FUELING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES AND THE LIKE

• US 3,580,414 A
• Filed: 12/20/1968
• Issued: 05/25/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ginsburgh Irwin, Hilbert J. Nebelsiek
• Original Assignee: Ginsburgh Irwin, Hilbert J. Nebelsiek
• Inventors: GINSBURGH IRWIN, Nebelsiek, Hilbert J.
• Application Number:
  US04/785,562
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• US Class Current: 220/86.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/04 Tank inlets B60K15/077 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/0406 Filler caps for fuel tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0445 using hinges

Abstract

Our invention concerns a device adapted to be attached to the fill pipe of an automobile'"'"''"'"'s gas tank and to receive the nozzle of a fuel dispenser. Its principal elements are: a cap member having means which enable said cap member to be attached to the fill pipe, a passageway through the cap member which is adapted to pass the nozzle, and a closure member connected to one end of the passageway which seals said passageway, but which opens whenever the nozzle is inserted into the passageway. The passageway has one end protruding from the fill pipe and another end extending into the fill pipe. The closure member may be attached to either end, or two closure members can be employed, one attached to each end.

Claims

1. A device adapted to be attached to the fill pipe of an automobile'"'"''"'"'s gas tank and to receive the nozzle of a fuel dispenser, comprising:

a cap member having means which enable said cap member to be attached to the fill pipe;

a passageway through the cap member which is adapted to pass the nozzle, said passageway having a first end protruding from the fill pipe and a second end extending into the fill pipe;

a first closure member, attached to the first end of the fill pipe, which normally covers said first end to prevent dirt from accumulating within said passageway, but which uncovers whenever the nozzle is inserted into the passageway; and

a second closure member, attached to the second end of the passageway, which seals said passageway to impede the escape of gasoline fumes, but which is pushed open by the nozzle when the nozzle is inserted into the passageway.

2. A device which, when coupled to the fill pipe of an automobile'"'"''"'"'s gas tank, aids in guiding the nozzle of a fuel dispenser into said fill pipe, said device comprising:

a cap member adapted to be connected to the open, receiving end of the fill pipe so that said cap member covers said open, receiving end;

said cap member having a tapered recess terminating in an opening large enough to pass said nozzle, said opening having its center offset relative to the central longitudinal axis of the fill pipe;

an elongated tube which is smaller in diamEter than the fill pipe yet able to pass said nozzle, said tube having one end connected to the cap member and another end extending into the fill pipe, and being aligned with the opening such that the tube'"'"''"'"'s longitudinal axis parallels the pipe'"'"''"'"'s longitudinal axis and intersects the opening'"'"''"'"'s center, whereby one side of the tube will be further from the fill pipe than any other side of the tube;

said end of the tube extending into the fill pipe being truncated along an oblique plane such that the side of the tube furthest from the fill pipe is shorter than any other side of the tube; and

a closure member hingedly attached to the shorter side of said tube, said closure member being movable between an open position and a normally closed position fitting snuggly against and sealing said truncated end, said nozzle moving the closure member from a closed position to the open position by pushing against said closure member as said nozzle is inserted into the fill pipe through the opening and along the tube.

3. The device defined in claim 2 having a second closure member for the cap member which covers the cap member and opening, but which uncovers the cap member and opening when the nozzle is inserted into the device.

4. The device defined in claim 3 wherein the diameter of the tube is no greater than about three-fourths of the diameter of the fill pipe.

5. In combination:

a fill pipe of an automobile'"'"''"'"'s gas tank and a gas flap spaced from the fill pipe but movable between an open position wherein the fill pipe is exposed, and a closed position wherein the fill pipe is hidden;

a cap member having means which enable said cap member to be attached to the fill pipe, said cap member including a passageway which is adapted to pass the nozzle of a fuel dispenser, and a first closure member connected to the end of the passageway terminating in the fill pipe, said first closure member including;

a. means which normally urge said first closure member into a sealing position relative to the end of the passageway terminating in the fill pipe, b. being mounted to move to an open position which lets the nozzle pass whenever said nozzle is inserted into the passageway and pushed against said closure member; and

a second closure member at the end of the passageway terminating outside the fill pipe for preventing dirt from accumulating in the fill pipe, said second closure member including means which normally urge said second closure member into a position which exposes the end of the passageway terminating outside of the fill pipe, said second closure member being spaced relative to the gas flap so that when said gas flap is moved into the closed position which hides the fill pipe said second closure member is moved by said gas flap into a position which closes off said open end terminating outside the fill pipe, and when said gas flap is moved into the open position said second closure member is moved by the urging means into the position which exposes said end outside the fill pipe.

6. The combination with the fill pipe on an automobile or the like:

a tubular member adapted to pass a fuel nozzle, said tubular member having a first open end terminating in a frustoconical guideway which projects from the fill pipe and a second open end terminating within the fill pipe;

said first end being provided with a first movable closure member which prevents dirt from entering said tubular member;

said second end being provided with a second closure member that seals off said second end whenever the automobile is not being fueled, said second closure member including;

a. means which normally urge said second closure member into a sealing position relative to said second end, and b. being mounted to move to an open position which lets the nozzle pass when said nozzle is inserted into the tubular member and pushed against the closure member.

7. The tubular member defined in claim 6 wherein the second closure membeR is attached to the tubular member by means of a hinge, and a spring coupled to said second closure member urges said second closure member into a sealing position relative to said second end.

8. The tubular member defined in claim 7 wherein the second closure member is provided with a sealing gasket and a kick plate which the nozzle engages upon insertion.

9. The tubular member defined in claim 6 wherein the diameter of the tubular member is no greater than about three-fourths the diameter of the fill pipe.