US3961724A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fuel tank filler cap with improved vent
Assignee: Briggs and Stratton Corp
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Filing: 1975-03-13
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Granted: 1976-06-08
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Expires: 1995-03-13
Abstract
Abstract A fuel tank filler cap with superimposed compartments that are defined from one another by partition walls and filled with fibrous material, the top wall of the uppermost compartment having an air vent and the partition walls having communication ports therethrough, so located with respect to one another and the air vent that communication from the interior of the fuel tank to the air vent through the fibrous material filling the superimposed compartments is so tortuous that the escape of liquid fuel from the tank is virtually impossible, though vapors can freely leave the tank and air can readily enter it.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert J. Kapsy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 09:33
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60K; B60K15/00; B60K15/03; B60K15/04; B60K15/0406
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
325 words
A fuel tank cap having an air vent through which vapor can leave and air can enter the tank and means to prevent liquid fuel in the tank from being expelled through the air vent, comprising: A. an inverted cup-shaped portion adapted for detachable connection to the neck of a fuel tank inlet; B. walls fixed with respect to said inverted cup-shaped portion defining at least two superimposed coaxial substantially cylindrical compartments above the top of said inverted cup-shaped portion, and a bottom compartment beneath said superimposed compartments, each of said compartments having a side wall and said bottom compartment also having a bottom wall which together with its side wall separates the bottom compartment from the interior of the inverted cup-shaped portion; C. the upper one of two of said directly superimposed compartments being smaller in diameter than the lower one and its side wall having a flange projecting laterally outward from its lower marginal edge; D. the wall that separates said directly superimposed compartments having its peripheral portion underlying said laterally projecting flange and being spaced therefrom a short distance to form a shallow annular space which communicates with the upper one of said directly superimposed compartments; E. port means in said peripheral portion of the wall that separates said directly superimposed compartments communicating the lower one of said compartments with said shallow annular space and forming the only communication between said directly superimposed compartments; F. the wall separating the lowermost one of said superimposed compartments from the bottom compartment having port means spaced from the common axis of said compartments through which the compartments at the opposite sides of said wall are communicated; G. port means in a wall of said bottom compartment communicating the same with the interior of the fuel tank on which the cap is mounted; H. a centrally located port in the top of the uppermost of said superimposed compartments; and I. fibrous material filling said superimposed compartments.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
325 words
A fuel tank cap having an air vent through which vapor can leave and air can enter the tank and means to prevent liquid fuel in the tank from being expelled through the air vent, comprising: A. an inverted cup-shaped portion adapted for detachable connection to the neck of a fuel tank inlet; B. walls fixed with respect to said inverted cup-shaped portion defining at least two superimposed coaxial substantially cylindrical compartments above the top of said inverted cup-shaped portion, and a bottom compartment beneath said superimposed compartments, each of said compartments having a side wall and said bottom compartment also having a bottom wall which together with its side wall separates the bottom compartment from the interior of the inverted cup-shaped portion; C. the upper one of two of said directly superimposed compartments being smaller in diameter than the lower one and its side wall having a flange projecting laterally outward from its lower marginal edge; D. the wall that separates said directly superimposed compartments having its peripheral portion underlying said laterally projecting flange and being spaced therefrom a short distance to form a shallow annular space which communicates with the upper one of said directly superimposed compartments; E. port means in said peripheral portion of the wall that separates said directly superimposed compartments communicating the lower one of said compartments with said shallow annular space and forming the only communication between said directly superimposed compartments; F. the wall separating the lowermost one of said superimposed compartments from the bottom compartment having port means spaced from the common axis of said compartments through which the compartments at the opposite sides of said wall are communicated; G. port means in a wall of said bottom compartment communicating the same with the interior of the fuel tank on which the cap is mounted; H. a centrally located port in the top of the uppermost of said superimposed compartments; and I. fibrous material filling said superimposed compartments.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The fuel tank cap of claim 1, wherein said port means recited in paragraph F is in the side of a downward depression in the wall identified in said paragraph.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
The fuel tank cap of claim 1, wherein said bottom compartment is partially defined by a cup-shaped member having a cylindrical side wall and a funnel-shaped bottom wall, and wherein said port means recited in paragraph G comprises a hole in said side wall and another hole at the center of said funnel-shaped bottom wall.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The fuel tank cap of claim 1, wherein there are two superimposed compartments filled with fibrous material, and wherein said inverted cup-shaped portion and the outer walls of said superimposed compartments are one unitary member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
The fuel tank cap of claim 1, wherein there are two superimposed compartments filled with fibrous material, and wherein said inverted cup-shaped portion and the wall that separates the superimposed compartments are one integral dome-shaped sheet metal stamping while the upper compartment is defined by a second dome-shaped sheet metal stamping telescoped onto the upper portion of the first mentioned dome-shaped stamping.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-06-08 | 1979-12-08 | 1980-06-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-06-08 | 1983-12-08 | 1984-06-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-06-08 | 1987-12-08 | 1988-06-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |