Fuel dispensing device equipped with a sound and/or video system

• US 6,957,673 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2003
• Issued: 10/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Advanced Information Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: Advanced Information Systems, LLC
• Inventors: Lilienfeld, Robert, Mishler, Timothy, McKinley, Mark J., Ambrose, Alan S., Ferguson, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Douglas, Steven O.
• Application Number:
  US10/624,180
• Publication Number:
  US 20040194850A1
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 141/98, 141/392, 141/94
• US Class Current: 141/94
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/425 including components powered by electricity or light
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 25/00 Audible advertising sound recording or reproducing per se G11B; public address systems H04R27/00

Abstract

A fuel dispensing nozzle and boot therefor that includes a sound system and/or video system which contains prerecorded messages for playback during refueling by a user of the fuel dispensing nozzle. The sound system and/or video system includes a speaker for playback of audio messages. A switch is also included to initiate the playback of messages. The switch can activate the system when the nozzle is inverted to pump fuel or can activate the system in response to squeezing of the handle actuator used to control fuel flow through the nozzle.

Claims

1. A boot for a fuel dispensing nozzle, comprising:

a boot adapted to fit over at least a portion of a fuel dispensing nozzle; and

a sound system mounted in said boot;

wherein said sound system includes a speaker and a playback device coupled to said speaker.

2. A boot as defined in claim 1, wherein said playback device includes a printed circuit that contains an integrated circuit having recorded messages contained thereon for audible playback through said speaker.

3. A boot as defined in claim 2, wherein said integrated circuit comprises a record/playback integrated circuit that can record received audio messages for later playback through said speaker.

4. A boot as defined in claim 3, wherein said sound system includes an antenna coupled to said integrated circuit, wherein wireless messages received via said antenna can be stored on said integrated circuit for later playback through said speaker.

5. A boot as defined in claim 1, wherein said sound system includes one or more batteries for operating said playback device and said speaker.

6. A boot an defined in claim 1, further comprising a switch for activating said sound system.

7. A boot as defined in claim 6, wherein said boot is mounted on a fuel dispensing nozzle and wherein said switch activates said sound system as a result of inverting the fuel dispensing nozzle to dispense fuel from the nozzle.

8. A boot as defined in claim 6, wherein, once activated by said switch, said sound system plays one or more audio messages and then becomes deactive.

9. A boot as defined in claim 6, wherein said sound system is housed inside an enclosed cavity within said boot.

10. A fuel dispensing nozzle, comprising:

a housing having a fluid flow passage;

a spout attached to said housing to receive fluid flowing through said passage;

a valve mounted in said housing to control the flow of fluid through said passage;

an actuator coupled to said valve for use in actuating said valve; and

a sound system attached to said housing;

wherein said sound system includes a speaker and a playback device coupled to said speaker.

11. A fuel dispensing nozzle as defined in claim 10, wherein said playback device includes a printed circuit that contains an integrated circuit having recorded messages contained thereon for audible playback through said speaker.

12. A fuel dispensing nozzle as defined in claim 11, wherein said integrated circuit comprises a record/playback integrated circuit that can record received audio messages for later playback through said speaker.

13. A fuel dispensing nozzle as defined in claim 12, wherein said sound system includes an antenna coupled to said integrated circuit, wherein wireless messages received via said antenna can be stored on said integrated circuit for later playback through said speaker.

14. A fuel dispensing nozzle as defined in claim 10, wherein said sound system includes one or more batteries for operating said playback device and said speaker.

15. A fuel dispensing nozzle as defined in claim 10, further comprising a switch for activating said sound system.

16. A fuel dispensing nozzle as defined in claim 15, wherein said switch activates said sound system as a result of inverting the fuel dispensing nozzle to dispense fuel from the nozzle.

17. A fuel dispensing nozzle as defined in claim 15, wherein said actuator is coupled to said switch such that said switch activates said sound system when the actuator is operated to control fluid flow via said valve.

18. A fuel dispensing nozzle as defined in claim 15, wherein, once activated by said switch, said sound system plays one or more audio messages and then becomes deactive.

19. A fuel dispensing nozzle as defined in claim 15, wherein said sound system is located in an enclosed cavity within said housing.

20. A boot for a fuel dispensing nozzle, comprising:

a boot adapted to fit over at least a portion of a fuel dispensing nozzle; and

a video system mounted in said boot.

21. A fuel dispensing nozzle, comprising:

a housing having a fluid flow passage;

a spout attached to said housing to receive fluid flowing through said passage;

a valve mounted in said housing to control the flow of fluid through said passage;

an actuator coupled to said valve for use in actuating said valve; and

a video system attached to said housing.