INFORMATION CARRYING DEVICE FOR A FUEL DISPENSING NOZZLE

Abstract: A device for placing information and/or advertising onto a fuel pump filler gun (1), where a supporting member (2) surrounds a part of the filler gun and has an area (2') at the upper side of the filler gun equipped with a detachable, transparent cover (3) for placing said information and/or advertising on said area. The cover (3) is connected to the supporting member (2) via a link connection (9). The link connection consists of a hinge pivot (10) on the cover (3) which forms a pivotal engagement with a sleeve part (11) on the supporting member (2). A first portion of the surface of the cover can be provided with non-detachable information (12) with regard to the fuel type delivered by the filler gun, whilst a second portion of the surface of the cover/lid is designed for the display of further information and/or advertising (7) which in a detachable manner can be disposed between the supporting member area (2') and the cover (3).

Description: Information carrying device for a fuel dispensing nozzle The present invention relates to an information supporting device for the display of information and/or advertising when the device is placed on a fuel pump filler gun, where the device has a supporting member having an upper surface portion for the support of an information and/or advertisement card, and where on the surface portion there is placed a detachable top member through which the information and/or advertisement provided on said card is visible. A device of this kind is known inter alia from Norwegian Patent 175397. In connection with the device ofthe type in question, the top member has in some cases been known to have been unintentionally pulled off the supporting member and has thus either disappeared or been damaged, or sometimes incorrect information and advertisement cards have been placed under said top member, or on occasion an error has arisen in that the top members on all ofthe fuel filler guns at a petrol station have been removed in order to replace the old cards with new, but two or more top members together with new cards displaying both information and/or advertising and an indication ofthe fuel type, have been switched accidentally or inadvertently before being put in place on a fuel filler gun. This means that information with regard to fuel type either disappears when the top member is pulled off and the card is thus lost, or that through the wrong information card the information with regard to the fuel type is incorrect vis-a-vis the actual fuel type the pump filler gun in question delivers. For example, a situation is conceivable where the card contains information about a fuel, e.g., unleaded petrol, 95 octanes, whereas the pump and the gun in reality deliver leaded petrol. It is easy to imagine the consequences this might have for the engine of a motor vehicle ifthe vehicle is filled with the wrong type of fuel, and similarly the liability a petrol station could have in this connection. Even though such occurrences are rare, there is nevertheless an obvious need to improve the aforementioned device in this area. According to the invention, the device is characterised in that the top member is link-connected to the supporting member, and that the top member is designed either as an all-covering cover of a transparent material, or as a frame with an open space between opposite frame parts. According to another embodiment ofthe device, the link connection between the cover or frame and the supporting member is provided by means of a hinge pivot placed on the cover or frame, and which forms a snap engagement with a pivot-receiving part on the supporting member. It is an advantage ifthe pivot-receiving member has an oval cross-section which is greater than the circular cross-section of the hinge pivot. It is an advantage ifthe frame is of a transparent material, but it is also possible for the frame to be of an opaque material, preferably in the same colour as that ofthe supporting member. In a special embodiment ofthe cover, a first minor portion ofthe cover, seen in the axial direction of said cover, has a surface area provided with non-detachable information about the fuel type the filler gun delivers. The cover also has a second major portion, seen in the axial direction of said cover, through which the information and/or advertisement provided on said card is visible. In a special embodiment ofthe frame, a first minor portion ofthe frame, seen in the axial direction of said frame, has a surface area provided with non-detachable information about the fuel type the filler gun delivers. The frame also has a second major and open portion, seen in the axial direction of said frame, through which the information and/or advertisement provided on said card is visible. In the countries where there is perhaps a need for a narrower supporting member with accompanying top member, to enable the fuel filler gun to be parked in a relatively small opening in a fuel pump housing when not in use, and without the device preventing such parking, it is proposed, according to the present invention, to make the top member arcuate in cross-section. Consequently, the upper surface portion ofthe supporting member will also be arcuate in cross-section. In a special embodiment the non-detachable information may be provided as cut- through parts in said surface area. In this embodiment, a part ofthe card on which no printing has been applied will form a contrast to the rest ofthe surface area. On the underside ofthe frame there are provided at least two studs designed to engage with holes in the card. This will facilitate the fixing ofthe card and prevent it from becoming loose or displaced as a result of external influences on the card or the frame. In addition, the surface portion has recesses which, when the frame is placed on the supporting member, form engagement with the studs. The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the attached illustrations, wherein: Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate a device according to the prior art. Fig. 3 illustrates a first embodiment ofthe device according to the invention. Figs. 4-8 illustrate a second embodiment ofthe device according to the invention. Figs. 9-11 show details ofthe device according to the invention. Figs. 12 and 13 illustrate a third embodiment ofthe device according to the invention. Figs. 14 and 15 illustrate a fourth embodiment ofthe device according to the invention. Figs. 16 and 17 illustrate a fifth embodiment ofthe device according to the invention. Figs. 18-21 illustrate a sixth embodiment according to the invention. Fig. 22 illustrates a detail of an eighth embodiment ofthe device according to the invention. Fig. 23 shows a ninth embodiment ofthe invention according to the invention. Fig. 24 shows the section XXIV-XXIV in Fig. 23. Fig. 25 illustrates a tenth embodiment ofthe device according to the invention. Fig. 1 shows a fuel filler gun 1 with a supporting member 2 which surrounds a part of the gun 1 and has, at the upper side ofthe gun, an area 2' equipped with a detachable top member 3 in the form of a cover having edges 4 which engage with beads 5 on said supporting member. Information, in particular with respect to fuel type, and advertising are intended to be placed on said area 2'. This information and advertising may be in the form of a card 6 bearing a printed advertisement 7 and information 8 with regard to the fuel type. As shown in Fig. 2, a fuel pump filler gun 1 which initially is intended to deliver petrol may by mistake be provided with an information and advertisement card which indicates that the gun delivers diesel fuel. As a first step towards preventing the top member or cover from being switched with one from an adjacent fuel pump filler gun in a filling station, it is proposed, according to the invention, that the supporting member 2 be connected to the cover 3 via a link connection 9. This link connection 9 can be seen in more detail in Figs. 9-1 1. There, it will be seen that the top member or cover 3 is provided with a hinge pivot 10 which at the end thereof has an enlarged, preferably somewhat conical portion 10', so that when the hinge pivot is inserted into a sleeve-like portion 11 on the supporting member 2, it forms a preferably non-detachable, pivotal snap engagement with said supporting member. By equipping the pivot 10 with an optional split 10", the insertion and optional release ofthe pivot 10 (e.g., when the top member is damaged) will be made somewhat easier. As an additional measure to avoid the problems described above, according to the invention, non-detachable information 12 with regard to the fuel type that the fuel pump filler gun 1 in question delivers can be provided on a portion 3' ofthe cover surface, either on the inside or outside thereof. The card 6, optionally 6', which is now to be placed on the supporting member area 2', may in the case ofthe previously mentioned region 8 have no information whatsoever as indicated by means of reference numeral 8' in Fig. 6, where the information/advertisement card 6' has been given a somewhat modified design in comparison with the known cards 6. It will thus be understood that even if an information/advertisement card contains incorrect information with regard to fuel type, no harm will be done by placing a slip of this kind under the top member 3, as the non- detachable information with regard to the fuel type which has already been placed on said cover will conceal any incorrect indication of fuel type on said card 6. Alternatively, as indicated, it is possible to modify the card 6 as is indicated by card 6', i.e., that the card does not contain any information with regard to fuel type. The absence of any indication of fuel type on the card 6', or perhaps an incorrect indication of fuel type on the card 6, will thus, according to the invention, be of no significance as the indication of fuel type is already found in non-detachable form on the said top member 3. The other information on the card is seen via the region 3" on the top member 3. Fig. 7 illustrates how the card 6 bearing an incorrect indication ofthe fuel type as diesel has been placed on a fuel filler gun intended for unleaded petrol. However, as before, the top member 3 already has non-detachable information 12 which clearly indicates that the fuel type delivered from the filler gun 1 is unleaded petrol. As shown in Fig. 8, the information panel ofthe card 6 intended for fuel type will at all times be hidden by the non-detachable information 12 about the fuel type in question, and where this information is affixed either to the outer surface ofthe cover or inside. In Figs. 12 and 13 it is shown how the top member (cover) 3 can in fact be converted into a frame 13 in that a large cut-out 13' is made through which the advertisement/ information 7 on the card 6 can be seen. This means that the advertisement/information 7 will be seen more clearly, as it is not covered by a transparent plastic material which after being in use for some time may be scratched or dirty. The fuel information 8" is located permanently on the underside ofthe transparent part 13" ofthe top member. In Figs. 14 and 15 it is shown how the frame 13 is made of an opaque plastic material, e.g., in the same colour as the supporting member 2, or in a matching colour. It will then be expedient to indicate the fuel type 8', e.g., "Unleaded 95" on the surface ofthe portion 13" of the frame 13. The application of this indication can be done in a known way per se, e.g., by means of silk-screen printing. In Figs. 16 and 17 it is shown how the frame 13 has been further modified as frame 14 and where a larger cut-out 14' has been made through which the advertisement/ information 7 and fuel type 8 on the card 6 can be seen. This means that the advertisement/information 7, 8 will be seen more clearly as it is not covered by transparent plastic material. Consequently, this solution will mean that the repeated cleaning which is necessary in the case of a cover will no longer be required. In a number of countries, there may be a need for a narrower supporting member 2 with accompanying top member 3, to enable the fuel filler gun 1 to be parked in a relatively narrow opening in the fuel pump housing (not shown) when not in use, and without the device according to the invention preventing such parking. In such a case, the gun type may possibly be the same as shown in the remaining figures, e.g., the ZVA type. Accordingly, in Figs. 18-21 it is shown how the supporting member 2 can be modified in that the upper portion 2' thereof in cross-section is given an arcuate form 2", as can be seen most clearly in Fig. 19. In a similar manner, the top member 3 is given an arcuate form 3'" which is adapted to the arcuate form 2", so that the top member 3 can thus extend down in an arch on either side ofthe supporting member 2 (see Fig. 21). Even though the upper area 2' of the supporting member 2 has a smaller transverse dimension than that which is shown for the other embodiments, the effective supporting surface ofthe area 2' can nevertheless be as large as is the case in the other embodiments, and so that the same size of card 6 per se can be used. Even though it is not shown in the figures, it will immediately be understood that the top member 3, when it is in the form of a cover, can be provided either internally or extemally with a permanent fuel labelling 8'; 12. Furthermore, it will be possible to modify the top member 3 in the form of a cover to give it the form of a frame 13; 14 instead by making a cut-out 13'; 14' whilst still maintaining the general arcuate form ofthe top member 3 and the area 2". Moreover, the top member 3 is hinged to the supporting member 2 via a hinge connection 9, as previously shown and described. The supporting member 2 has a front opening 2'" (see Fig. 5) so that it can be fed onto the filler gun 1 as shown in Fig. 18. In Fig. 22 it is shown how the sleeve-like portion 11 alternatively may be designed to have a front opening so that it has an approximately U-shaped cross-section as indicated with the reference numeral 11'. The thus formed hinge pivot receiving part 11 ' will thus be approximately oval in shape 11 ", so that there is a clearance d between the snap-in end 1 '" and the provided pivot 10. The purpose ofthe clearance is to be able to compensate for any longitudinal movements between the top member 3; 13; 14 and the supporting member 2 due to the influence of temperature (expansion or contraction). The pivot can be designed and attached as shown, e.g., in Fig. 11 , but may alternatively be attached between two lugs 14, 15 on the top member 3; 14; 14 as shown in Fig. 25. As shown in Fig. 23, the non-detachable information 8" can be provided in the form of cut-through parts 16 in the information surface area. Thus, a card with no printing will at its rearmost part form a contrast with the rest ofthe surface area. In this way, it is made possible for information about fuel type to be put in a simple manner into the moulding equipment for the top member, thereby avoiding an extra operation to apply the fuel type on the outside ofthe frame. In Fig. 25 it is shown how the frame 13 on the underside thereof can be provided with a number of studs, e.g., two or three, as are indicated with the reference numerals 17, 18, 19. The studs 17, 18 ,19 are designed to engage with respective mounting holes 20, 21, 22 in the information and advertising card 6'. This facilitates the fixing ofthe card relative to the top member, here in the form ofthe frame 13. Furthermore, the interaction between the studs 17-19 and the mounting holes 20-22 will counter any extemal influences such as fingering the card or the frame in an attempt to pull the card out through the opening 13' in the frame or cause the card to loosen easily ifthe frame is raised. The studs 17, 18, 19 are designed to engage with respective recesses 23, 24, 25 in the surface portion ofthe supporting member 2. Even though a special type of link connection between the cover or lid and said supporting member has been described in the description and illustrations, it will be understood that any suitable link connection, including plastic hinges, binding wire connections or similar could be used. The invention is of particular use in the case ofthe embodiments where the surface portion extends from approximately the area between the rear portion ofthe delivery pipe ofthe filler gun and the front portion of its valve housing to approximately the area between the rear portion ofthe valve housing and a front portion ofthe filler gun handle, but the invention is of course not intended to be restricted to one such extent of the surface portion. Moreover, it will be understood that both the supporting member 2 and the top member 3; 13; 14 could be made in any appropriate manner whatsoever within the scope ofthe attached patent claims.

Claims: P a t e n t c l a i m s 1. An information supporting device for the display of information and/or advertising when the device is placed on a fuel pump filler gun, where the device has a supporting member having an upper surface portion for the support of an information and/or advertisement card, and where a top member can be placed on the supporting member at the surface portion thereof and through which information and/or advertising provided on the card are visible, characterised in that the top member (3; 13; 14) is link-connected to the supporting member (2), and the top member is in the form of either an all-covering cover (3) of a transparent plastic material, or a frame (13; 14) having an open space (13'; 14') between opposite frame parts. 2. An information supporting device as disclosed in Claim 1 , characterised in that the link connection between the cover (3) or frame (13; 14) and the supporting member (2) is provided by a hinge pivot (10) which forms a snap engagement with a pivot-receiving part (11; 11 ') on the supporting member. 3. An information supporting device as disclosed in Claim 1 , characterised in that said pivot-receiving part (11; 11 ') has an oval cross-section which is greater than the circular cross-section ofthe hinge pivot. 4. A device as disclosed in Claim 1, characterised in that the frame (13; 14) is of a transparent material. 5. A device as disclosed in Claim 1, characterised in that the frame (13; 14) is of an opaque material, preferably in the same colour as that ofthe supporting member (2). 6. A device as disclosed in Claim 1, characterised in that a first, minor portion ofthe cover (3), seen in the axial direction of said cover, has a surface area (3') provided with non- detachable information (12) with regard to the fuel type delivered from the filler gun, and that the cover (3) has a second, major portion (3"), seen in the axial direction of said cover, through which the information and/or advertisement (7) provided on said card (6) is visible. 7. A device as disclosed in Claim 1, 3 or 4, characterised in that a first, minor portion (13") ofthe frame (13), seen in the axial direction of said frame, has a surface area provided with non-detachable information (8') with regard to the fuel type delivered from the filler gun, and that the frame (13) has a second, major and open portion (13'), seen in the axial direction of said frame, through which the information and/or advertisement (7) provided on said card (6) is visible. 8. A device as disclosed in Claim 7, characterised in that the non-detachable information (8'") is provided in the form of cut-through parts (16) in said surface area. 9. A device as disclosed in Claim 7, characterised in that on the underside ofthe frame there are provided at least two studs (17, 18, 19) designed for engagement with holes (20, 21, 22) in the card. 10. A device as disclosed in Claim 8, characterised in that recesses (23, 24, 25) are provided in the surface portion which, when the frame is brought down on the supporting member (2), engage with the studs (17,18,19). 11. A device as disclosed in one or more ofthe preceding claims, characterised in that the top member (3) is arcuate (3'") in cross-section. 12. A device as disclosed in one or more ofthe preceding claims, characterised in that the upper surface portion (2') ofthe supporting member (2) is arcuate (2") in cross-section.

Inventors: ALVERN STEIN, ALVERN, STEIN
Applicants: ALVERN NORWAY A S, ALVERN STEIN, ALVERN NORWAY A/S, ALVERN, STEIN
Application year: 1996
Main classification: G09F3
IPC codes: B67D5, G09F3, G09F23