Attachment for dispensing nozzle

A gasoline pump handle insert for wedging the pump handle lever in a pump open condition. A shank, offset to one side supports spaced protrusions on one end and spaced bosses on the other to form respective bights to engage the pump handle and lever. A clip with a sharp edge for scraping windshield ice and a holder for pencils and pens also can be provided.

This invention relates to a new device for a "self-service" gasoline pump 
handle and, more particularly, to a wedge for keeping the pump handle 
lever in the open position, and the like. 
As automotive fuels and labor become more expensive, it is necessary to 
develop techniques for reducing gasoline station operating costs. In this 
regard, "self-service" gasoline stations, in which the motorist operates 
the gasoline pump are becoming popular once more. Stations of this type 
require fewer attendants because the customers do much of the routine work 
of pumping gas, checking oil, and so forth. In these circumstances, fuel 
can be sold at a lower price because the station manager's labor costs are 
reduced. 
For various reasons, the device on the gasoline pump handle that holds the 
handle lever in the open position to enable the automobile fuel tank to 
fill with gas while the station attendant cleans windshields, checks the 
oil, battery water and engine coolant levels has been removed from 
"self-service" pumps. Thus, in a "self-service" station, the customer must 
continue to press the gasoline pump handle lever until the desired 
quantity of fuel has been added to the tank. In spite of this requirement 
for steady manual operation, however, the automatic cut-off on these pump 
handle that stops gasoline flow as the fuel in the tank reaches a 
predetermined level remains functional. Thus, the motorist is occupied 
with the task of pressing a lever on a pump handle that will nevertheless 
automatically stop the flow of fuel when the proper level is reached. The 
motorist, of course, ordinarily would prefer during this time to engage in 
the more productive work that usually characterized the activity of the 
paid gasoline station attendant. 
In addition to this foregoing need, there are a number of other automobile 
accessories that are generally useful. Illustratively, a windshield ice 
scraper or a pencil or pen holder with provisions for advertising space, 
all having some means for attachment within the passenger compartment of a 
vehicle would be valuable. For any number of reasons the usual ice 
scrapers, pen holders and other devices of this type seldom, if ever, seem 
to be satisfactory. Often, for example, these devices are too expensive or 
too flimsy. 
Thus, there is a need for a suitable device that will permit a motorist to 
keep the gas pump handle lever in the operating or open position without 
requiring a continuous application of manual force. 
There is a further need not only for a sturdy, inexpensive windshield ice 
scraper, but also for a pencil or pen holder that can be mounted with 
relative ease within the passenger compartment of an automobile. 
These and other needs are satisfied, to a large extent, through the 
practice of the invention. Illustratively, an insert is provided that can 
be wedged between the gasoline pump handle lever guard and the handle 
lever in order to press the lever into the open or operating position 
without imposing a requirement for an application of steady manual force. 
To simplify manipulation of the insert, an offset handle is provided to 
afford the motorist a good grip on the device as it is being wedged 
between the lever and the lever guard on the pump handle. 
This offset handle, however, is formed into a clip that is open at one end, 
thereby serving the multiple purposes of providing a hand grip, a clip for 
attaching the device to the sun visor in the passenger compartment of the 
vehicle, a convenient advertising space and a means for reducing the 
material needed in the manufacture of the insert while still providing a 
sturdy piece of equipment. Further in this regard, by bevelling at last 
one of the side so the hand grip, the insert also can be used to scrape 
windhshield ice. 
The portion of the insert, moreover, that receives the handle lever also 
can be provided with a small extension to accommodate a receptacle for a 
pencil or a pen.

For a more complete appreciation of the invention, attention is invited to 
FIG. 1 which shows a gasoline pump handle insert or wedge 10. One portion 
of the insert 10 is provided with a generally flat member 11 which 
protrudes perpendicularly from a straight shank 12. The flat member 11 has 
two protrusions 13, 14 which extend in the longitudinal direction of the 
shank 12. The protrusions 13, 14 also are spared transversely from each 
other, the protrusion 13 being in general alignment with the shank 12 and 
the protrusion 14 being located at the extreme end of the flat member 11 
that is opposite to the shank 12. 
This spacing between the protrusions 13, 14 forms a bight 15 that receives 
a gasoline pump lever guard 16 (shown in phantom section in FIG. 1). To 
accommodate the lever guard on most gasoline pump handles, a depth of 
bight of about 5/16" and a spacing of 1 1/16" between the protrusions 13, 
14 has been found satisfactory. 
Another flat member 17 protrudes from the end of the shank 12 that is 
opposite to the member 11. The member 17 also is equipped with a pair of 
transversely spaced bosses 20, 21, the boss 21 being spaced further from 
the shank 12. The bosses 20, 21 form a bight 22 that receives a gasoline 
pump handle lever 23 (also shown in phantom section). Further in this 
regard, it has been found that the bight 22 should have a depth of about 
5/16" and a width of about 9/16" in order to accept standard gasoline pump 
handle levers. 
A pencil or pen holder 24 (FIGS. 1 and 2) formed in the shape of a slighty 
resilient recess in the extreme end of the flat member 17 also is provided 
in one side of the boss 21. 
To adequately depress a standard gasoline pump lever through a sufficient 
distance to permit fuel to flow from the usual commercial gasoline pump, 
it has been found that an overall length for the shank 12 of about 23/4" 
is suitable. 
In accordance with a feature of the invention, and contrary to ordinary 
expectations, the shank 12 is not interposed between the flat members 11, 
17 in direct longitudinal alignment with the lever guard 16 and the lever 
23, but is offset to one side of the lever and lever guard assembly. The 
shank 12, in this offset position, actually makes it easier for the 
motorist to wedge the insert 10 between the lever guard 16 and the lever 
23. The offset shank also provides a resilient clip 25 for attaching the 
insert 10 to the sun visor in the passenger compartment of a vehicle when 
the insert is not otherwise in use. 
As shown in FIG. 1, the clip 25 comprises an "ell" which has a short stub 
26 that connects a longitudinal shaft 27 to the shank 12. The stub 26 is 
perpendicular to the shaft 27 and extends transversely between the shaft 
and one end of the shank 12 to join these two members together at the side 
of the shank that is adjacent to the flat member 11. The shaft 27, 
moreover, is about the same length as the shank 12 and is generally 
parallel with the shank. 
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the shaft 27 (FIGS. 3 
and 4) has an undercut bevelled side 30 that forms a sharp, exposed edge 
31 for removing ice from an automobile windshield. This combination hand 
grip and resilient clip that is formed by means of the shank 12, the shaft 
27 and the interconnecting stub 26 forms a gap that is about 1/2" wide 
near the stub 26 and narrows at the open end to a width of 7/16". This 
narrowing, when taken with the inherent resiliency of the material from 
which the insert 10 is formed, enables the clip 25 to grasp a sun visor 
(not shown) in the passenger compartment with sufficient force to remain 
on the visor in most driving conditions. The force that the clip 25 
applies, however, permits the insert 10 to be removed from the sun visor 
with relative ease and without damaging visor material. 
The shaft 27 (FIG. 3) and the shank 12 (FIG. 2) also provide conveniently 
prominent spaces for a display of advertising material, driver safety 
slogans and the like. 
In operation, the insert 10 is removed from the sun visor in an automobile 
by grasping the protrusion 13 (FIG. 1) and pulling the insert away in a 
longitudinal direction. The gas pump handle lever 23 is manually depressed 
and the insert 10 is wedged between the lever guard 16 and the lever. The 
spring forces in the pump handle (not shown) press the insert 10 between 
the lever 23 and the guard 16 and thus permit fuel to flow from the pump 
until the automatic cut-off within the pump handle stops the flow of fuel 
independently of the relative position of the lever 23. 
To remove the insert 10, it is only necessary to grasp the handle and clip 
combination and tilt the insert 10 out of the plane of the drawing for 
FIG. 1. Naturally, while the insert 10 is wedged in the pump handle, the 
pen or pencil lodged in the holder 24 preferably should be temporarily 
removed. 
To use the insert 10 to scrape ice from a windshield, the shank 12 and the 
shaft 27 should be grasped tightly. The edge of the bevelled side 30 then 
should be pressed against the windshield ice, which then can be removed by 
sweeping the insert 10 across the windshield. In this way, the gap between 
the shank 12 and the shaft 27 not only combine to provide a convenient 
clip for automotive use, but also reduces the quantity of material needed 
in the manufacture of an insert and cooperates to afford a convenient, 
stabilizing hand grip for ice scraper utilization. 
Although the device that characterized this invention can be formed from 
any number of suitable materials, it has been found that flexible plastic 
stock about 3/16" thick produces the best results.