Claims
- 1. A method for protecting a fuel pump filler gun from impacts, comprising the steps of:
- surrounding at least a portion of the filler gun with a rigid outer layer adapted to distribute the impact forces away from the filler gun; and
- filling a space between the outer layer and the filler gun with a foamed material to form an impact absorbing inner layer.
- 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of filling includes spraying the foamed material.
- 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of inserting a tube for moving the foamed material through the outer layer and into the space between the outer layer and the filler gun prior to the step of spraying.
- 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of surrounding includes providing the outer layer with a sealable aperture for receiving the tube.
- 5. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of removing the tube from the outer layer after the step of spraying.
- 6. An apparatus for protecting a fuel pump filler gun, the apparatus comprising:
- an energy absorbing inner layer adapted for surrounding a portion of the filler gun to protect the filler gun from impact forces;
- a rigid outer layer surrounding at least a portion of said inner layer to distribute impact forces over said inner layer, said outer layer having a hardness greater than a hardness of said inner layer; and
- a sealable aperture provided in said outer layer for insertion of a foam material defining said inner layer.
- 7. A protection apparatus attachable to a fuel pump filler gun including in sequence a barrel, a head, and a handle, the protection apparatus comprising:
- a protective body having a rigid outer layer surrounding an energy absorbing inner layer, said outer layer being adapted to distribute impact forces away from the filler gun, said inner layer being between said outer layer and the filler gun, said outer layer having a hardness greater than a hardness of said inner layer;
- attachment means for attaching said protective body to the filler gun; and
- a sealable aperture provided in said outer layer for insertion of a foam material defining said inner layer.
- 8. A protection apparatus attachable to a fuel pump filler gun including in sequence a barrel, a head, and a handle, the head having an upper surface, a lower surface, and opposite side surfaces, the protection apparatus comprising:
- a protective body adapted to be fitted onto the filler gun and to extend from over at least a portion of the head;
- said protective body comprising a lower member and an upper member for releasably engaging with said lower member;
- said lower member having two side panels and means for interconnecting said side panels, said lower member, when the two side panels are brought to lie against the head of the filler gun, substantially fitting around the lower surface of the gun head, and said side panels having at a top region thereof first interlocking means;
- said upper member being formed to fit over the upper surface of the head of the filler gun, and having second interlocking means for releasably engaging first interlocking means on said lower member; and
- an aperture provided in at least one of said upper and lower members for insertion of a foam material defining an energy absorbing inner layer between said protection body and the filler gun.
- 9. A method for protecting a fuel pump filler gun from impacts while the filler gun is in connection with a fuel source comprising the steps of:
- surrounding at least a portion of the filler gun with a rigid outer layer adapted to distribute the impact forces away from the filler gun; and
- filling a space between the outer layer and the filler gun with a foamed material to form an impact absorbing inner layer.
- 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of filling includes spraying the foamed material.
- 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of inserting a tube for moving the foamed material through the outer layer and into the space between the outer layer and the filler gun prior to the step of spraying.
- 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of surrounding includes providing the outer layer with a sealable aperture for receiving the tube.
- 13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of removing the tube from the outer layer after the step of spraying.
- 14. An apparatus for protecting a fuel pump filler gun from impacts while the filler gun is in connection with a fuel source, the apparatus comprising:
- an energy absorbing inner layer adapted for surrounding a portion of the filler gun to protect the filler gun from impact forces;
- a rigid outer layer surrounding at least a portion of said inner layer adapted to distribute impact forces over said inner layer, said outer layer having a hardness greater than a hardness of said inner layer; and
- a sealable aperture provided in said outer layer for insertion of a foam material defining said inner layer.
- 15. A protection apparatus attachable to a fuel pump filler gun when the filler gun is in connection with a fuel source, the filler gun including in sequence a barrel, a head, and a handle, the protection apparatus comprising:
- a protective body having a rigid outer layer surrounding an energy absorbing inner layer, said outer layer adapted to distribute impact forces away from the filler gun, said inner layer being between said outer layer and the filler gun, said outer layer having a hardness greater than a hardness of said inner layer;
- attachment means for attaching said protective body to the filler gun; and
- a sealable aperture provided in said outer layer for insertion of a foam material defining said inner layer.
Parent Case Info
This is a division of application Ser. No. 08/678,848, filed Jul. 12, 1996, and still pending, which is a continuation-in-part of patent application Ser. No. 08/669,228, entitled "Protective Cover For a Fuel Pump Filler Gun," filed Jun. 24, 1996, and still pending.
US Referenced Citations (12)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
980890 |
Jan 1965 |
GBX |
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
678848 |
Jul 1996 |
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Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
669228 |
Jun 1996 |
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