Abstract:
A portable fuel assembly has a holder that securely holds a fuel pump, at least one tool and at least one spare part, while at the same time having a base, which may be attached to a fuel container in order to transport fuel for a remote controlled vehicle to a desired position.

Description:
This invention relates to a fuel assembly, and more particularly to a portable fuel assembly which combines the use of a fuel pump and a tool carrier mounted on a fuel container to provide for easy filling and removal of fuel from a radio-controlled miniature vehicle. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Radio-controlled, miniature vehicles are well known as amusement and competition devices. Such vehicles have miniature internal combustion engines. The miniature internal combustion engine requires accessories, such as fuel and tools and spare parts for operation. Such tools include, but are not limited to a screw driver, a plug wrench, a glow plug igniter, an electric vehicle starter and an engine stopper. Needed spare parts include, but are not limited to, glow plugs. 
   Although the fuel container, spare parts and tools are not large in size, carrying all of these items every time an owner desires to operate a radio-controlled, miniature vehicle can be a problem because most of the time the owner will only need fuel, and possibly a glow plug. Attempting to fill or remove such a vehicle with fuel without a fuel pump can also be a problem because fuel can be spilled upon filling and removal. 
   Because of the smaller size of this type of vehicle, an appropriate fuel assembly that allows a user to carrying fuel, with a fuel pump, along with a small number of securely attached tools, can be very useful. 
   Such a fuel assembly must pump fuel into and out of a vehicle, and hold the fuel pump, tools and glow plugs securely, and yet have them readily accessible and permit easy transportation of both the fuel and the equipment thereon. Such a fuel assembly must also allow for the easy pumping of fuel from a fuel container to a vehicle or from the vehicle to the fuel container. Such requirements work against each other. It is very desirable to maximize all advantages, while minimizing the disadvantages. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Among the many objectives of this invention is the provision of a portable fuel assembly for a radio-controlled miniature vehicle adapted to pump fuel into or out of such a vehicle. 
   A further objective of this invention is the provision of a portable fuel assembly which securely holds desired equipment such as tools and spare parts. 
   Yet a further objective of this invention is the provision of a fuel assembly for a radio-controlled vehicle, which is easily transportable. 
   A still further objective of this invention is the provision of a fuel assembly for a radio-controlled vehicle having tools, fuel bottle and spare parts that are readily accessible. 
   Another objective of this invention is the provision of a fuel assembly for a radio-controlled vehicle, which is durable. 
   These and other objectives of the invention (which other objectives become clear by consideration of the specification, claims and drawings as a whole) are met by providing a portable fuel assembly having a holder that attaches to a fuel container and securely holds a fuel pump, at least one tool and at least one spare part. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of the first fuel assembly  100  for a radio-controlled vehicle  110  of this invention especially adapted for use with a radio-controlled vehicle  105 . 
       FIG. 2  depicts an exploded, perspective partial cutaway view of the first fuel assembly  100  of this invention, based on  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  depicts a top plan view of the first fuel assembly  100  of this invention. 
       FIG. 4  depicts a bottom plan view of the first fuel assembly  100  of this invention. 
       FIG. 5  depicts a side view of the first fuel assembly  100  of this invention. 
       FIG. 6  depicts a perspective view of the second fuel assembly  500 . 
       FIG. 7  depicts an end plan view of the second fuel assembly  500  based on  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 8  depicts a perspective view of the second fuel assembly  500  with handle  910  modified. 
       FIG. 9  depicts an end plan view of the second fuel assembly  500  based on  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 10  depicts a block diagram showing the interrelation of platform support  952 , fuel container  954 , fuel pump  956  and tool support assembly  958 . 
   

   Throughout the figures of the drawings, where the same part appears in more than one figure of the drawings, the same number is applied thereto. 
   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The base of a portable fuel assembly securely attaches to a fuel container, which in turn provides a secure foundation for the fuel pump assembly and the tool kit assembly. When a fuel assembly is attached to a fuel container, a first hose from the fuel pump communicates with a fitting attached to the base. The fitting has an aperture that allows fluid to flow through it. The fitting also communicates with a second hose that is inside a fuel container and immersed in fuel. 
   Additionally, a first end of a third hose communicates with the fuel pump and a second end, oppositely disposed from the first end, communicates with the atmosphere. A combination of a fuel pump that communicates with a first hose which communicates with a fitting, which fitting, in turn, communicates with a second hose immersed in the fuel, and the simultaneous communication of the same fuel pump with a third hose with its second end exposed to the atmosphere, allows fuel to be pumped out of a fuel container and into a radio-controlled miniature vehicle. This combination also allows fuel to be pumped out of a radio-controlled miniature vehicle and back into the same fuel container, with the same pump. The fuel pump is reversible. 
   In addition to a portable fuel pump assembly, a tool kit assembly is added for the purpose of securely holding tools and spare parts. Such tools include, but are not limited to a screw driver, a plug wrench, a glow plug igniter, an electric vehicle starter and an engine stopper. Needed spare parts include, but are not limited to, glow plugs. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the construction of the portable fuel assembly is evident. First portable fuel assembly  100  includes two major parts: a fuel container base  110  and a mounting bracket  112 . The fuel container base  110  supports a tool kit assembly  300  and the mounting bracket  112  supports a fuel pump assembly  200 . Base  110  allows for securing of fuel pump assembly  200  and tool kit assembly  300  to circular fuel container  400  and is made of a durable material of any suitable shape. Preferred material for the base is plastic, but other suitable materials, such as wood, metal or ceramic may be used. 
   Adding  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , base  110  has threaded fitting  122  and o-ring  124  which allows base  110  to be secured to cylindrical fuel container  400  by screwing base  110  onto cylindrical fuel container  400  in place of the container&#39;s cap. With the combination of threaded fitting  122  and o-ring  124 , base  110  provides a no-leak seal on cylindrical fuel container  400  and prevents any leakage or spillage of fuel. Base  110  also contains fuel pump bracket  112  which allows fuel pump  210  to be securely attached to base  110  as depicted in  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 . Fuel pump  210  can be either manual with a fuel pump handle  260  or electric, and either single action (can pump fuel in one direction) or dual action (can pump fuel in both directions). 
   Fuel assembly  200  provides for the pumping of fuel. Fuel pump  210  attached to base  110  communicates with first filling end  222  of first filling hose  220  and with first draining end  232  of second draining hose  230 . Second filling end  224 , oppositely disposed from first filling end  222 , of first filling hose  220  communicates with fitting  240 . Fitting  240  contains a fitting aperture  242  which allows fluid to pass through the fitting  240  undisturbed. Fitting  240  also communicates with first suction end  252  of third suction hose  250 . Ideally second suction end  254  of third suction hose  250  is immersed in fuel contained in fuel container  400 . A combination of first filling hose  220  and third suction hose  250  in communication with fitting  240  provides a continuous open passage from fuel in cylindrical fuel container  400  to fuel pump  210 . 
   Further, a combination of fuel pump  210 , first filling hose  220 , second draining hose  230 , fitting  240  and third suction hose  250  allows fuel pump  210  to pump fuel  402  out of fuel container  400  and into another desired fuel container such as a fuel tank  104  in a radio-controlled miniature vehicle  105 . This combination also allows for fuel  402  to be pumped out of a fuel tank  104  and back into the fuel container  400  or some other desired fuel container. 
   Although preferred, a fuel filter  256 , which communicates with second end  254  of third hose  250  as depicted in  FIG. 5 , is not required. Also, fitting  240  preferably has fitting aperture  242 , which allows the second draining end  234  of second draining hose  230  to be placed during transportation as depicted in  FIG. 2 , and to allow any remaining fuel in second hose  230  to drain back into fuel container  400 . 
   Tool kit assembly  300  allows for secure holding and easy access to tools and spare parts. Located on base  110  are one to eight tool apertures  114 , which are sized to accept various tools. Such tools include but are not limited to a plug wrench  140 , an engine stopper  142  and a screw driver  144 . Also located on base  110  are fittings  116 , which allow a glow plug  148  to be securely attached to the base. 
   Located at the end of base  110  oppositely deposed from fuel pump bracket  112  is slot  120 , which is shaped to receive glow plug igniter holder  130  and electric starter clip  136 . Glow plug igniter  146  fits inside glow plug igniter holder  130  in order to facilitate its attachment to the tool kit assembly  300 . Electric starter clip  136  is a U-shaped flexible strip attached to the side of electric vehicle starter  138  to facilitate its attachment to the tool kit assembly  300 . 
   A second embodiment of a portable fuel assembly  500  is depicted in  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 . Such a fuel assembly  500  attaches to a handle  910  of a rectangular fuel container  900  rather than screwing onto the fuel container pouring spout, such as cylindrical fuel container  400 , in the place of the cap. In this manner, a fuel assembly  500  can be attached to a fuel container  900 , when attaching the fuel assembly by a threaded fitting is not desired. 
   The second fuel assembly  500 , as depicted in  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 , serves the same functions as the first fuel assembly  100  depicted in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 . However, platform base  510  is attached to and above container handle  904  of the rectangular fuel container  900  with platform bracket  518  below handle  904 . If desired, platform handle  910  may have therein finger slots  912  in order to assist the gripping of the container handle  904 . 
   Platform base  510  and platform bracket  518  secure second fuel assembly  500  to rectangular fuel container  900  with screws  530 . Also, a threaded cap  710  is provided with a cap fitting  740 , which communicates with first block hose  720  and third block hose  750  to allow fuel pump  710  to pump fuel  902  out of rectangular fuel container  900  and into a desired container such as a fuel tank  104  radio-controlled miniature vehicle  105 , as in  FIG. 1 . 
   Comparing  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 7 , the main difference is seen in the type of container. Cylindrical fuel container  400  and rectangular fuel container  900  provide different structures for the mounting of a device thereon. Cylindrical fuel container  400  has a threaded cap  402 , which is replaced with first pump assembly  100 . Rectangular fuel container  900  includes a top handle  904  for mounting second fuel assembly  500  thereon. 
     FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9  show the second fuel assembly  500  of  FIG. 6  with handle  910  modified. More particularly, platform handle  910  has finger slots  912  therein. Finger slots  912  in gripping member  914  of platform handle  910  receive the fingers (not shown) of a person (not shown) in order to facilitate the carrying of second fuel assembly  500 . 
   With end apertures  916  in arc ends  918  of gripping member  914 , attachment to handle supports  920  of second fuel assembly  500  is accomplished with handle screws  922  in a standard fashion. 
     FIG. 10  depicts a block diagram of a fuel clamp assembly  950  adaptable for attaching platform support  952  thereto. With platform support  952  secured to fuel supply  954  through fuel pump  956  and tool support assembly  958  container pump assembly to basic fuel supply  954 . 
   This application—taken as a whole with the abstract, specification, claims, and drawings being combined—provides sufficient information for a person having ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention as disclosed and claimed herein. Any measures necessary to practice this invention are well within the skill of a person having ordinary skill in this art after that person has made a careful study of this disclosure. 
   Because of this disclosure and solely because of this disclosure, modification of this method and device can become clear to a person having ordinary skill in this particular art. Such modifications are clearly covered by this disclosure.