Patent Publication Number: US-9905140-B2

Title: Fuel pump sign

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to International Application No. PCT/GB2013/050074, filed Jan. 15, 2013, and titled “FUEL PUMP SIGN”, the disclosure of which application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     The present invention relates to a sign for indicating which pumps are currently operational in a petrol station. The invention also relates to a fuel pump system and method for indicating which pumps are currently operational in a petrol station. 
     Petrol stations usually contain an array of pumps, some of which relate to different fuel types such as unleaded petrol, diesel and higher performance petrol. Typically, either a covering is placed over the handle of a pump to indicate that the pump is currently out of use or a cable tie is used to prevent the handle of the pump that is out of use from being removed. However, it can be difficult or impossible for an approaching driver to determine which of an array of pumps is currently out of use because the covering may be obscured by other parts of the pump array and a cable tie may not be visible from a distance. If the driver requires a particular fuel type, for example diesel, then the driver may mistakenly pull up next to a pump array in which the diesel pump is out of action. This results in wasted time for the driver and reduced revenue for the owner of the petrol station because the pump arrays are not used efficiently. 
     The above problem becomes more severe as demand for fuel increases. For example, petrol stations can become overcrowded when there is a peak in fuel demand due to industrial action or the threat of a future fuel shortage, with long queues to access pumps. In this situation it is even more important that the pumps are used efficiently, particularly as some pumps are likely to be empty due to the high demand. 
     Currently, drivers in a queue to access fuel pumps often inadvertently pull up next to a pump that is empty or out of use, or that can only supply the wrong type of fuel. The driver will then attempt to reach a different pump, which may be difficult or impossible due to the queue of drivers behind. Blockages in the flow of vehicles can result, adding to the delay in other drivers reaching the pumps. 
     According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fuel pump sign comprising a fuel type indicator panel for indicating the type of fuel supplied by a pump, and a pump availability indicator panel for indicating whether the pump is available for use. 
     Using the fuel pump sign of the present invention, a driver approaching the pump can easily see which pumps are operational and which pumps are out of use. The driver can also see which types of fuel are available at a given pump so that he/she does not pull up next to the wrong set of pumps. 
     Preferably, the fuel pump sign further comprises a fuel type panel holder adapted to hold the fuel type indicator panel detachably, and a pump availability panel holder adapted to hold the pump availability indicator panel detachably, wherein the fuel type panel holder and the pump availability panel holder are attachable to each other. 
     Preferably, the fuel type panel holder and the pump availability panel holder each include a rear plate and attachment portions adapted to hold the edges of the fuel type indicator panel and the pump availability indicator panel respectively. 
     Suitably, the fuel type indicator panel has a first fuel type indicated on one face thereof and a second fuel type different from the first fuel type indicated on the other face thereof, whereby the fuel type indicator panel is reversible to indicate different fuel types. 
     Preferably, the pump availability indicator panel has an indication that the pump is available for use on one face thereof and an indication that the pump is not available for use on the other face thereof, whereby the pump availability indicator panel is reversible to indicate whether or not the pump is available for use. 
     Conveniently, the pump availability panel holder is attached to one side edge of the fuel type panel holder, the fuel type panel holder is arranged so that the fuel type indicator panel can be inserted into the fuel type panel holder from above, and the pump availability panel holder is arranged so that the pump availability indicator panel can be inserted into the pump availability panel holder from a side of the pump availability panel holder opposite to a side to which the fuel type panel holder is attached. 
     Preferably, attachment portions are formed along the bottom edge and both side edges of the rear plate of the fuel type panel holder, and attachment portions are formed along the top and bottom edges of the rear plate of the pump availability panel holder and along a side edge of the rear plate of the pump availability panel holder adjacent to the one side edge of the fuel type panel holder. 
     Suitably, each attachment portion is a strip having an L-shaped cross-section, which is attached to the corresponding rear plate along one edge so as to form a slot between the attachment portion and the rear plate. 
     Preferably, the pump availability panel holder is detachably attachable to the fuel type panel holder. 
     Suitably, one of the pump availability panel holder and the fuel type panel holder has a tab and the other of the pump availability panel holder and the fuel type panel holder has a channel shaped to accommodate the tab, whereby the pump availability panel holder and the fuel type panel holder are attachable to each other by inserting the tab into the channel. Preferably, the tab is arrow-shaped. 
     Preferably, the fuel pump sign further comprises a fuel type panel holder adapted to hold the fuel type indicator panel detachably, wherein the fuel type panel holder and the pump availability indicator panel are attachable to each other. Suitably, the fuel type panel holder includes a rear plate and attachment portions adapted to hold the edges of the fuel type indicator panel. 
     In one embodiment, the pump availability indicator panel comprises a light for indicating whether the pump is available for use. Preferably, the pump availability indicator panel includes two lights, one light for indicating that the pump is available for use and the other light for indicating that the pump is not available for use. Suitably, the two lights are different colours. 
     Preferably, a light on the pump availability indicator panel is connected to a remote controller for switching the light on and off via a wired or wireless connection. 
     In a fuel pump sign for a double-sided fuel pump, the fuel pump sign as described above comprises a fuel type indicator panel and two pump availability indicator panels disposed on opposite sides of the fuel type indicator panel. 
     Preferably, there is provided a fuel pump array sign comprising a plurality of fuel pump signs as described above for indicating whether a plurality of fuel pumps in a fuel pump array are available for use. Preferably, the plurality of fuel pump signs are attached to each other in a vertical array. 
     Preferably, there is provided a fuel pump system comprising a fuel pump and a fuel pump sign as described above for indicating whether the fuel pump is available for use. 
     According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fuel pump system comprising a fuel pump and a display panel having a plurality of display areas, the display panel comprising a first display area for displaying an indication of a fuel type supplied by the pump, and a second display area for displaying an indication of whether or not the pump is available for use. 
     Preferably, the fuel pump sign is attached to the fuel pump. 
     Suitably, there is provided a fuel pump array system comprising a fuel pump array and a fuel pump array sign as described above. 
     According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fuel pump array system comprising a fuel pump array including a plurality of fuel pumps and a display panel having a plurality of display areas, the display panel comprising a first display area corresponding to each of the plurality of pumps, each first display area for displaying an indication of a fuel type supplied by the corresponding pump, and a second display area corresponding to each of the plurality of pumps, each second display area for displaying an indication of whether or not the corresponding pump is available for use. 
     Preferably, the fuel pump array sign is attached to the fuel pump array. 
     According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of use of a display panel having a plurality of display areas as a fuel pump sign for indicating whether or not a fuel pump is available for use, the method of use comprising displaying an indication of a fuel type supplied by the pump on a first display area of the display panel, and displaying an indication of whether or not the pump is available for use on a second display area of the display panel. 
     In a method of use for indicating whether or not a double-sided fuel pump is available for use, the method of use as described above comprises displaying an indication of whether or not a first side of the pump is available for use on the second display area of the display panel, and displaying an indication of whether or not a second side of the pump is available for use on a third display area of the display panel, wherein the second display area and the third display area are arranged on opposite sides of the first display area. 
     In a method of use for indicating which fuel pumps are available for use of a fuel pump array having a plurality of fuel pumps, wherein the display panel has a first display area and a second display area corresponding to each of the plurality of fuel pumps in the fuel pump array, the method of use as described above comprises displaying an indication of a fuel type supplied by each pump on the corresponding first display area of the display panel, and displaying an indication of whether or not the pump is available for use on the corresponding second display area of the display panel. 
     Preferably, the method of use further comprises displaying one or more of traffic information, weather information and advertising on a fourth area of the display panel. Preferably, the display panel is an electronic display panel. Alternatively, the display panel is a mechanical display panel. 
    
    
     
       Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of further example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of the fuel type panel holder of a sign according to a first embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear view of the fuel type panel holder of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the fuel type panel holder of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of a pump availability panel holder of the sign according to the first embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of the pump availability panel holder of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of the sign according to the first embodiment of the invention without indicator panels inserted; 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of the sign according to the first embodiment of the invention with indicator panels inserted; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the sign according to the first embodiment of the invention without indicator panels inserted; 
         FIG. 9  is a front view of a semi-electronic sign according to a second embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 10  is a front view of an electronic sign according to a third embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     A typical pump array in a petrol station forecourt consists of three double-sided pumps arranged adjacent to each other, making six pumps in total. Each of the double-sided pumps supplies a different grade of fuel, for example standard unleaded petrol, super unleaded petrol and diesel. 
     A first embodiment of the present invention is a sign  50  designed to be attached to or displayed next to a pump array such as that described above. The sign  50  is displayed so that a driver approaching the pump array can see the sign  50 . The sign  50  indicates which of the six pumps is currently in operation, so that an approaching driver can see whether the grade of fuel he requires is available from the pump array and decide whether to pull up at the pump array accordingly. The sign  50  includes a fuel type panel holder  10  as shown in front view in  FIG. 1 , in rear view in  FIG. 2  and in top view in  FIG. 3 . The sign  50  also includes at least one pump availability panel holder  30 , an example of which is shown in front view in  FIG. 4  and in top view in  FIG. 5 . A complete sign  50  consisting of two pump availability panel holders attached to either side of a fuel type panel holder  10  is shown in front view in  FIG. 6 . 
     The fuel type panel holder  10  has a rear plate  12 , which comprises a sheet of material having two rectangular windows  16  cut out of it. The windows  16  make the sign  50  lighter. An indentation  20  is also formed in the strip of material separating the two windows, the indentation forming a channel connecting one window  16  to the other. In addition, four attachment holes  18  are formed in the strip of material separating the two windows  16 , two holes  18  being formed on each side of the indentation  20  as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     Attachment portions  14  having L-shaped cross-sections are formed around three edges of the rear plate  12 , as shown most clearly in the perspective view of the sign  50  in  FIG. 8 . In this embodiment, three attachment portions  14  are formed along each of the left, right and bottom edges of the rear plate  12 . The spaces between the attachment portions  14  and the rear plate  12  form slots into which the edges of a fuel type indicator panel  52  can be inserted, so that the fuel type indicator panel  52  is held in position parallel to the rear plate  12  by gravity and the attachment portions  14 . 
     The fuel type indicator panel  52  is a sheet of material, on at least one side of which the name of a grade of fuel is displayed. The name may indicate the type of fuel or may be a brand name. It is preferred that the fuel type indicator panel  52  has two different names displayed on the two sides of the panel. With this feature, the sign  50  can be adapted to display an alternative fuel name by simply lifting the fuel type indicator panel  52  out of the fuel type panel holder  10 , reversing the panel  52  and replacing it in the fuel type panel holder  10 . 
     The fuel type panel holder  10  also includes arrow-shaped tabs  22  connected to the top edge of the rear plate  12  and correspondingly shaped channels (not shown) formed in the bottom edge of the rear plate  12 . The arrow-shaped tabs  22  can be inserted into the bottom edge channels of the rear plate  12  of another fuel type panel holder  10  so that the two fuel type panel holders are clipped together, one above the other in parallel and in horizontal alignment. In this way, two or more fuel type panel holders can be joined together with fuel type indicator panels indicating the different fuel types available at the pump array to which the sign  50  is attached. Typically, three fuel type panel holders are joined together to indicate the fuel types available at three double-sided pumps in a pump array as described above. 
     The fuel type panel holder  10  also has channels (not shown) formed in the side edges of the rear plate  12 , which are sized and shaped to receive tabs of a pump availability panel holder  30  so as to connect the fuel type panel holder  10  to the pump availability panel holder  30 . 
     The pump availability panel holders  30  of the sign  50  each include a rear plate  32  and attachment portions  34  in the same way as the fuel type panel holders, as shown in  FIG. 4 . The rear plate  32  of the pump availability panel holder  30  has four rectangular windows  36  formed in it to reduce the weight of the pump availability panel holder  30  while retaining sufficient strength to support the sign  50 . The rear plate  32  also includes a trapezoidal cut-out  38  formed in one side edge as shown in  FIG. 4 . The cut-out  38  allows a pump availability indicator panel  54  held in the pump availability panel holder  30  to be gripped and removed. 
     The attachment portions  34  of the pump availability panel holder  30  are L-shaped in cross-section and are formed around the top and bottom edges and one side edge of the rear plate  32 . The one side edge is the side edge adjacent to the fuel type panel holder  10  as shown in  FIG. 8 . In this embodiment, three attachment portions  34  are formed along each of those three edges of the rear plate  32 . The attachment portions  34  on the top and bottom edges adjacent to the one side edge may be connected to the uppermost and lowermost attachment portions  34  of the one side edge respectively, to form continuous attachment portions  34  having an L-shape in front view. The attachment portions  34  form slots into which the edges of a pump availability indicator panel  54  can be inserted, so that the pump availability indicator panel  54  is held in place parallel to the rear plate  32  by the attachment portions  34 . 
     The pump availability panel holder  30  also includes arrow-shaped tabs  40  similar to those of the fuel type panel holder  10  described above. The tabs  40  extend from the side edge of the rear plate  32  of the pump availability panel holder  30  that has attachment portions  34  formed along it. The arrow-shaped tabs  40  are sized and shaped to form a force fit with the channels formed in the side edges of the rear plate  12  of the fuel type panel holder  10  described above. By inserting the tabs  40  into the channels of the fuel type panel holder  10 , the pump availability panel holder  30  can be attached to either side of the fuel type panel holder  10  in parallel and in vertical alignment. Typically, one pump availability panel holder  30  is attached to each side of each fuel type panel holder  10  as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 8 . Each fuel type panel holder  10  of the sign  50  corresponds to a double-sided pump, and each pump availability panel holder  30  attached to the fuel type panel holder  10  corresponds to one pump of the double-sided pump. For the six pump array described above, the sign  50  would consist of three fuel type panel holders connected vertically, each fuel type panel holder  10  having two pump availability panel holders connected to it making six pump availability panel holders in total. 
     A pump availability indicator panel  54  is inserted into each pump availability panel holder  30  to indicate whether the corresponding pump is currently operational or out of use. The fuel type indicator panel  52  inserted into the attached fuel type panel holder  10  indicates the fuel type supplied by the corresponding pump. Each pump availability indicator panel  54  has an indication that the pump is operational displayed on one face of the panel and an indication that the pump is out of use displayed on the opposite face of the panel. If a pump is changed from being operational to being out of use or vice versa, the corresponding pump availability indicator panel  54  can simply be removed from the pump availability panel holder  30 , reversed and replaced in the pump availability panel holder  30  to indicate this. 
     The pump availability indicator panels  54  and the fuel type indicator panels  52  can each have a hole formed through them, which allows the panel to be secured to the corresponding holder. The panel may be secured by a cable tie passed through the hole in the panel and through a window of the holder for example. 
     An example of a sign  50  according to the invention having a fuel type indicator panel  52  and pump availability indicator panels  54  inserted is shown in  FIG. 7 . The fuel type indicator panel  52  indicates that the fuel type of the corresponding double-sided pump is unleaded. The left pump availability indicator panel  54  indicates that the left hand pump of the double-sided pump is out of use. The right pump availability indicator panel  54  indicates that the right hand pump of the double-sided pump is operational. Using the pump sign  50  of the invention, an approaching driver can instantly see which of the pumps in the pump array are operational and which fuel types are available from that pump array. The driver can also easily decide which side of the double-sided pump array to pull up on to get the required fuel type. Due to the replaceable double-sided indicator panels  54  of the invention, it is quick and straightforward for a pump attendant to alter the sign  50  to correctly indicate which pumps are operational and which fuel types are available from a given pump array. 
     The sign  50  of the first embodiment can be attached to the pump array by any suitable means, or can be attached to a free-standing support and placed adjacent the pump array. For example, the fuel type panel holder  10  can be bolted or screwed to a surface of the pump array via the attachment holes  18  in the rear plate. The fuel type panel holder  10  may also be strapped to an upright post by a strap passing along the indentation  20  formed in the rear plate  12  of the fuel type panel holder  10  and around the post. 
     Alternative attachment means include applying adhesive strips to the rear surface of the rear plate  12  of the fuel type panel holder  10 . Additional indentations may be formed in the rear surface of the rear plate  12  to accommodate the adhesive strips. 
     The precise location of the sign  50  relative to the pumps is not important as long as a driver approaching the pumps can see the sign  50 . The driver should also be able to determine easily which pumps the sign is associated with. 
     A second embodiment of a sign according to the invention is shown in  FIG. 9 . The fuel type panel holder  60  of this sign is designed to hold a fuel type indicator panel  52  and is as described above, other than the different arrangement of attachment holes  68  shown in  FIG. 9 . The fuel type panel holder  60  of the second embodiment has a rear plate  62 , attachment portions  64 , windows  66 , an indentation  70  and arrow-shaped tabs  72 . The sign of this embodiment differs from that described above in that it is semi-electronic. The pump availability panel holders  30  of the sign described above are replaced in this embodiment by light panels  80  as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     The light panels  80  can be connected to the side edges of the fuel type panel holder  60  by any suitable mechanism, for example the arrow-shaped tab and channel arrangement used to connect the pump availability panel holders  30  to the fuel type panel holder  10  in the first embodiment. Each light panel  80  has two lights  82  of different colours, red and green in this example. The green light is switched on to indicate that the corresponding pump is operational and the red light is switched on to indicate that the corresponding pump is out of use. Each light panel  80  is associated with one side of a double-sided pump supplying the fuel type indicated by the fuel type indicator panel  52  in the fuel type panel holder  60 , as in the first embodiment. 
     The light panels  80  preferably use LED lights  82  but may also include incandescent or fluorescent bulbs. The light panels  80  may be powered by a battery or may be connected by any suitable means to the electricity supply of the pump array. 
     Control over which of the lights  82  on the light panel  80  is illuminated may be provided by a switch on the light panel  80  itself, but preferably the light panels are controlled remotely. For example, the light panels  80  may have wired or wireless control connections to a computer system at the counter of the petrol station shop. With this arrangement, an attendant can select which light  82  of each light panel  80  is illuminated from the computer system in the shop to ensure that the light panels  80  correctly indicate whether the associated pump is available for use. 
     A third embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIG. 10 , which illustrates a fully electronic sign  90 . The sign  90  in this embodiment consists of an electronic display such as an LCD or LED panel. The sign  90  is attached to or located near to a pump array in the same way as the signs of the first and second embodiments. The electronic display contains a display area  92 ,  94  corresponding to each double-sided pump. Each display area contains a first sub-area  92  indicating the type of fuel supplied by the associated double-sided pump and second and third sub-areas  94 , each of the second and third sub-areas  94  indicating whether one side of the double-sided pump is operational or out of use. In this example, the display areas  92 ,  94  are each arranged to have a similar appearance to the semi-electronic sign of the second embodiment, with a central first sub-area  92  displaying the fuel type and second and third sub-areas  94  on either side of the first sub-area  92  displaying a red or green light  96  depending on whether the pump is out of use or operational. 
     In the third embodiment, the electronic display may also have an additional information display area  98 , shown at the bottom of the sign in  FIG. 10 . This display area  98  can be used to display additional information of interest to drivers, for example traffic and weather information. This display area  98  may also be used to display advertising. 
     The foregoing description has been given by way of example only and it will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.