Lid device

Abstract

This lid device is attached to a fueling port or a power supply port of a vehicle, and opens and closes the fueling port or the power supply port. The lid device comprises: a housing that is assembled to the fueling port or the power supply port of the vehicle; a shaft member that is pivotally supported by the housing; and a lid that is rotatably supported by the shaft member and is displaceable between a closed position and an open position. The shaft member is provided with an extension piece extending in a direction intersecting the axial direction. The housing is provided with a slide contact part with which the extension piece comes into slide contact when the lid is displaced from the closed position to the open position.

Description

Lid device

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a lid device.

[0002] Conventionally, there has been a lid device for opening and closing a fuel filler port or power filler port of a vehicle such as an automobile, which includes a housing attached to the fuel filler port and a lid for opening and closing an opening of the housing (see Patent Document 1).

[0003] Such lid devices generally include a biasing member such as a spring that biases the lid in the direction of opening. When the fuel filler cap or power filler cap is closed, the lid is locked to the housing. When the operator unlocks the lock, the biasing force of the biasing member opens the lid. However, if the biasing force of the biasing member is too strong, the lid may open forcefully, which may reduce the durability of the lid itself and the lid opening / closing mechanism. For this reason, methods have been proposed for conventional opening / closing structures that slow down the lid opening / closing action (especially the opening).

[0004] In conventional devices, an oil damper has been used to slow down the opening and closing of the lid (especially the opening). However, oil dampers are expensive and are therefore undesirable from a cost perspective. On the other hand, some conventional devices have proposed structures that suppress the momentum of the lid when it opens without using an oil damper, but all of these structures are complex and require improvement.

[0005] European Patent Application Publication No. 000887218

[0006] The present disclosure provides a lid device with a simple structure that can suppress the momentum when the lid is opened.

[0007] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a lid device that is attached to a fuel filler or power filler port of a vehicle and opens and closes the fuel filler or power filler port comprises: a housing that is assembled to the fuel filler or power filler port; an axial member that is journaled on the housing; and a lid that is rotatably supported on the axial member and can be displaced between a closed position and an open position, wherein the axial member is provided with an extension piece that extends in a direction intersecting the axial direction, and the housing is provided with a sliding contact portion against which the extension piece slides when the lid is displaced from the closed position to the open position.

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a lid device that has a simple structure and is capable of suppressing the momentum when the lid is opened.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rear fender of a vehicle equipped with a lid device. FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) are perspective views of the lid device according to this embodiment, with FIG. 2(a) showing the lid in a closed state and FIG. 2(b) showing the lid in an open state. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a main portion of the lid device according to this embodiment. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a housing in the lid device according to this embodiment, viewed from the bottom and rear. FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) are views showing a support member in the lid device according to this embodiment, with FIG. 5(a) being a front view and FIG. 5(b) being a top view. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a cover body in the lid device according to this embodiment, viewed from the rear. FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b) are views showing a shaft member in the lid device according to this embodiment, with FIG. 7(a) being a perspective view viewed from above and FIG. 7(b) being a perspective view viewed from below. 8(a) and 8(b) are enlarged views of part A in FIG. 4, where FIG. 8(a) shows the state when the lid is in a closed state, and FIG. 8(b) shows the state when the lid is in an open state (however, the lid is not shown).

[0010] Specific embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. For convenience of explanation, the state in which the lid 20 is in the closed position will be referred to as the "closed state," and the state in which the lid 20 is in the open position will be referred to as the "open state."

[0011] For the sake of convenience, the following definitions are used for "front," "rear," "left," "right," "upper," and "lower" as shown in FIGS. 2(a) to 8(b). The "front-rear direction," "left-right direction," and "upper-lower direction" are perpendicular to one another. The upper-lower direction corresponds to the "axial direction" of the present invention. The left-right direction corresponds to the "intersecting direction" of the present invention. The defined directions may or may not coincide with the respective directions when the device is installed on the vehicle.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rear fender 2 of a vehicle to which a lid device 1 is attached.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1 , a lid device 1 according to this embodiment is attached to a fuel filler or power filler (in this example, a fuel filler 3) provided on a vehicle body such as a rear fender 2 of a vehicle such as an automobile. The lid device 1 includes a lid 20 that opens and closes the fuel filler 3. A user fills the vehicle with fuel while the fuel filler 3 is open, and closes the fuel filler 3 with the lid 20 of the lid device 1 after the refueling operation is completed. The lid device 1 has a locking mechanism that locks the lid 20 with the fuel filler 3 closed, and the lid 20 can be unlocked and opened / closed by, for example, operating an opener inside the vehicle compartment or in conjunction with an operation to unlock the vehicle doors.

[0014] 2(a) and 2(b) are perspective views of the lid device 1 according to this embodiment, with FIG. 2(a) showing the lid 20 in a closed state and FIG. 2(b) showing the lid 20 in an open state. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of essential parts of the lid device 1 according to this embodiment. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the housing 10 in the lid device 1 according to this embodiment, viewed from the bottom and rear. FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) are views showing the support body 20A in the lid device 1 according to this embodiment, with FIG. 5(a) being a front view and FIG. 5(b) being a top view. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the lid body 20B in the lid device 1 according to this embodiment, viewed from the rear. FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b) are views showing the shaft member 50 in the lid device 1 according to this embodiment, with FIG. 7(a) being a perspective view viewed from above and FIG. 7(b) being a perspective view viewed from below. 8(a) and 8(b) are enlarged views of part A in FIG. 4, where FIG. 8(a) shows the state when the lid 20 is in a closed state, and FIG. 8(b) shows the state when the lid 20 is in an open state (however, the lid 20 is not shown).

[0015] 2(a), 2(b), and 3, the lid device 1 is configured to include a housing 10, a lid 20, a shaft member 50, and a biasing member 60. The housing 10, the lid 20, the shaft member 50, and the biasing member 60 that configure the lid device 1 will be described below in order.

[0016] First, the housing 10 will be described. The housing 10 is assembled by fitting into a recessed mounting portion (not shown) formed on the vehicle body, such as the rear fender 2 of the vehicle. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the housing 10 is formed in a generally rectangular cylindrical shape. The housing 10 is provided with a flange portion 11 that protrudes outward on the side (front side) opposite to the side (rear side) where it is assembled to the fuel filler opening 3. An arm accommodation chamber 12 that protrudes outward is provided on the right side of the housing 10.

[0017] As shown in Figure 4, a shaft hole 13 is provided on the front side of the underside of the arm accommodating chamber 12, penetrating in the vertical direction. A rotating shaft portion 51 of a shaft member 50, which will be described later, is inserted into the shaft hole 13. A peripheral portion 13a, which protrudes downward from the underside of the arm accommodating chamber 12, is provided at the lower edge of the shaft hole 13. A housing-side holding portion 14, which holds one end 60a of a biasing member 60, which will be described later, is provided near the peripheral portion 13a. In addition, a sliding contact portion 15, with which an extension piece 56 of the shaft member 50, which will be described later, slides, is provided on the rear side of the underside of the arm accommodating chamber 12.

[0018] The sliding contact portion 15 has an inclined surface 15a formed on the closed position side in the rotation direction of the lid 20 such that the midpoint of sliding contact with a protruding end surface 57a of the shaft member 50 (described later) is located closer to the extending piece 56 (lower) in the vertical direction than the sliding contact start position. In addition, the sliding contact portion 15 has a horizontal surface 15b, which is a plane perpendicular to the vertical direction, on the open position side in the rotation direction. The inclined surface 15a and the horizontal surface 15b are formed integrally.

[0019] A wall 16 is erected downward from the end of the horizontal surface 15b on the open position side in the rotation direction. A rib 17 is provided at the lower end of the wall 16 and extends substantially parallel to the horizontal surface 15b in the up-down direction.

[0020] A fitting hole 19 penetrating in the front-rear direction is provided on the left side of the housing 10. A fitting protrusion 32 of the lid 20 (described later) is inserted and fitted into the fitting hole 19. This keeps the lid 20 closed.

[0021] Next, the lid 20 will be described. The lid 20 is rotatably supported by a shaft member 50 and configured to be displaceable between a closed state (see FIG. 2( a)) and a closed state (see FIG. 2( b)). As shown in FIG. 3, the lid 20 is configured to have a support body 20A and a lid body 20B. The support body 20A is configured integrally with a main body portion 21 and an arm portion 22. The main body portion 21 is formed in a substantially plate shape, and the lid body 20B is attached to the front side of the main body portion 21. The arm portion 22 is integrally connected to the right side of the main body portion 21 and is formed in a substantially U-shape when viewed in the vertical direction, curved so as to be convex toward the rear.

[0022] The support body 20A is assembled to the housing 10 by inserting the arm portion 22 from the front side of the housing 10 and accommodating it in the arm accommodation chamber 12, and the tip portion 23 of the arm portion 22 accommodated in the arm accommodation chamber 12 is rotatably supported by a rotation shaft portion 51 of a shaft member 50 described later. This allows the lid 20 to be opened and closed relative to the opening provided with the flange portion 11 of the housing 10. Note that the tip portion 23 of the arm portion 22 is provided with a locking projection 24 that locks with a locking projection 55 of the shaft member 50 described later (see also FIG. 5(a)).

[0023] 3 and 5(a), a peripheral wall 25 that protrudes forward is provided on the periphery of the main body 21. A flat plate 26 is provided in the center of the main body 21, and a label (not shown) indicating, for example, the type of fuel to be filled through the filler opening 3 can be attached to the rear surface of the flat plate 26.

[0024] As shown in Figures 5(a) and 5(b), a pair of reinforcing ribs 27, 28 are provided on the front side of the main body 21. The reinforcing ribs 27, 28 are formed along the left-right direction. Specifically, the reinforcing rib 27 is formed on the upper part of the flat plate portion 26, and the reinforcing rib 28 is formed on the lower part of the flat plate portion 26. The upper surfaces of the reinforcing ribs 27, 28 are inclined so that the free ends face downward. The strength of the lid 20 is increased by providing the reinforcing ribs 27, 28 on the main body 21.

[0025] Each of the reinforcing ribs 27 and 28 has three L-shaped locking claws 29 on the opposing sides. That is, the locking claws 29 are formed on the lower surface of the reinforcing rib 27 and the upper surface of the reinforcing rib 28, and are arranged at intervals in the left-right direction.

[0026] A locking claw 30 is formed on the lower surface of the reinforcing rib 27 and on the upper surface of the reinforcing rib 28. The locking claw 30 is formed at the position of the locking claw 29 that is the farthest (leftmost) from the arm portion 22.

[0027] An engagement recess 31 is provided on the right side of the peripheral wall 25 of the main body 21. An engagement protrusion 46 of the lid 20B, which will be described later, is engaged with the engagement recess 31.

[0028] A fitting protrusion 32 that protrudes rearward is provided on the rear surface of the main body 21, corresponding to the fitting hole 19 of the housing 10. The lid 20 is maintained in a closed state by inserting and fitting the fitting protrusion 32 into the fitting hole 19.

[0029] The lid body 20B is formed with an outer shape larger than that of the main body 21 of the support 20A, and is formed with a curved shape such that the flat plate is gently convex toward the front, and is attached to the main body 21. As a result, the lid body 20B is attached to the main body 21 with its entire peripheral edge extending beyond the outer periphery of the main body 21.

[0030] Two locking portions 41, 42 are provided at a distance in the vertical direction on the rear surface of the lid 20B, which is the attachment surface to the main body 21, corresponding to the reinforcing ribs 27, 28 of the main body 21. The locking portions 41, 42 are formed along the left-right direction. Each of the locking portions 41, 42 has three L-shaped locking claws 43 protruding in opposite directions and one locking portion 44. The locking claws 43 are formed at a distance in the horizontal direction. The locking portion 44 is formed with a locking claw 45, which is located near one of the locking claws 43 on the left side of the lid 20B. In addition, an engagement protrusion 46 extending in the horizontal direction is formed on the right side of the rear surface of the lid 20B.

[0031] Here, to attach the lid body 20B to the support body 20A, first, the lid body 20B is placed against the main body 21 of the support body 20A with the lid body 20B shifted to the left, and the rear surface of the lid body 20B is brought into contact with the peripheral edge of the peripheral wall 25 of the main body 21. In this state, the locking claws 45 of the lid body 20B are positioned near the locking claws 30 of the main body 21, the engaging claws 43 of the lid body 20B are positioned near the engaging claws 29 of the main body 21, and the engaging ridges 46 of the lid body 20B are engaged with the engaging recesses 31 of the main body 21.

[0032] Thereafter, the lid 20B is slid to the right relative to the main body 21. At this time, the engagement ridge 46 of the lid 20B engages with the engagement recess 31 of the main body 21, so that the lid 20B is guided and smoothly slid relative to the main body 21. When the lid 20B is slid to the right relative to the main body 21, the locking claw 45 of the lid 20B engages with the locking claw 30 of the main body 21, and the locking claw 43 of the lid 20B engages with the locking claw 29 of the main body 21. This completes the attachment of the lid 20B to the support body 20A (specifically, the main body 21).

[0033] Next, the shaft member 50 will be described. The shaft member 50 is pivotally supported by the housing 10 and rotatably supports the lid 20. As shown in Figures 7(a) and 7(b), the shaft member 50 integrally includes a generally pin-shaped pivot shaft portion 51 extending in the vertical direction, a generally cylindrical attachment portion 52 having a larger diameter than the pivot shaft portion 51 and to which the biasing member 60 is attached, and a generally semi-cylindrical peripheral wall portion 54 covering half of the outer periphery of the attachment portion 52 so as to define a space 53 between the attachment portion 52 and the attachment portion 52.

[0034] The pivot shaft 51 is inserted into the shaft hole 13 of the housing 10 and rotatably supports the lid 20. The pivot shaft 51 is also provided with a locking protrusion 55 that is locked to the locked protrusion 24 of the lid 20. The locking protrusion 55 is locked to the locked protrusion 24 of the lid 20, so that the shaft member 50 supports the lid 20 and is prevented from falling off the lid 20.

[0035] A cantilevered extension piece 56 extending to the right is integrally formed on the peripheral wall portion 54 and is configured to be elastically deformable in the axial direction, which is a direction intersecting the extension direction (left-right direction in this example), i.e., the up-down direction in this example. The extension piece 56 is elastically deformed in the up-down direction (particularly downward in this example) by sliding contact with the sliding contact portion 15, as described below. A protruding portion 57 is provided at the extending end (right end in this example) of the extension piece 56, protruding toward the sliding contact portion 15 (upper side) in the up-down direction. A protruding end surface 57a (upper surface) of the protruding portion 57 serves as a sliding contact surface with the sliding contact portion 15 of the housing 10. The protruding end surface 57a is inclined to correspond to the inclined surface 15a of the sliding contact portion 15 so as to be in surface contact with the inclined surface 15a.

[0036] The peripheral wall 54 is provided with a reinforcing portion 58 that is formed in a generally U-shape and has both ends connected to the peripheral wall 54. When the lid 20 is in the open state, the resilient force of the extension piece 56 acts on the shaft member 50 in the axial direction toward the side toward which it will fall from the housing 10 (in this example, the lower side), and the reinforcing portion 58 engages with or interferes with the rib 17 of the housing 10. That is, the reinforcing portion 58, together with the rib 17 of the housing 10, prevents the shaft member 50 from falling off the housing 10. A shaft member-side holding portion 59 that holds the other end 60b of the biasing member 60, which will be described later, is provided on the underside of the reinforcing portion 58. The strength of the shaft member-side holding portion 59 is increased by the reinforcing portion 58.

[0037] Next, the biasing member 60 will be described. As shown in Figures 8(a) and 8(b), the biasing member 60 is a so-called torsion spring, and one end 60a is held by the housing-side holding portion 14 of the housing 10, and the other end 60b is held by the shaft-side holding portion 59 of the shaft member 50. As a result, when the lid device 1 is unlocked, it is configured to be rotated in the fully open direction by the biasing force of the biasing member 60.

[0038] The above has described the housing 10, the lid 20, the shaft member 50, and the biasing member 60 that constitute the lid device 1. Below, the operation of the extension piece 56 when the lid 20 is displaced from the closed position to the open position will be described.

[0039] In the lid device 1, when the lock between the housing 10 and the lid 20 is released, the lid 20 is rotated toward the open position by the biasing force of the biasing member 60. At this time, the extension piece 56 also rotates in accordance with the rotation of the rotation shaft portion 51.

[0040] During the rotational phase, the protruding end surface 57a of the protruding portion 57 of the extension piece 56 contacts the inclined surface 15a of the sliding contact portion 15 of the housing 10, and the protruding end surface 57a begins to slide against the inclined surface 15a. As the rotation of the lid 20 progresses, the extension piece 56 elastically deforms and slides up the inclined surface 15a. As a result, as the lid 20 approaches the open position, friction between the extension piece 56 and the inclined surface 15a gradually increases, causing the opening speed of the lid 20 to gradually decrease. Then, when the lid 20 approaches the open position, the protruding end surface 57a climbs up the inclined surface 15a, and when the lid 20 reaches the open position, the protruding end surface 57a is positioned on the horizontal surface 15b. The above describes the behavior of the extension piece 56 when the lid 20 moves from the closed position to the open position.

[0041] As described above, according to this embodiment, when the lid 20 is displaced from the closed position to the open position, the extension piece 56 provided on the shaft member 50 comes into sliding contact with the sliding contact portion 15 provided on the housing 10. That is, when the lid 20 is opened, the extension piece 56 comes into sliding contact with the sliding contact portion 15, which generates friction between the extension piece 56 and the sliding contact portion 15, thereby reducing the momentum when the lid 20 is opened. In this way, the lid device 1 according to this embodiment has a simple structure and can reduce the momentum when the lid 20 is opened.

[0042] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the inclined surface 15a of the sliding contact portion 15 is inclined so that the midpoint of sliding contact with the extension piece 56 is located closer to the extension piece 56 (lower) in the vertical direction than the start point of sliding contact, and the extension piece 56 is cantilevered. As a result, from the start point of sliding contact of the extension piece 56 with the inclined surface 15a to the midpoint of sliding contact, the extension piece 56 elastically deforms and slides up the inclined surface 15a. Therefore, as the lid 20 approaches the open position, the friction between the extension piece 56 and the inclined surface 15a gradually increases. In other words, the force exerted on the lid device 1 when opening the lid can be gradually reduced. Furthermore, by changing the inclination angle of the inclined surface 15a, the magnitude of friction between the extension piece 56 and the inclined surface 15a changes, allowing the force of the lid 20 to be adjusted.

[0043] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the extending end of the extending piece 56 is provided with a protruding portion 57, whose protruding end surface 57a is in sliding contact with the sliding contact portion 15. By changing the area of ​​the protruding end surface 57a, the magnitude of friction generated between the protruding end surface 57a and the sliding contact portion 15 changes, and the momentum with which the lid 20 opens can be adjusted.

[0044] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the protruding end surface 57a is formed in an inclined manner so that it is in surface contact with the inclined surface 15a, so that the protruding end surface 57a and the inclined surface 15a engage more closely when they slide together, thereby more appropriately suppressing the momentum when the lid 20 opens.

[0045] It should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be appropriately modified, improved, etc. In addition, the material, shape, size, number, location, etc. of each component in the above-described embodiments are arbitrary and not limited as long as they can achieve the present disclosure.

[0046] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a lid device 1 that is attached to a fuel filler port 3 or a power filler port of a vehicle and opens and closes the fuel filler port 3 or the power filler port comprises: a housing 10 that is assembled to the fuel filler port 3 or the power filler port; an axial member 50 that is axially supported on the housing 10; and a lid 20 that is rotatably supported on the axial member 50 and can be displaced between a closed position and an open position, wherein the axial member 50 is provided with an extension piece 56 that extends in a direction intersecting the axial direction, and the housing 10 is provided with a sliding contact portion 15 against which the extension piece 56 slides when the lid 20 is displaced from the closed position to the open position.

[0047] With this configuration, when the lid moves from the closed position to the open position, the extension piece provided on the shaft member slides against the sliding contact portion provided on the housing. That is, when the lid opens, the extension piece slides against the sliding contact portion, generating friction between the extension piece and the sliding contact portion. As a result, the above configuration can suppress the momentum of the lid opening with a simple structure.

[0048] The extension piece 56 is arranged in a cantilever shape, and the sliding contact portion 15 may have an inclined surface 15a formed in an inclined manner such that the midpoint of sliding contact with the extension piece 56 is located closer to the extension piece in the axial direction than the start position of sliding contact.

[0049] According to this configuration, the sliding contact portion has an inclined surface formed in an inclined manner such that the midpoint of sliding contact with the extension piece is closer to the extension piece in the axial direction than the start point of sliding contact, and the extension piece is arranged in a cantilevered manner. As a result, from the start point of sliding contact of the extension piece with the inclined surface to the midpoint of sliding contact, the extension piece elastically deforms and slides up the inclined surface, gradually increasing friction between the extension piece and the inclined surface as the lid approaches the open position. In other words, the force of the lid opening can be gradually reduced while reducing the load on the lid device when opening the lid. Furthermore, by changing the inclination angle of the inclined surface, the amount of friction between the extension piece and the inclined surface changes, allowing the force of the lid opening to be adjusted.

[0050] The extending end of the extending piece 56 may be provided with a protruding portion 57 that protrudes toward the sliding contact portion 15 in the axial direction and has a protruding end surface 57 a that comes into sliding contact with the sliding contact portion 15 .

[0051] According to this configuration, the extending end of the extension piece is provided with a protruding portion whose protruding end surface is in sliding contact with the sliding contact portion. By changing the area of ​​the protruding end surface, the amount of friction generated between the protruding end surface and the sliding contact portion can be changed, and the momentum when the lid is opened can be adjusted.

[0052] The protruding end surface 57a may be formed in an inclined shape so as to be in surface contact with the inclined surface 15a.

[0053] According to this configuration, the protruding end face is formed in an inclined shape so that it is in surface contact with the inclined surface, which allows the protruding end face and the inclined surface to engage more closely when they slide together, thereby more appropriately suppressing the momentum when the lid is opened.

[0054] Although various embodiments have been described above, it goes without saying that the present disclosure is not limited to such examples. It is clear that a person skilled in the art can conceive of various modifications or alterations within the scope of the claims, and it is understood that these also naturally fall within the technical scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the components of the above-described embodiments may be combined in any manner as long as they do not deviate from the spirit of the disclosure.

[0055] This application is based on a Japanese patent application (Patent Application No. 2023-123664) filed on July 28, 2023, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0056] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Lid device 10 Housing 15 Sliding contact portion 15a Inclined surface 15b Horizontal surface 20 Lid 20A Support body 20B Lid body 50 Shaft member 56 Extension piece 57 Protruding portion 57a ​​Protruding end surface 60 Urging member

Claims

1. A lid device that is attached to a fuel filler or power filler of a vehicle and opens and closes the fuel filler or power filler, comprising: a housing that is assembled to the fuel filler or power filler; an axis member that is journaled on the housing; and a lid that is rotatably supported on the axis member and can be displaced between a closed position and an open position, wherein the axis member is provided with an extension piece that extends in a direction intersecting the axial direction, and the housing is provided with a sliding contact portion against which the extension piece slides when the lid is displaced from the closed position to the open position.

2. A lid device as described in claim 1, wherein the extension piece is arranged in a cantilever shape, and the sliding contact portion has an inclined surface formed in an inclined manner such that a midpoint of sliding contact with the extension piece is located closer to the extension piece in the axial direction than a sliding contact start position.

3. A lid device according to claim 2, wherein the extending end of the extension piece is provided with a protruding portion that protrudes towards the sliding contact portion in the axial direction and has a protruding end surface that comes into sliding contact with the sliding contact portion.

4. A lid device according to claim 3, wherein the protruding end surface is formed in an inclined shape so as to come into surface contact with the inclined surface.

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