Ev charging cable storage structure

Abstract

To provide an EV charging cable storage structure with which an EV charging cable can be compactly stored in a state where a conducting portion of a connector is protected, further, work for storing and taking out the connector may also be promptly performed and a storage space may also be made slim.SOLUTION: In a storage box, a connector holder 2 capable of holding a connector C of an EV charging cable A by inserting and mounting the connector from a front side is additionally provided on a vertical surface S and a lower part of the connector holder 2 and the vertical surface S are connected via a spring hinge 3, such that when the connector C is mounted to the connector holder 2, the connector holder 2 is rotated downward by dead weights of the connector C and the EV charging cable A.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an EV charging cable storage structure for storing an EV charging cable when not in use. [Background technology]

[0002] When charging an electric vehicle using a household power source in an ordinary home, a charging facility equipped with an EV charging cable is used to connect the power source to the electric vehicle. This EV charging cable needs to be long enough to connect the vehicle to the home or charging facility, but since it needs to be stored compactly when not in use, it is common to store the cable in a coiled state in a cable storage device installed in the home or garage.

[0003] For example, a conventional storage device that stores an EV charging cable connector in a hanging state, as in Patent Document 1, is known, but this structure leaves the connector exposed, which can cause rust on the connector due to rainwater or the outside air, resulting in poor conductivity. For this reason, cable storage devices equipped with a connector holder that protects the conductive portion by attaching the connector have also been proposed (see Patent Documents 2 to 4).

[0004] However, in the above-mentioned conventional cable management devices, the connectors were attached to the connector holder either front-to-back or diagonally front-to-back, which required depth in the storage box and made it difficult to slim down the storage space. Meanwhile, there have also been conventional cable management devices that store connectors sideways (see Patent Documents 4 and 5), but this structure made it difficult to smoothly attach and detach connectors. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-43717 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-33576 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-208090 [Patent Document 4] Patent No. 5756904 [Patent Document 5] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-42573 [Patent Document 6] Patent No. 5936311 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The present invention aims to solve the problems of the conventional technology described above, and in summary, to provide an EV charging cable storage structure that can store the connector compactly while protecting the conductive part of the connector, allows the connector to be stored and removed quickly, and slims down the storage space. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] As a means of solving the above problem, the inventor attached a connector holder 2 to a vertical surface S, which can hold the connector C of the EV charging cable A by inserting it from the front side, and connected the lower part of the connector holder 2 to the vertical surface S via a spring hinge 3. When the connector C is attached to the connector holder 2, the weight of the connector C and the EV charging cable A causes the connector holder 2 to rotate downward (the effect of which will be described later).

[0008] In the present invention, by attaching the spring hinge 3 to the vertical surface S via the bracket 4, a storage space for the handle portion H of the connector C can be formed between the connector holder 2 and the vertical surface S by the bracket 4.

[0009] The present invention uses a spring hinge 3 in which both wing portions 31 are biased in the closing direction from a predetermined opening angle, and can use a bracket 4 that has a first surface portion 41 attached to the vertical surface S, a stepped second surface portion 42 that is continuous with the first surface portion 41 and to which one wing portion 31 of the spring hinge 3 is attached, and a third surface portion 43 that is continuous with the second surface portion 42 and against which the other wing portion 31 to which the connector holder 2 of the spring hinge 3 is attached or the connector holder 2 abuts in the closed state.

[0010] As a result, when the connector holder 2 rotates upward (in the upright direction), the rotation can be stopped by abutting the wing portion 31 of the spring hinge 3 against the third surface portion 43 of the bracket 4, and when the connector holder 2 rotates downward (in the tilting direction), both wing portions 31 open to a predetermined opening angle, thereby stopping the rotation before the handle portion H of the connector C hits the vertical surface S.

[0011] In order to realize the above-mentioned storage structure, the present invention uses a storage box 1 in which a storage space is formed inside a front portion 11 having an opening / closing door 11a, a back portion 12, and both side portions 13, and a connector holder 2 is attached to the inside of the back portion 12, which forms the above-mentioned vertical plane S, so that the EV charging cable A can be stored compactly even in places where there are no walls.

[0012] In the present invention, both side portions 13 of the storage box 1 can also be configured by connecting one or more intermediate plate members 13a between the corner member N1 on the back portion 12 side and the corner member N2 on the front portion 11 side, thereby making it possible to adjust the depth of the box according to the shape of the connector C, etc.

[0013] In the present invention, the rear portion 12 of the storage box 1 can also be constructed by connecting an intermediate plate material 12a of the same type as the both side portions 13 between the corner materials N1 on the rear portion 12 side, thereby allowing the width of the box to be adjusted. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] In the present invention, the connector holder is attached to a vertical surface such as the back of the storage box via a spring hinge, and is configured so that when the connector is attached, the connector holder rotates downward due to the weight of the connector and EV charging cable.This not only protects the conductive part of the connector using the connector holder, but also allows the connector to be facing up or down when stored, thereby slimming down the storage space.

[0015] Furthermore, with the storage structure of the present invention, the connector of the EV charging cable can be inserted from the front side in the forward / backward direction to be attached to the connector holder, and when removing the connector from the connector holder, it is only necessary to lift the connector and pull it out backward, so the connector can be quickly attached and detached. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1A and 1B are overall front views showing a storage box according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1A shows a state in which the opening / closing door is closed, and FIG. 1B shows a state in which the opening / closing door is open. [Figure 2] 1A and 1B are explanatory diagrams showing an EV charging cable storage structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) the connector holder is in an upright position and (b) the connector holder is in a tilted position. [Figure 3] 1A and 1B are explanatory diagrams showing the state in which the EV charging cable storage structure of the first embodiment of the present invention is used, in which FIG. 1A shows a state in which the connector is facing forward and backward, and FIG. 1B shows a state in which the connector is facing upward and downward. [Figure 4] 1A and 1B are plan views showing the structure of a side portion of a storage box according to a first embodiment of the present invention, (a) showing the present embodiment and (b) showing a modified example. [Figure 5] 1A and 1B are plan views showing the structure of the rear portion of the storage box of the first embodiment of the present invention, where FIG. 1A shows the present embodiment and FIG. 1B shows a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] "First embodiment" A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 5. In the figures, reference symbol A indicates an EV charging cable, and reference symbol C indicates a connector for the EV charging cable. Reference symbol 1 indicates a storage box, and reference symbol 2 indicates a connector holder. Reference symbol 3 indicates a spring hinge, and reference symbol 4 indicates a bracket. Reference symbol 5 indicates a cable hook.

[0018] "EV charging cable storage structure configuration" [1] Basic configuration of EV charging cable storage structure The basic configuration of the EV charging cable storage structure of this embodiment will be described. The EV charging cable storage structure of this embodiment uses a storage box 1 having a front portion 11, a back portion 12, and both side portions 13, each equipped with an opening / closing door 11a, as shown in Figures 1(a) and 1(b), with storage spaces formed inside. As shown in Figures 1(b) and 2(a), a connector holder 2 is attached to the inside (vertical plane S) of the back portion 12 of the storage box 1. As shown in Figure 3(a), this connector holder 2 can hold the connector C of the EV charging cable A by inserting it from the front side.

[0019] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2(b), the lower part of the connector holder 2 and the back part 12 (vertical plane S) are connected via a spring hinge 3, and when the connector C of Figure 3(a) is attached to the connector holder 2, the weight of the connector C and the EV charging cable A causes the connector holder 2 to rotate downward, as shown in Figures 2(b) and 3(b). This allows the connector C to be stored facing downward rather than sideways, thereby reducing the depth of the storage space and making the storage box 1 slimmer.

[0020] Furthermore, when removing the connector C from the connector holder 2 in the stored state shown in Figure 3(b), all that is required is to grasp the handle H, lift the connector C upward, and then pull it backward in the state shown in Figure 3(a), which allows for smooth removal and attachment of the connector C. The bias of the spring hinge 3 also makes it easy to lift the connector C upward, reducing the burden of the work. It is also possible to pull out the connector C downward in the state shown in Figure 3(b), but in that case the bias of the spring hinge 3 will cause the connector holder 2 to automatically return to the upright state shown in Figure 2(a).

[0021] [2] Storage box [2-1] Box shape Next, each component of the EV charging cable storage structure will be described. In this embodiment, the storage box 1 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape with a storage space in the upper portion, but the shape is not particularly limited as long as it has a back portion 12 that forms a vertical surface S. For example, the storage box 1 can also be trapezoidal or circular when viewed from the front. The height, width, and depth dimensions of the storage box 1 can also be changed as appropriate depending on the length of the EV charging cable A, the shape of the connector C, the purpose of the box, and other factors.

[0022] 1(a) and 1(b), the storage box 1 of this embodiment is provided with a lockable door 11a on the front portion 11, a top plate 14 at the top of the storage box 1 (the upper part of the storage space), and a bottom plate 15 at the middle part of the storage box 1 (the lower part of the storage space), making it possible to close the storage space and thereby preventing theft of the stored EV charging cable A. Furthermore, a cable passage hole 13a is formed in the bottom plate 13 located at the middle part of the storage box 1, so that the EV charging cable A can be drawn from outside the box into the storage space through the cable passage hole 13a.

[0023] [2-2] Box material Regarding the materials for the front portion 11, back portion 12, both side portions 13, top plate portion 14, and bottom plate portion 15 of the storage box 1, in this embodiment they are made of aluminum parts, but metal materials other than aluminum such as iron or stainless steel, plastic materials such as polypropylene, polyamide, FRP, or composite materials such as laminated plates can also be used as long as they are durable and weather resistant for outdoor use, and different materials can also be used in some parts.

[0024] [2-3] Side structure In this embodiment, both side surfaces 13 of the storage box 1 are configured by connecting an intermediate plate member 13a between a corner member N1 on the rear surface 12 side and a corner member N2 on the front surface 11 side, as shown in Fig. 4(a). As shown in Fig. 4(a), the intermediate plate member 13a is configured with a central panel and connection portions on both the front and rear sides, and the connection portions on both sides can be connected by engaging and screwing with the connection portions of the corner member N1 on the rear surface 12 side and the corner member N2 on the front surface 11 side, respectively. This allows the depth of the storage box 1 to be adjusted as needed by changing the width dimension of the intermediate plate member 13a.

[0025] Although one intermediate plate 13a is used in the embodiment shown in Figure 4(a), multiple intermediate plates 13a can also be used as shown in Figure 4(b), and the intermediate plates 13 can be connected to each other by fastening the front and rear connecting portions with screws. This allows the depth of the storage box 1 to be adjusted appropriately depending on the shape of the connector C. Note that flat, channel, or angle-type connecting fittings can also be used to connect the corner member N1 on the rear surface 12 side and the corner member N2 on the front surface 11 side to the intermediate plate 13a, and to connect the intermediate plates 13a to each other.

[0026] [2-4] Back structure In this embodiment, the rear portion 12 of the storage box 1 is configured by connecting intermediate plate members 12a of the same type as the side plate members 13 between the corner members N1 on the rear portion 12 side, as shown in FIG. 5(a). These intermediate plate members 12a can also be connected in different numbers, as shown in FIG. 5(b), thereby allowing the width of the storage box 1 to be adjusted as needed. Furthermore, by modularizing the side plate members 13 and the rear portion 12 as described above, it is possible to manufacture storage boxes 1 of different sizes using the same type of parts. Note that the intermediate plate member 12a of the rear portion 12 can have a different shape than the intermediate plate members 13a of the side plate members 13.

[0027] [2-5] Box installation type and use In this embodiment, the storage box 1 can be installed near the wall of a house or on the concrete floor of a parking lot using anchor bolts, or it can be embedded in the concrete floor. It can also be fixed directly to the wall of a house or garage or via connecting metal fittings. Regarding the purpose of the storage box 1, although this embodiment is configured as a storage device exclusively for the EV charging cable A, it can also be used as a storage device for car accessories or a mailbox.

[0028] [3] About the connector holder 2 and 3, the connector holder 2 in this embodiment is a plate-like one that has a cylindrical portion on the front side into which the tip (conductive portion) of the connector C is inserted, and a recessed claw receiving portion on the top that receives the claw portion (locking portion) of the connector C. The connector holder 2 is made of plastic in this embodiment, but the material is not particularly limited, and the shape is also plate-like in this embodiment, which is easy to rotate up and down with the spring hinges 3 and does not take up much space inside the storage box 1, but this can be changed as appropriate depending on the type of connector C used.

[0029] [4] About spring hinges 2 and 3, the present embodiment uses a spring hinge 3 in which two wings 31 are connected by a pin (rotation axis) so as to be able to open and close freely, and both wings 31 are biased in the closing direction from an opening angle of 180°. As a result, when the connector holder 2 is rotated downward (tilted direction) as shown in FIG. 2(b), the rotation is stopped when both wings 31 are opened to a predetermined opening angle (180°), so that the rotation can be stopped in a state where the connector C faces directly downward before the handle portion H of the connector C hits the back surface portion 12 (vertical plane S).

[0030] Furthermore, any known type of spring hinge 3 can be appropriately selected and used, and in addition to the type in which the hinge is biased in the closing direction from a predetermined opening angle as in this embodiment, a type in which the hinge is biased in the opening direction from a predetermined closing angle can also be used. Furthermore, regarding the material of the spring hinge 3, although stainless steel is used in this embodiment, other metals such as zinc alloys or plastics can also be used.

[0031] 2(a) and 2(b), in this embodiment, the spring hinge 3 is attached to the connector holder 2 by screwing one wing portion 31 of the spring hinge 3 to the back side of the connector holder 2, but the connector holder 2 and the spring hinge 3 can also be molded integrally by insert molding or the like. In addition, in this embodiment, the spring hinge 3 is connected to the back portion 12 (vertical surface S) of the storage box 1 via a bracket 4, which will be described later, but depending on the type of spring hinge 2 and the shape of the back portion 12, it can also be attached directly to the back portion 12 without using the bracket 4.

[0032] [5] Brackets 2(a) and 2(b), a bracket 4 is used to connect the spring hinge 3 to the rear surface 12 (vertical surface S) of the storage box 1, and the other wing portion 31 of the spring hinge 3 that is not fixed to the connector holder 2 is attached to the bracket 4 attached to the rear surface 12 (vertical surface S) of the storage box 1 for connection. By using this bracket 4, a storage space for the handle portion H of the connector C can be formed between the connector holder 2 and the rear surface 12 (vertical surface S), so that the connector C can be stored facing straight downward without the handle portion H hitting the rear surface 12 (vertical surface S) as shown in FIG.

[0033] With regard to the bracket 4, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2(a), a bent plate-shaped metal part is used that has a first surface portion 41 that is attached to the inside (vertical plane S) of the back portion 12, a stepped second surface portion 42 that is continuous with this first surface portion 41 and to which one of the wing portions 31 of the spring hinge 3 is attached, and a third surface portion 43 that is continuous with this second surface portion 42 and against which the other wing portion 31 to which the connector holder 2 of the spring hinge 3 is attached abuts in the closed state.

[0034] In this embodiment, the first surface 41 of the bracket 4 is attached to the back surface 12 by screws, but it can also be fixed by other means such as welding. Also, in this embodiment, the other wing 31 of the spring hinge 3 is attached to the second surface 42 of the bracket 4 by screws, but it can also be fixed by other means such as welding. The step (protruding width) of the second surface 42 can be changed as needed depending on the size of the space required to store the handle portion H of the connector C.

[0035] In this embodiment, the third surface 43 of the bracket 4 is formed on the opposite side of the second surface 42 to the first surface 41, and is formed facing upward at a right angle to the second surface 42. As a result, when the connector holder 2 rotates upward (standing direction), when one wing 31 of the spring hinge 3 closes from a predetermined opening angle (180°) to a predetermined angle (90°), the other wing 31 of the spring hinge 3 or the connector holder 2 abuts against the third surface 43 of the bracket 4, thereby preventing the rotation.

[0036] This prevents the connector holder 2 from rotating while it is in an upright position. The rotation angle of the connector holder 2 can be changed as needed depending on the shape of the third surface portion 43. For example, the rotation angle can be changed to an angle other than 90°. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2(a), a fourth surface portion 44 is formed on the opposite side of the third surface portion 43 from the second surface portion 42, parallel to the second surface portion 42. This allows the end of the fourth surface portion 44 to abut against the back surface portion 12 (vertical surface S), preventing deformation of the bracket 4 by the spring hinge 3 and improving shape stability.

[0037] [6] Cable hook 1(a) and 1(b), in the storage space of the storage box 1, a cable hook 6 is provided above the connector holder 2 on the back surface 12 (vertical surface S). This allows the EV charging cable A to be stored by hanging it on the cable hook 6 while the cable is wound around the connector holder 2. The cable hook 6 is preferably located above the connector holder 2, but can also be located below, and the number and shape of the cable hooks 6 are not particularly limited.

[0038] "Example of modified EV charging cable storage structure" In this embodiment, a storage structure using the storage box 1 is employed, but a storage structure that does not use the storage box 1 can also be employed. For example, the connector holder 2, spring hinge 3, and bracket 4 can be directly attached to the wall of a house, garage, or the like, with the wall serving as a vertical plane S. This allows the connector C to be stored facing downward rather than sideways, which not only makes the storage space more compact but also prevents the problem of objects or people bumping into the connector C and damaging the connector C or connector holder 2. When the storage box 1 is not used, the side surfaces that divide the storage space can be formed by a wall surface or a partition plate, and the side surfaces and front surface can also be omitted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 1 storage box 11 Front 11a Opening and closing door 12 Back part 12a Intermediate plate material 13 Side part 13a Intermediate plate material 14 Top plate 15 Bottom plate part 15a Cable hole 2 Connector holder 3 spring hinges 31 Wing 4 Bracket 41 First page 42 Second surface part 43 Third side part 44 Fourth side 5 Cable hooks A EV charging cable C Connector H Handle part S vertical plane N corner material

Claims

1. This EV charging cable storage structure has a connector holder attached to a vertical surface, into which the connector of an EV charging cable can be inserted and attached from the front side, and the lower part of the connector holder is connected to the vertical surface via a spring hinge, so that when the connector is attached to the connector holder, the weight of the connector and EV charging cable causes the connector holder to rotate downward.

2. The EV charging cable storage structure according to claim 1 , wherein the spring hinge is attached to the vertical surface via a bracket.

3. 3. The EV charging cable storage structure according to claim 2, wherein the spring hinge has both wing portions biased in a closing direction from a predetermined opening angle, and the bracket has a first surface portion attached to the vertical surface, a stepped second surface portion continuous with the first surface portion and to which one wing portion of the spring hinge is attached, and a third surface portion continuous with the second surface portion and against which the other wing portion of the spring hinge to which a connector holder is attached or the connector holder abuts in a closed state.

4. 3. The EV charging cable storage structure according to claim 1, wherein a storage box is used in which a storage space is formed inside a front portion, a back portion, and both side portions each having an opening / closing door, and a connector holder is attached to the inside of the back portion, which is the vertical surface.

5. 5. The EV charging cable storage structure according to claim 4, wherein both side surfaces of the storage box are configured by connecting one or more intermediate plate members between corner members on the rear side and corner members on the front side.

6. The EV charging cable storage structure according to claim 5, wherein the rear portion of the storage box is configured by connecting an intermediate plate material of the same type as the both side portions between corner members on the rear portion side.

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