Container

Abstract

To provide a container capable of improving convenience.SOLUTION: A container 1 is a molded article made of a sheet material. The container 1 includes a container body 10 and a lid 20 that is formed integrally with or separately from the container body 10. The container body 10 has a first body fitting portion 15 and a second body fitting portion 16. The lid 20 has a first lid fitting portion 25 and a second lid fitting portion 26. When the lid 20 is closed relative to the container body 10, the first body fitting portion 15 and the first lid fitting portion 25 are fitted to each other. When one container 1 is stacked on another container 1, the second body fitting portion 16 of the one container 1 and the second lid fitting portion 26 of the other container 1 are fitted to each other. The fitting strength between the second body fitting portion 16 and the second lid fitting portion 26 is lower than the fitting strength between the first body fitting portion 15 and the first lid fitting portion 25.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a container for packaging, for example, food products. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 describes a packaging container consisting of a container body and a lid body, in which a recessed fitting portion is formed in the container body and a mating protrusion is formed in the lid body, and the recessed fitting portion and the mating protrusion can fit together when the packaging containers are stacked. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-118197 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The containers described above are required to be more convenient, and an object of the present invention is to provide a container that can improve convenience. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The container of the present invention is [1] "a container which is a molded product of a sheet material, comprising a container body and a lid body formed integrally with or separately from the container body, the container body having a first body fitting portion and a second body fitting portion, the lid body having a first lid body fitting portion and a second lid body fitting portion, when the lid body is closed on the container body, the first body fitting portion and the first lid body fitting portion fit together, when one of the containers is stacked on another of the containers, the second body fitting portion of the one container and the second lid body fitting portion of the other container fit together, and the fitting strength between the second body fitting portion and the second lid body fitting portion is lower than the fitting strength between the first body fitting portion and the first lid body fitting portion."

[0006] In this container, the fitting strength between the second body fitting portion and the second lid fitting portion is lower than the fitting strength between the first body fitting portion and the first lid fitting portion. This prevents the first body fitting portion and the first lid fitting portion from being disengaged, opening the lid and causing the contents to spill, for example, when the containers are stacked and displayed in a store, preventing the lid of the upper container from opening when a consumer tries to pick it up. This container thus improves convenience.

[0007] The container of the present invention may be [2] "the container according to claim 1, wherein, when viewed from the opposing direction in which the bottom plate of the container body and the top plate of the lid face each other when the lid is closed on the container body," the second body fitting portion and the second lid fitting portion are provided partially in the circumferential direction. By providing the second body fitting portion and the second lid fitting portion partially in the circumferential direction rather than over the entire circumference, the fitting strength between the second body fitting portion and the second lid fitting portion can be reduced (adjusted). Furthermore, when molding the container, for example, a sheet material softened by heating is pressed against a mold and then peeled (released) from the mold to obtain a molded product. By providing the second body fitting portion and the second lid fitting portion partially in the circumferential direction, mold releasability (ease of peeling from the mold) can be improved.

[0008] The container of the present invention may be [3] "the container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second main body fitting portion and the second lid fitting portion include a convex portion that protrudes in a direction perpendicular to the opposing direction in which the bottom plate portion of the container body and the top plate portion of the lid face each other when the lid is closed on the container body." In this case, the second main body fitting portion and the second lid fitting portion can be firmly fitted together.

[0009] The container of the present invention may be [4] "the container according to claim 3, wherein, when viewed from the opposing direction, the outer edges of the convex portions of the second main body fitting portion and the second lid fitting portion are formed in an arc shape." In this case, it is possible to easily fit the second main body fitting portion and the second lid fitting portion together. Also, it is possible to improve releasability.

[0010] The container of the present invention may be [5] "the container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a recess is formed in the lid, and when the first container is stacked on the second container, the bottom of the container body of the first container is placed in the recess of the lid of the second container, the second body fitting portion is formed on the bottom of the container body, and the second lid fitting portion is formed on a side surface of the recess." In this case, by placing the bottom of the container body of the first container in the recess of the lid of the second container, the first container can be stably stacked on the second container. Furthermore, because the second body fitting portion is formed on the bottom of the container body and the second lid fitting portion is formed on a side surface of the recess, when the first container is stacked on the other container, the second body fitting portion and the second lid fitting portion can be easily fitted together.

[0011] The container of the present invention may be [6] "the container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lid is connected to the container body via a hinge portion." In this case, compared to when the lid is formed separately from the container body, the lid is less likely to open unintentionally, and unintentional spillage of the contents can be suppressed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a container that can improve convenience. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container in an open state, seen from one side. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the container in an open state as seen from the other side. [Figure 3]FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the state in which the container body and the lid body are fitted together. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which two containers are stacked. [Figure 5] (a) is a diagram showing the second main body fitting portion and the second lid body fitting portion in the container of the embodiment, and (b) is a diagram showing the second main body fitting portion and the second lid body fitting portion in the container of the modified example. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which a plurality of containers are housed in a box. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] 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. [container]

[0015] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, container 1 includes a container body 10 for containing contents, and a lid body 20 connected to container body 10 via hinge portion 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 integrally formed. Contents contained (packaged) in container 1 are foods such as vegetables, cooked rice, side dishes, noodles, and sweets. Container 1 is formed, for example, in the shape of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped as a whole.

[0016] 1 and 2 show the container 1 in an open state in which the lid 20 is open relative to the container body 10. As described below, the container 1 can also be in a closed state in which the lid 20 is closed relative to the container body 10 (FIG. 3). 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. 3) 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. The direction perpendicular to the vertical direction and perpendicular to the hinge portion 30 is referred to as the X direction, and the 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. The direction along a plane including the X direction and the Y direction (the direction perpendicular to the vertical direction) is also referred to as the lateral direction. 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.

[0017] The container 1 is, for example, a molded product made 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 made of, for example, a resin material. The sheet material may be made of only 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.

[0018] 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. Examples of the synthetic resin sheet include a polystyrene sheet obtained by biaxially stretching polystyrene, or a heat-resistant biaxially stretched styrene-based resin sheet. 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). The synthetic resin material may be made entirely from petroleum-derived materials, or may be made entirely or partially from biomass-derived materials. The sheet material may have at least one layer of biodegradable biomass plastic containing polylactic acid (PLA) resin, or may be made entirely or partially from biomass-derived materials such as biomass polyethylene, biomass polypropylene, or biomass PET. The sheet material may be made from a bio-based material such as polylactic acid resin or plant-derived polyethylene. The raw material of the sheet material may be derived from petroleum or plants.

[0019] 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.

[0020] 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.

[0021] 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]

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the container body 10 has a bottom plate portion 11, side wall portions 12, and a flange portion 13. The bottom plate portion 11 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape with long sides along the X direction. The bottom plate portion 11 is formed substantially flat and perpendicular to the up-down direction. The bottom plate portion 11 is formed with a plurality of protrusions 11a that protrude toward the inside of the container 1. 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 term "plan view" also means "when viewed from the opposing direction in which the bottom plate portion 11 of the container body 10 and the top plate portion 21 of the lid 20 face each other in the closed state."

[0023] The side wall portion 12 extends at an incline relative to the vertical direction so that it slopes outward as it goes upward (Fig. 3). The side wall portion 12 is formed with a plurality of protrusions 12a that protrude toward the outside of the container 1 (Figs. 1 and 2). A protruding edge portion 14 is formed at the open end (upper end) of the side wall portion 12, and the side wall portion 12 is connected to the flange portion 13 via the protruding edge portion 14. The protruding edge portion 14 is formed along the entire periphery of the side wall portion 12 and protrudes upward relative to the side wall portion 12 and the flange portion 13. In a cross section parallel to the vertical direction, the protruding edge portion 14 is formed in a roughly U-shape that is open downward.

[0024] The flange portion 13 extends outward from the protruding edge portion 14. In this example, the container body 10 is connected to the lid body 20 at one side (short side) via a hinge portion 30, and the flange portion 13 is formed over three sides excluding the one side. The hinge portion 30 is a deformable portion configured so that the container body 10 and the lid body 20 can rotate relative to each other around the hinge portion 30.

[0025] The container body 10 further has a first body fitting portion 15 and a second body fitting portion 16. The first body fitting portion 15 is a fitting portion for engaging the container body 10 with the lid body 20, and fits with a first lid body fitting portion 25 of the lid body 20, which will be described later. The second body fitting portion 16 is a fitting portion for engaging the containers 1 with each other when stacking the containers 1, and fits with a second lid body fitting portion 26 of the lid body 20, which will be described later.

[0026] The first body fitting portions 15 are formed on the outer surface 14a of the protruding edge portion 14. More specifically, the four first body fitting portions 15 are formed on the outer surface 14a of the protruding edge portion 14 so as to be located near the four corners of the container body 10 in a plan view. The first body fitting portions 15 may be formed to extend across two sides that make up the corner, or may be formed to extend along only one side that makes up the corner. In this example, of the four first body fitting portions 15, the two first body fitting portions 15 farthest from the hinge portion 30 are formed to extend across two sides that make up the corner, and the two first body fitting portions 15 closer to the hinge portion 30 are formed to extend along the side that is closer to the hinge portion 30 of the pair of sides that make up the corner.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 3, the first main body fitting portion 15 is configured with a concave-convex portion. More specifically, the first main body fitting portion 15 has a convex portion 15a that protrudes outward and a concave portion 15b that is formed below the convex portion 15a and recessed inward. That is, the convex portion 15a protrudes outward in the horizontal direction. The convex portion 15a and the concave portion 15b are formed in a substantially trapezoidal shape in a cross section parallel to the vertical direction, and the side surfaces of the convex portion 15a and the concave portion 15b are inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. Note that in this example, the side surface of the convex portion 15a facing the concave portion 15b (the boundary surface between the convex portion 15a and the concave portion 15b) is also the side surface of the concave portion 15b.

[0028] The second body fitting portions 16 are formed on the outer surface 10b of the bottom 10a of the container body 10. More specifically, eight second body fitting portions 16 are formed on the outer surface 10b of the bottom 10a so as to be located near four corners of the container body 10 (bottom plate portion 11) in a plan view. The bottom 10a is the bottom side portion of the container body 10, and is the portion that is placed in a recess 24 of the lid body 20, which will be described later, when stacked. The bottom 10a is composed of the bottom plate portion 11 and a portion of the lower side of the side wall portion 12. In this example, the second body fitting portions 16 are formed on the side wall portion 12 that constitutes the bottom 10a. Two second body fitting portions 16 are formed at each corner of the container body 10 (bottom plate portion 11). At each corner, one of the pair of second main body fitting portions 16 is formed on one of the pair of sides that make up the corner, and the other of the pair of second main body fitting portions 16 is formed on the other of the pair of sides that make up the corner. That is, the pair of second main body fitting portions 16 are formed so as to sandwich the corner of the bottom plate portion 11. In this way, the second main body fitting portions 16 are provided partially in the circumferential direction (the direction along the outer edge of the container body 10 in a plan view) rather than along the entire circumference.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 3, the second main body fitting portion 16 is configured with a concave-convex portion. More specifically, the second main body fitting portion 16 has a convex portion 16a that protrudes outward and a concave portion 16b that is formed above the convex portion 16a and recessed inward. That is, the convex portion 16a protrudes outward in the horizontal direction. The convex portion 16a and the concave portion 16b are formed in a substantially trapezoidal shape in a cross section parallel to the vertical direction, and the side surfaces of the convex portion 16a and the concave portion 16b are inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. Note that in this example, the side surface of the convex portion 16a facing the concave portion 16b is also the side surface of the concave portion 16b. As particularly shown in FIG. 2, the outer edge of the convex portion 16a is curved in an arc shape in a plan view. [Lid]

[0030] The lid 20 has a top plate 21, side walls 22, and a flange 23. 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 X 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 (opposing direction).

[0031] A recess 24 is formed in the top plate 21, recessed toward the inside of the container 1. In plan view, the recess 24 has a rectangular shape that is slightly smaller than the top plate 21. The bottom 10a of the container body 10 of another container 1 is placed in the recess 24 in a stacked manner. Therefore, the recess 24 is formed in a shape corresponding to the bottom 10a.

[0032] The side wall 22 is formed to surround the top plate 21 in a plan view, and extends downward (to the downward side in the closed state) from the edge of the top plate 21. The flange 23 extends laterally outward from the side wall 22. In this example, the lid 20 is connected to the container body 10 at one side (short side) via a hinge 30, and the flange 23 is formed over three sides excluding the one side.

[0033] The lid 20 further has a first lid fitting portion 25 and a second lid fitting portion 26. The first lid fitting portion 25 is a fitting portion for engaging the container body 10 and the lid 20, and fits with the first body fitting portion 15 of the container body 10. The second lid fitting portion 26 is a fitting portion for engaging the containers 1 with each other when the containers 1 are stacked in a closed state, and fits with the second body fitting portion 16 of the container body 10.

[0034] The first lid fitting portions 25 are formed on the side wall portion 22. More specifically, the four first lid fitting portions 25 are formed on the side wall portion 22 so as to be located near the four corners of the lid 20 (top plate portion 21) in a plan view. The positions of the four first lid fitting portions 25 correspond to the positions of the four first body fitting portions 15 on the container body 10.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 3, the first lid fitting portion 25 is configured with a concave-convex portion. More specifically, the first lid fitting portion 25 has a convex portion 25a that protrudes inward and a concave portion 25b that is formed above the convex portion 25a and recessed outward. That is, the convex portion 25a protrudes inward in the horizontal direction. The convex portion 25a and the concave portion 25b are formed in a substantially trapezoidal shape in a cross section parallel to the vertical direction, and the side surfaces of the convex portion 25a and the concave portion 25b are inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. Note that in this example, the side surface of the convex portion 25a facing the concave portion 25b (the boundary surface between the convex portion 25a and the concave portion 25b) is also the side surface of the concave portion 25b.

[0036] 3, in the closed state, the convex portion 25a of the first lid body fitting portion 25 of the lid body 20 is disposed in the concave portion 15b of the first body fitting portion 15 of the container body 10, and the convex portion 15a of the first body fitting portion 15 is disposed in the concave portion 25b of the first lid body fitting portion 25. As a result, the first body fitting portion 15 and the first lid body fitting portion 25 are fitted together, and the container body 10 and the lid body 20 are engaged with each other. When the lid body 20 is closed to the container body 10, for example, the convex portion 25a of the first lid body fitting portion 25 moves over the convex portion 15a of the first body fitting portion 15 and enters the concave portion 15b of the first body fitting portion 15.

[0037] The second lid fitting portions 26 are formed on the side surface 24a of the recess 24 of the lid 20. More specifically, eight second lid fitting portions 26 are formed on the side surface 24a of the recess 24 so as to be located near four corners of the recess 24 (top plate portion 21) in a plan view. The arrangement positions of the eight second lid fitting portions 26 correspond to the arrangement positions of the eight second body fitting portions 16 on the container body 10. Two second lid fitting portions 26 are formed at each corner of the recess 24. At each corner, one of the pair of second lid fitting portions 26 is formed on one of a pair of sides that make up the corner, and the other of the pair of second lid fitting portions 26 is formed on the other of the pair of sides that make up the corner. In other words, the pair of second lid fitting portions 26 are formed so as to sandwich the corner of the recess 24. In this way, the second lid fitting portion 26 is provided not along the entire circumference but partially in the circumferential direction (the direction along the outer edge of the recess 24 (lid 20) in a plan view).

[0038] As shown in Fig. 3, the second cover fitting portion 26 is configured with a protrusion 26a that protrudes inward in the horizontal direction. The protrusion 26a is formed in a generally trapezoidal shape in a cross section parallel to the vertical direction, and the side surface of the protrusion 26a is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. As particularly shown in Fig. 2, the outer edge of the protrusion 26a is formed to be curved in an arc shape in a plan view.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 4 , in a stacked state in which the bottom 10a of the container body 10 of one container 1 (hereinafter also referred to as container 1A) is placed in the recess 24 of the lid 20 of another container 1 (hereinafter also referred to as container 1B), the convex portion 26a of the second lid fitting portion 26 of the lid 20 is placed in the recess 16b of the second body fitting portion 16 of the container body 10. This allows the second body fitting portion 16 and the second lid fitting portion 26 to fit together, engaging the container 1A and the container 1B. When the container 1A is stacked on top of the container 1B, the convex portion 16a of the second body fitting portion 16 climbs over the convex portion 26a of the second lid fitting portion 26, so that the convex portion 26a of the second lid fitting portion 26 is placed in the recess 16b of the second body fitting portion 16. [Usage]

[0040] 1 and 2, the lid 20 rotates about the hinge portion 30 relative to the container body 10, thereby transitioning to a closed state in which the lid 20 closes the opening of the container body 10. At this time, the first body fitting portion 15 of the container body 10 and the first lid fitting portion 25 of the lid 20 fit together as described above, thereby maintaining the closed state (FIG. 3). 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 fit between the first body fitting portion 15 and the first lid fitting portion 25. The container 1 is an external fitting type container. That is, in the container 1, the first lid fitting portion 25 of the lid 20 fits into the first body fitting portion 15 formed on the outside of the opening of the container body 10.

[0041] A container 1 in a closed state can be stacked on top of another container 1 in a closed state. At this time, as described above, the bottom 10a of the container body 10 of one container 1 (container 1A) is placed in the recess 24 of the lid 20 of the other container 1 (container 1B), and the second body fitting portion 16 of the container body 10 fits into the second lid fitting portion 26 of the lid 20, thereby engaging the container 1A and the container 1B. This allows the containers 1 to be stably stacked. [Fitting strength]

[0042] In the container 1, the second fitting strength between the second main body fitting portion 16 and the second lid fitting portion 26 is lower than the first fitting strength between the first main body fitting portion 15 and the first lid fitting portion 25. Here, the fitting strength refers to the magnitude of the force (tensile strength) required to release the fitting between the fitting portions. The first fitting strength is, for example, 150 cN or more and 1000 cN or less, and preferably 300 cN or more and 800 cN or less. The second fitting strength may be lower than the first fitting strength. For example, the first fitting strength may be 350 cN and the second fitting strength may be 150 cN. As another example, when the first fitting strengths are 375 cN, 425 cN, and 500 cN, respectively, the second fitting strengths may be 100 cN, 150 cN, and 150 cN, respectively.

[0043] The fitting strength can be measured, for example, by the following method. (1) First fitting strength The closed container 1 is placed so that the bottom plate 11 is in contact with a measurement table and is fixed to the measurement table with double-sided tape. Next, the flange 23 of the lid 20 is fixed to a tension gauge (manufactured by Nakamura Manufacturing Co., Ltd., model number TK-2000CN-G) at one of the two corners farthest from the hinge 30. From this state, the tension gauge is pulled upward, and the value when the lid 20 opens relative to the container body 10 is taken as the measurement value. (2) Secondary fitting strength The closed container 1 is placed so that the bottom plate 11 is in contact with the measurement table and fixed to the measurement table with double-sided tape. Next, another closed container 1 (container 1A) is placed on top of the fixed container 1 (container 1B), and the second main body fitting portion 16 is fitted into the second lid fitting portion 26. The flange portion 23 of the lid 20 of container 1A is fixed to the tension gauge at one of the two corners farther from the hinge portion 30. The tension gauge is pulled upward, and the value when the engagement between container 1A and container 1B is released is taken as the measured value.

[0044] The first fitting strength can be adjusted, for example, by adjusting the fitting length between the first main body fitting portion 15 and the first lid fitting portion 25 (the length over which the convex portion 15a of the first main body fitting portion 15 overlaps the convex portion 25a of the first lid fitting portion 25 in a plan view). The first fitting strength can also be adjusted by adjusting the lengths of the first main body fitting portion 15 and the first lid fitting portion 25 in the circumferential direction (the direction along the outer edge of the container 1 in a plan view).

[0045] Similarly, the second fitting strength can be adjusted, for example, by adjusting the fitting length between the second main body fitting portion 16 and the second lid fitting portion 26 (the length over which the convex portion 16a of the second main body fitting portion 16 overlaps the convex portion 26a of the second lid fitting portion 26 in a plan view).The second fitting strength can also be adjusted by adjusting the lengths of the second main body fitting portion 16 and the second lid fitting portion 26 in the circumferential direction (the direction along the outer edge of the container 1 in a plan view). [Action and effect]

[0046] In the container 1, the fitting strength between the second body fitting portion 16 and the second lid fitting portion 26 is lower than the fitting strength between the first body fitting portion 15 and the first lid fitting portion 25. This prevents the first body fitting portion 15 and the first lid fitting portion 25 from being disengaged, causing the lid 20 to open and spilling contents, for example, when the containers 1 are stacked and displayed in a store, preventing the lid 20 from opening when a consumer tries to pick up the upper container 1. In this way, the container 1 improves convenience.

[0047] In a plan view, the second body fitting portion 16 and the second lid fitting portion 26 are provided partially in the circumferential direction. By providing the second body fitting portion 16 and the second lid fitting portion 26 partially in the circumferential direction rather than over the entire circumference, the fitting strength between the second body fitting portion 16 and the second lid fitting portion 26 can be reduced (adjusted). Furthermore, when molding the container 1, for example, a sheet material softened by heating is pressed against a mold and then peeled (released) from the mold to obtain a molded product. By providing the second body fitting portion 16 and the second lid fitting portion 26 partially in the circumferential direction, it is possible to improve mold releasability (ease of peeling from the mold).

[0048] The second main body fitting portion 16 and the second lid fitting portion 26 include convex portions 16a, 26a that protrude laterally, which allows the second main body fitting portion 16 and the second lid fitting portion 26 to be firmly fitted together.

[0049] In plan view, the outer edges of the convex portions 16a, 26a of the second main body fitting portion 16 and the second lid fitting portion 26 are formed in an arc shape, which makes it easier to fit the second main body fitting portion 16 and the second lid fitting portion 26 together. It also improves mold releasability.

[0050] This point will be further explained with reference to FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 5(a), in the container 1, the outer edges of the convex portions 16a, 26a of the second main body fitting portion 16 and the second lid fitting portion 26 are formed in an arc shape. In contrast, in the modified example shown in FIG. 5(b), the outer edges of the convex portions 16a, 26a of the second main body fitting portion 16 and the second lid fitting portion 26 are formed in a trapezoid shape. When the outer edges are arc-shaped as in FIG. 5(a), the movement of the convex portions 16a, 26a relative to each other is guided along the outer edges of the convex portions 16a, 26a, making it easier to fit the second main body fitting portion 16 and the second lid fitting portion 26, compared to the case of FIG. 5(b). Furthermore, in the case of FIG. 5(a), the most protruding portions of the convex portions 16a, 26a are dotted rather than linear, which also makes it easier to fit the second main body fitting portion 16 and the second lid fitting portion 26. If the second main body fitting portion 16 and the second lid fitting portion 26 can be easily fitted together, the mold releasability during molding is also improved.

[0051] A recess 24 is formed in the lid 20, and when stacked, the bottom 10a of the container body 10 of container 1A is placed in the recess 24 of the lid 20 of container 1B, the second body fitting portion 16 is formed in the bottom 10a of the container body 10, and the second lid fitting portion 26 is formed on the side surface 24a of the recess 24. As a result, by placing the bottom 10a of the container body 10 of container 1A in the recess 24 of the lid 20 of container 1B, container 1A can be stably stacked on top of container 1B. Furthermore, because the second body fitting portion 16 is formed in the bottom 10a of the container body 10 and the second lid fitting portion 26 is formed on the side surface 24a of the recess 24, the second body fitting portion 16 and the second lid fitting portion 26 can be easily fitted together when stacking container 1A on container 1B.

[0052] The lid body 20 is connected to the container body 10 via the hinge portion 30. This makes it less likely for the lid body 20 to open unintentionally, compared to when the lid body 20 is formed separately from the container body 10, and it is possible to prevent the contents from spilling unintentionally.

[0053] This point will be further explained with reference to FIG. 6 . As shown in FIG. 6 , for example, for delivery, multiple containers may be stored side-by-side in a storage box 50. In FIG. 6 , the multiple containers are secured with rubber bands to prevent the containers from separating and the lids from opening, causing the contents to spill. In particular, when the lids are formed separately from the container bodies, the lids are prone to opening and the contents to spill. In contrast, in the container 1, the lids 20 are connected to the container body 10 via the hinge portion 30 and are integrated with the container body 10. Furthermore, when stacked, the second body fitting portion 16 of the container body 10 and the second lid fitting portion 26 of the lids 20 engage with each other, thereby engaging the containers 1. These features combine to effectively prevent the lids 20 from opening and causing the contents to spill, even when multiple containers 1 are stored side-by-side in a storage box as shown in FIG. 6 . In addition, in this case, the rubber bands themselves and the process of attaching the rubber bands can be omitted.

[0054] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and modifications. For example, the materials and shapes of each component are not limited to those described above, and various materials and shapes can be used. The lid 20 may be formed separately from the container body 10.

[0055] The first body fitting portion 15 and the first lid fitting portion 25 may be fitted to each other, and for example, their shapes, arrangements, and numbers are not limited to the above example. For example, the container 1 may be an internal fitting type container, and the first body fitting portion 15 formed on the inside of the opening of the container body 10 (for example, on the side wall portion 12) may be fitted with the first lid fitting portion 25 of the lid 20 provided corresponding to the first body fitting portion 15.

[0056] The second main body fitting portion 16 and the second lid fitting portion 26 may be fitted to each other, and their shapes, arrangements, numbers, etc. are not limited to the above examples. For example, the second lid fitting portion 26 may be formed on the outer surface of a protrusion formed on the top plate portion 21 so as to protrude toward the outside of the container 1. The top plate portion 21 may not be formed with a recess 24, and the second lid fitting portion 26 may be formed at a location other than the recess 24. The second main body fitting portion 16 and the second lid fitting portion 26 may be provided around the entire periphery in a plan view. The container 1 can be used not only for storing food, but also for storing cards such as trading cards and patient registration cards, accessories, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0057] 1, 1A, 1B...container, 10...container body, 10a...bottom, 11...bottom plate portion, 15...first body fitting portion, 16...second body fitting portion, 16a...convex portion, 20...lid body, 21...top plate portion, 24...recess, 24a...side surface, 25...first lid body fitting portion, 26...second lid body fitting portion, 26a...convex portion, 30...hinge portion.

Claims

1. A container that is a molded product of a sheet material, A container body and a lid body formed integrally with or separately from the container body, The container body has a first body fitting portion and a second body fitting portion, The lid has a first lid fitting portion and a second lid fitting portion, When the lid is closed on the container body, the first body fitting portion and the first lid fitting portion fit together, When one of the containers is stacked on another of the containers, the second main body fitting portion of the one container and the second lid fitting portion of the other container fit together, A container, wherein the fitting strength between the second main body fitting portion and the second lid fitting portion is lower than the fitting strength between the first main body fitting portion and the first lid fitting portion.

2. 2. The container according to claim 1, wherein when viewed from an opposing direction in which the bottom plate portion of the container body and the top plate portion of the lid body face each other when the lid body is closed on the container body, the second body fitting portion and the second lid body fitting portion are provided partially in the circumferential direction.

3. 3. The container according to claim 1, wherein the second main body fitting portion and the second lid fitting portion include a convex portion that protrudes in a direction perpendicular to the opposing direction in which the bottom plate portion of the container body and the top plate portion of the lid body face each other when the lid body is closed on the container body.

4. The container according to claim 3 , wherein outer edges of the convex portions of the second main body fitting portion and the second lid fitting portion are formed in an arc shape when viewed from the opposing direction.

5. A recess is formed in the lid, When the first container is stacked on the second container, the bottom of the first container is placed in the recess of the lid of the second container, The container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second main body fitting portion is formed on the bottom of the container body, and the second lid fitting portion is formed on a side surface of the recess.

6. The container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lid is connected to the container body via a hinge.

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