Fuel gauge cap
AssigneeBemis Manufacturing Company
InventorMichael Joseph Holz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fuel cap operable to close an opening of a fuel tank. The fuel cap includes an outer shell having a protrusion and a shell locking member. The fuel cap includes a detection mechanism for sensing a level of fuel within the tank. The fuel cap further includes an assembly component engageable with the outer shell to support the detection mechanism on the outer shell. The assembly component defines a groove operable to receive the protrusion. Additionally, the assembly component includes a component locking member. The outer shell and the assembly component are engageable with one another by a relative axial movement followed by a relative rotational movement about an axis. Once engaged, the outer shell and the assembly component are fixed against disengagement by engagement of the shell locking member and the component locking member.
Claims20
A fuel cap operable to close an opening of a fuel tank, the cap comprising:
- an outer shell including a protrusion and a shell locking member;
- a detection mechanism for sensing a level of fuel within the tank;
- and
- an assembly component engageable with the outer shell to support the detection mechanism on the outer shell, the assembly component defining a groove operable to receive the protrusion, the assembly component including a component locking member;
- wherein the outer shell and the assembly component are engageable with one another by a relative axial movement followed by a relative rotational movement about an axis, and, once engaged, are fixed against disengagement by engagement of the shell locking member and the component locking member.
A fuel cap for closing an opening of a fuel tank and for displaying a level of fuel in the tank, the cap comprising:
- an outer shell having an interior region, the outer shell including a first protrusion and a second protrusion having different proportions and extending into the interior region;
- a detection mechanism for sensing and responding to the level of fuel in the tank;
- and
- an assembly component defining grooves for receiving a portion of the detection mechanism, the assembly component defining a first slot and a second slot for respectively engaging the first protrusion and the second protrusion.
A method of assembling a fuel cap for closing an opening of a fuel tank, the cap including an outer shell having a protrusion formed thereon, and an assembly component formed with an L-shaped slot including an axial portion and a lateral portion, the method comprising the acts of:
- axially joining the outer shell and the assembly component such that the protrusion is received in the axial portion of the L-shaped slot;
- rotating the outer shell and the assembly component relative to each other about an axis such that the protrusion moves from the axial portion to the lateral portion of the L-shaped slot;
- and
- automatically locking the outer shell and the assembly component against substantial relative rotation about the axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.