Gas pump holder

A device that fits on a gasoline pump nozzle handle for holding the valve open, instead the need of continuously squeezing the handle in a hand; the device, in one design, including a collapsible brace for pressing against the handle.

This invention relates generally to automobile service station accessories. 
More specifically it relates of gasoline pump nozzle accessories. 
It is well known that at these times, many of the automobile service 
stations are equipped with self-service gasoline pumps where the motorist 
fills his vehicle gasoline tank himself, instead of the service station 
attendent doing it for him. Many of the pump nozzles require that the 
handle be continually squeezed so as to keep the gasoline flowing. This is 
particularly undesirable on cold or rainy days when the motorist is 
accordingly obliged to stand a long while outside in the cold or rain, as 
he is not dressed for this while he is riding comfortably inside the 
closed vehicle interior. This situation is therefore in need of 
improvement. 
Accordingly a principle object of the present invention is to provide a 
holder which will retain a gas pump nozzle open without the need of 
continually depressing the nozzle handle, so that once it is set in an 
open, operative position, a motorist can leave the same and seek shelter 
from weather inside his vehicle while his gasoline tank is being filled. 
Another object is to provide a gasoline pump nozzle handle holder 
accordingly when installed at a full service pump allows the station 
attendent to wait upon more than one customer at a time, or which at a 
self-service pump allows the motorist to check his oil meantime or attend 
to other chores.

Referring now to the drawing in greater detail, and more particularly to 
FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, at this time, the reference numeral 10 represents a 
gas pump holder, according to the present invention, wherein the same 
comprises a pair of levers 11 and 12 pivotably attached together by means 
of a transverse pivot pin or rivet 13 therethrough. 
A flat foot 14 provided with downward toes 15 at each corner of the foot, a 
pivoted on an outward end of the lever 11 by means of a pivot pin 16, 
while a channel-shaped plate 17 is pivotally attached on an outward end of 
the lever 12 by means of a pivot pin 18. 
A stop 19 affixed on the lever 12 alots against an edge of the lever 11 and 
serves to limit the pivotal travel of the levers in one direction. 
In operative use, the holder 10 is fitted inside a space 20 formed between 
the pivotable handle 21 and a stationary guard 22 of a nozzle base 23 
fitted on an end of a hose 24 attached to a gasoline pump of a service 
station. A nozzle 25 is fitted on the base, for insertion in a vehicle 
gasoline tank filler pipe. A valve (not shown) is contained in the base 23 
and is operated by the handle 21 for allowing flow of gasoline from the 
pump to the vehicle gasoline tank. 
The holder is installed in the space 20 by means of the foot resting 
against the guard while the plate 17 rests against the handle 21. 
When the valve is in a shut off position, the handle 21 is pivoted in a 
position closer to the guard so that in this position, the holder 10 is in 
a collapsed position as shown by the phantom lines in FIG. 2. 
When the nozzle is intended to feed fuel through the valve, the handle 21 
is then pivoted away from the guard and is retained in this position by 
means of the holder being extended pivotally into the position shown by 
the solid lines in FIG. 2. 
When the vehicle tank becomes filled, the fuel level trips the valve 
mechanism so as to automatically shut off the fuel flow. The nozzle is 
then removed from the tank filler opening and is hung up on a fitting 
provided therefor ON the pump, and when the handle is pivoted to its 
originally shut off position by again collapsing the holder. 
In a modified design of the invention, shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, a holder 
26 is generally a same as holder 10 except that it is of rigid type 
instead of being collapsible. Thus, instead of the pivotable levers 11 and 
12, a single flat bar 27 is affixed between the foot 14 and the 
channel-shaped plate 17. In this design, the holder 26 is installed on the 
nozzle base only at a time of use, and is removed therefrom when the gas 
pumping operation is ended. This differs from the holder 10 which may be 
permanently retained on the nozzle base.