Filler Neck Closure

Abstract

The invention relates to a closure engageable with a filler neck having an opening and a seal seat disposed axially facing said closure, the closure having a cup-shaped body having a top and a peripheral wall, a seal for contacting the seal seat, and releasable fastening elements interacting with the filler neck. At least two fastening elements are arranged circumferentially to extend axially from the peripheral wall. Each fastening element is arranged to engage with a corresponding lock surface located on the outer periphery of the filler neck remote from and facing away from the central axis of the opening.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The invention relates to a filler neck closure provided with snap-on attachments for locking the closure in place. This allows the closure to be pushed straight onto the filler neck. The closure is removed by tilting and pulling a fixed grip on the closure to release the snap-on attachments. The invention is primarily intended for use on vehicles.BACKGROUND[0002]Commonly a filler neck includes closures or caps with a threaded connection or bayonet connection. Both connections suffer problems relating to relatively high friction forces when twisting the closure to remove it prior to refilling. The problem is usually caused by a seal made from rubber or a similar material being compressed to seal against a mouth surrounding the opening of the filler neck. Overcoming the friction between the contacting surfaces of the seal and the mouth may require significant force.[0003]The above problem may be compounded by the seal sticking to the mouth of the filler neck, ther...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]In another embodiment, the fastening elements are arranged asymmetrically around the periphery of the peripheral wall. According to one example, a closure with three fastening elements may have a first element on one side of the closure and a second and third element on the other side of the closure. The latter elements may be located at equal angles relative to a bisector created by a diametric line intersecting the first element. Hence if the second and third elements are located at angles up to 50° relative to the bisector, the angle between the first element and an adjacent element on either side is less than 130°. Alternatively, the angles between each subsequent fastening element may be different, such as 90° / 120° / 150° for a closure with three elements. This allows the user to attach the closure onto the filler neck in a single position only where each of the fastening elements may mesh with a corresponding guide surface in a peripheral edge surrounding the opening. This may be used when the relative position of the closure and the filler neck facilitates an ergonomic grip for the user. In addition, an indexed closure may be used for conveying important or required information about the closure, the substance to be filled, etc to the user.

[0012]The contact surfaces are angled relative to the outer periphery of the filler neck so that a plane in the main direction of each contact surface is angled so that it diverges from a central axis of the filler neck in the direction of the opening. The protrusion or recess in the outer surface of the filler neck has a shape that substantially conforms to a corresponding contact surface, so that the contact surface on a fastening element can mate with a corresponding locking surface on the protrusion or recess when the closure is mounted on the filler neck. Each contact surface may have a substantially flat surface, although at least a part of the surface may also have a predetermined curvature in a radial plane through the closure. For instance, a first section of the contact surfaces adjacent the base of a resilient tongue may have a substantially flat surface angled so that it diverges from a central axis of the filler neck in the direction of the opening. A second section may be substantially J-shaped, curving downwards and inwards, towards a radial plane through the filler neck. This second section may be relatively short and can cooperate with a similarly curved section of the corresponding locking surface to achieve a more secure locking of the closure onto the filler neck.

[0013]The closure may have at least one guide interacting with the filler neck for locating the closure relative to the filler neck. According to one example, the fastening elements are arranged to act as guides, interacting with corresponding recesses or protrusions. Alternatively, the closure and the filler neck are provided with separate guides and corresponding guide surfaces to facilitate the user in indexing the closure prior to mounting.

[0014]When mounting the closure, it is lined up relative to the filler neck before being moved towards said filler neck. The resilient tongues making up the fastening elements are forced radially outwards when contacting locking surfaces on the filler neck. To facilitate this displacement of the resilient tongues, an inner surface of the tip of each resilient tongue may be beveled so that the innermost surface at the tip is located radially inside an outermost surface of the locking surfaces at the periphery of the filler neck adjacent the opening. As the seal on the closure comes into contact with the seal seat around the opening of the filler neck, the resilient tongues will substantially simultaneously snap into contact with locking surfaces on their respective protrusion or recess. The angle and / or the shape of the cooperating surfaces of the mating contact and locking surfaces, in combination with a continued radial deformation of the resilient tongues, will provide a sufficient force for retaining the closure in place on the filler neck.

[0017]The seal provided in the closure may be an annular flat seal made of a resilient material, such as rubber. The type of material used in the seal is selected so that it is suitable for exposure to the liquid filled into the filler neck. The flat annular seal is arranged for cooperating contact with the seal seat facing the closure. To reduce the risk of the seal sticking to the seal seat, the seat may be provided with a raised circumferential ridge on its upper surface. When the seal is pressed against the seal seat during mounting of the closure, the ridge will be forced into the facing surface of the seal. The local compression of the seal caused by the ridge may assist in maintaining a tight and leak proof seal, as well as assisting in pushing the closure away from the seal seat when the closure is opened.

[0018]The filler neck and its closure as described above are particularly suited for use in a vehicle. For example, an internal-combustion engine having an oil filler neck provided with an oil filler opening may be provided with a closure according to the invention. In the case of an oil filler closure the invention allows a conventional O-ring to be replaced by a flat, annular seal and significantly reduces the force required to remove the closure.

Problems solved by technology

Both connections suffer problems relating to relatively high friction forces when twisting the closure to remove it prior to refilling.

The problem is usually caused by a seal made from rubber or a similar material being compressed to seal against a mouth surrounding the opening of the filler neck.

Overcoming the friction between the contacting surfaces of the seal and the mouth may require significant force.

The above problem may be compounded by the seal sticking to the mouth of the filler neck, thereby increasing the required force to overcome the friction between the contacting surfaces.

If the friction force is too high, a tool may be required to remove the closure, which may damage the cap.

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