U.S. patent application number 11/511501 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-01 for cap device.
This patent application is currently assigned to TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD. Invention is credited to Hiroyuki Hagano, Kazuhisa Ishida.
Application Number | 20070045322 11/511501 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37802628 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070045322 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hagano; Hiroyuki ; et
al. |
March 1, 2007 |
Cap device
Abstract
A tether mechanism includes a rotatable ring rotatably mounted
to a ring mounting element, a linking member and a rotatable
connector. The linking member has a long linking member main body,
a first support end that is formed at one end of the linking member
main body and is connected to the rotatable ring and a second
support end connected to the fuel supply lid. The rotatable
connector has a U-shaped connector, and the linking member main
body can rotate relative to the rotatable ring around the
longitudinal axis thereof.
Inventors: |
Hagano; Hiroyuki;
(Aichi-ken, JP) ; Ishida; Kazuhisa; (Aichi-ken,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
POSZ LAW GROUP, PLC
12040 SOUTH LAKES DRIVE
SUITE 101
RESTON
VA
20191
US
|
Assignee: |
TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD
Aichi-ken
JP
|
Family ID: |
37802628 |
Appl. No.: |
11/511501 |
Filed: |
August 29, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/375 ;
220/DIG.33 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60K 15/0406
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/375 ;
220/DIG.033 |
International
Class: |
B65D 55/16 20060101
B65D055/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 30, 2005 |
JP |
2005-249099 |
Claims
1. A cap device that includes a cap that opens and closes a tank
opening, and a tether mechanism that connects the cap to a
peripheral member on a periphery of the tank opening, wherein the
tether mechanism comprises: a ring mounting element formed along an
outer circumference of the cap; a rotatable ring that is rotatably
mounted to the ring mounting element; a linking member that has (i)
an elastic long linking member main body, (ii) a first support end
that is formed at one end of the linking member main body and is
connected to the rotatable ring and (iii) a second support end that
is formed at the other end of the linking member main body and is
connected to the peripheral member; and a rotatable connector that
is mounted such that the rotatable ring is supported rotatably
relative to the peripheral member around a longitudinal axis of the
linking member main body.
2. The cap device according to claim 1, wherein the rotatable
connector is disposed on the first support end and the rotatable
ring.
3. The cap device according to claim 2, wherein the rotatable
connector includes a connector main body that is formed in a curved
configuration and extends in the longitudinal direction, and the
first support end is rotatably connected to the connector main
body.
4. The cap device according to claim 3, wherein the connector main
body is formed in a U-shaped configuration.
5. The cap device according to claim 3, wherein the connector main
body is formed in a S-shaped configuration.
6. The cap device according to claim 3, wherein the connector main
body is formed in a O-shaped configuration.
7. The cap device according to claim 3, wherein the connector main
body is formed in a rectangular configuration.
8. The cap device according to claim 3, wherein the first support
end comprises an engaging protrusion that engages rotatably with
the connector main body, and a deformable element that is formed
between the engaging protrusion and the linking member main
body.
9. The cap device according to claim 1, wherein the rotatable
connector is disposed on the second support end and the peripheral
member.
10. The cap device according to claim 9, wherein the rotatable
connector includes a connector main body that is formed in a curved
configuration and extends in the longitudinal direction, and the
second support end is rotatably connected to the connector main
body.
11. The cap device according to claim 10, wherein the connector
main body is formed in a U-shaped configuration.
12. The cap device according to claim 10, wherein the connector
main body is formed in a S-shaped configuration.
13. The cap device according to claim 10, wherein the connector
main body is formed in a rectangular configuration.
14. The cap device according to claim 1, wherein the rotatable
connector comprises an engaging protrusion that protrudes from the
rotatable ring, a connector main body that is integrally formed
with the first support end in a curved configuration and extends in
the longitudinal direction, and a mounting hole that is formed in
the connector main body and engages rotatably with the engaging
protrusion.
15. The cap device according to claim 1, wherein the rotatable
connector comprises an engaging protrusion that protrudes from the
peripheral member, a connector main body that is integrally formed
with the second support end in a curved configuration and extends
in the longitudinal direction, and a mounting hole that is formed
in the connector main body and engages rotatably with the engaging
protrusion.
16. The cap device according to claim 1, wherein the rotatable
connector comprises an engaging protrusion that is formed at the
first support end, a mounting part that protrudes from the
rotatable ring, and a mounting hole engaging hole that is formed in
the mounting part and engages rotatably with the engaging
protrusion.
17. The cap device according to claim 1, wherein the rotatable
connector comprises an engaging protrusion that protrudes from the
first support end, a connector main body that is integrally formed
with the rotatable ring in a curved configuration and extends in
the longitudinal direction, and a mounting hole that is formed in
connector main body and engages rotatably with the engaging
protrusion.
18. The cap device according to claim 1, wherein the rotatable
connector comprises engaging protrusions that protrudes from the
rotatable ring and the first support end respectively, a connector
main body that is formed in a curved configuration and extends in
the longitudinal direction, and mounting holes that is formed in
connector main bodies and engage rotatably with the engaging
protrusion respectively.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of and priority from
Japanese Application No. 2005-249099 filed Aug. 30, 2005, the
content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a cap device in which one
end of a long linking member is connected to a cap.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] In the prior art, in an automobile fuel tank, in order to
prevent the fuel cap from becoming lost during refueling, the fuel
cap is connected to the member around the fueling port of the fuel
tank via a long linking member such as a tether. As a fuel cap with
the tether is disclosed in JP-A- 2005-47293. In other words, a
tether and integrated rotatable ring are rotatably mounted in a
mounting groove formed in the outer circumference of the fuel cap
cover, and the tether is movably mounted to a mounting member that
protrudes from the rotatable ring.
[0006] However, in the prior art, when the resistance encountered
by the rotatable ring against the mounting groove becomes large due
to errors in the dimensions of the fuel cap or deformation of the
fuel cap over time, when the fuel cap is rotated, the rotatable
ring no longer rotates smoothly around the mounting groove. As a
result, the tether rotates together with the fuel cap, becoming
wound around the outer circumference thereof or twisted. In order
to eliminate such twisting of the tether, the fuel cap or the
tether formed separately from the fuel cap must be unwound in an
inconvenient operation.
SUMMARY
[0007] An advantage of some aspect of the invention is provided
with a fuel cap having a tether that does not become twisted and
enjoys superior rotatability.
[0008] The present invention is a fuel cap device that includes a
tether mechanism that connects a cap that opens and closes a tank
opening to a member formed around the periphery of this tank
opening. The tether mechanism includes a ring mounting element
formed along the outer circumference of the cap, a rotatable ring
that is rotatably mounted to the ring mounting element, a linking
member having an elastic long linking member main body, a first
support end that is formed at one end of the linking member main
body and is connected to the rotatable ring and a second support
end that is formed at the other end of the linking member main body
and connected to a peripheral member, and a rotatable connector
that is mounted such that the rotatable ring can rotate relative to
the peripheral member around the longitudinal axis of the linking
member main body.
[0009] In the cap device according to the present invention, when
the cap is removed from the tank opening, the cap is supported on a
car-side member around the tank opening via the linking member. As
a result, the cap can be prevented from being lost or left behind
without closing the tank opening. The tether mechanism includes a
rotatable connector. Because the rotatable connector is mounted
such that the rotatable ring can rotate relative to the peripheral
member around the longitudinal axis of the linking member main
body, even if the linking member main body becomes twisted, it
rotates by itself in a direction that will eliminate the twisting.
Therefore the operation to rotate the cap is not hindered.
[0010] So long as the rotatable connector is disposed at a location
at which twisting in the linking member can be eliminated, there is
no particular limitation on its location, and it may be disposed on
the first support end or second support end or in the middle of the
linking member main body. In this case, if the rotatable connector
is disposed on the first support end, which is close to the
location at which the cap rotation operation is performed, twisting
of the linking member main body can be quickly eliminated.
[0011] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a
construction may be adopted in which the rotatable connector
includes a connector main body that is formed in a curved
configuration and can extend along the longitudinal axis of the
linking member, and at least the first support end or the second
support end is rotatably connected to this connector main body.
With such a construction, because the curved connector main body
extends or contracts even where force is applied to stretch the
linking member along its longitudinal direction, the linking member
main body does not receive excessive force and does not easily
break. Here, in a preferred embodiment of the connector main body,
a U-shape, S-shape, W-shape or other configuration may be used.
[0012] These and other objects, features, aspects, and advantages
of the present invention will become more apparent from the
following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with
the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the rear end of an
automobile with a cap device according to a first embodiment of the
present invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the state in which the
fuel supply lid is open;.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of the fuel
cap mounted to a filler pipe;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the fuel cap;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a decomposed perspective view showing a tether
mechanism;
[0018] FIG. 6 shows the main components of a tether mechanism
according to a second embodiment;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a fuel cap according to
a third embodiment;
[0020] FIG. 8 shows the main components of a tether mechanism
according to a fourth embodiment; and
[0021] FIG. 9 shows the main components of a tether mechanism
according to a fifth embodiment.
[0022] FIG. 10 shows the main components of a tether mechanism
according to a sixth embodiment.
[0023] FIG. 11 shows the main components of a tether mechanism
according to a seventh embodiment.
[0024] FIG. 12 shows the main components of a tether mechanism
according to a eighth embodiment.
[0025] FIG. 13 shows the main components of a tether mechanism
according to a ninth embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A. First Embodiment
[0026] (1) Summary Construction of Cap Device
[0027] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the rear end of an
automobile with a cap device according to a first embodiment of the
present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the
state in which a fuel supply lid is open. A recession 11 used to
supply fuel is formed in the rear portion of the body panel 10
shown in FIG. 1, and the opening of the recession 11 is covered by
a fuel supply lid 12. The fuel supply lid 12 is mounted such that
it can be opened and closed via a hinge 13. A fuel supply opening
16a of a filler pipe 16 connected to the fuel tank (not shown) is
disposed in a bottom wall 11a of the recession 11. The fuel supply
opening 16a is opened and closed with a tight seal by the fuel cap
20. The fuel cap 20 is connected to the fuel supply lid 12 by a
tether mechanism 30, and loss of the fuel cap 20 is prevented by
hanging of the fuel cap 20 during fueling.
[0028] (2) Construction of Fuel Cap 20
[0029] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of the fuel
cap 20 mounted to the filler pipe 16. The fuel cap 20 includes a
casing 21 mounted inside the filler pipe 16, a cover 22 mounted to
a flange 21b disposed above the casing 21, and a gasket GS mounted
to the top part of the casing 21. An engaging protrusion 21a is
formed on the outer circumference of the casing 21. The engaging
protrusion 21a engages with an engaging protrusion 16b formed on
the filler pipe 16. Therefore, placing the fuel cap 20 in the fuel
supply opening 16a and rotating it two or three times causes the
casing 21 to press the gasket GS against the inner wall of the
filler pipe 16, thereby forming a seal between this inner wall and
the fuel cap 20. The cover 22 is formed in a cup shape by an upper
wall 23 having an handle 23a that is gripped by the fingers to
rotate the fuel cap 20, and a side wall 24 that is formed in a
cylindrical shape extending from outer circumference of the upper
wall 23.
[0030] (3) Construction of Tether Mechanism 30
[0031] The tether mechanism 30 is mounted to the cover 22. FIG. 4
is a perspective view showing the fuel cap 20, while FIG. 5 is a
decomposed perspective view showing the tether mechanism 30. The
tether mechanism 30 includes a ring mounting element 25 (see FIG.
3) comprising a groove that runs along the outer circumference of
the cover 22, a rotatable ring 32 that is rotatably mounted to the
ring mounting element 25, and a linking member 36 that is mounted
to the rotatable ring 32.
[0032] The rotatable ring 32 includes an annular ring main body 32a
and a mounting part 33 that protrudes from the outer circumference
of the ring main body 32a, and these two components are integrally
formed from a soft material such as polyurethane (PUR) or
thermoplastic elastomer (TPEE). The ring main body 32a has a
slightly larger inner diameter than the outer diameter of the ring
mounting element 25, and is mounted to the ring mounting element 25
by being stretched via elastic deformation. The mounting part 33 is
a part used to mount the linking member 36, and includes a
projected section 33a and an engaging protrusion 33b that protrudes
from the projected section 33a and has a larger head.
[0033] The linking member 36 includes a string-like linking member
main body 36a and a first and second support ends 37, 38 (see FIG.
2) formed at either end of the linking member main body 36a. A
rotatable connector 39 including the mounting part 33 is formed to
connect the linking member 36 to the rotatable ring 32 is disposed
at the first support end 37. The rotatable connector 39 includes a
U-shaped (curved) connector main body 39a, a mounting hole 39b is
integrally formed at an end of the connector main body 39a, and the
linking member main body 36a is integrally formed at the other end
of the connector main body 39a. In order to mount the first support
end 37 to the rotatable ring 32, the engaging protrusion 33b is
pressed into the mounting hole 39b of the connector main body 39a.
By virtue of this construction, the rotatable connector 39 mounts
the linking member 36 to the rotatable ring 32 such that the
linking member 36 can rotate around the longitudinal axis AX of the
linking member main body 36a.
[0034] As shown in FIG. 2, the second support end 38 formed at the
other end of the linking member 36 is a member having a disk shape
that includes a support ring 38a. The support ring 38a is rotatably
supported on a securing member 12a formed on the back side of the
fuel supply lid 12 by being pressed into the securing member 12a.
Therefore, the fuel cap 20 shown in FIG. 1 hangs down via the
linking member 36 secured to the securing member 12a when the fuel
supply lid 12 is opened and the fuel cap 20 is separated from the
filler pipe 16.
[0035] (4) Opening and Closing of Fuel Cap 20
[0036] The opening and closing of the fuel cap 20 will now be
described. From the state shown in FIG. 1 in which the fuel cap 20
is detached, the fuel cap 20 is inserted in the fuel supply opening
16a of the filler pipe 16 and rotated two or three times to close
the filler pipe 16. When this is done, because the rotatable ring
32 shown in FIG. 3 is rotatable relative to the cover 22 and the
linking member 36 does not receive a large amount of force from the
fuel supply lid 12 or the fuel cap 20, is formed from a soft resin
material and is flexible, there is no obstacle to the opening and
closing of the fuel cap 20. Here, the linking member 36 is bent and
housed within the recession 11.
[0037] The operation to remove the fuel cap 20 will now be
explained. When the fuel supply lid 12 is opened and the operation
to open the fuel cap 20 is performed, the fuel cap 20 separates
from the fuel supply opening 16a of the filler pipe 16. When the
fuel cap 20 is then released from the hand, the fuel cap 20 hangs
down at a position away from the body panel 10 with the cover 22
thereof facing the body, thereby permitting the vehicle to be
refueled. In other words, because the fuel cap 20 can be positioned
during refueling at a position away from the body panel 10, it does
not obstruct the fueling nozzle, and the fuel adhering to the
casing 21 does not contaminate the body panel 10.
[0038] (5) Operation and Effect of the Embodiment
[0039] The above embodiment has the operation and effect described
below.
[0040] (5)-1 Because the rotatable connector 39 mounts the linking
member 36 to the rotatable ring 32 such that the linking member 36
can rotate around the longitudinal axis AX of the linking member
main body 36a, even if the linking member main body 36a becomes
twisted, this twisting is eliminated by the linking member 36
rotating in the unwinding direction. Therefore, there is no
obstacle to the rotation of the fuel cap 20.
[0041] (5)-2 Because the rotatable connector 39 is disposed at the
first support end 37 near the location where the fuel cap 20 is
rotated, twisting of the linking member main body 36a can be
quickly eliminated.
[0042] (5)-3 Because the rotatable connector 39 includes a U-shaped
connector main body 39a and one end of the connector main body 39a
is rotatably supported on the linking member main body 36a, even if
extension or contraction force is exerted on the linking member
main body 36a, the extension or contraction of the U-shaped
connector main body 39a ensures that excessive force is not
received by the linking member main body 36a, and the linking
member main body 36a is not damaged.
[0043] (5)-4 The linking member 36 can be mounted simply by
inserting the engaging protrusion 33b of the mounting part 33 of
the rotatable ring 32 in the mounting hole 39b, making the mounting
operation simple.
[0044] (5)-5 Because the rotatable ring 32 and the linking member
main body 36a are separate but connected via the rotatable
connector 39, twisting of the linking member main body 36a does not
hinder the rotation of the rotatable ring 32, such that the
rotatable ring 32 can smoothly rotate relative to the fuel cap 20,
and consequently there is no obstacle to the opening and closing of
the fuel cap 20.
B. Second Embodiment
[0045] FIG. 6 shows the main components of a tether mechanism
according to a second embodiment. The tether mechanism 30B of the
embodiment has a construction in which one element of a rotatable
connector 39B is disposed at the second support end 38B of the
linking member 36B. The other element of the rotatable connector
39B is disposed at a mounting part 12Ba disposed on the fuel supply
lid 12B. An engaging protrusion 12Bb is formed on the mounting part
12Ba. The rotatable connector 39B includes a connector main body
39Ba, and inserting the engaging protrusion 12Bb in an engaging
hole 38Ba of the connector main body 39Ba causes the linking member
36B to rotate such that twisting of the linking member 36B is
eliminated.
[0046] According to the second embodiment, since the rotatable
connector 39B is mounted directly to the mounting part 12Ba of the
fuel supply lid 12B, and the rotatable ring and first support end
are integrally formed as a single unit, the operation to mount the
rotatable ring of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and the
rotatable connector on the side of the first support end can be
eliminated, thereby improving the ease of the mounting operation.
The rotatable connectors may be disposed on the rotatable ring and
on the fuel supply lid respectively.
C. Third Embodiment
[0047] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the fuel cap according
to a third embodiment. The rotatable connector 39C according to the
embodiment has a construction in which the axis AX, around which
the linking member 36C of the tether mechanism 30C rotates, is
parallel to the rotational axis of the fuel cap 20. The tether
mechanism 30C includes a mounting part 33C that protrudes outward
from part of the rotatable ring 32C, and comprises an engaging
protrusion 37Cc disposed at a first support end 37C of the linking
member main body 36c inserted in an engaging hole 33Cc of the
mounting part 33C. With this construction as well, even where the
linking member main body 36Ca becomes twisted, this twisting can be
eliminated by the linking member main body 36Ca rotating via the
rotatable connector 39C.
D. Other Embodiments
[0048] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments
described above, and may be implemented in any of various forms
within the essential scope of the invention.
[0049] (1) In the first and second embodiments, a construction was
described in which a long linking member main body and a U-shaped
connector main body are formed integrally as a single unit and the
connector main body engages with an engaging protrusion formed on a
rotatable ring or the fuel supply lid, but the present invention is
not limited to this construction, and the constructions of the
fourth or fifth embodiments shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, respectively,
may be used.
[0050] As shown in FIG. 8, a rotatable connector 39D comprises a
connector main body 39Da that is integrally formed with a rotatable
ring 32D, an engaging protrusion 36Db is formed at an end of a
linking member main body 36Da, and the linking member main body
36Da is made rotatable by virtue of the connection of the engaging
protrusion 36Db with the connector main body 39Da. As shown in FIG.
9, an engaging protrusions 33Eb, 33Eb are formed on a rotatable
ring 32E and a linking member main body 36Ea and the linking member
main body 36Ea is made rotatable by virtue of the connection of the
engaging protrusions and mounting hole 39Eb to a U-shaped connector
main body 39Ea.
[0051] As shown in FIG. 10 of a sixth embodiment, a connector main
body 39Fa of a rotatable connector 39F may be formed in a S-shaped
configuration, which is connected with two U-shaped bodies. As
shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 of a seventh and eighth embodiments,
connector main bodies 39Ga and 39Ha of rotatable connectors 39G and
39H may be formed in a rectangular configuration or a O-shaped
configuration. The connector main body 39Ga is integrally formed
with a linking member 36G of a first support end 37G, and the
connector main body 39Ha of a rotatable connector 39H is integrally
formed with a rotatable ring 32H in the O-shaped configuration.
[0052] FIG. 13 shows the main components of a tether mechanism
according to a ninth embodiment. A first support end 37J comprises
an engaging protrusion 36Jb that engages rotatably with a connector
main body 39Ja of a rotatable connector 39J, and a deformable
element 36Jc that is formed between the engaging protrusion 36Jb
and the linking member main body 36Ja.
[0053] (2) In the above embodiments, the second support end of the
linking member is mounted to the fuel supply lid 12, but the
present invention is not limited to this construction. The prevent
invention may be applied to a vehicle-side member (mounting member)
on the periphery of the fuel supply opening 16, such as the bottom
wall 11a of the recession 11, or any other member that does not
hinder the opening or closing of the fuel cap 20.
[0054] (3) While the above embodiments pertained to a fuel cap, the
present invention is not limited to a fuel cap, and may be applied
to any type of cap, such as an automobile radiator cap.
[0055] The foregoing detailed description of the invention has been
provided for the purpose of explaining the principles of the
invention and its practical application, thereby enabling others
skilled in the art to understand the invention for various
embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the
particular use contemplated. The foregoing detailed description is
not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the
precise embodiments disclosed. Modifications and equivalents will
be apparent to practitioners skilled in this art and are
encompassed within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *