Compact container

Abstract

When opening the lid, the force with which the lid rotates upward relative to the container body is suppressed. [Solution] The container comprises a container body 11, a lid 12, a first connecting pin 13 and a second connecting pin 14. The first connecting pin is fitted into a first fitting hole 15 and a second fitting hole 16, respectively, formed on the inner surface of the first insertion recess 25 and on the first leg piece 27. The second connecting pin is fitted into a third fitting hole 17 and a fourth fitting hole 18, respectively, formed on the inner surface of the second insertion recess 26 and on the second leg piece 28. A biasing member 21 is provided between the inner circumferential surface of the first fitting hole and the inner circumferential surface of the second fitting hole, biasing the lid upward with respect to the container body around the central axis O. The second connecting pin is fixed to either the third fitting hole 17 or the fourth fitting hole 18, and rotatably fitted into the other fitting hole, with a lubricant sealed between the outer circumferential surface of the second connecting pin and the inner circumferential surface of the other fitting hole.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a compact container.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as shown in Patent Document 1 below, for example, there is provided a flat bottomed cylindrical container body having a storage portion for storing contents, a lid body for closing the storage portion so as to be openable, a connecting pin for connecting the container body and the lid body to each other, a locking portion is formed on the container body, a locked portion detachably locked to the locking portion is formed on the lid body, an insertion recess is formed in the peripheral wall of the container body, a leg piece protruding downward and inserted into the insertion recess is formed on the lid body, the connecting pin is fitted into a first fitting hole and a second fitting hole respectively formed on the inner surface of the insertion recess and the leg piece, and by rotating the lid body around the central axis of the connecting pin with respect to the container body, the storage portion is opened and closed, and an urging member for urging the lid body upward around the central axis with respect to the container body is provided between the connecting pin and the inner peripheral surfaces of the first fitting hole and the second fitting hole respectively. A compact container is known. In this compact container, when the engagement between the locked portion of the lid body and the locking portion of the container body is released, the lid body rotates upward around the central axis with respect to the container body by the urging force of the urging member, and the storage portion of the container body is opened.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the conventional compact container, when the engagement between the locked portion of the lid body and the locking portion of the container body is released, there is a problem that the lid body rotates upward around the central axis with respect to the container body with great momentum. In this case, there is a risk that the compact container may fall from your hand when opening the lid, or that it may not be able to convey a sense of luxury.

[0005] The present invention provides a compact container that can suppress the force with which the lid rotates upward relative to the container body when the lid is opened. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A compact container according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a flat, bottomed cylindrical container body having a storage section for containing contents, a lid that removably closes the storage section, and a first connecting pin and a second connecting pin that connect the container body and the lid to each other and are arranged coaxially, wherein a locking portion is formed on the container body, and a locked portion is formed on the lid that is detachably locked to the locking portion, and a first insertion recess and a second insertion recess are formed on the peripheral wall of the container body at intervals in the axial direction extending from the central axes of the first connecting pin and the second connecting pin, respectively, and a first leg piece and a second leg piece are formed on the lid that protrude downward and are respectively inserted into the first insertion recess and the second insertion recess, respectively, and the first connecting pin is formed on the inner surface of the first insertion recess and the first leg piece respectively The lid is fitted into a first fitting hole and a second fitting hole, and the second connecting pin is fitted into a third fitting hole and a fourth fitting hole separately formed on the inner surface of the second insertion recess and the second leg piece, respectively, and the lid rotates around the central axis relative to the container body, thereby attaching and detaching the locked portion to the locked portion and opening and closing the housing portion, and a biasing member is provided between the first connecting pin and the inner circumferential surfaces of the first fitting hole and the second fitting hole respectively, biasing the lid upward around the central axis relative to the container body, the second connecting pin is fixed to one of the third fitting hole and the fourth fitting hole and rotatably fitted into the other fitting hole, and a lubricant is sealed between the outer circumferential surface of the second connecting pin and the inner circumferential surface of the other fitting hole.

[0007] A biasing member is provided between the first connecting pin and the inner circumferential surfaces of the first and second fitting holes, respectively, which biases the lid upward relative to the container body around the central axis. Therefore, when the engagement between the locked portion of the lid and the locked portion of the container body is released, the biasing force of the biasing member causes the lid to rotate upward relative to the container body around the central axis, opening the housing portion of the container body. In this configuration, the second connecting pin is fixed to either the third or fourth fitting hole and rotatably fitted into the other fitting hole, and a lubricant is sealed between the outer surface of the second connecting pin and the inner surface of the other fitting hole. Therefore, the frictional force and viscous resistance generated between the outer surface of the second connecting pin and the inner surface of the other fitting hole can suppress the momentum with which the lid rotates upward relative to the container body. As described above, the first connecting pin and biasing member having an automatic opening function and the second connecting pin and lubricant having a damping function are provided at axial distances from each other. Therefore, compared to a configuration where both of these functions are provided together in the same location, for example, bulkiness can be reduced.

[0008] The biasing member comprises a coil spring portion extending in the axial direction, and a pair of arm portions that separately project from both ends of the coil spring portion in the axial direction, with tangents extending in the tangential direction that circumstantialize the outer surface of the coil spring portion when viewed from the axial direction. In the first fitting hole and the second fitting hole, portions facing each other in the axial direction are formed to have a larger diameter than other portions, into which the coil spring portion is inserted, and the first connecting pin is inserted inside the coil spring portion. The pair of arm portions may be separately inserted into a first longitudinal groove formed on the inner circumferential surface of the first fitting hole and extending in the axial direction, and into a second longitudinal groove formed on the inner circumferential surface of the second fitting hole and extending in the axial direction.

[0009] Since the biasing member comprises a coil spring portion and a pair of arm portions, with a first connecting pin inserted inside the coil spring portion, and the pair of arm portions separately inserted into a first longitudinal groove formed on the inner circumferential surface of the first fitting hole and extending in the axial direction, and a second longitudinal groove formed on the inner circumferential surface of the second fitting hole and extending in the axial direction, it is possible to reliably obtain a biasing member that biases the lid upward relative to the container body around the central axis while suppressing the bulkiness of the biasing member. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the above embodiment of the present invention, when opening the lid, the momentum with which the lid rotates upward relative to the container body can be suppressed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is a top view including a partial cross-sectional view of a compact container according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in Figure 1. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the compact container 1 of this embodiment comprises a container body 11 having a storage section 11a in which contents are contained, a lid 12 that retractably closes the storage section 11a, and a first connecting pin 13 and a second connecting pin 14 that connect the container body 11 and the lid 12 to each other and are arranged coaxially. The storage section 11a is opened and closed when the lid 12 rotates around the central axis O of the first connecting pin 13 and the second connecting pin 14 relative to the container body 11. The container body 11, the lid 12, and the second connecting pin 14 are made of resin material, while the first connecting pin 13 is made of metal material. The first connecting pin 13 may also be made of resin material.

[0013] Hereinafter, the direction in which the housing section 11a is open will be referred to as the upper side, and the opposite direction will be referred to as the lower side. The central axis O extends in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction. Hereinafter, the direction in which the central axis O extends will be referred to as the left-right direction (axial direction). The direction perpendicular to the up-down and left-right directions will be referred to as the front-back direction. Of the front-back direction, the side on which the first connecting pin 13 and the second connecting pin 14 are provided will be referred to as the rear side, and the opposite side will be referred to as the front side. When viewed from the left or right, the direction that intersects the central axis O is called the radial direction, and when viewed from the left or right, the direction that circles around the central axis O is called the circumferential direction.

[0014] The container body 11 is formed in a flattened, bottomed cylindrical shape, where the vertical dimension is smaller than the dimension in the direction that intersects the vertical dimension. A first insertion recess 25 and a second insertion recess 26 are formed at the rear end of the peripheral wall of the container body 11, spaced apart in the left-right direction. The first insertion recess 25 and the second insertion recess 26 penetrate the container body 11 in the vertical direction and open to the outer circumferential surface of the peripheral wall of the container body 11. The first insertion recess 25 and the second insertion recess 26 are formed separately at both ends of the container body 11 in the left-right direction. A first fitting hole 15 and a third fitting hole 17 are formed separately on the inner surface of the first insertion recess 25 and the second insertion recess 26, respectively, extending in the left-right direction. The first fitting hole 15 and the third fitting hole 17 are arranged coaxially with the central axis O. The length of the first fitting hole 15 is shorter than the length of the third fitting hole 17. The third fitting hole 17 spans the left-right central part of the container body 11.

[0015] The rear end of the lid 12 has a first leg piece 27 and a second leg piece 28 that project downward and are inserted separately into a first insertion recess 25 and a second insertion recess 26, respectively. The first leg piece 27 and the second leg piece 28 are formed separately at both ends of the lid 12 in the left-right direction. The first leg piece 27 and the second leg piece 28 are in contact with or close to the inner surfaces of the first insertion recess 25 and the second insertion recess 26, respectively. The first leg piece 27 and the second leg piece 28 each have a second fitting hole 16 and a fourth fitting hole 18 that extend in the left-right direction. The second fitting hole 16 is opposite the first fitting hole 15 in the left-right direction, and the fourth fitting hole 18 is opposite the third fitting hole 17 in the left-right direction.

[0016] The second fitting hole 16 has a circular shape when viewed from the left-right direction, and the fourth fitting hole 18 has a non-circular shape when viewed from the left-right direction. In the illustrated example, the fourth fitting hole 18 has a rectangular shape when viewed from the left-right direction, with a protruding curve on the shorter side and a straight line on the longer side. However, the fourth fitting hole 18 may also have a circular shape when viewed from the left-right direction.

[0017] Here, a recessed portion is formed in the center of the front end of the peripheral wall of the container body 11 in the left-right direction, which is recessed toward the rear and opens toward the top, and a push piece 19 is disposed in this recessed portion so as to be movable toward the rear. As shown in Figure 2, the inner surface of the recessed portion of the container body 11 has a guide surface 11c facing upward and extending upward as it goes from front to back, and a locking portion 11d located directly above the guide surface 11c. The locking portion 11d protrudes forward. The front end of the lid 12 has a locking portion 12b that extends downward and protrudes rearward from the lower end, and is detachably locked to the locking portion 11d. The locking portion 12b engages with the locking portion 11d detachably from below the locking portion 11d. Then, as the push piece 19 moves backward, it slides on the guide surface 11c and pushes up the locked portion 12b, rotating the lid body 12 upward around the central axis O with respect to the container body 11 while causing the locking portion 11d to be overcome upward. As a result, the engagement between the locked portion 12b and the locking portion 11d is released.

[0018] The first connecting pin 13 is integrally fitted into the first fitting hole 15 and the second fitting hole 16. The first connecting pin 13 is fitted over the entire length in each of the first fitting hole 15 and the second fitting hole 16. The first connecting pin 13 is rotatably fitted into the first fitting hole 15 while being fixed in the second fitting hole 16, but it may also be rotatably fitted into the second fitting hole 16 while being fixed in the first fitting hole 15. The second fitting hole 16 penetrates the first leg piece 27 in the left - right direction. The length of the first fitting hole 15 is shorter than the length of the second fitting hole 16.

[0019] An urging member 21 for urging the lid body 12 upward around the central axis O with respect to the container body 11 is provided between the first connecting pin 13 and the inner peripheral surfaces of each of the first fitting hole 15 and the second fitting hole 1 6. The urging member 21 includes a coil spring portion 22 extending in the left - right direction and a pair of arm portions 23 respectively protruding in the tangential direction in which a tangent line extending from both ends in the left - right direction of the coil spring portion 22 circumscribes the outer peripheral surface of the coil spring portion 22 when viewed from the left - right direction.

[0020] Here, in the first fitting hole 15, a first insertion portion 15a facing the second fitting hole 16 in the left - right direction is formed with a larger diameter than other portions. In the second fitting hole 16, a second insertion portion 16a facing the first fitting hole 15 in the left - right direction is formed with a larger diameter than other portions. The coil spring portion 22 is integrally inserted into the first insertion portion 15a and the second insertion portion 16a, and the first connecting pin 13 is inserted inside the coil spring portion 22. The coil spring portion 22 is formed in a closely wound shape without an inter - wire gap, but a configuration with an inter - wire gap may also be adopted.

[0021] A first longitudinal groove 15b is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the first insertion portion 15a, recessed radially outward and extending in the left-right direction. A second longitudinal groove 16b is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the second insertion portion 16a, recessed radially outward and extending in the left-right direction. The first longitudinal groove 15b is recessed forward from the inner circumferential surface of the first insertion portion 15a, and the second longitudinal groove 16b is recessed rearward from the inner circumferential surface of the second insertion portion 16a. A pair of arm portions 23 are inserted separately into the first longitudinal groove 15b and the second longitudinal groove 16b and supported in the circumferential direction.

[0022] The second connecting pin 14 is integrally fitted into the third fitting hole 17 and the fourth fitting hole 18. The second connecting pin 14 is fitted along the entire length of each of the third fitting hole 17 and the fourth fitting hole 18. The second connecting pin 14 is fixed to either the third fitting hole 17 or the fourth fitting hole 18, and is rotatably fitted into either the other fitting hole.

[0023] In the illustrated example, the second connecting pin 14 is fixed in the fourth fitting hole 18 and rotatably fitted into the third fitting hole 17, but it may also be fixed in the third fitting hole 17 and rotatably fitted into the fourth fitting hole 18. The length of the fourth fitting hole 18 is shorter than the length of the third fitting hole 17. The fourth fitting hole 18 penetrates the second leg piece 28 in the left-right direction. Of the third fitting hole 17, the third insertion portion 17a that faces the fourth fitting hole 18 in the left-right direction is formed to have a larger diameter than the other portions.

[0024] Of the second connecting pin 14, the middle portion in the left-right direction is formed as a large-diameter portion 14a, which is larger in diameter than the other parts, and is fitted into the third insertion portion 17a. On the inner surface of the third insertion portion 17a, an O-ring 24 is provided between the abutment surface, which is located at the deepest position in the left-right direction and faces left-right, and the large-diameter portion 14a, sandwiched in the left-right direction by the abutment surface and the large-diameter portion 14a. The large-diameter portion 14a is sandwiched in the left-right direction by the second leg piece 28 and the O-ring 24.

[0025] A lubricant, such as silicone oil, is sealed between the outer circumferential surface of the second connecting pin 14 and the inner circumferential surface of the third fitting hole 17. In the second connecting pin 14, multiple grooves 14b extending in the left-right direction are formed at circumferential intervals on the outer circumferential surface of the portion of the second connecting pin 14 other than the large-diameter portion 14a that is fitted into the third fitting hole 17. The grooves 14b are formed along the entire length in the left-right direction on the outer circumferential surface of the portion of the second connecting pin 14 that is located between the large-diameter portion 14a and the end opposite to the large-diameter portion 14a. The grooves 14b are arranged on the outer circumferential surface of the second connecting pin 14 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

[0026] As described above, in the compact container 1 according to this embodiment, a biasing member 21 is provided between the first connecting pin 13 and the inner surfaces of the first fitting hole 15 and the second fitting hole 16, respectively, which biases the lid 12 upwards around the central axis O relative to the container body 11. Therefore, when the engagement between the locked portion 12b of the lid 12 and the locked portion 11d of the container body 11 is released, the biasing force of the biasing member 21 causes the lid 12 to rotate upwards around the central axis O relative to the container body 11, and the housing portion 11a of the container body 11 is opened.

[0027] In this case, the second connecting pin 14 is fixed to either the third fitting hole 17 or the fourth fitting hole 18, and rotatably fitted into the other fitting hole, and a lubricant is sealed between the outer surface of the second connecting pin 14 and the inner surface of the other fitting hole. Therefore, the frictional force and viscous resistance generated between the outer surface of the second connecting pin 14 and the inner surface of the other fitting hole can suppress the momentum that causes the lid 12 to rotate upward relative to the container body 11.

[0028] As described above, the first connecting pin 13 and biasing member 21, which have an automatic opening function, and the second connecting pin 14 and lubricant, which have a damper function, are provided separated in the left-right direction. Therefore, compared to a configuration in which both of these functions are provided together in the same location, for example, bulkiness can be reduced.

[0029] The biasing member 21 comprises a coil spring portion 22 and a pair of arm portions 23, with a first connecting pin 13 inserted inside the coil spring portion 22, and the pair of arm portions 23 being inserted separately into a first vertical groove 15b formed on the inner circumferential surface of the first insertion portion 15a and extending in the left-right direction, and a second vertical groove 16b formed on the inner circumferential surface of the second insertion portion 16a and extending in the left-right direction. Thus, while suppressing the bulkiness of the biasing member 21, it is possible to reliably obtain a biasing member 21 that biases the lid 12 upward relative to the container body 11 around the central axis O.

[0030] Furthermore, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0031] For example, it is not necessary to provide an O-ring 24 between the abutment surface, which is located at the deepest position in the left-right direction on the inner surface of the third insertion portion 17a and faces left-right, and the large-diameter portion 14a. It is not necessary to form a groove 14b on the outer surface of the second connecting pin 14. A groove may be formed on the inner circumferential surface of the third fitting hole 17.

[0032] Furthermore, without departing from the spirit of the present invention, the components in the above embodiments may be replaced with well-known components as appropriate, and the above embodiments and modifications may be combined as appropriate. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0033] 1. Compact container 11 Container body 11a Storage area 11d Locking part 12 Lid 12b Locked part 13. First connecting pin 14. Second connecting pin 15 First fitting hole 15a First insertion section 15b First longitudinal groove 16 Second fitting hole 16a Second insertion section 16b 2nd vertical groove 17 Third fitting hole 18. Fourth fitting hole 21. Biasing member 22 Coil spring section 23 Arm section 25 First insertion recess 26 Second insertion recess 27 1st leg piece 28 Second leg piece O center axis

Claims

1. A flat, bottomed cylindrical container body having a compartment for containing contents, A lid that allows the aforementioned housing to be opened and closed, The container body and the lid are connected to each other and comprise a first connecting pin and a second connecting pin arranged coaxially, The container body has a locking portion formed therein, and the lid has a locking portion that is detachably locked to the locking portion. The peripheral wall of the container body has a first insertion recess and a second insertion recess formed at intervals in the axial direction in which the central axes of the first connecting pin and the second connecting pin extend, respectively. The lid has a first leg piece and a second leg piece that protrude downward and are inserted separately into the first insertion recess and the second insertion recess, respectively. The first connecting pin is fitted into the inner surface of the first insertion recess and into the first fitting hole and the second fitting hole, respectively, formed in the first leg piece. The second connecting pin is fitted into the inner surface of the second insertion recess and into the third and fourth fitting holes separately formed in the second leg piece. As the lid rotates relative to the container body around the central axis, the locking portion is attached to and detached from the locking portion, and the storage portion is opened and closed. A biasing member is provided between the first connecting pin and the inner circumferential surfaces of the first and second fitting holes, respectively, which biases the lid upward with respect to the container body around the central axis. The second connecting pin is fixed to either the third fitting hole or the fourth fitting hole, and is rotatably fitted into the other fitting hole. A compact container in which a lubricant is sealed between the outer surface of the second connecting pin and the inner surface of the other fitting hole.

2. The biasing member is The coil spring portion extending in the axial direction, The coil spring portion comprises a pair of arm portions that protrude separately from both ends in the axial direction of the coil spring portion, in the tangential direction from which a tangent line that is circumstantial to the outer surface of the coil spring portion extends when viewed from the axial direction, In the first fitting hole and the second fitting hole, the portions facing each other in the axial direction are formed to have a larger diameter than the other portions, and the coil spring portion is inserted into them. The first connecting pin is inserted inside the coil spring portion. The compact container according to claim 1, wherein the pair of arm portions are each inserted separately into a first longitudinal groove formed on the inner circumferential surface of the first fitting hole and extending in the axial direction, and into a second longitudinal groove formed on the inner circumferential surface of the second fitting hole and extending in the axial direction.

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