JP2008074496A - Foldable container - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To form a recessed portion for an operating member constituting a lock mechanism in an upper-horizontal portion of one pair of sidewalls to facilitate an operation of the operating member. <P>SOLUTION: The collapsible container includes a pair of sidewalls 3 and an opposing pair of sidewalls 2 hinged to a bottom portion 1. First, the sidewalls 3 are collapsed onto the bottom portion from a condition in which the sidewalls are assembled in a box shape, and then, the sidewalls 2 are collapsed onto the first-collapsed sidewalls 3. A recessed portion 9 is formed for an operating member 8 of a lock mechanism 7 and 8 in an upper-horizontal portion 3b2 of the first-collapsed sidewalls 3. The operation of the operating member constituting the lock mechanism is facilitated by forming the recessed portion in the upper-horizontal portion of the one pair of sidewalls, and thereby an unlock operation of the lock mechanism is improved. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a folding container that can be folded so that a side wall disposed so as to surround the bottom portion overlaps the bottom portion.

  Conventionally, a long side wall connected via a hinge member to the opposite long side portion of the bottom portion, which has a substantially rectangular planar shape, and a corresponding short side portion of the bottom portion are connected via a hinge member. It is assembled into a box shape by standing up the long side wall and the short side part substantially perpendicular to the bottom part, and when folded, the long side wall and the short side part are overlapped on the bottom part. Folding containers with folding side walls are known, and when assembled in a box shape, long side walls or short side walls are configured to be locked together by a locking mechanism so that they do not fall down toward the bottom. As an example, the lock mechanism has a plate-like body having elasticity formed on the long side wall or the short side wall and having a protruding protrusion formed on the tip, and in the state assembled in a box shape, Formed The inner wall surface of one side wall that is not, by abutting the convex protrusions formed on the plate-like body, the side wall is configured so as not fall toward the bottom. The folding container which has such a structure is disclosed by patent document 1 as an example.

JP 2003-267361 A

  In the conventional folding container, in order to release the lock state of the locking mechanism arranged so that the long side wall and the short side wall do not fall in the bottom direction, a hand is put inside the folding container assembled in a box shape. Therefore, there is a problem in that the lock state of the lock mechanism must be released, and therefore the workability of the lock release operation of the lock mechanism is poor.

  Even when the lock mechanism is disposed outside the folding container, the pair of lock mechanisms must be moved with both hands, and the unlocking operation cannot be performed quickly. It was.

  Furthermore, in order to release the lock state of the lock mechanism disposed on the long side wall or the short side wall, the upper side portion of the long side wall or short side wall located above the lock mechanism and the horizontal portion of the lock mechanism are disposed. There is a problem that the lock mechanism has to be operated by putting a finger into the formed narrow gap, and therefore the workability of the unlocking operation of the lock mechanism is poor.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the above-described conventional folding container.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention, from the state assembled in a box shape, first, the opposite side wall hinged to the bottom is brought down so as to overlap the bottom, and then the bottom In the folding container that can be folded by tilting the other side wall that is hinged to the other side wall so as to overlap the one side wall that has been tilted first, A concave portion is formed in the horizontal portion of the one side wall located above the operation member of the lock mechanism disposed on the side wall of the lock mechanism, and secondly, on the upper surface of the upper horizontal rib of the operation member, A non-slip portion comprising a strip protrusion or protrusion is formed. Third, the operation member is colored or a colored tape or the like is attached.

  Since the concave portion is formed in the horizontal portion of the one side wall located above the operation member of the lock mechanism, the operation of the operation member constituting the lock mechanism is facilitated. improves.

  In addition, since a non-slip portion made of strip protrusions or protrusions is formed on the upper surface of the upper horizontal rib of the operation member, the finger does not slide off from the operation member. More improved.

  Further, since the operation member is colored or a colored tape or the like is attached, the operator can easily identify the position of the operation member. Therefore, the workability of the unlocking operation of the lock mechanism is improved. Further improvement.

  Examples of the present invention will be described below. However, the present invention is not limited to these examples as long as the gist of the present invention is not exceeded.

  The overall configuration of the present invention is composed of a bottom 1, an opposing long side wall 2 hinged to the bottom 1, and an opposing short side wall 3 similarly hinged to the bottom 1, as shown in FIG. First, the short side wall 3 is folded down so as to overlap the bottom 1 as shown in FIG. 2, and then the long side wall 2 is overlapped with the bottom 1 from the assembled state in the box shape. As shown in FIG. 3, the folding container can be folded into a compact and low height by being tilted so as to overlap the short side wall 3. Further, from the state shown in FIG. 3, the long side wall 2 is erected substantially vertically, and then the short side wall 3 is erected substantially vertically, so that the folded side is folded as shown in FIG. The container can be assembled into a box shape.

  First, the short side wall 3 and the lock release mechanism disposed on the short side wall 3 will be described mainly with reference to FIGS.

  The short side wall 3 has a horizontally long and substantially rectangular plate-like portion 3a. The plate-like portion 3a includes a surface of the plate-like portion 3a along the upper and lower ends and left and right end sides of the plate-like portion 3a. Peripheral ribs 3b extending perpendicularly to each other are extended. A vertically long protruding portion 3c is formed outside the substantially vertical side portion 3b1 forming the peripheral rib 3b, and an appropriate number of fitting protrusions 3c1 are formed along the side portion 3b1 on the protruding portion 3c. (In this embodiment, three fitting protrusions 3c1 are formed). Further, a notch recess 3c2 is formed at an appropriate location on the upper portion of the overhang portion 3c. In this embodiment, a notch recess 3c2 is formed in the overhanging portion 3c located between the fitting projection 3c1 formed at the top and the fitting projection 3c1 formed second from the top. An example is shown.

  Below the upper horizontal portion 3b2 constituting the peripheral rib 3b of the short side wall 3, a horizontal rib 3d parallel to the upper horizontal portion 3b2 is formed at a predetermined interval so as to connect the opposite side portions 3b1. ing. In a region R1 surrounded by the side 3b1 and the horizontal rib 3d facing the upper horizontal portion 3b2 constituting the peripheral rib 3b (hereinafter referred to as a lock release mechanism disposition region) R1, a locking member to be described later is provided. And an operation member.

  The upper horizontal portion 3b2 and the horizontal rib 3d are composed of two central-side vertical ribs 4 positioned in the central region R1a of the unlocking mechanism arrangement region R1 and side-side vertical ribs 5 positioned in the vicinity of the side 3b1. Through holes 4a and 5a are formed in the central portion side vertical rib 4 and the side portion side vertical rib 5, respectively. In addition, a through hole 3e is formed in the side portion 3b1 located between the upper horizontal portion 3b2 and the horizontal rib 3d and located in the notch recess 3c2 formed in the overhang portion 3c. And the through-hole 3e formed in the side part 3b1, the through-hole 4a formed in the center part side vertical rib 4, and the through-hole 5a formed in the side part side vertical rib 5 have substantially the same shape. And are arranged side by side in parallel.

  6 is a pair of cantilevered flat springs formed in the central region R1a located between the two central-side vertical ribs 4 of the unlocking mechanism arrangement region R1. . The fixed end 6a of the leaf spring 6 to the plate-like portion 3a is located on the center-side vertical rib 4 side, and the free ends 6b of the pair of leaf springs 6 arranged side by side are the center-side vertical ribs. It arrange | positions so that it may oppose in the center part between four.

  Reference numeral 7 denotes a pair of locking members. The locking member 7 includes a main body 7a formed in a box shape from a substantially square back plate 7a1 and a peripheral wall 7a2 formed so as to surround the back plate 7a1, and a peripheral wall From the lower side of one vertical side part 7a2 'of 7a2, it has a substantially cylindrical or substantially prismatic locking rod 7b extending in a horizontal direction substantially perpendicular to the vertical side part 7a2'. A window 7c is formed on the back plate 7a1 of the box-shaped main body 7a. Further, a locking portion 7b1 having a flat plate-like cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the length direction of the locking rod 7b is formed at the tip of the locking rod 7b over a predetermined length. The locking member 7 is preferably molded integrally with a synthetic resin.

  8 is one operation member, the operation member 8 includes a substantially vertical and horizontally long plate portion 8a, and an upper horizontal rib 8b extending from the upper end of the plate portion 8a substantially perpendicular to the plate portion 8a, A lower horizontal rib 8c extending substantially perpendicular to the plate portion 8a from the lower end of the plate portion 8a, and opposing side ribs extending substantially perpendicular to the plate portion 8a from both side ends of the plate portion 8a. The operation member 8 is opened on one side by an upper horizontal rib 8b, a lower horizontal rib 8c, and a side rib 8d that extend in the same direction substantially perpendicular to the plate portion 8a. It is formed in the box shape which has. 8e is a vertical partition rib that partitions the inside of the operation member 8 formed in a box shape into two space portions A having the same size. A fitting slit 8f is formed between both ends of the lower horizontal rib 8c and the side rib 8d.

  Next, attachment of the locking member 7 and the operation member 8 having the above-described configuration to the short side wall 3 will be described.

  First, the locking rod 7b of the locking member 7 is formed on the side constituting the through hole 4a formed in the central side vertical rib 4, the through hole 5a formed in the side vertical rib 5 and the peripheral rib 3b. The through hole 3e formed in the portion 3b1 is inserted in this order, and the main body 7a of the locking member 7 is surrounded by a pair of central side vertical ribs 4 facing the upper horizontal portion 3b2 and the horizontal rib 3d. It is arranged in the central area R1a of the unlocking mechanism arrangement area R1. At this time, the back plate 7a1 of the main body 7a is arranged so as to be located on the plate-like portion 3a side located in the central region R1a. Thus, when the main body 7a of the locking member 7 is disposed in the central region R1a of the unlocking mechanism disposition region R1, as shown in FIG. The end 6b is inserted into a window portion 7c formed on the back plate 7a1 of the box-shaped main body 7a. In this way, the pair of locking members 7 are arranged in the lock release mechanism arrangement region R1.

  Next, the operation member 8 is disposed in the lock release mechanism disposition region R1. The two spaces A partitioned by the vertical partition ribs 8e of the operation member 8 are respectively provided in the main body of the locking member 7. 7 a is fitted, and a vertical side portion 7 a 2 ′ of the peripheral wall 7 a 2 of the main body 7 a of the locking member 7 is fitted into the fitting slit 8 f formed in the operation member 8. In this way, the operation member 8 is attached to the main body 7a of the pair of locking members 7 disposed in the unlocking mechanism disposition region R1, and the operation member 8 and the locking member 7 are integrally combined. Will be.

  As described above, when the pair of locking members 7 and one operation member 8 constituting the unlocking mechanism are disposed in the unlocking mechanism disposition region R1, the locking rod of the locking member 7 is disposed. The locking part 7b1 of 7b is located in the notch recessed part 3c2 formed in the overhang | projection part 3c, and the front-end | tip of the lock part 7b1 is shown in FIG. The end vertical surface 3c3 of 3c is the same as or slightly inside. Further, when the main body 7a of the locking member 7 is arranged in the central area R1a of the unlocking mechanism arrangement area R1, as shown in FIG. 7, the leaf spring 6 is a box-shaped main body. Since it is inserted through the window portion 7c formed on the back plate 7a1 of 7a, the operation in a substantially vertical state (the plate portion 8a of the operation member 8 is substantially parallel to the plate-like portion 3a of the short side wall 3). Locking members inserted into the member 8 through the through hole 4a formed in the central side vertical rib 4, the through hole 5a formed in the side vertical rib 5 and the through hole 3e formed in the side 3b1, respectively. When the upper horizontal rib 8b of the operating member 8 is rotated in the direction away from the plate-like portion 3a of the short side wall 3 with the locking rod 7b of 7 as the rotation center, the leaf spring 6 causes the fixed end 6a to move. The leaf spring 6 is pivoted in the forward direction toward the center, and the leaf spring 6 has a plate-like shape of the short side wall 3 by turning in the forward direction. And biasing force generated as a return force to 3a direction, therefore, the plate spring 6, the operating member 8 is biased so as to return to the position of the original substantially vertical state. As described above, since the operation member 8 and the locking member 7 are integrally combined, the locking member 7 is also rotated when the operation member 8 is rotated.

  As shown in FIGS. 2, 8, and 9, the long side wall 2 is provided with locking protrusions 2 a that protrude in the vicinity of both ends of the inner wall surface 2 b 1 of the horizontally long plate-like portion 2 b. When the folding container is assembled into a box shape, the locking protrusion 2a is formed on the overhanging portion 3c, similar to the locking portion 7b1 of the locking rod 7b of the locking member 7 described above. It is comprised so that it may be located in the notch recessed part 3c2 made.

  Further, at both vertical ends of the long side wall 2, a vertically long engaging portion 2c extending substantially in the direction of the inner wall surface 2b1 of the plate-like portion 2b is formed. The part 2c is formed with an appropriate number of fitting holes 2c1 substantially parallel to the plate-like part 2b with a predetermined interval in the vertical direction. In the present embodiment, three fitting holes 2c1 are formed corresponding to the fitting protrusions 3c1 formed in the overhanging portion 3c of the short side wall 3 described above.

  Next, the operation and action of the unlocking mechanism when the folding container is assembled into a box shape or when the folding container assembled into a box shape is folded will be described.

  In order to assemble the folding container shown in FIG. 3 from the folded state into the box shape shown in FIG. 1, first, as described above, as shown in FIG. The horizontal side wall 2 is erected substantially vertically, and then the substantially horizontal side wall 3 is rotated in the vertical direction. When the short side wall 3 approaches the long side wall 2, or Before that, the operator rotates the operation member 8 in a substantially vertical state in a direction in which the upper horizontal rib 8b of the operation member 8 is separated from the plate-like portion 3a of the short side wall 3 as shown in FIG. The locking rod 7b of the locking member 7 disposed on the short side wall 3 is rotated to bring the flat locking portion 7b1 of the locking rod 7b into a substantially horizontal state. When the flat locking portion 7b1 of the locking rod 7b of the locking member 7 is in a substantially horizontal state, the locking portion 7b1 is formed on the inner wall surface 2b1 of the plate-like portion 2b of the long side wall 2. Since it is comprised so that it may not contact | abut to the latching protrusion 2a, the latching | locking part 7b1 of the latching rod 7b of the latching member 7 prevents the further rotation to the long side wall 2 direction of the short side wall 3. There is no such thing. Further, when the short side wall 3 is rotated in the vertical direction, the locking portion 7b1 of the locking rod 7b of the locking member 7 formed on the short side wall 3 is in contact with the locking projection 2a formed on the long side wall 2. After that, the fitting protrusion 3c1 formed on the overhanging portion 3c of the short side wall 3 is inserted into the fitting hole 2c1 formed on the engaging portion 2c of the long side wall 2. Thus, when the fitting protrusion 3c1 formed on the overhanging portion 3c of the short side wall 3 is inserted into the fitting hole 2c1 formed on the engaging portion 2c of the long side wall 2, the operation member 8 When the hand is released, as described above, the operating member 8 has the upper horizontal rib 8b of the plate of the short side wall 3 by the urging force that acts to return the operating member 8 of the leaf spring 6 to the original substantially vertical position. The locking rod 7b of the locking member 7 combined with the operation member 8 is rotated, so that the flat locking portion 7b1 of the locking rod 7b is rotated. As shown in FIG. 10, the substantially vertical state is established, and the lower portion of the locking portion 7b1 is positioned between the engaging portion 2c protruding from the long side wall 2 and the locking projection 2a. Become. Therefore, even if the short side wall 3 tries to rotate in the direction of the bottom 1 from the state assembled in the box shape, the locking rod 7b of the locking member 7 constituting the lock release mechanism disposed on the short side wall 3 is used. The lower part of the locking part 7b1 comes into contact with the locking projection 2a formed on the long side wall 2, the rotation of the short side wall 3 in the direction of the bottom 1 is prevented, and the short side wall 3 falls in the direction of the bottom 1 Can be prevented.

  Further, in a state where the folding container is assembled in a box shape, the engaging portion 2 c protruding from the long side wall 2 is located in the notch recess 3 c 2 formed in the overhanging portion 3 c of the short side wall 3. Therefore, it does not protrude inside the folding container. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the article stored in the folding container from being damaged by hitting the engaging portion 2c, and when the article is taken out from the folding container, the article is caught by the engaging portion 2c, It is possible to prevent the removal operation from being blocked.

  When the folded container in the folded state is assembled into a box shape, in the above-described operation, the operator can operate the operation member 8 in a substantially vertical state, and the upper horizontal rib 8b of the operation member 8 is a plate with the short side wall 3. The locking portion 7b1 formed on the locking rod 7b of the locking member 7 is rotated in a direction away from the shape portion 3a, and the operation member 8 is rotated by the operator. Alternatively, the short side wall 3 can be assembled in a substantially vertical state while the operation member 8 remains in a substantially vertical state. That is, in the middle of turning the short side wall 3 in the vertical direction, the lower portion of the locking portion 7b1 formed on the locking rod 7b of the locking member 7 is long while the locking portion 7b1 remains in a substantially vertical state. The locking member 7 abuts on the locking projection 2 a protruding from the side wall 2. As described above, the locking member 7 is elastically supported by the leaf spring 6 disposed on the short side wall 3. Therefore, when the short side wall 3 is further rotated in the vertical direction, the locking member 7 comes into contact with the locking projection 2a projecting from the long side wall 2 and the transparent rib formed on the central side vertical rib 4 is provided. The hole 4a, the through hole 5a formed in the side portion side vertical rib 5 and the engaging rod 7b of the engaging member 7 inserted through the through hole 3e formed in the side portion 3b1 are rotated about the engagement. The stop portion 7b1 is in a substantially horizontal state, and can get over the locking protrusion portion 2a protruding from the long side wall 2. After the locking portion 7b1 formed on the locking rod 7b of the locking member 7 gets over the locking projection 2a protruding from the long side wall 2, as described above, by the urging force of the leaf spring 6 The operation member 8 returns to a substantially vertical state.

  In order to fold the container shown in FIG. 3 from the state in which the folding container shown in FIG. 1 is assembled into a box shape, the operator places the operation member 8 in a substantially vertical state above the operation member 8. The horizontal rib 8b is rotated in a direction away from the plate-like portion 3a of the short side wall 3, and the locking rod 7b of the locking member 7 disposed on the short side wall 3 is rotated, so that the locking rod 7b is flat. The locking part 7b1 is brought into a substantially horizontal state. When the locking portion 7b1 of the locking rod 7b is substantially horizontal, the lower end (right end in FIG. 11) of the locking portion 7b1 is formed on the long side wall 2 as shown in FIG. Since it is located above the locking projection 2a, the locking portion 7b1 of the locking rod 7b is formed on the long side wall 2 even if the short side wall 3 is tilted toward the bottom 1 in this state. Therefore, the short side wall 3 can be brought down so as to overlap the bottom portion 1. Thereafter, the folding container is folded as shown in FIG. 3 by tilting the long side wall 2 so as to overlap the short side wall 3 superimposed on the bottom 1.

  The above-described rotation operation of the operation member 8 is performed by rotating the upper horizontal rib 8b of the operation member 8 disposed on one short side wall 3 by pushing the outer horizontal rib 8b outward with a finger of the right hand, for example. For example, the upper horizontal rib 8b of the operation member 8 disposed on one short side wall 3 is rotated by pushing it outward with a finger of the left hand. In order to perform easily, the upper horizontal part 3b2 which comprises the peripheral rib 3b of the short side wall 3 located above the operation member 8 is notched, and the recessed part 9 into which an operator's finger can be inserted into the upper horizontal part 3b2 Is provided. Further, on the upper surface of the upper horizontal rib 8b of the operation member 8, an anti-slip portion 8g made up of a number of anti-slip strip protrusions or protrusions is provided as necessary. Further, the upper horizontal rib 8b of the operation member 8 is colored, or a colored tape or the like is attached so that the operator can easily identify the position of the operation member 8. You can also.

  As described above, when the folding container assembled in the box shape is folded, the operation member 8 disposed in the unlocking mechanism disposition region R1 of the short side wall 3 is moved by a single operation. The locked state of the locking projection 2a protruding from the long side wall 2 and the locking portion 7b1 formed on the locking rod 7b of the locking member 7 into which the operation member 8 is combined can be released. Therefore, the workability of the unlocking operation of the locked state between the long side wall 2 and the short side wall 3 is improved.

  In the above-described embodiment, when folding the folding container assembled in a box shape, an example is shown in which the short side wall 3 is first tilted and then the long side wall 2 is tilted. It is also possible to configure so that the short side wall 3 is then defeated. In this case, as a matter of course, the unlocking mechanism composed of the locking member 7 and the operation member 8 described above is disposed on the long side wall 2, and the locking projection protrudes from the short side wall 3. It will be.

  Since the present invention has the above-described configuration, the following effects can be achieved.

  Since the concave portion is formed in the horizontal portion of the one side wall located above the operation member of the lock mechanism, the operation of the operation member constituting the lock mechanism is facilitated. improves.

  Since a non-slip portion made of strip protrusions or protrusions is formed on the upper surface of the upper horizontal rib of the operation member, the finger does not slide off from the operation member, so the workability of unlocking work of the lock mechanism is reduced. More improved.

  Since the operation member is colored or a colored tape or the like is attached, the operator can easily identify the position of the operation member, thus further improving the workability of the lock mechanism unlocking operation. To do.

  The locking state of the locking member of the locking member constituting the unlocking mechanism and the locking projection formed on the other side wall is released by the rotation of the unlocking mechanism disposed on the one side wall. Thus, the unlocking operation of the locking mechanism of the adjacent side wall can be performed by a single operation of turning the unlocking mechanism, and thus the workability of the unlocking operation is improved.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the folding container of the present invention assembled in a box shape. FIG. 2 is a perspective view during the assembly of the folding container of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the folded container of the present invention in a folded state. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the unlocking mechanism disposed on the short side wall of the folding container of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the unlocking mechanism disposed on the short side wall of the folding container according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of the short side wall of the folding container of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of the short side wall of the folding container of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a front view of the short side wall of the folding container of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of the folding container in a state where the short side wall of the folding container of the present invention is rotating. FIG. 10 is a partial vertical sectional view along the long side wall in the vicinity of the unlocking mechanism arranged on the short side wall of the folding container of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a partial vertical sectional view along the long side wall in the vicinity of the unlocking mechanism disposed on the short side wall of the folding container of the present invention similar to FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... Bottom 2 ... Long Side Wall 2a ... ·························· Locking protrusion 2c・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Short side wall 3c ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Overhang 7 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Locking member 7b ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Locking rod 7b1 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・・ ・ ・ ・ Locking part 8 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Operation member

Claims (3)

  From the state assembled in the box shape, firstly, the opposite side wall hinged to the bottom is brought down so as to overlap the bottom, and then the other side wall similarly hinged to the bottom is In a folding container that can be folded by being tilted so as to overlap with the one side wall that has been tilted first, it is positioned above the operation member of the lock mechanism disposed on the one side wall that has been tilted first. A folding container, wherein a concave portion is formed in a horizontal portion of the one side wall.   The folding container according to claim 1, wherein an anti-slip portion made of a strip protrusion or a protrusion is formed on the upper surface of the upper horizontal rib of the operation member.   The folding container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the operation member is colored or a colored tape or the like is attached thereto.

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