Lid opening and closing apparatus

A four-bar linkage is provided with an opened position holding mechanism. The opened position holding mechanism includes: an engagement pin which protrudes in a rear end portion of a second hinge arm; a support pin which protrudes in a base end portion of an extending portion of a link bracket; a hook bracket having a central portion which is turnably supported by the support pin; and an urging spring which pulls the hook bracket in one direction with respect to the support pin as the center. The hook bracket includes: a guide surface; and an engagement concave portion to be engaged with the engagement pin. The guide surface hits against the engagement pin in accordance with a lid opening operation, and a hit position therebetween relatively moves in a central direction in accordance with a turn with respect to the support pin as the center performed against the pulling force of the urging spring.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a lid opening and closing apparatus formed in a vehicle body.

2. Description of the Related Art

In order to protect a charging port of a power feeding apparatus for an electric automobile, a lid is openably and closably provided to the charging port. When a power feeding operation is performed, the lid is opened to a fully opened state, and needs to be held in the fully opened state so as not be closed during the power feeding operation. A conventionally known example of such a support structure of the opened state of the lid includes a hood support structure for an automobile disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-313357.

In addition, a hood hinge structure for a vehicle is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-161076. In the hood hinge structure for the vehicle, a hood hinge of a four-bar linkage is configured by: a hood-side bracket attached to a lower surface of a rear end portion of a hood; a vehicle body-side bracket attached to a vehicle body member; a first link having an upper portion which is turnably supported by the hood-side bracket and a lower portion which is rotatably supported by the vehicle body-side bracket; and a second link which is longer than the first link and has a rear portion which is turnably supported by the hood-side bracket and a front portion which is rotatably supported by the vehicle body-side bracket, and the hood is openably and closably attached to the vehicle body member by means of the hood hinge thus configured.

In the hood hinge structure disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-161076, the hood-side bracket includes: a hood attachment portion attached to the hood; a first link attachment portion which is formed at an outer edge of the hood attachment portion in a vehicle width direction, and rotatably supports the upper portion of the first link; and a second link attachment portion which is formed at an inner edge of the hood attachment portion in the vehicle width direction, and rotatably supports the rear portion of the second link. The vehicle body-side bracket includes: a base portion attached to the vehicle body member; a first link attachment portion which is formed at an outer edge of the base portion in the vehicle width direction, and rotatably supports the lower portion of the first link; and a second link attachment portion which is formed at an inner edge of the base portion in the vehicle width direction, and rotatably supports the front portion of the second link. Then, in the hood-side bracket, the second link attachment portion formed in the hood-side bracket is formed on a front side of the vehicle body with respect to the first link attachment portion.

In the hood support structure for the automobile disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-313357, an operation of hooking a support rod needs to be performed while a hood is held in an opened state. Therefore, an operator is required to use both hands, and it is inconvenient in the case where the operator performs an operation while having a power feeder in one hand. In addition, with regard to the hood hinge structure disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-161076, a mechanism which holds the hood in the opened state is not disclosed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has an object to provide a lid opening and closing apparatus which can be operated with one hand from start of an opening operation to holding of a fully opened state of a lid, can save more space compared with an apparatus using a gas cylinder, and can be manufactured inexpensively in terms of the cost of parts.

The present invention provides a lid opening and closing apparatus which opens and closes a lid for an opening portion formed in a vehicle body, including: a link mechanism which is provided between the lid and the vehicle body and functions as a hinge when the lid is opened and closed; and an opened position holding mechanism which maintains an opened position of the lid, in which the opened position holding mechanism operates in accordance with turns of links included in the link mechanism, and blocks turns between the links, to thereby maintain the opened position of the lid.

The link mechanism may be a four-bar linkage, and may include: a support frame as a first link which is fixed to a periphery of the opening portion of the vehicle body; a link bracket as a second link which is fixed to a rear surface of the lid; and a first hinge arm as a third link and a second hinge arm as a fourth link which are bridged between the link bracket and the support frame. The second hinge arm may be longer than the first hinge arm. The first hinge arm may have an upper end portion which is turnably coupled to the link bracket via a first coupling pin, and a lower end portion which is turnably coupled to the support frame via a second coupling pin. The second hinge arm may have an upper end portion which is turnably coupled to the link bracket on a front side of the first coupling pin via a third coupling pin, and a lower end portion which is turnably coupled to the support frame on a front side of the second coupling pin via a fourth coupling pin. A distance between the first coupling pin and the third coupling pin may be smaller than a distance between the second coupling pin and the fourth coupling pin. A front end portion of the link bracket may turn upward when the lid is opened.

Further, the link bracket may include a lid attachment portion and an extending portion which extends obliquely downward toward a rear side from a rear portion of the lid attachment portion. The extending portion may serve as the second link of the four-bar linkage.

Further, the opened position holding mechanism may include: a first mechanism including a hook bracket which turns in accordance with the turns of the links included in the link mechanism when the lid is opened and closed; and a second mechanism is formed of a stopper structure between a rear portion of the link bracket and the upper end portion of the first hinge arm in the four-bar linkage. The hook bracket of the first mechanism may fix a turn between the link bracket as the second link and the second hinge arm as the fourth link when the lid is located at the opened position. The stopper structure of the second mechanism may fix a turn between the link bracket as the second link and the first hinge arm as the third link at the opened position of the lid. Both of the first mechanism and the second mechanism may release the fixing of the turns between the links when the links turn in a direction in which the lid is closed.

Further, the first mechanism of the opened position holding mechanism may include the hook bracket, an urging spring, and an engagement pin. The hook bracket may have: a central portion which is supported by the link bracket via a support pin, to thereby enable the hook bracket to turn up and down; a front end portion in which an abutment portion against the link bracket is provided; and a rear end portion in which an engagement concave portion engaging with the engagement pin and a smooth guide surface reaching the engagement concave portion are provided. The urging spring may always urge the rear portion of the hook bracket to turn downward. The engagement pin may abut against the upper end portion of the second hinge arm corresponding to the guide surface of the hook bracket, and may be provided in such a position as to be fitted into the engagement concave portion of the hook bracket when the lid is located at the opened position. The hook bracket may be turned by the urging spring in accordance with an opening motion of the lid, the guide surface in the rear portion of the hook bracket may abut from above against the engagement pin provided to the second hinge arm during a latter half of the opening motion, the abutment portion of the hook bracket may abut from below against the link bracket at the opened position of the lid, and the engagement pin may be fitted into the engagement concave portion of the hook bracket, whereby the lid and the link mechanism may be engaged with each other, to thereby block the turns of the links.

Further, the urging spring may be a coil spring and the hook bracket further has a hook portion for the coil spring on the front end portion thereof, the coil spring being suspended between the hook portion of the hook bracket and the rear portion of the link bracket corresponding to an upper portion of the support pin, to thereby always urge the rear portion of the hook bracket to turn downward.

Further, the engagement concave portion formed in the rear end portion of the hook bracket may have a side surface which is closed, the side surface being opposed to a leading end of the engagement pin which is fitted into the engagement concave portion.

According to the lid opening and closing apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to perform the lid opening operation with one hand from start of the opening operation to holding of the fully opened state of the lid. In addition, the link mechanism is provided with the holding structure for holding the lid at the opened position, and hence it is possible to save more space compared with an apparatus using a gas cylinder, and manufacture the apparatus inexpensively in terms of the cost of parts. Further, when the lid is closed from the opened state, the lid can be closed with a smaller operation force compared with the apparatus using the gas cylinder with a repulsive force which is large enough to move up the lid, and a click feeling which is useful to check the opened position can provided.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a lid opening and closing apparatus according to the present invention is described in detail with reference to the drawings.

In the embodiment, the lid opening and closing apparatus is provided to a lid which protects a charging port of a power feeding apparatus of an electric automobile.FIG. 1is a cross sectional view illustrating an opening portion which is formed in a vehicle body, a support frame, and the lid according to the embodiment. In addition,FIG. 2is a perspective view illustrating the support frame and the lid in a lid opened state according to the embodiment. As illustrated inFIG. 1, an opening portion2is formed on a panel1which constitutes a surface of the vehicle body of the electric automobile, the charging port (not shown) is placed inside of the opening portion2, and a lid3is provided to the opening portion2.

It should be noted that, for the clarification of a positional relation between components, the front, rear, top, and bottom are defined by positions or directions illustrated inFIG. 11C. It is assumed that the right and left are determined when the rear side is observed from the front side. However, in actuality, the opening portion can be provided at various positions, and hence the front, rear, top, and bottom ofFIG. 11Cdo not necessarily coincide with the front, rear, top, and bottom of the vehicle body.

A support frame4having a substantially rectangular shape is attached to the vehicle body along a periphery of the opening portion2. As illustrated inFIG. 2, the support frame4is configured by: a pair of side frames5,5which each have a front end which is inclined downward with respect to a rear end, and are parallel to each other; a lower front frame6coupled between the front end portions of the right and left side frames5,5; and an upper rear frame7coupled between the rear end portions of the right and left side frames5,5. In addition, brackets8,8which stand upward are fixedly provided on inner sides close to the front ends of the pair of right and left side frames5,5, respectively.

Hereinafter, for the sake of simplification, a left-right symmetrical structure such as the side frames5,5is expressed as the side frame5, and only one of the two components is described.

In addition, a pair of right and left link mechanisms9are provided so as to bridge between positions close to right and left sides of a rear end portion of a rear surface of the lid3and the pair of right and left side frames5, respectively. The link mechanism9includes a first hinge arm10, a second hinge arm11which is longer than the first hinge arm10, and a link bracket12, and turns with respect to the rear end portion of the lid3as the center to open and close the opening portion2.

The support frame4, the link bracket12, the first hinge arm10, and the second hinge arm11configure the link mechanism which functions as a hinge when the lid is opened and closed. The support frame4corresponds to a first link in a four-bar linkage, and similarly, the link bracket12, the first hinge arm10, and the second hinge arm11correspond to a second link, a third link, and a fourth link in the four-bar linkage, respectively.

A striker top14is fixed to a central portion close to a front end of the rear surface of the lid3, and a lock mechanism45which engages with a striker15of the striker top14to lock the lid3in a closed state is provided on an inner side of a central portion of the lower front frame6of the support frame4.

As illustrated inFIG. 2, the pair of link brackets12which are parallel to each other are attached to positions close to both sides of the rear surface of the lid3along a front-rear direction of the lid3. The pair of first hinge arms10which are parallel to each other are provided on inner sides of intermediate portions of the pair of right and left side frames5, and the second hinge arms11are provided on inner sides of the right and left brackets8.

As illustrated inFIG. 3, the link bracket12includes a plate-like lid attachment portion13, and is fixed with the lid attachment portion13being attached to the rear surface of the lid3. A pendant plate16which is bent downward is formed at an outer edge of the lid attachment portion13of the link bracket12, and a hook piece17(FIG. 8) is integrally formed by bending a rear end edge of the lid attachment portion13. An extending portion18which extends obliquely downward toward a rear side of the lid3is integrally formed in a rear portion of the pendant plate16of the link bracket12.

As illustrated inFIG. 8, in an upper portion of a peripheral end edge of a lower end portion of the extending portion18, a protruding claw portion21is formed by a step between a side edge and the peripheral end edge of the lower end portion of the extending portion18. In the center of the lower end portion of the extending portion18, a support shaft hole38for attaching an upper end portion of the first hinge arm10is formed. In an intermediate portion of the extending portion18, which is located on a front and upper side of the support shaft hole38, a support shaft hole39for attaching an upper end portion of the second hinge arm11is formed. In a base end portion of the extending portion18, which is located on a front side of the support shaft hole39, a support shaft hole40for attaching a hook bracket27to be described later is formed.

A lower end portion of the first hinge arm10is turnably supported by an inner wall of an intermediate portion of the side frame5in its front-rear direction via a support pin19serving as a second coupling pin (FIG. 3). On the other hand, a coupling pin20serving as a first coupling pin which protrudes toward an inner side of the support frame4is inserted through the support shaft hole38formed in the lower end portion of the extending portion18, and a leading end portion of the coupling pin20is fixed by caulking to the upper end portion of the first hinge arm10. With this structure, the upper end portion of the first hinge arm10is turnably coupled to the lower end portion of the extending portion18of the link bracket12via the coupling pin20(FIG. 2andFIG. 4toFIG. 7).

In addition, a stopper plate22which is bent inward is formed at one side edge close to the upper end of the first hinge arm10, and this stopper plate22abuts against the protruding claw portion21formed at the peripheral end edge of the lower end portion of the extending portion18(FIG. 4,FIG. 5, andFIG. 7). The stopper plate22restricts a lid opening operation of the lid to a fully opened position.

In addition, a lower end portion of the second hinge arm11is turnably supported by an inner side of the bracket8via a support pin23serving as a fourth coupling pin (FIG. 3). On the other hand, a coupling pin24serving as a third coupling pin which protrudes toward the inner side of the support frame4is inserted through the upper end portion of the second hinge arm11, and a leading end portion of the coupling pin24is fixed by caulking to the support shaft hole39formed in the intermediate portion of the extending portion18. With this structure, the upper end portion of the second hinge arm11is turnably coupled to the intermediate portion of the extending portion18of the link bracket12via the coupling pin24(FIG. 2andFIG. 4toFIG. 7).

As described above, the first hinge arm10is bridged between the side frame5on the support frame4side (vehicle body side) and the extending portion18of the link bracket12on the lid3side via the support pin19and the coupling pin20. In addition, the second hinge arm11is bridged between the bracket8and the extending portion18via the support pin23and the coupling pin24. Then, a distance between the coupling pin24and the coupling pin20is configured to be smaller than a distance between the support pin23and the support pin19.

As a result, the link mechanism9is formed as the four-bar linkage by the first hinge arm10and the second hinge arm11which are turnably coupled via the support pin19, the coupling pin20, the support pin23, and the coupling pin24.

[Opened Position Holding Mechanism25for Fully Opened State of Lid3]

Then, an opened position holding mechanism25for the fully opened state of the lid3is further provided to the link mechanism9as the four-bar linkage described above (FIG. 2toFIG. 4andFIG. 6). A support pin26which protrudes toward the inner side of the support frame4is fixed by caulking to the support shaft hole40formed in the base end portion of the extending portion18. In addition, a central portion of the hook bracket27in its front-rear direction is turnably supported by the support pin26(FIG. 2andFIG. 4toFIG. 7).

FIG. 9is a perspective view illustrating the hook bracket27, which is observed from the inner side of the support frame4, andFIG. 10is a perspective view illustrating the hook bracket27, which is observed from an outer side of the support frame4. A shaft support portion28which protrudes from an outer side surface in a boss-like shape is formed in a central portion of inner and outer side surfaces of the hook bracket27facing the inner side of the support frame4, and a shaft hole29is formed in the shaft support portion28so as to pass therethrough in the left-right direction. The support pin26is inserted through the shaft hole29from the inner side surface side, and a leading end of the support pin26is fixed by caulking to the support shaft hole40formed in the base end portion of the extending portion18of the link bracket12. Accordingly, the hook bracket27is turnably supported with respect to the support pin26as the center.

A protruding piece30which protrudes upward is formed at an upper end edge of a front end portion of the hook bracket27, and a hook portion31which is opened forward is formed in the protruding piece30. An abutment portion32for positioning is formed of a protruding portion which protrudes toward the outer side of the support frame4, at a position close to a lower end of a front end portion of the outer side surface of the hook bracket27. In addition, an engagement concave portion33is formed on a rear side of the shaft support portion28on the outer side surface of the hook bracket27, and includes: an apex portion34at the center in its width direction; and an opened portion35which is opened so as to become gradually wider from the apex portion34toward the lower side.

Further, a guide surface27awhich is inclined downward toward the engagement concave portion33at the center is formed at a lower end edge of a rear portion of the hook bracket27, which is located on a rear side of the engagement concave portion33of the hook bracket27. In addition, a front end of an urging spring36is hooked on the hook portion31of the hook bracket27, and a rear end of the urging spring36is hooked on the hook piece17of the lid attachment portion13of the link bracket12.

The hook bracket27is pulled by an urging force of the urging spring36in the clockwise direction with respect to the support pin26as the center. The abutment portion32hits against a lower end edge of the pendant plate16of the link bracket12, whereby the hook bracket27is restricted at its initial position with respect to the extending portion18(FIG. 5andFIG. 7).

In addition, on a rear side of the second hinge arm11with respect to the coupling pin24which is a coupling portion between the second hinge arm11and the extending portion18, an engagement pin37which protrudes toward the inner side of the support frame4is fixed by caulking (FIG. 4). It should be noted that, at the time of transition to the fully opened state of the lid3, the engagement pin37engages with the engagement concave portion33of the hook bracket27, to thereby hold the lid3in the fully opened state. Further, in order to ensure the strength of the hook bracket27, the engagement concave portion33may have a side surface which is closed, the side surface being opposed to a leading end of the engagement pin37which is fitted into the engagement concave portion33.

It should be noted that examples of the urging spring36always urging the rear portion of the hook bracket27to turn downward may include a torsion spring and a leaf spring as well as the coil spring as shown inFIG. 4and other drawings, and the turning mechanism can be configured depending on each aspect of each spring.

[Motion of Link Mechanism9]

Next, the motion of the link mechanism9of the lid3thus configured is described with reference toFIG. 11AtoFIG. 16.FIG. 11AtoFIG. 12Care side views illustrating motion tracks of the lid3, the link mechanism9, and the opened position holding mechanism25from the fully closed state to the fully opened state.FIGS. 11A,11B, and11C illustrate the first half of the motion tracks, andFIGS. 12A,12B, and12C illustrate the latter half thereof.FIG. 1is a cross sectional view illustrating the state where the lid3is fully closed. With reference toFIG. 1, the rear end portion of the lid3is supported by the link mechanism9in the vicinity of a rear end of the support frame4, and the striker15provided at the center of the front end portion of the rear surface of the lid3is locked by the lock mechanism45provided in the central portion of the lower front frame6(FIG. 2), whereby the lid3is held in the fully closed state.

In the fully closed state of the lid3, the striker15is fixed by the lock mechanism45, so that movement of the lid3in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body is blocked. Therefore, a relative position in the front-rear direction between: the link bracket12which constitutes the link mechanism9and is attached to the lid3; and the side frame5and the bracket8is restricted. Because the positions in the front-rear direction, of the link bracket12, the side frame5, and the bracket8are restricted, mutual turn between the first hinge arm10and the second hinge arm11which are bridged between the link bracket12, and the side frame5and the bracket8, respectively, is blocked. Therefore, a relative position relation among respective members of the link bracket12, the first hinge arm10, and the second hinge arm11is maintained, and the lid3is stably held at the fully closed position (fully closed state illustrated inFIG. 11A).

Meanwhile, when the lock of the striker15by the lock mechanism45is released and the front end portion of the lid3is moved up, to thereby perform the opening operation of the lid3(referred to as lid opening operation), a movement track is accordingly restricted by the four-bar linkage which is formed of: the link bracket12coupled to the lid3; the first hinge arm10bridged between the link bracket12and the side frame5; the second hinge arm11bridged between the link bracket12and the bracket8; and the support pin19, the coupling pin20, the support pin23, and the coupling pin24which couple these members to each other. Therefore, the state sequentially changes in the following order: the fully closed state illustrated inFIG. 11A(a state where the opening portion2of the panel1of the vehicle body is closed by the lid3); a 20°-opened state illustrated inFIG. 11Bwhere the lid3is opened at 20° with respect to the opening portion2of the panel1; a 40°-opened state [FIG. 11C]; and then a 60°-opened state illustrated inFIG. 12A. It should be noted that, during this change in state, the hook bracket27is pulled by the urging force of the urging spring36in the clockwise direction with respect to the support pin26as the center. Therefore, the abutment portion32is located at its initial position at which the abutment portion32hits against the lower end edge of the pendant plate16of the link bracket12.

[Opening Operation of Lid]

In the fully closed state of the lid3illustrated inFIG. 11A, the engagement between the striker15and the lock mechanism45is released, and the front end portion of the lid3is moved up (referred to as lid opening operation). Consequently, the link bracket12attached to the lid3turns in the clockwise direction with respect to the coupling pin24as the center, so that the lid3is opened. When the link bracket12turns in the clockwise direction with respect to the coupling pin24as the center, the coupling pin20also turns in the clockwise direction with respect to the coupling pin24as the center.

When the coupling pin20turns in the clockwise direction, the upper end portion of the first hinge arm10axially supported by the coupling pin20is pulled forward, the first hinge arm10turns in the counterclockwise direction with respect to the support pin19in the lower end portion of the first hinge arm10as the center, and the first hinge arm10makes gradual transition to a standing state. When the first hinge arm10turns in the counterclockwise direction to make transition to the standing state, the link bracket12is also pushed forward and upward. In addition, because the first hinge arm10and the second hinge arm11constitute the link mechanism, when the first hinge arm10turns in the counterclockwise direction to make transition to the standing state, the second hinge arm11also turns in the counterclockwise direction with respect to the support pin23as the center to similarly make gradual transition to a standing state. As a result, in accordance with the lid opening operation of the lid3, the link bracket12moves in a direction in which the entire link bracket12protrudes in a forward direction, and also moves upward, so that the lid3moves to the 20°-opened position illustrated inFIG. 11B.

If the lid opening operation of the lid3is further continued, the link bracket12turns in the clockwise direction with respect to the coupling pin24as the center, and hence the lid3turns in the clockwise direction to be opened. The coupling pin20further turns in the clockwise direction in accordance with this lid opening operation of the lid3, and the first hinge arm10accordingly turns in the counterclockwise direction with respect to the support pin19as the center to make gradual transition to the standing state. Similarly, the second hinge arm11also makes gradual transition to the standing state, and hence the state sequentially changes from the 20°-opened position of FIG.11B to the 40°-opened position ofFIG. 11Cand then from the 40°-opened position to the 60°-opened state illustrated inFIG. 12A.

During this change in state, the abutment portion32of the hook bracket27is maintained at its initial position at which the abutment portion32hits against the lower end edge of the pendant plate16of the link bracket12. In addition, at the 60°-opened position, the guide surface27a(FIG. 13) formed at the lower end edge of the rear portion of the hook bracket27abuts against the engagement pin37provided in the rear end portion of the second hinge arm11.

When the engagement pin37provided in the rear end portion of the second hinge arm11hits against the guide surface27alocated at the lower end edge of the rear portion of the hook bracket27, the urging force (pulling force) of the urging spring36counteracts the turn of the second hinge arm11in the counterclockwise direction with respect to the coupling pin24in the rear end portion of the second hinge arm11as the center. Therefore, the subsequent lid opening operation is to be performed against the pulling force of the urging spring36.

[Motion of Opened Position Holding Mechanism25]

The motion from the 60°-opened position at which the guide surface27a(FIG. 13) located at the lower end edge of the rear portion of the hook bracket27abuts against the engagement pin37provided in the rear end portion of the second hinge arm11(a state where the lid3is opened at 60° with respect to the opening portion2of the panel1) to the fully opened position is described with reference toFIG. 13toFIG. 16.

InFIG. 13, when the front end portion of the lid3is moved up to perform the lid opening operation, the lid3turns in the clockwise direction with respect to the coupling pin24as the center. Because the guide surface27alocated at the lower end edge of the rear portion of the hook bracket27abuts against the engagement pin37provided in the rear end portion of the second hinge arm11due to the force of the urging spring36, the lid3is moved up against the force of the urging spring36. When the lid3is moved up against the force of the urging spring36, the link bracket12turns in the clockwise direction with respect to the coupling pin24as the center. In accordance with this turn, the hook bracket27axially supported by the support pin26integrally turns in the clockwise direction around the coupling pin24.

The guide surface27aof the hook bracket27is pushed against the engagement pin37, and the guide surface27ahas a shape which is inclined downward toward the engagement concave portion33at the center. Therefore, as the hook bracket27turns in the clockwise direction with respect to the coupling pin24as the center, the hook bracket27turns in the counterclockwise direction with respect to the support pin26as the center against the pulling force of the urging spring36. As a result of this turn, the abutment portion32turns in the counterclockwise direction from its initial position at which the abutment portion32hits against the lower end edge of the pendant plate16of the link bracket12, and thus is separated from the pendant plate16.

When the lid3is continuously moved up, the extending portion18of the link bracket12, the support pin26, and the coupling pin20integrally turn in the clockwise direction with respect to the coupling pin24as the center, and the hook bracket27turns in the counterclockwise direction with respect to the support pin26as the center. Therefore, the hit position between the guide surface27aof the hook bracket27and the engagement pin37moves toward the center of the hook bracket27(FIG. 14). The guide surface27ahas such a smooth surface that enables the hit position to move smoothly.

When the lid3is further continuously moved up, the engagement pin37moves beyond an edge of the opened portion35of the engagement concave portion33which is formed on the rear side of the shaft support portion28on the rear surface of the hook bracket27(FIG. 15). When the engagement pin37moves beyond the edge of the engagement concave portion33, a pressing force disappears due to the opened portion35, and hence the hook bracket27is turned in the clockwise direction with respect to the support pin26as the center by only the pulling force in the clockwise direction with respect to the support pin26as the center, exerted by the urging spring36to the hook bracket27. Therefore, the engagement pin37is fitted into the engagement concave portion33from the opened portion35, and the engagement pin37is engaged with the apex portion34of the engagement concave portion33(FIG. 16). In addition, the abutment portion32returns to its initial position at which the abutment portion32hits against the lower end edge of the pendant plate16of the link bracket12. At the same time, the protruding claw portion21formed at the peripheral end edge of the lower end portion of the extending portion18of the link bracket12abuts against an upper end surface of the stopper plate22of the first hinge arm10, so that the lid opening operation is stopped, to thereby bring the lid3into the fully opened state.

In the state illustrated inFIG. 16where the lid3is held to be fully open, the pulling force of the urging spring36in the clockwise direction with respect to the support pin26as the center is applied to the hook bracket27. Therefore, unless a force of pushing up the hook bracket27in the counterclockwise direction with respect to the support pin26as the center against the pulling force of the urging spring36is applied to the engagement pin37, the lid3is not closed, and thus is held in the fully opened state. In addition, due to the pulling force of the urging spring36, the abutment portion32is held at its initial position at which the abutment portion32hits against the lower end edge of the pendant plate16of the link bracket12.

In this way, the force of holding the lid3in the fully opened state is set by the pulling force of the urging spring36. Accordingly, the force of holding the lid3in the opened state can be changed by changing the urging spring36and thus changing the pulling force. That is, even if an operator applies force by mistake in the direction in which the lid3is closed, the lid3can be held in the fully opened state. In addition, settings which do not become a burden to the operator at the time of the opening and closing operation of the lid3are possible.

In addition, a stopper mechanism is configured by: the protruding claw portion21formed in a peripheral portion of the coupling pin20in the lower end portion of the extending portion18; and the stopper plate22formed in the peripheral portion of the coupling pin20in the upper end portion of the first hinge arm10. That is, the protruding claw portion21of the extending portion18of the link bracket12abuts against the stopper plate22of the first hinge arm10, whereby the lid opening operation of the lid3can be reliably stopped and the stability of the fully opened state of the lid3can be secured.

[Closing Operation of Lid]

The closing operation of the lid3can be performed by pushing down the front end portion of the lid3, to thereby apply, to the engagement pin37, the force of pushing up the hook bracket27in the counterclockwise direction with respect to the support pin26as the center against the pulling force of the urging spring36. In this way, the engagement pin37can be separated from the engagement concave portion33as illustrated fromFIG. 16toFIG. 15, fromFIG. 15toFIG. 14, and fromFIG. 14toFIG. 13. The subsequent closing operation is performed in reverse order of the opening operation of the lid.

According to the lid opening and closing apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to perform the operation with one hand from start of the opening operation to holding of the fully opened state of the lid3. In addition, the link mechanism9is provided with the support structure for holding the lid3in the opened state, and hence it is possible to save more space compared with an apparatus using a gas cylinder, and manufacture the apparatus inexpensively in terms of the cost of parts. Further, when the lid3is closed from the opened state, the lid3can be closed with a smaller operation force compared with the apparatus using the gas cylinder with a repulsive force which is large enough to move up the lid3, and a click feeling can provided.