Automotive fuel filler pipe housing with snap-over trim ring
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorEric G. Parker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fuel filler pipe housing mountable on automotive body panels. The housing generally includes a flange member coupled to a body member mountable on a surface of the body panel, and a trim member coupled to the flange member by a hinge. The trim member is movable relative to the flange member between a first position where the trim member is disposed away from a surface of body panel and a second position where the trim member is disposed toward the surface of the body panel, whereby the trim member is biased toward one of the first and second positions. The housing may be installed on the body panel with the trim member positioned away therefrom prior to applying paint thereto, whereafter the trim member is positioned toward the body panel.
Claims21
An automotive fuel filler pipe housing mountable upon an automotive body panel having an exterior surface, comprising:
- a flange member having an exterior side, an interior side, and means for mounting said flange member upon the exterior surface of the automotive body panel;
- a trim member connected to said flange member and having an interior side, an exterior side, and a distal end portion;
- and
- hinge means connecting said trim member to said flange member for permitting said trim member to be movable relative to said flange member between a first position at which said distal end portion of said trim member is positioned away from the exterior surface of the automotive body panel when said flange member is mounted upon the automotive body panel, and a second position at which said distal end portion of said trim member is positioned toward the exterior surface of the automotive body panel when said flange member is mounted upon the automotive body panel such that said distal end portion of said trim member is engaged with the exterior surface of the automotive body panel.
A housing mountable upon a mounting member having an exterior surface and useable for housing a fuel filler pipe in an automotive body panel, comprising:
- a flange member having an exterior side, an interior side, and means for mounting said flange member upon the exterior surface of the mounting member;
- a trim member mounted upon said flange member and having an interior side, an exterior side, and a distal end portion;
- and
- hinge means coupling said trim member to said flange member for permitting said trim member to be movable relative to said flange member between a first position at which said distal end portion of said trim member is disposed axially beyond said exterior side of said flange member so as to be positioned away from the exterior surface of the mounting member when said flange member is mounted upon the mounting member, and a second position at which said distal end portion of said trim member is disposed substantially radially with respect to said flange member so as to be positioned toward the exterior surface of the mounting member when said flange member is mounted upon the mounting member such that said distal end portion of said trim member is engaged with the exterior surface of the mounting member.
A method for mounting a fuel filler pipe housing upon an automotive body panel, said housing having a hinge member interconnecting a flange member to a trim member having an exterior side, an interior side, and a distal end portion, said trim member being movable relative to said flange member between a first position at which said distal end portion of said trim member is disposed axially beyond an exterior side of said flange member, and a second position at which said distal end portion of said trim member is disposed substantially radially with respect to said flange member, comprising the steps of:
- moving said trim member to said first position;
- coupling an interior side of said flange member to an exterior surface of the automotive body panel when said trim member is disposed at said first position whereby said interior side of said trim member is positioned away from the exterior surface of the automotive body panel;
- and
- moving said trim member to said second position after said flange member has been coupled to the exterior surface of the automotive body panel, whereby said interior side of said trim member is positioned toward the exterior surface of the automotive body panel.
A method for mounting a fuel filler pipe housing upon an automotive body panel which is to be painted, said housing having a hinge member interconnecting a flange member to a trim member having an exterior side, an interior side, and a distal end portion, said trim member being movable relative to said flange member between a first position at which said distal end portion of said trim member is disposed axially beyond an exterior side of said flange member, and a second position at which said distal end portion of said trim member is disposed substantially radially with respect to said flange member, comprising the steps of:
- moving said trim member to said first position;
- coupling an interior side of said flange member to an exterior surface of the automotive body panel when said trim member is disposed at said first position whereby said interior side of said trim member is positioned away from the exterior surface of the automotive body panel so as to facilitate the application of paint to the exterior surface of the automotive body panel which includes a portion of the exterior surface of the automotive body panel which is to be covered by said distal end portion of said trim member when said trim member is disposed at said second position;
- painting the exterior surface of the automotive body panel including the portion of the exterior surface of the automotive body panel which is to be covered by said distal end portion of said trim member;
- and
- moving said trim member to said second position after said flange member has been coupled to the exterior surface of the automotive body panel, and after the exterior surface of the automotive body panel, including the portion of the exterior surface of the automotive body panel which is to be covered by said distal end portion of said trim member, has been painted whereby said distal end portion of said trim member is engaged with the exterior surface of the automotive body panel so as to cover the portion of the exterior surface of the automotive body panel and thereby provide an unbroken painted region upon the exterior surface of the automotive body panel surrounding the fuel filler pipe housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.