TUBULAR CASE

Abstract

A cylindrical case 3 receives a stick of solid glue 8 as an item to be received in a reciprocating manner so as to come out and retract through an opening of the case 3. A cap 5 is arranged to engage with the opening of the case 3. Engagement release of the cap 5 is carried out by rotating an operating member 6. The operating member 6 includes a peripheral member 50 and an operating force imparting portion 51 continuous with the peripheral member 50 mounted on an upper portion of the case 3. When the operating force imparting portion 51 is pressed downward, force apply points 54 formed at a side opposite of the operating force imparting portion 51 impart a push-up force to the cap 5 thereby releasing the cap 5 from the engagement.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an entire arrangement of a tubular case according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view of the tubular case in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing the tubular case of FIG. 1, from which a cap is detached;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the tubular case taken along the line A-A in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged sectional view of the tubular case in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of an operating member;

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the operating member;

FIG. 8A is a front view of the operating member, FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B in FIG. 6, FIG. 8C is a left side view of the operating member in FIG. 8A, and FIG. 8D is a cross-sectional view of the operating member taken along the line C-C in FIG. 6;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are explanatory views illustrating the working of the embodiment;

FIGS. 10A, 10B and 10C are front elevations of a tubular case of another embodiment illustrating the working thereof;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of an operating member, which is used in the another embodiment; and

FIG. 12 is a front view of the operating member in FIG. 11.

Claims

1. A tubular case, comprising: a case having a substantially cylindrical shape one end of which is opened to receive an item to be received in a reciprocating manner so as to come out and retract through the opening;a cap engaged with an open side of the case to cover the opening; andan operating member mounted on the periphery of said case and arranged to release the cap from engagement,wherein said operating member includes a peripheral member, which is rotatably supported at two points on an imaginary straight line crossing an axial direction of said case as a rotation center, and an operating force imparting portion formed continuously with the peripheral member,said peripheral member has a shape that substantially encloses the periphery of said case and includes force apply points for imparting a force in a direction where said cap is released from the engagement,said force apply points are respectively located at symmetrical positions away from said rotation center at the opposite side to said operating force imparting portion.

2. The tubular case according to claim 1, wherein said peripheral member is formed in a closed loop shape enclosing the peripheral surface of said case.

3. The tubular case according to claim 1, wherein said cap is formed in a shape having an open end and includes a top wall and a peripheral wall continuous with the periphery of the top wall, when an operating force is imparted to said operating force imparting portion and said peripheral member is rotated and displaced, said force apply points only are brought into contact with end portions at said open end side of said peripheral wall thereby releasing said cap from the engagement.

4. The tubular case according to claim 1, wherein the opposite side of said operating force imparting portion in said peripheral member is provided with a non-contact area which maintains contact only at said force apply points.

5. The tubular case according to claim 1, wherein said peripheral member has a substantially C-like shape in plane view and said force apply points are formed at open ends of the C-like shape.

6. The tubular case according to claim 1, wherein said case is formed with protruded portions providing a rotation center for moving said cap in the direction to release said engagement.

7. The tubular case according to claim 1, wherein a stopper mechanism for prohibiting the operation of said operating member is provided between said case and peripheral member.