Flush-mount fuel cap with valve

Abstract

The present invention provides a fuel cap adapted to close an inlet of a fuel tank. The fuel cap includes a body portion adapted to engage the inlet of the fuel tank. The body portion defines a central axis. The fuel cap also includes a valve coupled to the body portion. The valve selectively allows an airflow through the body portion. The fuel cap further includes a cap cover coupled to the body portion and movable along the central axis relative to the body portion.

1 . A fuel cap adapted to close an inlet of a fuel tank, the fuel cap comprising:
 a body portion adapted to engage the inlet of the fuel tank, the body portion defining a central axis;   a valve coupled to the body portion, the valve selectively allowing an airflow through the body portion; and   a cap cover coupled to the body portion and movable along the central axis relative to the body portion.   
     
     
         2 . The fuel cap of  claim 1 , wherein the body portion includes a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the valve is positioned adjacent the first end, and wherein the cap cover is coupled to the second end of the body portion. 
     
     
         3 . The fuel cap of  claim 1 , further comprising a conduit coupled to the body portion and positioned between the valve and the cap cover, wherein the airflow passes through the conduit before passing through the valve. 
     
     
         4 . The fuel cap of  claim 3 , wherein the conduit includes an inlet through which the airflow passes to enter the conduit, and wherein the inlet is positioned above an upper surface of the body portion. 
     
     
         5 . The fuel cap of  claim 1 , wherein the valve selectively allows the airflow through the body portion in only a single direction. 
     
     
         6 . The fuel cap of  claim 1 , wherein the body portion is a first body portion, and wherein the fuel cap further includes a second body portion coupled to the first body portion and movable along the central axis relative to the first body portion. 
     
     
         7 . The fuel cap of  claim 6 , further comprising a spring positioned in the first body portion, wherein the cap cover is coupled to the second body portion and is movable with the second body portion along the central axis against the bias of the spring. 
     
     
         8 . The fuel cap of  claim 1 , further comprising a tortuous passageway through at least one of the cap cover and the body portion, wherein the airflow passes through the tortuous passageway before passing through the valve. 
     
     
         9 . The fuel cap of  claim 8 , further comprising a first cylindrical wall extending from the cap cover and a second cylindrical wall extending from the body portion concentric with the first cylindrical wall, wherein the tortuous passageway is formed between the first and second cylindrical walls. 
     
     
         10 . A fuel tank assembly comprising:
 a fuel tank including a fuel inlet in an upper surface of the fuel tank; and   a fuel cap engageable with the fuel inlet, the fuel cap including a valve for selectively allowing an airflow through the fuel cap;   wherein an upper portion of the fuel cap is substantially aligned with the upper surface of the fuel tank when the fuel cap is engaged with the fuel inlet, and wherein the valve is positioned below the upper surface of the fuel tank when the fuel cap is engaged with the fuel inlet.   
     
     
         11 . The fuel tank assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the fuel cap includes
 a body portion engageable with the fuel inlet, the body portion defining a central axis; and   a cap cover coupled to the body portion and movable along the central axis relative to the body portion, wherein the valve is coupled to the body portion and selectively allows the airflow through the body portion.   
     
     
         12 . The fuel tank assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the body portion includes a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the valve is positioned adjacent the first end, and wherein the cap cover is coupled to the second end of the body portion. 
     
     
         13 . The fuel tank assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising a conduit coupled to the body portion and positioned between the valve and the cap cover, wherein the airflow passes through the conduit before passing through the valve. 
     
     
         14 . The fuel tank assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the conduit includes an inlet through which the airflow passes to enter the conduit, and wherein the inlet is positioned above an upper surface of the body portion. 
     
     
         15 . The fuel tank assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising a tortuous passageway through at least one of the cap cover and the body portion, wherein the airflow passes through the tortuous passageway before passing through the valve. 
     
     
         16 . The fuel tank assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising a first cylindrical wall extending from the cap cover and a second cylindrical wall extending from the body portion concentric with the first cylindrical wall, wherein the tortuous passageway is formed between the first and second cylindrical walls. 
     
     
         17 . The fuel tank assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the valve selectively allows the airflow through the fuel cap in only a single direction. 
     
     
         18 . The fuel tank assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the fuel cap includes
 a first body portion engageable with the fuel inlet, the first body portion defining a central axis;   a second body portion coupled to the first body portion and movable along the central axis relative to the first body portion; and   a cap cover coupled to the second body portion and movable along the central axis with the second body portion.   
     
     
         19 . The fuel tank assembly of  claim 18 , further comprising a spring positioned in the first body portion, wherein the cap cover and the second body portion are movable along the central axis against the bias of the spring. 
     
     
         20 . A fuel cap adapted to close an inlet of a fuel tank, the fuel cap comprising:
 a body portion adapted to engage the inlet of the fuel tank, the body portion defining a central axis;   a movable portion coupled to the body portion and movable along the central axis relative to the body portion, the movable portion having a passageway therethrough; and   a valve coupled to the body portion, the valve selectively allowing an airflow through the body portion and the passageway of the movable portion.   
     
     
         21 . The fuel cap of  claim 20 , further comprising a cap cover coupled to the movable portion, wherein the cap cover is movable with the movable portion along the central axis relative to the body portion. 
     
     
         22 . The fuel cap of  claim 20 , further comprising a conduit coupled to the body portion and positioned within the passageway of the movable portion, wherein the airflow passes through the conduit before passing through the valve. 
     
     
         23 . The fuel cap of  claim 22 , wherein the conduit includes an inlet through which the airflow passes to enter the conduit, and wherein the inlet is positioned above an upper surface of the body portion. 
     
     
         24 . The fuel cap of  claim 20 , wherein the valve selectively allows the airflow through the body portion and the passageway of the movable portion in only a single direction.