A fuel cap for use in the filler neck of a tank, the fuel cap comprising a filler neck closure member, a handle engaged to drive the filler neck closure member about an axis of rotation relative to one another, and means for turning the filler neck closure member relative to the handle about the axis of rotation each time the filler neck closure member is removed from a filler neck to reset the handle automatically to a predetermined position relative to the filler neck closure member about the axis of rotation. view more

A fuel cap for use in the filler neck of a tank, the fuel cap comprising a closure member for insertion into the filler neck and rotation about its axis, a handle configured to insert and remove the closure member, a lost-motion mechanism configured to provide a driving connection between the closure member and the handle, and a spring configured to rotate the handle in one direction about the axis relative to the closure member. view more

A cap engageable with a filler neck having a mouth, the cap comprising closure means for closing the filler neck, the closure means having an axis of rotation, handle means for rotating the closure means about the axis of rotation and relative to the filler neck in one of a cap-installation direction toward the filler neck and a cap-removal direction away from the filler neck, and control means for providing a lost-motion driving connection between the handle means and the closure means during rotation of the handle means about the axis of rotation relative to the filler neck in a cap-removal direction and for the handle means against the closure means to provide a direct-drive driving connection between the handle means and the closure means during rotation of the handle means about the axis of rotation in a cap-advancing direction. view more

The cap of claim 1 wherein the bias is created by a spring coupled to the closure and the handle means.

NA

A cap for use in the filler neck of a tank, the cap comprising closure means for closing the filler neck, handle means for rotating the closure means relative to the filler neck about an axis of rotation, the handle means including a shell having a top wall bounded by a cylindrical side wall, a handle formed on the top wall for rotating the handle means, and an appendage directly appended to the underside of the top wall, the appendage cantilevered downwardly from the underside of the top wall at a location off-center from the axis of rotation of the handle, and delayed actuation means for providing a lost motion driving connection between the handle means and closure means, the delayed actuation means including an annular ring engaging the closure means and a driven lug appended to the annular ring, the driven lug engaging a terminal portion of the appendage during rotation of the handle means about its axis of rotation. view more

The cap of claim 1, wherein the annular ring includes a cylindrical inner edge and the appendage extends downwardly from the top wall along an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the handle means into a region bounded by the cylindrical inner edge. view more

The cap of claim 5, wherein the driven lug is appended to the cylindrical inner edge.