Removable magnetic lid for a container

Abstract

There is provided herein a removable magnetic lid for a container, which lid contains a magnet which forms either the entire lid or a substantial portion thereof, and which magnet can be removed from the container and placed on a metal object to display text or advertising present on the magnet. There is also provided a lidded storage container which contains the removable magnetic lid, and a method of removing a magnet from the removable magnetic lid.

1 . A removable magnetic lid for a container, comprising:
 a magnet having an indicia side and an opposing magnetic side,   wherein the magnet is an entire lid to a container or a substantial portion of a lid to a container.   
     
     
         2 . The removable magnetic lid of  claim 1 , wherein the magnet is of a size which corresponds to at least an entire opening of a container. 
     
     
         3 . The removable magnetic lid of  claim 2 , wherein the size of the magnet is sufficient to cover the entire opening of a container and to form a pull tab for removing the magnetic lid from the container. 
     
     
         4 . The removable magnetic lid of  claim 1 , wherein the magnet functions as a substantial portion of a lid to a container, and which removable magnetic lid further comprises a retaining element which maintains the magnet in a position which covers at least a substantial part of an opening to the container. 
     
     
         5 . The removable magnetic lid of  claim 4 , wherein the retaining element has an upper retaining end and a side retaining end, and wherein the upper retaining end covers at least a portion of the surface area of the indicia side of the magnet, and wherein the side retaining end covers at least a portion of a side of a corresponding container. 
     
     
         6 . The removable magnetic lid of  claim 5 , wherein the upper end retaining end of the retaining element covers the entire surface area of the of the indicia side of the magnet. 
     
     
         7 . The removable magnetic lid of  claim 4 , wherein the retaining element has an upper retaining end and a side retaining end, and wherein the upper retaining end comprises extending divot or clip members which cover at least a portion of the surface area of the indicia side of the magnet, and which members retain the magnet in place, and wherein the side retaining end covers at least a portion of a side of a corresponding container. 
     
     
         8 . The removable magnetic lid of  claim 1 , wherein the magnet functions as an entire lid to a container and wherein the magnet is of a size which covers the entire opening of a corresponding container and at least a portion of the side of the corresponding container. 
     
     
         9 . The removable magnetic lid of  claim 8 , wherein the magnet contains side perforations which are detachable such that the magnet can form a planar magnet when the magnetic lid is separated along the perforations. 
     
     
         10 . The removable magnetic lid of  claim 8 , wherein the magnet functions as an entire lid to a container and wherein the magnet contains a perforated shape which can be perforated and removed from the magnet to provide a shaped removable magnet. 
     
     
         11 . A container having a removable magnetic lid wherein the removable magnetic lid comprises:
 a magnet having an indicia side and an opposing magnetic side, and   wherein the magnet functions as an entire lid to the container or a substantial portion of the lid to the container.   
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the removable magnetic lid functions as a substantial portion of the lid to the container, and wherein the removable magnetic lid further comprises a retaining element which maintains the magnet in a position which covers at least a substantial part of an opening to the container. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the retaining element has an upper retaining end and a side retaining end, and wherein the upper retaining end covers at least a portion of the surface area of the indicia side of the magnet, and wherein the side retaining end covers at least a portion of a side of the container, and wherein the retaining element causes a portion of the magnetic side of the magnet to contact a rim of the container when the magnetic lid is placed on the container. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the retaining element has an upper retaining end and a side retaining end, and wherein the upper retaining end comprises extending divots or clip members which cover at least a portion of the surface area of the indicia side of the magnet and which members retain a portion of the magnet, and wherein the side retaining end covers at least a portion of a side of a corresponding container, and wherein the retaining element causes a portion of the magnetic side of the magnet to contact a rim of the container when the magnetic lid is placed on the container. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the magnet functions as the entire lid to the container, and wherein the magnet is dimensioned to cover the entire opening of the container and at least a portion of the side of the corresponding container, and wherein a portion of the magnetic side of the magnet contacts a rim of the container when the magnetic lid is placed on the container. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the container has a circular or oval opening. 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the container is a box. 
     
     
         18 . A method of removing a magnet from a lid of a container comprising:
 providing a container having a removable magnetic lid wherein the removable magnetic lid comprises:
 a magnet having an indicia side and an opposing magnetic side, and wherein the magnet functions as the entire lid to the container or a substantial portion of the lid to the container; and, 
 a retaining element which maintains the magnet in a position which covers at least a substantial part of an opening to the container, and wherein the retaining element contains a ledge on an internal circumference of the retaining element which supports the magnet on its opposing magnetic side during use; 
   removing the removable magnetic lid from the container;   inverting the removable magnetic lid; and,   pushing and/or prying the magnet from the ledge to remove the magnet from the removable magnetic lid.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the removable magnetic lid contains a protection layer underneath the magnet which protection layer is supported by the ledge. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the protection layer is removed prior to removing the magnet.