AN INDICATOR ASSEMBLY FOR A PETROL PUMP

Abstract: An ''out of use'' assembly for covering a petrol pump nozzle (16) comprises a hood portion (26) which slidably interfits with a plate (28) having a slot (30) to receive the hood portion (26). The slot (30) is profiled to define catch lugs and cam shoulders. Inside the hood portion (26) is a C-shaped clip (72) which clips over the petrol pump nozzle (16) when the assembly is applied. The clip has projections (72A) for co-operating with the slot in that the clip has to be pressed to close the limbs to enable the hood to be slid into the plate and when thus positioned release of the limbs causes the projections (72A) to spring into the recesses (73) in the slot, the lugs preventing separation of the plate and hood portion unless the clip limbs are again pressed together. When the assembly is applied to the nozzle, the assembly can be locked by sliding the plate relative to the hood portion until the cam shoulders wedge against the projections tightening the cap limbs around the nozzle.

Description: An Indicator Assembly for a Petrol Pump This invention relates to an assembly for indicating when, for example, a petrol pump is out of use. At present, the only clearly identifiable use of the invention of which we are aware is in relation to petrol pumps (or gas pumps in the United States) and therefore although reference is made hereinafter exclusively to petrol pumps, should an equivalent use be identified where the invention is directly applicable, it is intended that such use should be covered by the present invention. There are very many thousands of petrol pumps throughout the world, and it frequently happens that for various reasons, any particular petrol pump may be "down" or out of use. This may be due to mechanical failure, due to exhaustion of supply of petrol, due to repair or due to maintenance, but whatever the reason, it is necessary for the sake of the motorist that there should be some indication to show that the petrol pump is out of use. If there is no such indication, there is a danger that a motorist will endeavour to operate the pump and this in some circumstances could have serious repercussions. One commonly used method for indicating that a petrol pump is out of use is to cover the pump with a tarpaulin cover which may be printed with the words "Out of Use" or alternatively an additional sign may be placed adjacent the pump to show that it is out of use. This method of indicating when a pump is out of use is satisfactory when the pump is embodied in a single unit having a single pump nozzle but there is a tendency for modern petrol pumps to comprise a housing with a plurality of independently operable nozzles, for example for the dispensing of petrols of different grades or different compositions. Many forecourts now offer unleaded petrols as well as leaded petrols. Where a pump housing has a bank of nozzles, and it is usual to have banks of nozzles on opposite sides of the housing so that motorists can draw up to opposite sides of the housing and select the appropriate nozzle from each bank, then when one or a pair of nozzles is out of use, it is not possible to use a tarpaulin cover satisfactorily to indicate that a particular nozzle is out of use. Merely positioning a loose sign adjacent or above the out of use nozzle is unsatisfactory because it is difficult to indicate which nozzle is out of use, and moreover loose signs do tend to be removed or displaced either purposely or accidentally, or may be blown away by the wind. The present invention the subject of International Patent Application No. PCT/GB90/00130 seeks to provide an assembly for indicating when a petrol pump is out of use, which overcomes the disadvantages as aforesaid. In preferred embodiments of the invention the subject of said application, the assembly will be securely attached to the nozzle or the housing surrounding the nozzle so as to prevent accidental or deliberate removal of the assembly. In a particularly preferred arrangement, the assembly serves to cover the nozzle so that it cannot be engaged by the hand, preventing any possibility of undesirable operation of the nozzle trigger. The assembly also serves to provide a means of indicating that the nozzle to which it is attached is out of use. According to the present invention the subject of said application there is provided an assembly for indicating when, for example, a petrol pump is out of use, comprising an enclosure casing or hood for housing a petrol pump nozzle and a display member connected to the casing or hood, said display member having means to indicate or being adapted to indicate that the petrol pump is out of use, and wherein the assembly has connection means adapting the assembly to be removably attached to the petrol pump nozzle or adjacent member when the nozzle is in the out of use position whereby a motorist approaching the petrol pump will see by said display member that the pump is out of use. According to the present invention there is provided an assembly for indicating when, for example, a petrol pump is out of use, and which fits over the petrol pump nozzle, said assembly comprising interfitting sections which can be disconnected and a connection means adapting the assembly to be removably attached to the petrol pump nozzle when the nozzle is in the out of use position, and wherein the connection means comprises a resilient clip, which grips the petrol pump nozzle, and the clip is prevented from being removed from the nozzle by the interfitting of said sections but can be removed from the nozzle upon disconnection of said sections. Preferably, the said sections comprise an enclosure casing or hood for housing a petrol pump nozzle and a display member connected to the casing or hood, said display member having means to indicate or being adapted to indicate that the petrol pump is out of use. Preferably, and the clip is stressed by virtue of the connection between the enclosure casing or hood and display member, so that when the display member and enclosure casing or hood are disconnected, the stress on the clip is released enabling the clip to be disconnected from the petrol pump nozzle. There may be one or more of said clips adapted to engage one or more locations on said petrol pump nozzle. Where several clips are embodied, the display member and enclosure casing or hood are adapted to be connected by relatively sliding action, edges of the display member engaging portions of said clips in order to stress same around the petrol pump nozzle. The clips may be housed in the enclosure member or hood. To connect the assembly to a petrol pump nozzle, the enclosure member or hood is initially positioned thereover so that the clips extend around the petrol pump nozzle, and then the display member is slid into position in engagement with the enclosure member or hood thereby stressing the clips and locking same around the petrol pump nozzle. Disconnection is achieved by reversing the procedure. As can be appreciated from the above, the pump nozzle can be concealed by the casing when the assembly is applied, and the display member will either be provided with a display message indicating for example that the pump is out of use, or a display message may readily be attached thereto. The display member may be a plate removably attached to said casing or hood as described, and the plate may have a portion which extends outwardly from the petrol pump so that a motorist approaching the nozzle side on will see the projecting plate. Alternatively the plate may simply be a flat plate which is removably attached to said casing or hood. In the particularly advantageous construction as described above, the plate and casing or hood are relatively slidably for the connection and disconnection of same. The plate and casing or hood being in relatively slidable parts provides yet a further preferred construction of the present invention in that the connection may be C-clips provided with lugs which project into recesses carried by the casing or hood and by which the clips are held to the casing or hood. Said plate has a locking slot which engages the lugs of the said clip when the plate and casing or hood are slid together into the connected position. The relative sliding of the plate and hood therefore can be used as the stressing of the clips to provide locking means for locking the assembly to the nozzle. The or one of the clips may be adapted to clip onto the nozzle handle grip when the assembly is connected to the nozzle. The casing or hood and plate may be arranged such that the casing or hood is to one side of the plate, leaving a section of the plate at the other side free to carry display material, although the casing hood can be located symmetrically relative to the plate. Preferably, the clip has catch means adapted to be engaged by lugs on the display member, preventing the display member from being removed from the enclosure casing or hood unless the clip is stressed to position the catch means clear of the lugs. With this arrangement, to connect the assembly to a petrol pump nozzle, the display member and the enclosure casing or hood are slid together and the assembly is positioned so that the clip extends around the petrol pump nozzle, and then the display member is displaced relative to the enclosure member or hood thereby stressing the clip and locking same around the petrol pump nozzle. Disconnection is achieved by reversing the procedure. If any attempt is made to remove the display member the catch means engage the lugs, preventing such removal. Thus, the display member cannot be removed, unless the clip is held in stressed condition, and the assembly cannot be removed, unless the lock on the clip exercised by the display member is released. In a particularly advantageous construction the plate is of L-shaped section providing a main portion for the display material and a support portion which fits round the enclosure casing or hood. The plate and casing or hood being in relatively slidable parts provides that the clip may be a C- clip provided with the catch means which project into recesses in the casing or hood which is slotted to receive the plate. Said plate has a locking slot which engages the catch means of the said clip when the plate and casing or hood are slid together to effect the connection between the assembly and nozzle. The relative sliding of the plate and hood is used to stress the clip to provide the locking means for locking the assembly to the nozzle. The clip may be adapted to clip onto the nozzle handle grip when the assembly is connected to the nozzle. The casing or hood and plate may be constructed and arranged such that the casing hood is located symmetrically relative to the plate. The casing, plate and clip are preferably of plastics material. The clip preferably is C-shaped and is defined by a U- sectioned member having a flexible pad in the base thereof and bead formations on the inner faces of the limbs. The casing, plate and clip or clips are preferably of plastics material. Embodiments of the invention will now be desribed, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:- Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an assembly according to one embodiment of the invention, the figure also showing a petrol pump nozzle to which the assembly is to be attached; Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the assembly of Fig. 1 when attached to the petrol pump nozzle; Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the assembly of Fig. 1 but from the opposite side; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on a line IV-IV of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a detail of the plate of the assembly; Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of an assembly according to another embodiment of the invention, the figure also showing a petrol pump nozzle to which the assembly is to be attached; Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of the assembly of Fig. 6 when attached to the petrol pump nozzle; Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation of the assembly shown in Fig. 7 the section being taken on line II-II in Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on a line IV-IV of Fig. 8; and Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are views showing in respective positions how the plate and clip co-operate in different positions. Referring to the drawings, in Fig. 1 is shown a petrol pump housing 10 having an inclined upper face 12 in which is provided a slot 14 receiving petrol pump nozzle 16 of conventional construction. The nozzle 16 has an outlet nozzle tube 18 from which petrol can be dispensed, and a handle grip 20 which is engaged by the user for manipulating the nozzle, and also causing dispensing of the petrol by virtue of the depression of a trigger 22 in the handle portion 20. Upon operation of the trigger 22 petrol flows from the source of the pump through flexible tube 24. The arrangement described is well known and conventional. Fig. 1 also shows an assembly for covering the nozzle 16 when it is in the position shown in Fig. 1, and when it is out of service. The assembly comprises a casing or hood 26 which is a thermo formed plastics material component, and a display member in the form of a plastics material plate 28 which as shown is rectangular (although it could be of any suitable shape) and has a slot 30 for receiving the casing 26. The slot 30 is dimensioned to correspond to the dimensions of casing 26. Casing 26 is elongated and has a peripheral flange 32 and holding lugs 34A, which have slots 34B to receive the plate. The casing 26 is connected to the plate 28 simply by sliding the casing into the slot 30 as indicated by arrow 34 so that the flange 32 lies behind the side of the plate 28 which is visible in Fig. 1, whilst the edges 30A of slot 30 are received in the slots 34B in lugs 34A whereby the casing 26 and plate 28 form the assembly according to the embodiment of the invention. It will be seen that the plate 28 carries a legend 36 as follows - "SORRY OUT OF USE" which is the message to be conveyed as the assembly is applied to the nozzle 16 only when it is out of use. Fig. 2 shows the assembly in position and covering the nozzle 16 preventing motorists from removing the nozzle from the slot 14. Fig. 2 also shows at 40 that a second nozzle 42 may be carried by the same housing 10, and the nozzle 42 may still be in service although nozzle 16 is out of use. This figure indicates how important it is to be able to provide an assembly such as the assembly according to the invention on a multi-nozzle dispenser. Fig. 2 also illustrates in dotted lines at 44 that the pumps may be arranged back to back so that there may be parallel banks of nozzles on opposite sides of housing 10. It may be necessary to use separate assemblies according to the embodiment of the invention on the back to back nozzles if they are supplied from the same source. Reference is now made to Figs. 3 and 4, which show how the assembly is connected to the nozzle. The casing 26 is a recessed body, and at the top end 60 there is an angled portion 62 (Fig. 1), and a section 64 which is parallel to the plane containing the flange 32. At the lower end 66 the casing is cut away as shown at 68 in order to accommodate the flexible hose 24 when the assembly is fitted to the nozzle 16 as shown in Fig. 2. Inside the casing 26 are loosely fitted two spring C-clips 70 and 72 which are of plastics material and of the cross- section shown in Fig. 4. The C-clips 70 and 72 are of springy plastics material, and face towards the open side of the casing 26. Each clip 70 and 72 has outwardly turned lugs 70A, 72A which locate in apertures or recesses 71, 73 in the sides of casing 26 in register with the lugs 34A so as to extend thereinto as shown in Fig. 4. Connection of the assembly to the nozzle 16 will be understood from the consideration of Fig. 4. The casing 26 with the lugs 70 and 72 loosely fitted and snapped thereinto by virtue of the lugs 72A and 70A engaging in the slots 71 and 73, is positioned over the nozzle 16 so that the C-clips 70 and 72 embrace the nozzle pipe 18 and handle 20, the clips being dimensioned for this purpose. With the casing 26 in this position, the plate 28 is now slid into engagement arrangement with the casing 26 as shown in Fig. 2, and during this sliding movement, the edges 30A of the slot 30 engage the lugs 70A and 72A of each C-slip and force them together thereby resiliently gripping the nozzle pipe 18 and handle 20 respectively, as hown clearly in Fig. 4. The clips 70 and 72 may be of such material so as to deform around the nozzle, providing an effective holding arrangement. To detach the assembly, the procedure is reversed in that plate 28 is removed from the casing 26 by relative sliding and then the casing can simply be detached from the nozzle 16. An extremely simple construction of the assembly results, and it is adapted readily to be easily connected and disconnected from the nozzle. It is to be noted that chamfered lead-in portions 58 of the slot 30 enable the shoulders 54 to engage the lugs of the clips 70 and 72 to facilitate the coupling of the plate and casing. An effective and secure fixing of the assembly to the nozzle tube is achieved, and as can be seen in Fig. 2, the resulting assembly has an aesthetically appealing appearance as well as performing its function satisfactorily. Referring now to Figs. 6 to 12 of the drawings, in Fig. 6 is shown a petrol pump housing 110 having an inclined upper face 112 in which is provided a slot 114 receiving petrol pump nozzle 116 of conventional construction. The nozzle 116 has an outlet nozzle tube 118 from which petrol can be dispensed, and a handle grip 120 which is engaged by the user for manipulating the nozzle, and also causing dispensing of the petrol by virtue of the depression of a trigger 122 in the handle portion 120. Upon operation of the trigger 122 petrol flows from the source of the pump through flexible tube 124. The arrangement described is well known and conventional. Fig. 6 also shows an assembly for covering the nozzle 116 when it is in the position shown in Fig. 6, and when it is out of service. The assembly comprises a casing or hood 126 which is a thermo formed plastics material component, and a display member in the form of a plastics material plate 128 which as shown is rectangular (although it could be of any suitable shape) and is L-shaped providing a main portion 128A and a support portion 128B. It has a slot 130 for receiving the casing 126. The slot 130 is dimensioned to correspond to the dimensions of casing 126. Casing 126 is elongated and has a peripheral flange 132 and holding lugs 134A, which have slots 134B to receive the plate. The casing 126 is connected to the plate 128 simply by sliding the casing into the slot 130 as indicated by arrow 134 so that the flange 132 lies behind the side of the plate 128 which is visible in Fig. 6, whilst the edges 130A of slot 130 housed the slots 134B in lugs 134A whereby the casing 126 and plate 128 form the assembly according to the embodiment of the invention. The plate 128 may carry a legend for example as follows - "SORRY OUT OF USE" - which is the message to be conveyed as the assembly is applied to the nozzle 116 only when it is out of use. Fig. 7 shows the assembly in a position in which it covers the nozzle 116 and prevents motorists from removing the nozzle from the slot 14. The portion 128B as shown wraps round the hood 126 and provides support for the hood as well as serving to rigidify the plate 128. Fig. 7 also shows at 140 that a second nozzle 142 may be carried by the same housing 110, and the nozzle 142 may still be in service although nozzle 116 is out of use. This figure indicates how important it is to be able to provide an assembly such as the assembly according to the invention on a multi-nozzle dispenser. The pumps may be arranged back to back so that there may be parallel banks of nozzles on opposite sides of housing 110. It may be necessary to use separate assemblies according to the embodiment of the invention on the back to back nozzles if they are supplied from the same source. Reference is now made to Figs. 8 and 9, which show how the assembly is connected to the nozzle. The casing 126 is a recessed body, and at the top end 160 there is an angled portion 162 (Fig. 8), and a section 164 which is parallel to the plane containing the flange 132. At the lower end 166 the casing is cut away as shown at 168 in order to accommodate the flexible hose 124 when the assembly is fitted to the nozzle 116 as shown in Fig. 8. Inside the casing 126 is fitted a spring C-clip 170 (Fig. 9) which is mounted on a plinth 174, which clip is of plastics material and of the cross-section shown in Fig. 9. The C- clip 170 is of springy plastics material, and faces towards the open side of the casing 126. The clip 170 is of U- section and has inwardly facing headings 172, 176 and on the outer surfaces has catch blocks 170A, 172A which locate in apertures or recesses 171, 173 in the sides of casing 126 created by the lugs 134A as shown in Fig. 9. If reference is made to Fig. 6 once more, the edges 130A of slot 130 in the lower edge of portion 128A are shaped to define recesses 180 and lugs 182 (better shown in Fig.10), which co-operate with the catch blocks 170A, 172A in the connecting together of the plate and hood, and the assembly to the nozzle as will be explained. Connection of the assembly to the nozzle 116 will be understood from the consideration of Figs. 10, 11 and 12. The casing 126 is slid into the slot 130 of the plate 128 until the catch blocks 170A, 172A are adjacent the lugs 182, which prevent further insertion of the casing 126. At this point the edges of the clip are pushed together as shown by arrows 183 in Fig. 10 so that the catch blocks can pass between lugs 182. Continued movement brings the catch blocks 170A, 172A into register with the cut outs 180 as shown in Fig. 11 and the catch blocks 170A, 172A upon release of the clip spring into the said recesses 180 and the lugs 182 hold the plate and casing captive. In this condition, the assembly is applied to the nozzle as shown in Fig. 7, the beaded edges 172, 174 springingly passing over the nozzle handle as shown in Fig. 9. A resilient block 184 in the clip forms a resilient holding means in that the nozzle presses on the block 184 and is held against the headings 172, 176. To lock the assembly to the nozzle the plate is forced downwards as shown in Fig. 12 so that cam portions 180A, of the cut outs 180 engage the blocks 170A, 172A and wedge them inwards so that the headings 172, 176 lock under the nozzle. The assembly can be removed by reversing the process in that plate 128 is moved to the ?ig. 11 position by relative sliding and then the assembly can be sprung from the nozzle 116. The said headings 172, 176 may be integral with the limbs of the C-clip or may be detachable and replaceable with headings of a different size for connecting the assembly to different sized nozzles. An extremely simple construction of the assembly results, and it is adapted readily to be easily connected and disconnected from the nozzle. The lugs 182 and catch blocks 170A, 172A serve to prevent the plate 126 from being detached from the casing 128 unless the clip is stressed as shown in Fig. 10. An effective and secure fixing of the assembly to the nozzle tube is achieved, and as can be seen in Fig. 7, the resulting assembly has an aesthetically appealing appearance as well as performing its function satisfactorily. The embodiments of the invention described are not intended to limit the general scope fo the invention and other manifestations and modifications are possible. For example the locking means may be designed to move the clips to an open position as the casing and plate are moved relatively, the clips being designed to be sprung onto the nozzle in the first place. The components of the assembly may be selected from relatively inexpensive materials whereby the cost of same is maintained at as a low a value as possible, and the size and shape of the plate can be varied to suit any particular petrol pump or other requirement.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. An assembly for indicating when, for example, a petrol pump is out of use, and which fits over the petrol pump nozzle, said assembly comprising interfitting sections which can be disconnected and a connection means adapting the assembly to be removably attached to the petrol pump nozzle when the nozzle is in the out of use position, and wherein the connection means comprises a resilient clip, which grips the petrol pump nozzle, and the clip is prevented from being removed from the nozzle by the interfitting of said sections but can be removed from the nozzle upon disconnection of said sections. 2. An assembly according to Claim 1, wherein said sections comprise an enclosure casing or hood for housing a petrol pump nozzle and a display member connected to the casing or hood, said display member having means to indicate or being adapted to indicate that the petrol pump is out of use. 3. An assembly according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the clip is stressed by virtue of the connection between the enclosure casing or hood and display member, so that when the display member and enclosure casing or hood are disconnected, the stress on the clip is released enabling the clip to be disconnected from the petrol pump nozzle. 4. An assembly according to Claim 3, wherein the C-clip is provided with lugs which project into recesses carried by the casing or hood and by which the clips are held to the casing or hood and said plate has a locking slot which engages the lugs of the said clip when the plate and casing or hood are slid together into the connected position. 5. An assembly according to any of Claims 2 to 4, wherein the clip has catch means adapted to be engaged by lugs on the display member, preventing the display member from being removed from the enclosure casing or hood unless the clip is stressed to position the catch means clear of the lugs. 6. An assembly according to Claim 5, wherein the plate is of L-shaped section providing a main portion and a support portion which fits round the enclosure casing or hood. 7. An assembly according to Claim 6, wherein the plate has a locking slot which engages the catch means of the clip when the plate and casing are slid together. 8. An assembly according to Claim 1, wherein said sections can be separated out from one another, but only by operation of a catch means included in the assembly. 9. An assembly according to Claim 8, wherein an enclosure casing or hood for housing a petrol pump nozzle and a display member connected to the casing or hood, said display member having means to indicate or being adapted to indicate that the petrol pump is out of use, and wherein said catch means comprises a resilient C-clip which engages the petrol pump nozzle and which has projections or recesses adapted to engage or be engaged by stop lugs on the plate to prevent the plate from being detached from the casing or hood unless the clip is manually stressed to bring the lugs of the C-shape together. 10. An assembly according to Claim 9, wherein said C-clip has projections and the plate has a slot slidably receiving the casing or hood, said slot having recesses defining the stop lugs and the recesses having shoulders whereby displacement of the plate relative to the casing or hood causes engagement of the shoulders with the projections forcing same together and tightening of the C-clip around the nozzle. 11. An assembly according to Claim 9 or 10, wherein the plate is of L-shaped section, said slot being formed in one lug of the plate and the other lug being cut away to allow the casing or hood to be slid into the slot.

Inventors: RICHMOND RAYMOND, RICHMOND, RAYMOND
Applicants: RICHMOND RAYMOND, RICHMOND, RAYMOND
Application year: 1991
Main classification: G09F23
IPC codes: B67D5, G09F23