Container

Abstract

A container, including a hollow body with a bottom wall. The hollow body defines an opening opposite the bottom wall. The container also includes a lid, which removeably cooperates with the opening in the hollow body. The lid has a sealing member and a decorative member fixed to the sealing member. The decorative member is a sports-related item.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INTENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to containers, and, in particular, to sports-related containers.

[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0005] Containers can be used to hold a variety of items and materials. In order to fully “contain” these items or materials, many containers are provided with a cap or lid. Together, the lid and container provide secure containment of the item. For example, it is well-known in the art to provide the consumer with a candle in a glass jar with a lid. In this manner, the consumer can utilize the candle (e.g., a scented candle) when the lid is removed, allowing both light and scent to escape from the container. Similarly, the lid can be replaced onto the container, disallowing the scent to permeate the room. In addition, once the candle is fully used or spent, the container may be cleaned and utilized for other purposes.

[0006] Sports and sports-related paraphernalia are popular and target both males and females of all ages. Regardless of the sport or team (or player) that a fan follows, he or she enjoys collecting sports-related items directed to his or her chosen sports team or player.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a sports-related container. It is another object of the present invention to provide a sports-related container for candles. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a sports-related container directed to any particular sports fan.

[0008] The present invention is a container which includes a hollow body with a bottom wall. This hollow body defines an opening opposite the bottom wall. The present invention further includes a lid which removably cooperates with the opening in the hollow body. This lid has a sealing member and a decorative member fixed to that sealing member. The decorative member, which may be used as a cover and/or a handle, is a sports-related item, such as a hockey puck.

[0009] The present invention, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of a container according to the present invention;

[0011] FIG. 2 is a top view of the container in FIG. 1;

[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a container according to the present invention; and

[0013] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a container according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] The present invention is a container 10 and is illustrated in FIG. 1. The container 10 includes a hollow body 12 with a bottom wall 14. Opposite the bottom wall 14, the hollow body 12 defines an opening 16. In a preferred embodiment, the hollow body 12 is a substantially cylindrical structure. However, it is envisioned that the hollow body 12 may be rectangular, globular or any other suitable shape having walls to contain items or materials.

[0015] In the first embodiment of the present invention 10, shown in FIG. 1, the opening 16 on the hollow body 12 terminates in a lip 18. This lip 18 can be used to provide a ridge for grasping and transporting the container 10. Further, the hollow body 12 can be shaped and sized according to consumer needs and, further, may be constructed from any suitable material, e.g., glass, plastic, metal, etc.

[0016] The present invention 10 also includes a lid 20 configured to removably cooperate with the opening 16 of the hollow body 12. Specifically, the lid 20 has a sealing member 22 and a decorative member 24. In this embodiment, the sealing member 22 is constructed from a flexible, plastic material and is sized to frictionally engage the opening 16 of the hollow body 12. In addition, the sealing member 22 may also have ridges 26, which aid in the frictional engagement of the sealing member 22 with the opening 16.

[0017] The decorative member 24 is fixed or attached to the sealing member 22. Further, the decorative member 24 is a sports-related item, such as a hockey puck, a miniature hockey puck replica, a miniature football replica, a miniature football helmet replica, a miniature soccer ball replica, a baseball, a miniature baseball replica, a miniature baseball helmet replica, a miniature basketball replica, a miniature rugby ball replica, a billiard ball, a miniature billiard ball replica, a tennis ball, a miniature tennis ball replica, a golf ball, a ping pong ball, a shuttlecock, a bocce ball, a miniature bocce ball replica, a miniature bowling ball replica, a horseshoe, a miniature horseshoe replica, a miniature race car replica or a miniature sports figurine.

[0018] In this preferred embodiment, a hockey puck 28 is the sports-related item and is attached to the sealing member 22. The hockey puck 28 may also have a sticker 30 adhered to it, providing the consumer with visual awareness as to the affiliation of the hockey puck 28 or the container 10. For example, the sticker 30 may have the logo of the locally-supported hockey team or a label authenticating the hockey puck 28 (e.g., “Hockey Puck From Game 3 of 1997 Stanley Cup”). When viewed from above, a consumer can view his or her team's sports logo or other visual indicia on the hockey puck 28.

[0019] The sealing member 22 and decorative member 24 may be attached together using a variety of fixation methods and mechanisms. For example, in this embodiment, a screw 32 is inserted through a washer 34 and driven through the sealing member 22 into the decorative member 24, in this case, a hockey puck 28. It is also envisioned that other securing mechanisms or methods, such as other mechanical fasteners or glue or other adhesive, are also suitable.

[0020] The second embodiment of the present invention 10 is illustrated in FIG. 3. In this embodiment, the lid 20 is inserted into the opening 16 of the hollow body 12. The ridges 26 on the sealing member 22 deform against the hollow body 12 near the opening 16, which provides both frictional engagement and a seal. The decorative member 24, in this case a hockey puck 28, is usable as a handle for removing the lid 20 from the hollow body 12. In this embodiment, the hollow body 12 contains a candle 36. Wax and a wick can be directly inserted into the hollow body 12, forming a solid wax substrate (or candle 36) directly against inner walls of the hollow body 12. It is also envisioned that a separately formed candle 36 may be inserted into the hollow body 12. Using a separately inserted candle 36 would allow the consumer to remove and replace different types of candles 36, without first having to totally use the candle 36 placed in the hollow body 12.

[0021] In this second embodiment of the present invention 10, the aforementioned sticker 30 with the sports logo displaced thereon, can also be attached to the side of the hollow body 12. In attaching the sticker 30 to the side of the hollow body 12, the consumer can view the sports logo of the container 10 from all angles.

[0022] A third embodiment of the present invention 10 is illustrated in FIG. 4. This embodiment uses the same hollow body 12 and lid 20 of the previous embodiments. However, in this third embodiment, the hockey puck 28 is replaced with another decorative member 24. As seen in FIG. 4, the decorative member 24 of this embodiment is a miniature baseball replica 38. The miniature baseball replica 38 is, as before, fixed directly to the sealing member 22. Further, multiple stickers 30 containing the sports logo are attached to the sides of the miniature baseball replica 38. The sealing member 22 of the present embodiment may have a rigid face 40, providing the sealing member 22 and the decorative member 24 with added strength and support. As with the hockey puck 28, the miniature baseball replica 38 is attached to the sealing member 22 and may be used as a handle to remove the lid 20 from the hollow body 12.

[0023] The preferred embodiment of the present invention utilizes an actual sports item, such as a hockey puck 28 as the gripping portion of the lid 20. However, the present invention may be expanded to include replicas of any sports items, as with the miniature baseball replica 38 shown in FIG. 4.

[0024] Overall, the present invention 10 provides a sports-related container for holding items or materials, as well as displaying the owner's sports affiliation. The present invention 10 also provides a candle holder which is still useful after the candle is spent.

[0025] This invention has been described as reference to the preferred embodiments. Obvious modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the proceeding detailed description. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations.

Claims

1. A container, comprising: a hollow body with a bottom wall, the body defining an opening opposite the bottom wall; and a lid configured to removably cooperate with the opening in the hollow body, the lid having a sealing member and a decorative member fixed to the sealing member; wherein the decorative member is one of a hockey puck, a miniature hockey puck replica, a miniature football replica, a miniature football helmet replica, a miniature soccer ball replica, a baseball, a miniature baseball replica, a miniature baseball helmet replica, a miniature basketball replica, a miniature rugby ball replica, a billiard ball, a miniature billiard ball replica, a tennis ball, a miniature tennis ball replica, a golf ball, a ping pong ball, a shuttlecock, a bocce ball, a miniature bocce ball replica, a miniature bowling ball replica, a horseshoe, a miniature horseshoe replica, a miniature race car replica or a miniature sports figurine.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the hollow body is cylindrical.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein the hollow body is rectangular.

4. The container of claim 1, wherein the hollow body contains a candle.

5. The container of claim 1, further comprising a sticker attached to the decorative member.

6. The container of claim 1, further comprising a sticker attached to an outer wall of the hollow body.

7. A lid for a container comprising: a sealing member configured to removably cooperate with a container opening; and a decorative member fixed to the sealing member; wherein the decorative member is one of a hockey puck, a miniature hockey puck replica, a miniature football replica, a miniature football helmet replica, a miniature soccer ball replica, a baseball, a miniature baseball replica, a miniature baseball helmet replica, a miniature basketball replica, a miniature rugby ball replica, a billiard ball, a miniature billiard ball replica, a tennis ball, a miniature tennis ball replica, a golf ball, a ping pong ball, a shuttlecock, a bocce ball, a miniature bocce ball replica, a miniature bowling ball replica, a horseshoe, a miniature horseshoe replica, a miniature race car replica or a miniature sports figurine.

8. The container of claim 7, further comprising a sticker attached to the decorative member.

9. A method of assembling a container, comprising the steps of: providing a hollow body with a bottom wall, the body defining an opening opposite the bottom wall; providing a sealing member configured to removably cooperate with the body opening; providing a decorative member; and fixing the decorative member to the sealing member.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the hollow body is cylindrical.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the hollow body is rectangular.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of inserting a candle into the hollow body.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of attaching a sticker to the decorative member.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of attaching a sticker to an outer wall of the hollow body.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the decorative member is one of a hockey puck, a miniature hockey puck replica, a miniature football replica, a miniature football helmet replica, a miniature soccer ball replica, a baseball, a miniature baseball replica, a miniature baseball helmet replica, a miniature basketball replica, a miniature rugby ball replica, a billiard ball, a miniature billiard ball replica, a tennis ball, a miniature tennis ball replica, a golf ball, a ping pong ball, a shuttlecock, a bocce ball, a miniature bocce ball replica, a miniature bowling ball replica, a horseshoe, a miniature horseshoe replica, a miniature race car replica or a miniature sports figurine.