Patent Grant
7040361
With the advent of self-serve gasoline, vehicle owners are increasingly likely to pump their own fuel at the gas station. Most gas station pumps are materially identical in that they comprise a pump, a hose coupled to the pump and a nozzle on the end of the hose. Most, if not all, such nozzles have a handle with a trigger guard member and a pump activation lever. The user operates the pump by squeezing the pump activation lever against the nozzle handle.
Generally, the pump continues to pump fuel only so long as the user holds the pump activation lever in the engaged position. Some nozzles contain a pump activation lever lock that holds the pump activation lever in the engaged position. Unfortunately, many stations have removed the pump activation lever lock, thereby forcing customers to continuously, manually hold the pump activation lever in the engaged position. The lack of a nozzle lever lock is particularly unpleasant is cold or rainy weather. Further the lack of a nozzle lock prevents the user from simultaneously washing vehicle windows, checking the oil level, remaining in the vehicle or perhaps going into a store to purchase some supplies.
Accordingly, what is needed is a device that a vehicle user could keep on with their vehicle or on their person that can be used safely and effectively as a pump activation lever lock.
The present invention is directed to a nozzle activation lever lock for holding a nozzle lever, such as a fuel pump activation lever, into an engaged position, and includes an engagement body (preferably constructed from PVC) and a first and second engagement arm.
The first engagement arm is disposed on a first end of the engagement body and is sized and shaped to extend on either side of the trigger guard. In the preferred embodiment, the first engagement arm further comprises an engagement lip that engages a portion of the trigger guard. Additionally, the first engagement arm also includes a substantially flat lower surface.
The second engagement arm is disposed on a second end of the engagement body such that the first and the second engagement arm are spaced far enough from another to hold the activation lever in an engaged position. The second engagement arm is also sized and shaped to extend across the width of a bottom of the activation lever. In the preferred embodiment, the second engagement arm further includes a substantially concaved outer surface. According to another embodiment, the second engagement arm further comprises an engagement lip that engages a portion of the trigger guard and/or a relief notch.
The fuel pump activation lever preferably further includes a slot disposed within the engagement body. The slot is sized and shaped to releaseably engage a fuel cap. Alternatively, the fuel pump activation lever lock may include a means to secure the fuel pump activation lever lock to a fuel cap, such as a hook and loop fastener or a magnetic fastener.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description, taken together with the drawings wherein:
The present invention is directed to a dispensing nozzle activation lever lock 100 (hereinafter “lever lock”) for use in connection with any dispensing nozzle including, without limitation, a fuel pump nozzle 300 of the type shown in
A lever lock 100 in accordance with the present invention comprises an engagement body 101 comprising, a first engagement arm 103, and a second engagement arm 105. The engagement body 101 preferably further comprises a docking slot 107 formed in the engagement body and adapted to fit over a variety of standard fuel caps.
The engagement body 101 is made from any material of sufficient structural integrity to hold a pump activation lever in an engaged position. Such material is preferably non-corrosive, light weight, inexpensive, and easy to mold or otherwise manufacture into the desired form. Generally, PVC or other plastics are the preferred materials.
The engagement body comprises a first engagement arm 103 adapted to engage the trigger guard 303 of a dispensing nozzle. Accordingly, the engagement arm 103 is preferably of sufficient width to extend across the entire width of a trigger guard 303. In a preferred embodiment, the first engagement arm 103 is sufficiently wide to extend about 3.175 mm. (⅛ inch) on either side of the trigger guard 303. For use on nozzles commonly in use on the date of this application, the first engagement arm 103 is preferably about 36.45 mm. (1.435) to about 40.67 mm. (1.601 inches) wide. In addition, the first engagement arm 103 preferably includes an engagement lip 109 to assist in maintaining the lever lock in the engaged position. With the exception of the lip 109, the lower surface of the first engagement arm 103 is preferably flat.
The engagement body 101 further comprises a second engagement arm 105 adapted to engage a nozzle activation lever 305. The second engagement arm 105 is preferably of sufficient width to extend across the width of the bottom of a nozzle activation lever 305. The second engagement arm 105 is also preferably slightly concave to assist in engaging activation levers 305, which are typically slightly convex on their lower surface. The second engagement arm 105 preferably further comprises a relief notch 111 to provide clearance for a pump handle lip 113, which is found on some pump handles.
The engagement body further preferably comprises a docking or storage slot 107 adapted to fit over the ridge 403 of a gas cap 401. The docking slot 107 is sized so as to be of sufficient size to fit over the ridges 403 of most, if not all, standard gas caps 401. Preferably, the docking slot 107 is about 17.27 mm. (0.68 inches) to about 25.4 mm. (1 inch) wide. More preferably, the docking slot is about 19.05 mm. (0.75 inches) wide. Preferably, the docking slot is at least about 66.55 mm. (2.62 inches) long and, more preferably is about 71.12 mm. (2.8 inches) long.
The dimensions of the engagement body 101 as a whole may vary significantly within the scope of the invention. However, the dimensions of the preferred engagement body 101 are such that the engagement surfaces of the first and second engagement arms 103, 105 are spaced far enough from one another to hold the activation lever 305 in the engaged, preferably fully engaged, position. Preferably, engagement surfaces of the first and second engagement arms 103, 105 are spaced at least about 50.8 mm. (2 inches) apart, and most preferably about 50.8 mm. (2.358 inches) apart. In addition, the dimensions of the preferred engagement body are preferably such that the device securely holds the activation lever in the engage position and yet is small enough such that the entire device can fit inside the gas cap chamber of most vehicles. Accordingly, the engagement body is preferably at least about 3.175 mm. (⅛ inch) thick. Preferably the engagement body is about 4.762 ( 3/16) to about 12.7 mm. (½ inch) thick. Most preferably, the engagement body is about 9.525 mm. (0.375 inches) thick.
The engagement body preferably further comprises means for being secured to a gas cap or other portion of the vehicle. For example, the engagement body may be secured to the gas cap with hook and loop fasteners, a magnet, or other suitable fasteners. Alternatively, the engagement body may be adapted to serve as or be attached to a key chain or the like.
In the preferred embodiment, the engagement body 101 may include a slit 121 that preferably forms a channel in the engagement body 101 which leads to the docking slot 107. The slit 121 allows the lever lock 100 to be secured around the leader or retainer (not shown) that is commonly used to secure a gas cap to the vehicle. According to one embodiment, the slit 121 allows the two portions 123, 124 of the engagement body 101 to be spread apart and separated slightly to fit around the gas cap leader. Alternatively, the slit may form a channel having a cross section approximately equal to that of the gas cap leader. For exemplary purposes only, the slit 121 is about 4.775 mm. (0.188 inches) wide and runs from the outside surface of the engagement body 101 to the docking slot 107.
Also note that use of the present invention must comply with all applicable local, state, and federal regulations. Many modifications and substitutions may be made by one of ordinary skill in the art and are considered to be within the scope of the present invention.
This application claims benefit of priority of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/387,020 filed Jun. 7, 2002.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20040173631 A1 | Sep 2004 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60387020 | Jun 2002 | US |
