Locking apparatus for a gasoline filler pipe

Claim 2

A locking apparatus comprising: a housing having an internal chamber, a first opening and a second opening formed within said housing providing access into said chamber; a cover mounted by hinge means to said housing and movable between a closed position and an open position, said cover capable of closing said first opening when said cover is in said closed position, said open position providing access into said chamber, a latching catch attached to said cover; a split band adapted to surround a gas filler pipe, said band being adjustable to different diameters, said band including tightening means; a connecting flange attached to said band, said connecting flange attachable by fastening means to said housing about said second opening; a latching pawl pivotally mounted within said housing and movable between a latch position and an unlatch position, first biasing means attached to said latching pawl exerting a continuous bias tending to locate said pawl in said latched position, with said pawl in said latched position said pawl connects with said latching catch; and a key actuated lock mounted within said housing, said lock including structure capable of moving said pawl to said unlatched position.

Claim 3

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein: a second biasing means mounted adjacent said hinge means of said cover, said second biasing means exerting a continuous bias tending to move said cover to said open position.

Claim 4

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein: said cover including a depending flange, said depending flange exteriorly covering said hinge means.

Claim 5

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein: said connecting flange including a plurality of openings formed therein.

Claim 6

Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein: said flange being formed of a plurality of separate spaced apart segments, said openings comprising said spaces between said segments.

Claim 7

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein: said latching pawl being mounted by a pivot pin within recesses formed within said housing and located in an established position, the location of said lock being such to prevent withdrawal of said latching pawl from said established position.

Claim 8

In combination with a fuel tank, said fuel tank having a filler pipe, the open end of said filler pipe being closeable by a cap, a locking apparatus to connect with said filler pipe and prevent unauthorized access to said cap, said locking apparatus comprising: a housing having an internal chamber, a first opening and a second opening formed within said housing providing access into said chamber; a cover mounted by hinge means to said housing movable between a closed position and an open position, said cover capable of closing said first opening when said cover is in said closed position, said open position providing access into said chamber, a latching catch attached to said cover; a split band adapted to surround a gas filler pipe, said band bing adjustable to different diameters, said band including tightening means; a connecting flange attached to said band, said connecting flange attachable by fastening means to said housing about said second opening; a latching pawl pivotally mounted within said housing and movable between a latched position and an unlatched position, first biasing means attached to said latching pawl exerting a continuous bias tending to locate said pawl in said latched position, with said pawl in said latched position said pawl connects with said latching catch; and a key actuated lock mounted within said housing, said lock including structure capable of moving said pawl to said unlatched position.

Claim 9

In combination with a fuel tank, said fuel tank having a filler pipe, the open end of said filler pipe being closeable by a cap, a locking apparatus to connect with said filler pipe and prevent unauthorized access to said cap, said locking apparatus comprising: a housing having an internal chamber, a first opening and a second opening formed within said housing providing access into said chamber; a cover mounted by hinge means to said housing movable between a closed position and an open position, said cover capable of closing said first opening when said cover is in said closed position, said open position providing access into said chamber, a latching catch attached to said cover; a split band adapted to surround a gas filler pipe, said band bing adjustable to different diameters, said band including tightening means; a connecting flange attached to said band, said connecting flange attachable by fastening means to said housing about said second opening; a latching pawl pivotally mounted within said housing and movable between a latched position and an unlatched position, first biasing means attached to said latching pawl exerting a continuous bias tending to locate said pawl in said latched position, with said pawl in said latched position said pawl connects with said latching catch; and a key actuated lock mounted within said housing, said lock including structure capable of moving said pawl to said unlatched position.

Claim 10

The combination as defined in claim 7 wherein: a second biasing means mounted adjacent said hinge means of said cover, said second biasing means exerting a continuous bias tending to move said cover to said open position.

Claim 11

The combination as defined in claim 7 wherein: said cover including a depending flange, said depending flange exteriorly covering said hinge means.

Claim 12

The combination as defined in claim 7 wherein: said connecting flange including a plurality of openings formed therein.

Claim 13

The combination as defined in claim 10 wherein: said flange being formed of a plurality of separate spaced apart segments, said openings comprising said spaces between said segments.

Claim 14

The combination as defined in claim 7 wherein: said latching pawl being mounted by a pivot pin within recesses formed within said housing and located in an established position, the location of said lock being such to prevent withdrawal of said latching pawl from said established position.

Claim 15

A locking apparatus comprising: a housing having an internal chamber, a first opening and a second opening formed within said housing providing access into said chamber; a cover mounted by hinge means to said housing and movable between a closed position and an open position, said cover capable of closing said first opening when said cover is in said closed position, said open position providing access into said chamber, a latching catch attached to said cover; locking means mounted on said housing which includes a movable pawl to connect with said latching catch of said cover when in the closed position upon said housing, actuating means for moving said movable pawl; and attaching means connected to said housing for connecting said housing to a gasoline filler pipe, said attaching means including means adjustable to accommodate different diameters of gasoline filler pipes.

Claim 16

A locking apparatus comprising: a housing having an internal chamber, a first opening and a second opening formed within said housing providing access into said chamber; a cover mounted by hinge means to said housing and movable between a closed position and an open position, said cover capable of closing said first opening when said cover is in said closed position, said open position providing access into said chamber, a latching catch attached to said cover; locking means mounted on said housing which includes a movable pawl to connect with said latching catch of said cover when in the closed position upon said housing, actuating means for moving said movable pawl; and attaching means connected to said housing for connecting said housing to a gasoline filler pipe, said attaching means including means adjustable to accommodate different diameters of gasoline filler pipes.

Claim 17

A locking apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein: said attaching means comprising at least one movable member, said movable member being slidable upon an inclined surface formed on a portion of said housing, fastening means interconnecting said movable member and said housing portion, whereby as said fastening means is tightened said movable member is moved toward an engagement with said filler pipe, whereby as said fastening means is loosened said movable member is moved away from said filler pipe.

Claim 18

The locking apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein: there being a plurality of said movable members slidable on inclined surfaces of housing portions located in a spaced apart manner and a plurality of fastening means, each one of said movable members being interconnected to one of said housing portions by one of said fastening means for separate movement of said members toward an engagement with said filler pipe.

Claim 19

A locking apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein each of said movable members has a sharp pipe engaging portion positioned closest to said filler pipe, said portion tightly engaging said filler pipe upon tightening of the interconnecting fastening means.

Claim 20

A locking apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said fastening means comprises a threaded fastener member passing through said housing portion and threaded into said movable member, said attaching means comprising slot means transversed by said fastener member and permitting relative movement between said movable member and said inclined surface upon rotation of said fastener member.

Claim 21

A locking apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said actuating means comprises a key-actuated lock mounted within said housing for selectively engaging said latching catch to lock said cover in the closed position.

Claim 22

A locking apparatus comprising: a housing having an internal chamber, a first opening and a second opening formed within said housing providing access into said chamber; a cover mounted by hinge means to said housing and movable between a closed position and an open position, said cover capable of closing said first opening when said cover is in said closed position, said open position providing access into said chamber, a latching catch attached to said cover; locking means mounted on said housing which includes a movable pawl to connect with said latching catch of said cover when in the closed position upon said housing, actuating means for moving said movable pawl; attaching means connected to said housing for connecting said housing to a gasoline filler pipe, said attaching means including means adjustable to accommodate different diameters of gasoline filler pipes; and said attaching means comprises a wedge assembly, said wedge assembly including at least one wedge member movable upon an incline surface formed upon said housing, threaded fastening means interconnecting said wedge member and said housing, whereby as said threaded fastening means is tightened said wedge member is moved toward an engagement with the filler pipe, whereby as said threaded fastening means is loosened said wedge member is moved away from said filler pipe.

Claim 23

A locking apparatus comprising: a housing having an internal chamber, a first opening and a second opening formed within said housing providing access into said chamber; a cover mounted by hinge means to said housing and movable between a closed position and an open position, said cover capable of closing said first opening when said cover is in said closed position, said open position providing access into said chamber, a latching catch attached to said cover; locking means mounted on said housing which includes a movable pawl to connect with said latching catch of said cover when in the closed position upon said housing, actuating means for moving said movable pawl; attaching means connected to said housing for connecting said housing to a gasoline filler pipe, said attaching means including means adjustable to accommodate different diameters of gasoline filler pipes; and said attaching means comprises a wedge assembly, said wedge assembly including at least one wedge member movable upon an incline surface formed upon said housing, threaded fastening means interconnecting said wedge member and said housing, whereby as said threaded fastening means is tightened said wedge member is moved toward an engagement with the filler pipe, whereby as said threaded fastening means is loosened said wedge member is moved away from said filler pipe.

Claim 24

A locking apparatus comprising: a housing having an internal chamber, a first opening and a second opening formed within said housing providing access into said chamber; a cover mounted by hinge means to said housing and movable between a closed position and an open position, said cover capable of closing said first opening when said cover is in said closed position, said open position providing access into said chamber, a latching catch attached to said cover; locking means mounted on said housing which includes a movable pawl to connect with said latching catch of said cover when in the closed position upon said housing, actuating means for moving said movable pawl; attaching means connected to said housing for connecting said housing to a gasoline filler pipe, said attaching means including means adjustable to accommodate different diameters of gasoline filler pipes; said attaching means comprises a wedge assembly, said wedge assembly including at least one wedge member movable upon an incline surface formed upon said housing, threaded fastening means interconnecting said wedge member and said housing, whereby as said threaded fastening means is tightened said wedge member is moved toward an engagement with the filler pipe, whereby as said threaded fastening means is loosened said wedge member is moved away from said filler pipe; and there being four in number of said wedge members with a said fastening means being individually connected to each said wedge member.

Claim 25

A locking apparatus comprising: a housing having an internal chamber, a first opening and a second opening formed within said housing providing access into said chamber; a cover mounted by hinge means to said housing and movable between a closed position and an open position, said cover capable of closing said first opening when said cover is in said closed position, said open position providing access into said chamber, a latching catch attached to said cover; locking means mounted on said housing which includes a movable pawl to connect with said latching catch of said cover when in the closed position upon said housing, actuating means for moving said movable pawl; attaching means connected to said housing for connecting said housing to a gasoline filler pipe, said attaching means including means adjustable to accommodate different diameters of gasoline filler pipes; said attaching means comprises a wedge assembly, said wedge assembly including at least one wedge member movable upon an incline surface formed upon said housing, threaded fastening means interconnecting said wedge member and said housing, whereby as said threaded fastening means is tightened said wedge member is moved toward an engagement with the filler pipe, whereby as said threaded fastening means is loosened said wedge member is moved away from said filler pipe; and there being four in number of said wedge members with a said fastening means being individually connected to each said wedge member.