Compact container

Abstract

A compact container (1A) comprises: a container body (2); a storage member (7) housed in the container body (2); a lid (3); and a hook piece (4) arranged on the container body (2) and including a hook (4f) that is engageable with the lid (3). Pressing the hook piece (4b) toward the container body (2) against an elastic force of a leaf spring (4b) provided on the hook piece (4) disengages the hook (4f) and the lid (3) from each other. The container body (2) and the storage member (7) are provided with respective holding portions (21 and 71) that cooperate with each other to hold the leaf spring (4b) by sandwiching the leaf spring (4b) in a pressing direction of the hook piece (4).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a compact container.BACKGROUND

[0002] As conventional compact containers, there are known containers in which a hook piece (operation member) fitted into a container body is pressed against the elastic force of a leaf spring provided on the hook piece, thereby disengaging a hook (engaging protrusion) provided on the hook piece from a lid and thus enabling the lid to open (see, for example, Patent Literature (PTL) 1).CITATION LISTPatent Literature

[0003] PTL 1: JP H02-43907 USUMMARY(Technical Problem)

[0004] However, in such conventional compact containers, the upper part of the hook piece tends to tilt forward when the lower part of the hook piece is pressed rearward. In this case, the hook provided on the push piece also tilts forward, as a result of which the amount of engagement between the hook and the lid increases. Such an increase in the amount of engagement between the hook of the hook piece and the lid makes it difficult to open the lid.

[0005] It could therefore be helpful to provide a compact container in which a hook provided on a hook piece can be easily disengaged from a lid regardless of the position where the hook piece is pressed.(Solution to Problem)

[0006] (1) A compact container according to the present disclosure comprises: a container body; a storage member housed in the container body; a lid; and a hook piece arranged on the container body and including a hook that is engageable with the lid, wherein pressing the hook piece toward the container body against an elastic force of a leaf spring provided on the hook piece disengages the hook and the lid from each other, and the container body and the storage member are provided with respective holding portions that cooperate with each other to hold the leaf spring by sandwiching the leaf spring in a pressing direction of the hook piece. (2) In the compact container of (1), holding parts of the holding portions may each be a curved surface that line-contacts a surface of the leaf spring. (3) In the compact container of (1), holding parts of the holding portions may each be a surface that surface-contacts a surface of the leaf spring. (4) In the compact container of (1), holding parts of the holding portions may each be a surface provided with a plurality of protrusions. (5) In the compact container of any one of (1) to (4), the storage member may be a frame member. (Advantageous Effect)

[0007] It is thus possible to provide a compact container in which a hook provided on a hook piece can be easily disengaged from a lid regardless of the position where the hook piece is pressed.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] In the accompanying drawings: FIG. 1 is a front view schematically illustrating a compact container according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 is a side view schematically illustrating the compact container in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a plan view schematically illustrating the compact container in FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the compact container in FIG. 3 taken along line X1-X1; FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the compact container in FIG. 3 taken along line X2-X2; FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the compact container in FIG. 3 taken along line X3-X3; FIG. 7 is an enlarged plan view schematically illustrating the relationship among a container body, a frame member, and a hook piece of the compact container in FIG. 1; FIG. 8 is a sectional view schematically illustrating the relationship in FIG. 7 taken along line X4-X4; FIG. 9 is an enlarged plan view schematically illustrating the relationship among a container body, a frame member, and a hook piece of a compact container according to Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure; and FIG. 10 is an enlarged plan view schematically illustrating the relationship among a container body, a frame member, and a hook piece of a compact container according to Embodiment 3 of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0009] Compact containers according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0010] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a compact container 1A according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a side view of the compact container 1A. FIG. 3 schematically illustrates the internal structure of the compact container 1A in a state of being viewed through a lid 3.

[0011] Here, the term "front side" refers to a side on which the below-described hook piece 4 is located. The term "rear side" refers to a side on which the below-described pin 5 is located. The term "upper side" refers to a side on which the below-described lid 3 is located. The term "lower side" refers to a side on which the below-described container body 2 is located. The terms "right side" and "left side" are defined relative to the front side, and the "left-right direction" is also referred to as "width direction."

[0012] With reference to FIG. 1, the compact container 1A includes the container body 2, the lid 3, and the hook piece 4 arranged on the container body 2. In the compact container 1A, pressing the hook piece 4 toward the container body 2 disengages the lid 3 and the hook piece 4 from each other, as described later. In this embodiment, the hook piece 4 is exposed to the outside of the container body 2 through a notch 2e formed in a front wall 2a of the container body 2. As a result of the lid 3 and the hook piece 4 being disengaged from each other, the lid 3 can open and close about a rear wall 2b of the container body 2 as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2.

[0013] With reference to FIG. 3, in this embodiment, the lid 3 is rotatably attached to the rear wall 2b of the container body 2 via a pin 5. The compact container 1A according to this embodiment includes two pins 5 spaced apart from each other in the width direction. Thus, the lid 3 can open and close relative to the container body 2 about the pins 5. The compact container 1A according to this embodiment also includes a torsion spring 6.

[0014] As illustrated in FIG. 6, in this embodiment, the torsion spring 6 is attached to the pin 5. The two ends of the torsion spring 6 contact the container body 2 and the lid 3 respectively, thereby generating a biasing force in a direction in which the lid 3 opens relative to the container body 2. Accordingly, in this embodiment, when the lid 3 and the hook piece 4 are disengaged from each other, the lid 3 can automatically open relative to the container body 2. In FIG. 6, a side of the compact container 1A is illustrated in a half section.

[0015] As illustrated in FIG. 3, in this embodiment, the torsion spring 6 is attached to only one of the two pins 5. Alternatively, the torsion spring 6 may be attached to each of the two pins 5. The torsion spring 6 may also be omitted.

[0016] The compact container 1A includes a storage member 7 housed in the container body 2. In this embodiment, the storage member 7 is a frame member. The storage member 7 is housed in a recess 2n formed in the container body 2. In this embodiment, the container body 2 includes the front wall 2a, the rear wall 2b spaced apart from the front wall 2a in the front-rear direction, and two side walls 2c spaced apart from each other in the width direction. The two side walls 2c are each connected to the widthwise ends of the front wall 2a and the rear wall 2b. The container body 2 also includes a bottom wall 2d connected to each of the front wall 2a, the rear wall 2b, and the two side walls 2c (see, for example, FIG. 4). In this embodiment, the recess 2n in which the storage member 7 is housed is defined inside these walls.

[0017] As illustrated in FIG. 3, in this embodiment, the storage member 7 includes a front wall 7a, a rear wall 7b spaced apart from the front wall 7a in the front-rear direction, and two side walls 7c spaced apart from each other in the width direction. The two side walls 7c are each connected to the widthwise ends of the front wall 7a and the rear wall 7b. The storage member 7 also includes a bottom wall 7d connected to each of the front wall 7a, the rear wall 7b, and the two side walls 7c (see, for example, FIG. 5). In this embodiment, the storage member 7 also has a recess 7n defined inside these walls. The recess 7n can accommodate, for example, an inner tray or cosmetic articles.

[0018] With reference to FIG. 5, in this embodiment, the lid 3 includes a front wall 3a, a rear wall 3b spaced apart from the front wall 3a in the front-rear direction, and two side walls 3c spaced apart from each other in the width direction (only one of the two side walls 3c is illustrated in FIG. 5). The two side walls 3c are each connected to the widthwise ends of the front wall 3a and the rear wall 3b. The lid 3 also includes a top wall 3d connected to each of the front wall 3a, the rear wall 3b, and the two side walls 3c. In this embodiment, a mirror M is attached to the inner surface of the top wall 3d.

[0019] With reference to FIG. 4, the hook piece 4 includes a hook 4f that is engageable with the lid 3. In this embodiment, the hook piece 4 includes a pressing portion 4a. The pressing portion 4a is a part that is directly touched by the user with a finger to press the hook piece 4 into the container body 2. In this embodiment, the hook 4f is an upper hook integrally provided on the upper surface of the pressing portion 4a. In this embodiment, the hook 4f protrudes forward. In this embodiment, the hook 4f can engage with a lower protrusion 3f formed on the rear surface of the front wall 3a of the lid 3, as illustrated in FIG. 4. In this embodiment, the lower protrusion 3f protrudes rearward. Engaging the hook 4f of the hook piece 4 with the lower protrusion 3f of the lid 3 can prevent the lid 3 from opening relative to the container body 2.

[0020] FIG. 7 schematically illustrates an enlarged view of the relationship among the container body 2, the storage member 7, and the hook piece 4 of the compact container 1A. In FIG. 7, only one half of the compact container 1A is illustrated in the enlarged view.

[0021] The hook piece 4 is provided with a leaf spring 4b. In this embodiment, the hook piece 4 includes two leaf springs 4b spaced apart from each other in the width direction (only one of the two leaf springs 4b is illustrated in FIG. 7). In this embodiment, the two leaf springs 4b are integrally provided on one widthwise side surface of the pressing portion 4a (the left side surface in FIG. 7). However, the leaf springs 4b may be arranged at any position of the pressing portion 4a as long as they can generate a repulsive force (biasing force) forward when the hook piece 4 is pressed rearward.

[0022] The hook 4f of the hook piece 4 and the lower protrusion 3f of the lid 3 are disengaged from each other by pressing the hook piece 4 into the container body 2 against the elastic force of the leaf springs 4b provided on the hook piece 4.

[0023] In this embodiment, the hook piece 4 is slidably arranged on the upper surface of a bottom plate 7e provided on the storage member 7. In this embodiment, the bottom plate 7e is integrally provided on the front wall 7a of the storage member 7. The bottom plate 7e extends forward from the outer surface of the front wall 7a. In this embodiment, a guide portion 7g is formed on the upper surface of the bottom plate 7e. The guide portion 7g extends in the front-rear direction. In this embodiment, the guide portion 7g is a through hole. A guide protrusion 4c provided on the hook piece 4 is inserted into the guide portion 7g. With reference to FIG. 4, in this embodiment, the guide protrusion 4c is integrally provided on the lower surface of the pressing portion 4a. Thus, the hook piece 4 can slide on the bottom plate 7e in the front-rear direction along the guide portion 7g. In this embodiment, the guide portion 7g may be a guide groove.

[0024] As illustrated in FIG. 3, in the compact container 1A, the container body 2 and the storage member 7 housed in the container body 2 are provided with respective holding portions (21 and 71) that cooperate with each other to hold the leaf spring 4b by sandwiching the leaf spring 4b in the pressing direction of the hook piece 4. In this embodiment, the pressing direction of the hook piece 4 is the front-rear direction.

[0025] With reference to FIG. 7, in this embodiment, the holding portion provided on the container body 2 is a front holding portion 21 that holds the leaf spring 4b of the hook piece 4 from the front. In this embodiment, the front holding portion 21 is provided on the bottom wall 2d of the container body 2. In this embodiment, the front holding portion 21 extends in the front-rear direction. In this embodiment, the rear end of the front holding portion 21 forms a holding part F1 of the front holding portion 21. In addition, in this embodiment, a widthwise extending portion 22 is connected to the front end of the front holding portion 21. In this embodiment, the widthwise extending portion 22 extends outward in the width direction (leftward in FIG. 7) from the front end of the front holding portion 21. As illustrated in FIG. 8, in this embodiment, the front holding portion 21, together with the widthwise extending portion 22, protrudes upward from the upper surface of the bottom wall 2d.

[0026] In this embodiment, the holding portion provided on the storage member 7 is a rear holding portion 71 that holds the leaf spring 4b of the hook piece 4 from the rear. In this embodiment, the rear holding portion 71 is provided on the front wall 7a of the storage member 7. In this embodiment, the rear holding portion 71 protrudes forward from the front surface of the front wall 7a of the storage member 7. In this embodiment, the front end of the rear holding portion 71 forms a holding part F2 of the rear holding portion 71.

[0027] As illustrated in FIG. 8, the leaf spring 4b of the hook piece 4 is arranged such that its width direction (short direction of the leaf spring 4b) is parallel to the up-down direction. In other words, the leaf spring 4b of the hook piece 4 is arranged such that the surface F4 of the leaf spring 4b extends in the up-down direction.

[0028] In detail, in this embodiment, the holding part F1 of the front holding portion 21 provided on the container body 2 contacts the front surface F41 of the leaf spring 4b in the width direction of the leaf spring 4b (up-down direction), as illustrated in FIG. 8. Meanwhile, in this embodiment, the holding part F2 of the rear holding portion 71 provided on the storage member 7 contacts the rear surface F42 of the leaf spring 4b in the width direction of the leaf spring 4b (up-down direction), as illustrated in FIG. 8. Hence, the front holding portion 21 and the rear holding portion 71 cooperate with each other to hold the leaf spring 4b by sandwiching the leaf spring 4b in the pressing direction of the hook piece 4 (front-rear direction).

[0029] Thus, in the compact container 1A, the two leaf springs 4b provided on the hook piece 4 are each held by being sandwiched in the pressing direction of the hook piece 4 by the front holding portion 21 provided on the container body 2 and the rear holding portion 71 provided on the storage member 7. In this case, the upper part of the hook piece 4 is kept from tilting forward even when the lower part of the hook piece 4 is pressed rearward. Therefore, in the compact container 1A, when the lower part of the push piece is pressed, the push piece does not tilt forward and accordingly the amount of engagement between the hook and the lid does not increase, unlike conventional compact containers. Accordingly, in the compact container 1A, the hook 4f provided on the hook piece 4 and the lid 3 can be easily disengaged from each other regardless of the position where the hook piece 4 is pressed.

[0030] With reference to FIG. 7, in the compact container 1A, the respective holding parts (F1 and F2) of the container body 2 and the storage member 7 are each a curved surface that line-contacts the surface F4 of the leaf spring 4b.

[0031] As illustrated in FIG. 7, in this embodiment, the holding part F1 of the front holding portion 21 is a curved surface having a radius of curvature r1 in a plan view. In this embodiment, the front holding portion 21 can line-contact the front surface F41 of the leaf spring 4b in the up-down direction by the holding part F1 of the front holding portion 21. Similarly, as illustrated in FIG. 7, in this embodiment, the holding part F2 of the rear holding portion 71 is a curved surface having a radius of curvature r2 in a plan view. In this embodiment, the rear holding portion 71 can line-contact the rear surface F42 of the leaf spring 4b in the up-down direction by the holding part F2 of the rear holding portion 71.

[0032] As a result of the respective holding parts (F1 and F2) of the container body 2 and the storage member 7 being each a curved surface that line-contacts the surface F4 of the leaf spring 4b as in the compact container 1A, the surface F4 of the leaf spring 4b can be held by line contact in the up-down direction. In particular, as a result of the curved surfaces of the holding parts (F1 and F2) being curved surfaces with radii of curvature as in this embodiment, stress concentration on the surface F4 of the leaf spring 4b can be reduced.

[0033] FIG. 9 schematically illustrates an enlarged view of the relationship among the container body 2, the storage member 7, and the hook piece 4 of a compact container 1B according to Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure, as in FIG. 7. In the compact container 1B, parts that are substantially the same as those in the compact container 1A are given the same reference signs.

[0034] With reference to FIG. 9, in the compact container 1B according to this embodiment, the respective holding parts (F1 and F2) of the container body 2 and the storage member 7 are each a surface that surface-contacts the surface F4 of the leaf spring 4b.

[0035] As illustrated in FIG. 9, in this embodiment, the holding part F1 of the front holding portion 21 is a surface that extends along the front surface F41 of the leaf spring 4b in a plan view. In this embodiment, the front holding portion 21 extends in the width direction. In this case, the front holding portion 21 is capable of surface contact with the front surface F41 of the leaf spring 4b. In this embodiment, the front holding portion 21 is connected to a widthwise extending portion 22 located forward from the front holding portion 21. In this embodiment, the widthwise outer end (left end in FIG. 9) of the front holding portion 21 is connected to the widthwise inner end (right end in FIG. 9) of the widthwise extending portion 22.

[0036] As illustrated in FIG. 9, in this embodiment, the holding part F2 of the rear holding portion 71 is a surface that extends along the rear surface F42 of the leaf spring 4b in a plan view. In this embodiment, the rear holding portion 71 extends in the width direction. In this case, the rear holding portion 71 is capable of surface contact with the rear surface F42 of the leaf spring 4b. In this embodiment, the rear holding portion 71 is located forward from the front wall 7a of the storage member 7, and the widthwise outer end (left end in FIG. 9) of the rear holding portion 71 is connected to the front wall 7a of the storage member 7.

[0037] As a result of the respective holding parts (F1 and F2) of the container body 2 and the storage member 7 being each a surface that surface-contacts the surface F4 of the leaf spring 4b as in the compact container 1B, the surface F4 of the leaf spring 4b can be held by surface contact. Moreover, as a result of the holding parts (F1 and F2) being each a surface that surface-contacts the surface F4 of the leaf spring 4b as in this embodiment, the leaf spring 4b provided on the hook piece 4 can be held more firmly in the pressing direction.

[0038] FIG. 10 schematically illustrates an enlarged view of the relationship among the container body 2, the storage member 7, and the hook piece 4 of a compact container 1C according to Embodiment 3 of the present disclosure, as in FIG. 9. The compact container 1C is a modification of the compact container 1B. In the compact container 1C, parts that are substantially the same as those in the compact container 1B are given the same reference signs.

[0039] With reference to FIG. 10, in the compact container 1C according to this embodiment, the respective holding parts (F1 and F2) of the container body 2 and the storage member 7 are each a surface provided with a plurality of protrusions.

[0040] As illustrated in FIG. 10, in this embodiment, the holding part F1 of the front holding portion 21 includes a reference surface F11 that extends along the front surface F41 of the leaf spring 4b in a plan view, and a plurality of protrusions P1 provided on the reference surface F11. In this embodiment, the reference surface F11 is a surface that extends along the front surface F41 of the leaf spring 4b in a plan view, as illustrated in FIG. 10. In this embodiment, the plurality of protrusions P1 are integrally provided on the reference surface F11. In this embodiment, the front holding portion 21 is capable of point contact with a plurality of parts of the front surface F41 of the leaf spring 4b via the plurality of protrusions P1. Although the plurality of protrusions P1 are arranged at equal intervals on the reference surface F11 of the front holding portion 21 in this embodiment, the plurality of protrusions P1 may be arranged in any way on the reference surface F11 of the front holding portion 21.

[0041] As illustrated in FIG. 10, in this embodiment, the holding part F2 of the rear holding portion 71 includes a reference surface F21 that extends along the rear surface F42 of the leaf spring 4b in a plan view, and a plurality of protrusions P2 provided on the reference surface F21. In this embodiment, the reference surface F21 is a surface that extends along the rear surface F42 of the leaf spring 4b in a plan view, as illustrated in FIG. 10. In this embodiment, the plurality of protrusions P2 are integrally provided on the reference surface F21 of the rear holding portion 71. In this embodiment, the rear holding portion 71 is capable of point contact with a plurality of parts of the rear surface F42 of the leaf spring 4b via the plurality of protrusions P2. Although the plurality of protrusions P2 are arranged at equal intervals on the reference surface F21 of the rear holding portion 71 in this embodiment, the plurality of protrusions P2 may be arranged in any way on the reference surface F21 of the rear holding portion 71.

[0042] As a result of the respective holding parts (F1 and F2) of the container body 2 and the storage member 7 being each a surface provided with a plurality of protrusions as in the compact container 1C according to this embodiment, a plurality of parts of the surface F4 of the leaf spring 4b can be held by point contact. That is, as a result of the holding parts (F1 and F2) being each a surface having a plurality of protrusions as in this embodiment, the contact area with the surface F4 of the leaf spring 4b provided on the hook piece 4 can be limited while the leaf spring 4b can be held more firmly in the pressing direction. Moreover, in this embodiment, the reference surfaces F11 and F21 can serve as auxiliary surface contact parts.

[0043] Although some exemplary embodiments of the compact container according to the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications may be made within the scope described in the claims. For example, the pressing portion 4a and the leaf spring 4b of the hook piece 4 may be separate members. Given that the widthwise extending portion 22 is a part for reinforcing the front holding portion 21, it is preferable that the widthwise extending portion 22 is connected to the front holding portion 21. However, the widthwise extending portion 22 may be omitted depending on the strength of the front holding portion 21. The storage member 7 may be an inner tray member for storing cosmetics, instead of a frame member (inner frame). Various structures used in the above embodiments may be combined in any way.REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

[0044] 1Acompact container (Embodiment 1) 1Bcompact container (Embodiment 2) 1Ccompact container (Embodiment 3) 2container body 2afront wall 2brear wall 2cside wall 2dbottom wall 21front holding portion F1holding part of front holding portion F11reference surface of holding part of front holding portion P1protrusion of holding part of front holding portion 22widthwise extending portion 3lid 3afront wall 3brear wall 3cside wall 3dtop wall 4hook piece 4apressing portion 4bleaf spring 4cguide protrusion 4fhook 5pin 6torsion spring 7storage member 7afront wall 7brear wall 7cside wall 7dbottom wall 7ebottom plate 71rear holding portion F2holding part of rear holding portion F21reference surface of holding part of rear holding portion P2protrusion of holding part of rear holding portion F4surface of leaf spring F41front surface of leaf spring F42rear surface of leaf spring

Claims

1. A compact container comprising: a container body; a storage member housed in the container body; a lid; and a hook piece arranged on the container body and including a hook that is engageable with the lid, wherein pressing the hook piece toward the container body against an elastic force of a leaf spring provided on the hook piece disengages the hook and the lid from each other, and the container body and the storage member are provided with respective holding portions that cooperate with each other to hold the leaf spring by sandwiching the leaf spring in a pressing direction of the hook piece.

2. The compact container according to claim 1, wherein holding parts of the holding portions are each a curved surface that line-contacts a surface of the leaf spring.

3. The compact container according to claim 1, wherein holding parts of the holding portions are each a surface that surface-contacts a surface of the leaf spring.

4. The compact container according to claim 1, wherein holding parts of the holding portions are each a surface provided with a plurality of protrusions.

5. The compact container according to claim 1, wherein the storage member is a frame member.

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