Cap for detachably covering outlet opening of fuel gas valve

Abstract

A cap is mounted to an outlet opening of a fuel gas valve to cover the opening. The cap includes two portions that are both jointed to a splitting strip by a weakened hinge so as to selectively move from an unlocked and spaced condition to a locked condition where the cap is prevented from moving in an axial direction with respect to the outlet opening. The cap has a locking device having mated members formed on the two portions respectively, which are engageable with each other to secure the two portions in the locked condition. The splitting strip can be torn from the first and second portions to split the first and second portions for detaching the cap from the outlet opening of the fuel gas valve.

1 . A cap adapted to mount to and cover an outlet opening of a fuel gas valve, comprising:
 first and second portions each comprising a flat plate having a first edge and a second edge, the first edges being abuttingly engageable with each other to form a continuous surface for covering the outlet opening of the fuel gas valve, a wall being formed along the second edge of each flat plate of the portions and substantially perpendicular to the flat plate, each wall having a top edge forming an inward-extending flange, each wall having first and second ends;   a splitting strip arranged between first ends of the walls and connected to the first ends of the walls with weakened portions serving as hinges to allow the first and second portions to move with respect to each other from an unlocked condition where the first and second portions are opened away from each other to a locked condition where the first and second portions are closed together and to allow tearing of the splitting strip from the walls; and   locking means that secures the first and second portions together when the first and second portions are in the locked condition;   wherein the flanges of the walls of the first and second portions are configured to surround, at least partly, the outlet opening of the valve and engageable by a rib formed on an outside surface of the outlet opening when the first and second portions are in the locked condition, so as to prevent movement of the cap with respect to the valve.   
   
   
       2 . The cap as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the weakened portions comprise an indentation between each wall and the splitting strip. 
   
   
       3 . The cap as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the splitting strip comprises an expanded extension beyond the walls to serve as a finger holding tab by which fingers of a user firmly grip to tear the splitting strip. 
   
   
       4 . The cap as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the inward-extending flanges of the walls form a complete circle when the first and second portions are secured together in the locked condition. 
   
   
       5 . The cap as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the locking means comprises a first device provided on the second end of the wall of first portion and a second device provided on the second end of the wall of first portion second portion, the second device being engageable with first device to secure the first and second portions together. 
   
   
       6 . The cap as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the first device comprises hooks and the second device comprises pawls that are engageable with the hooks to secure the first and second portions together. 
   
   
       7 . The cap as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the first device comprises a first extension projecting from the second end of the wall of the first portion in a circumferential direction, the first extension having a free end on which two hooks are formed for engagement with the pawls of the second device. 
   
   
       8 . The cap as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the second device comprises at least one side member perpendicularly extending from the wall of the second portion at the second end of the wall and a cross member supported by the side member and spaced from the wall of the second portion to delimit an entry space for the first extension of the first device, the cross member having an inside surface opposing an outside surface of the wall, projections being formed on at least one of the an inside surface of the cross member and an outside surface of the wall to serve as pawls for engagement with the hooks of the first device. 
   
   
       9 . The cap as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the pawls have an inclination serving as a camming surface to facilitate engagement of the hooks with the pawls. 
   
   
       10 . The cap as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions are both provided with an arm of force to allow easy application of an external force for closing the first and second portions together. 
   
   
       11 . The cap as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the first and second devices of the locking means are both provided with an arm of force to allow easy application of an external force for closing the first and second portions together. 
   
   
       12 . The cap as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the first and second devices of the locking means are both provided with an arm of force to allow easy application of an external force for closing the first and second portions together, and wherein the arm of force of the first portion comprises a second extension projecting from the second end of the wall of the first portion in a radial direction and the arm of force of the second portion comprises an extension from the side member of the second device.