Patent Application
20140261885
This disclosure relates to a system and a device for dispensing fuel from a fuel pump.
Currently when dispensing fuel from a fuel pump, such as when filling the fuel tank of an automobile at a gas station, the operator of the pump does not always have the option to lock the operating lever of the pump handle into a position that allows fuel to flow without holding the operating lever by hand. As is known in the art, some fuel pump handles contain a locking lever associated the operating lever that, when properly positioned, allows the operator to lock the operating lever into a position that permits the hands-free fueling of the automobile. However, not all fuel pump handles are equipped with such a locking lever, forcing the operator to manually compress the operating lever of the fuel pump handle until the desired amount of fuel is dispensed. Thus, there exists a need in the field for a system that, in the absence of a locking lever, enables a fuel-pump operator to lock the operating lever into a position that permits the hands-free dispensing of fuel.
This disclosure provides a system and device for dispensing fuel from a fuel pump.
An embodiment of the system may comprise a gas pump handle with an operating lever and a lever locking device, wherein the lever locking device is capable of retaining the gas pump operating lever in a position that allows for the hands-free dispensing of fuel from the fuel pump.
An embodiment of the device may include a lever locking device comprising a first housing component, a second housing component, and a central shaft, whereby the first housing component and the second housing component are associated by way of the central shaft.
Another embodiment of the invention may further comprise a key chain ring detachably interconnected to the lever locking device.
The disclosed system and device have several important advantages. For example, providing for the hands-free operation of a fuel pump in the absence of a native mechanism permitting the same.
A further possible advantage is the convenience and portability of the disclosed device, which may be conveniently stored or used as a primary key ring.
Various embodiments of the invention may have none, some, or all of these advantages. Other technical advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art.
For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and its advantages, reference is now made to the following descriptions, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown by way of illustration and example. This invention may, however, be embodied in many forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numerals refer to like elements throughout the several views of the drawings.
By way of example and with reference initially to
Lever locking device 28 preferably includes a first rectangular housing component 30 and a second rounded housing component 32. The use of other shapes for housings 28 and 30 is within the scope of the present invention. Housing 30, however, is preferably large enough to include indicia or logos. First housing component 30 includes a first bore with a threaded extent 34. Second housing component 32 likewise includes a second bore with a threaded extent 36. A central shaft 38 is included with first 40 and second 42 threaded extents. The first threaded extent 40 of the central shaft 38 is threadably secured to the threaded extent of the first bore 34. This threaded connection may be fixed to prevent removal of shaft 38 from housing 30. A spring 44 with a bias is positioned within the second bore. Spring 44 has compressed and uncompressed orientations. The central shaft 38 is slidably received within the second bore and against the bias of the spring 44. Central shaft 38 may be fixed to a distal end of spring 44. Likewise, spring 44 may be fixedly secured within housing 32 to prevent its removal.
Thus, the second housing component 32 has an extended position wherein the spring 44 is uncompressed and there is a greater distance between housings 30 and 32. This may be the preferred orientation for inserting device 28 between lever 18 and base portion 26. The distance between lever 18 and base portion 26 may vary between pumps. As such, the extended position allows central shaft 38 to freely reciprocate within housing 32. The bias of spring 44 against central shaft 38 allows device 28 to be securely positioned between lever 18 and base portion 26. In the retracted position, spring 44 is fully compressed and housing component 32 is locked by engaging the second threaded extent 42 of the shaft 38 with the threaded extent 36 of the second bore. This is the preferred orientation for transport.
In an alternative embodiment shown in
With reference again to
With continued reference to
With continued reference to
In yet another embodiment of the invention, the spring 44 may be attached on one end to the shaft 38 and attached on the other end to the interior of the second housing 32, thereby preventing the complete withdraw of the shaft 38 and the spring 44 from the second bore 36.
In one embodiment of the invention, the first housing 30 and the second housing 32 is made from stainless steel or other material having similar physical properties or characteristics.
In another embodiment of the invention, the first housing 30 and the second housing 32 is made from plastic or other material having similar physical properties or characteristics.
In another embodiment of the invention, the first threaded extent 40 of the shaft 38 is fixed and not capable of removal following being threadably connected to the threaded extent of the first bore 34 of the first housing component 30.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, the first threaded extent 40 of the shaft 38 and the threaded extent of the first bore 34 are oriented opposite to the second threaded extent 42 of the shaft 38 and the threaded extent of the second bore 36 whereby the unscrewing of the one tightens the other and vice versa, thereby preventing the loosening of the connection between the first threaded extent 40 of the shaft 38 and the threaded extent of the first bore 34 when unlocking the retracted position by unscrewing the connection between the second threaded extent 42 of the shaft 38 and the threaded extent of the second bore 36.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, the first housing component 30 and the second housing component 32 are capable of supporting a graphic image, logo, or the like.
Although this disclosure has been described in terms of certain embodiments and generally associated methods, alterations and permutations of these embodiments and methods will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the above description of example embodiments does not define or constrain this disclosure. Other changes, substitutions, and alterations are also possible without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.
