Vehicle lid device

Abstract

To prevent dripping of moisture to a supply port in a lid opening.SOLUTION: A vehicular lid device includes: a box which is mounted on a vehicle body side part, and has a storage space for storing a supply port for supplying energy to a vehicle, a communication hole communicating the storage space with a vehicle body depth side, and an opening for exposing the supply port to a vehicle body outer part; a lid which is opened / closed between a close position where the opening is closed and an open position where the opening is opened; and an opening / closing mechanism which is interposed between the box and the lid, and allows the lid to be opened / closes relative to the box around an axial line provided on an upper edge side of the opening. The opening / closing mechanism has a hinge arm which spreads in a plate shape in a direction including an axial direction in which the axial line extends, and closes a gap between the box and the lid formed on an upper part of the opening when the lid is opened. Each of both ends in the axial direction of the hinge arm is positioned closer to an outside in the axial direction than an edge end in the axial direction in the supply port or the communication hole.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a lid device for a vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a lid device for a vehicle mounted on a vehicle has been known (for example, Patent Document 1). This lid device for a vehicle is a device that opens and closes an opening of a box that houses a supply port for supplying energy to the vehicle using a lid. The box is arranged on the inner side of the vehicle body. The opening of the box communicates with the outside of the vehicle body through the vehicle body opening, and exposes the supply port to the outside of the vehicle body. The lid opens and closes between a closed position where the opening is closed and an open position where the opening is opened by a hinge. The hinge is interposed between the box and the lid, and causes the lid to open and close with respect to the box around an axis provided on the upper edge side of the opening.

[0003] The above-described lid device for a vehicle includes a cover member that covers the opening when the lid is in the open position or when the lid is opening and closing. The cover member is formed in a plate shape or a sheet shape. The cover is positioned so as to connect the peripheral edges of three sides excluding the hinge side of the lid and the edge excluding the upper edge of the opening when the lid is in the open position. Therefore, according to the cover member, it is possible to suppress raindrops from entering from the outside of the opening into the supply port inside the opening when the lid is in the open position or when it is opening and closing.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the lid device for a vehicle described in Patent Document 1 mentioned above, the hinge is composed of a pair of arms that are divided into left and right when viewed from the front of the lid. In this hinge structure, when the lid is opened, a gap between the box and the lid at the upper part of the opening is exposed to the outside. Therefore, in this hinge structure, when the lid is opened, rainwater or the like that falls on the upper part of the vehicle body or the surface of the lid in the open state rather than on the side surface of the vehicle body where the box is attached cannot be blocked and directly drips from the outside of the upper edge of the opening into the supply port in the opening through the above gap, and there is a risk that moisture adheres to the supply port.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of such points, and an object thereof is to provide a lid device for a vehicle capable of preventing dripping of moisture onto the supply port when the lid is open.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] One aspect of the present invention includes a box attached to a side surface portion of a vehicle body, having a storage space for storing a supply port for supplying energy to the vehicle, a communication hole communicating the storage space with the rear side of the vehicle body, and an opening for exposing the supply port to the outside of the vehicle body, a lid that opens and closes between a closed position for closing the opening and an open position for opening the opening, and an opening / closing mechanism interposed between the box and the lid for opening and closing the lid with respect to the box about an axis provided on the upper edge side of the opening. The opening / closing mechanism has a hinge arm that spreads in a plate shape in a direction including the axial direction in which the axis extends, and closes a gap between the box and the lid formed at the upper part of the opening when the lid is open. Both ends of the hinge arm in the axial direction are respectively located outside the axial direction with respect to the axial edge ends of the supply port or the communication hole. It is a lid device for a vehicle.

[0008] According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent dripping of moisture onto the supply port when the lid is open.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10, specific embodiments and modified forms of the vehicle lid device according to the present invention will be described.

[0011] The vehicle lid device 1 according to one embodiment is a device that opens and closes a lid that can open and close a vehicle body opening provided in a vehicle. The vehicle lid device 1 is mounted on vehicles such as gasoline vehicles, diesel vehicles, electric vehicles, and hybrid vehicles.

[0012] As shown in Fig. 1, the vehicle has body side portions 2 such as the left and right sides of the body, the front of the body, and the rear of the body. A body opening 2a is provided in the body side portion 2. The body opening 2a is an opening in which a supply port 3 (shown by a dashed line in Fig. 2) for supplying energy to the vehicle is arranged. The body opening 2a penetrates the body in the front-back direction, which is the inside-outside direction of the body.

[0013] The supply port 3 is a fuel supply port for refueling or a charging port for battery charging. The supply port 3 is arranged so as to be exposed to the outside of the vehicle body through the body opening 2a in the lid open state. The supply port 3 is provided at one end of a fuel pipe or an electric wire. The other end of this fuel pipe or electric wire is connected to a fuel tank or a battery arranged on the inner side of the body (that is, the inside of the vehicle body). A fuel gun or a charging gun for energy supply can be connected to the supply port 3 in the cap open state. Note that the supply port 3 may be covered with a cap that can be opened and closed by manual operation of the operator for dust prevention, waterproofing, etc.

[0014] The vehicle lid device 1 includes a box 10, a lid 20, and an opening / closing mechanism 30. Hereinafter, the direction (for example, left and right) and the arrangement will be shown based on when viewed from the front side of the lid 20.

[0015] The box 10 is a box body that houses the supply port 3. The box 10 is arranged on the inner side of the body side portion 2 of the vehicle body so as to fit into the body opening 2a. As shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, the box 10 has one bottom wall portion 11, four peripheral wall portions 12, an opening portion 13, and a housing space 14.

[0016] The bottom wall portion 11 is a portion that spreads out in a rectangular plate shape. The peripheral wall portion 12 is connected to the peripheral edge of the bottom wall portion 11, and the four peripheral wall portions 12 are wall portions erected from the peripheral edge of the bottom wall portion 11 so as to surround the bottom wall portion. The bottom wall portion 11 and the peripheral wall portion 12 form an accommodation space 14 for accommodating the supply port 3. The bottom wall portion 11 has a communication hole 11a. The communication hole 11a is a passage through which an oil supply pipe and an electric wire extend by connecting the accommodation space 14 and the rear side of the vehicle body of the bottom wall portion 11, and is a through hole necessary for accommodating the supply port 3 in the accommodation space 14. The communication hole 11a is provided at the center of the bottom wall portion 11. The supply port 3 is exposed to the outside of the vehicle body through the opening 13 and the vehicle body opening 2a when the lid is opened while being accommodated in the accommodation space 14.

[0017] The opening 13 is an opening provided in the box 10. The opening 13 is provided on the side facing the bottom wall portion 11 with the accommodation space 14 interposed therebetween. The opening 13 is opened and closed by the lid 20. The opening 13 is closed when the lid 20 is in the closed position and is opened when the lid 20 is not in the closed position. The opening 13 exposes the supply port 3 in the accommodation space 14 to the outside of the vehicle when opened. The box 10 is attached to the vehicle body side surface portion 2 so that the opening 13 faces horizontally or slightly obliquely upward from the horizontal direction.

[0018] The box 10 has a frame portion 15. The frame portion 15 is formed in an annular shape along the peripheral edge of the opening 13 at the protruding end of the peripheral wall portion 12. The frame portion 15 is formed in a flange shape so as to extend outward from the peripheral edge of the opening 13. The box 10 is positioned on the vehicle body side surface portion 2, for example, by the back surface of the frame portion 15 abutting against the peripheral edge of the vehicle body opening of the vehicle body side surface portion 2.

[0019] The box 10 still has a discharge hole (not shown). This discharge hole is a hole for discharging the water accumulated at the bottom of the accommodation space 14 to the outside of the accommodation space 14, that is, the box 10. This discharge hole is provided in the wall (for example, the peripheral wall portion 12 or the boundary between the peripheral wall portion 12 and the bottom wall portion 11) forming the bottom of the accommodation space 14, and penetrates the wall in the vertical direction. The moisture that has entered the accommodation space 14 and reached its bottom is discharged to the outside of the box 10 through the discharge hole.

[0020] The lid 20 is a lid member that closes the opening 13 of the box 10. The lid 20 can be opened and closed between a closed position (specifically, a fully closed position) for closing the opening 13 and an open position (specifically, a fully open position) for opening the opening 13. The lid 20 is rotatably supported with respect to the box 10. The lid 20 is formed in a plate shape. The lid 20 is formed in a shape (for example, a substantially rectangular shape) and size corresponding to the opening 13. The lid 20 closes the opening 13 by contacting the frame portion 15 at the periphery of the opening 13 or the peripheral portion of the vehicle body opening 2a of the vehicle body side surface portion 2 in the closed position of the lid 20. Incidentally, the surface of the lid 20 may be curved in accordance with the surface shape of the vehicle body side surface portion 2 or the like.

[0021] The lid 20 can be opened and closed by manual operation of the operator between the closed position and the open position. The lid 20 can be locked in the closed position by a locking member (not shown). Further, when an unlocking operation (for example, a wire pulling operation or the like) is performed in the locked state in the closed position, the lid 20 can be opened by the biasing force of a spring 34 described later. Incidentally, instead of manual operation by the operator, the lid 20 may be opened and closed using a driving force such as a motor.

[0022] The lid 20 has a lid body 21 and a lid inner 22. The lid body 21 is a plate portion that is flush with the vehicle body side surface portion 2 in the closed position of the lid 20. The lid inner 22 is a portion that closes the communication hole 11a of the bottom wall portion 11 of the box 10 in the closed position of the lid 20. When closing the communication hole 11a, the lid inner 22 contacts the surface of the bottom wall portion 11 of the box 10 via an annular gasket 23. The lid inner 22 is integrated with the lid body 21 via a hinge arm 32 described later. For example, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the lid inner 22 is screwed to the back surface side of the hinge arm 32 using a screw 24. And the hinge arm 32 is fitted and fixed to the back surface side of the lid body 21.

[0023] The opening and closing mechanism 30 is a mechanism that opens and closes the lid 20 with respect to the box 10 between a closed position and an open position around an axis 31, and is a so-called gooseneck type. The opening and closing mechanism 30 is interposed between the box 10 and the lid 20. The opening and closing mechanism 30 opens the lid 20 upward. The opening and closing mechanism 30 has, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a hinge arm 32, a shaft member 33, a spring 34, and a damper 35.

[0024] The hinge arm 32 is a member that integrally operates with the lid 20 to open and close the lid 20 with respect to the box 10. The hinge arm 32 is rotatable around the axis 31. The axis 31 is a line extending in the left-right direction, and is the rotation center line of the hinge arm 32 and the rotation center line of the shaft member 33. Incidentally, the axis 31 may extend in a horizontal left-right direction or may be inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. The axis 31 is provided on the upper edge side of the opening 13 of the box 10. Specifically, the axis 31 extends in the left-right direction above the upper edge of the opening 13 in a space on the vehicle body inner side with respect to the vehicle body side surface portion 2.

[0025] The hinge arm 32 extends in a plate shape in a direction including the axial direction in which the axis 31 extends. The hinge arm 32 has a surface including both the axial direction of the axis 31 and the radial direction intersecting the axis 31, and extends in an arm shape with the axis 31 as a base point. The hinge arm 32 has support feet 32a. The support feet 32a are arm-shaped support parts that connect the axis 31 and the main body of the hinge arm 32. A pair of support feet 32a are provided at an axial distance from each other.

[0026] Each support foot 32a has a fixing hole 32b for fixing a shaft member 33 described later. The fixing hole 32b is provided at one end of the support foot 32a. The shaft member 33 is fixed to the fixing hole 32b at both axial ends and is integrated with the support foot 32a and thus the hinge arm 32. Each support foot 32a extends from the fixing hole 32b side toward the rear of the vehicle body. The other end of each support foot 32a is connected to the main body of the hinge arm 32. The main body of the hinge arm 32 is formed to be curved so as not to interfere with the box 10 or the like during the opening and closing operation of the lid 20. The main body of the hinge arm 32 is formed to be wide in the axial direction.

[0027] The bottom wall portion 11 of the box 10 has a through hole 11b different from the communication hole 11a. The through hole 11b is a hole through which the hinge arm 32 passes. The through hole 11b is provided above the communication hole 11a in the bottom wall portion 11. The through hole 11b is formed in a rectangular shape according to the axial width of the hinge arm 32. Incidentally, the axial width of the through hole 11b may be a width that does not cause interference with the hinge arm 32 at the peripheral portion of the through hole 11b, and may be larger than the axial width of the main body of the hinge arm 32. The hinge arm 32 protrudes from the axis 31 through the through hole 11b toward the accommodation space 14 side.

[0028] The hinge arm 32 can block the gap between the box 10 formed at the upper part of the opening 13 and the lid 20 when the lid 20 is opened. The hinge arm 32 has a through plate portion 32c. The through plate portion 32c is a portion near the axis 31 in the hinge arm 32 that penetrates the through hole 11b. The through plate portion 32c is formed in a wide plate shape so as to be continuous in the axial direction without a gap. The through plate portion 32c continuously blocks the gap between the box 10 and the lid 20 from below the gap when the lid 20 opens and closes between the closed position and the open position and when the lid 20 is in the open position.

[0029] The through plate portion 32c is formed to have a size capable of covering the range occupied by the supply port 3 in the axial direction. That is, the axial width of the through plate portion 32c is preferably equal to or greater than the axial width of the supply port 3 and exceeds the width of the supply port 3 in the width direction. The through plate portion 32c is arranged to cover the axial range of the supply port 3 above the supply port 3. That is, both axial ends of the through plate portion 32c are located axially outside the axial edge ends of the supply port 3, respectively. Specifically, both ends of the through plate portion 32c are located axially the same as or axially outside the edge ends of the supply port 3, respectively.

[0030] In addition, regarding the width and arrangement, the "supply port 3" may include not only the supply port 3 itself as a space but also the cylindrical member forming the periphery of the supply port 3. In this regard, for example, the "axial width of the supply port 3" may be the axial width of the supply port 3 itself or the width between the outer edge ends in the axial direction of the cylindrical member forming the periphery of the supply port 3.

[0031] Also, the through plate portion 32c may be formed in a shape that does not incline in the axial direction between the closed position and the open position including the open position of the lid 20, but it may be inclined from one axial end side to the other axial end side, or may be inclined downward from the axial center portion to both axial end sides, respectively.

[0032] The hinge arm 32 has a lid attachment portion 32d. The lid attachment portion 32d is a portion to be attached to the lid body 21. The lid attachment portion 32d is provided at the protruding tip of the hinge arm 32. The lid attachment portion 32d is arranged such that its surface is along the back surface of the lid body 21, and is fitted and fixed to the back surface side of the lid body 21. The lid 20 opens and closes with rotation about the axis 31 of the hinge arm 32. The lid inner 22 is attached to the back surface side of the lid attachment portion 32d using a screw 24.

[0033] The shaft member 33 is a shaft body constituting the axis 31. The shaft member 33 is arranged in the space on the inner side of the side surface portion 2 of the vehicle body, and extends in the left - right direction above the upper edge of the opening 13. The shaft member 33 is fixed to the fixing hole 32b of the support foot portion 32a of the hinge arm 32 and is integrated with the hinge arm 32. The shaft member 33 rotates integrally with the hinge arm 32 about the axis 31.

[0034] The box 10 has a support portion 16 that rotatably supports the shaft member 33. The support portion 16 protrudes upward from the peripheral wall portion 12 or the bottom wall portion 11 at the upper part of the box 10. A pair of support portions 16 are provided apart in the left - right direction. Each of the pair of support portions 16 has an axial hole 16a facing each other in the axial direction. Both ends of the shaft member 33 are inserted into the pair of axial holes 16a. The shaft member 33 is rotatably supported by the support portion 16.

[0035] Spring 34 is a spring member that generates a biasing force for biasing the lid 20 from the closed position toward the open position. Spring 34 is externally inserted into the shaft member 33. One end of spring 34 is supported by the shaft member 33. The other end of spring 34 is supported on the box 10 side (specifically, the support portion 16). Spring 34 rotates the hinge arm 32 by transmitting the biasing force to the shaft member 33, thereby causing the lid 20 to perform an opening operation. The biasing force of spring 34 is maximum at the closed position of lid 20 and minimum at the open position (fully open position) of lid 20. Lid 20 performs an opening operation by the biasing force of spring 34 when the lock is released by a lock release operation or the like from the state of being locked in the closed position.

[0036] Damper 35 is a member that moderates the speed when the lid 20 performs an opening operation. Damper 35 is disposed on the axis of the shaft member 33. Damper 35 is covered axially by the damper cover 36. Damper 35 reduces the speed of lid 20 by utilizing, for example, the viscosity of oil when the lid 20 performs an opening operation.

[0037] As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, the opening and closing mechanism 30 has a latch mechanism portion 40. The latch mechanism portion 40 is a mechanism that holds the lid 20 at a predetermined opening angle between the closed position and the open position. The latch mechanism portion 40 has a box-side adjustment portion 41 provided on the box 10 side and a lid-side adjustment portion 42 provided on the lid 20 side. The box-side adjustment portion 41 and the lid-side adjustment portion 42 can engage with each other to hold the lid 20 at a predetermined opening angle between the closed position and the open position against the biasing force of the spring 34.

[0038] The box-side adjustment part 41 is a protrusion that projects axially inward so as to be able to contact the lid 20 side (specifically, the lid-side adjustment part 42) during the opening and closing operation of the lid 20. The box-side adjustment part 41 may be provided on at least one of the pair of support parts 16 of the box 10. The box-side adjustment part 41 is located at a position radially away from the shaft hole 16a on the axially inner surface of the support part 16 and is arranged on the movement locus of the lid-side adjustment part 42 during the lid opening and closing operation.

[0039] The latch mechanism part 40 can adjust the opening angle at which the lid 20 is held from among a plurality of angles. That is, a plurality (three in this embodiment) of box-side adjustment parts 41 are provided. These plurality of box-side adjustment parts 41 are arranged side by side at intervals in the circumferential direction centered on the shaft hole 16a. Note that the number of box-side adjustment parts 41 is set according to the number of opening angles at which the lid 20 can be held.

[0040] The lid-side adjustment part 42 is a protrusion that projects axially so as to be able to contact the box-side adjustment part 41 during the opening and closing operation of the lid 20. The lid-side adjustment part 42 is provided, for example, on the support foot part 32a of the pair of support foot parts 32a of the hinge arm 32 that corresponds to the support part 16 on which the box-side adjustment part 41 is provided. The lid-side adjustment part 42 is arranged at a position radially away from the fixing hole 32b on the axially outer surface of the support foot part 32a. The lid-side adjustment part 42 is linearly provided so as to extend in the radial direction. The lid-side adjustment part 42 sequentially contacts the plurality of box-side adjustment parts 41 on the box 10 side during the process in which the opening angle of the lid 20 changes during the opening and closing operation of the lid 20.

[0041] The position where the lid-side adjustment part 42 and each box-side adjustment part 41 are in contact may be any position as long as it can suppress the entry of raindrops from the front side of the lid 20 into the accommodation space 14 more than the lid open position (i.e., the fully open position; for example, an opening angle of 90°), and is a position where the opening angle of the lid 20 is smaller than the lid open position. This position is, for example, a position where the opening angle is 65°, 75°, or 85° based on the closed position (opening angle 0°) of the lid 20.

[0042] When the lid-side adjustment part 42 is in contact with each box-side adjustment part 41 when the biasing force of the spring 34 acts from the closed position of the lid 20, it can move over all the box-side adjustment parts 41 by the inertial force of the lid 20 and reach the open position of the lid 20. Further, the lid-side adjustment part 42 can be held in a state of engaging with the box-side adjustment part 41 against the biasing force of the spring 34 when the operator manually returns the lid 20 in the open state to the closed position side. The operator can adjust the return position of the lid 20 to select the box-side adjustment part 41 with which the lid-side adjustment part 42 engages.

[0043] Next, the operation of the vehicle lid device 1 will be described. In the vehicle lid device 1, during vehicle travel or the like, the lid 20 is in the closed position closing the opening 13 of the box 10. In this case, the lid 20 is locked in the closed position by the locking member against the biasing force of the spring 34. In the closed position of the lid 20, since the supply port 3 in the accommodation space 14 of the box 10 is not exposed to the outside of the vehicle body, it is impossible to connect a fueling gun or a charging gun to the supply port 3.

[0044] When an operator such as a vehicle driver or a vehicle user wishes to refuel or charge the battery of the vehicle with the lid 20 in the closed position, after stopping the vehicle, the operator performs the operations necessary to open the lid 20 to the open position with respect to the vehicle. This operation includes an unlocking operation for unlocking the lock in the closed position of the lid 20, and depending on the situation of the operator, for example, approaching the vehicle while carrying the smart key corresponding to the vehicle and causing the vehicle to perform authentication through communication between the vehicle and the portable device, an opening instruction by an application on a smartphone, a pressing operation of an open switch button arranged inside the vehicle, or a pulling operation of an open lever arranged inside the vehicle.

[0045] When the above operation is performed, the lock at the closed position of the lid 20 is released and the lid 20 performs an opening operation. Specifically, when the lock at the closed position of the lid 20 is released, the shaft member 33 rotates due to the biasing force of the spring 34 of the opening / closing mechanism 30, and the hinge arm 32 rotates about the axis 31. Therefore, the lid 20 performs an opening operation about the axis 31 from the closed position. Then, the lid 20 reaches the open position.

[0046] Also, when the operator wishes to return the lid 20 to the closed position after refueling the vehicle or charging the battery is completed, the operator manually closes the lid 20 against the biasing force of the spring 34 to the closed position. When the lid 20 is closed and reaches the closed position, the locking member holds the lid 20 in the closed position. Thereby, the lid 20 is locked in the closed position.

[0047] Thus, in the vehicle lid device 1, the lid 20 can be opened and closed between the closed position and the open position. The opening and closing operation of the lid 20 is performed about the axis 31 extending in the left - right direction above the upper edge of the opening 13. For this reason, in the open position of the lid 20, the lid body 21 of the lid 20 is in a hood - like state covering the opening 13 from above, so that the entry of moisture such as raindrops from above the opening 13 into the accommodation space 14 can be suppressed.

[0048] Moreover, the opening / closing mechanism 30 has a hinge arm 32. The through - plate portion 32c of this hinge arm 32 closes the gap between the box 10 (specifically, the upper edge of the opening 13) formed above the opening 13 and the lid 20 (specifically, the peripheral edge of the lid body 21 (more specifically, the upper edge of the lid body 21 at the lid closed position)) from below in the open position of the lid 20. The through - plate portion 32c is formed in a wide - plate shape so as to be continuous without a gap in the axial direction. And both axial ends of the through - plate portion 32c are located axially outside the axial edge ends at the supply port 3, respectively.

[0049] In this structure, even if raindrops or the like enter the gap between the box 10 and the lid 20 formed above the opening 13 and the moisture is guided to both axial ends of the through plate portion 32c of the hinge arm 32 and drops from both axial ends thereof, the dropping of the moisture occurs outside the range occupied by the supply port 3 in the axial direction. Therefore, according to the vehicle lid device 1, it is possible to prevent the moisture that has entered from the gap between the box 10 and the lid 20 formed above the opening 13 when the lid is opened from dripping onto the supply port 3. For this reason, it is possible to prevent water from entering or adhering to the supply port 3, and to avoid the occurrence of water mixing into the fuel tank or a short circuit of the battery.

[0050] In addition, even if the moisture that has dropped from both axial ends of the through plate portion 32c of the hinge arm 32 enters the accommodation space 14, it does not enter the supply port 3 and gathers at the bottom of the accommodation space 14, and is discharged to the outside of the box 10 through the discharge hole of the box 10. For this reason, it is possible to prevent moisture from staying in the accommodation space 14 and improve the waterproof function of preventing moisture from entering or adhering to the supply port 3.

[0051] Further, the opening / closing mechanism 30 has a latch mechanism portion 40. The latch mechanism portion 40 is a mechanism capable of adjusting the opening angle at which the lid 20 is held. In this structure, the opening angle at which the lid 20 is held can be made smaller than the opening position of the lid 20, and the holding position in the open state of the lid 20 can be set on the closing position side. For this reason, it is possible to suppress the entry of moisture such as raindrops into the accommodation space 14 at the opening position of the lid 20, and further improve the waterproof function of the supply port 3.

[0052] By the way, in the above embodiment, both axial ends of the hinge arm 32 of the opening / closing mechanism 30 are located outside the axial edge at the supply port 3 in the axial direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and both axial ends of the hinge arm 32 of the opening / closing mechanism 30 may be located outside the axial edge at the communication hole 11a of the box 10 in the axial direction.

[0053] Generally, the size of the communication hole 11a provided in the bottom wall portion 11 of the box 10 is larger than the size of the supply port 3 accommodated in the accommodation space 14. Therefore, also in the structure of the above-described modified form, even if the moisture that has entered the gap between the box 10 and the lid 20 formed above the opening 13 when the lid is opened drops from both axial ends of the through plate portion 32c of the hinge arm 32, the drop occurs outside the range occupied by the supply port 3 in the axial direction. Thus, the same effects as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

[0054] Also, in the above-described embodiment, the latch mechanism portion 40 of the opening / closing mechanism 30 is assumed to include a box-side adjustment portion 41 provided on the box 10 side (specifically, the support portion 16) and a lid-side adjustment portion 42 provided on the lid 20 side (specifically, the support foot portion 32a of the hinge arm 32). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the box-side adjustment portion 41 of the latch mechanism portion 40 may be provided on the periphery of the shaft hole 16a, and the lid-side adjustment portion 42 may be provided on the shaft member 33.

[0055] Also, in the above-described embodiment, the hinge arm 32 of the opening / closing mechanism 30 is made wide to prevent dripping of moisture onto the supply port 3. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and further, in order to improve the prevention function of preventing entry and adhesion of moisture to the supply port 3, the opening / closing mechanism 30 may have a cover member 50 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

[0056] In the lid device 1 for a vehicle of this modified form, the cover member 50 is a member that covers a part of the opening 13 in the open position of the lid 20. Specifically, the cover member 50 fills at least a part of the exposed gap of the accommodation space 14 formed between the peripheral edge of the lid body 21 and the peripheral edge of the opening 13 in the open position of the lid 20. The cover member 50 is formed in a plate shape or a sheet shape. The cover member 50 is attached to the back surface side of the lid 20. The cover member 50 is folded and stored on the back surface side of the lid 20 in the closed position of the lid 20. Further, the cover member 50 is deployed so as to cover the opening 13 from the back surface side of the lid 20 in a state where the lid 20 is in an opening operation from the closed position to the open position (that is, a state where the lid 20 is in the middle of the opening operation or a state where the lid 20 has reached the open position).

[0057] The cover member 50 has a front cover portion 51 and two side cover portions 52. Note that the cover member 50 may have either the front cover portion 51 or the side cover portion 52, or may have at least the side cover portion 52. The front cover portion 51 is a portion that fills at least a part of the gap between the lower edge of the lid body 21 and the lower edge of the opening 13 in the open position of the lid 20. The front cover portion 51 is formed in a rectangular shape. The two side cover portions 52 are portions that fill at least a part of the gaps between the left and right ends of the lid body 21 and the left and right ends of the opening 13 in the open position of the lid 20. Each side cover portion 52 is formed in a triangular shape or a fan shape.

[0058] The front cover portion 51 and the side cover portions 52 are in a stored state folded on the back surface side of the lid 20 in a predetermined order in the closed position of the lid 20. In this stored state, for example, each side cover portion 52 is in contact with the back surface of the lid 20 and the front cover portion 51 sandwiches the two side cover portions 52 between itself and the back surface of the lid 20, and the cover portions 51, 52 are folded and laminated. Conversely, in the stored state, the front cover portion 51 may be in contact with the back surface of the lid 20 and each side cover portion 52 may sandwich the front cover portion 51 between itself and the back surface of the lid 20, and the cover portions 51, 52 may be folded and laminated.

[0059] The cover member 50 is locked by a locking member (not shown) in the stored state when the lid 20 is in the closed position. This locking member can lock the cover member 50 in the stored state or release the lock by manual operation or switch operation of the operator. Note that the locking of the cover member 50 in the stored state may be performed using a driving force such as a motor. Also, the unlocking of the cover member 50 in the stored state, that is, the deployment, may be performed using a driving force such as a motor, or may be performed by the own weight of the cover member 50 when the lid 20 is in the middle of the opening operation or when the lid 20 reaches the open position.

[0060] In the structure of this modified form, during the opening operation of the lid 20 or in the open position, the cover member 50 is deployed so as to cover the opening 13 from the back side of the lid 20 as shown in FIG. 9. According to this structure, in the open position of the lid 20, the front cover portion 51 fills at least a part of the gap between the periphery of the lid body 21 (more specifically, the lower edge of the lid body 21 in the lid closed position) and the lower edge of the opening 13, and the side cover portion 52 fills at least a part of the gap between the left and right ends of the lid body 21 and the left and right ends of the opening 13. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the moisture entering the accommodation space 14 through the opening 13 from the outside of the box 10, and it is possible to improve the waterproof function of moisture to the supply port 3.

[0061] By the way, in the above-mentioned modified form, if the cover member 50 remains deployed when the lid 20 moves from the open position to the closed position, the cover member 50 may interfere with the box 10 or the vehicle body side surface portion 2, and the lid 20 may not reach the closed position. As a result, the lid 20 or the vehicle body side surface portion 2 may be damaged.

[0062] Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10, the vehicle lid device 1 may be provided with a control device 60 that performs control necessary during the opening and closing operations of the lid 20. The control device 60 detects when the cover member 50 is not in the above-described stored state when the lid 20 performs a closing operation from the open position toward the closed position, and when such detection is made, it is possible to execute a process of stopping the closing operation of the lid 20. The control device 60 is mainly configured by a microcomputer. Note that the control device 60 may be arranged near the box 10, or may be arranged on the back side of the vehicle body away from the box 10.

[0063] The control device 60 includes a detection unit 61 and a process execution unit 62. The detection unit 61 is a part that detects when the cover member 50 is not in the stored state when the lid 20 performs a closing operation from the open position toward the closed position. The detection unit 61 performs the above-described detection based on a signal output from a sensor / switch 63 arranged on the back side of the lid 20 or the like. A plurality of types of sensor / switches 63 may be provided, and they may be a pressure sensor, a contact sensor, an angle sensor, a proximity sensor, a camera, or the like. The sensor / switch 63 may be arranged on the lid 20, or may be arranged on the box 10.

[0064] The process execution unit 62 is a part that executes a closing operation stop process for stopping the closing operation of the lid 20 when it is detected that the cover member 50 is not in the stored state during the opening operation of the lid 20. As the closing operation stop process, for example, the process of physically stopping the above-described closing operation by the protrusion of a stopper member (not shown) by the operator, or the process of warning or alerting the operator performing the above-described closing operation by voice or display.

[0065] The stop process for the lid closing operation is executed by an electrical signal supplied from the process execution unit 62 to the motor 64. The motor 64 generates a driving force that projects the stopper member onto the movement locus during the lid closing operation of the lid 20 in accordance with a command from the process execution unit 62, physically stopping the lid closing operation of the lid 20. Incidentally, the motor 64 may be disposed in the vicinity of the shaft member 33 and move the stopper member forward and backward with respect to the rotation locus of the shaft member 33.

[0066] In addition, the warning process and the attention - calling process are executed by an electrical signal supplied from the process execution unit 62 to the buzzer speaker 65 and the warning display 66. The buzzer speaker 65 emits a warning sound or an attention - calling message that prompts the operator who is closing the lid 20 to stop the closing operation in accordance with a command from the process execution unit 62. Also, the warning display 66 performs a warning display or an attention - calling display that prompts the operator who is closing the lid 20 to stop the closing operation in accordance with a command from the process execution unit 62. The buzzer speaker 65 may be disposed on the back side of the box or the like. Also, the warning display 66 may turn on the periphery of the box 10 or the lid 20 in red, or display an attention - calling message on the surface of the lid 20.

[0067] According to the configuration of this modified form, it is possible to detect that the cover member 50 is not in the stored state when the lid 20 performs a closing operation from the open position toward the closed position. Based on this detection, during the closing operation of the lid 20, the closing operation can be forcibly stopped using the motor 64, or the operator can be notified of the omission of storing the cover member 50 using the buzzer speaker 65. Therefore, it is possible to prevent damage to the cover member 50, the box 10, the side surface portion 2 of the vehicle body, etc. caused by the omission of storing the cover member 50 during the closing operation of the lid 20.

[0068] Incidentally, the present invention is not limited to the above - described embodiments and modified forms, and various changes can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0069] 1: Vehicle lid device, 2: Side surface part of vehicle body, 2a: Opening of vehicle body, 3: Supply port, 10: Box, 11: Bottom wall part, 11a: Communication hole, 11b: Through hole, 12: Peripheral wall part, 13: Opening part, 14: Accommodation space, 20: Lid, 21: Lid body, 30: Opening / closing mechanism, 31: Axis line, 32: Hinge arm, 33: Shaft member, 34: Spring, 40: Latch mechanism part, 41: Box side adjustment part, 42: Lid side adjustment part, 50: Cover member, 51: Front cover part, 52: Side cover part, 60: Control device, 61: Detection part, 62: Processing execution part, 63: Sensor / switch, 64: Motor, 65: Buzzer speaker, 66: Warning indicator.

Claims

1. A box having a storage space for housing a supply port for supplying energy to a vehicle, which is attached to a side surface of a vehicle body, a communication hole for communicating the storage space with the rear side of the vehicle body, and an opening for exposing the supply port to the outside of the vehicle body; A lid that opens and closes between a closed position for closing the opening and an open position for opening the opening; An opening and closing mechanism interposed between the box and the lid, for opening and closing the lid with respect to the box about an axis provided on an upper edge side of the opening; Comprising: The opening and closing mechanism has a hinge arm that spreads in a plate shape in a direction including the axial direction in which the axis extends, and closes a gap between the box and the lid formed at an upper portion of the opening when the lid is opened; The hinge arm: A lid attachment portion attached to the lid; A support foot portion fixed to a shaft body that rotates about the axis; A through plate portion that closes the gap from below and is inclined downward from one end side to the other end side in the axial direction or is inclined downward from the central portion in the axial direction to both end sides; Having: A vehicle lid device, wherein both ends in the axial direction of the through plate portion are respectively located axially outside the edge ends in the axial direction of the supply port or the communication hole.

2. The opening and closing mechanism of the vehicle lid device according to claim 1, having a latch mechanism portion that holds the lid at a predetermined opening angle between the closed position and the open position.

3. The opening and closing mechanism has a cover member attached to a back surface side of the lid, The cover member is stored on the back surface side of the lid in the closed position of the lid, and is deployed to cover the opening from the back surface side of the lid in a state where the lid is opened from the closed position to the open position. The vehicle lid device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. A detection unit that detects that the cover member is not in a stored state when the lid closes from the open position toward the closed position; A process execution unit that executes a process of stopping the closing operation of the lid when the detection is made by the detection unit; The vehicle lid device according to claim 3, comprising:

5. A box having a storage space for housing a supply port for supplying energy to a vehicle, which is attached to a side surface of a vehicle body, a communication hole for communicating the storage space with the rear side of the vehicle body, and an opening for exposing the supply port to the outside of the vehicle body; A lid that opens and closes between a closed position for closing the opening and an open position for opening the opening; An opening / closing mechanism interposed between the box and the lid and configured to open and close the lid with respect to the box about an axis provided on an upper edge side of the opening; Comprising: The opening / closing mechanism includes: A hinge arm that extends in a plate shape in a direction including an axial direction in which the axis extends and closes a gap between the box and the lid formed at an upper portion of the opening when the lid is opened; A cover member attached to a back surface side of the lid; Having: Both ends of the hinge arm in the axial direction are respectively located axially outside with respect to edge ends in the axial direction of the supply port or the communication hole; The cover member is stored on the back surface side of the lid in the closed position of the lid, and unfolds to cover the opening from the back surface side of the lid in a state where the lid is moved from the closed position to the open position; A detection unit that detects that the cover member is not in a stored state when the lid moves from the open position to the closed position; A processing execution unit that executes a process of stopping the closing operation of the lid when the detection is made by the detection unit; A vehicle lid device comprising:

Images