Container case and blank

Abstract

To provide a container case capable of stably holding a number of containers and reducing materials to be used more.SOLUTION: A container case configured to include a rectangular cylindrical body portion 2 in which a plurality of cylindrical containers 100 are aligned and stored and a plurality of sidewall portions 20 are continuously provided in a circumferential direction, a bottom portion 3 which closes a lower end opening of the body portion 2, a pair of coupling portions 5 which respectively extend upward from upper end edges of the sidewall portions 20 facing each other, and a pair of lid portions 4 which are respectively connected to the upper end edges of the coupling portions 5 via lid folding lines a2 and have distal end edges facing each other with a gap therebetween, each of the lid portions 4 being formed with a plurality of locking holes 400 which penetrate in the vertical direction and into which upper end portions of the containers 100 are inserted.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a container case for storing a plurality of containers with caps. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, so-called wrap-around packaging boxes have been known as container cases for storing multiple capped containers (for example, Patent Document 1). Conventional wrap-around packaging boxes are configured to store multiple capped containers lined up and covered with a top plate up to the caps, and when opening the box, a zipper formed on the side wall is broken and opened, and the upper part including the top plate is removed, so that the box can be displayed in a store as is. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-132245 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in recent years, with rising transportation costs due to rising fuel prices and material prices, cheaper container cases are needed, and reducing the amount of material used is an issue. However, with the conventional container case configuration that covers the entire container, measures such as short flaps and rationalization of materials are reaching their limit, and new methods for reducing material costs are being sought.

[0005] In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a container case that can reduce the amount of material used. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The container case of the present invention is a container case for storing a plurality of cylindrical containers aligned horizontally in two or more rows and two or more columns, A square cylindrical body portion having a plurality of side wall portions connected in a circumferential direction; A bottom portion that closes a lower end opening of the body portion; a pair of lids connected to upper edges of the opposing side wall portions via lid creases, the tip edges of which face each other with a gap therebetween; Each lid portion is characterized by having a plurality of locking holes that penetrate in the vertical direction and into which the upper ends of the containers are inserted (hereinafter referred to as the "container case of the first invention").

[0007] The first container case of the present invention comprises a pair of lid portions whose leading edges face each other with a gap between them, and each of these lid portions has a plurality of locking holes that are penetrated in the vertical direction and into which the upper ends of the containers are inserted, eliminating the need for material in the gap between the pair of lid portions.

[0008] In addition, in the container case of the first invention, since the lid is inserted into and locked to the upper end of the container, it is not necessary to cover the upper end of the container, and therefore the height of the container case can be kept low. Therefore, according to the container case of the first invention, the amount of cardboard used can be significantly reduced compared to the conventional configuration in which the entire container is covered and sealed.

[0009] In addition, the container case of the present invention is a container case for storing a plurality of cylindrical containers aligned horizontally, and is characterized in that it comprises a square cylindrical body portion having a plurality of side wall portions connected circumferentially, a bottom portion closing the lower end opening of the body portion, a pair of connecting portions each extending upward from the upper end edges of the opposing side wall portions, and a pair of lid portions each connected to the upper end edges of each connecting portion via a lid fold line and whose tip edges face each other with a gap between them, and each lid portion has a plurality of locking holes that are penetrated in the vertical direction and into which the upper ends of the containers are inserted (hereinafter referred to as the ``second container case of the present invention'').

[0010] The second container case of the present invention comprises a pair of lid portions whose leading edges face each other with a gap between them, and each of these lid portions has a plurality of engagement holes that are penetrated in the vertical direction and into which the upper ends of the containers are inserted, eliminating the need for material in the gap between the pair of lid portions.

[0011] In addition, in the container case of the second invention, since the lid is inserted into and locked onto the upper end of the container, it is not necessary to cover the upper end of the container, and therefore the height of the container case can be kept low. Therefore, according to the container case of the first invention, the amount of cardboard used can be significantly reduced compared to the conventional configuration in which the entire container is covered and sealed.

[0012] Furthermore, in the second container case of the present invention, a locking recess is formed on the tip edge of the lid portion, which is concave toward the lid fold line and locks the upper end portion of the container from the side (hereinafter referred to as the "third container case of the present invention").

[0013] In the container case of the third aspect of the present invention, the containers that are not inserted into the locking holes can be fixed by the leading edge of the lid. Therefore, the containers can be fixed without covering the upper ends of all the containers, and the gap between the pair of lids can be made wider. Therefore, the container case of the third aspect of the present invention can further reduce the amount of cardboard used compared to the conventional configuration.

[0014] In addition, in the third container case of the present invention, a locking tongue is formed on the lid portion, which has a plurality of cut lines extending from the periphery of the locking hole on the side farthest from the lid fold line in a direction away from the lid fold line, and a swinging fold line connecting the tips of the cut lines, and the locking tongue presses against the upper end of the container from the side, thereby relatively displacing the tip edge of the lid portion in a direction away from the lid fold line (hereinafter referred to as the "container case of the fourth invention").

[0015] According to the fourth container case of the present invention, the locking tongue presses the upper end of the container from the side, so that the locking tongue acts like a barb on a fishhook and can fix the upper end of the container more reliably and firmly.

[0016] In addition, due to the reaction force of the locking tongue pressing the upper end of the container from the side, the locking recess at the tip edge of the lid is relatively displaced in a direction away from the lid fold line, pressing the upper end of the opposing container from the side. As a result, the container case of the fourth invention can more reliably and firmly fix the upper end of the container.

[0017] Furthermore, in any one of the second to fourth container cases of the present invention, each of the connecting portions has a breakable line connecting both side edges (hereinafter referred to as the "container case of the fifth invention").

[0018] According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the connecting parts can be separated in the vertical direction by breaking the breakable lines connecting both side edges of each connecting part. This allows the lids connected to each connecting part to be removed together with the upper connecting parts. The container case from which the upper connecting parts and the lid have been removed can be used as a display case as it is.

[0019] The blank of the present invention is a blank formed into a container case, and has a rectangular shape extending in the vertical and horizontal directions, a bottom plate on which a plurality of cylindrical containers are placed in an aligned state, a pair of side plates connected to the left and right edges of the bottom plate via a bottom fold line, a pair of cover plates connected to the edge of each side plate opposite the bottom plate via a lid fold line, a pair of outer flaps connected to the upper and lower edges of the bottom plate via an outer flap fold line, a pair of inner flaps connected to the upper and lower edges of each side plate via an inner flap fold line, a plurality of locking holes formed in the middle of the cover plate, which penetrate the blank in the thickness direction and into which the upper ends of the containers are inserted, and a locking recess formed in the tip edge of the cover plate, which is concave toward the lid fold line and locks the upper ends of the containers from the side, and is characterized in that the sum of the left and right widths of the pair of cover plates is smaller than the left and right width of the bottom plate (hereinafter referred to as the ``blank of the first invention'').

[0020] According to the first aspect of the present invention, the blank has a plurality of locking holes formed in the middle of the cover plate, penetrating the blank in the thickness direction, into which the upper end of the container is inserted, and a locking recess formed in the leading edge of the cover plate, which is concave toward the cover fold line and locks the upper end of the container from the side. This eliminates the need to cover the entire container with a cover plate, and therefore the amount of cardboard used can be significantly reduced compared to a blank configured to cover the entire container with a cover plate. In other words, the total width of the pair of cover plates in the left-right direction is smaller than the width of the bottom plate in the left-right direction. Therefore, the amount of cardboard used can be further reduced compared to a configuration in which the pair of cover plates are formed to be the same size as the bottom plate.

[0021] In addition, in the blank of the first invention, the inner flap is connected from the left-right middle portion of the upper and lower edges of each side panel to the bottom panel, and each side panel has a breakable line formed in the upper and lower edges that vertically connects the open edges to which the inner flap is not connected (hereinafter referred to as the ``blank of the second invention'').

[0022] According to the second aspect of the present invention, the inner flaps are connected from the left-right middle parts of the upper and lower edges of each side panel to the bottom panel side, which eliminates the need for corrugated cardboard to form flaps above the bottom panel from the left-right middle parts of the upper and lower edges of each side panel, thereby reducing the amount of corrugated cardboard used.

[0023] In addition, each side panel has a breakable line that vertically connects the open edges of the upper and lower edges that do not have the inner flaps. Therefore, when a container case is assembled using the blank of the second invention, the breakable line can be broken to separate the lid panel and the side of each side panel that does not have the inner flaps from the side of each side panel that is connected to the bottom panel and has the inner flaps. The bottom panel from which the lid panel has been removed can be used as a display case as is. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a first embodiment of a container case of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a development view of a blank according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of a container case of the present invention, and is a perspective view showing the container case in an initial state during a sealing operation. [Figure 4] 4A and 4B are views showing a first embodiment of a container case of the present invention, in which FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing a container case in an intermediate state during a sealing operation, and FIG. 4B is a partially enlarged front view of FIG. 4A. [Diagram 5] 5A and 5B are views showing a first embodiment of a container case of the present invention, in which FIG. 5A is a perspective view showing a container case in a sealed state during a sealing operation, and FIG. 5B is a partially enlarged front view of FIG. 5A. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of a container case of the present invention, and is a perspective view showing the container case in an initial state during an opening operation. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of a container case of the present invention, and is a perspective view showing the container case in an intermediate state during an opening operation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a container case 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a development view of the container case 1, showing a blank 1X of the container case 1 before it is made into a box.

[0026] (Configuration of container case 1) The container case 1 of this embodiment is also called a wraparound type, and is made of double-sided corrugated cardboard consisting of a front liner, a back liner, and a core. The container case 1 is made (assembled) into a box shape by folding a flat blank 1X formed by cutting grooves and scoring the double-sided corrugated cardboard.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 1, the container case 1 stores a plurality of cylindrical containers 100 aligned horizontally in two or more rows and two or more columns, and comprises a square cylindrical body 2 having a plurality of side wall portions 20 connected in the circumferential direction, a bottom 3 closing the lower opening of the body 2, a pair of connecting portions 5 each extending upward from the upper edges of the opposing side wall portions 20, and a pair of lid portions 4 each connected to the upper edges of each connecting portion 5 via a lid fold line a2 and with their tip edges 240 facing each other with a gap between them, and each lid portion 4 is formed with a plurality of locking holes 400 that penetrate the vertical direction and into which the upper ends of the containers 100 are inserted.

[0028] A plurality of containers 100 are stored in an array inside the container case 1. Caps 120 and necks 111 formed at their lower parts are provided at positions corresponding to the upper ends of the plurality of containers 100, and these parts are inserted into the locking holes 400.

[0029] Therefore, when the pair of lids 4 are closed as in the illustrated example, the cap 120 inserted into the locking hole 400 and a part of the neck 111 are exposed on the lid 4. As a result, the lid 4 is placed on the shoulder 112 that extends from the lower end of the neck 111 of the container 100 to the container body 110, and is locked to the neck 111 by the locking hole 400.

[0030] The body 2 is formed in a rectangular tubular shape with a plurality of side walls 20 connected in the circumferential direction. The lower end opening of the body 2 is closed by the bottom 3, so the shape of the opening is rectangular in accordance with the bottom 3.

[0031] The bottom portion 3 closes the lower end opening of the body portion 2, and is formed in a rectangular shape from a single plate-like member.

[0032] The lid portion 4 is formed as a pair with the connecting portions 5, is connected to the upper end edges of the connecting portions 5 via lid fold lines a2, and covers at least a part of the upper part of the bottom portion 3.

[0033] The cover portion 4 is formed in a rectangular shape and extends horizontally from the upper end edges of the connecting portions 5 so that tip edges 240 face each other, and the tip edges 240 face each other with a gap therebetween.

[0034] The lid 4 is formed with a plurality of locking holes 400 that penetrate in the vertical direction and into which the upper end of the container 100 is inserted. The locking holes 400 are formed to be the same size as or slightly larger than the upper end of the container 100 so that the upper end of the container 100 can pass through, but the width of the locking holes 400 in the direction perpendicular to the lid fold line a2 is wider, biased toward the lid fold line a2.

[0035] The locking hole 400 is formed with a locking tongue 410 having a plurality of cut lines 403 extending from the periphery of the locking hole 400 on the side farther from the lid fold line a2 in a direction away from the lid fold line a2, and a swinging fold line 404 connecting the tips of the cut lines 403.

[0036] This locking tongue 410 presses the upper end of the container 100 from the side in a direction parallel to the bottom 3 and perpendicular to the lid fold line a2, thereby relatively displacing the tip edge 240 of the lid portion 4 in a direction away from the lid fold line a2.

[0037] In addition, the locking tongue 410 interferes when the upper end of the container 100 is inserted or removed from the locking hole 400, but it swings and moves so as not to interfere with this, and when sealed, it is positioned approximately horizontally and presses against the side of the neck 111, which is the upper end of the container 100, from the side, making the locking state of the container 100 more firmly secured.

[0038] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the tip edge 240 of the lid portion 4 is formed with a locking recess 420 that is concave toward the lid fold line a2 and locks the upper end portion of the container 100 from the side.

[0039] The locking recess 420 can firmly lock the upper end of the container 100 by the locking tongue piece 410 relatively displacing the tip edge 240 of the lid portion 4 in a direction away from the lid fold line a2.

[0040] The connecting portions 5 are formed in a pair opposite to each other, and extend upward from the upper edges of the opposing side wall portions 20 among the plurality of side wall portions 20. The connecting portions 5 are formed to fix a pair of lid portions 4 spaced apart above the body portion 2.

[0041] Each of the connecting portions 5 has a breakable line d connecting both side edges thereof. The breakable line d is composed of a cut line and / or an auxiliary cutting line.

[0042] (Blank 1X configuration) Fig. 2 shows a blank 1X of a container case 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. A corrugated cardboard having a corrugated paper sheet as a core laminated with a liner is generally used as the blank 1X of the container case 1. The corrugated cardboard is punched into the illustrated shape, and breakable lines are provided as shown by solid lines in Fig. 2, and fold lines are provided as shown by thin lines, to obtain the blank 1X before assembly.

[0043] The breakable line is composed of a cut line and / or a cutting auxiliary line (e.g., composed of a perforation). Blank 1X shown in Fig. 2 corresponds to the inside of container case 1. In the following description of blank 1X, for convenience, the left side of Fig. 2 will be referred to as "left", the right side as "right", the upper side as "upper", and the lower side as "lower".

[0044] The blank 1X shown in Figure 2 comprises a rectangular bottom plate 21 extending in the vertical and horizontal directions, a pair of side plates 22 connected to the left and right edges of the bottom plate 21 via bottom fold line a1, a pair of outer flaps 31, 41 connected to the upper and lower edges of the bottom plate 21 via outer flap fold lines b1, c1, a pair of inner flaps 32, 42 connected to the upper and lower edges of each side plate 22 via inner flap fold lines b2, c2, and a pair of cover plates 24 connected to the edge of each side plate 22 opposite the bottom plate 21 via cover fold line a2, and all of these elements 21, 22, 24, 31, 41 and 32, 42 are rectangular in plan view and are formed as a single unit.

[0045] The pair of side plates 22 are connected to the left and right edges of the bottom plate 21 via bottom fold lines a1, respectively. The size of the pair of side plates 22 in the up-down direction is set to be slightly smaller than that of the bottom plate 21.

[0046] A break initiation portion 221 is formed by a breakable line d and a fold line e on each of the pair of side plates 22. The breakable line d is composed of a first line portion d1, a pair of second line portions d2, and a pair of third line portions d3.

[0047] The first line portion d1 is formed in the vertical center, closer to the bottom plate 21 than the left-right center of the pair of side plates 22, and extends in the vertical direction a predetermined length L1. The pair of second line portions d2 extend parallel to each other a predetermined length from both ends of the first line portion d1 toward the bottom plate 21. The tips of the pair of second line portions d2 are connected by a fold line e parallel to the first line portion d1.

[0048] The pair of third line portions d3 extend in a V-shape from both ends of the first line portion d1 toward the open end edges of the side plates 22 to which the inner flaps 32, 42 are not connected, while being spaced apart from each other so as to connect these open ends, and incline toward the cover plate 24. The first line portion d1, the pair of second line portions d2, and the fold line e form a break initiation portion 221 (see FIG. 1).

[0049] The pair of side plates 22 have inner flaps 32, 42 connected to the bottom plate 21 from the left-right center of the upper and lower edges via inner flap fold lines b2, c2, respectively. When the container case 1 is assembled, the inner flaps 32, 42 overlap the inside of the outer flaps 31, 41, so the widths (left-right dimensions) of the inner flaps 32, 42 are formed to be equal in length to the heights (up-down dimensions) of the outer flaps 31, 41.

[0050] As described above, the pair of third line portions d3 are connected to the open ends of the upper and lower ends of the pair of side plates 22 where the inner flaps 32, 42 are not formed.

[0051] A pair of cover plates 24 are connected to the left and right edges of the pair of side plates 22 via cover fold lines a2. The total width (size in the left and right direction) of the pair of cover plates 24 is approximately 80% smaller than the width (size in the left and right direction) of the bottom plate 21 in the left and right direction.

[0052] A pair of cover plates 24 has a fold line a3 formed parallel to the cover fold line a2 at a predetermined distance. The rectangular area defined by the cover fold line a2 and the fold line a3 is the chamfered plate 24a. The chamfered plate 24a is a part of the cover plate 24.

[0053] A plurality of locking holes 400 cut along cutting lines 401 and 402 are formed on the left and right end sides of the folding line a3 of the pair of cover plates 24, penetrating the blank 1X in the up-down direction.

[0054] The position at which the locking hole 400 is formed corresponds to the upper end of the container 100 arranged on the bottom plate 21 when the container case 1 is assembled and the pair of cover plates 24 are closed and sealed.

[0055] The size of the locking hole 400 is formed to be the same as or slightly larger than the planar shape of the upper end of the container 100 so that the upper end of the container 100 can pass through, but the left-right width of the locking hole 400 is wider, biased toward the fold line a3 of the pair of cover plates 24.

[0056] In other words, the left-right center position of the locking hole 400 is formed so that when the container case 1 is assembled and the containers 100 are arranged on the bottom plate 21, it is positioned offset toward the fold line a3 from the center position of the cylindrical axis of the container 100 corresponding to the locking hole 400.

[0057] A locking tongue 410 is formed in the locking hole 400. This locking tongue 410 is formed from a cutting line 402 which is the periphery of the locking hole 400 on the side farther from the lid fold line a2, a pair of cutting lines 403 which extend from both ends in a direction away from the lid fold line a2, and a swinging fold line 404 which connects the tips of the cutting lines 403 to each other.

[0058] The locking tongue 410 swings to facilitate insertion of the upper end of the container 100 when the container case 1 is assembled and the upper end of the container 100 is inserted into the locking hole 400, and when the pair of cover plates 24 are closed and sealed, it abuts against and presses the upper end of the container 100, making the locking of the container 100 more secure. In the center of the cutting line 402 that forms the locking tongue 410, an arc-shaped recess 402a is formed that is large enough to fit the neck 111, which is the small diameter portion at the upper end of the container 100.

[0059] A locking recess 420 is formed on the leading edge 240 of the cover plate 24, which is concave toward the cover fold line a2 and locks the upper end of the container 100 from the side. The locking recess 420 is formed by a cutting line 421 that is roughly semicircular or arc-shaped, and a fold line 422 is formed concentrically at a position spaced from the cutting line 421 in the circumferential direction. In addition, a plurality of (e.g., three) cut lines 423 are formed at equal intervals from the cutting line 421 toward the fold line 422.

[0060] As a result, when neck 111, which is the upper end of container 100, abuts against cutting line 421, which is the edge of locking recess 420, and is pressed from the side, the area partitioned by cutting line 421 and fold line 422, which is further subdivided by cut lines 423, each oscillates and deforms with fold line 422 as a fulcrum, and displaces while exerting a repulsive force against the pressing force.

[0061] The pair of outer flaps 31, 41 are connected to the upper and lower edges of the bottom plate 21 via outer flap fold lines b1, c1.

[0062] (Assembly of container case 1) Next, a procedure for assembling the container case 1 shown in Fig. 1 from the cardboard blank 1X shown in Fig. 2 will be described. In the following description, the direction indicated by the front-to-back arrow in Fig. 1 will be referred to as the "front-to-back direction," the direction indicated by the left-to-right arrow will be referred to as the "left-to-right direction," and the direction indicated by the up-to-down arrow will be referred to as the "up-to-down direction."

[0063] First, a worker places a plurality of containers 100 in an aligned state on the bottom plate 21. Next, the pair of side plates 22 are folded along the bottom fold lines a1 and stand upright from the bottom plate 21 at a right angle.

[0064] Next, the inner flaps 32, 42 are folded along the inner flap crease lines c2, b2 in directions such that their leading edges face each other, and are perpendicular to the pair of side plates 22.

[0065] Next, the outer flaps 31, 41 are folded along the outer flap fold lines b1, c1 and erected at right angles from the bottom plate 21, and the inner surfaces of the outer flaps 31, 41 are fixed to the outer surfaces of the inner flaps 32, 42 via an adhesive (not shown).

[0066] 4A and 4B, the pair of cover plates 24 are folded in a direction in which their leading edges face each other. Specifically, first, the cover plates 24 are folded 45° along the cover crease line a2, so that the chamfered plate 24a abuts or approaches the shoulder 112 of the container 100, and then the remaining portion of the cover plate 24 is gradually folded along the crease line a3 relative to the chamfered plate 24a.

[0067] At this time, the upper end of the container 100 near the pair of side plates 22 is inserted at an angle into the locking hole 400, but since the locking hole 400 is biased toward the lid fold line a2 and widens, the upper end of the container 100 can be inserted smoothly into the locking hole 400.

[0068] Furthermore, as the insertion of the upper end of container 100 into locking hole 400 progresses, locking tongue 410 on the opposite side of lid fold line a2 of locking hole 400 interferes with the upper end of container 100. However, as can be clearly seen in FIG. 4B, locking tongue 410 swings and bounces upward, so that the insertion of the upper end of container 100 is not hindered.

[0069] 5, the tip sides of the pair of cover plates 24 are bent toward the bottom plate 21 and the pair of cover plates 24 are arranged parallel to the bottom plate 21, so that the locking recesses 420 fit into and are locked to the neck portion 111 of the container 100. In this state, the cover plates 24 are locked to and fixed in the neck portion 111 of the container 100, but the locking tongues 410 are still flipped up toward the cap 120 side as shown in FIG.

[0070] When the locking tongue 410 is pushed toward the bottom plate 21 and made roughly horizontal, it presses against the neck 111 of the container 100 in a direction perpendicular to the lid fold line a2, and engages with the container 100, generating a fixing force for the lid plate 24 to the container 100.

[0071] This is because the distance L2 from the inner surface of the pair of side plates 22 to the tube center of the container 100 is greater than the distance L3 from the inner surface of the pair of side plates 22 to the farthest part of the recess 402a of the locking tongue 410 minus the outer peripheral radius r1 of the neck portion 111, that is, L2>L3-r1.

[0072] In the above, the container case 1 shown in FIG. 1 is assembled from the corrugated cardboard blank 1X. Here, the corresponding relationships between the components of the blank 1X and the components of the container case 1 will be described.

[0073] First, the bottom plate 21 of the blank 1X corresponds to the bottom 3 of the container case 1. Also, the cover plate 24 of the blank 1X corresponds to the cover 4 of the container case 1.

[0074] Next, a portion of the side plate 22 of the blank 1X that is sandwiched between the inner flaps 32, 42 corresponds to the side wall portion 20 of the container case 1. Also, a portion of the side plate 22 of the blank 1X that is sandwiched between the open edge of the side plate 22 to which the inner flaps 32, 42 are not connected corresponds to the connecting portion 5 of the container case 1.

[0075] Next, the closing portion in which the inner surfaces of the outer flaps 31, 41 are fixed to the outer surfaces of the inner flaps 32, 42 of the blank 1X via an adhesive (not shown) also corresponds to the side wall 20 of the container case 1. In other words, a combination of a total of four sheets, namely, the side plates 22 of the pair of blanks 1X, the closing portion in which the inner surface of the outer flap 31 is fixed to the outer surfaces of the inner flaps 32, 42 via an adhesive (not shown), and the closing portion in which the inner surface of the outer flap 41 is fixed to the outer surfaces of the inner flaps 32, 42 via an adhesive (not shown), corresponds to the body 2 of the container case 1.

[0076] (Unpacking container case 1) Next, an operation of opening the container case 1 of this embodiment will be described. First, in the unopened container case 1 shown in Fig. 1 or Fig. 5A and 5B, an operator pushes inward a portion surrounded by a first line portion d1 and a pair of second line portions d2 of the breakable line d of the side plate 22 (hereinafter referred to as "break initiation portion 221"), whereby the break initiation portion 221 is broken from the side plate 22 along the first line portion d1 and the pair of second line portions d2, folded with the fold line e as a fulcrum, and inserted into the container case 1.

[0077] At this time, there are multiple containers 100 inside the break initiation portion 221, but the break initiation portion 221 is slightly deformed and bent so as to enter the gaps between the containers 100.

[0078] Next, the worker inserts his / her fingers into the container case 1 through the gap created by the bent break initiation portion 221, hooks the fingers around the inner side surface of the side plate 22, and pulls them outward. This causes the side plate 22 to break along the pair of third line portions d3, and the upper and lower halves of the side plate 22 are separated.

[0079] 6, the upper half of the broken side plate 22 is pulled up until it is horizontal. In this state, the neck 111 of the container 100 is still locked in the locking hole 400 and the locking recess 420, but the upper half of the side plate 22 is separated from the lower half, and the side plate 22 is no longer in contact with the upper lateral side of the container body 110, so that the fixing force that relatively displaces the tip edge 240 of the lid plate 24 in a direction away from the lid fold line a2 disappears.

[0080] 7, when the side plate 22 is further pulled up, the upper half of the side plate 22 and the cover plate 24 are raised so as to rotate about the leading edge 240 of the cover plate 24. As a result, the upper end of the container 100 passes through the locking hole 400, the locked state is released, and the upper half of the side plate 22 and the cover plate 24 can be easily removed. As the upper end of the container 100 passes through the locking hole 400, the locking tongue 410 interferes with the lower surface of the cap 120 of the container 100, but as shown in FIG. 6, the locking tongue 410 is valley folded along the cover fold line a2, so that the upper end of the container 100 can pass through without being impeded.

[0081] With the upper half of the side panel 22 and the cover panel 24 removed, the container case 1 becomes the container case 1 shown in Figure 3 with those parts removed, and becomes a display case surrounded by the bottom panel 21, outer flaps 31, 41 and the lower half of the side panel 22.

[0082] Therefore, the container case 1 from which the upper half of the side plate 22 and the cover plate 24 have been removed can be placed in a storefront with the containers 100 still placed therein and used as a display case.

[0083] (Effects of the container case 1) Next, the effects of the container case 1 of this embodiment will be described.

[0084] The container case 1 of this embodiment is provided with a pair of lids 4 whose leading edges face each other with a gap therebetween, and each of the lids 4 has a plurality of locking holes 400 that penetrate in the vertical direction and into which the upper ends of the containers 100 are inserted. This eliminates the need for material in the gaps between the pair of lids 4, allowing the amount of cardboard used to be reduced.

[0085] Furthermore, by engaging the lid portion 4 with the neck portion 111 of the container 100, there is no need to cover the top of the container 100, so the height of the container case 1 (the vertical length of the side panel 2) can be kept low, and the amount of cardboard used can be significantly reduced compared to a configuration in which the entire container 100 is covered and sealed.

[0086] Specifically, the blank 1X of the container case 1 of this embodiment has an area that is approximately 20% smaller than a blank configured to cover the entire container 100 of the same size, significantly reducing the area of ​​the corrugated cardboard used as the material, and enabling a significant reduction in material costs.

[0087] In the container case 1 of the above embodiment, a locking recess 420 that locks the upper end of the container 100 from the side is formed on the leading edge 240 of the lid 4. This makes it possible to fix the container 100 at the leading edge 240 of the lid 4 while significantly reducing the amount of cardboard used.

[0088] In this embodiment of the container case 1, the lid portion 4 is formed with a locking tongue piece 410 extending from the periphery of the locking hole 400, and by pressing the upper end portion of the container 100 from the side, the tip edge 240 of the lid portion 4 is relatively displaced in a direction away from the lid fold line a2.

[0089] In other words, when the locking tongue 410 is horizontally locked to the neck 111 of the container 100 arranged in contact with the inner surfaces of the pair of side plates 22, the locking tongue 410 generates a force pressing the neck 111 horizontally and perpendicular to the lid fold line a2, and the reaction force generates a fixing force that relatively displaces the leading edge 240 of the cover plate 24 in a direction away from the lid fold line a2. This fixing force acts as a force pressing the neck 111 of the container 100 arranged in that position horizontally and perpendicular to the lid fold line a2 by the locking recess 420 of the leading edge 240 of the cover plate 24.

[0090] Meanwhile, the container 100 of the pressed neck portion 111 acts to push against the container 100 arranged on the opposite side (the other lid plate 24 side); however, since the movement of the container 100 in the direction perpendicular to the lid fold line a2 is restricted by the opposite side plate 22 (the other side plate 22 side), the container 100 also receives a reaction force from this, and as a result, a compressive force continues to be applied to the locking tongue 410 and the locking recess 420, thereby enabling the container 100 to be firmly locked to the lid plate 24.

[0091] Furthermore, the locking tongue 410 acts like a barb on a fishhook and can fix the upper end of the container 100 more reliably and firmly, thereby improving the fixing force of the container 100.

[0092] The container case 1 of this embodiment has a breakable line d connecting both side edges of each connecting part 5, so that each connecting part 5 can be separated in the vertical direction by breaking this breakable line d. This allows each lid part 4 connected to each connecting part 5 to be removed together with each upper connecting part 5. Furthermore, the container case 1 from which each upper connecting part 5 and the lid part 4 have been removed can be used as a display case as it is.

[0093] (Modification of container case 1) Next, a modified example of the container case 1 of this embodiment will be described.

[0094] In this embodiment, corrugated cardboard has been used as an example of the material, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the material may be cardboard or a thin synthetic resin plate as long as it can be folded and assembled.

[0095] In this embodiment, the body 2 has been described as being connected in the order of one cover plate 24, one side plate 22, bottom plate 21, the other side plate 22, and the other cover plate 24 from the top as shown in Figure 2, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the upper and lower edges of any of the plates of the body 2 may be open ends as long as the body 2 can be formed into a rectangular tube shape when assembled.

[0096] In this embodiment, the bottom 3 is described as being rectangular in shape, but the bottom 3 may be triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, or the like.

[0097] In this embodiment, the side wall 20 other than the predetermined side wall 20 to which the connecting portion 5 is connected is configured by the inner flaps 32, 42 and the outer flaps 31, 41. However, in the present invention, as long as the front and rear openings of the body 2 can be closed by a pair of side walls, the inner flaps 32, 42 may be bonded to the outside and the outer flaps 31, 41 to the inside, and there is no limitation on the configuration of the side wall 20, including the presence or absence of the inner flaps 32, 42. Therefore, for example, the outer flaps 31, 41 of this embodiment may be extended from the upper edge upward until they contact the lid 4, thereby sealing the side wall 20 other than the predetermined side wall 20 to which the connecting portion 5 is connected. In this case, the inner flaps 32, 42 may be widened from the upper edge upward until they contact the lid 4. In this case, the lid 4 is directly connected to the body 2, and the connecting portion 5 is omitted.

[0098] In this embodiment, an example has been shown in which the locking recesses 420 are formed on the leading edges 240 of the pair of cover plates 24, but the locking recesses 420 may be omitted and the leading edge 240 of the cover plate 24 without the locking recesses 420 may abut against the neck portion 111 of the container 100. Also, if there is a gap between the leading edges 240 of the pair of cover plates 24, the locking holes 400 may be formed in a number such that the upper ends of all of the containers 100 can be inserted therein, and therefore the leading edges 240 may not come into contact with the neck portion 111.

[0099] In this embodiment, an example is shown and described in which four containers 100 are aligned in a direction perpendicular to the lid fold line a2, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the number may be an even or odd number as long as one locking hole 400 can be formed in each of a pair of lid plates 24, and two or more are aligned.

[0100] In this embodiment, an example has been shown and described in which the shape of the locking recess 420 is formed in a semicircular or arc shape, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the locking recess 420 may be configured as a V-shape consisting of only straight lines or as part of a polygon.

[0101] In this embodiment, the size of the locking hole 400 is described as being the same as or slightly larger than the upper end of the container 100 so that the upper end of the container 100 can pass through. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the size of the locking hole 400 may be smaller than the upper end of the container 100, and in this case, an easily deformable portion may be formed around the locking hole 400 by cut lines and fold lines.

[0102] In this embodiment, the locking hole 400 has a front-rear width that is wider and biased toward the fold line a3 side of the cover plate 24, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the center position of the locking hole 400 may coincide with the position of the tube center of the container 100 placed at that position. In this case, an easily deformable portion may be formed around the locking hole 400 by cut lines and fold lines.

[0103] In this embodiment, an example has been shown and described in which the shape of the engagement hole 400 is configured to include a semicircular or arc-shaped shape, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the engagement hole 400 may be configured with part of a polygon consisting of only straight lines and straight lines and / or curves.

[0104] In this embodiment, the locking tongue 410 is formed in the locking hole 400, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it is not necessary to form the locking tongue 410, and only the locking hole 400 may be formed. In this case, a deformable portion may be formed at a position corresponding to the locking tongue 410 by a cut line and a fold line.

[0105] In this embodiment, an example has been shown and described in which an arc-shaped recess 402a of a size large enough for the neck 111 of the container 100 to fit into is formed in the center of the cutting line 402 of the locking tongue 410, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the cutting line 402 may be made straight so as to abut against the neck 111 without forming the recess 402a.

[0106] In this embodiment, an example has been shown and described in which the shape of the recess 402a is formed in a semicircular or arc shape, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the recess 402a may be formed in a V-shape or part of a polygon consisting of only straight lines.

[0107] In this embodiment, an example has been described in which the locking tongue 410 is formed by a cut line 403 and a swinging fold line 404, but it may also be formed as a protrusion protruding toward the center from the tip edge 240 side of the cover plate 24 of the locking hole 400.

[0108] In this embodiment, an example has been described in which the cover plate 24 has a chamfered portion 4a, which is a chamfered plate 24a between the cover fold line a2 and the fold line a3. However, the fold line a3 may be omitted and the cover plate 24 may be folded at a right angle from the side plate 22 without forming the chamfered portion 4a.

[0109] In the present embodiment, the breakable line d is formed on the side plate 22, but the breakable line d may be omitted. In addition, in the present embodiment, the breakable line d is formed in a V-shape that is convex downward at the center lower portion, but the breakable line d may be formed to extend linearly in the horizontal direction or may be formed to be curved. In addition, the breakable line d is connected to the open edge of the side plate 22 to which the inner flaps 32, 42 are not connected, but after reaching the side edge to which the inner flaps 32, 42 of the side plate 22 are connected, it may extend upward to the open edge to which the inner flaps 32, 42 are not connected.

[0110] In this embodiment, the chamfered plate 24a has been described as being a part of the cover plate 24, but the chamfered plate 24a may also be described as being a part of the side plate 22, and may even be omitted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0111] 1 Container case 1X Blank 2. Torso 3 bottom 4 Lid 5 Connecting part 21 Bottom plate 22 First side wall 24 Lid plate 32 Inner flap 42 Inner flap 100 containers 240 Leading Edge 400 Locking hole 401 Cutting line 402 Cutting line 402a Recess 403 Cutting line 404 Fold line 410 Locking tongue piece 420 Locking recess 421 Cutting line 422 Fold line 423 Cut line a1 bottom fold line a2 lid fold line b1 Outer flap fold line b2 Inner flap fold line c1 Outer flap fold line c2 Inner flap fold line d Breakable line

Claims

1. A container case for storing a plurality of cylindrical containers aligned horizontally in two or more rows and two or more columns, A square cylindrical body portion having a plurality of side wall portions connected in a circumferential direction; A bottom portion that closes a lower end opening of the body portion; a pair of lids connected to upper edges of the opposing side wall portions via lid creases, the tip edges of which face each other with a gap therebetween; A container case characterized in that each lid portion has a plurality of locking holes that are penetrated in the vertical direction and into which the upper ends of the containers are inserted.

2. A container case for storing a plurality of cylindrical containers aligned horizontally in two or more rows and two or more columns, A square cylindrical body portion having a plurality of side wall portions connected in a circumferential direction; A bottom portion that closes a lower end opening of the body portion; a pair of connecting portions each extending upward from an upper end edge of one of the opposing side wall portions; a pair of lid portions each connected to an upper end edge of each connecting portion via a lid crease line, the tip edges of which face each other with a gap therebetween; A container case characterized in that each lid portion has a plurality of locking holes that are penetrated in the vertical direction and into which the upper ends of the containers are inserted.

3. The container case according to claim 2, A container case, characterized in that a locking recess is formed on the tip edge of the lid portion, which is concave toward the lid fold line and locks the upper end of the container from the side.

4. The container case according to claim 3, The lid portion is formed with a locking tongue having a plurality of cut lines extending from the periphery of the locking hole on the side farther from the lid fold line in a direction away from the lid fold line and a swinging fold line connecting the tips of the cut lines, The container case is characterized in that the locking tongue presses the upper end of the container from the side, thereby relatively displacing the tip edge of the lid portion in a direction away from the lid fold line.

5. The container case according to any one of claims 2 to 4, A container case characterized in that each of the connecting portions has a breakable line connecting both side edges thereof.

6. A blank to be formed into a container case, A bottom plate having a rectangular shape extending in the vertical and horizontal directions, on which a plurality of cylindrical containers are placed in a state where two or more are aligned in the vertical direction and two or more are aligned in the horizontal direction; A pair of side plates are connected to the left and right edges of the bottom plate via a bottom crease line; A pair of cover plates are connected to the end edges of the side plates opposite the bottom plate via cover creases; A pair of outer flaps connected to the upper and lower edges of the bottom plate via outer flap fold lines; A pair of inner flaps are connected to the upper and lower end edges of each side plate via inner flap fold lines; A plurality of locking holes are formed in the middle of the cover plate, penetrate the blank in a thickness direction, and receive the upper end of the container; a locking recess formed on the leading edge of the cover plate, which is concave toward the cover fold line and locks the upper end of the container from the side; A blank, characterized in that the sum of the left-right widths of the pair of cover plates is smaller than the left-right width of the bottom plate.

7. 7. The blank of claim 6, The inner flaps are connected from the left-right middle portions of the upper and lower edges of the side panels to the bottom panel, A blank characterized in that each side panel has a breakable line formed thereon that vertically connects the open edges of the upper and lower edges to which the inner flap is not connected.

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