US5363889A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fuel dispensing nozzle assembly
Assignee: HOUSTON VENTURE PARTNERS Ltd
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Filing: 1993-08-11
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Granted: 1994-11-15
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Expires: 2013-08-11
Abstract
Abstract A fuel dispensing nozzle including three calculated break points is provided. The first break point is provided in the spout which is calculated to fracture upon application of a force orthogonal to the axial direction of the spout. The nozzle comprises a housing having at least one opening for a dispensing valve to be selectively removably received within. A coupling or maintaining member is provided for maintaining the dispensing valve within the housing. The maintaining member is adapted to withstand application of a pre-determined force tending to separate the dispensing valve from the housing. The maintaining member allows separation of the housing and dispensing valve when the pre-determined force is exceeded. This maintaining member is the second break point. The third breakaway feature is provided in the construction of the housing which is designed to fracture prior to fracture of the gas pump or hose if the first or second break points do not fracture.
Inventors
- 👤 W. Dwain Simpson
- 👤 James H. Pyle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 01:01
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67D; B67D7/00; B67D7/06; B67D7/42; B67D7/425; B67D7/44; B67D7/46; B67D7/465; B67D7/54; F; F16; F16B; F16B2200/00; F16B2200/63; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/1624; Y10T137/1632; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/66
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
186 words
A fuel system nozzle for use with a fuel dispensing system including a fuel dispenser and a fuel dispensing hose, comprising: a housing having at least one opening located at one side thereof; a trigger located on the housing; a dispensing valve selectively removable from within said housing and through said at least one opening, said dispensing valve selectively coupleable to said fuel dispensing hose; a spout member located substantially opposite said at least one opening; means for maintaining said dispensing valve within said housing, said maintaining means adapted to withstand application of a predetermined pulling force tending to separate said dispensing valve from within said housing, so that when a pulling force greater than said predetermined force is applied between said spout and said dispensing hose, said maintaining means will fracture and said valve will separate from said housing and stay with said dispensing hose; and a linear member coupled to said trigger and disposed in said housing, said linear member located proximate to said dispensing valve such that activation of said trigger translates via said linear member to cause said dispensing valve to open.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
186 words
A fuel system nozzle for use with a fuel dispensing system including a fuel dispenser and a fuel dispensing hose, comprising: a housing having at least one opening located at one side thereof; a trigger located on the housing; a dispensing valve selectively removable from within said housing and through said at least one opening, said dispensing valve selectively coupleable to said fuel dispensing hose; a spout member located substantially opposite said at least one opening; means for maintaining said dispensing valve within said housing, said maintaining means adapted to withstand application of a predetermined pulling force tending to separate said dispensing valve from within said housing, so that when a pulling force greater than said predetermined force is applied between said spout and said dispensing hose, said maintaining means will fracture and said valve will separate from said housing and stay with said dispensing hose; and a linear member coupled to said trigger and disposed in said housing, said linear member located proximate to said dispensing valve such that activation of said trigger translates via said linear member to cause said dispensing valve to open.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 1, wherein said spout member includes a first fluid pathway and said dispensing valve includes a second fluid pathway in communication with said first fluid pathway.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 2, further comprising a flow tube having a third fluid pathway, said third fluid pathway coupling said first fluid pathway to said second fluid pathway.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 3, wherein said spout member has a first end and a second end; a longitudinally extending annular inner member defining said first pathway; and a longitudinally extending annular outer member disposed about said inner member and defining a space therebetween.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 4, wherein said spout member includes a series of circumferentially disposed apertures formed therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 5, wherein said apertures are formed through said longitudinally extending outer member
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 5, wherein said apertures define a substantially annular location along said spout adapted to selectively fracture when a second predetermined force is applied to said spout.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 1, wherein said maintaining means comprises an annular clip member for selectively coupling said dispensing valve to said housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The dispensing nozzle of claim 8, wherein said clip member comprises plastic.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The dispensing nozzle of claim 8, wherein said clip member includes an open portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 1, wherein said maintaining means is adapted to withstand application of a force of at least 240 pounds.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
58 words
The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 1 wherein said dispensing valve comprises: a cylindrical member; a shoulder portion within said cylindrical member; a plunger arranged to selectively allow the flow of fuel when said plunger is disengaged from said shoulder portion, and to block the flow of fuel when said plunger is in contact with said shoulder portion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The dispensing nozzle of claim 12 wherein said plunger is in the normally closed position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
115 words
A fuel dispensing nozzle comprising a housing having at least one opening, a dispensing valve selectively removable from within said housing and through said at least one opening, and means for maintaining said dispensing valve within said housing, said maintaining means adapted to withstand application of a force tending to separate said dispensing valve from within said housing, and said maintaining means comprising an annular clip member for selectively coupling said dispensing valve and said housing, said annular clip member having a substantially cylindrical configuration with a first annular end having a plurality of radially inwardly extending teeth disposed thereabout and a second annular end having a plurality of radially inwardly extending teeth disposed thereabout.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
115 words
A fuel dispensing nozzle comprising a housing having at least one opening, a dispensing valve selectively removable from within said housing and through said at least one opening, and means for maintaining said dispensing valve within said housing, said maintaining means adapted to withstand application of a force tending to separate said dispensing valve from within said housing, and said maintaining means comprising an annular clip member for selectively coupling said dispensing valve and said housing, said annular clip member having a substantially cylindrical configuration with a first annular end having a plurality of radially inwardly extending teeth disposed thereabout and a second annular end having a plurality of radially inwardly extending teeth disposed thereabout.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 14, wherein said plurality of teeth of said first annular end extend further radially inwardly than said plurality of teeth of said second annular end.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
50 words
The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 14, wherein said housing comprises an annular groove about its circumference for receiving the teeth disposed about said second annular end and said teeth disposed about said first annular end of said clip member extend into said at least one opening of said housing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 16, wherein said dispensing valve comprises a radially outwardly extending annular surface positioned to be in axial alignment with said at least one opening of said housing.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
72 words
The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 17, wherein said radially outwardly extending annular surface includes at least one sidewall defining a ledge substantially orthogonal to the annular surface and said plurality of radially inwardly extending teeth disposed about said first annular end of said clip member bear against said at least one sidewall of said radially outwardly extending annular member when said dispensing valve is disposed within said at least one opening.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
49 words
The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 14, wherein said teeth of said first annular end and said second annular end are adapted to fracture if a force exceeding the first predetermined force is applied tending to separate the dispensing valve from the at least one opening in the housing.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
150 words
A fuel dispensing nozzle for use with a fuel dispensing system including a fuel dispenser and a fuel dispensing hose, comprising: a housing having at least one opening located at one side thereof; a dispensing valve selectively removable from within said housing and through said at least one opening; a spout member located substantially opposite said at least one opening; said dispensing valve releasing from said housing upon application of a pulling force across said spout and said fuel dispensing hose greater than a predetermined pulling force in a direction axial to fluid flow within said dispensing valve; and said spout member having a substantially annular location therealong defined by a plurality of aperatures there-through and adapted to selectively fracture upon application of a torque across said spout and said fuel dispensing hose greater than a predetermined torque in a direction substantially orthogonal to fluid flow through said spout member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
150 words
A fuel dispensing nozzle for use with a fuel dispensing system including a fuel dispenser and a fuel dispensing hose, comprising: a housing having at least one opening located at one side thereof; a dispensing valve selectively removable from within said housing and through said at least one opening; a spout member located substantially opposite said at least one opening; said dispensing valve releasing from said housing upon application of a pulling force across said spout and said fuel dispensing hose greater than a predetermined pulling force in a direction axial to fluid flow within said dispensing valve; and said spout member having a substantially annular location therealong defined by a plurality of aperatures there-through and adapted to selectively fracture upon application of a torque across said spout and said fuel dispensing hose greater than a predetermined torque in a direction substantially orthogonal to fluid flow through said spout member.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
57 words
The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 20, wherein said spout member includes a first fluid pathway and said dispensing valve includes a second fluid pathway in communication with said first fluid pathway; and further including a flow tube having a third fluid pathway, said third fluid pathway coupling said first fluid pathway to said second fluid pathway.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
46 words
The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 21, wherein said spout member has a first end and a second end; a longitudinally extending annular inner member defining said first pathway; and a longitudinally extending annular outer member disposed about said inner member and defining a space therebetween.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 20, wherein said annular location is adapted to selectively fracture upon application of at least 150 foot pounds of torque.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
41 words
The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 20, further comprising means for maintaining said dispensing valve within said housing adapted to withstand application of a force of at least 240 pounds in the direction axial to fluid flow in the dispensing member.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
74 words
The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 20, further comprising means for maintaining said dispensing valve within said housing, said maintaining means including an annular clip member for selectively coupling said dispensing valve to said housing; said annular clip member having a substantially cylindrical configuration with a first annular end including a plurality of radially inwardly extending teeth disposed thereabout and a second annular end including a plurality of radially inwardly extending teeth disposed thereabout.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
33 words
The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 25 wherein said plurality of teeth disposed about said first annular end extend further radially inwardly than said plurality of teeth disposed about said second annular end.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
49 words
The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 26, wherein said housing comprises an annular groove about its circumference for receiving the teeth disposed about said second annular end and said teeth of said first annular end of said clip member extend into said at least one opening of said housing.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
48 words
The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 27, wherein said dispensing valve comprises a radially outwardly extending annular surface positioned to be in axial alignment with said at least one opening of said housing and including at least one sidewall defining a ledge substantially orthogonal to the annular surface.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
51 words
The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 28, wherein said plurality of radially inwardly extending teeth disposed about said first annular end of said clip member bear against said at least one sidewall of said radially outwardly extending annular member when said dispensing valve is disposed within said at least one opening.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
49 words
The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 29, wherein said teeth of said first annular end and said second annular end are adapted to fracture if a force exceeding the first predetermined force is applied tending to separate the dispensing valve from the at least one opening in the housing.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
88 words
A fuel dispensing nozzle comprising a house having at least one aperture located at a first end thereof, a dispensing valve selectively removable from within said housing through said at least one aperature, and a spout member for dispensing fuel located at a second end of said housing, said spout member having a substantially annular location therealong defined by a series of circumferentially disposed aperatures and adapted to selectively fracture along said annular location defined by said aperatures upon application of a torque greater than a predetermined torque.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
88 words
A fuel dispensing nozzle comprising a house having at least one aperture located at a first end thereof, a dispensing valve selectively removable from within said housing through said at least one aperature, and a spout member for dispensing fuel located at a second end of said housing, said spout member having a substantially annular location therealong defined by a series of circumferentially disposed aperatures and adapted to selectively fracture along said annular location defined by said aperatures upon application of a torque greater than a predetermined torque.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
55 words
The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 31, wherein said spout member includes a first fluid pathway and said dispensing valve includes a second fluid pathway in communication with said first fluid pathway and a flow tube having a third fluid pathway, said third fluid pathway coupling said first fluid pathway to said second fluid pathway.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
46 words
The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 31, wherein said spout member has a first end and a second end; a longitudinally extending annular inner member defining said first pathway; and a longitudinally extending annular outer member disposed about said inner member and defining a space therebetween.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
20 words
The fuel dispensing nozzle of claims 33, wherein said circumferentially disposed apertures are formed through said longitudinally extending outer member.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
24 words
The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 36, wherein such annular location is adapted to withstand application of at least 100 foot pounds of torque.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
100 words
A fuel dispensing nozzle, comprising: a housing having at least one opening; a dispensing valve selectively removable from within said housing and through said at least one opening; means for maintaining said dispensing valve within said housing, said maintaining means adapted to withstand application of a predetermined forced tending to separate said dispensing valve from within said housing; and said housing and said dispensing valve each comprising a flange, and said maintaining means including a ring with a plurality of stubs thereon, said stubs being arranged to engage said flanges, thereby preventing separation of said dispensing valve from said housing.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
100 words
A fuel dispensing nozzle, comprising: a housing having at least one opening; a dispensing valve selectively removable from within said housing and through said at least one opening; means for maintaining said dispensing valve within said housing, said maintaining means adapted to withstand application of a predetermined forced tending to separate said dispensing valve from within said housing; and said housing and said dispensing valve each comprising a flange, and said maintaining means including a ring with a plurality of stubs thereon, said stubs being arranged to engage said flanges, thereby preventing separation of said dispensing valve from said housing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-11-14 | 1998-05-16 | 1998-11-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-11-14 | 2002-05-16 | 2002-11-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-11-14 | 2006-05-16 | 2006-11-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |