Container

Abstract

To improve convenience of a container when a lid body thereof is used as a coaster.SOLUTION: The container comprises a container body having an opening at a top surface, and a lid body that is detachably attached to the container body to close the opening. The lid body has a support portion that supports a side of a bottom surface of the container body with the bottom surface of the container body spaced apart from the top surface of the lid body.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a container. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Documents 1 to 3 describe containers in which the lid, when removed from the container body, can be used as a coaster. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6973792 [Patent Document 2] JP 2015-167763 A [Patent Document 3] JP 2007-186254 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] It is desirable to increase the convenience of the container when the lid is used as a coaster. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A container according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises a container body having an opening on a top surface, and a lid body that closes the opening by being removably attached to the container body, and the lid body has a support portion that supports the bottom side of the container body with the bottom surface of the container body spaced apart from the top surface of the lid body.

[0006] In this aspect, when the lid is used as a coaster, the bottom surface of the container body is located away from the top surface of the lid. This positional relationship allows the container body to be held at a high position relative to the lid. Therefore, it is possible to handle the contents of the container body while holding the lid. In addition, since the internal space of the lid does not face the support surface (e.g., a table or desk) on which the container is placed or the palm of the hand holding the container, even if the contents get on the inner surface of the lid, the situation in which the contents move out and soil the surroundings is prevented or suppressed. In this way, the convenience of the container can be improved when the lid is used as a coaster. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the convenience of a container can be improved when the lid is used like a coaster. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a container according to an example. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the container body is closed with a lid. [Diagram 3] 2 is an exploded perspective view of the container shown in a positional relationship different from that in FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the container body is placed on the lid body. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of a container according to a modified example. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a container according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] [Container Overview] Hereinafter, the container according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. The container is an article for storing contents. The container includes a container body for storing contents and a lid body detachably attached to the container body. The container body has an opening on the top surface. The top surface is an imaginary surface that faces the bottom surface of the container body and is located at the upper end of the container body. The lid body is attached to the container body to close the opening. When the opening is closed by the lid body, a direction from the container body to the lid body is defined. In this disclosure, this direction is referred to as the height direction, and a direction perpendicular to the height direction is referred to as the horizontal direction. In the height direction, the side where the container body closed by the lid body is located is referred to as the lower side, and the side where the lid body is located is referred to as the upper side.

[0010] The contents refer to a tangible object contained in the container. The contents may be a solid, liquid, a mixture of solid and liquid, or a gel-like substance, and the contents may be contained in the container in any state. The contents may be various foods, for example, refrigerated foods or frozen foods. Examples of contents include, but are not limited to, fruit punch, fruit jelly, coffee jelly, ice cream, soft serve ice cream, shaved ice, gelato, pudding, cold noodles, cold pasta, cold soup, cold tofu, salad, and marinade.

[0011] The lid can be used as a coaster (or a support base) to support the opened container body. The container has a structure for enhancing convenience when the lid is used as a coaster. The structure will be described in detail below. In the present disclosure, the state in which the lid is used as a coaster is also referred to as the "placed state."

[0012] [Container structure] The structure of a container 1 according to an example will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 5. Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the container 1. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a container body is closed with a lid. Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the container shown in a positional relationship different from that in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which the lid is used like a coaster (placed state). Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in Fig. 4.

[0013] The container 1 comprises a container body 10 and a lid 20. All of these components are produced by forming a synthetic resin sheet material into a predetermined shape using a predetermined die.

[0014] The container body 10 may be made of a non-foamed sheet material. The non-foamed sheet material may be polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, or a polyolefin such as polypropylene or polyethylene. The non-foamed sheet material may be a sheet containing an inorganic component such as calcium carbonate, talc, or a filler to improve heat resistance. The non-foamed sheet material may be multi-layered or single-layered. A film may be attached to the non-foamed sheet material. The non-foamed sheet material may be transparent or may have various colors or patterns. Various additives may be added to manufacture the non-foamed sheet material. The container body 10 may be made of a sheet material of a foamed synthetic resin. The sheet material of the foamed synthetic resin may be polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, or a polyolefin such as polypropylene or polyethylene. For example, a foamed polystyrene sheet made by foaming polystyrene, or a heat-resistant foamed polystyrene sheet made by foaming polystyrene with excellent heat resistance may be used. That is, regardless of whether the sheet material is a foam or not, the container body 10 may be made of a sheet material of a synthetic resin. The synthetic resin may include a biodegradable component such as polylactic acid (PLA).

[0015] The lid 20 may be made of a transparent synthetic resin sheet material. The transparent synthetic resin sheet material may be polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, or polyolefin such as polypropylene or polyethylene. For example, a polystyrene sheet obtained by biaxially stretching polystyrene, or a heat-resistant biaxially stretched styrene-based resin sheet may be used. The lid 20 may be made of a translucent or opaque synthetic resin sheet material. The non-transparent synthetic resin sheet material may be high impact polystyrene (HIPS) that contains a rubber component to enhance impact resistance, or PP filler (filler-containing polypropylene).

[0016] Examples of methods for forming the container body 10 or the lid body 20 include vacuum forming, pressure forming, vacuum pressure forming, double-sided vacuum forming, and hot plate forming. The container body 10 or the lid body 20 can be produced by thermoforming a synthetic resin sheet by any of these methods. When a stretched sheet is used, hot plate forming may be employed in which the sheet is sandwiched between a heated hot plate and a mold to perform molding.

[0017] The container body 10 includes a cup-shaped container section 11 for containing contents, and a body peripheral portion 12 that forms an opening of the container section 11. In a plan view of the container section 11, the body peripheral portion 12 is circular. In this disclosure, "plan view" refers to a case where an object is viewed from above along the height direction. The body peripheral portion 12 includes a flange 13 that is provided around the entire circumference. The flange 13 is formed so as to extend outward along the horizontal direction. The container body 11 includes a bottom surface 14 and a side wall 15 that is formed so as to extend from the periphery of the bottom surface 14 along the height direction and connect to the body peripheral portion 12. A plurality of grooves 16 that extend to the bottom surface 14 along the height direction of the container body 10 are formed on the outer surface of the side wall 15, i.e., the outer surface of the container body 10. In one example, the plurality of grooves 16 are provided at predetermined intervals around the entire circumference of the outer circumferential surface.

[0018] The lid 20 includes a cover portion 21 that is formed to bulge upward in a cup shape and covers the opening of the container body 10, and a lid peripheral portion 22 that forms the opening of the cover portion 21. In a plan view of the lid 20, the lid peripheral portion 22 has a circular shape that corresponds to the shape of the inner circumference of the main body peripheral portion 12. The lid peripheral portion 22 includes a flange 23 that is provided around the entire circumference. The flange 23 is formed so as to extend outward in the horizontal direction and so that an outer edge 23a of the flange 23 corresponds to the inner circumference of the main body peripheral portion 12. The cover portion 21 includes a top surface 24 and a side wall 25 that is formed so as to extend from the periphery of the top surface 24 in the height direction and connect to the lid peripheral portion 22.

[0019] The internal fitting method is adopted as a method for attaching the lid body 20 to the container body 10 in order to close the opening of the container body 10. The internal fitting method is a mechanism in which the fitting portion 29 of the lid body 20 fits into the fitting receiving portion 19 provided on the inside of the opening of the container body 10. The fitting portion 29 is formed by the outer edge 23a of the flange 23. The fitting receiving portion 19 is formed by a shallow groove located at the inner upper end of the side wall 15 and formed in the circumferential direction over the entire circumference. In the internal fitting method, the fitting portion 29 of the lid body 20 fitted into the container body 10 applies pressure outward toward the fitting receiving portion 19 of the container body 10, so that the lid body 20 is unlikely to come off the container body 10. As a result, leakage of the contents from the container body 10 is prevented or suppressed. Fitting achieved by an internal fitting method, etc., refers to a technique in which the fitting portion moving from a first side (e.g., above) toward the fitting receiving portion to a second side (e.g., below) overcomes the anti-slip portion that constitutes the fitting receiving portion and fits into the fitting receiving portion.

[0020] In one example, the height H of the lid 20 L is the height H of the container body 10 B For example, the height H L is the height H B The height H may be 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, or 1.5 times the height H L is the height H B For example, the height H B Alternatively, the height H L is the height H B In this disclosure, the height of the lid refers to the distance from the bottom of the lid periphery to the top of the top surface along the height direction. The height of the container body refers to the distance from the bottom of the bottom surface to the top of the body periphery along the height direction. Height H L is not limited to the above, and the height H B The height H may be 0.1 times or more. B Height H L The magnification of may be any value between 0.1 and 1.5. L is the height H B The height H may be 1.5 times or more. Lmay be set depending on various factors such as the contents of the container body 10 and the weight of the container body 10 including the contents.

[0021] To enable the lid 20 to be used like a coaster, the lid 20 has a support portion that supports the bottom surface 14 of the container body 10. In the container 1, the lid peripheral portion 22 functions as the support portion and supports the bottom peripheral portion 17, which is the peripheral portion of the bottom surface 14. The lid peripheral portion 22 supports the bottom peripheral portion 17 by fitting into the bottom peripheral portion 17.

[0022] The bottom peripheral portion 17 for realizing the fitting corresponds to a fitting portion. As shown in FIG. 5, the bottom peripheral portion 17 has an inverted L-shape in which the side wall 15 is recessed toward the inside of the container body 10. That is, the bottom peripheral portion 17 is formed as a step in which the side wall 15 is recessed toward the inside of the container body 10. The bottom peripheral portion 17 is formed by connecting a horizontal surface 171, a first inclined surface 172, and a second inclined surface 173 in this order from above to below along the height direction. The horizontal surface 171 is formed to extend along the horizontal direction toward the inside of the container body 10. The first inclined surface 172 is formed to incline from the inner end of the horizontal surface 171 toward the inside of the container body 10. The second inclined surface 173 is formed to extend approximately along the height direction from the end of the first inclined surface 172 located on the bottom surface 14 side. The second inclined surface 173 is formed so as to be slightly inclined toward the outside of the container body 10 with respect to the height direction.

[0023] The lid peripheral portion 22 for realizing the fitting corresponds to a fitting receiving portion. As shown in FIG. 5, the lid peripheral portion 22 is formed as an L-shaped step portion corresponding to the shape of the bottom peripheral portion 17. The lid peripheral portion 22 is formed by connecting a first inclined surface 221 and a second inclined surface 222. The first inclined surface 221 is formed so as to be inclined from the inner end portion of the flange 23 toward the inside of the lid 20. The second inclined surface 222 is formed so as to extend substantially along the height direction from the end portion of the first inclined surface 221 located on the top surface 24 side. The second inclined surface 222 is formed so as to be slightly inclined toward the outside of the lid 20 with respect to the height direction.

[0024] The horizontal surface 171, the first inclined surface 172, and the second inclined surface 173 of the bottom peripheral portion 17 correspond to the flange 23, the first inclined surface 221, and the second inclined surface 222 of the lid peripheral portion 22, respectively. When the bottom peripheral portion 17 is inserted inside the lid peripheral portion 22 and engages with the lid peripheral portion 22, the second inclined surface 173 and the second inclined surface 222 are positioned so as to engage with each other. The second inclined surface 173 and the second inclined surface 222 that function in this manner are also referred to as "reverse taper portions."

[0025] 4 and 5, the lid 20 (lid peripheral portion 22) supports the side of the bottom surface 14 (bottom peripheral portion 17) with the bottom surface 14 of the container body 10 spaced apart from the top surface 24 of the lid 20. "The bottom surface is spaced apart from the top surface" means that the entire bottom surface does not contact the top surface.

[0026] In a placed state in which the container body 10 is supported by the lid peripheral portion 22, the internal space of the lid 20 communicates with the outside of the container 1 through each of the grooves 16. The double-headed arrows in Fig. 4 indicate this communication.

[0027] [How to use the container] Assuming that the contents are refrigerated or frozen foods, a method of using container 1 for storing the foods will be described. When this container 1 is provided to a consumer, lid 20 is attached to container body 10 for storing the contents, and the opening of container 1 is closed. That is, container 1 is in the state (stored state) shown in FIG. 2.

[0028] A consumer who has acquired the container 1 may use the lid 20 as a coaster (or a support). The consumer removes the lid 20 from the container body 10, turns the lid 20 upside down, and faces the opening of the lid 20 upward. The consumer then positions the container body 10 relative to the lid 20 so that the bottom surface 14 of the container body 10 is inserted into the opening of the lid 20, and presses the container body 10 toward the top surface 24 of the lid 20. This pressing causes the bottom peripheral portion 17 to fit into the lid peripheral portion 22. This fitting causes the horizontal surface 171, the first inclined surface 172, and the second inclined surface 173 of the bottom peripheral portion 17 to face the flange 23, the first inclined surface 221, and the second inclined surface 222 of the lid peripheral portion 22, respectively, and the first inclined surface 172 to hook onto the second inclined surface 222. As a result, the container 1 is in the state (placed state) shown in FIGS.

[0029] A consumer can eat food by placing the container 1 on a support surface such as a table or desk in the resting state, or by holding the container 1. Condensation may occur on the outer surface of the container body 10 that contains refrigerated or frozen food, but the consumer can grab the side wall 25 of the lid body 20 and eat the food without getting his / her hands wet. Water droplets generated by the condensation are guided along the groove 16 into the internal space of the lid body 20. In the resting state, the bottom surface 14 of the container body 10 is located away from the top surface 24 of the lid body 20, so that the internal space can accommodate many water droplets that fall. This mechanism can prevent or suppress a situation in which the support surface or the palm becomes wet with the water droplets. In addition, since the internal space of the lid body 20 does not face the support surface or the palm in the resting state, even if the contents are attached to the inner surface of the lid body 20 in the stored state, the situation in which the attached matter moves outside the container 1 and soils the surroundings can be prevented or suppressed.

[0030] In the placed state, the container body 10 is held at a high position, so that the container 1 can have a luxurious appearance. If the container 1 is transparent, the viewer can be given an impression of an increased sense of luxury. Products using containers 1 with such an increased sense of luxury can increase consumers' desire to purchase them.

[0031] [Variations] Various examples of the present disclosure have been described in detail above. However, the technology of the present disclosure is not limited to the above examples. Various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the present disclosure.

[0032] The structure of the support part of the lid for supporting the bottom side of the container body is not limited to the lid peripheral part 22 described above. For example, the lid peripheral part may support the bottom peripheral part from below without fitting to the bottom peripheral part. This modification will be described with reference to Figs. 6 and 7. Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a container 1A according to the modification. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the container 1A. Figs. 6 and 7 correspond to Figs. 3 and 5, respectively.

[0033] Container 1A includes container body 10A and lid 20A. The difference between container 1A and container 1 is the mechanism for supporting container body 10A by using lid 20A like a coaster, and the following will particularly describe this difference.

[0034] The lid 20A has a support portion that supports the bottom surface 14 of the container body 10A. In this example, the lid peripheral portion 22A that forms the opening of the cover portion 21 functions as the support portion. The lid peripheral portion 22A supports the bottom surface peripheral portion 17A, which is the peripheral portion of the bottom surface 14 of the container body 10A, without engaging with the bottom surface peripheral portion 17A.

[0035] 7, the bottom peripheral portion 17A is formed by connecting a horizontal surface 171A and an inclined surface 172A. The horizontal surface 171A is formed so as to extend along the horizontal direction toward the inside of the container body 10A. The inclined surface 172A is formed so as to incline from the inner end of the horizontal surface 171A toward the inside of the container body 10A.

[0036] Lid peripheral portion 22A has a shape corresponding to bottom peripheral portion 17A. Lid peripheral portion 22A is formed by connecting horizontal surface 221A and inclined surface 222A. Horizontal surface 221A is formed to extend horizontally from the inner end of flange 23 toward the inside of lid 20A. Inclined surface 222A is formed to incline from the inner end of horizontal surface 221A toward the inside of lid 20A.

[0037] The horizontal surface 171A and the inclined surface 172A of the bottom peripheral portion 17A correspond to the horizontal surface 221A and the inclined surface 222A of the lid peripheral portion 22A, respectively. The corresponding inclined surfaces 172A and 222A are both inclined toward the inside of the container 1A. Therefore, when the bottom peripheral portion 17A is inserted into the inside of the lid peripheral portion 22A, the inclined surface 172A comes into contact with the inclined surface 222A without engaging with the inclined surface 222A. The inclined surfaces 172A and 222A that function in this manner are also called "forward taper portions."

[0038] As shown in FIG. 7, the lid 20A (lid peripheral portion 22A) supports the side of the bottom surface 14 (bottom peripheral portion 17A) with the bottom surface 14 of the container body 10A spaced apart from the top surface 24 of the lid 20A.

[0039] A consumer who has acquired the container 1A may use the lid 20A as a coaster. The consumer removes the lid 20A from the container body 10A, turns the lid 20A upside down, and places the opening of the lid 20A upward. The consumer then positions the container body 10A relative to the lid 20A so that the bottom surface 14 of the container body 10A is inside the opening of the lid 20A, and places the container body 10A on the lid 20A. As a result, the container 1A is in a state (placed state) as shown in FIG. 7. In the placed state, the horizontal surface 221A and the inclined surface 222A of the lid peripheral portion 22A support the horizontal surface 171A and the inclined surface 172A of the bottom peripheral portion 17A, respectively.

[0040] The support portion of the lid for supporting the bottom side of the container body may be provided midway along the side wall of the lid in the height direction. In this case, the bottom side of the container body is located midway along the inner surface of the lid in the placed state. The support portion in this modification also supports the bottom side of the container body with the bottom side of the container body spaced apart from the top surface of the lid.

[0041] The shape of the periphery of the container is not limited to a ring shape, and may be other shapes such as a rectangle, a polygon, a rounded rectangle, etc. In the present disclosure, a rounded rectangle includes a rectangle with four arc-shaped corners and a shape in which the short sides of a rectangle are replaced with semicircles (such as a shape of an athletics track).

[0042] Although a plurality of grooves 16 are formed in the container body 10, the number of grooves 16 may be one. Alternatively, no groove may be formed in the container body.

[0043] [Note] As can be seen from the various examples above, the present disclosure includes the following aspects. (Appendix 1) A container body having an opening on a top surface; a lid body that is detachably attached to the container body to close the opening; Equipped with The lid body has a support portion that supports the bottom surface of the container body in a state where the bottom surface of the container body is spaced from the top surface of the lid body. container. (Appendix 2) the lid body includes a lid body peripheral portion that forms an opening of the lid body, The lid peripheral portion serves as the support portion and supports a bottom peripheral portion which is a peripheral portion of the bottom surface. Container as described in Appendix 1. (Appendix 3) The lid peripheral portion fits into the bottom peripheral portion. A container as described in Appendix 2. (Appendix 4) The height of the lid is 0.1 times or more the height of the container body. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 3. (Appendix 5) At least one groove is formed on the outer surface of the container body, the groove extending along the height direction of the container body to the bottom surface; When the container body is supported by the support portion, the internal space of the lid body communicates with the outside of the container through the at least one groove. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 4. (Appendix 6) The contents of the container are refrigerated or frozen foods; A container according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

[0044] According to Supplementary Note 1, in a state where the lid is used like a coaster (or a support base) (placed state), the bottom surface of the container body is located away from the top surface of the lid body. This positional relationship allows the container body to be held at a high position relative to the lid body. Therefore, it is possible to handle the contents of the container body while holding the lid body. In addition, since the internal space of the lid body does not face the support surface (e.g., a table or desk) on which the container is placed or the palm of the hand holding the container, even if the contents get on the inner surface of the lid body, the situation where the contents move out and soil the surroundings is prevented or suppressed. In this way, the convenience of the container can be improved when the lid body is used like a coaster. In addition, since the container body is held at a high position relative to the lid body in the placed state, the appearance of the container can be made to have a luxurious feel. This luxurious feel can lead to promotion of purchases of products using the container.

[0045] According to Supplementary Note 2, since the container body is supported by the lid so that the bottom surface of the container body is located near the opening of the lid, the container body can be held at a sufficiently high position relative to the lid, which makes it possible to further increase the convenience of the container and realize a more luxurious appearance of the container.

[0046] According to Supplementary Note 3, the container body can be more reliably supported by the lid in the placed state due to the engagement between the lid peripheral portion and the bottom peripheral portion.

[0047] According to Supplementary Note 4, since the lid has a certain height or more, the container body is supported at a high position when placed on the table. Therefore, the container can have a luxurious appearance. This luxurious appearance can lead to promotion of purchases of products using the container.

[0048] According to Supplementary Note 5, in the placed state, a passageway leading from the outer surface of the container body to the internal space of the lid is formed by the groove. With this mechanism, even if condensation occurs on the outer surface of the container body in the placed state, the water droplets generated by the condensation are guided along the groove to the internal space of the lid. Therefore, it is possible to prevent or suppress a situation in which the supporting surface (e.g., a table or desk) or the user's palm gets wet with the water droplets.

[0049] According to Supplementary Note 6, the convenience of a container for storing refrigerated or frozen foods can be improved when the lid is used like a coaster. When the contents are refrigerated or frozen foods, condensation may occur on the outer surface of the container body while a user such as a consumer is eating the food. However, the user can grab the side wall of the lid and eat the food without getting their hands wet. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 1...container, 10...container body, 11...accommodation portion, 12...body peripheral portion, 13...flange, 14...bottom surface, 15...side wall, 16...groove, 17...bottom peripheral portion, 19...fitting receiving portion, 20...lid, 21...cover portion, 22...lid peripheral portion, 23...flange, 24...top surface, 25...side wall, 29...fitting portion.

Claims

1. A container body having an opening on a top surface; a lid body that is detachably attached to the container body to close the opening; Equipped with The lid body has a support portion that supports the bottom surface of the container body in a state where the bottom surface of the container body is spaced from the top surface of the lid body. container.

2. the lid body includes a lid body peripheral portion that forms an opening of the lid body, The lid peripheral portion serves as the support portion and supports a bottom peripheral portion which is a peripheral portion of the bottom surface.

2. The container of claim 1.

3. The lid peripheral portion fits into the bottom peripheral portion.

3. The container of claim 2.

4. The height of the lid is 0.1 times or more the height of the container body. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. At least one groove is formed on the outer surface of the container body, the groove extending along the height direction of the container body to the bottom surface; When the container body is supported by the support portion, the internal space of the lid body communicates with the outside of the container through the at least one groove. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

6. The contents of the container are refrigerated or frozen foods; A container according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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