Patents by Inventor John Gulke

John Gulke has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8915234
    Abstract: A cap assembly includes a body and a tether. The body is configured to be fastened to a container for closing an opening in the container. An aperture is formed in the body, and the tether has a fastener, where a portion of the fastener extends through the aperture in the body. A gap is formed between the portion of the fastener and the body that allows for venting of vapors from the container around the portion of the fastener that is extending through the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: John Gulke, Christy L. Matuszewski, Geoffrey P. Zabrowski, Elliot Matel, Peter D. Shears
  • Patent number: 8408415
    Abstract: A fuel tank cap includes a housing having a side wall, a bottom wall, and a receptacle, a fuel vapor adsorption material positioned within the receptacle, an inlet at least partially defined by the bottom wall and configured to provide fluid communication with a fuel tank vapor space, an outlet at least partially defined by the bottom wall and configured to provide fluid communication with the atmosphere, an internal wall extending from the bottom wall at least partially into the receptacle, and an aperture at least partially defined by the internal wall and configured to permit fuel vapor to flow in a vapor flow path from one side of the internal wall to the other side of the internal wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Jacob Schmalz, John Gulke, Peter D. Shears
  • Publication number: 20120097680
    Abstract: A cap assembly includes a body and a tether. The body is configured to be fastened to a container for closing an opening in the container. An aperture is formed in the body, and the tether has a fastener, where a portion of the fastener extends through the aperture in the body. A gap is formed between the portion of the fastener and the body that allows for venting of vapors from the container around the portion of the fastener that is extending through the aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Inventors: John Gulke, Christy L. Matuszewski, Geoffrey P. Zabrowski, Elliot Matel, Peter D. Shears
  • Publication number: 20120085764
    Abstract: A fuel tank cap includes a housing having a side wall, a bottom wall, and a receptacle, a fuel vapor adsorption material positioned within the receptacle, an inlet at least partially defined by the bottom wall and configured to provide fluid communication with a fuel tank vapor space, an outlet at least partially defined by the bottom wall and configured to provide fluid communication with the atmosphere, an internal wall extending from the bottom wall at least partially into the receptacle, and an aperture at least partially defined by the internal wall and configured to permit fuel vapor to flow in a vapor flow path from one side of the internal wall to the other side of the internal wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventors: Jacob Schmalz, John Gulke, Peter D. Shears
  • Patent number: 8096438
    Abstract: A fuel tank cap for a fuel tank of an engine. The fuel tank cap includes a fuel cap cover, a housing having a side wall, a bottom wall, and a receptacle, a fuel vapor adsorption material positioned within the receptacle, an inlet disposed near the bottom wall and configured to provide fluid communication with a fuel tank vapor space, an outlet disposed near the bottom wall and configured to provide fluid communication with the atmosphere, an internal wall adjacent the bottom wall and disposed between the inlet and the outlet, and at least one aperture configured to permit fuel vapor to flow in a vapor flow path from one side of the internal wall to the other side of the internal wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Jacob Schmalz, John Gulke, Peter D. Shears
  • Publication number: 20090294450
    Abstract: A fuel tank cap for a fuel tank of an engine. The fuel tank cap includes a fuel cap cover, a housing having a side wall, a bottom wall, and a receptacle, a fuel vapor adsorption material positioned within the receptacle, an inlet disposed near the bottom wall and configured to provide fluid communication with a fuel tank vapor space, an outlet disposed near the bottom wall and configured to provide fluid communication with the atmosphere, an internal wall adjacent the bottom wall and disposed between the inlet and the outlet, and at least one aperture configured to permit fuel vapor to flow in a vapor flow path from one side of the internal wall to the other side of the internal wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jacob Schmalz, John Gulke, Peter D. Shears
  • Publication number: 20080251053
    Abstract: The invention provides a fuel tank venting system for an engine. The fuel tank venting system includes a fuel tank, a carburetor, and a fuel tank vent passageway. The carburetor is coupled to the fuel tank. The fuel tank vent passageway is in fluid flow communication with the fuel tank and at least partially disposed inside the carburetor. The fuel tank venting system may further include an air filter and a roll-over valve. The air filter may include a carbon-impregnated foam element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Inventors: Peter D. Shears, John Gulke, Wayne Dombeck, Jacob Schmalz
  • Publication number: 20080251055
    Abstract: An evaporative emissions control system for an engine including a fuel tank having a fuel tank vapor space, a carburetor coupled to the fuel tank, and a fuel tank cap having fuel vapor adsorption media that adsorbs vapor from the fuel tank vapor space. The fuel tank cap is in fluid communication with the carburetor via the vapor space and is configured to permit fuel vapor stored in the fuel adsorption media to be purged into the carburetor via the vapor space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jacob Schmalz, John Gulke, Elliot Matel
  • Patent number: 7435289
    Abstract: An air cleaner for an engine that includes a fuel tank and an air-fuel mixing device. The air cleaner includes a housing that defines an internal filter space and a canister at least partially formed as part of the housing. The canister is substantially non-permeable to fuel vapor. A first aperture provides fluid communication between the fuel tank and the canister and a second aperture provides fluid communication between the canister and the air-fuel mixing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Peter D. Shears, John Gulke
  • Publication number: 20070068388
    Abstract: An air cleaner for an engine that includes a fuel tank and an air-fuel mixing device. The air cleaner includes a housing that defines an internal filter space and a canister at least partially formed as part of the housing. The canister is substantially non-permeable to fuel vapor. A first aperture provides fluid communication between the fuel tank and the canister and a second aperture provides fluid communication between the canister and the air-fuel mixing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Publication date: March 29, 2007
    Inventors: Peter Shears, John Gulke
  • Patent number: 7185640
    Abstract: A fuel tank for an engine that includes an air cleaner assembly and an air-fuel mixing device. The fuel tank includes a first tank portion and a second tank portion connected to the first tank portion to define a fuel chamber. A canister is at least partially formed as part of the second tank portion and a first flow path is at least partially formed as part of the first tank portion. The first flow path provides fluid communication between the fuel chamber and the canister. A second flow path is at least partially formed as part of the second tank portion to provide fluid communication between the canister and at least one of the air-fuel mixing device and the air cleaner assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Peter D. Shears, John Gulke
  • Patent number: 7086390
    Abstract: A fuel tank for an engine that includes an air cleaner assembly and an air-fuel mixing device. The fuel tank includes a first tank portion, a second tank portion connected to the first tank portion to define a fuel chamber, and a canister at least partially formed as part of the first tank portion. A first flow path is at least partially formed as part of the first tank portion. The first flow path provides fluid communication between the fuel chamber and the canister. A second flow path is at least partially formed as part of the first tank portion to provide fluid communication between the canister and at least one of the air-fuel mixing device and the air cleaner assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Peter D. Shears, John Gulke
  • Publication number: 20060096584
    Abstract: A fuel tank for an engine that includes an air cleaner assembly and an air-fuel mixing device. The fuel tank includes a first tank portion and a second tank portion connected to the first tank portion to define a fuel chamber. A canister is at least partially formed as part of the second tank portion and a first flow path is at least partially formed as part of the first tank portion. The first flow path provides fluid communication between the fuel chamber and the canister. A second flow path is at least partially formed as part of the second tank portion to provide fluid communication between the canister and at least one of the air-fuel mixing device and the air cleaner assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Publication date: May 11, 2006
    Inventors: Peter Shears, John Gulke
  • Publication number: 20060096583
    Abstract: A fuel tank for an engine that includes an air cleaner assembly and an air-fuel mixing device. The fuel tank includes a first tank portion, a second tank portion connected to the first tank portion to define a fuel chamber, and a canister at least partially formed as part of the first tank portion. A first flow path is at least partially formed as part of the first tank portion. The first flow path provides fluid communication between the fuel chamber and the canister. A second flow path is at least partially formed as part of the first tank portion to provide fluid communication between the canister and at least one of the air-fuel mixing device and the air cleaner assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Publication date: May 11, 2006
    Inventors: Peter Shears, John Gulke