# US 2014/0196574 A1 · Universal adjustable marine deck fill lid key

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- Number: US 2014/0196574 A1
- Document ID: US20140196574A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/740,387
- Filed: 2013-01-14
- Published: 2014-07-17
- Earliest claimed: 2013-01-14
- Inventors: Gregory Kutsen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196574A1

## CPC

- B63B 69/00: Equipment for shipping not otherwise provided for
- B60K 15/0406: {Filler caps for fuel tanks}
- B60K 2015/0438: {using screw or bayonet}
- Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining
- B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06)
- 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
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A universal adjustable deck fill lid key may comprise a handle and a slide, the handle and the slide each mounting one small pin and one large pin, and the slide being slidably mounted on the handle in a manner that enables a user to position the slide along the handle such that either the small pins or the large pins may engage the holes of a two-hole deck fill lid to enable the key to remove or re-install the deck fill lid in a wrench-like manner. In one embodiment, the universal deck fill lid key may additionally incorporate a slot head to enable the key to interface with and operate a slotted deck fill lid. In another embodiment, the universal deck fill lid key may additionally incorporate a drive nut to enable the key to interface with and operate a socket deck fill lid.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A universal adjustable deck fill lid key, comprising:
a handle assembly, comprising:
a handle having a forward end and an aft end, and a generally rectangular cross-section;
a first small pin mounted perpendicularly onto a first side of said handle, and proximal to said forward end of said handle, said first small pin designed and configured to engage a first small hole in a deck fill lid; and
a first large pin mounted perpendicularly onto a second side of said handle opposite to said first side of said handle, and proximal to said forward end of said handle, said first large pin designed and configured to engage a first large hole in a deck fill lid; and
a slide, comprising:
a slide body, defining a generally rectangular channel through said slide body, said slide body having an internal surface, a first exterior surface, a second exterior surface opposite said first exterior surface, a third exterior surface adjacent to said first exterior surface, and a fourth exterior surface opposite to said third exterior surface, said slide body designed and configured to be slidably mounted over said handle;
a second small pin mounted perpendicularly onto said first exterior surface of said slide body, said second small pin designed and configured to engage a second small hole in a deck fill lid, and to align with and work in cooperation with said first small pin of said handle to remove or re-install a deck fill lid; and
a second large pin mounted perpendicularly onto said second exterior surface of said slide body opposite said first exterior surface of said slide body, said second large pin designed and configured to engage a second large hole in a deck fill lid, and to align with and work in cooperation with said first large pin of said handle to remove or re-install a deck fill lid.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The universal adjustable deck fill lid key of claim 1, further comprising a means to prevent said slide from sliding off of the aft end of said handle.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The universal adjustable deck fill lid key of claim 2, wherein said means to prevent said slide from sliding off of said aft end of said handle comprises a fastener or a pin proximal to said aft end of said handle.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The universal adjustable deck fill lid key of claim 1, further comprising a slot head mounted perpendicularly onto said third exterior surface of said slide body, said slot head designed and configured to engage a slot in a deck fill lid to remove or re-install said deck fill lid.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The universal adjustable deck fill lid key of claim 1, further comprising a drive nut mounted perpendicularly onto said fourth exterior surface of said slide body, said drive nut designed and configured to engage a socket receiver in a deck fill lid to remove or re-install said deck fill lid.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The universal adjustable deck fill lid key of claim 1, wherein said handle further defines one or more slots passing through said handle, said one or more slots designed and configured to engage the head of a shackle pin of a shackle to enable said universal adjustable deck fill lid key to function as a tool to loosen and/or tighten said shackle bolt.

### Claim 7

A method of making a universal adjustable deck fill lid key comprising:
providing a handle assembly, comprising:
a handle having a forward end and an aft end, and a generally rectangular cross-section;
a first small pin mounted perpendicularly onto a first side of said handle, and proximal to said forward end of said handle, said first small pin designed and configured to engage a first small hole in a deck fill lid; and
a first large pin mounted perpendicularly onto a second side of said handle opposite to said first side of said handle, and proximal to said forward end of said handle, said first large pin designed and configured to engage a first large hole in a deck fill lid; and
providing a slide, comprising:
a slide body, defining a generally rectangular channel through said slide body, said slide body having an internal surface, a first exterior surface, a second exterior surface opposite said first exterior surface, a third exterior surface adjacent to said first exterior surface, and a fourth exterior surface opposite to said third exterior surface, said slide body designed and configured to be slidably mounted over said handle;
a second small pin mounted perpendicularly onto said first exterior surface of said slide body, said second small pin designed and configured to engage a second small hole in a deck fill lid, and to align with and work in cooperation with said first small pin of said handle to remove or re-install a deck fill lid;
a second large pin mounted perpendicularly onto said second exterior surface of said slide body opposite said first exterior surface of said slide body, said second large pin designed and configured to engage a second large hole in a deck fill lid, and to align with and work in cooperation with said first large pin of said handle to remove or re-install a deck fill lid; and
slidably mounting said slide over said handle.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, further comprising providing a means to prevent said slide from sliding off of the aft end of said handle.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising providing a slot head mounted perpendicularly onto said third exterior surface of said slide body, said slot head designed and configured to engage a slot in a deck fill lid to remove or re-install said deck fill lid.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, further providing a drive nut mounted perpendicularly onto said fourth exterior surface of said slide body, said drive nut designed and configured to engage a socket receiver in a deck fill lid to remove or re-install said deck fill lid.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, further providing one or more slots passing through said handle, said one or more slots designed and configured to engage the head of a shackle pin of a shackle to enable said universal adjustable deck fill lid key to function as a tool to loosen and/or tighten said shackle bolt.