U.S. patent application number 11/064032 was filed with the patent office on 2005-07-07 for fuel door assembly.
Invention is credited to Leitner, Horst.
Application Number | 20050146157 11/064032 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26829294 |
Filed Date | 2005-07-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050146157 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Leitner, Horst |
July 7, 2005 |
Fuel door assembly
Abstract
There is disclosed an improved fuel door assembly and methods
for assembling same. In one preferred embodiment the fuel door
assembly comprises a housing that defines an axis of rotation and
has a moveable retaining surface that is biased toward the axis of
rotation, and a fuel door received in the housing and rotatable
about the axis of rotation between a closed position and an open
position. The fuel door has a first cam surface and a second cam
surface. The retaining surface contacts the first cam surface and
urges the fuel door toward the closed position when the fuel door
is at the closed position, and contacts the second cam surface and
urges the fuel door toward the open position when the fuel door is
at the open position.
Inventors: |
Leitner, Horst; (Laguna
Beach, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KNOBBE MARTENS OLSON & BEAR LLP
2040 MAIN STREET
FOURTEENTH FLOOR
IRVINE
CA
92614
US
|
Family ID: |
26829294 |
Appl. No.: |
11/064032 |
Filed: |
February 22, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11064032 |
Feb 22, 2005 |
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10420101 |
Apr 18, 2003 |
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10420101 |
Apr 18, 2003 |
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10090464 |
Mar 4, 2002 |
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10090464 |
Mar 4, 2002 |
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09556374 |
Apr 24, 2000 |
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6352295 |
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60131259 |
Apr 27, 1999 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
296/97.22 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E05D 11/1064 20130101;
Y10T 16/5402 20150115; B60K 15/05 20130101; E05D 7/10 20130101;
E05Y 2900/534 20130101; Y10T 16/5353 20150115; Y10T 16/53848
20150115; Y10T 16/5387 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
296/097.22 |
International
Class: |
B62D 025/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A fuel door assembly for covering an opening in a vehicle body,
the fuel door assembly comprising: an annular housing having a
plurality of hinge surfaces that are axially aligned so as to
define an axis of rotation, the housing further comprising a
plurality of openings for permitting the housing to be attached to
a vehicle; an axle portion being configured to be received by and
extend between the plurality of hinge surfaces, the axle portion
further being configured to be aligned with the axis of rotation; a
fuel door being configured to be received by the housing, the fuel
door being configured for rotatable coupling with the housing
between an open and closed position about the axis of rotation
defined by said hinge surfaces and along which the axle portion is
aligned; and a movable retaining surface that is configured to be
biased toward the axis of rotation and to contact a first surface
when the door is in a closed position and is configured to be
biased toward the axis of rotation and to contact a second surface
when the door is in an open position; wherein when the retaining
surface is in contact with the first surface, the fuel door resists
movement from the closed position and when the retaining surface is
in contact with the second surface, the fuel door resists movement
from the open position.
2. The fuel door assembly of claim 1, wherein the movable retaining
surface is biased toward the axis of rotation by a spring.
3. The fuel door assembly of claim 1, further comprising a
mechanical stop that limits the range of travel of said fuel door
at the open position.
4. The fuel door assembly of claim 1, wherein the distance between
the closed position and the open position is between about
80.degree. and about 100.degree..
5. The fuel door assembly of claim 4, wherein the distance between
the closed position and the open position is about 90.degree..
6. The fuel door assembly of claim 1, wherein when the fuel door is
near the closed position, the retaining surface urges the fuel door
toward the closed position.
7. The fuel door assembly of claim 1, wherein when the fuel door is
near the open position, the retaining surface urges the fuel door
toward the open position.
8. The fuel door assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of
hinge surfaces have an inward-facing open end.
9. The fuel door assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing is
attached to the vehicle with screws.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation application of U.S.
application Ser. No. 10/420,101, filed Apr. 18, 2003, which is a
continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/090,464,
filed Mar. 4, 2002, which is a continuation application of U.S.
application Ser. No. 09/556,374, filed Apr. 24, 2000, now U.S. Pat.
No. 6,352,295, which claims priority from U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/131,259, filed Apr. 27, 1999, titled FUEL DOOR
ASSEMBLY.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates generally to fuel door
systems, and more particularly to a fuel door assembly for a motor
vehicle or other equipment fueled by gasoline or other liquid
fuels.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Many vehicles utilize a fuel door assembly including a fuel
door which covers an opening in the body of the vehicle to provide
a cosmetically appealing cover over the gas cap. Typically, the
fuel door assembly will include a housing, a fuel door and a
closing mechanism. The closing mechanism keeps the fuel door closed
when the vehicle is not being fueled to minimize any negative
impact on the appearance of the vehicle due to the fuel door.
Unfortunately, such assemblies are often relatively expensive to
manufacture, include numerous parts, and are difficult and time
consuming to assemble.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] One aspect of the present invention is an improved fuel door
assembly. The assembly includes a housing, a fuel door and a
closing mechanism. Advantageously, the assembly is particularly
adapted to be inexpensively manufactured out of a minimum of parts,
and to be quickly and easily assembled.
[0007] In accordance with one preferred embodiment a fuel door
assembly comprises a housing that defines an axis of rotation and
has a moveable retaining surface that is biased toward the axis of
rotation, and a fuel door received in the housing and rotatable
about the axis of rotation between a closed position and an open
position. The fuel door has a first cam surface and a second cam
surface. The retaining surface contacts the first cam surface and
urges the fuel door toward the closed position when the fuel door
is at the closed position, and contacts the second cam surface and
urges the fuel door toward the open position when the fuel door is
at the open position.
[0008] In accordance with another preferred embodiment a fuel door
assembly comprises a housing that has first and second hinge
bearings, each of which has an inward-facing open end. The hinge
bearings are axially aligned so as to define an axis of rotation.
The housing also has a moveable retaining surface that faces the
open ends of the first and second hinge bearings and is biased
toward the axis of rotation. The fuel door assembly also has a fuel
door with a lever portion and first and second axle portions. The
fuel door is received in the housing such that the first and second
axle portions are journaled to the first and second hinge bearings,
the fuel door thus being rotatable about the axis of rotation
between a closed position and an open position. The retaining
surface retains the fuel door in the housing by contacting and
applying a biasing force to the lever portion so as to urge the
first and second axle portions against the first and second hinge
bearings.
[0009] In accordance with yet another preferred embodiment a method
of assembling a fuel door to a housing comprises installing first
and second axle portions of the fuel door in first and second hinge
bearings of the housing, and permitting an outwardly-biased
retaining surface of the housing to contact a lever portion of the
fuel door and thereby urge and retain the first and second axle
portions in the first and second hinge bearings.
[0010] In accordance with still another preferred embodiment a fuel
door assembly comprises a housing that defines an axis of rotation
and has a moveable retaining surface that is biased toward the axis
of rotation. A fuel door is received in the housing and is
rotatable about the axis of rotation between a closed position and
an open position. The fuel door has a first cam surface and a
second cam surface. The retaining surface contacts one of the first
cam surface and the second cam surface to maintain the angular
position of the fuel door when the fuel door in either the open
position or the closed position.
[0011] For purposes of summarizing the invention and the advantages
achieved over the prior art, certain objects and advantages of the
invention have been described herein above. Of course, it is to be
understood that not necessarily all such objects or advantages may
be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment of the
invention. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will
recognize that the invention may be embodied or carried out in a
manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of
advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other
objects or advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.
[0012] All of these embodiments are intended to be within the scope
of the invention herein disclosed. These and other embodiments of
the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled
in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiments having reference to the attached figures, the invention
not being limited to any particular preferred embodiment(s)
disclosed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] Having thus summarized the general nature of the invention
and its essential features and advantages, certain preferred
embodiments and modifications thereof will become apparent to those
skilled in the art from the detailed description herein having
reference to the figures that follow, of which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fuel door assembly having
features in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the
invention, shown with the fuel door in the open position;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the fuel door assembly of
FIG. 1, shown with the fuel door in the closed position;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of the fuel door assembly
of FIG. 1, shown with the fuel door in the closed position;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of the fuel door assembly
of FIG. 1, shown with the fuel door in the open position;
[0018] FIG. 5 is an exploded partial sectional view of the fuel
door assembly of FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a plan view of a fuel door portion of the fuel
door assembly shown in FIG. 1;
[0020] FIGS. 7A-7C are plan, front perspective, and rear
perspective views of a housing of the fuel door assembly shown in
FIG. 1;
[0021] FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view of the fuel door assembly
of FIG. 1, shown with the fuel door being assembled to the housing;
and
[0022] FIG. 9 is an enlarged partial sectional view of the fuel
door assembly of FIG. 1, shown with the fuel door being assembled
to the housing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0023] FIGS. 1-5 depict a fuel door assembly 20 having features in
accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention. The fuel
door assembly 20 generally comprises a housing 22 that receives a
fuel door 24, which is rotatable through about
80.degree.-100.degree. between a closed position A in which the
fuel door is generally flush with the housing (see FIG. 3) and an
open position B in which the fuel door permits the entry of a
nozzle through an opening in the housing (see FIG. 4). Preferably,
the angle between the open position and the closed position is
about 90.degree..
[0024] The fuel door 24 and the housing 22 are shown in greater
detail in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7A-7C. The fuel door 24 has a cover
portion 26, a lever portion 28 and axle portions 30a, 30b. The
lever portion 28 forms a first cam surface or leverage surface 32a
and a second cam surface or leverage surface 32b. A peak surface
34, which is preferably curved, is disposed between the first and
second cam surfaces 32a, 32b. To minimize cost and difficulty of
assembly, the fuel door 24 is preferably formed or molded as an
integral unit; however one skilled in the art will appreciate that
any of the cover portion 26, lever portion 28 and axle portions
30a, 30b may be separately fabricated and attached to the remainder
of the fuel door 24 via conventional techniques.
[0025] Referring specifically to FIG. 7A, the housing 22 preferably
forms a first hinge bearing surface 36a and a second hinge bearing
surface 36b that are axially aligned so as to define an axis of
rotation 38. In the assembled unit (see FIGS. 3, 4) the hinge
bearings 36a, 36b receive the axle portions 30a, 30b to permit the
fuel door 24 to rotate about the axis of rotation 38. Although this
is the preferred configuration, alternative possibilities exist for
rotatably connecting the fuel door 24 to the housing 22, such as a
single, extended-width hinge bearing that cooperates with a
matching single, extended-width axle formed by the fuel door
24.
[0026] As best seen in FIG. 5, the hinge bearings 36a, 36b each
have an open end that faces inward, i.e. away from the outer side
of the housing 22. Inward of the hinge bearings 36a, 36b the
housing 22 preferably forms a plunger socket 40 with an
outward-facing open end that also faces the inward-facing open ends
of the hinge bearings 36a, 36b. The open end of the plunger socket
40 receives a plunger 42 that is moveable linearly in and out of
the socket 40. The plunger 42 forms a retaining surface 44 at its
outer end surface and has a generally cylindrical inner surface
which receives and retains a biasing spring 46. The biasing spring
is thus positioned between the bottom of the socket 40 and the top
of the plunger 42. The biasing spring 46 biases the plunger 42 and
retaining surface 44 in the outward direction, toward the axis of
rotation 38. The plunger socket 40, plunger 42 and biasing spring
46 comprise a preferred structure for providing a moveable
retaining surface 44 that is biased toward the axis of rotation 38.
However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that
alternative structure may be used, such as an arched or leaf spring
with a peak or apex that either serves as the retaining surface 44
or underlies the retaining surface 44, or a V-shaped or angled
spring that can likewise serve as the biasing spring only, or both
the biasing spring and the retaining surface. Furthermore, the
biasing spring 46 and the plunger 42 can comprise a single
integrated part. Finally, it is to be appreciated that the housing
22 can be formed as an integral part of motor vehicle/power
equipment exterior panel or fueling pipe.
[0027] With reference to FIGS. 1, 3-5, and 7A-7C, the housing 22
preferably also comprises one or more alignment pads 48 against
which the fuel door 24 rests when in the closed position, and a
housing cutout 50 that cooperates with a door cutout 52 in the door
24 to facilitate easy grasping of the distal end of the door 24
when in the closed position. A number of openings 54 may also be
provided to allow attachment of the fuel door assembly 20 to a
motor vehicle or other equipment, with screws or other fasteners
known to those skilled in the art. The housing 22 preferably also
forms a mechanical stop 55 to limit the range of travel of the fuel
door 24 and more precisely define the open position B.
[0028] FIGS. 3 and 4 show the assembled fuel door assembly 20 in
detail. When the fuel door 24 is in either the closed position A or
the open position B, the retaining surface 44 bears against the
lever portion 28 of the fuel door 24 (at either the first cam
surface 32a or second cam surface 32b), under the urging of the
biasing spring 46. The retaining surface 44 thus retains the fuel
door 24 in assembled relation to the housing 22 by urging the first
and second axle portions 30a, 30b of the fuel door 24 against the
first and second hinge bearings 36a, 36b of the housing 22 and
retaining the axle portions therein. In this manner the first and
second axle portions 30a, 30b are journaled to the first and second
hinge bearings 36a, 36b and the fuel door 24 is fixed to the
housing but nonetheless rotatable about the axis of rotation
38.
[0029] This arrangement of the retaining surface 44, lever portion
28, axle portions 30a, 30b and hinge bearings 36a, 36b provides
many advantages in the construction of the fuel door assembly 20.
No tools, fasteners or special skills are needed to assemble the
fuel door 24 to the housing 22, which reduces the labor expense
incurred in producing the fuel door assembly 22. The preferred
assembly 20 contains at most four parts and is thus sturdy,
lightweight, reliable, and no more complex than needed. The
assembly process is speeded (and labor expenses reduced) when there
are fewer parts that need to be put together, and the logistical
"tail" leading to the assembly workstation is greatly simplified
when fewer parts need to be supplied, tracked and accounted
for.
[0030] At the closed position A shown in FIG. 3, the retaining
surface 44 contacts and bears against the first cam surface 32a,
preferably at a point or region of the cam surface located on a
side of the axis of rotation 38 opposite the cover portion 26 of
the fuel door 24. Thus when the fuel door 24 is at or near the
closed position A, the retaining surface 44 urges the fuel door 24
toward the closed position. Similarly, when the fuel door 24 is at
or near the closed position B as seen in FIG. 4, the retaining
surface 44 contacts and bears against the second cam surface 32b,
preferably at a point or region located on a side of the axis of
rotation 38 opposite the cover portion 26 of the fuel door 24. Thus
when the fuel door 24 is at or near the closed position A, the
retaining surface 44 urges the fuel door 24 toward the closed
position. In this manner a "closed-bias" or "open-bias" force is
constantly applied to the fuel door 24 at the closed position A and
the open position B, respectively, as the retaining surface 44 and
the cam surfaces 32a, 32b coact to hold the fuel door closed or
open at either position.
[0031] This provision of a closed-bias/open-bias force in the
closed and/or open positions A, B is advantageous for several
reasons. When closed, the fuel door 24 is less likely to fall open
except when the user deliberately grasps it and pulls it open.
Thus, the fuel door 24 will not open "by itself" or clatter against
the housing 22 when encountering vibration and/or aerodynamic
forces when the vehicle (or other equipment) is underway. When
open, the fuel door 24 is firmly retained at the (precisely
defined) open position B and the fuel door assembly 20 thus conveys
to the user the "feel" of a precision-crafted product, which is
especially important to owners or potential purchasers of high
performance or luxury automobiles. The precision of the open
position B can be further enhanced by the inclusion in the housing
of the mechanical stop 55 mentioned above.
[0032] FIGS. 8 and 9 show in greater detail the process of
assembling the fuel door 24 to the housing 22. The fuel door is
positioned an angle with respect to the closed position A and the
peak surface 34 is pressed against the retaining surface 44 of the
plunger 42. This forces the plunger 42 downward within the plunger
socket 40 until sufficient clearance exists between the plunger 42
and the inward ends of the hinge bearings 36a, 36b to permit the
first and second axle portions 30a, 30b to be inserted
therebetween. Once the axle portions 30a, 30b and hinge bearings
36a, 36b are aligned, the outwardly-biased plunger 42 forces the
fuel door 24 into its assembled position and maintains the axle
portions and hinge bearings in a fixed, but rotatable,
relationship.
[0033] Thus the fuel door assembly 20 facilitates an assembly
process that can be completed without need for tools, fasteners, or
highly skilled labor. The small number of parts and the lack of
tools or fasteners permits the door installation to be completed
quickly and easily. The end result is a sturdy, reliable, and
inexpensive fuel door assembly.
[0034] Although this invention has been disclosed in the context of
certain preferred embodiments and examples, it will be understood
by those skilled in the art that the present invention extends
beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative
embodiments and/or uses of the invention and obvious modifications
and equivalents thereof. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the
present invention herein disclosed should not be limited by the
particular disclosed embodiments described above, but should be
determined only by a fair reading of the claims that follow.
* * * * *