Container for packaging and arranging method

Abstract

To provide a container for packaging and an arranging method which can enhance working efficiency and can improve arrangement easiness.SOLUTION: A container 1C for packaging includes: a container body 10 having a bottom plate part 11; and a lid body 20 which has a top plate part 21, and is connected to the container body 10 through a hinge part 30 so as to be openable / closable with respect to the container body 10. When a state in which the lid body 20 is opened with respect to the container body 10 is defined as an open state, the outer surface side of the container body 10 of other container 1C3 for packaging in the open state can be mounted on the inner surface side of the lid body 20 of one container 1C2 for packaging in the open state, which is mounted on a flat mounted surface S. In the mounted state, the top plate part 21 of the lid body 20 of the other container 1C3 for packaging is positioned on the same plane as the mounted surface S, and the top plate part 21 of the lid body 20 of the one container 1C2 for packaging.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 18

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a packaging container and a serving method. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a packaging container that includes a container body and a lid body that is connected to the container body via a hinge portion so as to be openable and closable. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-039783 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The packaging containers described above are used, for example, to package food. During packaging, food (object) is placed (served) in the container body with the lid open. In this case, to improve work efficiency, it is conceivable to line up multiple containers with their lids open in advance and then sequentially place food in the container bodies of those containers. Furthermore, to further improve work efficiency by effectively utilizing the work space, it is conceivable to adopt an arrangement in which, when arranging multiple containers, the container body of one container is placed on the lid of another container, and then the container body of yet another container is placed on the lid of that other container. However, simply adopting this arrangement leaves room for improvement in terms of ease of serving food in the container bodies of the multiple arranged containers.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a packaging container and a serving method that can improve work efficiency and ease of serving. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The packaging container of the present invention is [1] "a packaging container comprising a container body having a bottom plate portion, and a lid body having a top plate portion and connected to the container body via a hinge portion so as to be openable and closable relative to the container body, wherein when the lid body is opened relative to the container body, the state in which it is opened relative to the container body is defined as an open state, the outer surface side of the container body of another packaging container in the open state can be placed on the inner surface side of the lid body of one of the packaging containers in the open state placed on a flat placing surface, and in this placed state, the top plate portion of the lid body of the other packaging container is located on the same plane as the placing surface and the top plate portion of the lid body of the one packaging container."

[0007] In this packaging container, the outer surface of the container body of one packaging container in an open state can be placed on the inner surface of the lid of another packaging container in an open state placed on a flat placing surface. This allows multiple containers to be arranged by placing the outer surface of the container body of the other packaging container on the inner surface of the lid of the first packaging container during serving, thereby improving work efficiency. Furthermore, in this placed state, the top plate of the lid of the other packaging container is positioned flush with the placing surface and the top plate of the lid of the first packaging container. This prevents the container body of another packaging container from tilting when placed on the lid of the other packaging container, for example, and improves serving efficiency. Therefore, this packaging container can improve both work efficiency and serving ease.

[0008] The packaging container of the present invention may be [2] "the packaging container according to claim 1, wherein, in the placed state, the bottom plate portion of the container body of the other packaging container is parallel to the top plate portion of the lid body of the other packaging container." In this case, the ease of serving food can be further improved.

[0009] The packaging container of the present invention may be [3] "the packaging container according to [1] or [2], wherein the container body has the bottom plate portion and the body side wall portion, the lid body has the top plate portion and the lid body side wall portion, and the depth of the lid body is deeper than the depth of the container body." If the depth of the lid body is deeper than the depth of the container body, another packaging container placed on the lid body of one packaging container is likely to tilt. In contrast, with this packaging container, even if the depth of the lid body is deeper than the depth of the container body, tilting of the packaging container can be prevented, improving ease of serving.

[0010] The packaging container of the present invention may be [4] "a packaging container according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein a step is formed on the side of the lid, and in the placed state, the container body of the other packaging container is placed on the step of the lid of the first packaging container." In this case, the container body of the other packaging container can be stably placed on the lid of the first packaging container. As a result, the ease of serving can be further improved.

[0011] The packaging container of the present invention may be [5] "the packaging container according to [4], wherein a pair of steps are formed, the pair of steps being formed on a pair of opposing side portions of the lid, and in the above-described placement state, the container body of the other packaging container is placed on the pair of steps of the lid of the one packaging container, thereby restricting relative movement between the lid of the one packaging container and the container body of the other packaging container in the direction in which the pair of steps face each other." In this case, the container body of the other packaging container can be placed more stably on the lid of the one packaging container.

[0012] The packaging container of the present invention may be [6] "the packaging container according to [4] or [5], wherein the step portion constitutes a lid fitting portion for fitting between the lid and the container body." In this case, the container body of one packaging container can be stably placed on the lid of another packaging container using the lid fitting portion for fitting between the lid and the container body.

[0013] The packaging container of the present invention may be [7] "a packaging container according to any one of [4] to [6], wherein the container body has the bottom plate portion and legs formed on the sides of the bottom plate portion corresponding to the sides of the lid body, the legs protruding outward from the bottom plate portion, and in the placed state, the legs of the container body of the other packaging container are placed on the step portion of the lid body of the first packaging container." In this case, the container body of the other packaging container can be placed more stably on the lid body of the first packaging container. Furthermore, the provision of legs on the container body makes the packaging container easier to hold.

[0014] The packaging container of the present invention may be [8] "the packaging container according to any one of [4] to [7], wherein the lid has the top plate and a lid side wall that defines an opening of the lid, and the step is provided at the opening edge of the lid side wall." In this case, the container body can be supported at the opening edge of the lid side wall, further improving ease of serving food.

[0015] The packaging container of the present invention may be [9] "the packaging container according to any one of [1] to [8], in the placed state, the contact points between the one packaging container and the other packaging container are located on the same plane parallel to the placed surface." In this case, it is easy to form the bottom plate portion of the container body so as to be parallel to the placed surface in the placed state.

[0016] The packaging container of the present invention may be

[10] "a packaging container according to any one of [1] to [9], wherein a skirt portion is formed between the container body and the hinge portion, extending from the edge of the container body toward the hinge portion, and in the other packaging container in the placed state, when viewed from a direction parallel to the hinge portion, the end portion of the skirt portion on the hinge portion side is located on the top plate portion side of the lid body with respect to the bottom plate portion of the container body." In this case, by forming the skirt portion, in the placed state, the top plate portion of the lid body of the other packaging container can be located on the same plane as the placing surface and the top plate portion of the lid body of the one packaging container.

[0017] The packaging container of the present invention may be

[11] "the packaging container according to any one of [1] to

[10] , wherein when the packaging container in a closed state in which the lid body is closed on the container body is placed on the placement surface, the top plate portion of the lid body is inclined with respect to the placement surface, so that in the placement state, the top plate portion of the lid body of the other packaging container is positioned on the same plane as the placement surface and the top plate portion of the lid body of the first packaging container." In this case, by inclining the top plate portion of the lid body with respect to the placement surface, in the placement state, the top plate portion of the lid body of the other packaging container can be positioned on the same plane as the placement surface and the top plate portion of the lid body of the first packaging container.

[0018] The packaging container of the present invention may be

[12] "the packaging container according to

[11] , in which, when the packaging container in the closed state is placed on the placement surface, the bottom plate portion of the container body is inclined with respect to the placement surface, so that, in the placement state, the bottom plate portion of the container body of the other packaging container is parallel to the placement surface." In this case, the ease of serving can be further improved.

[0019] The plating method of the present invention is

[13] "a plating method comprising, in this order: a preparation step of preparing a plurality of packaging containers according to any one of [1] to

[12] , wherein the plurality of packaging containers include a first packaging container, a second packaging container, and a third packaging container; a placement step of placing the outer surface of the container body of the second packaging container in the open state on the inner surface of the lid of the first packaging container in the open state placed on the placement surface, and placing the outer surface of the container body of the third packaging container in the open state on the inner surface of the lid of the second packaging container in the open state; and an arrangement step of placing an object on the bottom plate of the container body of the third packaging container." This plating method can improve work efficiency and ease of plating for the reasons described above. [Effects of the Invention]

[0020] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a packaging container in which the container body can be stably placed on the lid body, which can improve work efficiency and ease of serving. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container in an open state, seen from the inside. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container in an open state, seen from the outer surface side. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container in a closed state. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the container in an open state. [Figure 5] 5 is a side view of the container of FIG. 4 as viewed from the Y direction side. [Figure 6] 5 is a side view of the container of FIG. 4 as seen from the X direction side. [Figure 7] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the container in a closed state. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing two open containers stacked one on top of the other. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 10(a) is a diagram showing how to arrange containers in a comparative example, and FIG. 10(b) is a diagram showing how to arrange containers in the first embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIII-XIII in FIG. 12. [Figure 14] FIG. 1(a) is a schematic diagram showing how a molded product is released from a mold in a comparative example, and FIG. 1(b) is a schematic diagram showing how a molded product is released from a mold in the first embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which three containers of the comparative example are stacked and arranged. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a container in an open state according to a second embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a container in a closed state according to a second embodiment. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing three open containers of the second embodiment stacked one on top of the other. [Figure 19] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a container in an open state according to a third embodiment. [Figure 20] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a container in a closed state according to a third embodiment. [Figure 21] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing three open containers of the third embodiment stacked one on top of the other. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, the same or equivalent elements are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted. [First embodiment] [Packaging containers]

[0023] As shown in Figures 1 to 8, container 1 (packaging container) comprises a container body 10 for containing contents, and a lid body 20 connected to container body 10 via hinge part 30 so as to be openable and closable relative to container body 10. In other words, container 1 is an integrated container (food pack) in which container body 10 and lid body 20 are integrated. Contents (objects) contained (packaged) in container 1 are foods such as cooked rice, sushi, side dishes, noodles, and sweets. Container 1 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape overall.

[0024] 1, 2, and 4 to 7 show the container 1 in a state in which the lid 20 is open relative to the container body 10 (open state), and FIGS. 3 and 8 show the container 1 in a state in which the lid 20 is closed relative to the container body 10 (closed state). In the following description, the direction perpendicular to the bottom plate 11 (described later) of the container body 10 of the container 1 in the closed state (the vertical direction in FIG. 1) is referred to as the vertical direction, the side where the lid 20 is positioned relative to the container body 10 in the closed state (the upper side in FIG. 3) is referred to as the upper side, and the side where the container body 10 is positioned relative to the lid 20 (the lower side in FIG. 3) is referred to as the lower side. A direction perpendicular to the vertical direction (the direction perpendicular to the hinge portion 30) is referred to as the X direction, and a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction and the X direction (the direction parallel to the hinge portion 30) is referred to as the Y direction. A direction along a plane including the X direction and the Y direction is also referred to as the lateral direction. The surface facing the inside of the container in the closed state is referred to as the inner surface, and the surface facing the outside of the container in the closed state is referred to as the outer surface. Note that these directions do not limit the manner of use of the container 1. The container 1 is usually used with the lid 20 positioned vertically above the container body 10, but the manner of use is not limited to this.

[0025] The container 1 is, for example, a molded product of a sheet material, and is manufactured by molding the sheet material into a predetermined shape using a predetermined mold. The sheet material constituting the container 1 is formed, for example, from a resin material. The sheet material may be formed only from a resin material, or may contain an inorganic material in addition to a resin material. The sheet material may contain, for example, 50% by weight or more of an inorganic filler. The material of the sheet material may be a bio-based material such as polylactic acid (PLA) resin or plant-derived polyethylene. The raw material of the sheet material may be petroleum-derived or plant-derived.

[0026] The sheet material may be a transparent synthetic resin material. The transparent synthetic resin material may be polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, or a polyolefin such as polypropylene or polyethylene. As the synthetic resin sheet, for example, a polystyrene sheet obtained by biaxially stretching polystyrene, or a heat-resistant biaxially stretched styrene-based resin sheet may be used. The sheet material may be a translucent or opaque synthetic resin material. The translucent or opaque synthetic resin material may be high impact polystyrene (HIPS), which contains a rubber component to enhance impact resistance, or PP filler (filler-containing polypropylene).

[0027] The material of the sheet material may be a non-foamed material. The non-foamed material may be polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, or a polyolefin such as polypropylene or polyethylene. The non-foamed sheet material may be a sheet whose heat resistance is improved by containing an inorganic component such as calcium carbonate, talc, or a filler. 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 produce the non-foamed sheet material.

[0028] The sheet material may be a foamed synthetic resin sheet material. The foamed synthetic resin sheet material may be polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, or a polyolefin such as polypropylene or polyethylene. As the foamed synthetic resin sheet, for example, a foamed polystyrene sheet obtained by foaming polystyrene, or a heat-resistant foamed polystyrene sheet obtained by foaming polystyrene with excellent heat resistance may be used.

[0029] Examples of methods for forming the container 1 include vacuum forming, pressure forming, vacuum-pressure forming, double-sided vacuum forming, and hot plate forming. For example, the container 1 can be manufactured by thermoforming a synthetic resin sheet by any of these methods. When using an oriented sheet, hot plate forming may be employed, in which the sheet is sandwiched between heated plates and a mold to perform molding. [Container body]

[0030] The container body 10 has a bottom plate portion 11, side wall portions 12 (main body side wall portions), a fitting portion 13 (main body fitting portion), a flange portion 14, and four leg portions 15. The bottom plate portion 11 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape with long sides along the Y direction. The bottom plate portion 11 is formed substantially flat and perpendicular to the up-down direction. The bottom plate portion 11 may be formed with ribs or protrusions for partitions. The side wall portions 12 are formed to surround the bottom plate portion 11 in a plan view (when viewed from the up-down direction) and extend upward from the edge of the bottom plate portion 11. The side wall portions 12 define an opening of the container body 10.

[0031] The side wall 12 extends at an incline relative to the vertical direction, gradually moving outward as it approaches the upper side (FIG. 10). The fitting portion 13 is formed at the open end (upper end) of the side wall 12. The fitting portion 13 is, for example, a step (a recess recessed toward the outside) formed around the entire circumference of the side wall 12. The fitting portion 13 fits with a fitting portion 25 (lid fitting portion) of the lid 20, which will be described later. The flange portion 14 extends laterally outward from the fitting portion 13. In this example, the container body 10 is connected to the lid 20 at one side (long side) via a hinge portion 30, and the flange portion 14 is formed on three sides excluding the one side. The flange portion 14 will be described in detail later. The hinge portion 30 is a deformable portion configured to allow the container body 10 and the lid 20 to rotate relative to each other around the hinge portion 30. The hinge portion 30 extends along the Y direction and has, for example, a substantially U-shaped curved shape in a cross section perpendicular to the Y direction. A skirt portion 31 is formed between the container body 10 and the hinge portion 30, extending from the edge of the container body 10 toward the hinge portion 30.

[0032] The four legs 15 are formed at the four corners of the bottom plate 11. Each leg 15 is formed so as to protrude outward from the bottom plate 11. That is, each leg 15 is formed as a recess when viewed from above. In plan view, each leg 15 is formed in a substantially L-shape so as to extend along two sides that form the corners of the bottom plate 11. In plan view, each leg 15 is located inside the outer edge of the rectangular bottom plate 11. In plan view, the side wall 12 surrounds the bottom plate 11 and the four legs 15. A plurality of ribs 15a (12 in this example) are formed on each leg 15. Each rib 15a protrudes toward the inner surface. In plan view, each rib 15a is formed so as to extend linearly between the inner and outer edges of the leg 15 (between the bottom plate 11 and the side wall 12).

[0033] As particularly shown in FIG. 10 , each leg 15 has a bottom surface 151 (leg bottom surface), a side surface 152 (leg side surface), and an inclined surface 153 (leg inclined surface). The bottom surface 151 is connected to the bottom plate portion 11 via a side surface 154. The bottom surface 151 is formed flat and perpendicular to the vertical direction. The side surface 154 extends at an inclination with respect to the vertical direction so as to slope inward as it extends upward. In this example, the side surface 154 includes multiple (three) inclined surfaces with different inclination angles. The side surface 152 extends upward from the bottom surface 151 along the vertical direction. The inclined surface 153 extends upward from the upper end of the side surface 152. The inclined surface 153 extends at an inclination with respect to the vertical direction so as to slope outward as it extends upward. The inclined surface 153 is connected to the fitting portion 13 described above via the side wall portion 12. The angle of inclination of the inclined surface 153 relative to the vertical direction is greater than the angle of inclination of the side wall portion 12 relative to the vertical direction. [Lid]

[0034] The lid 20 has a top plate 21, a side wall 22 (lid side wall), a step 23, a flange 24, and a fitting portion 25 (lid fitting portion). The top plate 21 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape corresponding to the bottom plate 11 of the container body 10. That is, the top plate 21 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape with long sides along the Y direction. The top plate 21 is formed substantially flat and perpendicular to the up-down direction. In the closed state, the top plate 21 faces the bottom plate 11 of the container body 10 in the up-down direction.

[0035] The side wall 22 is formed to surround the top plate 21 in a plan view and extends downward from the edge of the top plate 21 (to the downward side in the closed state). The side wall 22 defines an opening in the lid 20. The side wall 22 extends at an angle relative to the vertical direction so that it slopes outward as it extends downward. The depth D20 of the lid 20 is deeper than the depth D10 of the container body 10 (FIG. 7).

[0036] The step 23 is formed at the open end (lower end) of the side wall 22. The step 23 is a step (stepped portion) formed along the entire periphery of the side wall 22. The step 23 can also be considered to be a recess formed in the side wall 22 so as to be recessed outward. The step 23 constitutes a part of the inner surface of the fitting portion 25. The fitting portion 25 fits with the fitting portion 13 of the container body 10 described above. The fitting portion 25 is, for example, a convex portion formed along the entire periphery of the side wall 22. When fitted, a part of the outer surface (outer surface) of the fitting portion 25 comes into contact with the fitting portion 13. The flange portion 24 extends outward in the horizontal direction from the step 23. In this example, the lid 20 is connected to the container body 10 at one side (long side) via the hinge portion 30, and the flange portion 24 is formed along three sides excluding the one side.

[0037] As particularly shown in FIG. 10 , the step portion 23 has a first surface 231 and a second surface 232. The first surface 231 is connected to the side wall portion 22 and extends flatly perpendicular to the up-down direction (parallel to the bottom plate portion 11). The second surface 232 extends downward from the first surface 231 (the lower side in the closed state) (the upper side in FIG. 10 ) along the up-down direction. That is, the second surface 232 extends along a direction intersecting the first surface 231 (in this example, along a direction approximately perpendicular to the first surface 231). The lid 20 also has an extending surface 233 connected to the second surface 232. The extending surface 233 extends outward in the horizontal direction from the lower end of the second surface 232. The extending surface 233 extends flatly perpendicular to the up-down direction (parallel to the top plate portion 21). The second surface 232 constitutes the inner surface of the fitting portion 25 , and the extending surface 233 constitutes the top surface of the fitting portion 25 . [Usage]

[0038] The container 1 is in the closed state shown in FIG. 3 and other figures by, for example, rotating the lid 20 relative to the container body 10 around the hinge portion 30. In the closed state, the lid 20 covers the entire opening of the container body 10 on one side in the vertical direction (the upper side in FIG. 8). As particularly shown in FIG. 8, the closed state is maintained by the engagement between the engagement portion 13 (body engagement portion) of the container body 10 and the engagement portion 25 (lid engagement portion) of the lid 20. When opening the lid 20, for example, a force is applied to the lid 20 in a direction away from the container body 10, thereby releasing the engagement between the engagement portion 13 and the engagement portion 25. The container 1 is an internal engagement type container. That is, in the container 1, the engagement portion 25 of the lid 20 engages with the engagement portion 13 formed on the inside of the opening of the container body 10.

[0039] In the closed state, the bottom plate 11 of the container body 10 and the top plate 21 of the lid 20 face each other in the vertical direction, and the flange 14 of the container body 10 and the flange 24 of the lid 20 face each other in the vertical direction. The flanges 14, 24 may contact each other in the attached state, or may face each other entirely or partially with a small gap therebetween.

[0040] A container 1 in a closed state can be stacked on top of another container 1 in a closed state. In this case, the outer surface of the container body 10 of one container 1 is placed on the outer surface of the lid body 20 of the other container 1. In this state, the legs 15 of the container body 10 are engaged with the corners between the top plate 21 and the side wall 22 of the lid body 20, thereby restricting lateral displacement between the container body 10 and the lid body 20. Specifically, for example, if the upper container body 10 attempts to move laterally relative to the lower lid body 20, the legs 15 of the container body 10 will abut against the corners of the lid body 20, thereby restricting displacement between the container body 10 and the lid body 20.

[0041] 9 and 10, a container 1 in an open state can be stacked on top of another container 1 in an open state. Specifically, when the outer surface side of the container body 10 of another container 1 (hereinafter also referred to as container 1B) is brought close to the inner surface side of the lid body 20 of one container 1 (hereinafter also referred to as container 1A) in an open state, the container body 10 of container 1B is placed on the step portion 23 of the lid body 20 of container 1A. This allows the container body 10 of container 1B to be stably placed on the lid body 20 of container 1A.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 10 , in a mounted state in which the container body 10 of container 1B is placed on the lid 20 of container 1A, the legs 15 of the container body 10 of container 1B are placed on the step 23 of the lid 20 of container 1A. In the mounted state, the bottom surface 151 of the legs 15 of container 1B is placed on (contacts) the first surface 231 of the step 23 of container 1A, and the second surface 232 of the step 23 of container 1A and the side surface 152 of the legs 15 of container 1B face each other. In this example, a gap is provided between the second surface 232 and the side surface 152, but the second surface 232 may also come into contact with the side surface 152. In the mounted state, the inclined surface 153 of the legs 15 of container 1B faces the corner 234 between the second surface 232 and the extended surface 233 of the step 23 of container 1A. In this example, a gap is provided between the inclined surface 153 and the corner 234 , but the inclined surface 153 may be in contact with the corner 234 .

[0043] In the placed state, the step 23 of container 1A and the leg 15 of container 1B restrict relative movement in the lateral direction between the lid 20 of container 1A and the container body 10 of container 1B. Specifically, for example, when the container body 10 of container 1B attempts to move in the lateral direction relative to the lid 20 of container 1A, the side surface 152 or the inclined surface 153 of the leg 15 of container 1B abuts against the second surface 232 of the step 23 of container 1A, restricting misalignment between the container body 10 and the lid 20.

[0044] In the placed state, in a plan view, the fitting portion 25 (lid fitting portion) of the lid 20 of the container 1A overlaps with the fitting portion 13 (main body fitting portion) of the container main body 10 of the container 1B. That is, in the cross section of Fig. 10 (cross section parallel to the vertical direction), the step portion 23 and the fitting portion 13 are positioned on the same straight line parallel to the vertical direction.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 10 , in the placed state, the distance L between the boundary between the inclined surface 153 of the leg 15 and the side wall 12 of the container 1B and the boundary step between the side surface 152 of the leg 15 and the inclined surface 153 is at least one-third of the width of the extending surface 233. This ensures a wide width for the inclined surface 153, allowing the container body 10 of the container 1B to be stably placed on the lid 20 of the container 1A. Furthermore, the distance L is set so that the inclination angle of the side wall 12 relative to the vertical direction does not become too small (so that the distance L does not become too long). This is because formability decreases when the inclination angle of the side wall 12 relative to the vertical direction approaches zero. The distance L may be at least one-half the width of the extending surface 233.

[0046] An example of how the container 1 is used will be described with reference to FIG. 11 . FIG. 11(a) is a diagram showing how containers 101 of a comparative example are arranged, and FIG. 11(b) is a diagram showing how containers 1 of the first embodiment are arranged. During packaging, food (objects) are placed (served) in the container bodies with the lids open. To improve work efficiency, it is conceivable to arrange multiple open containers on a work table in advance, and then sequentially arrange food in the container bodies of those containers. In the comparative example shown in FIG. 11(a), multiple open containers 101 are arranged so that they do not overlap each other. In contrast, in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 11(b), a container body of one container 1 is placed on the lid of another container 1, and a container body of yet another container 1 is placed on the lid of the other container 1. This makes it possible to effectively utilize the work space and further improve work efficiency. However, simply adopting this arrangement may cause the containers to lose balance when food is placed on the container body of another container placed on the lid of one container, resulting in the risk of the food spilling. In this regard, with the container 1 of the first embodiment, as described above, the container body 10 of the other container (container 1B) can be stably placed on the lid of one container (container 1A), thereby preventing such an incident from occurring. [Flange]

[0047] As shown in Figures 1, 3, 12, and 13, the flange portion 14 of the container body 10 (first member) includes a protruding portion 41 that protrudes outward relative to the lid body 20 (second member) in a plan view in the closed state. That is, the protruding portion 41 is a portion located laterally outward from the outer edge of the lid body 20. In this example, the flange portion 14 has two protruding portions 41 that protrude from one side and the other side of the lid body 20 in the Y direction (the direction along the long side of the container body 10). Furthermore, the container body 10 includes an overlapping portion 42 that overlaps with the lid body 20 (flange portion 24) in a plan view in the closed state. The flange portion 14 is connected to the fitting portion 13 at the overlapping portion 42.

[0048] The protruding portion 41 and the overlapping portion 42 have an inclined curved portion 43 (together constituting the inclined curved portion 43). The inclined curved portion 43 is curved and extends at an angle in a cross section parallel to the vertical direction (FIG. 13). The inclined curved portion 43 is smoothly curved so as to be convex upward and outward in the cross section. The inclined curved portion 43 extends at an angle so as to be more outward as it goes downward in the cross section.

[0049] A patterned portion 44 is formed on the inclined curved portion 43. The patterned portion 44 is formed by partially recessing the sheet material constituting the container 1 and represents a predetermined pattern. As shown in FIG. 13 , in this example, the patterned portion 44 is formed by a plurality of recesses 44a having only side surfaces along the vertical direction (parallel to the vertical direction in this example). The patterned portion 44 may also be formed by partially protruding the sheet material constituting the container 1. In this case, the patterned portion 44 may be formed by a protrusion having only side surfaces along the vertical direction. The recesses constituting the patterned portion 44 may have a shape that opens upward. For example, the side surfaces of the recesses constituting the patterned portion 44 may be inclined with respect to the vertical direction so as to be outward as they extend upward (closer to the edge of the opening). When the patterned portion 44 is formed by a protrusion, the side surfaces of the protrusions constituting the patterned portion 44 may be inclined with respect to the vertical direction so as to be inward as they approach the tip.

[0050] In this example, the patterned portion 44 is formed on each of the protruding portion 41 and the overlapping portion 42, but it is sufficient that the patterned portion 44 is formed on at least the protruding portion 41, and it does not have to be formed on the overlapping portion 42. The patterned portion 44 is formed only on the flange portion 14. The patterned portion 44 is not formed on the top plate portion 21 and the side wall portion 22 of the lid 20. This allows the contents contained in the container 1 to be clearly seen through the lid 20 in the closed state.

[0051] FIG. 14(a) is a schematic diagram showing a molded product 102 being released from a mold M in a comparative example, and FIG. 14(b) is a schematic diagram showing a container body 10 (molded product) being released from a mold M in the first embodiment. When molding a container, for example, a sheet material softened by heating is pressed against the mold M and then peeled off (released) from the mold M to obtain a molded product. In the comparative example shown in FIG. 14(a), the side surfaces of the recesses 144a constituting the patterned portion are inclined relative to the vertical direction. In this case, there is a risk that the molded product 102 will get caught on the mold M during mold release, resulting in damage to the molded product 102. In contrast, in the container 1 of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14(b), the patterned portion is formed by recesses 44a having only side surfaces aligned in the vertical direction, allowing the container body 10 to be smoothly released from the mold. As described above, even when the side surfaces of the recesses constituting the patterned portion 44 are inclined outward as they approach the opening edge, the container body 10 can be smoothly released from the mold. In addition, the container body 10 can be smoothly released from the mold in the same way when the side surfaces of the convex portions that make up the pattern portion 44 are aligned in the vertical direction and when the side surfaces are inclined inward as they approach the tip.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 12 , pattern portion 44 includes portion 45, which represents, for example, an arabesque pattern. Portion 45 includes portion 46, which is formed in a substantially circular shape. In this example, portion 46 forms a spiral pattern. In this way, the "portion formed in a substantially circular shape" included in pattern portion 44 is not limited to cases where the portion is a perfect circle, but also includes cases where the portion includes a portion that extends at least once in the radial direction, such as a spiral shape. [Actions and Effects of the First Embodiment]

[0053] In the container 1, when the outer surface of the container body 10 of container 1B is brought close to the inner surface of the lid body 20 of container 1A in the open state, the container body 10 of container 1B is placed on the step 23 of the lid body 20 of container 1A. This allows the container body 10 of container 1B to be stably placed on the lid body 20 of container 1A. As a result, for example, when placing food on the container body 10 of container 1B placed on the lid body 20 of container 1A, it is possible to prevent the container 1 from losing its balance.

[0054] In a state where the container body 10 of the container 1B is placed on the step portion 23 of the lid body 20 of the container 1A, relative movement between the lid body 20 of the container 1A and the container body 10 of the container 1B is restricted. This allows the container body 10 of the container 1B to be placed more stably on the lid body 20 of the container 1A.

[0055] The step 23 of the lid 20 constitutes a fitting portion 25 (lid fitting portion) for fitting the lid 20 and the container body 10 together. This allows the container body 10 of the container 1B to be stably placed on the lid 20 of the container 1A using the fitting portion 25 for fitting the lid 20 and the container body 10 together.

[0056] In the placed state, in a plan view (when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the bottom plate portion 11), the fitting portion 25 of the lid body 20 of the container 1A overlaps with the fitting portion 13 of the container body 10 of the container 1B. As a result, when the lid body 20 of the container 1B is closed on the container body 10 of the container 1B placed on the lid body 20 of the container 1A, the fitting portion 25 of the lid body 20 of the container 1A acts as a support, making it easy to fit the fitting portion 25 of the lid body 20 into the fitting portion 13 of the container body 10 of the container 1B.

[0057] The container body 10 has legs 15 formed on each side of the bottom plate 11, and the legs 15 of the container body 10 of container 1B are placed on the step 23 of the lid 20 of container 1A. This allows the container body 10 of container 1B to be placed more stably on the lid 20 of container 1A. Furthermore, the provision of the legs 15 on the container body 10 makes the container 1 easier to hold. Furthermore, when stacking closed containers 1, the legs 15 of the upper container 1 surround the top plate 21 of the lower container 1, allowing the containers 1 to be stacked stably. Furthermore, when the depths of the container body 10 and the lid 20 differ, by adjusting the position of the step 23 and the height of the legs 15, it becomes possible to place the container body 10 of another container 1 in a balanced manner on the lid 20 of the open container 1.

[0058] In the placed state, the bottom surface 151 of the leg portion 15 of the container 1B is placed on the first surface 231 of the step portion 23 of the container 1A, and the second surface 232 of the step portion 23 of the container 1A and the side surface 152 of the leg portion 15 of the container 1B face each other. This allows the container body 10 of the container 1B to be placed more stably on the lid 20 of the container 1A.

[0059] In the placed state, the inclined surface 153 of the leg portion 15 of the container 1B faces the corner 234 between the second surface 232 and the extended surface 233 of the step portion 23 of the container 1A. As a result, when the container body 10 of the container 1B is placed on the lid body 20 of the container 1A, the inclined surface 153 of the container 1B comes into contact with and is guided by the corner 234 of the container 1A, so that the container body 10 of the container 1B can be easily placed on the lid body 20 of the container 1A.

[0060] A rib 15a protruding toward the inner surface is formed on each leg 15. Thus, the formation of the rib 15a can increase the strength of the leg 15. Furthermore, since the rib 15a protrudes toward the inner surface, it is possible to prevent the rib 15a from coming into contact with the lid 20 when the leg 15 is engaged with the step 23.

[0061] A step 23 is provided at the open end of the side wall 22 of the lid 20. This allows the container body 10 to be supported at the open end of the side wall 22, making it easier to put food into the container body 10.

[0062] The depth D20 of the lid body 20 is deeper than the depth D10 of the container body 10. If the depth D20 of the lid body 20 is deeper than the depth D10 of the container body 10, the container 1 is likely to lose balance when food is placed on the container body 10 of the container 1B placed on the lid body 20 of the container 1A. However, with this container 1, even if the depth D20 of the lid body 20 is deeper than the depth D10 of the container body 10, the loss of balance can be prevented. [Variations]

[0063] The present invention is not limited to the first embodiment. For example, the materials and shapes of the components are not limited to those described above, and various materials and shapes can be adopted.

[0064] In the above embodiment, the step portion 23 is formed around the entire periphery. However, it is sufficient that the step portion 23 is formed at least on a pair of opposing side portions of the lid body 20, and at least one pair of step portions 23 is formed. For example, a pair of step portions 23 may be formed on each of a pair of side portions of the lid body 20 that face each other in the Y direction. The pair of step portions 23 may be connected to each other by a step portion 23 formed on a side portion of the lid body 20 that extends along the Y direction. In other words, the pair of step portions 23 do not necessarily have to be composed of two separate parts, but may be connected to each other. Three or more step portions 23 may be formed. The step portion 23 does not necessarily have to be formed continuously along the side portion of the lid body 20, but may be formed partially or intermittently on the side portion of the lid body 20. When a pair of step portions 23 are formed on a pair of sides of the lid body 20 that face each other in the Y direction, in the placed state, relative movement between the lid body 20 of the container 1A and the container body 10 of the container 1B in the Y direction (the direction in which the pair of step portions 23 face each other) is restricted.

[0065] The leg portions 15 may be formed on the sides of the bottom plate portion 11 corresponding to the sides of the lid body 20 on which the step portions 23 are formed. That is, the leg portions 15 may be formed corresponding to the step portions 23, and may be formed in at least a pair like the step portions 23. For example, if a pair of step portions 23 are formed on a pair of sides of the lid body 20 facing each other in the Y direction, a pair of leg portions 15 may be formed on a pair of sides of the bottom plate portion 11 facing each other in the Y direction.

[0066] In the placed state, relative movement in the lateral direction between the lid body 20 of container 1A and the container body 10 of container 1B does not necessarily have to be restricted. The step portion 23 of the lid body 20 does not have to constitute a fitting portion 25 (lid body fitting portion) for fitting between the lid body 20 and the container body 10, and may be provided separately from the fitting portion 25 (away from the fitting portion 25). The container 1 may be an external fitting type container. In other words, the fitting portion of the lid body 20 may fit into the outer edge of the container body 10. The container body 10 does not have to have a fitting portion 13. The lid body 20 does not have to have a fitting portion 25.

[0067] The container body 10 may not have legs 15. In this case, in the placed state, the bottom plate portion 11 of the container body 10 of the container 1B may be placed on the step portion 23 of the lid 20 of the container 1A. The legs 15 may not have ribs 15a. The depth D20 of the lid 20 may be the same as or shallower than the depth D10 of the container body 10. The pattern portion 44 may not be formed. The flange portion 14 may not have a protruding portion 41. The lid 20 may not have a step portion 23. For example, the lid 20 may not have a step portion 23 and the container body 10 may not have legs 15, and in the placed state, the outer surface side of the container body 10 of the container 1B may be placed on the inner surface side of the lid 20 of the container 1A. Only one step portion 23 may be formed. For example, one step 23 may be formed on the side of the lid 20 opposite to the hinge 30. [Second embodiment]

[0068] Fig. 15 is a diagram showing three containers 201 in an open state in a comparative example, stacked and arranged. The containers 201 include a container body 210 and a lid body 220. As shown in Fig. 15, in the comparative example, when three containers 201 are stacked and arranged on a flat mounting surface S, a portion of the lid body 220 separates from the mounting surface S, causing the lid body 220 to tilt relative to the mounting surface S (the portion indicated by the arrow in Fig. 15). In this case, for example, when placing food on the container body 210 placed on the lid body 220, the container 1 may easily lose balance, making it difficult to serve the food.

[0069] FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of a container 1C of the second embodiment in an open state, and FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of the container 1C in a closed state. In the container 1C of the second embodiment, the length of the skirt portion 31 connecting the container body 10 and the hinge portion 30 is longer than that of the container 1 of the first embodiment. Furthermore, in the open state, the connection portion 32 formed between the hinge portion 30 and the skirt portion 31 is inclined with respect to the vertical direction so as to be outward as it approaches the bottom plate portion 11 of the container body 10 (upper side in FIG. 16 ) when viewed from the Y direction (a direction parallel to the hinge portion 30). As a result, in the container 1C of the second embodiment, the height of the bottom plate portion 11 of the container body 10 relative to the top plate portion 21 of the lid 20 is higher than that of the container 1 of the first embodiment. As a result, when container 1C in the open state is placed on a flat support surface S (with top plate 21 in contact with support surface S), height H1 from support surface S to leg 15 of container body 10 is equal to height H2 from support surface S to the bottom surface of step 23 of lid 20 (the surface on which leg 15 is placed in the placed state). In container 1C, depth D20 of lid 20 is also deeper than depth D10 of container body 10. Support surface S is the surface on which container 1C is placed, for example, the surface of a workbench.

[0070] Figure 18 is a cross-sectional view showing three open containers 1C arranged one on top of the other. In Figure 18, the legs 15 of the container body 10 of the open container 1C2 (second packaging container) are placed on the step 23 of the lid 20 of the open container 1C1 (first packaging container) placed on the placement surface S. Furthermore, the legs 15 of the container body 10 of the open container 1C3 (third packaging container) are placed on the step 23 of the lid 20 of the open container 1C2.

[0071] The positional relationship in this placed state will be described. Below, the relationship between container 1C3 and container 1C2 will be described, but the same applies to the relationship between container 1C2 and container 1C1. In the placed state, top plate 21 of lid 20 of container 1C3 is located on the same plane as the placing surface S and the top plate 21 of lid 20 of container 1C2. In other words, the entire top plate 21 of containers 1C2 and 1C3 contacts the placing surface S. This is because, as described above, in container 1C, the length of skirt portion 31 is long and connecting portion 32 is inclined, so that height H1 from the placing surface S to leg portion 15 is equal to height H2 from the placing surface S to step portion 23. In this specification, "element A being located on the same plane as element B" includes not only the case where element A is located on the exact same plane as element B, but also the case where element A is located on substantially the same plane, for example, the case where the plane on which element A is located is shifted from the plane on which element B is located by an amount of deviation of, for example, 5 mm or less.

[0072] In addition, in the placed state, the bottom plate 11 of the container body 10 of the container 1C3 is parallel to the top plate 21 of the lid 20 of the container 1C3. That is, the bottom plate 11 of the container 1C3 is parallel to the placing surface S. In addition, the contact points between the containers 1C2 and 1C3 are located on the same plane parallel to the placing surface S along the entire periphery. In this example, the contact points between the containers 1C2 and 1C3 are the points where the legs 15 of the container 1C3 contact the step 23 of the container 1C2.

[0073] In the placed state, as in the first embodiment, the legs 15 of the container body 10 of the container 1C3 are placed on the step 23 of the lid 20 of the container 1C2. By placing the legs 15 of the container 1C3 on the step 23 of the container 1C2, relative movement between the lid 20 of the container 1C2 and the container body 10 of the container 1C3 in the lateral direction, more specifically in the X and Y directions (directions in which the step 23 faces each other), is restricted.

[0074] In the container 1B in the placed state, the length of the skirt portion 31 is increased, so that when viewed from the Y direction (a direction parallel to the hinge portion 30), the end portion 31a (Figure 16) of the skirt portion 31 on the hinge portion 30 side is located on the top plate portion 21 side of the lid body 20 (lower side in Figures 16 and 18) relative to the bottom plate portion 11 of the container body 10.

[0075] A method of serving food using containers 1C will be described. First, multiple containers 1C including containers 1C1, 1C2, and 1C3 are prepared (preparation step). Next, the multiple containers 1C are stacked and arranged (placement step). Specifically, in the placement step, the legs 15 of the container body 10 of container 1C2 in the open state are placed on the step 23 of the lid 20 of container 1C1 in the open state placed on the placement surface S, and the legs 15 of the container body 10 of container 1C3 in the open state are placed on the step 23 of the lid 20 of container 1C2 in the open state. Next, objects (e.g., food) are placed on the bottom plate portions 11 of the container bodies 10 of containers 1C2 and 1C3 (placement step). Through these steps, food can be served efficiently. Note that three or more containers 1C may be prepared in the preparation step, and three or more containers 1C may be stacked and arranged in the placement step. [Actions and Effects of the Second Embodiment]

[0076] In the container 1C, the outer surface of the container body 10 of the container 1C3 in the open state can be placed on the inner surface of the lid 20 of the container 1C2 in the open state placed on a flat placement surface S. This allows multiple containers 1C to be arranged by placing the outer surface of the container body 10 of the container 1C3 on the inner surface of the lid 20 of the container 1C2 during serving, improving work efficiency. Furthermore, in this placed state, the top plate 21 of the lid 20 of the container 1C3 is located flush with the placement surface S and the top plate 21 of the lid 20 of the container 1C2. This prevents the container 201 from tilting when the container body 210 of another container 201 is placed on the lid 220 of the container 201, as in the comparative example of FIG. 15 described above, improving serving efficiency. Therefore, the container 1C can improve both work efficiency and serving ease.

[0077] In the placed state, the bottom plate 11 of the container body 10 of the container 1C3 is parallel to the top plate 21 of the lid 20 of the container 1C3, which makes it even easier to serve food.

[0078] The depth D20 of the lid 20 is deeper than the depth D10 of the container body 10. In this case, the container 1C3 placed on the lid 20 of the container 1C2 is likely to tilt, but with the container 1C, even if the depth D20 of the lid 20 is deeper than the depth D10 of the container body 10, the tilting of the container 1C can be prevented, improving the ease of serving food.

[0079] In the placed state, the container body 10 of the container 1C3 is placed on the step 23 of the lid 20 of the container 1C2. This allows the container body 10 of the container 1C3 to be stably placed on the lid 20 of the container 1C2. As a result, the ease of serving can be further improved.

[0080] In the placed state, the container body 10 of the container 1C3 is placed on the step 23 of the lid 20 of the container 1C2, thereby restricting relative movement in the lateral direction between the lid 20 of the container 1C2 and the container body 10 of the container 1C3. This allows the container body 10 of the container 1C3 to be placed more stably on the lid 20 of the container 1C2.

[0081] The step portion 23 constitutes a fitting portion 25 (lid fitting portion) for fitting the lid 20 and the container body 10 together. This allows the container body 10 of the container 1C3 to be stably placed on the lid 20 of the container 1C2 using the fitting portion 25 for fitting the lid 20 and the container body 10 together.

[0082] In the placed state, the legs 15 of the container body 10 of the container 1C3 are placed on the step 23 of the lid 20 of the container 1C2. This allows the container body 10 of the container 1C3 to be placed more stably on the lid 20 of the container 1C2. Furthermore, the provision of the legs 15 on the container body 10 makes the container 1C easier to hold.

[0083] A step 23 is provided at the open end of the side wall 22 of the lid 20. This allows the container body 10 to be supported at the open end of the side wall 22, making it even easier to serve food.

[0084] In the placed state, the contact points between the containers 1C2 and 1C3 are located on the same plane parallel to the placing surface S. This makes it easy to form the bottom plate portion 11 of the container body 10 so as to be parallel to the placing surface S in the placed state.

[0085] A skirt portion 31 is formed between the container body 10 and the hinge portion 30, extending from the edge of the container body 10 toward the hinge portion 30. When viewed from the Y direction (a direction parallel to the hinge portion 30) in the placed state of the container 1C3, an end portion 31a of the skirt portion 31 on the hinge portion 30 side is located closer to the top plate portion 21 of the lid body 20 than the bottom plate portion 11 of the container body 10. Thus, by forming the skirt portion 31, in the placed state, the top plate portion 21 of the lid body 20 of the container 1C3 can be located on the same plane as the placement surface S and the top plate portion 21 of the lid body 20 of the container 1C2. [Third embodiment]

[0086] FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of a container 1D of the third embodiment in an open state, and FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of the container 1D in a closed state. The container 1D of the third embodiment differs from the container 1 of the first embodiment in the following respects. As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, in the container body 10 of the container 1D in the open state and the closed state, the bottom plate portion 11 is inclined with respect to the placement surface S (the placement surface S when the container 1D in the closed state is placed on the placement surface S). In this example, the bottom plate portion 11 is inclined so as to move away from the placement surface S as it approaches the hinge portion 30. The shape of the container body 10 other than the bottom plate portion 11 is configured similarly to the container 1 of the first embodiment. Therefore, when the container 1D in the closed state is placed on the placement surface S, the bottom plate portion 11 is inclined with respect to the placement surface S.

[0087] Furthermore, in the lid body 20 of the container 1D in the open state and the closed state, the top plate portion 21 is inclined with respect to the placement surface S (the placement surface S when the container 1D in the closed state is placed on the placement surface S). In this example, the top plate portion 21 is inclined so as to move away from the placement surface S (so as to be parallel to the bottom plate portion 11) as it approaches the hinge portion 30. The shape of the lid body 20 other than the top plate portion 21 is configured in the same manner as the container 1 of the first embodiment. Therefore, when the container 1D in the closed state is placed on the placement surface S, the top plate portion 21 is inclined with respect to the placement surface S.

[0088] Figure 21 is a cross-sectional view showing three open containers 1D arranged one on top of the other. In Figure 21, the leg portion 15 of the container body 10 of an open container 1D2 (second packaging container) is placed on the step 23 of the lid body 20 of an open container 1D1 (first packaging container) placed on a placement surface S. In addition, the leg portion 15 of the container body 10 of an open container 1D3 (third packaging container) is placed on the step 23 of the lid body 20 of the open container 1D2.

[0089] The positional relationship in the placed state will be described. Below, the relationship between container 1D3 and container 1D2 will be described, but the same applies to the relationship between container 1D2 and container 1D1. When container 1D is placed in the closed state on the placing surface S (FIG. 20), top plate 21 of lid 20 is inclined with respect to the placing surface S, so that in the placed state (FIG. 21), top plate 21 of container 1D3 is located on the same plane as the placing surface S and the top plate 21 of container 1D2. When container 1D is placed in the closed state on the placing surface S (FIG. 20), bottom plate 11 of container body 10 is inclined with respect to the placing surface S, so that in the placed state (FIG. 21), bottom plate 11 of container 1D3 is parallel to the placing surface S. In other words, the inclination angles of the bottom plate portion 11 and the top plate portion 21 with respect to the placing surface S are set so that the bottom plate portion 11 and the top plate portion 21 are parallel to the placing surface S in the placed state. In addition, the inclination angle of the bottom plate portion 11 with respect to the placing surface S is set so as to cancel out the inclination angle of the top plate portion 21 with respect to the placing surface S.

[0090] As with the second embodiment, the third embodiment can improve work efficiency and ease of serving. Furthermore, by tilting the top plate 21 of the lid 20 relative to the placement surface S, the top plate 21 of the container 1D3 can be positioned flush with the placement surface S and the top plate 21 of the container 1D2 in the placed state. Furthermore, since the bottom plate 11 of the container 1D3 is parallel to the placement surface S in the placed state, ease of serving can be further improved. Note that the bottom plate 11 of the container 1D3 may be tilted relative to the placement surface S in the placed state. For example, the bottom plate 11 may extend perpendicular to the Z direction, as in the first embodiment. In this case, the bottom plate 11 of the container 1D3 is tilted relative to the placement surface S in the placed state. The variations described above for the first embodiment are also applicable to the second and third embodiments. [Explanation of symbols]

[0091] 1C, 1D...container, 1C1, 1D1...container (first packaging container), 1C2, 1D2...container (second packaging container), 1C3, 1D3...container (third packaging container), 11...bottom plate portion, 12...side wall portion (main body side wall portion), 15...leg portion, 20...lid body, 21...top plate portion, 22...side wall portion (lid body side wall portion), 23...step portion, 25...fitting portion (lid body fitting portion), 30...hinge portion, 31...skirt portion, 31a...end portion, S...placing surface.

Claims

1. a container body having a bottom plate portion; A packaging container comprising: a top plate portion; and a lid body connected to the container body via a hinge portion so as to be openable and closable relative to the container body, When the state in which the lid body is open relative to the container body is referred to as an open state, the outer surface side of the container body of one of the packaging containers in the open state can be placed on the inner surface side of the lid body of one of the packaging containers in the open state placed on a flat placing surface, In the placed state, the top plate portion of the lid body of the other packaging container is positioned on the same plane as the placement surface and the top plate portion of the lid body of the one packaging container.

2. The packaging container according to claim 1 , wherein in the placed state, the bottom plate portion of the container body of the other packaging container is parallel to the top plate portion of the lid body of the other packaging container.

3. The container body has the bottom plate portion and a body side wall portion, The lid body has the top plate portion and a lid body side wall portion, The packaging container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the depth of the lid is greater than the depth of the container body.

4. A step is formed on the side of the lid, The packaging container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein in the placed state, the container body of the other packaging container is placed on the step portion of the lid body of the one packaging container.

5. The step portions are formed as a pair, and the pair of step portions are formed on a pair of opposing side portions of the lid body, respectively, 5. The packaging container of claim 4, wherein in the placed state, the container body of the other packaging container is placed on the pair of step portions of the lid body of the one packaging container, thereby restricting relative movement between the lid body of the one packaging container and the container body of the other packaging container in the direction in which the pair of step portions face each other.

6. The packaging container according to claim 4, wherein the step portion constitutes a lid fitting portion for fitting the lid and the container body together.

7. the container body has the bottom plate portion and leg portions formed on sides of the bottom plate portion corresponding to the sides of the lid body, the leg portions protruding outward from the bottom plate portion, 5. The packaging container according to claim 4, wherein in the placed state, the leg portion of the container body of the other packaging container is placed on the step portion of the lid body of the one packaging container.

8. The lid body has the top plate portion and a lid body side wall portion that defines an opening of the lid body, The packaging container according to claim 4 , wherein the step is provided at an open end of the lid side wall.

9. 3. The packaging container according to claim 1, wherein in the placed state, contact points between the one packaging container and the other packaging container are located on the same plane parallel to the placement surface.

10. a skirt portion extending from an edge of the container body toward the hinge portion is formed between the container body and the hinge portion; A packaging container as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein, in the other packaging container in the placed state, when viewed from a direction parallel to the hinge portion, the end of the skirt portion on the hinge portion side is located on the top plate portion side of the lid body relative to the bottom plate portion of the container body.

11. 3. A packaging container as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein when the packaging container in a closed state in which the lid body is closed on the container body is placed on the placement surface, the top plate portion of the lid body is inclined with respect to the placement surface, so that in the placement state, the top plate portion of the lid body of the other packaging container is positioned on the same plane as the placement surface and the top plate portion of the lid body of the one packaging container.

12. A packaging container as described in claim 11, wherein when the packaging container in the closed state is placed on the placement surface, the bottom plate portion of the container body is inclined relative to the placement surface, so that in the placement state, the bottom plate portion of the container body of the other packaging container is parallel to the placement surface.

13. A preparation process for preparing a plurality of packaging containers according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of packaging containers includes a first packaging container, a second packaging container, and a third packaging container; a placing step of placing the outer surface side of the container body of the second packaging container in the open state on the inner surface side of the lid body of the first packaging container in the open state placed on the placing surface, and placing the outer surface side of the container body of the third packaging container in the open state on the inner surface side of the lid body of the second packaging container in the open state; and a placing step of placing an object on the bottom plate portion of the container body of the third packaging container, in this order.

Images