Container assembly

Abstract

A container assembly includes a body having an exterior sidewall which encloses a hollow interior. The body also includes a closed end and an access opening allowing access to the hollow interior. The container assembly also includes a lid disposable between a stored orientation or a closing position over the access opening. The stored orientation includes the lid disposed on or in a support portion disposed on the exterior sidewall. The container assembly also includes a retaining assembly including correspondingly disposed tabs and slots on the inner periphery of the lid and the outer periphery of the body. The retaining assembly provides an secure but removable locking engagement of the lid when in a closing position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container assembly comprising:
 a body having an exterior sidewall disposed in at least partially enclosing relation to a hollow interior,   said body including a closed end and connected to said sidewall and an access opening disposed in communicating relation with said hollow interior,   a lid structured for removable attachment to said body in either of a stored orientation or a closing position relative to said access opening, and   a support portion disposed on said sidewall and structured to removably secure said lid on an exterior of said body in a stored orientation.   
     
     
         2 . A container assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein said support portion comprises a recess formed in said sidewall, said recess correspondingly dimensioned and configured with an engagement portion of said lid. 
     
     
         3 . A container assembly as recited in  claim 2  wherein said stored orientation comprises said lid removably, and at least partially, disposed in supported engagement within an interior of said recess. 
     
     
         4 . A container assembly as recited in  claim 3  wherein said stored orientation further comprises a portion of said lid disposed at least partially within said recess. 
     
     
         5 . A container assembly as recited in  claim 2  wherein said recess comprises an inner periphery dimensioned and configured to removably engage and support an outer periphery of said lid. 
     
     
         6 . A container assembly as recited in  claim 5  further comprising a plurality of support members formed on and extending outwardly from an outer periphery of said lid; said plurality of support members collectively disposed in removably retaining engagement with said recess, when said lid is in said stored orientation. 
     
     
         7 . A container assembly as recited in  claim 6  wherein said plurality of support members and said outer periphery of said lid are cooperatively structured and dimensioned to provide a retaining engagement defined by an elastic deformation of said plurality of support members upon disposing said engagement portion of said lid within said recess, when said lid is in said stored orientation. 
     
     
         8 . A container assembly as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a retaining assembly including a plurality of tabs extending outwardly from an outer periphery of said access opening; said retaining assembly further comprising a plurality of slots formed on said lid in removably receiving relation to said plurality of tabs, when said lid is in said closing position. 
     
     
         9 . A container assembly as recited in  claim 8  wherein at least some of said plurality of tabs include a top bevel disposed thereon in receiving relation to an inner periphery of said lid. 
     
     
         10 . A container assembly as recited in  claim 9  wherein at least some of said plurality of tabs include a retaining recess disposed in removably locking relation to said plurality of slots. 
     
     
         11 . A container assembly as recited in  claim 10  wherein at least some of said plurality of tabs include a side bevel to facilitate disposition of said lid out of said removable locking engagement. 
     
     
         12 . A container assembly as recited in  claim 11  wherein at least some of said plurality of tabs include a retaining edge structured to facilitate said removable locking engagement with said plurality of slots. 
     
     
         13 . A container assembly as recited in  claim 12  wherein said plurality of slots include an outwardly flared open end disposed on said lid in receiving relation to any one of said plurality of tabs. 
     
     
         14 . A container assembly as recited in  claim 13  wherein each of said slots include an angled channel extending transversely from an open end to a closed end of said lid. 
     
     
         15 . A container assembly as recited in  claim 8  wherein at least some of said plurality of tabs include a retaining recess structured to facilitate removable locking engagement with said plurality of slots. 
     
     
         16 . A container assembly as recited in  claim 8  wherein at least some of said plurality of tabs include a side bevel to facilitate disposition of said lid out of said removable locking engagement. 
     
     
         17 . A container assembly as recited in  claim 8  wherein at least some of said plurality of tabs include a retaining edge structured to facilitate said removable locking engagement with said plurality of slots. 
     
     
         18 . A container assembly as recited in  claim 8  wherein said outer periphery of said access opening comprises a flexible collar. 
     
     
         19 . A container assembly as recited in  claim 8  wherein said plurality of slots include an outwardly flared open end disposed on said lid in receiving relation to any one of said plurality of tabs. 
     
     
         20 . A container assembly as recited in  claim 19  wherein each of said slots include an angled channel extending transversely from an open end to a closed end of said lid. 
     
     
         21 . A container assembly as recited in  claim 20  wherein each of said slots includes a relief area disposed oppositely of said outwardly flared open end. 
     
     
         22 . A container assembly as recited in  claim 21  wherein said outwardly flared open ends are disposed adjacent an open peripheral edge of said lid in receiving relation to any one of said plurality of tabs. 
     
     
         23 . A container assembly as recited in  claim 22  wherein said relief areas are disposed in receiving, removably retaining and at least partially enclosing relation to any one of said tabs. 
     
     
         24 . A container assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein said sidewall comprises a plurality of interconnected, substantially flat panels extending along at least a majority of a length of said body. 
     
     
         25 . A container assembly as recited in  claim 24  wherein said support portion comprises a recess formed in one of said panels, said recess correspondingly dimensioned and configured with an outer peripheral portion of said lid. 
     
     
         26 . A container assembly as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a leash disposed in movably retaining relation between said lid and said body. 
     
     
         27 . A container assembly as recited of  claim 26  wherein said leash is formed integrally with said lid. 
     
     
         28 . A container assembly as recited in  claim 27  wherein said leash further comprises a retention member disposed in movably secure relation about a portion of said body. 
     
     
         29 . A container assembly comprising:
 a body having an exterior sidewall disposed in at least partially enclosing relation to a hollow interior,   said body including a closed end connected to said sidewall and an access opening disposed in communicating relation with said hollow interior,   a lid structured for removable attachment to said body in either a stored orientation or a closing position relative to said access opening,   a support portion including a recess formed on and extending into said sidewall,   said recess cooperatively dimensioned with said lid to removably receive and support said lid within said recess, and   said stored orientation comprising said lid fixedly and removably mounted on said sidewall.   
     
     
         30 . A container assembly as recited in  claim 29  wherein said recess comprises an inner periphery dimensioned and configured to removably engage and support an outer periphery of said lid. 
     
     
         31 . A container assembly as recited in  claim 30  further comprising a plurality of projections formed on and extending outwardly from said outer periphery of said lid;
 said plurality of projections collectively disposed in removable retaining engagement with said inner periphery of said recess, when said lid is in said stored orientation. 
 
     
     
         32 . A container assembly as recited in  claim 31  further comprising a retaining assembly including a plurality of tabs extending outwardly from an outer periphery of said access opening and a plurality of slots formed on said lid in removably receiving relation to said plurality of tabs. 
     
     
         33 . A container assembly comprising:
 a body having an exterior sidewall disposed in at least partially enclosing relation to a hollow interior,   said body including a closed end and connected to said sidewall and access opening disposed in communicating relation with said hollow interior,   a lid structured for removable attachment to said body in closing position over said access opening,   a retaining assembly including a plurality of tabs extending outwardly from an outer periphery of said access opening and a plurality of slots formed on said lid in removably receiving relation to said plurality of tabs, and   said closing position further comprising a removable locking engagement of said plurality of tabs removably received in said plurality of slots.   
     
     
         34 . A container assembly as recited in  claim 33  wherein at least some of said plurality of tabs include a top bevel disposed thereon to facilitate disposition of said lid in overlying engagement with an outer periphery of said access opening. 
     
     
         35 . A container assembly as recited in  claim 34  wherein at least some of said plurality of tabs include a retaining recess disposed in removably locking relation to said plurality of slots. 
     
     
         36 . A container assembly as recited in  claim 35  wherein at least some of said plurality of tabs include a side bevel to facilitate disposition of said lid out of said removable locking engagement. 
     
     
         37 . A container assembly as recited in  claim 36  wherein at least some of said plurality of tabs include a retaining edge structured to facilitate said removable locking engagement with said plurality of slots. 
     
     
         38 . A container assembly as recited in  claim 37  wherein said plurality of slots include an outwardly flared open end disposed on said lid in receiving relation to any one of said plurality of tabs. 
     
     
         39 . A container assembly as recited in  claim 38  wherein each of said slots include an angled channel extending transversely from an open end to a closed end of said lid.