Receptacles – Closures – With condition responsive vent or valve
Patent
1998-06-04
2000-08-01
Cronin, Stephen K.
Receptacles
Closures
With condition responsive vent or valve
22020324, 22020325, 220290, 220295, 220303, 220DIG33, B65D 5116
Patent
active
060953632
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cap for closing the mouth of a filler neck, and in particular, to a quick-on fuel cap for closing the filler neck of a vehicle fuel tank. More particularly, the present invention relates to a cap including an attachment mechanism for enabling a user to attach the cap to the filler neck quickly and easily and establish a sealed connection between the cap and the filler neck.
Conventional fuel caps for closing the filler neck of a vehicle fuel tank typically include a closure member for closing the mouth of the filler neck and a handle for turning the closure member to mount the closure member in the filler neck. Partial-turn cam-on caps and multiple-turn threaded caps are well-known types of caps for use in closing filler necks. Although such caps are currently in widespread use, it would be desirable to provide an alternative cap that is simpler to install on and remove from a filler neck.
It is known to provide a cam-on cap of the type having a shank portion which extends into the filler neck and is provided with pairs of conventional circumferentially spaced-apart cam lugs as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,733 to Harris. These cam lugs operate in the customary way to engage a filler neck configured to receive a cam-on cap and retain the cap in a fully tightened position closing the open mouth of the filler neck.
Alternatively, a conventional multiple-turn cap includes a closure member that is threaded to be screwed into a threaded filler neck. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,820,680 to Friend discloses a multiple-turn threaded cap and a compatible threaded filler neck. Typically, a multiple-turn threaded cap must be turned at least two and one-half or three full revolutions by the user after it is inserted into the threaded filler neck to connect the cap to the filler neck and establish a liquid and vapor seal between the cap and the filler neck.
More and more vehicle drivers are using the self-service bays at gasoline stations and filling their own fuel tanks. Some people have found that it is difficult to remove and install a conventional filler neck cap during refueling. A cap that is readily installable on and removable from a filler neck by a user without a lot of effort and that is configured to establish a sturdy sealed connection between the cap and the filler neck consistently during use would be a welcomed improvement over conventional caps.
It is known to provide a filler neck cap for which it is only necessary for the user to move the handle cover of the cap a small amount relative to the filler neck to tighten or loosen the cap during refueling. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,381,919 and 5,395,004 to Griffin et al. Typically these caps include a partial turn-to-remove feature which allows the user to slide the cap out of the filler neck easily rather than requiring the user to turn the entire cap in the filler neck one or more revolutions.
One problem with many conventional filler neck caps is that, because the handle is directly connected to the filler neck closure, any unintentional movement of the handle in the cap-removal direction will break the seal between the closure and the filler neck. Once the seal between the closure and the filler neck is broken, it is possible for fuel or fuel vapor to escape from the filler neck. In some instances, such as during a vehicle accident, a release of fuel or fuel vapor can potentially create a hazardous condition.
It is known to provide a filler neck cap having a lost-motion driving connection between the handle and the closure. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,505 to Harris and U.S. Pat. No. 5,520,300 to Griffin. These caps are designed to allow the cap handle to rotate freely relative to the closure in both the cap-installation direction and the cap-removal direction.
In some cases, a user might be inconvenienced by a cap that provides a lost-motion driving connection during cap installation as well as during cap removal. It is known to provide a filler neck cap h
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Griffin Jeffery
Harris Robert S.
Cronin Stephen K.
Stant Manufacturing Inc.
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