Container

Abstract

To provide a container that achieves various appearances and textures while maintaining a stable integrated state.SOLUTION: In a container 1 formed by integrally combining a first member 10 and a second member 30, the first member has a locking piece and an engaging portion 12 that protrudes inward from the container 1, and comprises two or more engaging pieces 31 that maintain a state in which the first member and the second member are integrated by engaging with the engaging portion. The engaging pieces have locking claws 32 that engage with the locking piece, and the locking claws are engaging with the locking piece in a state that protrudes toward the center in the plan view of the container.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a container, and more particularly to a container that is filled with contents such as medicine. [Background technology]

[0002] When the chemicals or the like loaded in the original container of an air freshener or the like run out due to evaporation or elution, it is known to purchase a refill of the chemicals that does not come with a container and reload the container, thereby continuing to use the original container.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a container used for such purposes. This container has a configuration in which an upper first member and a lower second member are integrally engaged by an inner cylinder disposed inside. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-183093 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The container described in Patent Document 1 can achieve a variety of appearances and textures by using different materials and colors for the first and second members. As will be described in detail later, the inventors discovered new problems that arose during this process and solved them to complete the present invention.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a container that can stably maintain an integrated state while realizing a variety of appearances and textures. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention is a container formed by integrally combining a first member and a second member. In this container, the first member has a locking piece and an engaging portion that protrudes inward into the container, and further has two or more engaging pieces that engage with the engaging portion to maintain the first member and the second member in an integrated state. The engaging piece has a locking claw that engages with the locking piece. The locking claw is engaged with the locking piece in a state where it protrudes toward the center in a plan view of the container. container. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] The container according to the present invention can stably maintain an integrated state while realizing a variety of appearances and textures. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a container according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the container. [Figure 4] 1(a) is an enlarged plan view showing the engaging portion of the container, and FIG. 1(b) is an enlarged plan view showing the engaging portion in a state where the locking claw and the locking piece are engaged with each other. [Figure 5] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating a state in which the engagement between the first member and the second member becomes more likely to be released due to deformation of the first member. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a container according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a container 1 according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the container 1. The container 1 has an appearance in which the upper side is roughly hemispherical and the lower side is roughly cylindrical. The container 1 has a flat bottom, so that it can be placed stably on a table or the like. The container 1 has a loading opening 2 at the top, and is configured so that when the pre-loaded medicine decreases or runs out, a refill of medicine can be added through the loading opening 2. The outer shape of the container 1 is not limited to the shape shown in the figure, and can be any desired shape taking into consideration the expected installation environment, etc.

[0011] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the container 1 taken along line II shown in Figure 2. The container 1 has a loading opening 2 and is composed of two members: a first member 10 that forms the upper side of the container 1, and a second member 30 that forms the lower side of the container 1 and, together with the first member 10, defines the outer shape of the container 1.

[0012] The first member 10 has a generally hemispherical appearance, with a loading port 2 that is square in plan view and extends through the top. As shown in FIG. 2 , the loading port 2 is largely closed by a valve 15 that connects to the first member 10. In this embodiment, the entire first member 10, including the valve 15, is made of an elastomer, so that pressing the valve 15 elastically deforms the connection portion with the first member 10, temporarily opening the loading port 2. The material from which the first member 10 is made is preferably one that elastically deforms with a relatively small force. Therefore, the material is not limited to the elastomers described above, and various types of rubber can also be used.

[0013] As shown in Fig. 3, engagement portions 12 that engage with the second member 30 protrude inward of the container 1 at two locations on the inside of the first member 10 that sandwich the loading opening 2. In this embodiment, each engagement portion 12 is rectangular tubular, and as shown in Fig. 2, locking pieces 13 protrude from the inner walls on three sides except for the inner wall farthest from the loading opening 2. Furthermore, the first member 10 is formed with a plurality of slit-like holes 11 that communicate with the internal space, and is configured so that the aroma containing the medicine placed inside can flow out of the container 1. The holes 11 are an optional configuration and may not be provided. Alternatively, the holes 11 may be provided in the second member 30 on the lower side.

[0014] The second member 30 is a cylindrical member with a bottom, and has a space inside for storing target items such as medicines. The outer diameter of the second member 30 in a plan view is roughly the same as the diameter of the first member 10 in a plan view, but as shown in Figure 3, the outer diameter is slightly smaller only in a certain range at the upper end. This allows the upper end of the second member 30 to enter the first member 10 from below, and the two members can be assembled with almost no steps on the outer surfaces. Two engagement pieces 31 protrude from the upper end of the second member 30 to engage with the engagement portion 12. Each engagement piece 31 is plate-shaped with dimensions that allow it to enter the rectangular cylindrical engagement portion 12, and has a locking claw 32 at its tip. The two engagement pieces 31 face each other in a generally parallel state, sandwiching the center of the second member 30 in a plan view.

[0015] The locking claws 32 provided on each engaging piece 31 protrude toward the other opposing engaging piece, in other words, toward the center of the container 1 in a plan view, and also protrude in the width direction of the plate-like structure. In other words, the locking claws 32 protrude in three directions excluding the side farther from the other opposing engaging piece in a plan view of the second member 30.

[0016] When assembling the container 1, the upper side of the second member 30 is inserted into the first member 10, while aligning the engagement piece 31 with the engagement portion 12, and the engagement piece 31 is inserted into the engagement portion 12 from the lower opening of the engagement portion 12. The dimensions of the opening 12a at the location where the locking piece 13 is provided, as shown in FIG. 4(a), are slightly smaller than the dimensions of the locking claw 32 in a plan view, but because the first member 10 is flexible due to its material, the locking piece 13 can be deformed to widen the opening 12a, allowing the locking claw 32 to pass through. The planar dimensions of the plate-like structure of the engaging piece 31 located below the engaging claw 32 are the same as or slightly smaller than the opening 12a, so the engaging piece 13 returns to its original shape after the engaging claw 32 passes through. This causes the engaging piece 13 of the first member 10 to engage with the engaging claw 32 of the second member 30, and the first member 10 and the second member 30 are integrated so that they do not easily come apart. In this state, as shown in FIG. 4(b), the engaging claw 32 is engaged with the engaging piece 13 at three points. That is, a first portion 32a protruding toward the center of the container 1 in a planar view is engaged with the engaging piece 13 corresponding to the long sides of the opening 12a, and second portions 32b located on both sides of the first portion 32a are engaged with the engaging piece 13 corresponding to the short sides of the opening 12a.

[0017] In the completed container 1, the locking piece 13 and locking claw 32, which are the engagement points between the first member 10 and the second member 30, are located within the engagement portion 12 that protrudes inward from the first member 10 and cannot be easily touched, thereby preventing situations such as the engagement being unintentionally released when touched by the user.

[0018] The container 1 is constructed by integrating the first member 10 and the second member 30, and therefore has the excellent advantage that the upper and lower sides can have different colors and textures, making it easy to realize a wide variety of appearances, textures, usability, etc.

[0019] However, in some of the initial prototypes made by the inventors, an external force was applied to the first member 10, for example, when the container 1 was dropped, and a phenomenon was observed in which the engagement between the first member 10 and the second member 30 was released. After examining this phenomenon in detail, the inventors found that the main cause was that the first member 10, which is made of a relatively soft material, was deformed by the applied external force.

[0020] The disengaged prototype had the locking claw orientation and locking piece arrangement reversed from those of container 1 according to this embodiment, and had a shape that did not have second portion 32b. In the prototype container, when an external force is applied to first member 10, the outer surface is deformed, and as a result, locking piece 12 protruding inward is also deformed, and as a result, as shown in Figure 5, locking piece 213 that was engaged with locking claw 232 is displaced in a direction away from the locking claw, which is thought to make it easier for the locking piece and locking claw to disengage.

[0021] Based on this finding, the inventors conducted various studies and succeeded in suppressing this phenomenon by having the locking claws 32 protrude toward the center of the container 1 in a plan view, as described above. That is, it was thought that this was because the first member 10 does not have a structure that prevents deformation toward the outside in a plan view of the container, and deformation in this direction occurs relatively easily, while there are many members inside the container in a plan view, so that even when an external force is applied, there is almost no displacement in a direction away from the locking claws.

[0022] In the container 1 according to this embodiment, the second portion 32b of the locking pawl 32 makes it more difficult for the locking piece to be disengaged. This is because when the portion where the locking piece is provided is deformed by an external force, the locking piece does not normally separate from the locking pawl in both of the two perpendicular directions. 5 occurs in the locking piece 213, the dimensions of the opening defined by the locking piece expand in the short-side direction, but at the same time, this deformation acts in a direction that reduces the dimension in the long-side direction. Therefore, in the container 1 according to this embodiment, even if the locking piece 13 engaged with the first portion 32a moves away from the first portion 32a due to deformation, a force acts on the locking piece 13 engaged with the first portion 32a to displace it in a direction toward the second portion 32b. This makes the engagement between the second portion 32b and the locking piece 13 more secure, contributing to preventing the locking claw 32 and the locking piece 13 from disengaging from each other. It should be noted that providing two second portions is not essential to achieve the above-described effect, and only one second portion may be provided.

[0023] A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 6 to 8. In the following description, components common to those already described will be assigned the same reference numerals and duplicated description will be omitted.

[0024] 6 shows an overall perspective view of a container 101 according to this embodiment. The outer shape of the container 101 is different from that of the container 1 according to the first embodiment, but it is similar to the container 1 in that it includes a first member 110 that forms the upper side and a second member 130 that forms the lower side, and that the first member 110 is provided with an engaging portion 112.

[0025] 7 shows an exploded view of container 101. In container 101, second member 130 is not provided with an engagement piece, but is separately provided with a generally U-shaped connecting member 150 having engagement pieces 131. Two engagement pieces 131 are respectively disposed at the ends of the U-shape, and the shape of locking claws 132 provided at the end of each engagement piece 131 is generally the same as locking claws 32 in the first embodiment.

[0026] 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the container 101. In the container 101, the connecting member 150 disposed below the second member 130 passes through the second member 130, and two engagement pieces 131 protrude above the second member 130. 8, the first member 110 has an engaging portion 112 similar to that of the first embodiment. Each engaging piece 131 is inserted into the engaging portion 112, and within the engaging portion 112, the locking claws 132 and the locking pieces 113 are engaged with each other in a manner generally similar to that of the first embodiment. That is, in the container 101 of this embodiment, the engagement between the connecting member 150 and the first member 110 maintains the first member 110 and the second member 130 in an integrated state.

[0027] In container 101 according to this embodiment, locking claw 132 and locking piece 113 are engaged in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and therefore, even if the first member is made of a relatively soft material, the engagement is unlikely to be released, as described above. As a result, even if deformation occurs due to an external force, the first member 110 and the second member 130 can be well maintained in an integrated state.

[0028] Although each embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and configuration changes and combinations within the scope that do not deviate from the gist of the present invention are also included.

[0029] For example, the number of pairs of engaging portions and engaging pieces is not limited to the above-mentioned 2. The number of pairs may be 2 or more, and for example, 3 or more pairs may be provided at equal intervals around the center of the container 1 in a plan view.

[0030] Furthermore, the container according to the present invention does not necessarily need to have a loading port, and therefore the structure according to the present invention may be applied to a so-called disposable container that is not intended to be refilled with medicine or the like contained therein, but is discarded once the medicine or the like is consumed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 1, 101 container 10, 110 First member 12, 112 engagement part 13, 113 Locking piece 30, 130 Second member 31, 131 Engagement piece 32, 132, locking claw 32a First part 32b Second part 150 Connecting member

Claims

1. A container formed by integrally combining a first member and a second member, the first member has a locking piece and an engaging portion that protrudes inwardly of the container, two or more engaging pieces that engage with the engaging portion to maintain the first member and the second member in an integrated state; The engaging piece has a locking claw that engages with the locking piece, The locking claw is engaged with the locking piece in a state where it protrudes toward the center in a plan view of the container. container.

2. The engagement piece is provided on the second member. The container of claim 1.

3. a connecting member provided with the engaging piece, The second member is integrally combined with the first member while being positioned between the first member and the connecting member. The container of claim 1.

4. The locking claw has a first portion that protrudes in one direction and a second portion that protrudes in a direction different from the first direction. The container of claim 1.

5. The first member is formed of rubber or elastomer. The container of claim 1.

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