Storage container convertible to a closed object

1. A storage container convertible to a permanently closed object, the container comprising:

A) a receptacle having an outside surface corresponding to the partial exterior of a closed object; and having an interior surface defining a storage chamber with an entry opening thereto;

B) a lid for covering the entry opening and thereby closing the storage chamber, the lid having an outside surface corresponding to the remaining exterior of the closed object;

C) the receptacle and lid together defining:

1) releasable engagement means for removably securing the lid on the receptacle, wherein the lid may be removed to place and remove items from the storage chamber, the releasable engagement means inter-engaging as the lid is placed on the receptacle; and

2) snap-fit securing means incrementally spacing the outside surfaces corresponding to the partial and remaining exterior of the closed object when the lid is removably secured on the receptacle and permanently securing the lid on the receptacle with the outside surfaces corresponding to the partial and remaining exteriors of the closed object co-joined when the lid is displaced toward the receptacle to place the snap fit securing means in snap fit engagement.

2. A storage container convertible to a permanently closed object as defined in claim 1 wherein the co-joined exteriors of the lid and receptacle form an object of sports play.

3. A storage container convertible to a permanently closed object as defined in claim 2 wherein the object of sports play is a hockey puck.

4. A storage container convertible to a permanently closed object as defined in claim 2 wherein the object of sports play is a ball.

5. A storage container convertible to a permanently closed object as defined in claim 1 wherein the interior surface of the receptacle defines a bore extending from the entry opening and the lid has a skirt receivable in the bore, the bore and the skirt together defining the releasable engagement means and the snap-fit securing means.

6. A storage container convertible to a permanently closed object as defined in claim 5 wherein the releasable engagement means are inter-engaging threads respectively defined on the bore and the skirt.

7. A storage container convertible to a permanently closed object as defined in claim 6 wherein the snap-fit securing means comprise a flange radially extending from the skirt and a groove defined in the bore.

8. A storage container convertible to a permanently closed object as defined in claim 7 wherein the groove is continuous about the periphery of the bore adjacent the entry opening.

9. A storage container convertible to a permanently closed object as defined in claim 8 wherein the flange is continuous about the periphery of the skirt.

10. A storage container convertible to a permanently closed object as defined in claim 1 wherein the releasable engagement means is an L-shaped bayonet slot formed in one of the bore and the skirt and a cooperating flange formed on the other of the bore and the skirt.

11. A storage container convertible to a permanently closed object as defined in claim 10 wherein the L-shaped bayonet slot is formed in the bore.

12. A storage container convertible to a permanently closed object as defined in claim 10 wherein two diametrically opposed bayonet slots are formed in the bore and two diametrically opposed cooperating flanges are formed on the skirt.

13. A storage container convertible to a permanently closed object as defined in claim 12 wherein the snap-fit securing means are two grooves defined in the skirt below the L-shaped bayonet slot for receiving the two flanges in snap fit securement.

14. A storage container convertible to a permanently closed object as defined in claim 10 wherein the snap-fit securing means comprises a groove formed in one of the bore and skirt below the L-shaped bayonet slot formed therein.

15. A container convertible to a permanently closed object, comprising:

A) a receptacle having an outside surface corresponding to the partial exterior of the closed object and having an inside surface defining a storage chamber;

B) the inside surface including a bore extending from an entry opening, the bore defining a first portion of releasable engagement means, the bore further defining a groove;

C) a lid for covering the entry opening and thereby closing the storage chamber, the lid having an outside surface corresponding to the remaining exterior of the closed object;

D) the lid including a skirt receivable in the bore of the receptacle, the skirt defining a second portion of the releasably engaging means for cooperating with the first portion thereof to removably secure the lid on the receptacle with the partial and remaining exteriors of the closed object incrementally spaced apart, the releasable engagement means configured to inter-engage as the skirt is inserted into the bore, the skirt further defining a flange abutting the receptacle adjacent the entry opening to hold the partial and remaining exteriors incrementally spaced apart and which is non-releasably receivable in the groove defined in the bore of receptacle when the partial and remaining exteriors of the closed object are co-joined.

16. A storage container convertible to a permanently closed object as defined in claim 15 wherein the co-joined exteriors of the lid and receptacle form an object of sports play.

17. A storage container convertible to a permanently closed object as defined in claim 16 wherein the object of sports play is a hockey puck.

18. A storage container convertible to a permanently closed object as defined in claim 15 wherein the releasable engagement means are inter-engaging threads respectively defined on the bore and the skirt.

19. A storage container convertible to a permanently closed object as defined in claim 15 wherein the groove is continuous about the periphery of the bore.

20. A storage container convertible to a permanently closed object as defined in claim 19 wherein the flange is continuous about the periphery of the skirt.