Fuel door assembly

• US 6,352,295 B1
• Filed: 04/24/2000
• Issued: 03/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lund Motion Products Inc (Truck Hero, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: American Moto Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Leitner, Horst
• Primary Examiner(s): Pape, Joseph D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHENEVERT, PAUL A
• Application Number:
  US09/556,374
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 296/97.22, 296/146.11, 162/27, 162/55, 162/77, 162/86, 162/92, 162/96, 163/03, 163/21
• US Class Current: 296/97.22
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/05 Inlet covers
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/1064 with a coil spring perpendicular to the pivot axis
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 7/10 to allow easy separation or connection of the parts at the hinge axis E05D5/12 and E05D15/50 take precedence ; substitutes for hinges E05D1/06
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/534 Fuel lids

Abstract

There is described an improved fuel door assembly and methods for assembling same. In one preferred example the fuel door assembly comprises a housing that defines an axis of rotation and has a moveable retaining surface that is biased toward the axis of rotation, and a fuel door received in the housing and rotatable about the axis of rotation between a closed position and an open position. The fuel door has a first cam surface and a second cam surface. The retaining surface contacts the first cam surface and urges the fuel door toward the closed position when the fuel door is at the closed position, and contacts the second cam surface and urges the fuel door toward the open position when the fuel door is at the open position.

Claims

1. A fuel door assembly, comprising:

a housing, said housing defining an axis of rotation and having a moveable retaining surface that is biased toward said axis of rotation;

a fuel door received in said housing and rotatable about said axis of rotation between a closed position and an open position, said fuel door having a first cam surface and a second cam surface;

wherein said retaining surface contacts said first cam surface and forms an angle such that said retaining surface is not flush with said first cam surface when said fuel door is at the closed position, thereby maintaining said fuel door in the closed position, and contacts said second cam surface and urges said fuel door toward the open position when said fuel door is at the open position.

2. The fuel door assembly defined in claim 1, wherein said fuel door assembly comprises three or four parts.

3. The fuel door assembly defined in claim 1, wherein:

said fuel door further comprises a cover portion attached to said first cam surface and said second cam surface; and

said retaining surface contacts said first cam surface on a side of said axis of rotation opposite said cover portion when said fuel door is at said closed position, and said retaining surface contacts said second cam surface on a side of said axis of rotation opposite said cover portion when said fuel door is at said open position.

4. The fuel door assembly defined in claim 1, wherein said retaining surface and said first cam surface coact to hold said fuel door in the open position, and said retaining surface and said second cam surface coact to hold said fuel door in the closed position.

5. The fuel door assembly defined in claim 1, wherein the distance between said closed position and said open position is about 90°

.

6. The fuel door assembly defined in claim 1, wherein said housing further comprises a mechanical stop that limits the range of travel of said fuel door at the open position, said open position being thereby precisely defined.

7. A fuel door assembly, comprising:

a housing, said housing having;

an opening to receive said fuel door;

first and second hinge bearings, each of which has an inward-facing open end, said hinge bearings being axially aligned so as to define an axis of rotation; and

a moveable retaining surface that faces the open ends of said first and second hinge bearings, said retaining surface being biased toward said axis of rotation;

said fuel door having a lever portion and first and second axle portions, said fuel door being received in said housing such that said first and second axle portions are journaled to said first and second hinge bearings, said fuel door thus being rotatable about said axis of rotation between a closed position and an open position;

wherein said retaining surface retains said fuel door in said housing by contacting and applying a biasing force to said lever portion so as to urge said first and second axle portions against said first and second hinge bearings; and

a plunger having an outer end surface and an inner end;

wherein said retaining surface is located on said outer end surface; and

wherein said housing further comprises a plunger socket having an outward-facing open end that faces the inward-facing open ends of said first and second hinge bearings;

said plunger socket positioned behind said fuel door when said fuel door is in said closed position;

said plunger being received in said open end of said plunger socket and situated on a biasing spring located in said plunger socket that biases said plunger and said retaining surface toward said hinge bearings.

8. The fuel door assembly defined in claim 7, wherein:

said lever portion comprises first and second leverage surfaces; and

said retaining surface contacts said first leverage surface and urges said fuel door toward the closed position when said fuel door is at or near the closed position, and contacts said second leverage surface and urges said fuel door toward the open position when said fuel door is at or near the open position.

9. The fuel door assembly defined in claim 7, wherein said fuel door assembly comprises three or four parts.

10. A fuel door assembly, comprising:

a housing, said housing defining an axis of rotation and having a moveable retaining surface that is biased toward said axis of rotation;

a fuel door received in said housing and rotatable about said axis of rotation between a closed position and an open position, said fuel door having a first cam surface and a second cam surface;

wherein said retaining surface contacts and forms an acute angle with respect to one of said first cam surface and said second cam surface to maintain the angular position of said fuel door when said fuel door in either the open position or the closed position.