Individual boxes

Abstract

In the present invention, the thickness of a slit (23), which is formed in an inner flap (7), in an orthogonal direction to the longitudinal direction thereof is wider than the combined thickness of a first fold part (20) and a second fold part (21). When the first fold part (20) and the second fold part (21) are made to overlap each other and inserted through the slit (23) into a main body section (3) in a condition in which an opening (11) is closed by a top panel (5) and the inner flap (7) is placed on the inner surface side of a second side panel (31c), the second fold part (21) separates from the first fold part (20) such that the first and second fold parts (20, 21) cannot be pulled out to the outside of the main body section (3) from the inside of the main body section (3) by passing through the slit (23). Through-holes (17) through which an opening tool (25) is inserted into the main body section (3) are formed in the top panel 5, said opening tool being used for pushing the second fold part (21) separated from the first fold part (20) inside the main body section (3) so as to bring the first and second fold parts (20, 21) into contact with each other.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a packing case.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a method for preventing unauthorized opening of packing cases placed at a storefront, pasting a seal has been commonly performed. In recent years, considering the impact on the environment, packing cases that prevent unauthorized opening without using a seal have emerged. Patent Document 1 describes a packing case in which a folded locking piece is inserted into an insertion hole and then cannot be pulled back from the insertion hole to fix a lid flap. In the packing case described in Patent Document 1, when a part of the lid flap is cut, the locking by the locking piece can be released and the lid flap can be opened.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

[0004] In the packing case described in Patent Document 1, in order to take out the product (the object to be stored) from the packing case for reasons such as inspection or repair of the product stored in the packing case, the packing case must be damaged and cannot be opened in a reusable state.

[0005] One or more embodiments aim to provide a packing case that can prevent unauthorized opening without using an anti-opening seal and can open the packing case in a reusable state after storing the object to be stored and closing the packing case.

[0006] According to one embodiment of one or more embodiments, the structure comprises a main body having first and second side plates facing each other and an opening for inserting and removing stored items; a top plate connected to the opening-side end of the first side plate and rotating relative to the first side plate to open and close the opening; an inner flap connected to the top plate and rotating relative to the top plate, positioned on the inner side of the second side plate when the top plate is closed to the opening; and an outer flap having a base connected to the second side plate and rotating relative to the second side plate, a first bent portion connected to the base and rotating relative to the base, and a second bent portion connected to the first bent portion and rotating relative to the first bent portion, wherein the inner flap has a linear slit. 、 The width of the slit in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is wider than the combined thickness of the first and second bent portions, and when the top plate closes the opening and the inner flap is located on the inner surface side of the second side plate, and the first and second bent portions are overlapped and passed through the slit into the interior of the main body, the second bent portion separates from the first bent portion, and the first and second bent portions cannot be pulled out from the inside of the main body through the slit to the outside of the main body, thus maintaining the top plate in a closed state. The top plate is formed with a through hole for inserting an opening tool into the interior of the main body to push the second bent portion, which has separated from the first bent portion inside the main body, and bring the first and second bent portions into contact with each other. The second bent portion has an engaging portion formed therein, into which the opening tool engages, and the through hole is shaped so that, when the opening tool is engaged with the engaging portion, the opening tool can slide in a direction that causes a portion of the overlapping first and second bent portions to protrude outward through the slit to the outside of the main body. Individual packaging boxes are provided.

[0007] According to one or more embodiments of the individual packaging box, unauthorized opening is prevented without using tamper-evident seals, and the individual packaging box can be opened in a reusable state after the contents have been placed inside and the box has been closed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an individual packaging box according to one or more embodiments, showing the box with the opening open. [Figure 2]Figure 2 is a perspective view of an individual packaging box according to one or more embodiments, showing the state before the opening is closed and the outer flap is inserted into the main body. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing an individual packaging box according to one or more embodiments, with the opening closed and the outer flap inserted into the main body. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a perspective view showing an individual packaging box, one or more of the embodiments shown in Figure 3, being opened using an opening tool. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of one or more individual packaging boxes according to one or more embodiments, in a state where the opening is not closed, cut by a plane perpendicular to the X direction. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of one or more individual packaging boxes according to one or more embodiments, showing the opening closed and the outer flap inserted into the main body, cut in a plane perpendicular to the X direction. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of one or more embodiment of an individual packaging box in use, cut by a plane perpendicular to the X direction. [Figure 8A] Figure 8A is a side view showing the opening tool. [Figure 8B] Figure 8B is a plan view of the opening tool as seen from below. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a partial cross-sectional view of an individual packaging box according to one or more embodiments of the first modification, in which the opening is closed and the outer flap is inserted into the main body, cut in a plane perpendicular to the X direction. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is a partial cross-sectional view of an individual packaging box according to one or more embodiments of the first modification, in which an opening tool is being used, cut in a plane perpendicular to the X direction. [Figure 11] Figure 11 is a partial cross-sectional view of an individual packaging box according to a second modification of one or more embodiments, in which an opening tool is being used, cut in a plane perpendicular to the X direction. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The individual packaging box 1 shown in Figure 1, according to one or more embodiments, accommodates electrical equipment such as headphones or other arbitrary equipment as an example of items to be stored. As shown in Figure 1, the individual packaging box 1 comprises a main body 3, a top plate 5, an inner flap 7, an outer flap 9, a pair of side flaps 45, and a top flap 51. The main body 3 is formed in the shape of a rectangular box. The top plate 5 is rectangular. The longitudinal direction of the main body 3 is the X direction (left-right direction), the short direction of the main body 3 perpendicular to the X direction is the Y direction (depth direction), and the direction perpendicular to the X and Y directions is the Z direction (height direction).

[0010] The main body 3 comprises a bottom plate 29 and four side plates 31a to 31d. Side plate 31a (first side plate) and side plate 31c (second side plate) face each other, and side plate 31b and side plate 31d face each other. The main body 3 has an opening 11 at its upper end (end in the Z direction) for inserting and removing the stored items. The individual packaging box 1 is formed symmetrically when viewed from the side plate 31c. The individual packaging box 1 is made of a material such as paper of a predetermined thickness. The material used to form the individual packaging box 1 is assumed to be paper.

[0011] The top plate 5 is connected to the upper end of the side plate 31a. The top plate 5 is rotatable relative to the side plate 31a, with the boundary portion 13 with the side plate 31a as the pivot point. Rotation means rotating in both directions within an angular range of less than 360 degrees. The rotation of the top plate 5 opens and closes the opening 11 of the main body 3. The inner flap 7 is connected to the end of the top plate 5 opposite to the boundary portion 13. The inner flap 7 is rotatable relative to the top plate 5, with the boundary portion 15 with the top plate 5 as the pivot point.

[0012] The top plate 5 is provided with two oval-shaped through holes 17 near the inner flap 7. An oval is a shape formed by connecting the arcs of two semicircles with equal radii by a common outer tangent. The shape of the through holes 17 is not limited to an oval shape. The two through holes 17 are aligned in the X direction with a predetermined distance between them. The through holes 17 are large enough that a human finger cannot fit through them. The inner flap 7 has a linear slit 23 that penetrates it. The two through holes 17 are provided near the boundary portion 15 so as to be located within the range of both ends of the slit 23 in the X direction.

[0013] The outer flap 9 is provided near the upper end of the side plate 31c. As shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 3, two cuts 33 of a predetermined length are formed from the end on the top flap 51 side (the upper end of the main body 3) of the side plate 31c. The line segment connecting the ends of the two cuts 33 on the side away from the top flap 51 is the connecting portion 35 between the outer flap 9 and the side plate 31c.

[0014] The outer flap 9 is formed by cutting a partial area spanning the side plate 31c and the top flap 51, bending the cut area outward at the connecting portion 35 with the side plate 31c, and further bending it at two locations. The outer flap 9 has a base portion 19 connected to the side plate 31c at the connecting portion 35, a first bent portion 20 connected to the base portion 19, and a second bent portion 21 connected to the first bent portion 20. The base portion 19, the first bent portion 20, and the second bent portion 21 are rectangular. The first bent portion 20 is the middle portion of the entire outer flap 9, and the second bent portion 21 is the tip portion of the entire outer flap 9.

[0015] The outer flap 9 is rotatable with respect to the side plate 31c about the connecting portion 35 as the rotation center. The first bent portion 20 and the second bent portion 21 are rotatable about the boundary portion 37 shown in FIG. 5 as the rotation center. The second bent portion 21 is rotatable about the boundary portion 38 shown in FIG. 5 as the rotation center. At this time, the first bent portion 20 may also rotate about the boundary portion 37 as the rotation center. When a person presses the second bent portion 21, the first bent portion 20 and the second bent portion 21 can be in a state of overlapping each other. The connecting portion 35 and the boundary portions 37 and 38 are parallel to each other.

[0016] Incidentally, the distance from the boundary portion 38, which is the length of the second bent portion 21, to the tip of the second bent portion 21 is shorter than the distance from the boundary portion 37, which is the length of the first bent portion 20, to the boundary portion 38.

[0017] Circular through-holes 91 are formed at both ends in the width direction of the second bent portion 21. The pair of through-holes 91 may be provided on the tip side rather than the central position within the range from the boundary portion 38 to the tip of the second bent portion 21.

[0018] The length of the slit 23 formed in the inner flap 7 in the X direction is slightly longer than the width of the outer flap 9 in the X direction. The width of the slit 23 in the direction orthogonal to the X direction (width in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction) is slightly wider than the thickness when the first bent portion 20 and the second bent portion 21 are overlapped. Therefore, as will be described later, the first bent portion 20 and the second bent portion 21 overlapped with each other can be inserted into the slit 23.

[0019] The packing box 1 configured as described above has the opening 11 opened as shown in FIG. 1 in the initial state. When the object to be stored is stored in the main body portion 3, the pair of side flaps 45 are rotated to cover the left and right ends of the opening 11, and further when the top flap 51 is rotated with respect to the side plate 31c, the top flap 51 substantially closes the opening 11 inside the top plate 5. When the top plate 5 is rotated so as to approach the top flap 51 and the left and right ends of the inner flap 7 are inserted into the gaps 52 formed on both outer sides of the outer flap 9 between the side plate 31c and the top flap 51, the state shown in FIG. 2 is obtained.

[0020] In the state shown in FIG. 2, the inner flap 7 is located on the inner surface side of the side plate 31c and closes the opening formed by cutting the outer flap of the upper end portion of the side plate 31c. The inner flap 7 contacts the inner surface of the side plate 31c. The top plate 5 closes the opening formed by cutting the outer flap of the top flap 51 and covers the entire top flap 51. The top plate 5 closes the opening 11 via the pair of side flaps 45 and the top flap 51.

[0021] As shown in Figure 2, the second bent portion 21 is held down to overlap the first bent portion 20 and the second bent portion 21. The overlapped first bent portion 20 and second bent portion 21 are then rotated around the connecting portion 35 and the boundary portion 37 as pivot points and inserted into the slit 23, resulting in the state shown in Figure 3. As shown in Figure 6, once the overlapped first bent portion 20 and second bent portion 21 enter the interior of the main body portion 3, the second bent portion 21 rotates around the boundary portion 38 as a pivot point and separates from the first bent portion 20.

[0022] When the first bent portion 20 and the second bent portion 21 are separated from each other inside the main body 3, even if the base portion 19 is pulled outward to rotate the outer flap 9 in the direction indicated by arrow A6 in Figure 6, the second bent portion 21 comes into contact with the inner surface of the inner flap 7, making it impossible to pull the outer flap 9 out of the main body 3. As a result, the top plate 5 maintains a closed state over the opening 11 of the main body 3 via the pair of side flaps 45 and the top flap 51.

[0023] With the first bent portion 20 and the second bent portion 21 having passed through the slit 23 and entered the interior of the main body portion 3, the inner flap 7 and the outer flap 9 act as a closed state maintaining portion that keeps the top plate 5 closed at the opening 11.

[0024] As described above, when the contents to be stored are placed inside the main body 3 and the individual packaging box 1 is closed as shown in Figure 3, the outer flap 9 cannot be pulled out and the top panel 5 cannot be opened. The individual packaging box 1 can be prevented from being opened without the use of an anti-tamper seal.

[0025] After the contents to be stored are placed inside the main body 3 and the individual packaging box 1 is closed, there may be cases where it is necessary to remove the contents from the individual packaging box 1 for reasons such as inspection or repair. The individual packaging box 1 is designed so that it can be opened in a reusable state using a dedicated opening tool after it has been closed. Opening the individual packaging box 1 using the opening tool will not damage the top panel 5, inner flap 7, or outer flap 9, nor will the main body 3 be deformed, so there is no need to replace the individual packaging box 1.

[0026] Figures 4, 7, 8A, and 8B illustrate the opening tool for opening the individual packaging box 1 and how to open the individual packaging box 1 using the opening tool. As shown in Figures 8A and 8B, the opening tool 25 has a rectangular parallelepiped body 250 and a pair of cylindrical legs 251 protruding from the body 250. Each leg 251 has a cylindrical projection 252 at its tip, which is smaller in diameter than the leg 251. The opening tool 25, which has a body 250 and a pair of legs 251 with projections 252, can be formed, for example, by integrally molding synthetic resin.

[0027] The distance between the pair of legs 251 is the same as the distance between the pair of through holes 17. The diameter of the legs 251 is slightly smaller than the distance between the two common outer tangents of the through holes 17. Therefore, the pair of legs 251 can be inserted into the pair of through holes 17. Since the through holes 17 are elongated, the pair of legs 251 can be moved within the pair of through holes 17. To allow the legs 251 to move within the through holes 17, the through holes 17 may also be elliptical. The diameter of the projection 252 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the through hole 91. The length (projection amount) of the projection 252 should preferably be greater than or equal to the plate thickness of the second bent portion 21.

[0028] As shown in Figure 4, the opening tool 25 is lowered from above the individual packaging box 1 until the tool body 250 contacts the top plate 5, and the pair of legs 251 are inserted into the pair of through holes 17. At this time, the legs 251 (protruding parts 252) push against the second bent part 21 of the first bent part 20 and the second bent part 21, which are separated from each other as shown in Figure 6. Then, as shown in Figure 7, the second bent part 21 rotates around the boundary part 38 as the pivot point and contacts the first bent part 20, so that the first bent part 20 and the second bent part 21 overlap. The length of the legs 251 is such that the second bent part 21 can contact the first bent part 20.

[0029] At this time, the pair of protrusions 252 can be inserted into the pair of through holes 91. When the leg portion 251 is inserted into the through hole 17 and the second bent portion 21 is brought into contact with the first bent portion 20, the protrusions 252 may shift out of the through hole 91 and not be inserted into the through hole 91. Even in such cases, the pair of protrusions 252 can be inserted into the pair of through holes 91 by moving the opening tool 25. The protrusions 252 function as engaging portions that engage with the through holes 91, and the through holes 91 function as engaged portions that the protrusions 252 engage with.

[0030] As shown in Figure 7, when the opening tool 25 is slid in the direction of arrow A7 with the pair of protrusions 252 engaged with the pair of through holes 91, parts of the overlapping first bent portion 20 and second bent portion 21 can be made to protrude to the outside of the main body 3 through the slit 23. Even if the opening tool 25 is removed at this point, the first bent portion 20 and the second bent portion 21 remain overlapping. By pulling the base portion 19 or the protruding first bent portion 20 and second bent portion 21 outwards and rotating the outer flap 9 in the direction indicated by arrow A6 in Figure 6, the outer flap 9 can be pulled out to the outside of the main body 3.

[0031] When the outer flap 9 is pulled out to the outside of the main body 3, the individual packaging box 1 returns to the state shown in Figure 2. In Figure 2, when the inner flap 7 is removed from the gap 52, the top plate 5 is lifted, and the pair of side flaps 45 and the top flap 51 are opened, the individual packaging box 1 can be returned to the state shown in Figure 1.

[0032] As described above, when it is necessary to remove the contents from the individual packaging box 1 for reasons such as inspection or repair, the individual packaging box 1 can be opened in a reusable condition and the contents removed by using the dedicated opening tool 25. At this time, the top panel 5, inner flap 7, or outer flap 9 will not be damaged, and the main body 3 will not be deformed. After the inspection or repair of the contents is completed, the contents can be placed back into the main body 3 and the individual packaging box 1 can be closed. If it becomes necessary to remove the contents from the individual packaging box 1 before the product is shipped, the contents can be removed using the opening tool 25. This prevents unauthorized opening at stores and other locations after the product has been shipped.

[0033] The first modified example will be explained using Figure 9. The outer flap 9 shown in Figure 9 further has a third bent portion 22 connected to the second bent portion 21. The third bent portion 22 is rectangular in shape. The third bent portion 22 is rotatable relative to the second bent portion 21 with the boundary portion 39 as the pivot point. Circular through holes 92 are formed at both ends of the third bent portion 22 in the width direction. When the second bent portion 21 and the third bent portion 22 are overlapping, the through holes 91 and 92 are in the same position in the plane direction of the second bent portion 21 and the third bent portion 22.

[0034] In the first modified example, the width of the slit 23 in the direction perpendicular to the X direction (the width perpendicular to the longitudinal direction) is slightly wider than the combined thickness of the first bent portion 20 to the third bent portion 22. Therefore, the first bent portion 20 to the third bent portion 22, which are stacked on top of each other, can be inserted into the slit 23. As shown in Figure 9, when the stacked first bent portion 20 to the third bent portion 22 are inserted into the slit 23 and the first bent portion 20 to the third bent portion 22 enter the interior of the main body 3, the first bent portion 20 to the third bent portion 22 separate from each other. The third bent portion 22 comes into contact with the inner surface of the top plate 5, thus blocking the pair of through holes 17 from the inner side.

[0035] When the first bent portion 20 to the third bent portion 22 are separated from each other inside the main body 3, even if the base portion 19 is pulled outward to rotate the outer flap 9, the second bent portion 21 and the third bent portion 22 come into contact with the inner surface of the inner flap 7, making it impossible to pull the outer flap 9 out of the main body 3. As a result, the top plate 5 maintains a closed state over the opening 11 of the main body 3 via the pair of side flaps 45 and the top flap 51.

[0036] The opening tool 25 used in the first modified example has the same configuration as the opening tool 25 shown in Figures 8A and 8B. However, the length (amount of protrusion) of the protruding portion 252 in the opening tool 25 used in the first modified example should be greater than or equal to the combined thickness of the second bent portion 21 and the third bent portion 22. When the pair of legs 251 of the opening tool 25 are inserted into the pair of through holes 17, the legs 251 (protruding portion 252) press against the second bent portion 21 and the third bent portion 22.

[0037] As shown in Figure 10, the first bent portion 20 to the third bent portion 22 overlap each other. At this time, the protruding portion 252 can be inserted into the through holes 91 and 92. The through holes 91 and 92 function as engaged portions into which the protruding portion 252 engages. The length of the leg portion 251 is such that the third bent portion 22 can come into contact with the second bent portion 21, and the second bent portion 21 can come into contact with the first bent portion 20.

[0038] In the first modified example, the opening tool 25 can be slid in the direction of arrow A10 to pull the outer flap 9 out of the main body 3.

[0039] According to the first modification, when the outer flap 9 is inserted into the main body 3, the third bent portion 22 closes the through hole 17 from the inner surface side of the top plate 5, resulting in a good appearance when the individual packaging box 1 is closed and preventing foreign objects from entering the main body 3.

[0040] A second modified example will be explained using Figure 11. The outer flap 9 in the second modified example has a base portion 19, a first bent portion 20, and a second bent portion 21, similar to the outer flap 9 shown in Figure 1. However, the second bent portion 21 of the second modified example does not have a through hole 91. Accordingly, the opening tool 25 used in the second modified example has the protruding portion 252 of the opening tool 25 shown in Figures 8A and 8B removed. In the second modified example, there is no need to slide the opening tool 25, and the through hole 17 is circular in diameter, allowing the leg portion 251 to be inserted.

[0041] When the pair of legs 251 are inserted into the pair of through holes 17, the legs 251 push against the second bent portion 21 of the first bent portion 20 and the second bent portion 21, which are separated from each other, causing the first bent portion 20 and the second bent portion 21 to overlap. By pulling the base portion 19 outward and rotating the outer flap 9, the outer flap 9 can be pulled out to the outside of the main body portion 3.

[0042] As a third modification, in the outer flap 9 having a base portion 19, a first bent portion 20, a second bent portion 21, and a third bent portion 22, the through holes 91 and 92 may be removed.

[0043] The present invention is not limited to the one or more embodiments described above, and can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0044] This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-203970, filed with the Japan Patent Office on 9 December 2020, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

1. A main body having first and second side panels facing each other and an opening for inserting and removing stored items, A top plate is connected to the opening-side end of the first side plate and rotates relative to the first side plate to open and close the opening, An inner flap is connected to the top plate, rotates relative to the top plate, and is located on the inner surface side of the second side plate when the top plate is closing the opening, An outer flap having a base connected to the second side plate and rotating relative to the second side plate, a first bent portion connected to the base and rotating relative to the base, and a second bent portion connected to the first bent portion and rotating relative to the first bent portion, Equipped with, A straight slit is formed in the inner flap. The width of the slit in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is wider than the combined thickness of the first bent portion and the second bent portion. With the top plate closed and the inner flap positioned on the inner surface side of the second side plate, when the first and second bent portions are overlapped and passed through the slit into the interior of the main body, the second bent portion separates from the first bent portion, preventing the first and second bent portions from being pulled out from the interior of the main body through the slit to the exterior of the main body, thus maintaining the state in which the top plate closes the opening. The top plate has a through hole formed in it for inserting an opening tool into the main body to press the second folded portion, which is separated from the first folded portion inside the main body, and bring the first and second folded portions into contact with each other. The second bent portion has an engaging portion formed therein, into which the opening tool engages. The through-hole is shaped such that, when the opening tool is engaged with the engaged portion, it can slide in a direction that causes parts of the overlapping first and second bent portions to protrude outward from the main body through the slit. Individual packaging box.

2. The outer flap further has a third bend that is connected to the second bend and rotates relative to the second bend, The width of the slit in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is wider than the combined thickness of the first bent portion, the second bent portion, and the third bent portion. With the top plate closed and the inner flap positioned on the inner surface side of the second side plate, when the first to third bent portions are overlapped and passed through the slit into the interior of the main body, the second bent portion separates from the first bent portion, and the third bent portion separates from the second bent portion. The first to third bent portions cannot be pulled out from the interior of the main body through the slit to the exterior of the main body, and the top plate maintains the state in which the opening is closed. The top plate has through holes formed inside the main body for inserting an opening tool into the main body to press the second folded portion, which is separated from the first folded portion, and the third folded portion, which is separated from the second folded portion, to bring the first to third folded portions into contact with each other. The individual packaging box according to claim 1.

3. The third bent portion also has an engaged portion formed therein, in which the opening tool engages. The through-hole is shaped such that, when the opening tool is engaged with the engaged portion, it can slide in a direction that causes a portion of the overlapping first to third bent portions to protrude outward through the slit to the outside of the main body. The individual packaging box according to claim 2.

4. The individual packaging box according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the opening tool comprises a tool body, a leg portion protruding from the tool body and inserted into the through hole, and a projection provided at the tip of the leg portion that engages with the engaged portion.

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