Patent ID: 7185938

Claim:
A fuel door housing for an automobile, comprising: a hollow body of plastic material adapted to be inserted in an opening of the automobile body and which includes a bottom and side walls, the bottom having an opening or a connecting pipe for the connection to a conduit leading to a tank; a flap which is linked to a side wall of the body though a hinge; a thrust spring which biases the flap toward an opened position; a locking element positioned inside said casing and movable between a locking position and an unlocking position, wherein in the locking position it cooperates with a catching element on the back side of the flap in the closed position of the flap; and an actuating element for the locking element for placing the locking element into the unlocking position; wherein, said actuating element includes an electromagnetic drive, a switch element for activating said drive, said switch element being actuable by a projection defined by the catch portion which is formed at an arm of the hinge on the back side of the flap through the wall portion; wherein the locking element is moved temporarily in the direction of said unlocking position upon a movement of said flap towards its closed position, and said locking element completely engages said catching element upon arrival of said flap at its closed position; said casing is formed at an inner side of said body, said wall portion is integrally formed with said body, and a locking portion of said locking element sealingly extending through said wall portion from within said casing.