Fuel cap assembly for a fuel tank of a vehicle

Abstract

A fuel cap assembly for use with a fuel filler neck of a fuel tank is provided that includes a housing for removably securing and sealing the fuel cap assembly to the filler neck of the fuel tank, an exterior cover mounted to the housing, the housing being provided with a flange extending downwardly from the upper surface of the cover, and a retainer ring being rotatably coupled to an inner periphery of the flange of the exterior cover, a tether being connected to the retainer ring.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A fuel cap assembly for use with a fuel filler neck of a fuel tank, the fuel cap assembly comprising: 
 a housing for removably securing and sealing the fuel cap assembly to the filler neck of the fuel tank;    an exterior cover mounted to the housing, the cover being provided with a flange extending downwardly from an upper surface of the cover;    a retainer ring being rotatably coupled to an inner periphery of said flange; and    a tether connected to the retainer ring.    
     
     
         2 . The fuel cap assembly of  claim 1  wherein a first projection is formed on the inner periphery of the flange of the exterior cover, and a second projection is formed on an outer periphery of the retainer ring, the second projection being connected to the first projection such that the retainer ring is rotatably coupled to the inner periphery of the flange of the exterior cover.  
     
     
         3 . A fuel cap assembly for use with a fuel filler neck of a fuel tank, comprising: 
 a cover having a periphery and an inside and an outside, said cover including a handle portion on the outside to facilitate gripping the fuel cap assembly;    a housing centrally extending from the inside of the cover, configured to mate with the fuel filler neck;    an annular flange extending from the periphery of the cover toward the inside;    an inward projection formed around the annular flange, projecting inward toward the housing;    a rotatable ring defining an outward facing annular channel, wherein said channel mates with and is captured by said inward flange projection such that the ring rotates freely around said flange; and    a tether mounted on said rotatable ring.