Fuel door assembly
View Patent ↗There is described an improved fuel door assembly. In one preferred embodiment, the fuel door comprises a housing that defines an axis of rotation and has a biasing element that is at least partially surrounded by a second interface that forms a cavity that narrows between the ends of the second interface. The fuel door has a first interface that contacts the second interface such that the biasing element urges the fuel door toward the closed position when the fuel door is at the closed position, and urges the fuel door toward the open position when the fuel door is at the open position.
1. A fuel door assembly, comprising:
a first support portion;
a second support portion;
a biasing element having a first end mounted to said first support portion and a second end mounted to said second support portion;
a fuel door;
a first hinge portion connected to said fuel door defining an axis of rotation, said fuel door and said first hinge portion being integrally formed;
a first interface connected to said fuel door; said biasing element biasing said first interface in a first direction to move said fuel door toward a closed position and said biasing element biasing said first interface in a second direction to move said fuel door toward an open position; and
a housing, wherein said first hinge is portion positioned on said housing between said first and second support portions and an outer perimeter of said housing, wherein said first direction is substantially towards said first hinge portion, and wherein said second direction is substantially towards an outer face of said housing.
2. The fuel door assembly defined in claim 1 , further comprising a second interface at least partially surrounding said biasing element between said first end and said second end.
3. The fuel door assembly defined in claim 2 , said second interface spaced from said first end and said second end of said biasing element.
4. The fuel door assembly defined in claim 1 , said first interface defining a first portion and a second portion.
5. The fuel door assembly defined in claim 4 , said first portion and said second portion forming a continuous surface.
6. A fuel door assembly, comprising:
a first support portion;
a second support portion;
a biasing element defining a longitudinal axis having a first end mounted to said first support portion and a second end mounted to said second support portion;
a fuel door;
a first hinge portion connected to said fuel door defining an axis of rotation, said longitudinal axis aligned with said axis of rotation, wherein said longitudinal axis is substantially parallel to said axis of rotation;
a first interface connected to said fuel door; said biasing element biasing said first interface to move said fuel door toward a closed position and said biasing element biasing said first interface to move said fuel door toward an open position; and
a second interface at least partially surrounding said biasing element between said first end and said second end; said second interface defining a cavity enabling said biasing element to flex transversely to the longitudinal axis; said cavity of said second interface narrowing between said ends.
7. The fuel door assembly defined in claim 6 , said biasing element comprises a substantially resilient material.
8. The fuel door assembly defined in claim 6 , at least a portion of said second interface defining a substantially cylindrical outer surface.
9. The fuel door assembly defined in claim 6 , said second interface defining a tube.
10. The fuel door assembly defined in claim 6 , said second interface comprises a substantially rigid material.