Filler pipe and vehicle fuel filler port structure

A filler pipe comprising:

• a fuel nozzle holder;
• and
• a retainer configured to hold the fuel nozzle holder, the retainer including:
• a first attaching portion mounted at an inlet part of the filler pipe;
• an opening located at a first end of the retainer, the first end being closer to a center of the filler pipe in a longitudinal direction of the filler pipe than a second end of the retainer;
• and
• a holding portion having a plurality of engaging holes, the fuel nozzle holder being disposed radially inward of and received within the holding portion,
• wherein:
• the fuel nozzle holder includes:
• a second attaching portion having a cylindrical shape and mounted to the retainer, the second attaching portion including a plurality of engaging pieces, the plurality of engaging pieces being disposed and connected to respective engaging pieces adjacent to each other along a circumference of the second attaching portion to form a point-symmetric shape with respect to a center of a circle defined by a cross-section of the second attaching portion, and the plurality of engaging pieces each have a protrusion that protrudes toward an outer periphery of the second attaching portion, and
• a main body extending from the second attaching portion toward the center of the filler pipe in the longitudinal direction of the filler pipe,
• the plurality of engaging pieces are each joined to the second attaching portion at a connecting portion provided on a main body side, and the plurality of engaging pieces are separated from the second attaching portion by a groove at both ends in a circumferential direction of the second attaching portion and at an end located on a side opposite to the main body in the longitudinal direction of the fuel nozzle holder,
• at least one of the two engaging pieces is divided into two portions that are separated by a gap between the two portions,
• the protrusion of at least one of the plurality of engaging pieces has a different shape than the protrusion of the remaining plurality of engaging pieces, and
• the fuel nozzle holder is fixed to the retainer as the protrusions are inserted into the engaging holes.

A vehicle fuel filler port structure comprising:

• a filler pipe;
• a retainer including:
• a first attaching portion mounted at an inlet part of the filler pipe;
• an opening located at a first end of the retainer, the first end being closer to a center of the filler pipe in a longitudinal direction of the filler pipe than a second end of the retainer;
• and
• a holding portion having a plurality of engaging holes, the fuel nozzle holder being disposed radially inward of and received within the holding portion;
• and
• a fuel nozzle holder including:
• a second attaching portion having a cylindrical shape and mounted to the retainer, the second attaching portion including a plurality of engaging pieces, the plurality of engaging pieces being disposed and connected to respective engaging pieces adjacent to each other along a circumference of the second attaching portion to form a point-symmetric shape with respect to a center of a circle defined by a cross-section of the second attaching portion;
• and
• a main body extending from the second attaching portion toward the center of the filler pipe in the longitudinal direction of the filler pipe,
• wherein:
• the plurality of engaging pieces each have a protrusion that protrudes toward an outer periphery of the second attaching portion,
• the plurality of engaging pieces are each joined to the second attaching portion at a connecting portion provided on a main body side, and the plurality of engaging pieces are separated from the second attaching portion by a groove at both ends in a circumferential direction of the second attaching portion and at an end located on a side opposite to the main body,
• at least one of the two engaging pieces is divided into two portions that are separated by a gap between the two portions,
• the protrusion of at least one of the plurality of engaging pieces has a different shape than the protrusions of the remaining engaging pieces of the plurality of engaging pieces, and
• the fuel nozzle holder is fixed to the retainer as the protrusions are inserted into the plurality of engaging holes.