Refueling and ignition grounding device for small engines equipped with a protective hood

Claim 2

The combination of a small engine, a fuel tank for the engine mounted on the engine body at one side thereof, and a hood that covers substantial portions of the engine body and the fuel tank, said combination being characterized by: A. a filler spout having spaced apart inlet and outlet ends; and B. means connecting the outlet end of the filler spout with the fuel tank for swinging of the filler spout through a range of motion between a stowed position in which the inlet end of the filler spout is disposed substantially wholly beneath the hood, and a refueling position in which the inlet of the filler spout is not covered by the hood.

Claim 3

a cylindrical collar on the top wall of the fuel tank;

Claim 4

a cylindrical collar on the top wall of the fuel tank;

Claim 5

a downwardly projecting cylindrical neck defining the outlet end portion of the filler spout, said neck being rotatably received in the cylindrical collar;

Claim 6

a downwardly projecting cylindrical neck defining the outlet end portion of the filler spout, said neck being rotatably received in the cylindrical collar;

Claim 7

The combination of claim 1, wherein the filler spout is substantially S-shaped so that its inlet and outlet ends face in opposite directions.

Claim 8

a sealing ring confined between the neck and the collar; and

Claim 9

a sealing ring confined between the neck and the collar; and

Claim 10

The combination of claim 1, wherein the fuel tank has a top wall upon which the filler spout is mounted, and wherein the engine has parts that are fixed with respect to the fuel tank when the latter is in place on the engine, further characterized by: C. said fixed parts of the engine being so located with respect to the mounting of the filler spout that they are engageable by the filler spout as it is swung about its connection with the fuel tank, whereby said fixed parts of the engine define the limits of said range of swinging motion of the filler spout; and D. said means connecting the outlet end of the Filler spout with the fuel tank comprising cooperating means on the filler spout and the top wall of the fuel tank providing a bayonet connection that is engageable and disengageable only when the filler spout is in a position of swinging motion relative to the fuel tank that lies outside said range.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 3, further characterized by cooperating detent means on the filler spout and on the top wall of the fuel tank for releasably holding the filler spout in its stowed position.

Claim 12

cooperating circumferentially extending abutment means on the collar and the neck holding the same against separation except when the filler spout is swung to a position outside of its said range of motion.

Claim 13

cooperating circumferentially extending abutment means on the collar and the neck holding the same against separation except when the filler spout is swung to a position outside of its said range of motion.

Claim 14

The combination of claim 1, wherein the means connecting the outlet end portion of the filler spout with the fuel tank comprises:

Claim 15

The combination of claim 1, wherein the engine has a magneto ignition system that can be grounded to the engine body to prevent the engine from running, further characterized by: C. an ignition grounding switch; and D. means responsive to motion of the filler spout to its refueling position to effect closure of said switch.

Claim 16

In a small engine having a magneto ignition system with a grounding terminal that can be electrically connected to the engine body to prevent the engine from running, and having a fuel tank secured to the engine body at a location alongside the same, and wherein the top portion of the fuel tank is substantially inaccessible, means for facilitating safe refueling, comprising: A. a substantially S-shaped filler spout having a cylindrical, downwardly opening inner end portion and an upwardly opening outer end portion; B. cooperating means on the top of the fuel tank and the inner end portion of the filler spout rotatably mounting the filler spout for swinging motion between a normal position in which its outer end portion is substantially inaccessible and a refueling position in which said outer end portion is readily accessible; C. switch means on the top of the fuel tank connected with said grounding terminal to ground the same when the switch means is closed; and D. switch actuating means on said filler spout operable to effect closure of said switch means as the filler spout is swung to its refueling position.

Claim 17

In a small engine having a magneto ignition system with a grounding terminal that can be electrically connected to the engine body to prevent the engine from running, and having a fuel tank secured to the engine body at a location alongside the same, and wherein the top portion of the fuel tank is substantially inaccessible, means for facilitating safe refueling, comprising: A. a substantially S-shaped filler spout having a cylindrical, downwardly opening inner end portion and an upwardly opening outer end portion; B. cooperating means on the top of the fuel tank and the inner end portion of the filler spout rotatably mounting the filler spout for swinging motion between a normal position in which its outer end portion is substantially inaccessible and a refueling position in which said outer end portion is readily accessible; C. switch means on the top of the fuel tank connected with said grounding terminal to ground the same when the switch means is closed; and D. switch actuating means on said filler spout operable to effect closure of said switch means as the filler spout is swung to its refueling position.

Claim 18

In an engine of the type having a fuel tank mounted adjacent to the engine body and having a magneto ignition system with a grounding terminal that can be electrically connected to the engine body to prevent the engine from running, safety means for assuring that the engine cannot run while the fuel tank is being filled, said safety means comprising: A. a substantially elongated filler spout having an inlet end and an outlet end; B. cooperating means on the inlet end portion of the filler spout and on a wall of the fuel tank mounting the filler spout for swinging motion relative to the fuel tank between a stowed position in which the inlet end portion of the filler spout is substantially inaccessible and a refueling position in which said inlet end portion is accessible, said means also providing for communication between the interior of the filler spout and the interior of the fuel tank; and C. means providing an ignition grounding switch electrically connected with said grounding terminal and operatively associated with said filler spout to effect closure of said ignition grounding switch upon motion of the filler spout out of its stowed position.

Claim 19

In an engine of the type having a fuel tank mounted adjacent to the engine body and having a magneto ignition system with a grounding terminal that can be electrically connected to the engine body to prevent the engine from running, safety means for assuring that the engine cannot run while the fuel tank is being filled, said safety means comprising: A. a substantially elongated filler spout having an inlet end and an outlet end; B. cooperating means on the inlet end portion of the filler spout and on a wall of the fuel tank mounting the filler spout for swinging motion relative to the fuel tank between a stowed position in which the inlet end portion of the filler spout is substantially inaccessible and a refueling position in which said inlet end portion is accessible, said means also providing for communication between the interior of the filler spout and the interior of the fuel tank; and C. means providing an ignition grounding switch electrically connected with said grounding terminal and operatively associated with said filler spout to effect closure of said ignition grounding switch upon motion of the filler spout out of its stowed position.

Claim 20

The structure defined by claim 7, further characterized by: latch means to hold the filler spout in its refueling position.