Fuel cap assembly

• US 4,458,824 A
• Filed: 06/13/1983
• Issued: 07/10/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Baker, Steven F., Johnston, Albert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pollard, Steven M.
• Application Number:
  US06/503,827
• Time in Patent Office: 393 Days
• Field of Search: 220/203, 220/288, 220/361, 220/365, 220/85 VR, 220/85 YS, 220/DIG. 32, 220/DIG. 33
• US Class Current: 220/315
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/0406 Filler caps for fuel tanks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 220/33 Gasoline tank cap

Abstract

A fuel cap assembly has a handgripping cover portion, a threaded closure portion and a ring portion. The ring portion has an inwardly facing lip for axially supporting the closure and a flexible skirt depending from the inwardly facing lip and terminating in an outwardly facing lip. The inwardly facing lip flexes outwardly during assembly of the closure into the ring and the skirt flexes inwardly during assembly of the ring and closure into the cover. An annular groove is formed in the cover at a location aligned with the outwardly facing lip such that the skirt can assume its unflexed position and thereby secure the fuel cap assembly.

Claims

1. An improvement in fuel caps having a handgrip cover and a closure portion, said improvement comprising;

a ring disposed between the cover and the closure portion and including a radially inwardly projecting lip which is outwardly flexible prior to assembly in the cover portion to permit a portion of the closure to be retained in said ring, and a flexible skirt portion having a terminal radially outwardly projecting lip which is inwardly flexible upon assembly in the cover portion; and

annular groove means in said cover portion alignable with the lip of said skirt portion for permitting said skirt lip to move outwardly after assemblyy into said groove means to be retained therein to prevent removal of said closure and said ring from said cover portion.

2. An improvement in fuel caps having a handgrip cover and a closure portion, said improvement comprising;

a ring disposed between the cover and the closure portion and including a radially inwardly projecting lip which is outwardly flexible prior to assembly in the cover portion to permit a portion of the closure to be retained in said ring, and a flexible downwardly depending skirt means having a terminal substantially radially outwardly projecting lip means which is inwardly flexible upon assembly in the cover portion; and

annular groove means in said cover portion alignable with the terminal lip means of said skirt means for permitting said terminal lip means to move outwardly after assembly into said cover portion to be retained therein to prevent removal of said closure and said ring from said cover portion.

3. An improvement in fuel caps having a handgrip cover and a closure portion, said improvement comprising;

a ring disposed between the cover and the closure portion and including a radially inwardly projecting lip means for axially supporting said closure portion which lip means is outwardly flexible prior to assembly in the cover portion to permit a portion of the closure portion to be retained in said ring, and a flexible skirt portion depending downwardly from said lip means and having a terminal substantially radially outwardly projecting flat edge which is inwardly flexible during assembly into the cover portion; and

annular groove means in said cover portion alignable with the terminal flat edge of said skirt portion for permitting said terminal flat edge to move outwardly after assembly into said groove means to be retained therein to prevent removal of said closure and said ring from said cover portion.