Hand sanitizer device for fuel pump dispenser

• US 8,225,823 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2009
• Issued: 07/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daniel J. Lin
• Original Assignee: Daniel J. Lin
• Inventors: Lin, Daniel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huson, Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): NIESZ, JASON KAROL
• Application Number:
  US12/582,882
• Publication Number:
  US 20110088809A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,007 Days
• Field of Search: 141/98, 141/360
• US Class Current: 141/98
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery

Abstract

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

Claims

1. A hand sanitizer device comprising:

a compartment embedded into a fuel pump dispenser; and

a hand sanitizer dispenser in the compartment space, wherein the compartment comprises an opening into a recessed area of the fuel pump dispenser and a pane covering the opening.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the pane is transparent and retractable upon an activation of the hand sanitizer dispenser by a computer system of the fuel pump dispenser.

3. The device of claim 2, 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.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting of a motion sensor and a infrared sensor.

5. A hand sanitizer device comprising:

a compartment embedded into a fuel pump dispenser; and

a hand sanitizer dispenser in the compartment space, 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.

6. The device of claim 5, 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.

7. The device of claim 5, 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.

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 compartment comprising a hand sanitizer dispenser coupled to the computer system, wherein the hand sanitizer compartment comprises an opening into a recessed area and a pane covering the opening.

9. The fuel pump dispenser of claim 8, wherein the pane is transparent and retractable upon an activation of the hand sanitizer dispenser by the computer system.

10. The fuel pump dispenser of claim 9, wherein the compartment 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.

11. 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 compartment comprising a hand sanitizer dispenser coupled to the computer system, 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 and activate the hand sanitizer dispenser in response to the receipt of the activation signal.

12. The fuel pump dispenser of claim 11, wherein the computer system is configured to initiate a predetermined time interval and the activation circuit is further configured to receive a deactivation signal from the computer system upon expiration of the predetermined time interval and deactivate the hand sanitizer dispenser in response to receipt of the deactivation signal.

13. 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 compartment comprising a hand sanitizer dispenser coupled to the computer system, wherein the computer system is configured to transmit a payment transaction relating to access to the hand sanitizer dispenser to an in-store controller.

14. A method performed by a circuit of a hand sanitizer dispenser embedded in 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;

dispensing a portion of sanitizer product upon recognizing the presence of a hand under the hand sanitizer dispenser;

sensing removal of the hand from under the hand sanitizer dispenser; and

deactivating the dispensing capability of the hand sanitizer dispenser.