Fuel tank locking apparatus

Claim 1

A fuel tank lock for use with a conventional filler neck having a baffle plate formed with an oval-shaped constricted passage that normally closed by a biased-shut valve member carried by said baffle plate that is forced open when engaged by an unleaded fuel nozzle of smaller transverse cross-section than said constricted passage, with the upper end of said filler neck being provided with a conventional fuel tank cap, said lock comprising: a body provided with a key-operated locking mechanism in its upper protion and a shank that extends through said constricted passage; collar means on said body larger than said constricted passage that rest upon the upper surface of said baffle plate to support said body thereupon; latch means operatively associated with said body shank movable between a locked position wherein part of said latch means extend transversely of the underside of said baffle plate outwardly of said constricted passage and an unlocked position disposed inwardly of said passage to permit withdrawal of said shank from said passage, with said latch means being actuated by said locking mechanism; and an oval-shaped boss formed on said body which complementarily fits within said constricted passage to prevent rotation of said body within said passage relative to said baffle plate as said key-operated locking mechanism is actuated.