# US 11,299,038 B2 · Fuel filler structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,299,038 B2 - Document ID: US11299038B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/817,387 - Filed: 2020-03-12 - Published: 2021-09-16 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-12 - Assignees: Nissan North America, Inc. - Applicants: Nissan North America, Inc. - Inventors: Jeffrey Pecnak - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11299038B2 ## CPC - B60K 15/0406: {Filler caps for fuel tanks} - B60K 15/05: Inlet covers - B62D 25/16: Mud-guards or wings; Wheel cover panels (equipped with means for freeing wheels or tyres from foreign matter B60S) - B62D 33/02: Platforms; Open load compartments {(flat wagons including posts or standards B61D3/08)} - B60K 2015/0432: {having a specific connection between the cap and the vehicle or tank opening} - B60K 2015/053: {with hinged connection to the vehicle body} - B60K 2015/0553: {Details concerning the inlet box or bowl in the vehicle car body panel} - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) ## Abstract A fuel filler structure includes a vehicle body panel, a filler housing, a filler tube cap and a tether. The vehicle body panel defines a fuel filler opening. The filler housing has an outboard side and an inboard side. The outboard side is installed to the vehicle body panel at least partially surrounding the fuel filler opening and is dimensioned to receive and surround a portion of a fuel filler tube. The filler tube cap is configured to removably attach to the fuel filler tube at least partially within the filler housing. The tether is attached at a first end to the filler tube cap and is attached at a second end to the filler housing for pivoting movement about a vertical axis. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fuel filler structure comprising: a vehicle body panel having an inboard surface and an outboard surface with a fuel filler opening extending from the outboard surface to the inboard surface; a filler housing having an outboard side and an inboard side, the outboard side being installed to the vehicle body panel at least partially surrounding the fuel filler opening dimensioned to receive and surround a portion of a fuel filler tube, the outboard side of the filler housing including an outer peripheral edge that is fixedly attached to the inboard surface of the vehicle body panel and includes a horizontally extending surface below the fuel filler tube, the horizontally extending surface having a fixture opening; a filler tube cap configured to removably attach to the fuel filler tube at least partially within the filler housing; and a tether attached at a first end to the filler tube cap and attached at a second end to the filler housing for pivoting movement about a vertical axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fuel filler structure according to claim 1, further comprising a door attached to the filler housing for movement between a closed position concealing the filler housing, the filler tube cap and the tether. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The fuel filler structure according to claim 2, wherein the door has a non-rectangular shape with six edge portions angularly offset from adjacent ones of the six edge portions. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The fuel filler structure according to claim 3, wherein the vehicle body panel includes a recessed area surrounding the fuel filler opening dimensioned and shaped to receive the door. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The fuel filler structure according to claim 1, further comprising a pivot pin, and a pin receiving fixture that is installed to the fixture opening, the pivot pin extending through a loop in the second end of the tether and an attachment opening in the pin receiving fixture such that the second end of the tether pivots about the pivot pin. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The fuel filler structure according to claim 5, wherein the fuel filler opening of the vehicle body panel is defined by a peripheral edge encircling the fuel filler opening, a lower edge section of the peripheral edge includes a projection extending upward from the peripheral edge into the fuel filler opening. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The fuel filler structure according to claim 6, wherein the projection of the peripheral edge of the fuel filler opening of the vehicle body panel contacts the pin receiving fixture with the filler housing installed to the vehicle body panel and the pin receiving fixture installed to the filler housing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The fuel filler structure according to claim 7, wherein the vehicle body panel, the pin receiving fixture and the pivot pin are all made of electrically conductive materials such that with the filler housing installed to the vehicle body panel and the pin receiving fixture installed to the filler housing, the tether is grounded to the vehicle body panel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The fuel filler structure according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle body panel includes a wheel well portion adjacent to and below the fuel filler opening. ### Claim 10 A fuel filler structure comprising: a vehicle body panel defines a fuel filler opening; a filler housing having an outboard side and an inboard side, the outboard side being installed to the vehicle body panel at least partially surrounding the fuel filler opening dimensioned to receive and surround a portion of a fuel filler tube; a filler tube cap configured to removably attach to the fuel filler tube at least partially within the filler housing; and a tether attached at a first end to the filler tube cap and attached at a second end to the filler housing for pivoting movement about a vertical axis, the vertical axis being defined by a pivot pin, and a pin receiving fixture that are installed to the filler housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The fuel filler structure according to claim 10, further comprising a door attached to the filler housing for movement between a closed position concealing the filler housing, the filler tube cap and the tether, the door having a non-rectangular shape with six edge portions angularly offset from adjacent ones of the six edge portions. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The fuel filler structure according to claim 11, wherein the vehicle body panel includes a recessed area surrounding the fuel filler opening dimensioned and shaped to receive the door. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The fuel filler structure according to claim 10, wherein the vehicle body panel has an inboard surface and an outboard surface with the fuel filler opening extending from the outboard surface to the inboard surface, the outboard side of the filler housing including an outer peripheral edge that is fixedly attached to the inboard side of the vehicle body panel and includes a horizontally extending surface below the fuel filler tube, the horizontally extending surface having a fixture opening, the pin receiving fixture extending in to the fixture opening. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The fuel filler structure according to claim 10, wherein the fuel filler opening of the vehicle body panel is defined by a peripheral edge encircling the fuel filler opening, a lower edge section of the peripheral edge includes a projection extending upward from the peripheral edge into the fuel filler opening. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The fuel filler structure according to claim 14, wherein the projection of the peripheral edge of the fuel filler opening of the vehicle body panel contacts the pin receiving fixture with the filler housing installed to the vehicle body panel and the pin receiving fixture installed to the filler housing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The fuel filler structure according to claim 15, wherein the vehicle body panel, the pin receiving fixture and the pivot pin are all made of electrically conductive materials such that with the filler housing installed to the vehicle body panel and the pin receiving fixture installed to the filler housing, the tether is grounded to the vehicle body panel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The fuel filler structure according to claim 10, wherein the vehicle body panel includes a wheel well portion adjacent to and below the fuel filler opening.