Fuel cap device

Abstract

The fuel cap is disposed at the rear part of the automobile, and is furnished with a casing main body, the cover having an operating portion, and a gasket. Where an external force directing from a rear part to a front part is received at a position which is at an outer peripheral edge of the operating portion and at a rearmost part, the operating portion is determined to be at the closing position such that the operating portion transmits a moment turning in the closing direction to the closer.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A fuel cap device adapted for an automobile body comprising: 
 an inlet connected to a fuel tank,    a substantially cylindrical closer for closing said inlet, and    an operating portion formed on the upper part of said closer,    wherein said operation portion is turned from a state of inserting said closer to said inlet, to thereby bring said closer to an engaged position with said inlet, and    wherein said operating portion is positioned such that said operating portion transmits to said closer a torque turning in the closing direction when an external force exerting from the rear part of the automobile to the front part is received at an outer peripheral edge of said operating portion situated in a rearmost part of the automobile.    
     
     
         2 . A fuel cap device according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein said operating portion comprises a projection passing through a center of the upper part of said closer and bridging in a radius direction, and    the longitudinal direction of said operating portion is set substantially vertical when said closer is inserted into said inlet, and turned in an angle more than 90° and less than 180° so that the closer is in the engaged state with said inlet.    
     
     
         3 . A fuel cap device according to  claim 1 , 
 said closer including a cover portion on which said operation portion is formed, a closer main body for closing said inlet, and a torque mechanism for connecting said cover and said closer main body so as to rotate relatively therebetween,    wherein said cover portion and said closer main body are retained having a predetermined relative angle with each other after said closer closes said inlet.    
     
     
         4 . A fuel cap device according to  claim 1 , 
 said closer including a cover portion on which said operation portion is formed, a closer main body for closing said inlet, and a torque mechanism for connecting said cover and said closer main body,    said torque mechanism including 
 a cover side retaining part provided in said cover portion,  
 a plate side retaining part provided in a torque plate, retaining with said cover side retaining part,  
 a guiding part provided in said torque plate, accommodating a main body side retaining part,  
 said main body side rib provided on said closer main body and transmitting to said closer main body a torque subjected to said operating portion,  
 wherein said cover side retaining part and said plate side retaining part are provided so as to have 
 a retained state where said cover side retaining part are retained with said plate side retaining part supported by said main body side rib when a torque lower than a first predetermined torque is subjected in said operating portion in the closing direction of said closer,  
 a first switching state where said cover side retaining part moves beyond said plate side retaining part supported by said main body side rib, when the first predetermined or higher torque is subjected to said operating portion in the closing direction of said closer, and  
 a second switching state where said cover side retaining part moves beyond the plate side retaining part released from said main body side rib, when a second predetermined torque or higher is subjected to said operating portion in the opening direction of said closer.  
 
   
     
     
         5 . A fuel cap device according to  claim 4 , 
 wherein said first predetermined torque is higher than said second predetermined torque.    
     
     
         6 . A fuel cap device according to  claim 4 , 
 said torque mechanism further including means for urging said cover portion and said closer main body against a relative rotation therebetween.    
     
     
         7 . A fuel cap device according to  claim 6 , 
 wherein said urging means provides a torque less than said second predetermined torque in the opening direction of said closer, so that said cover portion and said closer main body are retained having a predetermined relative angle with each other after said closer closes said inlet.    
     
     
         8 . A fuel cap device according to  claim 6 , 
 wherein said urging means provides said second predetermined torque or higher in the opening direction of said closer, so that said cover portion returns to the initial relative position with respect to said closer main body after said closer closes the inlet.    
     
     
         9 . An automobile body comprising: 
 an inlet connected to a fuel tank,    a substantially cylindrical closer for closing said inlet, and    an operating portion formed on the upper part of said closer,    wherein said operation portion is turned from a state of inserting said closer to said inlet, to thereby bring said closer to an engaged position with said inlet, and    wherein said operating portion is positioned such that said operating portion transmits to said closer a torque turning in the closing direction when an external force exerting from the rear part of the automobile to the front part is received at an outer peripheral edge of said operating portion situated in a rearmost part of the automobile.