STORAGE BOX AND SHEET

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation application of International Application No. PCT/JP2024/019664, filed on May 29, 2024, which claims priority from Japanese Patent Applications No. 2023-091561, filed on Jun. 2, 2023, No. 2023-091567, filed on Jun. 2, 2023, and No. 2023-091697, filed on Jun. 2, 2023. This disclosure of the foregoing application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND ART

Tape cassettes which store tape in a cassette case and are detachably attached to a tape printer are known.

SUMMARY

The above-described tape cassette is sometimes stored in a so-called tuck top box. At this time, the tuck top box can be unfolded, which may result in unauthorized removal of the tape cassette from the case.

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a storage box and a sheet that contribute to suppressing unauthorized removal of a tape cassette from the case.

The present specification discloses the following aspects, for example.

A storage box according to a first aspect of the present disclosure includes a box main body including a first wall and a second wall extending to intersect a first direction and disposed alongside each other in the first direction, and a peripheral wall extending from a peripheral edge of the first wall to a peripheral edge of the second wall, a tape cassette used for printing being disposed inside a space enclosed by the first wall, the second wall, and the peripheral wall. The peripheral wall includes a third wall and a fourth wall extending to intersect a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and disposed alongside each other in the second direction, and a fifth wall and a sixth wall extending to intersect a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction and disposed alongside each other in the third direction. The first wall includes a female flap layer configured by a female flap connected to an end of the third wall in a first specific direction being a direction, of the first direction, from the second wall toward the first wall, a male flap layer configured by a male flap connected to an end of the fourth wall in the first specific direction, and an intermediate flap layer configured by a first flap connected to an end of the fifth wall in the first specific direction and a second flap connected to an end of the sixth wall in the first specific direction. The female flap layer, the intermediate flap layer, and the male flap layer are configured to be layered in the order of the female flap layer, the intermediate flap layer and the male flap layer in the first specific direction. The female flap includes a female main body portion extending in a second specific direction from the end of the third wall in the first specific direction, the second specific direction being a direction, of the second direction, from the third wall toward the fourth wall, and an insertion slot formed in the female main body portion. The male flap includes a male main body portion extending, from the end of the fourth wall in the first specific direction, in a second opposite direction opposite to the second specific direction, and a first insertion portion to be inserted into the insertion slot, the first insertion portion extending in the second opposite direction from an end of the male main body portion in the second opposite direction.

According to the first aspect, the first wall is configured by being layered in the order of the female flap layer, the intermediate flap layer, and the male flap layer in that order, and the storage box is formed by the first insertion portion being inserted into the insertion slot. Thus, the storage box contributes to suppressing unauthorized removal of the tape cassette from the case.

A sheet according to a second aspect of the present disclosure is a sheet configured to form a storage box by being assembled. The storage box includes a box main body including a first wall and a second wall extending to intersect a first direction and disposed alongside each other in the first direction, and a peripheral wall extending from a peripheral edge of the first wall to a peripheral edge of the second wall. A tape cassette to be used for printing is disposed inside a space enclosed by the first wall, the second wall, and the peripheral wall. The peripheral wall includes a third wall and a fourth wall extending to intersect a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and disposed alongside each other in the second direction, and a fifth wall and a sixth wall extending to intersect a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction and disposed alongside each other in the third direction. The first wall includes a female flap layer configured by a female flap connected to an end of the third wall in a first specific direction, the first specific direction being a direction, of the first direction, from the second wall toward the first wall, a male flap layer configured by a male flap connected to an end of the fourth wall in the first specific direction, and an intermediate flap layer configured by a first flap connected to an end of the fifth wall in the first specific direction and by a second flap connected to an end of the sixth wall in the first specific direction. The female flap layer, the intermediate flap layer, and the male flap layer are configured to be layered in the order of the female flap layer, the intermediate flap layer and the male flap layer in the first specific direction. The female flap includes a female main body portion extending, from the end of the third wall in the first specific direction, in a second specific direction, the second specific direction being a direction, of the second direction, from the third wall toward the fourth wall, and an insertion slot formed in the female main body portion. The male flap includes a male main body portion extending, from the end of the fourth wall in the first specific direction, in a second opposite direction opposite to the second specific direction, and a first insertion portion to be inserted into the insertion slot, the first insertion portion extending in the second opposite direction from an end of the male main body portion in the second opposite direction.

In a similar manner to the first aspect, the second aspect contributes to suppressing unauthorized removal of the tape cassette from the case, in the storage box formed by being assembled.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a storage box as seen from the front right and above.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the storage box as seen from the rear left and below.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a bottom wall.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of a female flap.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a lower portion of the storage box as seen in the direction of arrows along a line V-V shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the storage box.

FIG. 7 is a deployed view showing a paperboard.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a flow of assembling the storage box from the paperboard.

FIG. 9 is a back view of the storage box shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view, as seen from the left rear and below, of the storage box opened by a first opening method.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a storage box as seen from the left rear and below.

FIG. 12 is a deployed view showing a paperboard.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a storage box as seen from the left rear and below.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a storage box as seen from the left rear and below.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a storage box as seen from the left rear and below.

FIG. 16 is a bottom view of the female flap including an insertion slot.

FIG. 17 is a bottom view of the female flap including an insertion slot.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a storage box as seen from the front right and above.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the storage box as seen from the rear left and below.

FIG. 20 is a plan view of the storage box.

FIG. 21 is a bottom view of the storage box.

FIG. 22 is a deployed view showing a paperboard.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view, as seen from the rear right and below, of a bottom wall of the storage box.

FIG. 24 is a perspective view, as seen from the rear right and below, of the storage box prior to assembly of the bottom wall.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view, as seen from the rear right and below, of the storage box during the assembly of the bottom wall, and is a continuation of FIG. 24.

FIG. 26 is a perspective view, as seen from the front right and above, of the storage box subsequent to the assembly of the bottom wall, and is a continuation of FIG. 25.

FIG. 27 is a perspective view of a storage box as seen from the front right and above.

FIG. 28 is a deployed view showing a paperboard.

FIG. 29 is a deployed view of a section of the bottom wall of a paperboard.

FIG. 30 is a deployed view of a section of the bottom wall of a paperboard.

FIG. 31 is a deployed view of a section of the bottom wall of a paperboard.

FIG. 32 is a deployed view of a section of the bottom wall of a paperboard.

DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The referenced drawings are used to describe technological features that can be adopted by the present disclosure. In other words, configurations, for example, shown in the drawings are not limited to those configurations only, and are simply explanatory examples.

A storage box 1A will be described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. Hereinafter, an upper left direction, a lower right direction, a lower left direction, an upper right direction, a downward direction, and an upward direction in FIG. 1 are, respectively, a leftward direction, a rightward direction, a forward direction, a rearward direction, a downward direction, and an upward direction of the storage box 1A. Note that, in the first embodiment, the up-down direction is used for the purpose of description, for example, and is not limited to the vertical direction.

The storage box 1A is a formed by assembling a paperboard 100A shown in FIG. 7, for example. The configuration of the paperboard 100A, and a method of assembling the storage box 1A from the paperboard 100A will be described later. The storage box 1A includes a box main body 2 and a header 3. The box main body 2 has a rectangular cuboid shape that is longer in the left-right direction than in the front-rear direction, and that is longer in the up-down direction than in the left-right direction, and stores a tape cassette 8A.

For example, a width W21 in the front-rear direction of the box main body 2 is slightly larger than a width W81 in the front-rear direction of the tape cassette 8A. A relationship between the respective lengths of the box main body 2 in the front-rear direction, the left-right direction, and the up-down direction is the same as a relationship between the respective lengths of the tape cassette 8A in the front-rear direction, the left-right direction, and the up-down direction.

The box main body 2 includes a bottom wall 4, a top wall 5, and peripheral walls 6. The bottom wall 4 and the top wall 5 extend so as to be orthogonal to the up-down direction, and are disposed alongside each other in the up-down direction. The bottom wall 4 is located at the lower end of the box main body 2. The top wall 5 is located at the upper end of the box main body 2.

The peripheral walls 6 extend from a peripheral edge 40 of the bottom wall 4 to a peripheral edge 50 of the top wall 5. The peripheral walls 6 have a square cylindrical shape, and include a front wall 61, a back wall 62, a left wall 63, and a right wall 64. The front wall 61 and the back wall 62 extend so as to be orthogonal to the front-rear direction, and are disposed alongside each other in the front-rear direction. The front wall 61 is located at the front end of the box main body 2. The back wall 62 is located at the rear end of the box main body 2. The left wall 63 and the right wall 64 extend so as to be orthogonal to the left-right direction, and are disposed alongside each other in the left-right direction. The left wall 63 is located at the left end of the box main body 2. The right wall 64 is located at the right end of the box main body 2.

A lower end 611 of the front wall 61, a lower end 621 of the back wall 62, a lower end 631 of the left wall 63, and a lower end 641 of the right wall 64 configure the peripheral edge 40 of the bottom wall 4 (refer to FIG. 2). An upper end 612 of the front wall 61, an upper end 622 of the back wall 62, an upper end 632 of the left wall 63, and an upper end 642 of the right wall 64 configure the peripheral edge 50 of the top wall 5 (refer to FIG. 1).

A space 7 is formed in the interior of the box main body 2. The space 7 is enclosed by the bottom wall 4, the top wall 5, and the peripheral walls 6 (the front wall 61, the back wall 62, the left wall 63, and the right wall 64). The tape cassette 8A is disposed in the space 7 in a state in which a lower wall 85 to be described later faces the bottom wall 4 from above.

The header 3 is arranged on the box main body 2. The header 3 has a wall shape, and includes a header piece 31 and a header piece 32. The header piece 31 is connected to the upper end 622 of the rear wall 62, and extends upward from the upper end 622 of the back wall 62. FIG. 2 shows the upper end 622 of the back wall 62 using a virtual line V21. The header piece 32 is folded over in the forward direction from an upper end 311 of the header piece 31, and extends in the downward direction. A lower end 321 of the header piece 32 is located at a position of the top wall 5 in the up-down direction, and is connected to a female main body portion 52 (refer to FIG. 6) to be described later.

A hole 30 is arranged in the header 3. The hole 30 has an isosceles triangle shape in a front view, and is disposed at the center of the header 3 in the left-right direction. The hole 30 extends through the header pieces 31 and 32 in the front-rear direction. Thus, the hole 30 extends through the header 3 in the front-rear direction. For example, in a marketplace of the storage box 1A, the storage box 1A may be hung, via the hole 30, on a bar for a hanging merchandise display, and may be hung for merchandise display.

A detailed configuration of the back wall 62 and the bottom wall 4 will be described with reference to FIG. 2 to FIG. 4. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the bottom wall 4 as seen in the downward direction from the space 7. Illustration of the tape cassette 8A is omitted in FIG. 5.

As shown in FIG. 2, the back wall 62 has a rectangular shape that is longer in the up-down direction than in the left-right direction. The lower end 621 of the back wall 62 extends in the left-right direction. A perforation line 623 is formed in the back wall 62. The perforation line 623 has a circular arc shape that bulges in the upward direction, and is located at a lower portion of the back wall 62.

A point P1 indicates the left end of the perforation line 623. A point P2 indicates the right end of the perforation line 623. The points P1 and P2 are located on the lower end 621 of the back wall 62. A point P11 indicates the left end of the lower end 621 of the back wall 62. A point P12 indicates the right end of the lower end 621 of the back wall 62. The point P1 is located between a center of the lower end 621 of the back wall 62 in the left-right direction and the point P11. The point P2 is located between the center of the lower end 621 of the back wall 62 in the left-right direction and the point P12.

Hereinafter, a region of the back wall 62 enclosed by the perforation line 623 and the lower end 621 of the back wall 62 will be referred to as a “starting point region R11”. The starting point region R11 is pressed in by a user in a first opening method to be described later.

The bottom wall 4 is a so-called snap lock bottom, and includes a male flap 41, a female flap 42, a left flap 43, and a right flap 44. The male flap 41 includes a male main body portion 419, and an insertion portion 410. The male main body portion 419 is connected to the lower end 621 of the back wall 62, and extends in the forward direction from the lower end 621 of the back wall 62. The male main body portion 419 includes a front end 415, and peripheral edges 413 and 414.

The front end 415 extends in the left-right direction. A virtual line V22 indicates the front end 415. A point P3 indicates the left end of the front end 415. A point P4 indicates the right end of the front end 415. The point P3 is located further in the rightward direction than the point P11, and located further in the leftward direction than the point P1. The point P4 is located further in the leftward direction than the point P12, and located further in the rightward direction than the point P2. The peripheral edge 413 joins the point P11 and the point P3. The peripheral edge 414 joins the point P12 and the point P4. In other words, the male main body portion 419 has a trapezoid shape that becomes narrower the further toward the forward direction.

The male main body portion 419 includes a pair of perforation lines 411 and 412. The perforation line 411 extends from the point P1 to the front left toward the point P3 on the peripheral edge 413. The perforation line 412 extends to the front right from the point P2 toward the point P4 on the peripheral edge 414. In other words, the upper end of the perforation line 411 is connected to the left end of the perforation line 623, and the upper end of the perforation line 412 is connected to the right end of the perforation line 623. Further, the bottom wall 4 has a rectangular shape that is longer in the left-right direction than in the front-rear direction, and the perforation lines 411 and 412 extend along the front-rear direction that is the shorter direction of the bottom wall 4.

Due to the positional relationship between the points P1, P2, P3, and P4, the perforation line 411 and the perforation line 412 do not intersect each other, and extend such that an interval between them becomes wider the further in the forward direction. Hereinafter, a region enclosed by the pair of perforation lines 411 and 412 and the front end 415 of the male main body portion 419, and the lower end 621 of the back wall 62 will be referred to as an “opening region R12”. In the first opening method to be described later, the opening region R12 is separated from the box main body 2 by the user.

As shown in FIG. 3, the insertion portion 410 is connected to the male main body portion 419, and includes an extension portion 4100, and protrusion portions 4101 and 4102. The extension portion 4100 has a rectangular shape that is longer in the left-right direction than in the front-rear direction, and extends in the forward direction from the front end 415 of the male main body portion 419. The protrusion portion 4101 has a triangular shape protruding in the leftward direction from the front left end of the extension portion 4100. The protrusion portion 4102 has a triangular shape protruding in the rightward direction from the front right end of the extension portion 4100.

As shown in FIG. 4, the female flap 42 is connected to the lower end 611 of the front wall 61, and includes a female main body portion 429. The female main body portion 429 is the whole of the female flap 42, and extends in the rearward direction from the lower end 611 of the front wall 61. The female flap 42 has a rectangular shape that is longer in the left-right direction than in the front-rear direction. The length of the female main body portion 429 in the left-right direction is substantially the same as the length of the bottom wall 4 in the left-right direction. A rear end 425 of the female main body portion 429 is located between the lower end 621 of the back wall 62 connected to the bottom wall 4 and the center of the bottom wall 4 in the front-rear direction.

An insertion slot 421 and protrusion portions 4221 and 4222 are arranged in the female main body portion 429. The insertion slot 421 is located between the rear end 425 of the female main body portion 429 and the center of the female main body portion 429 in the front-rear direction. The insertion slot 421 is longer in the left-right direction than in the front-rear direction, and extends through the female main body portion 429 in the up-down direction. In the bottom wall 4, the insertion portion 410 is inserted into the insertion slot 421 (refer to FIG. 5). The length of the insertion slot 421 in the left-right direction is substantially the same as a distance from the left end of the protrusion portion 4101 and the right end of the protrusion portion 4102 in the insertion portion 410 (refer to FIG. 3).

The insertion slot 421 is defined by an insertion slot edge 4210. The insertion slot edge 4210 has a closed annular shape on an inner side of the female main body portion 429. Here, the “inner side of” a specific section refers to a region further to the inside than an outer periphery of the specific section. For example, the “inner side of the female main body portion 429” is a region further to the inside than an outer periphery 420 of the female flap 42.

The insertion slot edge 4210 includes an edge 4211. The edge 4211 is disposed to the front of the insertion slot 421, and extends in the left-right direction. A point P5 indicates the left end of the edge 4211. A point P6 indicates the right end of the edge 4211. The point P5 is located between the left end of the insertion slot 421 and the center of the female main body portion 429 in the left-right direction. The point P6 is located between the right end of the insertion slot 421 and the center of the female main body portion 429 in the left-right direction.

The length of the edge 4211 in the left-right direction is substantially the same as the length, in the left-right direction, of the extension portion 4100 in the insertion portion 410, and is shorter than a distance from the left end of the protrusion portion 4101 to the right end of the protrusion portion 4102 (refer to FIG. 3). The protrusion portion 4221 protrudes in the rearward direction from the point P5. The protrusion portion 4222 protrudes in the rearward direction from the point P6.

As shown in FIG. 3, the left flap 43 includes a left main body portion 430 and a protrusion portion 433. The left main body portion 430 includes extension portions 431 and 432. The extension portion 431 is connected to the lower end 631 of the left wall 63, and extends in the rightward direction from the lower end 631 of the left wall 63. More specifically, the extension portion 431 has a trapezoid shape whose left end and right end form base sides. The rear end of the extension portion 431 extends in the rightward direction from the rear end of the lower end 631. The front end of the extension portion 431 extends to the rear right from the front end of the lower end 631. The length of the extension portion 431 in the left-right direction is substantially the same as a distance from the left end of the insertion slot 421 to the left end of the female main body portion 429.

The extension portion 432 is connected to the right end of the extension portion 431, and extends in the rightward direction from the right end of the extension portion 431. The extension portion 432 has a rectangular shape that is longer in the front-rear direction than in the left-right direction. The right end of the extension portion 432 is located further in the leftward direction than the center of the bottom wall 4 in the left-right direction.

The protrusion portion 433 is connected to the front end of the extension portion 432, and has a triangular shape extending in the forward direction from the front end of the extension portion 432. The protrusion portion 433 is inserted into the insertion slot 421. The length of the protrusion portion 433 in the front-rear direction is shorter than the length of the insertion portion 410 in the front-rear direction.

The right flap 44 and the left flap 43 are left-right symmetrical (refer to FIG. 3). The right flap 44 includes a right main body portion 440 and a protrusion portion 443. The right main body portion 440 includes extension portions 441 and 442. The extension portions 441 and 442, and the protrusion portion 443 have configurations corresponding to the extension portions 431 and 432, and the protrusion portion 433, respectively, and a description of the portions is thus simplified here.

The extension portion 441 is connected to the lower end 641 of the right wall 64, and has a trapezoid shape extending in the leftward direction from the lower end 641 of the right wall 64. The extension portion 442 is connected to the left end of the extension portion 441, and has a rectangular shape extending in the leftward direction from the left end of the extension portion 441. The left end of the extension portion 442 is located further in the rightward direction than the center of the bottom wall 4 in the left-right direction. In other words, the left main body portion 430 and the right main body portion 440 do not overlap each other in the up-down direction.

The protrusion portion 443 is connected to the front end of the extension portion 442, and has a triangular shape extending in the forward direction from the front end of the extension portion 442. The protrusion portion 443 is inserted into the insertion slot 421.

As shown in FIG. 5, hereinafter, a layer configured by the male flap 41 will be referred to as a “male flap layer 41A”. A layer configured by the female flap 42 will be referred to as a “female flap layer 42A”. A layer configured by the left flap 43 and the right flap 44 will be referred to as a “side flap layer 46”.

A detailed configuration of the top wall 5 will be described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 6. The top wall 5 includes a male flap 510, a female flap 520, a left flap 530, and a right flap 540. The male flap 510 is connected to the upper end 612 of the front wall 61 and includes a male main body portion 51 and an insertion portion 55 shown in FIG. 6. The male main body portion 51 extends in the rearward direction from the upper end 612 of the front wall 61. The male main body portion 51 has a rectangular shape that is longer in the left-right direction than in the front-rear direction. The length of the male main body portion 51 in the front-rear direction is substantially the same as a distance between the front wall 61 and the back wall 62 in the front-rear direction.

A rear end 511 of the male main body portion 51 is located close to the front of the back wall 62 and extends in the left-right direction. The rear end 511 of the male main body portion 51 includes an end 5111 and an end 5112. The end 5111 is a part of the rear end 511, and extends, in the left-right direction, from a position further in the rightward direction than the left end of the rear end 511 to a position further in the leftward direction than the right end of the rear end 511.

A point P21 indicates the left end of the end 5111. A point P22 indicates the right end of the end 5111. The point P21 is a position on the rear end 511 between the center of the rear end 511 in the left-right direction and the left end of the rear end 511. The point P22 is a position on the rear end 511 between the center of the rear end 511 in the left-right direction and the right end of the rear end 511. The end 5112 is another part of the rear end 511 other than the end 5111, and includes a section between the left end of the rear end 511 and the point P21, and a section between the right end of the rear end 511 and the point P22.

The end 5111 and the end 5112 are disposed at mutually displaced positions in the front-rear direction. In the first embodiment, the end 5111 is displaced to the front of the end 5112. Thus, in the front-rear direction, a gap G1 is formed between the back wall 62 and the end 5111.

The male main body portion 51 includes an opening edge 512. The opening edge 512 defines an opening 513. The opening 513 extends through the male main body portion 51 in the up-down direction. The opening edge 512 is closed in an annular shape on the inner side of the male main body portion 51.

The male main body portion 51 includes a pair of perforation lines 516 and 517. The perforation line 516 extends from the left end of the opening 513 to the point P21. The perforation line 517 extends from the right end of the opening 513 to the point P22. The insertion portion 55 is connected to the male main body portion 51 and protrudes in the downward direction from the end 5111 of the rear end 511 of the male main body portion 51.

Hereinafter, a region enclosed by the end 5111, the perforation lines 516 and 517 and the opening edge 512 of the male main body portion 51 will be referred to as an “opening region R22”. In a second opening method to be described later, the opening region R22 is separated from the box main body 2 by the user.

The female flap 520 is connected to the upper end 622 of the back wall 62 via the header 3, and includes the female main body portion 52. The female main body portion 52 is the whole of the female flap 520, and extends in the forward direction from the lower end 321 of the header piece 32. The female main body portion 52 has a rectangular shape that is longer in the left-right direction than in the front-rear direction. An front end 523 of the female main body portion 52 is located substantially at the center of the top wall 5 in the front-rear direction. A recess portion 522 and an insertion slot 521 are arranged in the female main body portion 52. The recess portion 522 is recessed in the rearward direction from the center, in the left-right direction, in the front end 523 of the female main body portion 52. The recess portion 522 has a circular arc shape, and overlaps the opening 513 in a plan view (refer to FIG. 6).

The insertion slot 521 is located at a portion of the female main body portion 52 connected to the header piece 32 (at the rear end of the female main body portion 52). The insertion slot 521 is longer in the left-right direction than in the front-rear direction, and extends through the female main body portion 52 in the up-down direction. The insertion portion 55 is inserted into the insertion slot 521.

The left flap 530 is connected to the upper end 632 of the left wall 63, and includes a left main body portion 53. The left main body portion 53 is the whole of the left flap 530, and extends in the rightward direction from the upper end 632 of the left wall 63. The right flap 540 is connected to the upper end 642 of the right wall 64, and includes a right main body portion 54. The right main body portion 54 is the whole of the right flap 540, and extends in the leftward direction from the upper end 642 of the right wall 64. Each of the left main body portion 53 and the right main body portion 54 has a rectangular shape that is longer in the left-right direction than in the front-rear direction, and the left main body portion 53 and the right main body portion 54 are left-right symmetrical with each other.

The length of each of the left main body portion 53 and the right main body portion 54 is shorter than a distance, in the left-right direction, between the left wall 63 and the right wall 64, and is greater than half the distance, in the left-right direction, between the left wall 63 and the right wall 64. Thus, one of the right end of the left main body portion 53 and the left end of the right main body portion 54 is overlapped on top of the other. In the first embodiment, the left main body portion 53 is overlapped on top of the right main body portion 54.

Hereinafter, a layer configured by the male flap 510 will be referred to as a “male flap layer 501”. A layer configured by the female flap 520 will be referred to as a “female flap layer 502”. A layer configured by the left flap 530 and the right flap 540 will be referred to as a “side flap layer 56”. In a plan view, the outer shape of the side flap layer 56 is defined by the outer shape of the left main body portion 53 and the right main body portion 54.

In the first embodiment, in the top wall 5, the male flap layer 501, the female flap layer 502, and the side flap layer 56 are layered from the bottom to the top in the order of the female flap layer 502, the side flap layer 56, and the male flap layer 501. The insertion portion 55 is disposed further to the inner side than the female main body portion 52, via the insertion slot 521.

As shown in FIG. 6, the whole of the opening 513 overlaps the side flap layer 56 in a plan view. Thus, the side flap layer 56 covers the whole of the opening 513 from below. The side flap layer 56 does not overlap the insertion slot 521 in a plan view.

The tape cassette 8A will be described with reference to FIG. 1. The tape cassette 8A includes a case 81 and a print tape 89. The case 81 has a rectangular cuboid shape that is longer in the left-right direction than in the front-rear direction, and that is longer in the up-down direction than in the left-right direction. The print tape 89 has a long shape, and is stored in the case 81. A width direction (short direction) of the print tape 89 is the front-rear direction. Thus, the width direction of the tape cassette 8A is the front-rear direction.

In the first embodiment, the case 81 includes a front wall 82, a rear wall 83, and a peripheral wall 84. The front wall 82 and the rear wall 83 extend so as to be orthogonal to the front-rear direction, and are disposed alongside each other in the front-rear direction. The front wall 82 is located at the front end of the case 81. The rear wall 83 is located at the rear end of the case 81.

The peripheral wall 84 extends from a peripheral edge 831 of the rear wall 83 to a peripheral edge 821 of the front wall 82. The peripheral wall 84 has a square cylindrical shape, and includes a lower wall 85 and an upper wall 86. The lower wall 85 and the upper wall 86 extend to be orthogonal to the up-down direction, and are disposed alongside each other in the up-down direction. The lower wall 85 is located at the lower end of the case 81. The upper wall 86 is located at the upper end of the case 81. A discharge port 88, for discharging the print tape 89 stored in the case 81 to the outside of the case 81, is provided in the upper wall 86.

The tape cassette 8A is an expendable article, and is used for printing by a printer (not shown in the drawings). For example, the tape cassette 8A is used in a state of being installed in a printer. The printer prints an image on the print tape 89 while pulling the print tape 89 from the inside of the case 81. The printer discharges the print tape 89 on which the image has been printed to the outside of the case 81 via the discharge port 88. In this way, a label is created in which the image is printed on the print tape 89.

The paperboard 100A will be described with reference to FIG. 7. Hereinafter, the leftward direction, the rightward direction, the downward direction, and the upward direction in FIG. 7 are, respectively, an X− direction, an X+ direction, a Y− direction, and a Y+ direction of the paperboard 100A. In FIG. 7, virtual lines V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, V6, V7, V8, V9, V10, V11, V12, V13, V14, and the virtual lines V21 and V22 indicate boundaries between each of adjacent structural elements of the storage box 1A. For example, the virtual line V21 indicates the boundary between the back wall 62 and the header piece 31.

The paperboard 100A is a single sheet cut into a predetermined shape, and is thick paper, thin paper, cardboard, for example. The paperboard 100A includes the bottom wall 4, the top wall 5, the peripheral walls 6, and the header 3. In the paperboard 100A, the peripheral walls 6 are disposed at the center in the Y direction. In the peripheral walls 6, the front wall 61, the back wall 62, the left wall 63, and the right wall 64 are arranged while being connected to each other in the order of the right wall 64, the front wall 61, the left wall 63, and the back wall 62, from the X+ direction toward the X− direction. Furthermore, a glue margin 65 is connected to the adjacent back wall 62 in the X− direction.

The bottom wall 4 is disposed in the Y− direction of the peripheral walls 6. Specifically, the male flap 41 is disposed in the Y− direction of the back wall 62, and is connected to the back wall 62. The female flap 42 is disposed in the Y− direction of the front wall 61, and is connected to the front wall 61. The left flap 43 is disposed in the Y− direction of the left wall 63, and is connected to the left wall 63. The right flap 44 is disposed in the Y− direction of the right wall 64, and is connected to the right wall 64.

The top wall 5 and the header 3 are disposed in the Y+ direction of the peripheral walls 6. Specifically, in the header 3, the header piece 31 is disposed in the Y+ direction of the back wall 62, and is connected to the back wall 62. The header piece 32 is disposed in the Y+ direction of the header piece 31, and is connected to the header piece 31.

In the top wall 5, the female flap 520 is disposed in the Y+ direction of the header piece 32, and is connected to the header piece 32. The male flap 510 is disposed in the Y+ direction of the front wall 61, and is connected to the front wall 61. The left flap 530 is disposed in the Y+ direction of the left wall 63, and is connected to the left wall 63. The right flap 540 is disposed in the Y+ direction of the right wall 64, and is connected to the right wall 64.

A method of assembling the storage box 1A from the paperboard 100A will be described with reference to FIG. 7 to FIG. 9. Hereinafter, for each of the structural elements, a surface in the front direction on paper, of the paperboard 100A shown in FIG. 7, will be referred to as a “front surface” of each of the structural elements, and a depth direction on paper, of the paperboard 100A shown in FIG. 7, will be referred to as a “reverse surface” of each of the structural elements.

Folding the paperboard 100A in a direction in which the respective reverse surfaces of a pair of the structural elements that are adjacent to each other in the paperboard 100A face each other, along a boundary between the pair of structural elements, will be referred to as a “mountain fold”, or “a mountain fold is formed”. Folding the paperboard 100A in direction in which the respective front surfaces of the pair of structural elements that are adjacent to each other in the paperboard 100A face each other, along the boundary between the pair of structural elements, will be referred to as a “valley fold”, or “a valley fold is formed”. For example, “forming a mountain fold in the paperboard 100A along the virtual line V1” means folding the paperboard 100A along the virtual line V1 in the direction in which the reverse surface of the right wall 64 and the reverse surface of the front wall 61 face each other. In the first embodiment, creases are formed in the front surfaces of the paperboard 100A along the virtual lines V1 to V14. On the other hand, creases are not formed in the reverse surfaces of the paperboard 100A.

As shown in FIG. 7, mountain folds are formed in the paperboard 100A along the virtual lines V1, V2, V3, and V4. The front surface of the glue margin 65 is adhered to the reverse surface of the right wall 64. In this way, as shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the peripheral walls 6 are formed in the square cylindrical shape. A mountain fold is formed in the paperboard 100A along the virtual line V5. Mountain folds are formed in the paperboard 100A along the virtual lines V6 and V7 (refer to FIG. 7). A mountain fold is formed in the paperboard 100A along the virtual line V8 (refer to FIG. 7). In this state, the male flap 41 is pushed in from the outer side toward the inner side.

When the male flap 41 is pushed in from the outer side toward the inner side, each of the insertion portion 410, the protrusion portion 433, and the protrusion portion 443 are inserted further to the inner side than the female main body portion 429, via the insertion slot 421 (refer to FIG. 5). In this way, the male flap 41, the left flap 43, and the right flap 44 are respectively interlocked with the female flap 42 via the insertion slot 421, and the bottom wall 4 shown in FIG. 2 is formed as the so-called snap lock bottom. As shown in FIG. 5, the male flap layer 41A, the female flap layer 42A, and the side flap layer 46 are arranged in the order of the female flap layer 42A, the side flap layer 46, and the male flap layer 41A, from the top to the bottom.

At a time point at which the bottom wall 4 is formed, the box main body 2 is open in the upward direction. In this state, the tape cassette 8A is stored in the space 7 from the top of the box main body 2 so that the lower wall 85 faces the reverse surface of the bottom wall 4 from above.

A mountain fold is formed in the paperboard 100A along the virtual line V9, and a valley fold is formed along the virtual line V10. In this way, the header 3 is formed, and the female flap layer 502 is disposed at the lowermost layer of the top wall 5. Mountain folds are formed in the paperboard 100A along the virtual lines V11 and V12. In this way, in the top wall 5, the side flap layer 56 is layered on top of the female flap layer 502. A mountain fold is formed in the paperboard 100A along the virtual line V13.

A mountain fold is formed in the paperboard 100A along the virtual line V14. The insertion portion 55 is inserted further to the inner side than the female main body portion 52, via the insertion slot 521. In this way, the male flap layer 501 is layered on top of the side flap layer 56, and the top wall 5 shown in FIG. 1 is formed. The assembly of the storage box 1A is completed as described above.

The first opening method of the storage box 1A will be described with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 10. While pushing in the starting point region R11 in the forward direction using a finger and tearing the perforation line 623, the user separates the opening region R12 from the box main body 2 along the perforation lines 411 and 412. Here, the protrusion portion 4101 of the insertion portion 410 easily interlocks with the protrusion portion 4221 of the insertion slot 421, and the protrusion portion 4102 of the insertion portion 410 easily interlocks with the protrusion portion 4222 of the insertion slot 421. Thus, by the user holding the starting point region R11 and the opening region R12 and pulling in the downward direction in that state, the protrusion portion 433 of the left flap 43 and the protrusion portion 443 of the right flap 44 come out from the insertion slot 421. In this way, the combination of the male flap layer 41A, the female flap layer 42A, and the side flap layer 46 is released by a series of operations from pushing in the starting point region R11, and a state is obtained in which the box main body 2 is open in the downward direction (refer to FIG. 10). The user removes the tape cassette 8A in the downward direction from the space 7.

The second opening method of the storage box 1A will be described with reference to FIG. 1. The user hooks a finger onto the opening edge 512. In this state, while pushing in the opening region R22 in the rearward direction, or while pulling up the opening region R22 in the rearward direction, the user separates the opening region R22 from box main body 2 along the perforation lines 516 and 517. In this way, a state is obtained in which the box main body 2 is open in the upward direction. Note that, since the whole of the opening 513 overlaps the side flap layer 56 in a plan view, the user cannot easily hook their finger onto the opening edge 512. Thus, the first opening method is a method allowing the box main body 2 to be more easily opened than the second opening method. In the first embodiment, the user removes the tape cassette 8A using the first opening method.

For example, the box main body 2 may be opened both in the upward direction and the downward direction, by performing the second opening method after the user has removed the tape cassette 8A from the storage box 1A using the first opening method. In this case, since the box main body 2 is open both in the upward direction and the downward direction, the user can easily fold the box main body 2. Thus, the storage box 1A contributes to suppressing the box main body 2 from being bulky after the tape cassette 8A has been removed from the box main body 2.

A case will be described in which incorrect opening is performed. As an example of the incorrect opening, a case is conceivable in which the male main body portion 51 is moved in the upward direction while being moved in the forward direction, and an attempt is made to pull out the insertion portion 55 from the insertion slot 521 without tearing the perforation lines 516 and 517. Here, the insertion portion 55 is inserted into the insertion slot 521, and the male flap layer 501 and the female flap layer 502 are engaged with each other. As a result, it is difficult for the user to pull out the insertion portion 55 from the insertion slot 521. In this way, with the storage box 1A, the incorrect opening of the box main body 2 is difficult since the male flap layer 501 and the female flap layer 502 are engaged with each other.

The main operational effects of the storage box 1A in the above-described first embodiment will be described. Since the storage box 1A is formed from the paperboard 100A, it can be said that the main operational effects as for the storage box 1A apply to the paperboard 100A also.

In the storage box 1A, the insertion portion 410 is inserted further to the inner side than the female main body portion 429, via the insertion slot 421. At this time, the male flap layer 41A, the female flap layer 42A, and the side flap layer 46 are arranged in the order of the female flap layer 42A, the side flap layer 46, and the male flap layer 41A, from the top to the bottom. In this way, the bottom wall 4 is formed as the so-called snap lock bottom. As a result, the male flap layer 41A, the female flap layer 42A, and the side flap layer 46 are not easily dismantled from each other. Thus, the storage box 1A contributes to suppressing the tape cassette 8A disposed in the space 7 from falling out.

On the other hand, an assembly type packing box disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2014-181067 includes a main body portion and a closing portion. The main body portion has a polygonal cylindrical shape configured by four thin plates. The closing portion closes an opening defined by the four thin plates. The closing portion includes four flaps. A protrusion portion is arranged on each of the flaps. The closing portion is a so-called snap lock bottom (American lock) configured by the four flaps being assembled, and the protrusion portions of each of the flaps being engaged with each other in a predetermined order.

In the above-described assembly type packing box, the closing portion is configured as the snap lock bottom such that the respective flaps do not easily become separated from each other by the weight of a stored object stored in the main body portion. Thus, the user cannot easily dismantle the closing portion. As a result, in the assembly type packing box, it is difficult for the user to dismantle the closing portion and remove the stored object from the main body portion.

Further, a box body disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. HEI 10-297628 includes four side walls and a bottom wall. The four side walls are connected to each other in a polygonal cylindrical shape. The bottom wall includes two lid bodies and two flaps. One of the lid bodies is connected to one of the side walls. A cutout portion that is open in a U shape is arranged in the one lid body. The other of the lid bodies is connected to the side wall facing the one side wall. The other lid body includes an apex portion that is inserted into the cutout portion. The flaps are connected to the respective side walls adjacent to the one side wall. Each of the two flaps includes a protrusion portion that is inserted into the cutout portion. The bottom wall is the so-called snap lock bottom (American lock) configured by the apex portion and the two protrusion portions being inserted into the cutout portion, and the two lid portions and the two flaps being assembled together.

In the above-described box body, since the cutout portion is open in the one lid body, a tongue piece is defined by the cutout portion. The two protrusion portions, the apex portion, and the tongue piece are overlaid on each other in the order of the two protrusion portions, the apex portion, and the tongue piece, in a direction from the bottom wall toward a top wall facing the bottom wall. When the stored object is stored in the box body in a state in which the tongue piece is floating inside the box body, the tongue piece may be deformed. In this case, the whole of the one lid body may be deformed together with the tongue piece, possibly resulting in deterioration of strength.

In the storage box 1A according to the first embodiment, the following operational effects can be deployed with respect to the above-described issues.

In the storage box 1A, in the first opening method, the user separates the opening region R12 from the box main body 2 along the perforation lines 411 and 412, and removes the tape cassette 8A from the space 7 from below. The lower wall 85 of the tape cassette 8A is located on the opposite side from the discharge portion 88 in the up-down direction, with the center of the case 81 between them, and the lower wall 85 faces the bottom wall 4 from above. Therefore, the discharge port 88 is located at a position comparatively separated from the bottom wall 4. Thus, in the first opening method, when the opening region R12 is separated from the box main body 2, the finger of the user or the opening region R12 do not easily come into contact with the print tape 89 present inside the discharge port 88. As a result, the storage box 1A contributes to suppressing the quality of the removed tape cassette 8A from being damaged, such as the print tape 89 being damaged, for example.

In the storage box 1A, the bottom wall 4 is connected to the lower end 621 of the back wall 62. The perforation lines 411 and 412 extend from the points P1 and P2 on the lower end 621 of the back wall 62. The perforation line 623 is formed in the back wall 62. The perforation line 623 extends in the circular arc shape bulging in the upward direction from the point P1 to the point P2. According to this configuration, in the first opening method of the storage box 1A, the starting point region R11 enclosed by the perforation line 623 and the lower end 621 of the back wall 62 is pushed in, and the perforation line 623 and the perforation lines 411 and 412 are torn. At this time, the starting point region R11 is pushed in in the forward direction, which is the direction in which the perforation lines 411 and 412 extend. Thus, the storage box 1A contributes to obtaining a state in which the tape cassette 8A can be easily removed.

The header 3 is included in the storage box 1A. The header piece 31 of the header 3 is connected to the upper end 622 of the back wall 62, and extends in the upward direction from the upper end 622 of the back wall 62. According to this configuration, for example, the storage box 1A may be hung for merchandise display by being hung, via the hole 30 of the header 3, on a bar for hanging merchandise display. Thus, the storage box 1A contributes to diversifying a merchandise display mode of the storage box 1A.

In the storage box 1A, the perforation line 623 is formed in the back wall 62. According to this configuration, for example, when the storage box 1A is hung for merchandise display, the front wall 61 is disposed at a position that is more easily seen compared to the back wall 62. As a result, information about the tape cassette 8A is more easily displayed on the front wall 61 compared to the back wall 62. Thus, the storage box 1A contributes to displaying more information about the tape cassette 8A, compared to a case in which the perforation line 623 is formed in the front wall 61.

In the storage box 1A, the bottom wall 4 includes the male flap layer 41A, the female flap layer 42A, and the side flap layer 46. The male flap layer 41A is configured by the male flap 41. The male flap 41 includes the male main body portion 419 and the insertion portion 410. The insertion portion 410 is connected to the male main body portion 419, and extends in the forward direction from the front end 415 of the male main body portion 419. The female flap layer 42A is configured by the female flap 42. The female flap 42 includes the female main body portion 429 and the insertion slot 421. The insertion slot 421 is formed in the female main body portion 429. In the bottom wall 4, the configuration is adopted in which the male flap layer 41A, the female flap layer 42A, and the side flap layer 46 are arranged in the order of the female flap layer 42A, the side flap layer 46, and the male flap layer 41A from the top to the bottom, and the insertion portion 410 is inserted into the insertion slot 421. The pair of perforation lines 411 and 412 are formed in the male main body portion 419 of the male flap layer 41A. In this way, the bottom wall 4 is the so-called snap lock bottom, and the perforation lines 411 and 412 used for the first opening method are formed in the male flap layer 41A configuring the bottom wall 4. Thus, the storage box 1A contributes to obtaining the state in which the tape cassette 8A can be easily removed, even when the bottom wall 4 is the snap lock bottom.

In the storage box 1A, the perforation lines 411 and 412 are formed in the male main body portion 419 of the male flap layer 41A. For example, the perforation lines 411 and 412 are sometimes formed in the side flap layer 46. In this case, even when the perforation lines 411 and 412 are torn, the interlocking of the male flap layer 41A and the female flap layer 42A is not released. On the other hand, in the storage box 1A, when the perforation line 623 is torn, the finger of the user easily hooks onto the female main body portion 429. When the user pulls out their finger in the downward direction in a state in which the finger of the user is hooked on the female main body portion 429, the male flap layer 41A, the side flap layer 46, and the female flap layer 42A that configure the bottom wall 4 are dismantled from each other (refer to FIG. 10). In this way, the storage box 1A contributes to obtaining the state in which the tape cassette 8A can be easily removed.

In the storage box 1A, the left flap 43 includes the protrusion portion 433. The right flap 44 includes the protrusion portion 443. The protrusion portions 433 and 443 are respectively inserted further to the inner side than the female main body portion 429, via the insertion slot 421. In this way, the storage box 1A contributes to securing the strength of the bottom wall 4 having the simple configuration.

In the storage box 1A, the bottom wall 4 has the rectangular shape that is longer in the left-right direction than in the front-rear direction, and the perforation lines 411 and 412 extend in the forward direction. According to this configuration, the storage box 1A can shorten the length of the perforation lines 411 and 412. Thus, the storage box 1A contributes to obtaining the state in which the tape cassette 8A can be easily removed.

In the storage box 1A, the bottom wall 4 includes the male flap layer 41A, the female flap layer 42A, and the side flap layer 46. The male flap layer 41A is configured by the male flap 41. The male flap 41 includes the male main body portion 419 and the insertion portion 410. The insertion portion 410 is connected to the male main body portion 419, and extends in the forward direction from the front end 415 of the male main body portion 419. The female flap layer 42A is configured by the female flap 42. The female flap 42 includes the female main body portion 429 and the insertion slot 421. The insertion slot 421 is formed in the female main body portion 429, and is defined by the insertion slot edge 4210. The insertion slot edge 4210 is closed in the annular shape on the inner side of the female main body portion 429. In the bottom wall 4, the configuration is adopted in which the male flap layer 41A, the female flap layer 42A, and the side flap layer 46 are arranged in the order of the female flap layer 42A, the side flap layer 46, and the male flap layer 41A from the top to the bottom, and the insertion portion 410 is inserted into the insertion slot 421. In this way, the bottom wall 4 is the so-called snap lock bottom, and the insertion slot edge 4210 that defines the insertion slot 421 is closed in the annular shape on the inner side of the female main body portion 429. Since the insertion slot edge 4210 is closed in the annular shape on the inner side of the female main body portion 429, the female flap 42 does not easily deform. Thus, the storage box 1A contributes to improving the strength of the box main body 2.

As the example of the incorrect opening, the case is conceivable in which the male main body portion 51 is moved in the upward direction while being moved in the forward direction, and the attempt is made to pull out the insertion portion 55 from the insertion slot 521 without tearing the perforation lines 516 and 517. Here, in the storage box 1A, the insertion portion 55 is inserted into the insertion slot 521, and the male flap layer 501 and the female flap layer 502 are engaged with each other. As a result, it is difficult for the user to pull out the insertion portion 55 from the insertion slot 521. In this way, with the storage box 1A, the incorrect opening of the box main body 2 is difficult since the male flap layer 501 and the female flap layer 502 are engaged with each other.

The storage box 1A includes the tape cassette 8A. According to this configuration, the storage box 1A contributes to protecting the tape cassette 8A using the box main body 2.

In the storage box 1A, the upper end of the perforation line 411 is connected to the left end of the perforation line 623, and the upper end of the perforation line 412 is connected to the right end of the perforation line 623. The perforation lines 411 and 412 are connected to the perforation line 623, and thus, in the first opening method, the perforation lines 411 and 412, and the perforation line 623 are continuously torn. Thus, the storage box 1A contributes to obtaining the state in which the tape cassette 8A can be easily removed.

In the storage box 1A, the perforation line 411 extends from the point P1 on the lower end 621 of the back wall 62 to the front left toward the point P3 on the peripheral edge 413. The perforation line 412 extends to the front right from the point P2 on the lower end 621 of the back wall 62 toward the point P4 on the peripheral edge 414. In this case, in the first opening method, when the perforation lines 411 and 412 are torn, the insertion portion 410 interlocks with the insertion slot 421. Here, by the user holding the starting point region R11 and the opening region R12 and pulling in the downward direction in that state, the interlocking of the male flap layer 41A, the female flap layer 42A, and the side flap layer 46 is released, and the state is obtained in which the box main body 2 is open in the downward direction (refer to FIG. 10). In this way, the storage box 1A contributes to obtaining the state in which the tape cassette 8A can be removed, with few operations.

The insertion portion 410 includes the extension portion 4100, and the protrusion portions 4101 and 4102. The extension portion 4100 extends in the forward direction from the front end 415 of the male main body portion 419. The protrusion portion 4101 protrudes in the leftward direction from the front left end of the extension portion 4100. The protrusion portion 4102 protrudes in the rightward direction from the front right end of the extension portion 4100. The insertion slot edge 4210 includes the edge 4211. The edge 4211 is disposed to the front of the insertion slot 421, and extends in the left-right direction. The protrusion portion 4221 protrudes in the rearward direction from the point P5 that is the left end of the edge 4211. The protrusion portion 4222 protrudes in the rearward direction from the point P6 that is the right end of the edge 4211. According to this configuration, when it is attempted to pull out the insertion portion 410 from the insertion slot 421, the protrusion portions 4101 and 4102 easily interlock with the protrusion portion 4221 and the protrusion portion 4222, respectively. Thus, the storage box 1A contributes to improving the strength of the bottom wall 4.

Note that, in the above-described first embodiment, the up-down direction of the storage box 1A is one example of a “first direction” of the present disclosure. The bottom wall 4 is one example of a “first wall” of the present disclosure. The top wall 5 is one example of a “second wall” of the present disclosure. The peripheral walls 6 are examples of a “peripheral wall” of the present disclosure. The space 7 is one example of a “space” of the present disclosure. The tape cassette 8A is one example of a “tape cassette” of the present disclosure. The box main body 2 is one example of a “box main body” of the present disclosure. The front-rear direction of the storage box 1A is one example of a “second direction” of the present disclosure. The front wall 61 is one example of a “third wall” of the present disclosure. The back wall 62 is one example of a “fourth wall” of the present disclosure. The left-right direction of the storage box 1A is one example of a “third direction” of the present disclosure. The left wall 63 is one example of a “fifth wall” of the present disclosure. The right wall 64 is one example of a “sixth wall” of the present disclosure.

The female flap 42 is one example of a “female flap” of the present disclosure. The male flap 41 is one example of a “male flap” of the present disclosure. The side flap layer 46 is one example of an “intermediate flap layer” of the present disclosure. The downward direction of the storage box 1A is one example of a “first specific direction” of the present disclosure. The left flap 43 is one example of a “first flap” of the present disclosure. The right flap 44 is one example of a “second flap” of the present disclosure. The insertion slot 421 is one example of an “insertion slot” of the present disclosure.

The insertion portion 410 is one example of a “first insertion portion” of the present disclosure. The perforation lines 411 and 412 are examples of a “first perforation line” of the present disclosure. The perforation line 623 is one example of a “second perforation line” of the present disclosure. The upward direction of the storage box 1A is one example of a “first opposite direction” of the present disclosure. The insertion slot edge 4210 is one example of an “insertion slot edge” of the present disclosure. The paperboard 100A is one example of a “sheet” of the present disclosure. The rearward direction of the storage box 1A is one example of a “second specific direction” of the present disclosure. The forward direction of the storage box 1A is one example of a “second opposite direction” of the present disclosure. The female flap layer 42A is one example of a “female flap layer” of the present disclosure. The male flap layer 41A is one example of a “male flap layer” of the present disclosure. The female main body portion 429 is one example of a “female main body portion” of the present disclosure. The male main body portion 419 is one example of a “male main body portion” of the present disclosure. The lower wall 85 is one example of a “first cassette wall” of the present disclosure. The top wall 86 is one example of a “second cassette wall” of the present disclosure. The print tape 89 is one example of a “print media” of the present disclosure.

The lower end 621 is one example of a “first peripheral edge” of the present disclosure. The position of the point P1 is one example of a “first position” of the present disclosure. The rightward direction of the storage box 1A is one example of a “third specific direction” of the present disclosure. The position of the point P2 is one example of a “second position” of the present disclosure.

The front end 415 is one example of a “specific end” of the present disclosure. The leftward direction of the storage box 1A is one example of a “third opposite direction” of the present disclosure. The peripheral edge 413 is one example of a “second peripheral edge” of the present disclosure. The peripheral edge 414 is one example of a “third peripheral edge” of the present disclosure. The perforation line 411 is one example of a “third perforation line” of the present disclosure. The perforation line 412 is one example of a “fourth perforation line” of the present disclosure. The extension portion 4100 is one example of an “extension portion” of the present disclosure. The protrusion portions 4101 and 4102 are examples of a “first protrusion portion” of the present disclosure. The edge 4211 is one example of a “specific edge” of the present disclosure. The protrusion portions 4221 and 4222 are examples of a “second protrusion portion” of the present disclosure. The paperboard 100A is one example of the “sheet” of the present disclosure. The rearward direction of the storage box 1A is one example of the “second specific direction” of the present disclosure. The female flap layer 42A is one example of the “female flap layer” of the present disclosure. The male flap 41A is one example of the “male flap layer” of the present disclosure. The female main body portion 429 is one example of a “female main body portion” of the present disclosure. The male main body portion 419 is one example of the “male main body portion” of the present disclosure.

While the disclosure has been described in conjunction with various example structures outlined above and illustrated in the figures, various alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and/or substantial equivalents, whether known or that may be presently unforeseen, may become apparent to those having at least ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, the example embodiments of the disclosure, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative of the disclosure, and not limiting the disclosure. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Therefore, the disclosure is intended to embrace all known or later developed alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and/or substantial equivalents. Some specific examples of potential alternatives, modifications, or variations in the described disclosure are provided below:

The present disclosure may be changed from the above-described first embodiment. Various modified examples to be described below may be combined with each other insofar as no contradictions arise.

A storage box 1B according to a modified example will be described with reference to FIG. 11. The storage box 1B is formed by assembling a paperboard 100B shown in FIG. 12, for example. In the following modified example, configurations having the same shape or function as those of the above-described first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference signs, and a description thereof will be omitted or simplified.

A box main body 2B of the storage box 1B is a so-called tuck top box, and includes a bottom wall 400 in place of the bottom wall 4. In other words, the configuration is not limited to the snap lock bottom as with the bottom wall 4 of the box main body 2. The bottom wall 400 includes a main body portion 401 and an extension portion 4161 (refer to FIG. 12). The main body portion 401 is connected to the lower end 621 of the back wall 62, and extends in the forward direction from the lower end 621 of the back wall 62. The main body portion 401 has a rectangular shape that is longer in the left-right direction than in the front-rear direction.

Perforation lines 4111 and 4121 are formed in the main body portion 401. The perforation line 4111 extends from the point P1 toward a point P31. The perforation line 4121 extends from the point P2 toward a point P41. The points P31 and P41 are located on a front end 4151 of the main body portion 401. The point P31 is located further in the leftward direction than the point P1 and located further in the rightward direction than the left end of the front end 4151. The point P41 is located further in the rightward direction than the point P2 and located further in the leftward direction than the right end of the front end 4151. In FIG. 12, of the front end 4151, a section between the point P31 and the point P41 is indicated by a virtual line V23.

A region of the main body portion 401 enclosed by the pair of perforation lines 4111 and 4121 and the front end 4151 will be referred to as an “opening region R121”. The opening region R121 is configured to correspond to the opening region R12 of the above-described first embodiment, and, in the first opening method, is separated from the box main body 2B by the user.

As shown in FIG. 12, the extension portion 4161 is connected to the front end 4151 of the main body portion 401, and extends in the upward direction from the front end 4151 of the main body portion 401 (omitted in FIG. 11). The extension portion 4161 has a rectangular shape that is longer in the left-right direction than in the front-rear direction. Slits 4171 and 4172 are formed in the extension portion 4161. The slit 4171 extends in the leftward direction from the left end of the front end 4151 to the point P31. The slit 4172 extends in the rightward direction from the right end of the front end 4151 to the point P41.

The perforation lines 411, 412, and 623 are not limited to those of the above-described first embodiment. A storage box 1C shown in FIG. 13, a storage box 1D shown in FIG. 14, and a storage box 1E shown in FIG. 15 are modified examples of the perforation lines 411, 412, and 623.

As shown in FIG. 13, the storage box 1C according to the modified example differs from the storage box 1A in that a perforation line 4112 is formed in place of the perforation lines 411 and 412. The perforation line 4112 is formed in the bottom wall 4. The perforation line 4112 has a circular arc shape bulging in the upward direction from the point P1 to the point P2. In other words, the perforation lines formed in the bottom wall 4 are not limited to being the two perforation lines as in the above-described first embodiment, and may be one perforation line, or may be three perforation lines or more. The ends of the perforation line formed in the bottom wall 4 need not necessarily be located on the peripheral edges 413 and 414.

As shown in FIG. 14, the storage box 1D according to a modified example differs from the storage box 1A in that it includes a perforation line 6230 in place of the perforation line 623, and a perforation line 4113 in place of the perforation lines 411 and 412.

The perforation line 6230 is formed in the back wall 62. The perforation line 6230 extends in the upward direction from the point P1 to a point P10, extends in the rightward direction from the point P10 to a point P20, and extends in the downward direction from the point P20 to a point P30. All of the points P10, P20, and P30 are located on the inner side of the back wall 62. In other words, the perforation line 6230 extends in a substantially J-shape in the back wall 62. In this way, it is sufficient that the perforation line formed in the back wall 62 bulge in the upward direction, and the perforation line is not limited to the circular arc shape as in the above-described first embodiment. The perforation line formed in the back wall 62 may extend in a substantially L-shape in the back wall 62, for example. Further, as with the point P20 of the perforation line 6230, the end of the perforation line formed in the back wall 62 need not necessarily be located on the lower end 621 of the back wall 62.

The perforation line 4113 is formed in the male main body portion 419 of the bottom wall 4. The perforation line 4113 extends over the male main body portion 419 from a point P40 to a point P50. The point P40 is a position different from the point P1 on the lower end 621 of the back wall 62. The point P50 is a position different from the point P3 on the peripheral edge 413 of the male main body portion 419. In this way, the perforation line formed in the bottom wall 4 and the perforation line formed in the back wall 62 need not necessarily be connected to each other. One end of the perforation line formed in the bottom wall 4 may be a position, on the peripheral edges 413 and 414, other than the point P3 or the point P4.

As shown in FIG. 15, the storage box 1E according to a modified example differs from the storage box 1A in that the perforation line 623 is not formed in the back wall 62, and in that a perforation line 4114 is formed in place of the perforation lines 411 and 412.

The perforation line 4114 is formed in the male main body portion 419 of the bottom wall 4. The perforation line 4114 extends in the upward direction from the point P3 to a point P60, extends in the rightward direction from the point P60 to a point P70, and extends in the downward direction from the point 70 to the point 4. For example, the points P60 and P70 are located on the inner side of the male main body portion 419, and located further in the rearward direction than the rear end 425 of the female main body portion 429 in the front-rear direction. In this way, it is sufficient that the perforation line is formed in the bottom wall 4, and the perforation line need not necessarily be formed in the back wall 62.

Although not shown in the drawings, as another modified example of the perforation lines 411 and 412, the perforation lines 411 and 412 may be formed in the female flap layer 42A. According to this configuration, a gap is formed in the female main body portion 429 by the perforation lines 411 and 412 that have been torn in the first opening method. The user inserts their finger into the formed gap and hooks the female main body portion 429 from above. When the user pulls out their finger in the downward direction, the male flap layer 41A, the side flap layer 46, and the female flap layer 42A configuring the bottom wall 4 are separated from each other. In this way, even when the perforation lines 411 and 412 are formed in the female flap layer 42A, the storage box 1A contributes to obtaining the state in which the tape cassette 8A can be easily removed.

The perforation lines 411 and 412 may be formed in the side flap layer 46. For example, the perforation line 411 may be formed in the left main body portion 430 of the left flap 43, and the perforation line 412 may be formed in the right main body portion 440 of the right flap 44.

The pair of perforation lines 411 and 412 may extend in parallel to each other in the forward direction, or may extend so as to approach each other the further in the forward direction. The pair of perforation lines 411 and 412 are not limited to extending in a straight line, and may extend in a circular arc shape or in a wave shape, for example. The direction in which the pair of perforation lines 411 and 412 extend need not necessarily be in the front-rear direction, and the pair of perforation lines 411 and 412 may extend in the left-right direction in the storage box 1A, for example. In other words, the direction in which the pair of perforation lines 411 and 412 extend need not necessarily have a corresponding relationship with the shape of the bottom wall 4.

The perforation lines 411 and 412 need not necessarily be formed in the bottom wall 4 that includes the male flap layer 41A. In this case, a configuration may be adopted in which the box main body 2 is opened using a method other than the first opening method and the second opening method. For example, a cord that extends in the downward direction may be connected to the female main body portion 429 of the bottom wall 4. In this case, when the user pulls the cord in the downward direction, the male flap layer 41A, the side flap layer 46, and the female flap layer 42A configuring the bottom wall 4 are separated from each other and the box main body 2 is opened.

The perforation line 623 may be formed in any of the peripheral walls 6. The perforation line 623 is not limited to extending while bulging in the upward direction, and may extend while bulging in the downward direction, for example, or may extend in a straight line or in a wave shape. The perforation line 623 need not necessarily be formed in the peripheral walls 6 that include the back wall 62.

The insertion slot 421 is not limited to that of the above-described first embodiment. An insertion slot 423 shown in FIG. 16, and an insertion slot 424 shown in FIG. 17 are modified examples of the insertion slot 421.

As shown in FIG. 16, the insertion slot 423 according to the modified example is defined by an insertion slot edge 4230. The insertion slot edge 4230 extends from a point P51 on the rear end 425 of the female main body portion 429 to a point P61 on the rear end 425.

More specifically, the insertion slot edge 4230 extends from the point P51 in the forward direction to a point P52, extends from the point P52 in the rightward direction to a point P62, and extends from the point P62 in the rearward direction to the point P61. The point P51 is located between the left end of the rear end 425 and the center of the rear end 425. The point P61 is located between the right end of the rear end 425 and the center of the rear end 425. The points P52 and P62 are located on the inner side of the female main body portion 429. In other words, the insertion slot 423 is a groove in which the insertion slot edge 4230 opens in the rearward direction.

According to this configuration, since the insertion slot 423 in the storage box 1A is the groove, the insertion portion 410 comes out more easily compared to the insertion slot 421 that is the hole. As a result, the user can easily fold the box main body 2. Thus, the storage box 1A contributes to suppressing the box main body 2 from being bulky after the tape cassette 8A has been removed from the box main body 2. Here, it is sufficient that the insertion slot edge 4230 be open in the rearward direction, and the insertion slot edge 4230 may be open in the rearward direction and the rightward direction, for example. In this case, the insertion slot 423 is a cutout formed in the rear right end of the female main body portion 429.

As shown in FIG. 17, the insertion slot 424 according to a modified example is defined by an insertion slot edge 4240. The insertion slot edge 4240 extends in the left-right direction from a point P53 to a point P63. The points P53 and P63 are located on the inner side of the female main body portion 429. In other words, the insertion slot 424 is a slit.

According to this configuration, since the insertion slot 424 in the storage box 1A is the slit, compared to the insertion slot 421 that is the hole, friction between the insertion portion 410 and the female main body portion 429 can be improved. The storage box 1A contributes to improving the strength of the bottom wall 4. Here, it is sufficient that the insertion slot edge 4240 extends in the left-right direction on the inner side of the female main body portion 429, and may extend in an L shape, or may extend in a U shape, for example.

Although not shown in the drawings, as long as the insertion slot edge 4210 defining the insertion slot 421 is closed in the annular shape on the inner side of the female main body portion 429, the insertion slot edge 4210 may be modified in the following ways. The insertion slot edge 4210 is not limited to extending in the left-right direction, and may extend in the front-rear direction, for example. The insertion slot 421 defined by the insertion slot edge 4210 may be a hole having a circular shape or a triangular shape in a plan view, for example. A slit extending from the insertion slot 421 may be formed in the female main body portion 429.

One of the protrusion portions 4221 and 4222 need not necessarily be arranged in the female main body portion 429. The protrusion portions 4221 and 4222 need not necessarily be arranged in the female main body portion 429. A protrusion portion protruding from the insertion slot edge 4210 other than at the points P5 and P6 may be arranged in the female main body portion 429.

Other modified examples will be described. The shape of the insertion portion 410 is not limited to that of the above-described first embodiment. The insertion portion 410 need not necessarily include one of the protrusion portions 4101 and 4102. The insertion portion 410 need not necessarily include the protrusion portions 4101 and 4102. The shape of the protrusion portions 4101 and 4102 may be changed as appropriate, and the protrusion portions 4101 and 4102 may have a rectangular shape that is longer in the left-right direction than in the front-rear direction, for example. The positions of the protrusion portions 4101 and 4102 with respect to the extension portion 4100 may be changed as appropriate. For example, the protrusion portion 4101 may be arranged on the rear left end of the extension portion 4100. The shape of the extension portion 4100 may be changed as appropriate. For example, the extension portion 4100 may have a trapezoid shape whose width becomes narrower in the left-right direction the further in the forward direction.

The left flap 43 need not necessarily include the protrusion portion 433. The right flap 44 need not necessarily include the protrusion portion 443. The left main body portion 430 and the right main body portion 440 may overlap each other in the up-down direction. One or both of the left flap 43 and the right flap 44 may be omitted. In other words, the side flap layer 46 may be configured by one of the left flap 43 or the right flap 44, or both the left flap 43 and the right flap 44 may be omitted.

Length correlations between each of the up-down direction, the left-right direction, and the front-rear direction of the box main body 2 are not limited to those of the above-described first embodiment. For example, the length of the box main body 2 in the front-rear direction may be greater than the length of the box main body 2 in the left-right direction. The shape of the box main body 2 is not limited to the cuboid shape as in the above-described first embodiment, and may be a circular pillar shape, an octahedron shape, a so-called pillow carton shape, or the like.

In the above-described first embodiment, as long as the paperboard 100A is configured to form the storage box 1A by being assembled, the shape of the paperboard 100A is not limited to that of the above-described first embodiment. As long as it is a sheet that can be folded and that can maintain the folded state, a plastic sheet, for example may be used in place of the paperboard 100A.

In the above-described first embodiment, another stored object may be stored in the space 7 in place of the tape cassette 8A. For example, the other stored object is the expendable article used in printing, such as an ink tank, an ink cartridge, or an ink ribbon cassette. The other stored object may be an expendable article used other than in printing. The other stored object need not necessarily be the expendable article, and may be, for example, a foodstuff.

In the above-described first embodiment, the tape cassette 8A is disposed in the space 7 in the state in which the lower wall 85 faces the bottom wall 4. In contrast to this, the tape cassette 8A may be disposed in the space 7 in a state in which a wall different from the lower wall 85, such as the top wall 86, for example, faces the bottom wall 4.

In the above-described first embodiment, the peripheral walls 6 may omit the left wall 63 and the right wall 64, for example. In other words, the left end of the front wall 61 and the left end of the back wall 62 may be directly connected to each other, and the right end of the front wall 61 and the right end of the back wall 62 may be directly connected to each other. In this case, for example, the front wall 61 may curve so as to bulge in the forward direction, and the back wall 62 may curve so as to bulge in the rearward direction. The peripheral walls 6 may further include one or a plurality of walls in addition to the front wall 61, the back wall 62, the left wall 63, and the right wall 64.

The configuration of the top wall 5 may be changed as appropriate. For example, the top wall 5 may be configured as the snap lock bottom in the same manner as the bottom wall 4. In the above-described first embodiment, the insertion portion 55 is inserted into the insertion slot 521, and the male flap layer 501 and the female flap layer 502 are engaged with each other. In contrast to this, the male flap layer 501 and the female flap layer 502 need not necessarily engage with each other. In this case, the male flap 510 need not necessarily include the insertion portion 55.

In the above-described first embodiment, the female main body portion 52 is connected to the upper end 622 of the back wall 62 via the header 3. In contrast to this, the female main body portion 52 may be directly connected to the upper end 622 of the back wall 62. In this case, the header 3 may be omitted, or may be connected to the upper end 632 of the left wall 63 or to the upper end 642 of the right wall 64.

In the above-described first embodiment, the header 3 includes the header pieces 31 and 32. In contrast to this, the header 3 may be configured by one of the header piece 31 or the header piece 32. A number or shape of the hole 30 is not limited to those of the above-described first embodiment. The hole 30 need not necessarily be formed in the header 3.

Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The referenced drawings are used to describe technological features that can be adopted by the present disclosure. In other words, configurations, for example shown in the drawings are not limited to those configurations only, and are simply explanatory examples.

A storage box 1F will be described with reference to FIG. 18 and FIG. 19. Hereinafter, the upper left direction, the lower right direction, the lower left direction, the upper right direction, the downward direction, and the upward direction in FIG. 18 are, respectively, the leftward direction, the rightward direction, the forward direction, the rearward direction, the downward direction, and the upward direction of the storage box 1F. Note that, in the second embodiment, the up-down direction is used for the purpose of description, for example, and is not limited to the vertical direction.

The storage box 1F is a formed by assembling a paperboard 100F shown in FIG. 22, for example. The configuration of the paperboard 100F, and a method of assembling the storage box 1F from the paperboard 100F will be described later. The storage box 1F includes a box main body 2F and a header 3F. The box main body 2F has a rectangular cuboid shape that is longer in the left-right direction than the front-rear direction, and that is longer in the up-down direction than in the left-right direction, and stores a tape cassette 8F.

For example, a width W21F in the front-rear direction of the box main body 2F is slightly larger than a width W81F in the front-rear direction of the tape cassette 8F. A relationship between the respective lengths of the box main body 2F in the front-rear direction, the left-right direction, and the up-down direction is the same as a relationship between the respective lengths of the tape cassette 8F in the front-rear direction, the left-right direction, and the up-down direction.

The box main body 2F includes a bottom wall 4F, a top wall 5F, and peripheral walls 6F. The bottom wall 4F and the top wall 5F extend so as to be orthogonal to the up-down direction, and are disposed alongside each other in the up-down direction. The bottom wall 4F is located at the lower end of the box main body 2F. The top wall 5F is located at the upper end of the box main body 2F.

The peripheral walls 6F extend from a peripheral edge 40F of the bottom wall 4F to a peripheral edge 50F of the top wall 5F. The peripheral walls 6F have a square cylindrical shape, and include a front wall 61F, a back wall 62F, a left wall 63F, and a right wall 64F. The front wall 61F and the back wall 62F extend so as to be orthogonal to the front-rear direction, and are disposed alongside each other in the front-rear direction. The front wall 61F is located at the front end of the box main body 2F. The back wall 62F is located at the rear end of the box main body 2F. The left wall 63F and the right wall 64F extend so as to be orthogonal to the left-right direction, and are disposed alongside each other in the left-right direction. The left wall 63F is located at the left end of the box main body 2F. The right wall 64F is located at the right end of the box main body 2F.

A lower end 611F of the front wall 61F, a lower end 621F of the back wall 62F, a lower end 631F of the left wall 63F, and a lower end 641F of the right wall 64F configure the peripheral edge 40F of the bottom wall 4 (refer to FIG. 19). An upper end 612F of the front wall 61F, an upper end 622F of the back wall 62F, an upper end 632F of the left wall 63F, and an upper end 642F of the right wall 64F configure the peripheral edge 50F of the top wall 5F (refer to FIG. 18).

A space 7F is formed in the interior of the box main body 2F. The space 7F is enclosed by the bottom wall 4F, the top wall 5F, and the peripheral walls 6F (the front wall 61F, the back wall 62F, the left wall 63F, and the right wall 64F). The tape cassette 8F is disposed in the space 7F in a state in which a lower wall 85F to be described later faces the bottom wall 4F from above.

The header 3F is arranged on the box main body 2F. The header 3F has a wall shape, and includes a header piece 31F and a header piece 32F. The header piece 31F is connected to the upper end 622F of the rear wall 62F, and extends upward from the upper end 622F of the back wall 62F. FIG. 19 shows the upper end 622F of the back wall 62F using a virtual line V0F. The header piece 32F is folded over in the forward direction from an upper end 311F of the header piece 31F, and extends in the downward direction. A lower end 321F of the header piece 32F is located at a position of the top wall 5F in the up-down direction, and is connected to a female flap 52F (refer to FIG. 19) to be described later.

A hole 30F is formed in the header 3F. The hole 30F has an isosceles triangle shape in a front view, and is disposed at the center of the header 3F in the left-right direction. The hole 30F extends through the header pieces 31F and 32F in the front-rear direction. Thus, the hole 30F extends through the header 3F in the front-rear direction. For example, in a marketplace of the storage box 1F, the storage box 1F may be hung on a bar via the hole 30 for a hanging merchandise display, and may be hung for merchandise display.

A detailed configuration of the top wall 5F will be described with reference to FIG. 18 and FIG. 20. The top wall 5F includes a male flap 51F, the female flap 52F, a left flap 53F, and a right flap 54F. The male flap 51F is connected to the upper end 612F of the front wall 61F and extends in the rearward direction from the upper end 612F of the front wall 61F. The male flap 51F has a rectangular shape that is longer in the left-right direction than in the front-rear direction. The length of the male flap 51F in the front-rear direction is substantially the same as a distance between the front wall 61F and the back wall 62F in the front-rear direction.

A rear end 511F of the male flap 51F is located close to the front of the back wall 62F and extends in the left-right direction. The male flap 51F includes an opening edge 512F. The opening edge 512F defines an opening 513F. The opening 513F extends through the male flap 51F in the up-down direction. The opening edge 512F is closed in an annular shape, and includes edges 5121F and 5122F. The edge 5121F is disposed at the rear of the opening 513F. The edge 5121F extends in the left-right direction and has a circular arc shape bulging in the rearward direction.

The edge 5122F extends in the forward direction from the left end of the edge 5121F, extends in the rightward direction, and then extends in the rearward direction and is connected to the right end of the edge 5121F. The edge 5122F is disposed further in the rearward direction than the upper end 612F of the front wall 61F. Thus, in the left-right direction, a region of the top wall 5F close to the upper end 612F of the front wall 61F is connected to the top wall 61F and is not separated by the opening 513F.

A pair of perforation lines 516F and 517F are formed in the male flap 51F. The perforation line 516F extends from the left end of the edge 5121F to the rear end 511F of the male flap 51F, so as to extend more toward the leftward direction the further in the rearward direction. The perforation line 517F extends from the right end of the edge 5121F to the rear end 511F of the male flap 51F, so as to extend more toward the rightward direction the further in the rearward direction. Thus, the pair of perforation lines 516F and 517F extend so as to separate from each other in the left-right direction the further in the rearward direction.

Hereinafter, a region enclosed by an end 511F of the male flap 51F, the perforation lines 516 and 517 and the edge 5121F will be referred to as an “opening region R22F”. The storage box 1F can be opened from the top wall 5F side by the user separating the opening region R22F from the box main body 2F.

An insertion portion 55F is arranged on the male flap 51F. The insertion portion 55F protrudes in the downward direction from the rear end 511F of the male flap 51F. Specifically, the insertion portion 55F includes a base portion 57F and a fold-over portion 58F. The base portion 57F is a section of the insertion portion 55F that extends in the downward direction from the male flap 51F. The base portion 57F has a rectangular shape that is longer in the left-right direction than in the up-down direction. The base portion 57F is connected to a section between the perforation lines 516F and 517F, of the rear end 511F of the male flap 51F. The fold-over portion 58F is folded in the rearward direction at a perforation line 5722F formed at the lower end of the base portion 57F, and extends in the upward direction. The fold-over portion 58F is located between the back wall 62F and the base portion 57F in the front-rear direction, and is in contact with the back wall 62F.

The female flap 52F is connected to the upper end 622F of the back wall 62F via the header 3F, and extends in the forward direction from the lower end 321F (refer to FIG. 22) of the header piece 32F. The female flap 52F has a rectangular shape that is longer in the left-right direction than in the front-rear direction. A front end 523F of the female flap 52F is located substantially at the center of the top wall 5F in the front-rear direction. A recess portion 522F and an insertion slot 521F (refer to FIG. 22) are formed in the female flap 52F. The recess portion 522F is recessed in the rearward direction from the center, in the left-right direction, in the front end 523F of the female flap 52F. The recess portion 522F has a circular arc shape, and overlaps the opening 513F in a plan view.

As shown in FIG. 22, the insertion slot 521F is longer in the left-right direction than in the front-rear direction, and extends through the female flap 52F in the up-down direction. The insertion slot 521F is located further in the rearward direction than the center, in the front-rear direction, of the front wall 61F and the back wall 62F, and is located close to the back wall 62F. In the second embodiment, the insertion slot 521F is located at a portion of the female flap 52F connected to the header piece 32F (at the rear end of the female flap 52F). The insertion portion 55F is inserted into the insertion slot 521F.

The left flap 53F is connected to the upper end 632F of the left wall 63F, and extends in the rightward direction from the upper end 632F of the left wall 63F. The right flap 54F is connected to the upper end 642F of the right wall 64F, and extends in the leftward direction from the upper end 642F of the right wall 64F. Each of the left flap 53F and the right flap 54F has a rectangular shape that is longer in the left-right direction than in the front-rear direction, and the left flap 53F and the right flap 54F are left-right symmetrical with each other.

As shown in FIG. 20, in the top wall 5F, the male flap 51F, the female flap 52F, the left flap 53F, and the right flap 54F are layered alongside each other in the order of the female flap 52F, the left flap 53F, the right flap 54F (or the right flap 54F and the left flap 53F), and the male flap 51F from the bottom to the top. The insertion portion 55F is disposed further to the inner side than the female flap 52F, via the insertion slot 521F.

A detailed configuration of the back wall 62F and the bottom wall 4F will be described with reference to FIG. 19, and FIG. 21 to FIG. 23. A perforation line 623F is formed in the back wall 62F. The perforation line 623F has a circular arc shape bulging in the upward direction, and is located at a lower portion of the back wall 62F. Both ends of the perforation line 623F are located on the lower end 621F of the back wall 62F. Hereinafter, a region of the back wall 62F enclosed by the perforation line 623F and the lower end 621F of the back wall 62F will be referred to as a “starting point region R11F”. When opening the storage box 1F from the bottom wall 4F side, the user pushes in the starting point region R11F to the inside of the box main body 2F, and uses the starting point region R11F as the starting point to separate an opening region R12F (to be described later) from the box main body 2F.

The bottom wall 4F is the so-called snap lock bottom, and includes a male flap 41F, a female flap 42F, a left flap 43F, and a right flap 44F. The male flap 41F is connected to the lower end 621F of the back wall 62F, and extends in the forward direction from the lower end 621F of the back wall 62F. The male flap 41F includes a male main body portion 415F, an insertion portion 416F, and an apex portion 417F. The male main body portion 415F is a section extending in the forward direction from the lower end 621F of the back wall 62F, and has a trapezoid shape becoming narrower the further in the forward direction. The length of the male main body portion 415F in the front-rear direction is substantially the same length as, or is slightly shorter than, half the length of the box main body 2F in the front-rear direction (the length of the lower end 631F of the left wall 63F).

The insertion portion 416F is a section protruding in the forward direction from the male main body portion 415F, and extends in the forward direction while maintaining the length, in the left-right direction, of an extension tip end section of the male main body portion 415F. A length X in the left-right direction of the insertion portion 416F is substantially half the length of the box main body 2F in the left-right direction (the length of the lower end 621F of the back wall 62F). The length of the insertion portion 416F in the front-rear direction is longer than the length, in the front-rear direction, of an insertion slot 426F and a guide port 427F to be described later.

The apex portion 417F is a section protruding further in the forward direction from the insertion portion 416F, and extends to be longer in the left-right direction than the insertion portion 416F. The left end portion of the apex portion 417F protrudes further in the leftward direction than the left edge of the insertion portion 416F, and the right end portion of the apex portion 417F protrudes further in the rightward direction than the right edge of the insertion portion 416F. In other words, a length Y of the apex portion 417F in the left-right direction is longer than the length X of the insertion portion 416F in the left-right direction, and satisfies a Formula (1), which is “Y>X”. The length of the apex portion 417F in the front-rear direction is shorter than the length of the insertion portion 416F in the front-rear direction. In a state in which the insertion portion 416F is inserted into the insertion slot 426F (to be described later) of the female flap 42F, the apex portion 417F is a section that functions to prevent the insertion portion 416F from coming out from the insertion slot 426F.

A pair of perforation lines 411F and 412F are formed in the male flap 41F. The perforation line 411F extends more toward the leftward direction the further in the forward direction, from the end in the leftward direction of both the ends of the perforation line 623F. The perforation line 412F extends more toward the rightward direction the further in the forward direction, from the end in the rightward direction of both the ends of the perforation line 623F. Hereinafter, a region enclosed by of the pair of perforation lines 411F and 412F of the male flap 41F and the lower end 621F of the back wall 62F will be referred to as the “opening region R12F”. The storage box 1F can be opened from the bottom wall 4F side by the user separating the opening region R12F from the box main body 2F together with the starting point region R11F.

The female flap 42F is connected to the lower end 611F of the front wall 61F, and extends in the rearward direction from the lower end 611F of the front wall 61F. The female flap 42F includes a female main body portion 425F, and the insertion slot 426F and the guide port 427F are formed in the female main body portion 425F. The female main body portion 425F is a section extending in the rearward direction from the lower end 611F of the front wall 61F, and has a rectangular shape that is longer in the left-right direction than in the front-rear direction. The length of the female flap 42F in the left-right direction is substantially the same as the length of the box main body 2F in the left-right direction (the length of the lower end 611F of the front wall 61F), and the length of the female flap 42F in the front-rear direction is slightly shorter than the length of the box main body 2F in the front-rear direction (the length of the lower end 631F of the left wall 63F).

The insertion slot 426F is formed in the female flap 42F. The insertion slot 426F is a rectangular-shaped opening that is long in the left-right direction, and extends through the female flap 42F in the up-down direction. The insertion slot 426F is formed further to the rear than the center, in the front-rear direction, of the female flap 42F. An opening edge at the front of the insertion slot 426F is located substantially at the center, or slightly to the rear of the center, in the front-rear direction, in the bottom wall 4F. When assembling the bottom wall 4F, the insertion portion 416F of the male flap 41F is inserted into the insertion slot 426F. Thus, a length W of the insertion slot 426F in the left-right direction is equal to or greater than the length X of the insertion portion 416F in the left-right direction, and satisfies a Formula (2), which is “W≥X”.

Further, both the ends of the insertion slot 426F in the left-right direction function as sections preventing the insertion portion 416F from coming out, by being interlocked with the apex portion 417F of the male flap 41F in a state in which the insertion portion 416F is inserted into the insertion slot 426F. Thus, the length W of the insertion slot 426F in the left-right direction is shorter than the length Y of the apex portion 417F in the left-right direction, and satisfies a Formula (3), which is “Y>W”.

The guide port 427F is formed at the rear of the insertion slot 426F and is joined to the insertion slot 426F. The guide port 427F extends to be longer than the insertion slot 426F in the left-right direction, and penetrates the female flap 42F in the up-down direction. The guide port 427F is connected to a rear end 421F of the female main body portion 425F, and the rear side of the female main body portion 425F is open. In other words, the guide port 427F and the insertion slot 426F are formed as a cutout that is open in the rearward direction, in the rear end side of the female main body portion 425F. The edge on the left side of the guide port 427F extends more toward the leftward direction the further in the rearward direction, from the rear end of the left edge of the insertion slot 426F to the rear end 421F of the female main body portion 425F. The edge on the right side of the guide port 427F extends more toward the rightward direction the further in the rearward direction, from the rear end of the right edge of the insertion slot 426F to the rear end 421F of the female main body portion 425F. Thus, the edges on both sides of the guide port 427F extend so as to separate from each other in the left-right direction the further in the rearward direction.

When assembling the bottom wall 4F, the apex portion 417F of the male flap 41F is inserted between the edges on the left and right sides of the guide port 427F. In the state in which the apex portion 417F is inserted into the guide port 427F, the insertion portion 416F is guided to the insertion slot 426F that is joined to the guide port 427F, and enters into a state of being inserted into the insertion slot 426F. Thus, in the left-right direction, the edges on both sides of the guide port 427F have sections whose length is equal to or greater than the length Y of the apex portion 417F in the left-right direction. Of sections of the guide port 427F, when a length, in the left-right direction, of a section into which the apex portion 417F can be inserted in the left-right direction is denoted by Z, the length Z and the length Y satisfy a Formula (4), which is “Z≥Y”.

The left flap 43F is connected to the lower end 631F of the left wall 63F, and extends in the rightward direction from the lower end 631F of the left wall 63F. The right flap 44F is connected to the lower end 641F of the right wall 64F, and extends in the leftward direction from the lower end 641F of the right wall 61F. The left flap 43F includes a left main body portion 435F and a left protrusion portion 436F. The right flap 44F includes a right main body portion 445F and a right protrusion portion 446F. The left flap 43F and the right flap 44F are left-right symmetrical with each other.

The left main body portion 435F has a substantially triangular shape extending in the rightward direction from the lower end 631F of the left wall 63F. The edge at the rear of the left main body portion 435F extends in the rightward direction from the rear end of the lower end 631F, and the edge at the front extends diagonally in the rightward direction and the rearward direction from the front end of the lower end 631F. When the bottom wall 4F is assembled, the right rear end of the edge at the front of the left main body portion 435F is disposed close to the front left corner of the insertion slot 426F of the female flap 42F.

The left protrusion portion 436F protrudes in the rightward direction from an extension tip end section of the left main body portion 435F. The left protrusion portion 436F extends to be longer in the front-rear direction than in the left-right direction. An end portion 437F at the front of the left protrusion portion 436F protrudes slightly further in the forward direction than the extension tip end section of the left main body portion 435F. The length of the left flap 43F in the left-right direction is substantially the same length as, or is slightly shorter than, half the length of the box main body 2F in the left-right direction (the length of the lower end 621F of the back wall 62F).

The right main body portion 445F has a substantially triangular shape extending in the leftward direction from the lower end 641F of the right wall 64F. The edge at the rear of the right main body portion 445F extends in the leftward direction from the rear end of the lower end 641F, and the edge at the front extends diagonally in the leftward direction and the rearward direction from the front end of the lower end 641F. When the bottom wall 4F is assembled, the left rear end of the edge at the front of the right main body portion 445F is disposed close to the front right corner of the insertion slot 426F of the female flap 42F.

The right protrusion portion 446F protrudes in the leftward direction from an extension tip end section of the right main body portion 445F. The right protrusion portion 446F extends to be longer in the front-rear direction than in the left-right direction. An end portion 447F at the front of the right protrusion portion 446F protrudes slightly further in the forward direction than the extension tip end section of the right main body portion 445F. The length of the right flap 44F in the left-right direction is substantially the same length as, or is slightly shorter than, half the length of the box main body 2F in the left-right direction (the length of the lower end 621F of the back wall 62F).

In the following description, a layer configured by the male flap 41F will be referred to as a “male flap layer 401F”. In the second embodiment, the outer shape of the male flap layer 401F in a plan view is defined by the outer shape of the male main body portion 415F. A layer configured by the female flap 42F will be referred to as a “female flap layer 402F”. In the second embodiment, the outer shape of the female flap layer 402F in a plan view is defined by the outer shape of the female main body portion 425F. A layer configured by the left flap 43F and the right flap 44F will be referred to as a “side flap layer 403F”. In the second embodiment, the outer shape of the side flap layer 403F in a plan view is defined by the outer shape of the left main body portion 435F and the right main body portion 445F.

In the bottom wall 4F, the male flap layer 401F, the female flap layer 402F, and the side flap layer 403F are layered alongside each other in the order of the female flap layer 402F, the side flap layer 403F, and the male flap layer 401F from the top to the bottom. The insertion portion 416F and the apex portion 417F of the male flap 41F are disposed, via the insertion slot 426F, further upward than the female main body portion 425F of the female flap 42F, namely, are disposed inside the space 7F of the box main body 2F.

As shown in FIG. 21, each of the left protrusion portion 436F of the left flap 43F and the right protrusion portion 446F of the right flap 44F is disposed overlapping the male main body portion 415F of the male flap 41F in a plan view. Furthermore, each of the end portion 437F of the left protrusion portion 436F and the end portion 447F of the right protrusion portion 446F is disposed overlapping the insertion portion 416F of the male flap 41F in a plan view. On the other hand, each of the left protrusion portion 436F and the right protrusion portion 446F do not overlap the apex portion 417F of the male flap 41F in a plan view. In other words, a length B, in the front-rear direction, of the left protrusion portion 436F of the left flap 43F and the right protrusion portion 446F of the right flap 44F is equal to or less than a length C, in the front-rear direction, of the male main body portion 415F and the insertion portion 416F of the male flap 41F, and satisfies a Formula (5), which is “C≥B”. Note that the length C in the front-rear direction of the male main body portion 415F and the insertion portion 416F refers to a length from the lower end 621F of the back wall 62F beyond the male main body portion 415F in the forward direction and reaching the extension tip end section of the insertion portion 416F.

The tape cassette 8F will be described with reference to FIG. 18. The tape cassette 8F includes a case 81F and a print tape 89F. The case 81F has a cuboid shape that is longer in the left-right direction than in the front-rear direction, and that is longer in the up-down direction than in the left-right direction. The print tape 89F has a long shape, and is stored in the case 81F. A width direction (short direction) of the print tape 89F is the front-rear direction. Thus, the width direction of the tape cassette 8F is the front-rear direction. In the tape cassette 8F, when the length in the width direction of the print tape 89F (the tape width) increases, the width W81F of the case 81F in the front-rear direction increases.

In the second embodiment, the case 81F includes a front wall 82F, a rear wall 83F, and peripheral walls 84F. The front wall 82F and the rear wall 83F extend so as to be orthogonal to the front-rear direction, and are disposed alongside each other in the front-rear direction. The front wall 82F is located at the front end of the case 81F. The rear wall 83F is located at the rear end of the case 81F.

The peripheral walls 84F extend from a peripheral edge 831F of the rear wall 83F to a peripheral edge 821F of the front wall 82F. The peripheral walls 84F have a square cylindrical shape, and include a lower wall 85F and an upper wall 86F. The lower wall 85F and the upper wall 86F extend to be orthogonal to the up-down direction, and are disposed alongside each other in the up-down direction. The lower wall 85F is located at the lower end of the case 81F. The upper wall 86F is located at the upper end of the case 81F. A discharge port 88F, for discharging the print tape 89F stored in the case 81F to the outside of the case 81F, is provided in the upper wall 86F.

The tape cassette 8F is an expendable article, and is used for printing by a printer (not shown in the drawings). For example, the tape cassette 8F is used in a state of being installed in a printer. The printer prints an image on the print tape 89F while pulling the print tape 89F from the inside of the case 81F. The printer discharges the print tape 89F on which the image has been printed to the outside of the case 81F via the discharge port 88F. In this way, a label is created in which the image is printed on the print tape 89F.

The paperboard 100F will be described with reference to FIG. 22. Hereinafter, the leftward direction, the rightward direction, the downward direction, and the upward direction in FIG. 22 are, respectively, the X− direction, the X+ direction, the Y− direction, and the Y+ direction of the paperboard 100F. In FIG. 22, the virtual line V0F, and virtual lines V1F, V2F, V3F, V4F, V5F, V6F, V7F, V8F, V9F, V10F, V11F, V12F, V13F, and V14F indicate boundaries between each of adjacent structural elements of the storage box 1F. For example, the virtual line V0F indicates the boundary between the back wall 62F and the header piece 31F.

The paperboard 100F is a single sheet cut into a predetermined shape, and is, for example, thick paper, thin paper, cardboard. The paperboard 100F includes the bottom wall 4F, the top wall 5F, the peripheral walls 6F, and the header 3F. In the paperboard 100F, the peripheral walls 6F are disposed at the center in the Y direction. In the peripheral walls 6F, the front wall 61F, the back wall 62F, the left wall 63F, and the right wall 64F are arranged while being connected to each other in the order of the right wall 64F, the front wall 61F, the left wall 63F, and the back wall 62F, from the X+ direction toward the X− direction. Furthermore, the glue margin 65F is connected to the adjacent back wall 62F in the X− direction.

The bottom wall 4F is disposed in the Y− direction of the peripheral walls 6F. Specifically, the male flap 41F is disposed in the Y− direction of the back wall 62F, and is connected to the back wall 62F. The female flap 42F is disposed in the Y− direction of the front wall 61F, and is connected to the front wall 61F. The left flap 43F is disposed in the Y− direction of the left wall 63F, and is connected to the left wall 63F. The right flap 44F is disposed in the Y− direction of the right wall 64F, and is connected to the right wall 64F.

The top wall 5F and the header 3F are disposed in the Y+ direction of the peripheral walls 6F. Specifically, in the header 3F, the header piece 31F is disposed in the Y+ direction of the back wall 62F, and is connected to the back wall 62F. The header piece 32F is disposed in the Y+ direction of the header piece 31F, and is connected to the header piece 31F.

In the top wall 5F, the female flap 52F is disposed in the Y+ direction of the header piece 32F, and is connected to the header piece 32F. The male flap 51F is disposed in the Y+ direction of the front wall 61F, and is connected to the front wall 61F. The left flap 53F is disposed in the Y+ direction of the left wall 63F, and is connected to the left wall 63F. The right flap 54F is disposed in the Y+ direction of the right wall 64F, and is connected to the right wall 64F.

A method of assembling the storage box 1F from the paperboard 100F will be described with reference to FIG. 22 to FIG. 25. Hereinafter, for each of the structural elements, a surface on the front side on paper, of the paperboard 100F shown in FIG. 22, will be referred to as the “front surface” of each of the structural elements, and the depth side on paper, of the paperboard 100F shown in FIG. 22, will be referred to as the “reverse surface” of each of the structural elements.

Folding the paperboard 100F in direction in which the respective reverse surfaces of a pair of the structural elements that are adjacent to each other in the paperboard 100F face each other, along a boundary between the pair of structural elements, will be referred to as the “mountain fold”, or “the mountain fold is formed”. Folding the paperboard 100F in a direction in which the respective front surfaces of the pair of structural elements that are adjacent to each other in the paperboard 100F face each other, along the boundary between the pair of structural elements, will be referred to as the “valley fold”, or “the valley fold is formed”. For example, “forming a mountain fold in the paperboard 100F along the virtual line V1F” means folding the paperboard 100F along the virtual line V1F in the direction in which the reverse surface of the right wall 64F and the reverse surface of the front wall 61F face each other. In the second embodiment, creases are formed in the front surfaces of the paperboard 100F along the virtual lines V1F to V14F. On the other hand, creases are not formed in the reverse surfaces of the paperboard 100F.

As shown in FIG. 22, mountain folds are formed in the paperboard 100F along the virtual lines V1F, V2F, V3F, and V4F. The front surface of the glue margin 65F is adhered to the reverse surface of the left wall 63F. In this way, as shown in FIG. 24, the peripheral walls 6F are formed in the square cylindrical shape. The mountain fold is formed in the paperboard 100F along the virtual line V5F. The female flap 42F is folded in the rearward direction, and is disposed in a region enclosed by the lower ends 611F, 621F, 631F, and 641F of the peripheral walls 6F. In this way, the female flap layer 402F is disposed at the uppermost layer of the bottom wall 4F. Mountain folds are formed in the paperboard 100F along the virtual lines V6F and V7F. The left flap 43F is folded in the rightward direction, and the right flap 44F is folded in the leftward direction, and are disposed in the region enclosed by the lower ends 611F, 621F, 631F, and 641F of the peripheral walls 6F. In this way, the left flap 43F and the right flap 44F are layered, as the side flap layer 403F, below the female flap layer 402F. A mountain fold is formed in the paperboard 100F along the virtual line V8F. The male flap 41F is folded in the forward direction, and is disposed in the region enclosed by the lower ends 611F, 621F, 631F, and 641F of the peripheral walls 6F. In this way, the male flap 41F is layered, as the male flap layer 401F, below the side flap layer 403F, and is disposed at the lowermost layer of the bottom wall 4F.

As shown in FIG. 25, in this state, the male flap 41F is pushed in from the outer side toward the inner side. When the male flap 41F is pushed in, the left flap 43F and the right flap 44F are pushed against the male flap 41F, and are pushed in from the outer side toward the inner side. Furthermore, the female flap 42F is pushed against the male flap 41F, the left flap 43F and the right flap 44F, and is pushed in from the outer side toward the inner side. Each of the male flap 41F, the female flap 42F, the left flap 43F, and the right flap 44F is a state of being inclined toward the inside of the space 7, diagonally from the lower ends 611F, 621F, 631F, and 641F of the peripheral walls 6F.

It is necessary for the apex portion 417F of the male flap 41F to reach the guide port 427F of the female flap 42F without becoming caught on the end portions 437F and 447F of the left flap 43F and the right flap 44F, and to pass through the guide port 427F. In other words, it is sufficient that the length B in the front-rear direction of the left protrusion portion 436F and the right protrusion portion 446F is defined such that there is no interference between the positions of the end portions 437F and 447F of the left flap 43F and the right flap 44F with an orbit through which the apex portion 417F passes, when the male flap 41F is pushed in until the apex portion 417F passes through the guide port 427F. Note that positions of the rear ends of the left protrusion portion 436F and the right protrusion portion 446F according to the second embodiment are located along the back wall 62F. Thus, in the second embodiment, the length in the front-rear direction from the back wall 62F to positions of the front ends of the end portions 437F and 447F is defined as the length B in the front-rear direction of the left protrusion portion 436F and the right protrusion portion 446F. Thus, when the positions of the rear ends of the left protrusion portion 436F and the right protrusion portion 446F are not along the back wall 62F, it is sufficient that the length B is defined by the length in the front-rear direction from the back wall 62F to the positions of the front ends of the end portions 437F and 447F.

When the apex portion 417F passes through the guide port 427F and the male flap 41F is pushed into the space 7, an angle of the male flap 41F inclined with respect to the front-rear direction is denoted by a. In order for the apex portion 417F of the male flap 41F to pass over the end portions 437F and 447F of the left flap 43F and the right flap 44F, it is sufficient that a front-rear direction component of the length C in the front-rear direction of the male main body portion 415F and the insertion portion 416F of the male flap 41F is equal to or greater than the length B in the front-rear direction of the left protrusion portion 436F and the right protrusion portion 446F, namely, that a Formula (6), which is “B≤C×cos α”, is satisfied.

Edges on the left and right sides of the guide port 427F have a shape widening toward the rear end 421F. Thus, the guide port 427F includes a section whose length Z in the left-right direction is equal to or greater than the length Y of the apex portion 417F in the left-right direction. The apex portion 417F that has been pushed in in the downward direction can pass through the guide port 427F at least at the section for which the length Z of the guide port 427F in the left-right direction is the same as the length Y of the apex portion 417F in the left-right direction. When the length Y of the apex portion 417F in the left-right direction is the same length as the length Z of the guide port 427F in the left-right direction, the angle α at which the male flap 41F is inclined in the downward direction can be calculated using the following Formula, based on the cosine theorem. Note that the length in an inclination direction of the male flap 41F is a length from the lower end 621F of the back wall 62 in the front-rear direction to a section at which the length of the apex portion 417F is at a maximum in the left-right direction, and is denoted by E. The length in an inclination direction of the female flap 42F is a length from the lower end 611F of the front wall 61F in the front-rear direction to a section at which the length in the left-right direction of the guide port 427F is the same as the maximum length of the apex portion 417F, and is denoted by A. Further, the length of the box main body 2F in the front-rear direction (the length of the lower end 631F of the left wall 63F or of the lower end 641F of the right wall 64F) is denoted by D. At this time, using the cosine theorem, the angle α satisfies a Formula (7) as follows:

[ Equation ⁢ 1 ] cos ⁢ α = E 2 + D 2 - A 2 2 · E · D ( 7 )

Thus, if Formula (7) is substituted into Formula (6), a Formula (8) can be obtained as follows:

[ Equation ⁢ 2 ] B ≦ C ⁡ ( E 2 + D 2 - A 2 ) 2 · E · D ( 8 )

As a result, using each of the length A, the length B, the length C, the length D, and the length E as parameters, the paperboard 100F that is designed to satisfy Formula (8) is created. When the bottom wall 4F is assembled using this paperboard 100F, in the course of assembly, even when the male flap 41F is pushed in, the apex portion 417F can be caused to pass into the guide port 427F without interfering with the left flap 43F and the right flap 44F. As shown in FIG. 23, each of the male flap 41F, the left flap 43F, and the right flap 44F is interlocked with the female flap 42F via the insertion port 426F, and the bottom wall 4F having the snap lock bottom format is formed.

As shown in FIG. 26, at a time point at which the bottom wall 4F is formed, the box main body 2F is open in the upward direction. In this state, the tape cassette 8F is stored in the space 7F from the top of the box main body 2F so that the lower wall 85F faces the reverse surface of the bottom wall 4F from above.

A mountain fold is formed in the paperboard 100F along the virtual line V9F, and a valley fold is formed along the virtual line V10F. In this way, the header 3F is formed, and the female flap 52F is disposed at the lowermost layer of the top wall 5F. Mountain folds are formed in the paperboard 100F along the virtual lines V11F and V12F. In this way, in the top wall 5F, the left flap 53F and the right flap 54F are layered on top of the female flap 52F. Note that a layering order of the left flap 53F and the right flap 54F is optional. A mountain fold is formed in the paperboard 100F along the virtual line V13F, and a valley fold is formed along the perforation line 5722F. In this way, the insertion portion 55F is formed.

A mountain fold is formed in the paperboard 100F along the virtual line V14F. The insertion portion 55F is inserted further to the inner side than the female flap 52F, via the insertion slot 521F. In this way, the male flap layer 51F is layered on top of the left flap 53F and the right flap 54F, and the top wall 5F shown in FIG. 18 is formed. The assembly of the storage box 1F is completed as described above.

A storage box 1G and a paperboard 100G will be described with reference to FIG. 27 and FIG. 28. Hereinafter, a description will mainly be made of points of the storage box 1G and the paperboard 100G that differ from the storage box 1F and the paperboard 100F. Note that, for the storage box 1G and the paperboard 100G, configurations having the same shape or function as those of the storage box 1F and the paperboard 100F will be denoted by the same reference signs, and a description thereof will be omitted or simplified.

A tape cassette 8G is stored in the storage box 1G in place of the tape cassette 8F. A width W82F in the front-rear direction of the case 81F of the tape cassette 8G is smaller than the width W81F in the front-rear direction of the case 81F of the tape cassette 8F shown in FIG. 18. In this case, a width W22F in the front-rear direction of the box main body 2F of the storage box 1G is smaller than the width W21F in the front-rear direction of the box main body 2F of the storage box 1F. In other words, the length of the storage box 1G in the left-right direction is the same as that of the storage box 1F, and the length of the storage box 1G in the front-rear direction is shorter than that of the storage box 1F. Thus, as shown in FIG. 28, in the paperboard 100G before the assembly of the storage box 1G, the male flap 41F, the female flap 42F, the left flap 43F, and the right flap 44F that configure the bottom wall 4F can be defined by the same parameters as the male flap 41F, the female flap 42F, the left flap 43F, and the right flap 44F of the bottom wall 4F in the paperboard 100F of the storage box 1F. In other words, the paperboard 100G is created that is designed such that each of the length X, the length Y, the length W, and the length Z satisfy Formulas (1) to (4), and such that Formula (5) and Formula (8) are satisfied using each of the length A, the length B, the length C, the length D, and the length E as the parameters. When the bottom wall 4F is assembled using this paperboard 100G, in the course of assembly, even when the male flap 41F is pushed in in the downward direction, the apex portion 417F can be caused to pass into the guide port 427F without interfering with the left flap 43F and the right flap 44F, and the storage box 1G can be obtained in which the bottom wall 4F having the snap lock bottom format is formed.

The main operational effects of the storage box 1F in the above-described second embodiment will be described. The same operational effects as those of the storage box 1F can also be said to apply to the storage box 1G. Since the storage box 1F is formed from the paperboard 100F, the same operational effects as those of the storage box 1F can also be said to apply to the paperboard 100F.

The bottom wall of the box body disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. HEI 10-297628 includes a first lid body including a cutout portion, a first flap including a protrusion portion, a second flap including a protrusion portion, and second lid body including an apex portion at a tip end of inclined sides extending from both ends of the second lid body. The bottom wall is configured in the format of the so-called snap lock bottom, by the protrusion portions of the first and second flaps being inserted into the cutout portion of the first lid body, and by further inserting the apex portion of the second lid body. The apex portion of the second lid body and the protrusion portions of the first and second flaps mesh with each other, and the bottom wall supports the weight of the stored object using a supporting force obtained by the meshing.

When the bottom wall is assembled, when the size of an insertion portion into which the flaps and the apex portion are inserted is small compared to the size of the apex portion, the apex portion is not easily inserted into the insertion portion. When the apex portion is heavily bent in order to be inserted into the insertion portion, the apex portion may be deformed, and that the strength to support the weight of the stored object may deteriorate. Further, when the size of the insertion portion is larger than the size of the apex portion, the apex portion easily comes out from the insertion portion, and the bottom wall may not stay interlocked due to the weight of the stored object.

In the storage box 1F according to the second embodiment, the following operational effects are achieved with respect to the above-described issues.

The length Y in the left-right direction of the apex portion 417F of the male flap 41F is longer than the length X of the insertion portion 416F of the male flap 41F, and satisfies Formula (1), which is “Y>X”. Furthermore, the length Y in the left-right direction of the apex portion 417F of the male flap 41F is longer than the length W of the insertion slot 426F of the female flap 42F, and satisfies Formula (3), which is “Y>W”. Thus, even when the insertion portion 416F is inserted into the insertion slot 426F that satisfies Formula (2), which is “W≥X”, in which the length W in the left-right direction is equal to or greater than the length X of the insertion portion 416F, the apex portion 417F interlocks with the insertion slot 426F. Thus, the male flap 41F does not easily come out from the female flap 42F, and the incorrect opening of the storage box 1F can be prevented. The apex portion 417F can be inserted into the guide port 427F at the section at which the length Z in the right-left direction is equal to or greater than the length Y of the apex portion 417F, and at which Formula (4), which is “X≥Y”, is satisfied. The insertion portion 416F connected to the apex portion 417F is guided to the insertion slot 426F connected to the guide port 427F, and is thus disposed inside the insertion slot 426F.

The length B in the front-rear direction of the left protrusion portion 436F and the right protrusion portion 446F is equal to or less than the length C of the insertion portion 416F and the male main body portion 415F of the male flap 41F, and satisfies Formula (5), which is “C≥B”. Thus, when the bottom wall 4F is configured, the left protrusion portion 436F and the right protrusion portion 446F are disposed in a region inside the male main body portion 415F and the insertion portion 416F of the male flap 41F in the up-down direction, and thus do not interfere with the apex portion 417F.

The respective end portions 437F and 447F on the front side of the left protrusion portion 436F of the left flap 43F and the right protrusion portion 446F of the right flap 44F protrude further in the forward direction than the extension tip end sections of the left main body portion 435F and the right main body portion 445F. Thus, when the bottom wall 4F is configured, the left protrusion portion 436F and the right protrusion portion 446F not only overlap the male main body portion 415F of the male flap 41F in the up-down direction, but can also additionally overlap the insertion portion 416F at the end portions 437F and 447F. Thus, the storage box 1F can use frictional force to resist the gravity acting on the bottom wall 4F by the tape cassette 8F, and can prevent the bottom of the storage box 1F from collapsing. Further, even when the left protrusion portion 436F and the right protrusion portion 446F respectively include the end portions 437F and 447F, the length B in the front-rear direction is equal to or less than the length C of the insertion portion 416F and the male main body portion 415F of the male flap 41F, and thus no interference occurs with the apex portion 417F.

At the time of assembly of the bottom wall 4F, the apex portion 417F of the male flap 41F is inserted into the guide port 417F of the female flap 42F, and the male flap 41F is thus pushed in toward the inside of the space 7. As a result of being pushed in, the male flap 41F, the female flap 42F, the left flap 43F, and the right flap 44F are folded and bent toward the inside of the space 7 (toward the upward direction subsequent to the assembly of the storage box 1F). The left protrusion portion 436F and the right protrusion portion 446F satisfy Formula (6), which is “B≤C×cos α”, and thus, in the up-down direction, the left protrusion portion 436F and the right protrusion portion 446F can be located inside a range of the male main body portion 415F and the insertion portion 416F of the male flap 41F. Thus, at the time of assembly of the bottom wall 4F, the left protrusion portion 436F and the right protrusion portion 446F do not interfere with the insertion of the apex portion 417F into the guide port 427F.

When Formula (7) obtained based on the cosine theorem:

[ Equation ⁢ 3 ] cos ⁢ α = E 2 + D 2 - A 2 2 · E · D ( 7 )

is substituted into Formula (6), Formula 8 is obtained:

[ Equation ⁢ 4 ] B ≦ C ⁡ ( E 2 + D 2 - A 2 ) 2 · E · D ( 8 )

Thus, in the storage box 1F, each of the parameters of the length A, the length B, the length C, the length D, and the length E are optimized based on Formula (8), and the optimal sizes of each of the male flap 41F, the female flap 42F, the left flap 43F, and the right flap 44F can be derived. With the bottom wall 4F designed in accordance with each of the parameters derived in this way, a bending amount in order to push in the male flap 41F at the time of assembly, namely, the angle α, is no larger than necessary, and the assembly is thus facilitated. Further, when the length of the apex portion 417F in the left-right direction is designed to be longer in order to prevent the male flap 41F from coming out, the ease of assembly of the bottom wall 4F can be maintained by performing adjustment between the parameters.

Note that, in the above-described second embodiment, the up-down direction of the storage boxes 1F and 1G is one example of the “first direction” of the present disclosure. The bottom wall 4F is one example of the “first wall” of the present disclosure. The top wall 5F is one example of the “second wall” of the present disclosure. The tape cassettes 8F and 8G are examples of the “tape cassette” of the present disclosure. The front-rear direction of the storage boxes 1F and 1G is one example of the “second direction” of the present disclosure. The back wall 62F is one example of the “fourth wall” of the present disclosure. The front wall 61F is one example of the “third direction” of the present disclosure. The downward direction of the storage boxes 1F and 1G is one example of the “first specific direction” of the present disclosure. The lower end 621F is one example of a “first connection end” of the present disclosure. The lower end 611F is one example of a “second connection end” of the present disclosure. The rearward direction of the storage boxes 1F and 1G is one example of the “second specific direction” of the present disclosure. The insertion portion 416F is one example of the “first insertion portion” of the present disclosure. The left-right direction of the storage boxes 1F and 1G is one example of the “third direction” of the present disclosure. The forward direction of the storage boxes 1F and 1G is one example of the “second opposite direction” of the present disclosure.

The left wall 63F is one example of the “fifth wall” of the present disclosure. The right wall 64F is one example of the “sixth wall” of the present disclosure. The lower end 631F is one example of a “third connection end” of the present disclosure. The left flap 43F is one example of the “first flap” of the present disclosure. The lower end 641F is one example of a “fourth connection end” of the present disclosure. The right flap 44F is one example of the “second flap” of the present disclosure. The side flap layer 403F is one example of the “intermediate flap layer” of the present disclosure. The rightward direction of the storage boxes 1F and 1G is one example of the “third specific direction” of the present disclosure. The left main body portion 435F is one example of a “first main body portion” of the present disclosure. The left protrusion portion 436F is one example of a “third protrusion portion” of the present disclosure. The leftward direction of the storage boxes 1F and 1G is one example of the “third opposite direction” of the present disclosure. The right main body portion 445F is one example of a “second main body portion” of the present disclosure. The protrusion portion 446F is one example of a “fourth protrusion portion” of the present disclosure. The end portion 437F is one example of a “section protruding further in the second opposite direction than an edge, in the second opposite direction, of a tip end of the first main body portion” of the present disclosure. The end portion 447F is one example of a “section protruding further in the second opposite direction than an edge, in the second opposite direction, of a tip end of the second main body portion” of the present disclosure. The upward direction of the storage boxes 1F and 1G is one example of the “first opposite direction” of the present disclosure. The paperboards 100F and 100G are examples of the “sheet” of the present disclosure.

The present disclosure may be further changed from the above-described second embodiment. Insofar as no contradictions arise, various modified examples to be described below may be combined with each other, and may be applied to either of the storage boxes 1F and 1G.

Paperboards 100H, 100J, 100K, and 100L for creating storage boxes according to modified examples will be described with reference to FIG. 29 to FIG. 32. Hereinafter, a description will mainly be made of points of the paperboards 100H, 100J, 100K, and 100L that differ from the paperboard 100F and 100G. For the paperboards 100H, 100J, 100K, and 100L, configurations having the same shape or function as those of the above-described second embodiment will be denoted by the same reference signs, and a description thereof will be omitted or simplified.

The paperboard 100H shown in FIG. 29 is a paperboard having a format in which, in the front-rear direction (the X direction), the left protrusion portion 436F of the left flap 43F does not protrude from the extension tip end section of the left main body portion 435F in the forward direction (the X+ direction in the paperboard 100H) subsequent to the assembly of the bottom wall 4F. Similarly, in the front-rear direction (the X direction), the right protrusion portion 446F of the right flap 44F also does not protrude from the extension tip end section of the right main body portion 445F in the forward direction (the X− direction in the paperboard 100H) subsequent to the assembly of the bottom wall 4F. In this case, subsequent to the assembly of the bottom wall 4F, the left protrusion portion 436F and the right protrusion portion 446F are disposed overlapping the male main body portion 415F of the male flap 41F in a plan view, but do not overlap the insertion portion 416F. In the paperboard 100H configured in this way also, the parameters of the lengths of each of the portions can be defined in a similar manner to the second embodiment, and the storage box subsequent to the assembly can configure the bottom wall 4F having the snap lock bottom format with which the bottom is not likely to collapse. Then, even with the configuration in which the left protrusion portion 436F and the right protrusion portion 446F do not protrude in the forward direction as described above, the storage box 1F can use the frictional force to resist the gravity acting on the bottom wall 4F by the tape cassette 8F, and can prevent the bottom of the storage box 1F from collapsing.

The paperboard 100J shown in FIG. 30 is a paperboard including with a reinforcement portion 428F at a tip end section of the female flap 42F. The female flap 42F of the paperboard 100F (refer to FIG. 22) is configured such that the edges on the left and right sides of the guide port 427F connected to the insertion slot 426F widen toward the rear end 421F, and the guide port 427F is open at the rear end 421F of the female main body portion 425F. In contrast to this, in the paperboard 100J, the guide port 427F is closed at the rear end 421F by the reinforcement portion 428F, and the insertion slot 426F and the guide port 427F are formed as a hole shape extending through the female main body portion 425F. Note that, when the reinforcement portion 428F is provided, the guide port 427F keeps the section at which the length Z in the left-right direction is equal to or greater than the length Y in the left-right direction of the apex portion 417F of the male flap 41F. In the paperboard 100J configured in this way also, the parameters of the lengths of each of the portions can be defined in a similar manner to the second embodiment, and the storage box subsequent to the assembly can configure the bottom wall 4F having the snap lock bottom format with which the bottom is not likely to collapse. Then, by providing the reinforcement portion 428F, the female flap 42F can secure the rigidity of the female main body portion 425F. Thus, the female flap 42F can prevent deformation, and can prevent the length in the left-right direction of the insertion slot 426F or the guide port 427F from widening. As a result, the female flap 42F can prevent the incorrect opening of the storage box 1F.

Further, the paperboard 100K shown in FIG. 31 shows an example in which, in the female flap 42F of the paperboard 100J (refer to FIG. 30), the guide port 427F formed in addition to providing the reinforcement portion 428F in the female main body portion 425F does not necessarily have the shape in which the edges on the left and right sides widen toward the rear end 421F. The edges on the left and right sides of the guide port 427F have an inwardly facing circular arc shape, for example. Regardless of the shape of the guide port 427F, the guide port 427F may be rectangular, for example, as long as the length Z in the left-right direction of the guide port 427F can be maintained to be equal to or greater than the length Y of the apex portion 417F. In the paperboard 100K configured in this way also, the parameters of the lengths of each of the portions can be defined in a similar manner to the second embodiment, and the storage box subsequent to the assembly can configure the bottom wall 4F having the snap lock bottom format with which the bottom is not likely to collapse.

The paperboard 100L shown in FIG. 32 is a paperboard in which, in the female flap 42F of the paperboard 100J (refer to FIG. 30), a lead-in port 429F is formed at the rear side of the guide port 427F and connected to the guide port 427F, and a length V in the left-right direction of the lead-in port 429F is equal to or less than the length Z of the guide port 427F. The lead-in port 429F is a section that, when the male flap 41F is further pushed in in a state in which the apex portion 417F is inserted into the guide port 427F, enables the insertion portion 416F to temporarily retract to the opposite side from the insertion slot 426F, and also suppresses the apex portion 417F from coming out from the guide port 427F. In order for the lead-in port 429F to suppress the apex portion 417F from coming out, the length V in the left-right direction of the lead-in port 429F is preferably equal to or less than the length Y in the left-right direction of the apex portion 417F, namely, preferably satisfies a Formula (9), which is “V≤Y”. When the pushing in of the male flap 41F is released, the insertion portion 416F moves from the lead-in port 429F to the insertion slot 426F. At this time, the apex portion 417F moves in a state in which the female flap 42F is located on the space 7 side, and thus, the insertion portion 416F passes through the section of the guide port 427F as it is, and can move from the lead-in port 429F to the insertion slot 426F.

In the paperboard 100L configured in this way also, the parameters of the lengths of each of the portions can be defined in a similar manner to the second embodiment, and the storage box subsequent to the assembly can configure the bottom wall 4F having the snap lock bottom format with which the bottom is not likely to collapse. Then, in the course of the assembly, when the male flap 41F is pushed in toward the inside of the space 7 (in the upward direction subsequent to the assembly of the storage box 1F), the insertion portion 416F of the male flap 41F moves from the insertion slot 426F to the guide port 427F and is further guided to the lead-in port 429F connected to the guide port 427F. Since the length in the left-right direction of the lead-in port 429F is shorter than the apex portion 417F, the apex portion 417F interlocks with the lead-in port 429F. Thus, the male flap 41F is not likely to come out from the female flap 42F, and the incorrect opening of the storage box 1F can be prevented.

Other modified examples will be described. The relationship between the respective lengths of the box main body 2F in the up-down direction, the left-right direction, and the front-rear direction is not limited to that of the above-described second embodiment. For example, the length in the front-rear direction of the box main body 2F may be greater than the length in the left-right direction of the box main body 2F.

In the above-described second embodiment, as long as the paperboard 100F is configured so as to form the storage box 1F as a result of being assembled, the paperboard 100F is not limited to the shape of the above-described second embodiment. As long as it is a sheet that can be folded and that can maintain the folded state, a plastic sheet, for example may be used in place of the paperboard 100F.

In the above-described second embodiment, another stored object may be stored in the space 7F in place of the tape cassette 8F. For example, the other stored object is an expendable article used in printing, such as an ink tank, an ink cartridge, or an ink ribbon cassette. The other stored object may be an expendable article used other than in printing. The other stored object need not necessarily be the expendable article, and may be, for example, a foodstuff.

In the above-described second embodiment, the tape cassette 8F is disposed in the space 7F in the state in which the lower wall 85F faces the bottom wall 4F. In contrast to this, the tape cassette 8F may be disposed in the space 7F in a state in which a wall different from the lower wall 85F, such as the top wall 86F, for example, faces the bottom wall 4F.

In the above-described second embodiment, the peripheral walls 6F may omit the left wall 63F and the right wall 64F, for example. In other words, the left end of the front wall 61F and the left end of the back wall 62F may be directly connected to each other, and the right end of the front wall 61F and the right end of the back wall 62F may be directly connected to each other. In this case, for example, the front wall 61F may curve so as to bulge in the forward direction, and the back wall 62F may curve so as to bulge in the rearward direction. The peripheral walls 6F may further include one or a plurality of walls in addition to the front wall 61F, the back wall 62F, the left wall 63F, and the right wall 64F.

In the above-described second embodiment, the female flap 52F is connected to the upper end 622F of the back wall 62F via the header 3F. In contrast to this, the female flap 52F may be directly connected to the upper end 622F of the back wall 62F. In this case, the header 3F may be omitted, or may be connected to the upper end 632F of the left wall 63F or to the upper end 642F of the right wall 64F.

In the above-described second embodiment, the header 3F includes the header pieces 31F and 32F. In contrast to this, the header 3F may be configured by one of the header piece 31F or the header piece 32F. A number or shape of the hole 30F is not limited to those of the above-described second embodiment. The hole 30F need not necessarily be formed in the header 3F.

In the above-described second embodiment, one or both of the left flap 43F and the right flap 44F may be omitted. In other words, the side flap layer 403F may be configured by one of the left flap 43F and the right flap 44F, or may be omitted. Further, the right end of the left flap 43F and the left end of the right flap 44F may be disposed to overlap each other in the up-down direction.

As shown in FIG. 31, the apex portion 417F of the male flap 41F may have a shape in which the length in the left-right direction of both end portions becomes narrower toward each other toward the extension tip end section. In this case, in the course of assembling the bottom wall 4F, the apex portion 417F is more easily inserted into the guide port 427F. Further, at the extension tip end section of the insertion portion 416F, a difference between the lengths in the left-right direction of the apex portion 417F and the insertion portion 416F increases. Thus, in the course of assembling the bottom wall 4F, the apex portion 417F is more easily interlocked with the guide port 427F immediately after passing through the guide port 427F, and is not likely to come out.