Gas cap removal alert system

• US 5,907,284 A
• Filed: 12/11/1997
• Issued: 05/25/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ehi R. Israel
• Original Assignee: Ehi R. Israel
• Inventors: Israel, Ehi R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Application Number:
  US08/988,835
• Time in Patent Office: 530 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/426, 340/686.1, 340/691.1, 340/693.5, 340/693.9, 220/86.2, 220/202, 220/303, 180/286
• US Class Current: 340/686.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/0406 Filler caps for fuel tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/0409 Provided with a lock

Abstract

A gas cap removal alert system is provided including a gas tank input mounted on a vehicle. The gas tank input includes a pipe with a threaded inner periphery defining an opening with a circular peripheral edge. A gas cap is included for being removably coupled within the gas tank input. A battery is situated within an interior space of the gas cap. Further provided is an indication mechanism mounted on the gas cap and adapted to alert a user upon the receipt of power. A switch is mounted on the gas cap and further electrically connected between the indication mechanism and the battery. During use, the push button switch has a first orientation for allowing the transfer of power to the indication mechanism and a second orientation for precluding the transfer of power to the indication mechanism upon the coupling of the gas cap within the gas tank input.

Claims

1. A gas cap removal alert system comprising, in combination:

a gas tank input mounted on a rear extent of a side of the vehicle with a door hingably mounted adjacent thereto for selectively covering the same, the gas tank input including a pipe extending from the vehicle with a smooth outer periphery, and a threaded inner periphery defining an opening with a circular peripheral edge;

a mounting sleeve having a cylindrical configuration with a planar front face with an annular configuration, a planar rear face with an annular configuration and a periphery with a smooth outer surface and a threaded inner surface, whereby the inner surface of the mounting sleeve may be screwably coupled to the circular peripheral edge of the gas tank input for encompassing the outer periphery thereof;

a gas cap including an inboard portion with a cylindrical configuration, a first diameter and a first thickness, the inboard portion including a threaded outer surface, the gas cap further including a hollow outboard portion coupled in concentric relationship with the inboard extent with a disk-shaped configuration, a second diameter greater than the first diameter and a second thickness less than the first thickness, wherein the outboard portion may be handled to removably screw the inboard portion within the gas tank input thereby abutting the front face of the mounting sleeve with an inner face of the outboard portion of the gas cap, an outer surface of the outboard portion having key hole mounted thereon for allowing the insertion of a key therein for locking the gas cap within the gas tank input upon the rotation and removal thereof;

a thin flexible plastic coupling strip having a first end integrally coupled to the outer surface of the mounting sleeve and a second end integrally coupled to the periphery of the outboard portion of the gas cap;

a battery situated within an interior space of the outboard portion of the gas cap;

a light mounted on the outer surface of the outboard portion of the gas cap for emitting light upon the receipt of power;

an audio means mounted on the outer surface of the outboard portion of the gas cap for emitting an audible sound upon the receipt of power; and

a push button switch mounted on the inner surface of the outboard portion of the gas cap and further electrically connected between the light and audio means and the battery, the push button switch having an unbiased extended orientation for allowing the transfer of power to the light and the audio means and a biased depressed orientation for precluding the transfer of power to the light and the audio means upon the screwable coupling of the gas cap within the gas tank input.

2. A gas cap removal alert system comprising:

a gas tank input mounted on a vehicle, the gas tank input including a pipe with a threaded inner periphery defining an opening with a circular peripheral edge;

a gas cap for being removably coupled within the gas tank input;

a battery situated within an interior space of the gas cap;

indication means mounted on the gas cap and adapted to alert a user upon the receipt of power; and

a switch mounted on the gas cap and further electrically connected between the indication means and the battery, the push button switch having a first orientation for allowing the transfer of power to the indication means and a second orientation for precluding the transfer of power to the indication means upon the coupling of the gas cap within the gas tank input.

3. A gas cap removal alert system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the indication means includes a light mounted on the gas cap for emitting light upon the receipt of power.

4. A gas cap removal alert system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the indication means includes an audio means mounted on the gas cap for emitting an audible sound upon the receipt of power.

5. A gas cap removal alert system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the switch is a push button switch with the first orientation being unbiased and extended and the second orientation being biased and depressed.

6. A gas cap removal alert system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the switch is mounted on an inner surface of an outboard portion of the gas cap.

7. A gas cap removal alert system as set forth in claim 6 wherein further included is a mounting sleeve coupled to the gas input pipe for abutting the switch.

8. A gas cap removal alert system as set forth in claim 7 and further including a coupling strip connected between the mounting sleeve and the gas cap.