Information center for gasoline dispensing nozzle

An information center for gasoline dispensing nozzles utilizes a molded plastic disc having a top message surface and a central body portion which extends through a snug-fitting scuff guard of a gasoline nozzle. A flange about the lower surface of the disc entraps the disc between the scuff guard and the nozzle so that the disc is retained easily, without the need for fasteners or tools. Informative indicia is applied to the top exposed surface of the disc by means of pressure sensitive labels, silk screen printing, molded letters and logos, and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
In the field of commercial gasoline stations, it has been the practice in 
recent years to equip the gasoline dispensing nozzles at the pump site 
with a scuff guard, which is generally a close-fitting elastomeric jacket 
which is pulled over the nozzle to provide a comfortable hand grip for the 
nozzle user, and to provide a bumper surface to keep from nicking on the 
finish on vehicles with the nozzle as gas is dispensed. The scuff guard is 
usually formed of a soft plastic material such as vinyl, which may be 
easily injection molded, or dip-molded using a formed mandrel plunged into 
a vinyl plastisol, wherein the vinyl scuff guard may be then stripped from 
the mandrel for use on a nozzle. The vinyl compounds used for scuff guards 
are fairly impervious to gasoline and other contaminents encountered in 
the field, and may be easily replaced when damaged. 
Heretofore, the necessity for information on a scuff guard surface was not 
generally a recognizable need, since most gas stations dispensed gas by 
means of their own help. However, in recent years since the public at 
large has begun dispensing their own gas, it has been felt that an 
opportunity to advertise at the nozzle site would be a desirable factor. 
Certain attempts at placing information on scuff guards has been 
attempted, such as silk screening, on the scuff guard surface, with a 
suitable paint. However, the printing is generally done where the broadest 
surface is presented, and the printed legend is easily damaged by 
continually banging and scratching of the scuff guard. Thus, the legend is 
easily destroyed, and presents an unattractive surface as well. 
Applicant has studied the problem and has devised a means of providing an 
information center, which may be inexpensively applied to a scuff guard 
and nozzle, and which may be easily changed at the option of the user. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The invention is shown embodied in an information center for gasoline 
dispensing nozzles where an elastomeric jacket, commonly called a scuff 
guard, is sized to a snug fit with a gasoline dispensing nozzle. An 
aperture is provided through the elastomeric jacket which approximated the 
body portion of a information disc. The disc is a semi-rigid molded 
plastic disc having a raised circular body portion with the top end closed 
by faceted surfaces, and the bottom end of the hollowed disc is provided 
with a flange having a diameter larger than the body portion. The body 
portion of the disc is allowed to extend through the aperture of the scuff 
guard in assembly with a gasoline dispensing nozzle, and the disc is thus 
retained by the flange which will not readily pull through the scuff 
guard. Suitable information indicia such as a pressure sensitive lable is 
thereafter applied to the faceted exposed surface of the disc.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1 thereof there is 
shown a metal gasoline dispensing nozzle 10 commonly found in commercial 
gas stations, wherein nozzle 10 is fitted with a close-fitting elastomeric 
jacket, or scuff guard 11, which is generally molded from a vinyl compound 
having a rubbery feel. The scuff guard 11 is pulled over the end of 
gasoline dispensing nozzle 10, into tight engagement with the body of 
nozzle 10, to provide a comfortable hand grip for the user, and to serve 
to protect vehicle finishes from being damaged by the metal nozzle 10 in 
use. 
The broken away portion of the top portion of scuff guard 11 (FIG. 1) 
illustrates an information center 12, comprising a molded semi-rigid 
plastic disc 13, which is entrapped between the scuff guard 11 and the top 
surfaces 19 and 20 of the metal nozzle 10. The disc 13 employed consists 
basically of a hollowed circular main body portion 14 having a closed 
upper end 15, and an open, flanged, lower end 16. 
The elastomeric properties of the scuff guard serve to snugly entrap the 
disc against the nozzle while presenting the closed upper end to the view 
of the nozzle user. 
Referring to FIG. 2, the disc 13 of the preferred embodiment is of 
generally circular shape, having a larger circular flange 17 about the 
lower end 16. The circular main body portion 14 extends through an 
aperture 18 in the scuff guard 11, which may be either die cut or molded 
into the scuff guard 11. 
FIGS. 2 and 3 show that the disc 13 has been shaped to generally conform to 
the angled top surfaces 19, 20 of the metal nozzle 10, but it may be 
appreciated that the nozzle 10 may have a flat surface and the designer 
may or may not wish to conform the closed upper end 15 to such a flat 
surface. The upper end 15 of the advertising disc 13 has been closed with 
integral semi-circular facet plates 21, 22, having an oblique included 
angle, which form a ridge 23 along the central diameter of the cylindrical 
body portion 14. The flange 17 of the disc 13 is formed of semi-circular 
flange plates 24, 25 joined at a ridge 26 as well, so as to be parallel to 
the facet plates 21, 22. It may appreciated from the general proportions 
of the drawing that it is preferable during the molding process, to form 
the disc 13 from a hollowed plastic material, preferably nylon, wherein 
the thickness of the flange 17 and upper plates 21, 22, and the wall 
thickness of the circular body portion 14 are uniform. Such a part may be 
easily injection molded in great quantities at low cost. 
FIG. 2 illustrates that a pressure sensitive label 27 may be easily applied 
to the faceted upper end 15 of the disc 13 to convey a message. Similarly, 
the semi-rigid molded disc 13 may be permanently molded with any 
informative legend on its top surfaces or other types of indicia display 
may be used, for example, silk screen printing on the disc 13. 
It is preferable that the upstanding walls of the circular main body 
portion 14 be substantially the same or higher than the thickness of the 
vinyl scuff guard 11, to more prominently display the information center 
12 and to avoid the build up of dirt on the message surface. 
Turning to FIG. 4, the disc 13 is shown as being generally circular in 
shape, having a ridge 23 formed along its main diameter by the top facet 
plates 21, 22 of the circular body portion 14. The ridge line is continued 
by the ridge 26 of the semi-circular flange plates 24, 25 at the bottom of 
the main body portion 14. 
FIG. 5 illustrates the angled-off facet plates 21, 22 which are adapted to 
conform to the top surface of the gasoline nozzle 10, and to provide some 
style to the design. However, it may be appreciated to those skilled in 
the art, that the disc 13 could be made with flattened top surface and 
flange, extending parallel to one another and at 90 degrees to the main 
body portion 14. Similarly, the flange 17 may be shaped to conform to a 
surface of a dispensing nozzle 10. 
FIG. 6 illustrates the disc 13 in side elevation. 
It may be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that the disc 13 may be 
formed of many materials, although semi-rigid nylon makes an excellent, 
low cost, durable choice while providing a suitable surface to adhesively 
attach the pressure sensitive label 27. Further, it may be appreciated 
that the disc 13 need not be hollow as shown, but could be formed of a 
solid plastic, at the option of the user or molder, without materially 
effecting the display device. 
With regard to information indicia, while it has been described in 
conjunction herewith that a pressure sensitive label 27 may be applied to 
the faceted top surfaces, it is contemplated that silk screen printing and 
permanent molding of raised letters, logos, and the like may also be 
utilized. Similarly, various colors may be employed where the object is to 
heighten the attraction of the display device to the user, as when a 
contrasting color is employed between the disc 13 and the scuff guard 11. 
While the invention has been shown in conjunction with a preferred 
embodiment, it is intended that the invention not be limited to such 
embodiment, but rather extend to all such designs and modificaiton as come 
within the scope of the appended claims.