Fuel overfill recovery apparatus
OwnerDavid Linton, Jr.inventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fuel overfill recovery apparatus for recovering fuel from a watercraft's overflowing fuel tank includes a container with a first wall and a second wall. A reservoir is defined between the first and second walls. An aperture extends through the first wall, and a connector is provided for connecting the container to the watercraft such that a fuel tank of the watercraft is in fluid communication via the aperture. Vents extend into the second wall so that gases may freely flow out of the reservoir without taking up space that may be used for overflow fuel. A spout is provided at the bottom of the container to selectively release fuel from the reservoir.
Claims19
A fuel overfill recovery apparatus for a watercraft, the apparatus comprising:
- a container comprising a first wall and a second wall, a perimeter of the first wall being joined to a perimeter of the second wall, the container defining a reservoir between the first and second walls, the first wall defining an aperture which extends through the first wall to the reservoir, the aperture being spaced away from a bottom end of the container, the second wall defining a vent which extends through the second wall to the reservoir;
- a connector coupled to the container, the connector extending around a periphery of the aperture, the connector being configured to couple the container to a surface of the watercraft such that the reservoir is in fluid communication with a fuel port of the watercraft via the aperture;
- and
- a spout coupled to the bottom end of the container, the spout being in fluid communication with the reservoir, the spout having an outlet at a distal end of the spout with respect to the container.
A fuel overfill recovery apparatus for a watercraft, the apparatus comprising:
- a container comprising a first wall and a second wall, a perimeter of the first wall being joined to a perimeter of the second wall, the container defining a reservoir between the first and second walls, the first wall defining an aperture which extends through the first wall to the reservoir, the aperture being spaced away from a bottom end of the container, the second wall defining a plurality of vents which extend through the second wall to the reservoir, the plurality of vents being positioned between a top end of the container and the aperture, the first and second walls being flexible, the container being positionable in a planar configuration wherein the first and second walls lie parallel to and against each other, the first and second walls being transparent;
- a connector coupled to the container, the connector extending around a periphery of the aperture, the connector being configured to couple the container to a surface of the watercraft such that the reservoir is in fluid communication with a fuel port of the watercraft via the aperture, the connector being configured to seal to the surface, the connector comprising an adhesive;
- a connector release liner removably covering the adhesive of the connector;
- a spout coupled to the bottom end of the container, the spout being in fluid communication with the reservoir, the spout having an outlet at a distal end of the spout with respect to the container, the spout being positionable in an open position wherein the spout extends downwardly from the container, the spout being configured to facilitate a release of fluid from the container when in the open position, the spout being positionable in a closed position wherein a proximal end of the spout with respect to the container is crimped, the spout being configured to prevent the release of fluid from the container when in the closed position, the spout having a funnel shape which tapers from the container to the distal end, the spout being integrally formed with the container;
- a fastener engageable to secure the spout in the closed position, the fastener comprising an adhesive strip coupled to the spout, the adhesive strip being removably couplable to the container to retain the spout in the closed position;
- a fastener release liner removably covering the adhesive strip of the fastener;
- and
- a handle being coupled to the top end of the container, the handle being integrally formed with the container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.