Folding container

The folding container with outward and inward finger hooks and bulging portions addresses the limitations of conventional containers by providing enhanced grip and stability, facilitating easy handling and storage.

JP2026002966APending Publication Date: 2026-01-08SANKO CO LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2025178531
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2025-10-23
Publication Date
2026-01-08

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Conventional containers with finger hooks lack versatility in finger hooking mechanisms, leading to potential tipping and strain during lifting and handling.

Method used

A folding container design that allows for outward and inward finger hooks on side walls, with bulging portions providing enhanced grip and stability, and hinge mechanisms that facilitate easy assembly and folding.

Benefits of technology

The design enables flexible finger hooking options, reduces strain, enhances stability during lifting, and prevents containers from tipping, allowing for efficient handling and storage.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

To provide a container having a structure different from that of a conventional container.SOLUTION: In the folding container 10 of the present disclosure, the bulging portions 33,43 that bulge outward are formed at the upper end portions of the first side wall 30 and the second side wall 40. When the folding container 10 is lifted in the assembled state, the folding container 10 can be easily lifted by hooking a finger on the inner side of the folding container 10 at the upper 33C or the 43C of the bulging portion 3343 disposed on the first sidewall 30 or the second sidewall 40, or hooking a finger on the outer side of the folding container 10 at the lower 33B or the 43B.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1
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Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, containers equipped with finger hooks for hooking fingers are known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 60-105314 (Fig. 1, etc.) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] This application discloses a container having a different structure from the conventional containers described above. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] One aspect of the invention made to solve the above-mentioned problems is a folding container that is folded by flipping up one set of four side walls between a frame and a bottom wall and folding the remaining set in half, and the upper parts of the side walls are provided with bulging parts that bulge outward, are recessed from the inner surfaces of the side walls, and protrude from the outer surfaces, and the bulging parts have a horizontally long rectangular shape when viewed from the outside of the folding container. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] A container according to one aspect of the present invention has a different structure from conventional containers. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a folding container according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the folding container in a folded state. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a perspective view of a folding container in the process of being folded. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the lower surface of the upper frame. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the upper first side wall. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the upper first side wall. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the upper first side wall. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional side view of the folding container cut along its long side. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the second side wall. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the second side wall. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of the second side wall. [Figure 12] Figure 12 is a cross-sectional side view of the folding container cut in the short side direction. [Figure 13] Figure 13 is a perspective view of two foldable containers arranged side by side. [Figure 14] Figure 14 is a cross-sectional perspective view of two foldable containers arranged side by side. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] [First embodiment] A folding container 10 according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 14. As shown in Fig. 1, the folding container 10 of this embodiment has a rectangular parallelepiped shape with a rectangular planar shape and an open top. The folding container 10 has upper frames 20 at its upper and lower ends, a bottom wall 11, and a pair of first side walls 30 opposed in the short-side direction and a pair of second side walls 40 opposed in the long-side direction, assembled between these upper frames 20 and a bottom wall 11. The folding container 10 can be transformed into an assembled state shown in Fig. 1 and a folded state shown in Fig. 2.

[0009] As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the bottom wall 11 has an outer edge protruding wall 11A that stands up from the entire outer edge. The outer edge protruding wall 11A on the short side of the bottom wall 11 is provided with a locking protrusion 11B that extends inward from the middle of its height. This locking protrusion 11B can be locked into a locking hole 40K (see Figure 10) provided in the lower end of the second side wall 40. In addition, a plurality of lower hinge portions 11D are formed on the long side of the bottom wall 11.

[0010] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the upper frame 20 has a rectangular groove shape and includes a frame-shaped upper frame wall 21, an outer frame wall 22 extending downward from the outer edge of the upper frame wall 21, and an inner frame wall 23 extending downward from the inner edge of the upper frame wall 21. The inner frame wall 23 includes a long-side inner wall 23A disposed on the long side of the upper frame 20 and a short-side inner wall 23B disposed on the short side of the upper frame 20. The lower end of the long-side inner wall 23A is located above the lower end of the outer frame wall 22, and the lower end of the short-side inner wall 23B is located above the lower end of the inner long-side wall 23A. The outer frame wall 22 and the inner frame wall 23 are connected by a plurality of ribs 24. A chamfered portion 20M is formed at the center of the short side of the upper frame 20 by chamfering the outer corner (i.e., the intersection of the upper frame wall 21 and the outer frame wall 22). Furthermore, the upper frame 20 is chamfered at the intersection between the upper frame wall 21 and the outer frame wall 22 except for the chamfered portion 20M, and at the entire intersection between the upper frame wall 21 and the inner frame wall 23. The outer frame wall 22 of the longer side of the upper frame 20 is formed with a recess 22U to which a sticker or the like can be attached.

[0011] A plurality of first upper hinge portions 25 and a plurality of second upper hinge portions 26 are provided on the long and short sides of the upper frame 20. In the vertical direction, the first upper hinge portions 25 are located at a height intermediate between the lower end of the long-side inner wall 23A and the lower end of the frame outer wall 22, and the second upper hinge portions 26 are located at a height intermediate between the lower end of the short-side inner wall 23B and the lower end of the long-side inner wall 23A. In other words, the second upper hinge portions 26 are located higher than the first upper hinge portions 25.

[0012] 1 and 3, the first side wall 30 is divided into two parts, an upper first side wall 31 and a lower first side wall 37, at approximately the center in the vertical direction. The upper first side wall 31 and the lower first side wall 37 are rotatably connected to each other via an intermediate hinge portion 30H. In addition, in the first side wall 30, a hinge portion 31H provided at the upper end of the upper first side wall 31 is rotatably connected to the first upper hinge portion 25 of the upper frame 20, while a hinge portion 37H of the lower first side wall 37 is rotatably connected to the lower hinge portion 11D of the bottom wall 11. This allows the first side wall 30 to be folded in half from approximately the center in the vertical direction.

[0013] As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the second side wall 40 has a hinge portion 40H at the upper end that is rotatably connected to the second upper hinge portion 26 of the upper frame 20, and is foldable by flipping up inward.

[0014] In the assembled state of the folding container 10, the second side wall 40 is restricted from rotating because the locking hole 40K at the lower end thereof is locked by the locking projection 11B. In addition, the second side wall 40 is sandwiched between the pair of first side walls 30, and restricts the first side walls 30 from folding inward.

[0015] The foldable container 10 can be folded as follows. First, the pair of second side walls 40 are pushed inward firmly to release the engagement between the locking protrusions 11B and the locking holes 40K, and the pair of second side walls 40 are then flipped up and folded into the upper frame 20. Next, the pair of first side walls 30 are folded inward in half (see FIG. 3). This causes the upper frame 20 to overlap the outer edge protrusion walls 11A of the bottom wall 11, and the foldable container 10 enters a folded state (see FIG. 2).

[0016] To assemble the folding container 10, the upper frame 20 is lifted upward relative to the bottom wall 11. This causes the upper first side wall 31 and the lower first side wall 37 of the pair of first side walls 30 to open, and the second side wall 40 rotates downward by its own weight and fits between the pair of first side walls 30. When the second side wall 40 is then pressed from the inside to rotate it downward, the locking projection 11B of the bottom wall 11 engages with the second side wall 40, holding the second side wall 40 in an upright position, and the second side wall 40 fitting between the first side walls 30 also holds the second side wall 40 in an upright position, and the folding container 10 is assembled.

[0017] Here, in the folding container 10 of this embodiment, bulging portions 33, 43 that bulge outward are formed at the upper ends of the first side wall 30 and the second side wall 40. Below, the upper first side wall 31 and the second side wall 40 of the first side wall 30, including the bulging portions 33, 43, will be described in detail.

[0018] 5 and 6, the upper first side wall 31 of the first side wall 30 has an upper wall 31U and a lower wall 31D, with a hinge portion 31H arranged in the upper wall 31U and a middle hinge portion 30H arranged in the lower wall 31D. The hinge portion 31H protrudes upward from the upper wall 31U of the upper first side wall 31, and its upper end portion 31K is curved in an arc shape when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the upper wall 31U.

[0019] The upper wall 31U and the lower wall 31D of the upper first side wall 31 are connected by a base portion 31A and side portions 31B at both left and right ends. In the inside and outside directions of the folding container 10, the base portion 31A connects the inner ends of the upper wall 31U and the lower wall 31D, while the side portions 31B connect the outer ends of the upper wall 31U and the lower wall 31D, and there is a step between the base portion 31A and the side portions 31B.

[0020] The upper end of the upper first side wall 31 has the above-mentioned bulging portion 33 formed in the center in the left-right direction. As shown in FIG. 7 , the bulging portion 33 is formed from the upper end of the upper first side wall 31 to a position near the upper end of the base portion 31A, and the upper wall 31U is cut out in that area. The bulging portion 33 has a horizontally elongated rectangular shape when viewed from outside the folding container 10. The bulging portion 33 has a main bulging wall 33A parallel to the base portion 31A, a lower wall 33B connecting from a position near the lower end of the main bulging wall 33A to the base portion 31A, an upper wall 33C protruding inward from the upper end of the main bulging wall 33A, and a side wall 33D connecting from a side edge of the main bulging wall 33A to the base portion 31A. The lower end of the main bulging wall 33A is located approximately one plate thickness below the lower wall 33B. The lower side of the side wall 33D extends obliquely downward from the lower end of the bulging main wall 33A.

[0021] 5 and 8, the upper wall 33C of the bulging portion 33 curves obliquely upward from the upper end of the bulging main wall 33A to a position about halfway through the thickness of the upper first side wall 31, so as to be located on the same curved surface as the upper end 31K of the hinge portion 31H. The lower end of the long side inner wall 23A of the upper frame 20 is located slightly above the upper end of the upper first side wall 31, and the lower end of the long side inner wall 23A and the inner end of the upper wall 33C of the bulging portion 33 are close to each other. Meanwhile, the lower end of the frame outer wall 22 of the upper frame 20 is located at a height halfway between the upper wall 33C and the lower wall 33B of the bulging portion 33, and about the upper one-third of the bulging portion 33 is covered from the outside by the frame outer wall 22 of the upper frame 20.

[0022] Two outwardly protruding ridges 34 are formed side by side, one above the other, on the bulging main wall 33A of the bulging portion 33. Both ridges 34 extend in the left-right direction, with one ridge 34 located at the lower end of the bulging main wall 33A and the other located at a height between the lower end of the frame outer wall 22 and the lower ridge 34. The upper first side wall 31 can swing inward and outward relative to the upper frame 20 due to play in the hinge. In the assembled state, the tip of the ridge 34 is normally located inside the outer surface of the frame outer wall 22 of the upper frame 20 in the inward and outward direction of the folding container 10, so that the ridge 34 does not protrude from the outer shape of the folding container 10. When the upper first side wall 31 is pressed outward, the ridge 34 protrudes from the outer surface of the frame outer wall 22 of the upper frame 20.

[0023] As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the second side wall 40 has an upper wall 40U and a lower wall 40D, and a hinge portion 40H is disposed on the upper wall 40U. A transverse rib 40E is provided on the second side wall 40 near the lower wall 40D, and multiple reinforcing ribs 40F are formed between the lower wall 40D and the transverse rib 40E. The upper wall 40U and the transverse rib 40E are connected by a base portion 40A and a side portion 40B. In the inward / outward direction of the folding container 10, the base portion 40A connects the inner ends of the upper wall 40U and the transverse rib 40E, while the side portion 40B connects the outer ends of the upper wall 40U and the transverse rib 40E, forming a step between the base portion 40A and the side portion 40B. The horizontal rib 40E and the lower wall 40D are entirely connected to each other except for the locking holes 40K by a connecting wall 40C that is flush with the base portion 40A.

[0024] The second side wall 40 has the above-mentioned bulging portion 43 formed near the upper end of the base portion 40A. Like the bulging portion 33 of the upper first side wall 31, the bulging portion 43 shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 has a horizontally elongated rectangular shape when viewed from the outside of the folding container 10. It includes a bulging main wall 43A parallel to the base portion 40A, an upper wall 43C protruding inward from the upper end of the bulging main wall 43A and connecting to the base portion 40A, a lower wall 43B protruding inward from a position near the lower end of the bulging main wall 43A and connecting to the base portion 40A, and a side wall 43D connecting from a side edge of the bulging main wall 43A to the base portion 40A. The upper wall 40U of the second side wall 40 and the upper wall 43C of the bulging portion 33 are connected by a plurality of reinforcing ribs 40G. The lower end of the bulging main wall 43A is located approximately one plate thickness below the lower wall 43B. The lower side of the side wall 43D extends obliquely downward from the lower end of the bulging main wall 43A. The bulging portion 43 of the second side wall 40 is aligned with the chamfered portion 20M of the upper frame 20 in the vertical direction.

[0025] 12, the lower end of the frame outer wall 22 of the upper frame 20 is located slightly above the upper end of the bulging main wall 43A, and the two are close to each other. As a result, the frame outer wall 22 of the upper frame 20 covers the portion of the second side wall 40 above the bulging portion 43 from the outside, and the bulging main wall 43A of the bulging portion 43 is entirely exposed from the outside. In addition, the lower end of the short-side inner wall 23B of the upper frame 20 is located slightly above the upper end of the second side wall 40, and the two are close to each other.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 , the main bulging wall 43A of the bulging portion 43 has three outwardly protruding ridges 44 aligned vertically. All three ridges 44 extend in the left-right direction, with one ridge located at the lower end of the main bulging wall 43A and the other two ridges located at two positions that divide the main bulging wall 43A into thirds. Like the upper first side wall 31, the second side wall 40 can swing inward and outward relative to the upper frame 20 due to hinge play. In the assembled state, the tips of the ridges 44 are normally positioned inside the outer surface of the outer frame wall 22 of the upper frame 20 in the inward and outward directions of the folding container 10, so that the ridges 44 do not protrude from the outer shape of the folding container 10. When the second side wall 40 is pressed outward, the ridges 44 protrude beyond the outer surface of the outer frame wall 22 of the upper frame 20.

[0027] Next, the effects of the folding container 10 will be described. For example, when not in use, the folding container 10 is stored in a folded state (see FIG. 2), and when in use, it is assembled (see FIG. 1) and transported or stored with contents inside. When lifting the folding container 10 of this embodiment in its assembled state, the folding container 10 can be easily lifted by hooking fingers on the inside of the folding container 10 (from the inside) on the upper walls 33C, 43C of the bulges 33, 43 arranged on the first side wall 30 or the second side wall 40, or by hooking fingers on the outside of the folding container 10 (from the outside) on the lower walls 33B, 43B.

[0028] When the foldable container 10 contains items, it can be easily lifted with both hands by, for example, hooking a finger from the outside onto the lower wall 43B of each of the bulging portions 43 of a pair of second side walls 40. In this case, because the ridges 44 protrude from the lower ends of the bulging main walls 43A, the finger that is hooked onto the lower wall 43B also comes into contact with the underside of the ridges 44, thereby softening the sensation of the finger coming into contact with the lower end of the bulging main wall 43A. Furthermore, when the foldable container 10 is empty, it is possible to hold one foldable container 10 on each side by, for example, hooking a finger from the inside onto the upper wall 33C of the bulging portion 33 of one of the first side walls 30, allowing more foldable containers 10 to be carried at one time.

[0029] Furthermore, two folding containers 10 can be carried in one hand (four folding containers 10 if carried with both hands) by lining up two folding containers 10 and hooking one thumb from the inside on the upper wall 33C of the bulging portion 33 of the first side wall 30 of one folding container 10 and the other fingers from the inside on the upper wall 33C of the bulging portion 33 of the first side wall 30 of the other folding container 10. In other words, when two folding containers are lined up on a placement surface (the ground, a workbench, etc.) on which the folding containers are placed, the inner finger hook portions 33C, 43C of the adjacent first side wall 30 or second side wall 40 and the frame bodies 20 (for example, the frame upper wall 21 and the frame inner wall 23) form gripping portions that can be grasped.

[0030] As described above, according to this embodiment, the folding container 10 is provided with the lower walls 33B, 43B of the bulging portions 33, 43 for hooking fingers from the outside and the upper walls 33C, 43C of the bulging portions 33, 43 for hooking fingers from the inside, so that fingers can be selectively hooked from either the outside or the inside depending on the situation. Furthermore, since the bulging portions 33, 43 are disposed in the horizontal center of the first side wall 30 and the second side wall 40, the folding container is less likely to tip over when lifting, regardless of which side you hook your fingers on. Note that, although it is possible to hook one hand on the lower walls 33B, 43B of the bulging portions 33, 43 from the outside when the folding container 10 is empty, when the folding container 10 is held next to your body, it is considered that hooking your fingers on the upper walls 33C, 43C of the bulging portions 33, 43 from the inside eliminates the need to turn your wrist and reduces strain on the wrist.

[0031] Furthermore, the upper portion of the bulging portion 43 of the second side wall 40 of the upper frame 20 is formed as a chamfered portion 20M, so that when a hand is placed from the upper wall 43C or the lower wall 43B of this bulging portion 43 to the upper end of the folding container 10, the hand is prevented from hitting the corner of the intersection between the upper frame wall 21 and the outer frame wall 22 of the upper frame 20, thereby softening the sensation felt by the hand. Furthermore, because the lower end of the inner frame wall 23 of the upper frame 20 and the upper end of the first side wall 30 and the second side wall 40 are close to each other, the difference in level between them can be reduced, and the sensation felt by the hand can be softened when a hand is placed with fingers from the inside along the inner frame wall 23 of the upper frame 20.

[0032] As described above, when the folding containers 10 are empty or the contents are light, it is conceivable to hold two folding containers 10 in one hand. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 13 , it is conceivable to line up two folding containers 10, for example, with their first side walls 30 adjacent to each other, place one's thumb on the upper wall 33C of the bulging portion 33 of one first side wall 30, and place the remaining four fingers on the upper wall 33C of the bulging portion 33 of the other first side wall 30, and grip the upper edges of the first side walls 30 together. In this case, in this embodiment, the bulging portions 33, 43 bulge outward, and the portions to be hooked with the fingers from the inside are located higher than when the bulging portions bulge inward, making it easier to grip the upper edges of the first side walls 30 together.

[0033] Furthermore, when two folding containers 10 are lifted by, for example, grasping the upper edges of the first side walls 30 and pressing the main bulging walls 33A of the bulging portions 33 toward each other, if the folding containers 10 are slightly shifted vertically, the ribs 34 can be engaged with each other in the vertical direction, as shown in FIG. 14 . This prevents one of the folding containers 10 from slipping and falling. Similarly, when two folding containers 10 are lifted with their second side walls 40 adjacent to each other, the ribs 44 can also be engaged with each other. Note that when lifting one folding container 10 with its first side walls 30 adjacent to each other, the lower end of the upper frame 20 of the other folding container 10 abuts against the stepped surface below the recess 22U of the outer frame wall 22 of the upper frame 20 of the other folding container 10, thereby preventing the folding containers 10 from slipping and falling.

[0034] Furthermore, since the ridges 34, 44 do not normally protrude outward from the upper frame 20, when a plurality of foldable containers 10 are stored side by side, they are prevented from interfering with adjacent foldable containers 10 or from something getting caught on the ridges 34, 44.

[0035] [Other embodiments] The bulging portions 33, 43 may be disposed on only one of the first side wall 30 and the second side wall 40.

[0036] The bulging portions 33, 43 may be configured to be covered from the outside by the upper frame 20.

[0037] The outer finger hook portion and the inner finger hook portion may be offset from each other in the left-right direction.

[0038] The outer finger hook may be provided on only one of the first side wall 30 and the second side wall 40, and the inner finger hook may be provided on only the other.

[0039] The outer finger hook portion may be a rib protruding outward from the first side wall 30 or the second side wall 40, and the inner finger hook portion may be a rib protruding inward from the first side wall 30 or the second side wall 40.

[0040] The base portions 31A, 40A connect the outer ends of the upper walls 31U, 40U and the lower wall 31D and the horizontal ribs 40E, while the side portions 31B, 40B connect the inner ends of the upper walls 31U, 40U and the lower wall 31D and the horizontal ribs 40E, and a step may be formed between the base portion 31A and the side portion 31B.

[0041] The bulging portion may bulge inward, and the upper wall may be configured so that fingers can be hooked from the outside, and the lower wall may be configured so that fingers can be hooked from the inside.

[0042] The protrusions 34, 44 may be arranged, for example, on the outer frame wall 22 of the upper frame 20, or on a portion of the first side wall 30 or the second side wall 40 above the bulging portions 33, 43 (only when this portion is exposed from the outside). Also, instead of linear protrusions, the protrusions may be circular or angular.

[0043] The part where the fingers can be hooked from the outside (external finger hook part) may be located at the bottom, and the part where the fingers can be hooked from the inside (internal finger hook part) may be located at the top, or the part where the fingers can be hooked from the outside (external finger hook part) may be located at the top, and the part where the fingers can be hooked from the inside (internal finger hook part) may be located at the bottom.

[0044] In the above embodiment, the side walls 30, 40 move due to play in the hinges, allowing the protrusions 34, 44 to engage with each other, but it is also possible to grasp and lift the upper edges of the side walls 30, 40 and press them together so that the bulging main walls 33A, 43A of the bulging portions 33, 43 approach each other, causing the upper frames 20 (outer frame walls 22) to come into contact and deform, allowing the protrusions 34, 44 to engage with each other.

[0045] <Additional Notes> The following describes the features extracted from the above-described embodiment, while indicating, as necessary, the effects, etc. Note that, for ease of understanding, the corresponding configurations in the above-described embodiment are indicated in parentheses as appropriate below, but these features are not limited to the specific configurations indicated in parentheses.

[0046] [Feature 1] The upper end of the folding container (10) is formed by a frame (20), and the folding container (10) is in a folded state when one set (40) of four side walls (30, 40) is flipped up and the remaining set (30) is folded in half between the frame (20) and the bottom wall, The side walls (30, 40) of the folding container (10) are provided with outer finger hooks (33B, 43B) for hooking fingers from the outside when lifting the folding container (10), and inner finger hooks (33C, 43C) for hooking fingers from the inside.

[0047] According to the folding container of Feature 1, an outer finger hook for hooking fingers from the outside and an inner finger hook for hooking fingers from the inside are provided, so that fingers can be selectively hooked from the outside or the inside depending on the situation.

[0048] [Feature 2] The folding container (10) according to Feature 1, wherein the outer finger hook portion and the inner finger hook portion (33C, 43C) are arranged side by side in the vertical direction at the horizontal center of the side walls (30, 40).

[0049] According to the folding container of feature 2, both the outer finger hook and the inner finger hook are arranged in the horizontal center of the side wall, so when lifting the folding container, the folding container is less likely to tip over no matter which finger you hook on it.

[0050] [Feature 3] The side walls (30, 40) are provided at their upper portions with bulging portions (33, 43) that bulge outward and include a lower wall (33B, 43B), an upper wall (33C, 43C), and a connecting wall (33A, 43A) connecting the lower wall (33B, 43B), an upper wall (33C, 43C), and the upper wall (33C, 43C). The folding container (10) according to Feature 2, wherein the lower walls (33B, 43B) of the bulging portions (33, 43) serve as the outer finger hooks (33B, 43B), and the upper walls (33C, 43C) of the bulging portions (33, 43) serve as the inner finger hooks (33C, 43C).

[0051] An example of a finger hook from the inside is when two collapsible containers are placed side by side and held in one hand. In this case, it is conceivable to hook the fingers between the inner finger hooks of adjacent side walls and grip the upper edge, but according to Feature 3, the inner finger hook is positioned higher than when the bulging portion bulges inward and the lower wall serves as the inner finger hook, making it easier to grip the upper edge.

[0052] [Feature 4] On the outer surface of the foldable container (10), protrusions (34, 44) are provided around the inner finger hooks (33C, 43C) or above the inner finger hooks (33C, 43C), The foldable container (10) according to any one of Features 1 to 3, wherein when two foldable containers (10) are placed side by side and the upper edge portions of the adjacent side walls (30, 40) are gripped with fingers on the inner finger hooks (33C, 43C) of the side walls (30, 40), the protrusions (34, 44) can be engaged with each other in the vertical direction.

[0053] According to the folding container of feature 4, when two folding containers are placed side by side and their upper edges are gripped, the protrusions engage with each other in the vertical direction, preventing one of the folding containers from slipping off.

[0054] [Feature 5] The side walls (30, 40) are provided at their upper portions with bulging portions (33, 43) that bulge outward and include a lower wall (33B, 43B), an upper wall (33C, 43C), and a connecting wall (33A, 43A) connecting the lower wall (33B, 43B), and the upper wall (33C, 43C) of the bulging portion (33, 43) serves as the inner finger hook portion (33C, 43C), The foldable container (10) according to Feature 4, wherein the protrusions (34, 44) are arranged on the connecting walls (33A, 43A) and do not protrude from the frame body (20) under normal conditions, but protrude from the frame body (20) and engage with each other when the connecting walls (33A, 43A) are pressed against each other with two foldable containers (10) arranged side by side.

[0055] According to the folding container of Feature 5, for example, when the folding container is placed on top, the protrusions do not protrude beyond the upper frame, so they are less likely to get caught on something or become a nuisance.

[0056] [Feature 6] The outer finger rests (33B, 43B) and the inner finger rests (33C, 43C) are disposed on the upper portions of the side walls (30, 40), The frame body (20) has a rectangular groove shape and includes a frame upper wall (21), a frame inner wall (23), and a frame outer wall (22). The intersection of the frame upper wall (21) and the frame outer wall (22) and the intersection of the frame upper wall (21) and the frame inner wall (23) are curved or chamfered, The inner finger hooks (33C, 43C) are located near the bottom of the frame body (20) or above the bottom end of the frame body (20), The folding container (10) according to any one of Features 1 to 5, wherein, when two folding containers (10) are placed side by side, the inner finger hooks (33C, 43C) of the adjacent side walls (30, 40) and the frame (20) form a grippable gripping portion.

[0057] According to the folding container of Feature 6, when a hand is placed from the outer finger loop or the inner finger loop to the upper end of the folding container, the sensation of the hand touching the intersection of the upper frame wall and the outer frame wall of the frame body or the intersection of the upper frame wall and the inner frame wall can be softened. Furthermore, when two folding containers are held side by side in one hand, it is conceivable to place the fingers on the inner finger loops of adjacent side walls and grasp the upper edges of the frames together while straddling them. In this case, the sensation of the hand touching the intersection of the upper frame wall and the inner frame wall can also be softened. Note that the term "curved surface" includes, for example, a curved shape or a substantially arc-shaped cross section, and the term "chamfered" includes an inclined surface, a C-chamfer, and an R-chamfer.

[0058] [Feature 7] The frame body (20) has a frame upper wall (21), a frame inner wall (23), and a frame outer wall (22), The folding container (10) according to any one of Features 1 to 6, wherein the upper end portions of the side walls (30, 40) that are located above the inner finger grip portions (33C, 43C) or the inner finger grip portions (33C, 43C) abut against or are close to the lower end of the frame inner wall (23).

[0059] According to the folding container of Feature 7, the portion of the upper end of the side wall that is located above the inner finger hook, or the inner finger hook, abuts against or is close to the lower end of the inner frame wall of the frame body, thereby preventing a step from occurring between the frame body and the side wall and softening the feeling in the hand when the fingers are hooked on the inner finger hook and the hand is placed along the inner frame wall of the frame body.

[0060] Although the present specification and drawings disclose specific examples of the technology included in the scope of the claims, the technology described in the claims is not limited to these specific examples, but also includes various modifications and variations of the specific examples, and also includes parts of the specific examples taken out alone. [Explanation of symbols]

[0061] 10 Foldable Container 11 Bottom wall 20 Upper frame (frame body) 30 First side wall 33 Bulge 33A Bulging main wall 33B Lower wall (outside finger rest) 33C Upper wall (inner finger rest) 34 protrusion 40 Second side wall 43 Bulge 43A Bulging main wall 43B Lower wall (outer finger rest) 43C Upper wall (inner finger rest) 44 Projection (protrusion)

Claims

1. A folding container that is folded by flipping up one set of four side walls between a frame and a bottom wall and folding the remaining set in half, The upper portion of the side wall is provided with a bulging portion that bulges outward, recesses from the inner surface of the side wall, and protrudes from the outer surface, The bulging portion has a horizontally long rectangular shape when viewed from the outside of the folding container.

2. a first set of side walls among the four side walls that are folded in half includes an upper first side wall and a lower first side wall that are connected by a middle hinge portion; The foldable container according to claim 1 , wherein the bulge is disposed on the upper first side wall.

3. The side wall is provided with a finger hook, The foldable container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the finger grip portion and the bulge portion are aligned in the vertical direction.

4. The side wall is provided with a finger hook, The foldable container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the finger grip portion and the bulge portion are arranged so as to be offset from each other in the left-right direction.

5. 3. The foldable container according to claim 1, wherein the upper end of the bulging portion extends while curving obliquely upward.

6. 3. The foldable container according to claim 1, wherein the bulging portion has an inner side that can be hooked with a finger.

7. 3. The foldable container according to claim 1, wherein the bulging portions are arranged on a second set of side walls that are flipped up among the four side walls.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • Synthetic resin container

    JP1985105314U