초록 ▼

A fuel cap has an anti-splash attachment which includes an outer splash-back baffle, an inner foam plug element and a retainer post which supports the outer baffle and inner plug element and tethers them by a releasable snap-on connection to an inner baffle-supporting stem of the fuel cap. The inner

A fuel cap has an anti-splash attachment which includes an outer splash-back baffle, an inner foam plug element and a retainer post which supports the outer baffle and inner plug element and tethers them by a releasable snap-on connection to an inner baffle-supporting stem of the fuel cap. The inner plug element when substantially dry is in a contracted state wherein it is smaller in diameter than the inside diameter of the fuel tank filler neck to which the fuel cap is applied. An annular gap is then present between the exterior side surface of the plug element and the interior surface of the filler neck, making it easy to insert and withdraw the fuel cap with the anti-splash attachment thereon into and from the filler neck. However, once the inner plug element becomes wetted and soaked by splashing liquid fuel, it expands to completely fill a cross-sectional region of the filler neck, closing the annular gap and blocking passage of any liquid fuel past the inner plug element while still allowing passage of vapors due to the porous open-cell nature of its material. The anit-splash attachement can be provided as a separate subassembly allowing retrofitting to pre-existing fuel caps or replacement should the inner plug element wear out over time.

대표청구항 ▼

In a fuel cap having a cup-shaped body removeably attached to an end portion of a filler neck of a fuel tank, said fuel cap also having a central stem attached at one end to the interior of said body and extending axially therethrough to an opposite end having a connector element defined thereon, an

In a fuel cap having a cup-shaped body removeably attached to an end portion of a filler neck of a fuel tank, said fuel cap also having a central stem attached at one end to the interior of said body and extending axially therethrough to an opposite end having a connector element defined thereon, and an inner baffle supported by said stem and having a peripheral edge spaced inwardly from the interior of the filler neck end portion to define an inner annular space through which liquid fuel when splashed in the fuel tank can migrate upwardly past said inner baffle, an anti-splash attachment comprising: an outer splash-back baffle located in the filler neck end portion in spaced relation below said inner baffle, said outer baffle having a peripheral edge spaced inwardly from the interior of the filler neck end portion to define an outer annular space axially spaced from said inner annular space and through which liquid fuel when splashed in the fuel tank can migrate upwardly past said outer baffle; a gas permeable foam plug element located in the filler neck end portion between said inner and outer baffles; and a retainer post supporting said outer baffle and said plug element and having defined on an inner end a complementary connector element for connecting said post to said connector element on said stem and thereby tethering said outer baffle and said plug element from said stem.