HAND SANITIZER DEVICE FOR FUEL PUMP DISPENSER

• US 20120255969A1
• Filed: 06/18/2012
• Published: 10/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daniel J. Lin
• Original Assignee: Daniel J. Lin
• Inventors: LIN, Daniel J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,746,299 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery

Abstract

A hand sanitizer dispenser is attached to a fuel pump dispenser to provide a patron with the option to cleanse his hands after pumping fuel. The hand sanitizer includes a circuit configured to receive an activation signal from a computer system of the fuel pump dispenser.

Claims

1. A device comprising a hand sanitizer dispenser attached to a fuel pump dispenser, wherein the hand sanitizer dispenser comprises an activation circuit for activating dispensing capabilities of the dispenser and the activation circuit is configured to receive an activation signal from a computer system coupled to the fuel pump dispenser and activate the hand sanitizer dispenser in response to the receipt of the activation signal.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the activation signal is transmitted to the hand sanitizer dispenser by the computer system upon return of a fuel pump to a carriage of the fuel pump dispenser.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the activation circuit is further configured to receive a deactivation signal from the computer system and deactivate the hand sanitizer dispenser in response to receipt of the deactivation signal.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the hand sanitizer dispenser further comprises a timer circuit for initiating a pre-determined time interval and deactivating the hand sanitizer dispenser upon an expiration of the time interval.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the activation signal is transmitted to the hand sanitizer dispenser by the computer system upon an agreement by a patron to pay for use of the hand sanitizer dispenser.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the hand sanitizer dispenser is attached to a compartment embedded into the fuel pump dispenser and the compartment comprises a pane covering the opening and the pane is transparent and retractable upon an activation of the hand sanitizer dispenser by a computer system of the fuel pump dispenser.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the device further comprises a sensor for sensing the presence of a hand in the opening that is configured to transmit a deactivation signal to the compartment upon sensing a removal of a hand from the opening in order to close the pane over the opening.

8. A fuel pump dispenser configured to provide hand sanitization after pumping fuel comprising:

a display for communicating with a patron;

a computer system coupled to the display; and

a hand sanitizer dispenser coupled to the computer system, wherein the hand sanitizer dispenser comprises an activation circuit for activating dispensing capabilities of the fuel pump dispenser and the activation circuit is configured to receive an activation signal from the computer system and activate the hand sanitizer dispenser in response to the receipt of the activation signal.

9. The fuel pump dispenser of claim 8, wherein the activation signal is transmitted to the hand sanitizer dispenser by the computer system upon return of a fuel pump to a carriage of the fuel pump dispenser.

10. The fuel pump dispenser of claim 8, wherein the activation circuit is further configured to receive a deactivation signal from the computer system and deactivate the hand sanitizer dispenser in response to receipt of the deactivation signal.

11. The fuel pump dispenser of claim 8, wherein the hand sanitizer dispenser further comprises a timer circuit for initiating a pre-determined time interval and deactivating the hand sanitizer dispenser upon an expiration of the time interval.

12. The fuel pump dispenser of claim 8, wherein the activation signal is transmitted to the hand sanitizer dispenser by the computer system upon an agreement by the patron to pay for use of the hand sanitizer dispenser.

13. The fuel pump dispenser of claim 8, wherein the hand sanitizer dispenser is attached to a compartment embedded into the fuel pump dispenser and the compartment comprises a pane covering the opening and the pane is transparent and retractable upon an activation of the hand sanitizer dispenser by a computer system of the fuel pump dispenser.

14. The fuel pump dispenser of claim 13, wherein the hand sanitizer dispenser further comprises a sensor for sensing the presence of a hand in the opening that is configured to transmit a deactivation signal to the compartment upon sensing a removal of a hand from the opening in order to close the pane over the opening.

15. A method performed by a circuit of a hand sanitizer dispenser attached to a fuel pump dispenser comprising:

receiving an activation signal from a computer system of the fuel pump dispenser;

activating a dispensing capability of the hand sanitizer dispenser; and

dispensing a portion of sanitizer product.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the dispensing step occurs upon recognizing the presence of a hand under the hand sanitizer dispenser.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising sensing removal of the hand from under the hand sanitizer dispenser.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising deactivating the dispensing capability of the hand sanitizer dispenser.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the deactivating step occurs after a pre-determined time interval.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the activation signal from the computer system is transmitted to the hand sanitizer dispenser upon a return of a fuel pump to a carriage of the fuel pump dispenser.