HOSE STIFFENER WITH ADVERTISEMENT FOR A FUEL DISPENSER

Abstract: A fuel discharge pump containing fuel discharge tube (11) with associated pistol (10). A combination of a tube bracing means (13) and an advertising holder (14) is arranged at a transition part (11a) between the flexible tube (11) and a rigid pistol (10). The tube bracing means (13) which is relatively bending rigid in all directions transverse to the tube longitudinal direction, comprises a part (14), which is expanded relative to the circumference of the tube. Said expanded part (14) is provided with an advertising field (15), which is delimited to at least one long main surface (29) at the expanded part (14) of the tube bracing means (13).

Description: HOSE STIFFENER WITH ADVERTISEMENT FOR A FUEL DISPENSER The present invention relates to a transition part arrangement at a flexible discharge tube of a fuel pump and an associated tube carrying, rigid fuel discharge pistol. It is a priorly known problem at petrol stations that the discharge tubes tend to get tension and break damages as a result of material fatigue or overload due to repeated tension loads or bending loads during use. So far it has been tried to remedy this problem by threading a rigid tube piece in place at the transition part between the pistol and the tube. This has in practice only partly remedied the problem. The present invention is in the first place aimed to reduce the risk of tension- and break damages in the tube and respectively reduce the risk of renewing the tube after relatively short time of use, by equipping the tube with an additional tube bracing means at the transition part between the tube and the pistol. Secondary, the invention is aimed to achieve a favourable solution of the above mentioned problem and at the same time by simple means to produce a fitted advertising field. The advertising field is especially aimed for easily interchangeable advertising messages. So far, an advertising field for easily interchange- able advertising messages located at the front part of the fuel discharge pump pistol has been proposed in NO 175 397. This advertising field is limited for use at the fuel discharge pump pistol itself, at the part of the pistol which is arranged in front of the pistol hand grip part. The field that is available for advertising at the discharge pistol according to the priorly known embodi¬ ment, is rather limited due to handling reasons. The present invention is aimed to complement said priorly known advertising field by an additional advertising field, which can display a substantially greater advertising area and which is more visible at various distances and under various visual angles, that is from different point of view. In particular, the additional advertising field is aimed to be located at the transition part between the tube and the pistol, that is behind said priorly known advertising field. In particular the invention is aimed to combine a holder for said additional advertising field and said tube bracing means. Various ways of marking for instance electrical current carrying conductors are priorly known: It is priorly known from WO 93/24941 to use a marking part formed by a profile provided with a hollow, triangular sectional view, which enclose an electrical current carrying conductor. The wall material thickness of the profile is dimensioned such that a flexible center part is achieved. US patent 5 271 981 relates to a stamped out flexible sheet material comprising six sheet areas, which form a six-edged mark holder for an electrical current carrying conductor. The sheet material itself has no bracing effect and is not meant for showing such effect in the electrical current carrying conductor. US patent 4 947 568 relates to a casing of an electrical current carrying conductor formed as a cable clip, which is clamped to the cable by means of radial inwards directed friction flaps. The casing comprises a pocket for admission of a cable identification mark. No bracing effect is achieved between the casing and the cable. US patent 5 187 887 relates to a mark holder of an electrical current carrying conductor formed as an cable clip, which at the one side carries a cable identification flap, and at the opposite side carries an pair of fastening clips, which is fittingly clamped around the cable without any bracing effect. The above mentioned solutions are not usable for the purpose according to the invention. The device according to the invention is character¬ ised in that a combination of a tube bracing means and an advertising holder enclose the transition part in a bending rigid manner between the flexible tube and the rigid pistol, which combination of the tube bracing means and the advertising holder has a substantially greater sectional view area than the sectional view area of the tube, that the advertising holder, in relation to the transverse direction of the tube comprise an expanded advertising field, comprising at least one main longitudi¬ nal advertising area, and that the tube bracing means is bending rigid in directions transverse to the tube longitudinal direction and secure the tube in place in a fixed direction course in relation to the pistol. By means of a moderate expansion of the transition part between the tube and the pistol, according to the invention, two favourable solutions will be acchieved in one combination, i.e. a suitable large advertising field combined with effective tube bracing field. In other words is it possible by simple means to achieve a favourable combination effect by a) reinforcement of and bracing of the tube transition part and b) provision of a favourable arranged advertising field. The advertising field enable for instance display of an advertising message in an favourable way, even when viewed at a considerable distance from the advertising field. According to the invention a substantially rigid tube bracing means can be arranged, which is rigidly clamped to the discharge tube and to parts of the discharge pistol, which force the associated discharge tube in a fixed direction course outwards from the pistol, to cause an intended bending curvature of the tube in said transition part next to the pistol and the immediately subsequently following part of the tube. It is accordingly possible to built in an especial tube curvature course which prevent extreme bending of the tube during use. In addition the special curvature course will in relation with the rigid transition part can ensure that the tube, in an inactive position, will be suspended in a accurately intended position in relation to the discharge pump. The rigid tube bracing part will in practice secure a stable tube course, including an aesthetic attractive shape, even after long time of use. The associated advertising field will consequently be fitted for display of advertising in a correspondingly favourable manner for a long time. Further features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description with reference to the enclosed drawings, which illustrate examples of the preferred embodiments according to the invention and wherein: Fig. 1 is a sectional sideview of a section of a device according to the invention, illustrated in connection with a fuel discharge pump tube and associated discharge pistol. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a fuel discharge pump battery with associated discharge tube and discharge pistol. Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of a first embodiment of the device according to the invention. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of different parts incorporated in the device according to Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a cross section view of a partly mounted cover according to Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a modified embodiment of the device according to the invention illustrated in a sectional view corresponding to that of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified embodiment comprising two discharge tubes clamped together in one and the same tube bracing means. In Fig. 1 is illustrated a fuel discharge pump pistol 10 in connection with an associated easily flexible discharge tube 11. The tube 11 is initially arranged in such way that it can be pulled and bent to the needs of the users, i.e. relative to the position of the vehicle's in relation to the fuel discharge pump. In a transition part 11a between tube 11 and pistol 10, where the tube 11 has a tendency to crack, break into pieces or in any other way demolish after repeated tension loads and bending loads, a tube bracing means 13 according to the invention is arranged. The tube bracing means 13 comprises a clamping means 14 and a subsequently fastened tube bracing casing 49. In Fig. 1 a somewhat elastic casing 49 is shown, which provides a certain bracing and support for the tube 11, and a rigid clamping means 14, clamped to the tube 11, such that the bracing means 13 is fastened direct to the tube 11 in a fixed connection thereto and at the same time the casing 49 beeing clamped in an engagement, between the clamping means 13 and the tube 11. It is possible, according to the invention, by simple means to secure the bracing casing 49 in place inside of the tube bracing means 13. Due to the curvature course of the clamping means 14 the tube 11 will take a corresponding curvature course inside the tube bracing means 13. The clamping means 14 will subsequently give the tube 11 a curvature course in extension of the pistol 10. In practice the clamping means 14 will be securely clamped in a position close to the pistol 10 and by preference such that the clamping means 14 also provides support against the pistol 10 itself or parts thereof. The rigid clamping means 14 forms the main part of the bracing means 13 and is arranged to secure the bracing means 13 to be locally clamped, in an accurate manner, to the tube 11, whereas tube simultaneously is performed in intended curvature course. The clamping of the tube 11 is by preference provided by said transition part 11a, wherein the tube 11 is especially exposed to large loads and associated damage of the tube 11 itself. It is usual that the tube 11 is arranged piootable about its longitudinal axis relative to the pistol 10. This is provided by means of coupling means 11', which are fastened respectively to the pistol 10 and the tube 11 by means of a set of mounting nuts 11 ' ' . Consequently the tube 11 can be rotated about its longitudinal axis relative to the pistol 10, and thereby be adapted to the pistol's 10 position as may be required in the different user positions. At the rigid clamping means 14 itself, a relative large advertising field 15 is delimited, which field might extend 360° around the clamping means 14. At the advertising field 15 the advertising insertion part or parts 16 may easily be exchanged as required (see Fig. 3) . The insertion part 16 can for example be manufactured of plastic-coated paper material or cardboard or suitable plastic foil. The insertion part 16 can possibly be printed with different advertising massage at opposite sides, with an optional easy rearrangement of advertising messages complying wishes and needs. It is important for advertising reasons that the advertising field 15 at any time and for any use is capable of displaying the advertising message clearly as intended, independent of the position the discharge tube and the discharge pistol may take. This is also ensured by means of the possible piootation of the pistol 10 relative to the tube. The extended and bracing transition part between tube and pistol may contribute to force the tube in place in the intended position in its inactive position at associated fuel pump. This may contribute to the tube presenting the advertising message in an intended adjusted manner relative to the fuel pump. Such an effective presentation of the advertising message is in addition ensured in that the clamping means, that is the holder for the insertion part 16, display separate sections of the advertising field 15 separately at mutual diverging view angles. In Fig. 2 a battery of four fuel discharge pumps 17a, 17b, 17c and 17d is shown with one individual discharge tube 11a, lib, lie and lid and one individual discharge pistol 10a, 10b, 10c and lOd, intended for supply of four different kind of fuel. The tubes lla-lld are shown in inactive, downwards hanging condition, in which they are partly forced inward into vertical, comparatively narrow slots 18 at the fuel discharge pump front part 19 by means of the associated tube bracing means 13. By allowing each pistol 10a-lOd to pivot relative to the associated tube lla-lld it is possible to secure pistol and tube in place in accurate, intended position at associated fuel discharge pump 17a-17d, as indicated in Fig. 2, independ¬ ent of the users pivotation of the pistol relative to the tube. As a consequence of the curvature course of the clamping means 14, and the corresponding curvature course of the tube lla-lld relative to the pistol lOa-lOd, it is possible to secure that the tubes lla-lld is kept in place in inwards curved condition in the vertical slots 17' at the corresponding fuel discharge pumps 17a-17d, and that the pistol simultaneously is pivotable back to its initial position about the tube longitudinal axis. In the inactive condition shown, the tube bracing means 13 and the associated advertising field 15 will gain a visually favourable position for displaying an advertising message in several (five) different sections of the advertising field 15, which accordingly can be viewed at different visual angles, all according to the observers viewpoint relative to the fuel discharge pump. At the pistol, just in front of its hand grip part 18 a first, limited and priorly known advertising field 19 with associated easy removable cover 20 is shown. The advertising message in this advertising field 19 is especially available during the actual fuel discharge operation, but is less visually available under other conditions. Just behind the pistol's 10 hand grip part 18 a second, somewhat larger advertising field in the form of the advertising field 15 is shown, which is delimited to the rigid clamping means 14 of the bracing means 13. It is provided for the advertising insertion part 16 to be covered by a easy removable, comparatively tight cover 21. Said second advertising field 15 is easy visible from far as well as from near distance from the fuel discharge pump. The advertising message in the advertising field 15 will consequently to a high degree supplement the advertising message in the advertising field 19. The following will especially describe in more detail embodiments of the bracing means 13. Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of the clamping means 14 inside of the bracing means 13. The clamping means 14 comprises two members 14a and 14b, each having a concave groove 22 respectively 23, which enclose the intermediate part of the associated tube 11. Inside each of the grooves 22 and 23 rough, transversal ridged or jagged engagement surfaces 22a and 23a are shown, which secure effective, local fastening of the clamping means 14 to the tube 11. The two parts 14a and 14b of the clamping mean 14 are mutually adjoining at two pairs of supporting surfaces 14a' and 14b' . In Fig. 3, in the upper part 14a shown herein, a couple of nuts 24 is moulded on the opposite sides of the groove 22, while in the lower part 14b shown herein, corresponding bore holes 25 for admission of the locking screws 26 is formed. For instance a single or a pair of locking screws 26 can be provided on each side of the grooves 22 and 23. The head 27 of the locking screw 26 is engaged in a cavity 28 at the lower side of the of the lower part 14b as shown. Instead of the locking screws 26 and 27 as shown, and associated nuts 24, fitted latch means (not shown herein) may be used for joining the parts 14a and 14b and a single or a few locking screws may be arranged for instance on only one side of the grooves 22 or 23. When united the parts 14a and 14b forms, in their joined condition a substantially trapezoidal sectional view. An upper main surface 29 with a width of 35 mm and two upward converging side surfaces 30 and 31 is shown, each with a width of 45 mm and a convex downward bending bottom surface 32, 33 and 34 with a total width of approximately 60 mm. The bottom surface is formed by two outer bottom surface parts 32 and 34 and an intermediate, narrower bottom surface part 33. By means of the converging side surfaces 30 and 31 and the bottom surface parts 32 and 34 the advertising message will be visibly available under different visual angles. The cover 21 as shown comprises a centre cover main part 35 and two opposite upward converging side parts 36 and 37, each of which extend into one downwards converging bottom part 38 and 39. The bottom parts 38 and 39 is each terminated by a separate fastening part 40 and 41. The fastening parts 40 and 41 is each provided with one fastening groove 42 and 43, which is anchored to a separate anchoring groove 44 and 45 at the bottom surface part 33. The parts 35-41 of the. cover 21 is each arranged to be pressed towards a corresponding surface 29-34 at the clamping means 14, whereas the advertising insertion part 16 is clamped in a chamber 46 delimited in-between the latter, by means of the cover 21 and the clamping means 14. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the lower part of the clamping mean's 14 14b with the tube 11 contained in the associated groove 23 and with the coupling means 11' and parts of the nuts 11' ' contained in a expanded part 47b in one end of the groove 23. At the opposite end of the groove 23 an expanded part 48b is shown, which contains one piece 49b of a two-piece, separate tube support casing 49. The flanged part 50b of the casing piece 49b is contained in a ring part shaped slot 51b in said expanded part 48b of the member 14b. Said casing piece 49b and a corresponding second casing piece 49a is provided with corresponding latch means 52 for mutual joining of the casing 49 in place around the tube 11. The upper member 14a of the clamping means 14 is shown in a position ready for mounting in place upon the tube 11 and on the outside of the second piece 49b of the casing 49, where as the upper member 14a is provided with expanded parts (only the part 47b is shown on the drawing) , corresponding to the parts 47a, 48a and 51a in said lower member 14b. Fig. 4 shows a ring shaped row of edge flaps 53 respectively 54 at opposite ends of the clamping means 14, for blocking up the cover 21 in a tight engagement at the clamping means 14 between the edge flaps 53 and 54. At each of the mutually faced surfaces of the edge flaps 53 and 54 optional longitudinal slots (corresponding to the slots 55, as shown in Fig. 7) may be provided, which co- operate with the corresponding ribs (see the ribs 56 in Fig. 7) at the end surface of the cover 21. The engagement between the ribs and the slots ensure an effective adherence of the cover 21 at the clamping means 14 and simultaneously ensure effective tightening between the same, especially intended to enclose the advertising insertion part 16 in a tightening manner between the clamping means 14 and the cover 21. It is favourable that the cover 21 with associated advertising insertion part 16 is fastened at the clamping means 14, independent of the fastening of the clamping means 14 to the tube 11. Fig. 5 is a sectional view, corresponding to that shown in Fig. 3, showing the cover 21 in an intermediate position during threading of the cover 21 in place at the clamping means 14. A sideways bending is shown, which partly take place in the edge parts and partly in the centre parts of the cover 21, as a consequence of the longitudinal bending curvature course of the clamping means 14. The corresponding bending curvature course of the cover 21 may secure an effective fastening of the cover 21 in place at the clamping means 14, such that unintended removal of the cover is prevented. Fig. 6 shows a modified embodiment of a cover 21' , which is formed of more rounded outer circumference than the cover 21 in the embodiment according to Fig. 3-5. This is achieved with one and the same construction of the clamping means 14, but with locally thicker cover parts 35' -39' . The relative weakened wall thickness in the edge parts of the cover 21' is thereby maintained, which allows easy removal and mounting of the cover 21' at the clamping means 14, while the thicker parts of the wall may prevent unintended removal of the cover 21' . Alternatively, both the clamping means 14 and the cover 21 may be modified with a rounded, possibly more or less circular form. Fig. 7 shows an embodiment wherein a tube bracing means 13' ' is a common bracing means for two tubes 11'', which can be used for instance for different kinds of fuel, which is each discharged from different fuel discharge pump in a per se priorly known manner. In this case is the discharge pistol connected to the tubes 11'' in a per se priorly known manner, by means of a common T- shaped coupling part 60. In this case a common clamping means 14'' is used, which is fastened in a surrounding engagement of the tubes 11'' and their common coupling piece 60. According to this embodiment it is possible, as a supplement to a bracing of each tube 11'' individually, to brace the tubes 11' ' by means of one and the same tube bracing means. In addition a further increased advertising field at the opposite broad side surface of the clamping means is achieved. In a corresponding manner as shown in the above examples, a clamping means 14'' consists of two pieces, where only one piece 14a'' is shown in Fig. 7. Each piece is in a corresponding manner as shown for the piece 14a' ' provided with two outer supporting parts 61 and 62 and an intermediate, central part 63. At the central part, three mutual separated borings 64 are shown, prepared for reception of an individual screw (not further shown) . Said two pieces of the clamping mean 14 can be fastened together by means of three nuts and three screws via said borings 64. Said pieces may possibly in addition be fastened together by means of further nuts 25 and associated screws 26 corresponding to the examples illustrated above. A cover 21'' and an advertising insertion part 16'' is shown. In the embodiments as shown a it is shown a solution wherein the tube bracing means 13 is produced of two different separate pieces. The tube bracing means 13 can, optionally, be produced with the inclusion of the clamping means 14 and the casing 49 therein in one piece, which is threaded in from the end of the tube, while the tube 11 subsequently s connected m a manner as priorly known per ≤e. to the discharge tube pistol 10 via coupling means 11' respectively nuts 11' ' . Finally the tube bracing means may be fastened to coupling means 11' or nuts 11'' of the tube 11 or the pistol 10 by a single locking screw at the one end of the tube.

Claims: L A I M S . 1. Arrangement of a transition part (11) at a flexible fuel discharge tube (11, lla-lld) of a fuel discharge pump (17a-17d) and an associated tube supporting, rigid fuel discharge pistol (10, lOa-lOd) , c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the combination of a tube bracing means (13) and an advertising holder (14), in a bending rigid manner surrounds a transition part (11a) in-between the flexible tube (11) and the rigid pistol (10) , whereas the combination of the tube bracing means (13) and the advertising holder (14) has a substantially greater cross sectional area than the cross sectional area of the tube, that the advertising holder (14) comprises an advertising field (15) , which is expanded in relation to the tube (10) transverse direction, and contains at least one main advertising surface (29) , and that the tube bracing means (13) is bending rigid in directions transverse to the tube (11) longitudinal direction and secure the tube in place in a fixed direction course relative to the pistol (10) . 2. Arrangement according to claim 1, c h a r a c - t e r i s e d in that the advertising field (15) in addition to the advertising surface (29) comprises two further, mutually opposite, longitudinal advertising surfaces (30, 31) , which is arranged one on each side of the main advertising surface (29) . 3. Arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, c h a r ¬ a c t e r i s e d m that the tube bracing means (13) comprises a rigid clamping means (14) , which can be clamped to the tube (11) , which braces the tube (11) at least at some parts of the longitudinal extent of the bracing means (13) , in that at one end of the clamping means (14) , via an associated endwise, outwards open, circumferentially extended slotted part (47a, 47b) , enclose part of the head of the pistol (10) and/or associated locking nuts (11' ') to a specific fitting degree, while the clamping means (14) at the opposite end in a circumferential extended circumference part (48a, 48b, 51a, 51b) is carrying a bracing casing (49) with a limited flexibility, i.e. made of a somewhat elastic yielding material, which enclose the tube (11) along a part outside of the clamping means (14) . 4. Arrangement according to one of the claims 1-3, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the tube bracing means (13), which is pivotable engaged relative to the pistol (10) , about its longitudinal axis together with the tube (11) , is manufactured with a permanently curved course between the tube (11) and the rigid pistol (10) , whereas the tube bracing means (13) has a minor curvature next to the pistol (10) and increasing curvature at the end facing away from the pistol (10) . 5. Arrangement according to one of the claims 1-4, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the advertising field (15) at the tube bracing means (13) is covered by a transparent, separate removable cover (21, 21' ) . 6. Arrangement according to claim 5, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i s e d in that the tube bracing means (13) has an approximate trapezoidal cross section, whose upper surface of which forms said main advertising surface (29) and whose side surfaces, which converges towards the intermediate upper surface, forms advertising side surfaces (30, 31) . 7. Device according to one of the claims 1-6, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the tube bracing means (13' ') jointly enclose two parallel tubes (11' ') which are connected to a common discharge pistol via a common coupling piece (60) , in that the associated clamping means (14' ') enclose at least parts of the coupling piece (60) .

Inventors: STROENEN STAALE B, STROENEN, STAALE, B.
Applicants: STROENEN STAALE B, STROENEN, STAALE, B.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: G09F23
IPC codes: B67D5, F16L35, G09F23