US5000339A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flip-top gas cap
Assignee: CARR GREG 1415 MULESHOE APACHE JUNCTION AZ 852- 10% INTEREST
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Filing: 1989-10-02
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Granted: 1991-03-19
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Expires: 2009-10-02
Abstract
Abstract A flip-top replacement gas cap for replacing conventional screw-on caps provided as original equipment with present day motor vehicles. Two embodiments of the invention are disclosed. The first is a manually actuated device. The second is a key actuated device. In both embodiments pressure relief valves are included to vent over-pressure within the gas tank and to bleed off pressure prior to opening of the flip-top cap. The key actuated emboidment includes a rachet cam assembly which permits the cap to be screw fastened to a motor vehicle gas filler vent but precludes the unscrewing of the cap thereafter. "Gas cap" is used herein as a generic descriptor for any closure cap used to seal a filler tube of a fuel tank or any other storage vessel.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard Wheat
- 👤 William Thornton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 05:14
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60K; B60K15/00; B60K15/03; B60K15/04; B60K15/0406; B60K15/0409; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S220/00; Y10S220/33
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
A flip-top replacement gas cap comprising: a hollow-cylindrical screw threaded base for making a screw fastened coupling with the filler vent tube of a gasoline tank; a flip-up cap hingedly coupled to said base for sealing said base once said base is installed on a gasoline tank; latching means releasedly latchingly coupling said flip-up cap and said base for selectedly latching and unlatching said flip-up cap in and from sealing relationship with said base; a pressure release assembly coupled to said flip-up cap; wherein said pressure release assembly comprises: a first pressure release means for venting excessive gaseous fuel vapor pressures to relieve pressure build-up in a fuel tank; and a second pressure release means for venting gaseous fuel vapor pressures as said flip-up cap is being unlatched.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
A flip-top replacement gas cap comprising: a hollow-cylindrical screw threaded base for making a screw fastened coupling with the filler vent tube of a gasoline tank; a flip-up cap hingedly coupled to said base for sealing said base once said base is installed on a gasoline tank; latching means releasedly latchingly coupling said flip-up cap and said base for selectedly latching and unlatching said flip-up cap in and from sealing relationship with said base; a pressure release assembly coupled to said flip-up cap; wherein said pressure release assembly comprises: a first pressure release means for venting excessive gaseous fuel vapor pressures to relieve pressure build-up in a fuel tank; and a second pressure release means for venting gaseous fuel vapor pressures as said flip-up cap is being unlatched.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The gas cap of claim 1 further comprising latch release means coupled to said flip-up cap and said latching means for operatively positioning said latching means to latch and unlatch said flip-up cap.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The gas cap of claim 1 further comprising rotatable coupling means coupling said flip-up cap and said base whereby said flip-up cap may be rotated with respect to said base.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The gas cap of claim 1 further comprising rotation limiting rachet coupling means coupling said flip-up cap and said base for limiting to a selected direction the rotation of said flip-up cap with respect to said base.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
127 words
A flip-top replacement gas cap comprising: a hollow-cylindrical screw threaded base for making a screw fastened coupling with the filler vent tube of a gasoline tank; a flip-up cap hingedly coupled to said base for sealing said base once said base is installed on a gasoline tank; latching means releasedly latchingly coupling said flip-up cap and said base for selectedly latching and unlatching said flip-up cap in and from sealing relationship with said base; a pressure release assembly coupled to said flip-up cap; wherein said pressure release assembly comprises pressure release means for venting gaseous fuel vapor pressures as said flip-up cap is being unlatched said pressure release means being coupled to said latching means for actuation by said latching means as said flip-up cap is unlatched.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
127 words
A flip-top replacement gas cap comprising: a hollow-cylindrical screw threaded base for making a screw fastened coupling with the filler vent tube of a gasoline tank; a flip-up cap hingedly coupled to said base for sealing said base once said base is installed on a gasoline tank; latching means releasedly latchingly coupling said flip-up cap and said base for selectedly latching and unlatching said flip-up cap in and from sealing relationship with said base; a pressure release assembly coupled to said flip-up cap; wherein said pressure release assembly comprises pressure release means for venting gaseous fuel vapor pressures as said flip-up cap is being unlatched said pressure release means being coupled to said latching means for actuation by said latching means as said flip-up cap is unlatched.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The gas cap of claim 5 further comprising rotatable coupling means coupling said flip-up cap and said base whereby said flip-up cap may be rotated with respect to said base.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The gas cap of claim 6 further comprising rotation limiting rachet coupling means coupling said flip-up cap and said base for limiting to a selected direction the rotation of said flip-up cap with respect to said base.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
97 words
A flip-top replacement gas cap comprising: a hollow-cylindrical screw threaded base for making a screw fastened coupling with the filler vent tube of a gasoline tank; a flip-up cap hingedly coupled to said base for sealing said base once said base is installed on a gasoline tank; latching means releasedly latchingly coupling said flip-up cap and said base for selectedly latching and unlatching said flip-up cap in and from sealing relationship with said base; and rotatable coupling means coupling said flip-up cap and said base whereby said flip-up cap may be rotated with respect to said base.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
97 words
A flip-top replacement gas cap comprising: a hollow-cylindrical screw threaded base for making a screw fastened coupling with the filler vent tube of a gasoline tank; a flip-up cap hingedly coupled to said base for sealing said base once said base is installed on a gasoline tank; latching means releasedly latchingly coupling said flip-up cap and said base for selectedly latching and unlatching said flip-up cap in and from sealing relationship with said base; and rotatable coupling means coupling said flip-up cap and said base whereby said flip-up cap may be rotated with respect to said base.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The gas cap of claim 8 further comprising rotation limiting rachet coupling means coupling said flip-up cap and said base for limiting to a selected direction the rotation of said flip-up cap with respect to said base.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The gas cap of claim 8 further comprising a key removably coupled to said flip-up cap and said latching means for key actuation of said latching means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The gas cap of claim 10 further comprising rotation limiting rachet coupling means coupling said flip-up cap and said base for limiting to a selected direction the rotation of said flip-up cap with respect to said base.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-03-18 | 1994-09-17 | 1995-03-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-03-18 | 1998-09-17 | 1999-03-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-03-18 | 2002-09-17 | 2003-03-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |