Container for receiving and holding tips

Abstract

A collection container for collecting and holding moneys, in particular tips, includes an upper portion, a lower portion, and a base. The upper and lower portions may be secured to each other to provide a carafe-shaped container. The lower portion of the container includes an “unstable” shape which prevents the container from standing upright. The base includes a recess which is sized and shaped to receive the lower portion of the collection container and thereby provides the necessarily support to maintain the collection container in a vertical and useful orientation. The collection container may either snap-fit into the recess of the base using a channel and a mating flange or, according to a preferred embodiment, may include a flange that slides along channels formed within the base and eventually lock into place. In this latter embodiment, the locking mechanism must be released before the collection container can be removed from the base.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1  A collection system for receiving and holding money in the form of bills and/or coins, said collection system comprising 
 a container having a receiving cavity and an upper opening, said upper opening being sized and shaped to accommodate passage of said money to said cavity;  
 an immovable base including a recess which is sized and shaped to selectively receive and hold a portion of said container; and  
 a locking mechanism which selectively locks said container to said base.