Container

Abstract

To provide a foldable container having higher strength than a conventional foldable container.SOLUTION: A container (1) can be displaced from a box-shaped assembled state to a folded state by rotating and displacing a second side wall part (13A) and folding a first side wall part (12). At least one of the pair of first side wall parts (12) and the pair of second side wall parts (13A and 13B) has a side opening part (131) that opens at least one side, and a door member (16) that is slidable in a vertical direction and opens and closes the side opening part. When the door member is slid upward to open the side opening, an inner side surface of the door member and an outer side surface of an upper frame part (14) on the side where the side opening part is provided face each other in an inside-outside direction of the container (1).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a container. [Background technology]

[0002] Various foldable containers with upper frames have been proposed. In the folding container described in Patent Document 1, a notch cut out over a predetermined width is provided in the approximate center of the upper frame, and when the door of the flip-up side wall is opened, the opening area of ​​the window is increased. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Utility Model Registration No. 2596860 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the conventional configuration, the upper frame is cut out in the approximate center, which raises concerns about a reduction in the strength of the foldable container.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One aspect of the present invention is to provide a collapsible container that is stronger than conventional collapsible containers. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a container according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a bottom wall component having a bottom wall portion, side wall portions extending upward from each side edge of the bottom wall component, and a rectangular upper frame portion provided along the upper edge portion of the side wall portion, wherein the side wall portions comprise a pair of opposing first side wall portions, each having a lower wall portion whose lower edge portion is rotatably connected to the side edge portion of the bottom wall component, an upper wall portion whose upper edge portion is rotatably connected to the upper frame portion, and an intermediate hinge rotatably connecting the upper edge of the lower wall portion and the lower edge of the upper wall portion, and a pair of opposing second side wall portions whose upper edge portions are rotatably connected to the upper frame portion. and can be displaced from an assembled state in which it is assembled into a box shape to a folded state by rotating and displacing the second side wall portion and folding the first side wall portion, and at least one of the pair of first side wall portions and the pair of second side wall portions has a side opening that opens at least one side, and a door element that is slidable in the vertical direction to open and close the side opening, and when the door element is slid upward to open the side opening, the inner surface of the door element and the outer surface of the upper frame portion on the side where the side opening is provided face each other in the inside and outside directions of the container. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, a collapsible container that is stronger than conventional collapsible containers can be realized. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing an assembled state of a foldable container according to an embodiment. FIG. [Figure 2] 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the side opening of the container shown in FIG. 1 is open. FIG. [Figure 3] 2A and 2B are perspective views showing the container shown in FIG. 1 in a state in the middle of being folded, and a perspective view showing the container in a state after folding has been completed (folded state). [Figure 4] 10A and 10B are perspective views of a second side wall portion having a side opening detached from an upper frame portion, as seen from the outside and from the inside. [Figure 5]This shows an oblique view of a door element removed from a second side wall portion having a side opening, viewed from the outside, a partially enlarged oblique view of the A1 portion of that oblique view, and an oblique view of the door element viewed from the inside. [Figure 6] 2 is a perspective view showing a vertical cross section of the door member and the upper part of the second side wall portion of the container shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 7] 2 is a perspective view showing a cross section of the door member and the lower end portion of the second side wall portion of the container shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 8] 3 is a perspective view showing a vertical cross section of a lower end portion of one side edge of a door member of the container shown in FIG. 2, and a perspective view showing a vertical cross section of a lower end portion of a groove portion of the door member. [Figure 9] 1A and 1B are a perspective view of the upper frame portion seen from above, a perspective view showing the upper frame portion turned upside down, and an enlarged perspective view of part B1. [Figure 10] A front view of the upper left portion showing the connecting portion of the upper frame portion and the connected portion of the second side wall portion, a front view of the upper left portion showing the state in which the connecting portion of the upper frame portion and the connected portion of the second side wall portion are connected, a front view of the upper left portion showing the state in which a door element is attached to the second side wall portion connected to the upper frame portion, and a front view of the left side portion showing the container in a folded state. [Figure 11] 4 is a perspective view illustrating the engagement between the receiving portion of the door element and the engaging portion of the first upper wall portion of the first side wall portion in the mid-folding state of FIG. 3. FIG. [Figure 12] 4 is a perspective cross-sectional view showing the engagement between the receiving portion of the door element and the engagement portion of the first upper wall portion of the first side wall portion in a state where the container of FIG. 3 has been completely folded. FIG. [Figure 13] 1, an enlarged cross-sectional view of a C1 portion, and an enlarged cross-sectional view of a C2 portion. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 1 to 13. The schematic configuration of a container 1 will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3.

[0010] [Overview of Container 1] As shown in Fig. 1, the container 1 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape with an open top, and is foldable as shown in Fig. 3. The foldable container 1 is made of resin such as polypropylene.

[0011] The container 1 includes a bottom wall component 11 having a bottom wall 11A, a first side wall 12, second side wall portions 13A and 13B, and an upper frame portion 14. The bottom wall component 11 is generally rectangular in plan view and is located at the bottom of the container 1. The first side wall 12 and the second side wall portions 13A and 13B are opposing pairs that extend upward from the sides of the bottom wall component 11. The first side wall 12 is a side wall portion that extends along the side of the bottom wall component 11 in a first direction, which is the longitudinal direction, and the second side wall portions 13A and 13B are side wall portions that extend along the side of the bottom wall component 11 in a short direction perpendicular to the first direction. The upper frame portion 14 is rectangular and is provided along the upper sides of the first side wall 12 and the second side wall portions 13A and 13B. Note that the longitudinal direction may also be the second direction.

[0012] [Top frame part 14] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the upper frame 14 has a recess 14A recessed from the outer surface in the inward direction toward the interior of the container 1 on a short side along the upper edge of the second side wall 13A. The recess 14A is recessed inward along the entire length of the short side of the upper frame 14, excluding both ends in the left-right direction when viewed from the front. The entire length of the portion excluding both ends in the left-right direction when viewed from the front may be approximately the same as the entire length of the door element 16, described below, when viewed from the front. The thickness of the recess 14A in the inward direction is set to be approximately half the thickness of the upper frame 14 in the inward direction. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a door element 16, which opens and closes a side opening 131 formed in the second side wall 13A at one side of the container 1 (the left side in FIG. 2), is provided facing the recess 14A and slidable in the vertical direction.

[0013] Therefore, when the side opening 131 is opened, the inner surface of the door element 16 faces the outer surface of the recessed portion 14A in the inside-outside direction of the container 1. This allows the user to slide the door element 16 up and down from the outside of the container 1. The door element 16 is made of a resin such as polypropylene. Details of the sliding structure between the upper frame portion 14 and the second side wall portion 13A and the door element 16 will be described later.

[0014] [First side wall portion 12] 1, in this embodiment, the first side wall portion 12 is divided into two portions, a first upper wall portion 121 and a first lower wall portion 122, at approximately the center in the up-down direction. Note that the first side wall portion 12 may be divided into three or more portions. The first upper wall portion 121 functions as an example of an upper wall portion. The first lower wall portion 122 functions as an example of a lower wall portion.

[0015] The first upper wall portion 121 has its upper side portion rotatably connected to the upper frame portion 14 by an upper hinge portion, and the first lower wall portion 122 has its lower side portion rotatably connected to the bottom wall constituent portion 11 by a lower hinge portion. The first upper wall portion 121 and the first lower wall portion 122 are rotatably connected by an intermediate hinge 123.

[0016] [Second side wall portions 13A, 13B] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper edge of the second side wall 13A is rotatably connected to the upper frame 14. The connection structure between the upper edge of the second side wall 13A and the upper frame 14 will be described in detail later. The second side wall 13B is rotatably connected to the upper frame 14 via a plurality of second hinges 133. The second side wall 13B is a side wall that closes the other side (the right side in FIG. 2) facing the second side wall 13A. The second side wall 13B is configured in a substantially flat plate shape and does not have a side opening 131 or a door member 16. This allows the second side walls 13A, 13B to rotate so as to spring up toward the inside of the container 1.

[0017] As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the container 1 can be changed between an assembled state in which it is assembled into a box shape and a folded state in which the first side wall portion 12 and the second side wall portions 13A, 13B are folded above the bottom wall portion 11 by flipping (rotating) the second side wall portions 13A, 13B up above the bottom wall portion 11 and folding (rotating) the first side wall portion 12 inward so that the outer surface of the first lower wall portion 122 matches the outer surface of the first upper wall portion 121.

[0018] Next, the sliding structure of the second side wall portion 13A and the door member 16 will be described with reference to Figures 4 to 8. As shown in Figure 4, the second side wall portion 13A is composed of a pair of opposing side end portions 134, a lower edge portion 135 that connects the lower ends of both side end portions 134 along the horizontal direction, and an upper end portion 136 that connects the upper ends of both side end portions 134 along the horizontal direction. The second side wall portion 13A has a side opening 131 that is defined by both side end portions 134, the lower edge portion 135, and the upper end portion 136 and opens one side of the container 1.

[0019] [Slide rail part 137] 4, 6, and 7, slide rail portions 137 are provided on the outer surface of the second side wall portion 13A along the inner side edges of both side end portions 134. The slide rail portions 137 are provided with grooves with a rectangular cross section that open inward and extend from the upper surface of the upper end portion 136 to the lower edge portion 135. The width of the groove with a rectangular cross section is formed to be approximately equal to the thickness of both side edges of the door element 16 in the up-down direction.

[0020] In this embodiment, slide rail portion 137 is formed to a position slightly above the upper surface of lower edge portion 135, but this is not limiting. For example, slide rail portion 137 may extend to the position of lower edge portion 135, or may be divided at predetermined intervals in the direction in which slide rail portion 137 extends.

[0021] [Slide engagement portion 165] 5, the door element 16 has a generally rectangular flat plate portion 161 that covers the side opening 131 from the outside, and a plurality of reinforcing ribs 162 that protrude from the outer surface of the flat plate portion 161 in the up-down direction and in a direction perpendicular to the up-down direction. The width of the flat plate portion 161 in the direction perpendicular to the up-down direction is formed to be approximately equal to the distance between the bottom surfaces of the grooves of the slide rail portion 137 of the second side wall portion 13A. The door element 16 is provided with slide engagement portions 165, each having ribs 163 that are slidable within the slide rail portion 137, on both vertical edges of the flat plate portion 161, across the entire width in the up-down direction.

[0022] [Upper frame slide rail part 141] 1 and 6, the upper frame 14 includes upper frame slide rail portions 141. The upper frame slide rail portions 141 are provided at both longitudinal ends of the recessed portion 14A. The upper frame slide rail portions 141 are provided so as to be continuous with and immediately above both slide rail portions 137 of the second side wall portion 13A when the container 1 is assembled into a box shape.

[0023] Each upper frame slide rail portion 141 is formed as a groove with a rectangular cross section that opens inward over the entire vertical length of the upper frame portion 14. The width of the upper frame slide rail portion 141 that opens inward is formed to be approximately equal to the thickness of both vertically aligned edge portions of the door element 16. Therefore, as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 6, the slide rail portion 137 and the upper frame slide rail portion 141 are connected to each other so as to be able to slide in the vertical direction on the slide engagement portion 165 of the door element 16 when the container 1 is assembled into a box shape, that is, when the second side wall portion 13A is in the closed state.

[0024] As a result, the pair of slide engagement portions 165 of the door element 16 are inserted into the pair of upper frame slide rail portions 141 of the upper frame portion 14 and the pair of slide rail portions 137 of the second side wall portion 13A, and the door element 16 can be attached to the second side wall portion 13A by pushing it downward. As a result, the door element 16 can be stably slid up and down. Furthermore, the side opening 131 can be opened and closed by sliding the door element 16 up and down without cutting out the upper frame portion 14, that is, without dividing the upper frame portion 14 at its short sides. Therefore, the strength of the foldable container 1 can be increased compared to when the upper frame portion 14 is divided by cutting out the upper frame portion 14.

[0025] [Handle hole 166] 5 and 6, the door element 16 has a rectangular handle hole 166 formed in the upper portion thereof, approximately in the center in a direction perpendicular to the up-down direction. The handle hole 166 is used when holding a container. When the door element 16 is attached to the second side wall 13A, the inner upper surface of the handle hole 166 is preferably located slightly above the lower surface of the upper end portion 136 of the second side wall 13A, i.e., slightly above the upper surface of the side opening 131.

[0026] [Groove 167 and protrusion 168] As shown in Fig. 5, door element 16 has a pair of grooves 167, which protrude outward from the inner surface and are recessed in the shape of a groove with a rectangular cross section, formed on both sides of handle hole 166 in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, along the entire vertical length of door element 16. As shown in Fig. 8, the lower end of each groove 167 is closed by a wall portion 167A.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 5, the door element 16 is provided with a pair of small-diameter, approximately hemispherical projections 168 at the lower end of the inner surface, slightly inward of the slide engagement portions 165.

[0028] [Guide protrusion 138] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the upper end 136 of the second side wall 13A is provided with guide protrusions 138 on the outer surface facing the grooves 167 of the door element 16 when the door element 16 is attached to the second side wall 13A, the guide protrusions 138 fitting into the grooves 167 and guiding the door element 16 in the up-down direction. As shown in FIG. 6, the guide protrusions 138 are formed in a generally right-angled triangular shape in side view, with the upper surface slanting diagonally downward outward and the lower surface protruding generally horizontally. Note that the shape of the guide protrusions 138 is not limited to this, and it is sufficient if they can fitting into the grooves 167 and guide the door element 16 in the up-down direction. The shape of the guide protrusions 138 may be, for example, a square shape in side view or a polygonal shape in side view.

[0029] Therefore, as shown in Fig. 6, when the door element 16 is attached to the second side wall portion 13A, the guide protrusions 138 fit into the grooves 167 of the door element 16 to guide the sliding movement of the door element 16 in the up and down direction. Also, as shown in Fig. 8, when the door element 16 is slid to the upper end position when the door element 16 is attached to the second side wall portion 13A, the wall portion 167A comes into contact with the lower surface of the guide protrusion 138. This prevents the door element 16 from slipping out upward.

[0030] [Recess 139] 4 and 8, the upper end 136 of the second side wall 13A has a pair of recesses 139 formed on its outer surface in the inward / outward direction. When the door element 16 is slid to the upper end position with the door element 16 attached to the second side wall 13A, protrusions 168 formed on the lower end of the inner surface of the door element 16 fit into the pair of recesses 139. The pair of recesses 139 are horizontally elongated rectangles in front view, with the vertical height approximately equal to the diameter of the protrusions 168, and the vertical cross section is formed to be approximately semicircular, and are recessed inward.

[0031] 8, when the door element 16 is attached to the second side wall portion 13A and is slid to the upper end position, the protrusions 168 fit into and engage with the recesses 139. As a result, the door element 16 is held at the upper end position, preventing it from falling downward and keeping the side opening 131 open. When the door element 16 is pushed downward in this state, the engagement between the protrusions 168 and the recesses 139 is released, allowing the door element 16 to slide downward and close the side opening 131 with the door element 16.

[0032] [Latching groove 169 of door member 16 and latching protrusion 132 of second side wall portion 13A] As shown in Fig. 5, a pair of locking grooves 169, recessed in a small diameter semicircular cross section, are formed along the entire thickness direction at the lower end of each slide engaging portion 165 of the door element 16. Also, as shown in Fig. 4, a pair of locking protrusions 132 are formed at the lower end positions of each side end portion 134.

[0033] The pair of locking protrusions 132 are formed at the lower end positions of the side ends 134 that face the respective locking grooves 169 when the door element 16 is positioned at the lower end position with the door element 16 attached to the second side wall portion 13A. The pair of locking protrusions 132 protrude in the thickness direction across the entire width of the slide rail portion 137 in the shape of a semi-cylindrical column having a radius approximately equal to the radius of each locking groove 169.

[0034] 1, when the door element 16 is attached to the second side wall portion 13A and pushed down to the bottom end position, the locking protrusions 132 of the second side wall portion 13A fit into the locking grooves 169 of the door element 16 (see FIG. 13). As a result, the door element 16 can be prevented from sliding upward, and the side opening 131 can be kept closed by the door element 16.

[0035] [Attachment structure of second side wall portion 13A to upper frame portion 14] Next, the structure for attaching the second side wall portion 13A to the upper frame portion 14 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4, 5, 9, and 10. FIG.

[0036] As shown in the top diagrams of FIGS. 9 and 10 , the upper frame 14 is provided with a pair of connecting portions 143. The pair of connecting portions 143 are provided on the lower end surface of the recessed portion 14A at positions that are bilaterally symmetrical when the second side wall portion 13A is viewed from the front. The pair of connecting portions 143 are formed to have an L-shaped longitudinal cross section, extending downward from the inner edge of the lower end surface of the recessed portion 14A in the inward / outward direction and then extending outward to a position facing the outer edge of the lower end surface of the recessed portion 14A in the inward / outward direction. The pair of connecting portions 143 also have side walls 143A that are rectangular in front view and are formed along the opposing side edges so as to cover the side surfaces of the connecting portions 143. The side walls 143A improve the bending rigidity of the pair of connecting portions 143.

[0037] As shown in Figure 9, the upper frame portion 14 has positioning protrusions 145A, 145B, and 145C on the lower end surface of the recessed portion 14A, which protrude downward from both longitudinal ends of the recessed portion 14A and the inner edge in the inward / outward direction at the central position.

[0038] As shown in the first and second figures from the top in Figures 4 and 10, the upper end of the second side wall portion 13A is provided with a pair of connected portions 181 that engage with the pair of connecting portions 143 when the second side wall portion 13A is attached to the upper frame portion 14.

[0039] The pair of connectable portions 181 are grooves with a rectangular cross section that have a width approximately equal to the width of connecting portion 143 in the left-right direction when viewed from the front, and a depth approximately equal to the length of connecting portion 143 in the up-down direction, and are formed from the outer surface to the inner surface in the medial-lateral direction of upper end portion 136. Furthermore, each of the pair of connectable portions 181 has a protruding piece 181A that has an L-shaped vertical cross section and fits inside connecting portion 143, extending from the upper end on the outer side in the left-right direction when viewed from the front into connectable portion 181. The gap between the tip of protruding piece 181A in the extending direction and the inner surface of connectable portion 181 that faces this tip is set to be slightly larger than the thickness of side wall 143A of connecting portion 143.

[0040] 4, grooves 182A, 182B, and 182C are formed in the upper end 136 of the second side wall 13A, into which the positioning protrusions 145A to 145C of the upper frame 14 are fitted when the second side wall 13A is attached to the upper frame 14 in a closed state. The grooves 182A, 182B, and 182C are formed from positions facing the positioning protrusions 145A to 145C to the inner side surfaces in the inward-outward direction when the second side wall 13A is attached to the upper frame 14 in a closed state. The grooves 182A to 182C have a rectangular cross-section and are approximately the same width as the left-right width of the positioning protrusions 145A to 145C when viewed from the front, and a depth approximately equal to the vertical length of the positioning protrusions 145A to 145C.

[0041] 10, the side walls 143A of the pair of connecting portions 143 of the upper frame 14 are inserted into the pair of connected portions 181 of the second side wall 13A from the inside in the inward / outward direction. As a result, the protruding pieces 181A of the pair of connected portions 181 are rotatably connected to the connecting portions 143. At the same time, the positioning protrusions 145A to 145C of the upper frame 14 are fitted into the grooves 182A to 182C of the second side wall 13A. As a result, the second side wall 13A is positioned. As a result, the upper frame 14 and the second side wall 13A are rotatably (flipped up) connected to each other via the connecting portions 143.

[0042] 5, the door element 16 is provided with a pair of contact avoidance portions 171 adjacent to the outer sides of the upper ends of the pair of groove portions 167 into which the pair of guide protrusions 138 of the second side wall portion 13A are fitted, on the sides that do not face each other. The pair of contact avoidance portions 171 are grooves with a rectangular cross section that have a width approximately equal to the width of the connecting portion 143 in the left-right direction when viewed from the front, and a depth approximately equal to the length of the connecting portion 143 in the up-down direction, and are formed across the entire width in the thickness direction. The contact avoidance portions 171 function as an example of a connecting portion contact avoidance portion.

[0043] 10, the door element 16 is attached to the second side wall portion 13A. Specifically, the pair of slide engagement portions 165 of the door element 16 engage with the pair of upper frame slide rail portions 141 of the upper frame portion 14 and the pair of slide rail portions 137 of the second side wall portion 13A, and the door element 16 is pushed down to the lower end position and attached. As a result, the pair of contact avoidance portions 171 provided at the upper end of the door element 16 are positioned facing outward in the inward / outward direction relative to the pair of connecting portions 143 with which the protruding pieces 181A of each connected portion 181 are rotatably engaged.

[0044] Next, consider a case where, with door element 16 pushed in to the lower end position and attached, second side wall portion 13A is rotated inward to put container 1 into a folded state. In this case, as shown in the fourth diagram from the top in Fig. 10, the lower ends of a pair of connecting portions 143 extending downward from the lower end surface of recessed portion 14A of upper frame portion 14 are positioned opposite, in the inward / outward direction, to the upper ends of the groove bottom surfaces of a pair of contact avoidance portions 171 of door element 16 as viewed from the front. In other words, with container 1 in the folded state, upper frame portion 14 and door element 16 face each other in the inward / outward direction of container 1.

[0045] As a result, even if side opening 131 is provided wide in the vertical direction, when second side wall portion 13A is rotated inward and the position is changed to the folded position, contact avoidance portion 171 can prevent contact between connecting portion 143 and door element 16. As a result, container 1 can be folded with door element 16 in the closed state. Also, door element 16 can be prevented from unexpectedly popping out when container 1 is folded. Consequently, door element 16 can be prevented from falling off.

[0046] [Engagement of the engagement portion 121A of the first upper wall portion 121 and the receiving portion 173 of the door member 16] Next, the engagement between the engaging portion 121A of the first upper wall portion 121 and the second side wall portion 13A when the container 1 is in an assembled state will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0047] 1, 2, and 12, the first upper wall portions 121 of the pair of opposing first side wall portions 12 have engagement portions 121A that protrude inward and have a generally L-shaped cross section at both longitudinal ends. Also, the first lower wall portions 122 of the pair of opposing first side wall portions 12 have engagement portions 122A that protrude inward and have a generally L-shaped cross section at both longitudinal ends.

[0048] 4, second side wall portion 13A is provided with engaged portions 134A on the outer side surfaces of a pair of opposing side ends 134 at a position above the vertical center, which engage with engaging portion 121A of first upper wall portion 121. Second side wall portion 13A is provided with engaged portions 134B on the outer side surfaces of a pair of opposing side ends 134 at a position below the vertical center, which engage with engaging portion 122A of first lower wall portion 122. Each of engaged portions 134A, 134B has plate-like protruding pieces that protrude horizontally outward from both vertical ends at intervals approximately equal to the vertical length of each engaging portion 121A, 122A, and is concave.

[0049] 1, 2, and 4, when the container 1 is in an assembled state, the engaging portions 121A of the first upper wall portion 121 engage between the protruding pieces protruding from both vertical ends of the engaged portions 134A provided on both side ends 134 of the second side wall portion 13A. The engaging portions 122A of the first lower wall portion 122 engage between the protruding pieces protruding from both vertical ends of the engaged portions 134B provided on both side ends 134 of the second side wall portion 13A. The engaged portions 134A, 134B are also provided on both side edges of the second side wall portion 13B, and the engaging portions 121A of the first upper wall portion 121 and the engaging portions 122A of the first lower wall portion 122 similarly engage with each other.

[0050] Next, the engagement between the engaging portion 121A of the first upper wall portion 121 and the receiving portion 173 of the door element 16 when the container 1 is in the folded state will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0051] As shown in the upper side of Fig. 5, at the upper end of the door element 16, a pair of receiving portions 173 having a horizontally elongated rectangular shape in a front view and recessed inward from the outer surface in the inward / outward direction are formed outside a pair of contact avoidance portions 171 formed in grooves with a rectangular cross section. The cross sections of the pair of receiving portions 173 are set to a shape that allows the engagement portions 121A of the first upper wall portion 121 to be fitted therein. Also, as shown in Fig. 11, the pair of receiving portions 173 formed at the upper end of the door element 16 are formed at positions facing the engagement portions 121A on the second side wall portion 13A side of the pair of first upper wall portions 121 that are folded.

[0052] 12, when the container 1 is in the folded state, the engaging portions 121A on the second side wall portions 13A of the pair of opposing first upper wall portions 121 are fitted into and received in the pair of receiving portions 173 formed on the upper end of the door element 16. As a result, when the container 1 is in the folded state, the engaging portions 121A of the first upper wall portions 121 are received in the receiving portions 173 of the door element 16, so that the folded height of the container 1 can be reduced. Furthermore, it is possible to reliably prevent the door element 16 from jumping out from the second side wall portions 13A during transport of the container 1. As a result, the storage and transport efficiency of the container 1 can be improved.

[0053] [Inclined structure of slide rail section 137] Next, the pair of slide rails 137 provided on the second side wall portion 13A will be described with reference to FIG.

[0054] 13, when the container 1 is assembled into a box shape, that is, when the second side wall portion 13A is closed, the pair of slide rail portions 137 are formed so that their upper ends are positioned outward in the inward / outward direction from their lower ends by a movement distance L1. That is, the pair of slide rail portions 137 of the second side wall portion 13A are inclined outward in the inward / outward direction by a predetermined inclination angle from their lower ends. The predetermined inclination angle is, for example, approximately 1 to 3 degrees, and is an angle at which the door element 16 can enter a pair of upper frame slide rail portions 141 provided on the upper frame portion 14 and slide smoothly in the up / down direction.

[0055] This allows the thickness L2 of the upper end of the upper frame portion 14 in the inward / outward direction to be increased by the outward movement distance L1 of the upper end relative to the lower end of the slide rail portion 137, thereby further increasing the strength of the foldable container 1.

[0056] [Variations] A modification of the above embodiment will be described. In the following description, for the sake of convenience, the same reference numerals will be used to designate components having the same functions as those described in the above embodiment, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

[0057] [Variation 1] For example, the second side wall portion 13B may have the same configuration as the second side wall portion 13A, have a side opening 131, and be configured to have a door member 16 attached thereto. This makes it possible to open the side opening 131 of either the second side wall portion 13A or 13B of the container 1, thereby improving workability.

[0058] [Variation 2] For example, the door element 16 may be provided with slide rail portions 137 on both vertical edges of the flat plate portion 161. The second side wall portion 13A may be provided with slide engagement portions 165, each having a rib 163 slidably movable within the slide rail portion 137, along the inner side edge of each of the both end portions 134, over the entire length from the upper surface of the upper end portion 136 to a position slightly above the upper surface of the lower edge portion 135. This allows each slide engagement portion 165 of the second side wall portion 13A to be fitted into each slide rail portion 137 of the door element 16. As a result, the door element 16 can be attached to the second side wall portion 13A so as to be slidably movable in the vertical direction while facing the outer surface of the second side wall portion 13A in the inward / outward direction.

[0059] [Variation 3] For example, the pair of slide rails 137 of the second side wall 13A may be inclined inward in the inward / outward direction by a predetermined inclination angle from the lower end portion as the center. This allows the thickness L2 of the upper end portion of the upper frame 14 in the inward / outward direction to be increased by the distance L1 that the upper end portion moves inward in the inward / outward direction relative to the lower end portion of the slide rails 137, thereby increasing the strength of the foldable container 1.

[0060] [Variation 4] For example, the upper frame 14 may not be provided with the upper frame slide rail 141. The upper frame 14 may be provided with a recess 14A across its entire width in a direction perpendicular to the up-down direction. This allows the outward inclination angle of the slide rail 137 of the second side wall 13A to be further increased. As a result, the thickness of the upper frame 14 can be further increased, thereby increasing the strength of the foldable container 1.

[0061] [Variation 5] For example, the door element 16 may be disposed opposite the inner surface of the second side wall portion 13A in the inward / outward direction, thereby making it possible to easily open and close the side opening 131 of the second side wall portion 13A.

[0062] [Variation 6] For example, the upper frame 14 may be provided with a recess 14A recessed from the outer surface in the inward direction of the container 1 on a long side along the upper edge of one or both of the first upper wall portions 121 of the pair of first side wall portions 12. The first side wall portion 12 may be provided with a side opening 131 below the recess 14A, spanning the first upper wall portion 121 and the first lower wall portion 122, and a door member 16 for opening and closing the side opening 131 may be provided facing the recess 14A and slidable in the up and down direction.

[0063] The first side wall 12 may have a side opening at a height lower than the height of the side opening 131, for example, about half the height of the side opening 131, on one of the first upper wall 121 and the first lower wall 122. A door member for opening and closing this side opening may be provided facing the recess 14A and slidable in the up and down direction.

[0064] As a result, the side opening 131 can be opened and closed by sliding the door element 16 in the vertical direction without cutting out the upper frame 14. This increases the strength of the foldable container 1 compared to when the long side of the upper frame 14 is cut out and separated. Furthermore, when the long side of the upper frame 14 is cut out, the first side wall 12 cannot be folded by rotating the intermediate hinge 123. On the other hand, by providing the recess 14A in the long side of the upper frame 14, the side opening 131 and the door element 16 can be provided in the first side wall 12, and the first side wall 12 can be folded by rotating the intermediate hinge 123.

[0065] [Variation 7] Additionally, for example, upper frame 14 may have recesses 14A recessed from the outer surface toward the inside of container 1 on the short and long sides along the upper edges of one or both of second side wall portions 13A, 13B and one or both of the pair of first side wall portions 12. Side openings 131 may be provided below recesses 14A, and door members 16 for opening and closing side openings 131 may be provided facing recesses 14A and slidable in the up and down direction. This allows either side opening 131 to be opened, improving workability. [Explanation of symbols]

[0066] 1 container 11 Bottom wall component 11A Bottom wall 12 First side wall portion 13A, 13B 2nd side wall part 14 Upper frame 14A Recess 16 Door material 121 1st upper wall section 121A, 122A engaging part 122 1st lower wall section 123 Intermediate hinge 131 Side opening 134 Side edge 134A, 134B Engaged part 135 Lower edge 136 Upper end 137 Slide rail part 141 Upper frame slide rail 143 Connecting part 165 Slide engagement part 171 Contact avoidance part 173 Receptor

Claims

1. a bottom wall component having a bottom wall portion; side wall portions extending upward from the respective side edges of the bottom wall component; a rectangular upper frame portion provided along an upper edge portion of the side wall portion; Equipped with The side wall portions comprise a pair of opposing first side wall portions each having a lower wall portion whose lower edge portion is rotatably connected to a side edge portion of a bottom wall constituent portion, an upper wall portion whose upper edge portion is rotatably connected to an upper frame portion, and an intermediate hinge that rotatably connects the upper edge of the lower wall portion and the lower edge of the upper wall portion, and a pair of opposing second side wall portions whose upper edge portions are rotatably connected to the upper frame portion, The second side wall portion is pivotally displaced from an assembled state in which the container is assembled into a box shape, and the first side wall portion is folded, thereby enabling the container to be displaced into a folded state; At least one of the pair of first side wall portions and the pair of second side wall portions includes a side opening portion that opens at least one side, and a door member that is slidable in the vertical direction and opens and closes the side opening portion, When the door element is slid upward to open the side opening, the inner surface of the door element and the outer surface of the upper frame portion on the side where the side opening is provided face each other in the inward and outward directions of the container.

2. One of the one side wall portion and the door element includes a slide rail portion for sliding the door element. the other of the one side wall portion and the door member includes a slide engaging portion that engages with the slide rail portion, The container according to claim 1 , wherein the slide rail portion or the slide engagement portion extends in the vertical direction and is inclined toward the inside or outside of the container.

3. the upper frame portion has a recessed portion on its outer surface that is recessed inward of the container, The container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an inner surface of the door element faces an outer surface of the recessed portion in the inward / outward direction when the side opening is in an open state.

4. the side opening is defined by both side edges, a lower edge, and an upper edge and opens on one side; At least the upper wall portion of the first side wall portion includes engagement portions having a substantially L-shaped cross section and protruding toward an inner surface at both longitudinal ends thereof, the second side wall portion includes an engaged portion on an outer surface side thereof that engages with the engaging portion when in the assembled state, The container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the door member is disposed on an outer surface side of the second side wall portion and includes a receiving portion that receives the engaging portion when the door member is in the folded state.

5. the side opening is defined by both side edges, a lower edge, and an upper edge and is open on one side; the upper frame portion and the one side wall portion are connected by a connecting portion so as to be rotatably displaceable, The container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an upper end of the door element is provided with a connecting portion contact avoidance portion for avoiding contact with the connecting portion.

6. The container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein in the folded state, the upper frame portion and the door member face each other in an inward / outward direction of the container.

7. The upper frame portion further includes an upper frame slide rail portion, The container according to claim 2 , wherein the slide rail portion and the upper frame slide rail portion are connected to each other so as to allow the door member to slide when the second side wall portion is in a closed state.

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