Transport containers

Abstract

To provide a transport container that can prevent the formation of a gap between the side plate hinge and the bottom plate hinge into which small items or other objects can become lodged. [Solution] The transport container of the present invention has a bottom plate, four side plates, and an internal space. The side plates have side plate hinges, and the side plate hinges are rotatably connected to the bottom plate hinges of the bottom plate. The bottom plate hinges have an opening that opens into the internal space and a bearing that supports the pivot axis of the side plate hinges. The side plate hinges have a rotating body and a cover that closes the opening. The cover is attached to the rotating body in such a way that the cover can swing (A1) and / or slide (A2), or has a structure in which the cover is fixed to the rotating body (B).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a transport container.

Background Art

[0002] In operations such as the transportation and storage of goods, foldable transport containers are widely used. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2024-169697 (Patent Document 1) describes a foldable transport container having a bottom plate and four side plates rotatably connected to the bottom plate. Such a transport container can be folded compactly by rotating the side plates toward the bottom plate when not in use, thereby improving transportation efficiency and reducing storage space.

[0003] In a foldable transport container, in order to rotate the side plates with respect to the bottom plate, for example, a bottom plate hinge portion provided with a concave portion and a bearing portion may be installed on the bottom plate, and a side plate hinge portion may be installed on the side plate. The side plate hinge portion is inserted into the concave portion of the bottom plate hinge portion, and the rotation shaft of the side plate hinge portion is held by the bearing portion of the bottom plate hinge portion, whereby the side plate hinge portion is rotatably connected to the bottom plate hinge portion.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Transport containers may experience thermal contraction and expansion due to changes in ambient temperature, as well as deformation over time. This can cause changes in the installation position, dimensions, and shape of at least one of the hinges, such as the bottom plate hinge and the side plate hinge. As a result, defects such as the formation of small gaps between the side plate hinge and the bottom plate hinge, allowing tiny items or objects to get trapped, or the side plate hinge catching on the bottom plate hinge and failing to fit into the recess of the bottom plate hinge, may occur.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a transport container that can prevent the formation of a gap between the side plate hinge and the bottom plate hinge into which minute items or other objects can become lodged. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To address the above problems, the transport container provided by the present invention is: A transport container having a base plate with four sides, four side plates connected to each side of the base plate, and an internal space surrounded by the base plate and the side plates, At least one of the side panels has at least one side panel hinge portion, The side plate hinge portion is rotatably connected to at least one bottom plate hinge portion formed on the bottom plate, The bottom plate hinge portion has an opening that opens into the internal space and a bearing portion that supports the pivot axis of the side plate hinge portion. The side plate hinge portion comprises a rotating body having the pivot axis and a cover that closes the opening. The cover is a transport container attached to the rotating body having the following structure (A1) and / or the following structure (A2), or the following structure (B). Structure (A1): The cover is pivotable on an axis in the vertical direction relative to the rotating body. Structure (A2): The cover is slidable in the left-right direction relative to the rotating body. Structure (B): The cover is fixed to the rotating body.

[0008] In the transport container of the present invention, when viewing the bottom plate hinge portion and the side plate hinge portion in cross-sections perpendicular to the vertical direction, the bottom plate hinge portion may have the following structure (α1) and / or the following structure (α2), and the side plate hinge portion may have the following structure (β1) and / or the following structure (β2). Structure (α1): At least a portion of the end faces forming the left and right edges of the opening has an inclination that widens the opening toward the internal space. Structure (α2): The end face forming the left edge of the opening is parallel to the end face forming the right edge of the opening when viewed in a cross-section perpendicular to the vertical direction of the bottom plate hinge portion. Structure (β1): At least a portion of the left and right sides of the cover has an incline that widens the width of the cover along the left-right direction from the rear to the front. Structure (β2): The left side of the cover is parallel to the right side of the cover when viewed in a cross-section perpendicular to the vertical direction of the side plate hinge portion.

[0009] The shape of the cover facing the internal space may be a rectangle, trapezoid, rhombus, triangle, polygon with pentagons or more, ellipse, or irregular shape. When the side panels are raised, the cover may be in an upright position parallel to the side panels, a forward-leaning position, or a backward-leaning position. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the transport container of the present invention, the side plate hinge portion has structure (A1) and / or structure (A2), or structure (B), so that even if deformation occurs over time in at least one of the side plate hinge portion and the bottom plate hinge portion, for example, it is possible to prevent the formation of a gap between the side plate hinge portion and the bottom plate hinge portion into which minute articles or the like can get trapped. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing a part of a transport container according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2]Perspective view showing a part of the bottom plate hinge portion and a part of the side plate hinge portion when the transport container is in use. [Figure 3] Perspective view showing the side plate hinge portion of the side plate. [Figure 4] Perspective view showing the bottom plate hinge portion of the bottom plate. [Figure 5] Perspective view showing a part of the bottom plate hinge portion and a part of the side plate hinge portion when the transport container is not in use. [Figure 6] Exploded perspective view of the side plate hinge portion. [Figure 7] Explanatory drawing explaining the structure of the side plate hinge portion and the movement of the cover. [Figure 8] Cross-sectional view of the side plate hinge portion along the line VIII-VIII shown in FIG. 7. [Figure 9] Cross-sectional view of the side plate hinge portion and the bottom plate hinge portion. [Figure 10] Cross-sectional view showing the state where the misaligned cover closes the opening. [Figure 11] Exploded cross-sectional view of the side plate hinge portion having the structure (A1). [Figure 12] Cross-sectional view showing the state where the cover shown in FIG. 11 is attached to the rotating body. [Figure 13] Exploded cross-sectional view of the side plate hinge portion having the structure (A2). [Figure 14] Cross-sectional view showing the state where the cover shown in FIG. 13 is attached to the rotating body. [Figure 15] Cross-sectional view of the bottom plate hinge portion having the structure (A1) and the structure (A2). [Figure 16] Cross-sectional view of the side plate hinge portion having the structure (B). [Figure 17] Cross-sectional view showing another form of the side plate hinge portion having the structure (B). [Figure 18] Cross-sectional view showing the bottom plate hinge portion having the structure (α2) and the side plate hinge portion having the structure (β1). [Figure 19]This is a cross-sectional view showing the bottom plate hinge portion having structure (α2) and the side plate hinge portion having structure (β2). [Figure 20] This is a cross-sectional view showing a bottom plate hinge portion having structure (α1) and a side plate hinge portion having structure (β2). [Figure 21] This is a cross-sectional view showing a bottom plate hinge portion having structure (α1) and another form of a side plate hinge portion having structure (β1). [Figure 22] This is a cross-sectional view showing another form of bottom plate hinge having structure (α1) and yet another form of side plate hinge having structure (β1). [Figure 23] This is a cross-sectional view showing another form of bottom plate hinge having structure (α1) and yet another form of side plate hinge having structure (β1). [Figure 24] This is a front view of the rectangular cover as seen from the interior. [Figure 25] This is a front view of the trapezoidal cover as seen from the interior space. [Figure 26] This is a front view of the elliptical cover as seen from the interior. [Figure 27] This is a cross-sectional view showing the cover in a forward-leaning position. [Figure 28] This is a cross-sectional view showing the cover in a reclined position. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] In the transport container of the present invention, in order to eliminate the conventional problem in which a gap is formed between the side plate hinge and the bottom plate hinge due to deformation over time, etc., the side plate hinge has a rotating body and a cover attached to the rotating body, and the cover has a structure that allows it to swing (A1) on an axis in the vertical direction and / or slide (A2) in the left-right direction relative to the rotating body, or has a structure that is fixed to the rotating body (B).

[0013] In the transport container of the present invention, for example, when the side plate is rotated to stand upright relative to the bottom plate, changes in the position and dimensions of the side plate hinge and / or bottom plate hinge caused by deformation over time can be corrected by swinging the cover with structure (A1) and / or sliding it with structure (A2). In structure (B) in which the cover is fixed to the rotating body, changes in position and dimensions can be absorbed, for example, by deformation of at least a part of the cover. Therefore, even if deformation occurs over time, the transport container of the present invention can prevent the formation of gaps that would be a problem in the conventional design when the opening formed in the bottom plate hinge is closed with a cover.

[0014] One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from its essence. Furthermore, the same reference numerals used in different drawings indicate the same or corresponding components.

[0015] [Explanation of terms related to the bill] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a part of a transport container 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. In the following description and drawings, each direction of use for the transport container 1 is based on the use case where the side plates 20 are erected perpendicular to the bottom plate 10 and the transport container 1 can accommodate goods, etc.

[0016] As shown in Figure 1, the vertical direction is the height direction of the transport container 1 and the vertical direction of the side plates 20 of the transport container 1. The left-right direction refers to the lateral direction of each side panel 20 when viewed from the inside of the transport container 1. The front-to-back direction is the direction from each side plate 20 toward the inside and outside of the transport container 1. The front direction is the direction from the outside toward the inside of the transport container 1. The rear direction is the direction from the inside toward the outside of the transport container 1.

[0017] "When in use" of the transport container 1 means, for example, as shown in Figure 1, that the side panels 20 are erected perpendicular to the bottom panel 10, and that the transport container 1 is in a state and form where goods can be stored inside. "When not in use" of the transport container 1 means, for example, as shown in Figure 5, that the side panels 20 are folded inward, and the transport container 1 is folded up.

[0018] With respect to the side plate hinge portion 30 of the side plate 20 and the bottom plate hinge portion 50 of the bottom plate 10, "cross section perpendicular to the vertical direction" means the cross section obtained when the side plate hinge portion 30 and the bottom plate hinge portion 50 are cut by a plane perpendicular to the vertical direction, for example, at the vertical center of the side plate hinge portion 30 and the bottom plate hinge portion 50 when the transport container 1 is in use. In the cross-sectional view perpendicular to the vertical direction of the side plate hinge portion 30 and the bottom plate hinge portion 50, each surface, such as the front, rear, and left and right sides formed on the cover 41 of the side plate hinge portion 30, and the inner wall surface of the regulating wall portion 54 of the bottom plate hinge portion 50, is shown by lines such as straight lines and curves.

[0019] The structures (α1) and (α2) of the bottom plate hinge portion 50 and the structures (β1) and (β2) of the side plate hinge portion 30 will be described below with reference to Figures 9 to 23, which show cross-sections perpendicular to the vertical direction of the side plate hinge portion 30 and the bottom plate hinge portion 50. For example, in the description of structure (α1), "at least a portion of the left and right end faces 55 that form the left and right edges of the opening 52 are inclined" means that, when viewing a cross-sectional view of the bottom plate hinge portion 50 perpendicular to the vertical direction, such as in Figure 9, at least a portion of the lines representing the end faces 55 are inclined in a predetermined direction. In the description of structure (α2), "the left end face 55 is parallel to the right end face 55" means that when viewing a cross-sectional view of the bottom plate hinge portion 50 perpendicular to the vertical direction, the two lines representing the left and right end faces 55 are parallel to each other.

[0020] In the description of structure (β1), "at least a portion of the left and right sides of the cover 41 is inclined" means that when viewing a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the vertical direction of the side plate hinge portion 30, at least a portion of the lines representing the side of the cover 41 is inclined in a predetermined direction. In the description of structure (β2), "the left side of the cover 41 is parallel to the right side" means that when viewing a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the vertical direction of the side plate hinge portion 30, the two lines representing the left and right sides of the cover 41 are parallel to each other.

[0021] [Basic structure of transport container 1] The transport container 1 shown as an example in Figure 1 has a single rectangular bottom plate 10 when viewed from above, and four side plates 20 connected to each side of the bottom plate 10. When in use, the transport container 1 has the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped with an open top, and an internal space 2 capable of accommodating goods is formed inside the transport container 1. At least one of the side plates 20 is rotatably connected to the bottom plate 10. For example, a transport container 1 in which four side panels 20 can rotate relative to a base plate 10 can be folded down to reduce its height when not in use by rotating each side panel 20 inward and stacking them sequentially on top of the base plate 10.

[0022] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing an enlarged view of the area enclosed by the dashed-dotted circle in Figure 1 when the transport container 1 is in use. Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the side plate hinge portion 30 of the side plate 20, and Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the bottom plate hinge portion 50 of the bottom plate 10. Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the side plate hinge portion 30 and the bottom plate hinge portion 50 when the transport container 1 is not in use. In Figures 2 and 5, a portion of the side plate 20 is cut out, and a portion of the side plate hinge portion 30 and a portion of the bottom plate hinge portion 50 are shown through the perspective.

[0023] The side plate 20 shown in Figure 2 has a main flat side plate body 21 and a lower flange 22 extending rearward from the lower end of the side plate body 21. At least one side plate 20 has at least one side plate hinge portion 30, for example, as shown in Figure 3. In the transport container 1, the four side plates 20 may each have multiple side plate hinge portions 30.

[0024] The base plate 10 shown in Figure 2 has a rectangular base plate body 11 and four raised sections 12. In Figures 1 and 2, one raised section 12 is shown as representative. The raised sections 12 are arranged along each of the four sides of the base plate 10. Each raised section 12 protrudes upward from the base plate body 11. The shape of the raised sections 12 is not limited, but for example, a raised section 12 may have an inner wall section 12a and an outer wall section 12b that run vertically, and an upper wall section 12c that connects the upper end of the inner wall section 12a and the upper end of the outer wall section 12b. At least one embankment section 12 has at least one base plate hinge section 50, for example, as shown in Figure 4. Four embankment sections 12 may each have, for example, multiple base plate hinge sections 50.

[0025] As shown in Figure 2, the side plate 20 is attached to the bank portion 12 of the base plate 10 by inserting and rotatably connecting one side plate hinge portion 30, shown in Figure 3, to one base plate hinge portion 50, shown in Figure 4. The side plate hinge portion 30 connected to the base plate hinge portion 50 is rotatable relative to the base plate 10 between a state where the side plate 20 is upright, as shown in Figure 2, and a state where the side plate 20 is folded inward, as shown in Figure 5, when not in use.

[0026] [Configuration of the side panel hinge section 30] The shape and structure of the side panel hinge portion 30 are not limited insofar as the effects of the present invention can be obtained, but the side panel hinge portion 30 may be formed as follows. For example, as shown in Figures 6 to 8, the side plate hinge portion 30 has a rotating body 31 extending downward from the lower flange 22 of the side plate 20, and a cover 41 attached to the rotating body 31.

[0027] The rotating body 31 has a roughly rectangular parallelepiped body portion 32 connected to the lower flange 22, a pair of rotating shafts 33 that protrude cylindrically from the body portion 32 in the left-right direction, and a cover mounting portion 34 for attaching the cover 41 to the body portion 32. The cover mounting portion 34 has an insertion hole portion 34a that opens on the front surface of the body portion 32, and a pair of upper and lower engaging portions 34b that extend flatly to the rear from positions above and below the insertion hole portion 34a. For example, as shown in Figure 7, the rear end of the engaging portion 34b has a shape that is curved convexly to the rear.

[0028] A support projection 35 is formed on the front surface of the body portion 32, projecting forward with an arc-shaped or substantially arc-shaped cross-section, and is located in the center of the body portion 32 in the left-right direction, extending vertically. The outer surface of the support projection 35 is curved forward in a convex shape in a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the vertical direction. In the side plate hinge portion 30 shown in Figure 8, the support projection 35 is not shown by its reference numeral, but in the rotating body 31, the portion including the contact part that contacts the rear surface of the cover 41 is the support projection 35.

[0029] For example, when using the transport container 1 as shown in Figure 2, the cover 41 has a front surface facing the internal space 2 of the transport container 1, a rear surface on the opposite side in the front-to-back direction from the front surface, and left and right sides. The rear surface of the cover 41 faces the rotating body 31. For example, as shown in Figure 7, the left and right sides of the cover 41, together with the front and rear surfaces of the cover 41, form the outer circumferential surface of the cover 41 when viewed in a cross-section perpendicular to the vertical direction of the cover 41.

[0030] As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the cover 41 has a cover engagement portion 42 that extends rearward from the rear surface of the cover 41 and has an arrow-shaped configuration, which is formed to be insertable into the insertion hole 34a of the rotating body 31. The cover engagement portion 42 has a neck portion 43 that connects to the rear surface of the cover 41 and an engagement head portion 44 formed at the rear end of the neck portion 43. Between the neck portion 43 and the engagement head portion 44, a step portion 45 is formed that is parallel to the left-right direction in order to make the engagement head portion 44 thicker than the neck portion 43.

[0031] The cover 41 is attached to the rotating body 31 by inserting the cover engagement portion 42 into the cover mounting portion 34 of the rotating body 31 and engaging it with the upper and lower locking portions 34b. As a result, a part of the rotating body 31 is sandwiched between the rear surface of the cover 41 and the stepped portion 45 of the cover engagement portion 42, thus attaching the cover 41 to the rotating body 31. This forms the side plate hinge portion 30 as shown in Figure 3.

[0032] The method of attaching the cover 41 to the rotating body 31 is not limited. For example, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, the cover 41 may be attached to the rotating body 31 by fitting the cover engagement portion 42 of the cover 41 onto a cylindrical mounting shaft 46 formed on the rotating body 31, or, as shown in Figures 13 and 14, it may be attached to a rotating body 31 that does not have a support projection 35. For example, as shown in Figures 16 and 17, the cover 41 may be fixed to the rotating body 31 by adhesive or the like.

[0033] [Configuration of the base plate hinge section 50] The shape and structure of the bottom plate hinge portion 50 are not limited insofar as the effects of the present invention can be obtained, but the bottom plate hinge portion 50 may be formed as follows. For example, as shown in Figure 4, the bottom plate hinge portion 50 has a receiving recess 51 for accommodating the side plate hinge portion 30, an opening 52 that opens into the internal space 2, and a bearing portion 53 that rotatably supports the pivot shaft 33 of the side plate hinge portion 30. The receiving recess 51 opens into the upper wall portion 12c of the embankment portion 12 and has a shape that is recessed downward from the upper wall portion 12c. The opening 52 is formed in the inner wall portion 12a of the embankment portion 12 so as to connect the internal space 2 and the receiving recess 51.

[0034] Left and right restricting walls 54 are formed on the left and right sides of the receiving recess 51 and the opening 52, respectively, to limit the size of the receiving recess 51 and the opening 52 from the left and right directions. The restricting walls 54 have inner wall surfaces facing the receiving recess 51 and the opening 52, and the inner wall surfaces of the restricting walls 54 include end faces 55 that form the left and right edges of the opening 52. The end faces 55 that form the left and right edges of the opening 52 are formed at the front ends of the left and right restricting walls 54, respectively. The opening 52 of the bottom plate hinge portion 50 is opened and closed by the cover 41 of the side plate hinge portion 30 by rotating the side plate hinge portion 30.

[0035] [Mounting structure of the cover 41 to the rotating body 31] The cover 41 of the side plate hinge portion 30 is attached to the rotating body 31 so as to have a structure (A1) that can swing about an axis in the vertical direction and / or a structure (A2) that can slide in the left-right direction, or a structure (B) that is fixed to the rotating body 31. The configurations and means for forming each of structures (A1), (A2), and (B) are not limited, but structures (A1), (A2), and (B) may be formed by the following configuration examples, for example.

[0036] [Example of a structure (A1)] For example, as shown in Figure 7, the structure (A1) may be formed by attaching the cover 41 to the rotating body 31 while the cover 41 is in contact with a support projection 35 arranged along the vertical direction of the rotating body 31.

[0037] As a result, the cover 41 shown in Figure 7 can pivot back and forth on the vertical axis, as indicated by the dashed arrows, relative to the rotating body 31, with the contact point between the rear surface of the cover 41 and the support projection 35 as the pivot point. For example, although not shown in the figure, while the cover 41 is in contact with the support projection 35, the left side of the cover 41 moves forward away from the rotating body 31, and the right side of the cover 41 moves backward closer to the rotating body 31, thereby allowing the cover 41 to tilt so that its front surface faces diagonally forward to the right.

[0038] The side plate hinge portion 30, shown in Figure 7 and having structure (A1), is rotatably connected to the bottom plate hinge portion 50, as shown in Figure 9. As a result, when the transport container 1 is in use, the opening 52 formed in the bottom plate hinge portion 50 is closed by the cover 41 of the side plate hinge portion 30. If deformation occurs over time in at least one of the side plate hinge portion 30 and the bottom plate hinge portion 50, and the position of the cover 41 is shifted to the left of the opening 52 of the bottom plate hinge portion 50, for example as shown by the dashed line in Figure 10, then when the cover 41, which was held parallel to the left-right direction, rotates backward to close the opening 52 of the bottom plate hinge portion 50, the left side of the cover 41 may come into contact with the regulating wall portion 54 and get caught before the right side.

[0039] When the left side of the cover 41 comes into contact with the regulating wall portion 54, the structure (A1) can be used to tilt the orientation of the cover 41 while moving the right side of the cover 41 toward the rear. As a result, as shown by the solid line in Figure 10, the cover 41 tilts so that the front of the cover 41 faces slightly diagonally forward to the right, allowing both the left and right sides of the cover 41 to come into contact with the inclined end faces 55 of the left and right regulating wall portions 54, respectively. Consequently, the cover 41 can close the opening 52 of the bottom plate hinge portion 50, preventing a gap from forming between the side plate hinge portion 30 and the bottom plate hinge portion 50.

[0040] [Other configuration examples of structure (A1)] For example, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, the structure (A1) in which the cover 41 can swing may be formed by forming a cylindrical mounting shaft 46 aligned in the vertical direction on one of the rotating body 31 and the cover 41, and rotatably attaching the other of the rotating body 31 and the cover 41 to the mounting shaft 46.

[0041] For example, the rotating body 31 shown in Figures 11 and 12 has a cover mounting portion 34 for attaching the cover 41 to the rotating body 31. The cover mounting portion 34 has an insertion hole (not shown) that opens on the front surface of the body portion 32, upper and lower connecting plate portions 47 that extend in a flat shape to the rear from positions above and below the insertion hole, and a cylindrical mounting shaft 46 that is arranged vertically between the upper and lower connecting plate portions 47.

[0042] The cover 41 has a cover engagement portion 42 that extends rearward from the cover 41. The cover engagement portion 42 has an engagement body portion 61 which has a trapezoidal shape when viewed from above, and an engagement head portion 62 formed at the rear end of the engagement body portion 61. The engagement head portion 62 has an insertion slit 62a into which the mounting shaft 46 is inserted, and a substantially circular holding hole 62b that communicates with the insertion slit 62a, and the mounting shaft 46 can be rotatably held in the holding hole 62b. The side plate hinge portion 30 shown in Figures 11 and 12 is formed, allowing the cover 41 to swing relative to the rotating body 31 around the mounting shaft 46 which is aligned vertically.

[0043] Structure (A1), although not shown in the figures, may be formed, for example, by forming a hemispherical cup-shaped spherical seat on one of the rotating body and the cover, forming a ball stud on the other, and the spherical portion of the ball stud being slidably fitted into the spherical seat.

[0044] [Example of a structure (A2)] For example, as shown in Figures 13 and 14, a structure (A2) in which the cover 41 can slide in the left-right direction may be formed by forming the front surface of the body portion 32 of the rotating body 31 parallel to the left-right direction, forming the rear surface of the cover 41 parallel to the left-right direction, and bringing the rear surface of the cover 41 into slidable contact with the front surface of the body portion 32.

[0045] As shown in Figures 13 and 14, when viewing a cross-section of the rotating body 31 perpendicular to the vertical direction, the front surface of the body portion 32 of the rotating body 31 is formed by a plane 36 parallel to the left-right direction, and the rotating body 31 does not have a support projection 35 as shown in Figure 9. The cover 41 is formed similarly to the cover 41 shown in Figures 6 to 8, for example, and the rear surface of the cover 41 is formed by a plane 48 parallel to the left-right direction.

[0046] In the rotating body 31 and cover 41 shown in Figures 13 and 14, the rear end surface of the engaging portion 34b and the stepped surface of the stepped portion 45 of the cover engaging portion 42 are formed parallel to the left-right direction. However, for example, if the stepped portion 45 can engage with the engaging portion 34b, the rear end surface of the engaging portion 34b and the stepped surface of the stepped portion 45 do not need to be parallel to the left-right direction.

[0047] The side plate hinge portion 30 has the structure (A2) shown in Figures 13 and 14. For example, if the position of the cover 41 shifts laterally relative to the opening 52 of the bottom plate hinge portion 50 due to deformation over time, the cover 41 can slide laterally to correct the misalignment relative to the opening 52 when it closes the opening 52. This allows the position of the cover 41 to be adjusted laterally, so that the cover 41 can close the opening 52 and prevent a gap from forming between the side plate hinge portion 30 and the bottom plate hinge portion 50.

[0048] [Other configuration examples of structure (A2)] The slidable structure (A2) of the cover 41 may be formed, for example, by slidably fitting a protruding portion extending parallel to the left-right direction, formed on one of the cover and the rotating body, into a recessed groove extending parallel to the left-right direction, formed on the other of the cover and the rotating body.

[0049] [An example configuration that combines structure (A1) and structure (A2)] For example, the side plate hinge portion 30 shown in Figure 9 has a structure (A1) in which the cover 41 is attached to the rotating body 31 by contacting the support projection portion 35, thereby allowing the cover 41 to swing relative to the rotating body 31. The side plate hinge portion 30 shown in Figure 9 can also have a structure (A2) in which the cover 41 can slide in the left-right direction relative to the rotating body 31, by slidably engaging the rear surface of the cover 41, which is parallel to the left-right direction, and the stepped surface of the stepped portion 45, which is parallel to the left-right direction, with the rotating body 31.

[0050] [Other configuration examples that combine structure (A1) and structure (A2)] For example, as shown in Figure 15, by forming a side plate hinge portion 30, the side plate hinge portion 30 can have a structure in which the cover 41 can swing (A1) and a structure in which the cover 41 can slide in the left-right direction (A2).

[0051] In the side plate hinge portion 30 shown in Figure 15, the rotating body 31 has an insertion hole portion (not shown) that opens to the front of the body portion 32, upper and lower connecting plate portions 47, and a cylindrical mounting shaft 46 that is aligned in the vertical direction. The cover engagement portion 42 of the cover 41 has an engagement body portion 61 that extends rearward from the cover 41 and an engagement head portion 62 that rotatably holds the mounting shaft 46. Therefore, the side plate hinge portion 30 shown in Figure 15 can have a structure (A1) in which the cover 41 can swing around the mounting shaft 46 of the rotating body 31 as an axis.

[0052] In the side plate hinge portion 30 shown in Figure 15, insertion recesses 37 or insertion holes are formed in the upper and lower connecting plate portions 47 of the rotating body 31, which hold the mounting shaft 46 so that it can move in the left-right direction. As a result, the cover 41 can move in the left-right direction together with the mounting shaft 46 held by the engaging head portion 62. Thus, the side plate hinge portion 30 shown in Figure 15 can also have a structure (A2) in which the cover 41 can slide in the left-right direction relative to the rotating body 31.

[0053] As shown in Figure 9 or Figure 15, the side plate hinge portion 30 combines structure (A1) and structure (A2), enabling the cover 41 to perform complex movements that combine oscillating and sliding motions, thereby allowing the cover 41 to stably close the opening 52.

[0054] [An example of structure (B)] For example, as shown in Figure 16, the side plate hinge portion 30 may have a structure (B) in which the cover 41 is fixed to the rotating body 31. Structure (B) restrains the cover 41 so that it cannot move relative to the rotating body 31, such as swinging, tilting, or sliding.

[0055] In structure (B), the cover 41 may be fixed to the rotating body 31 by means of, for example, adhesive, welding, mechanical fastening with screws or pins, or by fitting and fixing using protrusions and recesses. In structure (B), the cover 41 may be formed such that at least a part of the cover 41 is deformable.

[0056] The cover 41 may be formed from an elastically deformable material such as an elastomer, so that at least a portion of the cover 41 is deformable. The cover 41 may also be formed to be deformable in part by, for example, forming a plurality of slits along the vertical direction of the cover 41 in the portion of the cover 41 that is not fixed to the rotating body 31, or by forming a bellows shape.

[0057] As shown in Figure 16, in the bottom plate hinge portion 50 having structure (B), if the position of the cover 41 shifts laterally from the appropriate position shown by the dashed line in Figure 16 relative to the opening 52 of the bottom plate hinge portion 50 due to deformation over time, for example, at least one of the left and right side edges of the cover 41 partially deforms, for example as shown by the solid line, thereby absorbing the displacement of the cover 41. Therefore, the opening 52 of the bottom plate hinge portion 50 can be properly closed by the cover 41 so that no gap is formed between the side plate hinge portion 30 and the bottom plate hinge portion 50. Here, the appropriate position of the cover 41 is the position of the cover 41 such that the center line in the left-right direction of the cover 41 coincides with the center line in the left-right direction between the left and right restricting wall portions 54.

[0058] [Other configuration examples of structure (B)] For example, as shown in Figure 17, the structure (B) of the side plate hinge portion 30 may be formed by fixing a thinned cover 41 to the rotating body 31. The cover 41 shown in Figure 17 may be partially deformable, for example, by using an elastically deformable material, forming multiple slits, or forming a bellows shape, so that the left and right side edges 49 of the cover 41 bend forward when pushed by the stepped surface 57 or by the corners formed between the stepped surface 57 and the rear side wall surface 56. This prevents a gap from forming between the side plate hinge portion 30 and the bottom plate hinge portion 50 when the opening 52 of the bottom plate hinge portion 50 is closed with the cover 41.

[0059] [Connecting structure of the bottom plate hinge part 50 and the side plate hinge part 30] In the transport container 1, for example, when viewing the cross-section of the bottom plate hinge portion 50 and the side plate hinge portion 30 perpendicular to the vertical direction, the side plate hinge portion 30, which has the following structure (β1) and / or structure (β2), is rotatably connected to the bottom plate hinge portion 50, which has the following structure (α1) and / or structure (α2). Structure (α1): At least a portion of the end faces 55 that form the left and right edges of the opening 52 has an inclination that widens the opening 52 toward the internal space 2. Structure (α2): The end face 55 forming the left edge of the opening 52 is parallel to the end face 55 forming the right edge of the opening 52 when viewed in a cross-section perpendicular to the vertical direction of the bottom plate hinge portion 50. Structure (β1): At least a portion of the left and right sides of the cover 41 has an inclination that widens the width of the cover 41 along the left-right direction from the rear to the front of the cover 41. Structure (β2): The left side of the cover 41 is parallel to the right side of the cover 41 when viewed in a cross-section perpendicular to the vertical direction of the side plate hinge portion 30.

[0060] The structures (α1), (α2), (β1), and (β2) will be described below with reference to Figures 9 to 23, which show cross-sections perpendicular to the vertical direction of the side plate hinge portion 30 and the bottom plate hinge portion 50. In Figures 9 to 23, hatching representing the cross-sections may be omitted in order to clearly illustrate the features of the present invention.

[0061] [Explanation of structure (α1)] For example, as shown in Figure 9, the bottom plate hinge portion 50 may have a structure (α1) such that, when viewed in cross-section perpendicular to the vertical direction of the bottom plate hinge portion 50, at least a portion of the left and right end faces 55 that form the edge of the opening 52 with the left and right restricting wall portions 54 are inclined to widen the opening 52 toward the internal space 2.

[0062] The end faces 55 that form the edge of the opening 52 are positioned at the front end of the inner wall surface of the regulating wall portion 54, facing the side surface of the cover 41. The front end of the regulating wall portion 54 is the end closest to the internal space 2 of the regulating wall portion 54. In the bottom plate hinge portion 50 shown in Figure 9, the entirety of the left and right end faces 55 is inclined.

[0063] In the structure (α1) shown in Figure 9, the inclination of each left and right end face 55 is formed to gradually increase the width of the opening 52 of the bottom plate hinge portion 50 toward the front, and is also formed by a plane inclined at a constant inclination angle θ with respect to the front-rear direction. The inclination of each end face 55 is formed continuously toward the rear from the front end position of the regulating wall portion 54. Preferably, the range of the inclination of the end face 55 in the front-rear direction is greater than the thickness of the cover 41.

[0064] The inclination angle θ of the inclined end face 55 of the restricting wall portion 54 with respect to the front-rear direction is not limited, but it is preferable that the inclination angle θ of the end face 55 be greater than 0° and less than 90°, and more preferably 10° or more and 80° or less. The inclination angle θ of the left end face 55 and the inclination angle θ of the right end face 55 may be the same angle or may be different angles.

[0065] The structure (α1) is not limited to the one shown in Figure 9, as long as at least a portion of the end face 55 of the regulating wall 54 is inclined to widen the opening 52 forward. The inclination of the structure (α1) may be formed, for example, from a position slightly behind the front end of the regulating wall 54 toward the rear. The inclination of the structure (α1) may include, for example, a plurality of planes with different inclination angles, or it may include a curved surface that curves in an arc shape or substantially in an arc shape. The inclination of the structure (α1) may be formed by a combination of planes and curved surfaces. The structure (α1) may be formed, for example, by inclining one of the left and right end faces 55 with respect to the front-rear direction and making the other parallel to the front-rear direction.

[0066] [Explanation of structure (α2)] For example, as shown in Figure 18, the bottom plate hinge portion 50 may have a structure (α2) in which, when viewed in cross-section perpendicular to the vertical direction of the bottom plate hinge portion 50, the end face 55 forming the left edge of the opening 52 at the front end of the left and right restricting wall portions 54 is parallel to the end face 55 forming the right edge. For example, the left end face 55 and the right end face 55 shown in Figure 18 are formed parallel to the front-rear direction, and the entire inner wall surface including the end faces 55 of the left and right restricting wall portions 54 is formed parallel to the front-rear direction.

[0067] For example, a structure (α2) as shown in Figure 19 may be formed in the bottom plate hinge portion 50. In the bottom plate hinge portion 50 shown in Figure 19, the inner wall surface of the regulating wall portion 54 has end faces 55 that form the left and right edges of the opening 52, a rear side wall surface 56 positioned behind the end faces 55, and a stepped surface 57 formed between the end faces 55 and the rear side wall surface 56.

[0068] When viewing a cross-section of the bottom plate hinge portion 50 perpendicular to the vertical direction, the straight line forming the left end face 55 is parallel to the straight line forming the right end face 55. The left and right end faces 55 are located at the front end of the regulating wall portion 54 and are arranged parallel to the front-rear direction. The left and right end faces 55 are located further outward in the left-right direction than the left and right rear side wall faces 56.

[0069] For example, as shown in Figure 17, the bottom plate hinge portion 50 may have a structure (α2) that is formed in a different shape from that shown in Figure 19 by the end faces 55 that form the left and right edges of the opening 52, the rear side wall surface 56, and the stepped surface 57.

[0070] Structure (α2) is not limited to those shown in Figures 17 to 19, as long as the left end face 55 is formed parallel to the right end face 55 when viewed in a cross-section perpendicular to the vertical direction of the bottom plate hinge portion 50. For example, in structure (α2), the left end face 55 may be parallel to the right end face 55, and both the left and right end faces 55 may be formed inclined with respect to the front-to-back direction.

[0071] [When both structure (α1) and structure (α2) are present] The bottom plate hinge portion 50 may have both structure (α1) and structure (α2). For example, the bottom plate hinge portion 50 may have structure (α1) formed on the front portion of the left and right end faces 55 in a slope that widens the opening 52 toward the internal space 2, and structure (α2) formed on the rear portion of the left and right end faces 55 in a parallel direction in the front-rear direction. For example, the bottom plate hinge portion 50 may have structure (α2) on the front portion of the left and right end faces 55, and structure (α1) on the rear portion of the left and right end faces 55, although this is not shown in the illustration.

[0072] [Explanation of structure (β1)] For example, as shown in Figure 9, the side plate hinge portion 30 may have a structure (β1) in which at least a portion of the left and right sides of the cover 41 is inclined so as to widen the width of the cover 41 in the left-right direction from the rear to the front of the cover 41. The width of the cover 41 in the left-right direction refers to the size of the cover 41 in the left-right direction when viewed in a cross section perpendicular to the vertical direction of the side plate hinge portion 30, from the left side to the right side. In the structure (β1) shown in Figure 9, the inclination of the left and right sides of the cover 41 is formed by a plane that is inclined at a constant angle with respect to the front-to-back direction, from the rear surface to the front surface of the cover 41.

[0073] For example, if a structure (α1) is formed in the bottom plate hinge portion 50 in which the end face 55 of the restricting wall portion 54 is inclined, it is preferable that the inclination of the side surface of the cover 41 in structure (β1) has the same or approximately the same inclination angle as the inclination of the end face 55 of structure (α1).

[0074] As a result, when the cover 41 of the side plate hinge portion 30 closes the opening 52 of the bottom plate hinge portion 50, the left and right sides of the cover 41 can be brought into surface contact with the end faces 55 of the regulating wall portion 54, thereby reliably preventing the formation of a gap between the side plate hinge portion 30 and the bottom plate hinge portion 50.

[0075] For example, if the side plate hinge portion 30 has a structure that allows the cover 41 to swing (A1) and / or a structure that allows the cover 41 to slide (A2), then the left and right sides of the cover 41 and the left and right end faces 55 of the restricting wall portion 54 have the same or approximately the same inclination angle, so that when one of the left or right sides of the cover 41 comes into contact with the end face 55 of the restricting wall portion 54, the swinging and / or sliding motion of the cover 41 can be facilitated. The inclination of the side surface of the cover 41 and the inclination of the end surface 55 of the regulating wall portion 54 may have different inclination angles from each other.

[0076] The structure (β1) is not limited as long as the left and right sides of the cover 41 have an inclination that widens the width of the cover 41 from the rear to the front. The inclination of the sides of the cover 41 may be formed only in a portion of the range from the front to the rear of the cover 41 in the front-rear direction. The side surface of the cover 41 may not be a single plane as shown in Figure 9, but may include, for example, multiple planes with different inclination angles. The side surface of the cover 41 may include at least one curved surface that curves in an arc or substantially arc shape, as shown, for example, in Figures 21 to 23. The side surface of the cover 41 may be formed by a combination of a plane and a curved surface. Structure (β1) may be formed by one side of the cover 41 being inclined with respect to the front-rear direction, and the other side being parallel to the front-rear direction.

[0077] [Explanation of structure (β2)] For example, as shown in Figures 19 and 20, the side plate hinge portion 30 may have a structure (β2) in which the left side surface of the cover 41 is parallel to the right side surface of the cover 41 when viewed in a cross-section perpendicular to the vertical direction of the side plate hinge portion 30. In the structure (β2) shown in Figures 19 and 20, the left and right sides of the cover 41 are formed parallel to each other, for example, in the front-to-back direction. The left and right sides of the cover 41 are formed such that the width along the left-to-right direction of the cover 41 is constant from the rear to the front of the cover 41 when viewed in a cross-section perpendicular to the vertical direction of the side plate hinge portion 30.

[0078] The structure (β2) of the side plate hinge portion 30 is not limited as long as the left side surface of the cover 41 is formed parallel to the right side surface. For example, in structure (β2), although not shown in the figure, the left side surface of the cover 41 is parallel to the right side surface, and the left and right sides of the cover 41 may be formed inclined with respect to the front-rear direction.

[0079] For example, as shown in Figure 17, the structure (β2) of the side plate hinge portion 30 may include a configuration in which, when the left and right side edges 49 of the cover 41 are deformed, the left side surface of the cover 41 is not parallel to the right side surface, but when the left and right side edges of the cover 41 are not deformed, the left side surface of the cover 41 is parallel to the right side surface.

[0080] [When both structure (β1) and structure (β2) are present] The side panel hinge portion 30 may have both structure (β1) and structure (β2). For example, although not shown in the figure, the side panel hinge portion 30 may have structure (β1) on the front portion of the left and right sides of the cover 41, which is sloped to widen the width of the cover 41 toward the front of the cover 41, and structure (β2) on the rear portion of the left and right sides, which is parallel to the front-rear direction. For example, although not shown in the figure, the side panel hinge portion 30 may have structure (β2) on the front portion of the left and right sides of the cover 41, and structure (β1) on the rear portion of the left and right sides of the cover 41.

[0081] [Combination of structure (α1) and structure (β1)] For example, as shown in Figure 9 or Figure 15, in the transport container 1, the bottom plate hinge portion 50 may have a structure (α1) in which the end faces 55 of the left and right restricting wall portions 54 are inclined, and the side plate hinge portion 30 may have a structure (β1) in which the left and right sides of the cover 41 are inclined.

[0082] For example, if the position of the cover 41 shifts laterally relative to the opening 52 of the bottom plate hinge portion 50 due to deformation over time, when the cover 41 of the side plate hinge portion 30 having structure (β1) closes the opening 52 of the bottom plate hinge portion 50 having structure (α1), one of the left and right inclined sides of the cover 41 contacts one of the left and right inclined end faces 55, thereby promoting the swinging motion of the cover 41 by structure (A1) and / or the sliding motion of the cover 41 by structure (A2). As a result, the opening 52 of the bottom plate hinge portion 50 can be stably closed by the cover 41, and a gap can be prevented from being formed between the cover 41 and the left and right restricting wall portions 54.

[0083] When the bottom plate hinge portion 50 has structure (α1) and the side plate hinge portion 30 has structure (β1), the side plate hinge portion 30 is not limited to one that combines a structure (A1) in which the cover 41 can swing about an axis in the vertical direction and a structure (A2) in which the cover 41 can slide in the left-right direction, as shown in Figure 9 or Figure 15.

[0084] If the bottom plate hinge portion 50 has structure (α1) and the side plate hinge portion 30 has structure (β1), then, for example as shown in Figures 11 and 12, the side plate hinge portion 30 may have a structure (A1) that allows the cover 41 to swing, rather than a structure (A2) that allows the cover 41 to slide. For example as shown in Figures 13 and 14, the side plate hinge portion 30 may have a structure (A2) that allows the cover 41 to slide, rather than a structure (A1) that allows the cover 41 to swing.

[0085] For example, as shown in Figure 16, the side plate hinge portion 30 may have a structure (B) that fixes a partially deformable cover 41 to the rotating body 31. In the side plate hinge portion 30 having structure (B), the bottom plate hinge portion 50 has an inclination of the end face 55 in structure (α1), and the side plate hinge portion 30 has an inclination of the side surface of the cover 41 in structure (β1), thereby promoting deformation of the left and right side edges of the cover 41. This also allows the cover 41 to stably close the opening 52 of the bottom plate hinge portion 50.

[0086] In the side plate hinge portion 30 having structure (A1) and / or structure (A2), or structure (B), if the width of the cover 41 becomes larger or smaller than the opening 52 of the bottom plate hinge portion 50 due to deformation over time, for example, the position in which the cover 41 having structure (β1) contacts the left and right end faces 55 having structure (α1) can be moved back and forth, thereby allowing the left and right sides of the cover 41 to contact the end faces 55 of the left and right restricting wall portions 54. This closes the opening 52 of the bottom plate hinge portion 50 with the cover 41, preventing the formation of a gap between the cover 41 and the left and right restricting wall portions 54.

[0087] In the transport container 1 having structure (α1) and structure (β1), the shape of the inclined left and right end faces 55 of the bottom plate hinge portion 50, and the shape of the left and right side surfaces of the cover 41 of the side plate hinge portion 30 are not limited to those shown in Figure 9. For example, as shown in Figure 21, the left and right sides of the cover 41 may have a semicircular shape as the structure (β1) of the side plate hinge portion 30. This semicircular side has a first curved surface that increases the width of the cover 41 from the rear surface to the front surface of the cover, and a second curved surface that decreases the width of the cover 41 to the left and right toward the front surface of the cover. In the side plate hinge portion 30 shown in Figure 21, the structure (β1) is formed by the left and right sides of the cover 41 having the first curved surface. The bottom plate hinge portion 50 shown in Figure 21 is formed in the same way as the bottom plate hinge portion 50 shown in Figure 9.

[0088] For example, as shown in Figure 22, the end faces 55 of the left and right restricting wall portions 54 may have an elliptical arc shape as the structure (α1) of the bottom plate hinge portion 50, so as to widen the opening 52 of the bottom plate hinge portion 50 toward the internal space 2. The left and right sides of the cover 41 may have a quadrant arc shape as the structure (β1) of the side plate hinge portion 30, so as to increase the width of the cover 41 from the rear surface of the cover toward the front surface of the cover.

[0089] For example, as shown in Figure 23, the end faces 55 of the left and right restricting wall portions 54 have the same structure (α1) as in Figure 22 as the structure (α1) of the bottom plate hinge portion 50, and the left and right sides of the cover 41 may have a roughly quarter-circular arc shape as the structure (β1) of the side plate hinge portion 30, which increases the width of the cover 41 from the rear surface to the front surface of the cover. The front end of the side surface of the cover 41 may have a curved surface with a large curvature that smoothly connects the side surface and the front surface of the cover 41, such as by chamfering. By connecting the left and right sides and the front surface of the cover 41 via a curved surface, for example, when the cover 41 is tilted to close the opening 52, the amount by which the side surface of the cover 41 protrudes forward beyond the left and right restricting wall portions 54 can be kept to a minimum.

[0090] As shown in Figures 21 to 23, the fact that the bottom plate hinge portion 50 has structure (α1) and the side plate hinge portion 30 has structure (β1) also facilitates the swinging motion of the cover 41 by "structure (A1)" and / or the sliding motion of the cover 41 by "structure (A2)" when the cover 41 contacts one end face 55 of the left and right restricting wall portions 54. For example, if the cover 41 is formed to be deformable, deformation of the cover 41 can be facilitated when the cover 41 contacts at least one of the left and right end faces.

[0091] [Combination of structure (α2) and structure (β1)] The bottom plate hinge portion 50 may have a structure (α2) in which the end face 55 of the left regulating wall portion 54 is parallel to the end face 55 of the right regulating wall portion 54, as shown in one example in Figure 18, and the side plate hinge portion 30 may have a structure (β1) in which the left and right sides of the cover 41 are inclined.

[0092] In the side plate hinge portion 30 and bottom plate hinge portion 50 shown in Figure 18, even if the position of the cover 41 shifts laterally relative to the opening 52 of the bottom plate hinge portion 50 due to deformation over time, or if the width of the cover 41 becomes larger or smaller relative to the opening 52 of the bottom plate hinge portion 50, the left and right inclined sides of the cover 41 are utilized to encourage the cover 41 to swing due to structure (A1) and / or slide due to structure (A2) when closing the opening 52 of the bottom plate hinge portion 50, thereby bringing the left and right sides of the cover 41 into contact with the left and right restricting wall portions 54. This prevents the formation of a gap between the cover 41 and the left and right restricting wall portions 54.

[0093] When the bottom plate hinge portion 50 has structure (α2) and the side plate hinge portion 30 has structure (β1), the side plate hinge portion 30 is not limited to having a structure (A1) that allows the cover 41 to swing about an axis in the vertical direction and a structure (A2) that allows the cover 41 to slide in the left-right direction, as shown in Figure 18. The side plate hinge portion 30, although not shown in the figures, may have a structure (A1) that allows the cover 41 to swing rather than a structure (A2) that allows the cover 41 to slide, or it may have a structure (A2) that allows the cover 41 to slide rather than a structure (A1) that allows the cover 41 to swing.

[0094] The side plate hinge portion 30, although not shown in the figure, may include a structure (B) for fixing a cover 41 that is partially deformable. This allows the left and right side edges of the cover 41 to deform by utilizing the inclined sides of the cover 41, even if the position of the cover 41 shifts laterally relative to the opening 52 due to deformation over time, thus preventing the formation of a gap between the cover 41 and the left and right restricting wall portions 54.

[0095] [Combination of structure (α1) and structure (β2)] The bottom plate hinge portion 50 may have a structure (α1) in which the end faces 55 of the left and right restricting wall portions 54 are inclined, as shown in one example in Figure 20, and the side plate hinge portion 30 may have a structure (β2) in which the left side surface of the cover 41 is parallel to the right side surface.

[0096] In a transport container 1 having structure (α1) and structure (β2), it is preferable that the distance between the left and right sides of the cover 41 is greater than the smallest distance between the end faces 55 of the left and right restricting wall portions 54, and smaller than the largest distance between the end faces 55 of the left and right restricting wall portions 54. This allows the cover 41 to contact the left and right inclined end faces 55 when the cover 41 closes the opening 52 of the bottom plate hinge portion 50. Here, the smallest distance between the end faces 55 of the left and right restricting wall portions 54 is the distance between the left and right end faces 55 at the rear end position of the end faces 55, and the largest distance is the distance between the left and right end faces 55 at the front end position of the end faces 55.

[0097] In the side plate hinge portion 30 and bottom plate hinge portion 50 shown in Figure 20, even if the position of the cover 41 shifts laterally relative to the opening 52 of the bottom plate hinge portion 50 due to deformation over time, or if the width of the cover 41 becomes larger or smaller relative to the opening 52 of the bottom plate hinge portion 50, the inclination formed on the end faces 55 of the left and right restricting wall portions 54 allows the cover 41 to swing due to structure (A1) and / or slide due to structure (A2) when closing the opening 52 of the bottom plate hinge portion 50, thereby bringing the left and right sides of the cover 41 into contact with the left and right restricting wall portions 54. This prevents the formation of a gap between the cover 41 and the left and right restricting wall portions 54.

[0098] When the bottom plate hinge portion 50 has structure (α1) and the side plate hinge portion 30 has structure (β2), the side plate hinge portion 30 is not limited to having a structure (A1) that allows the cover 41 to swing about an axis in the vertical direction and a structure (A2) that allows the cover 41 to slide in the left-right direction, as shown in Figure 20. The side plate hinge portion 30, although not shown in the figures, may have a structure (A1) that allows the cover 41 to swing rather than a structure (A2) that allows the cover 41 to slide, or it may have a structure (A2) that allows the cover 41 to slide rather than a structure (A1) that allows the cover 41 to swing.

[0099] The side plate hinge portion 30, although not shown in the figure, may include a structure (B) for fixing a cover 41 that is partially deformable. This allows the inclined end faces 55 of the left and right restricting walls 54 to be used to promote deformation of the left and right side edges of the cover 41, even if the position of the cover 41 shifts laterally relative to the opening 52 due to deformation over time, thus preventing the formation of a gap between the cover 41 and the left and right restricting walls 54.

[0100] [Combination of structure (α2) and structure (β2)] The bottom plate hinge portion 50 may have a structure (α2) in which the end face 55 of the left regulating wall portion 54 is parallel to the end face 55 of the right regulating wall portion 54, as shown in one example in Figure 19, and the side plate hinge portion 30 may have a structure (β2) in which the left side surface of the cover 41 is parallel to the right side surface.

[0101] In the structure of the bottom plate hinge portion 50 (α2) shown in Figure 19, it is preferable that the width of the cover 41 in the left-right direction is greater than the distance between the left and right rear side wall surfaces 56, and smaller than the distance between the left and right end surfaces 55. This allows the cover 41 to contact the left and right stepped surfaces 57, or the left and right corners formed between the stepped surfaces 57 and the rear side wall surfaces 56, even if the position of the cover 41 shifts in the left-right direction, or if the width of the cover 41 increases or decreases, when the cover 41 closes the opening 52. This prevents the formation of gaps between the cover 41 and the left and right restricting wall portions 54.

[0102] As shown in Figure 19, the side plate hinge portion 30 has a structure (A1) that allows the cover 41 to swing and a structure (A2) that allows the cover 41 to slide. However, if the bottom plate hinge portion 50 has structure (α2) and the side plate hinge portion 30 has structure (β2), the side plate hinge portion 30 may have a structure (A1) that allows the cover 41 to swing, without a structure (A2), or it may have a structure (A2) that allows the cover 41 to slide, although this is not shown in the figure.

[0103] If the side plate hinge portion 30 has structure (A1) and / or structure (A2), when the cover 41 closes the opening 52 of the bottom plate hinge portion 50 in the correct position, a narrow gap may be formed between the side surface of the cover 41 and the end surface 55 of the regulating wall portion 54, for example as shown in Figure 19, so as not to pinch or to make it difficult for articles contained in the transport container 1 to pinch. The formation of such a narrow gap allows the cover 41 to perform a swinging motion and / or a sliding motion when closing the opening 52 of the bottom plate hinge portion 50.

[0104] For example, as shown in Figure 17, the bottom plate hinge portion 50 may have a structure (α2) in which the end face 55 of the left regulating wall portion 54 is parallel to the end face 55 of the right regulating wall portion 54, and the side plate hinge portion 30 may have a structure (β2) in which the left side surface of the cover 41 is parallel to the right side surface. The side panel hinge portion 30 shown in Figure 17 may also have a structure (B) for fixing a cover 41 that is partially deformable.

[0105] In the side plate hinge portion 30 and bottom plate hinge portion 50 shown in Figure 17, a narrow gap may be formed between the side surface of the cover 41 and the end surface 55 of the regulating wall portion 54, for example, in order to deform the left and right side edges 49 of the cover 41, so as not to pinch or to make it difficult for articles contained in the transport container 1 to pinch.

[0106] As shown in Figure 17, the side plate hinge portion 30 and the bottom plate hinge portion 50 are formed so that even if the position of the cover 41 shifts laterally relative to the opening 52 due to deformation over time, the left and right side edges 49 of the cover 41 can be deformed to come into contact with the stepped surfaces 57 of the left and right restricting wall portions 54, or with the left and right corners formed between the stepped surfaces 57 and the rear side wall surface 56. This prevents gaps from forming between the cover 41 and the left and right restricting wall portions 54.

[0107] [Shape of cover 41 facing the internal space 2] For example, in the side plate hinge portion 30 shown in Figures 2 and 3, the shape of the cover 41 facing the internal space 2 has a rectangular shape that is long in the vertical direction, as shown in an enlarged view in Figure 24. The shape of the cover 41 facing the internal space 2 is, for example, the shape of the cover 41 when viewed from the internal space 2 of the transport container 1.

[0108] Because the cover 41 has a rectangular shape facing the internal space 2, for example, if the opening 52 of the bottom plate hinge portion 50 is formed as a vertically elongated rectangle, the cover 41 can be easily fitted into the opening 52 of the bottom plate hinge portion 50, and the opening 52 can be stably closed by the cover 41. In addition, the cover 41 can stably cover and conceal the rotating body 31 located on the rear side of the cover 41.

[0109] The shape of the cover 41 is not limited to the rectangle shown in Figure 24. For example, when viewed from the internal space 2, the cover 41 may have a quadrilateral shape other than a rectangle, such as a trapezoid with a lower base shorter than the upper base, a trapezoid with a lower base longer than the upper base, or a rhombus, as shown in Figure 25. The cover 41 may also have a triangle such as an isosceles triangle, a polygon with pentagons or more, an ellipse as shown in Figure 26, or an irregular shape that imitates a fruit or cloud. If the cover 41 has a shape such as a rhombus, triangle, ellipse, or irregular shape, a part of the cover 41 may be formed to overlap the side plate body 21 of the side plate 20 and / or the bank portion 12 of the bottom plate 10.

[0110] By having a shape other than a rectangle as described above, both the cover 41 and the opening 52 that is closed by the cover 41, when the cover 41 closes the opening 52 of the bottom plate hinge portion 50, the cover 41 can be properly fitted into the opening 52 and easily achieve a snug fit. In addition, when the cover 41 is viewed from the internal space 2, the left and right sides of the cover 41 and the end faces 55 of the left and right restricting wall portions 54 can have portions that are inclined in the vertical direction. As a result, when an item is inserted into the internal space 2 of the transport container 1 from above, it is less likely for the item to get caught between the cover 41 and the restricting wall 54. Furthermore, even if an item does get caught between the cover 41 and the restricting wall 54, it can be easily removed.

[0111] [Position of cover 41 when opening 52 is closed] In the side plate hinge section 30 shown in Figures 2 and 8, when the transport container 1 is in use with the side plates 20 standing upright along the vertical direction, the cover 41 closes the opening 52 of the bottom plate hinge section 50 in an upright position where the front and rear surfaces of the cover 41 are parallel to the upright side plates 20.

[0112] By closing the opening 52 in an upright position as described above, the front surface of the cover 41 is held parallel to the inner surface of the side plate 20 without forming a step with the inner surface of the side plate 20 facing the internal space 2. This prevents the stored items from getting caught on the side plate hinge portion 30 and the bottom plate hinge portion 50 when stored in the transport container 1, making it easier to remove the stored items from the transport container 1.

[0113] The cover 41 of the side panel hinge portion 30 may be formed such that, when the transport container 1 is in use, the upper end of the cover 41 is positioned in front of the lower end, as shown in Figure 27, or it may be formed such that the upper end of the cover 41 is positioned behind the lower end, as shown in Figure 28.

[0114] For example, if the cover 41 is formed in the forward-leaning position shown in Figure 27, when the cover 41 rotates to the closed position to close the opening 52, the lower part of the cover 41 can be inserted into the opening 52 of the bottom plate hinge 50 first. When the cover 41 rotates forward from the closed position, the lower part of the cover 41 can be removed from the opening 52 after the upper part.

[0115] This makes it less likely for the lower part of the cover 41 to interfere with the lower edge of the opening 52, allowing the cover 41 to rotate smoothly. In addition, wear between the cover 41 and the lower edge of the opening 52 is less likely to occur when the cover 41 rotates, thereby suppressing deterioration of the cover 41 and the edge of the opening 52.

[0116] When the cover 41 is formed in the rearward-tilting position shown in Figure 28, the upper part of the cover 41 is positioned behind the inner surface of the side plate 20 facing the internal space 2, and is held within the opening 52 of the bottom plate hinge portion 50. This prevents articles from directly colliding with the cover 41 from above when they are placed in the transport container 1, thereby reducing the risk of the cover 41 detaching from the rotating body 31 and being damaged due to collision with articles.

[0117] If the cover 41 is formed in the forward-leaning position shown in Figure 27, for example, the thickness of the upper part of the cover 41 may be reduced so that the front surface of the upper part of the cover 41 is flat with respect to the inner surface of the side plate 20. If the cover 41 is formed in the backward-leaning position shown in Figure 28, for example, the thickness of the lower part of the cover 41 may be reduced so that the front surface of the lower part of the cover 41 is flat with respect to the inner surface of the side plate 20. This prevents items contained in the transport container 1 from getting caught on the cover 41 that is closing the opening 52.

[0118] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible within the scope of having substantially the same configuration as the claims of the present invention and achieving similar effects.

[0119] For example, in the present invention, at least one of the four side plates 20 may not be rotatably connected to the bottom plate 10, for example, and the lower end of the side plate 10 may be formed to be engageable with and detachable from the bottom plate 10. The shapes of the side plates 20 other than the side plate hinge portion 30, and the shapes of the bottom plate 10 other than the bottom plate hinge portion 50, can be changed according to the intended use of the transport container 1. [Explanation of symbols]

[0120] 1. Transport container 2. Interior space 10 Bottom plate 11. Base of the main body 12. Embankment 12a Inner wall 12b Exterior wall 12c Upper wall 20 Side panels 21 Side panel body 22 Lower flange 30 Side panel hinge section 31 Rotating Body 32 Torso 33 rotational axes 34 Cover mounting section 34a Insertion hole 34b Attachment part 35 Support protrusion 36. A plane parallel to the left and right directions. 37 Insertion recess 41 Cover 42 Cover engagement part 43 Neck 44 Engagement head 45 Stepped section 46 Mounting shaft 47 Connecting plate section 48. A plane parallel to the left and right directions. 49 Side edge 50 Bottom plate hinge section 51 Receiving recess 52 Opening 53 Bearing section 54 Restrictive wall section 55 End face 56 Rear side wall 57 Step surface 61 Engaging body 62 Engagement head 62a Insertion slit 62b Retaining hole θ Tilt angle

Claims

1. A transport container having a base plate with four sides, four side plates connected to each side of the base plate, and an internal space surrounded by the base plate and the side plates, At least one of the side panels has at least one side panel hinge portion, The side plate hinge portion is rotatably connected to at least one bottom plate hinge portion formed on the bottom plate, The bottom plate hinge portion has an opening that opens into the internal space and a bearing portion that supports the pivot axis of the side plate hinge portion. The side plate hinge portion comprises a rotating body having the pivot axis and a cover that closes the opening. The cover is attached to the rotating body so as to have the following structure (A1), or the following structure (A1) and the following structure (A2). A transport container characterized by the following features. Structure (A1): The cover is pivotable with respect to the rotating body, with respect to the vertical axis. Structure (A2): The cover is slidable in the left-right direction relative to the rotating body.

2. When viewing the cross-sections of the bottom plate hinge portion and the side plate hinge portion perpendicular to the vertical direction, the bottom plate hinge portion has the following structure (α1) and / or the following structure (α2), and the side plate hinge portion has the following structure (β1) and / or the following structure (β2). A transport container according to claim 1. Structure (α1): At least a portion of the end faces forming the left and right edges of the opening has an inclination that widens the opening toward the internal space. Structure (α2): The end face forming the left edge of the opening is parallel to the end face forming the right edge of the opening when viewed in a cross-section perpendicular to the vertical direction of the bottom plate hinge portion. Structure (β1): At least a portion of the left and right sides of the cover has an incline that widens the width of the cover along the left-right direction from the rear to the front. Structure (β2): The left side of the cover is parallel to the right side of the cover when viewed in a cross-section perpendicular to the vertical direction of the side plate hinge portion.

3. A transport container having a bottom plate with four sides, four side plates connected to each side of the bottom plate, and an internal space surrounded by the bottom plate and the side plates, At least one of the side panels has at least one side panel hinge portion, The side plate hinge portion is rotatably connected to at least one bottom plate hinge portion formed on the bottom plate, The bottom plate hinge portion has an opening that opens into the internal space and a bearing portion that supports the pivot axis of the side plate hinge portion. The side plate hinge portion comprises a rotating body having the pivot axis and a cover that closes the opening. The cover is attached to the rotating body so as to have the following structure (A2): When viewing the cross-sections of the bottom plate hinge portion and the side plate hinge portion perpendicular to the vertical direction, the bottom plate hinge portion has the following structure (α1), and / or the side plate hinge portion has the following structure (β1). A transport container characterized by the following features. Structure (A2): The cover is slidable in the left-right direction relative to the rotating body. Structure (α1): At least a portion of the end faces forming the left and right edges of the opening has an inclination that widens the opening toward the internal space. Structure (β1): At least a portion of the left and right sides of the cover has an incline that widens the width of the cover along the left-right direction from the rear to the front.

4. A transport container having a bottom plate with four sides, four side plates connected to each side of the bottom plate, and an internal space surrounded by the bottom plate and the side plates, At least one of the side panels has at least one side panel hinge portion, The side plate hinge portion is rotatably connected to at least one bottom plate hinge portion formed on the bottom plate, The bottom plate hinge portion has an opening that opens into the internal space and a bearing portion that supports the pivot axis of the side plate hinge portion. The side plate hinge portion comprises a rotating body having the pivot axis and a cover that closes the opening. The cover is attached to the rotating body having the following structure (B), and at least a portion of the cover is formed to be deformable. When viewing the cross-sections of the bottom plate hinge portion and the side plate hinge portion perpendicular to the vertical direction, the bottom plate hinge portion has the following structure (α1), and / or the side plate hinge portion has the following structure (β1). A transport container characterized by the following features. Structure (B): The cover is fixed to the rotating body. Structure (α1): At least a portion of the end faces forming the left and right edges of the opening has an inclination that widens the opening toward the internal space. Structure (β1): At least a portion of the left and right sides of the cover has an incline that widens the width of the cover along the left-right direction from the rear to the front.

5. The shape of the cover facing the internal space is rectangular, trapezoidal, rhombus, triangular, polygon with pentagons or more, elliptical, or irregular. A transport container according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. When the side panels are raised, the cover is in an upright position parallel to the side panels, a forward-leaning position, or a backward-leaning position. A transport container according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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