US4020970A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rotatable closure device
Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
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Filing: 1975-12-24
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Granted: 1977-05-03
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Expires: 1995-12-24
Abstract
Abstract A one-piece plastic closure device for use in a filler hole, i.e. an oil filler cap or crankcase vent means, which seals the hole from the outside and can be applied with a fractional turn of the closure. The closure is adapted for use in a panel with an aperture having communicating lateral slots which telescopically accepts spring controlled retainer pads extending laterally from the closure body and that are moved to underlying relationship with the panel by rotation of the closure; the spring means acting on said retainer pads insuring continued sealing engagement of the closure with the panel.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard A. Koscik
- 👤 George M. Rapata
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 22:57
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01M; F01M11/00; F01M11/04; F01M11/0408; F01M2011/0491; F02; F02F; F02F7/00; F02F7/006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
A one-piece plastic cap for use with an apertured panel having at least one slot communicating with said aperture, said cap including a body rotatably accepted within said aperture, a head portion having rotation inducing means, circumferentially continuous resilient sealing means extending laterally from adjacent one end of said body and having a diametral extent greater than said slotted aperture, at least one flexible retainer pad acceptable within said at least one slot and extending laterally from said body in predetermined spaced relation to said sealing means, and capable of resilient flexure to accommodate said panel between said at least one pad and said sealing means when said cap is rotated to cause said pad to underlie said panel, and transversely disposed resilient means for controlling the flexure in said pads.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
131 words
A one-piece plastic cap for use with an apertured panel having at least one slot communicating with said aperture, said cap including a body rotatably accepted within said aperture, a head portion having rotation inducing means, circumferentially continuous resilient sealing means extending laterally from adjacent one end of said body and having a diametral extent greater than said slotted aperture, at least one flexible retainer pad acceptable within said at least one slot and extending laterally from said body in predetermined spaced relation to said sealing means, and capable of resilient flexure to accommodate said panel between said at least one pad and said sealing means when said cap is rotated to cause said pad to underlie said panel, and transversely disposed resilient means for controlling the flexure in said pads.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A cap of the type claimed in claim 1 wherein said cap is adapted for use in an aperture which includes a plurality of slots and said cap includes retaining pads equal in number to said slots.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A cap of the type claimed in claim 1 wherein said sealing means includes a flange tapered from its juncture adjacent one end of said body and terminating in a sealing edge facing the other end of said body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A cap of the type claimed in claim 3 wherein said flange includes a frusto-conical tapered thick portion at its juncture with said body and a domed tapered thinned portion about its outer periphery.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A cap of the type claimed in claim 4 wherein said frusto-conical portion is joined with said domed portion by a reversed radius.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
81 words
A cap of the type claimed in claim 1 wherein said body includes a generally circumferentially disposed wall which is open at least at one end thereof, said retainer pads including side elements connected to said body wall, an end element and a top bearing element facing said sealing means in spaced relation, said means for controlling flexure in said pads including central means disposed within said body wall reactively supporting stiffly resilient spring means acting against flexure of said pads.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A cap of the type claimed in claim 6 wherein said spring means is an arcuate leaf compression spring.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A cap of the type claimed in claim 6 wherein said central means includes at least one transverse stiffening rib extending between opposite sides of said body wall and against which said spring means reacts.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
A cap of the type claimed in claim 7 wherein said central means includes one transversely extending stiffly resilient rib extending between opposite reinforced sides of said body wall for each retaining pad and reactively supporting said spring means acting on an individual pad.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A cap of the type claimed in claim 9 wherein said central means includes two generally parallel but spaced ribs and two retainer pads extending in opposite directions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
A cap of the type claimed in claim 6 wherein said central means includes an annular ring co-axial with said body and connected to said head, said head having a central bore communicating through said ring, said ring reactively supporting said spring means acting on each pad.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
A cap of the type claimed in claim 6 wherein said side elements of each said retainer pad having hinge-like means connected to said body wall to permit pivoting of said retainer pad substantially along a line falling at the juncture of said bearing element and said wall.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
52 words
A cap of the type claimed in claim 11 wherein said hinge-like means includes a tapered thinned connection between said side elements and said body wall, said connections having an increased width in a direction away from the retainer pad pivot line to thereby provide a substantially uniform stress during flexure thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A cap of the type claimed in claim 6 wherein said head closes one end of said body wall and carries rotation inducing means thereon.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
A cap of the type claimed in claim 6 wherein said head is provided with a through bore communicating with said open ended body and carries rotation inducing means thereon.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2908417A
Cited
US3010673A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-05-02 | 1980-11-01 | 1981-05-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-05-02 | 1984-11-01 | 1985-05-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-05-02 | 1988-11-01 | 1989-05-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |