# US 2014/0197174 A1 · Molded reservoir support structure coupling > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0197174 A1 - Document ID: US20140197174A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/133,712 - Filed: 2013-12-19 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-15 - Assignees: Ti Automotive Technology Center GmbH - Applicants: TI Automotive Technology Center GmbH - Inventors: Albert J. Boecker; Andreas W. Dobmaier; Alex Ehler; Patrick Gmuend; Peter Grauer; Gerrit A. Michaelis; Matthias B. Olbrich - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140197174A1 ## CPC - B60K 15/067: Mounting of tanks - B60K 15/03177: {made of non-metallic material, e.g. plastics, or of a combination of non-metallic and metallic material (B60K15/03006 takes precedence)} - F16B 2/20: Clips, i.e. with gripping action effected solely by the inherent resistance to deformation of the material of the fastening - B60K 2015/03032: {Manufacturing of fuel tanks} - B60K 2015/03375: {to improve security} - B60K 2015/03453: {for fixing or mounting parts of the fuel tank together} - B60K 2015/03493: {made of plastics} - F16B 2200/509: clamped - 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 - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) ## Abstract A molded reservoir support structure coupling may include an anchor and a support structure. The anchor may have one or more first flange(s) projecting generally laterally from a side wall of the anchor. The support structure may have one or more second flange(s) projecting generally laterally therefrom. When interconnected, surface-to-surface confrontation between the first flange(s) and the second flange(s) inhibits longitudinal separation of the anchor and the support structure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A molded reservoir support structure coupling, comprising: an anchor carried by the molded reservoir and having a side wall with at least one first flange projecting generally laterally from the side wall; and a support structure formed separately from the anchor and having at least one second flange projecting generally laterally therefrom and adapted to be overlapped by the first flange to inhibit longitudinal separation of the anchor and the support structure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The molded reservoir support structure coupling of claim 1, wherein the support structure is moveable relative to the anchor between a first position wherein the first flange and second flange are not overlapped and a second position wherein the first flange and second flange are overlapped. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The molded reservoir support structure coupling of claim 2 wherein the support structure is rotated relative to the anchor to overlap the first flange and the second flange. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The molded reservoir support structure coupling of claim 1, wherein the anchor includes an outside depression and an inside depression generally concentric with the outside depression, the side wall at least partly defining the inside depression. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The molded reservoir support structure coupling of claim 4, wherein the at least one first flange projects laterally-inwardly from the side wall at the inside depression. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The molded reservoir support structure coupling of claim 1, wherein said at least one first flange includes three individual first flanges spaced apart from one another around the extent of the side wall, and said at least one second flange includes three individual second flanges spaced apart from one another around the extent of the support structure and each arranged to be overlapped by at least one first flange. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The molded reservoir support structure coupling of claim 1, wherein said at least one first flange, said at least one second flange, or both, have a generally helically-extending portion that facilitates lapping therebetween. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The molded reservoir support structure coupling of claim 1, wherein said at least one first flange has a generally segmented annular shape, said at least one second flange has a generally helically-extending portion, said at least one first flange has a top surface and said at least one second flange has a bottom surface, and the top and bottom surfaces confront each other upon lapping of said at least one first flange and said at least one second flange. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The molded reservoir support structure coupling of claim 1, wherein said at least one second flange has a raised portion depending from the support structure via a stem and, upon rotation, the raised portion bends about the stem and is displaced toward an unraised position, and said at least one second flange is urged toward said at least one first flange by the bending when the anchor and the support structure are fully interconnected. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The molded reservoir support structure coupling of claim 1, wherein the support structure has an end, and the end has a top wall and has a side wall extending from the top wall, said at least one second flange projects generally laterally from the top wall and laterally beyond the side wall of the support structure, said at least one second flange has a portion projecting longitudinally above the top wall, and the projecting portion of said at least one second flange lapping over said at least one first flange upon rotation. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The molded reservoir support structure coupling of claim 1, wherein the anchor is integrally formed from the same piece of material as the molded reservoir such that the anchor is a portion of a wall of the molded reservoir. ### Claim 12 A fuel tank, comprising: a fuel tank wall at least partly defining an interior for holding fuel and having at least a first flange at the interior that projects generally laterally from a first portion of the fuel tank wall, the fuel tank wall having at least a second flange at the interior that projects generally laterally from a second portion of the fuel tank wall; and a support structure bracing the first and second portions of the fuel tank wall and having a first end with at least a third flange that projects generally laterally, and a second end with at least a fourth flange that projects generally laterally, wherein the first flange and the third flange are laterally and longitudinally overlapped, and the second flange and the fourth flange are laterally and longitudinally overlapped to inhibit disconnection of the support structure from the fuel tank wall. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The fuel tank of claim 12, wherein the fuel tank wall includes a first anchor located at the first portion and a second anchor located at the second portion, and the first flange projects generally laterally from the first anchor and the second flange projects generally laterally from the second anchor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The fuel tank of claim 12, wherein the first flange projects generally laterally-inwardly from the first portion and the second flange projects generally laterally-inwardly from the second portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The fuel tank of claim 12, wherein the first flange, the second flange, the third flange, the fourth flange, or a combination thereof, have a generally helically-extending portion to facilitate rotation relative to the fuel tank wall. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The fuel tank of claim 15, wherein the first flange, the second flange, the third flange, the fourth flange, or a combination thereof, that is free of the helically-extending portion has a segmented annular portion structurally complementing the helically-extending portion to facilitate rotation thereamong. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The fuel tank of claim 12, wherein the first end of the support structure has a first top wall and a first side wall extending from the first top wall, the second end of the support structure has a second top wall and a second side wall extending from the second top wall, the third flange projects generally laterally from the first top wall and laterally beyond the first side wall and has a first portion projecting longitudinally above the first top wall, and the fourth flange projects generally laterally from the second top wall and laterally beyond the second side wall and has a second portion projecting longitudinally above the second top wall. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The fuel tank of claim 12, wherein the support structure and its third and fourth flanges are arranged so that the third and fourth flanges may axially pass the first and second flanges and so that rotation of the support structure will overlap the first and second flanges as well as the third and fourth flanges. ### Claim 19 A fuel tank, comprising: a fuel tank wall at least partly defining an interior for holding fuel, having an anchor with a side wall, having at least one first flange projecting generally laterally from the side wall, and having at least one clearance located at the side wall adjacent the first flange; and a support structure constructed to brace the fuel tank wall and having at least one second flange projecting generally laterally therefrom; wherein the first flange, the second flange, or both, have a raised portion, and the first flange, the second flange, or both, that is free of the raised portion has a segmented annular portion; wherein, to interconnect the fuel tank wall and the support structure, the support structure is inserted into the anchor and the second flange passes through the clearance, and the fuel tank wall, the support structure, or both, are rotated and the raised portion and segmented annular portion are initially lapped about each other, and upon further rotation, the raised portion is bent toward an unraised position and the first flange and the second flange lap over each other. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The fuel tank of claim 19, wherein the raised portion is a helically-extending portion. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The fuel tank of claim 19, wherein said at least one second flange has the raised portion, and, upon further rotation, the raised portion is bent toward the unraised position via abutment against the fuel tank wall.