Patent Publication Number: US-2019166991-A1

Title: Returnable box

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a box to be used for conveyance of products or the like, and to a returnable box, which is repeatedly used by returning, to a conveyance source, the box that has become empty after products or the like are conveyed to a destination. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     There has been proposed a returnable box capable of storing clothes under a state of being hung from a hanger. As such returnable box, for example, in Patent Literature 1, there is described a foldable container for carrying clothes, which includes a horizontal rail for hooking a hanger and a fixture main body. The horizontal rail for hooking a hanger is provided in the vicinity of a ceiling portion of a storage portion. The fixture main body includes an elastic member on a lower surface thereof. According to the foldable container for carrying clothes in Patent Literature 1, the fixture main body is inserted between the horizontal rail on which the hanger is hooked and a lower surface of the ceiling portion of the storage portion so that a top surface portion of the hook of the hanger can be pressed by the elastic member. With this, falling of the hanger due to vibration of the container can be prevented during conveyance. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     [PTL 1] JP 2006-213355 A 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     However, in the foldable container for carrying clothes in Patent Literature 1, in order to press the top surface portion of the hook of the hanger by the elastic member, it is required that the fixture main body have a thickness substantially equal to a gap between the lower surface of the ceiling portion and the horizontal rail. Thus, an operation of inserting the fixture main body between the lower surface of the ceiling portion and the horizontal rail is not easy. 
     The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems inherent in the related art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a returnable box, which is capable of conveying clothes under a state of being hung from a hanger, and prevents falling of the hanger during conveyance without requiring a complicated operation. 
     Solution to Problem 
     A returnable box according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a box main body configured to store clothes thereinside; and a hanger hooking member attached inside the box main body. The hanger hooking member includes a fixing member and a hanger hooking main body including a hanger bar on which a hook of a hanger is hooked, and the fixing member is attached to the hanger hooking main body under a state of being extended along a longitudinal direction of the hanger bar above the hanger bar. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the fixing member has elasticity. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the fixing member includes a belt-shaped member having rubber elasticity. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the fixing member is held in contact with an upper surface of the hanger bar. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, a projecting portion is formed on an upper surface of the hanger bar. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the projecting portion includes a plurality of projecting portions. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, a locking part configured to fix the fixing member by being hooked on the projecting portion is provided on an end portion of the fixing member. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the fixing member is held in contact with an upper surface of the projecting portion. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the hanger hooking member is removably attached inside the box main body. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the box main body is foldable. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     According to the present invention, clothes can be conveyed under a state of being hung from a hanger, and falling of the hanger during conveyance can be prevented without requiring a complicated operation. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view for illustrating an example of a configuration of a returnable box according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view for illustrating an example of a configuration of a hanger hooking member. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view for illustrating an example of a configuration of a hanger hooking main body. 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view for illustrating an example of a configuration of a fixing member in a state of being removed from the hanger hooking main body. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view for illustrating a state in which a box main body in the embodiment of the present invention is open. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view for illustrating a step of a procedure of folding the box main body. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view for illustrating a step of the procedure of folding the box main body. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view for illustrating a step of the procedure of folding the box main body. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view for illustrating a step of the procedure of folding the box main body. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     A returnable box according to one embodiment of the present invention is described in detail with reference to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 9 .  FIG. 1  is a perspective view for illustrating an example of a configuration of the returnable box according to the embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a returnable box  100  includes a box main body  1  and a hanger hooking member  70 . The hanger hooking member  70  is attached inside the box main body  1 . A shape of the box main body  1  is not particularly limited, and is a rectangular parallelepiped shape in the illustrated example. 
     As described later, the hanger hooking member  70  includes a hanger hooking main body and a fixing member. The hanger hooking main body includes a hanger bar. The fixing member is attached to the hanger hooking main body under a state of being extended along a longitudinal direction of the hanger bar above the hanger bar. With this, a hanger that is hooked on the hanger bar can be easily fixed without requiring a complicated operation, thereby being capable of achieving the returnable box  100  that prevents falling of a hanger during conveyance. 
     &lt;Hanger Hooking Member&gt; 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the hanger hooking member  70  is arranged substantially horizontally inside the box main body  1 . A hanger with clothes hung therefrom can be hooked on the hanger hooking member  70 . With this, clothes can be conveyed under a state of being hung from a hanger through use of the returnable box  100 . As a configuration for arranging the hanger hooking member  70  inside the box main body  1 , any appropriate configuration may be employed. As the above-mentioned configuration, there is given, for example, a configuration in which attaching parts  53  configured to hook and fix the hanger hooking member  70  are provided on an inner surface of the box main body  1 . 
       FIG. 2  is a front view for illustrating an example of a configuration of the hanger hooking member. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the hanger hooking member  70  includes a hanger hooking main body  71  and a fixing member  75 . The fixing member  75  is attached to the hanger hooking main body  71  so as to cover an entirety or a part of a hanger bar  72  under a state of being extended along a longitudinal direction of the hanger bar  72 . More specifically, under a state in which the hanger hooking member  70  is attached inside the box main body  1 , the fixing member  75  is located above the hanger bar  72 , and is attached to the hanger hooking main body  71  under the state of being extended along the longitudinal direction of the hanger bar  72 . 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view for illustrating an example of a configuration of the hanger hooking main body. As illustrated in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the hanger hooking main body  71  includes the hanger bar  72  and mounting parts  73 . The hanger bar  72  is a portion on which a hook of a hanger is hooked. The mounting parts  73  are provided on both ends of the hanger bar  72 . The hanger bar  72  is a bar-like member, and a shape of the hanger bar  72  is not particularly limited. The hanger bar  72  has a thickness or a diameter large enough to hook a hook of a general hanger. In the example illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the hanger bar  72  schematically has a semi-cylindrical shape having a curved surface portion in an upper half. Further, a length of the hanger bar  72  may be appropriately set in accordance with a size of the box main body. The length of the hanger bar  72  is, for example, from 300 mm to 600 mm, and is typically about 480 mm. The mounting parts  73  each have a U-shape that is open on the lower side in  FIG. 3 . The hanger hooking member  70  can be removably attached inside the box main body  1  by hooking the mounting parts  73  on the attaching parts  53  provided on the inner surface of the box main body  1  . The hanger hooking main body  71  may be made of any appropriate material, and is typically made of polyethylene terephthalate resin. 
       FIG. 4  is a plan view for illustrating an example of a configuration of the fixing member in a state of being removed from the hanger hooking main body. The fixing member  75  typically has rubber elasticity. The fixing member  75  maybe removably attached to the hanger hooking main body  71 , or unremovably fixed to the hanger hooking main body  71 . Further, a configuration for mounting the fixing member  75  to the hanger hooking main body  71  is not particularly limited, and any appropriate configuration may be employed. As a specific example of the above-mentioned configuration, there is given a configuration in which a snap button, a hook-and-loop fastener, or the like is provided to the fixing member  75 . In the example illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the fixing member  75  includes an extension band  76  and locking parts  77 . The extension band  76  has a belt-like shape and rubber elasticity. The locking parts  77  are provided on both ends of the extension band  76  and configured to mount the fixing member  75  to the hanger hooking main body  71 . Snap buttons  78  are provided to each of the locking parts  77 , and the fixing member  75  can be attached to the hanger hooking main body  71  by fastening the snap buttons  78  under a state in which the locking parts  77  are wound around the hanger bar  72 . 
     Further, in the example illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a plurality of projecting portions  74  arrayed along the longitudinal direction are formed on an upper surface of the hanger bar  72 . The snap buttons  78  are fastened on an outer side of any projecting portion  74  of the plurality of projecting portions  74  (typically, endmost projecting portion) under a state in which the locking parts  77  are wound around the hanger bar  72 . In this manner, the fixing member  75  can be attached to the hanger bar  72  by hooking the fixing member  75  on the projecting portions  74 . 
     In the example illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the fixing member  75  is attached to the hanger bar  72 . However, the fixing member  75  may be attached to the mounting parts  73 . 
     As described above, in the hanger hooking member  70 , the fixing member  75  is located above the hanger bar  72  under the state of being extended along the longitudinal direction of the hanger bar  72 . With this, a hanger that is hooked on the hanger bar  72  is pressed from above by the fixing member  75  by a force in accordance with an elastic modulus of the fixing member  75 . As a result, even when the returnable box  100  is vibrated during conveyance, falling of a hanger can be prevented. 
     Falling of a hanger during conveyance can be further reliably prevented as a gap between the fixing member  75  and the hanger bar  72  is reduced. Therefore, it is preferred that the fixing member  75  be fixed to the hanger hooking main body  71  so as to reduce the gap between the fixing member  75  and the hanger bar  72 , and it is more preferred that the fixing member  75  be fixed to the hanger hooking main body  71  under a state of being held in contact with the upper surface of the hanger bar  72  (upper surfaces of the projecting portions  74  in a case in which the projecting portions  74  are formed). 
     Further, when a hanger is to be hooked on the hanger bar  72 , a worker can hook a hook of the hanger on the hanger bar  72  by inserting the hook into the gap between the hanger bar  72  and the fixing member  75  under a state in which the gap is widened by pulling the fixing member  75  upward. Therefore, a hanger can be hooked on the hanger bar  72  without requiring a complicated operation. 
     As a material and a shape of each of the extension band  76  and the locking parts  77 , any appropriate material and shape may be employed. As the material of the extension band  76 , there are given, for example, natural rubber and polyurethane, and, as the material of the locking parts  77 , there are given, for example, polypropylene, polyester, and nylon. Further, as the extension band  76 , there may be employed an extension band having, for example, a length of from 280 mm to 380 mm, a width of from 25 mm to 50 mm, and a thickness of from 0.1 mm to 2 mm. As each of the locking parts  77 , there may be employed a locking part having a length of from 110 mm to 120 mm and a width of 25 mm. 
     An extension rate of the extension band  76  under a state of being attached to the hanger bar  72  (rate of a length in an attached state to a length in an unattached state) may be set to, for example, from 120% to 160%. Further, a breakage length of the extension band  76  may be set to from 180% to 200%. The length of the hanger bar  72 , the length of the extension band  76 , and the extension rate of the extension band  76  are set so that the fixing member  75  can apply an appropriate force to a hook of a hanger in a vertically downward direction when the fixing member  75  is attached to the hanger hooking main body  71 . More specifically, the length of the hanger bar  72 , the length of the extension band  76 , and the extension rate of the extension band  76  are set so that a required force can be applied to a hook of a hanger so as to prevent falling of the hanger, and that a worker can easily pull the fixing member  75  upward so as to hook the hanger on the hanger bar  72 . 
     Further, in the example illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the plurality of projecting portions  74  arrayed in the longitudinal direction are formed on the upper surface of the hanger bar  72 . A hanger is hooked between the projecting portion  74  and the projecting portion  74 , thereby being capable of preventing lateral slipping of the hanger on the hanger bar  72 . With this, even when the returnable box  100  is inclined during conveyance of a plurality of clothes so that the hanger bar  72  is inclined, an interval between the clothes can be kept. As a result, occurrence of, for example, wrinkles, deformation, or creases due to overlapping of clothes can be prevented. The number of the projecting portions  74  and an interval between the adjacent projecting portions  74  are not particularly limited, and can be appropriately set. The number of the projecting portions  74  is, for example, from five to thirty, and is typically seventeen. The interval between the projecting portions  74  is, for example, from 5 mm to 50 mm, and is typically 20 mm. 
     Further, when the interval between the fixing member  75  and the upper surface of the hanger bar  72  at a portion at which the projecting portion  74  is not formed is excessively large, a movable range of a hanger in an up-and-down direction is increased. Thus, there is a concern in that a hook of a hanger drops off the hanger bar  72 . Therefore, it is preferred that the above-mentioned interval be appropriately set so as to be able to limit the movable range of a hanger to such a degree as to prevent a hook of the hanger from dropping off, and be set to, for example, from 3 mm to 30 mm. 
     &lt;Box Main Body&gt; 
     As described above, the box main body  1  has substantially a rectangular parallelepiped shape. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , an outer surface of the box main body  1  includes a top surface portion  10  and a bottom surface portion  20  that are opposed to each other, a front wall portion  30  and a rear wall portion  40  that are opposed to each other, and a right wall portion  50  and a left wall portion  60  that are opposed to each other. 
     The box main body  1  is openable and closable at a part of the outer surface so that clothes or the like can be taken in and out.  FIG. 5  is a perspective view for illustrating a state in which the box main body in the embodiment of the present invention is open. In the example illustrated in  FIG. 5 , there is illustrated a state in which an entirety or a part of the front wall portion  30  is open, and the hanger hooking member  70  is removed from the box main body  1 . 
     As a configuration for enabling an entirety or a part of the front wall portion  30  to be opened and closed, any appropriate configuration may be employed. In the example illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a fastener  31  is provided along a side shared with the top surface portion  10 , along a side shared with the right wall portion  50 , and along a side shared with the left wall portion  60  among sides of the front wall portion  30  . The fastener  31  is openable and closable with sliders  32 . The fastener is used for opening and closing the front wall portion  30  so that excellent sealability is achieved, and intrusion of dust or water into the box main body can be prevented. 
     In the example illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the attaching parts  53  configured to mount the hanger hooking member  70  to the box main body  1  are each a member having a belt-like shape in which both ends are sewn on the inner surface of the box main body so as to be open upward and downward. The attaching parts  53  are sewn on the vicinities of upper portions of inner surfaces of the right wall portion  50  and the left wall portion  60 , respectively. According to the above-mentioned configuration, the mounting parts  73  of the hanger hooking member  70  are hooked on openings of the attaching parts  53  so that the hanger hooking member  70  can be removably attached inside the box main body  1 . 
     Further, in the example illustrated in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 5 , handles  52  each having a belt-like shape are provided on outer surfaces of the right wall portion  50  and the left wall portion  60 . With this, during conveyance of the returnable box  100 , conveyance of the returnable box  100  can be facilitated by gripping the handles  52 . 
     It is preferred that the box main body  1  be foldable. With this, when it is not required to store clothes or the like, the box main body  1  can be stored while being folded compactly. As a configuration for enabling the box main body  1  to be folded, any appropriate configuration may be employed. Now, an example of the above-mentioned configuration is described. 
     The right wall portion  50  and the left wall portion  60  are bendable toward an inside of the box main body  1 . As the above-mentioned configuration, any appropriate configuration may be employed. In the illustrated example, the left wall portion  60  is made of a deformable sheet material, and includes therein two divided reinforcing plates  61   a  each having sufficient rigidity so that the box main body  1  stands upright. The two divided reinforcing plates  61   a  are arranged so as to be arrayed in a right-and-left direction in the sheet material, and the sheet material is sewn along a dividing line  61   b  between the two divided plates  61   a.  Although not illustrated, the right wall portion  50  has a similar configuration. According to the above-mentioned configuration, each of the right wall portion  50  and the left wall portion  60  can be bent along the dividing line  61   b  easily. As the sheet material, any appropriate sheet material is used, and, for example, woven cloth and/or non-woven cloth is used. As each of the divided reinforcing plates  61   a,  any appropriate plate member is used, and, for example, a plastic cardboard plate is used. 
     The top surface portion  10  and the bottom surface portion  20  are deformable when the box main body  1  is to be folded. As the above-mentioned configuration, any appropriate configuration may be employed. In the illustrated example, the bottom surface portion  20  is made of a deformable sheet material, and one reinforcing plate  21  is laid on an inner surface side of the bottom surface portion  20 . As in the illustrated example, the bottom surface portion  20  and the reinforcing plate  21  have substantially the same shape, and may be bonded to each other with a hook-and-loop fastener  22 . Further, a grip  23  may be provided on an inner surface side of the reinforcing plate  21 . Similarly, the top surface portion  10  is made of a deformable sheet material, and one reinforcing plate  11  is laid on an inner surface side of the top surface portion  10 . As in the illustrated example, the top surface portion  10  and the reinforcing plate  11  have substantially the same shape, and may be bonded to each other with a hook-and-loop fastener  12 . Further, although not illustrated, a grip may be provided on an inner surface side of the reinforcing plate  11 . As the sheet material, any appropriate sheet material is used, and, for example, woven cloth and/or non-woven cloth is used. As each of the reinforcing plate  11  and the reinforcing plate  21 , any appropriate plate member is used, and, for example, a plastic cardboard plate is used. 
     The front wall portion  30  may be made of, for example, a sheet material so as to facilitate opening and closing. Further, the rear wall portion  40  may be made of a sheet material, or may be made of a sheet material including therein a plate member that is the same as that of the above-mentioned reinforcing plate  11 . A winding portion  34  configured to wind the returnable box  100  in a folded state is provided on the inner surface of the front wall portion  30 . The winding portion  34  is preferably a rubber band. Further, accommodating portions  33  configured to accommodate the hanger hooking member  70  are provided on the inner surface of the front wall portion  30 . 
     The reinforcing plate  11  is attached to an upper side of the rear wall portion  40  so as to be pivotable, and the reinforcing plate  21  is attached to a lower side of the rear wall portion  40  so as to be pivotable. 
       FIG. 6  to  FIG. 9  are perspective views for illustrating steps of a procedure of folding the box main body. When the box main body  1  is to be folded, first, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , under a state in which the front wall portion  30  is open, the hanger hooking member  70  is accommodated in the accommodating portions  33 , and the grip  23  is pulled so that the reinforcing plate  11  and the reinforcing plate  21  are turned toward an inner surface of the rear wall portion  40 . 
     Next, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the reinforcing plate  11  and the reinforcing plate  21  are turned to be brought into a state in which a lower surface of the reinforcing plate  11  and an upper surface of the reinforcing plate  21  are held in contact with the inner surface of the rear wall portion  40 . 
     Next, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , each of the right wall portion  50  and the left wall portion  60  is bent to the inner side along the dividing line  61   b  so that the divided plates  61   a  are overlapped with each other. 
     Finally, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the front wall portion  30  is lifted up so that the front wall portion  30  is opposed to the rear wall portion  40 , and the rear wall portion  40 , the right wall portion  50 , and the left wall portion  60  are bundled with the winding portion  34 . With the procedure above, the box main body  1  can be folded with an extremely simple operation. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The returnable box according to the present invention is suitably used for conveyance of products or the like, in particular, conveyance of clothes. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
       1  box main body 
       70  hanger hooking member 
       71  hanger hooking main body 
       72  hanger bar 
       74  projecting portion 
       75  fixing member 
       77  locking parts 
       100  returnable box