Lidded container

Abstract

A container includes a container body which is cylindrical and includes an opening portion, the container body having a container body rib on at least a portion of an outer peripheral surface of the opening portion, and a lid member coupled to the container body by a hinge such that the lid member is openable and closable relative to the opening portion of the container body. The lid member has a sidewall positioned such that the lid member externally contacts the opening portion when the lid member is closed. The sidewall has an inner side surface having a lid rib which the container body rib contacts and slides over in opening or closing the lid member. The container body and the lid member are structured such that in closing the lid member, before the container body rib contacts and slides over the lid rib, no part of the opening portion other than the container body rib comes into contact with the lid member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container, comprising:
 a container body which is cylindrical and includes an opening portion, the container body having a container body rib on at least a portion of an outer peripheral surface of the opening portion; and   a lid member coupled to the container body by a hinge such that the lid member is openable and closable relative to the opening portion of the container body,   wherein the lid member has a sidewall positioned such that the lid member externally contacts the opening portion when the lid member is closed,   the sidewall has an inner side surface having a lid rib which the container body rib contacts and slides over in opening or closing the lid member, and   the container body and the lid member are configured such that in closing the lid member, before the container body rib contacts and slides over the lid rib, no part of the opening portion other than the container body rib comes into contact with the lid member.   
     
     
         2 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the lid member further includes an inner ring positioned such that the inner ring internally contacts the opening portion when the lid member is closed, and
 the container body and the lid member are configured such that in closing the lid member, after the container body rib contacts and slides over the lid rib, the inner ring comes into contact with an inner peripheral surface of the opening portion.   
     
     
         3 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein an inner diameter of the opening portion of the container body is larger at least in a portion extending from a position where the container body rib is formed to an edge of the opening portion, as compared to an inner diameter of the rest of the opening portion. 
     
     
         4 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner side surface of the sidewall has a part closer to the lid member with reference to the lid rib, and the part has an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of the container body rib such that a gap is formed from the container body rib in closing the lid member. 
     
     
         5 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the container body rib is formed at least at a position of the opening portion on an opposite side of the hinge. 
     
     
         6 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the lid member is configured such that a force involved in opening or closing the lid member does not have two or more local maximum values in a process of opening or closing the lid member. 
     
     
         7 . The container according to  claim 6 , wherein the lid member is configured such that a force involved in opening or closing the lid member is constant for a predetermined period. 
     
     
         8 . The container according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a flange formed at a position of the lid member on an opposite side of the hinge, and connected to an outer side surface of the sidewall,   wherein the flange has an upper surface corresponding to a top surface of the lid member, and the upper surface is slanted such that a tip portion of the flange has a thickness smaller than a thickness of the portion connected to the sidewall.   
     
     
         9 . The container according to  claim 8 , wherein the flange has a recess on a lower surface opposite to the upper surface.