US5720328A — Self-closing gas cap for automatic filling machin…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 132 words

A self-closing cap adapted to be mounted onto a filler neck of a fuel tank of an automotive vehicle wherein said neck includes a restrictive flap pivotally connected thereto, comprising: a closure ring having an annular body and means for detachably mounting the periphery of said annular body around a peripheral edge of a filler neck, a closure flap assembly including a circular member having an opening for receiving a nozzle, a closure flap, means for pivotally mounting an edge of said closure flap over said opening, and means for affixing said circular member to said annular body such that the orientation of said pivotal mounting means is adjustable relative to a pivotal connection between said restrictive flap and said neck, and a cover means detachably mountable over said closure flap assembly.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 132 words

A self-closing cap adapted to be mounted onto a filler neck of a fuel tank of an automotive vehicle wherein said neck includes a restrictive flap pivotally connected thereto, comprising: a closure ring having an annular body and means for detachably mounting the periphery of said annular body around a peripheral edge of a filler neck, a closure flap assembly including a circular member having an opening for receiving a nozzle, a closure flap, means for pivotally mounting an edge of said closure flap over said opening, and means for affixing said circular member to said annular body such that the orientation of said pivotal mounting means is adjustable relative to a pivotal connection between said restrictive flap and said neck, and a cover means detachably mountable over said closure flap assembly.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 22 words

The self-closing cap as defined in claim 1, wherein said closure flap is spring biased over said opening in said circular member.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 25 words

The self-closing cap as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for affixing said circular member to said annular body includes a ratchet lock mechanism.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 30 words

The self-closing cap as defined in claim 1, wherein said cover means includes a port for receiving a nozzle and a guide face for guiding said nozzle into said port.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 35 words

The self-closing cap as defined in claim 4, wherein said guide face is inclined with respect to said circular member of said closure flap assembly to facilitate the guiding of said nozzle into said port.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 53 words

The self-closing cap as defined in claim 5, wherein said filler neck is inclined at an oblique angle with respect to an adjacent wall of said vehicle, and said inclination of said guide face orients said face at an angle that facilitates the insertion of a fuel nozzle from an automatic filling machine.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 23 words

The self-closing cap as defined in claim 4, wherein said cover means includes means for guiding the nozzle of an automatic fuel-dispensing machine.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 16 words

The self-closing cap as defined in claim 7, wherein said guide means is a permanent magnet.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 171 words

A self-closing cap for attachment to the fuel filler neck of a vehicle that is particularly adapted for use with an automatic filling machine, said neck having a restrictive flap within its inner diameter that is connected thereto by a pivotal connection, comprising: a closure ring having an annular body and means for detachably mounting the periphery of said annular body around the periphery of a filler neck, a closure flap assembly including a circular member having an opening, a closure flap, means for pivotally mounting said closure flap over said opening, and means for affixing said circular member at a selected position with respect to the periphery of said annular body of said closure ring after said ring has been mounted around the periphery of said filler neck such that the orientation of said pivotal mounting means is angularly adjustable relative to said annular body to a position substantially 180° opposite from said pivotal connection of said restrictive flap, and a cover means detachably mountable over said closure flap assembly.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 171 words

A self-closing cap for attachment to the fuel filler neck of a vehicle that is particularly adapted for use with an automatic filling machine, said neck having a restrictive flap within its inner diameter that is connected thereto by a pivotal connection, comprising: a closure ring having an annular body and means for detachably mounting the periphery of said annular body around the periphery of a filler neck, a closure flap assembly including a circular member having an opening, a closure flap, means for pivotally mounting said closure flap over said opening, and means for affixing said circular member at a selected position with respect to the periphery of said annular body of said closure ring after said ring has been mounted around the periphery of said filler neck such that the orientation of said pivotal mounting means is angularly adjustable relative to said annular body to a position substantially 180° opposite from said pivotal connection of said restrictive flap, and a cover means detachably mountable over said closure flap assembly.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 63 words

The self-closing cap as defined in claim 9, wherein both said restrictive flap and said closure flap are spring biased over said neck inner diameter and opening, respectively, and wherein said 180° orientation between said pivotal connection and said pivotal mounting means facilitates the insertion and withdrawal of a fuel dispensing nozzle from an automatic filling machine through said cap and filler neck.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 17 words

The self-closing cap as defined in claim 9, wherein said affixing means includes a ratchet lock mechanism.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 31 words

The self-closing cap as defined in claim 9, wherein said cover means includes a port for receiving a fuel nozzle, and a guide face for guiding said nozzle into said port.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 36 words

The self-closing cap as defined in claim 12, wherein said guide face is inclined with respect to said circular member of said closure flap assembly to facilitate the guiding of said fuel nozzle into said port.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 48 words

The self-closing cap as defined in claim 13, wherein said filler neck is inclined at an oblique angle with respect to an adjacent wall of said vehicle, and said inclination of said guide face facilitates the insertion of said fuel nozzle into said port and through said opening.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 24 words

The self-closing cap as defined in claim 13, wherein said cover means includes means for guiding the nozzle of an automatic fuel dispensing machine.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 16 words

The self-closing cap as defined in claim 15, herein said guide means is a permanent magnet.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 118 words

A self-closing cap adapted to be mounted onto a filler neck of a fuel tank of an automotive vehicle, comprising: a closure ring having an annular body and means for detachably mounting the periphery of said annular body around a peripheral edge of a filler neck, and a closure flap assembly including a circular member having an opening for receiving a nozzle, a closure flap, means for pivotally mounting an edge of said closure flap over said opening, and means for permanently affixing said circular member to said annular body such that the orientation of said pivotal mounting means is angularly adjustable relative to said annular body, and a cover means detachably mountable over said closure flap assembly.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 118 words

A self-closing cap adapted to be mounted onto a filler neck of a fuel tank of an automotive vehicle, comprising: a closure ring having an annular body and means for detachably mounting the periphery of said annular body around a peripheral edge of a filler neck, and a closure flap assembly including a circular member having an opening for receiving a nozzle, a closure flap, means for pivotally mounting an edge of said closure flap over said opening, and means for permanently affixing said circular member to said annular body such that the orientation of said pivotal mounting means is angularly adjustable relative to said annular body, and a cover means detachably mountable over said closure flap assembly.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2001-02-23	2001-08-25	2002-02-24	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2005-02-23	2005-08-25	2006-02-24	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2009-02-23	2009-08-25	2010-02-24	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Self-closing gas cap for automatic filling machines

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