is also suitable for a vehicle renting company. Thus my advertising method comprises hanging my condiment holder inside a moving vehicle that displays a mark advertising a product or service.

These features are not listed in any rank order nor is this list intended to be exhaustive.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Some embodiments of my condiment holder and method are discussed in detail in connection with the accompanying drawing, which is for illustrative purposes only. This drawing includes the following figures (Figs.), with like numerals indicating like parts:

FIG. 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of one embodiment of my condiment holder.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the embodiment of my condiment holder shown in FIG. 1 fully assembled.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of my condiment holder.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view with sections broken away of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 attached to a vertical surface only by suction cups.

FIG. 3A is a side elevational view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 attached to a vertical surface by suction cups and additionally by a two-component attachment mechanism.

FIG. 4 is another exploded perspective view of the embodiment of my condiment holder shown in FIG. 2 with a condiment package retainer mounted on a sidewall of my condiment holder.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view similar to that of FIG. 2 with a section broken away.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view similar to that of FIG. 5 showing disposable cups stored within the holder.

FIG. 7 is another exploded perspective view of the embodiment of my condiment holder shown in FIG. 2 with a disposable cup removed from storage and positioned within a n opening in a lid.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of still another embodiment of my condiment holder.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of yet another embodiment of my condiment holder similar to that of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of my condiment holder shown in FIG. 9 fully assembled.

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of my condiment holder shown in FIG. 2 detachably mounted to an inside surface of a car window that is immovable.

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of my condiment holder shown in FIG. 1 detachably mounted to a panel within a vehicle.

FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of my condiment holder shown in FIG. 1 detachably mounted to a vertical surface.

FIG. 13A is a side elevational view of the embodiment of my condiment holder shown in FIG. 1 detachably mounted to a vertical surface by means of a suction cup detachably mounted to the vertical surface.

FIG. 14 is a front elevational view of my condiment holder shown in FIG. 1 with an advertising logo on an exterior surface.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of one embodiment of my condiment holder where a portion thereof functions as a mark.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of another embodiment of my condiment holder where a the two storage sections are integral to provide a unitary structure.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an embodiment of my condiment holder where the two sections are connected by a latch on an external surface of the storage member.

FIG. 17A is a fragmentary view taken along line 17A of FIG. 17.

FIG. 18 is a plan view of a blister pack holding the embodiment of my shown in FIG. 15 in a partially disassembled condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

General

FIGS. 1, 1A, 12, 13 and 13A illustrate the embodiment of my condiment holder designated by the numeral 10a; FIGS. 2 through 7, 11 and 14 illustrate the embodiment of my condiment holder designated by the numeral 10b; FIG. 8 illustrates the embodiment of my condiment holder designated by the numeral 10c; FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate the embodiment of my condiment holder designated by the numeral 10d; FIG. 15 illustrate the embodiment of my condiment holder designated by the numeral 10e, FIG. 16 illustrate the embodiment of my condiment holder designated by the numeral 10f, and FIGS. 17 and 17A illustrate the embodiment of my condiment holder designated by the numeral 10g.

All the embodiments include a storage member SM having a first hollow section A and a second hollow section B typically made of a plastic such as, for example, polyethylene, and injected molded according to conventional techniques. Luminescent or glow in the dark injection molding plastic pellets may be used, so that my condiment holder will have this feature, making it more attractive and convenient to use. Glow Masterbatch pellets sold by Pete's Luminous Creation in Singapore are suitable. The sections A and B may be substantially cylindrical having essentially the same diameter substantially from 1½″ to 2″ inches and aligned along a common centerline CL (FIGS. 1 and 2). They may be two separate units as depicted in FIG. 1 through 15 or a single unitary structure such as depicted in FIG. 16. Section A is slightly longer than section B, and they both are substantially from 2½″ to 4½″ inches in length. In use, my condiment holder is oriented in upright condition with section A being the upper section above the lower section B. There is a slit S in a sidewall SW1 of the first section A adapted to receive a marginal lip ML of a condiment package retainer CPR. As shown in FIG. 3, a removable cup retainer/cover CR seated within the first section A beneath a closed lid L covers a stack of nested disposable paper or plastic cups DC. The second section B, which is adapted to store a roll of trash bags TB, includes an aperture AA in the sidewall SW2 of the second section B, enabling an individual bag to be withdrawn through the aperture from the second section.

As depicted in FIG. 1 through 15, Sections A and B are detachably connected together at their adjacent ends E2 and E3 so that, upon manually engaging external tabs T in closed end E2 with slots SS along an inner ledge 11 (FIG. 4) in open end E3, relative rotation in one direction interlocks the tabs and slots. Disconnection is achieved upon rotation in the opposite direction, disengaging the tabs T and slots SS so the sections A and B can be manually separated. As illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 17A instead of Sections A and B being detachably connected together using the interlocking tabs T and slots SS, a latch 59 is used.

As best shown In FIG. 3, connecting the sections A and B provides a storage member SM with the stack of nested disposable cups DC resting on a floor 13 created by the closed end E2 of section A and a roll of individual trash bags TB resting on a floor 15 created by a closed end E4 of section B. Individual bags in the roll are detachably connected end to end at perforated edges so an individual bag is separated from the roll by tearing along the perforated edge as it is withdrawn from the section B through the aperture AA. The first section A has a lid L attached by a flexible hinge H to the open upper end E1 of the first section A. There is a substantially circular opening O in the lid L with a diameter sized to receive a disposable cup DC inserted into the opening to a depth that allows the cup's rim to protrude from the opening. In other words, the diameter of the opening O is slightly less than the diameter of the open mouth formed by a rim of the disposable cup DC. As best depicted in FIGS. 4 and 7, straddling the opening O is a pair of spaced apart opposed gripper elements GE that engage the rim of a disposable cup DC inserted into the opening. Each gripper element GE is integral with the lid L, is flexible, and terminates in a hooked end 14. As the disposable cup DC is inserted into the opening O, with its closed bottom being pushed against the hooked ends 14, the gripper elements GE flex outward to allow the bottom end to clear the hook ends. Upon clearing these hooked ends 14, the gripper elements GE flex inward to grip the cup's rim to releaseably hold the disposable cup DC.

FIGS. 1, 1A, 12, 13 and 13A

My condiment holder 10a illustrates using only a single mounting element ME detachably connected to the section A by a hook 16 near the open end E1. The mounting element ME comprises a molded, substantially rectangular sheet component 18 having along an edge ED 1 a doll member 20 that interlocks with the hook 16. The hook 16 projects through a central hole (not shown) in the sheet component 18 adjacent the doll member 20. This enables the mounting element ME to pivot or rotate relative to section A about the hook 16. As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 1A, a central triangular opening 22 and an offset triangular wall 24 are formed in the sheet component 18 during molding. The triangular wall 24 is integral with a connector wall 26, also formed during molding, that attaches the triangular wall to a marginal portion of the sheet component 18 near the edge ED2, which is directly opposite and parallel to the edge ED1. As best shown in FIG. 12, the triangular wall 24 has an array of flexible shim members 28 therein. The triangular wall 24 acts as a wedge upon insertion into GAP between a panel 200 and a window 202, with apex 24a of the triangular wall 24 being first inserted into the GAP. As shown in FIG. 13A, along the opposed edge ED2 centrally located is an orifice 17, which may be used to detachably connect my condiment holder 10a to a suction cup SC with another hook 16a on a vertical surface. Consequently, the orifice 17 and suction cup SC with the hook 16a are one type of two-component connector.

The mounting element ME may be used in two ways: As shown in FIG. 12, it enables my condiment holder 10a to be removably mounted to, for example, a door panel of a vehicle by inserting the triangular wall 24 into a gap between the panel and a widow of the vehicle. When used in this manner, the triangular wall 24 with the edge ED2 leading is forced into a gap between the panel and the window. The shim members 26 may flex as the triangular wall 24 is forced into the gap. These shim members 26 do not prevent the wall 24 from being pulled from the gap when desired to dismount my condiment holder 10a.

As shown in FIG. 13, the mounting element ME enables my condiment holder 10a to be removably mounted to a substantially vertical surface. In this later case, the mounting element ME comes with an attachable two-component connector 12 that is fastened in the conventional manner. For example, a two-component connector of the hook and fabric type sold under the mark VELCRO® may be used. Such two-component connectors commonly are in two sheets-one sheet the hook component the other sheet the fabric component. Each sheet has an adhesive backing covered by a removable cover piece. When my condiment holder 10a cannot be conveniently mounted to a panel, then as shown in FIG. 12, the exposed adhesive surface, for example, of the fabric element 12a, is pressed against the outer surface of the triangular wall 24 and the exposed adhesive surface of the complimentary hook element 12b is pressed against the vertical surface VS. Then pressing the separated fabric element 12a and hook element 12b together orients my condiment holder 10a upright, substantially vertically. Thus the one component 12a is affixed indirectly to the assembled sections A and B by the intermediate mounting element ME and the other component 12b is adapted to be affixed to the vertical surface VS.

The two-component connector may also comprise the orifice 17 along the edge ED2 of the mounting element ME and the hook 16a and suction cup combination depicted in FIG. 13A. In this case the suction cup SC is secured to the vertical surface VS in the conventional manner by pressing the suction cup firmly against the surface VS. Then the hook 16a is manually pushed through the orifice 17 to suspend my condiment holder 10a and orient it in a substantially vertical condition.

FIGS. 2 through 7, and 11

My condiment holder 10b has essentially the same components as my condiment holder 10a, but additionally employs at least one suction cup SC attached to my condiment holder, although two suction cups SC are depicted, that may be used as an alternate means for attaching my condiment holder to the vertical surface VS as depicted in FIG. 3 using only the suction cups SC. The suction cups SC provide an added or reinforcing means for securing my condiment holder 10b to the vertical surface VS as depicted in FIG. 3A, showing the use of both a two-component connector 12 (in this example a VELCRO® connector) and the pair of suction cups SC to maintain the condiment holder in an upright, substantially vertical orientation.

FIGS. 8, 9, 10, 14 and 15

As illustrated in FIG. 8, my condiment holder 10c includes a detachable figurine 30 inserted into the opening O and held in position by the gripper elements GE until the figurine is manually removed when a disposable cup DC is to be inserted into the opening. The figurine 30 may be a dispenser for a liquid or other type of cleanser and it includes a spout 30a from which the cleanser is ejected from the figurine 30, which may simply be squeezed to expel the cleanser from the spout.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, a figurine 40 may be employed which is simply an ornament or a toy that can be given away as a gift or premium. Also a figurine 50 may be employed that functions as a mark, for example, the figurine “JACK” of the mark JACK IN THE BOX® restaurant chain. Also a mark, for example a logo, may be displayed on the exterior of my condiment holder 10b as illustrated in FIG. 14. Thus, the different embodiments of my condiment holder may be used as advertising media.

FIG. 16

The embodiment of my condiment holder 10f shown in FIG. 16 is similar to the embodiments discussed above, except the sections A and B are formed as an integral structure. In other words, the sections A and B are unified, with the ends E1′ E2′ being open, and an intermediate wall 57 shown in dotted lines separating sections A and B that provides a floor for the disposable cups DC stored in section A. The end E2′ of section B is open but covered with a screw-on or snap-on detachable cap CC.

FIGS. 17 and 17A

The embodiment of my condiment holder 10g shown in FIGS. 17 and 17A is similar to the embodiment 10a discussed above, except the sections A and B are detachably connected by a latch 59 having a catch 59a along the end E2 of section A and a bar element 59b along the end E3 of section B that the catch engages upon aligning the catch and bar element and pushing section A and B together. The catch 59a is flexible and is flexed to allow the bar element to disengage when disconnecting the sections A and B.

FIG. 18

The components of the embodiments discussed above may be delivered to the user disassembled, for example, in a plastic bag, and the user can then assemble and place the disposable cups DC and trash bags TB in the storage member SM. Alternately, as shown in FIG. 18, the components may be partially assembled and retained in a blister pack BP. The blister pack BP illustrated includes a cardboard support sheet 90 and a plastic molded blister 92 with compartments 94 holding the partially assembled condiment holder 10c and trash bags TB and disposable cups DC.

Methods of Use

One of my methods entails holding in the storage member SM in a moving vehicle an opened condiment package CP, trash bags TB, and disposable cups DC for condiments. This method comprises the steps of

(a) detachably mounting in a substantially upright orientation on a substantially vertical interior surface VS of the vehicle any one of my condiments holders 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, or 10e,

(b) inserting a disposable cup DC removed from my condiment holder and filled with a condiment into an open top either before or after detachably mounting my condiment holder to the vertical interior surface of the vehicle, and

(c) attaching the opened condiment package CP to the exterior of my condiment holder either before or after detachably mounting my condiment holder to the vertical interior surface of the vehicle. After using the disposable cup DC in the open top and the opened condiment package CP, they are removed and discarded.

Initially, my condiment holders 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, or 10e may be completely or partially disassembled. Depending of the vehicle, my assembled condiment holder will be mounted to the vertical surface VS using either the suction cups SC or mounting element ME or both as discussed above. The lid L is opened and the cup retainer/cover CR is removed and an individual cup is taken from the stack. After insertion of the disposable cup DC in the opening O, the cup retainer/cover CR is replaced to cover the stack and the lid L is closed. The individual cup is then pushed into the opening O as discussed above and then filled with, for example, catsup. The cup may be filled with catsup first before inserting it into the opening O. The condiment package CP typically holds a sauce and is covered by a transparent or opaque film that is removed prior to inserting the condiment package into the condiment package retainer CPR attached to section A. The marginal lip ML of the condiment package retainer CPR is slid into the slit S in the sidewall SW1 of section A either before or after mounting my condiment holder to the vertical surface VS. The slit S is oriented substantially horizontally when my condiment holder is mounted vertically. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, at one end of the slit S is a right angle cut 55 that facilitates insertion of the marginal lip ML of the condiment package retainer CPR into the slit. The marginal lip ML is first pushed against the cut 55 and along the slit S until it reaches the end of the slit opposite the cut 55, whereupon it stops as shown in FIG. 1.

After removal of the film from the condiment package CP, this package is placed within the condiment package retainer CPR, and bumps 100 (FIG. 1) on the inside surface of the cavity in the condiment package retainer CPR in which the package is placed hold the package so it is not easily ejected from the condiment package retainer while the vehicle is moving. When the user is finished eating, the empty condiment package CP is removed from the condiment package retainer CPR. This may be accomplished by simply removing it from the condiment package retainer CPR or removing the assembly of the condiment package retainer CPR and condiment package by pulling the assembly from the slit S and then discarding the condiment package into a trash bag that has been removed from section B and then re-inserting the condiment package retainer into the slit S. Thus, the slit S and condiment package retainer CPR provide attachment structure that enables an opened condiment package to be securely and removeably attached to an exterior of the storage member that is mounted to the vertical interior surface of the vehicle.

My condiment holder also enables an advertising method. In this advertising method a mark is displayed on a portion of the condiment holder. The mark may be in the form of a figurine detachable mounted to a top of the condiment holder as depicted in FIG. 15, or simply be a logo or word displayed on any exterior surface of the holder as depicted in FIG. 14. For example, a vehicle rental company like Hertz or Enterprise could display their name on my condiment holder and keep it in the vehicle being rented.

SCOPE OF THE INVENTION

The above presents a description of the best mode I contemplate of carrying out my condiment holder and method of use, and of the manner and process of making and using them in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable a person skilled in the art to make and use. My condiment holder and method of use are, however, susceptible to modifications and alternate constructions from the illustrative embodiments discussed above which are fully equivalent. Consequently, it is not the intention to limit my condiment holder and method of use to the particular embodiments disclosed. On the contrary, my intention is to cover all modifications and alternate constructions coming within the spirit and scope of my condiment holder and method of use as generally expressed by the following claims, which particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter of my invention:

Claims

1. A condiment holder including

a first hollow section and a second hollow section detachably connected together to provide a storage member for disposable cups and trash bags,

a mounting element connected to the storage member that enables the assembly to be removably mounted to a substantially vertical surface,

said first section having a lid with an opening therein sized to receive a disposable cup inserted into the opening, said lid being attached to an open upper end of said first section,

a cup retainer seated within said first section,

condiment package retainer having a marginal lip,

a slit in a sidewall of said first section adapted to receive the marginal lip of the condiment package retainer, and

said second section adapted to store trash bags and including an aperture enabling an individual bag to be withdrawn through the aperture from the second section.

2. The condiment holder of claim 1 where the first and section sections are substantially cylindrical and are aligned along an common centerline and have substantially the same diameter.

3. The condiment holder of claim 2 where the first section has a lower end with a first connector and the second section has an upper end with a second connector, said first and second connectors adapted to lock together upon engaging and rotating in one direction and disengaging upon rotating in the opposite direction.

4. The condiment holder of claim 1 where the mounting element comprises at least one suction cup.

5. The condiment holder of claim 1 where the mounting element comprises a two-component connector, one component affixed to the storage member and the other component adapted to be affixed to the vertical surface.

6. The condiment holder of claim 1 where the mounting element comprises at least one suction cup and a two-component connector, one component affixed to the storage member and the other component adapted to be affixed to the vertical surface.

7. The condiment holder of claim 1 where the opening in the lid has adjacent thereto a pair of spaced apart gripper elements that engage a rim of a cup inserted into the opening and releaseably hold the cup.

8. The condiment holder of claim 7 where a detachably figurine is inserted in the opening and held in position by the gripper elements until said figurine is manually removed when a cup is to be inserted in the opening.

9. The condiment holder of claim 1 including a dispenser for a hand cleanser.

10. A condiment holder including

a first and second sections detachably connected to provide a storage member where said upper section is adapted to store disposable cups and said lower section is adapted to store trash bags,

a mounting element connected to the storage member that enables the storage member to be removably mounted to a substantially vertical surface,

said first section having a top with an opening therein sized to receive a disposable cup inserted into the opening to a depth that allows a rim of the cup to protrude from the opening, said first section having a slit in a sidewall of said first section adapted to receive a marginal lip of a condiment package retainer,

gripper means that engage the rim of a cup inserted into the opening and releaseably holds the cup,

said second section adapted to store trash bags and including an aperture enabling an individual bag to be withdrawn through the aperture from the second section.

11. The condiment holder of claim 10 where the first section has a lower end with a first connector and the second section has an upper end with a second connector, said first and second connectors adapted to lock together upon engaging and rotating in one direction and disengaging upon rotating in the opposite direction.

12. The condiment holder of claim 10 where the mounting element comprises at least one suction cup.

13. The condiment holder of claim 10 where the mounting element comprises a two-component connector, one component affixed to the storage member and the other component adapted to be affixed to the vertical surface.

14. The condiment holder of claim 10 where the mounting element comprises at least one suction cup and a two-component connector, one component affixed to the storage member and the other component adapted to be affixed to the vertical surface.

15. The condiment holder of claim 10 where a detachably figurine is inserted in the opening and held in position by the gripper means until said figurine is manually removed when a cup is to be inserted in the opening.

16. The condiment holder of claim 10 including a dispenser for a hand cleanser.

17. A condiment holder including

a first and second substantially cylindrical hollow sections having substantially the same diameter and aligned along an common centerline to provide a storage member where said upper section is adapted to store disposable cups and said lower section is adapted to store trash bags,

the first section having a lower end with a first connector and the second section having an upper end with a second connector, said first and second connectors adapted to lock together upon engaging and rotating in one direction and disengaging upon rotating in the opposite direction,

a mounting element connected to the storage member that enables the storage member to be removably mounted to a substantially vertical surface, said mounting element comprising a two-component connector, one component affixed to the storage member and the other component adapted to be affixed to a vertical surface,

said first section having a hinged lid at an upper open end with a circular opening therein sized to receive a disposable cup inserted into the opening and a slit in a sidewall of said first section adapted to receive a marginal lip of a condiment package retainer and a cup retainer seated within said first section beneath the opening to receive a lower closed bottom portion of a cup inserted into the opening,

said second section adapted to store a roll of individual trash bags and including an aperture enabling an individual bag to be withdrawn through the aperture from the second section, and

a pair of spaced apart gripper elements each including a hooked terminal end that engages and grips a rim of a cup inserted into the opening and releaseably holds the cup.

18. The condiment holder of claim 17 where the mounting element includes at least one suction cup.

19. The condiment holder of claim 17 where the two-component connector is of the hook and fabric type.

20. The condiment holder of claim 17 where a detachably figurine is inserted in the opening and held in position by the hooked terminal ends of the gripper elements until said figurine is manually removed when a cup is to be inserted in the opening.

21. The condiment holder of claim 17 including a dispenser for a hand cleanser.

22. A condiment holder including

a storage member that is adapted to store disposable cups and trash bags,

a mounting element connected to the storage member that enables said storage member to be removably mounted to a substantially vertical surface,

said storage member having at an end a lid with an opening therein sized to receive a disposable cup inserted into the opening, said lid upon being opened providing access to stored disposable cups,

a slit in a sidewall of the storage member is adapted to receive a marginal lip of a condiment package retainer.

23. The condiment holder of claim 22 having at least a portion thereof made of a luminous material.

24. A method of holding in a moving vehicle condiments, trash bags, and disposable cups for condiments comprising the steps of

(a) detachably mounting in a substantially upright orientation on a substantially vertical interior surface of the vehicle a storage member retaining a plurality of individual trash bags and a plurality of individual disposable cups for condiments,

said storage member having an open upper top into which an individual disposable cup is inserted during use and attachment structure that enables an opened condiment package to be securely and removeably attached to an exterior of the storage member that is mounted to the vertical interior surface of the vehicle,

(b) inserting a cup removed from the storage member and filled with a condiment into the open top either before or after detachably mounting the storage member to the vertical interior surface of the vehicle, and

(c) attaching the attachment structure to the exterior of the storage member either before or after detachably mounting the storage member to the vertical interior surface of the vehicle.

25. The method of claim 24 where after use the cup in the open top and the opened condiment package are removed from the storage member and discarded.

26. An advertising method comprising providing

(a) a condiment holder including a storage member for disposable cups and trash bags,

a mounting element connected to the storage member that enables the storage member to be removably mounted to a substantially vertical surface,

said storage member having an opening therein sized to receive a disposable cup inserted into the opening, and

(b) displaying a mark on a portion of the condiment holder.

27. The advertising method of claim 26 where the mark is in the form of a figurine detachable mounted to a top of the condiment holder.

28. An advertising method comprising providing a condiment holder that includes disposable cups, trash bags, and a slit in a sidewall adapted to receive a marginal lip of a condiment package retainer, said condiment holder displaying a mark on a portion of the condiment holder.

29. The advertising method of claim 28 where the mark is in the form of a figurine detachable mounted to a top of the condiment holder.

30. An advertising method for a fast food restaurant comprising hanging a condiment holder inside a moving vehicle that displays a mark of the fast food restaurant, said holder having means to removably attach the holder to a vertical surface in the vehicle in a substantially vertical orientation while holding open condiment packages or cups.

31. An advertising method for a vehicle renting company comprising hanging a condiment holder inside a moving vehicle that displays a mark of the vehicle renting company, said holder having means to removably attach the holder to a vertical surface in the vehicle in a substantially vertical orientation while holding open condiment packages or cups.

32. An advertising method comprising hanging a condiment holder inside a moving vehicle that displays a mark advertising a product or service, said holder having means to removably attach the holder to a vertical surface in the vehicle in a substantially vertical orientation while holding open condiment packages or cups.