FIGURE 1 is an illustrative view of the container storage system 10 of the present invention conveniently stored in a kitchen cabinet. The container storage system 10 includes a plurality of plastic containers each having similar shapes. Each respective container has a base and a wall extending therefrom along the periphery of the base to form a pool therein. The containers vary in size to one another whereby a plurality of smaller containers each fit securely within the pool of the next largest container. Each of the respective containers are preferably formed from a polymer substance however, the containers maybe formed of any material able to allow storage of items therein. Each respective container includes a lid which can be releasably secured to an open end of the container for storage of items in the pool thereof. The lid also is releasably secureable to the base of the container thereby ensuring that each lid remains with its respective container when the containers are either opened or stored. As shown in Figure 1, the container storage system 10 of the present invention is stored in a cabinet 2. Each respective lid is releasably secured to the base of its respective container. The lids are attached to the base of the container is shown clearly in Figure 12. The container storage system 10 of the present invention ensures that each container will have a lid to enclose contents therein while allowing a plurality of unused storage containers to be stowed away in an efficient space-saving manner.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a container 12 of the container storage system of the present invention with a lid 14 covering the open end of the container 12. The container storage system 10 includes a plurality of containers 12. Each container includes a base 18 and walls 16 which extend from and perpendicular to the base 18. The walls 16 and base 18 form a pool for receiving items for storage in the container 12. Extending around a perimeter of the open end of the container 12 on a side opposite the pool is an open end lip 20 as is shown clearly in Figure 3. The open end lip 20 projects outwardly from the walls 16 and around the perimeter of the walls 16. A base lip 22 also extends outwardly from and around a perimeter of the wall adjacent the base 18. A lid 14 may be releasably secured the container at least one of the open end lip 20, as shown in Figure 2, and the base lip 22. The lid 14 preferably snaps onto a lip 20, 22 of the container 12. As shown in Figure 2, releasably securing the lid 14 to the open end allows for item to be stored within the pool of the container 12. The lid 14 being releasably secured to the open end of the container 12 also allows for the plurality of containers of the container storage system to be vertically stacked atop one another as shown in Figure 6.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the container storage system of the present invention with the lid 14 positioned adjacent the base 18 of the container 12. The container storage system 10 includes a plurality of containers 12. Each container includes the base 18 and the walls 16 which extend from and perpendicular to the base 18. The walls 16 and base 18 form the pool for receiving items to be stored in the container 12. Extending around the perimeter of the open end of the container 12 on a side opposite the pool is the open end lip 20. The open end lip 20 protrudes outwardly from the walls 16 and extends around the perimeter of the walls 16. A base lip 22, as shown in Figure 2, also extends outwardly from and around a perimeter of the wall adjacent the base 18. The lid 14 may be releasably secured to at least one of the open end lip 20 and the base lip 22. The lid 14 preferably snaps onto the lip 20, 22 of the container 12. As shown in Figure 3, the lid 14 is snap fit onto base lip 22 thereby covering the base 18. Upon releasably securing the lid 14 to the base lip 22, the open end remains uncovered. In this position, a smaller container 12 is able to be stored within the pool the container 12. When all containers 12 are provided with the lid 14 releasably secured to their respective base lip 22, the containers may be stored one inside the other as shown in Figure 7. This makes the container storages system 10 of the present invention easy to store and spatially efficiently.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of the container storage of the present invention taken along line 4-4 in Figure 2. The container storage system 10 includes a plurality of containers 12. Each container includes the base 18 and the walls 16 which extend from and perpendicular to the base 18. The walls 16 and base 18 form the pool for receiving items for storage in the container 12. Extending around the perimeter of the open end of the container 12 on the side opposite the pool is the open end lip 20 as is shown clearly in Figure 3. The open end lip 20 projects outwardly from the walls 16 and around the perimeter of the walls 16. The base lip 22 also extends outwardly from and around a perimeter of the wall adjacent the base 18. The lid 14 may be releasably secured to the container at least one of the open end lip 20, as shown in Figure 2, and the base lip 22. The lid 14 preferably snaps onto a lip 20, 22 of the container 12.

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view of the container storage of the present invention taken along line 5-5 in Figure 3. The container storage system 10 includes a plurality of containers 12. Each container includes the base 18 and the walls 16 which extend from and perpendicular to the base 18. The walls 16 and base 18 form the pool for receiving items for storage in the container 12. Extending around the perimeter of the open end of the container 12 on the side opposite the pool is the open end lip 20 as is shown clearly in Figure 3. The open end lip 20 projects outwardly from the walls 16 and around the perimeter of the walls 16. The base lip 22 also extends outwardly from and around a perimeter of the wall adjacent the base 18. The lid 14 may be releasably secured to the container at least one of the open end lip 20, as shown in Figure 2, and the base lip 22. The lid 14 preferably snaps onto a lip 20, 22 of the container 12.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a plurality of containers that comprise the container storage system of the present invention. The container storage system 10, as shown in Figure 6 includes a plurality of containers 12. A first container 30 is shown as the largest container 12. The first container 30 includes a first lid 31 which has a shape and size that corresponds to the first container 12. The second container 32 is the second largest container 12. A second claimer 32 has a second lid 32 which has a shape and size that corresponds to the second container 32. The second container 32 is shown stacked atop the first lid 31 of the first container 30. A third container 34 is the second smallest container 12. The third container 34 has a third lid 35 which has a shape and size that corresponds to the third container 34. The third container 34 is shown stacked atop the second lid 33 of the second container 32. A fourth container 36 is the smallest container 12. The fourth container 36 has a fourth lid 37 which has a shape and size that corresponds to the fourth container 36. The fourth container is shown stacked atop of the third lid 35 of the third container 34. The container storage system 10 of the present invention is described as having four containers only for illustrative purposes. Any number of containers having similar shapes but varying sizes may be incorporated into the system 10 of the present invention. Additionally, each of the lids 31, 33, 35, and 37 are color coded and have a color that corresponds with a color of the base lip 22.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a plurality of containers of the container storage system of the present invention positioned one inside another in the storage position. When a user desires to store the plurality of containers of the container storage system 10 of the present invention, the user releaseably secures the lid of the container to the base 18 of the container 12. As shown herein, the first through fourth containers 30, 32, 34, 36 have their respective lids 31, 33, 35, 37 releasably secured to the the respective bases 18 thereof. Thereafter, the fourth container 36 is positioned within the pool of the third container 34. The third container 34, having the fourth container 34 positioned therein, is then positioned within the pool of the second container 32. Thereafter, the second container 32, having both the third container 34 and the fourth container 36 therein, is within the pool of the first container 30. The containers 12 of the container storage system 10 are now easily stored in a spatially efficient manner.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the first container 30 of the container storage system of the present invention having a colored lid 31 that corresponds with the color of the lip 22 extending around the base 18 thereof. the colors of the lid and lip are indicated by hatching in Figure 7. As shown in Figures 1 - 5, each container includes the base 18 and the walls 16 which extend from and perpendicular to the base 18. The walls 16 and base 18 form the pool for receiving items to be stored in the container 12. Extending around the perimeter of the open end of the container 12 on a side of the wall opposite the pool is the open end lip 20. The open end lip 20 protrudes outwardly from the walls 16 and extends around the perimeter of the walls 16. The base lip 22 also protrudes outwardly from and extends about a perimeter of the wall adjacent to the base 18. The lid 14 may be releasably secured to at least one of the open end lip 20 and the base lip 22. The lid 14 preferably snaps onto the lip 20, 22 of the container 12. Figure 8 shows the lid 31 releasably connected to the open end lip 20 of the container 12. Upon releasably securing the lid 31 to the base lip 22, the first container is able to receive smaller containers within the pool thereof.

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged perspective view of the second container 32 of the container storage system 10 of the present invention having a second lid 33 having a color different from the color of any other container of the set and corresponding with the color of the lip 22 extending around the base thereof. As shown in Figures 1 - 5, each container includes the base 18 and the walls 16 which extend from and perpendicular to the base 18. The walls 16 and base 18 form the pool for receiving items to be stored in the container 12. Extending around the perimeter of the open end of the container 12 on a side of the wall opposite the pool is the open end lip 20. The open end lip 20 protrudes outwardly from the walls 16 and extends around the perimeter of the walls 16. The base lip 22 also protrudes outwardly from and extends about a perimeter of the wall adjacent to the base 18. The lid 14 may be releasably secured to at least one of the open end lip 20 and the base lip 22. The lid 14 preferably snaps onto the lip 20, 22 of the container 12. Figure 9 shows the lid 33 releasably connected to the open end lip 20 of the container 12. Upon releasably securing the lid 33 to the base lip 22, the second container 32 is able to receive smaller containers within the pool thereof, as well as being positioned within the pool of a larger container thereof.

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged perspective view of the third container 34 of the container storage system 10 of the present invention having a colored third lid 35 having a color different from the color of any other container of the set and corresponds with the color of the lip 22 extending around the base 18 thereof. As shown in Figures 1 - 5, each container includes the base 18 and the walls 16 which extend from and perpendicular to the base 18. The walls 16 and base 18 form the pool for receiving items to be stored in the container 12. Extending around the perimeter of the open end of the container 12 on a side of the wall opposite the pool is the open end lip 20. The open end lip 20 protrudes outwardly from the walls 16 and extends around the perimeter of the walls 16. The base lip 22 also protrudes outwardly from and extends about a perimeter of the wall adjacent to the base 18. The lid 14 may be releasably secured to at least one of the open end lip 20 and the base lip 22. The lid 14 preferably snaps onto the lip 20, 22 of the container 12. Figure 10 shows the third lid 35 releasably connected to the open end lip 20 of the container 12. Upon releasably securing the lid 35 to the base lip 22, the third container 34 is able to receive smaller containers within the pool thereof, as well as being positioned within the pool of a larger container thereof.

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged perspective view of the fourth container 36 of the container storage system 10 of the present invention having a colored fourth lid 37 having a color different form the color of any other container of the set and corresponds with the color of the lip 22 extending around the base 18 thereof. As shown in Figures 1 - 5, each container includes the base 18 and the walls 16 which extend from and perpendicular to the base 18. The walls 16 and base 18 form the pool for receiving items to be stored in the container 12. Extending around the perimeter of the open end of the container 12 on a side of the wall opposite the pool is the open end lip 20. The open end lip 20 protrudes outwardly from the walls 16 and extends around the perimeter of the walls 16. The base lip 22 also protrudes outwardly from and extends about a perimeter of the wall adjacent to the base 18. The lid 14 may be releasably secured to at least one of the open end lip 20 and the base lip 22. The lid 14 preferably snaps onto the lip 20, 22 of the container 12. Figure 11 shows the fourth lid 37 releasably connected to the open end lip 20 of the container 12. Upon releasably securing the lid 37 to the base lip 22, the fourth container 36 is able to receive smaller containers within the pool thereof, as well as being positioned within the pool of a larger container thereof.

FIGURE 12 is a cross-sectional view of the container storage system of the present invention taken along line 12 - 12 in Figure 7. Shown herein is the first container 30 having the first lid releasably secured to the base of the first container 30. Positioned within the pool of the first container 30 is the second container 32 having the second lid 33 releasably secured to the base of the second container 32. Positioned within the pool of the second container 32 is the third container 34 having the third lid releasably secured to the base of the third container 34. The fourth container 36 having the fourth lid 37 releaseably secured to the base of the fourth container 36 is positioned within the pool of the third container 34. By positioning the smaller container within the pool of the larger container, valuable storage space is saved. Additionally, the container storage system 10 of the present invention ensures that the lids which are specifically fit for their specific container will be stored in close proximity of the container thereby reducing the possibility of the lid being lost or misplaced.