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A safety interlock nozzle for use with a safety interlock mechanism is disclosed which comprises a base having an interlock contact surface at a first end and alternating tabs at a second end, a body having alternating tabs at a first end that mate with the alternating tabs of the base, a channel wi

A safety interlock nozzle for use with a safety interlock mechanism is disclosed which comprises a base having an interlock contact surface at a first end and alternating tabs at a second end, a body having alternating tabs at a first end that mate with the alternating tabs of the base, a channel within the body positioned at a second end, a ring clamp for connecting the tabs of the base to the tabs of the body, a splash guard having a first end for contacting with a filler neck housing and a second end having a slot formed therein, the second end capable of fitting within the channel of the second end of the body, and a spring for being captured within the channel in the body and the slot within the splash guard, the spring for connecting the splash guard to the body.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A safety interlock nozzle for use with a safety interlock mechanism comprising: a base having an interlock contact surface at a first end and alternating tabs at a second end, and said body is a straight body;a body having alternating tabs at a first end that mate with the alternating tabs of the

1. A safety interlock nozzle for use with a safety interlock mechanism comprising: a base having an interlock contact surface at a first end and alternating tabs at a second end, and said body is a straight body;a body having alternating tabs at a first end that mate with the alternating tabs of the base, a channel within the body positioned at a second end;a ring clamp for connecting the tabs of the base to the tabs of the body;a splash guard having a first end for contacting with a filler neck housing of a vehicle, a second end having an annular end formed therein, the second end capable of fitting within the channel of the second end of the body, and a spacer ring formed integrally within the second end for receiving a spout therethrough, said spout being maintained centrally within said body and said spacer ring when applied therein;said splash guard, the body, and the base are constructed of rigid material;a spring being captured within the channel in the body, said spring for connecting the splash guard to the body, and a lock means securing said splash guard to said body; andwherein said splash guard has a surface that provides a line of contact between the splash guard and the filler neck housing of the vehicle to be fueled. 2. The safety interlock nozzle of claim 1 wherein the splash guard exerts a force on the spring when the first end of the splash guard contacts the filler neck housing. 3. The safety interlock nozzle of claim 1 wherein the splash guard is capable of sliding into the body for biasing against the spring. 4. The safety interlock nozzle of claim 1 wherein the splash guard, the spacer ring, the body, and the base are constructed of plastic. 5. The safety interlock nozzle of claim 1 wherein the spring prevents the splash guard from rotating relative to the body. 6. The safety interlock nozzle of claim 1 wherein the spring prevents the splash guard from separating from the body. 7. A safety interlock nozzle incorporating a safety interlock mechanism comprising: a base having an interlock contact surface at a first end and alternating tabs at a second end;a body having alternating tabs at a first end that mate with the alternating tabs of the base, a channel within the body positioned at a second end, and said body is a straight body;a ring clamp for connected the tabs of the base to the tabs of the body;a splash guard having a first end for contacting with a filler neck housing of a vehicle, a second upper end having an annular end formed therein, the second end capable of fitting within the channel of the second end of the body, an exterior surface having an upper friction bearing surface and a lower friction bearing surface;a spring for being captured within the channel in the body and against the splash guard, the spring for connecting the splash guard to the body;said splash guard, the body, and the base are constructed of rigid plastic; andwherein said splash guard has a surface that provides a line of contact between the splash guard and the filler neck housing of the vehicle to thereby minimize the contact between the safety interlock nozzle and the vehicle and thereby lesson the force necessary to operate the assembly to less than five pounds of pressure. 8. The safety interlock nozzle of claim 7 wherein the upper friction bearing surface is a raised surface. 9. The safety interlock nozzle of claim 7 wherein the lower friction bearing surface is a raised surface. 10. The safety interlock nozzle of claim 7 wherein the spring prevents the splash guard from separating from the body. 11. The safety interlock nozzle of claim 7 wherein the nozzle is used to dispense fuel from a fuel storage tank into a fuel tank of a vehicle, the nozzle having an inlet end and a spout having an outlet end, said safety interlock mechanism provided within the nozzle for shutting off fuel flow when the safety interlock mechanism is actuated, and the interlock contact surface of said base provided for contacting the safety interlock mechanism. 12. A safety interlock nozzle for use with a safety interlock mechanism comprising: a base having an interlock contact surface at a first end and first connectors at a second end;a body having second connectors at a first end that mate with said first connectors of the base, a channel within the body positioned at a second end, and said body is a straight body;a fastener for securing the first connectors of the base to the second connectors of the body;a splash guard having a first end for contacting with a filler neck housing of a vehicle, a second end having a cylindrical form, the second end capable of fitting within the channel of the second end of the body;said splash guard, the body, and the base are constructed of rigid material; anda spring for being captured within the channel in the body and against the cylindrical form of the second end of the splash guard, the spring for connecting the splash guard to the body. 13. The safety interlock nozzle of claim 12 wherein the form of the second cylindrical end of the splash guard provides for a bayonet locking within the channel of the body. 14. A safety interlock nozzle incorporating a safety interlock mechanism comprising: a base, said base at its first end contacting the interlock mechanism;a body, said body having a first end and integrating with the base, and a channel provided within the body, and said body is a straight body;a splash guard having a first end for contacting with a filler neck housing of a vehicle, and a second end having an upper end formed thereat, the second end capable of fitting within the channel of the body;said splash guard, the body, and the base are constructed of rigid material; anda spring provided within the body channel and capable of connecting the splash guard to the body and to allow for axial shifting of the splash guard in said body. 15. The safety interlock nozzle of claim 14, wherein splash guard has a surface that provides a line of contact between the splash guard and the filler neck housing of the vehicle. 16. The safety interlock nozzle of claim 15, and including a spacer ring provided within the splash guard, said spacer ring provided for centering a nozzle spout therein, to assure that the splash guard retains proper alignment with any vehicle filler neck when the nozzle is inserted within the vehicle for a refueling. 17. The safety interlock nozzle of claim 16, wherein the body, the splash guard, and the spacer ring furnishes a line of contact between the splash guard and the filler neck of the vehicle when the safety interlock nozzle is inserted therein for refueling, and thereby reduces the amount of pressure necessary to shift the interlock mechanism for actuation of the safety interlock of the nozzle to provide for its fueling of the vehicle. 18. The safety interlock nozzle of claim 17, wherein the force required to compress the assembly during insertion of the safety interlock nozzle within the filler neck of the vehicle is less than 5 lbs. of force. 19. The safety interlock nozzle of claim 16, wherein said body having an approximate center line, and said splash guard, and said spacer ring provided for alignment with the center line of the channel provided within the body. 20. The safety interlock nozzle of claim 14, wherein said base also having a connecting device at a second end, the body having a connecting device at a first end that mates with the connecting device of the base, and a connector for securing the connecting device of the base to the connecting device of the body to secure the same together. 21. The safety interlock nozzle of claim 20, wherein said connector comprising a clamp ring, said clamp ring securing the connecting device of the base with the connecting device of the body, for securing said base and body together. 22. A safety interlock nozzle for use with a safety interlock mechanism: a base having an interlock contact surface at a first end and alternating tabs at a second end;a body having alternating tabs at a first end that mate with the alternating tabs of the base, a channel within the body positioned at a second end;a ring clamp for connecting the tabs of the base to the tabs of the body;a splash guard having a first end for contacting with a filler neck housing of a vehicle, and a second end having an upper end formed thereon, the second end capable of fitting within the channel of the second end of the body;a spring for being captured within the channel of the body and the second end of the splash guard, the spring for connecting the splash guard with the body;said body is straight;wherein the splash guard exerts a force of less than five pounds on the spring when the first end of the splash guard contacts the filler neck housing, for initiating actuation of the nozzle interlock;said splash guard is capable of sliding into the body for biasing against said spring;said splash guard, the body, and the base are constructed of rigid plastic;wherein when said nozzle spout is inserted within the fill pipe of the vehicle, said splash guard forms a single line of contact with the opening of the fill pipe and thereby minimizes the contact between the splash guard of the safety interlock nozzle and the vehicle in preparation for fuel dispensing. 23. The safety interlock nozzle of claim 22 wherein the spring prevents the splash guard from rotating relative to the body. 24. The safety interlock nozzle of claim 22 wherein the spring prevents the splash guard from separating from the body.