Fluid reservoir cap

• US 9,623,747 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2015
• Issued: 04/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RB Distribution, Inc. (Dorman Products Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: RB Distribution, Inc. (Dorman Products Incorporated)
• Inventors: Darpino, Patrick, Reyes, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Smalley, James N
• Application Number:
  US14/883,228
• Publication Number:
  US 20160101685A1
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• Field of Search: 220233-238, 220304, 220DIG 32, 220DIG 33
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/0406 Filler caps for fuel tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0438 using screw or bayonet
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0451 Sealing means in the closure cap

Abstract

A cap for closing a fill tube of a fluid container that includes fewer part and requires just a quarter turn between opened and closed positions. The cap has a lower plate for engagement with a free end of a fill tube and an upper plate that connects to a cover. The upper and lower plates have cooperating pawl and detent portions that form a ratchet member. Rotation of the cap by approximately a quarter turn moves the cap form an opened position to a closed position against the neck of a filler tube.

Claims

1. A cap for closing a fill tube of a fluid container, the cap comprising;

a lower plate that is configured on one surface to retain a sealing member in a position for engagement with a free end of the fill tube and has a raised appendage on a surface opposite the sealing member;

an upper plate that has an upper surface, with an interior slot adapted for receiving the raised appendage and a plurality of perimeter slots, and a dependent free end projections that extend below the sealing member and draw the sealing member into contact with a free end of the fill tube; and

,

a cover that engages the plurality of perimeter slots and encloses the upper plate.

2. The cap of claim 1, wherein the interior slot of the upper surface has a length that is twice that of the raised appendage.

3. The cap of claim 2, wherein the raised appendage is arcuate and includes a pawl, and the interior slot is arcuate with a plurality of recesses dimensioned to receive the pawl.

4. A cap for closing a fill tube of a fluid container, the cap comprising;

a lower plate with a lower side that retains a sealing member in a position for engagement with a free end of the fill tube, an opposite upper side that includes an arcuate appendage of a first length, and a central aperture;

an upper plate that has an upper surface with an arcuate slot that has a length that is at least twice the first length and receives the arcuate appendage and a lower surface with a depending free end that fits within the central aperture, extends below the sealing member, and includes projections that engage with a free end of the fill tube and draw the sealing member into contact with a free end of a fill tube; and

,

a cover that encloses the upper plate.

5. The cap of claim 4, wherein the arcuate appendage includes a pawl and the arcuate slot includes a plurality of recesses dimensioned to receive the pawl.

6. The cap of claim 5 wherein the interaction of the pawl with the plurality of recesses limits rotation of the cap.

7. A cap for closing a fluid container fill tube, the cap comprising;

a first plate that has a lower surface with depending projections that are spaced at a predetermined distance from a lower surface tube, and a raised appendage on a surface opposite to the lower surface;

a sealing member that abuts the lower surface and is retained by the depending projections in position for engagement with a free end of the fill tube;

an upper plate that has an upper surface, with an interior slot adapted for receiving the raised appendage, and a dependent free end projections that extend below the sealing member and draw the sealing member into contact with the free end of the fill tube; and

,

a cover that engages and encloses the upper plate.

8. The cap of claim 7, wherein the upper surface interior slot has a length that is twice that of the raised appendage.

9. The cap of claim 8, wherein the raised appendage is arcuate and includes a pawl, and the upper surface interior slot is arcuate with a plurality of recesses dimensioned to receive the pawl.

10. A cap for closing a fill tube of a fluid container that is rotatable between opened and closed positions, the cap comprising;

a cover that includes a defined gripping portion;

a first plate that has a lower surface with depending projections that are spaced at a predetermined distance from the lower surface tube, and a raised appendage on a surface opposite to the lower surface;

a sealing member that abuts the lower surface and is retained by the depending projections in position for engagement with a free end of the fill tube; and

,

an upper plate that has an upper surface, with an interior slot adapted for receiving the raised appendage, and a dependent free end projections that extend below the sealing member and draw the sealing member into contact with the free end of the fill tube;

wherein the cover engages the upper plate and the defined gripping portion rotates the cap between opened and closed positions.