Patent Publication Number: US-2023135107-A1

Title: Fuel cap for vehicle having locking structure generating sound interval

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application claims under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2017-0170249, filed on Dec. 12, 2017, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
     BACKGROUND 
     (a) Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a fuel cap for a vehicle, more particularly, to the fuel cap having a locking structure generating a sound interval, which generates a locking sound in various sound intervals. 
     (b) Description of Related Art 
     Generally, a vehicle is provided with a fuel tank configured to store fuel, and the fuel tank is installed and connected to an engine and a fuel pump and supplies the fuel stored in the fuel tank to the engine through the fuel pump. 
     The fuel tank includes a fuel inlet through which the fuel is received, and a fuel cap engaged with the fuel inlet and configured to seal the fuel inlet. 
     The fuel cap is formed in a structure for easily and reliably sealing the fuel inlet within a short period of time. That is, the fuel inlet and the fuel cap are each formed in a structure of being rotatably opened or closed by forming a screw thread on each of the fuel inlet and the fuel cap. 
     The fuel cap is configured such that, when the fuel inlet is reliably sealed, a cyclic sound, e.g., a “snapping sound,” is continuously generated to allow a user to verify a sealed state of the fuel inlet. 
     As described above, the fuel cap should be able to prevent leakage of the fuel, open or close the fuel inlet before or after refueling, and generate the locking sound which allows the user to recognize that the fuel cap is fully locked when the user locks the fuel cap. The fuel cap generally is configured with a cap body and a head portion, and when the fuel cap is fully locked and the cap body is fixed, the head portion is rotated and then a fin shape of the head portion passes over a fin of the cap body to generate a one-shot sound, that is, a locking sound. 
     The existing locking sound of the fuel cap is monotonous, and volume of the locking sound is varied according to quality deviation such that customer awareness may be low, and operation thereof does not provide any amusement to the customer. 
     Further, the locking sound of the fuel cap may be included in an evaluation item of an initial quality study (IQS) to affect brand awareness. Therefore, when the existing locking sound of the fuel cap is merely a monotonous clicking sound, an item score may drop in an IQS survey result. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for the locking sound of the fuel cap to provide a function for amusing a customer by supplementing the existing function of verifying only a locked state of the fuel cap. 
     SUMMARY 
     An embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to a fuel cap for a vehicle having a locking structure generating a sound interval, which is capable of changing a feel thereof to a driver by providing amusement to the driver through implementation of the locking structure, which generates a locking sound in various sound intervals, inside the fuel cap for a vehicle. 
     Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure can be understood by the following description and become apparent with reference to the embodiments of the present disclosure. Also, it is obvious to those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains that the objects and advantages of the present disclosure can be realized by the means as claimed and combinations thereof. 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, a fuel cap for a vehicle, which has a locking structure configured to generate a sound interval, includes a head portion having a handle formed at a first side and one or more striking portions installed at a second side, and a body portion integrally assembled with the head portion and having a plurality of sound generators installed at the body portion and disposed in a state of being struck by the one or more striking portions installed at the second side of the head portion according to a rotation of the head portion by a locking torque. 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, a fuel cap for a vehicle, which has a locking structure configured to generate a sound interval, includes a head portion having a handle formed at a first side and a plurality of sound generators installed at a second side, and a body portion integrally assembled with the head portion and having one or more striking portions installed at the body portion and disposed in a state of being struck by the plurality of sound generators installed at the second side of the head portion according to a rotation of the head portion by a locking torque. 
     Each of the striking portions may be installed at a circular frame having an installation recess configured to dispose, fix, and space apart the striking portions at predetermined intervals. 
     Each of the striking portions may be disposed on a circumference formed by the circular frame. 
     Each of the striking portions may include one end inserted into and supported on the circular frame and wound in a spring shape, and another end configured to strike the plurality of sound generators and formed in a shape in which a distal portion of the another end is bent inward. 
     The plurality of sound generators may be grouped into a predetermined number of sound generators, the predetermined number of sound generators may be repeatedly disposed, and the plurality of sound generators may be pipe-shaped cylinders and have different outer diameters. 
     The head portion and the body portion may be integrally rotated when the fuel cap for a vehicle is locked to a fuel inlet of the vehicle, and, at a time when the fuel cap for a vehicle is locked to the fuel inlet of the vehicle, the body portion may be fixed by thread locking and the head portion may be further rotated by the locking torque. 
     Each of the plurality of sound generators may have a spiral-structured plate shape, and the plurality of sound generators may be of different lengths, a first protrusion may be formed to protrude toward the striking portion at a distal end of each of the plurality of sound generators, each of the striking portions may have a bar shape, and a second projection may be formed to protrude toward each of the plurality of sound generators at a position of a distal end of each of the striking portions, wherein the position corresponds to the first protrusion. 
     Each of the first protrusion and the second protrusion may be formed in a rounded shape. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a view illustrating a fuel cap for a vehicle having a locking structure generating a sound interval according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    is a view illustrating a disassembled state of a head portion and a body portion of a fuel cap for a vehicle according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  3    is a view illustrating the head portion of the fuel cap for a vehicle shown in  FIG.  2   . 
         FIG.  4    is a view illustrating the body portion of the fuel cap for a vehicle shown in  FIG.  2   . 
         FIG.  5    is a view illustrating a disassembled state of a head portion and a body portion of a fuel cap for a vehicle according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  6    is a view illustrating the head portion of the fuel cap for a vehicle shown in  FIG.  3   . 
         FIG.  7    is a view illustrating a fuel cap for a vehicle, which is configured to generate a locking sound, according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  8    is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A′ of a sound generator and a striking portion of the fuel cap for a vehicle shown in  FIG.  7   . 
         FIG.  9    is a view illustrating a fuel cap for a vehicle, which is configured to generate a locking sound, according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  10    is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B′ of a sound generator and a striking portion of the fuel cap for a vehicle shown in  FIG.  9   . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS 
     It is understood that the term “vehicle” or “vehicular” or other similar term as used herein is inclusive of motor vehicles in general such as passenger automobiles including sports utility vehicles (SUV), buses, trucks, various commercial vehicles, watercraft including a variety of boats and ships, aircraft, and the like, and includes hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, hydrogen-powered vehicles and other alternative fuel vehicles (e.g. fuels derived from resources other than petroleum). As referred to herein, a hybrid vehicle is a vehicle that has two or more sources of power, for example both gasoline-powered and electric-powered vehicles. 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Throughout the specification, unless explicitly described to the contrary, the word “comprise” and variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” will be understood to imply the inclusion of stated elements but not the exclusion of any other elements. In addition, the terms “unit”, “-er”, “-or”, and “module” described in the specification mean units for processing at least one function and operation, and can be implemented by hardware components or software components and combinations thereof. 
     Further, the control logic of the present disclosure may be embodied as non-transitory computer readable media on a computer readable medium containing executable program instructions executed by a processor, controller or the like. Examples of computer readable media include, but are not limited to, ROM, RAM, compact disc (CD)-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, flash drives, smart cards and optical data storage devices. The computer readable medium can also be distributed in network coupled computer systems so that the computer readable media is stored and executed in a distributed fashion, e.g., by a telematics server or a Controller Area Network (CAN). 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, in the following description and the accompanying drawings, if it is determined that well-known functions or configurations may obscure the gist of the present disclosure, detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted. Further, it is noted that the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the drawings. 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure will be fully described in a detail below which is suitable for implementation by those skilled in the art with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure may be implemented in various different forms, and thus it is not limited to embodiments to be described herein. In the drawings, some portions not related to the description will be omitted in order to clearly describe the present disclosure, and similar reference numerals are given to similar components throughout the disclosure. 
     Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG.  1    is a view illustrating a fuel cap for a vehicle having a locking structure generating a sound interval according to an embodiment of the present disclosure,  FIG.  2    is a view illustrating a disassembled state of a head portion and a body portion of a fuel cap for a vehicle according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure,  FIG.  3    is a view illustrating the head portion of the fuel cap for a vehicle shown in  FIG.  2   , and  FIG.  4    is a view illustrating the body portion of the fuel cap for a vehicle shown in  FIG.  2   . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  1  to  4   , a fuel cap  100  having a locking structure configured to generate a sound interval (also referred to herein as a “fuel cap  100  for a vehicle”) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is capable of changing feel of a driver and providing amusement to the driver by implementing the locking structure, which generates a locking sound in various sound intervals, inside the fuel cap  100  for a vehicle. That is, the fuel cap  100  for a vehicle provides a conventional simplified function for verifying lock and as well, a function for impressing a customer by adding amusement. 
     The fuel cap  100  for a vehicle is integrally formed with a head portion  10  and a body portion  20 . 
     First, the fuel cap  100  for a vehicle is formed in a structure capable of preventing leakage of fuel and being opened or closed while refueling. That is, a handle configured to manipulate the fuel cap  100  for a vehicle is formed at the head portion  10 , the body portion  20  is configured with a thread locking structure for locking the fuel cap  100  for a vehicle, and a screw thread is formed on an outer circumference of the body portion  20  to allow the body portion  20  to be rotatably opened or closed relative to a fuel inlet of a vehicle. In this case, a driver opens or closes the fuel cap  100  for a vehicle by holding the head portion  10  of the fuel cap  100  for a vehicle. 
     Next, when the fuel cap  100  for a vehicle reliably seals the fuel inlet, the fuel cap  100  for a vehicle generates a locking sound which is expressed in several sound intervals. As described above, an active way is applied to the fuel cap  100  for a vehicle to improve feel of a customer by adding amusement through the locking sound expressed in the various sound intervals rather than a passive way for improving volume and clarity of the locking sound. 
     To this end, as a configuration for generating a locking sound according to one embodiment, which is provided at surfaces facing each other of the head portion  10  and the body portion  20 , a striking portion  40  is installed at the head portion  10  and a sound generator  30  is formed at the body portion  20 . The striking portion  40  strikes the sound generator  30  to generate a sound, and the sound generator  30  generates a locking sound by the strike of the striking portion  40 . The striking portion  40  and the sound generator  30  are each made of a metal material. 
     A circular frame  11  configured to dispose the striking portion  40  is formed on the surface of the head portion  10  facing the body portion  20  when the head portion  10  and the body portion  20  are assembled. At this point, an installation recess  12  is formed at the circular frame  11  to dispose, fix and space apart the striking portions  40  at predetermined regular intervals. Here, four striking portions  40  are disposed on a circumference formed by the circular frame  11  at an interval of 90 degrees. 
     The striking portion  40  is formed in a spring structure in which striking strength by an elastic force can be set. That is, one end  41  of the striking portion  40  is a portion which is inserted into the circular frame  11  to be supported thereon and is wound in a spring shape. In this case, when a short bar portion is inserted into and supported on the installation recess  12  of the circular frame  11 , an elastic force of a long bar portion striking the sound generator  30  may be formed along a circumferential direction in which the sound generator  30  is disposed. 
     The other end  42  of the striking portion  40  is a portion which strikes the sound generator  30 , and a distal portion of the other end  42  is bent inward to secure a strike area for the sound generator  30 . 
     The sound generator  30  is disposed on the surface of the body portion  20  facing the head portion  10  when the body portion  20  and the head portion  10  are assembled. At this point, the sound generator  30  is formed on a circumference of which radius is a distance from the center of a circle to a position at which the other end  42  of the striking portion  40  is located. 
     The sound generator  30  is a pipe-shaped cylinder and may determine a sound interval, which will be generated, according to an outer diameter of the sound generator  30 , and a low-note sound is generated as the outer diameter increases. Here, a case in which three consecutive sound generators  30  having gradually increased different outer diameters are grouped and repeatedly disposed is illustrated. Further, the sound generator  30  may determine a sound interval, which will be generated, according to a height of the sound generator  30 . 
     An accommodation space  21  is formed at the body portion  20  to accommodate the circular frame  11  when the body portion  20  is assembled with the head portion  10 . 
     Alternatively, a desired chord may be set by adjusting the number of the striking portions  40  and the number of the sound generators  30 . For example, when the number of the striking portions  40  is three and the sound generators  30  expressing do/mi/sol sound intervals are simultaneously struck by the three striking portions  40 , a do/mi/sol chord may be generated as the locking sound of the fuel cap  100  for a vehicle. Thus, any sound intervals may be expressed according to the arrangement of the striking portion  40  and the sound generator  30 . 
     The fuel cap  100  for a vehicle may be operated as follows. 
     First, when the fuel cap  100  for a vehicle is rotated and locked to the fuel inlet, the head portion  10  and the body portion  20  are integrally rotated. 
     The body portion  20  is fixed by thread locking at a time when the fuel cap  100  for a vehicle is locked to the fuel inlet. Then, after the body portion  20  is fixed by thread locking, the head portion  10  is further rotated by a locking torque (a force for a complete sealing). 
     In this case, since the striking portion  40  of the head portion  10  is inserted into and fixed to the circular frame  11  of the head portion  10 , the striking portion  40  is integrally rotated together with the head portion  10 . Thus, the striking portion  40  of the head portion  10  strikes the sound generator  30  of the fixed body portion  20  while rotated. At this point, the sound generator  30  of the body portion  20  generates a sound due to the strike of the striking portion  40 . 
     As described above, the fuel cap  100  for a vehicle may generate a locking sound expressed by certain sound intervals according to the arrangement of the striking portion  40  and the sound generator  30  and the number thereof. For example, the fuel cap  100  for a vehicle may generate three sound intervals (i.e., a do→mi→sol chord) by further rotating the head portion  10  owing to the locking torque. 
       FIG.  5    is a view illustrating a disassembled state of a head portion and a body portion of a fuel cap for a vehicle according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure, and  FIG.  6    is a view illustrating the head portion of the fuel cap for a vehicle shown in  FIG.  3   . 
     Detailed descriptions of  FIGS.  5  and  6    overlap with those of  FIGS.  1  to  4   , and thus they will be omitted. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  5  and  6   , as a configuration for generating a locking sound according to another embodiment, which is provided at surfaces facing each other of the head portion  10  and the body portion  20 , a sound generator  30  is installed at the head portion  10  and a striking portion  40  is formed at the body portion  20 . That is, the sound generator  30  is formed on a circumference of which radius is a distance from the center of head portion  10  to a position at which the other end  42  of the striking portion  40  is located. The striking portion  40  is inserted into the circular frame  11  and then installed at the body portion  20 . 
       FIG.  7    is a view illustrating a fuel cap for a vehicle, which is configured to generate a locking sound, according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure, and  FIG.  8    is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A′ of a sound generator and a striking portion of the fuel cap for a vehicle shown in  FIG.  7   . 
     As shown in  FIG.  7   , detailed descriptions of a component and a configuration of a fuel cap  150  for a vehicle, which generates the locking sound, according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure overlap with those of the components and the configurations of  FIGS.  1  to  4   , and thus they will be omitted. 
     However, the fuel cap  150  for a vehicle shown in  FIG.  7    is different from the fuel cap  100  for a vehicle shown in  FIGS.  1  to  4    in a structure for generating the locking sound. That is, a plate-shaped sound generator  60  is installed at a head portion of the fuel cap  150  for a vehicle, and a bar-shaped striking portion  70  is installed at a body portion of the fuel cap  150  for a vehicle. 
     Here, a sound interval may be set according to a length of the sound generator  60 , and a low-note sound may be generated as the length of the sound generator  60  is shortened. Further, a case in which one striking portion  70  is installed is shown in  FIG.  7   , and alternatively, a plurality of striking portions  70  may be disposed and spaced apart by a predetermined angle. For example, three striking portions  70  may be disposed and spaced apart by 120 degrees. 
     The body portion is fixed by thread locking at a time when the fuel cap  150  for a vehicle of  FIG.  7    is locked to the fuel inlet. Then, after the body portion is fixed by thread locking, the head portion is further rotated by a locking torque (a force for a complete sealing). 
     In this case, since the sound generator  60  of the head portion is fixed to the head portion, the sound generator  60  is integrally rotated with the head portion. Then, the sound generator  60  of the head portion is rotated and struck by the striking portion  70  of the fixed body portion. At this point, the sound generator  60  generates a sound due to the strike of the striking portion  70 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  8   , a first protrusion  61  is formed to protrude downward toward the striking portion  70  at a distal end of the sound generator  60  of the head portion, and a second protrusion  71  is formed to protrude upward toward the sound generator  60  at a distal end of the striking portion  70  of the body portion. In this case, the striking portion  70  is formed such that a bar-shaped second protrusion  71  is formed to protrude toward the sound generator  60  along a length direction, and alternatively, a point-shaped second protrusion  71  is formed to protrude toward the sound generator  60  at a position corresponding to the first protrusion  61  of the sound generator  60 . 
     Further, the first protrusion  61  of the sound generator  60  and the second protrusion  71  of the striking portion  70  are each formed in a rounded shape. That is, the first protrusion  61  of the sound generator  60  may be struck by the second protrusion  71  of the striking portion  70 , and then escape from the second protrusion  71  of the striking portion  70  due to the rounded shape without being hooked at the second protrusion  71 . 
       FIG.  9    is a view illustrating a fuel cap for a vehicle, which is configured to generate a locking sound, according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure, and  FIG.  10    is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B′ of a sound generator and a striking portion of the fuel cap for a vehicle shown in  FIG.  9   . 
     Detailed descriptions of  FIGS.  9  and  10    overlap with those of  FIGS.  7  to  8   , and thus they will be omitted. 
     However, referring to  FIGS.  9  and  10   , a striking portion  70  is installed at ahead portion, and a plate-shaped sound generator  60  is installed at a body portion. 
     In this case, since the striking portion  70  of the head portion is fixed to the head portion, the striking portion  70  is integrally rotated with the head portion. Then, the striking portion  70  of the head portion is rotated to strike the sound generator  60  of the fixed body portion. At this point, the striking portion  70  of the head strikes the sound generator  60  to generate a sound. 
     Referring to  FIG.  10   , a second protrusion  71  is formed to protrude downward toward the sound generator  60  at a distal end of the striking portion  70  of the head portion, and a first protrusion  61  is formed to protrude upward toward the striking portion  70  at a distal end of the sound generator  60  of the body portion. 
     In accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, it is possible to change feel of a driver and provide amusement thereto by implementing a locking structure for generating a locking sound in various sound intervals inside a fuel cap for a vehicle. 
     Further, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, it is possible to impress a consumer and receive a high IQS score to improve a brand value by adding amusement, which causes customer&#39;s impression, away from a simplified function for verifying a locked state of the fuel cap for a vehicle. 
     Furthermore, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, it is possible to implement a brand identity related to a sound in a vehicle through collaboration with marketing and planning departments. 
     Moreover, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, it is possible to make a customized sound, which is desired by the customer, through tuning of a sounding box. 
     Although the foregoing description has been described with a focus on novel features of the present disclosure as being applied to various embodiments, those skilled in the art will be appreciated that various deletions, substitutions, and alterations can be made from the forms and details of the above-described apparatus and method without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. All variations equivalent to the scope of the appended claims will fall within the scope of the present disclosure.