Protective cover article for fuel tanks, particularly those used in motor sports
OwnerKenneth B. Smithinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The cover member is adapted to receive a fuel-containing cell for a vehicle, such as a stock car racing vehicle, and is configured to cover and fit snugly against substantially all of the surfaces of the fuel cell. The cover member comprises a plurality of layers of penetration-resistant, synthetic material, which is lightweight but high strength, flexible and, to an extent, stretchable, so that in the event of a penetration of the fuel cell by a moving object, such as debris caused by a vehicle crash, material in the vicinity of the penetration is drawn through the opening in the fuel cell with the object, preventing contact of the object and the exposed edges of the opening in the fuel cell.
Claims7
A protective cover for a fuel-containing cell for a vehicle, comprising:
- a cover member adapted to receive a fuel-containing cell, the cover member being configured to cover substantially the entire surface area of the fuel cell, the cover member being fireproof, flexible and readily openable and closable to permit convenient insertion and removal of the fuel cell, permitting the cover to be retrofitted to an existing fuel cell, the cover member further including an opening therein in substantial registry with an opening in the fuel cell, for filling of the fuel cell with fuel, wherein the cover member is penetration-resistant and impact resistant so as to minimize the possibility of penetration through the fuel cell to the interior thereof by a moving object, thereby reducing the incidence of and extent of fire involving fuel escaping from the fuel cell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.