JP7560107B2 - container - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure relates to a container in which the first side wall portion becomes removable or rotatable when the locking member is pushed down from the restricted position to the released position.

Conventionally, containers of this type are known that have an annular operating part on the locking member (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2006-96401 A (paragraph [0024], FIG. 1, etc.)

In the conventional containers described above, it is necessary to prevent the locking member from falling off the first side wall when the locking member is lifted by placing a hand on the annular operating portion of the locking member.

A first aspect of the invention made to achieve the above-mentioned object is a container in which a locking member provided on the outer or inner surface of a first side wall portion, which is at least a part of one side wall of the container, is pushed down from a restricted position to a released position so that the first side wall portion becomes removable or rotatable, and which can be lifted by placing a hand on an annular operating portion of the locking member, the container having an engaging protrusion provided on one of the first side wall portion and the locking member and protruding in a first direction intersecting the inward-outward directions, and an engaging receiving portion provided on the other of the first side wall portion and the locking member and receiving the engaging protrusion when the locking member moves from the released position to the restricted position, and restricting movement of the engaging protrusion in the inward-outward directions.

A second aspect of the present invention is the container according to the first aspect , wherein the engagement projection and the engagement receiving portion are disposed directly above the annular operating portion.

A third aspect of the invention is a container according to the first or second aspect, wherein the engagement receiving portion is formed at a corner portion between a first component wall extending in the first direction and a second component wall extending in an inward/outward direction, on the other of the first side wall portion and the locking member .

A fourth aspect of the invention is the container according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the engagement protrusion protrudes upward continuously or approximately continuously from the end of the upper surface of the locking member on the first side wall portion side .

A fifth aspect of the present invention is the container according to any one of the first to fourth aspects , wherein the locking member is provided with handle portions on both the upper and lower parts of the annular operating portion.

In the first aspect of the invention , when the locking member is positioned in the restricted position, the engagement receiving portion receives the engagement protrusion and restricts the inward and outward movement of the engagement protrusion. Therefore, even if a user places a hand on the annular operating portion of the locking member to lift the container, the inward and outward movement of the locking member is restricted by the engagement between the engagement protrusion and the engagement receiving portion, thereby preventing the locking member from falling off from the first side wall.

In the second aspect of the invention , the engagement protrusion and engagement receiving portion are arranged directly above the annular operating portion, so that when the container is lifted by placing a hand on the annular operating portion, the engagement between the engagement protrusion and the engagement receiving portion deepens.

In the third aspect of the invention , since the engagement receiving portion is arranged at the corner between the first and second component walls, thinning of the peripheral portion of the engagement receiving portion is prevented and the strength is increased compared to when the engagement receiving portion is arranged in the center of the first or second component wall.

In the fourth aspect of the invention , since the engaging protrusion extends continuously or substantially continuously from the end of the upper surface on the first side wall side, the strength of the engaging protrusion is improved.

In the fifth aspect of the invention , since the handle portions are provided at two locations, the upper and lower portions of the locking member, it is possible to select the position to hold the handle depending on the situation, thereby improving the handleability of the container.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a folding container according to the present disclosure; FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the folding container in a folded state; Perspective view of short side wall FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a locking member; A rear perspective view of the lock member Perspective view of short side wall Perspective view of short side wall Side cross-sectional view of the short side wall Rear perspective view of short side wall Side cross-sectional view of the short side wall 1 is a side cross-sectional view of the periphery of a short side wall according to a modified example;

A folding container 10 (corresponding to the "container" in the claims) of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to Figures 1 to 10. As shown in Figure 1, the folding container 10 has a rectangular parallelepiped structure with a rectangular planar shape and an open top. The folding container 10 has a bottom wall 30, a pair of short side walls 11 (corresponding to the "one side wall" and "first side wall portion" in the claims) rotatably connected to the outer edges of a pair of short sides of the bottom wall 30, and a pair of long side walls 21 rotatably connected to the outer edges of a pair of long sides of the bottom wall 30. The folding container 10 can be switched between an assembled state (see FIG. 1) in which the short and long side walls 11, 21 are raised from the bottom wall 30 and connected to each other, and a folded state (see FIG. 2) in which the short side wall 11 is folded so that it overlaps the bottom wall 30, and then the long side wall 21 is folded over the short side wall 11.

The bottom wall 30 has a frame-shaped protrusion 31 that rises in a stepped shape from the outer edge so that the planar shape becomes larger. The frame-shaped protrusion 31 has a short-side bottom protrusion 32 that protrudes from a pair of short sides of the bottom wall 30, a long-side bottom protrusion 33 that protrudes from a pair of long sides, and a corner protrusion 34 that protrudes from a corner of the bottom wall 30. Among these protrusions 32, 33, and 34, the corner protrusion 34 is the highest, followed by the long-side bottom protrusion 33 and the short-side bottom protrusion 32 in that order. In addition, the portion of the bottom wall 30 below the frame-shaped protrusion 31 forms a stepped fitting portion 35.

As shown in FIG. 2, the short side bottom protrusion 32 and the long side bottom protrusion 33 have a plurality of arm receiving portions 32A, 33A formed at intervals in the longitudinal direction. The arm receiving portions 32A, 33A open on the top and inner surfaces of the short side bottom protrusion 32 and the long side bottom protrusion 33. The top openings 32B, 33B of the arm receiving portions 32A, 33A are wider than the inner surface openings 32C, 33C, and the inner surfaces of the arm receiving portions 32A, 33A have anti-slip portions 32D, 33D formed on both sides of the inner surface openings 32C, 33C. In addition, the lower surfaces of the short side bottom protrusion 32 and the long side bottom protrusion 33 have handle portions 32K, 33K recessed upward in the longitudinal center of each.

1 and 2, a plurality of hinge legs 14, 24 corresponding to the arm receiving portions 32A, 33A hang down from the lower ends of the short side wall 11 and the long side wall 21. A pair of hinge shafts protrude from both side surfaces at the lower ends of the hinge legs 14, 24 in the lateral direction of the long side wall 21. Note that FIG. 3 shows the hinge shaft 14A of the hinge leg 14 of the short side wall 11. The hinge legs 14, 24 including the hinge shaft are received in the arm receiving portions 32A, 33A of the bottom wall 30 from the upper openings 32B, 33B side, and the hinge shafts are engaged with the retaining portions 32D, 33D to prevent them from coming off. The short side wall 11 and the long side wall 21 can rotate about the hinge axis relative to the bottom wall 30, and can be changed between an upright state (as shown in FIG. 1) and a horizontal state (as shown in FIG. 2).

As shown in FIG. 1, the long side wall 21 has an upper end protrusion 22 protruding outward at the upper end of the horizontally elongated flat plate, and a lower end rib 23 protruding outward at the lower end. A pair of connecting protrusions 25 protruding toward the short side wall 11 side are formed on both side edges of the long side wall 21. The connecting protrusions 25 are arranged at the longitudinal ends and positions close to the ends of the long side wall 21, and have an outer wall 25A and an inner wall 25B extending toward the short side wall 11 side. The outer wall 25A protrudes toward the short side wall 11 side more than the inner wall 25B, and faces the side edge of the short side wall 11 from the outside. An engagement wall 25C is formed protruding toward the short side wall 11 side from the center in the vertical direction of the inner wall 25B. A through hole 25D is formed at the upper end of the part of the outer wall 25A protruding from the inner wall 25B. In addition, a pair of connecting protrusions 25 on the long side wall 21 protrudes upward from the area between them.

As shown in FIG. 3, the short side wall 11 has an upper end rib 12 and a lower end rib 13 that protrude outward at the upper and lower ends of the horizontally long flat plate 11A. A protruding wall 15 is formed at the upper end of both side edges of the short side wall 11, protruding laterally and overlapping from the inside with the outer wall 25A of the connecting protrusion 25 of the long side wall 21. This protruding wall 15 has an engaging protrusion 15A that protrudes outward and is received in the through hole 25D of the connecting protrusion 25 of the long side wall 21 when the folding container 10 is in an assembled state.

As shown in Figure 3, a locking member 40 is attached between the upper end rib 12 and the lower end rib 13 on the outer surface of the short side wall 11. The locking member 40 extends across the entire lateral direction of the short side wall 11. Specifically, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the locking member 40 has a rib 42 protruding rearward from a front plate 41 as a whole, a first component 43 that is generally rectangular in front view, a trapezoidal second component 44 that extends laterally from both side edges of the first component 43, and a band-shaped third component 45 that extends further laterally from the second component 44. The top surfaces of these first to third components 43 to 45 are generally flush. In addition, the underside of the first component 43 is located at the lowest position, the underside of the second component 44 extends at an angle upward from the end of the first component 43, and the underside of the third component 45 extends horizontally from the end of the second component 44.

As shown in FIG. 3, the short side wall 11 is provided with a restricting wall 16 that overlaps the third component 45 of the locking member 40 from the front and prevents the locking member 40 from slipping out. In addition, a slide groove 43M extending in the vertical direction is formed at the left end (left end in FIG. 3) and a position near the right end of the first component 43 of the locking member 40, and a guide protrusion 11G (see FIG. 6) that is received in this slide groove 43M is formed on the short side wall 11 and protrudes outward. This allows the locking member 40 to slide up and down without shifting laterally. In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, a tapered portion 45T is formed on the outer surface side of the upper end of the third component 45 of the locking member 40 that protrudes laterally beyond the restricting wall 16.

As shown in Figures 3 and 6, a U-shaped restrictive receiving portion 17 that opens upward is formed in the vertical center of both side edges of the short side wall 11. The third component 45 abuts against the bottom 17A of this restrictive receiving portion 17, thereby determining the lower end of the movable range of the locking member 40 (hereinafter referred to as the "release position"). The position where the upper surface of the locking member 40 abuts against the upper end rib 12 of the short side wall 11 is the upper end of the movable range of the locking member 40 (hereinafter referred to as the "restricted position").

As shown in FIG. 3, a pair of flexible arms 46 extend diagonally downward from the underside of the locking member 40 so as to approach each other. The lower ends of the flexible arms 46 abut against the lower end rib 13 of the short side wall 11, and the locking member 40 is biased upward by the elastic force of the flexible arms 46. When the locking member 40 is in the restricted position due to this bias, most of the third component 45 is disposed above the restricted receiving portion 17.

When the pair of long side walls 21 are raised from the folded state (see FIG. 2) and the short side wall 11 is raised, the tapered portion 45T (see FIG. 3) of the third component 45 of the locking member 40 slides against the engagement wall 25C (see FIG. 1) of the short side wall 11, and the locking member 40 moves downward against the resilience of the flexible arm 46. Then, when the third component 45 of the locking member 40 passes the engagement wall 25C of the short side wall 11, the resilience of the flexible arm 46 moves the locking member 40 to the upper end position, and the third component 45 is sandwiched and engaged between the outer wall 25A and the engagement wall 25C of the connecting protrusion 25 of the short side wall 11. As a result, the short side wall 11 and the long side wall 21 are fixed to each other in an upright state.

To tilt the short side wall 11 inward from the assembled state (see FIG. 1), the locking member 40 is pressed downward against the elastic force of the flexible arm 46. This places the locking member 40 in the release position, the third component 45 is received in the restrictive receiving portion 17 (see FIG. 7), and the engagement with the engagement wall 25C (see FIG. 1) is released, allowing the short side wall 11 to rotate.

Now, the locking member 40 is provided with an annular operating part 50 for performing an operation to release the engagement (a downward pressing operation). As shown in FIG. 3, the annular operating part 50 is composed of an opening edge of an operating hole 51 formed through the center of the locking member 40 in the longitudinal direction. The operating hole 51 has a rectangular shape with the longitudinal direction of the locking member 40 as its long side, and is arranged between a position near the upper end and a position near the lower end of the first component 43 of the locking member 40. The annular operating part 50 has an annular rib 52 protruding rearward from the opening edge of the operating hole 51. As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 8, the lower side of the annular operating part 50 is formed into a U-shaped cross section open to the rear by the lower side of the annular rib 52, the front plate 41, and the rib 42 (referred to as the lower side rib 42A) protruding from the lower edge of the locking member 40. In addition, the upper edge of this annular rib 52 is common to the rib 42 (referred to as upper edge rib 42B) that protrudes from the upper edge of the locking member 40.

The front plate 41 of the locking member 40 is provided with a hanging portion 41A that protrudes downward from the upper edge rib 42B, and the upper edge rib 42B and the hanging portion 41A form a handle portion 40T. The folding container 10 can be lifted by placing a hand on the handle portion 40T.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the locking member 40 of this embodiment is provided with an engagement protrusion 47 protruding from the upper surface (upper surface of the upper edge rib 42B). The engagement protrusion 47 is arranged at the inner end in the inward/outward direction (the end on the short side wall 11 main body (flat plate 11A) side) in the lateral center of the locking member 40. As shown in Figs. 5 and 8, the planar shape of the engagement protrusion 47 is a trapezoid whose inner side in the inward/outward direction is longer than the outer side, and the inner side surface of the engagement protrusion 47 is flush with the inner end surface of the upper edge rib 42B. In other words, the engagement protrusion 47 protrudes upward continuously from the end on the short side wall 11 side of the upper surface of the locking member 40.

8 and 9, the short side wall 11 has an engagement receiving portion 18 formed at a position corresponding to the engagement protrusion 47 of the locking member 40. The engagement receiving portion 18 is formed by cutting out the corner between the short side wall 11 main body (flat plate 11A) and the upper end rib 12, and is formed by connecting the upper surface notch portion 12K provided on the upper end rib 12 and the side surface notch portion 11K provided on the short side wall 11 main body. The upper surface notch portion 12K is trapezoidal in shape corresponding to the planar shape of the engagement protrusion 47, and the side surface notch portion 11K is rectangular in shape with a height slightly larger than the plate thickness of the upper end rib 12. The short side wall 11 main body (flat plate 11A) corresponds to the "first component wall" in the claims, and the upper end rib 12 corresponds to the "second component wall" in the claims.

As shown in FIG. 10, when the locking member 40 is in the release position, the engagement protrusion 47 of the locking member 40 is disengaged from the engagement receiving portion 18 of the short side wall 11. At this time, the inner side surface of the engagement protrusion 47 and the entire inner end surface of the lower edge rib 42A are in contact with the main body of the short side wall 11.

When the locking member 40 is placed in the restricted position as shown in FIG. 8, the engagement protrusion 47 of the locking member 40 is received in the engagement receiving portion 18 of the short side wall 11. At this time, the outer side surface of the engagement protrusion 47 abuts against the outer inner side surface of the engagement receiving portion 18, restricting the engagement protrusion 47 from moving outward, i.e., restricting the locking member 40 from moving outward.

The above is the configuration of the folding container 10 of this embodiment. Next, the action and effect of the folding container 10 will be described. As described above, in the assembled folding container 10, by pushing downward the annular operating portion 50 of the locking member 40 arranged on the short side wall 11, the engagement between the locking member 40 and the long side wall 21 is released, and the short side wall 11 can be folded inward.

The folding container 10 in the assembled state can be lifted by placing a hand on the handle 40T (the upper edge of the annular operating part 50) provided on the locking member 40 of the short side wall 11. Here, when placing a hand on the handle 40T of the locking member 40 to lift the folding container 10, a load is applied to the locking member 40 in an outward direction, which may cause the locking member 40 to come off the short side wall 11.

In contrast, in the folding container 10 of this embodiment, when the locking member 40 is in the restricted position, the engagement protrusion 47 of the locking member 40 is received in the engagement receiving portion 18 of the short side wall 11, restricting the locking member 40 from moving outward, thereby preventing the locking member 40 from coming off the short side wall 11.

In addition, the engagement protrusion 47 and the engagement receiving portion 18 are located directly above the handle portion 40T (the upper edge portion of the annular operating portion 50) of the locking member 40, and the engagement protrusion 47 enters the engagement receiving portion 18 from below. Therefore, when the folding container 10 is lifted by placing a hand on the handle portion 40T of the locking member 40, a load is applied to the locking member 40 toward the upper end rib 12 of the short side wall 11, deepening the engagement between the engagement protrusion 47 and the engagement receiving portion 18, making it more difficult for the locking member 40 to come off the short side wall 11.

In addition, because the engagement receiving portion 18 is located at the corner between the short side wall 11 body (flat plate 11A) and the upper end rib 12, the engagement receiving portion 18 is prevented from becoming thinner than when it is located in the center of the upper end rib 12, and the strength of the engagement receiving portion 18 is increased.

The engagement protrusion 47 is disposed on the short side wall 11 main body (flat plate 11A) side end of the locking member 40 in correspondence with the engagement receiving portion 18, and protrudes upward continuously from the end of the top surface of the locking member 40 on the short side wall 11 side, so that the strength of the engagement protrusion 47 is stronger than when the engagement protrusion 47 is disposed in the center in the inward/outward direction of the top surface of the locking member 40.

In addition, for example, when the annular operating portion 50 of the locking member 40 is pressed downward to rotate the short side wall 11, if the locking member 40 receives a load that tilts inward (the lower end of the locking member 40 faces outward), there is a concern that the locking member 40 may come off from the lower end side. In contrast, in the folding container 10, the flush inner side surface of the engaging protrusion 47 and the inner end surface of the lower edge rib 42A come into contact with the short side wall 11 main body (flat plate 11A). In other words, compared to when there is no engaging protrusion 47 or when the engaging protrusion 47 is disposed on the outside in the inward/outward direction, the range of contact with the short side wall 11 main body is longer in the vertical direction, so the locking member 40 is less likely to tilt inward, and the locking member 40 is prevented from coming off from the lower end side.

[Other embodiments]
(1) In the above embodiment, the short side wall 11 is rotatable relative to the bottom wall 30, but the short side wall 11 may be removable, or may be configured to rotate relative to the long side wall 21 like a door. Also, the short side wall 11 may be a side wall portion with a door member that includes a base side wall and a door member, and the door member may be configured to rotate relative to the base side wall.

(2) The short side wall 11 may be provided with a handle hole that overlaps with the operation hole 51 of the locking member 40 in the inward and outward directions.

(3) The locking member 40 may be disposed on the inner surface of the short side wall 11.

(4) As shown in FIG. 11, a handle 40T may also be provided on the underside of the locking member 40. In this case, the position where the hand is placed can be selected depending on the situation, improving the ease of handling of the folding container 10. In this case, it is preferable to provide an engagement protrusion and an engagement receiving portion near the lower handle 40T (for example, the corresponding location between the lower edge of the annular rib 52 and the short side wall 11).

(5) An engagement receiving portion may be formed on the upper edge rib 42B of the locking member 40, and an engagement protrusion may be formed to protrude downward from the upper end rib 12 of the short side wall 11. The engagement protrusion may also protrude in the left-right direction and enter the engagement receiving portion in the left-right direction.

(6) In the above embodiment, the engagement receiving portion 18 is configured such that the upper surface notch portion 12K and the side surface notch portion 11K are continuous, but it may be configured only by the upper surface notch portion 12K without the side surface notch portion 11K. In this case, even when the locking member 40 is arranged in the restricted position, the inner side surface of the engagement protrusion 47 and the inner end surface of the lower edge rib 42A abut against the main body of the short side wall 11 (flat plate 11A). Therefore, when the folding container 10 is lifted, the locking member 40 is restricted from rotating outward, and the locking member 40 is more effectively prevented from coming off the short side wall 11.

Note that although specific examples of the technology included in the scope of the claims are disclosed in this specification and drawings, the technology described in the claims is not limited to these specific examples, but includes various modifications and variations of the specific examples, as well as parts of the specific examples taken separately.

10. Folding container (container)
11 Short side wall (first side wall portion)
18 Engagement receiving portion 40 Lock member 40T Handle portion 42B Upper edge rib 47 Engagement protrusion 50 Annular operation portion

Claims (5)

A container in which a locking member provided on an outer surface or an inner surface of a first side wall portion, which is at least a part of one side wall of the container, is pushed down from a restricted position to a released position to make the first side wall portion removable or rotatable, and the container can be lifted by placing a hand on an annular operating portion of the locking member,
An engagement protrusion provided on the locking member and protruding upward ;
an engagement receiving portion provided on the first side wall portion , receiving the engagement protrusion and restricting movement of the engagement protrusion in an inward/outward direction when the locking member moves from the release position to the restricting position;
An operation hole that is provided on the inside of the annular operation portion and can be depressed,
the engagement receiving portion is a notch formed at a corner between a first component wall extending in a vertical direction and a second component wall disposed at an upper end of the first component wall and extending in an inward-outward direction, and when the locking member is disposed at the restricted position, the engagement protrusion is received in the notch formed in the second component wall,
A container , wherein a depth of the engagement receiving portion in the first component wall is less than a travel distance of the locking member . A container in which a locking member provided on an outer surface or an inner surface of a first side wall portion, which is at least a part of one side wall of the container, is pushed down from a restricted position to a released position to make the first side wall portion removable or rotatable, and the container can be lifted by placing a hand on an annular operating portion of the locking member,
An engagement protrusion provided on the locking member and protruding upward;
an engagement receiving portion that is formed as a notch only in a side wall rib that protrudes inwardly and outwardly from the first side wall portion, and that receives the engagement protrusion and restricts movement of the engagement protrusion in the inwardly and outwardly directions when the locking member moves from the release position to the restriction position;
A container having an operation hole that is provided inside the annular operation portion and can be pressed down. A container in which a locking member provided on an outer surface or an inner surface of a first side wall portion, which is at least a part of one side wall of the container, is pushed down from a restricted position to a released position to make the first side wall portion removable or rotatable, and the container can be lifted by placing a hand on an annular operating portion of the locking member,
The annular operating portion includes an annular rib having a width in an inward and outward direction and an operating hole on an inner side of the annular rib,
an engagement protrusion protruding upwardly from an end portion of an upper surface of the locking member on the first side wall portion side, the engagement protrusion being continuous or substantially continuous therefrom;
a sidewall rib disposed on the first sidewall portion and protruding inward and outward directions and capable of abutting against an upper surface of the locking member;
an engagement receiving portion that is provided on the side wall rib and receives the engagement protrusion when the locking member moves from the release position to the regulating position and regulates movement of the engagement protrusion in an inward/outward direction;
When the locking member is disposed at the restricted position, a portion of the upper surface of the locking member adjacent to the engaging protrusion in the inner/outer direction comes into contact with the side wall rib. A container in which a locking member provided on an outer surface or an inner surface of a first side wall portion, which is at least a part of one side wall of the container, is pushed down from a restricted position to a released position to make the first side wall portion removable or rotatable, and the container can be lifted by placing a hand on an annular operating portion of the locking member,
The annular operating portion includes an annular rib having a width in an inward and outward direction and an operating hole on an inner side of the annular rib,
an engagement protrusion provided on one of the first side wall portion and the locking member and protruding in a first direction intersecting with the inward/outward direction;
an engagement receiving portion that is provided on the other of the first side wall portion and the locking member, and that receives the engagement protrusion and restricts movement of the engagement protrusion in an inward and outward direction when the locking member moves from the release position to the restriction position,
The container has handles on both the underside of the locking member and the upper edge of the annular operating portion, the handles including a horizontal rib portion that is part of the annular rib and a hanging portion that hangs down from an end of the horizontal rib portion opposite to the first side wall portion. a lower engaging protrusion protruding from an upper surface of a lower side portion of the annular rib;
5. The container according to claim 3 or 4, further comprising: a lower engagement receiving portion formed on the first side wall portion, which receives the lower engagement protrusion when the locking member moves from the release position to the regulating position, and which regulates movement of the lower engagement protrusion in the inward and outward directions.

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