Capless refueling system

Abstract

A capless refueling assembly is provided that includes a retaining base and first and second doors. The retaining base has a fuel nozzle opening formed therethrough. The first door is pivotally secured to the retaining base, such that the first door covers a first portion of the fuel nozzle opening in a closed position. The second door is also pivotally secured to the retaining base, such that the second door covers a second portion of the fuel nozzle opening in the closed position. The first and second doors oppose one another and are configured to close the fuel nozzle opening in said closed position. The first and second doors are configured to pivot away from one another to open the fuel nozzle opening when a fuel nozzle is urged into the first and second doors.

1 . A capless refueling assembly comprising:
 a retaining base having a fuel nozzle opening;   a first door pivotally secured to said retaining base, said first door covering a first portion of said fuel nozzle opening in a closed position; and   a second door pivotally secured to said retaining base, said second door covering a second portion of said fuel nozzle opening in said closed position, wherein said first and second doors oppose one another and are configured to close said fuel nozzle opening in said closed position, and wherein said first and second doors are configured to pivot away from one another to open said fuel nozzle opening when a fuel nozzle is urged into said first and second doors.   
   
   
       2 . The capless refueling assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second doors are configured to pivot through a plane that is parallel to a plane that contains said fuel nozzle opening. 
   
   
       3 . The capless refueling assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a spring having first and second straight ends integrally connected to a coiled loop, wherein said first end and second ends exert inwardly directed forces into said first and second doors, respectively. 
   
   
       4 . The capless refueling assembly of  claim 3 , said retaining base further comprises a door pivoting post having a ridge, said coiled loop comprising a straightened coil, wherein said first and second doors and said coiled loop are pivotally secured around said door pivoting post, and wherein said straightened coil abuts against said ridge to prevent said spring from dislodging from said door pivoting post. 
   
   
       5 . The capless refueling assembly of  claim 1 , each of said first and second doors comprising a plurality of ribs separated by gaps, wherein each of said plurality of ribs curves toward a bottom of said retaining base. 
   
   
       6 . The capless refueling assembly of  claim 5 , wherein a height of each of said plurality of ribs is greatest at an outer edge and shortest at an inner edge. 
   
   
       7 . The capless refueling assembly of  claim 5 , wherein outer edges of each of said plurality of ribs are integrally connected to a beam. 
   
   
       8 . The capless refueling assembly of  claim 1 , said retaining base further comprising a plurality of nozzle guiding protuberances positioned around said fuel nozzle opening. 
   
   
       9 . The capless refueling assembly of  claim 1 , said retaining base further comprising a first barb extending toward at least one of said first and second doors, at least one of said first and second doors comprising a second barb extending toward said retaining base, wherein said first and second barbs abut one another preventing said first and second doors from rocking with respect to said retaining base. 
   
   
       10 . The capless refueling assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a cover positioned over said retaining base. 
   
   
       11 . The capless refueling assembly of  claim 10 , said cover comprising a shroud that assists in securing said first and second doors to said retaining base. 
   
   
       12 . The capless refueling assembly of  claim 11 , said shroud comprising an angled outer surface configured to guide a fuel nozzle toward said fuel nozzle opening. 
   
   
       13 . The capless refueling assembly of  claim 10 , said cover further comprising a plurality of bracing walls that prevent said retaining base from rotating with respect to said cover. 
   
   
       14 . A capless refueling system for a vehicle, the system being configured to allow fluid dispensed from a fuel nozzle to pass into the vehicle, the system comprising:
 a filler tube connected to a fuel tank; and   a capless assembly secured to said filler tube, said capless assembly comprising:
 a retaining base having a fuel nozzle opening that provides a fluid path to said filler tube; 
 two opposed doors pivotally secured to said retaining base, said doors covering said fuel nozzle opening in a closed position, said doors being configured to pivot away from one another to open said fuel nozzle opening when the fuel nozzle is urged into said doors. 
   
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein doors are configured to pivot through a plane that is parallel to a plane that contains said fuel nozzle opening. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising a spring exerting resistive forces into said doors. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 14 , each of said doors comprising a plurality of ribs separated by gaps, wherein each of said plurality of ribs curves toward a bottom of said retaining base, wherein a height of each of said plurality of ribs is greatest at an outer edge and shortest at an inner edge. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 14 , said retaining base further comprising a plurality of nozzle guiding protuberances positioned around said fuel nozzle opening. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising a cover positioned over said retaining base, said cover comprising: (i) a shroud that assists in securing said doors to said retaining base, said shroud comprising an angled outer surface configured to guide the fuel nozzle toward said fuel nozzle opening and (ii) at least one bracing wall that prevents said retaining base from rotating with respect to said cover. 
   
   
       20 . A capless refueling assembly configured to allow fluid dispensed from a fuel nozzle to pass into a vehicle, the capless refueling assembly comprising:
 a retaining base having a door pivoting post with a ridge and a fuel nozzle opening within a nozzle plane, a plurality of nozzle guiding protuberances being positioned around said fuel nozzle opening;   a first door pivotally secured to said retaining base, said first door covering a first portion of said fuel nozzle opening in a closed position;   a second door pivotally secured to said retaining base, said second door covering a second portion of said fuel nozzle opening in said closed position, wherein said first and second doors oppose one another and are configured to close said fuel nozzle opening in said closed position, wherein said first and second doors are configured to pivot away from one another to open said fuel nozzle opening when the fuel nozzle is urged into said first and second doors, wherein said first and second doors are configured to pivot through a plane that is parallel to said nozzle plane, each of said first and second doors comprising a plurality of ribs separated by gaps, wherein each of said plurality of ribs curves toward a bottom of said retaining base and a height of each of said plurality of ribs is greatest at an outer edge and shortest at an inner edge;   a spring having first and second straight ends integrally connected to a coiled loop having a plurality of loop in which at least one of said loops is straightened, wherein said first end and second ends exert inwardly directed forces into said first and second doors, respectively, wherein said first and second doors and said coiled loop are pivotally secured around said door pivoting post, and wherein said straightened coil abuts against said ridge to prevent said spring from dislodging from said door pivoting post; and   a cover positioned over said retaining base, said cover comprising: (i) a shroud that assists in securing said first and second doors to said retaining base, said shroud comprising an angled outer surface configured to guide the fuel nozzle toward said fuel nozzle opening and (ii) at least one bracing wall that prevents said retaining base from rotating with respect to said cover.   
   
   
       21 . The capless refueling assembly of  claim 20 , said retaining base further comprising a first barb extending toward at least one of said first and second doors, at least one of said first and second doors comprising a second barb extending toward said retaining base, wherein said first and second barbs abut one another preventing said first and second doors from rocking with respect to said retaining base.