Message display boot for fuel dispensing nozzle

A message display boot is provided for a fuel dispensing nozzle. The display boot comprises a flexible plastic boot in close conforming fit over at least the front valve housing of the nozzle. At the top of the boot is a message platform upon which a message placard can be rested. A skirted flexible cover conforming to the contour of the platform has a pattern of scalloped expansion folds, such that the cover is held on the platform by the close conforming fit of the skirt along and under the sides of the platform but can be easily pried off the platform to change the placard. The cover can be optically clear to hold a message placard on the platoform, or it may have a message imprinted on its top surface. A bellows portion at the bottom of the boot provides a conforming fit over nozzles of various height. In a preferred embodiment, the boot, platform and bumper are integrally molded of plastisol vinyl.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
This invention relates to advertising message display devices. More 
particularly, it relates to a message display boot to be used on a fuel 
dispensing nozzle. The display boot permits the advertising message to be 
periodically changed, and locates it at a visually prominent position to 
the self-service customer, while he is dispensing his own fuel, without 
interfering with or encumbering his operation of the fuel dispensing 
nozzle. 
In the prior art devices, it was known to attach a message display to the 
top a fuel dispensing nozzle. With the recent proliferation of 
self-service stations, it is now common for drivers to pump fuel into 
their own vehicles. In so doing, the customer's visual attention is 
necessarily focused directly on the fuel nozzle itself, making the top of 
the fuel nozzle a desirable site for an advertising message, since the 
customer is compeled to notice and read the message as he dispenses his 
fuel. However, such prior art message displays are cumbersome, visually 
unattractive, and easily damaged devices in that they are affixed to the 
fuel nozzle by harness straps, connected by Velcro or snap connectors. The 
present invention overcomes the disadvantage of these prior devices by 
providing a close-fitting vinyl boot with the message display platform 
mounted directly thereon, either by integral molding with the boot itself 
or by an appropriate retainer means to the boot such as rivets or adhesive 
bonding. Consequently, the message display device of the present invention 
is non-obstructive, appears to be a part of the nozzle itself, and is 
difficult to damage or remove from the nozzle. 
These and other advantages of the present invention will be readily 
apparent in the detailed description and drawings which follow. 
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
A principal object of the invention is to provide a message display for a 
fuel dispensing nozzle in which the message display is contained on a 
flexible boot closely conforming to the contour of the fuel nozzle itself. 
Another object of the invention is to provide a message display platform 
which is securely mounted on the boot, either by integral molding with the 
boot or by appropriate permanent fastening to the boot, such that the 
message display platform will not be an obstruction to dispensing fuel, 
and will not be easily damaged or dislodged from the fuel nozzle. 
Another object is to provide message display platforms of a variety of 
shapes such that an individual platform shape may be a replica of the logo 
of a fuel refiner or a fuel retailer. 
Another object of the invention is to provide means to periodically change 
the displayed message with relative ease and without the necessity of 
removing the display boot from the nozzle. 
Another object of the invention is to provide a protective bumper guard 
between the display platform and the body of the vehicle so that the 
display is not damaged during the fuel dispensing operation. 
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon 
reading the specifications and drawings. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A message display boot is provided for a fuel dispersing nozzle. The boot 
comprises a flexible plastic boot in close conforming fit over at least 
the front valve housing of the nozzle. At the top of the boot is 
mount.RTM.d a message display platform upon which rests a message placard. 
The placard is removably held on the platform by an optically clear 
skirted cover conforming to the contour of the platform, such that it is 
held on the platform by the close conforming fit of the skirt along the 
sides of the platform, but can be easily pried off the platform to change 
the placard. A bellows portion at the bottom of the boot provides a 
conforming fit over nozzles of various height. A resilient bumper shields 
the message platform and cover from contact with the vehicle. In a 
preferred embodiment, the boot, platform, bellows and bumper are 
integrally molded of plasisol vinyl. 
In an alternative embodiment, the skirted cover is also constructed of a 
flexible material such as vinyl, and has scalloped expansion folds in the 
skirt which doubles back under the cover. The flexible material allows the 
cover to be unfolded at the expansion folds to remove it from the p atform 
for a message change.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a typical fuel dispensing nozzle 1, as 
is commonly found at service stations for dispensing gasoline, kerosene, 
diesel and other fuels. Mounted on the nozzle 1 is a message display boot 
10 according to the present invention. As can be seen from FIG. 1, the 
message display boot 10 fits in close conformity over the front portion of 
the nozzle where the nozzle valves are housed, and as such, appears to be 
part of the nozzle itself. This boot is easily installed over the nozzle, 
and because of the close conforming fit, is prevented from sliding around 
or becoming a cumbersome obstacle in dispensing the fuel. The boot further 
places the message directly on top of the nozzle at the point where the 
customer's visual attention will be focused during nozzle insertion and 
operation. 
Details of the boot are shown more particularly in the embodiments of FIGS. 
2, 3 and 4. The display boot 10 comprises a boot portion 12, which is 
preferably constructed of a plastic material such as a plastisol vinyl. 
The boot portion 12 conforms closely to the contour of the front portion 
of the nozzle ahead of its handle and operating lever, and is preferably 
of unitary construction, wherein it is pulled onto the nozzle over its 
insertion end. However, the boot 12 could be constructed so that the 
bottom portion forms two separate flaps which are joined by snap 
fasteners. Further, the boot portion 12 may be extended back over the 
handle of the nozzle if the nozzle does not already have a rubber or 
plastic leak guard, or where the original leak guard needs replacement. 
The bottom of the boot portion 12 further comprises a bellows portion 14 to 
accommodate the differences in height of various nozzles. The boot portion 
12 is dimensioned to conform to nozzles of the smallest height with the 
bellows 14 relaxed, allowing the accordion folds of the bellows 14 to 
expand to provide a close-conforming fit over nozzles having a greater 
height. Similar bellows 114 are shown in the embodiment illustrated in 
FIG. 7 to be described more fully hereinafter. 0 Located at the top of the 
boot portion 12 is the message display platform 16. The message display 
platform 16 is preferably molded integrally with the boot portion 12, or 
alternatively may be affixed to the boot portion 12 by any appropriate 
fastening means, such as rivets or adhesive bond. The message platform 16 
may be of a variety of shapes, such that a particular shape may replicate 
the outline of the logo of a fuel refiner or retailer, such as, for 
example, the MOBIL, CHEVRON, SHELL, or 7-11 logos. This is a particularly 
desirable feature in that the affiliation of the service station to a 
particular refiner or retailer chain is made and reinforced simultaneously 
with the text of the message. The platform 16 will preferably be molded 
around an appropriately shaped metallic plate to provide it with rigidity. 
As shown in FIG. 3, the message platform 16 may have a protective rim 18 
surrounding it. The protective rim 18 will absorb impact to the side of 
the message display platform 16, keeping the message and its cover from 
being damaged or dislodged. 
As shown in FIG. 4, the message display platform 16 may further include a 
recessed lip 20, into which may be inserted a permanent message disk 22. 
The permanent message disk 22 may preferably be an aluminum disk which is 
set into the recessed lip 20 after molding while the hot vinyl is soft, 
and thereby be tightly affixed after cooling. The permanent message disk 
22 may display information of a continuing nature, such as an 
identification of the retailer, the pump operating instructions or other 
information which does not relate to periodic promotions or temporary 
conditions. 
A changeable message placard 24, preferably of paperboard having the same 
shape as the platform 16, rests upon the platform 16. The message placard 
24 will typically advertise periodic promotional messages, such as free or 
discounted merchandise with a certain volume fuel purchase, other services 
provided by the retailer, or other temporary information, such as an 
"OUT-OF-ORDER" message when the pump is empty or inoperative. 
Overlying the message placard 24 and making a sealing attachment to the 
platform 16 is a removable message cover 26. The cover 26 has an optically 
clear top surface 28 so that the message can be seen, and a retainer skirt 
30 to fit closely along the sides of the platform 16. The skirt may also 
be of the same optically clear material as the top surface 28, although it 
is not necessary that it be so. The cover 26 may be vacuum formed or 
injection molded of an appropriate material, such as clear 
polyvinylchloride. When the message platform is constructed of a plastisol 
vinyl, the plasticizer additive provides a surface attraction to the 
polyvinylchloride which helps to hold the cover on the platform and 
prevent moisture from leaking under the cover. 
The closely fitting skirt 30 retains the cover 26 over the platform 16, but 
it can easily be pried off to allow the message placard 24 to be changed. 
The cover may itself be made of a plastisol vinyl, which being highly 
flexible allows the cover to be modified to make the skirt fit even more 
closely along the sides of the platform, as shown in the embodiment of 
FIGS. 7 and 8. The cover 126 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is constructed of a 
heavier and more flexible material, such as a vinyl material similar to 
that used for the boot, and is modified such that its skirt 130 doubles 
back under the cover's top surface 128. The edge of the skirt is shaped 
into a scalloped pattern of expansion folds 129. As the vinyl material is 
highly flexible, the skirt 130 may be unfolded by finger pressure to fit 
over the platform 116, with the folds 129 providing the necessary edge 
expansion. When the cover 126 is placed over the platform 116 the skirt 
130 is re-folded down along the sides of the platform with the expansion 
folds 129 extending underneath the platform. If the shape of the cover and 
platform is other than circular, the pattern of folds is chosen to allow 
this unfolding and re-folding; for example, in a square cover a scallop 
fold at each corner of the skirt will permit folding over the platform. 
In the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8, the platform 116 is also located 
further back on the boot 112 than it is on the previous embodiments, 
covering the bulge associated with the valve stem on many nozzles. This 
location has the further advantage of reducing the likelihood that the 
platform or cover will contact the vehicle when the nozzle is inserted. It 
is likely that the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8 will be the most wear 
resistant of the disclosed configurations, and will be preferred where 
durability is a concern. 
The embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8 also permit the cover itself to carry the 
message. That is, not only can the cover be transparent and used to cover 
a placard, the cover can be opaque and of the same color or a contrasting 
color to the boot, and the message imprinted or screened on its surface. 
In the emdodiments of FIGS. 1 through 4, a bumper 32 is provided at the 
front of the boot portion 12 and extends beyond the message display 
platform 16, to contact the vehicle when the nozzle is inserted into the 
filler pipe. The bumper 32 is preferably an integrally molded hollow 
protrusion of the boot portion 12 generally rectangular in shape, to 
provide a resilient bumper that will protect the message display but not 
mar the vehicle. As can easily be visualized, the display boot 10 can be 
easily installed on a fuel pump nozzle by pulling it on over the insertion 
end of the nozzle, and once installed appears to be part of the nozzle 
itself, much as a second leak guard. In fact, it will perform as an 
additional leak guard over the area it covers. 
Another embodiment is depicted in FIG. 5. The boot 10 has an integral 
raised resilient bumper 34, which surrounds the message display platform 
16 substantially to or above the platform height, to reduce the 
possibility of the message cover 26 being dislodged or damaged by impact 
from any side. The bumper 34 replaces the front bumper 32 of the 
previously described embodiments and the protective rim 18 of the 
embodiment shown in FIG. 3. In this embodiment, the display platform 16 is 
preferably an aluminum disc 36 mounted on a base 37 and pedestal 38, as 
depicted in FIG. 6. The boot portion 12 is molded around the base 37 to 
secure the platform, and the pedestal 38 raises the disc 36 above the boot 
portion 12 to accommodate the cover 26 or 126. 
The embodiments of FIG. 7 and 8 do not require a protective bumper because 
the platform is set back over the valve housing an would not extend so far 
as to contact the vehicle. 
By its close conforming fit, the display boot 10 keeps the advertising 
message in its proper location on the top of the nozzle, without being a 
cumbersome or visually unattractive device such as the prior art 
harnesses. When the nozzle is inserted into the vehicle's tank filler 
pipe, the resilient bumper (32 or 34) limits the insertion and protects 
the message display and the cover 26 from being impacted. By simply 
snapping off the cover 26 and replacing the message placard 24, the 
advertising message can be easily changed by the service station operator.