Tank cap and fuel tank with the same

A fuel tank, said fuel tank comprising:

• a tank main body in which a fuel is stored;
• a filler pipe having a tank opening through which a supply of fuel is fed;
• and
• an opening engagement element disposed on a circumference of said tank opening;
• and
• a tank cap that opens and closes,
• wherein said tank opening and engages with said opening engagement element,
• wherein said tank cap comprising:
• a casing main body that seals said tank opening, said casing main body having a casing, engagement element, which engages with said opening engagement element with rotation of said casing main body by a predetermined angle;
• a handle rotatably mounted on said casing main body and rotates said casing main body in at least one of a closing direction of said tank opening and an opening direction of said tank opening;
• and
• a torque mechanism interposed between said handle and said casing main body that transmits a rotational torque applied to said handle to said casing main body,
• wherein said torque mechanism comprises:
• a handle engagement element disposed on said handle;
• a torque plate interposed between said casing main body and said handle that has a plate engagement element, said plate engagement element engaging with said handle engagement element;
• said plate engagement element having an engagement state, a first non-engaged state, and a second non-engaged state,
• said engagement state being a state in which said plate engagement element engages with said handle engagement element and said rotational torque applied to said handle is transmitted to said casing main body when said handle is rotated in said closing direction of said tank opening,
• said first non-engaged state being a state in which said plate engagement element is released from said handle engagement element with a first rotational torque when said plate engagement element engages with said handle engagement element and said handle is rotated in said closing direction of said tank,
• said second non-engaged state being a state in which said plate engagement element is released from said handle engagement element with a second rotational torque when said handle is rotated in the opening direction of said tank, said first rotational torque being less than said second rotational torque, and
• a main body engagement element that is disposed on said casing main body and transmits a rotational torque from said torque plate to said casing main body.

A tank cap that opens and closes a tank opening and engages with an opening engagement element disposed on a circumference of said tank opening, said tank cap comprising:

• a casing main body, which seals said tank opening, said casing main body including a casing engagement element configured to engage with said opening engagement element via rotation of said casing main body by a predetermined angle;
• a handle rotatably mounted on said casing main body;
• and
• a torque mechanism interposed between said handle and said casing main body and configured to transmit rotational torque applied to said handle to said casing main body,
• wherein said torque mechanism includes:
• a handle engagement element disposed on an underside of said handle;
• a torque plate slidably interposed between said casing main body and said handle, said torque plate having a plate engagement element configured to engage with said handle engagement element as said handle rotates, and a deformable portion connected with said plate engagement element;
• and
• a main body engagement element disposed on said casing main body, said main body engagement element configured to be movable along a guide opening formed in said torque plate;
• wherein, when a first rotational force is applied to said handle by a user in a first rotational direction in order to attach said casing main body in said tank opening, said handle engagement element engages with said plate engagement element and said main body engagement element engages with said torque plate while said main body engagement element is placed in a first position to restrict deformation of said deformable portion, whereby said first rotational force is transmitted from said handle to said casing main body via said torque plate to rotate said casing main body in said tank opening until said casing main body is tightly engaged in said tank opening, and then said deformable portion is deformed to release said engagement between said handle engagement element and said plate engagement element when said first rotational force causes a stress exceeding a first value between said handle engagement element and said plate engagement element, and
• wherein, when a second rotational force is applied to said handle in a second rotational direction opposite from said first rotational direction, said handle engagement element engages with said plate engagement element while said main body engagement element is placed in a second position to permit deformation of said deformable portion, whereby said second rotational force is transmitted from said handle to said torque plate to rotate said torque plate until said torque plate is restrained from moving, and then said deformable portion is deformed to release said engagement between said handle engagement element and said plate engagement element when said second rotational force causes a stress exceeding a second value between said handle engagement element and said plate engagement element, said second value being less than said first value.