Cap device and tether mechanism

Abstract

A tether mechanism includes a rotating ring rotatably supported in a ring attachment portion formed along the outside edge of a fuel cap, a storage portion formed on the outside portion of the rotating ring, and a linkage member extendably and retractably portion disposed in the storage portion. The linkage member includes a stored portion integrally formed at one end of a linkage member body of elongated cord shape, and having a stretchable and contractable spring, and is extendable from and retractable into a storage bay by elastic deformation of the spring through force applied to the linkage member body in the lengthwise direction.

1 . A cap device equipped with a tether mechanism for linking a cap used to open and close a tank opening to a peripheral vehicle body member of the tank opening, wherein the tether mechanism comprises: 
 a rotating ring that is rotatably attached to a ring attachment portion formed along an outer circumference of the cap;    a storage portion that is formed on an outside portion of the rotating ring, and has a storage bay; and    a linkage member that has (i) a cord-like flexible linkage member body with a first end and second end, (ii) a stored portion integrally formed at the first end and stored in the storage bay, and (iii) a vehicle body-supported end formed at the second end and connectable to the vehicle body member,    wherein the stored portion is configured to pay out the linkage member body from the storage bay, when force is applied to the linkage member body in a lengthwise direction of the linkage member body.    
   
   
       2 . The cap device according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 the stored portion includes (i) a spring stretchable and contractable within the storage bay by force in the lengthwise direction, and (ii) a fastening portion disposed at an end of the spring and fastened to the storage portion.    
   
   
       3 . The cap device according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 the storage portion includes a storage portion-side stopper disposed on an inside wall of the storage bay, and    the stored portion includes a stored portion-side stopper that comes into abutment against the storage portion-side stopper to restrict the stored portion from being released by more than a prescribed length from the storage bay.    
   
   
       4 . The cap device according to  claim 3 , wherein 
 the stored portion includes (i) a spring stretchable and contractable within the storage bay by force in the lengthwise direction, and (ii) a fastening portion disposed at an end of the spring and fastened to the storage portion, the spring being configured to be disposed between the stored portion-side stopper and the fastening portion.    
   
   
       5 . The cap device according to  claim 3 , wherein 
 the stored portion-side stopper is a spherical shape that is moved through the storage bay by force in the lengthwise direction.    
   
   
       6 . The cap device according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 the stored portion is formed with a non-circular cross section so as to restrict rotation within the storage bay.    
   
   
       7 . The cap device according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 the rotating ring includes an arcuate portion except the storage portion, the arcuate portion being configured to be attachable to the ring attachment portion by elastic deformation.    
   
   
       8 . A tether mechanism for linking a cap used to open and close a tank opening to a peripheral vehicle body member of the tank opening, the tether mechanism comprising: 
 a rotating ring that is rotatably attached to a ring attachment portion formed along an outer circumference of the cap;    a storage portion that is formed on an outside portion of the rotating ring, and has a storage bay; and    a linkage member that has (i) a cord-like flexible linkage member body with a first end and second end, (ii) a stored portion integrally formed at the first end and stored in the storage bay, and (iii) a vehicle body-supported end formed at the second end and connectable to the vehicle body member,    wherein the stored portion is configured to pay out the linkage member body from the storage bay, when force is applied to the linkage member body in a lengthwise direction of the linkage member body ( 37 ).