JP6886300B2 - Endoscope case - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an endoscope case for accommodating an endoscope.

Conventionally, an endoscope storage case for accommodating an endoscope scoop on which an electronic component such as a solid-state image sensor is mounted has been known (see Patent Document 1 below). In the conventional endoscope storage case described in Patent Document 1, the case housing is made of a recyclable material. The endoscope storage case is composed of a case housing made of corrugated cardboard, and an upper cushioning material and a lower cushioning material made of conductive foamed polyethylene housed in the case housing. The case housing includes a flat rectangular case body. The case body has an opening on one side along the thickness direction, and the opening is closed by four flaps provided on four peripheral sides.

Further, there is disclosed a storage case for an endoscope for storing an endoscope, which is provided with an interior material in which holding portions for positioning the endoscope are projected at a plurality of plate-shaped members (the following). See Patent Document 2). The conventional storage case for an endoscope described in Patent Document 2 includes a flat rectangular case body made of corrugated cardboard, a lower cushioning material constituting the interior material incorporated in the case body, and a lower portion thereof. It has an upper cushioning material provided with an opening through which a holding piece formed in the cushioning material passes. The case body is open on one side in the thickness direction. This opening can be closed by a case top lid whose rear end is connected to the case body.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 9-84744 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 11-192200

In the conventional endoscope storage case described in Patent Document 1, it is complicated to take out and store the endoscope. For example, when removing the endoscopic scope, the inner box-shaped upper cushioning material and the lower cushioning material housed inside the case body are completely pulled out from the opening on one side along the thickness direction of the flat case body. There is a need. Furthermore, the upper cushioning material and the lower cushioning material extracted from the case body are arranged so that the lower cushioning material is on the bottom, and the upper cushioning material covering the upper part of the lower cushioning material is removed to finally make the endoscope scope. Can be taken out.

On the other hand, in the conventional storage case for an endoscope described in Patent Document 2, the case body is arranged so that the case top lid is on the top when the stored endoscope is taken out, and the front end side of the case top lid side. Lift up. As a result, the connecting portion between the rear end of the case upper lid and the case main body functions as a hinge, the case upper lid opens upward, and the endoscope can be taken out. Therefore, as compared with the endoscope storage case described in Patent Document 1, the endoscope can be easily taken out, and the endoscope can be easily stored by the reverse procedure.

However, in the storage case for an endoscope described in Patent Document 2, since the material of the lower cushioning material and the upper cushioning material is corrugated cardboard, for example, opening and closing of the case upper lid, taking out the endoscope, or endoscopy Cushioning and dust generated by rubbing when the mirror is stored easily adheres to the endoscope. Further, if the material of the lower cushioning material and the upper cushioning material is corrugated cardboard, the cushioning property required for protecting the endoscope is insufficient, and there is a possibility that the endoscope may malfunction due to vibration or impact during transportation.

Further, in the conventional endoscope storage case described in Patent Document 1, when the upper surface of the lower cushioning material is covered with the upper cushioning material, the flat upper surface of the lower cushioning material and the flat upper cushioning material are flat. It is in contact with the lower surface. Therefore, for example, when inserting or removing the upper cushioning material and the lower cushioning material from the case body, or arranging or removing the upper cushioning material from the lower cushioning material, the lower surface of the upper cushioning material and the upper surface of the lower cushioning material face each other. It may rub in the direction and generate dust and dirt.

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

In order to achieve the above object, the endoscope case of the present invention is an endoscope case for storing an endoscope, and is an outer box made of corrugated cardboard and a foam resin housed in the outer box. The outer box comprises a bottom wall, a side wall erected around the bottom wall, an opening defined by the side wall and opened at the upper end of the side wall, and the outer box. It has an upper lid that can open and close the opening, and a connecting portion that connects one end of the upper lid to the side wall, and the cushioning material includes an upper cushioning material arranged adjacent to the upper lid and the endoscope. The upper cushioning material and the lower cushioning material have a lower cushioning material in which a concave holding portion is formed and is arranged adjacent to the bottom wall, and one of the upper cushioning material and the lower cushioning material has a recess and the other is said to be. It has a convex portion that engages with the concave portion, and the concave portion and the convex portion extend along both side edges of the cushioning material.

The outer box and cushioning material constituting the endoscope case of the present invention are made of corrugated cardboard and foamed resin, which are simple materials, respectively. Therefore, the endoscope case of the present invention can be reduced in weight, easily recycled, and the manufacturing cost can be suppressed.

When the endoscope is housed in the endoscope case of the present invention, for example, the endoscope case is arranged so that the bottom wall of the outer box faces down. Then, the upper lid that closes the opening of the outer box is opened by rotating the connecting portion that connects one end of the upper lid and the side wall of the outer box as a hinge to open the opening of the outer box. Next, the upper cushioning material contained in the outer box and covering the entire upper surface of the lower cushioning material including the holding portion is taken out from the opening of the outer box.

Next, the endoscope is housed inside the outer box through the opening of the outer box, and the endoscope is arranged and held in the holding portion of the lower cushioning material housed in the outer box. The holding portion of the lower cushioning material is, for example, a recess or a groove recessed in the upper surface of the lower cushioning material and having a shape corresponding to the shape of each part of the endoscope. Next, the upper cushioning material is housed from the opening of the outer box to the inside of the outer box, and the upper cushioning material covers the endoscope held by the holding portion of the lower cushioning material and the upper surface of the lower cushioning material.

At this time, of the upper cushioning material and the lower cushioning material, the concave portions provided on both side edges of one of them are engaged with the convex portions provided on both side edges of the other. At this time, when the upper cushioning material is arranged on the lower cushioning material, the convex portion is first engaged with the concave portion, and then the lower surface of the upper cushioning material and the upper surface of the lower cushioning material face or abut against each other. Therefore, when the upper cushioning material is placed on the lower cushioning material, the engagement between the concave portion and the convex portion prevents the relative movement of the upper cushioning material and the lower cushioning material in the direction intersecting these extending directions. It is possible to suppress rubbing between the lower surface of the upper cushioning material and the upper surface of the lower cushioning material in the surface direction.

Further, since the concave portion and the convex portion extend along both side edges of the cushioning material, it is easy to align the upper cushioning material and the lower cushioning material when engaging them. For example, if the recesses and protrusions are present inside the side edges of the cushioning material in a point-like or island-like manner separated from the side edges, the recesses and protrusions are formed when the upper cushioning material is overlapped with the lower cushioning material. It becomes difficult to see and engage these. However, if the convex portion and the concave portion extend along both side edges of the cushioning material, the concave portion and the convex portion are easily visible when the upper cushioning material is overlapped with the lower cushioning material, and these are easily engaged with each other. be able to.

Further, by covering the lower cushioning material with the upper cushioning material and engaging the convex portion and the concave portion, the relative movement of the upper cushioning material and the lower cushioning material is prevented in the direction in which the convex portion and the concave portion intersect in the extending direction. Will be done. Further, by engaging the convex portion and the concave portion, the contact area between the upper cushioning material and the lower cushioning material can be increased as compared with the case where the convex portion and the concave portion are not provided, and the convex portion and the concave portion extend. The frictional resistance can be increased also in the direction, and the relative movement between the upper cushioning material and the lower cushioning material can be prevented. Therefore, it is possible to suppress rubbing between the lower surface of the upper cushioning material and the upper surface of the lower cushioning material in the surface direction, suppress the generation of dust and dirt, and prevent the adhesion to the endoscope.

Next, the upper lid is rotated and closed using the connecting portion of the outer box as a hinge, and the opening of the outer box is closed by the upper lid. As a result, the endoscope is housed between the lower cushioning material made of foamed resin, which has better cushioning properties than corrugated cardboard, and the upper cushioning material, and the outside thereof is covered with a corrugated cardboard outer box having excellent durability. Can be done. Therefore, the endoscope case of the present invention is superior to the conventional endoscope storage case described in Patent Document 2 in the cushioning property required for protecting the endoscope, and is resistant to vibrations and shocks during transportation. It can be alleviated more effectively to prevent the endoscope from malfunctioning.

Further, by arranging and holding the endoscope in the holding portion of the lower cushioning material and covering the upper surface of the lower cushioning material including the holding portion with the upper cushioning material, dust is formed between the lower cushioning material and the upper cushioning material. It is possible to prevent dust from entering. Therefore, according to the endoscope case of the present invention, it is possible to prevent dust and dirt from adhering to the endoscope which is held by the holding portion provided on the lower cushioning material and covered with the upper cushioning material. ..

When taking out the endoscope housed in the endoscope case of the present invention, for example, the endoscope case is arranged so that the bottom wall of the outer box is on the bottom, and the connecting portion between one end of the upper lid of the outer box and the side wall is provided. The upper lid is rotated upward to open the opening of the outer box. Next, the upper cushioning material contained in the outer box and covering the upper surface of the lower cushioning material including the holding portion is taken out from the opening of the outer box. This makes it possible to take out the endoscope held by the holding portion of the lower cushioning material.

As described above, in the endoscope case of the present invention, the endoscope can be used as an endoscope simply by opening and closing the upper lid with the connecting portion of the outer box as a hinge and inserting and removing the upper cushioning material through the opening of the outer box. It can be stored in a case and the endoscope can be taken out of the endoscope case. Therefore, according to the endoscope case of the present invention, it is possible to facilitate the storage and removal of the endoscope as compared with the conventional endoscope storage case described in Patent Document 1.

Further, as described above, the recesses provided on both side edges of the upper cushioning material and the lower cushioning material are engaged with the convex portions provided on both side edges of the other. Therefore, when the upper cushioning material covering the upper surface of the lower cushioning material is removed, the relative movement of the upper cushioning material and the lower cushioning material in the direction intersecting the extending direction of the concave portion and the convex portion is suppressed. Therefore, when removing the upper cushioning material that covers the upper surface of the lower cushioning material, the rubbing of the lower surface of the upper cushioning material and the lower surface of the lower cushioning material in the surface direction is suppressed, and the generation of dust and dirt is suppressed for the endoscope. It is possible to prevent adhesion to. The upper cushioning material and the lower cushioning material may have a concave portion on one side and a convex portion engaging with the concave portion on the other side.

For example, in the endoscope case, the upper cushioning material has the convex portion on the surface facing the lower cushioning material, and the lower cushioning material has the concave portion on the surface facing the upper cushioning material. You may. In this case, after removing the upper cushioning material, for example, even if the upper cushioning material is placed on the floor surface with the surface facing the lower cushioning material facing down, the upper cushioning material is supported by the convex portion and the upper cushioning material facing the lower cushioning material is supported. It is possible to prevent the lower surface of the floor from coming into contact with the floor surface except for the convex portion. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the adhesion of dust and dirt to the lower surface of the upper cushioning material facing the lower cushioning material, and to suppress the adhesion of dust and dirt to the endoscope.

Further, in the endoscope case, the upper cushioning material has the recess on the surface facing the lower cushioning material, and the lower cushioning material has the convex portion on the surface facing the upper cushioning material. You may. In this case, unlike the case where the upper cushioning material has a convex portion on the surface facing the lower cushioning material as described above, the upper cushioning material is flat with the surface facing the lower cushioning material facing down. When placed on the mounting surface, most of the surface of the upper cushioning material facing the lower cushioning material is in contact with the mounting surface. Therefore, the upper cushioning material can be stably arranged on the mounting surface, and unlike the case where the upper cushioning material has a convex portion, it is possible to prevent the load from being concentrated on the convex portion and being damaged.

As described above, when the lower cushioning material has protrusions on both side edges, the endoscope case can further include the following configuration. That is, in the endoscope case, the side wall of the outer box adjacent to both side edges of the lower cushioning material has the corrugated cardboard paper constituting the outer portion of the side wall of the opening at the upper end of the side wall. It has a folded portion that is folded inward toward the bottom wall and is adjacent to the convex portion, and the end portion of the folded portion on the bottom wall side is closer to the bottom wall than the top portion of the convex portion and said. It may be separated from the bottom wall.

As a result, in the inner portion of the side wall of the outer box, the portion on the bottom wall side of the folded portion can be covered by both side surfaces of the lower cushioning material. Therefore, it is not necessary to extend the folded portion to the bottom wall, and the amount of corrugated cardboard used can be reduced. Further, the elasticity of the corrugated cardboard can urge the folded portion toward the inside of the outer box to bring it into contact with the side surface of the lower cushioning material, and the folded portion can position the lower cushioning material to a certain extent. It will be possible.

Further, in the endoscope case, the concave portion and the convex portion may extend along one side edge between the both side edges of the cushioning material. As a result, the concave portion and the convex portion are engaged with each other on both side edges of the cushioning material and one side edge between the both side edges, and the relative movement between the upper cushioning material and the lower cushioning material is more effectively suppressed. And rubbing with the lower cushioning material can be prevented. In this case, the endoscope case may further include the following configurations.

That is, in the endoscope case, even if the height of the convex portion of the both side edges of the cushioning material in the protruding direction is higher than the height of the convex portion of the one side edge of the cushioning material in the protruding direction. Good. As a result, the tops of the convex portions on both side edges of the lower cushioning material are arranged closer to the opening of the outer box, and the side wall that defines the opening of the outer box at the folded portion of the side wall of the outer box. The length from the upper end to the lower end closest to the bottom wall can be shortened. Therefore, it becomes possible to further reduce the amount of corrugated cardboard used.

Further, in the endoscope case, the upper cushioning material may have a recess facing the holding portion of the lower cushioning material. The recess facing the holding portion makes it possible to avoid interference between the endoscope protruding from the holding portion and the upper cushioning material. In this case, the endoscope case may further include the following configuration.

That is, in the endoscope case, the concave portion and the convex portion along one side edge of the both side edges and the concave portion and the convex portion along the other side edge of the both side edges are non-rotationally symmetrical. It may be arranged. Here, the fact that the concave portion and the convex portion are arranged non-rotationally symmetrically means that, for example, the upper cushioning material is rotated 360 degrees with respect to the lower cushioning material about the rotation axis perpendicular to the bottom wall of the outer box. Without it, it means that the arrangement of the concave portion and the convex portion in the cushioning material is not the same. That is, the arrangement of the concave portion and the convex portion along one side edge of the both side edges and the concave portion and the convex portion along the other side edge of the both side edges does not have rotational symmetry.

In this way, in the lower cushioning material and the upper cushioning material, when the concave portion and the convex portion are arranged non-rotationally symmetrically, when the convex portion is engaged with the concave portion, the arrangement of the upper cushioning material and the lower cushioning material is unique. It is determined. Therefore, the recess of the upper cushioning material for avoiding the interference between the endoscope protruding from the holding portion of the lower cushioning material and the upper cushioning material can be surely opposed to a predetermined position of the holding portion of the lower cushioning material. It will be possible.

On the contrary, in the lower cushioning material and the upper cushioning material, when the arrangement of the concave portion and the convex portion along one side edge of both side edges of the cushioning material and the arrangement of the concave portion and the convex portion along the other side edge have rotational symmetry. The arrangement of the upper cushioning material and the lower cushioning material has two or more patterns and is not uniquely determined. Specifically, when the upper cushioning material is rotated by 180 × n ° (n is an integer) with respect to the lower cushioning material, the concave portion and the convex portion are in the same arrangement, and the concave portion and the convex portion engage with each other. The arrangement of the cushioning material and the lower cushioning material cannot be uniquely determined. In this case, the recess for avoiding interference between a part of the endoscope and the upper cushioning material may not be able to face an appropriate position of the holding portion of the lower cushioning material.

Further, in the endoscope case, the outer box has a handle attached to the side wall adjacent to one side edge between the side edges of the cushioning material, and the handle engages with the inside of the side wall. It has a stopper and a strip portion exposed to the outside of the side wall, both ends of the strip portion penetrate the side wall and are connected to the stopper, and the lower cushioning material is the one side edge. A concave notch may be provided at a position corresponding to the stopper, and the notch may extend to a position closer to the opening of the outer box than the stopper.

With this configuration, when carrying the endoscope case, it is possible to easily carry it by grasping the handle. Further, the notch portion of the lower cushioning material can prevent interference between the stopper of the handle and the lower cushioning material, and prevent the generation of dust and dirt. Further, since the notch of the lower cushioning material extends to a position closer to the opening of the outer box than the stopper, the upper cushioning material and the handle arranged on the opening side of the outer box rather than the lower cushioning material. Interference with the stopper can be avoided, and the generation of dust and dirt can be prevented.

According to the present invention, it is made of a simple material, has excellent cushioning properties necessary for protecting the endoscope, can prevent dust and dirt from adhering to the endoscope, and can be taken out and stored in the endoscope. Can provide an easy endoscope case.

An exploded perspective view of the endoscope case according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a closed state in which a cushioning material is housed in the outer box of the endoscope case shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III of the endoscope case shown in FIG. The plan view of the lower cushioning material constituting the cushioning material shown in FIG. The plan view of the state where the endoscope is arranged in the holding part of the lower cushioning material shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the lower cushioning material is housed in the outer box of the endoscope case shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the upper cushioning material constituting the cushioning material shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a state in which a cushioning material is housed in an outer box of the endoscope case shown in FIG. An exploded perspective view of the endoscope case according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of the endoscope shown in FIG. 5 and an endoscope system including the endoscope.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the endoscope case according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Endoscope case: Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the endoscope case 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

The endoscope case 100 of the present embodiment is, for example, a container for storing an endoscope. The endoscope case 100 includes an outer box 110 made of corrugated cardboard and a cushioning material 120 made of foamed resin contained in the outer box 110. The outer box 110 is defined by a bottom wall 111, a side wall 112 erected around the bottom wall 111, an opening 110a defined by the side wall 112 and opening at the upper end of the side wall 112, and the opening 110a. It has an openable and closable upper lid 113, and a connecting portion 114 that connects one end of the upper lid 113 to the side wall 112.

Although details will be described later, the endoscope case 100 of the present embodiment is characterized by the following configuration. The cushioning material 120 housed in the outer box 110 includes a lower cushioning material 130 arranged adjacent to the bottom wall 111 of the outer box 110 and an upper cushioning material 140 arranged adjacent to the upper lid 113 of the outer box 110. have. The lower cushioning material 130 has a concave holding portion 131 for holding the endoscope. One of the upper cushioning material 140 and the lower cushioning material 130 has a concave portion 146, and the other has a convex portion 132 that engages with the concave portion 146. These concave portions 146 and convex portions 132 extend along both side edges of the cushioning material 120.

Hereinafter, each configuration of the endoscope case 100 will be described in detail. In the following description, an Cartesian coordinate system is used in which the vertical direction, the horizontal direction, and the height direction of the endoscope case 100 are the x-axis direction, the y-axis direction, and the z-axis direction, respectively. Each part of the mirror case 100 may be described. Further, in the following, when the terms are simply the vertical direction, the horizontal direction, and the height direction, the vertical direction (x-axis direction), the horizontal direction (y-axis direction), and the height direction of the endoscope case 100 are used, respectively. It means (z-axis direction).

Unless otherwise specified, the positive and negative directions of the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis shown in each figure are the front (x-axis positive direction), rear (x-axis negative direction), and right (y-axis, respectively). It will be described as positive direction), left (y-axis negative direction), up (z-axis positive direction), and down (z-axis negative direction). However, these directions are merely for explaining the configuration of the endoscope case 100, and do not limit the directions when the endoscope case 100 is used.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the endoscope case 100 shown in FIG. 1 in a closed state in which the cushioning material 120 is housed in the outer box 110.

The outer box 110 has, for example, a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and has a thin rectangular box shape in which the height direction is smaller than the vertical and horizontal dimensions. The outer box 110 is assembled, for example, by joining a plurality of sheets of corrugated cardboard cut into a predetermined shape and bending the corrugated cardboard along a predetermined crease. One surface of the corrugated cardboard that constitutes the outer box 110 is an exterior surface that has been subjected to surface treatment such as press coating to give gloss and smoothness, and the other surface is an interior surface that exposes the surface of the material. It is said that.

In the endoscope case 100 of the present embodiment, the color of the exterior surface and the interior surface of the outer box 110 is a color having a higher brightness than the color of the cushioning material 120 housed inside the outer box 110, such as a white color. is there. The colors of the exterior surface and the interior surface of the outer box 110 are not particularly limited. Further, the exterior surface and the interior surface of the outer box 110 can have any color, pattern, characters, and the like.

In the outer box 110, for example, the surface roughness of the interior surface is higher than the surface roughness of the exterior surface. The surface roughness of the interior surface and the exterior surface can be measured by, for example, a contact type surface roughness measuring machine. Further, in the outer box 110, for example, the coefficient of static friction of the inner surface is higher than the coefficient of static friction of the outer surface. The coefficient of static friction of the interior surface and the exterior surface can be measured by, for example, a measuring device conforming to JIS P8147: 2010.

The outer box 110 can be configured, for example, by cutting two sheets of corrugated cardboard into a predetermined shape, joining them, and bending a plurality of portions. Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, a bottom wall 111 arranged at the lower end in the height direction, a pair of left and right side walls 112 extending in the vertical direction or the front-rear direction, and a horizontal side wall 112 by a piece of corrugated cardboard. A pair of front and rear side walls 112 extending in a direction or a left-right direction can be formed. Further, another corrugated cardboard can form an upper lid 113 arranged at the upper end of the outer box 110, a pair of left and right side walls 112 extending in the vertical direction, and a pair of front and rear side walls 112 extending in the horizontal direction. ..

The front end of the corrugated cardboard that constitutes the bottom wall 111 of the outer box 110 constitutes, for example, the inner portion of the front side wall 112 that is bent upward and extends laterally. The front end portion of the corrugated cardboard that constitutes the inner portion of the front side wall 112 of the outer box 110 is, for example, the front side inside the pair of left and right side walls 112 that are bent rearward at both ends in the horizontal direction and extend in the vertical direction. It constitutes a half part. In the outer box 110, for example, a resin handle 115 is attached to the central portion in the lateral direction and the height direction of the inner portion of the side wall 112 on the front surface.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in the vicinity of the handle 115 of the closed endoscope case 100 shown in FIG.

In the outer box 110, for example, a handle 115 is attached to a side wall 112 adjacent to a front side edge between the left and right side edges of the cushioning material 120. The handle 115 has a stopper 115a that engages inside the side wall 112, and a strip portion 115b that is exposed to the outside of the side wall 112. Both ends of the strip portion 115b penetrate the side wall 112 and are connected to the stopper 115a. Although details will be described later, the lower cushioning material 130 has, for example, a concave notch 134 at a position corresponding to a stopper 115a on one side edge in front of the cushioning material 120. The notch 134 extends, for example, from the upper end of the stopper 115a to a position above the opening 110a of the outer box 110.

The stopper 115a has a flat plate-like shape. For example, when the arcuate intermediate portion of the strip portion 115b is pulled forward, the stopper 115a engages with the inner surface of the inner portion of the front side wall 112 to prevent the strip portion 115b from coming off. .. The strip portion 115b extends in a direction intersecting the plate-shaped stopper 115a, for example, penetrates the front side wall 112 of the outer box 110, and outside the front side wall 112, forms a convex arc shape toward the front. It extends laterally while curving.

As shown in FIG. 1, the rear end portion of the corrugated cardboard that constitutes the bottom wall 111 of the outer box 110 constitutes, for example, the inner portion of the side wall 112 on the back surface that is bent upward and extends laterally. The rear end portion of the corrugated cardboard that constitutes the inner portion of the side wall 112 on the back surface of the outer box 110 is, for example, inside a pair of side walls 112 that extend in the vertical direction with both ends in the lateral direction bent forward of the outer box 110. Makes up the rear half.

The vertical central portion of the corrugated cardboard forming the bottom wall 111 of the outer box 110 is formed by, for example, both ends in the horizontal direction are bent upward to form an outer portion of a pair of side walls 112 extending in the vertical direction, and a pair of these. At the upper end of the side wall 112, the opening 110a is folded downward inward. As a result, both ends of the corrugated cardboard that form the bottom wall 111 of the outer box 110 in the pair of side walls 112 extending in the vertical direction cover the outer and upper ends and the upper part of the inner portion 112a. Consists of.

On the other hand, the rear end portion of the corrugated cardboard paper constituting the upper lid 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. It constitutes the outer part. In the endoscope case 100 of the present embodiment, the corrugated cardboard crease between the rear end of the upper lid 113 of the outer box 110 and the rear side wall 112 connects one end of the upper lid 113 to the side wall 112. It has become. That is, the upper lid 113 of the outer box 110 opens and closes the opening 110a of the outer box 110 by rotating the connecting portion 114, which is a fold of the corrugated cardboard that constitutes the upper lid 113 and the rear side wall 112, as a hinge. You can do it.

Further, the rear end portions of the corrugated cardboard paper forming the outer portions of the upper lid 113 of the outer box 110 and the side wall 112 on the back surface are bent forward at both ends in the lateral direction, and are vertically bent on the rear side of the outer box 110. It is inserted between the outer portion and the inner portion of the pair of left and right side walls 112 that extend. Both ends in the horizontal direction at the rear end of the corrugated cardboard are joined to at least one of the outer portion and the inner portion of the pair of left and right side walls 112 extending in the vertical direction, for example, on the rear side of the outer box 110. It constitutes an intermediate portion of the side wall 112 in the thickness direction.

Further, the front end portion of the corrugated cardboard paper constituting the upper lid 113 of the outer box 110 is bent downward with the opening 110a of the outer box 110 closed by the upper lid 113 as shown in FIG. As a result, the front end portion of the corrugated cardboard that constitutes the upper lid 113 of the outer box 110 constitutes the outer portion of the front side wall 112 that extends in the lateral direction.

Both ends of the front end portion of the corrugated cardboard that constitutes the outer portion of the side wall 112 on the front side of the outer box 110 are a pair of first lid insertion portions 113a. As shown in FIG. 2, the pair of first lid insertion portions 113a is bent rearward with the opening 110a of the outer box 110 closed by the upper lid 113, and is formed with the outer portion of the pair of side walls 112 extending in the vertical direction. It is inserted between the inner part. On the front side of the pair of side walls 112, the pair of first lid insertion portions 113a form an intermediate portion in the thickness direction of the pair of side walls 112. On the front side of the outer box 110, a gap for inserting the first lid insertion portion 113a at the front end portion of the upper lid 113 is formed between the outer portion and the inner portion of the pair of side walls 112 extending in the vertical direction. There is.

Further, a through hole 116 through which a handle 115 attached to the inner portion of the front side wall 112 is formed is formed in the central portion of the outer side 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 notches are formed upward and downward at the center of a pair of long side portions along the lateral direction, respectively. It is formed to be convex.

Further, both ends of the corrugated cardboard that constitutes the upper lid 113 of the outer box 110 in the lateral direction are a pair of second lid insertion portions 113b. As shown in FIG. 2, the pair of second lid insertion portions 113b is bent downward with the opening 110a of the outer box 110 closed by the upper lid 113, and a pair of left and right sides extending in the vertical direction inside the opening 110a. It is inserted inside the side wall 112. As a result, the second lid insertion portion 113b of the upper lid 113 is arranged between the pair of left and right side walls 112 extending in the vertical direction of the outer box 110 and the cushioning material 120 housed inside the outer box 110. That is, there is a gap for arranging the second lid insertion portion 113b of the upper lid 113 between the pair of left and right side walls 112 extending in the vertical direction of the outer box 110 and the cushioning material 120 housed inside the outer box 110. Is provided.

The outer box 110 includes, for example, the lower surface of the bottom wall 111, the outer surface of the pair of left and right side walls 112 extending in the vertical direction, the upper end portion, and the upper part of the inner surface, the outer surface of the front and back side walls 112 extending in the horizontal direction, and the outer box 110. The outer surface of the upper lid 113 facing outward is a glossy and smooth exterior surface. Further, the outer box 110 faces, for example, the upper surface of the bottom wall 111, the lower part of the inner surface of the pair of left and right side walls 112 extending in the vertical direction, the inner surface of the front and back side walls 112 extending in the lateral direction, and the inside of the outer box 110. The inner surface of the upper lid 113 is an interior surface with the material exposed.

As shown in FIG. 1, 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 facing each other and the inner surface of the outer portion of the front side wall 112. You may have. The engaging portions 117a and 117b are not particularly limited, and for example, a hook-and-loop fastener, a snap button, a magnet, an adhesive tape that can be peeled off and reattached, and the like 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 a surface facing the outer side and the front side of the outer box 110.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the inner surface of the outer portion of the front side wall 112 connected to the front end portion of the upper lid 113, which is the other surface on which the engaging portion 117b is provided, covers the opening 110a of the outer box 110. It is a surface facing the inside of the outer box 110 and the rear side of the outer box 110 when closed by 113. The engaging portions 117a and 117b penetrate the lower side of the handle 115 in the inner portion of the front side wall 112 and the outer portion of the front side wall 112 in a state where the opening 110a is closed by the upper lid 113 of the outer box 110. Each can be arranged at a position on the lower side of the hole 116.

As shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope case 100 includes a cushioning material 120 made of a foamed resin housed in an outer box 110. As the material of the cushioning material 120, for example, foamed resin such as flexible polyurethane foam, rigid polyurethane foam, polystyrene foam, polyethylene foam, polypropylene foam can be used. The surface of the cushioning material 120 is preferably a glossy and smooth surface from the viewpoint of suppressing dust generation.

The surface roughness of the cushioning material 120 is lower than, for example, the surface roughness of the interior surface of the outer box 110. The surface roughness of the cushioning material 120 can be measured by, for example, a contact type surface roughness measuring machine. Further, the coefficient of static friction of the cushioning material 120 is lower than, for example, the coefficient of static friction of the inner surface of the outer box 110. The coefficient of static friction of the cushioning material 120 can be measured using, for example, a measuring device compliant with JIS K7125: 1999. Further, the color of the cushioning material 120 may be a color having a lower brightness than the color of the outer box 110, such as a black color. As described above, the cushioning material 120 has an upper cushioning material 140 arranged adjacent to the upper lid 113 and a lower cushioning material 130 arranged adjacent to the bottom wall 111.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the lower cushioning material 130 constituting the cushioning material 120 shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the lower cushioning material 130 has, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and has a rectangular plate-like shape in which the height direction is smaller than the vertical dimension and the horizontal dimension. have. The lower cushioning material 130 has, for example, a holding portion 131 for holding the endoscope on the upper surface 130a facing the lower surface of the upper cushioning material 140. Further, the lower cushioning material 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 cushioning material 130 shown in FIG. In FIGS. 4 and 5, a dot pattern is arranged on the upper surface 130a of the lower cushioning material 130 excluding the holding portion 131 and the cavity portion 133, and the holding portion 131 and the cavity portion 133 provided on the upper surface 130a of the lower cushioning material 130. Is easy to see.

The holding portion 131 of the lower cushioning material 130 is, for example, a concave portion such as a recess or a groove that is recessed in the upper surface 130a of the lower cushioning material 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, for example, a case for accommodating the medical endoscope 200, and the endoscope 200 is accommodated and held in the holding portion 131 of the lower cushioning material 130.

The endoscope 200 housed in the endoscope case 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 the universal tube. It includes a connector portion 240 connected to the tube 230. An example of the endoscope 200 housed in the endoscope case 100 and held by the holding portion 131 of the lower cushioning material 130 will be described in detail later.

The holding portion 131 of the lower cushioning material 130 accommodates and holds, for example, the operating portion 210, the universal tube 230, the connector portion 240, and the insertion portion 220 of the endoscope 200, respectively. It has a tube holding portion 136, a connector portion holding portion 137, and an insertion portion holding portion 138.

The operation unit holding unit 135 is, for example, a substantially L-shaped recess corresponding to the shape of the operation unit 210 of the endoscope 200. In the operation unit holding portion 135, a part of the vertical dimension of the lateral extending portion 135a extending along the lateral direction of the lower cushioning material 130 is slightly smaller than the dimension of the operating portion 210 of the endoscope 200 in the same direction. Has been made smaller. As a result, when the operation unit 210 of the endoscope 200 is housed in the operation unit holding unit 135, a part of the operation unit holding unit 135 is slightly elastically deformed, and a part of the operation unit 210 of the endoscope 200. Can be sandwiched from both sides in the vertical direction.

Further, the operation unit holding unit 135 has, for example, a recess 135c in which a part of the vertical dimension is larger than the dimension of the operation unit 210 of the endoscope 200 in the same direction. As a result, 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 recess 135c, and the operation unit is operated. The part 210 can be easily taken out and stored.

Further, in the operation unit holding unit 135, for example, the lateral dimension of the vertically extending portion 135b extending along the vertical direction is slightly larger than the dimension of the operating unit 210 of the endoscope 200 in the same direction. There is. As a result, when the operation unit 210 of the endoscope 200 is housed in the operation unit holding unit 135, a slight gap is formed between the operation unit holding unit 135 and the operation unit 210 of the endoscope 200. It becomes easy to accommodate the operation unit 210 of the endoscope 200 in the operation unit holding unit 135.

The universal tube holding portion 136 is, for example, a substantially annular groove continuous with the vertically extending portion 135b of the operating portion holding portion 135, and has a first curved portion 136a and a second curved portion 136b. The first curved portion 136a extends from the end of the vertically extending portion 135b of the operating portion holding portion 135 in an arc shape along the front side surface of the lower cushioning material 130, and further extends in a semicircle. It extends in an arc shape and is adjacent to the front of the laterally extending portion 135a of the operating portion holding portion 135. In the first curved portion 136a, for example, the depth of the lower cushioning material 130 in the height direction becomes the deepest at the portion connected to the end of the vertically extending portion 135b of the operating portion holding portion 135, and the operating portion holding portion is formed. The bottom is inclined so that it becomes the shallowest in the portion adjacent to the laterally extending portion 135a of 135.

The second curved portion 136b extends substantially linearly from the terminal portion of the first curved portion 136a adjacent to the laterally extending portion 135a of the operating portion holding portion 135 toward the left side surface of the lower cushioning material 130, for example. , It intersects the vertically extending portion 135b of the operating portion holding portion 135, and is further curved in an arc shape and is close to the left side surface of the lower cushioning material 130. The second curved portion 136b extends from a position close to the left side surface of the lower cushioning material 130 in an arc shape along the front side surface of the lower cushioning material 130. The second curved portion 136b overlaps the first curved portion 136a at a position closer to the front side surface of the lower cushioning material 130 than the first curved portion 136a, and is substantially linear along the front side surface of the lower cushioning material 130. Extends to.

The depths of the first curved portion 136a and the second curved portion 136b in the height direction of the lower cushioning material 130 are, for example, the first curved portion 136a in the portion extending linearly along the front side surface of the lower cushioning material 130. The second curved portion 136b is shallower than the second curved portion 136b. The second curved portion 136b further extends diagonally rearward to the right toward the intermediate portion on the right side surface of the lower cushioning material 130, and is continuous with the connector portion holding portion 137.

The connector portion holding portion 137 is a recess corresponding to the shape of the connector portion 240 of the endoscope 200. The connector portion holding portion 137 is provided, for example, so as to form a gap around the portion of the connector portion 240 accommodating the light source connection sleeve 242. Further, when the bottom of the connector portion holding portion 137 accommodates and holds the connector portion 240 of the endoscope 200 in the connector portion holding portion 137, the upper surface of the connector portion 240 in the height direction of the lower cushioning material 130 is the lower portion. It can have an inclination corresponding to the tapered shape of the connector portion 240 so as to be substantially parallel to the upper surface 130a of the cushioning material 130.

The insertion portion holding portion 138 is, for example, a generally annular groove for winding and accommodating the flexible insertion portion 220 of the endoscope 200, and is a rear curved portion 138a, an intermediate curved portion 138b, and a front straight portion. It has 138c. The rear curved portion 138a extends substantially linearly from the end of the laterally extending portion 135a of the operating portion holding portion 135 along the rear side surface of the lower cushioning material 130, and further extends to the right side of the lower cushioning material 130. It curves in an arc along the side surface and extends linearly along this side surface in the vicinity of this side surface. Further, the rear curved portion 138a is curved and extends in an arc shape along the front side surface of the lower cushioning material 130 from the vicinity of the right side surface of the lower cushioning material 130, and is continuous with the intermediate curved portion 138b.

The intermediate curved portion 138b extends linearly along the front side surface of the lower cushioning material 130, and is further curved so as to be close to the left side surface of the lower cushioning material 130 to form an arc shape. It is extending. Further, the intermediate curved portion 138b is curved so as to intersect the longitudinal extending portion 135b of the operating portion holding portion 135 from a position close to the left side surface of the lower cushioning material 130 and extends in an arc shape, and is a forward straight portion. It is connected to 138c.

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

The front straight portion 138c of the insertion portion holding portion 138 extends linearly to the right diagonally rearward toward the right side surface of the lower cushioning material 130 along the lateral extending portion 135a of the operating portion holding portion 135, and is a rear curved portion. It intersects 138a. In the height direction of the lower cushioning material 130, the depth of the front straight portion 138c is shallower than the depth of the rear bending portion 138a at the tip portion near the right side surface of the lower cushioning material 130 intersecting the rear bending portion 138a. ing. The bottom of the front straight portion 138c may be inclined so that the depth of the lower cushioning material 130 in the height direction gradually becomes shallower from the connecting portion with the intermediate curved portion 138b toward the tip portion.

The cavity 133 is, for example, a recess provided on the upper surface 130a of the lower cushioning material 130. The cavity 133 includes, for example, a first cavity 133a formed inside the first curved 136a of the universal tube holding portion 136, a second cavity 133b adjacent to the front of the connector holding portion 137, and a connector portion. It can have a third cavity portion 133c adjacent to the rear of the holding portion 137. Further, the cavity portion 133 may have a fourth cavity portion 133d and a fifth cavity portion 133e at the left and right corners of the front end of the lower cushioning material 130, for example.

As described above, the upper cushioning material 140 and the lower cushioning material 130 have a concave portion 146 on one side and a convex portion 132 engaging with the concave portion 146 on the other side. More specifically, in the endoscope case 100 of the present embodiment, the upper cushioning material 140 has a recess 146 on the lower surface 140b facing the lower cushioning material 130, and the lower cushioning material 130 has the upper surface facing the upper cushioning material 140. The convex portion 132 is provided on the 130a. These concave portions 146 and convex portions 132 extend along the left and right side edges of the cushioning material 120, and are formed continuously, for example, from the front side surface to the rear side surface of the cushioning material 120. The convex portion 132 projects upward from the upper surface 130a of the lower cushioning material 130, and the concave portion 146 is provided in a stepped concave shape upward from the lower surface of the upper cushioning material 140.

The configuration of the cushioning material 120 is not limited to the configuration of the upper cushioning material 140 and the lower cushioning material 130 of the endoscope case 100 of the present embodiment. Contrary to the example shown in FIG. 1, the upper cushioning material 140 has a convex portion on the lower surface 140b facing the lower cushioning material 130, and the lower cushioning material 130 has an upper cushioning material 130a facing the upper cushioning material 140. It may have a concave portion that engages with the convex portion of 40. Also in this case, similarly to the example shown in FIG. 1, the concave portions and the convex portions that engage with each other are provided so as to extend along the left and right side edges of the cushioning material 120. Further, the concave portions and the convex portions that engage with each other may be provided not on the left and right side edges of the cushioning material 120 but on the front and rear side edges.

The convex portion 132 may have an inclined surface 132a at the upper end portion, for example, as shown in FIG. The inclined surface 132a is formed, for example, on both lateral edges of the lower cushioning material 130, inside the top of the convex portion 132 extending in the vertical direction, and the inner surface of the lower cushioning material 130 is inner than the outer side in the horizontal direction. It is inclined downward so as to approach 130a. Further, the lateral outer surfaces of the pair of convex portions 132 form a part of the left and right side surfaces of the lower cushioning material 130 which is flat without a step.

The notch 134 is, for example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, a recess recessed in the center of the front side surface of the lower cushioning material 130 toward the rear. The cutout portion 134 is formed continuously from the lower surface of the lower cushioning material 130 to the upper surface 130a, for example. The notch 134 avoids interference between the stopper 115a of the handle 115 and the cushioning material 120 shown in FIG. 3, and can accommodate both ends of the strip portion 115b of the handle 115 inside the outer box 110 in the lateral direction. It has a width and a vertical depth.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which the lower cushioning material 130 is housed in the outer box 110 of the endoscope case 100 shown in FIG.

The lateral outer dimension of the lower cushioning material 130 is slightly smaller than the lateral inner dimension of the outer box 110. As a result, a gap is provided between the left and right side surfaces of the lower cushioning material 130 and the left and right side walls 112 of the outer box 110 for inserting the second lid insertion portions 113b on both sides in the lateral direction of the upper lid 113. ..

In the endoscope case 100 of the present embodiment, the side wall 112 of the outer box 110 adjacent to the left and right side edges of the cushioning material 120 is opened at the upper end of the side wall 112 by the corrugated cardboard forming the outer portion of the side wall 112. It is folded downward toward the bottom wall 111 inward of the portion 110a. As a result, the left and right side walls 112 of the outer box 110 have a folded-back portion 112a adjacent to the convex portion 132 of the lower cushioning material 130. The lower end of the folded-back portion 112a on the bottom wall 11 side is closer to the bottom wall 111 than the top of the convex portion 132 and has a predetermined distance from the bottom wall 111 from the bottom wall 111. Separated. The upper part of the inner surface of the left and right side walls 112 of the outer box 110 covered by the folded-back portion 112a is a smooth outer surface having a gloss of corrugated cardboard, which is the material of the outer box 110.

Further, as described above, the inner surface of the bottom wall 111 of the outer box 110, the inner surface of the front and rear side walls 112 of the outer box 110, and the lower side of the folded-back portions 112a of the left and right side wall 112s are interior surfaces on which the surface of the material is exposed. Is. Therefore, when the surface roughness of the interior surface is higher than the surface roughness of the exterior surface, or when the coefficient of static friction of the interior surface is higher than the coefficient of static friction of the exterior surface, the lower surface of the lower cushioning material 130 housed in the outer box 110. The interior surface can be brought into contact with the front and rear side surfaces, and the relative movement of the outer box 110 and the lower cushioning material 130 can be suppressed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the lower cushioning material 130 has a notch 134 recessed rearward in the central portion of the front side surface. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, interference between the stopper 115a of the handle 115 arranged inside the side wall 112 on the front side of the outer box 110 and the lower cushioning material 130 is avoided, and both ends of the strip portion 115b of the handle 115 are avoided. The portion can be housed inside the outer box 110. Therefore, for example, when carrying the endoscope case 100, the handle 115 is pulled out and projected forward in an arc shape, and when the endoscope case 100 is stored, the handle 115 is pushed backward to the front side of the outer box 110. It can be stored substantially flat along the side wall 112 of the.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the upper cushioning material 140 constituting the cushioning material 120 shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the state in which the cushioning material 120 is housed in the outer box 110 of the endoscope case 100 shown in FIG. 1, and is shown on the lower cushioning material 130 inside the outer box 110 shown in FIG. It is a perspective view of the state which accommodated the upper cushioning material 140 shown in 7.

The upper cushioning material 140 covers the entire upper surface 130a including the holding portion 131 of the lower cushioning material 130, for example. More specifically, the upper cushioning material 140 has, for example, a rectangular planar shape corresponding to the planar shape of the lower cushioning material 130. Further, the upper cushioning material 140 has, for example, a rectangular flat plate shape in which the dimension in the height direction is smaller than the dimension in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction.

Further, when the upper cushioning material 140 is arranged on the lower cushioning material 130 inside the outer box 110 and these are viewed from directly above the opening 110a of the outer box 110, the outer edge of the upper cushioning material 140 and the lower cushioning material 140 are viewed. The outer edge of the material 130 overlaps with the outer edge of the material 130 at least in part. Further, in a portion where the outer edge of the upper cushioning material 140 and the outer edge of the lower cushioning material 130 do not vertically overlap, the outer edge of the lower cushioning material 130 is arranged inside the outer edge of the upper cushioning material 140. Further, the upper cushioning material 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 cushioning material 140.

That is, in a state where the lower cushioning material 130 and the upper cushioning material 140 are arranged one above the other, one of the following states is obtained. First, the entire planar contour of the lower cushioning material 130 is in a state of matching the planar contour of the upper cushioning material 140. Further, a part of the planar contour of the lower cushioning material 130 coincides with the planar contour of the upper cushioning material 140, and the other portion is included inside the planar contour of the upper cushioning material 140. Then, the entire planar contour of the lower cushioning material 130 is included inside the planar contour of the upper cushioning material 140. Further, the lower surface 140b of the upper cushioning material 140 is arranged so as to face the entire holding portion 131 of the lower cushioning material 130 and the entire upper surface 130a of the lower cushioning material 130 excluding the holding portion 131.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the upper cushioning material 140 has recesses 141a, 141b, 141c at positions corresponding to the holding portion 131 of the lower surface 140b facing the lower cushioning material 130, for example. More specifically, the circular recess 141a and the rectangular recess 141b on the left rear side of the upper cushioning material 140 face, for example, the operating portion holding portion 135 of the lower cushioning material 130 shown in FIG. Further, the circular recess 141c on the right front side of the upper cushioning material 140 faces, for example, the connector portion holding portion 137 of the lower cushioning material 130.

Further, in the upper cushioning material 140, for example, the thickness of the portion facing the operating portion holding portion 135 is made thicker than the thickness of the portion facing the connector portion holding portion 137, and the circular recess facing the operating portion holding portion 135 is formed. The depth of 141a is deeper than the depth of the circular recess 141c facing the connector portion holding portion 137. Here, the thickness of the upper cushioning material 140 and the depths of the recesses 141a, 141b, and 141c are all dimensions in the height direction (z-axis direction).

Further, the upper cushioning material 140 includes, for example, a frame-shaped portion 142 provided on the peripheral edge of the upper surface 140a facing the upper lid 113 of the outer box 110, and a recess 143a provided on the upper surface inside the frame-shaped portion 142. It has 143b and. The frame-shaped portion 142 includes, for example, a horizontal frame portion 142a extending in the horizontal direction along the front and rear side edges of the upper cushioning material 140, and a vertical frame portion 142b extending in the vertical direction along the left and right side edges of the upper cushioning material 140. And have. Further, the frame-shaped portion 142 has, for example, an intermediate vertical frame portion 142c that connects the central portions in the horizontal direction of the pair of front and rear horizontal frame portions 142a between the vertical frame portions 142b at both left and right ends.

That is, the upper cushioning material 140 has two rectangular recesses 143a and 143b adjacent to the left and right via the intermediate vertical frame portion 142c on the upper surface 140a facing the upper lid 113 of the outer box 110. The depth of the recess 143a on the left side of the upper surface 140a of the upper cushioning material 140 is shallower than the depth of the recess 143b on the right side, for example. As a result, the thickness of the portion of the upper cushioning material 140 facing the operating portion holding portion 135 is made thicker than the thickness of the portion facing the connector portion holding portion 137. The upper cushioning material 140 does not have to have the frame-shaped portion 142. The shape, size, arrangement, number, and the like of the recesses 141a, 141b, and 141c of the upper cushioning material 140 are not particularly limited and are arbitrary.

Further, the upper cushioning material 140 has, for example, handle portions 144 provided in a stepped shape on both side edges of the upper surface 140a facing the upper lid 113 of the outer box 110. The handle portion 144 can be formed, for example, at the central portion of both lateral edges of the upper cushioning material 140. The handle portion 144 may be formed at the central portion in the lateral direction of both front and rear edges of the upper cushioning material 140. The handle portion 144 is formed in a stepped shape recessed downward in the middle portion of the side edge of the upper cushioning material 140, and has a bottom wall and an inner side wall.

The upper and right sides of the handle portion 144 formed concavely on the right side edge of the upper cushioning material 140 are open, and the upper side and left side of the handle portion 144 formed concavely on the left side edge of the upper cushioning material 140. Is open. Further, in the upper cushioning material 140, the handle portion 144 is formed, so that the vertical central portion of the vertical frame portion 142b of the frame-shaped portion 142 along the left and right side edges is cut out in the horizontal direction from the outside to the inside. A thin portion 145 is formed between the handle portion 144 and the recesses 143a and 143b.

Further, as described above, the upper cushioning material 140 has a recess 146 that engages with the convex portion 132 of the lower cushioning material 130, for example, at the lower part of the left and right side edges. The recess 146 is recessed in a stepped shape upward and inward in the horizontal direction at a corner between the lower surface 140b of the upper cushioning material 140 and the left and right side surfaces, 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 outward in the lateral direction.

Further, the upper cushioning material 140 has, for example, a step portion 147 at a position corresponding to the handle 115 attached to the side wall 112 of the outer box 110. The step portion 147 is recessed upward and rearward in the central portion of the corner between the lower surface 140b of the upper cushioning material 140 facing the lower cushioning material 130 and the front side surface, for example. 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 arranged on the notch 134 of the lower cushioning material 130.

Hereinafter, the operation of the endoscope case 100 of the present embodiment will be described.

The endoscope case 100 of the present embodiment is a case for storing the endoscope 200 when transporting, carrying, or storing the endoscope 200, and is made of corrugated cardboard. It includes an outer box 110 and a cushioning material 120 housed in the outer box 110 and made of a foamed resin as a material. In this way, by forming the endoscope case 100 with corrugated cardboard and foamed resin, which are simple materials, it is possible to reduce the weight as compared with the case where, for example, a hard resin material or a metal material is used. Recycling is easy and manufacturing costs can be suppressed.

Further, as described above, the outer box 110 of the endoscope case 100 is defined by the bottom wall 111, the side wall 112 erected around the bottom wall 111, and the side wall 112, and is defined at the upper end of the side wall 112. It has an opening 110a to be opened, an upper lid 113 capable of opening and closing the opening 110a, and a connecting portion 114 connecting one end of the upper lid 113 to the side wall 112. Therefore, when the endoscope 200 is housed in the endoscope case 100, the upper lid 113 is rotated with the connecting portion 114 of the outer box 110 as a hinge to open the opening 110a, and the outer box is opened through the opening 110a. The endoscope 200 can be housed inside the 110, and the endoscope 200 can be housed in the endoscope case 100.

Similarly, when the endoscope 200 is taken out from the endoscope case 100, the upper lid 113 is rotated with the connecting portion 114 of the outer box 110 as a hinge to open the opening 110a, and the outer box is opened through the opening 110a. The endoscope 200 can be taken out from the inside of the 110, and the endoscope 200 can be taken out from the endoscope case 100. Therefore, according to the endoscope case 100 of the present embodiment, it is possible to facilitate the storage and removal of the endoscope 200 as compared with, for example, the conventional endoscope storage case described in Patent Document 1. it can.

Further, in the endoscope case 100 of the present embodiment, the cushioning material 120 has a lower cushioning material 130 having a holding portion 131 for holding the endoscope 200 and arranged adjacent to the bottom wall 111, and the holding portion. It has an upper cushioning material 140 that covers the upper surface 130a of the lower cushioning material 130 including 131. When the endoscope 200 is housed in the endoscope case 100, first, as shown in FIG. 6, the lower cushioning material 130 is housed in the outer box 110 and arranged adjacent to the bottom wall 111.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5, for example, the operation unit 210 of the endoscope 200 is housed and held in the operation unit holding unit 135 of the holding unit 131 of the lower cushioning material 130. Further, the universal tube 230 connected to the operating portion 210 of the endoscope 200 is housed and held in the universal tube holding portion 136 of the holding portion 131 of the lower cushioning material 130. Specifically, the universal tube 230 connected to the operation unit 210 of the endoscope 200 is housed in the first curved portion 136a of the universal tube holding portion 136 shown in FIG. 4 while being curved. After that, the universal tube 230 of the endoscope 200 is further housed in the second curved portion 136b of the universal tube holding portion 136.

Here, as described above, in the first curved portion 136a, the depth of the lower cushioning material 130 in the height direction becomes the deepest in the portion adjacent to the vertically extending portion 135b of the operating portion holding portion 135, and the operation is performed. The bottom portion is inclined so as to be the shallowest in the portion adjacent to the laterally extending portion 135a of the portion holding portion 135. Further, the second curved portion 136b extends substantially linearly toward the left side surface of the lower cushioning material 130 and intersects the vertically extending portion 135b of the operating portion holding portion 135. As a result, the universal tube 230 of the endoscope 200 can be stored so as to cross over the operation portion 210 held by the vertically extending portion 135b of the operation portion holding portion 135.

After that, the universal tube 230 of the endoscope 200 is further housed in the second curved portion 136b of the universal tube holding portion 136 of the lower cushioning material 130 while being curved. Here, the second curved portion 136b overlaps the first curved portion 136a at a position closer to the front side surface of the lower cushioning material 130 than the first curved portion 136a, and is along the front side surface of the lower cushioning material 130. It extends almost linearly. Further, the depths of the first curved portion 136a and the second curved portion 136b in the height direction of the lower cushioning material 130 are the first curved portion 136a in the portion extending linearly along the front side surface of the lower cushioning material 130. The second curved portion 136b is shallower than the second curved portion 136b. As a result, the universal tube 230 of the endoscope 200 is held on the universal tube 230 of the endoscope 200 held by the first curved portion 136a of the universal tube holding portion 136 and is adjacent to the front of the universal tube 230 of the endoscope 200. Can be housed and held.

After that, the universal tube 230 of the endoscope 200 is further accommodated and held in the second curved portion 136b extending diagonally rearward to the right toward the middle portion of the right side surface of the lower cushioning material 130, and the connector of the endoscope 200 is held. The portion 240 is housed and held in the connector portion holding portion 137 of the holding portion 131 of the lower cushioning material 130. Here, as described above, the bottom portion of the connector portion holding portion 137 has an inclination corresponding to the tapered shape of the connector portion 240. As a result, when the connector portion 240 of the endoscope 200 is housed and held in the connector portion holding portion 137 of the lower cushioning material 130, the upper surface of the connector portion 240 in the height direction of the lower cushioning material 130 is covered with the lower cushioning material 130. It can be stably held between the upper cushioning material 140 and the upper surface 130a so as to be substantially parallel to the upper surface 130a.

Next, the insertion portion 220 connected to the operation portion 210 of the endoscope 200 is housed in the insertion portion holding portion 138 of the holding portion 131 of the lower cushioning material 130. Specifically, the rear portion of the insertion portion 220 of the flexible endoscope 200, which is close to the operation portion 210, is curved and accommodated in the rear bending portion 138a of the insertion portion holding portion 138 shown in FIG. .. Further, the intermediate portion of the insertion portion 220 of the endoscope 200 is housed in the intermediate curved portion 138b of the insertion portion holding portion 138.

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

Therefore, the intermediate portion of the insertion portion 220 of the endoscope 200 can be overlapped and held on the universal tube 230 of the endoscope 200 held by the second curved portion 136b of the universal tube holding portion 136. it can. Further, the intermediate portion of the insertion portion 220 of the endoscope 200 is superposed on the universal tube 230 that is crossed and housed above the operation portion 210 of the endoscope 200, and is above the operation portion 210 of the endoscope 200. Can be crossed and housed and held.

After that, the tip end portion of the operation portion 210 of the endoscope 200 is further accommodated in the front straight portion 138c of the holding portion 131 of the lower cushioning material 130 shown in FIG. Here, the front straight portion 138c extends linearly to the right diagonally rearward toward the right side surface of the lower cushioning material 130 along the laterally extending portion 135a of the operation portion holding portion 135 as described above, and is curved backward. It intersects part 138a. Further, in the height direction of the lower cushioning material 130, the depth of the front straight portion 138c is larger than the depth of the rear bending portion 138a at the tip portion near the right side surface of the lower cushioning material 130 intersecting the rear bending portion 138a. It's getting shallower. Further, the bottom of the front straight portion 138c can be inclined so that the depth of the lower cushioning material 130 in the height direction gradually becomes shallower from the connecting portion with the intermediate curved portion 138b toward the tip portion.

As a result, not only the tip of the insertion portion 220 of the endoscope 200 can be stored so as to intersect the portion on the proximal end side close to the operation portion 210, but also the tip of the insertion portion 220 of the endoscope 200 can be stored in the lower portion. It can be arranged in the vicinity of the upper surface 130a of the cushioning material 130 to facilitate removal. In addition, the tip of the endoscope 200 can be housed and held in a straight line. By the above procedure, the endoscope 200 can be accommodated and held in the holding portion 131 of the lower cushioning material 130. By the reverse procedure of the above procedure, the endoscope 200 housed and held in the holding portion 131 of the lower cushioning material 130 can be taken out.

Next, as shown in FIG. 8, the upper cushioning material 140 is housed inside the outer box 110 through the opening 110a of the outer box 110 and arranged on the lower cushioning material 130. Here, the upper cushioning material 140 is provided so as to cover the upper surface 130a of the lower cushioning material 130 including the holding portion 131. This makes it possible to prevent dust and dirt from entering between the lower cushioning material 130 and the upper cushioning material 140. Therefore, according to the endoscope case 100 of the present embodiment, dust and dirt adhere to the endoscope 200 which is held by the holding portion 131 provided in the lower cushioning material 130 and is covered with the upper cushioning material 140. Can be effectively prevented.

Further, when the upper surface 130a of the lower cushioning material 130 including the holding portion 131 is covered with the upper cushioning material 140, the recesses 146 provided on both side edges of the upper cushioning material 140 and the lower cushioning material 130 are replaced with the other. It engages with the convex portions 132 provided on both side edges. At this time, when the upper cushioning material 140 is arranged on the lower cushioning material 130, the convex portion 132 is first engaged with the concave portion 146, and then the lower surface 140b of the upper cushioning material 140 and the upper surface 130a of the lower cushioning material 130 face each other or Contact. Therefore, when the upper cushioning material 140 is put on the lower cushioning material 130, the upper cushioning material 140 and the lower cushioning material 130 in the direction intersecting the extending directions are caused by the engagement of the concave portion 146 and the convex portion 132. Relative movement is prevented, and rubbing between the lower surface 140b of the upper cushioning material 140 and the upper surface 130a of the lower cushioning material 130 in the surface direction can be suppressed.

Further, since the concave portion 146 and the convex portion 132 extend along both side edges of the cushioning material 120, it is easy to align the upper cushioning material 140 and the lower cushioning material 130 when engaging them. .. For example, if the recesses and protrusions that engage with each other are present inside the side edge of the cushioning material 120 in a point-like or island-like manner separated from the side edge, the upper cushioning material 140 is attached to the lower cushioning material 130. When stacking, it becomes difficult to see the concave portion and the convex portion, and it becomes difficult to engage them. However, if the convex portion 132 and the concave portion 146 extend along both side edges of the cushioning material 120, the concave portion 146 and the convex portion 132 can be easily visually recognized when the upper cushioning material 140 is overlapped with the lower cushioning material 130. These can be easily engaged.

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

Further, in the endoscope case 100 of the present embodiment, the upper cushioning material 140 has a recess 146 on the lower surface 140b facing the lower cushioning material 130, and the lower cushioning material 130 is convex on the upper surface 130a facing the upper cushioning material 140. It has a unit 132. Therefore, when the upper cushioning material 140 is placed on a flat mounting surface with the lower surface 140b of the upper cushioning material 140 facing down, most of the lower surface 140b of the upper cushioning material 140 comes into contact with the mounting surface. Therefore, the upper cushioning material 140 can be stably arranged on the mounting surface, and unlike the case where the upper cushioning material 140 has a convex portion, it is possible to prevent the load from being concentrated on the convex portion and being damaged. ..

On the other hand, in the endoscope case 100, for example, the upper cushioning material 140 has a convex portion on the lower surface 140b facing the lower cushioning material 130, and the lower cushioning material 130 has a convex portion on the upper surface 130a facing the upper cushioning material 140. When it has a recess that engages with, the following effects can be expected. That is, even if the upper cushioning material 140 is removed and then placed on the floor surface or the like with the lower surface 140b facing the lower cushioning material 130 facing down, the upper cushioning material 140 is supported by the convex portion and faces the lower cushioning material 130. It is possible to prevent the lower surface 140b of the upper cushioning material 140 from coming into contact with the floor surface except for the convex portion. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the adhesion of dust and dirt to the lower surface 140b of the upper cushioning material 140 facing the lower cushioning material 130, and to suppress the adhesion of dust and dirt to the endoscope 200.

Further, in the endoscope case 100 of the present embodiment, the side wall 112 of the outer box 110 adjacent to both side edges of the lower cushioning material 130 is formed by corrugated cardboard forming the outer side portion of the side wall 112 at the upper end portion of the side wall 112. It is folded back toward the bottom wall 111 inward of the opening 110a. As a result, the side wall 112 of the outer box 110 has a folded-back portion 112a adjacent to the convex portion 132 of the lower cushioning material 130. The lower end of the folded-back portion 112a on the bottom wall 111 side is closer to the bottom wall 111 and separated from the bottom wall 111 than the top of the convex portion 132 of the lower cushioning material 130.

Here, the upper portion of the inner surface of the left and right side walls 112 of the outer box 110 covered by the folded-back portion 112a is a smooth outer surface having a gloss of corrugated cardboard, which is the material of the outer box 110. The lower portion of the inner surface of the left and right side walls 112 of the outer box 110, which is closer to the bottom wall 111 than the lower end of the folded-back portion 112a, is an interior surface on which corrugated cardboard, which is a material, is exposed. Therefore, as described above, the lower end of the folded-back portion 112a on the bottom wall 111 side is located below the top of the convex portion 132 of the lower cushioning material 130, so that the lower cushioning material 130 provides the interior of the lower portion of the side wall 112. The surface can be covered. As a result, it is not necessary to extend the lower end of the folded-back portion 112a to the lower ends of the left and right side walls 112 of the outer box 110 in order to cover the interior surface exposed to the inner surface of the lower portion of the left and right side walls 112 of the outer box 110. Therefore, the corrugated cardboard can be saved and the cost of the outer box 110 can be reduced.

Further, as described above, the corrugated cardboard paper forming the outer portion of the left and right side walls 112 of the outer box 110 opens at the upper end of the side wall 112 in the folded portion 112a of the upper part of the inner surface of the left and right side walls 112 of the outer box 110. It is formed by being folded downward inward of the portion 110a. Further, the lower end portion of the folded-back portion 112a on the bottom wall 111 side is separated from the bottom wall 111 and has a certain distance from the bottom wall 111. Therefore, the lower end of the folded-back portion 112a is laterally urged toward the inside of the opening 110a by the elasticity of the corrugated cardboard, and is below the top of the convex portion 132 of the lower cushioning material 130, and is the lower cushioning material. It abuts on the left and right sides of 130. As a result, the lateral position of the lower cushioning material 130 housed in the outer box 110 is positioned to a certain extent.

Further, the upper cushioning material 140 has recesses 141a, 141b, 141c at positions corresponding to the holding portion 131 of the lower surface 140b facing the lower cushioning material 130. By accommodating the recesses 141a, 141b, 141c of the lower surface 140b of the upper cushioning material 140 so as to project toward the upper cushioning material 140 of the endoscope 200, the protruding portion of the endoscope 200 and the upper cushioning material Interference with 140 can be avoided.

This makes it possible to prevent dust generation due to contact between the upper cushioning material 140 and the endoscope. Further, since a part of the endoscope 200 housed in the holding portion 131 of the lower cushioning material 130 can be projected toward the upper cushioning material 140, the depth of the holding portion 131 of the lower cushioning material 130 is made larger than necessary. You don't have to go deep. As a result, the lower cushioning material 130 can be made thinner. In addition, the endoscope 200 can be easily taken out from the holding portion 131 of the lower cushioning material 130.

More specifically, in the endoscope case 100 of the present embodiment, the holding portion 131 of the lower cushioning material 130 has an operating portion holding portion 135 that holds the operating portion 210 of the endoscope 200. Further, the recesses 141a and 141b of the upper cushioning material 140 face the operation unit holding portion 135. As a result, it is possible to avoid interference between the protruding portion of the operation unit 210, such as the vertical bending operation lever 211 and the left / right bending operation lever 212 of the operation unit 210 of the endoscope 200, and the upper cushioning material 140.

Further, in the endoscope case 100 of the present embodiment, the holding portion 131 of the lower cushioning material 130 has a connector portion holding portion 137 that holds the connector portion 240 of the endoscope 200. The recess 141c of the upper cushioning material 140 faces the connector portion holding portion 137. As a result, it is possible to avoid interference between the protruding portion of the connector portion 240 and the upper cushioning material 140, such as the air supply / water supply base 243 of the connector portion 240 of the endoscope portion 200.

Further, in the endoscope case 100 of the present embodiment, the thickness of the portion of the upper cushioning material 140 facing the operating portion holding portion 135 is made thicker than the thickness of the portion facing the connector portion holding portion 137, and the operating portion is formed. The depth of the recess 141a facing the holding portion 135 is made deeper than the depth of the recess 141c facing the connector portion holding portion 137. As a result, the vertically curved operation lever 211 and the left and right curved operation lever 212 of the operation unit 210, which are likely to be the most protruding parts of the endoscope 200, are placed in the deep recess 141a of the thickened portion of the upper cushioning material 140. It can be accommodated to avoid interference between the protruding portion of the operating portion 210 and the upper cushioning material 140.

Therefore, it is not necessary to form an opening in the upper cushioning material 140 to avoid interference with the endoscope 200, and the upper cushioning material 140 can cover the entire upper surface 130a including the holding portion 131 of the lower cushioning material 130. It will be possible. Further, in the endoscope 200, a part of the connector portion 240 whose protruding height tends to be lower than that of the operation portion 210 is housed in a shallow recess 141c of the portion where the thickness of the upper cushioning material 140 is thinned, and the connector portion is accommodated. Interference between the protruding portion of 240 and the upper cushioning material 140 can be avoided. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the upper cushioning material 140 from becoming thicker than necessary.

In the cushioning material 120, the concave portion 146 and the convex portion 132 along one side edge of both side edges and the concave portion 146 and the convex portion 132 along the other side edge may be arranged non-rotationally symmetrically. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, on the left and right side edges of the lower cushioning material 130, only the rear half of the left and right convex portions 132 extending in the front and back of the lower cushioning material 130 is formed. May be. In this case, at the left and right side edges of the upper cushioning material 140 shown in FIG. 7, the left and right recesses 146 extending in the front and rear of the upper cushioning material 140 are formed even if only the rear half of the upper cushioning material 140 is formed. Good.

Further, on the left and right side edges of the lower cushioning material 130, for example, only the rear two-thirds of the convex portion 132 extending in the front-rear direction is formed, and the concave portion extending in the front-rear direction is formed in the front one-third. It may be formed. In this case, on the left and right side edges of the upper cushioning material 140, only the rear two-thirds of the left and right recesses 146 extending in the front-rear direction are formed, and the lower part extends in the front-rear direction to the front one-third. A convex portion that engages with the concave portion of the cushioning material 130 may be formed.

As described above, the cushioning material 120 has an upper portion by arranging the concave portion 146 and the convex portion 132 along one side edge of both side edges and the concave portion 146 and the convex portion 132 along the other side edge in a non-rotational symmetry. The arrangement of the cushioning material 140 and the lower cushioning material 130 can be uniquely determined. More specifically, for example, the upper cushioning material 140 is inverted 180 ° with respect to the lower cushioning material 130 around the rotation axis perpendicular to the bottom wall 111 of the outer box 110 and arranged on the upper surface 130a of the lower cushioning material 130. However, the concave portion 146 and the convex portion 132 cannot be engaged with each other.

If the arrangement of the upper cushioning material 140 and the lower cushioning material 130 can be uniquely determined in this way, the recesses 141a, 141b, 141c of the lower surface 140b of the upper cushioning material 140 can be correctly set as the holding portion 131 of the lower cushioning material 130. It can be opposed to the position. Therefore, the recesses 141a, 141b, 141c of the lower surface 140b of the upper cushioning material 140 more reliably prevent interference between the upper cushioning material 140 and a part of the endoscope 200, and generate dust and dust and the endoscope. It is possible to prevent adhesion to 200.

Further, in the endoscope case 100 of the present embodiment, the upper cushioning material 140 is a frame-shaped portion 142 provided on the peripheral edge of the upper surface 140a facing the upper lid 113 of the outer box 110 and the inside of the frame-shaped portion 142. It has recesses 143a and 143b provided on the upper surface 140a of the upper cushioning material 140. As a result, with the opening 110a of the outer box 110 closed by the upper lid 113 of the outer box 110, the frame-shaped portion 142 of the upper cushioning material 140 is brought into contact with the upper lid 113 of the outer box 110 to lift the upper cushioning material 140. It is possible to prevent the upper cushioning material 140 from covering the entire upper surface 130a of the lower cushioning material 130. Further, by providing the recesses 143a and 143b on the upper surface 140a of the upper cushioning material 140, it is possible not only to prevent the upper cushioning material 140 from becoming thicker than necessary, but also, for example, a space for storing manuals and parts. Can be secured.

Further, in the endoscope case 100 of the present embodiment, the upper cushioning material 140 has handle portions 144 provided in a stepped shape on both side edges of the upper surface facing the upper lid 113 of the outer box 110. By providing the handle portion 144 on the upper cushioning material 140 in this way, the upper cushioning material 140 fitted tightly inside the opening 110a of the outer box 110 with a slight gap can be easily taken out from the outer box 110. Can be done. Further, the upper cushioning material 140 can be easily accommodated inside the opening 110a of the outer box 110 with a slight gap. Further, unlike the case of forming a continuous notch-shaped handle portion from the lower surface 140b to the upper surface 140a of the upper cushioning material 140, the upper surface 130a of the lower cushioning material 130 is not exposed, so that the lower cushioning material 140 provides the lower cushioning. It becomes possible to cover the entire upper surface 130a of the material 130.

Further, in the endoscope case 100 of the present embodiment, the outer box 110 has a handle 115 attached to a side wall 112 adjacent to one side edge on the front side between the left and right side edges of the cushioning material 120. As a result, the handle 115 can be grasped and carried when the endoscope case 100 is carried, and the endoscope case 100 can be easily carried. Further, the lower cushioning material 130 has a concave notch 134 at a position corresponding to the stopper 115a on one side edge on the front side. As a result, interference between the stopper 115a of the handle 115 and the lower cushioning material 130 can be avoided, and the generation of dust and dirt can be prevented. Further, the notch 134 extends vertically to a position closer to the opening 110a of the outer box 110 than the stopper 115a of the handle 115. As a result, it is possible to prevent the upper cushioning material 140 arranged on the lower cushioning material 130 from interfering with the stopper of the handle 115, and to prevent the generation of dust and dirt.

As shown in FIG. 8, after the upper cushioning material 140 is accommodated inside the outer box 110 from the opening 110a of the outer box 110 and placed on the lower cushioning material 130, the upper lid 113 is closed and the outer box 110 The opening 110a is closed. At this time, the second lid insertion portions 113b on both lateral sides of the upper lid 113 of the outer box 110 are inserted between the side wall 112 of the outer box 110 and the upper cushioning material 140, and the side wall 112, the upper cushioning material 140 and the lower cushioning material 140 are inserted. It is arranged between the material 130 and the material 130. As a result, the gap between the side wall 112 of the outer box 110 and the cushioning material 120 can be reduced, and the relative movement of the cushioning material 120 and the outer box 110 can be prevented. Further, since the folded-back portion 112a extending downward inside the opening 110a is formed at the upper part 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 is formed by the folded-back portion 112a. By guiding, it becomes possible to smoothly insert the outer box 110 between the side wall 112 and the upper cushioning material 140.

After that, the first lid insertion portions 113a on both sides in the lateral direction of the front end portion of the upper lid 113 are inserted into the gap between the outer portion and the inner portion of the pair of side walls 112 extending in the vertical direction on the front side of the outer box 110. .. Then, the handle 115 is passed through the through hole 117 at the center of the front end portion of the upper lid 113 forming 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 lid 113 extends laterally in front of the outer box 110. Overlay on the inner portion of the side wall 112. As a result, the engaging portion 117a on the outer surface of the inner portion of the front side wall 112 facing each other and the engaging portion 117b on the inner surface of the outer portion of the front side wall 112 are engaged with each other. As described above, the endoscope 200 can be housed in the endoscope case 100, and the endoscope 200 housed in the endoscope case 100 can be taken out by the reverse procedure.

As described above, according to the endoscope case 100 of the present embodiment, the endoscope 200 is housed between the lower cushioning material 130 and the upper cushioning material 140 made of foamed resin, which is superior in cushioning property to corrugated cardboard. Further, the outside thereof can be covered with a corrugated cardboard outer box 110 having excellent durability. Therefore, the endoscope case 100 of the present embodiment is superior in the cushioning property required for the protection of the endoscope 200 to the conventional endoscope storage case described in Patent Document 2, and vibrates during transportation. It is possible to more effectively mitigate the impact and prevent the endoscope 200 from malfunctioning.

Further, in the endoscope case 100 of the present embodiment, the color of the outer surface and the inner surface of the corrugated cardboard which is the material of the outer box 110 is, for example, white, or the cushioning material 120 housed inside the outer box 110. It is a color that is brighter than the color. Further, the color of the cushioning material 120 is a color having a lower brightness than the color of the outer box 110, such as a black color. In this way, by making the color of the cushioning material 120 lower than the color of the outer box 110, it becomes easier to see when dust or dust generated from the outer box 110 adheres, and dust or dust can be removed. It can be easily removed.

Further, in the endoscope case 100 of the present embodiment, the lower cushioning material 130 has a hollow portion 133 as described above. For example, the first cavity portion 133a formed inside the first curved portion 136a of the universal tube holding portion 136, the second cavity portion 133b and the third cavity portion 133c adjacent to the front and rear of the connector portion holding portion 137 are relatively A large space can be secured. Therefore, parts of the endoscope 200 and the like can be stored in these cavities 133. Further, by having the fourth cavity portion 133d and the fifth cavity portion 133e at the left and right corners of the front end of the lower cushioning material 130, the impact applied to the endoscope case 100 by these cavity portions 133 is alleviated and inside. The endoscope 200 can be effectively protected.

Further, in the endoscope case 100 of the present embodiment, the outer box 110 engages with, for example, the outer surface of the inner portion of the front side wall 112 facing each other and the inner surface of the outer portion of the front side wall 112. It has joints 117a and 117b. As a result, for example, when the handle 115 is grasped and the endoscope case 100 is carried, the outer portion of the front side wall 112 is prevented from rising from the inner portion of the front side wall 112, and the endoscope case 100 is stabilized. It can be carried around and the upper lid 113 of the outer box 110 can be prevented from being opened unexpectedly.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is made of a simple material, has excellent cushioning properties, can prevent dust and dirt from adhering to the endoscope 200, and can take out the endoscope 200 and take it out. It is possible to provide an endoscope case 100 that is easy to store.

(Endoscope case: Embodiment 2)
Next, the second embodiment of the endoscope case according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 8 with reference to FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the endoscope case 100A according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

In the endoscope case 100A of the present embodiment, the concave portion 146A and the convex portion 132A extend along one side edge between the both side edges of the cushioning material 120A, as well as the concave portion 146 and the convex portion 132 on both side edges. This is different from the endoscope case 100 of the first embodiment described above. Since the other configurations of the endoscope case 100A of the present embodiment are the same as the configurations of the endoscope case 100 of the first embodiment described above, the same reference numerals are given to the same parts and the description thereof will be omitted. ..

The endoscope case 100A of the present embodiment is a container for storing, for example, a medical endoscope 200, like the endoscope case 100 of the first embodiment described above. The endoscope case 100A includes an outer box 110 made of corrugated cardboard and a cushioning material 120A housed in the outer box 110 and made of foamed resin. In the cushioning material 120A, an upper cushioning material 140A arranged adjacent to the upper lid 113 and a concave holding portion 131 for holding the endoscope 200 are formed, and the cushioning material 120A is arranged adjacent to the bottom wall 111 of the outer box 110. It has a lower cushioning material 130A and.

One of the upper cushioning material 140A and the lower cushioning material 130A has recesses 146 and 146A, and the other has protrusions 132 and 132A that engage with these recesses 146 and 146A. For example, the recess 146 and the convex portion 132 extend along the left and right side edges of the cushioning material 120A, and the concave portion 146A and the convex portion extend along the front side edge between the left and right side edges of the cushioning material 120A. 132A is postponed.

In the endoscope case 100A of the present embodiment, when the upper cushioning material 140A is arranged on the lower cushioning material 130A, the convex portions 132 of the lower cushioning material 130A are formed on the upper cushioning material 140A at the left and right side edges of the cushioning material 120A. Engage in recess 146. Further, at one side edge on the front side of the cushioning material 120A, the convex portion 132A of the lower cushioning material 130A engages with the concave portion 146A of the upper cushioning material.

Therefore, according to the endoscope case 100A of the present embodiment, the same effect as that of the endoscope case 100 of the above-described first embodiment can be obtained. In particular, by having the convex portion 132A and the concave portion 146A not only on both side edges of the cushioning material 120A but also on one side edge between the both side edges, rubbing between the lower cushioning material 130A and the upper cushioning material 140A is more reliably prevented. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the generation of dust and dirt. As a result, it is possible to more reliably prevent dust and dirt from adhering to the endoscope 200 held by the holding portion 131 and covered with the upper cushioning material 140A.

Further, by providing the convex portion 132A, the upper surface 130a of the lower cushioning material 130A can be brought closer to the bottom wall 111 of the outer box 110a while preventing the stopper 115a of the handle 115 from interfering with the endoscope 200. That is, the height of the lower cushioning material 130A facing the bottom wall 111 of the outer box 110a from the bottom surface to the upper surface 130a can be lowered to reduce the thickness of the lower cushioning material 130A. As a result, the depth of the holding portion 131 can be made shallow so that the endoscope 200 can be easily taken out. Further, by reducing the thickness of the lower cushioning material 130A, even if the upper surface 130a is located below the stopper 115a of the handle 115, the protrusion 132A causes the stopper 115a of the handle 115 to interfere with the endoscope 200. It is possible to prevent problems such as scratches on the endoscope.

Further, in the endoscope case 100A of the present embodiment, the concave portions 146 and 146A and the convex portions 132 and 132A of the cushioning material 120A are arranged non-rotationally symmetrically. That is, by engaging the convex portions 132 and 132A with the concave portions 146 and 146A of the cushioning material 120A, the arrangement of the upper cushioning material 140A and the lower cushioning material 130A can be uniquely determined. Therefore, the recesses 141a, 141b, 141c of the lower surface 140b of the upper cushioning material 140 can be opposed to the correct positions of the holding portion 131 of the lower cushioning material 130 to prevent the generation of dust and dirt and the adhesion to the endoscope 200. it can.

Further, in the endoscope case 100A of the present embodiment, the height in the protruding direction of the convex portions 132 on both side edges of the cushioning material 120A is higher than the height in the protruding direction of the convex portions 132A on one side edge of the cushioning material 120A. Has been done. As a result, the tops of the convex portions 132 on both side edges of the lower cushioning material 130A are arranged at positions closer to the opening 110a of the outer box 110, and the outer box 110 is arranged at the folded-back portion 112a of the side wall 112 of the outer box 110 accordingly. The length from the upper end of the side wall 112 defining the opening 110a to the lower end closest to the bottom wall 111 can be shortened. Therefore, it becomes possible to further reduce the amount of corrugated cardboard used.

FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of the configuration of the endoscope 200 shown in FIG. 5 and an endoscope system including the endoscope 200. In the following, first, an example of the endoscope 200 housed in the endoscope case 100 of the present embodiment will be described in detail, and then an example of the configuration of the endoscope system 300 including the endoscope 200 will be described in detail. Will be described in detail.

(Endoscope)
The medical endoscope 200 housed in the endoscope case 100 described above includes, for example, an operation unit 210 made of a hard resin, an insertion unit 220 and a universal tube 230 connected to the operation unit 210, and the universal tube. It includes a connector portion 240 connected to the tube 230. In the following, the endoscope 200 has the tip end side of the insertion portion 220 extending from the operation portion 210 as the front side of the endoscope 200, and the end side of the universal tube 230 extending from the operation portion 210 as the rear side of the endoscope 200. Each part of the endoscope 200 may be described based on the anteroposterior direction.

The insertion portion 220 has, for example, a flexible pipe portion 221, a connection portion 222, a curved portion 223, and a tip rigid portion 224 facing forward from the operation portion 210. The flexible tube portion 221 extends forward from the operating portion 210 and has flexibility. The connecting portion 222 connects the inserting portion 220 and the curved portion 223. The connecting 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 connecting portion 222 connects a relatively large-diameter flexible tube portion 221 extending from the operating portion 210 and a relatively small-diameter curved portion 223 at the front end portion of the insertion portion 220.

The connecting portion 222 is provided with an objective lens (not shown) on the front end surface to which the curved 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 image sensor is provided inside the connecting portion 222 adjacent to the rear of the plurality of lenses. The image sensor inside the connection portion 222 is an image projected from the connector portion 240 via, for example, an insertion portion 220, an operation portion 210, a universal tube 230, and an image signal cable passed through the connector portion 240. It is connected to the processing connection sleeve 241.

Further, the connection portion 222 is provided with illumination lenses (not shown) on both sides of the objective lens on the front end surface, for example. This illumination lens is connected to a light source connection sleeve 242 projecting from the connector portion 240 via an insertion portion 220, an operation portion 210, a universal tube 230, and a light guide fiber passed through the connector portion 240. ing.

The curved portion 223 is connected to the front end surface of the connecting portion 222. The curved portion 223 is configured to be able to be bent up, down, left and right by the vertically curved operation lever 211 of the operation unit 210 and the left and right curved operation lever 212. Specifically, for example, a bending mechanism provided inside the bending portion 223 and bending the bending portion 223 up, down, left and right is provided with a vertical bending operation lever 211 via a wire passed through the insertion portion 220 and the operation portion 210. It is connected to the left / right bending operation lever 212.

The tip hard portion 224 is provided at the front end of the curved portion 223. The hard tip portion 224 is a member having a substantially cylindrical shape having the same diameter as the curved portion 223. The material of the tip hard portion 224 is a hard resin material such as ABS resin, modified PPO resin, and PSU resin. The hard tip portion 224 is provided with an objective lens (not shown) on the front end surface. A plurality of lenses and an image sensor are provided adjacent to the rear of the objective lens and adjacent to the rear of the plurality of lenses inside the tip rigid portion 224. The image sensor inside the tip rigid portion 224 is an image projected from the connector portion 240 via an image signal cable passed through the insertion portion 220, the operation portion 210, the universal tube 230, and the connector portion 240. It is connected to the processing connection sleeve 241.

Further, the tip rigid portion 224 is provided with illumination lenses on both sides of the objective lens on the front end surface. The illumination lens is connected to the light source connection sleeve 242 of the connector portion 240 via a light guide fiber passed through the inside of the insertion portion 220, the operation portion 210, and the universal tube 230. Further, the tip rigid portion 224 has, for example, a treatment tool insertion hole (not shown), a sub-water supply injection hole, and an air supply water supply nozzle on the front end surface. The air supply / water supply nozzle is provided so as to project from the connector unit 240 via the water supply tube and the air supply tube passed through the insertion unit 220, the operation unit 210, the universal tube 230, and the connector unit 240. It is connected to the mouthpiece 243. The water supply tube and the air supply tube are configured so that the flow rate of the fluid flowing inside can be adjusted by operating the air supply water supply button 213 of the operation unit 210.

(Endoscope system)
Finally, an example of the endoscope system 300 including the above-mentioned endoscope 200 housed in the endoscope case 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. In the endoscope 200, for example, the connector portion 240 is connected to the connection portion of the processor 310. As a result, the image processing connection sleeve 241 and the light source connection sleeve 242 projecting from the connector portion 240 of the endoscope 200 are connected to the image processing circuit, the light source, and the like built in the processor 310.

Further, in the endoscope 200, for example, an air supply / water supply pipe connected to a fluid supply source for supplying air and water (not shown) is connected to the air supply / water supply port 243 of the connector unit 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 includes, for example, a main switch 311, a lighting switch 312, and an image changeover switch 313.

The endoscope system 300 having such a configuration can be used, for example, by the following procedure. First, the main switch 311 is pressed to turn it on, the lighting switch 312 is pressed to turn it on, and the image changeover switch 313 is changed to the first change position. When the lighting switch 312 is turned on, the light source in the processor 310 emits light.

The light emitted from the light source in the processor 310 is introduced into the light guide 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 light guide fiber is passed through the universal tube 230, the operation unit 210, and the insertion unit 220 via the light guide fiber, and the illumination lens and the tip rigid portion on the front end surface of the connection portion 222. It reaches the illumination lens on the front end surface of the 224 and is irradiated forward.

Further, when the main switch 311 is turned on, the image pickup element in the connection portion 222 of the endoscope 200 and the image pickup element in the tip rigid portion 224 are activated. As a result, the image of the subject located in front of the objective lens on the front end surface of the connection portion 222 of the endoscope 200 and the front end surface of the tip rigid portion 224 can be displayed on the objective lens inside the connection portion 222 and the tip rigid portion 224. It is photographed by the image sensor through the lens. The image data of the image of the subject captured by the image sensor is sent to the image processing circuit in the processor 310 via the image signal cable passed through the insertion unit 220, the operation unit 210, and the universal tube 230, and the image data is sent to the image processing circuit. Image processing is performed by the image processing circuit.

The processor 310 generates first image processing data based on the image data taken by the image pickup element in the connection portion 222 of the endoscope 200, and is imaged by the image pickup element in the tip rigid portion 224 of the endoscope 200. The second image processing data is generated based on the obtained image data. The processor 310 sends the first image processing data to the monitor 320 when the image changeover switch 313 is in the first changeover position, and the second image processing to the monitor 320 when the image changeover switch 313 is in the second changeover position. Send data. As a result, the image displayed on the monitor 320 can be switched between the front image of the connection portion 222 of the endoscope 200 and the front image of the tip rigid portion 224 of the endoscope 200.

Further, when the air escape hole formed on the upper surface of the air supply / water supply button 213 of the operation unit 210 of the endoscope 200 is closed, the compressed air supplied from the fluid supply source is supplied to the front end surface of the tip rigid portion 224. It is ejected from the air supply nozzle to the surface of the adjacent objective lens. Further, when the air supply water supply button 213 is pressed while closing the air release hole of the air supply water supply button 213, the washing water supplied from the fluid supply source is sent to the air supply water supply nozzle via the water supply pipe, and the adjacent objective lens. Is sprayed on the surface of.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and there are design changes and the like within a range that does not deviate from the gist of the present invention. Also, they are included in the present invention.

100 Endoscope case 100A Endoscope case 110 Outer box 110a Opening 111 Bottom wall 112 Side wall 112a Folded part 113 Top lid 114 Connecting part 115 Handle 115a Stopper 115b Band plate part 120 Cushioning material 120A Cushioning material 130 Lower cushioning material 130A Lower cushioning material Material 130a Upper surface (surface facing the upper cushioning material)
131 Holding portion 132 Convex portion 132A Convex portion 134 Notch portion 140 Upper cushioning material 140A Upper cushioning material 140a Upper surface (surface facing the lower cushioning material)
141a Recess 141b Recess 141c Recess 146 Recess 146A Recess 200 Endoscope

Claims (7)

An endoscope case for storing an endoscope
An outer box made of corrugated cardboard and a cushioning material housed in the outer box and made of foamed resin are provided.
The outer box includes a bottom wall, a side wall erected around the bottom wall, an opening defined by the side wall and opened at the upper end of the side wall, an upper lid that can open and close the opening, and the upper lid. Has a connecting portion for connecting one end of the side wall to the side wall.
The cushioning material includes an upper cushioning material arranged adjacent to the upper lid and a lower cushioning material formed with a concave holding portion for holding the endoscope and arranged adjacent to the bottom wall. And
The upper cushioning material has recesses extending along both side edges of the upper cushioning material and provided in a stepped shape upward from the lower surface facing the lower cushioning material.
The lower cushioning material has a convex portion extending along both side edges of the lower cushioning material and projecting upward from the upper surface facing the upper cushioning material to engage with the concave portion .
The convex portion has an inclined surface at the upper end portion.
The inclined surface is formed on both side edges of the lower cushioning material in the lateral direction, inside the top of the convex portion extending in the longitudinal direction of the lower cushioning material, and the inner side is the lower portion than the outer side in the lateral direction. An endoscope case characterized in that it is inclined downward so as to approach the upper surface of the cushioning material. In the side wall of the outer box adjacent to the both side edges of the cushioning material, the corrugated cardboard constituting the outer portion of the side wall is folded back toward the bottom wall inside the opening at the upper end of the side wall. It has a folded portion adjacent to the convex portion and has a folded portion.
The endoscope case according to claim 1, wherein the end of the folded portion on the bottom wall side is closer to the bottom wall than the top of the convex portion and is separated from the bottom wall. .. The endoscope case according to claim 2, wherein the concave portion and the convex portion extend along one side edge between the both side edges of the cushioning material. The endoscope case according to claim 3, wherein the height of the convex portion of the both side edges in the protruding direction is higher than the height of the convex portion of the one side edge in the protruding direction. The endoscope case according to claim 1, wherein the upper cushioning material has a recess facing the holding portion of the lower cushioning material. A claim characterized in that the concave portion and the convex portion along one side edge of the both side edges and the concave portion and the convex portion along the other side edge of the both side edges are arranged in a non-rotational symmetry. Item 5. The endoscope case according to item 5. The outer box has a handle attached to the side wall adjacent to one side edge between the side edges of the cushioning material.
The handle has a stopper that engages with the inside of the side wall and a strip portion exposed to the outside of the side wall, and both ends of the strip portion penetrate the side wall and are connected to the stopper. The lower cushioning material has a concave notch at a position corresponding to the stopper on the one side edge.
The endoscope case according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the notch extends to a position closer to the opening of the outer box than the stopper. ..

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