Anti-fuel theft device and method therefor

Abstract

An anti-fuel theft device for a fuel tank is disclosed. The device has a body member that has a channel that covers the filler tube and cap assembly of the fuel tank, a ring member coupled to a top portion of the body member, a lid assembly coupled to and forming a cover over a top portion of the ring member, a hinging mechanism coupled to the ring member and to the lid assembly for pivoting the lid assembly over the ring member, and a locking mechanism coupled to the lid assembly. Flanges on the lid members may form a collar over the lip member to prevent a person from prying the lid members off of the device. The device may also have a guard device to prevent tampering of a locking device that may be used to lock the lid assembly.

1 . An anti-fuel theft device for a fuel tank comprising:
 a body member having a channel to receive at least a portion of a filler tube and cap assembly of the fuel tank;   a ring member coupled to a top portion of the body member;   a lid assembly coupled to and forming a cover over a top portion of the ring member;   a hinging mechanism coupled to the ring member and to the lid assembly for pivoting the lid assembly over the ring member; and   a locking mechanism coupled to the lid assembly.   
   
   
       2 . The anti-fuel theft device of  claim 1  wherein the channel of the body member has a height and a width greater than a height and a width of both the filler tube and cap assembly together. 
   
   
       3 . The anti-fuel theft device of  claim 1  wherein the body member is a cylindrical tube and wherein the ring member is circular and has the same longitudinal axis as the body member. 
   
   
       4 . The anti-fuel theft device of  claim 3  wherein the ring member comprises a lip member that extends over a top edge of the body member. 
   
   
       5 . The ant-fuel theft device of  claim 4  wherein the lip member is formed by an inner radius of the ring member that is approximately equal to an inner radius of the cylindrical body member and by an outer radius of the ring member that is greater than an outer radius of the cylindrical body member. 
   
   
       6 . The anti-fuel theft device for a fuel tank of  claim 1  wherein the lid assembly comprises a first lid member and a second lid member, that when positioned together, form the cover over the ring member. 
   
   
       7 . The anti-fuel theft device for a fuel tank of  claim 1  wherein the cover formed by the lid assembly, the ring member, and the body member all have the same longitudinal central axis. 
   
   
       8 . The anti-fuel theft device of a fuel tank of  claim 6  further comprising a flange coupled to a bottom perimeter of each lid member, wherein the flanges form a collar that engages and covers the ring member when the lid members are positioned together. 
   
   
       9 . The anti-fuel theft device for a fuel tank of  claim 6  wherein the locking mechanism comprises:
 a first locking tab that has an opening formed therethrough and that is coupled to a top outer face of the first lid member; and   a corresponding second locking tab that has an opening formed therethrough and that is coupled to a top outer face of the second lid member;   wherein the first locking tab and the second locking tab are approximately planer with each other and the openings are in axial alignment when the lid members are positioned together.   
   
   
       10 . The anti-fuel theft device for a fuel tank of  claim 6  further comprising a guard device coupled to a top surface of the lid assembly to prevent tampering with a locking device that secures the locking tabs together. 
   
   
       11 . The anti-fuel theft device for a fuel tank of  claim 6  wherein the hinging mechanism comprises:
 a first hinge tab member that has an opening formed therethrough and that is coupled to a portion of the first lid member;   a second hinge tab member that has an opening formed therethrough and that is coupled to a bottom outer flange surface of the second lid member; and   a rod member that passes through the openings in the hinge tab members and that is coupled to the hinge tab members.   
   
   
       12 . The anti-fuel theft device for a fuel tank of  claim 1  wherein the hinging mechanism has an axis of rotation that is parallel to a center axis of the body member and a center axis of the ring member. 
   
   
       13 . An anti-fuel theft device for a fuel tank comprising:
 a cylindrical body member that has a channel formed therein to receive both a filler tube and cap assembly of the fuel tank;   a circular ring member coupled to a top portion of the body member, the ring member having a lip member that extends over a top edge of the body member;   a lid assembly comprising a first semi-circular lid member and a second semi-circular lid member, that when positioned together, form a circular cover over a top portion of the ring member;   a hinging mechanism coupled to the lid assembly and to the lip member and for pivoting the lid members over the ring member; and   a locking mechanism coupled to the lid assembly.   
   
   
       14 . The anti-fuel theft device of a fuel tank of  claim 13  further comprising a semi-circular flange coupled to a bottom perimeter of each semi-circular lid member, wherein the flanges form a collar that engages and covers the lip member of the ring member when the lid members are positioned together. 
   
   
       15 . The anti-fuel theft device for a fuel tank of  claim 13  wherein the hinging mechanism comprises:
 an opening formed through the lip member of the ring member;   a first hinge tab member that has an opening formed therethrough and that is coupled to a portion of the first lid member;   a second hinge tab member that has an opening formed therethrough and that is coupled to a bottom outer flange surface of the second lid member; and   a rod member that passes through and is coupled to the openings in the hinge tab members and the opening in the lip member.   
   
   
       16 . The anti-theft device for a fuel tank of  claim 15  further comprising a spacer ring coupled between the hinge tab members and wherein the rod passes through the spacer ring and the openings in the hinge tab members. 
   
   
       17 . The anti-fuel theft device for a fuel tank of  claim 13  wherein the locking mechanism comprises:
 a first locking tab that has an opening formed therethrough and that is coupled to a top outer face of the first lid member and coupled in a central area along a flat edge of the first lid member; and   a corresponding second locking tab that has an opening formed therethrough and that is coupled to a top outer face of the second lid member and coupled in a central area along a flat edge of the second lid member; and   wherein the first locking tab and the second locking tab are flush with each other and the openings are in axial alignment when the lid members are positioned together.   
   
   
       18 . The anti-fuel theft device for a fuel tank of  claim 17  further comprising a circular guard device coupled to a top surface of one of the lid members to prevent tampering with a locking device that secures the locking tabs together and wherein the guard device is circular in shape and has an opening to expose a keyhole of the locking device. 
   
   
       19 . The anti-fuel theft device for a fuel tank of  claim 13  wherein the cover formed by the lid assembly, the ring member, and the body member all have the same longitudinal central axis and wherein the hinging mechanism has an axis of rotation that is parallel to the central axis of the lid assembly, the ring member, and the body member. 
   
   
       20 . An anti-fuel theft device for a fuel tank comprising:
 a cylindrical body member that has a channel formed therein to receive both a filler tube and cap assembly of the fuel tank;   a circular ring member coupled to a top portion of the body member, the ring member having a lip member that extends over a top edge of the body member;   a lid assembly comprising a first semi-circular lid member and a second semi-circular lid member, that when positioned together, form a circular cover over a top portion of the ring member;   a flange coupled to a bottom perimeter of each lid member, wherein the flanges form a collar that engages and covers the ring member when the lid members are positioned together;   a hinging mechanism coupling the lid assembly to the lip member and for pivoting the lid members over the ring member, wherein the hinging mechanism comprises:
 an opening formed through the lip member of the ring member; 
 a first hinge tab member that has an opening formed therethrough and that is coupled to a portion of the first lid member; 
 a second hinge tab member that has an opening formed therethrough and that is coupled to a bottom outer flange surface of the second lid member; and 
 a rod member that passes through and is coupled to the openings in the hinge tab members and the opening in the lip member; and 
   a locking mechanism coupled to the lid assembly, wherein the locking mechanism comprises:
 a first locking tab that has an opening formed therethrough and that is coupled to a top outer face of the first lid member and coupled in a central area along a flat edge of the first lid member; and 
 a corresponding second locking tab that has an opening formed therethrough and that is coupled to a top outer face of the second lid member and coupled in a central area along a flat edge of the second lid member; 
 wherein the first locking tab and the second locking tab are flush with each other and the openings are in axial alignment when the lid members are positioned together; and 
   a locking device that passes through the aligned openings of the locking tabs to secure the locking tabs together.