Fuel filler cap for a model vehicle

• US 20060246819A1
• Filed: 02/06/2006
• Published: 11/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Traxxas LP (Traxxas)
• Original Assignee: Traxxas
• Inventors: Byers, Brent Whitfield, Roberts, Timothy E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,377,295 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 446/431
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/262 Chassis; Wheel mountings; Wheels; Axles; Suspensions; Fitting body portions to chassis
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 29/24 Details or accessories for drive mechanisms, e.g. means for winding-up or starting toy engines
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 31/00 Gearing for toys gearing in general F16H
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/144 with two lateral arms forming a parallelogram
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/422 Driving wheels or live axles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/44 steerable
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/13 with the spring, i.e. coil spring, or damper horizontally mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/143 on the vehicle body or chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/148 on the unsprung part of the vehicle, e.g. wheel knuckle or rigid axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/416 Ball or spherical joints
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/421 Pivoted lever mechanisms for mounting suspension elements, e.g. Watt linkage
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/50 Constructional features of wheel supports or knuckles, e.g. steering knuckles, spindle attachments
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/20 Toys
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/00 Pivoted suspension arms; Accessories thereof means for maintaining substantially constant wheel camber during suspension movement B60G3/26; articulations for wheels B60G5/00; leaf spring attaching means B60G11/10, B60G11/12; trailing arm twist beam axle attaching means B60G21/052; articulations in general F16C
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/035 characterised by venting means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/04 Tank inlets B60K15/077 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/30 the ultimate propulsive elements, e.g. ground wheels, being steerable
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0445 using hinges
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/81 Toys
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 3/06 specially adapted to allow axial displacement

Abstract

A model vehicle fuel filler system is provided, comprising a fuel tank secured to a vehicle chassis, a fuel tank opening extending from the fuel tank, the opening having a rim tipped toward a lateral side of the vehicle chassis, thereby allowing a fuel filler bottle opening to be withdrawn away from the tank opening with less spillage.

Claims

1. A model vehicle fuel filler system, comprising:

a fuel tank secured to a vehicle chassis, the chassis being adapted for receiving a vehicle body having a hole;

a fuel tank opening extending from the fuel tank and aligned with the position of the hole in the vehicle body when the vehicle body is received onto the chassis,

the opening having a rim tipped toward a lateral side of the vehicle chassis such that the rim at an angle to the horizontal when the vehicle chassis is in a normal upright position, whereby a neck of a fuel filler bottle can be inserted from a lateral side of the vehicle.

2. The model vehicle fuel filler system of claim 1, wherein the rim is disposed at an angle to the horizontal of between about 10 degrees and 80 degrees.

3. The model vehicle fuel filler system of claim 2, wherein the rim is disposed at an angle of between about 40 degrees and 50 degrees.

4. The model vehicle fuel filler system of claim 1, further comprising:

a cap for closing the fuel tank opening, the cap being moveable between an open position, allowing fuel to be added to the fuel tank through the opening, and a closed position, preventing fuel from spilling from the fuel tank; and

one or more members for maintaining the cap in the closed position.

5. The model vehicle fuel filler system of claim 4, wherein one of the members is a resilient member urging the cap to the closed position.

6. The model vehicle fuel filler system of claim 1, wherein the cap includes a clip that is closeable over the cap.

7. The model vehicle fuel filler system of claim 1, further comprising a pressurization tube disposed between the fuel tank and a portion of a muffler subject to back pressure.

8. The model vehicle fuel filler system of claim 1, further wherein the vehicle body is received onto said chassis such that the hole is aligned with the opening thereby allowing fuel to be added to the fuel tank without removal of the vehicle body.

9. The model vehicle fuel filler system of claim 1, further comprising:

a manually operable member extending from the cap to open the cap in response to being pulled.

10. The model vehicle fuel filler system of claim 9 wherein at least a portion of the cap opening member extends through the hole in the vehicle body.

11. The model vehicle fuel filler system of claim 9, wherein the cap opening member is accessible from the cap through a hole in a vehicle body separate from the fuel filler hole.

12. The model vehicle fuel filler system of claim 9, wherein the cap opening member is accessible from outside the vehicle body.

15. The model vehicle fuel filling system of claim 9, wherein the fuel cap opening member comprises an elongated member, at least a portion of which is secured to and extends from the fuel tank cap toward the vehicle body second hole.

16. The model vehicle fuel filling system of claim 15, wherein said elongated member extends through the second hole.

17. The model vehicle fuel filling system of claim 9, wherein the fuel cap opening member comprises a finger pull secured to the fuel tank cap.

18. The model vehicle fuel filling system of claim 17 wherein the finger pull includes a pull ring.

13. A model vehicle fuel filler system, comprising:

a fuel tank;

a vehicle body at least partially enclosing the fuel tank, the vehicle body having at least one lateral side, the vehicle body having a hole disposed in the at least one lateral side through which fuel can be added to the fuel tank.

14. A model vehicle fuel filler system, comprising:

a fuel tank, having an opening;

a cap covering the fuel tank opening;

a manually operable fuel cap opening member extending from the fuel cap, for displacing the fuel cap from the fuel tank opening; and

a vehicle body having a first hole for permitting access to the fuel tank opening; and

a second hole for obtaining access to the fuel cap opening member, the second hole being separate from the first hole.

19. A model vehicle fuel filling system, comprising:

a fuel tank having an opening for adding fuel to the tank; and

one or more channels in the interior, upper surface of the fuel tank and extending to the fuel tank opening, for directing air or vapor above fuel within the tank to the opening.

20. The model vehicle fuel filling system of claim 19, wherein the one or more channels extend upwardly from the interior, upper surface of the fuel tank.

21. The model vehicle fuel filling system of claim 19, wherein at least a portion of the at least one or more channels slopes upwardly toward the fuel tank opening, to direct otherwise trapped air or vapor to the opening.