Vehicle fuel filler system seal

• US 9,376,012 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2014
• Issued: 06/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SRG Global Incorporated (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: SRG Global Incorporated (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Brown, Stuart, Doroghazi, William, Stokes, Peter, Stone, Brett
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Kiran B
• Application Number:
  US14/512,712
• Publication Number:
  US 20160101686A1
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 296/97.22, 141/348, 141/349, 141/350, 141/59
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/05 Inlet covers
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03447 for improving the sealing
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/053 with hinged connection to the vehicle body

Abstract

A fuel door assembly for a motor vehicle is provided. The fuel door assembly includes a housing, a fuel door and a door seal. The fuel door is hingedly supported by the housing for rotation between an open position and a closed position. The door seal includes a proximal edge supported by the housing and a distal edge separated from the housing. The door seal has an arcuate shape extending from the proximal edge to the distal edge when the fuel door is in the open position.

Claims

1. A fuel door assembly for a motor vehicle, the fuel door assembly comprising:

a housing;

a fuel door hingedly supported by the housing for rotation between an open position and a closed position; and

a door seal having a proximal edge supported by the housing and a distal edge separated from the housing, the door seal including an arcuate shape extending from the proximal edge to the distal edge when the fuel door is in the open position.

2. The fuel door assembly of claim 1, wherein the door seal includes a convex surface facing the fuel door when the fuel door is in the open position.

3. The fuel door assembly of claim 2, wherein the convex surface is operable to engage an inner surface of the fuel door when the fuel door is in the closed position.

4. The fuel door assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing includes an outer wall, a distal end, and a chamfered surface extending from and between the outer wall and the distal end, and wherein the proximal edge of the door seal is coupled to the chamfered surface of the housing.

5. The fuel door assembly of claim 4, wherein a normal to the chamfered surface defines an angle with the inner surface of the fuel door when the fuel door is in a closed position.

6. The fuel door assembly of claim 5, wherein the angle is between ten degrees and eighty degrees.

7. The fuel door assembly of claim 6, wherein the angle is substantially equal to forty-five degrees.

8. The fuel door assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a radially-extending flange portion.

9. The fuel door assembly of claim 8, further comprising a body seal supported by the radially-extending flange portion.

10. The fuel door assembly of claim 9, wherein the housing includes a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein the radially-extending flange portion is disposed between the proximal and distal ends.

11. The fuel door assembly of claim 1, wherein the fuel door includes an annular lip operable to engage the door seal.