Storage container

Abstract

To provide a storage container capable of storing columnar storage items in an order in which they are put in without rearranging them, keeping the order regardless of a posture of a main body, and surely taking out the stored items first.SOLUTION: A storage space 13 for storing columnar storage items 2 in a horizontal row is alternately bent upward and downward in a front-rear direction, and a distance 34 between an inclined portion 1111 between one bent portion on an upper side and the next bent portion, and an opposite inclined portion 1121 on a lower side is equal to or larger than a diameter of the storage item, and a distance 35 to a far inclined portion 1122 is less than a length of the storage item. Further, a distance 33 between an upper provisional line 31 connecting a downward peak 1113 of each upper bent portion and a lower provisional line 32 connecting an upward peak 1123 of each lower bent portion is less than the diameter of the storage item. With this setting, an axial direction of the stored items is regulated, and by moving the storage items while maintaining an arrangement, rearrangement becomes unnecessary, and reliable first-in first-out operation is possible.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a storage container for storing columnar containers such as dry batteries.

Background Art

[0002] Rechargeable dry batteries (also referred to as secondary batteries) discharge over time after charging. For this reason, it is common for users who use many rechargeable dry batteries to use the batteries that were charged earlier first. However, if dry batteries are stored in a simple box-shaped container, the positions of the dry batteries in the container will be disrupted when the container is carried, making it impossible to tell which batteries were charged first. If they are placed in a corrugated case like a pencil case, the positions will be maintained, but if the batteries are inserted in the order of charging, eventually there will be no space left to insert them, and rearrangement will be necessary.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] An object of the present invention is to solve such problems, and to provide a storage container that can always store columnar containers, and in which the arrangement of the containers in the storage space is not disrupted, and the containers that were inserted first can be surely taken out first.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] In order to achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage container for storing columnar containers in a horizontal row, wherein the storage space is repeatedly refracted or bent alternately upward and downward in the front-rear direction. Further, the vertical width of the storage space, and the height difference and repetition period of the refraction or bending are set so as to enable the containers to move stepwise in the front-rear direction and to regulate the posture of the containers so that the axial direction of the containers does not reverse.

[0005] According to this configuration, by accommodating the cylindrical object from one end in the front-rear direction of the accommodation space, the object can be stored while maintaining the order of arrangement along the order of accommodation from the other end to the one end. From the other end, the object that was accommodated earliest can be taken out.

[0006] The second aspect of the present invention is a storage container according to the first aspect, wherein a pair of openings communicating with the accommodation space and through which the object can pass are provided at both ends in the front-rear direction.

[0007] According to this configuration, the object can be put into the accommodation space from one opening and taken out from the other opening, and thereby, from the other opening, the object that was accommodated earliest can be taken out.

[0008] The third aspect of the present invention is a storage container according to the second aspect, wherein the upper and lower wall ends forming each of the pair of openings have appropriate elasticity and rigidity. Further, the pair of openings are set such that the width in the vertical direction is smaller than the diameter of the object so that the object can pass through by pushing the object into or pinching it out with a finger.

[0009] According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent the accommodated object from accidentally leaking to the outside from the pair of openings.

[0010] The fourth aspect of the present invention is a storage container according to the second or third aspect, wherein the upper and lower wall ends forming at least one of the pair of openings have a notch at the center for pinching out the object with a finger toward the other side of the pair of openings.

[0011] According to this configuration, one opening can be used as an outlet through which the object can be easily pinched out, and the other opening can be used as an inlet.

[0012] A fifth aspect of the present invention is a storage container according to any one of the second to fourth aspects, comprising a pair of caps that detachably cover the pair of openings.

[0013] According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent dust, dirt, etc. from entering the storage space through the pair of openings.

[0014] A sixth aspect of the present invention is a storage container according to the first aspect, wherein the upper and lower walls forming the storage space are openable and closable with respect to each other.

[0015] According to this configuration, by opening the upper and lower walls, the contents can be stored in the storage space and taken out from the storage space.

[0016] A seventh aspect of the present invention is a storage container according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the upper and lower walls forming the storage space have a uniform thickness, and thereby, on the outer surface, refraction or bending is alternately repeated upward and downward in the front-rear direction.

[0017] According to this configuration, manufacturing is easy, and a plurality of storage containers can be stacked so as not to shift in the front-rear direction with respect to each other.

[0018] An eighth aspect of the present invention is a storage container according to the seventh aspect, wherein the storage space alternately repeats refraction upward and downward in the front-rear direction, and the upper and lower walls forming the storage space also alternately repeat refraction upward and downward in the front-rear direction on the outer surface.

[0019] According to this configuration, a plurality of storage containers can be stacked without gaps with respect to each other.

[0020] A ninth aspect of the present invention is a storage container according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, wherein the contents are single 3 or single 4 rechargeable dry batteries.

[0021] According to this configuration, a AA or AAA rechargeable dry battery can be accommodated and taken out in a first-in, first-out manner.

Advantages of the Invention

[0022] As described above, according to the present invention, a storage container is realized that can always accommodate a cylindrical object, the arrangement of the objects in the storage space is not disturbed, and the objects put in first can be surely taken out first.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0023]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0024] FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a storage container according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1(a) is a conceptual diagram thereof, FIG. 1(b) is a side view, and FIG. 1(c) is a perspective view.

[0025] This storage container 1 has a storage space 13 for storing cylindrical contents 2 in a horizontal row, with the storage space being alternately refracted upward and downward in the front-rear direction. The distance 34 between the inclined portion 1111 between one upper refraction and the next refraction and the nearer of the lower inclined portions 1121 and 1122 facing it is set to be equal to or greater than the diameter of the content, and the distance 35 from the farther inclined portion 1122 is set to be less than the length of the content. Also, the distance 33 between the upper virtual line 31 connecting the downward vertices 1113 of each upper refraction portion and the lower virtual line 32 connecting the upward vertices 1123 of each lower refraction portion is set to be less than the diameter of the content.

[0026] With a configuration that repeats this set refraction, by simply tilting the storage container body, the entire content can be moved back and forth, eliminating the need for sorting, and the axial direction of the content can be regulated to the extent that the order of arrangement is maintained regardless of the posture of the container.

[0027] As an example of the configuration for loading and unloading the content, the modes shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 are taken.

[0028] FIG. 2(a) is a perspective view showing a configuration of the storage container of the present invention having an opening. A pair of openings 14 through which the content can pass are provided at both ends of the storage container 1 in the front-rear direction.

[0029] With this configuration, using one opening as an inlet and the other as an outlet, the content can be put in and taken out in one direction, facilitating first-in, first-out.

[0030] FIG. 2(b) is a side view showing a configuration of the storage container of the present invention with the opening having a diameter less than that of the content, and FIG. 2(c) is a perspective view showing an example of the storage state in this configuration. The vertical distance 122 between the upper and lower wall ends 12 forming the opening is set to be less than the diameter of the content. However, when trying to push the content into the opening or trying to pull it out by the knob, the upper and lower wall ends are elastically deformed so that it is possible to pass through, and the distance is set such that the content does not leak out due to its own weight. Also, the upper and lower wall ends have elasticity and rigidity suitable for this setting.

[0031] With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the contents from accidentally leaking regardless of the orientation of the container.

[0032] FIG. 3(a) is a perspective view showing a storage container of the present invention with a notch provided in the opening. A notch 121 sized to pinch the contents with a finger is provided at the center in the left-right direction of the upper and lower wall ends 12 forming one opening, facing the other opening side.

[0033] With this configuration, it is easy to pinch out the contents, and by intentionally creating a difference in the ease of taking out the contents, with this opening as the outlet and the other side without a notch where pinching out is relatively difficult as the inlet, the direction of putting in and taking out can be restricted to one direction.

[0034] FIG. 3(b) is a perspective view showing a storage container of the present invention with a cap. A pair of detachable caps 15 that cover the front and rear openings are provided.

[0035] With this configuration, foreign matter is prevented from entering the storage space.

[0036] FIG. 3(c) is a perspective view showing the state where the cap is removed in this configuration.

[0037] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a storage container of the present invention with a configuration in which the upper and lower walls are divided. The upper and lower walls forming the storage space are divided so that they can be opened and closed with respect to each other.

[0038] With this configuration, the contents can be freely put in and taken out.

[0039] FIG. 4(b) is a perspective view showing a mode in which one side, either left or right, can be opened and closed with a hinge in this configuration.

[0040] FIG. 4(c) is a perspective view showing a mode in which one side, either the front or rear end, can be opened and closed with a hinge in this configuration.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0041] 1 Storage container 11 Upper and lower walls 111 Upper wall 1111 Inclined part 1113 Vertex 112 Lower wall 1121 Inclined part 1122 Inclined part 1123 Vertex 12 Ends of upper and lower walls 121 Notch 122 Distance 13 Accommodation space 14 Opening 15 Cap 2 Contents 3 Phantom line 31 Upper phantom line 32 Lower phantom line 33 Distance 34 Distance 35 Distance

Claims

1. A storage container that houses cylindrical contents in a horizontal row, and the storage space repeatedly refracts or bends alternately upward and downward in the front-rear direction. The upper and lower widths of the storage space, as well as the height difference and repetition period of the refraction or bending, are set to enable the contents to move stepwise in the front-rear direction and to regulate the axial orientation of the contents without reversing it.

2. The storage container according to claim 1, wherein a pair of openings that communicate with the storage space and through which the contents can pass are provided at both ends in the front-rear direction.

3. The upper and lower wall ends forming each of the pair of openings have appropriate elasticity and rigidity, and the vertical width is set to be smaller than the diameter of the contents to such an extent that the contents can pass through by pushing the contents into or pulling them out with fingers. The storage container according to claim 2.

4. The storage container according to claim 2 or 3, wherein at least one of the upper and lower wall ends forming the pair of openings has a notch at the center for pulling out the contents with fingers toward the other side of the pair of openings.

5. The storage container according to any one of claims 2 to 4, comprising a pair of caps that detachably cover the pair of openings.

6. The storage container according to claim 1, wherein the upper and lower walls forming the storage space are openable and closable with respect to each other.

7. The storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the upper and lower walls forming the storage space have a uniform thickness, and thereby repeatedly refract or bend alternately upward and downward in the front-rear direction also on the outer surface.

8. The storage container according to claim 7, wherein the storage space repeatedly refracts alternately upward and downward in the front-rear direction, and the upper and lower walls forming the storage space also repeatedly refract alternately upward and downward in the front-rear direction on the outer surface.

9. The storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the contents are AA or AAA rechargeable dry batteries.

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