Windshield Washer Fluid Dispenser

• US 20100258587A1
• Filed: 04/12/2010
• Published: 10/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cynthia M. Wheeler, David A. Wheeler, Loyde A. Wheeler
• Original Assignee: Cynthia M. Wheeler, David A. Wheeler, Loyde A. Wheeler
• Inventors: Wheeler, David A., Wheeler, Cynthia M., Wheeler, Loyde A.
• Application Number:
  US12/758,737
• Publication Number:
  US 20100258587A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/2
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/50 Arrangement of reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 5/00 Servicing, maintaining, repairing, or refitting of vehicles vehicles adapted to carry a workshop for servicing or maintenance B60P3/14; servicing rail locomotives B61K
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 5/02 Supplying fuel to vehicles; General disposition of plant in filling stations apparatus for transferring measured quantities of petrol, oil, or the like from storage space to vehicles B67D
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/02 for transferring liquids other than fuel or lubricants

Abstract

A windshield washer fluid dispenser providing a delayed start function, whereby the user can open the hood of their vehicle and cap to their fluid reservoir. A windshield washer fluid dispenser utilizing a cellular credit card processing system for payment means, whereby the processing system is configurable for a given application. Embodiments with proximity device, RFID and wireless telephone verification are included. A windshield washer fluid dispenser having a ready light, a warning light, a start button, a flow meter and a programmable logic circuit. A windshield washer fluid dispenser system providing for a replaceable fluid drum. Methods pertaining to the disclosed apparatus are also provided.

Claims

1. An improved windshield washer fluid dispenser for selectively filling a vehicle windshield washer fluid reservoir, comprising:

a chassis with an interior space defined by the chassis;

an access door to access the interior space of the chassis, wherein the access door can be selectively locked;

a power source capable of rendering electric power to operate the dispenser;

a removable drum within the interior space, the drum being capable of containing a quantity of windshield washer fluid;

a pump, a one or more plumbing fixtures, a hose and a selectable nozzle to selectively dispense the contents of the fluid container;

a means for verifying credentials for use of the windshield washer fluid dispenser;

a ready light to alert a user that the windshield washer dispenser is in a condition ready for usage;

a programmable logic circuit which energizes the pump, which in turn pumps a portion of the quantity of fluid to be dispensed from the windshield washer fluid dispenser into the reservoir through the hose and the selectable nozzle; and

,

wherein the programmable logic circuit further provides configurable functions with respect to the ready light, the card reader, the pump and the valve.

2. The improved windshield washer fluid dispenser of claim 1, wherein the means for verifying credentials for use of the windshield washer fluid dispenser is a money receptacle.

3. The improved windshield washer fluid dispenser of claim 1, wherein the means for verifying credentials for use of the windshield washer fluid dispenser is a proximity device.

4. The improved windshield washer fluid dispenser of claim 1, wherein the means for verifying credentials for use of the windshield washer fluid dispenser utilizes a radio signal.

5. The improved windshield washer fluid dispenser of claim 1, wherein the means for verifying credentials for use of the windshield washer fluid dispenser utilizes a wireless telephone.

6. The improved windshield washer fluid dispenser of claim 1, wherein the means for verifying credentials for use of the windshield washer fluid dispenser is a card reader.

7. The improved windshield washer fluid dispenser of claim 6, further comprising a cellular modem providing wireless transmission capabilities for the card reader to verify credentials for use of the windshield washer fluid dispenser.

8. The improved windshield washer fluid dispenser of claim 6, further comprising a start button that communicates with the programmable logic circuit for delaying the commencement of the dispensing of a quantity of windshield washer fluid.

9. The improved windshield washer fluid dispenser of claim 6, further comprising a float switch to determine whether an empty condition exists with respect to the quantity of windshield washer fluid within the drum.

10. The improved windshield washer fluid dispenser of claim 6, further comprising a warning light to alert a user of an empty condition and thereby prevent unintentional use of the windshield washer dispenser;

11. The improved windshield washer fluid dispenser of claim 6, further comprising a fluid check valve to prevent unintentional delay in dispensing a quantity of windshield washer fluid.

12. The improved windshield washer fluid dispenser of claim 6, wherein the pump utilizes compressed air or a vacuum to selectively dispense a quantity of the contents of the fluid.

13. The improved windshield washer fluid dispenser of claim 6, further comprising a flow meter capable of determining that the dispensing of fluid has commenced.

14. The improved windshield washer fluid dispenser of claim 13, wherein the dispensing of fluid is limited by a specific expiration of time after the flow meter determines that the dispensing of fluid has commenced.

15. The improved windshield washer fluid dispenser of claim 13, wherein the flow meter can measure the volume of fluid dispensed and the dispensing of fluid is limited by a specific limit of volume of fluid dispensed.

17. The method for dispensing windshield washer fluid of claim 13, wherein the step of providing credentials utilizes a card reader, and the step of dispensing of a quantity of windshield washer fluid is limited by a specific limit of volume of fluid dispensed.

16. A method for dispensing windshield washer fluid, comprising the steps of:

providing a windshield washer fluid dispenser having a quantity of windshield washer fluid;

observing a ready light on a windshield washer fluid dispenser;

observing absence of a warning light on the windshield washer fluid dispenser;

providing credentials for a transaction via a means for verifying credentials;

pushing a start button to commence a pump from within the windshield washer fluid dispenser; and

,

dispensing a quantity of windshield washer fluid from the windshield washer fluid dispenser.

18. An improved windshield washer fluid dispenser for selectively filling a vehicle windshield washer fluid reservoir, comprising:

a chassis with an interior space defined by the chassis;

an access door to access the interior space of the chassis, wherein the access door can be selectively locked;

a power source capable of rendering electric power to operate the dispenser;

a removable drum within the interior space, the drum having a lid and being capable of containing a quantity of windshield washer fluid;

a pump, a one or more plumbing fixtures, a hose and a selectable nozzle to selectively dispense the contents of the fluid container;

a fluid check valve to prevent unintentional delay in dispensing a quantity of windshield washer fluid;

a card reader for verifying credentials for use of the windshield washer fluid dispenser;

a cellular modem providing wireless transmission capabilities for the card reader to verify credentials for use;

a float switch to determine whether an empty fluid condition exists with respect to the quantity of windshield washer fluid within the drum;

a ready light to alert a user that the windshield washer dispenser is in a condition ready for usage;

a warning light to alert a user of an empty fluid condition and thereby prevent unintentional use of the windshield washer dispenser;

a start button for commencing the operation of the windshield washer fluid dispenser which communicates a signal to a programmable logic circuit, which in turn energizes a pump, which in turn pumps for a portion of the quantity of fluid to be dispensed from the windshield washer fluid dispenser into the reservoir through a filler hose with a selectable nozzle;

a flow meter capable of determining that the dispensing of fluid has commenced; and

,

wherein the programmable logic circuit further provides configurable functions with respect to the warning light, the ready light, the start button, the card reader, the pump and one or more limitations of usage of the dispenser.

19. The improved windshield washer fluid dispenser of claim 18, wherein the dispensing of fluid is limited by a specific expiration of time after the flow meter determines that the dispensing of fluid has commenced.

20. The improved windshield washer fluid dispenser of claim 18, wherein the flow meter can measure the volume of fluid dispensed and the dispensing of fluid is limited by a specific limit of volume of fluid dispensed.