US4265752A — Self venting gas cap

Claim 1

Independent Claim 228 words

A closure for a filler neck on a tank, comprising: a closure body including means for securing said closure to the filler neck, a lower end adapted to fit within the filler neck, an upper surface having a vent groove formed therein, and a passage extending through the upper surface and through the lower end, the vent groove having a first end communicating with the passage through the closure body and a second end communicating with the periphery of the closure body; a cap secured to the closure body for covering the upper surface, said cap having an opening extending therethrough and communicating with the passage in said closure body; a convex surface on said cap disposed adjacent the vent groove; a resilient gasket disposed between said cap and said closure body, said gasket having a passage through which the passage in said closure body and the opening in the cap communicate, said resilient gasket being deflected by the convex surface on said cap to close the vent groove, and being sufficiently resilient to permit passage of a fluid through the groove when a pressure differential exceeding approximately one-half pound per square inch exists between the first and second ends of the groove; and means in said passage in the closure body to close the passage in the gasket to prevent flow of fluid therethrough from the tank.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 228 words

A closure for a filler neck on a tank, comprising: a closure body including means for securing said closure to the filler neck, a lower end adapted to fit within the filler neck, an upper surface having a vent groove formed therein, and a passage extending through the upper surface and through the lower end, the vent groove having a first end communicating with the passage through the closure body and a second end communicating with the periphery of the closure body; a cap secured to the closure body for covering the upper surface, said cap having an opening extending therethrough and communicating with the passage in said closure body; a convex surface on said cap disposed adjacent the vent groove; a resilient gasket disposed between said cap and said closure body, said gasket having a passage through which the passage in said closure body and the opening in the cap communicate, said resilient gasket being deflected by the convex surface on said cap to close the vent groove, and being sufficiently resilient to permit passage of a fluid through the groove when a pressure differential exceeding approximately one-half pound per square inch exists between the first and second ends of the groove; and means in said passage in the closure body to close the passage in the gasket to prevent flow of fluid therethrough from the tank.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 41 words

The closure of claim 1, said means in said passage including a door having a periphery formed by a curved surface; means for pivotally urging said door toward a position closing said central passage and into sealing engagement with said gasket.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 39 words

The closure of claim 2, wherein the upper surface on said closure body includes an upwardly extending rib extending around the passage, said rib engaging said resilient gasket to limit movement of said gasket relative to the upper surface.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 45 words

The closure of claim 3, wherein said gasket includes an aperture extending therethrough; and said upper surface of said closure having an upwardly extending peg, said peg extending into said aperture of said gasket to limit movement of said gasket relative to said upper surface.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 50 words

The closure of claim 2, including: a second door adapted to close an opening formed in the lower end of said closure body; and means pivotally securing said second door in spaced relation below said first door such that a gasoline nozzle must travel through said first and second doors.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 20 words

The closure of claim 2, wherein said door is oblong in shape to allow passage of a nozzle without obstruction.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 20 words

The closure of claim 1, wherein the securing means of said closure body includes threads formed on its lower end.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 21 words

The closure of claim 1, wherein the securing means of said closure body includes circumferentially spaced projections adjacent its lower end.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 22 words

The closure of claim 8, wherein the projections include: curved cam surfaces intermediate the upper and lower ends of said closure body.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 20 words

The closure of claim 8, wherein the projections include: hooks extending downwardly from the lower end of said closure body.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 25 words

The closure of claim 1, including: a filter secured to the lower end of said closure body for filtering the gasoline flowing into the tank.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 52 words

The closure of claim 11, including: a second door adapted to close an opening formed in the lower portion of said closure body; and means pivotally securing said second door in spaced relationship below said first door such that the gasoline nozzle must travel through both doors to communicate with the tank.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 221 words

A closure for a filler neck on a gas tank, comprising: a closure body including means for securing said closure to the filler neck, said closure body having a lower end adapted to fit within the filler neck, an upper surface having a vent groove formed therein, and a passage extending through the upper surface and through the lower end, the vent groove having a first end communicating with the passage and a second end communicating with the periphery of the closure body; a cap covering the upper surface of said closure body including an opening communicating with the passage in said closure body and a convex surface on said cap; a resilient gasket between said cap and said closure body, said convex surface on said cap being positioned to deflect said gasket to close the vent groove; means movably secured to the closure body to move said gasket to vent the filler neck through the vent groove when pressure at the first end of the groove exceeds a predetermined amount relative to the pressure at the second end of the groove, the movably secured means further acting to admit air into the tank through the passage in the closure body between said movably secured means and said gasket when atmospheric pressure exceeds pressure in the tank by a predetermined amount.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 221 words

A closure for a filler neck on a gas tank, comprising: a closure body including means for securing said closure to the filler neck, said closure body having a lower end adapted to fit within the filler neck, an upper surface having a vent groove formed therein, and a passage extending through the upper surface and through the lower end, the vent groove having a first end communicating with the passage and a second end communicating with the periphery of the closure body; a cap covering the upper surface of said closure body including an opening communicating with the passage in said closure body and a convex surface on said cap; a resilient gasket between said cap and said closure body, said convex surface on said cap being positioned to deflect said gasket to close the vent groove; means movably secured to the closure body to move said gasket to vent the filler neck through the vent groove when pressure at the first end of the groove exceeds a predetermined amount relative to the pressure at the second end of the groove, the movably secured means further acting to admit air into the tank through the passage in the closure body between said movably secured means and said gasket when atmospheric pressure exceeds pressure in the tank by a predetermined amount.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 49 words

The closure according to claim 13, wherein said movably secured means is further adapted to vent a gas tank if the pressure at the second end of the groove exceeds the pressure at the first end of the groove by an amount greater than one-half pound per square inch.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 30 words

The closure according to 13, wherein said movably secured means includes a door pivotally secured in the passage of said closure body and resiliently urged into engagement with said gasket.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 30 words

The closure according to 13, wherein said movably secured means includes a door pivotally secured in the passage of said closure body and resiliently urged into engagement with said gasket.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 107 words

A closure for a filler neck on a gas tank, comprising: a tubular closure body having a central passage therethrough; a door pivotally secured to said closure body for closing said central passage; a frame secured to the lower end of said closure body adapted to slide therewith into the filler neck, said frame having a plurality of passages for communicating with the filler neck; a filter screen adapted to slide over said frame; a wire ring secured to the upper end of the filter; and fingers spaced about the frame resiliently urging said wire ring against said frame to detachably secure the filter to the frame.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 107 words

A closure for a filler neck on a gas tank, comprising: a tubular closure body having a central passage therethrough; a door pivotally secured to said closure body for closing said central passage; a frame secured to the lower end of said closure body adapted to slide therewith into the filler neck, said frame having a plurality of passages for communicating with the filler neck; a filter screen adapted to slide over said frame; a wire ring secured to the upper end of the filter; and fingers spaced about the frame resiliently urging said wire ring against said frame to detachably secure the filter to the frame.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 245 words

A closure for a filler neck on a gas tank, comprising: a closure body including means for securing said closure to the filler neck, a lower end adapted to fit within the filler neck, an upper surface having a vent groove formed therein, and a passage extending through the closure body, through the upper surface and through the lower end, the vent groove having a first end communicating with the passage and a second end communicating with the periphery of the closure body; a cap covering the upper surface and secured to said closure body, said cap having an opening aligned with the passage in said closure body, a convex surface on said cap extending toward the vent groove, and a deflectable portion disposed adjacent the convex surface; a resilient gasket disposed between said cap and said closure body being deflected by the convex surface of said cap to close the groove, said gasket having a passage communicating with the passage in said closure body and the opening in said cap; and closing means moveably secured to said closure body to normally close the passage through said gasket, said closing means being moveable to open the passage through the gasket if ambient pressure outside the tank exceeds the pressure within the tank by a predetermined amount and to deflect the deflectable portion of said cap to open said vent groove when pressure within the tank exceeds ambient pressure outside the tank by a predetermined amount.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 245 words

A closure for a filler neck on a gas tank, comprising: a closure body including means for securing said closure to the filler neck, a lower end adapted to fit within the filler neck, an upper surface having a vent groove formed therein, and a passage extending through the closure body, through the upper surface and through the lower end, the vent groove having a first end communicating with the passage and a second end communicating with the periphery of the closure body; a cap covering the upper surface and secured to said closure body, said cap having an opening aligned with the passage in said closure body, a convex surface on said cap extending toward the vent groove, and a deflectable portion disposed adjacent the convex surface; a resilient gasket disposed between said cap and said closure body being deflected by the convex surface of said cap to close the groove, said gasket having a passage communicating with the passage in said closure body and the opening in said cap; and closing means moveably secured to said closure body to normally close the passage through said gasket, said closing means being moveable to open the passage through the gasket if ambient pressure outside the tank exceeds the pressure within the tank by a predetermined amount and to deflect the deflectable portion of said cap to open said vent groove when pressure within the tank exceeds ambient pressure outside the tank by a predetermined amount.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 130 words

A closure for a filler neck on a gas tank, comprising: a tubular closure body having a central passage therethrough; a door pivotally secured to said closure body for closing said central passage; a frame secured to the lower end of said closure body adapted to slide therewith into the filler neck, said frame having a plurality of passages for communicating with the filler neck; a second door positioned at the lower end of said closure body; and means resiliently urging said second door to close the central passage formed in the closure body; a filter screen adapted to slide over said frame; resilient means positioned adjacent the juncture of the frame and closure body for detachably securing said screen to said frame such that said screen may be removed.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 130 words

A closure for a filler neck on a gas tank, comprising: a tubular closure body having a central passage therethrough; a door pivotally secured to said closure body for closing said central passage; a frame secured to the lower end of said closure body adapted to slide therewith into the filler neck, said frame having a plurality of passages for communicating with the filler neck; a second door positioned at the lower end of said closure body; and means resiliently urging said second door to close the central passage formed in the closure body; a filter screen adapted to slide over said frame; resilient means positioned adjacent the juncture of the frame and closure body for detachably securing said screen to said frame such that said screen may be removed.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1984-05-04	1984-11-03	1985-05-05	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1988-05-04	1988-11-03	1989-05-05	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1992-05-04	1992-11-03	1993-05-05	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Self venting gas cap

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