TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure, in general, relates to protection devices, and, more particularly, to a protection structure for fuel feed pump of a vehicle.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed subject matter, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[0003] It is known to provide a fuel tank for a vehicle to hold fuel to be used by an engine of the vehicle. Modern fuel delivery systems for automotive vehicles with engines having fuel injectors utilizing an electrically driven fuel pump in the vehicle main fuel tank. Such fuel pumps are generally provided, on fuel pump flange, with one or more fuel feed valves or ports along with one or more auxiliary connections/components.
[0004] In certain vehicle types, the fuel tanks, as well as the fuel pumps, are provided just beneath the vehicle floor, with the top portion of the fuel pump being in close proximity of the vehicle floor. With such positioning of the fuel pump in low floor vehicles, the fuel feed ports of the fuel pump may be subjected to damage in case the vehicle floor is deformed during the accident of the vehicle. Such damage to the fuel feed ports may set the vehicle to fire.
[0005] Also, in vehicles where the fuel tank exposed to sunlight, the protection against sunlight (UV radiation) is not possible and the fuel feed port may deteriorate before the expected lifespan.
[0006] In view of the above, it will be apparent to the skilled artisan that there exists a need in the art for an improved protection structure for covering the entire top surface of the fuel pump.

OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0007] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy, are listed hereinbelow.
[0008] It is a general object of the present disclosure to provide a protection structure for covering the entire top surface of the fuel pump.
[0009] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a protective barrier for the fuel pump against the fire.
[0010] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a protection structure against the sunlight (UV) protection and fire.
[0011] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a protection structure for the fuel pump in low floor vehicles.
[0012] These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent when reference is made to the following description and accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY
[0013] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a protection structure for fuel feed pump of a vehicle. The concepts are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0014] In an embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a protection structure for fuel feed pump of a vehicle. The protection structure includes a circular base having a slanting roof about its outer periphery, vertical walls formed on a central region of the circular base at the side of slanting roof, and a plurality of legs formed, diametrically opposite to each other, on the slanting roof of the circular base, wherein at ends away from the slanting roof, the legs are formed with cantilever snap-fit connectors. In an aspect, vertical walls include a portion where two parallel vertical walls are spaced apart from each other at a distance corresponding a gap between two feed port of the fuel feed pump.
[0015] In an aspect, the cantilever snap-fit connectors are formed to establish a snap-fit connection of the protection structure with an attachment plate used for mounting the fuel feed pump on a fuel tank.
[0016] In an aspect, the protection structure includes a handle formed on a central region of the circular base at the side opposite to the slanting roof.
[0017] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] The illustrated embodiments of the subject matter will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices, systems, and methods that are consistent with the subject matter as claimed herein, wherein:
[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective bottom view of a protection structure for a fuel feed pump in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0020] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective top view of the protection structure for the fuel feed pump in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0021] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the protection structure installed over the fuel feed pump in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments are described herein in such details as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of details provided herein is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0023] It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as specific examples, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
[0024] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.
[0025] It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may, in fact, be executed concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
[0026] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
[0027] Embodiments explained herein pertain to a protection structure for fuel feed pump of a vehicle. Regardless of their specific construction, a perspective bottom view of the protection structure 100 proposed in accordance with the present disclosure is shown in FIG. 1. The protection structure 100 includes a circular base 102 having a slanting roof 104 about its outer periphery. On a central region of the circular base 102 and at the side of slanting roof 104, Y-shaped vertical walls 106-1, 106-2 are formed, where leg portion of the Y-shape is comprised of two parallel vertical walls 106-1, 106-2 spaced apart from each other at a distance corresponding a gap between two feed ports 302 (FIG. 3) of the fuel feed pump.
[0028] Further, two legs 108-1 and 108-2 are formed, diametrically opposite to each other, on the slanting roof 104 of the circular base 102. In an aspect, the two legs 108-1 and 108-2 are of L-shape. However, without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure, the legs 108-1 and 108-2 can have any other shape as well.
[0029] In an aspect, at ends away from the slanting roof 104, the legs 108-1 and 108-2 are formed with respective cantilever snap-fit connectors 110-1 and 110-2. The cantilever snap-fit connectors 110-1 and 110-2 are formed to establish the snap-fit connection of the protection structure 110 with an attachment plate 304 (FIG. 3) used for mounting the fuel feed pump on a fuel tank. Thus, with the usage of the respective cantilever snap-fit connectors 110-1 and 110-2, no additional restructuring is required on the existing attachment plate 304 or the fuel feed pump for the mounting of the protection structure 100.
[0030] In another aspect as shown in FIG. 2, the protection structure 100 includes a handle 202 formed on the central region of the circular base 102 at the side opposite to the slanting roof 104.
[0031] Further, in an aspect, the protection structure 110 can be formed from a suitable rigid material including, but not limited to, aluminum, hard plastic, cast iron, an engineering resin, and the like.
[0032] Yet further, without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure, the legs 108-1 and 108-2 of the protection structure 100 can be laterally expanded to cover the entire fuel pump except for the one or more auxiliary connections/components of the fuel feed ports 402.
TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES
[0033] The present disclosure provides a protection structure for covering the entire exposed surface of the fuel pump against any external exposure.
[0034] The present disclosure provides a protection structure which is designed in such a way that it acts as a protective barrier for the fuel pump against the fire.
[0035] The present disclosure provides a protection structure to protect the fuel pump from direct exposure to sunlight (UV radiations) in case of fuel pumps mounted on external side of a vehicle.
[0036] The present disclosure provides a protection structure with increased rigidity against accidental damage of the fuel pump mounted beneath low floor vehicles by forming Y-shaped parallel vertical walls beneath the circular base of the protection structure.
[0037] The present disclosure provides a protection structure which can be snap-fitted to the existing structure of the mounting plate of the fuel pump, thereby removing a need for any alteration in the existing components of a vehicle.
[0038] Thus, the protection structure disclosed herein provides a protection against the sunlight (UV) in case a vehicle having a fuel tank exposed to sunlight, and protection against fire and accident in case the fuel tank is disposed beneath the floor of the vehicle.
[0039] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments, versions or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention when combined with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art.

We claim:
1. A protection structure (100) for fuel feed pump of a vehicle, comprising:
a circular base (102) having a slanting roof (104) about its outer periphery;
vertical walls (106) formed on a central region of the circular base (102) at the side of slanting roof (104), wherein the vertical walls (106) include a portion where two parallel vertical walls (106-1, 106-2) are spaced apart from each other at a distance corresponding a gap between two feed ports (302) of the fuel feed pump; and
a plurality of legs (108-1, 108-2) formed, diametrically opposite to each other, on the slanting roof (104) of the circular base (102), wherein at ends away from the slanting roof (104), the legs (108-1, 108-2) are formed with cantilever snap-fit connectors (110-1, 110-2).
2. The protection structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cantilever snap-fit connectors (110-1, 110-2) are formed to establish the snap-fit connection of the protection structure (100) with an attachment plate (304) used for mounting the fuel feed pump on a fuel tank.
3. The protection structure as claimed in claim 1, comprising a handle formed on a central region of the circular base (102) at the side opposite to the slanting roof (104).