Abstract:
The present invention provides a two-piece capless fuel-filling device and method of attaching the same to a vehicle. The capless fuel-filling device includes two primary components, an exterior housing member and an interior housing member. The exterior housing member is first placed within an opening formed in a vehicle body panel and attached thereto. Next, the interior housing member is attached to the exterior housing member or the interior side of the body panel. Either the internal housing member or the external housing member includes a valve for enabling and restricting insertion of a refueling nozzle.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a capless automotive fuel-filling device, more particularly a two-piece capless fuel-filling device and a method for attaching the same to the body of an automotive vehicle during the assembly process. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Automobiles typically include a fuel-filling assembly including a door and a fuel cap on or near the side of the car body. To fill the fuel tank, a user must open the fuel door and remove the fuel cap. Often when performing this task, the user will get fuel or dirt on their hands and possibly their clothing. One obvious improvement on this fuel-filling process is to eliminate the task of removing the fuel cap. Such capless devices have been described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,730,194, U.S. Pat. No. 5,901,760, U.S. Pat. No. 5,931,206, U.S. Pat. No. 6,009,920, U.S. Pat. No. 6,092,685, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,155,316. 
     While the aforesaid devices have effectively eliminated the need for a fuel cap, a practical method of attaching them to a vehicle during the assembly process has evaded vehicle manufacturers. During assembly, current fuel-filling devices are attached to the body panel of a vehicle by insertion through an opening from the exterior side of the body panel, whereafter they are attached to the body panel and the fuel-filler pipe. The details and designs of the aforesaid capless fuel-filling devices are not easily used-with current assembly methods, and to reconfigure the assembly process would be costly and inefficient. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a two-piece capless fuel-filling device and a method of attaching the same to a vehicle. The capless fuel-filling device includes two primary components, an exterior housing member and an interior housing member. An exterior housing member includes a face plate and is placed within an opening formed in the vehicle body panel, and attached thereto. Next, an interior housing component includes a valve for restricting and enabling insertion of a refueling nozzle, and is attached to the exterior housing component or an interior side of the body panel, thus creating the effect of a single capless fuel-filling device. 
     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a two-piece capless fuel-filling device exemplary of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of a two-piece capless fuel-filling device exemplary of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a view of an interior housing member including a detailed valve device. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of a two-piece capless fuel-filling device exemplary of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or its uses. 
     With reference to FIG. 1, an exemplary two-piece capless fuel-filling device is shown with a body panel  16  of an automotive vehicle. An exterior housing member  10  is shown as a face plate having a flange  12 , and an interior portion  28  (not labeled in FIG. 1) having a first attachment system consisting of a plurality of attachment hooks  14 , shown in more detail in FIGS. 2 and 4. It should be appreciated that, while the first attachment system shown includes a plurality of attachment hooks  14 , any means for attaching the exterior housing member  10  to the body panel  16  is included within the scope of the invention, such as fasteners, welds, or adhesives. Furthermore, the exterior housing member  10  is shown having an opening  18  for a fuel nozzle to penetrate during refueling. 
     FIG. 1 also shows an interior housing member  20  having a second attachment system including a plurality of attachment slots  22 . It should be appreciated that, while the second attachment system shown includes a plurality of attachment slots  22 , any means for attaching the interior housing member  20  to the exterior housing member  10  is included within the scope of the invention, such as fasteners, welds, or adhesives. In an exemplary embodiment, the second housing member  20  also includes a valve device  24  for enabling and restricting access of a refueling nozzle. In an alternative embodiment, the valve device  24  is included in the exterior housing member  10 . 
     With reference now to FIG. 2, a two-piece capless fuel-filling device is shown in mid-assembly. An exemplary embodiment of a capless fuel-filling device enables attachment of the device to a vehicle body panel  16 . Accordingly, FIG. 2 shows the exterior housing member  10  inserted through an opening  26  in the body panel  16  with the flange  12  abutting an exterior face of the body panel  16  and the hooks  14  of the first attachment system interlocking the body panel  16  to secure the exterior housing member  10  to the body panel  16 . It should be appreciated that any means for attaching the exterior housing member  10  to the body panel  16  is included within the scope of the invention, such as fasteners, welds, or adhesives. 
     After the exterior housing member  10  is attached to the body panel  16 , the interior housing member  20  is attached to the interior portion  28  of the exterior housing member  10  by engaging the second attachment assembly as shown. The second attachment assembly includes a plurality of attachment slots  22  adapted to mate with a plurality of attachment hooks  30  on the interior portion  28  of the exterior housing member  10  such that a first planar surface  36  on the interior housing member  20  abuts and seals against a second planar surface  38  on the exterior housing member  10 . It should be appreciated that while an exemplary embodiment includes attaching the interior housing member  20  to the interior portion  28  of the exterior housing member  10  via a second attachment assembly, the interior housing member  20  could also be attached to an interior side of the body panel as discussed below. 
     An exemplary valve device  24  is shown in FIG.  3 . The valve device  24  includes a single lever  46  having a concave face  40 . The valve device  24  further includes a pin  42  for attaching the lever  46  to the interior housing member  20  and establishing a pivot point for the lever  46 . Furthermore, the valve device  24  includes a biasing member  44  for biasing the lever  46  into a closed position (as illustrated in FIG.  4 ). A user actuates the lever  46  by pressing a fuel-filling nozzle against the concave face  40  of the valve device  24 . The concave face  40  transfers the applied force perpendicularly, thus enabling a user to overcome the biasing force created by the biasing member  44  and open the lever  46 . It should be appreciated that while the biasing member  44  is shown to be a simple arc spring, other biasing members, such as tension springs, compression springs, or coil springs are included within the scope of the invention. It should also be appreciated that while one embodiment of the valve device  24  includes a simple lever  46 , other valve devices such as hinged valve devices and ball valve devices are included within the scope of the invention. Lastly, it should be appreciated that while one embodiment includes positioning the valve device  24  on the interior housing member  20 , an alternative embodiment positions the valve device  24  on the exterior housing member  10 . 
     With reference now to FIG. 4, an alternative embodiment of a two-piece capless fuel-filling device is shown in mid-assembly. The exterior housing member  10  has been inserted through an opening  26  in the body panel  16  with the flange  12  abutting a face of the body panel  16 , whereby the hooks  14  of the first attachment system interlock the body panel  16  to secure the exterior housing member. It should be appreciated that while FIG. 4 shows a plurality of attachment hooks  14  as the means for attaching the exterior housing member  10  to the body panel  16 , other means are included within the scope of the invention, such as fasteners, welds, or adhesives. 
     After the exterior housing member  10  is attached to the body panel  16 , the interior housing member  20  is attached to an interior face  34  of the body panel  16  by engagement of the second attachment system. The second attachment system includes a plurality of attachment hooks  48  adapted to mate with a portion  32  of the interior side  34  of the body panel  16  such that a first planar face  36  on the interior housing member  20  abuts and seals against a second planar face  38  on said exterior housing member  10 . It should be appreciated that while FIG. 4 shows a plurality of attachment hooks  48  as the means for attaching the interior housing member  20  to the body panel  16 , other means are included within the scope of the invention, such as fasteners, welds, or adhesives. 
     This description of the present invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.