Cap-installation signal system for filler neck cap

A cap-installation signal system for a filler neck, the system comprising

• a handle rotatable about an axis of rotation,
• a closure adapted to close the filler neck,
• a rotary spring coupled to the handle and to the closure to cause the closure to rotate in the first direction about the axis of rotation when the closure is inserted in a nozzle-receiving passageway formed in the filler neck in response to rotation of the handle in the first direction about the axis of rotation, and
• a handle-rotation limit signaler including a finger coupled to the closure to rotate therewith and a lug coupled to the handle to rotate therewith and to intercept the finger during rotation of the handle in the first direction relative to the closure once the closure has reached a filler neck-closing position in the filler neck and ceases to rotate about the axis of rotation, and the finger and the lug cooperate to produce a discernable warning signal in response to temporary engagement of the lug and finger during rotation of the handle relative to the closure in the first direction to alert a user rotating the handle that the closure has reached the filler-neck closing position in the filler neck and ceased to rotate,
• wherein the closure is formed to include a lost-motion slot and the handle includes a shell coupled to the rotary spring and configured to provide an external hand grip and an anti-rotation post coupled to the shell to rotate therewith about the axis of rotation and to extend into the lost-motion slot formed in the closure, the rotary spring is configured normally to rotate the handle in an opposite second direction about the axis of rotation relative to the closure to establish an initial position of the anti-rotation post in the lost-motion slot formed in the closure, the anti-rotation post is arranged to move in the lost-motion slot in response to rotation of the shell in the first direction about the axis of rotation toward an end wall associated with the lost-motion slot relative to the closure once the closure has been rotated in the filler neck to assume the filler-neck closing position, and the lug and finger are arranged to mate temporarily and produce the discernable warning signal during movement of the anti-rotation post in the lost-motion slot between the initial position and a limit position engaging the end wall associated with the slot, and
• wherein the closure includes a base adapted to mate with the filler neck and a torque-transmission member coupled to the base to rotate therewith and arranged to lie in confronting relation to the handle, the torque-transmission member is formed to include the lost-motion slot, and the finger is coupled to the base to rotate therewith.

A cap-installation signal system for a filler neck, the system comprising

• a handle rotatable about an axis of rotation,
• a closure adapted to close the filler neck,
• a rotary spring coupled to the handle and to the closure to cause the closure to rotate in the first direction about the axis of rotation when the closure is inserted in a nozzle-receiving passageway formed in the filler neck in response to rotation of the handle in the first direction about the axis of rotation, and
• a handle-rotation limit signaler including a finger coupled to the closure to rotate therewith and a lug coupled to the handle to rotate therewith and to intercept the finger during rotation of the handle in the first direction relative to the closure once the closure has reached a filler neck-closing position in the filler neck and ceases to rotate about the axis of rotation, and the finger and the lug cooperate to produce a discernable warning signal in response to temporary engagement of the lug and finger during rotation of the handle relative to the closure in the first direction to alert a user rotating the handle that the closure has reached the filler-neck closing position in the filler neck and ceased to rotate,
• wherein the closure is formed to include a lost-motion slot and the handle includes a shell coupled to the rotary spring and configured to provide an external hand grip and an anti-rotation post coupled to the shell to rotate therewith about the axis of rotation and to extend into the lost-motion slot formed in the closure, the rotary spring is configured normally to rotate the handle in an opposite second direction about the axis of rotation relative to the closure to establish an initial position of the anti-rotation post in the lost-motion slot formed in the closure, the anti-rotation post is arranged to move in the lost-motion slot in response to rotation of the shell in the first direction about the axis of rotation toward an end wall associated with the lost-motion slot relative to the closure once the closure has been rotated in the filler neck to assume the filler-neck closing position, and the lug and finger are arranged to mate temporarily and produce the discernable warning signal during movement of the anti-rotation post in the lost-motion slot between the initial position and a limit position engaging the end wall associated with the slot, and
• wherein the shell includes a top plate arranged to overlie the closure and a hand grip coupled to the top plate and arranged to extend away from the closure, the anti-rotation post is coupled to an underside of the top plate and arranged to extend downwardly into the lost-motion slot formed in the closure, and the lug is coupled to the underside of the top plate and arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to the anti-rotation post and extend downwardly toward the closure.

A cap-installation signal system for a filler neck, the system comprising

• a handle rotatable about an axis of rotation,
• a closure adapted to close the filler neck,
• a rotary spring coupled to the handle and to the closure to cause the closure to rotate in the first direction about the axis of rotation when the closure is inserted in a nozzle-receiving passageway formed in the filler neck in response to rotation of the handle in the first direction about the axis of rotation, and
• a handle-rotation limit signaler including a finger coupled to the closure to rotate therewith and a lug coupled to the handle to rotate therewith and to intercept the finger during rotation of the handle in the first direction relative to the closure once the closure has reached a filler neck-closing position in the filler neck and ceases to rotate about the axis of rotation, and the finger and the lug cooperate to produce a discernable warning signal in response to temporary engagement of the lug and finger during rotation of the handle relative to the closure in the first direction to alert a user rotating the handle that the closure has reached the filler-neck closing position in the filler neck and ceased to rotate,
• wherein the finger of the handle-rotation limit signaler is made of a flexible material and arranged to extend upwardly toward a top plate included in the handle and the lug is coupled to the top plate and arranged to engage and deflect the upwardly extending finger to produce the discernable warning signal during rotation of the handle in the first direction about the axis of rotation relative to the closure once the closure stops rotating relative to the filler neck during installation of the closure in the filler neck,
• wherein the closure includes a base adapted to mate with the filler neck and a torque-transmission member coupled to the base to rotate therewith and arranged to lie in confronting relation to the handle, the rotary spring is coupled to the torque-transmission member, and the finger is coupled to the base to rotate therewith, and
• wherein the torque-transmission member includes an annular web arranged to surround the rotary spring and a cup coupled to an interior edge of the annular web and configured to include a spring chamber receiving a lower portion of the rotary spring.

A cap-installation signal system for a filler neck, the system comprising

• a handle rotatable about an axis of rotation,
• a closure adapted to rotatably engage and mate with a filler neck and close a mouth opening into a nozzle-receiving passageway formed in the filler neck,
• a rotary spring coupled to the handle and to the closure and configured to cause the closure to rotate in a first direction relative to the filler neck about the axis of rotation during engagement with the filler neck in response to rotation of the handle in the first direction about the axis of rotation,
• a closure-rotation blocker including an anti-rotation stop adapted to be coupled to the filler neck and lie in a stationary position in the nozzle-receiving passageway and a rotation-inhibitor tab coupled to the closure to rotate therewith and arranged to mate with the anti-rotation stop during rotation of the closure in the first direction about the axis of rotation toward a filler-neck closing position to provide a hard stop establish the filler-neck closing position and to block any further rotation of the closure in the first direction relative to the filler neck, and
• a handle-rotation limit signaler including a finger coupled to the closure to rotate therewith and a lug coupled directly to the handle to rotate therewith and to intercept and engage temporarily the finger during rotation of the handle in the first direction relative to the closure after the closure has reached the filler-neck closing position and ceases to rotate in the first direction about the axis of rotation to produce a discernable warning signal to alert a user rotating the handle in the first direction about the axis of rotation that the closure has reached the filler-neck closing position and ceased to rotate further in the first direction.

A cap-installation signal system for a filler neck, the system comprising

• a handle rotatable about an axis of rotation,
• a closure adapted to rotatably engage and mate with a filler neck and close a mouth opening into a nozzle-receiving passageway formed in the filler neck,
• a rotary spring coupled to the handle and to the closure and configured to cause the closure to rotate in a first direction relative to the filler neck about the axis of rotation during engagement with the filler neck in response to rotation of the handle in the first direction about the axis of rotation,
• a closure-rotation blocker including an anti-rotation stop adapted to be coupled to the filler neck and lie in a stationary position in the nozzle-receiving passageway and a rotation-inhibitor tab coupled to the closure to rotate therewith and arranged to mate with the anti-rotation stop during rotation of the closure in the first direction about the axis of rotation toward a filler-neck closing position to provide a hard stop establish the filler-neck closing position and to block any further rotation of the closure in the first direction relative to the filler neck, and
• a handle-rotation limit signaler including a finger coupled to the closure to rotate therewith and a lug coupled to the handle to rotate therewith and to intercept and engage temporarily the finger during rotation of the handle in the first direction relative to the closure after the closure has reached the filler-neck closing position and ceases to rotate in the first direction about the axis of rotation to produce a discernable warning signal to alert a user rotating the handle in the first direction about the axis of rotation that the closure has reached the filler-neck closing position and ceased to rotate further in the first direction,
• wherein the closure includes a base adapted to mate with the filler neck and an O-ring seal coupled to the base to move therewith and adapted to mate with the filler neck to establish a sealed connection therebetween and a torque-transmission member fixed to the base to lie in a stationary position on the base to rotate therewith and the finger is coupled to the base and arranged to extend upwardly toward the handle and past the torque-transmission member, and
• wherein the torque-transmission member includes an annular web arranged to surround the rotary spring and a cup coupled to an interior edge of the annular web and formed to include a spring chamber receiving a lower portion of the rotary spring, a torque-transmission lug coupled to the annular web and arranged to extend into a lug-receiving slot formed in the base to fix the torque-transmission member in fixed relation to the base.