Abstract:
A cylindrical packing case extending in an upper-lower direction, comprising an upper unit, a lower unit provided with a front side surface and a rear side surface in the circumferential direction, a pair of convex folding units upwardly extending from the front side surface and the rear side surface of the lower unit. A first weak line is provided along a first boundary between the upper unit and the convex folding unit, a second weak line is provided along a second boundary in the circumferential direction between the upper unit and the lower unit. A first folding ruled line is provided in the circumferential direction between the convex folding unit and the lower unit, and a second folding ruled line extending in the upper-lower direction continuing from between the front side surface and the rear side surface of the lower unit, is provided in the convex folding unit.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a packaging case that stores a product, and particularly relates to a packaging case that stores a cleaning tool such as a handy mop. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    Conventionally, a cleaning tool having a dust suction portion and a hand grip is known as a cleaning tool for removing dust, etc. from inside a room, a car or the like. 
         [0003]    The cleaning tool is normally sold with packaged in a packaging case in which a synthetic resin sheet is assembled in a hollow rectangular solid shape. 
         [0004]    After purchasing the cleaning tool, the consumer takes out the cleaning tool from the packaging case and uses it to remove dust, etc. from inside a room, a car or the like. Generally, the consumer disposes of the packaging case as is after taking out the cleaning tool. 
       CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
       [0005]    PTL 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-230576 
         [0006]    PTL 2: Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-120879 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0007]    Because the consumer can use the cleaning tool not just once but several times, the cleaning tool that has been used once needs to be placed, for example, on top of household furniture to be stored. 
         [0008]    There is, however, a problem that the cleaning tool that has been used once becomes dirty due to the adherence of dust, etc., in the dust suction portion, and therefore, if the cleaning tool is placed on top of furniture, for example, the furniture becomes dirty, and besides, the appearance of the room is spoiled. 
         [0009]    Furthermore, as described above, because the packaging case is disposed of as is after the cleaning tool has been taken out, the problem of exertion of a high load on the environment occurs. 
         [0010]    Thus, the present invention has been achieved in view of the aforementioned problem, and an object thereof is to provide a packaging case that can be used not only at the time of displaying or selling a product but also be used as a case for storing the product. 
         [0011]    A first feature of the present invention is summarized as a cylindrical packaging case extending in a vertical direction, comprising: an upper portion; a lower portion in which a front side surface and a rear side surface are provided in a circumferential direction; and a pair of convex folding-back portions extending out in an upper direction from the front side surface and the rear side surface of the lower portion, wherein a first weakened line is provided along a first boundary line between the upper portion and the convex folding-back portions, a second weakened line is provided along a second boundary line in the circumferential direction between the upper portion and the lower portion, a first folding ruled line is provided in the circumferential direction between the convex folding-back portions and the lower portion, and second folding ruled lines extending continuously in a vertical direction from between the front side surface and the rear side surface of the lower portion are provided inside the convex folding-back portions. 
         [0012]    As described above, according to the present invention it is possible to provide a packaging case that can be used not only at the time of displaying or selling a product but also be used as a case for storing the product. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a packaging case according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  ( a ) through  FIG. 2  ( c ) are a front view, a bottom view, and a side view of the packaging case, respectively, according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the packaging case according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view when an upper portion of the packaging case according to the first embodiment of the present invention is separated. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view when a cleaning tool is stored after separating the upper portion of the packaging case according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view of a packaging case according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is an exploded view of a packaging case according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     First Embodiment of the Present Invention 
       [0020]    With reference to  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 5 , a packaging case  1  according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. 
         [0021]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the packaging case  1  according to the present embodiment is a cylindrical packaging case extending in a vertical direction D 1 , and has an upper portion  2  having a side surface  21 , and a lower portion  3  in which a front side surface  31 B and a rear side surface  31 A are provided in a circumferential direction D 2 . 
         [0022]    For example, the upper portion  2  is formed in the shape of a bottomed cylinder having a top surface that closes an upper end portion of the side surface  21 , and the side surface  21  provided in a near perpendicular direction with respect to the top surface. 
         [0023]    Furthermore, as illustrated in  FIG. 2  ( a ) through  FIG. 2  ( c ), the lower portion  3  is formed in the shape of a bottomed cylinder having a bottom surface that closes a lower end portion of the side surfaces including the front side surface  31 B (that is, a side surface  312 ), and the rear side surface  31 A (that is, side surfaces  311 ,  313 , and  314 ), and a side surface including the front side surface  31 B and the rear side surface  31 A (that is, the side surfaces  311  through  314 ) set up in a near perpendicular direction with respect to the bottom surface. 
         [0024]    As illustrated in  FIG. 2  ( c ), the bottom surface of the lower portion  3  is formed in a near hexagonal shape in a plan view, for example. The bottom surface of the lower portion  3  is not limited to a near hexagonal shape in a plan view, but may be formed in a near polygonal shape in a plan view, such as a near quadrilateral shape in a plan view, or a near circular shape in a plan view, or a near elliptical shape in a plan view. 
         [0025]    As illustrated in  FIG. 2  ( c ) and  FIG. 3 , the bottom surface is formed by combining together flaps  32  for forming the bottom surface, which extend from the front side surface  31 B and the rear side surface  31 A (that is, the side surfaces  311  through  314 ). 
         [0026]    Furthermore, in the lower portion  3 , a pair of convex folding-back portions  4  extending out in the upper direction side from the front side surface  31 B and the rear side surface  31 A (that is, the side surfaces  311  through  314 ) are provided. 
         [0027]    A first weakened line W 1  is provided along a first boundary line B 1  between the upper portion  2  and the convex folding-back portions  4 , and a second weakened line W 2  is provided along a second boundary line B 2  in the circumferential direction D 2  between the upper portion  2  and the lower portion  3 . 
         [0028]    For example, in the present embodiment, the “weakened lines” are lines that enable the separation of the upper portion  2  in the packaging case  1 , and may be perforated lines, or micro perforated lines (perforated lines with the length of a perforation and the length of a non-perforated portion being in the range of approximately 0.3 mm to 0.8 mm, respectively), or even fragile lines formed by weakening the sheet material through the laser processing, and the like. 
         [0029]    The upper portion  2  and the convex folding-back portions  4  may not be connected in at least a part of the first weakened line W 1 . 
         [0030]    Specifically, the first weakened line W 1  includes straight weakened lines W 11  and curved weakened lines W 12 , and the upper portion  2  and the convex folding-back portions  4  may not be connected in at least a part of the curved weakened lines W 12 . For example, a cutting line that completely passes through the sheet material in the thickness direction of may be provided in at least a part of the curved weakened lines W 12  (for example, at a position corresponding to an angular portion of the convex folding-back portions  4 ). 
         [0031]    Furthermore, in the lower portion  3 , a plurality of convex rising portions  6  extending out in a lower direction from the front side surface  31 B and the rear side surface  31 A (that is, the side surfaces  311  through  314 ) are provided. The plurality of convex rising portions  6  are provided at equal intervals. According to the configuration, the effect of stable rise of the packaging case  1  is achieved. 
         [0032]    Furthermore, in the upper portion  2 , a finger grip portion  5  is provided along a part of the first weakened line W 1  and the second weakened line W 2 . Furthermore, a hole  10  is provided in the upper end portion of the side surface  21  of the upper portion  2  in order to suspend the packaging case  1  from the product display shelves. 
         [0033]    Furthermore, the packaging case  1  is covered with a paper sleeve. The sleeve covers at least a part on the outer side of the packaging case  1 , and a locking mechanism is provided in at least one or more places in the sleeve such that the packaging case  1  does not move from its position during product transport or during display over the counter. 
         [0034]    A claw shape is provided in the sleeve, and a cut for inserting the sleeve is provided in the packaging case  1 . By pushing in the claw shape in to the cut, the packaging case  1  and the sleeve are configured to be locked. 
         [0035]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the sheet material used to form the packaging case  1 . The sheet material is particularly not limited, and a conventional well-known material can be used. Polyolefins such as polypropylene and polyethylene, synthetic resin sheets such as polyethylene terephthalate, thick paper, synthetic paper, and laminated sheets thereof can be used as the sheet material. The thickness of the sheet is not particularly limited, and preferably is in the range of approximately 0.2 mm to 1.0 mm. 
         [0036]    As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a first folding ruled line Y 1  is provided in the circumferential direction D 2  between the convex folding-back portions  4  and the lower portion  3 , and second folding ruled lines Y 2  extending continuously in the vertical direction D 1  from between the front side surface  31 B and the rear side surface  31 A of the lower portion  3  are provided inside the convex folding-back portions  4 . 
         [0037]    The second folding ruled lines Y 2  are provided across the upper portion  2 , the convex folding-back portions  4 , and the lower portion  3 . 
         [0038]    In the present embodiment, the “folding ruled line” implies a line formed to enable shaping of the sheet material to facilitate its folding. The folding ruled line may be, for example, a pressed line formed by pressing the sheet material in the thickness direction, or a half-cut line formed by cutting the sheet material in an almost V shape in the thickness direction. 
         [0039]    In the sheet material illustrated in  FIG. 3 , after pasting a tab for sticking  33 , which extends towards a side of the side surface  311 , to a side of the side surface  314 , while folding the side surfaces  21 , and  311  through  314  along the second folding ruled lines Y 2 , the flaps  32  for forming the bottom surface are combined together to form the packaging case  1 . 
         [0040]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , at the time of displaying or selling the product, the product is configured to be stored inside the upper portion  2  and the lower portion  3 . In the example illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a cleaning tool X having a hand grip X 1  and a dust suction portion X 2  is configured to be stored inside the upper portion  2  and the lower portion  3 . 
         [0041]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the cleaning tool X is fixed inside the packaging case  1  with a fixing mount  11 . The fixing mount  11  is configured by a coat paper or a synthetic resin sheet, and the dust suction portion X 2  and the hand grip X 2  are configured to be set on the fixing mount  11 . 
         [0042]    The front side surface  31 B of the lower portion  3  includes a single curved surface (side surface  312 ), and a pressing ruled line is not provided inside the front side surface  31 B of the lower portion  3 . According to the configuration, the product packaged in the packaging case  1  can be easily seen from outside. 
         [0043]    Furthermore, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , after separating the upper portion  2  of the packaging case  1 , the consumer folds back the convex folding-back portions  4  towards the inside or the outside of the lower portion  3 , along the first folding ruled line Y 1  or the second folding ruled lines Y 2 , and as a result, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the cleaning tool X that has been used once can be stored inside the lower portion  3 . 
         [0044]    According to the packaging case  1  of the present embodiment, separating the upper portion  2  along the first weakened line W 1  and the second weakened line W 2 , and then folding back the convex folding-back portions  4  towards the inside or the outside of the lower portion  3 , along the first folding ruled line Y 1  or the second folding ruled lines Y 2  enables the formation of a storage sheet for the cleaning tool X. 
         [0045]    Furthermore, according to the packaging case  1  of the present embodiment, by pulling up the finger grip portion  5  provided in the upper portion  2 , the consumer can separate the upper portion  2  easily. 
         [0046]    Furthermore, according to the packaging case  1  of the present embodiment, by processing the curved weakened line W 12  that is at the position corresponding to the shoulder portion of the convex folding-back portions  4  as the cutting line, the consumer can easily separate the upper portion  2 . 
         [0047]    According to the packaging case  1  of the present embodiment, by separating the upper portion  2  and then folding back the convex folding-back portions  4  towards the outside of the lower portion  3 , along the first folding ruled line Y 1  or the second folding ruled lines Y 2 , the aperture portion of the lower portion  3  can be maintained in a stable state. 
       Second Embodiment 
       [0048]    With reference to  FIG. 6 , the packaging case  1  according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The packaging case  1  according to the present embodiment will be described while focusing on the differences from the packaging case  1  according to the aforementioned first embodiment. 
         [0049]    As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , in the packaging case  1  according to the present embodiment, a plurality of folding ruled lines Y 20  are provided, along the vertical direction D 1 , on both sides of the second folding ruled lines Y 2 , in the circumferential direction D 2 , extending continuously in the vertical direction D 1  from between the front side surface  31 B and the rear side surface  31 A of the lower portion  3  are provided inside the convex folding-back portions  4 . As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , a part of the folding ruled lines Y 20  may not necessarily be in a straight shape. 
       Third Embodiment 
       [0050]    With reference to  FIG. 7 , the packaging case  1  according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The packaging case  1  according to the present embodiment will be described while focusing on the differences from the packaging case  1  according to the aforementioned first embodiment. 
         [0051]    As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , in the packaging case  1  according to the present embodiment, a plurality of folding ruled lines Y 21  are provided along the vertical direction D 1  in all the side surfaces  311  through  314  of the lower portion  3 . 
         [0052]    That is, in the packaging case  1  according to the present embodiment, the folding ruled lines Y 21  are provided even in the front side surface  31 B (side surface  312 ) of the lower portion  3 . 
         [0053]    In the present embodiment, an example in which the packaging case  1  is used when the front side surface  31 B and the rear side surface  31 A are in a risen state along the vertical direction is explained, however, the packaging case  1  according to the present embodiment may also be used in a state where the front side surface  31 B and the rear side surface  31 A are arranged along the horizontal direction. 
         [0054]    Thus, the present invention has been explained in detail by using the above-described embodiments; however, it is obvious that for persons skilled in the art, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments explained herein. The present invention can be implemented as corrected and modified modes without departing from the gist and the scope of the present invention defined by the claims. Therefore, the description of the specification is intended for explaining the example only and does not impose any limited meaning to the present invention. 
         [0055]    In addition, the entire content of Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-089072 (filed on Apr. 7, 2010) is incorporated in the present specification by reference. 
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY  
       [0056]    As described above, according to the present invention it is possible to provide a packaging case that can be used not only at the time of displaying or selling a product but also be used as a case for storing the product. 
       REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
       [0000]    
       
           1  . . . Packaging case 
           2  . . . Upper portion 
           3  . . . Lower portion 
           4 A,  4 B . . . Convex folding-back portion 
           5  . . . Finger grip portion 
           6  . . . Convex rising portion 
           12  . . . Side surface of the upper portion 
           31 A . . . Rear side surface of the lower portion 
           31 B . . . Front side surface of the lower portion 
           311 ,  312 ,  313 ,  314  . . . Side surface of the lower portion 
           32  . . . Flap for forming the bottom surface 
           33  . . . Tab for sticking 
         B 1 , B 2  . . . Boundary line 
         W 1 , W 11 , W 12 , W 2 , W 3  . . . Weakened line 
         Y 1 , Y 2  . . . Folding ruled line