U.S. patent application number 13/129447 was filed with the patent office on 2011-12-15 for openable and closable container.
Invention is credited to Takeshi Bandoh, Masaho Hayashi, Norio Ochi, Hiroshi Uematsu, Toshihiko Uenishi.
Application Number | 20110303663 13/129447 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42169915 |
Filed Date | 2011-12-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110303663 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bandoh; Takeshi ; et
al. |
December 15, 2011 |
OPENABLE AND CLOSABLE CONTAINER
Abstract
An openable and closable container that includes: a container
body having a take-out opening, and an opening-closing lid provided
on the container body swingably about a swing axis on a base end
side, the opening-closing lid opening and closing the take-out
opening. Plate rubber (an elastic member) is provided between the
container body and the opening-closing lid. The container body has
a housing portion housing one end of the plate rubber in a
horizontal direction. The rear surface of an upper plate of the
container body is generally made flat for allowing a sealed bag
storing wet tissue paper to adhere to the rear surface of the upper
plate.
Inventors: |
Bandoh; Takeshi; (Ehime-Ken,
JP) ; Hayashi; Masaho; (Tokyo-To, JP) ;
Uematsu; Hiroshi; (Chiba-Ken, JP) ; Uenishi;
Toshihiko; (Fukuoka-Ken, JP) ; Ochi; Norio;
(Fukuoka-Ken, JP) |
Family ID: |
42169915 |
Appl. No.: |
13/129447 |
Filed: |
October 29, 2009 |
PCT Filed: |
October 29, 2009 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2009/068595 |
371 Date: |
September 1, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/62.21 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 43/166 20130101;
E05C 3/048 20130101; E05B 65/006 20130101; E05F 1/1284 20130101;
B65D 77/02 20130101; E05Y 2900/602 20130101; B65D 83/0894 20130101;
B65D 83/0805 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/62.21 |
International
Class: |
B65D 1/40 20060101
B65D001/40 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 14, 2008 |
JP |
2008-292587 |
Claims
1. An openable and closable container comprising: a container body
having an upper plate formed with a take-out opening, the container
body housing therein a sealed bag that has an opening; an
opening-closing lid provided on the container body swingably about
a swing axis on a base end side, the opening-closing lid opening
and closing the take-out opening; an elastic member provided
between the container body and the opening-closing lid; and a wet
tissue paper stored in the sealed bag; wherein the sealed bag is
allowed to adhere to a rear surface of the upper plate, the
container body has a housing portion housing one end of the elastic
member in a horizontal direction, a rear surface of the housing
portion of the container body is made flat so that the rear surface
of the housing portion will not obstruct operation required when
the sealed bag storing the wet tissue paper is made to adhere to
the rear surface of the upper plate.
2. The openable and closable container according to claim 1,
wherein an adhesive layer is formed on a circumferential edge of an
opening of the sealed bag and allows the circumferential edge of
the opening of the sealed bag to adhere to the rear surface of the
upper plate.
3. The openable and closable container according to claim 2,
wherein the adhesive layer formed on the circumferential edge of
the opening of the sealed bag is exposed outwardly by previously
peeling off a lid piece.
4. The openable and closable container according to claim 1,
wherein the wet tissue paper is impregnated with alcohol.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to an openable and closable
container including, for example, a container body having an upper
plate formed with a take-out opening, and an opening-closing lid
openable and closable with respect to the container body. In
particular, the invention relates to an openable and closable
container having enhanced sealing performance of a container body
with an opening-closing lid.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] In general, an openable and closable container for storing
wet tissue paper or the like therein includes a container body and
an opening-closing lid. The container body stores therein wet
tissue paper or the like and has a take-out opening for taking out
the wet tissue or the like. The opening-closing lid seals the
take-out opening in an openable and closable manner.
[0003] To use wet tissue paper or the like, the opening-closing lid
is opened with respect to the take-out opening of the container
body and the wet tissue paper or the like is taken out one by one
from the take-out opening of the container body.
Prior-art Document
Patent Document
[0004] Patent Document 1: JP-A-2003-170950
[0005] As described above, the conventional openable and closable
container includes the container body and the opening-closing lid
swingably attached to the container body. When wet tissue paper or
the like is not taken out for use, the opening-closing lid is
closed to prevent the vaporization of a liquid component which is
contained in the wet tissue paper stored in the container body.
[0006] However, the openable and closable container mentioned above
is configured such that a sealed bag storing wet tissue paper
communicates with the inside of the container body. Therefore, if
the wet tissue paper contains, especially, a highly volatile liquid
component such as alcohol, the liquid component such as alcohol may
vaporize after a lapse of a long time.
[0007] On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 14, a conventional
openable and closable container 100 is such that one end of an
elastic member 102 biasing an opening-closing lid 101 is vertically
inserted into and attached to an upper plate 104 of a container
body 103. Therefore, a housing portion 104b housing the elastic
member 102 projects downward from the upper plate 104, so that a
rear surface 104a of the upper plate 104 will not be flat. In this
case, since a sealed bag storing wet tissue paper therein is
disposed below the housing portion 104b in the container body 103,
a space occurs between the sealed bag and the upper plate 104.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
[0008] The present invention has been made in view of such
drawbacks and aims to provide an openable and closable container
that can suppress the vaporization of a liquid component in wet
tissue paper and suppress the overall height of the openable and
closable container to a low level.
[0009] The present invention is an openable and closable container
comprizing: a container body having an upper plate formed with a
take-out opening, the container body housing therein a sealed bag
that has an opening; an opening-closing lid provided on the
container body swingably about a swing axis on a base end side, the
opening-closing lid opening and closing the take-out opening; an
elastic member provided between the container body and the
opening-closing lid; and a wet tissue paper stored in the sealed
bag; wherein the sealed bag is allowed to adhere to an rear surface
of the upper plate, the container body has a housing portion
housing one end of the elastic member in a horizontal direction,
and a rear surface of the housing portion of the container body is
made flat so that the rear surface of the housing portion will not
obstruct operation required when the sealed bag storing the wet
tissue paper is made to adhere to the rear surface of the upper
plate.
[0010] The present invention is the openable and closable
container, wherein an adhesive layer is formed on a circumferential
edge of an opening of the sealed bag and allows the circumferential
edge of the opening of the sealed bag to adhere to the rear surface
of the upper plate.
[0011] The present invention is the openable and closable
container, wherein the adhesive layer formed on the circumferential
edge of the opening of the sealed bag is exposed outwardly by
previously peeling off a lid piece.
[0012] The present invention is the openable and closable
container, wherein the wet tissue paper is impregnated with
alcohol.
[0013] According to the present invention, the circumferential edge
of the opening of the sealed bag storing the wet tissue paper is
allowed to adhere to the rear surface of the upper plate of the
container body. Therefore, the liquid component of the wet tissue
paper stored in the sealed bag can be prevented from vaporizing
inside the container body.
[0014] According to the present invention, the sealed bag is
allowed to adhere to the rear surface of the upper plate of the
container body and the container body has the housing portion
housing one end of the elastic member in the horizontal direction.
In this way, the rear surface of the housing portion included in
the container body does not project downward so that nothing
prevent the sealed bag storing the wet tissue paper from being
housed suitably in the container body. Therefore, the
circumferential edge of the opening of the sealed bag can be
allowed to adhere to the rear surface of the upper plate. Since the
rear surface of the upper plate of the container body can be
brought into close contact with the sealed bag, a type of openable
and closable container that is thin can be provided.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0015] [FIG. 1]
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an opening and closing
container according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] [FIG. 2]
[0018] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the opening and closing container
according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[0019] [FIG. 3]
[0020] FIG. 3 is a front view of the opening and closing container
according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[0021] [FIG. 4]
[0022] FIG. 4 is a rear view of the opening and closing container
according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[0023] [FIG. 5]
[0024] FIG. 5 is a lateral view of the opening and closing
container according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[0025] [FIG. 6]
[0026] FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the opening and
closing container according to the embodiment of the present
invention (a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG.
2).
[0027] [FIG. 7]
[0028] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a denting step portion.
[0029] [FIG. 8]
[0030] FIG. 8 is a plan view of an operating body (an operation
button).
[0031] [FIG. 9]
[0032] FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the operating body (the operation
button).
[0033] [FIG. 10]
[0034] FIG. 10 is a front view of the operating body (the operation
button).
[0035] [FIG. 11]
[0036] FIG. 11 is a lateral view of the operating body (the
operation button).
[0037] [FIG. 12]
[0038] FIG. 12 is a partial enlarged view of FIG. 6.
[0039] [FIG. 13]
[0040] FIGS. 13(a) and (b) are lateral cross-sectional views of a
sealed bag storing wet tissue paper.
[0041] [FIG. 14]
[0042] FIG. 14 illustrates an elastic member used in a conventional
openable and closable container.
MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0043] One embodiment of the present invention will hereinafter be
described with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1 to 13 illustrate
the embodiment of the present invention.
[0044] The entire configuration of a wet tissue paper storing
container (an openable and closable container) is described with
reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6, the
openable and closable container 10 includes a downside opening
container body (a main body) 11 storing e.g. wet tissue paper 41 as
contents therein, and a bottom lid 12 sealing the downside opening
of the container body 11.
[0045] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the container body 11 includes an
upper plate 27 formed with a take-out opening 24 used to take out
wet tissue paper 41, and a lateral plate 13 extending downward from
the upper plate 27. An opening-closing lid 23 sealing the take-out
opening 24 of the upper plate 27 is attached to the lateral plate
13 of the container body 11 so as to be swingable about a swing
axis X-X on a base end 23a side of the lid.
[0046] The container body 11 is formed, on the base end 23a side of
the opening-closing lid 23, with a rear step portion 25 extending
parallel to the swing axis X-X and denting inwardly. A stopper 30
is provided in the vicinity of each of both ends of the rear step
portion 25 so as to project upwardly from the bottom surface of the
rear step portion 25. The stopper portions 30 are adapted to stop
the base end 23a of the opening-closing lid 23 when the
opening-closing lid 23 comes into a fully opened state. The stopper
30 stops the opening-closing lid 23 biased by plate rubber 50
(described later) at a predetermined position.
[0047] Further, the lateral plate 13 is formed at its lower portion
with an outwardly projecting flange 14 in contact with the bottom
lid 12. Incidentally, the bottom lid 12 is provided with a
finger-putting piece 12d which projects outwardly from the lateral
plate 13 and on which a user's finger is put. A pair of opposite
lateral plates 13a, 13b projects outwardly in an Rounded-shape.
[0048] The upper plate 27 of the container body 11 includes a first
upper plate (a first thin plate) 27a and a second upper plate (a
second thin plate) 27b. The first upper plate 27a is located at a
generally central portion of the plate 27. The second upper plate
27b is provided on the outside of the first upper plate 27a via a
central step portion 28 and located at a portion higher than the
first upper plate 27a. The take-out opening 24 described above is
provided in the first upper plate 27a
[0049] The first upper plate 27a is formed with a recessed portion
94, in which an annular rib 95 is provided in the recessed portion
94 to surround the take-out opening 24. In short, the take-out
opening 24 described above is disposed within the annular rib 95.
The opening-closing lid 23 is formed, on the rear surface thereof,
with a frame body 37. A packing member (an elastic sealing body) 38
is attached to the inside of the frame body 37. The frame body 37
is set inside the recessed portion 94 and outside the annular rib
95 when the opening-closing lid 23 is closed.
[0050] As described above, the packing member 38 formed like a dome
is attached to the inside of the frame body 37. The packing member
38 is formed separately from the opening-closing lid 23. The
packing member 38 is made of an elastic, soft synthetic resin
material, such as low-density polyethylene (LDPE) or the like. The
packing member 38 is removably fitted into the frame body 37.
[0051] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 6, a free end 23e of the
opening-closing lid 23 is provided with a retaining piece 32. The
container body 11 is formed with a denting step portion 58 denting
from the upper plate 27 is formed, on the free end 23e side of the
opening-closing lid 23 and in the vicinity of the upper end of the
lateral plate 13. An operating body (an operation button) 55 is
provided in the denting step portion 58.
[0052] The operation button 55 is next described. The operation
button 55 is attached to the denting step portion 58 of the
container body 11. FIG. 7 is an enlarged plan view illustrating an
attachment portion included in the container body 11 for attaching
the operation button 55. FIGS. 8 to 11 illustrate details of the
operation button 55.
[0053] Referring to FIGS. 8 to 11, the operation button 55 has a
top plate portion 65. The top plate portion 65 is formed with an
operation surface 65a on which a user's finger is put. The
operation surface 65a is formed to draw a centrally dented curve.
An outer circumference 65b, on a rear end side (on the upper side
in FIG. 8), of the top plate portion 65 is curved arcuately. An
outer circumference 65c, on a front end side, of the top plate
portion 65 is formed linearly. As illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 11,
the top plate portion 65 is formed at the center of the rear end
portion with a claw portion 66, which comes into engagement with
the retaining piece 32 of the opening-closing lid 23.
[0054] A pair of attachment ribs 67, 67 is provided to project from
the rear surface of the top plate portion 65. The attachment ribs
67, 67 are formed with respective hinge shafts 68, 68, which are
coaxial with each other. Further, an arcuate spring portion 69 is
formed on the front end side of the rear surface of the top plate
portion 65.
[0055] As illustrated in FIG. 7, the denting step portion 58 of the
container body 11 is surrounded by a bottom plate 71, a lateral
plate 72 disposed between the bottom plate 71 and the recessed
portion 94, and a lateral plate 73 disposed between the bottom
plate 71 and the second upper plate 27b. A pair of step portions
74, 74 projecting inward is formed in the vicinity of both
corresponding ends of the lateral plate 73. The step portions 74,
74 are formed with respective hinge-receiving holes 78, 78 adapted
to receive the corresponding hinge shafts 68, 68 of the operation
button 55. The bottom plate 71 is provided with a spring-receiving
groove 79 adapted to receive the spring portion 69 of the operation
button 55. A rib 80 is provided in the spring-receiving groove 79
in order to hold the center of the spring portion 69 at a
predetermined position in a vertical direction.
[0056] The spring portion 69 of the operation button 55 is fitted
to the spring-receiving groove 79 and the hinge shaft 68 is fitted
to each of the hinge-receiving holes 78, 78. Thus, the operation
button 55 is attached to the inside of the denting step portion 58
turnably about the hinge shaft 68. The claw portion 66 of the
operation button 55 is biased, by the resilience of the spring
portion 69, about the hinge shaft 68 in a direction (downward in
FIG. 6) in which the claw portion 66 approaches the recessed
portion 94.
[0057] When the opening-closing lid 23 is closed, the operation
button 55 turns in such a manner as to yield to the retaining piece
32 of the opening-closing lid 23. When the retaining piece 32
overrides the claw portion 66, the operation button 55 turns based
on the force exerted by the spring portion 69. As a result, the
retaining piece 32 and the claw portion 66 come into engagement
with each other to keep the opening-closing lid 23 in the closed
state.
[0058] In contrast, if a user depresses the operation surface 65a
of the operation button 55 with the opening-closing lid 23 closed,
the claw portion 66 of the operation button 55 turns about the
hinge shaft 68 in a direction in which it is spaced apart from the
recessed portion 94. As a result, the retaining piece 32 is
disengaged with the claw portion 66.
[0059] Incidentally, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6, elongated
plate rubber (an elastic member) 50 biasing the opening-closing lid
23 in the opening direction is provided between the container body
11 and the opening-closing lid 23. Specifically, the container body
11 is provided with a housing portion 75 horizontally and
insertably housing one end of the plate rubber 50 and the
opening-closing lid 23 is provided with a securing portion 76
horizontally securing the other end of the plate rubber 50.
[0060] As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 12, the housing portion 75 is
configured to open in a rear surface direction of the container so
that one end of the plate rubber 50 can be housed by being inserted
into the housing portion horizontally. Therefore, the rear surface
of the housing portion 75 included in the first upper plate 27a of
the container body 11 is made generally flat without projecting
downward; thereby the rear surface of the housing portion 75 is
adapted not to obstruct operation required when a sealed bag 40
(described later) is made to adhere to the rear surface of the
first upper plate 27a.
[0061] Incidentally, the container main body 11 and the
opening-closing lid 23 described above are each obtained by
injection molding by use of polypropylene (PP). However, they may
be molded by use of another material, such as PE, PS, ABS,
elastomer, PET, PVC, or polycarbonate. The bottom lid 12 preferably
uses linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE). Further, as the plate
rubber 50, uses silicon rubber is used. The securing portion 76 is
made of polypropylene (PP).
[0062] The wet tissue paper 41 stored in the container body 11 is
next described with reference to FIGS. 13(a) and (b). As
illustrated in FIG. 13(a), the wet tissue papers 41 folded back,
i.e., are located in a stacked manner in a sealed bag 40 made of a
soft sheet and are sealed within the sealed bag 40. Each piece of
the wet tissue paper 41 is generally doubled up to form a folded
portion 42. Each of the folded portions 42 of the wet tissue papers
41 are alternately changed in direction. A lower half portion 41b
of a wet tissue paper 41 doubled up is inserted between an upper
portion 41a of a wet tissue paper 41 located on the lower side and
an upper half portion 41a of a wet tissue paper 41 located on a
further lower side. Therefore, when the wet tissue paper 41 is
pinched and taken out one by one, the lower half portion 41b of a
wet tissue paper 41 taken out will pull up the upper portion 41a of
a wet tissue paper 41 located on the lower side. Incidentally, how
to fold the wet tissue paper 41 needs only to dispose the wet
tissue paper 41 in a stacked manner so that the wet tissue paper 41
may continuously be taken out. However, how to fold the wet tissue
paper 41 is not particularly restrictive. For example, also a
folding method as illustrated in FIG. 13(b) may be acceptable. The
sealed bag 40 is provided at its upper end with an opening 40a for
taking out wet tissue paper 41 therefrom. The opening 40a is sealed
by a lid piece 45 removably attached to the upper surface of the
sealed bag 40, before time of initiating the use of the openable
and closable container 10.
[0063] In this case, the lid piece 45 is made to adhere to the
upper surface of the sealed bag 40 by means of an adhesive layer 46
formed on the circumferential edge of the opening 40a. The adhesive
layer 46 is used also when the circumferential edge of the opening
40a of the sealed bag 40 is made to adhere removably to the rear
surface of the first upper plate 27a as described later (see FIG.
12). The sealed bag 40 is designed such that the adhesive layer 46
is exposed outwardly by previously peeling the lid piece 45.
[0064] Material of the wet tissue paper 41 used includes a fiber
material such as nonwoven fabric, paper, gauze, a sheet-like foam,
or a paper-based soft material. Conceivable examples of liquid
impregnated into the wet tissue paper 41 include cosmetics such as
a wetting agent containing a bactericidal agent, disinfectant, a
cleaning agent, etc., lotion, and skin milk. The present embodiment
enhances the sealing performance of the container body 11 with the
opening-closing lid 23 and the sealing performance of the container
body 11 with the sealed bag 40. Therefore, wet tissue paper 41
impregnated with, especially, alcohol or other highly volatile
liquid can preferably be used.
[0065] A description is next given of the operation of the present
embodiment configured as described above.
[0066] First, a description is given of the operation encountered
when the use of an unused openable and closable container 10 is
started. The bottom lid 12 is removed from the container body 11
and the sealed bag 40 storing the wet tissue paper 41 in the
container body 11 is taken out. Next, the opening 40a of the sealed
bag 40 is opened by peeling the lid piece 45 from the adhesive
layer 46 on the circumferential edge of the opening 40a.
[0067] Subsequently, the circumferential edge of the opening 40a of
the sealed bag 40 and the rear surface of the first upper plate 27a
are made to adhere to each other via the adhesive layer 46. In this
way, the sealed bag 40 storing the wet tissue paper 41 is removably
attached to the rear surface of the first upper plate 27a.
[0068] Next, the bottom lid 12 is attached to the container body 11
to seal the downside-opening of the container body 11.
[0069] A description is next given of the operation encountered
when the wet tissue paper 41 stored in the container body 11 is
taken out for use. A user first depresses the top plate portion 65
of the operation button 55. This releases the engagement between
the retaining piece 32 and the claw portion 66. In this case, the
resilience of the plate rubber 50 opens the opening-closing lid
23.
[0070] Specifically, the opening-closing lid 23 is biased by the
plate rubber 50 and turned about the swing axis X-X in the opening
direction (in the clockwise direction in FIG. 6). Thereafter, when
the opening-closing lid 23 reaches the fully opened position, the
base end 23a of the opening-closing lid 23 is retained by the
stopper 30 to stop the opening-closing lid 23.
[0071] The wet tissue paper 41 is next pinched with user's fingers
and pulled out upward from the take-out opening 24 of the container
body 11 for use.
[0072] In this way, the wet tissue paper 41 is taken out and
thereafter the opening-closing lid 23 is closed. In this case, a
user depresses the opening-closing lid 23 downward with her or his
hand. This turns the opening-closing lid 23 about the swing axis
X-X in the closing direction (the counterclockwise direction in
FIG. 6) against the biasing force of the plate rubber 50.
Thereafter, when the opening-closing lid 23 reaches the fully
closed position, the retaining piece 32 of the opening-closing lid
23 comes into engagement with the claw portion 66 of the operating
body (the operation button) 55 to secure the opening-closing lid 23
at the fully closed position.
[0073] In this case, the packing member 38 comes into close contact
with the annular rib 95; therefore, the packing member 38 seals the
take-out opening 24 of the container body 11. In addition, as
described above, the circumferential edge of the opening 40a of the
sealed bag 40 adheres to the rear surface of the first upper plate
27a via the adhesion layer 46. Thus, the liquid component of the
wet tissue paper 41 does not vaporize through the take-out opening
24 and does not vaporize also inside the container body 11.
[0074] According to the present embodiment described above, the
circumferential edge of the opening 40a of the sealed bag 40 is
allowed to adhere to the rear surface of the first upper plate 27a
of the container body 11. Therefore, the liquid component of the
wet tissue paper 41 stored in the sealed bag 40 can be prevented
from vaporizing inside the container body 11.
[0075] According to the present embodiment, the housing portion 75
housing one end of the plate rubber 50 faces in the horizontal
direction; therefore, the rear surface of the housing portion 75 of
the container body 11 can generally be made flat. Thus, the housing
portion 75 will not obstruct operation required when the sealed bag
40 is made to adhere to the rear surface of the first upper plate
27a. Since a space does not occur between the sealed bag 40 and the
first upper plate 27a, a wasted space in the container body 11 can
be eliminated, thereby making thin the openable and closable
container 10.
* * * * *