Metered windshield washer fluid dispensing system
First Claim
1. A dispensing system for neatly transferring a metered quantity of windshield washer solution into a motor vehicle reservoir without spillage and without use of a funnel, said system comprising a cabinet made from strong, temper-resistant materials and having an outside surface;
- a fluid tank positioned within said cabinet, said fluid tank having at least one opening therethrough;
an amount of said windshield washer solution, said amount being greater than said metered quantity, said windshield washer solution being positioned within said fluid tank;
at least one dispensing gun having an elongated nozzle with a distal end, said distal end of said nozzle having a diameter sufficiently small to fit within the upper opening of most motor vehicle windshield washer fluid reservoirs, said dispensing gun comprising an easily operated manual fluid cut-off control;
support means for supporting said dispensing gun during periods of non-use, said support means being attached to said outside surface of said cabinet;
at least one solenoid positioned within said cabinet and configured so as to have an opened position and a closed position to control flow of said windshield washer solution between said fluid tank and said nozzle;
low pressure transfer means of transporting said windshield washer solution between said solenoid and said nozzle;
a first hose connected between said opening in said fluid tank and said solenoid;
a second hose connected between said solenoid and said dispensing gun;
a step-down transformer positioned within said cabinet;
a power cord and plug having a distal end and a proximal end, said distal end being configured and dimensioned for connection to a remote power source, and said proximal end being connected through said cabinet to said transformer;
a quantity of electrical wiring;
metering means positioned within said cabinet and electrically connected with said wiring to said transformer, said metering means also being configured for use in establishing dispensing period during which each of said metered quantities of said windshield washer solution will be transferred to said dispensing gun and electrically connected with said wiring to said solenoid;
payment accepting means attached to said cabinet and electrically connected with said wiring to both said metering means and to said transformer; and
at least one on-off light electrically connected with said wiring to said metering means which when lit indicates to a system operator that said solenoid is in said opened position to allow flow of said windshield washer solution to said dispensing gun so that when a system operator places sufficient payment within said payment accepting means, said solenoid will be opened and said system operator can then manipulate said cut-off control on said dispensing gun to allow a selected amount of said metered quantity of said windshield washer solution to be neatly and gently transferred through said solenoid under low pressure and directly into a motor vehicle windshield washer fluid reservoir without spillage, without use of a funnel, and without overfill.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A coin and credit card activated windshield washer solution dispensing system for use at car washes, convenience stores, and gas stations by the public through which an operator can neatly transfer a metered amount of windshield washer solution directly into a motor vehicle'"'"'s windshield washer fluid reservoir without the use of a funnel. The system can be housed as a independent, stand-alone unit or combined in a housing with other automotive-related service systems, such as air/vacuum service units. The present invention can comprise an air compressor to help provide even fluid flow, or in the alternative it can be gravity-fed. The compressor-driven embodiment comprises a fluid tank, a pump, a pressure regulator, a regulator gauge, an adjustable timer, a solenoid, access to a remote power supply, a step-down transformer, and an elongated dispensing nozzle with a shut-off control that is easily operable by customers to prevent overfill. Through use of the variable timer and pressure regulator, the person maintaining the system can precisely calibrate a maximum amount of fluid to be dispensed per unit cost and the speed of such dispensing. Applications of the system may also include, but are not limited to, use in large garages and car rental facilities for rapid spill-free filling of vehicle windshield washer fluid reservoirs.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A dispensing system for neatly transferring a metered quantity of windshield washer solution into a motor vehicle reservoir without spillage and without use of a funnel, said system comprising a cabinet made from strong, temper-resistant materials and having an outside surface;
- a fluid tank positioned within said cabinet, said fluid tank having at least one opening therethrough;
an amount of said windshield washer solution, said amount being greater than said metered quantity, said windshield washer solution being positioned within said fluid tank;
at least one dispensing gun having an elongated nozzle with a distal end, said distal end of said nozzle having a diameter sufficiently small to fit within the upper opening of most motor vehicle windshield washer fluid reservoirs, said dispensing gun comprising an easily operated manual fluid cut-off control;
support means for supporting said dispensing gun during periods of non-use, said support means being attached to said outside surface of said cabinet;
at least one solenoid positioned within said cabinet and configured so as to have an opened position and a closed position to control flow of said windshield washer solution between said fluid tank and said nozzle;
low pressure transfer means of transporting said windshield washer solution between said solenoid and said nozzle;
a first hose connected between said opening in said fluid tank and said solenoid;
a second hose connected between said solenoid and said dispensing gun;
a step-down transformer positioned within said cabinet;
a power cord and plug having a distal end and a proximal end, said distal end being configured and dimensioned for connection to a remote power source, and said proximal end being connected through said cabinet to said transformer;
a quantity of electrical wiring;
metering means positioned within said cabinet and electrically connected with said wiring to said transformer, said metering means also being configured for use in establishing dispensing period during which each of said metered quantities of said windshield washer solution will be transferred to said dispensing gun and electrically connected with said wiring to said solenoid;
payment accepting means attached to said cabinet and electrically connected with said wiring to both said metering means and to said transformer; and
at least one on-off light electrically connected with said wiring to said metering means which when lit indicates to a system operator that said solenoid is in said opened position to allow flow of said windshield washer solution to said dispensing gun so that when a system operator places sufficient payment within said payment accepting means, said solenoid will be opened and said system operator can then manipulate said cut-off control on said dispensing gun to allow a selected amount of said metered quantity of said windshield washer solution to be neatly and gently transferred through said solenoid under low pressure and directly into a motor vehicle windshield washer fluid reservoir without spillage, without use of a funnel, and without overfill. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
- a fluid tank positioned within said cabinet, said fluid tank having at least one opening therethrough;
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12. A dispensing system for neatly transferring a metered quantity of windshield washer solution to a motor vehicle reservoir without spillage and without use of a funnel, said system comprising a cabinet made from strong tamper-resistant materials;
- a fluid tank positioned within said cabinet, said fluid tank having at least one opening therethrough;
an amount of said windshield washer solution positioned within said fluid tank, said amount being greater than one of said metered quantities;
a plurality of pumps positioned within said cabinet;
a plurality of first hoses, one of said first hoses being connected between said opening in said fluid tank and each of said pumps;
an air compressor;
a plurality of solenoids positioned within said cabinet;
a plurality of second hoses, one of said second hoses being connected between said air compressor and each of said solenoids;
a plurality of low pressure regulators positioned within said cabinet;
a plurality of connectors, one of said connectors being connected between each of said solenoids and one of said low pressure regulators;
a plurality of third hoses, one of said third hoses being connected between each of said low pressure regulators and one of said pumps;
a quantity of electrical wiring;
a plurality of step-down transformers positioned within said cabinet, each of said transformers being electrically connected with said wiring to a different one of said solenoids;
a plurality of dispensing guns each having an elongated nozzle with a distal end, each of said distal ends having a diameter sufficiently small to fit within the opening of most motor vehicle windshield washer fluid reservoirs;
a plurality of fourth hoses, one of said fourth hoses being connected between each of said pumps and one of said dispensing guns;
support means configured for supporting each of said dispensing guns during periods of non-use, said support means attached to said cabinet;
a plurality of timers for establishing a dispensing period during which each of said metered quantities of said windshield washer solution will be dispensed from said nozzles, each of said timers being electrically connected with said wiring to a different one of said solenoids, each of said timers also being electrically connected with said wiring to one of said transformers;
a plurality of on-off lights, each of said on-off lights being electrically connected with said wiring to one of said timers and to one of said transformers which when lit indicates to a system operator that the one of said solenoids connected to said lit on-off light is in an opened position to allow flow of said windshield washer solution through the one of said nozzles connected thereto;
a plurality of payment accepting means, each of said payment accepting means being electrically connected with said wiring to both one of said transformers and one of said timers; and
a power cord and plug having a distal end and a proximal end, said distal end of said power cord and plug being configured and dimensioned for connection to a remote power source, said proximal end of said power cord and plug being connected through said cabinet to said air compressor and each of said step-down transformers so that a system operator'"'"'s placement of sufficient payment within said payment accepting means will cause the one of said solenoids connected to said payment accepting means receiving said payment to be placed in said opened position and allow flow of air from said air compressor through said low pressure regulator and into said pump, said pump will draw windshield washer solution from said fluid tank and send said metered quantity of said windshield washer solution evenly and smoothly into the one of said dispensing guns connected said pump so that said system operator can manipulate an easily operated manual fluid cut-off control on said dispensing gun to allow a selected amount of said metered windshield washer solution to be neatly and gently transferred under low pressure directly into a selected motor vehicle windshield washer fluid reservoir without spillage, without use of a funnel, and without overfill. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
- a fluid tank positioned within said cabinet, said fluid tank having at least one opening therethrough;
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15. A method for metered dispensing of windshield washer solution, said method comprising the steps of providing a cabinet, a fluid tank, a power source, a plurality of step-down transformers, a plurality of payment acceptors, a plurality of on-off lights, a plurality of timers, a plurality of solenoids, a quantity of windshield washer solution, a plurality of hoses, a quantity of electrical wiring, a power cord and plug, and a plurality of dispensing guns each with an elongated nozzle and an easily operated fluid cut-off control;
- using said electrical wiring to connect a first one of said transformers to a first one of said payment acceptors, a first one of said timers, and a first one of solid solenoid;
using said electrical wiring to connect a first one of said on-off lights to a first one of said timers;
placing said first transformer, said first timer, said first on-off light, and said first payment acceptor within said cabinet;
also placing said fluid tank into an elevated position within said cabinet;
using a first one of said hoses to connect said first solenoid to said fluid tank and place said first solenoid in fluid communication with said fluid tank;
using a second one of said hoses to connect first solenoid to a first one of said dispensing guns;
adjusting said first timer to define a dispensing period within which said first dispensing gun is able to transfer a desired amount of said windshield washer solution;
using said power cord and plug to connect said power source to said first step-down transformer so that an operator'"'"'s placement of a predetermined amount of payment into said first payment acceptor will activate said first timer and illuminate said first on-off light, said first timer will open said first solenoid for said dispensing period, said first solenoid will allow flow of said metered quantity of said windshield washer solution through said first dispensing gun, said flow being controllable by said operator who can promptly stop said flow by manipulation of said cut-off control on said dispensing gun; and
the steps of connecting the remaining ones of said plurality of transformers, said plurality of timers, said plurality of payment acceptors, said plurality of solenoids, and said plurality of hoses in a like manner to said connection of said first transformer, said first timer, said first payment acceptor, said first solenoid, and said first and second hoses to provide simultaneous metered dispensing of said windshield washer solution to more than one system operator. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
- using said electrical wiring to connect a first one of said transformers to a first one of said payment acceptors, a first one of said timers, and a first one of solid solenoid;
Specification