US1971714A

US1971714A - Filling neck protector

Info

Publication number: US1971714A
Application number: US608045A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harkness James
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1932-04-28
Filing date: 1932-04-28
Publication date: 1934-08-28
Anticipated expiration: 1951-08-28

Description

Aug. 28; 1934. J. HARKNESS 1,971,714

FILLING NECK PROTECTOR Filed April 28, 1932 Inventor 7weJfirZ2zazs I /I llorney Patented Aug. 28, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1,971,714 FILLING NECK PROTECTOR James Harkness, Waukegan, 11]. Application April 28,1932, Serial No. 608,045

9 Claims. (01. 220-85) My invention relates to a protector for filling necks, and particularly to a device for use in connection with the filling neck of an automobile vehicle fuel tank, and the primary object of 1 the invention is to provide a device of this char--.

acter which will protect the operator of the vehicle from theft of fuel from the tank.

It is also an importantobject of the invention to provide a simplified device of this character which cannot be. removed once it has been installed without mutilating the same, and which will effectivelyv prevent the introduction of a tube or other siphoning means into the tank toa suificient depth to reach the fuel therein, but

5 which will not interfere with the introduction of fuel or the proper passage of air and fumes.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from a reading of the following description of the drawing, wherein for purposes of illustration I have shown a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing:--

Figure 1 is a top plan View of the embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view through a portion of a fuel tank, and associated filling neck. 7

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the device.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken approximately on the line 5-5 of Figure 3 looking upwardly in the direction of thevarrows.

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view through the upper part of the filling neck showing the lip formation thereon.

Thenumeral 5 generally designates a conventional fuel tank having a conventional filling neck 6 projecting therefrom. The filling neck is conventionally provided with an inturned lip formation generally designated "7. at opposite sides of the topof the neck and consistingof a downwardly directed flange 8 having therein the angular cut-out portion 9 and the curved formation 10 defining an entrance for the bayonet members of a conventional fillingneck cap (not produced upon the bayonet members of the cap by reason of their engagement with the angular lower edge 11 of the portion 8.

According to the principles of my invention I provide for placement within the filling neck for.

engagement with the lip formations 7 a generally movement of the'device.

cylindrical form designated 12 which may be constructed by rolling a sheet of spring metal into a cylinder of a diameter considerably less than that of the interior of the filling neck 6 so as to assume the spaced concentric relationship indicated in Figure 2. The upper end portion of the cylindrical form 12 is providedwith circumferentially spaced longitudinal cuts resulting in spring fingers 13 which are given an outwardly curved disposition as indicated in the drawing so that the upper ends thereof will be radially outward of the opening in the filling neck defined by the depending inturned lip formations 8. Because of the spring character of the fingers it is an easy matter to force the cylinder into the filling neck through the opening thereof, as the fingers readily bend and contract to a sufficient degree for this purpose and expand again when they pass the lip formations. If desired, the edges of the material after rolling into the cylinder may be secured by soldering 14 or other suitable connecting means.

The spring fingers 13 are all of the same length. The fingers 15 and 16 are extended above the fingers 13 so as to engage with the underside of the inturned lip formations 7 when the device is in the normal position in the filling neck shown in Figure 2, whereby to prevent rattling and vertical At two diametrically opposite points the cylinder is free of cuts to provide a comparatively wide spring member 17 which extends to a height slightly above that of the upper ends of the fingers 15 and 16. The difference in height of the members 17 and the fingers 15, 16 is provided so that an upper portion of the members 1'7 may engage over and upon the top of the member 7 of the filling neck, in a manner to hold the upper ends of the fingers l5 and 16 against the lower or inward side of the members 7.

, Spaced below the upper end of the members 17 is'a pair of vertical tabs or wings slightly vertieally staggered as indicated at 18, 19, these being radially outwardly directed so as to confine therebetween and engage the opposite ends of a depending portion 20 on the depending lip portion 8, whereby to prevent relative rotation of the device when installed within the filling neck. The upper end of the tab 18 is arranged slightly elevated above the upper end of the tab 19, so that it will engage with the depressed end of the edge 11 and cooperate with an upper end portion of the member 17 for holding the device in position after installation edge 11 is depressed while the opposite end of the portion 8 has no such 1imita-.

tion, and in order to facilitate screwing the device irito place in connection with the cam action provided by the angularities 11 of the lip formation.

The upper ends of the members 17 are bent outwardly to provide the lateral radially projected horizontal flanges 21 for engaging upon the top of the lip formations and the filling neck top 6. These cooperate with the tabs l8, 19 in producing the desired wedging action between the parts as they are snapped into place. The crescent formation of the flanges 21 is shown in Figure 4.

Within the bottom of the cylinder l2'is'earried a grating supported on a transverse rod 22, the grating being constituted by a spirally bent flat metallic strip 23 the convolutions of which are traversed by the rod 22 which passes through the sides of the cylinder as indicated. The convolutions of the spiral gratin 23 are close enough together to prevent the introduction therebetween of a tube of sufiicient size to permit siphoning off any of the fuel in the tank.

It will be obvious that the outwardly directed fin rs revent the introduction of a siphon tube between the cylinder 12 and the filling neck and into the tank by their barb action. 7

The protector is installed simply by entering the same partly into the filling neck and placing the same into a position in which the long fingers l5, 16 are in the openings 9 and the tabs '18, 19 are located at opposite ends of the flange portions 20.

If then the protector is pushed farther into the filling neck, the long fingers will snap into place under the lip formations and the members 17 will spring outwardly and place the

tabs

18, 19 in position under the lip formations and at either end of the portions 20 thereof.

Though I have shown and described herein a preferred embodimentof the invention, it is to be definitely understood that I do not desire to limit the application of the invention thereto, and any change or changes may be made in material,

structure and arrangement of parts within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

l. The combination with a tank having a filling neck equipped with inwardly positioned flange means, of tubular neck obstructing means connectible to the flange means and having portions engageable with the outer side and portions engageable with the inner side of the flange means when connected thereto, projections on the inner side of the flange, means engageable by portions of the obstructing means whereby relative rotation or" the obstructing means and filling neck is positively prevented, said obstructing means com prising flexible members arranged to flex upon being contacted by an object introduced into the filling neck between the filling and the obstructing means so as to positively prevent the further insertion of such object, said flexible members being arranged to move radially outwardly toward the walls of thefllling neck when flexed. and guarded opening means in the tubularmeans permitting passage of fluid into the tank.

2. The combination with a tank having a filling neck equipped with inwardly positioned flange means, of neck obstructing means connectible to the flange means and having portions engageable with the outer side and with the inner side of the flanged means when connected thereto, projections on the inner side of the flange means engageable by portions of the obstructing means whereby relative rotation of the obstructing means and the filling neck is positively prevented, said obstructing means comprising flexible members arranged to flex upon being contacted by an object introduced into the filling neck so as to positively prevent the further insertion of such object, said flexible members being adapted to move radially outwardly toward the walls of the filling neck when flexed, said obstructing means comprising a hollow cylinder open at its outer end and having guard means at its inner end to pass liquid, the walls of the cylinder being spaced from the walls of the filling neck, so that when the flexible members are flexed so as to approach the wall of the neck, they obstruct the passage of an inserted object in the space between the obstructing means and the wall of the filling neck.

3. The combination with a tank having a filling neck equipped with inwardly positioned flange means, of neck obstructing means connectible to the flange means and having portions engageable with the outer side and with the inner side of the flange means when connected thereto, projections on the inner side of the flange means engageable by portions of the obstructing means whereby rotation of the obstructing means relative to the filling neck is positively prevented, said obstructing means comprising flexible members arranged to flex upon being contacted by an object introduced into the filling neck so as to positively prevent the further insertion of such object,'said flexible members being adapted to move radially outwardly toward the walls of the filling neck when flexed, said obstructing means comprising a hollow cylinder open at its outer end and having guard means at its inner end to pass liquid, the walls of the cylinder being spaced from the walls of the filling neck, so that when the flexible members are flexed so as to approach the wall of the neck, they obstruct the passage of an inserted object in the space between the obstructing means and the wall of the filling neck, said flexible members having portions located near the outer end of the hollow cylinder and adapted to be flexed away from the outer end of the cylinder when it is attempted to pass the object through the open outer end of the cylinder and the interior walls of the filling neck.

4. The combination with a tank having a fillingneck equipped with inwardly positioned flange means, of neck obstructing means oonnectible to the flange means'and having portions engageable with the-outerside and with the innerside of the flange means when connected thereto, projections on the inner side of the flange means engageable by portions of the obstructing means whereby rotation of the obstructing means relative to the filling neck is positively prevented, said obstructing means comprising flexible members arranged to flex upon being contacted by an object introduced into the filling neck so as to positively prevent the further insertion of such object, said flexible members being adapted to move radially outwardly toward the walls of the filling neck when flexed, said obstructing means comprising a hollow cylinder open at its outer end and having guard means at its inner end to pass liquid, the walls of the cylinder being spaced from the walls of the filling neck, so that when the flexible members are flexed so as to approach the wall of the neck, they obstruct the passage of an inserted object in the space between the obstructing means and the wall of the filling neck, said flexible members having portions located near the outer end of the hollow cylinder and adapted to flex radially outwardly from the outer end of the cylinder when it is attempted to pass the object between the open outer end of the cylinder and the interior walls of the filling neck, quick detachable cap securing means on the neck and a cap attachable thereto .and engageable with a portion of the obstructing means to aid in holding the obstructing means in position in the filling neck and close the filling neck.

5., In a protector for a filling neck, a tube having guard means at its inner end and arranged to depend within the neck in concentric spaced manner, means on the upper end of the tube engaging with portions of the upper end of the neck for connecting the tube to the neck and preventing rotation of the tube relative to the neck, portions of the said means on the upper end of the tube being depressed below the upper end of the neck, slots extending inwardly from the last mentioned portions of upper end of the tube and defining radially outwardly curved barbs, and diametrically opposed longer barbs whose upper ends engage portions of the upper end of the neck for positively preventing withdrawal of the tube from the neck.

6. In a protector for a filling neck having an inwardly directed flange, a tube having guard means at its inner end, laterally directed spring means on the tube having portions arranged to be engaged by the neck flange and flexed inwardly when the tube is passed into the neck and to spring outwardly below the neck flange and engage portions of the neck flange including under portions thereof for locking the tube against withdrawal from and rotation relative to the neck, and outwardly directed barb means on the tube for preventing insertion of siphon means between the tube and the neck.

7. In a protector for a filling neck having an inwardly directed flange, a tube having guard means at its inner end, laterally directed spring means on the tube having portions arranged to be engaged by the neck flange and flexed inwardly when the tube is passed into the neck and to spring outwardly below the neck flange and engage portions of the neck flange including under portions thereof for locking the tube against withdrawal from and rotation relative to the neck, and outwardly directed barb means on the tube for preventing insertion of siphon means between the tube and the neck, said barb means comprising spring members on the upper part of the tube arranged to be engaged and flexed inwardly by the neck flange when the tube is inserted into the neck and to spring outwardly below the neck flange.

8. In a protector for a filling neck having an inwardly directed flange, a tube having guard means at its inner end, laterally directed spring means on the tube having portions arranged to be engaged by the neck flange and flexed inwardly when the tube is passed into the neck and to spring outwardly below the neck flange and engage portions of the neck flange including under portions thereof for locking the tube against withdrawal from and rotation relative to the neck, and outwardly directed barb means on the tube for preventing insertion of siphon means between the tube and the neck, said barb means comprising spring members on the upper part of the tube arranged to be engaged and flexed inwardly by the neck flange when the tube is inserted into the neck and to spring outwardly below the neck flange, the upper end of some of said spring members being spaced below the neck flange and others of the spring members being upwardly extended to engage the underside of the neck flange for positively preventing withdrawal of the tube from the neck.

9. A protector for a filling neck having an inwardly curved flange formed with depending portions, a tube having guard means therein, the upper portion of the tube being slit longitudinally to form spring fingers which are curved outwardly, some of said fingers being longer than the others, the long fingers engaging under the flange, portions of the tube extending above the fingers and having their upper ends bent outwardly to form flanges for resting on the top 01 v the flange and said portions having vertically arranged outwardly extending projections thereon for receiving the depending portions of the flange between them, the upper edges of some of said projections engaging portions of the free edge of the flange.

JAMES HARKNESS.