storage container

Abstract

To provide a storage container easy to open / close a lid part, and allowing smooth opening / closing operation of the lid part, even when storing a lot of pieces in a portable case.SOLUTION: A storage container comprises a box body 1 with an upper opening, a lid body 2 pivotally supported by a support shaft part 22 at an opening end of the box body 1, and a compression torsion coil spring 3 pivotally supported by the support shaft part 22. The upper opening of the box body 1 is devised to open upward the upper opening of the box body 1, by laterally sliding the lid body 2 by compressing a coil part 3a of the compression torsion coil spring 3, to thereby disengage the lid body 2 from the box body 1, and by energizing the lid body 2 upward by an action arm 3c of the compression torsion coil spring 3. Furthermore, when the lid body 2 opens, the coil part 3a returns to the former state and the lid body 2 returns to the former position before sliding, and when the lid body 2 is rotated downward by force stronger than the energizing force of the action arm 3c, the lid body 2 is engaged with the box body 1, to thereby close the lid body 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a storage container suitable for storing components such as screws, nuts, and parts used at various construction sites, such as electrical work and building construction. [Background technology]

[0002] 17 and 18, a conventional storage container 30 of this type includes a container portion 31 and a lid portion 32 that can seal the container portion 31. The storage container 30 has the lid portion 32 rotatably connected to the side edge of the back surface, and is provided with a locking mechanism 33 on the front surface, which is made up of a protrusion 33a on the lid portion 32 and a latch plate 33b on the container portion 31. Furthermore, the storage container 30 is provided with an attachment tongue 34 on the back surface of the container portion 31 that generates a repulsive force when pushed outward from the back surface, and a hook portion 35 that protrudes from the tip of the attachment tongue 34 toward the back surface (Patent Document 1).

[0003] A number of the storage containers 30 are arranged lengthwise and widthwise to be stored in a portable case 40 as shown in Figures 19 and 20. This portable case 40 has a shape in which a number of recesses are provided lengthwise and widthwise inside a box body 41, and these recesses serve as storage recesses 42 in which the container parts 31 of the storage containers 30 can be stored.

[0004] The storage container 30 configured as described above is removed from the protrusion 33a on the lid portion 32 by hooking a finger or the like on the latch plate 33b on the container portion 31. Next, the lid portion 32 is raised and opened, and components such as screws, nuts, and other parts are stored in the container portion 31. The lid portion 32 is then tilted down with a finger or the like, and the latch plate 33b is engaged with the protrusion 33a to close the lid portion 31. If there is only one storage container 30, this can be left as is, but if there are multiple storage containers 30, each is stored in the storage recess 42 of the carrying case 40. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-291175 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, in the storage container 30 described in Patent Document 1, when opening the lid portion 32, a finger or the like must be hooked onto the latch plate 33b provided on the container portion 31, the latch plate 33b must be removed from the protrusion 33a provided on the lid portion 32, and the lid portion 32 must be rotated upward. When closing the lid portion 32, the lid portion 32 must be rotated downward with a finger or the like, and a finger or the like must be hooked onto the latch plate 33b to engage with the protrusion 33a, which results in the problem that opening and closing the lid portion 32 is troublesome.

[0007] Furthermore, in the storage containers 30 described in Patent Document 1, when a large number of them are stored in a portable case 40, the storage containers 30 are close to each other with small gaps between them, but it is difficult to hook fingers or the like on the latch plate 33b, and there is a problem that the above-mentioned opening and closing operation of the lid portion 32 cannot be performed smoothly.

[0008] Therefore, the present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems and to provide a storage container whose lid can be opened and closed easily, even when a large number of items are stored in the carrying case. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The storage container of the present invention comprises a box body 1 with an opening at the top, a cover body 2 supported by a support shaft 22 at the open end of the box body 1, and a compression torsion coil spring 3 supported by the support shaft 22. The coil portion of the compression torsion coil spring of compression To makeAs the cover 2 slides laterally, the cover 2 is disengaged from the box 1, and the action arm 3c of the compression torsion coil spring 3 urges the cover 2 upward, opening the upper opening of the box 1. of Furthermore, when the lid body 2 is opened, the coil portion 3a returns to its original state, and the lid body 2 returns to its original position before sliding, and when the lid body 2 is rotated downward with a force that overcomes the biasing force of the operating arm 3c, the lid body 2 and the box body 1 engage with each other, and the lid body 2 closes.

[0010] In the storage container of the present invention, the box body 1 is a generally rectangular box with an upward opening and made up of a front plate 1a, a rear plate 1b, a left plate 1c, a right plate 1d, and a bottom plate 1e. The lid body 2 is a generally rectangular lid with a downward opening and made up of a front lower frame 2a, a rear lower frame 2b, a left lower frame 2c, a right lower frame 2d, and a top plate 2e. The compression torsion coil spring 3 has a fixed arm 3b protruding from one end of the coil portion 3a and an operating arm 3c protruding from the other end of the coil portion 3a. The coil portion 3a is journaled on a support shaft 22, and with the compression torsion coil spring 3 in a twisted state, the fixed arm 3b is fixed to the rear plate 1b of the box body 1, and the operating arm 3c abuts against the back surface of the top plate 2e of the lid body 2.

[0011] Furthermore, in the storage container of the present invention, the lid body 2 is provided with a mark 23 that indicates the sliding direction of the lid body 2. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] Since the storage container of the present invention is configured as described above, the lid can be easily opened by simply sliding the lid, and can be easily closed by simply rotating the lid.

[0013] Furthermore, the storage container of the present invention allows the lid to be opened and closed smoothly even when a large number of containers are stored in a portable case. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view showing the storage container of the present invention with the lid closed. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the storage container of the present invention shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a front view of the storage container of the present invention shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the storage container of the present invention shown in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective rear view of the storage container of the present invention shown in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective side view of the storage container of the present invention shown in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the lid of the storage container of the present invention is slid. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a front view of the storage container of the present invention shown in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 8 is a plan view of the storage container of the present invention shown in FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the storage container of the present invention with the lid open. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a front view of the storage container of the present invention shown in FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is a plan view of the storage container of the present invention shown in FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the state immediately before the lid of the storage container of the present invention is closed. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a front view of the storage container of the present invention shown in FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 14 is a side view of the storage container of the present invention shown in FIG. [Figure 16] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a state in which a number of storage containers according to the present invention are stored in a carrying case. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a conventional storage container with its lid closed. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing a state in which the lid of the conventional storage container shown in FIG. 17 is open. [Figure 19] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a state in which a number of conventional storage containers are stored in a portable case. [Figure 20]FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the carrying case shown in FIG. 19. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the storage container of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0016] As shown in Figures 1 to 6, the storage container of the present invention comprises a box body 1 with an opening at the top, a lid body 2 supported by a support shaft 22 at the open end of the box body 1, and a compression torsion coil spring 3 further supported by the support shaft 22.

[0017] In the storage container of the present invention, the upper opening of the box body 1 is opened by the compression of the coil portion 3a of the compression torsion coil spring 3, causing the lid body 2 to slide sideways, disengaging the lid body 2 from the box body 1, and the action arm 3c of the compression torsion coil spring 3 urges the lid body 2 upward, causing the upper opening of the box body 1 to open upward.

[0018] Furthermore, in the storage container of the present invention, when the lid body 2 is opened, the coil portion 3a of the compression torsion coil spring 3 returns to its original state, and the lid body 2 returns to its original position before sliding. When the lid body 2 is rotated downward with a force that overcomes the biasing force of the acting arm 3c of the compression torsion coil spring 3, the lid body 2 engages with the box body 1, and the lid body 2 closes.

[0019] The box body 1 is made of a transparent, semi-transparent or opaque synthetic resin plate, and is a generally rectangular box with an opening at the top, comprising a front plate 1a, a rear plate 1b, a left plate 1c, a right plate 1d and a bottom plate 1e.

[0020] The front plate 1a is provided on the outer side of the upper end with a protrusion 11 (see FIG. 6) that can be engaged with and disengaged from a protrusion 21b of an engagement portion 21 provided on the lid body 2, which will be described later. In the illustrated example, recesses 12 are formed on both sides of the front plate 1a, and one protrusion 11 is provided on each top end of these recesses 12, for a total of two protrusions 11; however, recesses 12 may be formed in the center of the front plate 1a, and one protrusion may be provided on the top end of these recesses 12.

[0021] The rear plate 1b is provided at its upper outer edge with receiving portions 13 for supporting shaft portions 22 provided on the cover body 2, which will be described later. In the illustrated example, these receiving portions 13 are generally inverted U-shaped with receiving protrusions 13a, and two of them are provided, one at each end of the upper edge of both sides of the rear plate 1b, but it is also possible to provide one protruding portion at the upper edge of the center of the rear plate 1b.

[0022] The lid 2 is made of a transparent, semi-transparent, or opaque synthetic resin plate and is a generally rectangular lid with a downward opening, consisting of a front lower frame 2a, a rear lower frame 2b, a left lower frame 2c, a right lower frame 2d, and a top plate 2e. The rear lower frame 2b of the lid 2 is attached to the rear plate 1b of the box 1 so that it can return to its original position by the coil portion 3a of the compression torsion coil spring 3, allowing it to slide laterally (left and right), and it can open upward toward the upper opening of the box 1.

[0023] The front lower frame 2a is provided with an engagement portion 21 having a protrusion 21b formed at the lower end of a leaf spring-like hanging portion 21a. In the illustrated example, two engagement portions 21 are provided, one on each side of the front lower frame 2a, but one may also be provided in the center of the front lower frame 2a. The contact surfaces of the protrusion 21b of this engagement portion 21 and the protrusion 11 of the front plate 1a are tapered (see Figure 6) to facilitate engagement and disengagement.

[0024] The rear lower frame 2b has support shafts 22a protruding parallel to the rear lower frame 2b from the support shaft portion 22. In the illustrated example, two support shafts 22a are protruding, one on each side of the rear lower frame 2b, but one may also be protruding from the center of the rear lower frame 2b.

[0025] The top plate 2e is provided with a mark 23 indicating the sliding direction of the lid 2. In the illustrated example, this mark 23 is a substantially triangular recess that can be slid by hooking a finger into this recess, but it may also be provided with an arrow on the top plate 2e to simply indicate the sliding direction. The mark 23 may also be provided on the front lower frame 2a.

[0026] The compression torsion coil spring 3 is made of an elastic linear body such as synthetic resin or metal, and has a fixed arm 3b protruding from one end of the coil portion 3a and an operating arm 3c protruding from the other end of the coil portion 3a.

[0027] The coil portion 3a is supported by the support shaft 22a of the support shaft portion 22 of the lid body 2, and is fitted tightly into the space S formed between the receiving portion 13 of the box body 1 and the support shaft portion 22 of the lid body 2.

[0028] With the compression torsion coil spring 3 twisted, the fixed arm 3b is fixed to a fixing hole 14 formed in the rear plate 1b of the box body 1, and the acting arm 3c is abutted against the back surface of the top plate 2e of the lid body 2.

[0029] In addition, when two support shafts 22a are protruding from the rear lower frame 2b of the cover body 2, the coil portion 3a of the compression torsion coil spring 3 is inserted into one of them as shown in the figure, but the coil portion 3a of the compression torsion coil spring 3 may be inserted into both of them.

[0030] By doing this, the lid body 2 is positioned by the coil portion 3a of the compression torsion coil spring 3 so that it exactly covers the opening of the box body 1, and is constantly biased upward by the action arm 3c of the compression torsion coil spring 3.

[0031] Therefore, in the storage container of the present invention, when the lid body 2 is slid laterally in a direction that compresses the coil portion 3a of the compression torsion coil spring 3, the protrusion 21b on the lid body 2 and the protrusion 11 on the box body 1 become misaligned and disengage, and the lid body 2 rotates upward due to the biasing force of the action arm 3c of the compression torsion coil spring 3. At this time, the compression of the coil portion 3a of the compression torsion coil spring 3 is released, and the coil portion 3a returns to its original state, and the lid body 2 also returns to its original position before sliding, and the protrusion 21b on the lid body 2 returns to its original position where it engages with the engaging protrusion 11 on the box body 1.

[0032] When the lid body 2 is rotated downward from the open state with a force that overcomes the biasing force of the acting arm 3c of the compression torsion coil spring 3, the protrusion 21b on the lid body 2 engages with the protrusion 11 on the box body 1, causing the lid body 2 to close.

[0033] The use of the storage container of the present invention configured as described above will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0034] First, in the state shown in Figures 1 to 4, the storage container of the present invention is in a closed state with the protrusion 21b of the engagement portion 21 of the front lower frame 2a of the lid body 2 engaged with the protrusion 11 of the front plate 1a of the box body 1.

[0035] From this state, if you place your finger directly on the lower left frame 2c or mark 23 of the lid body 2 and slide the lid body 2 horizontally (to the right in the figure) to compress the coil portion 3a of the compression torsion coil spring 3, as shown in Figures 7 to 9, the protrusion 11 on the front panel 1a of the box body 1 will disengage from the protrusion 21b of the engagement portion 21 of the front lower frame 2a of the lid body 2.

[0036] When the projection 11 on the front plate 1a of the box 1 and the projection 21b on the engagement portion 21 on the front lower frame 2a of the lid 2 are disengaged, and the finger that is hooked on the left lower frame 2c of the lid 2 or the mark 23 is released, the lid 2 rotates upward and opens as shown in Figures 10 to 12 due to the biasing force of the acting arm 3c of the compression torsion coil spring 3. Note that with the lid 2 in this open state, the compression of the coil portion 3a of the compression torsion coil spring 3 is released, and this coil portion 3a returns to its original state, and the lid 2 returns to the position where it just covers the upper opening of the box 1 before sliding.

[0037] When the lid 2 is in the open state, if a finger is placed on the top plate 2e of the lid 2 and the lid 2 is rotated downward with a force that overcomes the biasing force of the acting arm 3c of the compression torsion coil spring 3, the protrusion 21b of the engagement portion 21 of the lower front frame 2a of the lid 2 will come into contact with the protrusion 11 on the front plate 1a of the box body 1, as shown in Figures 13 to 15. If the lid 2 is then pressed downward with a finger from this state, the tapered contact surface of the protrusion 21b will slide over the tapered contact surface of the protrusion 11, and the protrusions 11 and 21b will engage with each other, and the lid 2 will return to the closed state as originally shown in Figures 1 to 4.

[0038] A number of the storage containers of the present invention can be stored in a portable case 4, arranged lengthwise and widthwise, as shown in FIG.

[0039] The portable case 4 has storage recesses (not shown) arranged vertically and horizontally inside the box body 5 in which the storage container box body 1 can be stored, and when multiple storage containers are stored with the lid bodies 2 closed, a small gap O is formed between each storage container so that the lid bodies 2 can slide.

[0040] Therefore, in the storage container of the present invention, the lid body 2 can be opened and closed by the simple operation described above, so all that is required is for there to be a small gap O between each storage container stored in the portable case 4 so that the lid body 2 can slide.

[0041] Since the storage container of the present invention is configured as described above, the lid body 2 can be opened and closed easily, and even when a large number of items are stored in the portable case 4, the lid body 2 can be opened and closed smoothly. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 1 box body 1a Front panel 1b Rear plate 1c left board 1d Right plate 1e bottom plate 2 Lid 2a Front lower frame 2b Rear lower frame 2c Bottom left frame 2d bottom right frame 2e Top plate 3. Compression torsion coil spring 3a Coil section 3b Fixed arm 3c Working arm 22 Support shaft 23 Landmark

Claims

1. The device comprises a box body with an opening at the top, a lid body pivotally supported by a support shaft at the open end of the box body, and a compression torsion coil spring pivotally supported by the support shaft, When the lid body slides laterally so as to compress the coil portion of the compression torsion coil spring, the engagement between the lid body and the box body is released, and the lid body is urged upward by the action arm of the compression torsion coil spring, thereby opening the upper opening of the box body. When the lid body is opened, the coil portion returns to its original state, and the lid body returns to its original position before sliding. When the lid body is rotated downward with a force that overcomes the biasing force of the action arm, the lid body engages with the box body, and the lid body closes.

2. The box body is a substantially rectangular box having an opening at the top and including a front panel, a rear panel, a left panel, a right panel, and a bottom panel e, The lid body is a substantially rectangular lid having a downward opening and consisting of a front lower frame, a rear lower frame, a left lower frame, a right lower frame 2d and a top plate 2e, 2. The storage container according to claim 1, wherein the compression torsion coil spring has a fixed arm protruding from one end of the coil portion and an operating arm protruding from the other end of the coil portion, the coil portion being supported on a support shaft, and when the compression torsion coil spring is twisted, the fixed arm is fixed to the rear plate of the box body, and the operating arm is abutted against the back surface of the top plate of the lid body.

3. 3. The container according to claim 1, wherein the lid is provided with a mark indicating the sliding direction of the lid.

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