Patent ID: 7096895

Claim:
A method for dispensing motor vehicle fuel at an unattended location comprising the steps of: a) providing a location for a fuel dispensing station, said location being without any provision for an attendant to be present on the premises; b) providing a remote monitoring station with a trained attendant; c) establishing a purchasing membership group whose members will use the dispensing station for fueling their vehicles; d) installing and maintaining at least one fuel dispensing pump and storage and supply tank at said location; e) providing a surveillance camera that can survey the immediate vicinity around said location and transmit images to said remote station; f) providing flame detector means positioned to detect flame in the vicinity of said pump; g) providing means for dispensing fire suppressant chemicals to and around said pumps, the dispensing of said suppressant chemicals being activated by signal from said flame detector; and, providing smoke, fuel vapor, heat impact, and carbon monoxide detectors; h) providing said pumps with locking means and providing each member with unlocking means for said pump, said pumps being activated by employing a combination of said unlocking means and a payment means; i) continuously monitoring the flame detector and camera at the unattended location by the trained attendant at the remote location who can immediately survey the station should a detector signal an alarm or should the attendant observe questionable activity, said trained attendant having an immediate, prearranged access to local fire, police, and emergency medical services; and, j) dispensing fuel into the vehicle of a member who has unlocked the pump and provided payment means.