Patent ID: 7415997

Claim:
A vehicle fuel system comprising: a fuel tank; a fuel fill pipe in flow communication with said tank, said fill pipe having a first opening at an end thereof configured for receiving a fuel supply nozzle therein; and a substantially annular flexible seal disposed at said first opening for engaging a nozzle inserted in said fill pipe, said flexible seal substantially surrounding said first opening at an edge thereof without entirely closing said first opening so as to thereby define a second opening wherein said second opening is axially aligned with said first opening, said flexible seal adapted to flex inwardly into said fuel fill pipe when engaged by the nozzle to create a seal against the nozzle, and said flexible seal being further adapted to flex outwardly with respect to said fuel fill pipe to break the seal against the nozzle under certain conditions; said seal comprising first and second seal bodies secured one against another at a terminal end of said fill pipe, said bodies each having a substantially annular outer ring and a plurality of tabs extending inwardly from said outer ring thereof, adjacent tabs of said plurality of tabs on each said body being spaced from each other, said first and second seal bodies being arranged with respect to each other against said terminal end of said fill pipe such that said tabs of one said seal body overlie said spaces defined between said tabs of the other said seal body.