JP2003011681A - Cap device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cap device for attaching a connecting member 28 to a fuel cap 20 to prevent the cap member from being lost. The cap device can smoothly store the connecting member 28 when the fuel cap 20 is opened and closed, and has a simple configuration. To be realized in. SOLUTION: The cap device is a fuel filler port 16a of an automobile.
And a fuel cap 20 that opens and closes. The fuel cap 20 is provided with a rotating ring 25 (sliding means), and a connecting member 28 is connected to the rotating ring 25.
The other end of the connecting member 28 is connected to the fuel filler lid 12.
The connecting member 28 is connected to the bent portion 3 connected to the connecting member body 29.
1 is provided. The bending portion 31 bends the connection member main body 29 along the outer periphery of the cap when receiving a longitudinal force from the connection member main body 29.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cap device in which one end of a long connecting member is connected to a cap.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a fuel tank of an automobile, in order to prevent loss of a filler cap during refueling,
There is a configuration in which the filler cap is connected to the vicinity of the fuel filler port of the fuel tank by a long connecting member such as a tether. As a fuel cap device having such a tether, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
The technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 00-233653 is known.

In the technique disclosed in the conventional publication, one end of the connecting member is connected to the oil supply lid, and the other end is provided so as to be wound around the cap. That is, the connecting member is fixed at a position slightly deviated from the center of the cap, a winding groove is provided on the outer periphery of the cap, and the connecting member is wound into the groove as the cap rotates, and the connecting member interferes with the periphery of the cap. I try not to become.

[0004]

However, in the prior art, since the cap requires a winding mechanism for the connecting member, the shape of the cap is complicated and the degree of freedom in design is reduced, resulting in an increase in cost. There was a problem of becoming a factor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a cap device capable of smoothly storing a connecting member with a simple structure.

[0006]

MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS AND ACTIONS AND EFFECTS OF THE PROBLEMS The present invention, which has been made to solve the above problems, provides a cap device having a cap for opening and closing a tank opening, which is movable along the outer periphery of the cap. A flexible elongate member having a slide means provided, a first connection end and a second connection end, the first connection end being connected to the slide means, and the second connection end being mounted near the tank opening. A connecting member connected to the member, wherein the connecting member has a substantially linear connecting member main body, and the connecting member when a force is applied to the portion formed on the connecting member main body and close to the cap from the connecting member main body. And a bent portion that bends the main body along the outer periphery of the cap.

In the cap device according to the present invention, when the cap is removed from the tank opening, the cap is supported around the tank opening through the connecting member, so that the cap can be prevented from being lost or forgotten to be tightened. One end of the connecting member is connected and fixed to a slide means slidably provided on the outer periphery of the cap, and the slide means and the cap relatively rotate when the cap is removed and a rotating operation is performed. Therefore, even if the cap is connected and fixed to the connecting member, it does not hinder the opening / closing operation of the cap.

Further, the connecting member is provided with a bent portion. The bent portion is bent by the force of the connecting member in the longitudinal direction so that the connecting member main body extends along the outer circumference of the cap. Then, when a force is applied to the connecting member in the longitudinal direction with the bent portion bent, this force is converted into a direction in which the slide means is rotated. Therefore, the sliding means rotates smoothly, the connecting member surrounds the cap, and does not disturb the surrounding members.

Here, as a preferable mode of the sliding means, any structure may be used as long as the first connecting end of the connecting member can be rotatably slid. For example, a rotating ring formed rotatably on the outer circumference of the cap. It can be configured by. In this case, the rotating ring can be simply constructed by integrally forming the connecting member and the resin, and the connecting member main body of the connecting member is formed substantially straight so that the rotating ring does not slacken. It is possible to prevent interference with members.

As a preferred mode of the bent portion, at least one U-shaped portion can be formed. In this aspect, the bent portion may be formed in a plurality of U-shapes continuously, or may be formed at distant positions, or may be formed in a substantially S-shape by connecting in opposite directions. Good. The U-shaped bent portion is smoothly bent and does not receive an excessive force, and thus has excellent durability.

The mounting member may be a member around the tank opening to which the second connecting end of the connecting member can be connected.
In the case of an automobile, a refueling lid can be applied, and the rotating ring can be rotated via the connecting member by opening and closing the refueling lid.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in order to further clarify the constitution and operation of the present invention described above.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a rear portion of an automobile equipped with a cap device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which an oil supply lid 12 is opened. Figure 1
In the rear part of the vehicle body panel 10 shown in FIG. 3, a recess 11 for refueling is formed, and an opening of the recess 11 is covered with a refueling lid 12.
The fuel filler lid 12 is attached via a hinge 13 so as to be openable and closable. A filler pipe 16 connected to a fuel tank (not shown) is provided on the bottom wall 11a of the recess 11.
The fuel filler port 16a is disposed. The fuel filler 16 a is openably and closably sealed by a fuel cap 20.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a part of the fuel cap 20 mounted on the filler pipe 16. The fuel cap 20 is a casing 2 attached to the filler pipe 16.
1, a lid 22 mounted on the flange 21b on the upper part of the casing 21, and a gasket GS mounted on the upper part of the casing 21. The fuel cap 20 is a so-called quick turn type cap that closes the filler opening 16a of the filler pipe 16 only by rotating it by a predetermined angle, for example, about 90 °. An engagement protrusion 21 a is formed on the outer periphery of the casing 21. Engaging protrusion 21a
The gasket GS is pressed against the inner wall of the filler pipe 16 by being engaged with the engaging protrusion 16b of the filler pipe 16 to seal the gap therebetween.

The lid 22 is formed in a cup shape by an upper wall 23 having an operating portion 23a for pinching with fingers and a side wall 24 formed in a cylindrical shape from the outer periphery of the upper wall 23. There is. A rotating ring 25 is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the side wall 24.
And a locking ring 26 is attached. That is, the side wall 24 is formed with an annular groove 24a over the entire circumference thereof, and the rotary ring 25 is attached to the annular groove 24a. The rotary ring 25 is retained by a locking ring 26 arranged below the rotary ring 25. The engagement claw 26a of the locking ring 26 engages with the engagement hole 24b formed in the side wall 24, so that the rotation ring 25 is rotatably mounted on the side wall 24 in a state where the rotation ring 25 is retained.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the fuel cap 20, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the rotating ring 25 and the connecting member 28. The rotating ring 25 includes an annular ring body 25a, and a connecting member 28 is integrally formed from one end of the rotating ring 25. Rotating ring 25 and connecting member 28
Is integrally molded from a thermoplastic elastomer (TPEE or the like) by injection molding. Ring body 2 shown in FIG.
On the lower surface of 5a, a plurality of step portions 25b are provided at equal intervals. These stepped portions 25b are protrusions for allowing the rotating ring 25 shown in FIG. 3 to reduce the contact area in the annular groove 24a and to smoothly rotate.

One end of the connecting member 28 is at a predetermined angle α with respect to the rotating ring 25 shown in FIG.
5 are connected to each other with an angle α5 ° to 180 ° with respect to an axis line L1 passing through the center of 5. A bent portion 31 is formed near the first connection end that is one end of the connecting member 28.
The bent portion 31 is formed in a substantially S-shape by connecting U-shaped portions in opposite directions, is formed on the same plane as the rotating ring 25, and receives a force in the direction of arrow d1 shown in FIG. At some times, the connecting member main body 29 is bent so as to follow the outer periphery of the lid body 22.

Further, in FIG. 5, a supporting end 30 is formed at the second connecting end which is the other end of the connecting member 28.
The support end 30 has a plate-like shape that expands in a fan shape toward the tip, and is in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the rotating ring 25, that is, 9
It is formed by twisting it by 0 °. The supporting end 30 is provided with a locking projection 30a. As shown in FIG. 2, the locking projection 30 a is provided on the rear surface side of the fuel filler lid 12 with the fixing portion 1 a.
It is rotatably supported by 2a. The fuel cap 20 shown in FIG. 1 is hung via the connecting member 28 fixed to the fixing portion 12 a when the fuel cap 12 is opened and removed from the filler pipe 16. In this state, when the fuel cap 20 is released from the hand, the support end 30 moves to the rotating ring 25.
Since it is twisted by 90 ° with respect to (see FIG. 5), the lid 22 of the fuel cap 20 is directed toward the outer plate of the vehicle and hangs at a position away from the vehicle body panel 10. In this state,
Can be refueled. That is, since the fuel cap 20 can be arranged at a position away from the vehicle body panel 10 during refueling, the fuel cap 20 does not interfere with the refueling gun and the fuel adhering to the casing 21 does not stain the vehicle body panel 10.

Next, the opening / closing operation of the fuel cap 20 will be described. With the fuel cap 20 shown in FIG. 1 removed, the fuel cap 20 is inserted into the filler port 16a of the filler pipe 16 and rotated by a predetermined angle (about 90 °) to close the filler port 16a. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6, the rotating ring 25 is rotatable with respect to the lid body 22, and the connecting member 28 is provided with the refueling lid 12 and the fuel cap 2.
Since the fuel cap 20 does not receive a large force from 0 and is substantially straight and has no slack, the fuel cap 20 does not hinder the opening / closing operation. At this time, the connecting member 28 has the bent portion 31.
The connecting member main body 29 is bent along with the outer peripheral surface of the lid 22.

Then, when the refueling lid 12 is closed, the refueling lid 1
Interlocking with 2, the connecting member 28 is pushed in the longitudinal direction from the state of FIG. Then, the force in the longitudinal direction applied to the connecting member 28 is converted into a force in the direction d1 that rotates the rotating ring 25 in the counterclockwise direction, and the rotating ring 25 rotates smoothly, as shown in FIG. Thus, the connecting member 28 surrounds the lid body 22. In this way, the connecting member 28 is the lid 2
It is housed in the inner space of the refueling lid 12 so as to surround the refueling lid 2, and does not hinder the opening and closing of the refueling lid 12. When the bent portion 31 is not provided as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 6, the force applied from the longitudinal direction of the connecting member 28 is applied from the radial direction d2 of the rotary ring 25, so the rotational force tends to increase, It is difficult to obtain smooth rotation, but when there is the bent portion 31 as in the embodiment, the force of the connecting member 28 is applied in the circumferential direction by the bent portion 31, so the rotation becomes smooth.

Next, the operation of removing the fuel cap 20 will be described. When the refueling lid 12 is opened, the connecting member 28 moves in the longitudinal direction along with the opening operation of the refueling lid 12, but the bent portion 31 is bent and the connecting member main body 29 is rotated by the rotating ring 25.
Since the connection member 28 is disposed along the direction, the connecting member 28 rotates the rotating ring 25 in the clockwise direction with a small force from the state of FIG. 7 to the state of FIG.

Therefore, the refueling lid 12 is connected to the connecting member 28.
Although it is connected to the fuel cap 20 via the, the opening / closing operation can be smoothly performed without receiving a large force from the connecting member 28 that hinders opening / closing.

Further, according to the above embodiment, the following operational effects are further exhibited.

(1) The connecting member 28 can be simply constructed and manufactured by forming the bent portion 31 having a bent shape integrally with the rotary ring 25. Further, since the connecting member main body 29 of the connecting member 28 is formed in a substantially linear shape, it does not loosen and therefore does not interfere with peripheral members. Moreover, when the fuel cap 20 is suspended from the fixed portion 12a and comes to the fuel filler port 16a, the fuel cap 20 is bent at the bent portion 31, so that the connecting member 28 does not protrude and protrude from the concave portion 11, and the concave portion is properly formed. Fits in 11. Further, since the rotary ring 25 is rotatable within the annular groove 24a of the fuel cap 20, the rotary operation can be smoothly performed without restraining the rotation of the lid 22.

(2) Since the bent portion 31 is formed in a U-shape, it bends smoothly and does not receive excessive force, so it has excellent durability.

8 to 10 are plan views showing a rotating ring and a connecting member according to the other three embodiments. These embodiments are characterized by the shape of the bent portion formed on the connecting member.

(1) The bent portion 31B of the connecting member 28B shown in FIG. 8 has a U-shaped portion further added to the bent portion 31 shown in FIG.
This is the added configuration.

(2) The bent portion 31C of the connecting member 28C shown in FIG. 9 has a single U-shape.

(3) The bent portion 31D of the connecting member 28D shown in FIG. 10 has a configuration in which one U-shape is further added in the same direction in addition to the bent portion 31C shown in FIG.

As described above, the bent portion may be formed in a plurality of U-shapes continuously, or may be formed at separate positions. The bent portion may be formed integrally with the connecting member or may be formed separately. Thus, the bent portion can have various configurations according to various conditions such as the length of the connecting member and the mounting position of the connecting member.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the scope of the invention.

(1) In the above embodiment, the second connecting member is used.
Although the configuration in which the connection end is configured by the support end 30 and is attached to the fuel filler lid 12 has been described, the configuration is not limited to this, and the fuel filler port 16a
There is no particular limitation as long as it is a member on the vehicle body side (mounting member) around, such as the bottom wall 11a of the recess 11 and the like that does not hinder the opening / closing operation of the fuel cap 20.

(2) In the above embodiment, the fuel cap has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the type is not particularly limited as long as it is a cap, and it can be applied to, for example, a cap of a radiator of an automobile. it can.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a rear portion of an automobile including a cap device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where an oil supply lid 12 is opened.

FIG. 3 is a fuel cap 2 attached to a filler pipe 16.
It is sectional drawing which shows a part of 0.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the fuel cap 20.

5 is a perspective view showing a rotating ring 25 and a connecting member 28. FIG.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of the connecting member 28.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an operation of the connecting member 28.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a rotating ring 25 and a connecting member 28B according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a rotating ring 25 and a connecting member 28C according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a rotating ring 25 and a connecting member 28D according to a fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Body panel 11 ... Recess 11a ... bottom wall 12 ... Refueling lid 12a ... Fixed part 13 ... Hinge 16 ... Filler pipe 16a ... Refueling port 16b ... engaging protrusion 20 ... Fuel cap 21 ... Casing 21a ... Engaging protrusion 21b ... flange 22 ... Lid 23 ... Upper wall 23a ... Operation unit 24 ... Side wall 24a ... annular groove 24b ... Engagement hole 25 ... Rotating ring 25a ... Ring body 25b ... Step 26 ... Locking ring 26a ... Engaging claw 28 ... Connecting member 28B ... connecting member 28C ... connecting member 28D ... connecting member 29 ... Connecting member body 30 ... Support end 30a ... Locking protrusion 31 ... Bent section 31B ... Bending section 31C ... Bent section 31D ... Bent section GS ... Gasket

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Hideaki Fujita             1 Toyota Town, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture Toyota Auto             Car Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 3D038 CA15 CB01 CC15                 3E084 AA05 AA12 AB04 BA02 CB04                       CC08 DA01 EA02 EB03 EC09                       FA09 FB03 GA01 GA08 GB01                       GB12 GB14 HA05 HB04 HD02                       JA14

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A cap device provided with a cap for opening and closing a tank opening, comprising a slide means movably provided along an outer periphery of the cap, and a flexible device having a first connecting end and a second connecting end. A connecting member having a first connecting end connected to the slide means and a second connecting end connected to a mounting member near the tank opening, wherein the connecting member is a substantially linear connection. A member main body, and a bent portion formed in the connection member main body and bent so that the connection member main body follows the outer periphery of the cap when a force is applied from the connection member main body to a portion close to the cap, Cap device characterized by. 2. The cap device according to claim 1, wherein the sliding means is a rotating ring rotatably mounted on an outer circumference of the cap. 3. The cap device according to claim 2, wherein the rotating ring and the connecting member are integrally molded of resin. 4. The cap device according to claim 1, wherein the bent portion is formed in at least one U-shape. 5. The cap device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the attachment member is an oil filler lid that is openably and closably attached to the vehicle body, and the first connection end of the connecting member is attached to the oil filler lid. A cap device configured to connect and rotate a rotating ring via a connecting member by opening and closing a fuel filler lid.