Patent Application
20220380197
Embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein relate to a fuel filler backsplash protector device for use with a vehicle fuel/gas tank and a fuel/gas tank fuel filler therefor, as well as a vapor tube lock device for application with a fuel/gas nozzle.
Filling fuel/gasoline tanks typically involves insertion of a fuel/gas nozzle into the fuel filler of the fuel/gas tank and squeezing the handle of the gas nozzle to initiate the flow of fuel into the fuel tank via the opening in the fuel tank (or fuel filler). Fuel tanks such as vehicle gas tanks, and especially motorcycle gas tanks, present a problem in that fuel/gasoline droplets frequently jump out from the top of the fuel tank during a fill up, which can be potentially corrosive and stain the paint/coating/surface finish of the (e.g., motorcycle) gas tank. Often a gas station attendant will hand a rider a paper towel to place over the gas tank cover, near the nozzle while the nozzle is inserted into the fuel filler of the tank, the paper towel intended to catch (and absorb) jumping gasoline/fuel droplets.
This method, however, is not always effective and provides no visibility into the fuel tank itself.
Further, this method allows gasoline/fuel to soak through the paper towel and onto the (vehicle/motorcycle) rider's hands or gloves.
Further still, fuel/gas nozzles are sometimes equipped with a vapor tube comprising a baffled or accordion-like vapor capture tube that extends downward from the nozzle handle to toward the fuel/gas dispensing end of the nozzle. The vapor tube extends downward over at least a portion of the nozzle and has a size (diameter and length) so as to impede or completely block visibility into the fuel tank, making it more difficult to visually check the level of fuel in the tank and/or monitor fuel flow into the tank.
The aforementioned and other fueling problems are especially troublesome for motorcycle and similar fuel tanks having a fuel filling opening at or near the top of the tank.
What is needed, therefore, are products and methods that address the aforementioned and other shortcomings and problems.
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to a backsplash protector device for use with a vehicle fuel/gas tank having a fuel/gas tank fuel filler to prevent fuel from jumping/splashing from the fuel filler or gas tank during a fuel filling operation, and also a vapor tube lock device for application to a fuel/gas nozzle to hold a vapor tube of the fuel nozzle in a retracted (compressed or shortened length) position enabling a greater portion of the nozzle to be inserted through the backsplash protector and into the fuel tank without obscuring or blocking the user's ability to visually monitor the fuel flow, the fuel level within the tank, and/or the relative position of the nozzle (and the nozzle end from which fuel is flowed) within the tank.
The present disclosure comprises embodiments of a backsplash protector designed to comprise a thin transparent plastic cover that is placed on top of the gasoline fueling hole (or fuel filler of the fuel tank) before inserting the gas nozzle into the gas tank. The cover (or backsplash protector) acts as a barrier to prevent gasoline droplets from jumping out of the tank during filling. The transparency of the plastic also allows the user to watch and gauge the rising fuel levels in the gas tank, to manually discontinue pumping (fueling) if the gas pump handle itself fails to do so (e.g., automatically).
Embodiments of the backsplash protector may be circular in overall shape, preferably no more than three (3) inches in diameter, preferably no more than ¾ of an inch high in total, so as to fit easily in any (or commonly available) pocket, bike storage, bag, jacket pocket, and the like. The material preferably comprises a transparent, translucent, or substantially see-through material such as transparent, translucent, or substantially see-through plastic. The bottom of the backsplash protector preferably comprises a shallow rounded cone shape to it, to encourage any backsplash to roll back to the middle of the gas tank filler hole instead of towards the edges. The rounded bottom also allows the protector to be more universal to fit a variety of applications (e.g., different style motorcycle fuel tanks) if there are varying sizes in filler hole diameters between, for example, different motorcycle brands. The female hole in the center of the protector, where the fuel/gas pump nozzle would be inserted therethrough, is preferably slightly angled (preferably between 75 to 80 degrees from the plane defined by the outer perimeter/rim of the protector) in order to catch any droplets bouncing straight up, and slightly larger (in its opening/hole diameter) than the diameter of a standard gas pump nozzle, preferably around 0.90 inches in diameter. The female hole, with its angled orientation with respect to the rest of the bowl-shaped protector, preferably comprises an oblique cylinder extending from the bottom of the protector upward, with a hole extending therethrough so as to permit a gas nozzle end to be inserted through the protector. The angled orientation of the hole further allows for the hole (and walls of the oblique cylinder) to be aligned in an upright or more upright (or more vertical) orientation with the ground when the gas tank to be filled is at an angle, such as is often the case, for example, when the motorcycle is resting on its kickstand (as most motorcycles use kickstand whereby the bike rests at an angle away from an upright 90 degrees/perpendicular angle to the ground, to an angle, for example, of approximately 70 to 80 degrees. In preferred embodiments, the protector is created as one solid piece via plastic injection molding techniques, and having a material wall thickness, for example, of about 1/16 inch all around/throughout the formed protector.
The present disclosure further comprises embodiments including a vapor tube lock designed to comprise a thin plastic clip or substantially “V” shaped flat sheet sized so as to receive the neck of the nozzle and grip diameter transitions along the nozzle permitting the user to lock the vapor tube of the gas nozzle in a retracted or compressed position so that a greater (i.e., longer) portion of the nozzle (nozzle end) is exposed and free of the vapor tube. In this way, the greater portion of the nozzle is usable for insertion through the backsplash protector device. In preferred embodiments, the vapor tube lock device comprises material (such as molded or formed plastic) having a length of about 3 and ⅜th inches, a width of about 2 and 3/16th inches, and a thickness of about 1/16th inch (or about 3 mm), with the narrow part of the “V” shape opening being sized to engage with a diameter of a gas nozzle (and diameter transitions thereon) so as to permit the lock device to hold back the vapor tube of the gas nozzle to expose a greater length of the (fuel delivering) end of the gas pump nozzle.
Embodiments of the backsplash protector may further comprise standoffs, living hinges, or other protrusions or molded or formed features configured and sized to securably engage with and retain the vapor tube lock device, thereby providing for stowing the vapor tube lock (device) with the backsplash protector (device) as a combined, easily transportable backsplash protector-vapor tube lock assembly/apparatus. The standoffs (defining the vapor tube lock receiver) may comprise molded-in features extending (or protrusions) from the outer circumference/outer rim of the protector, with the protrusions sized to be received by (cooperatively mating or correspondingly sized) holes (slots) extending through the thickness dimension of the vapor tube lock material.
By using such a backsplash protector and/or a combination of a backsplash protector with a vapor tube lock, some or all of the aforementioned and other disadvantages and shortcomings of prior solutions and methods are improved, including, but not limited to, preventing backsplash of fuel from exiting the fuel filler during a fueling operation and permitting the user to visibly watch and monitor the fuel pump nozzle within the fuel filler and tank and fuel flowing into the fuel tank.
It should be understood that the brief description above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.
The accompanying drawings are incorporated herein as part of the specification. The drawings described herein illustrate embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter, and are illustrative of selected principles and teachings of the present disclosure. However, the drawings do not illustrate all possible implementations of the presently disclosed subject matter, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. The above, as well as other advantages of the present disclosure will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description when considered in the light of the accompanying drawings.
It is to be understood that embodiments of the present disclosure may assume various alternative orientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the assemblies, devices, and methods illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts. Hence, specific dimensions, directions, or other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed, if any, are not to be considered as limiting, unless expressly stated otherwise.
The present inventor discovered a backsplash protector device for use with a vehicle fuel tank having a fuel tank filler/opening, whereby the device prevents fuel from jumping or splashing out of the fuel filler or fuel tank during a fuel filling operation, and also a vapor tube lock device for application to a fuel pump nozzle that holds a vapor tube of the fuel nozzle in a retracted (or compressed or shortened length) position enabling a greater portion of the nozzle to be inserted through the backsplash protector and into the fuel tank without obscuring or blocking the user's ability to visually monitor the fuel flow, the fuel level within the tank, and/or the relative position of the nozzle (and the nozzle end from which fuel is flowed) within the tank. The backsplash protector, in preferred embodiments, generally comprises a small cone or round bottomed cover with a hole therethrough sized to receive the end of a fuel pump nozzle. The inventor discovered using transparent or translucent or at least partially see-through material for the protector provides visibility of the fuel flowing from the fuel pump nozzle, the relative position of the end of the fuel pump nozzle within the fuel tank, and the level of fuel within the fuel tank during the fueling operation. The present inventor further discovered a vapor tube lock that permits holding a vapor tube back away from the fuel pump nozzle so that visibility of the pump nozzle and the aforementioned visibility of fuel flowing, position of the nozzle end, and fuel level within the tank, are improved, such improvements permitting fuel filling with reduced incidence or chances of fuel splashing onto exterior portions of the fuel tank, the user, or other areas.
As an overview, the top view and side view of
Turning now to the figures,
As shown in the top view 100, the backsplash protector 106 preferably comprises a circular or substantially circular or at least a partially circular shaped device having a (outer) diameter 108, with the device bottom portion having an inner surface that is concave, extending from the opening (such as opening/exit 208) in the bottom surface of the bottom portion upward so as to form a shallow cone or bowl shaped bottom portion. The bowl shaped sides (and concave inner surface 114) preferably extend, as shown, upward to a circumferential rim shown with a rim width 102. Overall top view shapes (e.g., defined by the top view shape by the circumferential rim) other circular or substantially circular or at least partially circular may be used, such as for example, square, triangular, octagonal, etc., according to lesser preferred embodiments. The present inventor determined that an overall top view shape (e.g., defined by the bottom portion rim having rim width 102) that is circular or substantially circular or at least partially circular is effective and practical for use with most fuel tanks, which typically comprise a circular shaped fuel tank opening (or fuel filler/fuel filler opening).
The present inventor determined a convex exterior bottom surface of the bowl shaped protector 106 provides bottom surfaces that will catch backsplash of fuel (gas) as fuel is being flowed through a gas nozzle end extended through the hole 124 from the hole's top opening 206 and out of the hole's bottom opening/exit 208, and redirect the backsplash (after hitting the convex bottom surfaces and flowing or dripping downward) back into the fuel tank therebelow. Shapes other than a shallow rounded cone or bowl shape may be used, however, the present inventor determined that such shallow rounded cone or bowl shape is preferable so as to more effectively fit down into fuel tank openings, which are most typically substantially circular, and more effectively capture backsplash from the fuel tank.
Also shown extending from the bottom surface opening (e.g., opening/exit 208) is a cylinder having an inner (hole) diameter 110 and outer side walls (or sides or walls) 112. The cylinder side walls are shown extending upward from the bottom to a cylinder rim having cylinder rim width 104. The cylinder, as shown in
In preferred embodiments the angle of the oblique cylinder is greater than or equal to 70 degrees and less than or equal to 80 degrees. The lower the angle, the present inventor determined, the more effectively the inner walls of the cylinder (inner walls defining the hole 124) may capture backsplash of fuel jumping or splashing directly back up through the hold 124. However, the present inventor determined that an angle between 69 and 81 degrees is reasonably effective and may generally match an (offset) angle at which a typical motorcycle (and its fuel tank thereon) may rest when using a typical motorcycle kickstand.
In preferred embodiments, the bottom portion and the cylinder comprise a plastic material, preferably a transparent or translucent or at least partially see-through plastic material. The plastic material preferably comprises an injection molded material. In some embodiments, the bottom portion and the cylinder comprise one solid piece of injection molded plastic material. In some embodiments, the cylinder material thickness 204 and the bottom portion material thickness 202 are both approximately 3 mm or approximately 1/16th inch.
In some embodiments, and as shown in
The present inventor determined that a backsplash protector with an overall height of no more than ¾ inch and an overall diameter or width of no more than 3 inches is preferred. For example, the overall height of the protector 106 may comprise the cylinder height and is preferably less than or equal to ¾ inch. In some embodiments wherein the bottom portion is circular, the diameter or overall width (as measured in a top view) of the protector is preferably less than or equal to 3 inches. In one embodiment, the bottom portion is circular shaped or substantially circular in shape or at least partially circular in shape, and the diameter or overall width of the protector (as measured in a top view) is approximately 2 and ¾ inches. In one embodiment, the cylinder hole diameter 110 is approximately 24 mm.
Next,
In some embodiments, the vapor tube lock comprises material having a length 306 of about 3 and ⅜th inches, a width 308 of about 2and 3/16th inches, and a thickness of about 1116th inch, with a narrow part of the “V” shape opening (having the diameter 304) being sized to engage with a diameter of a gas nozzle neck (such as, for example, a gas nozzle neck 602 as shown in
Referring back to
Turning now to
The present inventor determined that typical hinged motorcycle gas tank lids easily accommodate and allow for use of a backsplash protector without a cut or shortened edge portion, because preferred embodiments are sized and proportioned as described in the preferred embodiments herein so that the protector fits downward into the opening of a typical motorcycle fuel tank opening.
In some embodiments, methods of using a backsplash protector further include using a vapor tube lock to lock a vapor tube that otherwise extends downward over a gas nozzle neck portion in a retracted or compressed position so that a greater portion of the gas nozzle neck is exposed and free of the vapor tube, the greater portion of the gas nozzle neck thereby being usable for insertion through the hole in the backsplash protector, wherein the vapor tube lock comprises a flat sheet with a “V” shaped opening sized so as to receive the gas nozzle neck portion extending from the gas nozzle end and grip one or more diameter transitions along the gas nozzle neck permitting the user to lock the vapor tube that otherwise extends downward over the gas nozzle neck portion in a retracted or compressed position so that a greater portion of the gas nozzle neck is exposed and free of the vapor tube.
In some embodiments, methods of using a backsplash protector and a vapor tube lock include stowing the vapor tube lock on the backsplash protector, wherein the protector comprises standoffs, living hinges, or protrusions or molded or formed features configured and sized to securably engage with cooperatively mating slots or molded or formed features of the vapor tube lock, thereby permitting stowage of the vapor tube lock on the backsplash protector.
The above described embodiments of a backsplash protector and/or a combination of a backsplash protector with a vapor tube lock, address disadvantages and shortcomings of prior solutions and methods by preventing backsplash of fuel from exiting the fuel filler/gas tank opening during a fueling operation and permitting the user to visibly watch and monitor the fuel pump nozzle within the fuel filler and tank, and fuel flowing into the fuel tank.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, numerous modifications and variations can be made and still fall within the scope of the invention. For example, increasing or decreasing the scale of the preferred embodiment or increasing the number of instances of the preferred embodiment will still fall within the scope of the invention.
As used herein, an element or step recited in the singular and proceeded with the word “a” or “an” should be understood as not excluding plural of said elements or steps, unless such exclusion is explicitly stated. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment” of the present invention are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. Moreover, unless explicitly stated to the contrary, embodiments “comprising,” “including,” or “having” an element or a plurality of elements having a particular property may include additional such elements not having that property. The terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-language equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.” Moreover, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements or a particular positional order on their objects.
Throughout this specification relative language such as the words ‘about’ and ‘approximately’ may be used. Unless otherwise specified or described, this language seeks to incorporate at least 10% variability to the specified number or range. That variability may be plus 10% or negative 10% of the particular number specified.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable a person of ordinary skill in the relevant art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.
