Fuel tank cap.
The tank cap addresses the vulnerability of existing fuel tank caps to fraudulent opening by incorporating a removable and interchangeable anti-theft nut system, enhancing security and reducing fuel theft risks.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2022014613
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2022-12-28
- Publication Date
- 2025-04-11
- Estimated Expiration
- 2042-12-28
AI Technical Summary
Existing fuel tank caps are vulnerable to fraudulent opening and fuel theft, as they can be easily hooked or forced open using common tools.
A tank cap with a removable and interchangeable anti-theft nut, secured by fixing means accessible from the lower part of the main body but not from the upper surface, which requires a specific unlocking key for rotation and access.
The solution significantly reduces the risk of fuel theft and loss by making it extremely difficult to force open the cap without the correct key, while maintaining compatibility with various tank designs.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Fuel cap. Technical field
[0001] The present invention relates to a tank cap, preferably a fuel tank cap, preferably for any type of vehicle such as car, truck, boat, etc. or apparatus or device equipped with a fuel tank.
[0002] Such a cap allows a user to reduce the risks of fraudulent opening of the tank and fuel theft. State of the prior art
[0003] Fuel tank caps according to the state of the art are known, for example on motor vehicles.
[0004] However, certain techniques exist to open these tanks and steal the fuel: - Lock picking in the case of a tank closed by a lock corresponding to the vehicle's ignition key, - Forcing the cap by leveraging with a screwdriver, - Etc.
[0005] The aim of the present invention is to provide a more secure fuel cap, preferably in order to reduce the risks of fuel theft. Statement of the invention
[0006] This objective is achieved with a fuel cap, comprising: - a main body, comprising a lower part arranged to be inserted into a tank, and an upper surface arranged to be accessible from outside the tank when the lower part is inserted into a tank, - an anti-theft nut, arranged inside a cavity formed on the upper surface of the main body, so that this anti-theft nut can be accessed by an unlocking key corresponding to the anti-theft nut from the upper surface so that a rotation of the anti-theft nut causes a rotation of the main part,
[0007] characterized in that the anti-theft nut is removable and interchangeable with different anti-theft nuts corresponding to different unlocking keys, the cap further comprising means for fixing the anti-theft nut in the main body, these fixing means being arranged to be accessible from the lower part of the main body but not from the upper surface of the main body.
[0008] Preferably: - the anti-theft nut comprises at least one hole preferably passing right through it, - the lower part of the main body comprises at least one hole preferably passing right through it, - the fixing means comprise at least one rod driven or arranged to be driven simultaneously into the at least one hole in the anti-theft nut and the at least one hole in the lower part of the main body.
[0009] The lower part of the main body may comprise two locking rings (or at least two locking rings) preferably diametrically opposed (two by two) with respect to an axis of revolution of a substantially cylindrical shape of the lower part of the main body. Each locking ring may be carried by a rod; the lower part of the main body may comprise, for each locking ring, a hole arranged to receive the rod carrying said locking ring. The lower part of the main body may comprise, for each locking ring, a series of several holes arranged to each receive the rod carrying said locking ring so that each hole of a series of holes corresponds to a possible level of the locking ring.
[0010] The upper surface may be carried by an upper part of the main body distinct from the lower part, the cap being arranged so that, when the lower part is fully inserted into a reservoir, the upper part projects from the reservoir by a thickness of less than 5 mm.
[0011] The cap may be arranged so that, when the lower portion is fully inserted into a tank, the cap does not include any cavity accessible from outside the tank for inserting a tool other than the anti-theft nut.
[0012] According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a kit comprising: - a stopper according to the invention, and - the unlocking key corresponding to the anti-theft nut of the cap.
[0013] According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a kit comprising: - a cap according to the invention, - a plurality of different interchangeable anti-theft nuts within the cavity formed on the upper surface of the main body, and - the different unlocking keys corresponding to the different anti-theft nuts. Description of figures and embodiments
[0014] Other advantages and particularities of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description of implementations and embodiments which are in no way limiting, and the following appended drawings:
[0015] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] illustrates a wireframe and exploded view of the different elements (the lines in dotted lines illustrating contours visible if all the elements were transparent) composing a first embodiment of cap 1 according to the invention (which is the preferred embodiment of the invention,) and of the corresponding key 6 of a first embodiment of kit according to the invention,
[0016] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] a wireframe and perspective view of this first embodiment of cap 1 according to the invention with its various assembled elements (the dotted lines illustrating contours visible if all the elements were transparent),
[0017] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] a perspective view of this first embodiment of cap 1 according to the invention with its various assembled elements,
[0018] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] a perspective view of this first embodiment of cap 1 according to the invention being inserted into a fuel tank 6, and
[0019] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] a perspective view of this first embodiment of cap 1 according to the invention after total insertion of its lower part 21 into a fuel tank 6.
[0020] This embodiment being in no way limiting, it will be possible in particular to consider variants of the invention comprising only a selection of characteristics described or illustrated subsequently isolated from the other characteristics described or illustrated (even if this selection is isolated within a sentence comprising these other characteristics), if this selection of characteristics is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention compared to the state of the prior art. This selection comprises at least one preferably functional characteristic without structural details, and / or with only a part of the structural details if this part alone is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention compared to the state of the prior art.
[0021] We will first describe, with reference to Figures 1 to 5, a first embodiment of plug 1 according to the invention.
[0022] The tank cap (1) comprises: - a main body (2), comprising a lower part (21) arranged to be inserted into a tank (3), and an upper surface (22) arranged to be accessible from outside the tank (3) when the lower part (21) is inserted into a tank (3), - an anti-theft nut (4), arranged inside a cavity (5) formed on the upper surface (22) of the main body (2), so that this anti-theft nut (4) can be accessed by an unlocking key (6) corresponding to the anti-theft nut (4) from the upper surface (22) so that a rotation of the anti-theft nut (4) causes a rotation of the main part (2).
[0023] By “push” or “insert” into the reservoir 3, we mean in the present description to push or insert into an access and / or filling hole of said tank 3.
[0024] The tank 3 is preferably a fuel tank, preferably for any type of vehicle such as car, truck, boat, etc. or apparatus or device equipped with a preferably fuel tank.
[0025] The main body 2 is preferably made of aluminum.
[0026] All other elements of the cap 1 (nut 4, rods 71, 81, rings 8, etc.) and the rest of the kit (key 6, etc.) are preferably made of steel.
[0027] The lower part 21 has a cylindrical shape with an axis of revolution 9, and a diameter typically: - of or approximately 100mm in diameter for a heavy goods vehicle fuel tank cap (truck, etc.), or - of or approximately 50mm in diameter for a fuel tank cap of a light vehicle (car, etc.).
[0028] The anti-theft nut (4) is removable and interchangeable with different anti-theft nuts corresponding to different unlocking keys, the cap (1) further comprising means (7) for fixing the anti-theft nut (4) in the main body (2), these fixing means (7) being arranged to be accessible from the lower part (21) of the main body (2) but not from the upper surface (22) of the main body (2), so that the nut 4 cannot be removed from the main body 2 when the lower part 21 of the main body 2 is fully inserted into the tank 3.
[0029] The anti-theft nut (4) comprises at least one hole (73) preferably passing right through it.
[0030] The lower part (21) of the main body (2) comprises at least one hole (72) preferably passing right through it.
[0031] The fixing means (7) comprise at least one rod (71) driven or arranged to be driven simultaneously into the at least one hole (73) of the anti-theft nut (4) and the at least one hole (72) of the lower part (21) of the main body (2).
[0032] The lower part (21) of the main body (2) comprises at least two locking rings (8) preferably diametrically opposed with respect to an axis of revolution (9) of a substantially cylindrical shape of the lower part (21) of the main body (2).
[0033] Each locking ring (8) is carried by a rod (81), the lower part (21) of the main body (2) comprising, for each locking ring (8), a hole (82) arranged to receive the rod (81) carrying said locking ring (8).
[0034] To fit the cap 1 into a tank 3: - the cap 1 is inserted into an orifice of the tank 3, so that the rings 8 slide along grooves 10 of the reservoir 3 parallel to the direction of insertion of the cap 1 into the reservoir (as illustrated in [Fig.4]), until the lower part 21 is completely inserted into the reservoir 3 (as illustrated in [Fig.5]), then - to lock the cap 1 in the tank 3, the key 6 is inserted into the nut 4, and the key 6 is turned in a locking rotation direction 12 so as to turn the nut 4, the main body 2, the cap 1 (as well as the rings 8 in a groove 11) in this direction 12 and thus lock the cap 1 in the tank 3, then - to unlock the cap 1 of the tank 3, the key 6 is inserted into the nut 4, and the key 6 is turned in an unlocking rotation direction 13 so as to turn the nut 4, the main body 2, the cap 1 (as well as the rings 8 in the groove 11) in this direction 13 and thus unlock the cap 1 of the tank 3.
[0035] The lower part (21) of the main body (2) comprises, for each locking ring (8), a series of several holes (811, 812, 813, 814, 815, 816) arranged to each receive the rod (81) carrying said locking ring (8) so that each hole (811, 812, 813, 814, 815, 816) of a series of holes corresponds to a possible level of the locking ring (8) corresponding to a possible depth of the groove (11) of the reservoir (3) in which said locking ring (8) is arranged to be inserted and pivoted, said different holes (811, 812, 813, 814, 815, 816, illustrated schematically by dotted lines in [Fig. 3] and absent from the other figures by representing therein that the hole 81 so as not to overload these other figures) with a series of holes thus allowing adaptability of the cap 1 to different models of tanks 3 having different depths of the groove 11.
[0036] The upper surface (22) is carried by an upper part of the main body (2) distinct from the lower part (21), the cap (1) being arranged so that, when the lower part (21) is fully inserted into a reservoir (3), the upper part protrudes from the reservoir (3) by a thickness (d):
[0037] - less than 5 mm, or even less than 3 mm and / or
[0038] - greater than 2mm.
[0039] In a particular case, this thickness (d) may be zero.
[0040] It is therefore not possible to leverage the cap 1 to force it.
[0041] The cap (1) is arranged so that, when the lower part (21) is fully inserted into a tank (3), the cap does not include any cavity accessible from outside the tank (3) for inserting a tool other than the anti-theft nut (4).
[0042] Thus, the cap 1 makes it possible to completely replace a fuel cap on a light and heavy vehicle type.
[0043] The cap 1 is an aluminum security system (main body 2) equipped with a locking / unlocking system 4, 6 made of steel, of the single-bore automobile anti-theft nut type, the particularity of which is to be of an extra-flat shape (d less than 5mm) and the purpose of which is to perfectly fit the filling orifice of a fuel tank 3 (typical thickness of 2 to 5mm maximum). In itself, this particular shape therefore does not allow any tool (type pliers, screwdriver, etc.) to claim a gripping area in order to be able to force, when it is locked, the unlocking of the system without its single-bore key 6.
[0044] The aluminum body 2 and the steel lock 4 make the system very rigid, resistant and difficult to access.
[0045] The 4 nut / 6 key combination creates a single-digit security feature that is much more reliable than a cap locked by an ignition key or padlock system.
[0046] The cap 1 acts as a real cap that can be removed completely once unlocked. This means that the parameters defined by the manufacturer of the vehicle concerned do not need to be modified (no drilling on the tank 3, no need to add additional fixings, etc.).
[0047] The cap 1, once completely assembled, represents only one piece.
[0048] Cap 1 allows rapid disassembly / reassembly (typically less than 5 minutes)
[0049] The interchangeability of the anti-theft nut 4 allows customization of the security of the cap 1.
[0050] The stopper 1 can be found or marketed in different kit forms, for example: - A kit including: • the cap (1), and • the unlocking key (6) corresponding to the anti-theft nut (4) of the cap. - A kit including: • the cap (1), • a plurality of different interchangeable anti-theft nuts (4) within the cavity (5) formed on the upper surface (22) of the main body (2), and • the different unlocking keys (6) corresponding to the different anti-theft nuts (4).
[0051] With reference to [Fig. 1], each key 6 typically comprises a “male” part 61 having a “male” imprint corresponding to the “female” imprint of the nut 4 to which it is associated or it corresponds.
[0052] This male part 61 is pierced right through by a hole 63 into which a rod 62 is inserted.
[0053] Different nuts 4 differ in that their “female” indentations differ.
[0054] Different keys 6 differ in that their “male” imprints differ.
[0055] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described and Many adjustments can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention.
[0056] For example, in variants of the first embodiment previously described: - the rings 8 are welded to the lower part 21, or - the rods 81 are made of plastic instead of being made of steel and / or the body 2 does not includes only one hole 81 per ring 8 instead of a series of holes 811, 812, 813, 814, 815, 816.
[0057] Of course, the various characteristics, forms, variants and embodiments of the invention can be combined with each other in various combinations to the extent that they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, all the variants and embodiments described above can be combined with each other.
Claims
1.
2.
3. Claims Fuel cap (1), comprising: - a main body (2), comprising a lower part (21) arranged to be inserted into a tank (3) and an upper surface (22) arranged to be accessible from outside the tank (3) when the lower part (21) is inserted into a tank (3), - an anti-theft nut (4), arranged inside a cavity (5) formed on the upper surface (22) of the main body (2), so that this anti-theft nut (4) can be accessed by an unlocking key (6) corresponding to the anti-theft nut (4) from the upper surface (22) so that a rotation of the anti-theft nut (4) causes a rotation of the main part (2), characterized in that the anti-theft nut (4) is removable and interchangeable with different anti-theft nuts corresponding to different unlocking keys, the cap (1) further comprising means of fixing (7) of the anti-theft nut (4) in the main body (2), these fixing means (7) being arranged to be accessible from the lower part (21) of the main body (2) but not from the upper surface (22) of the main body (2). Stopper according to claim 1, characterized in that: - the anti-theft nut (4) comprises at least one hole (73) preferably passing right through it, - the lower part (21) of the main body (2) comprises at least one hole (72) preferably passing right through it, - the fixing means (7) comprise at least one rod (71) driven or arranged to be driven simultaneously into the at least one hole (73) of the anti-theft nut (4) and the at least one hole (72) of the lower part (21) of the main body (2). Stopper according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the lower part (21) of the main body (2) comprises at least two locking rings (8) preferably diametrically opposed with respect to an axis of revolution (9) of a substantially cylindrical shape of the part lower (21) of the main body (2).
4. Stopper according to claim 3, characterized in that each locking ring (8) is carried by a rod (81), the lower part (21) of the main body (2) comprising, for each locking ring (8), a hole (82) arranged to receive the rod (81) carrying said locking ring (8).
5. Cap according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the lower part (21) of the main body (2) comprises, for each locking ring (8), a series of several holes (811, 812, 813, 814, 815, 816) arranged to each receive the rod (81) carrying said locking ring (8) so that each hole (811, 812, 813, 814, 815, 816) of a series of holes corresponds to a possible level of the locking ring (8) corresponding to a possible depth of a groove (11) of a reservoir (3) in which said locking ring (8) is arranged to be inserted and pivoted.
6. Cap according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper surface (22) is carried by an upper part of the main body (2) distinct from the lower part (21), the cap (1) being arranged so that, when the lower part (21) is fully inserted into a reservoir (3), the upper part protrudes from the reservoir (3) by a thickness (d) less than 5 mm.
7. Cap according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cap (1) is arranged so that, when the lower part (21) is fully inserted into a reservoir (3), the cap does not include any cavity accessible from outside the reservoir (3) for inserting a tool other than the anti-theft nut (4).
8. Kit comprising: - a cap (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, and - the unlocking key (6) corresponding to the anti-theft nut (4) of the cap.
9. Kit comprising: - a cap (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, - a plurality of different anti-theft nuts (4) interchangeable within the cavity (5) formed on the upper surface (22) of the main body (2), and the different unlocking keys (6) corresponding to the different anti-theft nuts (4).