Abstract:
An anti-fraud system for a car wash station that includes a moisture sensor for sensing moisture within the car wash station, and a sensor controller adapted to operatively connect a power source with a timer of the car wash station. The sensor controller performing the following program: disconnecting the power source from the timer upon sensing moisture via the moisture sensor; waiting a period of time; sensing whether the moisture sensor detects moisture; and waiting another period of time and repeating if moisture is sensed, or reconnecting the power source to the timer if no moisture is sensed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Not Applicable 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
   Not Applicable 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates generally to car wash stations, and more particularly to a car wash station that includes an anti-fraud system that prevents a user from injecting water into the car wash station for the purpose of attempting to trick the station in to remaining on longer than the allotted time for which the user has paid. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   Injecting water into an automated system such as a car wash station will sometimes damage the station so that it remains stuck in the “on” position, enabling a dishonest user to wash his or her car for only a small amount of money, and sometimes even enabling him or her to wash several vehicles for the small initial payment. This process is known as “salting” the machine. 
   This is particularly a problem in the field of car wash systems, because the car wash system provides a ready supply of water along with a high powered sprayer that can be used for spraying the water into a payment system of the car wash system. 
   While the problem has not been addressed in the field of car wash systems, the prior art teaches various “anti-salting” features in the field of vending machines. The prior art teaches the use of a moisture sensor to detect water in the machine, and then turn off power to the machine until the machine is manually reset by a service technician. Examples include the following: 
   Robirds, U.S. Pat. No. 5,377,804, teaches a moisture-detecting apparatus for bill validators and coin mechanisms used in vending machines. The apparatus is designed to prevent vandalism by “salting” vending machines, which results in loss of product, monies, and damage to the machines. The apparatus includes a moisture-detecting probe that functions to shut off the logic lines and power to the bill validator, stopping damage to the bill validator, power supply, and coin mechanism power side. The moisture-detecting probe includes a nylon mesh having a pair of copper foil strips. When the probe gets wet, the mesh absorbs the moisture, completes a circuit between the copper foil strips, and shuts off the vending machine. 
   Burton, U.S. Pat. No. 4,264,000, teaches a coin operated vending machine having a pair of spaced conductors mounted on a coin chute and in position to be bridged by any electrically conductive liquid squirted into the coin slot. Bridging of the conductors by the liquid completes a circuit which disconnects vending circuitry from its power source. The spaced conductors are mounted on a non-conductive support which prevents a coin itself from contacting and bridging the conductors. 
   Barnes et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,318,164, teaches an anti-salting module for reducing vandalism and minimizing damage from liquids injected into a vending machine. The anti-salting module has a housing with an integral tray for collecting liquids, and is connected beneath a bill validator in a vending machine. A rubber fillet is connected to the rear of the bill validator and directs injected fluids to the tray. A moisture sensor integral to the tray is connected to detection and control circuitry. When moisture is detected, the detection and control circuitry operates to interrupt power and control signals to the bill validator. Other external sensors, such as a second moisture sensor and a continuity sensor for monitoring the status of other vending machine components, may also be connected to the detection and control circuitry. After moisture has been detected, vending machine power and control signals can be restored only when moisture is no longer present, and a SET switch is depressed by service personnel. The above-described references are hereby incorporated by reference in full. 
   A problem with the prior art systems is that while shutting off the vending machine helps to protect the vending machine and to prevent theft of vended products, it leaves the vending machine inoperative for a period of time, and also requires a visit by a service technician to restart the machine. It would be preferred if a timer of the machine were temporarily shut off to protect the machine, but then automatically restarted without manual intervention on the part of the owner of the machine, allowing a user to insert money and restart the machine once the moisture has drained from the machine. 
   The prior art teaches various anti-salting mechanisms in the field. However, the prior art does not teach an anti-fraud system for a car wash station that temporarily turns off power to the timer of the car wash station when water is injected into the station, checks the car wash station to see if it is dry after a period of time, and then returns power to the timer once the water has drained from the car wash station. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides further related advantages as described in the following summary. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention teaches certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the objectives described below. 
   The present invention provides an anti-fraud system for a car wash station. The anti-fraud system includes a moisture sensor for sensing moisture within the car wash station, and a sensor controller adapted to operatively connect a power source with a timer of the car wash station. The sensor controller performing the following program: disconnecting the power source from the timer upon sensing moisture via the moisture sensor; waiting a period of time; sensing whether the moisture sensor detects moisture; and waiting another period of time and repeating if moisture is sensed, or reconnecting the power source to the timer if no moisture is sensed. 
   A primary objective of the present invention is to provide an anti-fraud system for a car wash station having advantages not taught by the prior art. 
   Another objective is to provide an anti-fraud system for a car wash station that temporarily turns off power to the timer of the car wash station when water is injected into the station, checks the car wash station to see if it is dry after a period of time, and then returns power to the timer once the system has dried out 
   Another objective is to provide an anti-fraud system for a car wash station that prevents the car wash station from being damaged by water being sprayed into electrical control components of the car wash station. 
   Another objective is to provide an anti-fraud system for a car wash station that prevents theft of car washing services. 
   A further objective is to provide a car wash station that resumes operations following being salted without a manual reset by a service technician. 
   Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention. In such drawings: 
       FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of one side of an interior of a car wash station according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of an opposite side of the interior of the car wash station; 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram of an anti-fraud system installed in the car wash station, the anti fraud system having a sensor controller for preventing fraud; and 
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram and schematic of the sensor controller. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The above-described drawing figures illustrate the invention, an anti-fraud system  10  for a car wash station  20 . 
     FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of one side  22  of an interior of the car wash station  20  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of an opposite side  24  of the interior of the car wash station  20 . The car wash station  20  is of standard construction, and may include any of the features known in the art. 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , the car wash station  20  includes a flexible pressure hose  26  operably connected to a trigger activated spray nozzle  28  for spraying the fluid. Operation of the car wash station  20  is controlled by a control apparatus  29 , preferably a selection switch that enables the user to select which fluids are dispensed from the trigger activated spray nozzle  28 . A payment system  48 , described in greater detail below, receives funds and initiates the operation of the car wash station  20 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , a second pressure hose  30  may also be attached to a scrub brush  32 . The control apparatus  29  preferably enables the selection of the scrub brush  32  at the appropriate part of the car wash routine. Since the general construction of the trigger activated spray nozzle  28 , the control apparatus  29 , and the scrub brush  32 , are well known in the art, they are not described in greater detail herein. 
     FIG. 3  is a block diagram of the anti-fraud system  10  installed in the car wash station  20 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the car wash station  20  includes a cleaning fluid control system  40  that includes a fluid pump  42  for pumping a fluid through a valve  44  and into the flexible pressure hose  26 . In the present embodiment, the fluid pump  42  includes a wax pump  42 A, a water pump  42 B, and a soap pump  42 C. The wax pump  42 A is operably attached to a wax supply, and pumps the wax through a wax valve  44 A  44  and into the flexible pressure hose  26 . The water pump  42 B is operably attached to a water supply  43 B, and pumps the water through a water valve  44 B  44  and into the flexible pressure hose  26 . The soap pump  42 C is operably attached to a soap supply  43 C, and also to the water pump  42 B through a cross valve  45   44 . The soap pump  42 C pumps the soap and the water through a soap valve  44 C  44  and into the second pressure hose  30 . 
   While this embodiment is one option for practicing the current invention, those skilled in the art that any number of mechanisms may be adapted for use with the present invention, and such alternative constructions should be considered within the scope of the present invention. 
   As shown in  FIG. 3 , a timer  46  functions to initiate function of the fluid pump(s)  42  and the valve(s)  44  so that the fluid is dispensed through the trigger activated spray nozzle  28  (or the scrub brush  32 ) for a period of time. A payment system  48  is operably connected to the timer  46  for receiving payment and actuating the timer  46 . The term “payment system  48 ” is hereby defined to include any mechanism for receiving payment, including but not limited to coins receiving mechanisms for receiving currency or tokens, bill readers/validators, and any other form of payment receipt, magnetic card reader, credit systems, or other system known to those skilled in the art. While the typical car wash station  20  is coin operated, any form of payment receipt system should be considered within the scope of the present invention. 
   As shown in  FIG. 3 , the anti-fraud system  10  functions to selectively connect the power source  12  with the timer  46 . The anti-fraud system  10  includes a moisture sensor  50  for sensing moisture within the payment system  48 , and a sensor controller  52  adapted to operatively connect the power source  12  with the timer  46 . The moisture sensor  50  may be any form of sensor that responds to the presence of the fluid, typically water, including a simple electrical conductor that is operably connected to the sensor controller  52 , and which registers a change in voltage when moisture contacts the conductor. Other suitable sensors are discussed in the references cited above. Any suitable sensor known to those skilled in the art should be considered within the scope of the claimed invention. 
     FIG. 4  is a block diagram and schematic of the sensor controller  52 . The sensor controller  52  performs a plurality of steps to protect the car wash station  20  from salting vandalism. Upon the detection of moisture via the moisture sensor  50 , the sensor controller  52  functions to disconnect the power source.  12  from the timer  46 . After waiting a period of time, the sensor controller  52  senses whether the moisture sensor  50  detects moisture. If moisture is sensed, the sensor controller  52  waits another period of time and repeats the check if moisture is sensed. This continues until the fluid has drained, and the moisture is no longer sensed. Once no moisture is sensed, the power source  12  is reconnected to the timer  46  so that the car wash station  20  may resume normal operation. 
   In the preferred embodiment, the sensor controller  52  preferably includes a control chip  54  operably connected to a relay  56  for controlling the operative attachment between the power source  12  and the timer  46 . When the control chip  54  senses a change in voltage from the moisture sensor  50 , it opens the relay and disconnects the power source  12  from the timer  46 . The sensor controller  52  preferably includes a resonator  58  for determining the passage of the period of time, so that the sensor controller  52  can determine when to re-check the moisture sensor  50 . 
   A converter  60  is preferably operatively attached to the power source  12  for providing a lower output current for use by the control chip  54 . Since the converter  60  and the general electronics involved with these elements of the invention are well known to those skilled in the art, given the teachings of the present invention, they are not described in greater detail herein. 
   The terminology used in the specification provided above is hereby defined to include similar and/or equivalent terms, and/or alternative embodiments that would be considered obvious to one skilled in the art given the teachings of the present patent application. Additionally, the words “a,” “an,” and “one” are defined to include one or more of the referenced item unless specifically stated otherwise. Also, the terms “have,” “include,” “contain,” and similar terms are defined to mean “comprising” unless specifically stated otherwise. 
   While the invention has been described with reference to at least one preferred embodiment, it is to be clearly understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited thereto. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be interpreted only in conjunction with the appended claims.