The present invention relates to a fuel cap that can be inserted into an open end of a fuel tank filler neck, and particularly, to a fuel cap that can be locked after insertion into the filler neck to prevent removal of the fuel cap from the filler neck. More particularly, the present invention relates to a lockable fuel cap having a key-operated lock cylinder that unlocks the fuel cap relative to the filler neck when a key is inserted into the lock cylinder and turned.
Fuel caps that couple to open ends of vehicle filler necks to close the open end of the filler neck are known. See for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,280,347 to Evans and 5,520,300 to Griffin. Some fuel caps have key-operated locking mechanisms that are operable to lock the fuel cap in the filler neck. During refueling of vehicles having key-operated locking mechanisms, a key is used to unlock the fuel cap allowing the fuel cap to be removed from the filler neck.
According to the present invention, a lockable fuel cap is provided for mounting in an open end of a vehicle filler neck. The fuel cap includes a closure member adapted to mate with the open end of the vehicle filler neck. The closure member is formed to include an interior region and a drive tooth positioned to lie in the interior region. The lockable fuel cap also includes a removal hub positioned to lie within the interior region of the closure member. The removal hub is formed to include a drive lug and is movable between a locking position in which the drive lug is spaced apart from the drive tooth of the closure member and a releasing position in which the drive lug engages the drive tooth. The lockable fuel cap further includes an outer shell having an interior wall. The interior wall of the outer shell defines a guide slot for receiving the drive lug of the removal hub in order to guide the movement of the removal hub between the locking and releasing positions. The outer shell is also rotatable relative to the closure member while being drivingly coupled to the removal hub so that the closure member remains stationary upon rotation of the outer shell in a cap-removal direction when the drive lug of the removal hub is in the locking position. Alternately, the closure member rotates in the cap-removal direction upon rotation of the outer shell in the cap-removal direction when the drive lug is in the releasing position.
In preferred embodiments, the removal hub includes an arcuate front wall and an arcuate rear wall. The arcuate front and rear walls are spaced apart such that an inner region is defined therebetween. The guide slot of the removal hub is formed in the front wall. The fuel cap of the present invention further comprises a lock cylinder rotatable relative to the outer shell. The lock cylinder includes a throw member being positioned to lie within the inner region of the removal hub. The removal hub additionally includes a drive post such that during rotation of the lock cylinder to move the removal hub from the locking position to the releasing position, the throw member engages the drive post.
Further, the lockable fuel cap includes an installation hub drivingly coupled to the outer shell to transmit rotation of the outer shell in a cap-installation direction to the closure member. The installation hub includes a ring and a driven portion extending upwardly from the ring and into a cavity formed within the outer shell. The installation hub further includes flexible fingers appended to the ring and coupled to a torque-override ring that has radial drive teeth. The torque override ring is coupled to the closure member so that continued rotation of the outer shell in a cap installation direction after the closure member is adequately sealed within the filler neck, results in continued rotation of the installation hub and the torque-override ring without continued rotation of the closure member.
Additional features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.