Retrofitable gas cap holders

• US 5,580,019 A
• Filed: 05/17/1995
• Issued: 12/03/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Louis Glesser
• Original Assignee: Louis Glesser
• Inventors: Glesser, Louis S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Canfield, Robert
• Application Number:
  US08/443,333
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 248/205.3, 248/300, 248/309.1, 248/316.7, 248/225.1, 296/97.22, 296/37.13, 224/543, 224/539, 224/545, 224/567, 224/400
• US Class Current: 248/309.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/0406 Filler caps for fuel tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/05 Inlet covers
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0592 with storage means for the cap

Abstract

The retrofitable fuel cap holder of this invention is and can be fixed on inner surface hinged vehicular gas cap lids. The cap includes a base, a support and a compression mechanism. Fuel is compressible in a direction substantially normal to an inner surface of the lid. The base has a fuel cap retainer, such as a notch, where the gas cap is placed during refueling. The support has adhesive for attachment to the inner surface of the lid and one of the base and support are conformable to the inner surface of the lid.

Claims

1. A retrofitable holder for vehicular fuel line caps during refueling comprising the combination of:

base means including a match like cap retention means for retaining fuel line caps during refueling,

at least one support means attached to said base means, said at least one support means including adhesive means, for adhering the support means to an inner surface of a hinged vehicular lid for the fuel line cap, at least a portion of one of said at least one support means and said adhesive means being substantially conformable to the said inner surface of the lid and at least one of the bame means and the support means including means for compression, said compression being in a direction substantially normal to the base means.

2. The holder of claim 1 wherein one of the base means and the support means includes said means for compression.

3. The holder of claim 1 or 2 wherein the means for compression is elastomeric.

4. The holder of claims 1 or 2 wherein the means for compression is at least one spring.

5. The holder of claims 1 or 2 wherein the means for compression is at least one plastic spring.

6. The holder of claims 1 or 2 wherein the means for compression is at least one metal spring.

7. The holder of claims 1 or 2 wherein the means for compression is a pleated paper product.

8. The holder of claims 1 or 2 wherein the base means includes means for compression.

9. The holder of claims 1 or 2 wherein the base means includes a plurality means for compression.

10. The holder of claims 1 or 2 wherein the adhesive means is microencapsulated glue.

11. The holder of claims 1 or 2 wherein the support means includes means for compression.

12. The holder of claims 1 or 2 wherein the support means includes a plurality of means for compression.

13. The holder of claims 1 or 2 wherein the cap retention means is a "U"-shaped notch.

14. The holder of claims 1 or 2 wherein the means for compression are positioned proximate to two sides of the support means.

15. The holder of claims 1 or 2 wherein at least one of the base means and the support means includes spaced apart means of compression.

16. The holder of claims 1 or 2 wherein the holder generally has a box configuration when viewed in elevation.

17. The holder of claims 1 or 2 wherein the holder generally has a "U"-shaped configuration when viewed in elevation.

18. The holder of claims 1 or 2 wherein the base means has a plurality of separate parts which form the cap retention means.

19. The holder of claims 1 or 2 wherein the support means has a plurality of separate parts for contact with the vehicular lid.

20. The holder of claims 1 or 2 wherein the cap retention means is formed by a plurality of base means.