Patent ID: 6902079
Filing Date: 2005-06-07
Classification: B60K,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A tank cap configured to open and close a tank opening and engage with an opening engagement element disposed on a circumference of the tank opening, the tank cap comprising: a casing main body, which is configured to seal the tank opening, the casing main body including a casing engagement element configured to engage with the opening engagement element via rotation of the casing main body by a predetermined angle; a handle rotatably mounted on the casing main body; a coupling mechanism including a torque mechanism and a transmission torque release mechanism, which are interposed between the handle and the casing main body, wherein the torque mechanism has a torque transmission state in which the torque mechanism transmits a rotational torque applied to the handle to the casing main body within a predetermined range via engagement between the casing main body and the handle; and the transmission torque release mechanism has an interposing member, the interposing member being configured to release the engagement of the torque mechanism to shift the torque mechanism from the torque transmission state to a torque non-transmission state in which the interposing member places the handle against the casing main body in an idle state, when the interposing member is subjected to a predetermined or greater inertial force resulting from an external force except user's force for operating the cap, wherein the torque mechanism includes: wherein the interposing member is configured such that the handle engagement element and the plate engagement element are engaged in the torque transmission state, and the handle engagement element and the plate engagement element are disengaged in the torque non-transmission state, the interposing member being a ball.