JPH05310260A - Opening/closing mechanism for cover - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the mechanism in performance while ensuring the sealing function of the cover. CONSTITUTION:A key cover 16 is turned around a pivotal axis 18 in counteraction against the force from a torsion spring 22; when the turn exceeds 90 deg., an interlocking projection 16e pushes an interlocking arm 30 and then, overcoming the counteraction, engages with each other. Once the interlocking projection 16e is put in engagement with the interlocking arm 30, the engagement subsequently holds the key cover 16 in an open state at the degree of opening as set by the turn. To close the key cover 16, the key cover 16 is moved, with respect to the pivotal axis 18, longitudinally along the axial hole 20 of the pivotal axis which is a long hole in the direction of an arrow A; then the engagement is released, causing the key cover 16 to turn in the direction of an arrow B under the force from the torsion spring 22 and close.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cover opening / closing mechanism for opening / closing a cover with respect to a main body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of cover opening / closing mechanism has been
Used in fuel caps for automobiles. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the fuel cap 110 is attached to the cap body 112 in order to prevent dust, dirt, water, and the like from entering the opening lock mechanism 114 formed of a key cylinder arranged in the center of the cap body 112. A key cover 116 that can be rotated is provided.

The key cover 116 is provided with a rotary shaft shaft hole 120 into which the rotary shaft 118 provided in the cap body 112 is fitted. Therefore, the key cover 11
6 is retained by fitting the rotating shaft 118 into the rotating shaft shaft hole 120, and rotates about the rotating shaft 118 with respect to the cap body 112. Further, the rotation shaft 118 has
A torsion spring 122 having spring ends is attached to the lower surface of the spring receiving end 116c of the key cover 116 and the slope of the pedestal 112a of the cap body 112. Therefore, the torsion spring 122 causes the key cover 116 to lock the opening lock mechanism 11
The key cover 116 is in the closed state as shown in the drawing because the urging force that constantly urges the key cover 4 in the closing direction acts.

Further, a rubber packing 124 is provided on the inner surface of the key cover 116, and an opening locking mechanism 114 is provided on the upper surface of the cap body 112 so as to surround the sealing projection 12 from its end surface.
Uppers 128 with 6 protruding are respectively mounted.

[0005]

However, in the fuel cap 110 using the conventional cover opening / closing mechanism,
The following problems have been pointed out. Fuel cap 11
At 0, in order to secure the dustproof effect and the waterproof effect for the opening lock mechanism 114, the spring constant of the torsion spring 122 is increased to some extent, and the biasing force generated by this spring is also increased so that the rubber packing 124 and the seal projection 126 are It is necessary to increase the surface pressure of.

However, when the spring constant of the torsion spring 122 is increased to secure the sealing property in this way, the key cover 116 is centered around the rotary shaft 118 as shown in FIG. 2 in order to operate the opening lock mechanism 114. The force required to rotate to the open state increases. Further, the operation of the opening lock mechanism 114 cannot be executed unless the key cover 116 is held with such a large force and the open state shown in FIG. 2 is maintained. That is, when operating the opening lock mechanism 114, the holding operation of the key cover 116 and the operation of the opening lock mechanism 114 need to be performed in parallel.

The force required to hold the key cover 116,
That is, the spring constant of the torsion spring 122 can be reduced to reduce the load required for the operation, but it is not preferable because the sealing property is poor.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to improve the operability while ensuring the sealing performance of the cover.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the means adopted by the present invention is such that it is held via a rotary shaft provided in the main body and is rotated with respect to the main body about the rotary shaft. In the cover opening / closing mechanism, the cover-side engaging portion provided on the cover and the cover are provided with a predetermined cover, and a biasing unit that applies a biasing force that constantly biases the cover in a closing direction. And a main body side engaging portion provided on the main body so as to hold the cover in the open state of the opening when the cover is opened more than the opening degree. The rotation shaft shaft hole provided in the cover for being held by the moving shaft has the cover side engaging portion and the main body side engagement in which the cover is opened and engaged with the cover at a predetermined opening or more. Allow movement of the cover in the direction to release the engagement with the As its gist that the shape.

[0010]

In the cover opening / closing mechanism having the above-mentioned structure, the cover held via the rotating shaft provided in the main body is centered on the rotating shaft against the urging force acting on the cover by the urging means. When the rotation amount of the cover is greater than or equal to a predetermined opening degree, the cover side engaging portion provided on the cover and the main body side engaging portion provided on the main body are engaged with each other to open the cover. The open state of the opening is maintained. Therefore, no special operation is required to keep the cover in this open position.

Further, when the cover held in the open state with a predetermined opening is closed, the cover should be moved in a direction to release the engagement between the cover side engaging portion and the main body side engaging portion. ,
Since the rotation shaft shaft hole provided in the cover for being held by the rotation shaft has a shape that allows the cover to move, the cover naturally moves to release the engagement of both engaging portions, Will be free. Therefore, the cover is rotated about the rotation axis with respect to the main body by receiving the biasing force that biases the cover in the closing direction by the biasing means, and is closed.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the cover opening / closing mechanism according to the present invention is applied to a fuel cap of an automobile will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the same names are used for the members having the same functions as those of the conventional fuel cap described above. FIG. 3 is a side view showing the fuel cap 10 of the embodiment with a part thereof cut away.

As shown in FIG. 3, the fuel cap 10 of the embodiment is provided with a key cover 16 which is rotatable with respect to the cap body 12 as in the conventional fuel cap 110.
This is to prevent dust, dirt, water, etc. from entering the opening lock mechanism 14 formed of a key cylinder arranged in the center of the cap body 12.

This key cover 16 has a cap body 1
An elongated hole-shaped rotary shaft shaft hole 20 into which the rotary shaft 18 provided on the second shaft 2 is fitted is formed. The long hole-shaped rotation shaft shaft hole 20 has a width that allows the key cover 16 to move with respect to the rotation shaft 18 in the longitudinal direction of the long hole. Therefore, the key cover 16 is held by fitting the rotating shaft 18 into the rotating shaft shaft hole 20, and rotates about the rotating shaft 18 with respect to the cap main body 12, and in the longitudinal direction of the long hole. Move along. The perforation direction and shape of the long hole-shaped rotary shaft shaft hole 20 will be described later.

The key cover 16 is a plan view of the key cover 16 shown in FIG.
As shown in (a) and FIG. 4 (b) which is a side view, a cover portion 16a forming a center thereof, a grip portion 16b, a spring receiving end portion 16c, and rotary shaft receiving portions 16d on both sides thereof.
And as a unit. Then, the rotary bearing portion 16
The rotation shaft shaft hole 20 having the elongated hole shape described above in d is opened, and the engagement protrusion 16 is provided on the upper surface of the end of the rotation shaft receiving portion 16d.
e is formed.

On the rotating shaft 18, the lower surface of the spring receiving end portion 16c of the key cover 16 and the pedestal 1 of the cap body 12 are provided.
Torsion spring 2 with the spring end against the slope of 2a
2 is installed. Therefore, the torsion spring 22 exerts an urging force that constantly urges the key cover 16 in the closing direction toward the opening lock mechanism 14, so that the key cover 16 is in the closed state as shown in the drawing. .. Further, when the key cover 16 is in the closed state shown in FIG. 3, the spring receiving end portion 16c of the key cover 16 is rotated by the urging force of the torsion spring 22.
8, the rotary shaft 18 is located at the end of the rotary shaft shaft hole 20 in the shape of an elongated hole opposite to the spring receiving end.

The torsion spring 22 is designed as a spring having a spring constant sufficient to secure a dustproof effect and a waterproof effect for the opening lock mechanism 14 in the fuel cap 10.

On the upper surface of the cap body 12, there is mounted an upper 28 surrounding the opening locking mechanism 14 and projecting a sealing projection 26 from the end surface thereof. As shown in FIG. The engagement protrusion 16 of the key cover 16 when the cover 16 is opened as described later.
An engagement arm 30 that engages with e is provided upright corresponding to each engagement protrusion 16e. The engagement arm 30 is flexible and is bent by the engagement protrusion 16e in the process of opening the key cover 16 as described later, and then engages with the engagement protrusion 16e. Note that this situation will be described later.

Further, like the conventional fuel cap 110, a rubber packing 24 that abuts on the seal projection 26 of the upper 28 is mounted on the inner surface of the key cover 16.

Next, how the fuel cap 10 having the above-mentioned structure is used will be described. When the key cover 16 is opened and the opening lock mechanism 14 is operated, a finger or the like is hung on the grip portion 16b of the key cover 16 to pull it up, and the key cover 16 is rotated about the rotation shaft 18. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the key cover 16 rotates against the biasing force acting on the key cover 16 by the torsion spring 22, and the amount of rotation approaches 90 degrees as shown in FIG. Then, the engagement arm 30 is bent via the engagement protrusion 16e.

Thereafter, when the rotation amount of the key cover 16 becomes 90 degrees or more as shown in FIG. 5, that is, when the engaging projection 16e gets over the protruding portion of the engaging arm 30, the engaging projection 16 is formed.
e and the engagement arm 30 engage as shown in the figure. Therefore, thereafter, the engagement of the engagement protrusion 16e with the engagement arm 30 causes the key cover 16 to open (90 degrees).
Since the key cover 16 is held in the open state, no special operation is required to keep the key cover 16 in this open position.

Here, the perforation direction and shape of the rotary shaft shaft hole 20 having a long hole will be described. Even in the process of opening the key cover 16 and when the key cover 16 is held in the open state at an opening of 90 degrees, the spring receiving end portion 16c of the key cover 16 rotates as in the case where the key cover 16 is in the closed state. The rotary shaft 18 receives the biasing force of the torsion spring 22 so as to be separated from the shaft 18, and the rotary shaft 18 has a long hole-shaped rotary shaft shaft hole 20
It is located at the end opposite to the spring receiving end. Rotating shaft shaft hole 2
0 is formed in an elongated hole shape from the side opposite to the spring receiving end portion side to the spring receiving end portion side, and its longitudinal direction is the direction in which the engagement protrusion 16e and the engagement arm 30 are disengaged from each other (FIG. 5 is the direction along the middle arrow A). That is, the rotation shaft shaft hole 20 in the shape of an elongated hole allows the key cover 16 held at an opening of 90 degrees to engage the engagement protrusion 16 e with the engagement arm 30 with respect to the rotation shaft 18. It is formed in a shape that can be moved along the releasing direction.

Next, the case where the key cover 16 held at the opening angle of 90 degrees as described above is closed will be described. In this case, as shown in FIG. 6, the key cover 16
The periphery of the spring receiving end portion 16c is pressed along the direction indicated by the arrow A in the drawing to move the key cover 16 with respect to the rotary shaft 18 along the longitudinal direction of the rotary shaft shaft hole 20 having a long hole shape. Let Then, as shown in the drawing, the engagement between the engagement protrusion 16e and the engagement arm 30 is released, and the key cover 16 is in a free state. Therefore, the key cover 16 receives from the torsion spring 22 an urging force for urging the opening cover locking mechanism 14 in the closing direction (the direction indicated by the arrow B in the figure) and rotates about the rotation shaft 18. , Closed as shown in FIG.

As described above, in the fuel cap 10 of this embodiment, the opening lock mechanism 14 is opened and closed even if the spring constant of the torsion spring 22 does not impair the sealing performance and the sealing performance of the key cover 16 is secured. When the operation is performed, it is not necessary to hold the open state of the key cover 16. Moreover, when the key cover 16 is closed, the key cover 16 can be closed only by moving the key cover 16 along the longitudinal direction of the rotary shaft shaft hole 20 having a long hole shape. As a result, according to the fuel cap 10 of the present embodiment, it is possible to improve the operability while ensuring the sealing performance of the key cover 16.

Further, when the key cover 16 is closed, it is not necessary to bend the engagement arm 30 through the engagement protrusion 16e in releasing the engagement between the engagement protrusion 16e and the engagement arm 30. Therefore, loss of flexibility of the engagement arm 30 can be avoided. Therefore, it is possible to reliably hold the open state of the key cover 16 through the engagement with the engagement protrusion 16e.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the scope of the present invention. Of course. For example, in this embodiment, the engaging arm 30 has flexibility, but it may be formed as a highly rigid one without flexibility. In this case, when the key cover 16 is rotated to be in the open state of 90 degrees, the key projection 16e is moved over the projection of the engagement arm 30 so as to cover the key cover 16 only.
Is a slotted rotary shaft along the longitudinal direction of the rotary shaft shaft hole 20.
Move to 8. After that, the key cover 16 receives the biasing force of the torsion spring 22 and returns along the longitudinal direction of the rotary shaft shaft hole 20 having a long hole shape, and the engagement protrusion 16e and the engagement arm 30 are engaged with each other. The cover 16 will be held in the open state of 90 degrees.

Further, the opening degree for holding the key cover 16 in the open state is not limited to 90 degrees as described above, and it goes without saying that the opening lock mechanism 14 can be opened and closed. is there. Further, it goes without saying that the cover opening / closing mechanism of the present invention can be applied not only to the fuel cap 10 but also to other members as long as it is a cover opening / closing mechanism that can open and close the cover that is normally closed.

[0028]

As described in detail above, in the cover opening / closing mechanism of the present invention, the cover held via the turning shaft provided in the main body moves the turning shaft against the biasing force acting on the cover. When it is rotated with respect to the main body about the center and the amount of rotation is equal to or larger than a predetermined opening degree, the cover side engaging portion provided on the cover and the main body side engaging portion provided on the main body are engaged with each other. , The cover is held in the open state corresponding to the opening. Therefore,
From then on, no special operation is required to keep the cover in this open position.

When the cover held in the open state with a predetermined opening is closed, the cover-side engaging portion and the main-body-side engaging portion are disengaged from each other with respect to the rotating shaft. When the cover is moved by moving the cover, the engagement of both the engaging portions is released, and the cover becomes free. Therefore, the cover is rotated about the rotation axis with respect to the main body by receiving a biasing force that biases the cover in the closing direction, and is closed.

Therefore, according to the cover opening / closing mechanism of the present invention, even if the urging force acting on the cover is increased to ensure the sealing performance of the cover, the cover is kept in the open state without the need to hold the open state. The cover can be closed simply by moving the cover in the above direction. As a result, according to the cover opening / closing mechanism of the present invention, it is possible to improve the operability while ensuring the sealing performance of the cover.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conventional fuel cap 1 using a cover opening / closing mechanism.
The side view which partially shows 10 and shows.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the fuel cap 110 used for explaining the problems of the fuel cap 110.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a partially broken view of a fuel cap 10 of an embodiment using a cover opening / closing mechanism.

FIG. 4 is a key cover 16 of the fuel cap 10.
And FIG.

5 is a side view of the fuel cap 10 used to explain the operation and effect of the fuel cap 10. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the fuel cap 10 used to explain the operation and effect of the fuel cap 10.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Fuel cap 12 ... Cap main body 14 ... Opening lock mechanism 16 ... Key cover 16c ... Spring receiving end 16e ... Engagement protrusion 18 ... Rotating shaft 20 ... Rotating shaft axial hole 22 ... Torsion spring 30 ... Engaging arm

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A cover which is held via a rotary shaft provided in the main body and which rotates with respect to the main body around the rotary shaft, and a biasing force which constantly biases the cover in a closing direction. In a cover opening / closing mechanism having a biasing means that acts on the cover-side engaging portion, the cover-side engaging portion provided on the cover and the cover-side engaging portion when the cover is opened to a predetermined opening or more. And a main body side engaging portion provided in the main body so as to hold the cover in the open state of the opening degree, and a rotation shaft shaft hole provided in the cover for being held by the rotation shaft. Is a shape that allows the cover to move in a direction to release the engagement between the cover-side engaging portion and the main-body-side engaging portion that are engaged by opening the cover at a predetermined opening or more. A cover opening / closing mechanism characterized by being present.