IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,845,001
Granted Patent B2
US 8,845,001 · App. 13/818,070 · Granted Sep 30, 2014

Device for detecting opening/closing of charger lid

Inventors: Takeshi Kotama (Kariya, JP); Shinsuke Nakashima (Kariya, JP); Reiji Mikami (Kariya, JP); Yasuhiko Yamamoto (Kariya, JP); Masahiro Kato (Aichi, JP); Takashi Yamagami (Nagoya, JP)
Assignees: Toyota Shatai Kabushiki Kaisha; Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Riki Denki Seisakusho
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,845,001
App. No.
13/818,070
Granted
Sep 30, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A push lifter is provided with a push-push mechanism. When a charger lid is positioned in a closed position to close a battery charging opening, the push-push mechanism holds a push rod in a standby state. When the charger lid, which is positioned in the closed position, is pressed so that the standby state of the push rod is cancelled, the push-push mechanism pushes the push rod with the urging force of a coil spring so that the charger lid opens. An illumination lamp turns off when a switch portion turns off due to the standby state of the push rod, and the lamp turns on when the switch portion turns on due to the standby state of the push rod being cancelled.

Claims (29)

1. A device for detecting opening/closing of a charger lid provided in the vicinity of a battery charging opening of a vehicle body, the device comprising:

a first urging means for urging the charger lid in a closing direction;

a push rod provided in the battery charging opening and capable of pushing up the charger lid;

an illumination means provided in the battery charging opening and capable of illuminating an inside of the battery charging opening;

a switch means for turning on or off the illumination means;

a second urging means for urging the charger lid in an opening direction; and

a push-push mechanism, wherein

when the charger lid is located at a closed position for closing the battery charging opening, the push-push mechanism holds the push rod in a standby state

when the charger lid located at the closed position is pressed and the standby state of the push rod is cancelled, the push-push mechanism opens the charger lid by pushing up the push rod by an urging force of the second urging means,

when the switch means is turned off by the push rod in the standby state, the illumination means is turned off, and

when the switch means is turned on by the push rod no longer in the standby state, the illumination means is turned on.

2. The device for detecting opening or closing of a charger lid according to claim 1 , wherein a display means for displaying charging-related information is provided at the battery charging opening.

3. The device for detecting opening or closing of a charger lid according to claim 2 , wherein

the charging-related information is a charging state of an onboard secondary battery,

the display means is a charging indicator indicating the charging state,

the switch means and the charging indicator are integrated by a common insulator, and

the insulator includes a connection terminal to be connected to a circuit of each of the switch means and the charging indicator.

4. The device for detecting opening or closing of a charger lid according to claim 2 , further comprising an electronic control unit, which is connected to the switch means and is activated when the switch means is turned on,

wherein the electronic control unit displays obtained charging-related information on the display means.

5. The device for detecting opening or closing of a charger lid according to claim 2 , wherein

the charging-related information is a battery remaining level of an onboard secondary battery,

the display means is a battery remaining level display means indicating the battery remaining level,

the switch means and the battery remaining level display means are integrated by a common insulator, and

the insulator includes a connection terminal to be connected to a circuit of each of the switch means and the battery remaining level display means.

6. The device for detecting opening or closing of a charger lid according to claim 5 , further comprising an electronic control unit, which is connected to the switch means and is activated when the switch means is turned on,

wherein the electronic control unit monitors a battery remaining level state of the onboard secondary battery and displays the battery remaining level state on the battery remaining level display means.

7. The device for detecting opening or closing of a charger lid according to claim 1 , further comprising an electronic control unit, which is connected to the switch means and is activated when the switch means is turned on, wherein

the electronic control unit turns on the illumination means when the switch means is turned on, and

the electronic control unit turns off the illumination means when the switch means is turned off.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE COUNTRY OF THE FIRST ASSIGNEE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 029851 FRAME 0819. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE THE COUNTRY OF THE FIRST ASSIGNEE IS JAPAN. Recorded Mar 26, 2013
From: KOTAMA, TAKESHI; NAKASHIMA, SHINSUKE; MIKAMI, REIJI; YAMAMOTO, YASUHIKO; KATO, MASAHIRO; YAMAGAMI, TAKASHI
To: TOYOTA SHATAI KABUSHIKI KAISHA; KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO
Reel/Frame 030089/0383 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 21, 2013
From: KOTAMA, TAKESHI; NAKASHIMA, SHINSUKE; MIKAMI, REIJI; YAMAMOTO, YASUHIKO; KATO, MASAHIRO; YAMAGAMI, TAKASHI
To: TOYOTA SHATAI KABUSHIKI KAISHA; KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO
Reel/Frame 029851/0819 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130326955A1 · Dec 12, 2013