Abstract:
A gasoline dispensing unit method according to which two displays are providing in an overlaying relationship and display information relating to the dispensing and sale of the gasoline. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure; and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims under 37 CFR §1.72.

Description:
[0001]    This invention relates to a gasoline dispensing unit and method of dispensing gasoline, more particularly, to such a unit and method utilizing an improved display. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0002]    [0002]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a gasoline dispensing unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0003]    [0003]FIGS. 2A and 2B are enlarged, front elevational view of a portion of the display of the gasoline dispensing unit of FIG. 1.  
         [0004]    [0004]FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a control unit for controlling the display. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0005]    With reference to FIG. 1 of the drawing, the reference numeral  10  refers, in general, to a gasoline dispensing unit consisting, in general, of a dispenser housing  12  and a hose tower  14  extending to one side of the housing.  
         [0006]    The housing  12  includes a front bezel, or panel,  12   a , a side portion of which overlaps a portion of the hose tower  14 . A display  16  in the upper portion of the panel  12   a  for displaying information relating to the sale of the gasoline as will be described.  
         [0007]    A recessed display  18  is provided below the display  16  and displays miscellaneous information not connected with the sale for viewing by the customer. A credit card reader  20  extends to one side of the display  18  and between a bar code scanner  22  and a numerical keypad  24 . A receipt dispenser  26  extends below the keypad  24  and a bill acceptor  27  extends on the other side of the display  18 . A series of octane select buttons  28  are mounted below the customer information display  18 .  
         [0008]    It is understood that a compartment (not shown) is provided in the lower portion of the housing  12  below the panel  12   a , and receives hydraulics which include a conduit (not shown) that extends to an underground storage tank for the gasoline to be dispensed. A door  30  encloses a portion of the above compartment and can be detachably connected to the housing  12  in any known manner such as by hinges, screws, bolts, or the like, all of which are removable to permit access to the compartment.  
         [0009]    A hose  32  extends from the upper portion of the hose tower  14  and the above-mentioned conduit extends to the hose tower and is connected to one end of the hose. The other end of the hose  32  is connected to a nozzle  34  for dispensing the gasoline to a vehicle. A boot  36  is provided on a side wall of the hose tower  14  for receiving the nozzle  34  during non-use.  
         [0010]    A boot  36   a , identical to the boot  36 , is provided on the other side wall of the hose tower  14 , and receives a nozzle  34   a  which is identical to the nozzle  34 . The nozzle  34   a  is connected to one end of a hose  32   a  which is identical to the hose  32 , and the other end of the hose  32   a  also extends from the upper portion of the hose tower  14 . Although not shown in the drawing, it is understood that the dispenser housing  12  has a rear panel, or bezel, that receives components that are identical to the components on the front panel  12   a , as described above. It is also understood that a hose tower, identical to the hose tower  14 , can be provided at the other side of the housing  12 .  
         [0011]    As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the display  16  includes two display modules  40  and  42  indicating GALLONS and SALE, respectively. The numerical keypad  24  (FIG. 1) is used to input numerals which are displayed on the modules  40  and  42  in a conventional manner. To this end, a control unit  46 , in the form of a microprocessor, a CPU, or the like, is mounted behind the front panel  16  and is shown in FIG. 3. The control unit  46  is electrically connected to the display modules  40  and  42  as well as to the keypad  24  for receiving the input signals from the keypad, making all required calculations and comparison, and activating the modules to display the information to be displayed.  
         [0012]    The displayed numbers shown in FIG. 2A are for the purposes of example and are preset by the customer by engaging the keypad  24  as described above before the dispensing operation commences. These numbers are represented in phantom lines since they are formed by an overlay to the regular display, as will be discussed in detail later. In the example shown, the customer has preset the gallons display module  40  by engaging the keypad  24  to preset the desired amount of ten gallons. Assuming the cost per gallon is $1.40, the above-mentioned control unit  46  responds to this input and activates the cost display module  42  to display the total cost of $14.00 for the anticipated transaction.  
         [0013]    The customer then completes the pre-dispensing steps, inserts the nozzle  32  into the vehicle and activates the nozzle to commence the dispensing operation. The regular displays associated with the modules  40  and  42  are activated by the control unit  46  in response to the dispensing of the gasoline, and, as shown in FIG. 2B, begin to display the actual amount of gallons dispensed and the total accumulated cost, respectively. For the purpose of illustration, the latter numbers are shown in solid lines and are an example of the numbers that would be displayed during the dispensing process and before the preset values discussed above are reached.  
         [0014]    When the actual amount of gallons dispensed, and the accumulated cost of same, reach the preset values of 10 gallons and $14.00, respectively, as displayed by the overlay portion of the modules  40  and  42 , the control unit  46  deactivates the overlay displays which disappear to signal the customer that the preset amounts have been reached. Also, the control unit  46  shuts off the dispensing system to terminate any further dispensing past the preset amounts.  
         [0015]    It is understood that the customer can also initially set the cost module  42  to a preset amount of cost, rather than gallons, before commencing the dispensing operation and the system will function in the same manner as discussed above.  
         [0016]    It is also understood that the display  16  can display additional information such as cost per gallon, the grade of gasoline (in terms of octane rating) being dispensed, etc., while the display  18  can display instructions to guide the customer through the various predispensing and dispensing steps such as type of payment, octane selection, etc., and including the above presetting of the displays of the modules  40  or  42 .  
         [0017]    The display  16  and the modules  40  and  42  can be of any conventional type such as those manufactured by Planar Systems, Inc., W7514 Hwy V, Lake Mills, Wis.  
         [0018]    Other variations may be made in the foregoing without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the keypad  24  can be provided with buttons to advance the numerical values displayed on the display  16  until the desired figures are reached and/or provide for direct entry of same. Also, spatial references, such as “above”, “below”, “side”, “front”, and “rear” are for the purpose of illustration only and does not limit the specific orientation or location of the structure described above.  
         [0019]    Since other modifications, changes, and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the invention.