FUEL CAP SAFETY DEVICE

Abstract

Fuel safety cap device (1) adaptable to a fuel tank inlet (0) to protect against fuel theft, consisting of a part of a cap comprising: a) in its upper part, a location (13) provided with holes in order to sound an audible alarm from said device, a battery housing (12) of said device (1) and a visual alarm (14) of the LED light-emitting diode type in order to inform of the attempted fuel theft or the low battery level of said device, and b) in its lower part, two switches (16a), (16b) in order to come into contact with the inlet of said tank (0), a pairing button (15) and a foot (17) surrounding said pairing button (15) and adaptable to the inlet of said tank (0);on the other hand, a paired key (4) to the cap comprising a visual alarm (44), a button (41) for pairing said key to the cap or for deactivating the audible alarm, characterized in that placing the cap on the inlet of the tank (0) activates the safety of said device (1), that said key (4) makes it possible to deactivate the safety of said device and that manipulation of the cap without deactivating the safety from said key (4), triggers the audible alarm, the visual alarm (14) of the cap and the visual alarm (44) of said key. Figure for the abstract: [Fig.1];

Description

Title of the invention: SAFETY DEVICE FOR FUEL CAP FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to devices adaptable to a fuel tank inlet to ensure its security, in particular to protect against fuel theft.

[0002] The present invention aims in particular to constitute a fuel cap fixed on the inlet of the fuel tank provided with a visual and audible alarm function controlled by a key. STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

[0003] Fuel tank securing devices are known, such as those in patent applications CN112297833 or CN210027030.

[0004] None of the existing devices allow the security of the device to be activated when the device is placed on the entrance to the tank to be secured, nor to trigger an alarm at the slightest manipulation of the device by a third party, nor to deactivate the device using a paired key, nor to guarantee sufficient sealing of the device. Summary of the invention

[0005] The invention aims to overcome at least some of the aforementioned drawbacks and to propose a fuel tank cap device adaptable to a fuel tank inlet to protect against fuel theft, consisting of, on the one hand, a cap comprising: in its upper part, a location provided with holes in order to sound an audible alarm from said device, a battery housing for said device and a visual alarm of the LED light-emitting diode type in order to inform of the attempted fuel theft or the low battery level of said device, and in its lower part, two switches in order to come into contact with the inlet of said tank, a pairing button and a foot surrounding said pairing button and adaptable to the inlet of said tank;on the other hand, a key paired with the cap comprising a visual alarm, a button for pairing said key with the cap or for deactivating the audible alarm, characterized in that placing the cap on the inlet of the tank activates the security of said device, that said key makes it possible to deactivate the security of said device and that manipulation of the cap without deactivating the security from said key triggers the audible alarm, the visual alarm of the cap and the visual alarm of said key.;

[0006] Thus the device makes it possible to activate the safety of the fuel tank as soon as it is placed on the tank inlet and to deactivate it following the pressing of the button of a previously paired key.

[0007] Preferably, the cap audible alarm is triggered following the disconnection of said switches from the tank inlet.

[0008] Thus, the triggering of a visual and audible alarm is activated as soon as a third person handles the device.

[0009] Preferably, a paired key is provided with a key ring type attachment.

[0010] Preferably, the pairing of the cap and the associated key is carried out using a simultaneous pressing of the pairing button on the cap and the pairing button on the key.

[0011] Preferably, the battery housing of the cap is secured in the upper portion of the cap by a screw.

[0012] Preferably, the diameter of the foot of said device is 45 millimeters, the diameter of the upper part of said device is 73 millimeters and the height of the cap of said device is 55 millimeters.

[0013] Preferably, a 100 dB (decibel) piezo sound alarm box provided on its surface with a silicon sheet protects a component receiving radio frequency signals from the paired key in order to deactivate the cap alarm and an electronic microcontroller using a screw.

[0014] Preferably, the paired key is provided with a flap under which a button cell type battery can be housed.

[0015] Preferably, the electronic components of the paired key allow the sending of radio frequency signals to the fuel safety cap.

[0016] Preferably, the key can only be paired with a maximum of one cap and a cap can be paired with more than one key at a given time.

[0017] The invention is capable of combining advantages of safety, ease and adaptability of installation on any type of fuel tank and portability for the user thanks to the paired key, simplicity and reliability for its implementation.

[0018] The invention is advantageous for the driver of the vehicle by allowing him to be quickly informed remotely in the event of an attempted fuel theft by a third party.

[0019] The invention is also advantageous for the driver of the vehicle by allowing him to control the energy consumption of the cap. Indeed, the driver activates and deactivates the safety function inherent in the visual and audible alarm requiring the use of the battery of the cap device. Thus the driver of the vehicle influences the level of the batteries of the device according to his frequency of activation of the device.

[0020] Also, the short distance communications system between the cap and its key allows to reduce the energy consumption of the entire device.

[0021] The system of the invention is designed to be fixed on the fuel tank inlet. Brief description of the drawings

[0022] The invention will be better understood from a detailed study of some embodiments taken as non-limiting examples and illustrated by the appended drawings, in which:

[0023] [Fig-1] shows the fuel safety cap device as fixed on the fuel tank inlet and provided with a paired key seen from above according to the invention.

[0024] [Fig.2] shows a bottom view of the fuel safety cap device.

[0025] [Fig.3] shows a top view of the fuel safety cap device.

[0026] [Fig.4] shows an interior view of the fuel safety cap device.

[0027] [Fig.5] shows a bottom view of the fuel safety cap paired key.

[0028] [Fig.6] shows an interior view of the fuel safety cap paired key. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0029] [Fig. 1] illustrates an embodiment of the fuel safety cap device as attached to the fuel tank inlet and provided with a paired key viewed from above according to the invention.

[0030] The fuel safety cap device 1 allows a driver of a vehicle whose tank is equipped with the device to protect himself against fuel theft. The fuel safety cap device 1 allows for direct installation on the inlet of the tank 0. The lower part, not visible in [Fig.l], of the fuel safety cap device 1 is in contact with the internal wall of the tank 0.

[0031] [Fig.l] shows a fuel safety cap device 1 according to the invention, which comprises a location 13 provided with holes in order to sound an audible alarm from the device, a housing 12 for the battery of the device 1 and a visual alarm 14 of the LED light-emitting diode type making it possible to inform the driver of the vehicle of the attempted fuel theft or the low battery level of the device 1.

[0032] The fuel is secured as soon as the device 1 is fixed to the fuel tank inlet.

[0033] A key 4 previously paired with device 1 makes it possible to deactivate said fuel safety device 1. The key 4 is provided with a visual alarm 44 of the light-emitting diode (LED) type which, when the visual alarm is not activated because the tank is secured, makes it possible to inform the driver of the vehicle of the low battery level of the key 4. The key 4 is provided with a button 41 in order to deactivate the alarm of the device 1 by sending the radiofrequency signal to the device 1. The key 4 is provided with a clip 45 of the key ring type.

[0034] [Fig.2] shows a bottom view of the fuel safety cap device.

[0035] The fuel safety cap device 1 according to the invention comprises at the base of its cap two switches 16a and 16b which are in contact with the inlet of the fuel tank. When the fuel safety cap device 1 is manipulated by a third person, the switches become detached from the inlet of the fuel tank and thus the alarm of the fuel safety cap device 1 is triggered.

[0036] The foot 17 of the fuel safety cap device 1 allows adaptation to various types of fuel tanks. The foot 17 is provided in its center with a pairing button 15 which is kept pressed at the same time as the button 41 of the key of the fuel safety cap device 1 as described in [Fig.l] in order to carry out the pairing.

[0037] [Fig.3] shows a top view of the fuel safety cap device.

[0038] The fuel safety cap device 1 is provided with a housing 12 for the battery of the device 1. This housing 12 is fixed to the cap of the device 1 by a screw 21 screwable into a hole 22 of the housing 12 and a hole 23 of the cap of the device 1. The battery of the device 1 not shown is housed in the location 32 under the housing 12. A positive terminal 31 in contact with the battery of the device 1 allows the device 1 to use the energy of the battery. The screw 21 makes it possible to prevent the battery from being extracted from the device 1 in order to deactivate the alarm of the device 1.

[0039] Preferably, the battery of the device 1 is a button cell.

[0040] The foot of the fuel safety cap device 1 with a diameter of 27 may be 45 millimeters. The cap of the fuel safety cap device 1 with a diameter of 28 may be 73 millimeters. The fuel safety cap device 1 with a height of 26 including the height of the cap and the foot may be 55 millimeters.

[0041] [Fig.4] shows an interior view of the safety cap device of fuel.

[0042] The fuel safety cap device 1 comprises a cap 53 and a base 52 above the foot of the fuel safety cap device 1. The 100 dB piezo sound alarm housing 51 is provided on its surface with a silicon sheet 50. A silicone gasket ensures that the fuel safety cap device 1 is waterproof.

[0043] The base 52 of the fuel safety cap device 1 comprises an electronic microcontroller 523 in order to control the signals received by the fuel safety cap device 1. The component 522 receives radio frequency signals from the key paired with the fuel safety cap device 1 in order to deactivate the alarm of said device.

[0044] Base 52 is an injection-molded plastic outer case and serves to protect components 522 and 523.

[0045] A screw 511 fixing the housing 51 to the base 52 makes it possible to protect the electronic components contained in the base 52 of the fuel safety cap device 1 as well as the alarm of said device 1 from water and dust.

[0046] [Fig.5] shows a bottom view of the paired key of the safety cap of fuel.

[0047] A key 4 previously paired with the device 1 makes it possible to activate and deactivate said device. The key 4 is provided with a flap 42 under which a button cell type battery can be housed at 43. The key 4 is provided with a key ring type attachment 45.

[0048] [Fig.6] represents an interior view of the paired key of the safety cap of fuel.

[0049] [Fig.6] represents the upper part 55 and the lower part 54 of the key 4 paired with the fuel safety cap device 1. The upper part 55 includes the button 541 actuated following the user pressing the button 41 in order to deactivate the fuel safety cap device 1. Thus, the action on the button 541 triggers the sending by the electronic components 542 and 543 of radio frequency signals to the fuel safety cap 1. An RFID chip not shown in the Figure and included in the set of electronic components, ensures that the key can only deactivate the fuel cap with which it is paired. Indeed, a key cannot be paired with more than one fuel safety cap device 1 because it would not be able to send two consecutive deactivation requests to two fuel safety caps 1 in order to reduce the design complexity of the components of the key 4.On the other hand, the owner of a given fuel cap device 1 may have paired more than one key in case he misplaces one of the keys.

Claims

Claims

1. Fuel safety cap device (1) adaptable to a fuel tank inlet (0) to protect against fuel theft, consisting of a part of a cap comprising: a) in its upper part, a location (13) provided with holes in order to sound an audible alarm from said device, a battery housing (12) for said device (1) and a visual alarm (14) of the LED light-emitting diode type in order to inform of the attempted fuel theft or the low battery level of said device, and b) in its lower part, two switches (16a), (16b) in order to contact the inlet of said tank (0), a pairing button (15) and a foot (17) surrounding said pairing button (15) and adaptable to the inlet of said tank (0);on the other hand, a paired key (4) to the cap comprising a visual alarm (44), a button (41) for pairing said key to the cap or for deactivating the audible alarm, characterized in that placing the cap on the inlet of the tank (0) activates the safety of said device (1), that said key (4) makes it possible to deactivate the safety of said device and that manipulation of the cap without deactivating the safety from said key (4), triggers the audible alarm, the visual alarm (14) of the cap and the visual alarm (44) of said key (4).;

2. Fuel safety cap device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the audible alarm is triggered following the disengagement of said switches (16a), (16b) from the tank inlet (0).

3. A fuel safety cap device (1) according to claim 1, wherein said key (4) is provided with a key ring type attachment.

4. Fuel safety cap device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the pairing of the cap and said associated key is carried out by means of a simultaneous pressing of said pairing button (15) of the cap and said button (41) of said key.

5. A fuel safety cap device (1) according to claim 1, wherein said battery housing (12) is fixed in the upper part of said device by a screw (21).

6. Fuel safety cap device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the diameter (27) of the foot (17) of said device is 45 millimeters, the diameter (28) of the upper part of said device is 73 millimeters and the height (26) of the cap of said device is 55 millimeters.

7. A fuel safety cap device (1) according to claim 1, wherein a 100 dB piezo sound alarm box (51) provided on its surface with a silicon sheet (50) shields a component (522) receiving radio frequency signals from said key (4) to deactivate said cap alarm and an electronic microcontroller (523) using a screw (511).

8. A fuel safety cap device (1) according to claim 1, wherein said key (4) is provided with a flap (42) under which a button cell type battery can be housed in a housing (43).

9. Fuel safety cap device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electronic components (542), (543) of said key (4) allow the sending of radio frequency signals to the fuel safety cap (1).

10. A fuel safety cap device (1) according to claim 1, wherein said key (4) can be paired with at most one cap and a cap can be paired with more than one key (4) at a given time.

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