Fluid filler gun display device having a placard with a three-dimensional image

A display device is attachable to a fluid filler gun. A carrying body attaches to a gun head of the fluid filler gun. A frame attaches to an upper portion of the carrying body, the frame and an upper surface of the upper portion defining a display portion. A placard is removably mounted to the display portion. The upper surface of the placard presents a three-dimensional image. The image can either be a molded image projecting through an opening defined by the frame, an embossed image, or a hologram having a three-dimensional optical effect.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a display device for a fluid filler gun. 
More particularly, the present invention relates to a display device for a 
fluid filler gun having a display placard with a 3-dimensional image. 
2. Description of the Related Art 
Filler gun display devices are known. A saddle or carrying body, usually 
made of pliable or rigid synthetic material, slides in place over a gun 
head of a fluid filler gun used with a filler pump, e.g., a gasoline pump, 
oil pump, water pump, or the like, typically provided at an automobile 
service station. The carrying body typically includes a display surface 
where replaceable display placards can be mounted. 
The conventional display placards are flat cards made of paper, cardboard, 
plastic or the like. The conventional display placards have a variety of 
shapes, including circular, rectangular, and oval shapes, and are used for 
advertising a wide variety of products or services. The purpose of these 
placards is to attract the attention of the consumer operating the filler 
gun, and to persuade him or her to purchase the advertised product or 
service. The common feature of these flat display placards is that the 
advertised message is always presented in the form of a two-dimensional 
image. 
Unfortunately, the conventional flat, two-dimensional display occasionally 
does not attract the attention of the consumer operating the filler gun. 
If the display does not draw the consumer's attention, the advertising 
message has no affect. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is provided to overcome one or more deficiencies in 
the conventional apparatus described above. 
In accordance with the invention, a display device attaches to a fluid 
filler gun. The display device includes a carrying body removably 
attachable to a gun head of the filler gun, the carrying body including 
side portions and an upper portion having an upper surface. A frame 
attaches to the upper portion of the carrying body, the frame and the 
upper surface defining a display portion. A placard is removably mountable 
in the display portion, the placard having an upper surface presenting a 
three-dimensional image. 
In order to define the three-dimensional image, the upper surface of the 
placard can be embossed with pictures or text. Alternatively, the surface 
can be raised by a molding process in three-dimensional images that 
project through an opening defined by the frame. In yet another 
embodiment, the placard can include a hologram, thereby defining the 
illusion of a three-dimensional image. The term "three-dimensional image" 
includes physical structures projecting in three dimensions from the 
placard, as well as optical illusions of three-dimensions created through 
holographic techniques or otherwise. 
Preferably, the frame includes one or more studs projecting from an inner 
surface thereof, which engage apertures in the placard to hold the placard 
in place behind the frame. The frame itself can either be pivotally 
mounted to the upper portion of the carrying body, or can be removably 
mounted thereto. 
It is further in accordance with the invention to provide a fluid filler 
gun, including a barrel, a gun head, and a handle. The carrying body is 
included as an integral part of the upper portion of the gun head and 
defines an upper surface. A frame attaches to the upper surface of the gun 
head to define a display portion. A placard is removably mounted in the 
display portion, and includes an upper surface presenting a 
three-dimensional image. 
Additional objects and advantages will be set forth in the description 
which follows, and in part will be understood from the description, or may 
be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages may be 
obtained by means of the combinations set forth in the attached claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments 
of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
A display device is attachable to a fluid filler gun. Referring to FIG. 1, 
a fluid filler gun 20 includes in sequence a handle 22, a gun head 26, and 
a barrel 28. A trigger 24 in handle 22 opens and closes a valve (not 
shown) in gun head 26 to pass fluid from a hose 29 to the barrel 28. The 
fluid filler gun 20 may have a number of shapes and configurations and 
typically is used in automobile service stations. A preferred filler gun 
20 accordingly includes a gasoline filler gun, diesel filler gun, oil 
filler gun, washer fluid filler gun, or the like. 
A preferred display device includes the following components. A carrying 
body removably attaches to the gun head and includes side portions and an 
upper portion. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a carrying body 32 includes side 
portions 34 and 36 (not shown), molded as an integral component, and an 
upper portion 38. Upper portion 38 can either be molded as an integral 
component with the side portions 34, 36, or can be a separate piece 
snapped into place on side portions 34, 36. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, 
carrying body 32 slides into place on gun head 26, with gun barrel 28 
projecting through a front opening 40, and handle 22 projecting through a 
rear opening 42. Carrying body 32 preferably is made of a rigid material. 
More preferably, carrying body 32 is made of a rigid plastic. 
Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3, side portions 34 and 36 can be provided 
as two separate pieces that snap together around gun head 26. Male 
projections 44 are provided at the upper edges of side portions 34 and 36 
for engaging female connections in the upper portion 38. 
Other embodiments of carrying body 32 are also possible. For example, side 
portions 34 and 36 are shown joined together beneath gun head 26 in FIGS. 
1-3, but side portions 34, 36 also can be open at the bottom, or joined 
together by straps passing beneath gun head 26. The invention is not 
limited to any particular configuration of carrying body 32. 
Persons skilled in the art will recognize that gun head 26 often is covered 
with a flexible rubber or plastic boot. The flexible boots are provided 
with gasoline filler guns to protect the paint on an automobile when the 
filler gun is inserted into an automobile gas tank. The carrying body 32 
accordingly is dimensioned so that it can attach to or slide over a gun 
head 26 with the flexible boot either in place or removed. 
The upper portion 38 of carrying body 32 includes an upper surface 46. 
Preferably, upper surface 46 is arcuate in shape from front to rear when 
viewed from the side, but this shape is not required. Upper surface 46 can 
be planar or angled as well. 
In accordance with the invention, a frame attaches to the upper portion of 
the carrying body. The frame and the upper surface of the carrying body 
defines a display portion. As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5, a frame 50 is 
provided, which attaches to upper portion 38 of carrying body 32. In FIGS. 
2, 3 and 4, frame 50 pivotally attaches to upper portion 38 via insertion 
of a male member 52 into a female member 54, defining a hinge 56. In FIG. 
5, frame 50 removably attaches to upper portion 38 by engagement of a 
skirt 58 depending from frame 50 with a lip 60 projecting from the 
periphery of upper portion 38. 
It is preferred that a locking device be provided for locking the frame to 
the carrying body. Referring to FIGS. 2, 6, and 7, a locking device 62 is 
provided to hold frame 50 closed against upper portion 38 of carrying body 
32. The locking device 62 can be any of the conventional locking devices 
that are well known in the art, and can either be operated by hand, with a 
tool such as a screwdriver, or with a special key. 
Preferably, frame 50 is configured with one or more studs 64 projecting 
from an inner surface thereof, as shown, e.g., in FIGS. 4 and 5. The 
function of studs 64 will be explained below. 
In accordance with the invention, a placard is removably mountable on the 
display portion, said placard having an upper surface presenting a 
three-dimensional image. As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 7, a replaceable 
display placard 70 mounts between upper surface 46 of upper portion 38, 
and the inner surface of frame 50. Preferably, one or more apertures are 
provided near the edges of placard 70 so that studs 64 on the inner 
surface of frame 50 can insert therethrough, mounting the placard 70 in a 
fixed position to the inner surface of frame 50. However, it is not 
necessary to provide the studs 64 and apertures 72, because placard 70 can 
be held in place by the simple engagement of frame 50 with upper portion 
38. 
The upper surface of placard 70 defines a three-dimensional image. As shown 
in FIG. 6, for example, a three-dimensional image 80, which may include 
pictures, text, or both, projects outward from placard 70, projecting 
through an opening defined by the sides of frame 50. In the embodiment of 
FIG. 6, it is preferred that placard 70 be made of a plastic or rigid 
cardboard material, and that three dimensional image 80 is formed in the 
upper surface of placard 70 by a conventional molding process, molding the 
image 80 into the surface of placard 70. 
Alternatively, as shown for example in FIG. 7, a three dimensional image 90 
may be provided in the upper surface of placard 70. In this embodiment, 
the three-dimensional image, which again may include pictures, text, or 
both, is created in placard 70 by an embossing technique, creating 
characters and pictures raised above the surface of placard 70, or by a 
holographic technique that creates the optical illusion of 
three-dimensions above placard 70. Both embossing and holographic 
techniques are well known in the art. 
In either embodiment, the image 80 or 90 projects above the surface of 
placard 70, or gives the illusion of projecting above the surface in the 
case of a hologram, creating a three-dimensional image that is more 
noticeable to a consumer than a conventional flat, two-dimensional image. 
For example, when an image of a beverage bottle is to be advertised on a 
placard 70, it is preferred to use the exact shape of the commercial 
embodiment of the beverage bottle. Certain beverage bottles have very 
distinct shapes, instantly recognized by consumers. A three-dimensional 
image having the distinctive shape of the commercial product being 
advertised will clearly attract the attention of the consumer operating 
the filler gun. 
In the above-described embodiments, carrying body 32 releasably attaches to 
filler gun 20. The invention is not limited to detachable display devices, 
however. It is within the scope of the invention to provide the three 
dimensional advertising display in a display device that is an integral 
part of the gun head itself. 
As shown in FIG. 8, gun head 26 includes a lower portion 26a, comprising 
the side portions, and an upper portion 26b, corresponding to an upper 
portion 38 of the detachable carrying body 32 of the previous embodiments. 
In the embodiment of FIG. 8, upper portion 26b attaches to lower portion 
26a via insertion of threaded fasteners 80 in apertures 82, but this type 
of attachment is not required. Upper portion 26b and lower portion 26a can 
be welded together or formed as an integral unit. 
In the embodiment of FIG. 8, a frame 50' pivotally attaches to upper 
portion 26b via insertion of male member 52' into female member 54'. An 
upper surface 46' is defined on the upper portion 26b of gun head 26. A 
replaceable placard 70' is mountable between frame 50' and upper surface 
46'. The placard 70' includes an upper surface having a three dimensional 
image, e.g. molded image 80' in FIG. 8, projecting therefrom. Embossed or 
holographic three-dimensional images 90' also can be provided. 
Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to persons of 
ordinary skill in the art. The invention, therefore, is not limited to the 
specific details or the present preferred embodiments disclosed above. 
Departures may be made from such details without departing from the scope 
of the invention concept. The scope of the invention is limited only by 
the attached claims and their equivalents.