Abstract:
An anti-theft device and method for securing and preventing access to components within an interior of a fuel dispenser cabinet having an access door located on one side of the cabinet. The device includes structure for securing the anti-theft device to the periphery of the cabinet, structure for preventing the anti-theft device from being laterally and vertically removed from the cabinet, and a releasable assembly for selectively allowing and preventing access to the interior of the cabinet through the door.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/099,748, filed Sep. 24, 2008, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to devices capable of securing and preventing access to the interior components of fuel dispensers, for example, of the types found at gas stations and especially the large commercial plazas frequented by interstate travelers. 
     Fuel dispensers generally comprise a cabinet that defines a closed interior containing components that deliver and meter the fuel being dispensed, and display the amount and cost of the dispensed fuel. A door is typically provided through which the interior of the dispenser can be accessed for repairs and maintenance. If access can be gained to the interior of the dispenser, an individual can obtain fuel illegally by damaging the dispenser metering components, and particularly by removing or damaging a pulser within the dispenser that calculates the fuel sale from the dispenser. Consequently, devices referred to as pulser guards have been installed within fuel dispensers to physically protect the pulser. However, pulser guards are ineffective if an individual realizes that, by gaining access to the interior of the dispenser through the door, they can tamper with or sufficiently damage the pulser guard so that the pulser can still be removed or damaged. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an anti-theft device and method for securing and preventing access to components within an interior of a fuel dispenser cabinet having upper and lower margins, sides defining a periphery of the cabinet, and an access door located in one of the sides of the cabinet. 
     According to a first aspect of the invention, the anti-theft device includes means for securing the anti-theft device to the periphery of the cabinet, means for preventing the anti-theft device from being laterally and vertically removed from the cabinet, and releasable means for selectively allowing and preventing access to the interior of the cabinet through the door located on a side of the cabinet. In a preferred embodiment, the anti-theft device is secured and prevented from being removed by configuring the device to comprise first and second frame units, each comprising a pair of legs and at least a first cross-member joined and oriented transverse to the pair of legs, and at least a second cross-member that couples the first and second frame units together. Furthermore, the releasable means preferably comprises the second cross-member, a first end of which is pivotably coupled to the first frame unit and a second end is releasably coupled to the second frame unit. Finally, means is provided for locking the second end of the second cross-member to the second frame unit. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the method entails securing the anti-theft device to the periphery of the cabinet, preventing the anti-theft device from being laterally and vertically removed from the cabinet, and selectively allowing and preventing access to the interior of the cabinet through the door located on the side of the cabinet. 
     In view of the above, the invention is capable of securing and preventing access to the interior components of fuel dispensers, for example, of the types found at gas stations and especially the large commercial plazas frequented by interstate travelers, so that individuals cannot gain access to the interior of the dispenser and remove or damage the pulser or other metering components within the dispenser for the purpose of illegally obtaining fuel from the dispenser. 
     Other aspects and advantages of this invention will be better appreciated from the following detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1 and 2  are perspective and side views, respectively, of an anti-theft device installed on a fuel dispenser in accordance with an embodiment of this invention. 
         FIGS. 3 and 4  are front and top views, respectively, of the anti-theft device of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 1 through 4  depict an anti-theft device  10  adapted for protecting interior components of a fuel dispenser  12 , and particularly the removal of or damage to the pulser (not shown) or any other metering components within a cabinet  13  of the dispenser  12 . To facilitate the description of the device  10 , the terms “vertical,” “horizontal,” “front,” “rear,” “side,” “upper,” “lower,” “above,” “below,” “right” and “left” are used in reference to the drawings and the installation of the dispenser  12  depicted in the drawings.  FIGS. 1 and 2  depict the dispenser  12  as a generic fuel dispenser, and it should be understood that installations on various types of fuel dispensers are also within the scope of the invention. 
     Shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the dispenser cabinet  13  is generally configured to define an outer periphery formed by outer wall panels  14  and one or more doors  16  that allow access to the interior of the cabinet  13 . One door  16  is visible in  FIG. 1  on one of the wider sides of the cabinet  13 , while a second door  16  is typically located on the opposite wider side of the cabinet  13 . The doors  16  may be configured as panels that can be completely removed from the cabinet  13  or equipped with hinges to open by swinging out and away from the cabinet  13 , though other configurations are also possible and within the scope of the invention. The two narrower sides of the cabinet  13  are represented as defined by panels  14  that are not configured as doors or otherwise removable, but instead are permanently attached with fasteners (not shown) or other means to the underlying framework of the cabinet  13 . Other configurations for the cabinet  13 , including different quantities and locations for the panels  14  and doors  16 , are also possible and within the scope of the invention. The dispenser  12  is adapted for being secured to a foundation  18 , and the lower extents of the wall panels  14  define a lower margin  20  of the cabinet  13  spaced above the foundation  18 . In a similar manner, the upper extents of the wall panels  14  also define an upper margin  22  of the cabinet  13 . 
     As evident from the Figures, the anti-theft device  10  comprises a frame assembly  28  sized and configured to surround the outer periphery of the fuel cabinet  13  in a manner that secures the outer wall panels  14  and doors  16 , thus preventing the removal of the panels  14  and doors  16  and preventing access to the interior of the cabinet  13 . The frame assembly  28  is represented as comprising two substantially identical frame units  30  that are installed on opposite sides of the cabinet  13 , preferably on the wider sides of the cabinet  13  where the fuel nozzle carriages  24  (one of which is shown) and dispenser displays  26  are located in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Each frame unit  30  is shown as comprising a pair of vertical legs  32  and three cross-members  34 A,  34 B and  34 C. The quantities and locations of the legs  32  and cross-members  34 A-C can differ from what is shown in the Figures. The legs  32  and the upper and lower cross-members  34 B and  34 C are represented as being constructed of angle iron (or any other suitable material), and the remaining cross-members  34 A are represented as being formed of flatstock. The choice of forming the legs  32  and cross-members  34 A-C from angle or flatstock will depend on the particular construction of the cabinet  13 , though certain advantages will be described below for the legs  32  and cross-members  34 A-C when formed of either angle or flat stock. The cross-members  34 A-C are preferably joined by welding (or any other suitable joining or attachment technique) to the legs  32 , such that each frame unit  30  has a solid one-piece construction that cannot be disassembled without cutting the legs  32  and cross-members  34 A-C. 
     The frame units  30  are shown as being connected together and secured to the cabinet  13  with additional cross-members  36  located at each of the narrower sides of the cabinet  13 . As evident from  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the frame units  30  are assembled onto the cabinet  13  so that the cross-members  34 A-C extend across the wider sides of the cabinet  13 , and at least the cross-members  34 B extend across the doors  16  located on the wider sides of the cabinet  13  to effectively prevent their opening.  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3  depict each cross-member  36  as being formed of flatstock and configured as a locking cross-member. In the embodiment shown, each locking cross-member  36  is pivotally attached with a bolt  38  to a leg  32  of one of the frame units  30 , such that each unit  30  has a locking cross-member  36  attached thereto. At its end opposite the bolt  38 , each locking cross-member  36  is equipped with a locking device  40  to enable the locking cross-member  36  to be locked to a leg  32  of the other frame unit  30 , thus preventing the frame assembly  28  from being laterally removed from the cabinet  13 . The locking mechanism  40  can be of any suitable type, including but not limited to a padlock whose shackle passes through alignable holes (not shown) on the locking cross-member  36  and on a bracket (not shown) attached to the leg  32  to which the cross-member  36  is locked with the mechanism  40 . Access to the interior of the cabinet  13  is achieved by unlocking the locking mechanisms  40  to enable the locking cross-members  36  to be uncoupled from the legs  32 , and then separating the frame units  30  to permit opening of either cabinet door  16  held closed by either unit  30 . As such, without a key, combination, etc., for unlocking the locking mechanism  40 , the interior of the cabinet  13  cannot be accessed and fuel cannot be illegally obtained by damaging the dispenser metering components within the dispenser cabinet  13 . 
     As evident from  FIGS. 1 and 2 , lifting of the frame assembly  28  off the cabinet  13  is prevented as a result of the cross-members  34 A extending across the wider sides of the cabinet  13  directly below the fuel nozzle carriages  24  (one of which is shown). Optionally, lifting of the frame assembly  28  can also be prevented by engaging the lower margin  20  of the cabinet  13  with the lower cross-members  34 C, as shown in  FIG. 2 . The angle stock used to form the legs  32  also cover the vertical corners of the cabinet  13  to further assist in preventing the removal of the panels  14  and doors  16  of the cabinet  13 . 
     While the invention has been described in terms of a specific embodiment, it is apparent that other forms could be adopted by one skilled in the art. For example, the functions of certain components of the anti-theft device  10  could be performed by components of different construction but capable of a similar (though not necessarily equivalent) function, the frame assembly  28  and its components could differ in appearance and construction from the embodiment shown in the figures, and appropriate materials could be substituted for those noted. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.