Abstract:
To provide a container that can be easily configured and has good operability when opened and closed with one hand. The container includes a container body having an opening, and a lid body that can open and close the opening of the container body, wherein the container body has, near the opening, a journaling portion that supports the lid body rotatably around an axis orthogonal to an opening surface of the opening, while the lid body has a journaled portion that is journaled by the journaling portion, and a lid portion, and the lid body rotates around the journaling portion to allow the lid portion to move to a position for covering the opening and a position for exposing the opening.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a container. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   A widely known container for containing, for example, mechanical pencil leads includes a container body having an opening, and a lid body that can open and close the opening of the container body, the lid body being removable from the container body. However, such a container cannot be operated with one hand. 
   Thus, several containers that can be operated with one hand are proposed (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-272885 (JP10272885A) and Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 61-34156)(JP6134156U). 
   In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-272885, a container includes a container body, a container cover, and a lid body. The container cover has a straight guide groove and a bent opening/closing guide groove. An engagement protrusion provided on the container body movably engages the straight guide groove via a throughhole provided on a protruding portion of the lid body, and also an opening/closing support protrusion provided on the protruding portion of the lid body movably engages the opening/closing guide groove. When the container body is linearly slid with respect to the container cover, the engagement protrusion of the container body moves along the straight guide groove, the lid body that the engagement protrusion penetrates follows the movement of the engagement protrusion, and the opening/closing support protrusion of the lid body is guided to the opening/closing guide groove of the container cover. Because the opening/closing guide groove is bent, the lid body is rotated to open an opening of the container body. 
   In Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 61-34156, a container includes a lead containing cylinder and a lid body rotatably and concentrically attached to the lead containing cylinder. A lead guiding groove for separately placing one of leads in a taking-out position is formed inside the lead containing cylinder, and a lead protruding hole is bored in the lid body. The lid body is rotated with respect to the lead containing cylinder to align the lead protruding hole with the lead guiding groove, then the lead separately placed by the lead guiding groove can be taken out of the lead protruding hole. If the lid body is rotated with respect to the lead containing cylinder, and the lead protruding hole is not aligned with the lead guiding groove, the lead cannot be taken out of the lead containing cylinder. 
   However, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-272885, a configuration for rotating the lid body is complex. In Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 61-34156, the lid body has to be concentrically rotated with respect to the lead containing cylinder, and such a rotating operation is hard to perform with one hand. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is achieved in view of the above described problems, and has an object to provide a container that can be easily configured and has good operability when opened and closed with one hand. 
   In order to achieve the above described object, a container according to the present invention includes a container body having an opening, and a lid body that can open and close the opening of the container body, wherein the container body has, near the opening, a journaling portion that supports the lid body rotatably around an axis orthogonal to an opening surface of the opening, and the lid body has a journaled portion that is journaled by the journaling portion, and a lid portion, and the lid body rotates around the journaling portion to allow the lid portion to move to a position for covering the opening and a position for exposing the opening. 
   The lid body can be rotated with respect to the container body by holding the container body with one hand and touching the lid body with a finger or thumb, thus allowing easy opening and closing with one hand, and increasing operability. The container can be constituted by the container body and the lid body, and can be easily configured, thus reducing the number of components. 
   The journaling portion can be provided in parallel with the opening. According to this configuration, the lid body rotates around the journaling portion to allow the lid portion to move between the position for covering the opening and the position for exposing the opening. 
   The lid body can be noncircular when viewed from a direction orthogonal to the opening surface. According to this configuration, the lid body can be operated by touching a part of the noncircular lid body with the finger of thumb, thus increasing operability. The noncircular shape may include a shape having a tapered sharp portion, an elliptical shape, or an oval shape, and the lid portion may be positioned in the sharp portion or an end of the elliptical or oval shape. 
   The container body has a vertical wall formed along an edge of the opening, and when the lid portion is in the position for covering the opening, a part of the lid body is placed along a part of the vertical wall. Because the part of the lid body is placed along the part of the vertical wall, the lid body and the container body can be integrally constituted when the lid body is closed. Also, the lid body can be lockably connected to the vertical wall. According to the configuration, the lid body, when closed, can be reliably kept in a closed state. 
   The container can further include rotation range controller for controlling a rotation angle of the lid body. 
   The rotation range controller can include a protrusion provided on one of the journaling portion and the journaled portion, and a notch provided on the other of the journaling portion and the journaled portion. 
   The present disclosure relates to subject manner contained in Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-145477, filed on May 22, 2003, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a container according to a first embodiment of the invention when an opening of a container body is closed; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the container according to the first embodiment of the invention when the opening of the container body is opened; 
       FIG. 3  is a vertical sectional view of the container according to the first embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken along the line  4 — 4  in  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a view corresponding to  FIG. 4  when the opening of the container body is opened; 
       FIG. 6A  is a side view of the container body; 
       FIG. 6B  is a sectional view taken along the line  6 B— 6 B in  FIG. 6C ; 
       FIG. 6C  is a view taken in the direction of the arrow  6 C of  FIG. 6A ; 
       FIG. 7A  is a sectional view taken along the line  7 A— 7 A in  FIG. 7B ; 
       FIG. 7B  is a view taken in the direction of the arrow  7 B of  FIG. 7A ; 
       FIG. 8  is a vertical sectional view of a container according to a second embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 9  is a sectional view taken along the line  9 — 9  in  FIG. 8 ; 
       FIG. 10  is a view corresponding to  FIG. 9  when an opening of a container body is opened; 
       FIG. 11  is a vertical sectional view of a container according to a third embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 12  is a sectional view taken along the line  12 — 12  in  FIG. 11 ; 
       FIG. 13  is a sectional view taken along the line  13 — 13  in  FIG. 11 ; and 
       FIG. 14  is a view corresponding to  FIG. 13  when an opening of a container body is opened. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Now, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 
   (First Embodiment) 
     FIGS. 1 and 2  are perspective views of a container according to a first embodiment of the invention, and  FIG. 1  shows a state where an opening of a container body is closed, whereas  FIG. 2  shows a state where the opening of the container body is opened. 
   In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a container  10  includes a container body  12  having an internal space, and a lid body  14  that can open and close an opening  12   a  of the container body  12 . The container body  12  and the lid body  14  are noncircular when viewed in a longitudinal direction of the container  10  orthogonal to an opening surface of the opening  12   a . In this embodiment, the noncircular shape has a circular portion and a tapered sharp portion of a triangle integrally formed into a comet shape. 
   The container body  12  is closed at its bottom as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 6 , and has, at its top opposite from the bottom, the opening  12   a  and a journaling portion  12   b  adjacent to the opening  12   a . The journaling portion  12   b  is provided in parallel with the opening  12   a , and forms a cylindrical shape having a notch  12   c  on one side. An axis of the journaling portion  12   b  is parallel to the direction orthogonal to the opening surface of the opening  12   a . The opening  12   a  is positioned in the sharp portion of the noncircular shape. 
   On an outer peripheral surface of the journaling portion  12   b , a circumferentially extending protruding portion  12   d  is formed. The container body  12  has a vertical wall  12   e  formed along an edge of the opening  12   a . The vertical wall  12   e  is bent along a tip edge of the sharp portion of the triangle, and a locking protrusion  12   f  is formed on the bent portion. 
   The lid body  14  includes, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 7 , a cylindrical journaled portion  14   a , a lid portion  14   b  that closes the top, and a locking piece  14   c  extending from the journaled portion  14   a  or the lid portion  14   b  tangentially with respect to the journaled portion  14   a . The lid portion  14   b  is positioned on the side of the sharp portion. On an inner peripheral surface of the journaled portion  14   a , an annular recess  14   e  that engages the protruding portion  12   d  of the journaling portion  12   b  of the container body  12  is formed, and thus the journaled portion  14   a  rotatably engages the journaling portion  12   b . On the inner peripheral surface of the journaled portion  14   a , a protrusion  14   f  protruding radially inward is formed, and the protrusion  14   f  is placed in the notch  12   c  of the journaling portion  12   b.    
   On a tip of the locking piece  14   c , a locked portion  14   d  is formed so as to be locked to the locking protrusion  12   f  of the container body  12 , and thus the locking piece  14   c  is lockable to the vertical wall  12   e.    
   The journaled portion  14   a  of the lid body  14  is journaled by the journaling portion  12   b  of the container body  12  so that the lid body  14  can rotatably swing around the journaling portion  12   b  of the container body  12 . A rotation range is a range of angles through which the protrusion  14   f  can move within the notch  12   c . The protrusion  14   f  and the notch  12   c  constitute rotation range controller. It is of course possible that a protrusion provided on the journaling portion  12   b  of the container body  12  and a notch provided on the journaled portion  14   a  of the lid body  14  similarly constitute rotation range controller. 
   The container  10  configured as described above operates as follows. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , in a state where the lid body  14  closes the opening  12   a  of the container body  12 , the locking piece  14   c  is placed along a part of the vertical wall  12   e , the locked portion  14   d  on the tip of the locking piece  14   c  is locked to the locking protrusion  12   f  of the vertical wall  12   e , and the lid body  14  and the container body  12  are integrally assembled. The lid portion  14   b  of the lid body  14  covers the opening  12   a  so that the contents of the container body  12  are safely contained in the internal space of the container body  12 . 
   Then, the lid body  14  is rotated by holding the container body  12  and pushing the locking piece  14   c  of the lid body  14  with one finger (for example, a thumb). The lid body  14  is noncircular as described above, and can be operated by touching the sharp portion, thus the lid body  14  can be easily rotated around the journaling portion  12   b.    
   The protruding portion  12   d  and the annular recess  14   e  preferably engage with little play therebetween. Thus, a friction force generated between the lid body  14  and the container body  12  stops the lid body  14  at the position where the hand is removed after the lid body  14  is rotated. When the lid body  14  is further rotated, the protrusion  14   f  moves to one of ends of the notch  12   c  to abut against one of wall surfaces of the journaling portion  12   b  as shown in  FIG. 5 , thus the lid body  14  cannot be further opened. In this state, the lid portion  14   b  of the lid body  14  moves from the opening  12   a  to expose the opening  12   a . Thereby, the contents can be taken out of or inserted into the container body  12  through the opening  12   a.    
   If the lid body  14  is rotated back to the original position by touching the locking piece  14   c  with the finger, the lid body  14  can close the container body  12  again. 
   (Second Embodiment) 
     FIGS. 8 to 10  show a container according to a second embodiment of the invention. 
   In this embodiment, a container  20  includes a container body  22  having an internal space, and a lid body  24  that can open and close an opening  22   a  of the container body  22 . The container body  22  and the lid body  24  are noncircular when viewed in a longitudinal direction of the container  20  orthogonal to an opening surface of the opening  22   a . In this embodiment, the noncircular shape has a circular portion and a sharp portion of a triangle integrally formed into a comet shape. 
   The container body  22  is closed at its bottom, and has, at its top opposite from the bottom, the opening  22   a  and a journaling portion  22   b  adjacent to the opening  22   a . The journaling portion  22   b  is provided in parallel with the opening  22   a , and is a cylindrical recess surrounded by a rib  22   e . On a tip of the journaling portion  22   b , a notch  22   c  is circumferentially formed. An axis of the journaling portion  22   b  is parallel to the direction orthogonal to the opening surface of the opening  22   a . The opening  22   a  is positioned in the sharp portion of the noncircular shape. 
   On an inner peripheral surface of the journaling portion  22   b , a circumferentially extending protruding portion  22   d  is formed. A locking protrusion  22   f  is formed on an edge of the opening  22   a  of the container body  22 . 
   The lid body  24  includes a cylindrical journaled portion  24   a , and a lid portion  24   b  that covers the opening  22   a . The lid portion  24   b  is positioned on the side of the sharp portion. Further, a plug  26  that closes a top of the lid body  24  may be provided. The plug  26  may be omitted, or the plug  26  and the lid body  24  may be integrally formed. 
   On an outer peripheral surface of the journaled portion  24   a , an annular recess  24   e  that engages the protruding portion  22   d  of the journaling portion  22   b  of the container body  22  is formed so that the journaled portion  24   a  rotatably engages the journaling portion  22   b . On the outer peripheral surface of the journaled portion  24   a , a protrusion  24   f  protruding radially outward is formed, and the protrusion  24   f  is placed in the notch  22   c  of the journaling portion  22   b.    
   On a tip of the lid portion  24   b , a locked portion  24   d  is formed so as to be locked to the locking protrusion  22   f  of the container body  22 , and thus the lid body  24  is lockable to the container body  22 . 
   The journaled portion  24   a  of the lid body  24  is journaled by the journaling portion  22   b  of the container body  22 , and the lid body  24  can rotatably swing around the journaling portion  22   b  of the container body  22 . A rotation range is a range of angles through which the protrusion  24   f  can move within the notch  22   c . The protrusion  24   f  and the notch  22   c  constitute rotation range controller. 
   As described above, the container  20  configured as described above provides the operation and the advantage similar to those of the first embodiment. As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , in a state where the lid body  24  closes the opening  22   a  of the container body  22 , the locked portion  24   d  is locked to the locking protrusion  22   f . The lid portion  24   b  of the lid body  24  covers the opening  22   a  so that the contents of the container body  22  are safely contained in the internal space of the container body  22 . 
   Then, the lid body  24  is rotated by holding the container body  22  and touching the sharp portion of the lid body  24  with one finger (for example, a thumb), thus the lid body  24  can be easily rotated around the journaling portion  22   b.    
   The protruding portion  22   d  and the annular recess  24   e  preferably engage with little play therebetween. Thus, a friction force generated between the lid body  24  and the container body  22  stops the lid body  24  at the position where the hand is removed after the lid body  24  is rotated. When the lid body  24  is further rotated, the protrusion  24   f  moves to one of ends of the notch  22   c  to abut against one of wall surfaces of the journaling portion  22   b  as shown in  FIG. 10 , thus the lid body  24  cannot be further opened. In this state, the lid portion  24   b  of the lid body  24  moves from the opening  22   a  to expose the opening  22   a . Thereby, the contents can be taken out of or inserted into the container body  22  through the opening  22   a.    
   (Third Embodiment) 
     FIGS. 11 to 14  show a container according to a third embodiment of the invention. 
   In this embodiment, a container  30  includes a container body  32  having an internal space, and a lid body  34  that can open and close an opening  32   a  of the container body  32 . The container body  32  and the lid body  34  are noncircular when viewed in a longitudinal direction of the container  30  orthogonal to an opening surface of the opening  32   a . In this embodiment, the noncircular shape has a circular portion and a sharp portion of a triangle integrally formed into a comet shape. 
   The container body  32  is closed at its bottom, and has, at its top opposite from the bottom, the opening  32   a  and a journaling portion  32   b  adjacent to the opening  32   a . The journaling portion  32   b  is provided in parallel with the opening  32   a , and forms a cylindrical shape having a notch  32   c  on one side. An axis of the journaling portion  32   b  is parallel to the direction orthogonal to the opening surface of the opening  32   a . The opening  32   a  is positioned in the sharp portion of the noncircular shape. 
   On an outer peripheral surface of the journaling portion  32   b , a circumferentially extending protruding portion  32   d  is formed. A locking protrusion  32   f  is formed on an edge of the opening  32   a  of the container body  32 . 
   The lid body  34  includes a cylindrical journaled portion  34   a , and a lid portion  34   b  that covers the opening  32   a . The lid portion  34   b  is positioned on the side of the sharp portion. Further, a plug  36  that closes a top of the lid portion  34   b  of the lid body  34  maybe provided. The plug  36  maybe omitted, or the plug  36  and the lid body  34  may be integrally formed. 
   On an inner peripheral surface of the journaled portion  34   a , an annular recess  34   e  that engages the protruding portion  32   d  of the journaling portion  32   b  of the container body  32  is formed, so that the journaled portion  34   a  rotatably engages the journaling portion  32   b . On the inner peripheral surface of the journaled portion  34   a , a protrusion  34   f  (see  FIG. 13 ) protruding radially inward is formed, and the protrusion  34   f  is placed in the notch  32   c  of the journaling portion  32   b.    
   On a tip of the lid portion  34   b , a locked portion  34   d  is formed so as to be locked to the locking protrusion  32   f  of the container body  32 , and thus the lid body  34  is lockable to the container body  32 . 
   The journaled portion  34   a  of the lid body  34  is journaled by the journaling portion  32   b  of the container body  32 , and the lid body  34  can rotatably swing around the journaling portion  32   b  of the container body  32 . A rotation range is a range of angles through which the protrusion  34   f  can move within the notch  32   c . The protrusion  34   f  and the notch  32   c  constitute rotation range controller. 
   As described above, the container  30  configured as described above provides the operation and the advantage similar to those of the first and the second embodiments. As shown in  FIGS. 11 and 13 , in a state where the lid body  34  closes the opening  32   a  of the container body  32 , the locked portion  34   d  is locked to the locking protrusion  32   f . The lid portion  34   b  of the lid body  34  covers the opening  32   a  so that the contents of the container body  32  are safely contained in the internal space of the container body  32 . 
   Then, the lid body  34  is rotated by holding the container body  32  and touching the sharp portion of the lid body  34  with one finger (for example, a thumb), thus the lid body  34  can be easily rotated around the journaling portion  32   b.    
   The protruding portion  32   d  and the annular recess  34   e  engage with little play therebetween. Thus, a friction force generated between the lid body  34  and the container body  32  preferably stops the lid body  34  at the position where the hand is removed after the lid body  34  is rotated. When the lid body  34  is further rotated, the protrusion  34   f  moves to one of ends of the notch  32   c  to abut against one of wall surfaces of the journaling portion  32   b  as shown in  FIG. 14 , thus the lid body  34  cannot be further opened. In this state, the lid portion  34   b  of the lid body  34  moves from the opening  32   a  to expose the opening  32   a . Thereby, the contents can be taken out of or inserted into the container body  32  through the opening  32   a.    
   Each of the above described embodiments allows an easy operation with one hand, thus increasing operability. The container body and the lid body may be, of course, constituted by a plurality of parts, but the container can be constituted by at least the container body and the lid body, thus reducing the number of components. 
   While the principles of the invention have been described above in connection with specific embodiments, and particular modifications thereof, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation on the scope of invention.