CN108338772B

CN108338772B - Endoscope casing

Info

Publication number: CN108338772B
Application number: CN201810071524.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 市仓繁; 冈田慎介; 神谷哲郎
Original assignee: Hoya Corp
Current assignee: Hoya Corp
Priority date: 2017-01-25
Filing date: 2018-01-25
Publication date: 2022-03-22
Anticipated expiration: 2038-01-25
Also published as: CN108338772A; JP2018117899A; JP6886300B2

Abstract

An endoscope housing is composed of simple materials, has excellent buffering performance, can prevent dust or dirt from adhering to the endoscope, and is easy to take out and store the endoscope. The endoscope housing (100) has an outer box (110) made of corrugated paper and a buffer (120) housed in the outer box and made of foamed resin. The outer box has a bottom wall (111), side walls (112), an opening (110a), an upper cover (113), and a connecting portion (114). The buffer member has an upper buffer member (140) disposed adjacent to the upper cover and a lower buffer member (130) disposed adjacent to the bottom wall (111) and having a recessed holding portion (131) for holding the endoscope. One of the upper cushion member and the lower cushion member has a recess (146), and the other has a projection (132) that engages with the recess. These recesses and protrusions extend along both side edges of the buffer.

Description

Endoscope casing

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an endoscope housing for housing an endoscope.

Background

Conventionally, an endoscope housing case that houses an endoscope scope (scope) to which electronic components such as a solid-state imaging device are mounted is known (see patent document 1 below). In the conventional endoscope storage case described in patent document 1, a case frame is made of a material that can be recovered as a resource. The endoscope housing case is composed of a case frame body, an upper cushion member and a lower cushion member, the case frame body is composed of a corrugated cardboard, and the upper cushion member and the lower cushion member are composed of conductive foamed polyethylene housed in the case frame body. The housing frame includes a flat rectangular housing main body. The housing main body has an opening portion on one side surface in the thickness direction, and the opening portion is closed by four hinge plates provided on four sides of the periphery.

Further, there is disclosed an endoscope storage case for storing an endoscope, which includes an interior material in which a holding portion for positioning the endoscope is provided so as to protrude from a plurality of portions of a plate-like member (see patent document 2 below). The conventional endoscope storage case described in patent document 2 includes: a flat rectangular case main body made of corrugated paper; a lower cushion member constituting an interior material mounted inside the case main body; and an upper cushion member provided with an opening through which a holding piece formed at the lower cushion member passes. The housing main body is open on one side in the thickness direction. The opening can be closed by a housing upper cover whose rear end is connected to the housing main body.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese laid-open patent publication No. 9-84744

Patent document 2: japanese laid-open patent publication No. 11-192200

Disclosure of Invention

The conventional endoscope housing case described in patent document 1 is complicated to take out and house the endoscope scope. For example, when taking out the endoscope scope, it is necessary to completely pull out the inner box-shaped upper cushion member and the lower cushion member housed inside the case main body from the opening portion on one side surface in the thickness direction of the flat case main body. The upper cushion member and the lower cushion member that are pulled out from the housing main body are disposed so that the lower cushion member is positioned on the lower surface, and the upper cushion member covering the upper portion of the lower cushion member is removed, so that the endoscope scope can be taken out with difficulty.

On the other hand, in the conventional storage case for an endoscope described in patent document 2, when the stored endoscope is taken out, the case main body is arranged such that the case upper cover is positioned upward, and the distal end side of the case upper cover is lifted upward. Thus, the coupling portion between the rear end of the housing upper cover and the housing main body functions as a hinge, and the housing upper cover is opened upward to allow the endoscope to be taken out. Therefore, the endoscope can be easily taken out and stored in a reverse procedure as compared with the endoscope storage case described in patent document 1.

However, since the lower cushion member and the upper cushion member of the accommodating case for an endoscope described in patent document 2 are made of corrugated paper, dust or dirt generated by abrasion when the upper cover of the case is opened or closed, and the endoscope is taken out or accommodated is likely to adhere to the endoscope. Further, if the material of the lower cushion member and the upper cushion member is corrugated paper, the cushion performance required for protecting the endoscope is not good, and there is a possibility that the endoscope may be broken due to vibration or impact during conveyance.

When the upper surface of the lower cushion member of the conventional endoscope housing case described in patent document 1 is covered with the upper cushion member, the flat upper surface of the lower cushion member comes into contact with the flat lower surface of the upper cushion member. Therefore, for example, when the upper cushion member and the lower cushion member are inserted into or removed from the case main body, or when the upper cushion member is disposed on or removed from the lower cushion member, the lower surface of the upper cushion member and the upper surface of the lower cushion member are worn in the surface direction, and dust or dirt may be generated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope housing which is made of a simple material, has excellent cushioning properties, can prevent dust or dirt from adhering to an endoscope, and can easily take out and store the endoscope.

In order to achieve the above object, an endoscope housing according to the present invention is an endoscope housing that houses an endoscope, the endoscope housing including: the outer box takes corrugated paper as a material; and a buffer member housed in the outer box and made of a foamed resin, the outer box having a bottom wall, side walls, an opening portion, an upper cover, and a connecting portion, the side wall is vertically arranged around the bottom wall, the opening part is divided by the side wall and is opened at the upper end of the side wall, the upper cover can open and close the opening, the connecting part connects one end of the upper cover to the side wall, the cushion member has an upper cushion member and a lower cushion member, the upper cushion member is disposed adjacent to the upper cover, the lower cushion is disposed adjacent to the bottom wall and has a concave holding portion for holding the endoscope, one of the upper cushion member and the lower cushion member has a concave portion, and the other has a convex portion engaged with the concave portion, and the concave portion and the convex portion extend along both side edges of the cushion member.

The outer case and the buffer constituting the endoscope housing of the present invention are respectively made of simple materials, that is, corrugated cardboard and foamed resin. Therefore, the endoscope housing of the present invention can be reduced in weight, can be easily recycled, and can be manufactured at a reduced cost.

When the endoscope housing of the present invention houses the endoscope, the endoscope housing is disposed such that, for example, the bottom wall of the outer box is positioned below. Then, the upper cover closing the opening of the outer box is rotated upward and opened by using a connecting portion connecting one end of the upper cover and the side wall of the outer box as a hinge, thereby opening the opening of the outer box. Next, the upper cushion member, which is housed in the outer box and covers the entire upper surface of the lower cushion member including the holding portion, is taken out from the opening portion of the outer box.

Then, the endoscope is accommodated from the opening of the outer box to the inside of the outer box, and the endoscope is disposed and held in the holding portion of the lower cushion member accommodated in the outer box. The holding portion of the lower cushion is a recess or groove having a shape corresponding to the shape of each portion of the endoscope, which is recessed in, for example, the upper surface of the lower cushion. Next, the upper cushion member is housed from the outer box opening portion into the outer box, and covers the endoscope held by the holding portion of the lower cushion member and the upper surface of the lower cushion member via the upper cushion member.

In this case, the concave portions provided on both side edges of one of the upper cushion member and the lower cushion member are engaged with the convex portions provided on both side edges of the other cushion member. In this case, when the upper cushion member is disposed on the lower cushion member, the convex portion is engaged with the concave portion, and then the lower surface of the upper cushion member is opposed to or abutted against the upper surface of the lower cushion member. Therefore, when the upper cushion is covered on the lower cushion, the engagement between the concave portion and the convex portion prevents relative movement between the upper cushion and the lower cushion in a direction intersecting the extending direction of the concave portion and the convex portion, and wear in the surface direction of the lower surface of the upper cushion and the upper surface of the lower cushion can be suppressed.

Further, since the concave portion and the convex portion extend along both side edges of the cushion member, when they are engaged, the positions of the upper cushion member and the lower cushion member are easily aligned. For example, when the concave portions and the convex portions are located inside the side edges of the cushion member and are separated from the side edges in a dot-like or island-like manner, the concave portions and the convex portions are difficult to be observed when the upper cushion member is stacked on the lower cushion member, and it is difficult to achieve engagement therebetween. However, if the convex portions and the concave portions extend along both side edges of the cushion member, the concave portions and the convex portions can be easily seen when the upper cushion member is stacked on the lower cushion member, and these can be easily engaged.

The upper cushion covers the lower cushion, and the convex portions and the concave portions are engaged with each other, thereby preventing relative movement between the upper cushion and the lower cushion in a direction intersecting with an extending direction of the convex portions and the concave portions. Further, by engaging the convex portions with the concave portions, the contact area between the upper cushion member and the lower cushion member can be increased as compared with the case where the convex portions and the concave portions are not provided, and the frictional resistance can be increased also in the extending direction of the convex portions and the concave portions, thereby preventing the relative movement of the upper cushion member and the lower cushion member. Therefore, abrasion in the surface direction between the lower surface of the upper cushion member and the upper surface of the lower cushion member is suppressed, and generation of dust or dirt is suppressed to prevent adhesion to the endoscope.

Then, the upper cover is turned and closed with the connecting portion of the outer box as a hinge, and the opening of the outer box is closed by the upper cover. Thus, the endoscope can be accommodated between the lower cushion member and the upper cushion member made of foamed resin having a better cushion performance than the corrugated cardboard, and the outer side of the endoscope can be covered with the outer box made of corrugated cardboard having a better durability. Therefore, the buffering required for protecting the endoscope of the endoscope housing of the present invention is superior to the conventional storage housing for an endoscope described in patent document 2, and vibration and impact during conveyance can be more effectively reduced, thereby preventing the endoscope from malfunctioning.

Further, by disposing and holding the endoscope in the holding portion of the lower cushion member and covering the upper surface of the lower cushion member including the holding portion with the upper cushion member, it is possible to prevent dust or dirt from entering between the lower cushion member and the upper cushion member. Therefore, according to the endoscope housing of the present invention, the dust or dirt can be prevented from adhering to the endoscope covered with the upper cushion member by being held by the holding portion provided to the lower cushion member.

When the endoscope housed in the endoscope housing of the present invention is taken out, for example, the endoscope housing is disposed such that the bottom wall of the outer box is positioned below, and the lid is pivoted upward and opened with the connecting portion between one end of the upper lid of the outer box and the side wall serving as a hinge, thereby opening the opening of the outer box. Next, the upper cushion member accommodated in the outer box and covering the upper surface of the lower cushion member including the holding portion is taken out from the opening portion of the outer box. This allows the endoscope held by the holding portion of the lower cushion to be removed.

As described above, according to the endoscope housing of the present invention, the endoscope can be housed in or taken out from the endoscope housing by simply opening and closing the upper cover with the coupling portion of the outer box as a hinge and taking out or putting in the upper cushion through the opening portion of the outer box. Therefore, the endoscope housing according to the present invention can easily accommodate and remove the endoscope, compared to the conventional endoscope housing described in patent document 1.

As described above, the concave portions provided on both side edges of one of the upper cushion member and the lower cushion member are engaged with the convex portions provided on both side edges of the other cushion member. Therefore, when the upper cushion covering the upper surface of the lower cushion is removed, the relative movement between the upper cushion and the lower cushion in the direction intersecting the extending direction of the concave portion and the convex portion is suppressed. Therefore, when the upper cushion member covering the upper surface of the lower cushion member is detached, abrasion in the surface direction between the lower surface of the upper cushion member and the lower surface of the lower cushion member is suppressed, and generation of dust or dirt can be suppressed to prevent adhesion to the endoscope. One of the upper cushion member and the lower cushion member may have a concave portion, and the other may have a convex portion engaged with the concave portion.

For example, in the endoscope housing, the upper cushion may have the convex portion on a surface facing the lower cushion, and the lower cushion may have the concave portion on a surface facing the upper cushion. In this case, even if the upper cushion member is placed on the ground or the like with the surface facing the lower cushion member facing downward after the upper cushion member is removed, the lower surface of the upper cushion member facing the lower cushion member except the convex portion can be prevented from contacting the ground. Therefore, the attachment of dust or dirt to the lower surface of the upper cushion member facing the lower cushion member is suppressed, and the attachment of dust or dirt to the endoscope can be suppressed.

In the endoscope housing, the upper cushion may have the concave portion on a surface facing the lower cushion, and the lower cushion may have the convex portion on a surface facing the upper cushion. In this case, as described above, unlike the case where the upper cushion has the convex portion on the surface facing the lower cushion, when the upper cushion is placed on the flat placement surface with the surface facing the lower cushion of the upper cushion facing downward, most of the surface facing the lower cushion of the upper cushion comes into contact with the placement surface. Therefore, the upper cushion member can be stably arranged on the mounting surface, and unlike the case where the upper cushion member has the convex portion, the upper cushion member can be prevented from being damaged by concentration of the load on the convex portion.

Thus, when the lower buffer has the convex portions at both side edges, the endoscope housing can include the following configuration. In the endoscope case, the side wall of the outer box adjacent to the both side edges of the buffer member may have a folded portion formed by folding the corrugated paper constituting the outer portion of the side wall toward the inside of the opening portion and toward the bottom wall at the upper end portion of the side wall, the folded portion may be adjacent to the convex portion, and the end portion of the folded portion on the side of the bottom wall may be closer to the bottom wall than the top portion of the convex portion and may be separated from the bottom wall.

Thus, the inner portion of the side wall of the outer box can cover the bottom wall side portion of the folded portion with both side surfaces of the lower cushion. Therefore, the folded portion does not need to be extended to the bottom wall, and the amount of corrugated paper used can be reduced. Further, the folded portion can be urged toward the inner side of the outer box by the elasticity of the corrugated paper so as to be abutted against the side surface of the lower cushion member, and the lower cushion member can be positioned to some extent by the folded portion.

In the endoscope housing, the concave portion and the convex portion may extend along one side edge between the side edges of the buffer. Thus, the concave portion and the convex portion are engaged with each other at one side edge between both side edges of the cushion member, so that relative movement between the upper cushion member and the lower cushion member is more effectively suppressed, and abrasion of the upper cushion member and the lower cushion member can be prevented. In this case, the endoscope housing may further include the following configuration.

That is, in the endoscope housing, the height of the both side edges of the buffer member in the protruding direction of the convex portion may be higher than the height of the one side edge of the buffer member in the protruding direction of the convex portion. Accordingly, the top of the convex portion of each side edge of the lower cushion is disposed closer to the opening of the outer box, and accordingly, the length from the upper end of the side wall defining the opening of the outer box to the lower end closest to the bottom wall can be shortened in the folded portion of the side wall of the outer box. Therefore, the usage amount of corrugated paper can be further reduced.

In the endoscope housing, the upper buffer may have a recess facing the holding portion of the lower buffer. Interference between the endoscope protruding from the holding portion and the upper cushion can be avoided by the recess facing the holding portion. In this case, the endoscope housing may further include the following configuration.

That is, in the endoscope housing, the concave portion and the convex portion along one of the side edges and the concave portion and the convex portion along the other of the side edges may be arranged in non-rotational symmetry. The non-rotational symmetrical arrangement of the concave portions and the convex portions means that, for example, when the upper cushion member is rotated 360 degrees with respect to the lower cushion member about a rotation axis perpendicular to the bottom wall of the outer box, the arrangement of the concave portions and the convex portions in the cushion member does not become the same arrangement. That is, the arrangement of the concave portion and the convex portion along one of the side edges and the concave portion and the convex portion along the other of the side edges does not have rotational symmetry.

In this way, in the lower cushion and the upper cushion, if the convex portion is engaged with the concave portion in the case where the concave portion and the convex portion are arranged in non-rotational symmetry, the arrangement of the upper cushion and the lower cushion is uniquely determined. Therefore, the recess of the upper cushion member for avoiding interference between the endoscope protruding from the holding portion of the lower cushion member and the upper cushion member can be surely opposed to the predetermined position of the holding portion of the lower cushion member.

In contrast, in the lower cushion member and the upper cushion member, when the arrangement of the concave portions and the convex portions along one of the side edges of the cushion member and the arrangement of the concave portions and the convex portions along the other side edge have rotational symmetry, the arrangement of the upper cushion member and the lower cushion member has two or more patterns and cannot be uniquely determined. Specifically, when the upper cushion is rotated by 180 × n ° (n is an integer) with respect to the lower cushion, the concave portions and the convex portions are arranged in the same manner, and the concave portions and the convex portions are engaged with each other, so that the arrangement of the upper cushion and the lower cushion cannot be uniquely determined. In this case, there is a possibility that the recess which cannot be used to avoid interference between a part of the endoscope and the upper cushion member faces the appropriate position of the holding portion of the lower cushion member.

In the endoscope housing, the outer case may be configured such that a handle is attached to the side wall adjacent to one of the side edges of the buffer member, the handle may include a stopper engaged with an inner side of the side wall and a strip-shaped plate portion exposed to an outer side of the side wall, both end portions of the strip-shaped plate portion may penetrate the side wall and be coupled to the stopper, the lower buffer member may include a concave notch portion at a position corresponding to the stopper of the one side edge, and the notch portion may extend to a position closer to the opening of the outer case than the stopper.

With this configuration, when the endoscope housing is conveyed, the handle can be grasped and the endoscope housing can be easily conveyed. Further, interference between the stopper of the handle and the lower cushion member is avoided by the notch of the lower cushion member, and generation of dust or dirt can be prevented. Further, since the notch of the lower cushion extends to a position closer to the outer box opening than the stopper, interference between the upper cushion disposed on the outer box opening side of the lower cushion and the stopper of the handle can be avoided, and generation of dust or dirt can be prevented.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an endoscope housing which is made of a simple material, has excellent cushioning properties required for protecting an endoscope, prevents dust or dirt from adhering to the endoscope, and allows the endoscope to be easily taken out or stored.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an endoscope housing according to embodiment 1.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the endoscope housing shown in fig. 1 in a state in which the buffer is housed in the outer case and then closed.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the endoscope housing shown in fig. 2 taken along the line III-III.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a lower cushion member constituting the cushion member shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the lower cushion shown in fig. 4 in a state where the endoscope is disposed in the holding portion.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the endoscope housing shown in fig. 1 in a state where the lower cushion member is accommodated in the outer case.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the upper cushion member constituting the cushion member shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the endoscope housing shown in fig. 1 in a state where a buffer is housed in the outer case.

Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of an endoscope housing according to embodiment 2 of the present invention.

Fig. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of the endoscope shown in fig. 5 and an endoscope system including the endoscope.

Description of the reference numerals

100: an endoscope housing; 100A: an endoscope housing; 110: an outer box; 110 a: an opening part; 111: a bottom wall; 112: a side wall; 112 a: a fold-back portion; 113: an upper cover; 114: a connecting portion; 115: a handle; 115 a: a stopper; 115 b: a strip-shaped plate section; 120: a buffer member; 120A: a buffer member; 130: a lower cushion member; 130A: a lower cushion member; 130 a: an upper surface (a surface opposite to the upper cushion); 131: a holding section; 132: a convex portion; 132A: a convex portion; 134: a cut-out portion; 140: an upper cushion member; 140A: an upper cushion member; 140 a: an upper surface (a surface opposite to the lower cushion); 141 a: a recess; 141 b: a recess; 141 c: a recess; 146: a recess; 146A: a recess; 200: an endoscope.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of an endoscope housing according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(endoscope case: embodiment 1)

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an endoscope housing 100 according to embodiment 1.

The endoscope housing 100 of the present embodiment is a container for accommodating an endoscope, for example. The endoscope housing 100 includes an outer case 110 made of corrugated paper and a cushion member 120 made of foamed resin and housed in the outer case 110. The outer box 110 includes a bottom wall 111, a side wall 112 erected around the bottom wall 111, an opening 110a defined by the side wall 112 and opened at an upper end of the side wall 112, an upper cover 113 capable of opening and closing the opening 110a, and a connecting portion 114 connecting one end of the upper cover 113 to the side wall 112.

The endoscope housing 100 of the present embodiment is characterized by the following configuration, which will be described in detail later. The cushion 120 housed in the outer box 110 includes a lower cushion 130 disposed adjacent to the bottom wall 111 of the outer box 110, and an upper cushion 140 disposed adjacent to the upper cover 113 of the outer box 110. The lower cushion 130 has a concave holding portion 131 for holding the endoscope. One of the upper cushion 140 and the lower cushion 130 has a recess 146, and the other has a projection 132 that engages with the recess 146. These recesses 146 and protrusions 132 extend along both side edges of the bumper 120.

Next, each configuration of the endoscope housing 100 will be described in detail. In the following description, each part of the endoscope housing 100 will be described using an orthogonal coordinate system in which the longitudinal direction, the lateral direction, and the height direction of the endoscope housing 100 are defined as the x-axis direction, the y-axis direction, and the z-axis direction, respectively. In the following description, the longitudinal direction (x-axis direction), the lateral direction (y-axis direction), and the height direction (z-axis direction) of the endoscope housing 100 will be referred to simply as the longitudinal direction, the lateral direction, and the height direction.

In addition, unless otherwise specified, the positive directions and negative directions of the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis shown in the drawings are respectively considered as front (positive x-axis direction), rear (negative x-axis direction), right (positive y-axis direction), left (negative y-axis direction), up (positive z-axis direction), and down (negative z-axis direction). However, these directions are merely for explaining the configuration of the endoscope housing 100, and are not intended to limit the directions when the endoscope housing 100 is used.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the endoscope housing 100 shown in fig. 1 in a state in which the buffer 120 is housed in the outer case 110 and then closed.

The outer box 110 has, for example, a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and has a thin rectangular box shape whose height dimension is small with respect to the vertical and horizontal dimensions. The outer box 110 is assembled by, for example, joining a plurality of pieces of corrugated paper cut into a predetermined shape and folding the corrugated paper along predetermined folding lines. One surface of the corrugated paper constituting the outer box 110 is subjected to surface processing such as press coating to form an outer surface having gloss and smoothness, and the other surface is formed as an inner surface on which the surface of the raw material is exposed.

In the endoscope housing 100 of the present embodiment, the outer surface and the inner surface of the outer case 110 are colored in a color having higher lightness than the color of the cushion material 120 housed inside the outer case 110, such as white. The colors of the outer surface and the inner surface of the outer box 110 are not particularly limited. The exterior and interior surfaces of the outer case 110 may have any color, pattern, character, and the like.

The outer case 110 is formed, for example, such that the inner facing has a surface roughness higher than that of the outer facing. The surface roughness of the inner and outer facings can be measured, for example, by a contact surface roughness meter. Also, the outer case 110 is formed, for example, such that the static friction coefficient of the inner facing is higher than that of the outer facing. The static friction coefficient of the inner and outer facings can be determined, for example, by basing the ratio on JISP 8147: 2010, and a measuring device.

The outer box 110 can be formed by cutting two sheets of corrugated paper into a predetermined shape, joining the cut sheets, and bending the cut sheets into a plurality of portions. Specifically, for example, as shown in fig. 1, a bottom wall 111 disposed at a lower end in the height direction, a pair of left and right side walls 112 extending in the longitudinal direction or the front-rear direction, and a pair of front and rear side walls 112 extending in the lateral direction or the left-right direction may be constituted by one piece of corrugated paper. The upper cover 113 disposed at the upper end of the outer box 110, the pair of left and right side walls 112 extending in the longitudinal direction, and the pair of front and rear side walls 112 extending in the lateral direction may be formed of another piece of corrugated paper.

The front end of the corrugated paper forming the bottom wall 111 of the outer box 110 is bent upward, for example, to form an inner portion of a front side wall 112 extending in the lateral direction. The front end of the corrugated paper constituting the inner portion of the front side wall 112 of the outer box 110 is bent backward at both lateral ends, for example, and forms a front half inside the pair of left and right side walls 112 extending in the longitudinal direction. The outer box 110 has a resin handle 115 attached to a central portion in the lateral direction and the height direction of an inner portion of a front side wall 112, for example.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the endoscope housing 100 in the closed state shown in fig. 2, taken along the line III-III near the handle 115.

The outer case 110 has a handle 115 attached to a side wall 112 adjacent to one front side edge between the left and right side edges of the cushion member 120. The handle 115 has a stopper 115a engaged with the inner side of the side wall 112 and a band-shaped plate portion 115b exposed to the outer side of the side wall 112. Both ends of the strip plate portion 115b penetrate the side wall 112 and are connected to the stopper 115 a. The lower cushion member 130 has a concave notch 134 at a position corresponding to the stopper 115a at one side edge in front of the cushion member 120, for example, and will be described in detail later. The notch 134 extends to a position above the opening 110a of the outer case 110, for example, from the upper end of the stopper 115 a.

The stopper 115a has a flat plate-like shape. For example, when the arc-shaped middle portion of the band-shaped plate portion 115b is pulled forward, the stopper 115a engages with the inner surface of the inner portion of the front side wall 112, thereby preventing the band-shaped plate portion 115b from being pulled out. The strip plate portion 115b extends in a direction intersecting with the plate-shaped stopper 115a, for example, penetrates the front side wall 112 of the outer case 110, and is bent outward of the front side wall 112 in a forward convex arc shape and extends in the lateral direction.

As shown in fig. 1, the rear end portion of the corrugated paper constituting the bottom wall 111 of the outer box 110 is bent, for example, upward to constitute an inner portion of the rear side wall 112 extending in the lateral direction. The rear end of the corrugated paper forming the inner portion of the rear side wall 112 of the outer box 110 is folded forward of the outer box 110 at both lateral ends, for example, so that the rear half is formed inside the pair of side walls 112 extending in the longitudinal direction.

The corrugated paper forming the bottom wall 111 of the outer box 110 has, for example, longitudinally central portions at both ends bent upward to form outer portions of a pair of longitudinally extending side walls 112, and is folded back downward toward the inside of the opening 110a at upper ends of the pair of side walls 112. Thus, the two lateral end portions of the corrugated paper constituting the bottom wall 111 of the outer box 110 constitute folded portions 112a covering the outer portion and the upper and inner portions of the pair of side walls 112 extending in the longitudinal direction.

On the other hand, the rear end of the corrugated paper constituting the upper cover 113 of the outer box 110 is bent downward, for example, and joined to the outer surface of the inner portion of the side wall 112 on the rear side of the outer box 110 to constitute the outer portion of the rear side wall 112. In the endoscope housing 100 of the present embodiment, the fold of the corrugated paper between the rear end of the upper cover 113 and the rear side wall 112 of the outer box 110 is changed to a connecting portion 114 that connects one end of the upper cover 113 to the side wall 112. That is, the upper lid 113 of the outer box 110 is pivoted by the fold of the corrugated paper constituting the upper lid 113 and the rear side wall 112, that is, the connection portion 114, as a hinge, so that the opening 110a of the outer box 110 can be opened and closed.

The rear end of the corrugated paper constituting the outer portions of the upper cover 113 and the rear side wall 112 of the outer box 110 is bent forward at both lateral ends, for example, so that the outer portion and the inner portion of the pair of left and right side walls 112 extending in the longitudinal direction are inserted into the rear side of the outer box 110. The two lateral end portions of the rear end portion of the corrugated paper are joined to at least one of the outer and inner portions of the pair of left and right side walls 112 extending in the longitudinal direction, for example, on the rear side of the outer box 110, thereby constituting the middle portion in the thickness direction of the pair of side walls 112.

As shown in fig. 2, in a state where the opening 110a of the outer box 110 is closed by the upper cover 113, the front end portion of the corrugated paper constituting the upper cover 113 of the outer box 110 is bent downward. Thus, the front end of the corrugated paper constituting the upper cover 113 of the outer box 110 constitutes the outer portion of the front side wall 112 extending in the lateral direction.

Both lateral end portions of the front end portion of the corrugated paper constituting the outer portion of the side wall 112 on the front side of the outer box 110 are formed as a pair of first lid insertion portions 113 a. As shown in fig. 2, the pair of first cover insertion portions 113a are bent rearward in a state where the opening 110a of the outer case 110 is closed by the upper cover 113, and are inserted between the outer portion and the inner portion of the pair of side walls 112 extending in the longitudinal direction. On the front side of the pair of side walls 112, a pair of first cover insertion portions 113a constitute intermediate portions in the thickness direction of the pair of side walls 112. A gap into which a first cover insertion portion 113a of the front end of the upper cover 113 is inserted is formed between the outer and inner portions of the pair of side walls 112 extending in the longitudinal direction on the front side of the outer box 110.

A through hole 116 through which a handle 115 attached to an inner portion of the front side wall 112 is inserted is formed in a central portion of an outer portion of the front side wall 112 of the outer box 110 extending in the lateral direction. The through hole 116 has a substantially rectangular shape with the lateral direction as the longitudinal direction, and a pair of semicircular cutouts are formed in the central portions of a pair of longitudinal portions in the lateral direction so as to protrude upward and downward, respectively.

Further, both end portions in the lateral direction of the corrugated paper constituting the upper cover 113 of the outer box 110 are formed as a pair of second cover insertion portions 113 b. As shown in fig. 2, the pair of second cover insertion portions 113b are bent downward in a state where the opening portion 110a of the outer case 110 is closed by the upper cover 113, and are inserted into the inside of the pair of left and right side walls 112 extending in the longitudinal direction inside the opening portion 110 a. Thus, the second cover insertion portion 113b of the upper cover 113 is disposed between the pair of left and right side walls 112 extending in the longitudinal direction of the outer box 110 and the cushion material 120 housed inside the outer box 110. That is, a gap for disposing the second cover insertion portion 113b of the upper cover 113 is provided between the pair of left and right side walls 112 extending in the longitudinal direction of the outer box 110 and the cushion member 120 housed inside the outer box 110.

In the outer box 110, for example, the lower surface of the bottom wall 111, the outer surfaces of the pair of left and right side walls 112 extending in the longitudinal direction, the upper end portions and the upper portions of the inner surfaces, the outer surfaces of the side walls 112 extending in the lateral direction on the front and back surfaces, and the outer surface of the upper cover 113 facing the outside of the outer box 110 are glossy and smooth exterior surfaces. In the outer box 110, for example, the upper surface of the bottom wall 111, the lower portions of the inner surfaces of the pair of left and right side walls 112 extending in the vertical direction, the inner surfaces of the side walls 112 extending in the lateral direction on the front and rear surfaces, and the inner surface of the upper cover 113 facing the inside of the outer box 110 are interior surfaces on which the raw material is exposed.

As shown in fig. 1, the outer box 110 may have engaging

portions

117a and 117b that engage with each other on the outer surface of the inner portion of the front side wall 112 and the inner surface of the outer portion of the front side wall 112, which face each other. The engaging

portions

117a and 117b are not particularly limited, and for example, Hook and loop fasteners (Hook and loop fasteners), snap fasteners, magnets, and removable and re-attachable adhesive tapes can be used. As shown in fig. 1, the outer surface of the inner portion of the side wall 112 on the front side of the outer box 110, which is one surface on which the engaging portion 117a is provided, is directed to the outer side and the front side of the outer box 110.

As shown in fig. 2, the inner surface of the outer portion of the front side wall 112, which is the other surface on which the engaging portion 117b is provided and which is connected to the front end of the upper cover 113, is directed toward the inside of the outer box 110 and the rear side of the outer box 110 when the opening 110a of the outer box 110 is closed by the upper cover 113. In a state where the opening 110a is closed by the upper cover 113 of the outer box 110, the engaging

portions

117a and 117b can be disposed at positions below the handle 115 in the inner portion of the front side wall 112 and at positions below the through hole 116 in the outer portion of the front side wall 112.

As shown in fig. 1, the endoscope housing 100 includes a buffer material 120 made of a foamed resin and housed in the outer case 110. As a material of the cushion member 120, for example, a foaming resin such as a flexible polyurethane foam, a rigid polyurethane foam, a polystyrene foam, a polyethylene foam, and a polypropylene foam can be used. From the viewpoint of suppressing the dust emission, the surface of the cushion member 120 is preferably a smooth surface having a luster.

The surface roughness of the buffer 120 is lower than the surface roughness of the inner surface of the outer case 110, for example. The surface roughness of the buffer 120 can be measured by a contact surface roughness meter, for example. The cushion member 120 has a lower coefficient of static friction than the inner surface of the outer case 110, for example. The static friction coefficient of the cushion member 120 can be determined, for example, by JIS K7125: 1999, the measurement apparatus of the reference. The buffer material 120 may be a black material, for example, and may be a color having a lower lightness than the color of the outer case 110. As described above, the cushion member 120 includes the upper cushion member 140 disposed adjacent to the upper cover 113 and the lower cushion member 130 disposed adjacent to the bottom wall 111.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the lower cushion member 130 constituting the cushion member 120 shown in fig. 1. As shown in fig. 1 and 4, the lower cushion 130 has, for example, a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and has a rectangular plate shape having a small dimension in the height direction with respect to the dimension in the vertical direction and the dimension in the lateral direction. The lower cushion 130 has a holding portion 131 for holding the endoscope on an upper surface 130a facing the lower surface of the upper cushion 140, for example. The lower cushion 130 has, for example, a convex portion 132, a hollow portion 133, and a notch portion 134.

Fig. 5 is a plan view showing a state in which the endoscope 200 is held by the holding portion 131 of the lower cushion 130 shown in fig. 4. In fig. 4 and 5, a dot pattern is arranged on the upper surface 130a of the lower cushion member 130 except for the holding portions 131 and the hollow portions 133, and the holding portions 131 and the hollow portions 133 provided on the upper surface 130a of the lower cushion member 130 are easily visible.

The holding portion 131 of the lower cushion 130 is, for example, a concave portion such as a concave portion or a groove which is provided in a concave manner on the upper surface 130a of the lower cushion 130 and has a shape corresponding to the shape of each portion of the endoscope 200. The endoscope case 100 of the present embodiment is a case that houses the endoscope 200 for medical use, for example, and houses and holds the endoscope 200 in the holding portion 131 of the lower cushion member 130.

The endoscope 200 housed in the endoscope housing 100 includes, for example, an operation portion 210 made of a hard resin, a flexible insertion portion 220 and a universal tube 230 connected to the operation portion 210, and a connector portion 240 connected to the universal tube 230. An example of the endoscope 200 housed in the endoscope case 100 and held by the holding portion 131 of the lower cushion 130 will be described in detail later.

The holding portion 131 of the lower cushion 130 includes, for example, an operation portion holding portion 135, a universal tube holding portion 136, a connector portion holding portion 137, and an insertion portion holding portion 138 that respectively house and hold the operation portion 210, the universal tube 230, the connector portion 240, and the insertion portion 220 of the endoscope 200.

The operation section holding section 135 is, for example, a substantially L-shaped recess corresponding to the shape of the operation section 210 of the endoscope 200. A part of the dimension of the operation section holding section 135 in the longitudinal direction of the laterally extending portion 135a extending in the lateral direction of the lower cushion member 130 is slightly smaller than the dimension of the operation section 210 of the endoscope 200 in the same direction. Thus, when the operation portion 210 of the endoscope 200 is accommodated in the operation portion holding portion 135, a part of the operation portion holding portion 135 is slightly elastically deformed, and a part of the operation portion 210 of the endoscope 200 can be sandwiched from both sides in the longitudinal direction.

The operation section holding section 135 has, for example, a recess 135c having a larger size in a part of the longitudinal direction than the operation section 210 of the endoscope 200 in the same direction. Thus, when the operation unit 210 of the endoscope 200 is housed in the operation unit holding unit 135, a gap is formed between the operation unit holding unit 135 and the operation unit 210 of the endoscope 200 by the concave portion 135c, and the operation unit 210 can be easily taken out and housed.

In addition, in the operation portion holding portion 135, for example, the dimension in the transverse direction of the longitudinally extending portion 135b extending in the longitudinal direction is slightly larger than the dimension of the operation portion 210 of the endoscope 200 in the same direction. Thus, when the operation unit 210 of the endoscope 200 is housed in the operation unit holding portion 135, a small gap is formed between the operation unit holding portion 135 and the operation unit 210 of the endoscope 200, and therefore the operation unit 210 of the endoscope 200 is easily housed in the operation unit holding portion 135.

The universal tube holding portion 136 is, for example, a substantially annular groove continuous with the longitudinally extending portion 135b of the operating portion holding portion 135, and has a first bent portion 136a and a second bent portion 136 b. The first bent portion 136a extends in an arc shape from the end of the longitudinally extending portion 135b of the operating portion holding portion 135 so as to extend along the side surface on the front side of the lower cushion 130, and further extends in an arc shape so as to draw a semicircle, for example, and is adjacent to the front of the laterally extending portion 135a of the operating portion holding portion 135. The first bent portion 136a is inclined at the bottom so that the depth in the height direction of the lower cushion 130 is deepest at a portion connected to the distal end of the longitudinally extending portion 135b of the operating portion holding portion 135 and shallowest at a portion adjacent to the laterally extending portion 135a of the operating portion holding portion 135, for example.

The second bent portion 136b extends substantially linearly from, for example, an end portion of the first bent portion 136a adjacent to the laterally extending portion 135a of the operating portion holding portion 135 toward the left side surface of the lower cushion 130, intersects with the longitudinally extending portion 135b of the operating portion holding portion 135, and is further bent in an arc shape so as to be close to the left side surface of the lower cushion 130. The second curved portion 136b extends from a position close to the left side surface of the lower cushion 130 while being curved in an arc shape so as to extend along the front side surface of the lower cushion 130. The second bent portion 136b is overlapped on the first bent portion 136a at a position closer to the side surface on the front side of the lower cushion 130 than the first bent portion 136a, and extends substantially linearly along the side surface on the front side of the lower cushion 130.

The depth of the first bent portion 136a and the second bent portion 136b in the height direction of the lower cushion 130 is, for example, such that the second bent portion 136b is shallower than the first bent portion 136a at a portion linearly extending along the side surface on the front side of the lower cushion 130. The second bent portion 136b extends diagonally rearward and rearward toward the middle portion of the right side surface of the lower cushion 130, and is continuous with the connector portion holding portion 137.

Connector section holding section 137 is a recess corresponding to the shape of connector section 240 of endoscope 200. The connector holder 137 is provided, for example, so as to form a gap around a portion that accommodates the light source connection sleeve 242 of the connector 240. The bottom of the connector section holding section 137 may have an inclination corresponding to the taper shape of the connector section 240 so that the upper surface of the connector section 240 in the height direction of the lower cushion 130 is substantially parallel to the upper surface 130a of the lower cushion 130 when the connector section holding section 137 receives and holds the connector section 240 of the endoscope 200.

The insertion section holding section 138 is, for example, a substantially annular groove for winding and accommodating the flexible insertion section 220 of the endoscope 200, and has a rear curved section 138a, an intermediate curved section 138b, and a front linear section 138 c. The rear bent portion 138a extends substantially linearly along a side surface on the rear side of the lower cushion 130 from the end of the laterally extending portion 135a of the operating portion holding portion 135, and further is curved in an arc shape along a side surface on the right side of the lower cushion 130, and extends linearly along the side surface in the vicinity of the side surface. The rear bent portion 138a extends from the vicinity of the right side surface of the lower cushion 130 so as to extend along the front side surface of the lower cushion 130 in an arc shape, and is continuous with the intermediate bent portion 138 b.

The intermediate bent portion 138b extends linearly along the side surface on the front side of the lower cushion 130, for example, in the vicinity of the side surface, and further extends in an arc shape while being bent so as to be close to the side surface on the left side of the lower cushion 130. The intermediate bent portion 138b is bent from a position close to the left side surface of the lower cushion 130 so as to intersect the longitudinally extending portion 135b of the operating portion holding portion 135 and extend in an arc shape, and is connected to the front straight portion 138 c.

The intermediate bent portion 138b of the insertion portion holding portion 138 and the second bent portion 136b of the universal tube holding portion 136 can be formed as a common groove with respect to the lower cushion 130. In this case, in the height direction of the lower cushion 130, the lower side of the common groove is the second bent portion 136b of the universal tube holding portion 136, and the upper side of the common groove is the intermediate bent portion 138b of the insertion portion holding portion 138.

The front straight portion 138c of the insertion portion holding portion 138 extends linearly rearward diagonally toward the right side of the lower cushion 130 along the laterally extending portion 135a of the operation portion holding portion 135, and intersects with the rear bent portion 138 a. The depth of the front straight portion 138c in the height direction of the lower cushion 130 is smaller at the front end portion near the right side surface of the lower cushion 130 intersecting the rear bent portion 138a than the depth of the rear bent portion 138 a. The bottom of the front straight portion 138c may be inclined such that the depth of the lower cushion 130 in the height direction gradually decreases from the connecting portion with the intermediate bent portion 138b toward the front end portion.

The hollow portion 133 is, for example, a recess provided on the upper surface 130a of the lower cushion member 130. The hollow section 133 may include, for example, a first hollow section 133a formed inside the first bent section 136a of the universal tube holding section 136, a second hollow section 133b adjacent to the front of the connector section holding section 137, and a third hollow section 133c adjacent to the rear of the connector section holding section 137. The hollow portion 133 may have, for example, a fourth hollow portion 133d and a fifth hollow portion 133e at right and left corner portions at the front end of the lower cushion member 130.

As described above, one of the upper cushion 140 and the lower cushion 130 has the concave portion 146, and the other has the convex portion 132 engaged with the concave portion 146. More specifically, in the endoscope housing 100 of the present embodiment, the upper cushion 140 has the concave portion 146 on the lower surface 140b facing the lower cushion 130, and the lower cushion 130 has the convex portion 132 on the upper surface 130a facing the upper cushion 140. The concave portions 146 and the convex portions 132 extend along both left and right side edges of the cushion member 120, and are formed continuously from, for example, the front side surface to the rear side surface of the cushion member 120. The convex portion 132 protrudes upward from the upper surface 130a of the lower cushion 130, and the concave portion 146 is formed into a stepped concave shape upward from the lower surface of the upper cushion 140.

The structure of the buffer 120 is not limited to the structures of the upper buffer 140 and the lower buffer 130 of the endoscope housing 100 according to the present embodiment. In contrast to the example shown in fig. 1, the upper cushion 140 may have a convex portion on the lower surface 140b facing the lower cushion 130, and the lower cushion 130 may have a concave portion on the upper surface 130a facing the upper cushion 140 to engage with the convex portion of the upper cushion 40. In this case, as in the example shown in fig. 1, the concave portions and the convex portions that engage with each other extend along both left and right side edges of the cushion material 120. The concave portions and the convex portions that engage with each other may be provided not on both left and right side edges of the cushion member 120 but on both front and rear side edges.

The projection 132 may have an inclined surface 132a at the upper end as shown in fig. 1, for example. The inclined surface 132a is formed on the inner side of the top portion of the protrusion 132 extending in the longitudinal direction, for example, at both lateral side edges of the lower cushion 130, and is inclined downward such that the lateral inner side is closer to the upper surface 130a of the lower cushion 130 than the lateral outer side. The laterally outer surfaces of the pair of projections 132 form a part of the left and right side surfaces of the flat lower cushion 130 without a step.

The notch 134 is a recess recessed rearward in the center of the side surface on the front side of the lower cushion 130 as shown in fig. 1 and 4, for example. The cutout portion 134 is continuously formed from the lower surface to the upper surface 130a of the lower cushion 130, for example. The notch 134 has a width in the lateral direction and a depth in the longitudinal direction that can prevent the stopper 115a of the handle 115 shown in fig. 3 from interfering with the cushion 120 and can accommodate both ends of the strip-shaped plate portion 115b of the handle 115 inside the outer box 110.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the endoscope housing 100 shown in fig. 1 in a state where the lower cushion 130 is accommodated in the outer case 110.

The lateral outer dimension of the lower cushion 130 is slightly smaller than the lateral inner dimension of the outer case 110. Thus, a gap into which the second cover insertion portions 113b on both lateral sides of the upper cover 113 are inserted is provided between the left and right side surfaces of the lower cushion 130 and the left and right side walls 112 of the outer box 110.

In the endoscope housing 100 of the present embodiment, in the side walls 112 of the outer box 110 adjacent to both left and right side edges of the cushion member 120, the corrugated paper constituting the outer portions of the side walls 112 is folded back downward toward the bottom wall 111 toward the inside of the opening 110a at the upper end portions of the side walls 112. Thus, the left and right side walls 112 of the outer box 110 have folded portions 112a adjacent to the convex portions 132 of the lower cushion 130. The lower end of the folded portion 112a on the side of the bottom wall 11 is closer to the bottom wall 111 than the top of the convex portion 132, and is separated from the bottom wall 111 by a predetermined distance. The upper portions of the inner surfaces of the left and right side walls 112 of the outer box 110 covered by the folded portions 112a form a smooth outer finish having gloss of corrugated paper as a raw material of the outer box 110.

The inner surface of the bottom wall 111 of the outer box 110, the inner surfaces of the front and rear side walls 112 of the outer box 110, and the portions of the left and right side walls 112 below the folded portions 112a are inner surfaces on which the surfaces of the raw materials are exposed as described above. Therefore, when the surface roughness of the inner facing surface is higher than the surface roughness of the outer facing surface, and when the static friction coefficient of the inner facing surface is higher than the static friction coefficient of the outer facing surface, the inner facing surface is brought into contact with the lower surface and the front and rear side surfaces of the lower cushion 130 accommodated in the outer box 110, and the relative movement between the outer box 110 and the lower cushion 130 can be suppressed.

As shown in fig. 1, the lower cushion 130 has a notch 134 recessed rearward in the center of the front side surface. As a result, as shown in fig. 3, both ends of the strip-shaped plate portion 115b of the handle 115 can be accommodated inside the outer box 110 while avoiding interference between the stopper 115a of the handle 115 disposed inside the side wall 112 on the front side of the outer box 110 and the lower cushion 130. Thus, for example, when the endoscope housing 100 is conveyed, the handle 115 can be pulled out and projected in an arc shape toward the front, and when the endoscope housing 100 is stored, the handle 115 is pushed in toward the rear and stored substantially flat along the side wall 112 on the front side of the outer box 110.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the upper cushion member 140 constituting the cushion member 120 shown in fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the endoscope housing 100 shown in fig. 1 in a state where the cushion material 120 is accommodated in the outer case 110, and is a perspective view of the outer case 110 shown in fig. 6 in a state where the upper cushion material 140 shown in fig. 7 is accommodated on the lower cushion material 130.

The upper cushion 140 covers, for example, the entire upper surface 130a of the lower cushion 130 including the holding portion 131. More specifically, the upper cushion 140 has, for example, a rectangular planar shape corresponding to the planar shape of the lower cushion 130. The upper cushion 140 has, for example, a rectangular flat plate shape having a height dimension smaller than the vertical and horizontal dimensions.

The upper cushion 140 is disposed above the lower cushion 130 inside the outer box 110, and when viewed from directly above the opening 110a of the outer box 110, the outer edge of the upper cushion 140 and the outer edge of the lower cushion 130 overlap at least partially vertically. In the portion where the outer edge of the upper cushion 140 and the outer edge of the lower cushion 130 do not vertically overlap, the outer edge of the lower cushion 130 is disposed inside the outer edge of the upper cushion 140. The upper cushion 140 does not have, for example, a through hole or a notch that communicates from the upper end surface to the lower end surface of the upper cushion 140.

That is, in a state where the lower cushion 130 and the upper cushion 140 are arranged to be vertically overlapped, any one of the following states is obtained. First, a state is given in which the entire outline of the planar shape of the lower cushion 130 coincides with the outline of the planar shape of the upper cushion 140. Further, a state is given in which a part of the outline of the planar shape of the lower cushion 130 coincides with the outline of the planar shape of the upper cushion 140, and the other part is included inside the outline of the planar shape of the upper cushion 140. Next, a state is given in which the entire outline of the planar shape of the lower cushion 130 is contained inside the outline of the planar shape of the upper cushion 140. The lower surface 140b of the upper cushion 140 is disposed so as to face the entire holding portion 131 of the lower cushion 130 and the entire upper surface 130a of the lower cushion 130 excluding the holding portion 131.

As shown in fig. 7, the upper cushion 140 has

recesses

141a, 141b, and 141c at positions corresponding to the holding portions 131 on a lower surface 140b facing the lower cushion 130, for example. More specifically, the circular concave portion 141a and the rectangular concave portion 141b on the left rear side of the upper cushion 140 face the operation portion holding portion 135 of the lower cushion 130 shown in fig. 4, for example. The circular recess 141c on the front right of the upper cushion 140 faces the connector holder 137 of the lower cushion 130, for example.

In the upper cushion 140, for example, the thickness of the portion facing the operation portion holding portion 135 is thicker than the thickness of the portion facing the connector portion holding portion 137, and the depth of the circular recess 141a facing the operation portion holding portion 135 is deeper than the depth of the circular recess 141c facing the connector portion holding portion 137. Here, the thickness of the upper cushion 140 and the depth of the

concave portions

141a, 141b, and 141c are all dimensions in the height direction (z-axis direction).

The upper cushion 140 has, for example, a frame-like portion 142 provided at a peripheral edge portion of an upper surface 140a facing the upper cover 113 of the outer box 110, and

recesses

143a and 143b provided on the upper surface inside the frame-like portion 142. The frame-shaped portion 142 includes, for example, a lateral frame portion 142a extending in the lateral direction along the front and rear side edges of the upper cushion member 140, and a vertical frame portion 142b extending in the longitudinal direction along the left and right side edges of the upper cushion member 140. The frame-shaped portion 142 has, for example, a middle vertical frame portion 142c connecting the lateral center portions of the pair of front and rear horizontal frame portions 142a between the vertical frame portions 142b at the left and right ends.

That is, the upper cushion 140 has two

rectangular recesses

143a and 143b adjacent to each other on the left and right sides across the middle vertical frame portion 142c on the upper surface 140a facing the upper cover 113 of the outer box 110. The depth of the left recess 143a of the upper surface 140a of the upper cushion 140 is shallower than the depth of the right recess 143b, for example. Thus, the thickness of the portion of the upper cushion 140 facing the operation portion holding portion 135 is thicker than the thickness of the portion facing the connector portion holding portion 137. The upper cushion 140 may not have the frame-shaped portion 142. The shape, size, arrangement, number, and the like of the

concave portions

141a, 141b, and 141c of the upper cushion 140 are not particularly limited, and may be any.

The upper cushion 140 has, for example, a stepped grip portion 144 at both side edges of the upper surface 140a facing the upper cover 113 of the outer box 110. The hand-held portion 144 can be formed at the center of both lateral edges of the upper cushion 140, for example. The hand-held portion 144 may be formed at the lateral center portion of both front and rear side edges of the upper cushion 140. The handle portion 144 is formed in a downwardly recessed step shape in the middle of the side edge of the upper cushion member 140, and has a bottom wall and an inner side wall.

The upper side and the right side of the grip portion 144 formed in a concave shape at the right side edge of the upper cushion 140 are open, and the upper side and the left side of the grip portion 144 formed in a concave shape at the left side edge of the upper cushion 140 are open. Further, the upper cushion 140 is formed with the grip portion 144, and the center portion in the longitudinal direction of the vertical frame portion 142b of the frame-shaped portion 142 along the left and right side edges is cut from the outside to the inside in the lateral direction, and the thin portion 145 is formed between the grip portion 144 and the

concave portions

143a and 143 b.

As described above, the upper cushion 140 has, for example, the recessed portions 146 that engage with the protruding portions 132 of the lower cushion 130 at the lower portions of the left and right side edges. The concave portion 146 is recessed upward and laterally inward in a step shape at a corner portion between the lower surface 140b and the left and right side surfaces of the upper cushion member 140, and extends over the entire length in the vertical direction. The recess 146 has an upper wall surface facing downward and a side wall surface facing laterally outward.

The upper cushion 140 has a step 147 at a position corresponding to the handle 115 attached to the side wall 112 of the outer box 110, for example. The stepped portion 147 is recessed upward and rearward, for example, in the center of a corner portion between the lower surface 140b of the upper cushion 140 facing the lower cushion 130 and the front side surface. The step portion 147 has an upper wall surface facing downward, a rear wall surface facing forward, and left and right side wall surfaces, and is disposed above the notch portion 134 of the lower cushion 130.

The operation of the endoscope housing 100 of the present embodiment will be described below.

The endoscope case 100 of the present embodiment is a case for housing the endoscope 200 when the endoscope 200 is conveyed, or stored, and includes an outer case 110 made of corrugated paper, and a cushion material 120 made of foamed resin and housed in the outer case 110. By configuring the endoscope housing 100 with corrugated paper and foamed resin, which are simple materials, as described above, it is possible to reduce the weight and facilitate reuse as compared with the case of using hard resin materials, metal materials, or the like, for example, and it is possible to suppress the manufacturing cost.

As described above, the outer box 110 of the endoscope housing 100 includes the bottom wall 111, the side wall 112 erected around the bottom wall 111, the opening 110a defined by the side wall 112 and opened at the upper end of the side wall 112, the upper cover 113 capable of opening and closing the opening 110a, and the coupling portion 114 coupling one end of the upper cover 113 to the side wall 112. Therefore, when the endoscope 200 is stored in the endoscope case 100, the upper cover 113 is rotated using the coupling portion 114 of the outer box 110 as a hinge to open the opening 110a, and the endoscope 200 can be stored in the outer box 110 through the opening 110a, and the endoscope 200 can be stored in the endoscope case 100.

Similarly, when the endoscope 200 is taken out from the endoscope housing 100, the upper cover 113 is rotated with the coupling portion 114 of the outer case 110 serving as a hinge to open the opening 110a, and the endoscope 200 can be taken out from the inside of the outer case 110 through the opening 110a, and the endoscope 200 can be taken out from the endoscope housing 100. Thus, according to the endoscope housing 100 of the present embodiment, the endoscope 200 can be easily housed and taken out compared to the conventional endoscope housing described in patent document 1, for example.

In the endoscope housing 100 of the present embodiment, the buffer 120 includes: a lower cushion 130 having a holding portion 131 for holding the endoscope 200 and disposed adjacent to the bottom wall 111; and an upper cushion 140 covering the upper surface 130a of the lower cushion 130 including the holding portion 131. When the endoscope 200 is stored in the endoscope case 100, first, as shown in fig. 6, the lower cushion 130 is stored in the outer case 110 and is disposed adjacent to the bottom wall 111.

Next, as shown in fig. 5, for example, the operation portion 210 of the endoscope 200 is housed and held in the operation portion holding portion 135 of the holding portion 131 of the lower cushion member 130. In addition, the universal tube 230 connected to the operation portion 210 of the endoscope 200 is received and held by the universal tube holding portion 136 of the holding portion 131 of the lower cushion 130. Specifically, the universal tube 230 connected to the operation portion 210 of the endoscope 200 is bent and accommodated in the first bending portion 136a of the universal tube holding portion 136 shown in fig. 4. Thereafter, the universal tube 230 of the endoscope 200 is further accommodated in the second bending portion 136b of the universal tube holding portion 136.

Here, as described above, the bottom portion of the first bent portion 136a is inclined such that the depth in the height direction of the lower cushion 130 is deepest at a portion adjacent to the longitudinally extending portion 135b of the operating portion holding portion 135 and shallowest at a portion adjacent to the laterally extending portion 135a of the operating portion holding portion 135. The second bent portion 136b extends substantially linearly toward the left side surface of the lower cushion 130, and intersects the longitudinally extending portion 135b of the operating portion holding portion 135. This enables the universal tube 230 of the endoscope 200 to be stored so as to cross over the operation portion 210 held by the longitudinally extending portion 135b of the operation portion holding portion 135.

Thereafter, the universal tube 230 of the endoscope 200 is further bent and stored in the second bent portion 136b of the universal tube holding portion 136 of the lower cushion member 130. Here, the second bent portion 136b is overlapped on the first bent portion 136a at a position closer to the side surface on the front side of the lower cushion 130 than the first bent portion 136a, and extends substantially linearly along the side surface on the front side of the lower cushion 130. The first bent portion 136a and the second bent portion 136b in the height direction of the lower cushion 130 have depths such that the second bent portion 136b is shallower than the first bent portion 136a at a portion linearly extending along the front side surface of the lower cushion 130. Thus, the universal tube 230 of the endoscope 200 can be accommodated and held in the second bending portion 136b above and adjacent to the universal tube 230 of the endoscope 200 held in the first bending portion 136a of the universal tube holding portion 136.

Thereafter, the universal tube 230 of the endoscope 200 is further accommodated and held in the second bending portion 136b extending obliquely rightward and rearward in the middle portion of the side surface facing the right side of the lower cushion 130, and the connector portion 240 of the endoscope 200 is accommodated and held in the connector portion holding portion 137 of the holding portion 131 of the lower cushion 130. Here, as described above, the bottom of connector holder 137 has an inclination corresponding to the taper shape of connector 240. Thus, when the connector section 240 of the endoscope 200 is received and held in the connector section holding section 137 of the lower cushion 130, the upper surface of the connector section 240 in the height direction of the lower cushion 130 is substantially parallel to the upper surface 130a of the lower cushion 130, and can be stably held between the upper cushion 140 and the same.

Next, the insertion portion 220 connected to the operation portion 210 of the endoscope 200 is accommodated in the insertion portion holding portion 138 of the holding portion 131 of the lower cushion 130. Specifically, a portion of the insertion portion 220 of the flexible endoscope 200 on the rear side of the operation portion 210 is bent and accommodated in the rear bent portion 138a of the insertion portion holding portion 138 shown in fig. 4. Further, the middle portion of the insertion portion 220 of the endoscope 200 is housed in the middle bent portion 138b of the insertion portion holding portion 138.

Here, as described above, the intermediate bent portion 138b of the insertion portion holding portion 138 and the second bent portion 136b of the universal tube holding portion 136 are formed as a common groove with respect to the lower cushion 130. In this case, in the height direction of the lower cushion 130, the lower side of the common groove is the second bent portion 136b of the universal tube holding portion 136, and the upper side of the common groove is the intermediate bent portion 138b of the insertion portion holding portion 138.

Therefore, the intermediate portion of the insertion portion 220 of the endoscope 200 can be stored and held in the universal tube 230 of the endoscope 200 held by the second bending portion 136b of the universal tube holding portion 136 while being superposed thereon. Further, the middle portion of the insertion portion 220 of the endoscope 200 is overlapped on the universal tube 230 which is crossed and stored above the operation portion 210 of the endoscope 200, and can be crossed and stored and held above the operation portion 210 of the endoscope 200.

Thereafter, the distal end portion of the insertion portion 220 of the endoscope 200 is further housed in the front straight portion 138c of the holding portion 131 of the lower cushion 130 shown in fig. 4. Here, as described above, the front straight portion 138c linearly extends diagonally right and left along the laterally extending portion 135a of the operating portion holding portion 135 toward the right side of the lower cushion 130, and intersects the rear bent portion 138 a. In the height direction of the lower cushion 130, the depth of the front straight portion 138c is shallower than the depth of the rear bent portion 138a at the front end portion near the right side surface of the lower cushion 130 intersecting the rear bent portion 138 a. The front straight portion 138c may have a bottom portion inclined so that a depth in the height direction of the lower cushion 130 gradually becomes smaller from a connecting portion with the intermediate bent portion 138b toward the front end portion.

Thus, the distal end portion of the insertion portion 220 of the endoscope 200 can be accommodated while intersecting a portion close to the proximal end side of the operation portion 210, and the distal end portion of the insertion portion 220 of the endoscope 200 can be easily removed by being disposed in the vicinity of the upper surface 130a of the lower cushion member 130. Further, the distal end portion of the endoscope 200 can be linearly stored and held. Through the above procedure, the endoscope 200 can be accommodated and held in the holding portion 131 of the lower cushion 130. In addition, the endoscope 200 stored and held in the holding portion 131 of the lower cushion 130 can be removed by the reverse procedure to the above procedure.

Next, as shown in fig. 8, the upper cushion 140 is accommodated from the opening 110a of the outer box 110 into the outer box 110 and is disposed on the lower cushion 130. Here, the upper cushion 140 is provided to cover the upper surface 130a of the lower cushion 130 including the holding portion 131. This can prevent dust and dirt from entering between the lower cushion 130 and the upper cushion 140. Thus, according to the endoscope housing 100 of the present embodiment, it is possible to effectively prevent dust and dirt from adhering to the endoscope 200 which is held by the holding portion 131 provided in the lower cushion member 130 and covered by the upper cushion member 140.

When the upper surface 130a of the lower cushion 130 including the holding portion 131 is covered with the upper cushion 140, the concave portions 146 provided on both side edges of one of the upper cushion 140 and the lower cushion 130 are engaged with the convex portions 132 provided on both side edges of the other. At this time, when the upper cushion 140 is disposed on the lower cushion 130, the convex portion 132 is first engaged with the concave portion 146, and then the lower surface 140b of the upper cushion 140 is opposed to or brought into contact with the upper surface 130a of the lower cushion 130. Therefore, when the upper cushion 140 is placed over the lower cushion 130, the engagement between the concave portions 146 and the convex portions 132 prevents the upper cushion 140 and the lower cushion 130 from moving relative to each other in a direction intersecting the extending direction of the concave portions and the convex portions, and thus prevents the lower surface 140b of the upper cushion 140 and the upper surface 130a of the lower cushion 130 from being worn in the surface direction.

In addition, the concave portion 146 and the convex portion 132 extend along both side edges of the cushion member 120, so that alignment of the upper cushion member 140 and the lower cushion member 130 is easy when they are engaged. For example, if the mutually engaging concave portions and convex portions are separated from the side edges of the cushion member 120 inside the side edges and exist in a dot shape or an island shape, it is difficult to visually recognize the concave portions and convex portions when the upper cushion member 140 and the lower cushion member 130 are overlapped, and it is difficult to engage them. However, if the convex portions 132 and the concave portions 146 extend along both side edges of the cushion member 120, the concave portions 146 and the convex portions 132 can be easily seen when the upper cushion member 140 and the lower cushion member 130 are overlapped, and they can be easily engaged.

Further, by covering the upper cushion 140 over the lower cushion 130 and engaging the convex portions 132 with the concave portions 146, relative movement between the upper cushion 140 and the lower cushion 130 is prevented, for example, in a lateral direction intersecting the extending direction of the convex portions 132 and the concave portions 146. Further, by engaging the convex portions 132 with the concave portions 146, the contact area between the upper cushion 140 and the lower cushion 130 can be increased as compared with the case where the convex portions 132 and the concave portions 146 are not provided. Therefore, the frictional resistance is also increased in the extending direction of the convex portion 132 and the concave portion 146, and the relative movement between the upper cushion 140 and the lower cushion 130 can be prevented. Therefore, abrasion in the surface direction between the lower surface 140b of the upper cushion 140 and the upper surface 130a of the lower cushion 130 can be suppressed, and generation of dust and dirt can be suppressed to prevent adhesion to the endoscope 200.

The endoscope housing 100 of the present embodiment has a concave portion 146 on a lower surface 140b of the upper cushion member 140 facing the lower cushion member 130, and a convex portion 132 on an upper surface 130a of the lower cushion member 130 facing the upper cushion member 140. Therefore, when the lower surface 140b of the upper cushion 140 is directed downward and the upper cushion 140 is placed on a flat placement surface, most of the lower surface 140b of the upper cushion 140 is in contact with the placement surface. Therefore, the upper cushion 140 can be stably arranged on the placement surface, and unlike the case where the upper cushion 140 has the convex portion, the occurrence of damage due to load concentration on the convex portion can be prevented.

On the other hand, in the endoscope case 100, for example, when the lower surface 140b of the upper cushion 140 facing the lower cushion 130 has a convex portion and the upper surface 130a of the lower cushion 130 facing the upper cushion 140 has a concave portion engaged with the convex portion, the following effects can be expected. That is, after the upper cushion 140 is removed, for example, even if the lower surface 140b facing the lower cushion 130 is placed on the ground or the like with the lower surface facing the lower cushion 130 facing downward, the upper cushion 140 is supported by the convex portions, and the lower surface 140b of the upper cushion 140 facing the lower cushion 130 can be prevented from contacting the ground except for the convex portions. Therefore, the adhesion of dust and dirt to the lower surface 140b of the upper cushion 140 facing the lower cushion 130 can be suppressed, and the adhesion of dust and dirt to the endoscope 200 can be suppressed.

In the endoscope housing 100 of the present embodiment, the corrugated paper constituting the outer portion of the side wall 112 of the outer box 110 adjacent to both side edges of the lower cushion 130 is folded back toward the bottom wall 111 toward the inside of the opening 110a at the upper end portion of the side wall 112. Thus, the side wall 112 of the outer box 110 has a folded portion 112a adjacent to the convex portion 132 of the lower cushion 130. The lower end portion of the folded portion 112a on the side of the bottom wall 111 is closer to the bottom wall 111 than the top portion of the convex portion 132 of the lower cushion 130, and is separated from the bottom wall 111.

Here, the upper portions of the inner surfaces of the left and right side walls 112 of the outer box 110 covered by the folded portions 112a become a glossy and smooth exterior surface of corrugated paper which is a raw material of the outer box 110. Then, the lower portions of the inner surfaces of the left and right side walls 112 of the outer box 110, which are closer to the bottom wall 111 than the lower end of the folded portion 112a, become inner finish surfaces from which corrugated paper as a raw material is exposed. Therefore, as described above, the lower end portion of the folded portion 112a on the bottom wall 111 side is positioned below the top portion of the convex portion 132 of the lower cushion 130, and the inner surface of the lower portion of the side wall 112 can be shielded by the lower cushion 130. Thus, it is not necessary to extend the lower ends of the folded portions 112a to the lower ends of the left and right side walls 112 of the outer box 110 in order to cover the inner finishing surfaces exposed at the lower portions of the left and right side walls 112 of the outer box 110. Thus, the cost of the outer box 110 can be reduced by saving corrugated paper.

As described above, the folded portions 112a at the upper portions of the inner surfaces of the left and right side walls 112 of the outer box 110 are formed by folding the corrugated paper constituting the outer portions of the left and right side walls 112 downward toward the inside of the opening 110a at the upper end portions of the side walls 112. Further, the lower end portion of the folded portion 112a on the side of the bottom wall 111 is separated from the bottom wall 111 with a certain distance from the bottom wall 111. Therefore, the lower end portion of the folded portion 112a is pressed toward the inside of the opening 110a in the lateral direction by the elasticity of the corrugated paper, and abuts against the left and right side surfaces of the lower cushion 130 below the top portion of the convex portion 132 of the lower cushion 130. Thus, the lateral position of the lower cushion 130 housed in the outer box 110 is positioned to some extent.

The upper cushion 140 has

concave portions

141a, 141b, and 141c at positions corresponding to the holding portions 131 on a lower surface 140b facing the lower cushion 130. By accommodating the portions of the endoscope 200 protruding toward the upper cushion 140 in the

recesses

141a, 141b, and 141c of the lower surface 140b of the upper cushion 140, interference between the protruding portions of the endoscope 200 and the upper cushion 140 can be avoided.

This can prevent dust from being generated due to contact between the upper cushion 140 and the endoscope. Further, since a part of the endoscope 200 housed in the holding portion 131 of the lower cushion 130 can be projected toward the upper cushion 140, it is not necessary to increase the depth of the holding portion 131 of the lower cushion 130 more than necessary. This can reduce the thickness of the lower cushion 130. Further, the endoscope 200 can be easily taken out from the holding portion 131 of the lower cushion 130.

More specifically, in the endoscope housing 100 of the present embodiment, the holding portion 131 of the lower cushion 130 includes the operation portion holding portion 135 that holds the operation portion 210 of the endoscope 200. The

concave portions

141a and 141b of the upper cushion 140 face the operation portion holding portion 135. This can avoid interference between the upper cushion 140 and the protruding portion of the operation section 210 such as the vertical bending operation lever 211 and the horizontal bending operation lever 212 of the operation section 210 of the endoscope 200.

In the endoscope housing 100 of the present embodiment, the holding portion 131 of the lower cushion 130 includes a connector portion holding portion 137 that holds the connector portion 240 of the endoscope 200. Then, the recess 141c of the upper cushion 140 faces the connector section holding section 137. This can avoid interference between the upper cushion 140 and the protruding portion of the connector section 240, such as the air/water feeding joint 243 of the connector section 240 of the endoscope 200.

In the endoscope housing 100 of the present embodiment, the thickness of the portion of the upper cushion 140 facing the operation portion holding portion 135 is thicker than the thickness of the portion facing the connector portion holding portion 137, and the depth of the recess 141a facing the operation portion holding portion 135 is deeper than the depth of the recess 141c facing the connector portion holding portion 137. Accordingly, the projecting portion of the operation portion 210 and the upper cushion 140 can be prevented from interfering with each other by accommodating the deep concave portion 141a in the thick portion of the upper cushion 140, such as the vertical bending operation lever 211 and the horizontal bending operation lever 212 of the operation portion 210, which are most likely to become the projecting portion in the endoscope 200.

Therefore, it is not necessary to form an opening for avoiding interference with the endoscope 200 in the upper cushion 140, and the entire upper surface 130a of the lower cushion 130 including the holding portion 131 can be covered with the upper cushion 140. Further, in the endoscope 200, a part of the connector portion 240, which is likely to protrude lower than the operation portion 210, is accommodated in the shallow recess 141c of the thin portion of the upper cushion 140, so that interference between the protruding portion of the connector portion 240 and the upper cushion 140 can be avoided. Thus, the upper cushion 140 can be prevented from thickening more than necessary.

The concave portions 146 and the convex portions 132 along one side edge of the both side edges and the concave portions 146 and the convex portions 132 along the other side edge of the cushion member 120 may be arranged in a non-rotational symmetrical manner. For example, as shown in fig. 4, the left and right convex portions 132 extending along the front and rear of the lower cushion 130 may be formed only in the rear half of the lower cushion 130 on both left and right side edges of the lower cushion 130. In this case, the left and right concave portions 146 extending along the front and rear of the upper cushion 140 may be formed only in the rear half of the upper cushion 140 at both left and right side edges of the upper cushion 140 shown in fig. 7.

In addition, for example, only two-thirds of the rear side of the convex portion 132 extending in the front-rear direction may be formed on both left and right side edges of the lower cushion 130, and a concave portion extending in the front-rear direction may be formed on one-third of the front side. In this case, only two-thirds of the rear side of the left and right concave portions 146 extending in the front-rear direction may be formed on both left and right side edges of the upper cushion 140, and a convex portion extending in the front-rear direction and engaging with the concave portion of the lower cushion 130 may be formed on one-third of the front side.

In this way, the arrangement of the upper cushion 140 and the lower cushion 130 can be uniquely determined by arranging the concave portions 146 and the convex portions 132 along one side edge of the both side edges and the concave portions 146 and the convex portions 132 along the other side edge in non-rotational symmetry with respect to each other in the cushion member 120. More specifically, for example, even if the upper cushion 140 is disposed on the upper surface 130a of the lower cushion 130 with the rotation axis perpendicular to the bottom wall 111 of the outer box 110 as the center being 180 ° reversed with respect to the lower cushion 130, the concave portion 146 cannot be engaged with the convex portion 132.

In this way, if the arrangement of the upper cushion 140 and the lower cushion 130 can be uniquely determined, the

recesses

141a, 141b, and 141c of the lower surface 140b of the upper cushion 140 can be opposed to the accurate positions of the holding portions 131 of the lower cushion 130. Therefore, the

recesses

141a, 141b, and 141c of the lower surface 140b of the upper cushion 140 can more reliably prevent the upper cushion 140 from interfering with a part of the endoscope 200, and prevent the generation of dust and dirt and adhesion to the endoscope 200.

In the endoscope housing 100 of the present embodiment, the upper cushion 140 includes a frame-shaped portion 142 provided at a peripheral edge portion of the upper surface 140a facing the upper cover 113 of the outer box 110, and

recesses

143a and 143b provided in the upper surface 140a of the upper cushion 140 inside the frame-shaped portion 142. Thus, in a state where the opening 110a of the outer box 110 is closed by the upper cover 113 of the outer box 110, the frame-shaped portion 142 of the upper cushion 140 is brought into contact with the upper cover 113 of the outer box 110 to prevent the upper cushion 140 from floating, and the upper cushion 140 can be maintained in a state where the entire upper surface 130a of the lower cushion 130 is covered. Further, by providing the

concave portions

143a and 143b on the upper surface 140a of the upper cushion member 140, the upper cushion member 140 can be prevented from being thickened more than necessary, and a space for accommodating specifications, components, and the like can be secured.

In the endoscope housing 100 of the present embodiment, the upper cushion 140 has the hand-held portions 144 provided in a stepped shape at both side edges of the upper surface facing the upper cover 113 of the outer box 110. By providing the handle 144 in the upper cushion 140 in this manner, the upper cushion 140 that is tightly fitted into the opening 110a of the outer box 110 with a small gap can be easily taken out from the outer box 110. Further, the upper cushion 140 can be easily closely accommodated with a small gap inside the opening 110a of the outer case 110. Unlike the case where the hand-held portion is formed in a slit shape continuous from the lower surface 140b to the upper surface 140a of the upper cushion 140, the upper surface 130a of the lower cushion 130 is not exposed, and therefore the entire upper surface 130a of the lower cushion 130 can be covered with the upper cushion 140.

In the endoscope housing 100 of the present embodiment, the outer case 110 has a handle 115 attached to a side wall 112 adjacent to one front side edge between the left and right side edges of the cushion member 120. This enables the handle 115 to be grasped and transported when transporting the endoscope housing 100, and enables the endoscope housing 100 to be easily transported. The lower cushion 130 has a concave notch 134 at a position corresponding to the stopper 115a on one side edge of the front side. This can avoid interference between the stopper 115a of the handle 115 and the lower cushion 130, thereby preventing generation of dust and dirt. The cutout 134 extends vertically to a position closer to the opening 110a of the outer box 110 than the stopper 115a of the handle 115. This prevents the upper cushion 140 disposed above the lower cushion 130 from interfering with the stopper of the handle 115, thereby preventing the generation of dust and dirt.

As shown in fig. 10, the upper cushion 140 is accommodated from the opening 110a of the outer box 110 into the outer box 110 and is disposed above the lower cushion 130, and then the opening 110a of the outer box 110 is closed by closing the upper cover 113. At this time, the second cover insertion portions 113b of the outer box 110 at both lateral sides of the upper cover 113 are inserted between the side walls 112 of the outer box 110 and the upper cushion 140, and are disposed between the side walls 112 and the upper and

lower cushions

140 and 130. This reduces the gap between the side wall 112 of the outer box 110 and the cushion material 120, thereby preventing the cushion material 120 and the outer box 110 from moving relative to each other. Further, since the folded portion 112a extending downward is formed inside the opening 110a at the upper portion of the left and right side walls 112 of the outer box 110, the second lid insertion portion 113b of the upper lid 113 of the outer box 110 can be guided by the folded portion 112a and can be smoothly inserted between the side walls 112 of the outer box 110 and the upper cushion 140.

Thereafter, the first cover insertion portions 113a on both lateral sides of the front end portion of the upper cover 113 are inserted into the gap between the outer portion and the inner portion of the pair of side walls 112 extending in the longitudinal direction on the front side of the outer box 110. Then, the handle 115 is inserted through the through hole 116 in the center portion of the front end portion of the upper cover 113 constituting the outer portion of the side wall 112 on the front surface of the outer box 110, and the front end portion of the upper cover 113 is overlapped with the inner portion of the side wall 112 extending in the lateral direction on the front surface of the outer box 110. Thus, the engaging portion 117a of the outer surface of the inner portion of the front side wall 112 and the engaging portion 117b of the inner surface of the outer portion of the front side wall 112, which are opposed to each other, are engaged with each other. As described above, the endoscope 200 can be housed in the endoscope housing 100, and the endoscope 200 housed in the endoscope housing 100 can be taken out in the reverse order.

As described above, according to the endoscope housing 100 of the present embodiment, the endoscope 200 can be housed between the lower cushion member 130 and the upper cushion member 140 made of foamed resin having a better cushion property than corrugated paper, and the outer side of the endoscope can be covered with the outer box 110 made of corrugated paper having a better durability. Therefore, the endoscope case 100 of the present embodiment is superior in the cushioning property required for protecting the endoscope 200, and can more effectively alleviate the vibration and impact during conveyance and prevent the occurrence of defects in the endoscope 200, as compared with the conventional storage case for an endoscope described in patent document 2.

In the endoscope housing 100 of the present embodiment, the outer surface and the inner surface of the corrugated paper as the material of the outer box 110 are white, for example, and are colored to have higher brightness than the color of the cushion material 120 housed inside the outer box 110. The buffer material 120 is a color of a lower lightness than the color of the outer case 110, such as a black color. By making the color of the cushion member 120a color having a lower lightness than the color of the outer box 110, dust and dirt generated from the outer box 110 can be easily visually recognized when attached, and can be easily removed.

In the endoscope housing 100 of the present embodiment, the lower cushion 130 has the hollow portion 133 as described above. For example, a relatively large space can be secured in the first hollow portion 133a formed inside the first bent portion 136a of the universal tube holding portion 136, and the second hollow portion 133b and the third hollow portion 133c adjacent to the connector portion holding portion 137 in the front-rear direction. Therefore, the elements of the endoscope 200 and the like can be housed in the hollow portion 133. Further, by providing the fourth hollow portion 133d and the fifth hollow portion 133e at the left and right corner portions of the front end of the lower cushion member 130, the impact applied to the endoscope case 100 can be alleviated by the hollow portions 133, and the endoscope 200 can be effectively protected.

In the endoscope housing 100 of the present embodiment, the outer box 110 has engaging

portions

117a and 117b that engage with each other, for example, on the outer surface of the inner portion of the front side wall 112 and the inner surface of the outer portion of the front side wall 112 facing each other. Accordingly, for example, when the endoscope housing 100 is carried by grasping the handle 115, the outer portion of the front side wall 112 can be prevented from floating from the inner portion of the front side wall 112, the endoscope housing 100 can be carried stably, and the upper cover 113 of the outer box 110 can be prevented from being opened accidentally.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the endoscope housing 100 can be made of a simple material, has excellent cushioning properties, prevents dust and dirt from adhering to the endoscope 200, and can easily take out and store the endoscope 200.

(endoscope case: embodiment 2)

Next, embodiment 2 of the endoscope housing according to the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 2 to 8 and with reference to fig. 9. Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of an endoscope housing 100A according to embodiment 2 of the present invention.

The endoscope housing 100A of the present embodiment differs from the endoscope housing 100 of embodiment 1 in that a concave portion 146A and a convex portion 132A are formed to extend along one side edge between both side edges of the buffer 120A in the same manner as the concave portion 146 and the convex portion 132 of both side edges. Other configurations of the endoscope housing 100A of the present embodiment are the same as those of the endoscope housing 100 of embodiment 1 described above, and therefore the same reference numerals are given to the same portions, and the description thereof is omitted.

The endoscope housing 100A of the present embodiment is a container that houses, for example, the medical endoscope 200, as in the endoscope housing 100 of embodiment 1 described above. The endoscope housing 100A includes an outer case 110 made of corrugated paper and a cushion member 120A made of foamed resin and housed in the outer case 110. The cushion member 120A includes an upper cushion member 140A disposed adjacent to the upper cover 113 and a lower cushion member 130A formed with a concave holding portion 131 for holding the endoscope 200 and disposed adjacent to the bottom wall 111 of the outer case 110.

One of the upper cushion 140A and the lower cushion 130A has

recesses

146 and 146A, and the other has

projections

132 and 132A that engage with the

recesses

146 and 146A. For example, the concave portion 146 and the convex portion 132 extend along both left and right side edges of the cushion member 120A, and the concave portion 146A and the convex portion 132A extend along one side edge on the front side between both left and right side edges of the cushion member 120A.

In the endoscope housing 100A of the present embodiment, when the upper cushion 140A is disposed on the lower cushion 130A, the convex portions 132 of the lower cushion 130A engage with the concave portions 146 of the upper cushion 140A on both left and right side edges of the cushion 120A. In addition, the convex portion 132A of the lower cushion 130A engages with the concave portion 146A of the upper cushion at one side edge of the front side of the cushion 120A.

Therefore, according to the endoscope housing 100A of the present embodiment, the same effects as those of the endoscope housing 100 of embodiment 1 described above can be obtained. In particular, the lower cushion 130A and the upper cushion 140A are more reliably prevented from being worn and the generation of dust or dirt can be prevented by having the convex portion 132A and the concave portion 146A on one of the side edges, not only on both side edges of the cushion 120A. This can more reliably prevent dust or dirt from adhering to the endoscope 200, and the endoscope 200 is held by the holding portion 131 and covered by the upper cushion 140A.

Further, by providing the convex portion 132A, the stopper 115a of the handle 115 is prevented from interfering with the endoscope 200, and the upper surface 130A of the lower cushion 130A can be brought close to the bottom wall 111 of the outer box 110A. That is, the height from the bottom surface of the lower cushion 130A facing the bottom wall 111 of the outer box 110A to the upper surface 130A is reduced, and the thickness of the lower cushion 130A can be reduced. This makes the depth of the holding portion 131 shallow, and the endoscope 200 can be easily taken out. Further, by making the thickness of the lower cushion 130A thinner, even when the upper surface 130A is positioned below the stopper 115a of the handle 115, the protrusion 132A prevents the stopper 115a of the handle 115 from interfering with the endoscope 200, and thus prevents the endoscope from breaking or otherwise failing.

In the endoscope housing 100A of the present embodiment, the

recesses

146 and 146A and the

protrusions

132 and 132A of the buffer 120A are arranged in a non-rotationally symmetrical manner. That is, the arrangement of the upper cushion 140A and the lower cushion 130A can be uniquely determined by engaging the

convex portions

132 and 132A with the

concave portions

146 and 146A of the cushion 120A. Therefore, the

recesses

141a, 141b, and 141c of the lower surface 140b of the upper cushion 140 face the holding portion 131 of the lower cushion 130 at the correct positions, and thus, generation and adhesion of dust or dirt to the endoscope 200 can be prevented.

In the endoscope housing 100A of the present embodiment, the height in the protruding direction of the convex portions 132 on both side edges of the buffer 120A is higher than the height in the protruding direction of the convex portions 132A on one side edge of the buffer 120A. Accordingly, the top portions of the convex portions 132 on both side edges of the lower cushion 130A are disposed closer to the opening 110A of the outer box 110, and accordingly, the length from the upper end portion of the side wall 112 defining the opening 110A of the outer box 110 to the lower end portion closest to the bottom wall 111 can be shortened in the folded portion 112a of the side wall 112 of the outer box 110. Therefore, the usage amount of corrugated paper can be further reduced.

Fig. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a configuration of the endoscope 200 shown in fig. 5 and an endoscope system including the endoscope 200. Hereinafter, an example of the endoscope 200 housed in the endoscope housing 100 of the present embodiment will be described in detail, and next, an example of the configuration of the endoscope system 300 including the endoscope 200 will be described in detail.

(endoscope)

The medical endoscope 200 housed in the endoscope housing 100 includes, for example, an operation portion 210 made of a hard resin, an insertion portion 220 and a universal tube 230 connected to the operation portion 210, and a connector portion 240 connected to the universal tube 230. Hereinafter, each part of the endoscope 200 will be described in some cases based on the front-rear direction of the endoscope 200 in which the distal end side of the insertion part 220 extending from the operation part 210 is set to the front side of the endoscope 200 and the distal end side of the universal tube 230 extending from the operation part 210 is set to the rear side of the endoscope 200.

The insertion portion 220 has, for example, a flexible tube portion 221, a connection portion 222, a bending portion 223, and a distal end hard portion 224, which extend forward from the operation portion 210. The flexible tube portion 221 extends forward from the operation portion 210 and has flexibility. The connection portion 222 connects the insertion portion 220 with the bent portion 223. The connection portion 222 is a cylindrical member made of a hard resin material such as ABS resin, modified polyphenylene oxide (PPO) resin, or Polysulfone (PSU) resin. The connection portion 222 connects the relatively large diameter flexible tube portion 221 extending from the operation portion 210 and the relatively small diameter curved portion 223 at the distal end of the insertion portion 220.

The connection portion 222 is provided with an objective lens, not shown, on a distal end surface to which the bending portion 223 is connected, for example. A plurality of lenses are provided inside the connecting portion 222 adjacent to the rear of the objective lens, and an imaging element is provided inside the connecting portion 222 adjacent to the rear of the plurality of lenses. The image pickup device in the connection portion 222 is connected to an image processing connection sleeve 241 provided to protrude from the connector portion 240 via an image signal cable passing through the insertion portion 220, the operation portion 210, the universal tube 230, and the connector portion 240, for example.

The connection portion 222 is provided with illumination lenses, not shown, on both sides of the objective lens on the distal end surface, for example. The illumination lens is connected to a light source connection sleeve 242 protruding from the connector portion 240 via an optical fiber passing through the insertion portion 220, the operation portion 210, the universal tube 230, and the connector portion 240.

The curved portion 223 is connected to the front end surface of the connection portion 222. The bending portion 223 is configured to be bendable upward, downward, leftward, and rightward by the vertical bending operation lever 211 and the horizontal bending operation lever 212 of the operation portion 210. Specifically, for example, a bending mechanism provided inside the bending portion 223 and bending the bending portion 223 upward, downward, left, and right is connected to the upward/downward bending operation lever 211 and the left/right bending operation lever 212 via a wire passing through the insertion portion 220 and the operation portion 210.

The distal end hard portion 224 is provided at the distal end of the curved portion 223. The distal end hard portion 224 is a member having a substantially cylindrical shape and the same diameter as the curved portion 223. The material of the distal end hard portion 224 is, for example, a hard resin material such as ABS resin, modified PPO resin, PSU resin, or the like. The distal end hard portion 224 is provided with an objective lens, not shown, on the distal end surface. A plurality of lenses are provided inside the distal end hard portion 224 adjacent to the rear of the objective lens, and an imaging element is provided adjacent to the rear of the plurality of lenses. The image pickup device in the distal end hard portion 224 is connected to an image processing connection sleeve 241 provided to protrude from the connector portion 240 via an image signal cable passing through the insertion portion 220, the operation portion 210, the universal tube 230, and the connector portion 240.

The distal end hard portion 224 is provided with an illumination lens on both sides of the objective lens on the distal end surface. The illumination lens is connected to a light source connection sleeve 242 of the connector unit 240 via an optical fiber passing through the insertion unit 220, the operation unit 210, and the universal tube 230. The distal end hard portion 224 has, for example, a treatment instrument insertion hole, a sub water supply injection hole, and an air/water supply nozzle, which are not shown, on the distal end surface. The air/water supply nozzle is connected to an air/water supply joint 243 protruding from the connector unit 240 via a water supply pipe and an air supply pipe passing through the insertion unit 220, the operation unit 210, the universal pipe 230, and the connector unit 240. The water supply pipe and the air supply pipe are configured to be capable of adjusting the flow rate of the fluid flowing inside by the operation of the air supply/water supply button 213 of the operation unit 210.

(endoscope system)

Finally, an example of the endoscope system 300 including the endoscope 200 housed in the endoscope housing 100 of the present embodiment will be described in detail.

The endoscope system 300 includes, for example, an endoscope 200, a processor 310, and a monitor 320. The endoscope 200 connects the connector section 240 to the connection section of the processor 310, for example. Thus, the image processing connection sleeve 241 and the light source connection sleeve 242 protruding from the connector portion 240 of the endoscope 200 are connected to the image processing circuit, the light source, and the like incorporated in the processor 310.

The endoscope 200 is connected to an air/water supply pump, which is not shown, connected to a fluid supply source for supplying air and water, for example, at an air/water supply joint 243 of the connector portion 240. The monitor 320 is an image display device such as a liquid crystal display device, and is connected to the processor 310. The processor 310 has, for example, a main switch 311, an illumination switch 312, and an image switching switch 313.

The endoscope system 300 having such a configuration can be used, for example, in the following procedure. First, the main switch 311 is pressed to turn on, the illumination switch 312 is pressed to turn on, and the image switching switch 313 is further switched to the first switching position. When the illumination switch 312 is set to on, the light source within the processor 310 is illuminated.

Light emitted from a light source in the processor 310 is introduced into the optical fiber via the light source connection sleeve 242 of the connector portion 240 of the endoscope 200 connected to the processor 310. The light from the light source introduced into the optical fiber reaches the illumination lens on the distal end surface of the connection portion 222 and the illumination lens on the distal end surface of the distal end hard portion 224 via the optical fiber passing through the universal tube 230, the operation portion 210, and the insertion portion 220, and is irradiated forward.

When the main switch 311 is turned on, the image pickup device in the connection portion 222 and the image pickup device in the distal end hard portion 224 of the endoscope 200 are activated. Thus, an image of the subject located in front of the objective lens on the distal end surface of the connecting portion 222 and the distal end surface of the distal end hard portion 224 of the endoscope 200 is captured by the imaging element through the objective lens and the plurality of lenses inside the connecting portion 222 and the distal end hard portion 224. Image data of an image of the subject captured by the imaging element is sent to an image processing circuit in the processor 310 via an image signal cable passing through the insertion unit 220, the operation unit 210, and the universal pipe 230, and image processing is performed by the image processing circuit.

The processor 310 generates first image processing data based on image data captured by an imaging element in the connecting portion 222 of the endoscope 200, and generates second image processing data based on image data captured by an imaging element in the distal end hard portion 224 of the endoscope 200. The processor 310 transfers the first image processing data to the monitor 320 when the image switch 313 is at the first switching position, and transfers the second image processing data to the monitor 320 when the image switch 313 is at the second switching position. This allows switching between the image displayed on the monitor 320 and the image in front of the connection section 222 of the endoscope 200 and the image in front of the distal end hard section 224 of the endoscope 200.

When the air release hole formed in the upper surface of the air/water feeding button 213 of the operation portion 210 of the endoscope 200 is closed, the compressed air supplied from the fluid supply source is ejected to the surface of the objective lens adjacent to the air/water feeding nozzle provided in the distal end surface of the distal end hard portion 224. When the air release hole of the air/water supply button 213 is closed and the air/water supply button 213 is pressed, the cleaning water supplied from the fluid supply source is supplied to the air/water supply nozzle via the water supply conduit and sprayed onto the surface of the adjacent objective lens.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to the embodiments, and design changes and the like within a range not departing from the gist of the present invention are also included in the present invention.

Claims

1. An endoscope housing for housing an endoscope, characterized in that,

the endoscope housing includes:

the outer box is made of corrugated paper and is provided with an outer facing and an inner facing, wherein the surface roughness of the inner facing is higher than that of the outer facing, or the static friction coefficient of the inner facing is higher than that of the outer facing; and

a buffer member accommodated in the outer case and made of a foamed resin, the buffer member having a surface roughness lower than that of the inner facing or a coefficient of static friction lower than that of the inner facing,

the outer box has a bottom wall, a side wall, an opening part, an upper cover and a connecting part, the side wall is vertically arranged around the bottom wall, the opening part is divided by the side wall and is opened at the upper end of the side wall, the upper cover can open and close the opening part, the connecting part connects one end of the upper cover to the side wall,

the buffer member includes an upper buffer member disposed adjacent to the upper cover, and a lower buffer member disposed adjacent to the bottom wall and having a concave holding portion formed thereon for holding the endoscope,

an outer edge of the planar-shaped contour of the upper cushion member and an outer edge of the planar-shaped contour of the lower cushion member are vertically overlapped at least in part when viewed from directly above the opening portion, and the outer edge of the planar-shaped contour of the lower cushion member is disposed inside the outer edge of the planar-shaped contour of the upper cushion member in a portion where the outer edge of the planar-shaped contour of the upper cushion member and the outer edge of the planar-shaped contour of the lower cushion member are vertically not overlapped,

the upper cushion has a concave portion on a face opposite to the lower cushion,

the lower cushion member has a convex portion that engages with the concave portion on a surface facing the upper cushion member,

the concave portion and the convex portion extend along both side edges of the buffer member,

the side wall of the outer box adjacent to the side edges of the cushion member has a folded portion formed by folding the corrugated paper constituting the outer portion of the side wall toward the bottom wall and toward the inside of the opening at the upper end of the side wall, the folded portion being adjacent to the convex portion,

an end portion of the folded-back portion on the side of the bottom wall is closer to and separated from the bottom wall than a top portion of the convex portion.

2. The endoscope housing of claim 1,

the concave portion and the convex portion extend along one side edge between the two side edges of the buffer member.

3. The endoscope housing of claim 2,

the height of the two side edges in the protruding direction of the convex portion is higher than the height of the one side edge in the protruding direction of the convex portion.

4. The endoscope housing of claim 1,

the upper cushion has a recessed portion opposed to the holding portion of the lower cushion.

5. The endoscope housing according to any one of claims 1 to 4,

a handle is mounted on the side wall of the outer box adjacent to one side edge between the two side edges of the buffer piece,

the handle has a stopper engaged with the inside of the side wall and a band-shaped plate portion exposed to the outside of the side wall, both end portions of the band-shaped plate portion penetrate the side wall and are connected to the stopper,

the lower cushion has a concave cutout portion at a position corresponding to the stopper in the one side edge,

the notch extends to a position closer to the opening of the outer box than the stopper.