Packaging containers

Abstract

The present invention provides a packaging container that is easier to assemble, in addition to a packaging container with an internal and external interlocking structure that allows for a secure fit. [Solution] The packaging container comprises a container body and a lid that fits onto the container body. The lid has a fitting projection 34 that protrudes downward and has fitting fastening portions 34a that are bulged on the inner and outer sides of the lid. The container body has a fitting recess 24 that is recessed downward and has a fitting receiving portion 24a that engages with the fitting fastening portion 34a. Part or all of the fitting recess 24 has a first leg portion 25 that extends downward and is longer than the protruding length of the fitting projection 34, and a second leg portion 26 that protrudes downward and is provided on the inside of the container body further inside than the first leg portion 25. The shape of the inner side of the fitting projection 34 and the outer side of the lid are asymmetrical.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a packaging container in which a lid can be firmly fitted to a container body and is easy to fit.

Background Art

[0002] Containers made of thin resin sheets are widespread. For example, in retail stores, they are used for packaging food products such as boxed lunches and prepared dishes, and in restaurants, they are used for takeout. In such containers, in the past, cellophane tape or staplers were sometimes used to attach the lid to the container body, but currently, many have a fitting structure in which the lid is fitted to the container body.

[0003] As the fitting structure of the container, for example, an outer fitting structure, an inner fitting structure, an inner and outer fitting structure, etc. are well known. Among these, the inner and outer fitting structure has a strong fitting force, can be firmly fitted, and has excellent airtightness.

[0004] As a container having an inner and outer fitting structure, for example, in Patent Document 1 below, there is disclosed "an inner and outer fitting type packaging container comprising a container body having a fitting ridge provided around the upper part of the side wall and a lid having a fitting groove fitted to the fitting ridge, wherein an inclined surface for avoiding the contact of the contact plane on the lid side is formed on the side wall from the bottom surface of the container body to the fitting ridge while leaving a part of the contact plane on the container body side where the contact plane on the lid side will contact."

[0005] Furthermore, Patent Document 2 discloses "an internal and external fitting structure for a packaging container in which a container body and a lid are fitted together, comprising a fitting projection provided on either the container body or the lid, and a fitting recess provided on the other of the container body or the lid that can be fitted into the fitting projection, wherein the fitting projection has, in cross-section, an inverted tapered lower inclined surface on the base end side and a tapered upper inclined surface on the tip end side, and the length of the upper inclined surface located on the inside of the container of the fitting projection is longer than the length of the upper inclined surface located on the outside of the container of the fitting projection." [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2007-176507 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2017-137124 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] Inner and outer interlocking structures are often found on the flange portion of the outer edge of the container body and lid. In such cases, the flange portion has a shape in which a thin plate protrudes outward, making it prone to bending when force is applied, which can cause the force to be lost and make it difficult to interlock. In particular, while inner and outer interlocking structures have a strong interlocking force, they also require force to interlock, so if the flange portion is not supported to prevent deformation, it may not interlock properly.

[0008] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a packaging container that is easy to fit together, in addition to a packaging container that has an internal and external fitting structure that can be firmly fitted together. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] One embodiment of the present invention is a packaging container comprising a container body and a lid fitted to the container body, wherein the lid has a downward projectionFurthermore, fitting fasteners are provided on the inner and outer sides of the lid, with the fasteners being raised. It has a fitting projection, and the container body has a recess at the bottom, It has a fitting receiving portion that engages the fitting fastening portion. A fitting recess is provided, and part or all of the fitting recess The container comprises a first leg portion that extends downward and is longer than the protruding length of the fitting projection, and a second leg portion that protrudes downward and is located inside the container body beyond the first leg portion, and the shape of the inner side surface of the fitting projection and the outer side surface of the lid are asymmetrical. It is characterized by the following:

[0010] The above-described packaging container is provided with a fitting recess in the container body, and by extending part or all of the recess downward to form a first leg, when attempting to fit the fitting projection into the fitting recess, the lower end of the first leg makes contact with the ground and supports the fitting recess. As a result, the fitting recess does not bend, making it easier to transmit force and allowing the fitting projection to be easily fitted.

[0011] The packaging container of the above configuration may be equipped with a second leg that protrudes downward and is located inside the container from the first leg. This allows the container to be supported by both the first and second legs, making it easier to fit the fitting projection into the fitting recess. More preferably, if the first leg, flange, second leg, and bottom surface are arranged from the outside of the container body in that order, the support from both the first and second legs makes it easier to fit the fitting projection into the fitting recess, and also prevents the container body from bending due to the weight of the contents when it is filled.

[0012] Furthermore, the second leg can be made to protrude lower than the first leg. As a result, when the container body is placed on a shelf or table, the first leg will be slightly elevated. However, when fitting the mating protrusion into the mating recess, the first leg will flex and the lower end will make contact with the ground, allowing for a firm fit. Also, even if the lower end of the first leg is crushed or deformed during fitting, the second leg will function as a leg and support the container body, allowing for stable display.

[0013] In the above-described packaging container, the fitting projection is formed on the flange portion of the lid, and a fitting stopper portion with a bulging side is provided at the tip of the fitting projection, and the fitting recess is formed on the flange portion of the container body, and a fitting receiver portion for engaging the fitting stopper portion is provided on the side of the fitting recess. This prevents the fitting stopper portion at the tip of the fitting projection from fitting into the fitting receiver portion, preventing the fitting projection from going too far into the fitting recess, and preventing the flange portions from sticking together and becoming difficult to open.

[0014] The packaging container of the above form can have its first leg formed in the shape of an inverted trapezoidal thin plate. This makes it less likely for the thickness of the lower end of the first leg to become thin during molding, prevents deformation of the first leg when closing the lid, and makes it easier to apply force when fitting the fitting protrusion into the fitting recess. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of the container body and lid in the open state, showing a packaging container according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a front view of the container body and lid of the packaging container. [Figure 3] Figure 1 is a plan view of the container body of the packaging container. [Figure 4] Figure 1 is a plan view of the lid of the packaging container. [Figure 5] Figure 1 shows the area near the corners of the packaging container, with (A) being a cross-sectional view in the open state and (B) being a cross-sectional view in the closed state. [Figure 6] This figure illustrates the inclination angle of the side surface of the fitting projection in the packaging container shown in Figure 1. [Figure 7] This figure illustrates the length of the tip corner of the fitting projection in the packaging container shown in Figure 1. [Figure 8] This is a cross-sectional view illustrating a case where the lengths of the first and second legs of the packaging container shown in Figure 1 are different. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0016] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the packaging container of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, the packaging container 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a container body 2 and a lid body 3 that fits onto the container body 2 to cover the opening 2a. The packaging container 1 is formed in a thin and flat horizontally long rectangular parallelepiped shape. Although not particularly limited, it can be made to have dimensions of about 60 mm in height, 200 mm in length, and 150 mm in width, and is suitable for accommodating food products such as pre-packaged vegetables, fruits, vegetables, cooked rice, noodles, etc. However, the contents to be accommodated are not limited to this.

[0018] The packaging container 1 is not limited to the above shape. For example, in a plan view, it can be circular, oval, or in addition, triangular, or in a polygonal shape such as square, rectangular, parallelogram, trapezoid, pentagonal, hexagonal, octagonal, etc.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 3, the container body 2 is formed in a rectangular corner dish shape with chamfered corners in a plan view. As shown in FIG. 5, it includes a bottom surface portion 21, a peripheral wall surface portion 22 arranged to surround the bottom surface portion 21 and rising upward, a flange portion 23 that horizontally projects outward from the upper edge portion of the peripheral wall surface portion 22, a fitting concave portion 24 formed by recessing the flange portion 23 downward, and a first leg portion 25 formed by extending a part of the fitting concave portion 24 downward.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 3, the bottom surface portion 21 has a horizontally flat placement surface 21a that is rectangular in a plan view on which the contents can be placed, and a groove portion 21b recessed with a certain width is formed around it. Near the corners of the container body 2, a second leg portion 26 is provided which is formed by further recessing the groove portion 21b downward. As shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 3, on the placement surface 21a, elongated convex strip portions 21c are arranged obliquely in parallel at appropriate intervals, and circularly recessed minute concave portions 21d are arranged at appropriate intervals along the center transverse line of the main body 2. The convex strip portions 21c and the minute concave portions 21d can be used as reference lines or reference points when arranging the contents on the placement surface 21a.

[0021] The groove 21b can serve as a storage area for moisture that seeps out when food products or other items are placed on the surface 21a. The second legs 26 are formed in a stepped shape, with their bottom surfaces sloping downwards from both left and right ends towards the corners of the container body 2, so that their bottom surfaces can make contact with the ground and support the container body 2. It is also possible to omit the second legs 26.

[0022] As shown in Figure 5, the peripheral wall portion 22 is formed to rise from the periphery of the bottom portion 21 and widen upward, and the opening 2a formed at the upper edge of the peripheral wall portion 22 is designed to have a rectangular shape with chamfered corners in a plan view.

[0023] The peripheral wall surface 22 is provided with uneven rib portions 22a that extend in the height direction, reinforcing the container body 2. The rib portions 22a are provided partially on the peripheral wall surface 22, but may also be provided all over.

[0024] As shown in Figure 5, the flange portion 23 extends horizontally from the upper edge of the peripheral wall surface portion 22 to the outside of the container body 2, and is formed in a stepped shape with the outer side raised by one level. Near the outer edge of the flange portion 23, fitting recesses 24 are provided around the entire circumference of the container body 2, recessed downward to an appropriate depth, allowing fitting protrusions 34, which will be described later, to be fitted into them. The fitting recess 24 is partially extended downward to form a first leg portion 25. In cross-section, the fitting recess 24 in the portion where the first leg portion 25 is formed has a vertically elongated U-shape to V-shape, as shown in Figure 5, with both sides formed in a bent shape, and a fitting receiving portion 24a that bulges outward near the middle in the height direction, and a locking projection 24b that is recessed inward and constricted near the flange portion 23. Furthermore, the opening of the fitting recess 24 is designed so that the opening width gradually increases towards the top, making it easier to insert the fitting projection 34.

[0025] In this embodiment, the first legs 25 are provided at a total of six locations: four at the corners of the container body 2 and two near the midpoint of the two long sides. However, the invention is not limited to this, and the legs may be provided around the entire circumference of the container body 2. The first leg portion 25 is formed in the shape of an inverted trapezoidal thin plate. This makes it less likely for the thickness of the lower end of the first leg portion 25 to become thin during molding, and prevents deformation of the first leg portion when the lid is closed. The lower end of the first leg portion 25 is flush with the lower end of the second leg portion 26, so that when the container body 2 is placed on a shelf or desk, both lower ends of the legs 25 and 26 make contact with the ground. As a result, the container body 2 is supported by both legs 25 and 26, allowing it to be placed stably and facilitating the assembly process. If the lower end of the second leg portion 26 is formed to be wider than the lower end of the first leg portion 25, the container body 2 can be placed stably on the second leg portion 26.

[0026] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, the container body 2 is provided with a triangular-shaped handle 27 in plan view, which extends outward from the container body 2 at diagonal corners.

[0027] As shown in Figures 1, 2, or 4, the lid 3 is formed in a trapezoidal shape and comprises a top surface 31, a side wall surface 32 extending downward from the periphery of the top surface 31, a flange portion 33 protruding outward from the lower edge of the side wall surface 32, and a fitting projection 34 protruding downward from the flange portion 33 and fitting into the fitting recess 24.

[0028] As shown in Figure 4, the top surface 31 is a rectangular horizontal surface with chamfered corners in a plan view. The side wall portion 32 is a surface that hangs down or slopes downward from the periphery of the top portion 31. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 5, it is an inclined surface with a different angle on the upper and lower sides, with the upper side being a steep slope and the lower side being a gentle slope.

[0029] As shown in Figure 5, the flange portion 33 is formed to protrude horizontally from the outside of the lid. The flange portion 33 is provided with a fitting projection 34 that protrudes downward and fits inward and outward into the fitting recess 24, extending around the entire circumference of the lid 3. At the boundary between the side wall surface portion 32 and the flange portion 33, as shown in FIG. 6, an appropriate lower portion 32a that protrudes downward in a U-shape can be provided so that the water droplets that have traveled along the inner surface of the side wall surface portion 32 drip off.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 5, the fitting convex portion 34 protrudes downward near the outer edge of the flange portion 33 and is formed in a substantially U-shaped cross-section. At its tip, a fitting retaining portion 34a with its side surface bulging outward is formed so as to fit into the fitting receiving portion 24a. Further, near the flange portion 33, a locking receiving portion 34b recessed inward is formed so that the locking convex portion 24b locks thereto. Thus, the fitting convex portion 34 is internally and externally fitted into the fitting concave portion 24 so as not to come off.

[0031] The shapes of the fitting convex portion 34 and the fitting concave portion 24 may be symmetric in cross-section, but in order to facilitate the escape of air inside the fitting concave portion 24 (and the first leg portion 25), it is preferably an asymmetric shape. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the angle of the side surface of the fitting convex portion 34 with respect to the vertical direction is made different between the inner side θ1 of the lid body and the outer side θ2 of the lid body. For example, by setting θ1 < θ2, the timing at which the locking convex portion 24b locks to the locking receiving portion 34b is different, and the air inside the fitting concave portion 24 (and the first leg portion 25) can escape easily, and they can be firmly fitted together. Also, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the length of the inclined surface of the tip corner portion of the fitting convex portion 34 is made different between the inner side L1 of the lid body and the outer side L2 of the lid body. For example, by setting L1 < L2, the timing at which the fitting retaining portion 34a locks to the fitting receiving portion 24a is different, and the air inside the fitting concave portion 24 (and the first leg portion 25) can escape easily, and they can be firmly fitted together.

[0032] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 4, the lid 3 is provided with a triangular-shaped knob 35 at diagonally opposite corners, extending outward from the lid 3, and a hemispherical bump 36 near the center of the knob 35. When the lid 3 is fitted onto the container body 2, the bump 36 abuts against the knob 27 of the container body 2, creating a gap between the knobs 27 and 35, as shown in Figure 5(B), making it easier to open.

[0033] The following describes an example of a manufacturing method for packaging container 1. The container body 2 and lid 3 are not particularly limited, but can be manufactured by thermoforming a synthetic resin sheet. The synthetic resin sheet may be either a non-foamed resin sheet or a foamed resin sheet, but a non-foamed resin sheet is preferred. The container body 2 may be made of a foamed resin sheet and the lid 3 of a non-foamed resin sheet, for example.

[0034] In the case of non-foamed resin sheets, it is preferable to use sheets with a thickness in the range of 0.1 mm to 2.0 mm, and particularly in the range of 0.2 mm to 1.2 mm. In the case of foamed resin sheets, it is preferable to use sheets with a thickness in the range of 0.5 mm to 4.0 mm, and especially in the range of 0.7 mm to 2.2 mm. Furthermore, in the case of foamed resin sheets, it is preferable to have a foaming ratio of 1.05 to 20.0 times, and especially in the range of 1.5 to 15.0 times.

[0035] As non-foamed resin sheets, thermoplastic resin sheets such as polyolefin resin sheets (e.g., polyethylene resin sheets, polypropylene resin sheets), polystyrene resin sheets, polyester resin sheets (e.g., polyethylene terephthalate resin sheets, modified polyethylene terephthalate resin sheets with heat resistance), etc., can be used. Alternatively, materials that can withstand microwave heating, such as heat-resistant polystyrene resin sheets, polypropylene resin sheets, or modified polyethylene terephthalate resin sheets with heat resistance, may be used.

[0036] As the foamed resin sheet, for example, foamed polyolefin resin sheets, foamed polystyrene resin sheets, and foamed polyester resin sheets such as foamed polyethylene terephthalate can be used. Laminated sheets made by laminating synthetic resin sheets can also be used. Examples of laminated sheets include laminated sheets made by heat-laminating a resin film onto a non-foamed resin sheet or a foamed resin sheet, laminated sheets made by co-extrusion, and laminated sheets made by extrusion lamination.

[0037] Biomass plastics may be used as non-foamed resin sheets, foamed resin sheets, and laminated sheets. Biomass plastics are polymer materials obtained by chemical or biological synthesis using materials derived from renewable organic resources as raw materials. Compared to petroleum-derived resins, biomass plastics can reduce carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere and thus reduce the burden on the environment. Examples of biomass plastics include polylactic acid resin, biomass polyethylene, and biomass polyethylene terephthalate.

[0038] Examples of thermoforming include vacuum forming, pressure forming, vacuum pressure forming, and hot plate forming.

[0039] The container body 2 is preferably colored, such as black or white, but may be transparent or semi-transparent so that the contents can be seen. The lid 3 is preferably transparent. In addition, if the container body 2 and lid 3 are transparent or semi-transparent, letters, pictures, or other designs may be printed or engraved on their surfaces to the extent that they do not impede visibility. Furthermore, reinforcing ribs may be provided at appropriate positions, and a textured surface may be applied to prevent slipping. Additionally, stacking protrusions, such as cubic or rectangular parallelepiped shapes, may be provided at appropriate positions on the container body 2 and lid 3.

[0040] The following describes an example of how to use packaging container 1. To close the lid of the packaging container 1, for example, the following can be done: The contents to be stored, such as food items, are placed on the mounting surface 21a of the container body 2, the lid 3 is placed over the container body 2, the fitting projection 34 is inserted into the fitting recess 24, and the upper part of the fitting projection 34 is pressed downward with a fingertip, causing the fitting locking portion 34a to engage with the fitting receiving portion 24a, and further, the locking projection 24b to engage with the locking receiving portion 34b, so that the fitting projection 34 fits inward and outward into the fitting recess 24. At this time, the lower end of the first leg portion 25, which is an extension of the fitting recess 24, is in contact with the ground and supported, so that the fitting projection 34 can be fitted into the fitting recess 24 with force, making the fitting process easier.

[0041] In conventional packaging containers with an internal-external interlocking structure, for example, the lid closing operation involved supporting the container with the tip of the thumb on the upper part of the interlocking section (lid side) and the tip of the index finger or other finger on the lower part of the interlocking section (container body side). This closing operation required lifting the packaging container itself, and when lifted, the contents would shift inside the container, disrupting the presentation and potentially compromising the product's value. The packaging container 1 of the present invention is easy to fit together, which can prevent the contents from becoming disorganized when the lid is closed.

[0042] Furthermore, by providing the second leg portion 26, the container body 2 is supported and stabilized by both the first leg portion 25 and the second leg portion 26, making the fitting process even easier. If the first leg portion 25, flange portion 23, second leg portion 26, and bottom portion 21 are arranged in that order from the outside of the container body 2, the support from both the first leg portion 25 and the second leg portion 26 makes it easier to fit the fitting projection portion 34 into the fitting recess portion 24, and also prevents the container body from bending due to the weight of the contents when it is filled.

[0043] By changing the position of the receiving portion 24a into which the fastening portion 34a fits in the height direction, the depth into which the fastening portion 34 fits can be adjusted. As a result, the flange portions 23 and 33 can be fitted together with an appropriate gap between them, making it easier to open the container.

[0044] In order to open the packaging container 1, for example, it can be done as follows. Using the thumb and index finger of the right hand, pinch the grip portion 27 of the container body 2, and using the thumb and index finger of the left hand, pinch the grip portion 35 of the lid body 3. While pulling the side of the body 2 downward, pull the side of the lid body 3 upward to disengage the fitting convex portion 34 from the fitting concave portion 24.

[0045] In this embodiment, the lower ends of the first leg portion 25 and the second leg portion 26 are flush. However, for the packaging container 1, the height positions of the both leg portions 25, 26 can also be made different. As shown in FIG. 8, the length from the flange portion 23 of the first leg portion 25 (D1 in FIG. 8) is made shorter than the length from the flange portion 23 of the second leg portion 26 (D2 in FIG. 8) (D1 < D2), so that when the container body 2 is placed on a shelf or the like, the first leg portion 25 can be made to float without touching the ground. Therefore, normally, the container body 2 can be stably supported by the second leg portion 26, and even if the first leg portion 25 is deformed by the fitting operation, the container body 2 can be supported by the second leg portion 26.

[0046] The configurations described in the above embodiments are not intended to limit the present invention, and modifications are possible as long as the technical objectives are common, and the present invention includes such modifications.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0047] 1 Packaging container 2 Container body 2a Opening 21 Bottom face portion 21a Placing surface 21b Groove portion 21c Ridge portion 21d Microscopic concave portion 22 Peripheral wall face portion 22a Rib portion 23 Flange portion 24 Fitting concave portion 24a Fitting receiving portion 24b Locking convex portion 25 First leg portion 26 Second leg portion 27 Grip portion 3 Lid 31 Top section 32 Side wall section 32a Dripping part 33 Flange section 34 Fitting protrusion 34a Fitting fastening part 34b Locking part 35. Thumb part 36 studs

Claims

1. A packaging container comprising a container body and a lid fitted to the container body, The lid is provided with a fitting projection that protrudes downward and has a fitting fastening portion that is raised on the inner and outer sides of the lid. The container body is provided with a fitting recess that is recessed downwards and has a fitting receiving portion that engages with the fitting fastener, The fitting recess is provided with a first leg portion that extends downward and is longer than the protruding length of the fitting projection, and a second leg portion that protrudes downward and is provided on the inside of the container body beyond the first leg portion. The shape of the inner side surface of the fitting projection and the outer side surface of the lid are asymmetrical. Packaging containers.

2. The packaging container according to Claim 1, wherein the fitting projection is formed on the flange portion of the lid and the fitting recess is formed on the flange portion of the container body.

3. The packaging container according to Claim 2, wherein each of the tip corners of the tip of the fitting projection is formed as an inclined surface, and the length of the inclined surface on the outside of the lid is made longer than the length of the inclined surface on the inside of the lid.

4. The packaging container according to claim 2, wherein the angle of the fitting projection on the outer side of the lid with respect to the vertical is formed to be greater than the angle of the inner side of the lid with respect to the vertical.

Images