Packaging container and method for manufacturing the same

Abstract

To provide a packaging container that is easy to attach and detach the lid from the container body, while also being highly productive and cost-effective. [Solution] A packaging container comprising a container body 10 having an upward-facing opening 11C, and a lid 20 slidably coupled to the container body 10 and capable of opening and closing the opening 11C, wherein the lid 20 has a pair of parallel sides 21B, 21B extending in the sliding direction, the container body 10 has a pair of guide parts (13A, 13B, 13C) that guide the pair of parallel sides 21B, 21B, each of the sides 21B of the lid 20 has a side wall portion 21C having height, and each of the guide parts of the container body 10 has a projection 13C that prevents the side wall portion 21C from detaching upward.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a packaging container, and particularly to a packaging container including a container body having an upward opening and a lid slidably coupled to the container body to open and close the opening.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a packaging container capable of accommodating contents such as fresh foods and prepared foods sold in stores such as supermarkets and convenience stores, for example, a so-called disposable food container made of synthetic resin is known.

[0003] As a container of this type, for example, there is one described in Patent Document 1.

[0004] The packaging container described in Patent Document 1 is "made of a thin resin produced by integral molding, with adjacent sides being linear and non-expanding in shape as viewed from a predetermined side, and is composed of a container body and a lid provided with a flange portion. On one of the flange portions on the sides other than the predetermined side, a folded-back portion into which the other flange portion is tightly inserted is continuously formed on the flange portion" (see [Claim 1] of Patent Document 1).

[0005] According to such a packaging container, "the lid can be easily attached simply by inserting the lid from the predetermined side, and its detachment is also easy. Since the side portions other than the predetermined side have one flange portion tightly inserted between the other flange portion and the folded-back portion, sufficient sealing performance can be ensured."

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] However, the packaging container described in Patent Document 1 has a structure in which a folded portion is provided on the flange, which has the problem of poor productivity and being unsuitable for mass production.

[0008] This invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a packaging container that is productive and cost-effective while ensuring easy attachment and detachment of the lid to the container body. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] To solve the aforementioned problems, the present invention provides a packaging container comprising a container body having an upward-facing opening, and a lid that is slidably coupled to the container body and capable of opening and closing the opening, The lid has a pair of parallel sides extending in the sliding direction, The container body has a pair of guides that guide the pair of parallel sides, Each of the aforementioned sides of the lid has a side wall portion having height, Each of the guide portions of the container body is characterized by having a projection that prevents the side wall portion from detaching upward.

[0010] According to the packaging container of the present invention, the lid can be slid onto the container body in a way that prevents it from being detached. This allows the opening to be opened and closed by the lid. Furthermore, while having a relatively simple structure, it ensures easy attachment and detachment of the lid to the container body, and when removing the contents by sliding the lid, the lid can be partially opened to remove the contents, and the lid can be easily closed while it is still engaged with the container body. In addition, according to the packaging container of the present invention, each side of the lid has a side wall portion with height, and each guide portion of the container body has a projection that prevents the side wall portion from detaching upward. Therefore, the container body with projections can be mass-produced using known molding techniques, resulting in good productivity and cost advantages. Furthermore, the strength of the lid during sliding movement is also improved. These effects are significant compared to the conventional packaging containers that have a container body with a folded portion on the flange.

[0011] In one embodiment, the protrusions may be formed partially on each of the guide portions. In this case, it is more cost-effective compared to the case where the protrusions are provided on the entirety of each guide portion.

[0012] In one embodiment, a protrusion may be formed on the container body, and the lid may slide over the protrusion on the container body, thereby locking the lid in a closed position that closes the opening. In this case, since the lid is locked in the closed position, it is prevented from moving unexpectedly from the closed position, which is preferable. Furthermore, since the lid can be locked in the closed position simply by providing a protrusion on the container body, the locking structure is simple, productivity is good, and it is also cost-effective.

[0013] As one form of implementation, the pair of guide sections are A pair of flange portions extending in opposite directions from the opening end of the aforementioned opening, A pair of upright portions rise upward from the flange portion and are arranged parallel to each other, The projection that protrudes from the upper end of the upright portion toward the opening, It has, The side wall portion may be configured to be slidably inserted between the flange portion, the upright portion, and the protruding portion. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] This is a plan view showing one embodiment of a packaging container according to the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a front view of the packaging container. [Figure 3] Figure 1 is a right side view of the packaging container. [Figure 4] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the container body that makes up the packaging container. [Figure 5] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the lid that makes up the packaging container. [Figure 6] This is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in Figure 1. [Figure 7]It is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of FIG. 6.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] Hereinafter, the packaging container of the present invention will be described based on preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the packaging container according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view of the packaging container shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a right side view of the packaging container shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the container body constituting the packaging container of FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the lid body constituting the packaging container of FIG. 1, FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of FIG. 1, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of FIG. 6.

[0016] <Overall Structure of Packaging Container 1> As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the packaging container 1 according to the present embodiment is a container capable of packaging contents such as fresh food, prepared dishes, and boxed lunches sold in stores (for example, supermarkets and convenience stores), and includes a container body 10 and a lid body 20.

[0017] Although details will be described later, the packaging container 1 according to the present embodiment can open and close the opening 11C of the container body 10 by sliding the lid body 20 with respect to the container body 10. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the direction in which the lid body 20 is inserted into the container body 10 is referred to as the "insertion direction", the opposite direction is referred to as the "reverse insertion direction", the direction crossing these directions is referred to as the "crossing direction", the opening 11C side of the container body 10 is referred to as "upper", and the opposite side is referred to as "lower". Also, the position where the lid body 20 closes the opening 11C is referred to as the "closing position", and the position where it opens is referred to as the "opening position".

[0018] (Container Body 10) As shown in FIG. 4, the container body 10 includes a main body portion 11 and an outer peripheral portion 12, and can be formed, for example, by molding (sheet molding) a synthetic resin sheet.

[0019] Examples of synthetic resin sheets used for the container body 10 include polyester resins such as polyethylene terephthalate, olefin resins such as polyethylene and polypropylene, and polystyrene resins. The synthetic resin sheet may be formed as a single layer or multilayer sheet, and may be colored or colorless and transparent. Furthermore, the surface or back surface of the synthetic resin sheet can be covered with a synthetic resin film. In addition, desired printing can be applied directly to the synthetic resin sheet or to the synthetic resin film. Known molding techniques such as vacuum forming, hot plate pressure forming, vacuum pressure forming, and double-sided vacuum forming can be used as methods for forming the sheet.

[0020] (Main body 11) The main body 11 has a bottom wall 11A, a side wall 11B, and an opening 11C.

[0021] The bottom wall portion 11A has a surface on which the contents are placed and is formed in a substantially rectangular shape. However, the bottom wall portion 11A is not limited to being formed in a rectangular shape, and can also be formed in other shapes, such as a circular shape or other polygonal shapes.

[0022] The side wall portion 11B is erected continuously upward from the peripheral edge of the bottom wall portion 11A. The opening 11C is an area demarcated by the upper end of the side wall portion 11B and is mainly used for loading and unloading contents.

[0023] (Outer periphery 12) The outer periphery 12 is formed in a substantially frame-like (picture frame-like) shape and has a pair of first outer periphery parts 13, 13, a second outer periphery part 14, and a third outer periphery part 15.

[0024] (First outer perimeter 13) The first outer peripheral portion 13 is provided continuously with respect to the opening end on the long side of the opening 11C (the upper end on the long side of the side wall portion 11B), and has a flange portion 13A, an upright portion 13B, and a projection 13C integrally molded with the upright portion 13B.

[0025] The pair of flange portions 13A extend in opposite directions from the upper ends of the long sides of the side wall portion 11B. The upright portion 13B is erected upward from the tip (outer end) of the flange portion 13A. The projections 13C protrude inward from the upper end of the upright portion 13B into the container body 10 and are formed in multiples (two in this embodiment) at intervals along the insertion direction. As will be described in detail with reference to Figure 6, in this embodiment, the lid 20 can be slid on the container body 10 by fitting and inserting the pair of parallel side wall portions 21C of the lid 20 between the flange portion 13A, the upright portion 13B, and the projections 13C. The flange portion 13A, the upright portion 13B, and the projections 13C constitute a guide portion that guides the pair of parallel side wall portions 21C of the lid 20. The projections 13C that constitute the guide portion prevent each side wall portion 21C of the lid 20 from detaching upward.

[0026] In Figures 1, 2, and 4, the first outer periphery 13 is shown with "two" protrusions 13C, but the number may be "one" or "three or more". In this case, the number of protrusions 13C provided on one side of the first outer periphery 13 and the number of protrusions 13C provided on the other side of the first outer periphery 13 do not need to be the same; for example, the former may have "two" and the latter "three". Furthermore, in Figures 1, 2, and 4, the shape of the protrusions 13C is shown as a ridge shape, but it is also possible to form them in other shapes (for example, a semi-cylindrical shape) as long as they protrude from the upright portion 13B toward the opening 11C. Furthermore, in the illustrated example, the projection 13C is partially provided along the length of the upright portion 13B (the sliding direction of the lid 20), but the projection 13C may be formed continuously along the entire length of the upright portion 13B. Providing the projection 13C partially, as in the illustrated example, is advantageous in terms of cost.

[0027] (Second outer perimeter 14) As shown in Figures 1 and 4, the second outer circumference 14 has a flange portion 14A and a first protruding portion 14B.

[0028] The flange portion 14A extends from the upper end of the side wall portion 11B in the direction opposite to the insertion direction and connects the ends of the pair of flange portions 13A, 13A in the direction opposite to the insertion direction to each other.

[0029] The first protrusions 14B protrude upward from the flange portion 14A and are formed in multiples (two in this embodiment) at intervals along the intersecting direction (the direction in which the flange portion 14A extends). As will be described in detail later, in this embodiment, when the lid 20 is in the closed position, the edge 21E on the side of the lid 20 that is not in the insertion direction abuts against the first protrusions 14B, and the lid 20 is locked in the closed position. In the illustrated example, the flange portion 14 is shown with "two" first protrusions 14B, but the number may be "one" or "three or more".

[0030] (Third outer perimeter 15) As clearly shown in Figure 4, the third outer circumference 15 has a flange portion 15A, an upright portion 15B, and a second protruding portion 15C.

[0031] The flange portion 15A extends from the upper end of the side wall portion 11B in the insertion direction and connects the insertion-direction ends of the pair of flange portions 13A to each other. The upright portion 15B is erected upward from the tip (outer end) of the flange portion 15A and connects the insertion-direction ends of the upright portion 13B to each other. The second projection portion 15C protrudes upward from the flange portion 15A and is formed in multiples (two in this embodiment) at intervals along the intersecting direction (the extension direction of the flange portion 15A). As will be described in detail later, in this embodiment, when the lid 20 is in the closed position, the fitting recess 21D formed in the lid 20 abuts against the second projection portion 15C, and the lid 20 is configured to be locked in the closed position.

[0032] In Figures 1, 2, and 4, the third outer circumference 15 is shown with "two" second protrusions 15C, but the number may be "one" or "three or more". Also, either the first protrusion 14B or the second protrusion 15C can be omitted as needed.

[0033] (Lid 20) As shown in Figure 5, the lid 20 comprises a main body portion 21 and an extended piece portion 22, and can be molded (sheet molded) from a synthetic resin sheet, for example, in the same way as the container body 10. The lid 20 may be in the shape of a flat lid or a raised lid.

[0034] Examples of synthetic resin sheets used for the lid 20 include polyester resins such as polyethylene terephthalate, olefin resins such as polyethylene and polypropylene, and polystyrene resins such as biaxially oriented polystyrene (OPS). The synthetic resin sheet may be formed as a single layer or a multi-layer sheet, and may be colored or colorless and transparent. Furthermore, the surface or back surface of the synthetic resin sheet may be covered with a synthetic resin film. Desired printing can also be applied directly to the synthetic resin sheet or to the synthetic resin film. Desired printing can also be applied to the synthetic resin film. Known molding techniques such as vacuum forming, hot plate pressure forming, vacuum pressure forming, and double-sided vacuum forming can be used as methods for forming the sheet.

[0035] (Main body 21) The main body 21 has a top wall 21A, a pair of side parts 21B, 21B extending parallel to each other, side wall parts (fitting side wall parts) 21C, 21C included in each side part 21B, and a locking fitting part 21D.

[0036] The top wall portion 21A constitutes the upper surface of the lid 20 and is formed in a substantially rectangular shape. Furthermore, the top wall portion 21A can also be made into other shapes, such as a circular shape or other polygonal shapes, depending on the shape of the bottom wall portion 11A.

[0037] The side portion 21B is integrally formed with a pair of parallel side edges of the top wall portion 21A. As shown in Figure 6, the side portion 21B has an upright portion 21B-1 that rises from the top wall portion 21A, a first flange portion 21B-2 that extends horizontally outward from the lid 20 from the upper edge of the upright portion 21B-1, a first descending portion 21B-3 that extends downward from the first flange portion 21B-2, a second flange portion 21B-4 that extends horizontally outward from the lid 20 from the lower edge of the first descending portion 21B-3, a second descending portion 21B-5 that extends downward from the second flange portion 21B-4, and a third flange portion 21B-6 that extends horizontally outward from the lid 20 from the lower edge of the second descending portion 21B-5. In the example shown in Figure 6, the second flange portion 21B-4, the second descending portion 21B-5, and the third flange portion 21B-6 constitute the fitting side wall portion 21C. The fitting side wall portion 21C has a height (vertical width) and slidably fits with the first outer peripheral portion 13 of the container body 10. Furthermore, the fitting side wall portion 21C corresponds to the "side wall portion" in the claims.

[0038] The relationship between the pair of side portions 21B, 21B that constitute the long side of the lid 20 and the pair of first outer peripheral portions 13, 13 of the container body 10 is as follows: On the pair of side portions 21B, 21B of the lid 20, the distance between the pair of first descending portions 21B-3, 21B-3 is set to be slightly smaller than the distance between the protrusions 13C, 13C in the width direction of the container body 10. Also, on the pair of side portions 21B, 21B of the lid 20, the fitting side wall portion 21C (second flange portion 21B-4, second descending portion 21B-5, and third flange portion 21B-6), which is the portion below the first descending portion 21B-3, can be fitted between the flange portion 13A, the upright portion 13B, and the protrusion 13C (which together constitute the guide portion) of the container body 10. Furthermore, the protrusions 13C that constitute the guide portion prevent each fitting side wall portion 21C of the lid 20 from detaching upward from the container body 10. Therefore, by sliding the lid 20 with the fitting side wall portion 21C of the lid 20 inserted between the flange portion 13A of the container body 10 and the protrusions 13C, the lid 20 can be moved to the closed position without detaching. Conversely, by sliding the lid 20 in the opposite direction of insertion from the closed position, the lid 20 can be separated from the container body 10.

[0039] As shown in Figure 2, the locking fitting portion 21D is the inner surface portion on the insertion side of the lid 20. When the lid 20 is slid toward the closed position, the edge of the lid 20 on the insertion side passes over the second protrusion 15C of the container body 10, and the locking fitting portion 21D engages with the second protrusion 15C. In this embodiment, the lid 20 is locked in the closed position by the engagement of the second protrusion 15C of the container body 10 and the locking fitting portion 21D of the lid 20, thereby preventing the lid 20 from moving unintentionally away from the closed position. The specific form of the locking fitting portion 21D is not particularly limited as long as it can engage with the second protrusion 15C of the container body 10.

[0040] When the lid 20 is slid toward the closed position, the edge 21E of the lid 20 on the side opposite to the insertion direction (see Figures 1 and 5) crosses over the first protrusion 14B of the container body 10 and engages with the first protrusion 14B. This also locks the lid 20 in the closed position, reliably preventing unintended movement of the lid 20 from the closed position.

[0041] (Extension piece 22) The extended piece 22 extends in the opposite direction from a portion of the edge 21E of the lid 20 on the side opposite to the insertion direction. The extended piece 22 serves as a grip when sliding the lid 20 while it is fitted with the container body 10. For this reason, the extended piece 22 has a projection 22A for preventing slippage.

[0042] In this embodiment, the container body 10 that slidably supports the lid 20 can be integrally molded (sheet molded) from a synthetic resin sheet or the like. Therefore, in this embodiment, compared to the technology in which the lid is made slidable by bending the flange portion (for example, prior art document (Japanese Patent No. 3102441)), the manufacturing process can be simplified, and the container body 10 can be manufactured productively and inexpensively. Furthermore, despite its relatively simple configuration, it ensures easy attachment and detachment of the lid to the container body, and when sliding the lid to remove the contents, the lid can be partially opened to remove the contents, and the lid can be easily closed while it is still engaged with the container body. In addition, the strength of the lid during sliding movement is also improved.

[0043] Next, other embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 7. Figures 7(a) to 7(d) illustrate examples of other embodiments corresponding to Figure 6, showing another example of how the fitting side walls constituting a pair of sides of the lid fit together with a pair of first outer peripheral portions of the container body fit together.

[0044] In Figure 7(a), the side portion 31B of the lid 30 is composed of a first descending portion 31B-1 extending straight down from the top wall portion 31A of the lid 30, an inclined descending portion 31B-2 extending diagonally downward and outward from the first descending portion 31B-1, and a second descending portion 31B-3 extending straight down from the inclined descending portion 31B-2. The first outer peripheral portion 13 of the container body 10 is almost the same as in the example in Figure 6. In Figure 7(a), the inclined downward portion 31B-2 and the second downward portion 31B-3 of the lid 30 form a fitting side wall portion 31C with height, and this fitting side wall portion 31C can be fitted into the guide portion of the container body 10, which is composed of the flange portion 13A, the upright portion 13B, and the projection portion 13C. Therefore, by inserting the fitting side wall portion 31C of the lid 30 between the flange portion 13A and the projection portion 13C of the container body 10 and sliding the lid 30, the lid 30 can be moved to the closed position without detaching. Conversely, by sliding the lid 30 in the opposite direction of insertion from the closed position, the lid 30 can be separated from the container body 10.

[0045] In Figure 7(b), the side portion 41B of the lid 40 is composed of an inclined downward portion 41B-1 that extends diagonally downward outward from the top wall portion 41A of the lid 40, and this inclined downward portion 41B-1 becomes a fitting side wall portion with height. On the other hand, the first outer circumference 53 of the container body 50 is composed of a flange portion 53A and an inclined upright portion 53B that rises diagonally upward inward from the flange portion 53A. The flange portion 53A and the inclined upright portion 53B form a guide portion that guides the side portion 41B of the lid 40, and the inclined upright portion 53B that forms a projection 53C prevents the fitting side wall portion (inclined downward portion) 41B-1 of the lid 40 from detaching upward from the container body 50.

[0046] In Figure 7(c), the side portion 61B of the lid 60 is composed of an inclined downward portion 61B-1 extending diagonally downward outward from the top wall portion 61A of the lid 60, and a downward portion 61B-2 extending straight down from the inclined downward portion 61B-1, with the inclined downward portion 61B-1 and the downward portion 61B-2 forming the fitting side wall portion. The first outer peripheral portion 13 of the container body 10 is almost the same as in the example in Figure 6, and a guide portion is formed by the flange portion 13A, the upright portion 13B, and the projection portion 13C to guide the side portion 61B of the lid 60, and the projection portion 13C prevents the fitting side wall portion of the lid 60 (inclined downward portion 61B-1 and downward portion 61B-2) from detaching upward from the container body 10.

[0047] In Figure 7(d), the side portion 71B of the lid 70 is composed of a first descending portion 71B-1 that descends from the top wall portion 71A of the lid 70, a flange portion 71B-2 that extends outward from the first descending portion 71B-1, and a second descending portion 71B-3 that descends from the flange portion 71B-2, with the flange portion 71B-2 and the second descending portion 71B-3 forming the fitting side wall portion 71C. On the other hand, the first outer peripheral portion 83 of the container body 80 is composed of a flange portion 83A, an upright portion 83B that rises from the flange portion 83A, and a projection 83C that protrudes inward from the upright portion 83B into the container body 80. The flange portion 83A, the upright portion 83B, and the projection portion 83C form a guide portion that guides the side portion 71B of the lid 70, and the projection portion 83C prevents the fitting side wall portion 71C of the lid 70 (flange portion 71B-2 and second descending portion 71B-3) from detaching upward from the container body 80.

[0048] Although embodiments applying the invention made by the present inventors have been described above, the present invention is not limited by the descriptions and drawings that constitute part of the disclosure of the present invention in these embodiments. That is to say, all other embodiments, examples, and operational techniques made by those skilled in the art based on these embodiments are of course included in the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0049] 1 Packaging container 10 Container body 11C opening 13A Flange section (guide section) 13B Standing part (guiding part) 13C Projection (Guide) 20 Lid 21B, 21B A pair of parallel sides 21C Side wall section (fitting side wall section) 30 Lid 31B, 31B A pair of parallel sides 31C Side wall part (mating side wall part) 40 Lid 41B, 41B A pair of parallel sides 50 Container body 53A Flange section (guide section) 53B Inclined standing part (guide part) 53C Protrusion 60 Lid 61B, 61B A pair of parallel sides 61B-1 Inclined descending part (mating side wall part) 61B-2 Descending part (mating side wall part) 70 Lid 71B, 71B A pair of parallel sides 71B-2 Flange section (fitting side wall section) 71B-3 2nd descending part (mating side wall part) 80 Container body 83A Flange section (guide section) 83B Standing part (guiding part) 83C Projection (Guide)

Claims

1. A packaging container comprising a container body having an upward-facing opening, and a lid that is slidably coupled to the container body and capable of opening and closing the opening, The lid has a pair of parallel sides extending in the sliding direction, The container body has a pair of guides that guide the pair of parallel sides, Each of the aforementioned sides of the lid has a side wall portion having height, A packaging container in which each of the guide portions of the container body has a projection that prevents the side wall portion from detaching upward.

2. The packaging container according to claim 1, wherein the protrusions are partially formed on each of the guide portions.

3. The packaging container according to claim 1, wherein a protrusion is formed on the container body, and the lid slides over the protrusion on the container body, thereby locking the lid in a closed position that closes the opening.

4. The pair of guide sections are, A pair of flange portions extending in opposite directions from the opening end of the aforementioned opening, A pair of upright portions rise upward from the flange portion and are arranged parallel to each other, The projection that protrudes from the upper end of the upright portion toward the opening, It has, The packaging container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the side wall portion is slidably inserted between the flange portion, the upright portion, and the projection portion.

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