Patent ID: 8439421

Claim:
A fuel lid apparatus for use with an associated vehicle having an outside surface with an opening, a fuel filling pipe used to communicate fuel from the opening to a fuel tank and a panel defining the outside surface and the opening, the fuel lid apparatus comprising: a lid; a linkage assembly comprising first and second linkage members each having a first portion pivotally attachable to the associated vehicle and a second portion pivotally attachable to the lid; a support structure having a first portion that is attachable to the panel and a second portion that is attachable to the fuel filling pipe, the support structure defining an inner space into which an end of the fuel filling pipe extends when the fuel lid apparatus is attached to the associated vehicle; wherein the second portions of the first and second linkage members are pivotally attachable to the support structure; wherein the lid is movable about the pivotal attachments, when the fuel lid apparatus is attached to the associated vehicle, between: (1) a first closed condition where the lid substantially closes the opening preventing access to the fuel filling pipe through the opening; and, (2) a second open condition where the lid provides access to the fuel filling pipe through the opening; and, wherein the lid is positioned substantially within the inner space of the support structure when the fuel lid apparatus is in the second open condition.