Watercraft Fueling Apparatus and Methods
First Claim
1. A fuel fill port on a surface of a watercraft, the fill port comprising:
- an opening in the fill port;
a removable cap covering and sealing said opening;
a main fill tube having an open top end positioned proximate to and below said opening, the main fill tube also having a distal end for connecting to a fuel tank, the main fill tube sized to accept therein a fuel dispensing nozzle inserted through said opening;
a catch basin having an open top positioned below said opening such that back splash of fuel from the main fill tube is collected within the catch basin;
an overflow tube connected between the fuel tank and the catch basin such that excess fuel in the fuel tank is conveyed via the overflow tube into the catch basin; and
an opening from the catch basin to the main fill tube positioned to permit drainage of the contents of the catch basin into the main fill tube.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fuel fill port that helps prevent spillage of fuel during watercraft fueling includes a housing having an opening for installation on a surface of the watercraft and a cap for sealing the opening. A fill tube has one end sized to accept a fuel dispensing nozzle and another end for connection to a fuel tank. A catch basin defined by a bottom portion of the housing is positioned such that backflow of fuel from the fill tube collects within the catch basin. A fill vent has one end positioned relative the fill tube to allow excess fuel from the fuel tank to flow into the catch basin and another end adapted for connection to the fuel tank. One or more passages from the catch basin to the fuel tank guides fuel from the catch basin to the fuel tank.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A fuel fill port on a surface of a watercraft, the fill port comprising:
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an opening in the fill port; a removable cap covering and sealing said opening; a main fill tube having an open top end positioned proximate to and below said opening, the main fill tube also having a distal end for connecting to a fuel tank, the main fill tube sized to accept therein a fuel dispensing nozzle inserted through said opening; a catch basin having an open top positioned below said opening such that back splash of fuel from the main fill tube is collected within the catch basin; an overflow tube connected between the fuel tank and the catch basin such that excess fuel in the fuel tank is conveyed via the overflow tube into the catch basin; and an opening from the catch basin to the main fill tube positioned to permit drainage of the contents of the catch basin into the main fill tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for fueling a fuel tank of a watercraft through a fill port, said fill port comprising an access opening, a main fill tube connected to said fuel tank having an open top end positioned proximate to and below said opening, a catch basin having an open top and positioned peripherally from said main fill tube, an overflow tube connected between said fuel tank and said catch basin, and a drain opening from said catch basin to said main fill tube, the method comprising:
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accepting fuel into said fuel tank via said main fill tube; retaining a back splash of fuel from said main fill tube in said catch basin; draining said back splash of fuel retained in said catch basin into said fuel tank through said drain opening and said main fill tube; venting air displaced in said fuel tank through said overflow tube and externally from said watercraft; transporting any excess of fuel in said fuel tank to said catch basin via said overflow tube; retaining said excess of fuel from said fuel tank in said catch basin; and draining said excess of fuel retained in said catch basin into said fuel tank through said drain opening and said main fill tube. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A fuel fill port comprising:
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a housing for installation on a surface of a watercraft, the housing having an opening proximate the surface; a cap removably coupled to the housing for sealing the opening; a fill tube extending through the housing, a first end of the fill tube sized to accept a fuel dispensing nozzle and a second end of the fill tube adapted for connection to a fuel tank; a catch basin defined by a bottom portion of the housing and positioned relative the opening and the first end of the fill tube such that backflow of fuel from the fill tube collects within the catch basin; a fill vent extending through the housing, a first end of the fill vent positioned relative the first end of the fill tube to allow excess fuel from the fuel tank to flow into the catch basin and a second end of the fill vent adapted for connection to the fuel tank; and a passage from the catch basin to the fuel tank for guiding fuel from the catch basin to the fuel tank. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A fill port for fueling a fuel tank of a watercraft, the fill port comprising:
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means for accepting fuel and conveying said fuel into the fuel tank; means for retaining a back splash of fuel; means for draining said back splash of fuel into the fuel tank; means for venting air displaced in said fuel tank externally from the watercraft; means for transporting an excess of fuel in the fuel tank and for retaining said excess of fuel from the fuel tank; and means for draining said excess of fuel back into the fuel tank.
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Specification