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US 2006/0138139 A1Published application
Anti-siphon fuel cap and filler tube assembly
OwnerRussell Kellerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved fuel cap and filler tube assembly for a fuel tank is provided. A spring-biased resilient and compressible closure member in the fuel cap seats inside an inlet opening of the filler tube when the fuel cap is secured to the filler tube. The filler tube includes an anti-siphon elbow.
Claims18
A fuel cap and filler tube assembly, comprising:
- a fuel cap having a top portion and a circumferential skirt extending down from the top portion, the fuel cap having a plurality of recesses in an interior section of the cap along the circumferential skirt;
- a filler tube having an annular shoulder at the top of the filler tube with the shoulder extending about the top of the filler tube and defining an inlet opening for the filler tube, the shoulder having a plurality of protrusions extending from the outer perimeter thereof, the protrusions mating with the recesses to secure the fuel cap to the filler tube;
- a closure member coupled to an underside of the cap, the closure member exerting a downward pressure to cover the inlet opening of the filler tube when the fuel cap is secured to the filler tube, the downward pressure keeping the plurality of protrusions mated with the recesses to secure the cap to the filler tube, the closure member comprising:
- a compressible and resilient cup-shaped closure member having an annular rim;
- and
- a spring having a first end coupled to a central interior area of the fuel cap and a second end coupled to a central area of the compressible and resilient cup-shaped closure member.
3 more elements
An improved fuel cap and filler tube assembly, comprising, in combination:
- a fuel cap having a top portion and a circumferential skirt joined to and extending down from the top with a resilient and compressible cup-shaped closure member coupled to the underside of the fuel cap and a compression coil spring bearing against said top portion at one end and said resilient and compressible cup shaped closure member at the other end, the resilient and compressible cup-shaped closure member having an annular rim, the fuel cap having a plurality of recesses in an interior section of the cap along the circumferential skirt;
- a filler tube having a first inlet opening at an upper end and a second end extending into the fuel tank with an anti-siphon elbow therebetween, the filler tube having a plurality of protrusions at the upper end and equal in number to the plurality of recesses, the protrusions adapted for mating with the recesses to secure the fuel cap to the filler tube,
- wherein the closure member assembly exerts a downward pressure to cover the first inlet opening of the filler tube when the fuel cap is secured to the filler tube, the downward pressure keeping the protrusions mated with the recesses to secure the fuel cap to the filler tube.
A method to substantially prevent siphoning and tampering of fuel from a fuel tank, comprising the steps of:
- providing a fuel tank having a one-piece filler tube having an inlet opening at an upper end and an elbow;
- providing a fuel cap for engaging with the inlet opening at the upper end of the filler tube, the fuel cap having a top portion and a circumferential skirt joined to and extending down from the top portion with a plurality of recesses in an interior section of the fuel cap along the circumferential skirt and having a resilient and compressible cup-shaped closure member coupled to the underside of the fuel cap and a compression coil spring bearing against said underside of the fuel cap at one end and said resilient and compressible cup shaped closure member at the other end, the resilient and compressible cup-shaped closure member having an annular rim;
- and
- mounting said fuel cap on said inlet opening at said upper end of said filler tube.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.