Vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus
A vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus is provided that includes a cap member adapted to sealingly close a fuel port. The cap member includes a rotation-actuated locking mechanism for securing the cap member to the fuel port, and an articulating member movably connected to the vehicle at a pivot point. The articulating member is adapted to move the cap member about the pivot point between a closed position in which the cap member sealingly closes the fuel port and an open position in which the fuel port is open. A vehicle fuel port assembly is also provided.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fuel port sealing apparatus for a vehicle fuel port.
2. Description of the Related Art
Motor vehicle fuel tank closures typically include a vehicle-tethered screw cap that is covered by a fuel door. Because such closures are relatively awkward and/or complicated to manipulate, improved fuel tank closures are desired.
SUMMARYA vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus is provided that includes a cap member adapted to sealingly close a vehicle fuel port. In an embodiment, the cap member includes a rotation-actuated locking mechanism for securing the cap member to the fuel port. The vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus also includes an articulating member movably connected to the vehicle at a pivot point. The articulating member is adapted to move the cap member about the pivot point between a closed position in which the cap member sealingly closes the fuel port and an open position in which the fuel port is open. A vehicle fuel port assembly is also provided.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe features and inventive aspects of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following detailed description, claims, and drawings, of which the following is a brief description:
In an embodiment, fuel port sealing apparatus 22 includes a cap member 32 adapted to sealingly close fuel port 24. Cap member 32 includes a rotation-actuated locking mechanism 34 for securing cap member 32 to fuel port 24. In the embodiment illustrated in
To create a hermetic seal between cap member 32 and fuel port 24, an annular sealing member 40, such as a rubber O-ring and the like, may be secured or connected to cap member 32 and positioned to sealingly engage fuel port 24 when cap member 32 closes fuel port 24. Alternatively, sealing member 40 may be secured or connected to fuel port 24 and positioned to sealingly engage cap member 32 when cap member closes fuel port 24.
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To facilitate locking and unlocking of cap member 32 to and from fuel port 24, respectively, cap member 32 may include one or more gripping features. In the embodiment shown in
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The present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the foregoing embodiments, which are merely illustrative of the best modes for carrying out the invention. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various alternatives to the embodiments of the invention described herein may be employed in practicing the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. It is intended that the following claims define the scope of the invention and that the method and apparatus within the scope of these claims and their equivalents be covered thereby. This description of the invention should be understood to include all novel and non-obvious combinations of elements described herein, and claims may be presented in this or a later application to any novel and non-obvious combination of these elements. Moreover, the foregoing embodiments are illustrative, and no single feature or element is essential to all possible combinations that may be claimed in this or a later application.
Claims
1. A vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus, comprising:
- a cap member adapted to sealingly close a vehicle fuel port, the cap member including a rotation-actuated locking mechanism for securing or connecting the cap member to the fuel port; and
- an articulating member movably connected to the vehicle at a pivot point, the articulating member adapted to move the cap member about the pivot point between a closed position in which the cap member sealingly closes the fuel port and an open position in which the fuel port is open.
2. The vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rotation-actuated locking mechanism includes a first locking thread or barb adapted to mate with a second locking thread or barb in the fuel port.
3. The vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the thread or barb may be tapered in an upwardly extending circumferential direction so that the cap member is drawn into sealing engagement with the fuel port as the cap member is rotated.
4. The vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the thread or barb extends around only a portion of the cap member.
5. The vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the thread or barb extends around substantially an entire circumference of the cap member or is helically coiled around the cap member.
6. The vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus of claim 1, further including a sealing member positioned between the cap member and the fuel port.
7. The vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the articulating member includes a generally annular mounting portion disposed around a circumferential outer surface of the cap member.
8. The vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the cap member is adapted to rotate within the mounting portion, but is inhibited from axial movement by virtue of the mounting portion being trapped between a first flange portion and a second flange portion of the cap member.
9. The vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the mounting portion is affixed or connected to a bracket that secures the mounting portion and the cap member to the vehicle for movement about the pivot point.
10. The vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the bracket is configured to accommodate a vehicle body panel during rotation of the mounting portion and the cap member about the pivot point so that the bracket is substantially hidden when the cap member is moved to the closed position.
11. The vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the articulating member is biased toward the open position.
12. The vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus of claim 1, further including a resiliently compressible member positioned to bias the articulating member toward the open position.
13. The vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus of claim 12, wherein the resiliently compressible member includes a compression spring.
14. The vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cap member includes a first cap portion that includes the rotation-actuated locking mechanism and a second cap portion that may be separated from the first cap portion without the first cap portion sealingly disengaging the fuel port.
15. The vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus of claim 14, wherein an interface between the first and second cap portions includes a releasable connection mechanism that is able to withstand rotational forces imposed on the cap member during connection to and disconnection from the fuel port, but permits separation of the second cap portion from the first cap portion.
16. The vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cap member includes at least one gripping feature.
17. The vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus of claim 16, wherein the gripping feature includes a pair of recesses that allow a user to hand-grip a bridge between the recesses to rotate the cap member.
18. The vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus of claim 16, wherein the gripping feature includes a plurality of grooves or ridges in the cap member.
19. The vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cap member includes a pressure regulating valve.
20. The vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the articulating member is at least partially exposed with respect to a vehicle body panel.
21. A vehicle fuel port sealing apparatus, comprising:
- a cap member adapted to sealingly close a vehicle fuel port, the cap member including a rotation-actuated locking mechanism that includes a first locking thread or barb adapted to mate with a second locking thread or barb in the fuel port;
- a sealing member positioned between the cap member and the fuel port;
- an articulating member movably connected to the vehicle at a pivot point and adapted to move the cap member about the pivot point between a closed position in which the cap member sealingly closes the fuel port and an open position in which the fuel port is open, the articulating member including a generally annular mounting portion disposed around a circumferential outer surface of the cap member and a bracket that secures the mounting portion and the cap member to the vehicle for movement about the pivot point; and
- a resiliently compressible member positioned to bias the articulating member toward the open position.
22. A vehicle fuel port assembly, comprising:
- a fuel port;
- a cap member adapted to sealingly close the fuel port, the cap member including a rotation-actuated locking mechanism for securing or connecting the cap member to the fuel port; and
- an articulating member movably connected to the vehicle at a pivot point, the articulating member adapted to move the cap member about the pivot point between a closed position in which the cap member sealingly closes the fuel port and an open position in which the fuel port is open.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 31, 2005
Publication Date: Oct 5, 2006
Inventor: David Grant (Royal Oak, MI)
Application Number: 11/095,090
International Classification: B65D 53/00 (20060101); B65D 43/14 (20060101); B65D 55/16 (20060101); B65D 43/22 (20060101);