Patent ID: 6666238
Filing Date: 2003-12-23
Classification: B60K

Abstract:
An annular, fuel filler assembly collar, said annular collar formed from two interlocking structures comprising:a) a first semicircular shaped structure including; a first pair of terminal ends residing in a common vertical plane, each of said terminal ends including locking means; a top edge forming an upper semicircular rim having a surface perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said first semicircular shaped structure; a bottom edge forming a lower semicircular rim having a surface perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said second semicircular shaped structure, said top edge and said bottom edge residing in spaced apart horizontal planes with respect to each other; a first outer circumferential side separating said top edge and said bottom edge; and one or more notches in the upper surface of said first circumferential side intermediate said pair of terminal ends; and b) A second semicircular shaped structure including; a second pair of terminal ends residing in a common vertical plane, each of said terminal ends including locking means, a top edge forming an upper semicircular rim having a surface perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said second semicircular shaped structure; a bottom edge forming a lower semicircular rim having a surface perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said second semicircular shaped structure, said top edge and said bottom edge residing in spaced apart horizontal planes with respect to each other; and a second outer circumferential side separating said top edge and said bottom edge; and one or more notches in the upper surface of said second outer circumferential side intermediate said pair of terminal ends, wherein said first semicircular shaped structure and said second semicircular structure are locked together at said first and said second pair of terminal ends in a simple one-motion step by pushing said structures together until locking of said structures is accomplished, with the proviso that said locking is accomplished in the absence of a separate annular locking structure.