US Patent 8181807 Container assembly

The present invention relates to a container assembly (1) that includes a support structure (11) and a container (14) that resides reversibly within the support structure interior (62). The support structure (11) includes a pair of opposed first and second support sidewalls (26, 29) each having an elongated tube (32, 44) having a first open end (38, 50) and an elongated hollow interior (35, 47). The container (14) has opposing sidewalls (77, 80) that each have an elongated channel (104, 110). The first and second elongated tubes (32, 44) of the support structure (11) are each reversibly received within the first and second elongated sidewall channels (104, 110) of the container (14), as the container is reversibly introduced (e.g., slid) into the support structure interior (62) through the open forward portion (65) of the support structure (11). The container assembly (1) may be reversibly lifted by lift members (e.g., lift forks 119, 122) introduced through the first open ends (38, 50) and into the elongated hollow interiors (35, 47) of the first and second elongated tubes (32, 44) of the support structure (11). At least a portion of the container (e.g., upper container portion 125′) may have a three dimensional shape corresponding to an activity being conducted in the venue in which the container assembly is used, such as, a protective sports helmet shape (e.g., a hockey helmet shape) or a sports ball shape (e.g., a soccer ball shape).