Vehicle safety fueling system

• US 5,720,327 A
• Filed: 05/24/1996
• Issued: 02/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John Baker, Iii Cleveland
• Original Assignee: Foster, James C. Jr.
• Inventors: Foster, James C. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walczak, David J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Douglas, Steven O.
• Application Number:
  US08/652,960
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 141/207, 141/94, 141/392, 141/311 A, 141/285, 220/86.2, 307/10.3, 307/10.6, 123/198 DC
• US Class Current: 141/207
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/00 Arrangement in connection with fuel supply of combustion engines or other fuel consuming energy converters, e.g. fuel cells; Mounting or construction of fuel tanks tanks in general B65D, F17C; supplying combustion engines with combustible mixtures or constituents F02M
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/10 responsive to conditions relating to the vehicle

Abstract

A safety device for vehicles for preventing accidental driving off with the vehicle from a fuel pump without first removing a fuel dispensing nozzle from the tank of the vehicle. When the fuel dispensing nozzle is in the spout of the tank, a solenoid valve is activated to disengage the ignition system and/or illuminate alarm lights and audible signals.

Claims

1. A safety device for use on vehicles for ensuring that an elongated fuel nozzle is removed from an inlet spout of a fuel tank for said vehicle prior to said vehicle being driven off from a fuel supply, said inlet spout having a cylindrical cross section and an elongated body portion, said safety device comprising:

a power supply;

an engine for propelling said vehicle;

an electric starter connected to said engine;

a key operated switch;

an electric circuit connecting said key operated switch to said power supply and said starter;

a proximity switch adapted to be carried adjacent said elongated body portion of said inlet spout having a first position and a second position;

said proximity switch being located so that when said elongated fuel nozzle is inserted in said elongated body portion of said inlet spout said proximity switch is activated to changed from said first position to said second position;

a relay connected to said proximity switch that is activated when said switch is in said second position;

said relay being connected to said electric circuit for opening said electric circuit and preventing said starter from being energized.

2. The safety device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

an alarm that is energized by said power supply when said proximity switch is in said second position.