Nesting containers and lids

Abstract

A container and a lid combination includes a container having a bottom surface, an opening, and a top edge surrounding the opening, and a first attachment mechanism provided on the bottom surface, and a lid engageable with the top edge of the container to cover the opening. The lid includes an inside surface that faces an interior of the container when the lid is engaged with the top edge of the container, an outside surface that faces away from the interior of the container when the lid is engaged with the top edge of the container, and a second attachment mechanism provided on the inside surface and engageable with the first attachment mechanism. The lid is attachable to the bottom surface of the container via engagement of the first and second attachment mechanisms. A plurality of such container and lid combinations may be provided in a set, each having a different size and thereby being nestable together.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A container and a lid combination, comprising: 
 a container including:    a bottom surface,    an opening,    a top edge surrounding the opening, and    a first attachment mechanism provided on the bottom surface; and    a lid engageable with the top edge of the container to cover the opening, the lid including: 
 an inside surface that faces an interior of the container when the lid is engaged with the top edge of the container, and  
   a second attachment mechanism provided on the inside surface and engageable with the first attachment mechanism, the lid being attachable to the bottom surface of the container via engagement of the first and second attachment mechanisms.    
     
     
         2 . The container and lid combination according to  claim 1 , wherein the first attachment mechanism comprises at least one first attachment projection protruding from the bottom surface of the container.  
     
     
         3 . The container and lid combination according to  claim 1 , wherein the first attachment mechanism comprises a plurality of first attachment projections protruding from the bottom surface of the container.  
     
     
         4 . The container and lid combination according to  claim 1 , wherein the second attachment mechanism comprises at least one second attachment projection protruding from the inside surface of the lid.  
     
     
         5 . The container and lid combination according to  claim 1 , wherein the second attachment mechanism comprises a plurality of second attachment projections protruding from the inside surface of the lid.  
     
     
         6 . A nesting container and lid set comprising: 
 a plurality of container and lid combinations according to  claim 1 , the container and lid sets being of different sizes and thereby nestable together.    
     
     
         7 . The nesting container and lid set according to  claim 6 , wherein, in the nested state of the containers and lids, each lid is attached to the bottom surface of the corresponding container, with a lid corresponding to a largest one of the containers optionally being engaged with the top edge of the largest one of the containers.