Fuel pump nozzle lever holding device

Abstract

A fuel pump nozzle lever holding device is claimed that allows a user to pump fuel without applying constant hand pressure to the fuel pump nozzle lever. The device works by either clamping or wedging the nozzle lever in the compressed or “open” position. Embodiments of the invention include a clamp that closes and latches to compress the nozzle lever to the nozzle handle; a spring tension clamp that clamps over the nozzle lever and handle; and a bracing bar that wedges the nozzle lever closed from inside of the nozzle handle.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Provisional Patent Application U.S. Ser. No. 60/655,207, entitled “Fuel Pump Nozzle Lever Holding Device” and filed on Feb. 22, 2005, which is fully incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to an aid for dispensing gasoline or other fuels from a fuel pump nozzle, and in particular to a fuel pump nozzle lever holding device.

2. Background of the Invention

In order to dispense gasoline or other fuels through a fuel nozzle into a tank or fuel container, the nozzle's trigger-like lever must be continually squeezed with some level of force. Many self-serve gasoline stations include attachments on the nozzle that allow the user to “latch” the lever into the “open” position, thus allowing the user to release the nozzle while still dispensing fuel. This type of latching device generally consists of a hinged plate that acts as a holder for the trigger-like valve operating lever. The hinged plate is attached at one end to the operating lever in such a manner that the other end of the plate moves over a notched member provided on the inside bottom of the trigger guard of the valving device as the operating lever is squeezed open. In operation, a user squeezes the lever to achieve the desired flow of gasoline, and then pushes the lower end of the holder into a seat in a notch, causing the operating lever to remain in the “open” position.

Some gasoline stations, however, do not provide the convenience of the latching mechanism described above, and at other stations the latching mechanisms are broken or have been disabled. Without these latching mechanisms, a user must apply continual force to the nozzle lever for the time it takes to dispense the gasoline, which can be several minutes. While this may be a mere annoyance to some, to individuals with limited hand strength or injuries, it could be a true hardship. The present invention solves this problem by providing a device which can be easily and temporarily installed by anyone to keep the nozzle lever squeezed into the open position without continuous pressure by the user.

Several devices have been patented which attempt to address this problem in various ways, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos.:

5,240,226 (Fuel Dispenser Aid)

4,811,765 (Fuel Pump Lever Holding Member)

D362,612 (Gas Nozzle Holder)

D297,810 (Flexible Clasp for Fuel Nozzle Trigger or Similar Article)

4,201,253 (Gas Pump Lever Blocking Member)

4,175,595 (Gasoline Flow Control Device and Method for Using Same)

4,278,116 (Portable Latch for Gasoline Nozzles)

4,275,776 (Automatic Holding Device for Gasoline Pump Handles)

4,095,629 (Self-Service Gasoline Pump Handle Clip)

4,176,695 (Lever Holding Device for Fuel Dispensing Nozzle Assembly)

5,118,074 (Multiple Position Fuel Pump Lever Holding Device)

4,712,766 (Easy Squeeze Nozzle Holder) and

4,874,151 (Gas Pump Lever Holding Device)

The present invention improves upon the prior art and achieves, in a simple and economical device, the desired function of holding the trigger-like lever on the fuel nozzle open, freeing the operator to perform other tasks consisting with remaining safe with respect to the fueling operation that is underway.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the primary objective of this invention is to provide a fuel pump lever holding device that is attached easily to an automatic gas pump nozzle by an operator to hold the trigger of the nozzle in a desired manually adjusted position to dispense fuel at a desired rate of fluid flow and allow for hands-free pumping of fuel. Another object of the invention is to provide this function in a compact design that may be stored in a vehicle's gas compartment door. Another object of the invention is to provide these functions in a simple design that is reasonably inexpensive to manufacture.

These and other objects are attained by the present invention, which proposes several embodiments to achieve these objectives. One embodiment is a clamp-like device that releaseably compresses the fuel nozzle handle and lever (while the lever is squeezed or depressed) and latches to hold the lever in the squeezed position. Another embodiment is a spring-loaded clamp that clips over the handle and depressed lever and is held in place by the tension in the spring. Still another embodiment is a brace-type device that is releaseably installed between the fuel nozzle handle lever and the inner surface of the fuel nozzle handle opposite of the lever and depresses the lever by applying a force between the inner surface of the nozzle handle and the lever.

For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.

These and other embodiments of the present invention will also become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the embodiments having reference to the attached figures, the invention not being limited to any particular embodiment(s) disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention comprising an enclosing clamp device shown in the latched position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention comprising an enclosing clamp device shown in the unlatched position;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the invention shown in latched position.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a spring clamp embodiment of the invention in the “closed” position;

FIG. 6 is a front view of a spring clamp embodiment of the invention in the “open” position.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a final embodiment of the invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT

The present invention and its advantages are best understood by referring to the drawings. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the invention, a clamp-like device that clamps over the handle and fuel pump nozzle lever and retains the lever. In this embodiment, a curved male strap 1 composed of rigid or semi-rigid material is pivotally connected to an curved female strap 2 (also composed rigid or semi-rigid material) via hinge 3. The male strap 1 has gripping teeth 4 molded into its gripping surface. The female strap 2 has an opening 5 in its free end that accepts the male strap 1 and a catch 7 that grips the teeth 4 on the male strap 1 to cause the device to latch. The area within the device's inner surface is tightened by pushing the male strap 1 further within the opening of the female strap 2. This embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 2 in a fully closed position.

In operation, the device is clamped over the fuel nozzle lever and handle (not illustrated) and tightened. To release the device from the fuel nozzle lever, latch 6 on the female strap 2 is moved. In one embodiment, the required movement of the latch for unlatching is movement in the direction opposite of the latching direction, though other embodiments of latches could also be employed.

The clamp may be fabricated from any number of materials, including, but not limited to, plastic and composite-type materials.

FIG. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention that is similar to the first embodiment but in which the male strap 30 and the female strap 31 are not pivotally connected as they are in the first embodiment. Rather than being pivotally connected, the ends 35 of the straps are free, and when the male and female straps are latched together, the device forms the somewhat C-shaped clamp illustrated in FIG. 4. Further, the compressing surfaces 32 of the straps are disposed generally perpendicularly to the male and female interlock portions (33 and 34 respectively) of the straps. The free ends 35 of the male and female straps may be curved as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 for ease in installation and removal or may be straight.

The operation of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 is very similar to that of the first embodiment. Gripper teeth 36 on the interlock portion 33 of the male strap engage with the interlock portion 34 of the female strap. Once the interlocks are engaged, the clamp can be tightened as desired by pressing on the outside of the compressing portions of the straps. To loosen or release the clamp, the latch 37 on the female latching mechanism 34 is moved.

Although the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 is shown with the male and female straps completely separable, the straps may also be connected together by any number of devices. For example, a stop device (not illustrated) could be installed on the latching mechanisms to prevents the male portion from being completely removed from the within the female portion, but which permits the male and female portions to slidingly adjust and latch. Another way the straps could be connected is with a simple ball chain that could be used as or connected to a keychain. Further, a magnet 38 can be used to retain the device within the automobile's fuel port area for easy retrieval during refueling.

FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the invention, which is a spring-loaded clamp that clamps around the lever and handle of a fuel nozzle. In this embodiment, a first clamping element 10 is pivotally connected to a second clamping element 11. Spring 12 provides force to maintain the clamping together. Depression of the grip portions 13 of the first and second clamping elements causes the clamp to open, and releasing the grip portions 13 of the first and second clamping elements causes the clamp to close. FIG. 6 illustrates this embodiment of the invention in an “open” position. Although the embodiment illustrated shows the free ends of the clamping elements as contacting together, this contact is not required for the clamp to compress the fuel nozzle lever. All that invention requires is enough force from the clamping arms against the lever to maintain it in the fully compressed position.

FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of the invention, which is a supporting device used to positively retain the fuel nozzle lever in the open position by bracing against the lever and the nozzle handle inner surface opposite of the lever. The device consists of a U-shaped upper brace 20 connected to a U-shaped lower brace 21 through an adjustable bracket 22. In operation, the “U” of the upper brace 20 is placed against the fuel nozzle lever, the “U” of the lower brace 21 is placed against the inner surface of the fuel nozzle handle, and the bracket 22 is manually adjusted to the desired tension.

Any or all of the embodiments of the invention may be outfitted with a magnet so that the device can be conveniently stored inside the gas compartment cover.

This invention may be provided in other specific forms and embodiments without departing from the essential characteristics as described herein. The embodiment described is to be considered in all aspects as illustrative only and not restrictive in any manner.

As described above and shown in the associated drawings and exhibits, the present invention comprises a fuel pump nozzle lever holding device. While particular embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be understood, however, that the invention is not limited thereto, since modifications may be made by those skilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings. It is, therefore, contemplated by the appended claims to cover any such modifications that incorporate those features or those improvements that embody the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A fuel pump nozzle lever retention device, comprising:

a female rigid member with a first end and a second end comprising an interlocking portion on the first end, a compressing portion between the first and second ends, and a release latch;

a male rigid member with a first end and a second end, comprising an interlocking portion on the first end configured to rigidly mate with the interlocking portion of the female rigid member, and a compressing portion between the first and second ends;

wherein the interlocking portions of the male and female members are mateable and lockeable when fitted over the fuel pump nozzle lever and

wherein the mating and locking of the male and female members together causes the compressing portions of the members to retain the fuel pump nozzle lever until the release latch is triggered to release the male member from the female member.

2. The fuel pump nozzle lever retention device of claim 1, wherein the female member further comprises a magnet.

3. The fuel pump nozzle lever retention device of claim 1, wherein the male interlocking portion further comprises serrated teeth and the female interlocking portion further comprises at least one catch for catching the serrated teeth.

4. The fuel pump nozzle lever retention device of claim 1, wherein the interlocking portions of the male and female members are substantially perpendicular to the interlocking portions of the respective male and female members.

5. The fuel pump nozzle lever retention device of claim 1, wherein the compression portions of the male and female members are straight.

6. The fuel pump nozzle lever retention device of claim 1, wherein the second ends of the male and female members are curved.

7. The fuel pump nozzle lever retention device of claim 1, wherein the compression portions of the male and female members are curved.

8. The fuel pump nozzle lever retention device of claim 1, wherein the male and female members are generally arcuate.

9. The fuel pump nozzle lever retention device of claim 8, wherein the second ends of the male and female members are pivotally connected together.

10. A fuel pump nozzle level retention device, comprising:

a first clamping element comprising a clamping end and a grip portion, wherein the first clamping element is pivotally connected to

a second clamping element comprising a clamping portion and a grip portion; and

a spring element contacting the grip portions of the first and second clamping elements, whereby the spring element forces the clamping portions of the clamping elements toward one another until the force is overcome by compression of the grip portions of the clamping elements.

11. A fuel pump nozzle lever retention device, comprising:

a substantially U-shaped upper brace adjustably connected to a substantially U-shaped lower brace, whereby the upper brace is wedgeable against the lever and the lower brace is wedgeable against the inner surface of the fuel pump nozzle handle in order to maintain the lever in the fully depressed position.