Patent ID: 8919602

Claim:
A protective shield for use on a fuel gas tank for a vehicle, wherein the tank is of a type having at one end thereof a generally cylindrical flange affixed thereon and having a side wall of a predetermined outer diameter and surrounding a tank valve, the flange having at least one valve access opening in the side wall thereof; and the protective shield comprising a generally cylindrical wall of a yieldable material with a predetermined inside diameter dimensioned and configured to fit snugly onto said cylindrical flange of the fuel tank and being open at a lower end thereof, and a window affixed non-removably into an upper end of the cylindrical wall, the window being formed at least in part of a rigid transparent material to permit viewing of the tank valve but configured to block any spray exiting the tank valve from passing out the upper end of the protective shield, the generally cylindrical wall of the protective shield having at least a first valve access opening therein adapted to align with the at least one valve access opening of the generally cylindrical flange side wall, such that during a fuel hose fitting operation, the tank valve is visible to an operator through the window, but the window will protect the operator from any spray of liquid fuel which may escape during the fitting operation.