Patent US6364145B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6364145B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Motor vehicle fuel cap inlet and outlet vent apparatus
Assignee: Gas Caps Inc
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Filing: 2000-08-21
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Granted: 2002-04-02
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Expires: 2020-08-21
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle fuel or gas tank is subject to either a build up of pressure or a negative pressure, and in view of this inlet and outlet vents are provided in the fuel cap to balance the pressure with the atmosphere, and this balance of fuel tank pressure is attained by covers of vents in the fuel cap and the covers having an umbrella or parabolic shape or the vents may be covered by reed valves. The disclosure of covers of vents as described in this invention then obviates the use of coiled metal springs to control vents in vehicle fuel caps.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard J. Shaw
- 👤 Richard M. Boyd
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 08:13
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60K; B60K15/00; B60K15/03; B60K15/035; B60K15/04; B60K15/0406; B60K2015/03256; B60K2015/03269; B60K2015/03542; B60K2015/03547
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
Vehicle fuel cap outlet and inlet vent apparatus wherein the improvement comprises; a an outlet aperture adjacent to a piller in fuel cap body, b umbrella or parabola shaped aperture cover having a mounting aperture to receive said pillar c an aperture cover concave side edge landed on surface around said pillar and said outlet aperture, and, d an inlet aperture adjacent to a second pillar in said fuel cap body, e a second aperture cover having an umbrella or parabola shape having a mounting aperture to receive said second pillar, f and concave side edge of said aperture cover, landed on surface around said second pillar and said inlet aperture
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
Vehicle fuel cap outlet and inlet vent apparatus wherein the improvement comprises; a an outlet aperture adjacent to a piller in fuel cap body, b umbrella or parabola shaped aperture cover having a mounting aperture to receive said pillar c an aperture cover concave side edge landed on surface around said pillar and said outlet aperture, and, d an inlet aperture adjacent to a second pillar in said fuel cap body, e a second aperture cover having an umbrella or parabola shape having a mounting aperture to receive said second pillar, f and concave side edge of said aperture cover, landed on surface around said second pillar and said inlet aperture
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
Vehicle fuel cap outlet and inlet venting apparatus of claim 1 further comprising; a said outlet aperture cover and said inlet aperture cover comprised of thermoplastic material having a Shore A scale hardness of 45 to 65.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
Vehicle fuel cap outlet and inlet vent apparatus of claim 2 further comprising; a said outlet aperture cover and said inlet aperture cover comprised of fluoropolymer thermoplastic material having a Shore A scale hardness of 45 to 65.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
Vehicle fuel cap outlet and inlet vent apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising; a said outlet aperture cover and said inlet aperture cover, having an umbrella or parabolic shape consisting of fluoropolymer thermoplastic molded material and said molded material having a Shore A scale hardness of 50 to 60.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
155 words
Vehicle fuel cap outlet and inlet vent apparatus wherein the improvement comprises; a a first outlet aperture vent in a fuel cap body, b a first metal reed attached on one end and adjacent to said outlet aperture vent c the end of said reed opposite to attached end extending to close said outlet aperture, d end of said metal reed opposite to said attached end in shut off contact with said outlet aperture vent and, e an inlet aperture in said fuel cap body, f a second metal reed attached on one end and adjacent to aperture for inlet vent, g the end of said second metal reed opposite to attached end, extending to cover said inlet aperture, and h end of second metal reed opposite to said attached end in shut off contact with said inlet aperture, and i a coating of plastic elastomer on said shut off ends of said reed valves.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
155 words
Vehicle fuel cap outlet and inlet vent apparatus wherein the improvement comprises; a a first outlet aperture vent in a fuel cap body, b a first metal reed attached on one end and adjacent to said outlet aperture vent c the end of said reed opposite to attached end extending to close said outlet aperture, d end of said metal reed opposite to said attached end in shut off contact with said outlet aperture vent and, e an inlet aperture in said fuel cap body, f a second metal reed attached on one end and adjacent to aperture for inlet vent, g the end of said second metal reed opposite to attached end, extending to cover said inlet aperture, and h end of second metal reed opposite to said attached end in shut off contact with said inlet aperture, and i a coating of plastic elastomer on said shut off ends of said reed valves.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
Vehicle fuel cap outlet and inlet vent apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising; a a coating of fluoropolymer thermoplastic on said shut off ends of said reed valves.
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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) | 2005-04-01 | 2005-10-01 | 2006-04-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-04-01 | 2009-10-01 | 2010-04-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-04-01 | 2013-10-01 | 2014-04-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |