Packaging containers

Abstract

To provide a packaging container that can prevent a content from entering fitting objects while ensuring airtightness.SOLUTION: A packaging container is provided with a container body 2 and a transparent lid body 3 that is fitted thereto cover its opening part, on the container body 2 a fitting part 24 protruding upward is provided around the entire circumference of the main body near the outer edge, a horizontal upper edge surface part 25 is located inside the container body with respect to the fitting part 24, on the lid body 3 a flange part 33 is provided that extends horizontally outward from the lower end part of a side wall surface part 32, in the vicinity of the outer edge of the flange part 33, a fitted part 34 that protrudes upward and fits with the fitting part 24 is provided, protrusions 35 protruding upward are provided on the entire circumference of the lid body or at intervals in the circumferential direction of the lid body which are located inside the lid body with respect to the fitted part 34, and when the lid body 3 is fitted to the container body 2, are arranged near the upper edge 25a of the upper edge surface 25 inside the container body.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a packaging container that can prevent the intrusion of contents into the fitting portion when fitting a lid body to a container body.

Background Art

[0002] Containers made of thin resin sheets are widespread, and for example, they are used in retail stores to package food products such as boxed lunches and prepared foods. Many of these containers can fit a lid body to the container body, cover the opening of the container body, prevent dust and the like from adhering to the contents, and seal the container so that the internal contents do not leak out.

[0003] There are various fitting structures between the lid body and the container body in containers made of thin resin sheets, and generally known structures include an outer fitting structure, an inner fitting structure, an inner and outer fitting structure, etc. Among these, the inner fitting structure or the inner and outer fitting structure has a fitting portion that adheres closely and has a fitting force, so the lid body is difficult to come off and has excellent sealing performance, and is widely adopted in containers for prepared foods that are displayed for a relatively long time.

[0004] In containers with an inner fitting structure or an inner and outer fitting structure, when fitting, the protruding contents may be sandwiched in the fitting portion and remain there during fitting. In such a case, since the fitting portion adheres closely, the contents may be crushed, and when displayed or opened, it may catch the eye, give a bad impression, and reduce appetite.

[0005] To address such challenges, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1 below, an "internal and external interlocking type packaging container has been developed, comprising a container body with interlocking protrusions around the upper part of the side wall and a lid body with interlocking recesses around it that fit onto the interlocking protrusions, characterized in that an inclined surface is formed on the side wall from the bottom surface of the container body to the interlocking protrusions, while leaving a portion of the contact surface on the container body side that the contact surface on the lid side would contact, thereby avoiding contact with the contact surface on the lid side" has been developed, which ensures airtightness while also preventing the contents from getting caught. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

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

[0007] Although the container described in Patent Document 1 above is designed to prevent contents from getting caught, prepared foods sold in retail stores and other places must be produced in large quantities quickly. Therefore, during the process of placing prepared foods into the containers, a certain percentage of contents inevitably enter the fitting parts. In particular, in containers with an internal fitting structure or an internal and external fitting structure, the fitting parts are positioned so that they rise up near the outer edge of the lid, making it difficult to see the contents in this area, and thus contents are more likely to enter the fitting parts.

[0008] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a packaging container that can prevent contents from entering the fitting portion while ensuring airtightness. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] One embodiment of the present invention is a packaging container comprising a container body and The container bodyA packaging container comprising a transparent lid that fits onto the container body to cover the opening, wherein the container body has a fitting portion that protrudes upward around its entire circumference near the outer edge, and a horizontal upper edge portion located on the inside of the container body relative to the fitting portion, and the lid has a flange portion that protrudes horizontally outward from the lower end of the side wall portion, and a receiving portion that protrudes upward near the outer edge of the flange portion and fits into the fitting portion, and when the receiving portion is fitted into the fitting portion, the lower end of the side wall portion is the upper edge portion The flange portion is located inside the container, beyond the inner edge of the container body, and is positioned between the fitting portion and the lower end of the side wall portion. When the lid is fitted onto the container body, upward-bulging protrusions are provided around the entire circumference of the lid or at intervals in the circumferential direction of the lid, and when the lid is fitted onto the container body, the inner edge of the lid portion of the protrusion is positioned inside the lid, beyond the inner edge of the container body of the upper edge portion.

[0010] In the above-described packaging container, when the lid is fitted onto the container body, even if the contents move around inside the container body, they move along the peripheral wall surface and are carried upward from the edge of the upper surface surface into the raised section, where they are blocked by the raised section. This prevents the contents from entering the fitting section and the fitted section, making jamming less likely. If the raised section is provided around the entire circumference of the lid, the contents that are contained in the raised section can be dispersed in the circumferential direction, further preventing them from entering the fitting section. From this perspective, it can be effective for fluid contents, such as potato salad and soups.

[0011] Furthermore, because the lid is transparent, it is easy to check the arrangement of the contents when fitting the lid. Also, because the raised portion is provided around the entire circumference of the lid and is located above the edge of the upper surface of the container body, it is easy to recognize if there are contents protruding outwards from the raised portion, thus preventing the contents from getting caught. By making the raised portion bulge upward and positioning it above the edge of the upper surface of the container body, a gap is created by the raised portion, which weakens the clamping force between the flange of the lid and the upper surface, making it less likely for the contents to get caught.

[0012] In the above-described packaging container, it is preferable that the flange portion and the upper edge portion do not come into contact when the lid is fitted onto the container body. This creates a gap between the flange and the upper edge surface, making it less likely for the contents to get caught in this gap.

[0013] In the above-described packaging container, it is preferable that the height of the fitting portion is greater than the height of the protruding portion. By doing so, when the container is displayed in a retail store, the protruding part is obscured by the fitting part and becomes less visible, thus improving the overall appearance of the container.

[0014] In the above-described packaging container, it is preferable that the protruding portion has a triangular cross-section. In this case, it is preferable that the side wall portion of the lid has an inclined surface, and that its inclination angle differs from that of the protruding portion. By doing this, when a buyer looks into the side wall to check the inside of the container, the different angles of inclination of the protrusions make it difficult to see the inside near the protrusions due to reflections, thus concealing the inside in that area and allowing the buyer to focus on the contents. [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 is a partially enlarged end view of the area near the fitting portion of the packaging container in the closed state. [Figure 6] Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the side wall surface and the raised ridge of the lid of the packaging container. [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 of an embodiment of the present invention includes a container main body 2 and a lid body 3 that is fitted to the container main body 2 to cover the opening 2a. The packaging container 1 is formed in a thin, flat, horizontally long rectangular parallelepiped shape. Although not particularly limited, it can have dimensions of about 20 mm to 100 mm in height, 50 mm to 300 mm in length, and 50 mm to 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 are not limited to these.

[0018] The packaging container 1 is not limited to the above shape. For example, in a plan view, it can be circular, oval, or polygonal in a plan view such as triangular, square / rectangular / parallelogram-shaped, pentagonal, hexagonal, or octagonal. When it is polygonal in a plan view, it is preferable to make the corners rounded.

[0019] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the container main body 2 is formed in a shallow dish shape, and includes a bottom surface portion 21, a leg portion 21a that recesses downward around the bottom surface portion 21, a peripheral wall surface portion 22 that is arranged to surround the bottom surface portion 21 and rises upward, a flange portion 23 that projects horizontally outward from the upper edge portion of the peripheral wall surface portion 22 to the outside of the container main body, and a fitting portion 24 that projects upward near the outer edge of the flange portion 23. As shown in FIG. 5, the horizontal surface portion inside the container main body relative to the fitting portion 24 of the flange portion 23 is defined as the upper edge surface portion 25.

[0020] As shown in Figure 1 or Figure 3, the bottom portion 21 has a rectangular horizontal surface 21b on which contents can be placed, and around its perimeter are recessed by a certain width, forming legs 21a that are square in shape when viewed from above. The legs 21a can also serve as a reservoir to collect moisture that seeps out from the surface 21b when food items are placed on it. In addition, a part of the legs 21a (near the middle of the long side of the surface 21b) is a raised platform-like portion 21c, and its upper surface is provided with multiple parallel protrusions.

[0021] The mounting surface 21b is provided with a projection 21d, which is formed to exhibit a convex lens shape in a plan view. The boundary portion 21e between the mounting surface 21b and the leg portion 21a is shaped like a step, becoming higher towards the outside of the container body.

[0022] As shown in Figure 5, the peripheral wall portion 22 expands in a trumpet shape upward from the periphery of the bottom portion 21 in cross-section, and the opening 2a formed by being surrounded by the upper edge has a rounded corner rectangle shape in plan view. A flange portion 23 is provided on the upper edge of the peripheral wall portion 22, which protrudes horizontally outwards from the container body.

[0023] Multiple parallel rib portions 22a are provided on the peripheral wall portion 22, or extending in the height direction from the peripheral wall portion 22 to the bottom surface of the leg portion 21a, to reinforce the container body 2. The rib portions 22a are formed to protrude in a triangular shape toward the inside of the container body, but the shape of the rib portions 22a is not limited to this.

[0024] As shown in Figure 5, the fitting portion 24 has a U-shaped cross-section with the outer edge of the flange portion 23 protruding upward and the lower part opening. The upper side of the fitting portion 24 is tapered and the lower side is reverse-tapered, so that the fitted portion 34, which will be described later, can be fitted into it. In this embodiment, the fitting portion 24 and the fitted portion 34 are configured as an internal-external fitting structure in which the inside and outside of the container body are locked together, but an internal fitting structure in which only the inside is locked together may also be used.

[0025] The flange portion 23 is provided with a horizontal upper edge surface portion 25 located on the inside of the container body, relative to the fitting portion 24. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, the flange portions 23 near the four corners of the container body 2 are extended outwards to form triangular-shaped knob portions 26 in plan view.

[0026] As shown in Figures 1, 2, or 4, the lid 3 is formed in a thin, 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 33 protruding outward from the lower edge of the side wall surface 32, and a fitted portion 34 provided near the outer edge of the flange 33 that fits into the fitting portion 24.

[0027] The top surface 31 is a horizontal plane with a rounded corner rectangle shape when viewed from above. 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. On the side wall surface 32, recessed portions 32a are formed near the four corners of the lid 3, on both sides of the corners, and are recessed toward the inside of the lid.

[0028] The flange portion 33 is formed to protrude horizontally from the outside of the lid. As shown in Figure 5, the fitting portion 34 is formed with a U-shaped cross-section, with the outer edge of the flange portion 33 protruding upward and the lower part opening. The upper side is tapered and the lower side is reverse-tapered so that it can be fitted inward and outward into the fitting portion 24.

[0029] The flange portion 33 has upward-curving protrusions 35 extending around the entire circumference of the lid, on the inside of the lid relative to the fitting portion 34. In this embodiment, the protrusions 35 are provided around the entire circumference of the lid, but this is not limited to this, and they may be provided at intervals in the circumferential direction of the lid. In this case, it is preferable that they occupy a length of more than half of the entire circumference of the lid. As shown in Figure 5, the protruding portion 35 is positioned near the upper edge surface portion 25a on the inside of the container body when the lid 3 is fitted onto the container body 2. This ensures that even if the contents move around inside the container body 2 when the lid 3 is fitted onto the container body 2, they will move along the peripheral wall surface portion 22, rise upward from the inside edge surface portion 25a on the container body of the upper edge surface portion 25, and enter the protruding portion 35. The protruding portion 35 holds the contents in place, preventing them from entering the fitting portion 24 and the fitted portion 34, thus making jamming less likely. By providing the protruding portion 35 around the entire circumference of the lid, the contents contained within the protruding portion 35 can be dispersed in the circumferential direction, further preventing intrusion into the fitting portion.

[0030] Before fitting the cover 3, the protruding part 35 Using this as a reference, it is easy to recognize that there are contents protruding outward from the peripheral wall surface 22 of the container body 2, preventing the contents from entering the fitting part and preventing jamming. In addition, the raised ridge 35 creates a gap in this area, and the flange 33 The clamping force between the upper edge surface 25 and the upper edge surface is weakened, making it less likely for the contents to get pinched.

[0031] More specifically, as shown in Figure 5, it is preferable that the inner edge of the lid of the protruding portion 35 (dashed line C) is located on the inside of the lid, rather than the position of the inner edge 25a of the upper edge surface portion 25 on the inside of the container body (dashed line A, however, dashed line B if the rib portion 22b is provided).

[0032] Preferably, the height of the fitting portion 34 is greater than the height of the protruding portion 35. This makes the protruding portion 35 hidden by the fitting portion 34 when viewed from the outside of the container, making the protruding portion 35 less visible when the container 1 is displayed, and thus not detracting from the aesthetic appearance of the container.

[0033] The shape of the protruding portion 35 is not particularly limited and can be triangular, semicircular, angular, etc. in cross-section. It is especially preferable to form it in a triangular cross-section, and as shown in Figure 6, it is preferable to make the inclination angle (θa) of the side wall portion 32 and the inclination angle (θb) of the protruding portion 35 different. In particular, it is preferable to make the inclination angle (θb) of the protruding portion 35 gentler than the inclination angle (θa) of the side wall portion 32. As a result, when a buyer looks into the side wall portion 32 to check the inside of the container 1, the inclination angle (θb) of the protruding portion 35 is different, making it difficult to see the inside near the protruding portion 35 due to reflection, etc., and allowing the buyer to focus on the contents.

[0034] When the lid 3 is fitted onto the container body 2, it is preferable that the flange 33 and the upper edge surface 25 do not come into contact around the entire circumference, as shown in Figure 5, that is, that a small space S is created between them. This creates a gap between the flange 33 and the upper edge surface 25, making it less likely for the contents to get caught in this gap.

[0035] The following describes an example of a manufacturing method for the container body 2 and the lid 3. 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 for the container body 2 may be either a thin-walled non-foamed resin sheet or a thin-walled foamed resin sheet, but a non-foamed resin sheet is preferred, and a non-foamed resin sheet is preferred for the lid 3.

[0036] 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.

[0037] 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.

[0038] 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 obtained by heat-laminating a resin film onto a non-foamed resin sheet or a foamed resin sheet, laminated sheets produced by co-extrusion, and laminated sheets produced by extrusion lamination.

[0039] 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.

[0040] Examples of thermoforming include vacuum forming, pressure forming, vacuum pressure forming, and hot plate forming.

[0041] The container body 2 may be colored, such as black or white, but it is preferable that it be transparent or semi-transparent so that the inside 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. For example, if printing is applied to the raised ridge portion 35 and the flange portion 33 near the raised ridge portion 35, the inside can be made less visible from the vicinity of the raised ridge portion 35, thus not detracting from the aesthetic appeal when displayed. Furthermore, ribs may be provided at appropriate positions for reinforcement, and a textured finish may be applied to prevent slipping. Stacking protrusions, which are cubic or rectangular in shape, can also be provided at appropriate positions on the container body 2 and lid 3.

[0042] The following describes an example of how to use packaging container 1. The packaging container 1 can be used by placing the contents, such as food items, on the mounting surface 21b of the container body 2, placing the lid 3 over the container body 2 and pressing it from above, and fitting the receiving part 34 into the fitting part 24. At this time, the protruding part 35 of the lid 3 can be used as a reference to check if there are any contents protruding from here, and if there are none, the lid 3 can be pushed in as is to prevent the contents from entering the fitting part and fitting without jamming. If there are contents protruding from the protruding part 35, the contents can be moved into the container before fitting to prevent jamming.

[0043] To open the packaging container 1, for example, one can grasp the handle portion 26 of the container body 2 with the thumb and index finger of the right hand, grasp the handle portion 36 of the lid with the thumb and index finger of the left hand, and pull the body 2 side downwards while pulling the lid 3 side upwards, thereby disengaging the fitted portion 34 from the fitted portion 24.

[0044] When the lid 3 is fitted onto the container body 2 of the packaging container 1, the flange portion 33 and the upper edge surface portion 25 do not come into contact, and a gap S is created between them, which makes it less likely for the contents to get caught.

[0045] Furthermore, if the height of the fitting portion 34 is made higher than the height of the protruding portion 35, the protruding portion 35 will be hidden by the fitting portion 34 and less visible when the container 1 is displayed in a store or elsewhere, improving the appearance of the container 1.

[0046] Furthermore, by making the protruding portion 35 triangular in cross-section and different inclination angle from that of the side wall portion 32, when a buyer looks into the side wall portion to check the inside of the container, the different inclination angle of the protruding portion makes it difficult to see the inside of the protruding portion due to reflections, etc., making it difficult to see the contents in that area, and causing the buyer to focus on the contents.

[0047] The configurations of the above embodiments are not intended to limit the present invention, and modifications are possible as long as the technical objectives remain the same, and the present invention includes such modifications. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0048] 1 Packaging container 2. Container body 2a opening 21 Bottom part 21a Legs 21b Mounting surface 21c Trapezoid 21d convex part 21e Boundary 22 Surrounding wall section 22a Rib section 23 Guard section 24 Fitting part 25 Upper edge surface 25a Edge 26. Thumb part 3 Lid 31 Top section 32 Side wall section 32a Recessed part 33. Tsuba (guard) 34 Fitting part 35 Convex part 36. Thumb part S space

Claims

1. A packaging container comprising a container body and a transparent lid that fits onto the container body and covers the opening, The container body has a fitting portion that protrudes upward around its entire circumference near the outer edge, and a horizontal upper edge surface portion is provided on the inside of the container body relative to the fitting portion. The lid is provided with a flange that extends horizontally outward from the lower end of the side wall surface, and a receiving portion that protrudes upward near the outer edge of the flange and engages with the fitting portion, and when the receiving portion is fitted into the fitting portion, the lower end of the side wall surface is located inside the container, beyond the inner edge of the upper edge surface of the container body. The flange portion is provided with upward-bulging protrusions around the entire circumference of the lid or at intervals in the circumferential direction of the lid, located between the fitting portion and the lower end of the side wall portion, and positioned near the upper edge of the upper edge portion on the inside of the container body when the lid is fitted onto the container body. When the lid is fitted onto the container body, the inner edge of the lid of the protruding portion is positioned on the inside of the lid, rather than the inner edge of the upper edge surface of the container body. Packaging containers.

2. The packaging container according to claim 1, wherein when the lid is fitted onto the container body, the flange portion and the upper edge surface portion do not come into contact.

3. The packaging container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the height of the fitting portion is greater than the height of the protruding portion.

4. A packaging container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the aforementioned protruding portion has a triangular cross-section.

5. The packaging container according to claim 4, wherein the side wall portion of the lid is made into an inclined surface, and the angle of inclination thereto is different from the angle of inclination of the protruding portion.

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