Cap opening / closing structure

Abstract

This cap opening / closing structure comprises a cap (4), a normally closed mechanism (30), a maintaining mechanism (40), and a release mechanism (50). The cap (4) is opened and closed between a fully closed position (P0), at which a charging port (1) is covered, and a fully open position (P1), at which the charging port (1) is exposed, and the cap swings in a region overlapping a region (S) occupied by a charging connector (9) inserted into the charging port (1). The normally closed mechanism (30) moves in conjunction with the swinging of the cap (4), thereby biasing the cap (4) with a first biasing force in a first rotational direction from the fully open position (P1) toward the fully closed position (P0). When an opening operation of the cap (4) to the fully open position (P1) is released, the maintaining mechanism (40) applies a second biasing force stronger than the first biasing force to the normally closed mechanism (30) in the direction opposite the first rotational direction, thereby maintaining the open state of the cap (4). The release mechanism (50) releases the maintaining of the open state by the maintaining mechanism (40) in conjunction with an operation of inserting the charging connector (9) into the charging port (1).

Description

Cap opening and closing structure

[0001] The present invention relates to a cap opening / closing structure for a cap that opens and closes a charging port provided in a vehicle.

[0002] Charging ports (also called "charging ports" or "inlets") for external charging are provided on the exterior of vehicles such as electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles to charge the propulsion battery with power supplied from outside the vehicle. A charging connector (also called a "charging gun" or "charging cable") is inserted into the charging port to start external charging, and the charging connector is removed when external charging of the battery is finished. Regarding charging ports into which a charging connector is inserted and removed as described above, a technology has been proposed in which a cap is attached to the charging port in an openable and closable manner and a lock is provided to hold the cap closed (see Patent Document 1).

[0003] Patent No. 7207563

[0004] However, in a structure in which the cap of the charging port is held in place by a lock, as in Patent Document 1, the following operational procedures I, II, III, IV, V, and VI are required during external charging. Operational procedure I: Release the lock that holds the cap closed. Operational procedure II: Open the cap. Operational procedure III: Insert the charging connector into the charging port. Operational procedure IV: Remove the charging connector from the charging port after charging is complete. Operational procedure V: Close the cap. Operational procedure VI: Hold the closed cap in place with the lock. If many operational procedures, such as these operational procedures I to VI, are required during external charging, the external charging operation may be complicated, and the operability of external charging may be insufficient. Therefore, there is room for improvement in terms of improving the operability of external charging.

[0005] The cap opening and closing structure of the present invention was invented in consideration of these problems, and one of its objectives is to improve the operability of external charging. However, in addition to this objective, another objective of the present invention is to achieve the effects derived from the respective configurations shown in the "Mode for Carrying Out the Invention" described later, which cannot be obtained by conventional techniques.

[0006] The disclosed cap opening / closing structure can be realized as the following disclosed embodiments (application examples), which solve at least part of the above-mentioned problems. Each of the embodiments from embodiment 2 onwards is an embodiment that can be selected as an additional option, and each of the embodiments from embodiment 2 onwards is an embodiment that can be omitted. None of the embodiments from embodiment 2 onwards discloses an embodiment or configuration that is essential to the present invention.

[0007] Aspect 1. The disclosed cap opening / closing structure includes a cap, a normally-closing mechanism, a holding mechanism, and a release mechanism. The cap opens and closes between a fully-closed position that covers a charging port provided in a vehicle and a fully-open position that exposes the charging port, and is configured to swing freely within a predetermined swing range that overlaps with an occupied area occupied by a charging connector inserted into the charging port. The normally-closing mechanism is interlocked with the swing of the cap and biases the cap with a predetermined first biasing force in a first rotation direction from the fully-open position toward the fully-closed position. When an opening operation of the cap in the fully-open position is released, the holding mechanism applies a second biasing force stronger than the first biasing force to the normally-closing mechanism in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction, thereby maintaining the open state of the cap in a position where the cap does not interfere with the occupied area. The release mechanism releases the open state maintained by the holding mechanism in conjunction with the insertion of the charging connector into the charging port.

[0008] Aspect 2. In Aspect 1 above, the cap opening / closing structure preferably includes an opening stopper structure that restricts the swing range of the cap to the fully open position. Aspect 3. In Aspect 1 or 2 above, the cap opening / closing structure preferably includes a closing stopper structure that restricts the swing range of the cap to the fully closed position.

[0009] The disclosed cap opening and closing structure can improve the operability of external charging.

[0010] 1 is a perspective view showing a charging port of a vehicle to which a cap opening / closing structure of one embodiment is applied, a cap, and their surroundings; FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing each state of the cap opening / closing structure, where (a) is a first state in which the charging port is covered with the cap, and (b) is a second state in which the cap is fully open; FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing each state of the cap opening / closing structure, where (a) is a third state in which the cap is slightly closed from the fully open state, and (b) is a fourth state in which a charging connector is inserted into the charging port; FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an enlarged view of a main part of the cap opening / closing structure; FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a first hinge mechanism provided in the cap opening / closing structure; FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a second hinge mechanism provided in the cap opening / closing structure;

[0011] An embodiment of a cap opening / closing structure will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiments shown below are merely examples, and are not intended to exclude various modifications or applications of techniques not explicitly stated in the following embodiments. The configurations of the embodiments can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the embodiments. Furthermore, they can be selected or combined as needed.

[0012] The cap opening / closing structure of this embodiment is applied to a vehicle in which a charging port for charging with power supplied from outside the vehicle (i.e., "external charging") is opened and closed by a cap. The vehicle is equipped with a battery for driving the vehicle that can be charged externally, and the charging port is electrically connected to this battery.

[0013] Vehicles to which the cap opening / closing structure of the present embodiment can be applied include vehicles that can be externally charged, such as electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). A plug-in hybrid vehicle is a hybrid vehicle that can externally charge the battery or receive external power from the battery. A plug-in hybrid vehicle is provided with a charging port into which a charging connector that receives power from an external charging facility is inserted, and a power outlet (also called an "outlet") for external power supply.

[0014] In the following embodiments, a Cartesian coordinate system having three mutually orthogonal coordinate axes, an X axis, a Y axis, and a Z axis, is used as a reference for directions in the description. In this Cartesian coordinate system, the direction along the X axis is referred to as the "X direction," the direction along the Y axis is referred to as the "Y direction," and the direction along the Z axis is referred to as the "Z direction." Furthermore, a plane along both the X direction and the Y direction is referred to as the "XY plane," a plane along both the X direction and the Z direction is referred to as the "XZ plane," and a plane along both the Y direction and the Z direction is referred to as the "YZ plane."

[0015] The X direction has two inherent directions: the direction from negative to positive on the X axis and the direction from positive to negative on the X axis, which are opposite to each other. Therefore, one of the X directions is referred to as the "X1 direction" (the other side), and the other of the X directions is referred to as the "X2 direction" (one side). Similarly, one of the Y directions is referred to as the "Y1 direction" and the other as the "Y2 direction." One of the Z directions is referred to as the "Z1 direction" and the other as the "Z2 direction."

[0016] Below, a first and a second correspondence example will be provided regarding the correspondence between the above-mentioned X direction, Y direction, and Z direction and the front-rear direction, vehicle width direction, and up-down direction of the vehicle. In the first correspondence example, an example can be given in which the X direction is along the front-rear direction, the Y direction is along the up-down direction, and the Z direction is along the vehicle width direction. In the first correspondence example, one of the front and rear corresponds to the X1 direction, and the other corresponds to the X2 direction, and one of the up and down corresponds to the Y1 direction, and the other corresponds to the Y2 direction. Also in the first correspondence example, one of the left and right corresponds to the Z1 direction, and the other corresponds to the Z2 direction.

[0017] In a second correspondence example, the X direction is along the vehicle width direction, the Y direction is along the up-down direction, and the Z direction is along the front-to-rear direction. In the second correspondence example, one of left and right corresponds to the X1 direction and the other corresponds to the X2 direction, and one of up and down corresponds to the Y1 direction and the other corresponds to the Y2 direction. In the second correspondence example, one of front and rear corresponds to the Z1 direction and the other corresponds to the Z2 direction.

[0018] In addition, the expressions relating to direction such as "along", "along" and "extending along" used in this embodiment are not limited to an orientation parallel to a reference direction or plane, and are not limited to a form parallel to a reference direction or plane, but may also be slightly inclined relative to a reference direction or plane.

[0019] [I. One embodiment] An embodiment of a cap opening / closing structure will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 6. Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a charging port of a vehicle to which the cap opening / closing structure of one embodiment is applied, a cap, and the surrounding area. In Figure 1, the direction toward the front of the page is the Z1 direction, and the direction toward the back of the page is the Z2 direction.

[0020] FIGS. 2(a) and (b) and FIGS. 3(a) and (b) are schematic diagrams showing various states of the cap opening / closing structure, as viewed in the Y direction from the Y1 direction toward the Y2 direction. FIG. 2(a) shows a first state in which the charging port is covered with the cap, and FIG. 2(b) shows a second state in which the cap is fully open. FIG. 3(a) shows a third state in which the cap is slightly closed from the fully open state (i.e., fully open state), and FIG. 3(b) shows a fourth state in which the charging connector is inserted into the charging port. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an enlarged view of a main portion of the cap opening / closing structure. FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view of a main portion of FIG. 3(a). FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a first hinge mechanism provided in the cap opening / closing structure. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a second hinge mechanism provided in the cap opening / closing structure.

[0021] [1. Configuration] <Basic Configuration> First, regarding the cap opening / closing structure, the basic configuration of a charge port 1 that is opened and closed by a cap 4 will be outlined with reference to Fig. 1. The charge port 1 is disposed in a recess 2 formed in the surface of the vehicle body. Specifically, the charge port 1 is provided on a bottom surface 2A that forms the bottom surface recessed by the recess 2. This charge port 1 is an inlet that receives power from outside the vehicle and is electrically connected to a battery (not shown) used to drive the vehicle via an electrical device such as an on-board charger (not shown).

[0022] FIG. 1 shows an example in which two charging ports 1 are provided in one recess 2. Of the two charging ports 1 illustrated here, one is a normal charging port 1A and the other is a rapid charging port 1B. In the following description, when there is no need to distinguish between the normal charging port 1A and the rapid charging port 1B, they are simply referred to as "charging port 1." FIG. 1 also shows an example of a charging port 1 facing in the Z1 direction. The Z1 direction corresponds to a direction facing outside the vehicle, such as the left or front of the vehicle. The charging port 1, recess 2, and lid 3 covering the recess 2 are disposed on the left side of the vehicle when the Z1 direction corresponds to the left side of the vehicle, and are disposed on the front of the vehicle when the Z1 direction corresponds to the front of the vehicle.

[0023] When external charging begins, the charging connector 9 (see FIG. 3(b)) is inserted into the charging port 1 in the Z2 direction. When external charging ends, the charging connector 9 is removed from the charging port 1 in the Z1 direction. Therefore, the Z2 direction can be said to be the insertion direction of the charging connector 9, the Z1 direction can be said to be the removal direction of the charging connector 9, and the Z direction can be said to be the insertion / removal direction of the charging connector 9. The recess 2 in which the charging port 1 is provided is provided so as to be freely opened and closed by the lid 3. When the lid 3 is closed, the recess 2 is covered by the lid 3, and when the lid 3 is opened, the recess 2 is exposed to the outside.

[0024] A cap 4 for opening and closing the charge port 1 is attached to the charge port 1 provided in the recess 2. That is, the charge port 1 is protected by a double opening and closing structure consisting of the lid 3 and the cap 4. A cap 4 is provided for each of the two charge ports 1. The cap opening and closing structure of this embodiment is a structure for opening and closing the caps 4 of the normal charging port 1A and the rapid charging port 1B. However, the cap opening and closing structure of this embodiment may be applied to the cap 4 of only one of the normal charging port 1A and the rapid charging port 1B.

[0025] The cap 4 is provided so as to be able to swing, and is opened and closed between a fully closed position P0 in which the charge port 1 is covered as shown in Figure 2(a) and a fully open position P1 in which the charge port 1 is exposed as shown in Figure 2(b). When the cap 4 swings from the fully closed position P0 to the fully open position P1, the covered, closed charge port 1 is exposed and opens. When the cap 4 is in the fully open position P1, the charge connector 9 can be inserted into the charge port 1. Note that the cap 4 in the fully open position P1 does not interfere with the inserted charge connector 9 and does not overlap with the occupied area S (shown by a two-dot chain line in Figure 2(b)) occupied by the charge connector 9 inserted into the charge port 1.

[0026] On the other hand, when the cap 4 swings from the fully open position P1 to the fully closed position P0, the open charging port 1 is closed. When the cap 4 is in the fully closed position P0, the charging port 1 is covered by the cap 4, and therefore the charging connector 9 cannot be inserted into the charging port 1. If the swing of the cap 4 from the fully closed position P0 toward the fully open position P1 is considered to be forward movement, and the swing of the cap 4 from the fully open position P1 toward the fully closed position P0 is considered to be return movement, then it can also be said that the cap 4 reciprocates from either the fully closed position P0 or the fully open position P1 to the other.

[0027] Therefore, the pivot range of the cap 4 is a range between the fully closed position P0 and the fully open position P1, including the fully closed position P0 and the fully open position P1. This pivot range is set in advance as a range that overlaps with the occupied area S of the charging connector 9 inserted into the charging port 1. Hereinafter, the direction in which the cap 4 moves from the fully open position P1 to the fully closed position P0 will be referred to as the "first pivot direction" (the clockwise direction in FIGS. 2 to 4), and the direction in which the cap 4 moves from the fully closed position P0 to the fully open position P1 will be referred to as the "second pivot direction" (the direction opposite to the first pivot direction, the counterclockwise direction in FIGS. 2 to 4).

[0028] The cap opening / closing structure applied to the cap 4 described above is provided with a first hinge mechanism 10 and a second hinge mechanism 20, and incorporates a normally-closed mechanism 30, a holding mechanism 40, and a release mechanism 50 that use these hinge mechanisms 10 and 20. These mechanisms 30, 40, and 50 operate in various states as shown in Figures 2(a) and 2(b) and Figures 3(a) and 3(b).

[0029] The normally-closed mechanism 30 is a mechanism that biases the cap 4 in a direction that closes it, as shown in Figures 2(a) and 2(b). The holding mechanism 40 is a mechanism that holds the cap 4 in an open state, as shown in Figure 3(a). The release mechanism 50 is a mechanism that releases the hold by the holding mechanism 40, as shown in Figure 3(b). Below, the first hinge mechanism 10 and the second hinge mechanism 20 used in the mechanisms 30, 40, and 50 will each be described, and then each of the mechanisms 30, 40, and 50 will be described.

[0030] <Hinge Mechanism> As shown in Figure 4, the first hinge mechanism 10 has a first axis 10C, and the second hinge mechanism 20 has a second axis 20C. These axes 10C, 20C both extend along the Y direction and are arranged side by side in the X direction. Specifically, the axes 10C, 20C are set parallel to each other, with the second axis 20C located on the X2 side of the charge port 1, and the first axis 10C located on the X2 side of the second axis 20C. Note that the second axis 20C is located slightly closer to the Z2 side than the first axis 10C.

[0031] The first hinge mechanism 10 is provided with a first hinge 11 that performs a hinge function and a first member 15 attached to the first hinge 11. Similarly, the second hinge mechanism 20 is provided with a second hinge 21 that performs a hinge function and a second member 25 attached to the second hinge 21.

[0032] 4 and 5 , the first hinge mechanism 10 has a first axis 10C, a first hinge 11, and a first member 15. The first hinge 11 is provided with two types of blades 12, 13 that are arranged to be able to swing relative to each other. Of the two types of blades 12, 13, one is a fixed first fixed blade 12, and the other is a first movable blade 13 that is movable relative to the first fixed blade 12.

[0033] The first fixed blade 12 is fixed to the bottom surface 2A (see FIG. 4 ) on which the charging port 1 is provided, and is provided to protrude in the Z1 direction (along the Z direction) in the recess 2. The first axis 10C of the first hinge 11 extends along the protruding edge 12E (the edge in the Z1 direction) of the first fixed blade 12. The first movable blade 13 is provided to be able to swing freely around the first axis 10C. The illustrated first movable blade 13 is provided in a form extending in one direction with respect to the first axis 10C (i.e., cantilevered). When the first movable blade 13 is at a right angle to the first fixed blade 12, the first hinge 11 is L-shaped when viewed in the Y direction.

[0034] The first hinge 11 is provided with a first spring 14 that biases the first movable blade 13 relative to the first fixed blade 12. The first spring 14 is an elastic body that biases the first movable blade 13 in a first rotation direction (the clockwise direction indicated by the dotted arrow in FIG. 4 ). A first member 15, which will be described next, is attached to the first hinge 11 that is provided with the first spring 14 that biases the first movable blade 13 in the first rotation direction relative to the first fixed blade 12 as described above.

[0035] The first member 15 is fixed to the cap 4 and moves integrally with the swing of the cap 4. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4 , the base end 4A of the cap 4 is fixed to the first member 15, and the cap 4 and the first member 15 move integrally with each other around the first axis 10C. As shown in FIG. 5 , the first member 15 has a shape with a portion of a cylinder cut out. Specifically, the first member 15 has a cross-sectional shape along the XZ plane (i.e., the shape when viewed in the Y direction) that is a sector centered on the first axis 10C and has a central angle greater than 180° (a shape in which a sector portion with a central angle less than 180° about the first axis 10C is cut out from a circle), and is a columnar body with a pair of bottom surfaces facing the Y1 direction and the Y2 direction, respectively.

[0036] Here, the first member 15 as viewed in the Y direction will be described in terms of the hour hand (or short hand) of an analog clock. Specifically, in terms of an analog clock whose center is the first axis 10C and whose short hand points in the Z1 direction to indicate 12 o'clock, the cross-sectional shape of the first member 15 along the XZ plane corresponds to the path of the short hand as it rotates clockwise from 7 o'clock to 3 o'clock. In other words, this cross-sectional shape is a sector with a central angle of 240° as viewed in the Y direction.

[0037] In addition to a bottom surface facing the Y direction, the first member 15 has a partial circumferential surface 16 extending in the circumferential direction about the first axis 10C, and two end surfaces 17 extending in the radial direction centered on the first axis 10C. The partial circumferential surface 16 has a cross-sectional shape in the XZ plane that is a fan-shaped arc with a central angle of 240° when viewed in the Y direction, and extends along the Y direction. In other words, the partial circumferential surface 16 is a planar portion extending in the circumferential direction centered on the first axis 10C of the outer surface of a solid obtained by removing a pillar having a fan-shaped bottom with a central angle of 120° when viewed in the Y direction from a cylinder with a cylindrical axis along the Y direction.

[0038] Two end faces 17 extend between the circumferential edge of the partial circumferential surface 16 and the first axis 10C. One of the end faces 17 is a first end face 171 that extends between an edge (hereinafter referred to as the "first edge") 161 of the partial circumferential surface 16 in the first rotation direction and the first axis 10C. In other words, the radially outer edge of the first end face 171 is continuous with the first edge 161.

[0039] This first end surface 171 is fixed to the first movable blade 13. Note that portions of the first member 15 other than the first end surface 171, such as a second end surface 172 and a partial circumferential surface 16, which will be described later, are not fixed to the first movable blade 13. However, the partial circumferential surface 16 is fixed to the cap 4. The illustrated first end surface 171 here has a radial dimension based on the first axis 10C that is set to be equal to that of the first movable blade 13. However, a first end surface 171 having a radial dimension longer than that of the first movable blade 13 may also be used.

[0040] The other end face 17 is a second end face 172 extending between an edge (hereinafter referred to as the "second edge") 162 of the partial circumferential surface 16 in a second rotation direction and the first axis 10C. That is, the radially outer edge of the second end face 172 is connected to the second edge 162. In the circumferential direction based on the first axis 10C, the partial circumferential surface 16 extends between the radially outer edges of these end faces 171, 172 (edges 161, 162 of the partial circumferential surface 16).

[0041] In analogy with the analog watch, when the cap 4 is in the fully closed position P0, the first end surface 171 is in a position corresponding to the hour hand pointing to 6 o'clock as shown in Fig. 2(a) (hereinafter referred to as the "first fully closed position"), and when the cap 4 is in the fully open position P1, the first end surface 171 is in a position corresponding to the hour hand pointing to 2 o'clock as shown in Fig. 2(b) (hereinafter referred to as the "first fully open position").

[0042] In addition, when the cap 4 is positioned between the fully closed position P0 and the fully open position P1, the first end surface 171 is in a position corresponding to the hour hand pointing to 3 o'clock as shown in FIG. 3( a) (hereinafter referred to as the "first open position") or in a position corresponding to the hour hand pointing to 4 o'clock as shown in FIG. 3( b) (hereinafter referred to as the "second open position"). Because the first movable blade 13 is fixed to the first end surface 171, the first movable blade 13 is in a position substantially identical to the first fully closed position (hereinafter referred to as the "movable fully closed position") when the cap 4 is in the fully closed position P0, and is located immediately to the left of the first fully closed position in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2( a). Similarly, the first movable blade 13 is in a position substantially identical to the first fully open position (hereinafter referred to as the "movable fully open position") when the cap 4 is in the fully open position P1. Note that, in the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 3( a) and 4, the first movable blade 13 is located directly below the first end surface 171 in the first open position.

[0043] In analogy with the analog watch, when the cap 4 is in the fully closed position P0, the second end surface 172 is in a position corresponding to the hour hand pointing to 10 o'clock as shown in Fig. 2(a) (hereinafter referred to as the "second fully closed position"), and when the cap 4 is in the fully open position P1, the second end surface 172 is in a position corresponding to the hour hand pointing to 6 o'clock as shown in Fig. 2(b) (hereinafter referred to as the "second fully open position").

[0044] The first end surface 171 rotates from either the first fully closed position or the first fully open position to the other. Similarly, the first movable blade 13 rotates from either the movable fully closed position or the movable fully open position to the other. The second end surface 172 rotates from either the second fully open position or the second fully closed position to the other. The partial circumferential surface 16 also rotates integrally with the rotation of these end surfaces 171, 172.

[0045] Specifically, when the cap 4 is in the fully closed position P0, the partial circumferential surface 16 extends in the circumferential direction based on the first axis 10C in a region R0 (hereinafter referred to as the "fully closed region") between the radially outer edge of the first end face 171 in the first fully closed position and the radially outer edge of the second end face 172 in the second fully closed position, as shown in Fig. 2(a). When the cap 4 is in the fully open position P1, the partial circumferential surface 16 extends in the circumferential direction based on the first axis 10C in a region R1 (hereinafter referred to as the "fully open region") between the radially outer edge of the first end face 171 in the first fully open position and the radially outer edge of the second end face 172 in the second fully open position, as shown in Fig. 2(b).

[0046] The partial circumferential surface 16 moves forward from the fully closed region R0 to the fully open region R1 when the cap 4 is opened, and moves backward from the fully open region R1 to the fully closed region R0 when the cap 4 is closed. That is, the partial circumferential surface 16 reciprocates from one of the fully closed region R0 and the fully open region R1 to the other. Hereinafter, the position of the first member 15 in which the end faces 171, 172 are in the first and second fully closed positions and the partial circumferential surface 16 extends into the fully closed region R0 as described above will be referred to as the "fully closed position," and the position of the first member 15 in which the end faces 171, 172 are in the first and second fully open positions and the partial circumferential surface 16 extends into the fully open region R1 as described above will be referred to as the "fully open position." In conjunction with the opening and closing of the cap 4, the first member 15 changes its position from one of the fully closed position and the fully open position to the other in a cylindrical region centered on the first axis 10C.

[0047] Because the first member 15 is fixed to the first movable blade 13, which is biased in the first rotation direction by the first spring 14, the first member 15 is biased from the fully open position to the fully closed position. That is, the biasing force of the first hinge mechanism 10 by the first spring 14 (hereinafter referred to as the "first biasing force") is applied in a direction to close the cap 4 via the first movable blade 13 and the first member 15. The first biasing force is set smaller than the biasing force of the second hinge mechanism 20 (hereinafter referred to as the "second biasing force"), which will be described next.

[0048] 4 and 6 , the second hinge mechanism 20 has a second axis 20C, a second hinge 21, and a second member 25. The second hinge 21 is provided with two types of blades 22, 23 that are arranged to be able to swing relative to each other. Of the two types of blades 22, 23, one is a fixed second fixed blade 22, and the other is a second movable blade 23 that is movable relative to the second fixed blade 22.

[0049] The second fixed blade 22 is fixed to the bottom surface 2A (see FIG. 4 ) where the charging port 1 is provided, and is provided in the recess 2 so as to protrude in the Z1 direction (along the Z direction). The second axis 20C of the second hinge 21 extends along the protruding edge 22E (the Z1-direction edge) of the second fixed blade 22. The second movable blade 23 is provided so as to be able to swing freely around the second axis 20C. The illustrated second movable blade 23 is provided in a form extending in two directions relative to the second axis 20C (i.e., a double-supported form). Specifically, the second movable blade 23 is provided with a one-side movable blade 231 extending in the X2 direction (one side) relative to the second axis 20C, and a other-side movable blade 232 extending in the X1 direction (the other side) relative to the second axis 20C.

[0050] The second hinge 21 is provided with a second spring 24 that biases the second movable blade 23 relative to the second fixed blade 22. The second spring 24 is an elastic body that biases the second movable blade 23 with a second biasing force toward an orientation along the XY plane (a predetermined reference plane). The second biasing force applied by the second spring 24 is set to be larger than the first biasing force applied by the first spring 14.

[0051] When second movable blade 23 is in a position along the XY plane, second hinge 21 is T-shaped when viewed in the Y direction. When second movable blade 23 is rotated in a first rotation direction (clockwise in FIG. 4 ) from the position along the XY plane to an inclined position, second movable blade 23 is biased in a second rotation direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 4 ) by second spring 24, and when second movable blade 23 is rotated in the second rotation direction from the position along the XY plane to an inclined position, second spring 24 is biased in the first rotation direction.

[0052] A second member 25, which will be described next, is fixed to the second hinge 21. The second member 25 is fixed only to the second movable blade 23. Here, a rectangular parallelepiped second member 25 is exemplified.

[0053] This second member 25 is fixed across both the one-side movable blade 231 and the other-side movable blade 232. These one-side movable blade 231, the other-side movable blade 232, and the second member 25 rotate integrally around the second axis 20C. Therefore, when the second movable blade 23 is in a position along the XY plane, the second member 25 is also in a position along the XY plane (hereinafter referred to as the "reference position"). When the second movable blade 23 is in a position tilted with respect to the XY plane, the second member 25 is also in a position tilted with respect to the XY plane (hereinafter referred to as the "inclined position").

[0054] The second member 25 is roughly divided into two portions: one side portion 251 (half portion on the X2 direction side) fixed to the one-side movable blade 231, and the other side portion 252 (half portion on the X1 direction side) fixed to the other-side movable blade 232. The one side portion 251 illustrated here has a radial dimension based on the second axis 20C that is longer than that of the one-side movable blade 231. Similarly, the other side portion 252 has a radial dimension based on the second axis 20C that is longer than that of the other-side movable blade 232. However, it is also possible to use one side portion 251 having the same radial dimension as the one-side movable blade 231, or to use the other side portion 252 having the same radial dimension as the other-side movable blade 232.

[0055] When the second member 25 is in the reference position, the one side portion 251 is set to have a dimension L1 extending from the second axis 20C to a region intersecting with the fully closed region R0 of the partial circumferential surface 16 (in FIG. 4, a region of the fully closed region R0 that does not overlap with the partial circumferential surface 16 shown in FIG. 4 is indicated by a two-dot chain line). On the other hand, the one side portion 251 is set to have a dimension L1 such that the one side portion 251 is spaced apart (i.e., a dimension that does not reach) from the partial circumferential surface 16 (see FIG. 2(b)) extending into the fully open region R1 and from the first end face 171 at the first fully open position, whether the second member 25 is in the reference position or the inclined position (in either position).

[0056] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2( a), when the second member 25 is in the inclined posture, the one side portion 251 is set to a dimension L1 that extends from the second axis 20C to the partial circumferential surface 16 extending in the fully closed region R0. The one side portion 251, set to such a dimension L1, is pressed against and abuts against the partial circumferential surface 16 in an inclined posture in which it is rotated in the first rotation direction from a posture along the XY plane. FIG. 2( a) illustrates an example in which corners of the one side portion 251 in the inclined posture on the X2 direction side and the Z2 direction side abut against the partial circumferential surface 16 extending in the fully closed region R0. Hereinafter, the posture in which the one side portion 251 abuts against the partial circumferential surface 16 extending in the fully closed region R0 will be referred to as the "abutting posture." By setting the dimension L1 of one side portion 251 as described above, one side portion 251 of the second member 25 is configured to be freely engageable and detachable with respect to the first member 15, as shown in Figures 2(a) and (b) and Figures 3(a) and (b).

[0057] The other side portion 252 has a dimension L2 that extends to a region that intersects with an occupied region S (shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 4 ) of the charging connector 9 inserted into the charging port 1 when the second member 25 is in the reference posture. The other side portion 252 is located on the charging port 1 side (X1 direction side) with respect to the second axis 20C, and is therefore pushed in the Z2 direction by the charging connector 9 inserted into the charging port 1. In other words, the other side portion 252 has a dimension that extends from the second axis 20C to a region where it is pushed in the first rotation direction by the charging connector 9 inserted into the charging port 1. However, the other side portion 252 is sized to allow the charging connector 9 to be inserted into the charging port 1.

[0058] <Various Mechanisms> The above-described hinge mechanisms 10 and 20 are used in the mechanisms 30, 40, and 50 described below. ==Normally Closed Mechanism== The normally closed mechanism 30 is a mechanism that works in conjunction with the swing of the cap 4 and biases the cap 4 with a first biasing force in a first rotation direction from the fully open position P1 (see FIG. 2(b)) toward the fully closed position P0 (see FIG. 2(a)).

[0059] The normally closed mechanism 30 uses a first hinge mechanism 10. In the normally closed mechanism 30 using the first hinge mechanism 10, a first member 15 that moves integrally with the swing of the cap 4 is fixed to the first movable blade 13, and therefore the first movable blade 13 and the first member 15 move in conjunction with the swing of the cap 4. The first spring 14 biases the first movable blade 13 in the first rotation direction with a first biasing force, and therefore the cap 4 that moves integrally with the first member 15 and the first member 15 fixed to the first movable blade 13 are biased in the first rotation direction. Therefore, the cap 4 is biased by the first biasing force in the first rotation direction from the fully open position P1 to the fully closed position P0.

[0060] 2A, the second member 25 is in contact with the partial circumferential surface 16 extending in the fully closed region R0 as viewed in the Y direction. In this state, one side portion 251 of the second member 25 is biased in the second rotation direction by the second spring 24, and is pressed against and engaged with the partial circumferential surface 16 of the first member 15.

[0061] The cap 4, in a first state in which the normally-closed mechanism 30 applies a first biasing force in a first rotation direction, is opened in a second rotation direction by the vehicle user with an operating force that counteracts the first biasing force. When the vehicle user operates the cap 4 to the fully open position P1 (opening operation), the cap 4 enters a second state in which it swings to the fully open position P1, as shown in FIG. 2( b). Note that the cap opening / closing structure of this embodiment does not include a mechanism for locking or latching the cap 4 in the fully closed position P0. Therefore, the cap 4 can be operated from the fully closed position P0 to the fully open position P1 without requiring an operation to release a mechanism such as a lock or latch from the first state.

[0062] When the cap 4 is swung from the first state to the fully open position P1 in the second state, the partial circumferential surface 16 of the first member 15 moves forward from the fully closed region R0 to the fully open region R1. At this time, one side portion 251 of the second member 25 slides against the partial circumferential surface 16 of the first member 15, and then the one side portion 251 of the second member 25 moves over the first edge 161 of the partial circumferential surface 16. Because the one side portion 251 is set to a distance L1 that separates it from the partial circumferential surface 16 in the fully open region R1 and the first end face 171 in the first fully open position, the one side portion 251 can move over the first edge 161. In this way, the second state is reached in which the one side portion 251 is no longer engaged with the partial circumferential surface 16.

[0063] When the vehicle user releases the cap 4 from the fully open position P1 in the second state and the opening operation of the cap 4 in the fully open position P1 is released, the normally closed mechanism 30 slightly closes the cap 4, and the first end face 171 is displaced from the first fully open position to the first open position, resulting in a third state, as shown in Fig. 3(a). The mechanism that keeps the cap 4 open in the third state is the retention mechanism 40, which will be described next.

[0064] ==Retention Mechanism== The retention mechanism 40 is a mechanism that applies a second biasing force to the normally closed mechanism 30 in a second rotation direction when the opening operation on the cap 4 at the fully open position P1 is released, thereby retaining the open state of the cap 4 at a position that does not interfere with the occupied area S (shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3( a)) of the charging connector 9 inserted into the charging port 1. This retention mechanism 40 uses the second hinge mechanism 20. Note that the retention mechanism 40 does not use the other-side movable blade 232 or the other side portion 252 of the second hinge mechanism 20.

[0065] In the holding mechanism 40 using the second hinge mechanism 20, the one side portion 251 of the second member 25 in the reference position is urged by a second urging force stronger than the first urging force, as indicated by the hollow arrow in FIG. 3A , in response to the first end face 171 in the first open position being urged in the first pivot direction by the normally closed mechanism 30. In the third state, the one side portion 251 of the second member 25 that has receded in the Z2 direction relative to the first end face 171 of the first member 15 and the first movable blade 13 forms the reference position. In the third state, the one side portion 251 of the second member 25 in the reference position faces the first end face 171 in the first open position via the first movable blade 13, and the first end face 171 is held in the first open position by the one side portion 251.

[0066] In this third state, the normally-closed mechanism 30 biases the first end face 171 in the first rotation direction with a first biasing force, while the holding mechanism 40 biases the one side portion 251 with a second biasing force that is stronger than the first biasing force. Although the first biasing force is applied from the first end face 171 of the first member 25 to the one side portion 251 of the second member 25 that is biased to the reference position by the second biasing force, the second biasing force is stronger than the first biasing force. Therefore, the holding mechanism 40 holds the position of the one side portion 251 of the second member 25 in the reference position, and holds the first end face 171 in the first open position while being supported by this one side portion 251.

[0067] The procedure for changing the state from the first state shown in Fig. 2(a) through the second state shown in Fig. 2(b) to the third state shown in Fig. 3(a) is performed by a single procedure (hereinafter referred to as the "first operating procedure") in which the vehicle user opens the cap 4 from the fully closed position P0 to the fully open position P1 and then releases it. When the charging connector 9 is inserted into the charging port 1 from the third state as shown in Fig. 3(b), the holding mechanism 40 releases the cap 4 from its open state. The mechanism that releases the cap 4 from its open state is the release mechanism 50, which will be described next.

[0068] ==Release Mechanism== The release mechanism 50 is a mechanism that releases the open state of the cap 4 held by the holding mechanism 40 in conjunction with the insertion of the charging connector 9 into the charging port 1. The release mechanism 50 includes the first hinge mechanism 10 and the second hinge mechanism 20. In the release mechanism 50 using the hinge mechanisms 10 and 20, the other side portion 252 is pushed in the first rotation direction by the charging connector 9 inserted into the charging port 1, and simultaneously with the other side portion 252 being pushed in the first rotation direction, the one side portion 251 is pushed up in the first rotation direction. The one side portion 251 pushed up in the first rotation direction pushes up the first end surface 171 in the second rotation direction via the first movable blade 13, then climbs over the first edge 161, and is maintained in a state spaced apart from the partial circumferential surface 16. At this time, the second member 25 assumes a limit inclined position rotated in the first rotation direction from the abutting position.

[0069] In the fourth state shown in FIG. 3( b), the other side portion 252 is pushed in by the charging connector 9 inserted into the charging port 1. At this time, the second member 25 in the limit inclined position is separated from the partial circumferential surface 16, and the cap 4 is supported by the charging connector 9 in a state that is slightly more closed than the open state held by the holding mechanism 40. In addition, the charging connector 9 and the charging port 1 are electrically connected. The procedure for changing the state from the third state shown in FIG. 3( a) to the fourth state shown in FIG. 3( b) is performed by a single procedure (hereinafter referred to as the "second operating procedure"), in which the vehicle user inserts the charging connector 9 into the charging port 1.

[0070] When the charging connector 9 is removed from the charging port 1 after charging is completed, the charging connector 9 that supported the cap 4 in the fourth state is removed, and the one side portion 251 and the partial circumferential surface 16 come into sliding contact with each other, and the cap 4 returns to the first state in which the second member 25 is in the abutting position as shown in FIG. 2( a). In this way, the cap 4 returns to the fully closed position P0. The procedure for changing the state from the fourth state shown in FIG. 3( b) to the first state shown in FIG. 2( a) is performed by a single procedure (hereinafter referred to as the "third operating procedure"), in which the vehicle user removes the charging connector 9 from the charging port 1.

[0071] <Others> In addition, the cap opening / closing structure exemplified in one embodiment is provided with two types of structures 60, 70 that restrict the swing range of the cap 4. One of the two types of structures 60, 70 is a closing stop structure 60 that restricts the swing range of the cap 4 to the fully closed position P0 as shown in Fig. 2(a), and the other is an opening stop structure 70 that restricts the swing range of the cap 4 to the fully open position P1 as shown in Fig. 2(b).

[0072] Here, examples of the closure structure 60 include a first closure structure 61 using the first hinge mechanism 10 and a second closure structure 62 using a protrusion 60P on the opposite side of the hinge mechanisms 10 and 20 with respect to the charge port 1 (i.e., the X2 direction side). The first closure structure 61 uses a first end surface 171 of the first member 15 and the first fixed blade 12 and first movable blade 13 of the first hinge 11. In this first closure structure 61, the first end surface 171 abuts against the first fixed blade 12 via the first movable blade 13 when in the first fully closed position. Therefore, rotation of the first end surface 171 in the first rotation direction beyond the first fully closed position is structurally restricted by the first fixed blade 12.

[0073] The second closure mechanism 62 uses a protrusion 60P provided at a position that abuts against the tip 4B of the cap 4 in the fully closed position P0 from the Z2 direction. The protrusion 60P may be a portion that protrudes in a point-like manner as viewed in the Z direction, or may be a portion that extends linearly (i.e., a protrusion) as viewed in the Z direction. With this second closure mechanism 62, when the cap 4 is in the fully closed position P0, the protrusion 60P abuts against the tip 4B in the Z2 direction, thereby restricting the cap 4 from swinging further in the first rotation direction than the fully closed position P0.

[0074] The first hinge mechanism 10 is used in the opening prevention structure 70. Specifically, the second end surface 172 of the first member 15 and the first fixed blade 12 of the first hinge 11 are used in the opening prevention structure 70. In this opening prevention structure 70, when the second end surface 172 is in the second fully open position, the second end surface 172 abuts against the first fixed blade 12. Therefore, rotation of the second end surface 172 in the second rotation direction beyond the second fully open position is structurally restricted by the first fixed blade 12.

[0075] [2. Actions and Effects] The cap opening and closing structure of this embodiment is configured as described above, and therefore has the following actions and effects. (1) The cap opening and closing structure of this embodiment can complete the external charging operation with only the three operation procedures, i.e., the first operation procedure, the second operation procedure, and the third operation procedure, described above. Therefore, the operability of external charging can be improved.

[0076] For example, compared to the conventional structure (hereinafter referred to as "Comparative Structure 1"), which requires six operational steps I, II, III, IV, V, and VI to perform external charging, as described in the "Problem to be Solved by the Invention" section, the cap opening / closing structure of this embodiment requires three fewer operational steps (i.e., only three operational steps). If we consider a structure (hereinafter referred to as "Comparative Structure 2") in which the cap lock is omitted from Comparative Structure 1, Comparative Structure 2 requires one fewer operational step (i.e., five operational steps II, III, IV, V, and V) to perform external charging. However, Comparative Structure 2 may not maintain the cap closed state, potentially resulting in insufficient protection of the charging port.

[0077] Compared to the comparative structure 2, the cap opening / closing structure of this embodiment requires only two fewer steps (i.e., only three steps) to complete the external charging operation. Furthermore, the normally closed mechanism 30 that biases the cap 4 toward the fully closed position P0 is provided, so the cap 4 can be maintained in a closed state, ensuring protection of the charging port 1. The comparative structures 1 and 2 require five or six steps to perform the external charging operation, making it complicated. In contrast, the cap opening / closing structure of this embodiment requires only three steps to complete the external charging operation, making external charging possible with simple operations.

[0078] (2) In addition, the opening prevention structure 70 is provided to limit the swing range of the cap 4 to the fully open position P1, which structurally prevents the cap 4 from being excessively opened. Furthermore, the swing range of the excessively opened cap 4 to the position where it is held by the holding mechanism 40 is limited, which helps to prevent damage and deformation of the cap 4.

[0079] (3) Furthermore, since the closure stopper structure 60 is provided to limit the swing range of the cap 4 to the fully closed position P0, problems such as rattle or collapse of the cap 4 due to excessive closure of the cap 4 can be suppressed, and the cap 4 can be stably positioned at the fully closed position P0. According to the first closure stopper structure 61 using the first hinge mechanism 10, the first hinge mechanism 10 used in the various mechanisms 30, 40, and 50 can be used as well, so that excessive closure of the cap 4 can be prevented with a simple configuration without providing a separate dedicated member or mechanism used only for the first closure stopper structure 61.

[0080] The second closure structure 62 using the protrusion 60P can prevent excessive closure of the cap 4 with a simple configuration of only the protrusion 60P provided at a position that abuts against the tip 4B of the cap 4 from the Z2 direction side. If both the first closure structure 61 and the second closure structure 62 are provided, excessive closure of the cap 4 can be doubly prevented.

[0081] [II. Modifications] The above-described embodiment is merely an example. The cap opening / closing structure may include at least three mechanisms: a normally-closing mechanism, a holding mechanism, and a release mechanism. For example, one or the other movable blade of the second movable blade of the second hinge may be omitted. Furthermore, as long as the cap opening / closing structure includes the three mechanisms: a normally-closing mechanism, a holding mechanism, and a release mechanism, the cap opening / closing structure is not limited to a configuration using a first hinge mechanism and a second hinge mechanism, and may include a configuration using a known configuration. Note that the closing stopper mechanism and the opening stopper mechanism may be omitted from the cap opening / closing structure.

[0082] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Charging port 4 Cap 9 Charging connector 10 First hinge mechanism 11 First hinge 10C First axis 12 First fixed blade 13 First movable blade 14 First spring 15 First member 16 Partial circumferential surface 17 End face 171 First end face 172 Second end face 20 Second hinge mechanism 21 Second hinge 20C Second axis 22 Second fixed blade 23 Second movable blade 24 Second spring 25 Second member 251 One side portion 252 Other side portion 30 Normally closed mechanism 40 Holding mechanism 50 Release mechanism 60 Closing prevention structure 60P Protrusion 70 Opening prevention structure P0 Fully closed position P1 Fully open position R0 Fully closed region R1 Fully open region S Occupied region

Claims

1. A cap opening and closing structure comprising: a cap that opens and closes between a fully closed position that covers a charging port provided on a vehicle and a fully open position that exposes the charging port, and that is capable of swinging within a predetermined swing area that overlaps with an occupied area occupied by a charging connector inserted into the charging port; a normally closing mechanism that works in conjunction with the swing of the cap and biases the cap with a predetermined first biasing force in a first rotation direction from the fully open position toward the fully closed position; a holding mechanism that, when an opening operation on the cap in the fully open position is released, applies a second biasing force stronger than the first biasing force to the normally closing mechanism in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction, thereby maintaining the open state of the cap in a position where it does not interfere with the occupied area; and a release mechanism that releases the open state held by the holding mechanism in conjunction with the insertion of the charging connector into the charging port.

2. The cap opening and closing structure according to claim 1, characterized in that it has an opening prevention structure that restricts the swing range of the cap to the fully open position.

3. A cap opening and closing structure as set forth in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is provided with a closing stopper structure that restricts the swing range of the cap to the fully closed position.