Locking cap

A method of locking and unlocking a threaded cap having a manually-rotatable outer cover and a threaded portion that are selectively coupled to each other for torque transmission by a slider, the method comprising the acts of:

• providing at least one male/female coupling between the outer cover and the slider that allows sliding movement between the outer cover and the slider along a central axis of the cap and prevents any substantial relative rotation between the outer cover and the slider;
• providing an actuator coupled to a key-operated lock for direct rotation therewith and coupled to the slider with inter-engaging screw threads;
• rotating the lock and the actuator in a first direction to move the slider along the central axis and into engagement with the threaded portion and establish a driving connection between the outer cover and the threaded portion, thereby unlocking the cap;
• and
• rotating the lock and the actuator in a second direction opposite the first direction to move the slider along the axis and out of engagement with the threaded portion to sever the driving connection between the outer cover and the threaded portion, thereby locking the cap.

An apparatus for changing the locked/unlocked state of a threaded cap by selectively coupling and decoupling an outer cover and a threaded member, the apparatus comprising:

• an outer cover;
• a threaded member;
• a lock having a locked state and an unlocked state;
• an actuator coupled to a portion of the lock for rotation therewith and being formed with a screw thread;
• and
• a slider formed with a screw thread for engaging the screw thread of the actuator, the slider being fixed against relative rotation with respect to the outer cover;
• wherein the slider is spaced from the threaded member when the lock is in the locked state, and the slider is engaged with the threaded member when the lock is in the unlocked state, the slider being movable in axial position and fixed in rotational orientation and transverse position with respect to the outer cover and threaded member;
• and
• wherein the actuator is axially and transversely stationary with respect to the outer cover and threaded member.

A lockable fuel cap configured for threaded engagement with a fill tube or tank opening, the fuel cap comprising:

• an outer cover having a transverse wall and a plurality of posts extending from the transverse wall into an interior space of the outer cover;
• a slider having a plurality of open-ended notches around a periphery thereof for engagement with the plurality of posts and having a plurality of flexible ratchet members, each being formed with a ratchet tooth at a distal end thereof;
• a lock operable by a key having a locked condition and an unlocked condition, the lock including a cam lobe;
• a screw actuator coupled to the cam lobe to be rotatably driven by rotation of the lock, the screw actuator being further engaged with the slider via inter-engaging screw threads;
• and
• a threaded portion positioned substantially within the outer cover and having an inwardly-facing set of ratchet teeth;
• wherein the ratchet teeth are selectively engageable by the ratchet teeth of the slider to establish a driving connection between the outer cover and the threaded portion suitable to allow removal and/or installation of the fuel cap.