US3622035A — Puncture-resistant fuel container

Claim 1

Independent Claim 190 words

A puncture-resistant fuel container for an automotive vehicle or the like comprising: a. a rigid supporting structure associated with the vehicle structure and having a cavity therein; b. a fuel cell composed of flexible fuel-resistant material disposed within the cavity of said supporting structure, said cell being formed of a laminated sheet including a layer of vulcanized elastomeric material and at least one barrier layer of fuel-resistant material interiorly thereof, which layer is contacted by the fuel contained in the cell; c. at least one puncture-resistant member composed of a flexible, penetration-resistant nonwoven fibrous web of highstrength synthetic filamentary material selected from at least one of the group consisting of nylon and polyester, said member being positioned against said cell and loosely adhered thereto in at least each puncture prone area thereof wherein the probability of damage thereto during crash situations is high due to possible penetration by said supporting structure and the vehicle structure, said member having a weight of at least 12 ounces per square yard and a thickness of at least 0.125 of an inch in order to resist the penetration of said cell by said structures.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 190 words

A puncture-resistant fuel container for an automotive vehicle or the like comprising: a. a rigid supporting structure associated with the vehicle structure and having a cavity therein; b. a fuel cell composed of flexible fuel-resistant material disposed within the cavity of said supporting structure, said cell being formed of a laminated sheet including a layer of vulcanized elastomeric material and at least one barrier layer of fuel-resistant material interiorly thereof, which layer is contacted by the fuel contained in the cell; c. at least one puncture-resistant member composed of a flexible, penetration-resistant nonwoven fibrous web of highstrength synthetic filamentary material selected from at least one of the group consisting of nylon and polyester, said member being positioned against said cell and loosely adhered thereto in at least each puncture prone area thereof wherein the probability of damage thereto during crash situations is high due to possible penetration by said supporting structure and the vehicle structure, said member having a weight of at least 12 ounces per square yard and a thickness of at least 0.125 of an inch in order to resist the penetration of said cell by said structures.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 27 words

A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cell is composed of a laminated sheet including a plurality of layers of textile fabric and elastomeric material.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 26 words

A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said puncture-resistant member is a felt pad composed of a carded needle punched web of nylon staple fibers.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 15 words

A container as claimed in claim 1, wheRein said supporting structure is a metal tank.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 19 words

A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said supporting structure is an integral part of the vehicle structure.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 177 words

In a fuel tank for an automotive vehicle or the like including the combination of: a. a rigid supporting structure associated with the vehicle structure and having a cavity therein; b. a fuel cell composed of flexible fuel-resistant material disposed within the cavity of said supporting structure, said cell being composed of vulcanized elastomeric material including at least one barrier layer of fuel-resistant material interiorly thereof; and c. at least one puncture-resistant member composed of a flexible, penetration-resistant, nonwoven fibrous web of high strength synthetic filamentary material selected from at least one of the group consisting of nylon and polyester, said member being positioned against said cell and loosely adhered thereto in at least each puncture prone area thereof wherein the probability of damage thereto during crash situations is high due to possible penetration by said supporting structure and the vehicle structure, said member having a weight of at least 12 ounces per square yard and a thickness of at least 0.125 of an inch in order to resist the penetration of said cell by said structures.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 177 words

In a fuel tank for an automotive vehicle or the like including the combination of: a. a rigid supporting structure associated with the vehicle structure and having a cavity therein; b. a fuel cell composed of flexible fuel-resistant material disposed within the cavity of said supporting structure, said cell being composed of vulcanized elastomeric material including at least one barrier layer of fuel-resistant material interiorly thereof; and c. at least one puncture-resistant member composed of a flexible, penetration-resistant, nonwoven fibrous web of high strength synthetic filamentary material selected from at least one of the group consisting of nylon and polyester, said member being positioned against said cell and loosely adhered thereto in at least each puncture prone area thereof wherein the probability of damage thereto during crash situations is high due to possible penetration by said supporting structure and the vehicle structure, said member having a weight of at least 12 ounces per square yard and a thickness of at least 0.125 of an inch in order to resist the penetration of said cell by said structures.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1974-11-22	1975-05-24	1975-11-23	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1978-11-22	1979-05-24	1979-11-23	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1982-11-22	1983-05-24	1983-11-23	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Puncture-resistant fuel container

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