Automatic gas pump assistance device
AssigneeJ&J Engineering
InventorsMichael H. Jenkins, Kyle E. Jones
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An automatic gas pump assistance device includes a housing containing electronic components, including batteries, a servo motor, a PCB board, a charging port, an on-off switch, and a gearset. The device also includes a first button acting as a lever to actuate a smaller, second button inside the housing. A cam is driven by the servo motor via the gearset, engaging with the gas pump when actuated. The device also includes a back cover restricting the device's rotation about an axle connected to the cam, thus ensuring attachment to the gas pump without slipping. The device further includes a PCB board utilizing a microcontroller to command the servo motor to switch between preset positions based on the button state.
Claims20
A fuel pump assistance device comprising:
- a housing containing electronic components and a gear system;
- a housing cover attached to the housing;
- a first button attached to the housing cover;
- a second button positioned inside the housing cover and actuated by the first button;
- a cam operatively connected to the gear system;
- a servo motor controlled by a printed circuit board (PCB) and configured to rotate the cam via the gear system between a resting position and an engaged position in response to actuation of the second button;
- and
- a back cover operatively connected to the housing and configured to restrict rotation of the device about an axle connected to the cam.
A system for assisting with pumping fuel, the system comprising:
- a fuel pump assistance device configured to be removably attached to a gas pump handle having a squeeze lever and a handle frame, the fuel pump assistance device comprising:
- housing containing electronic components;
- a housing cover attached to the housing;
- a button mechanism comprising a first button on an exterior of the housing cover and a second button positioned inside the housing cover and actuated by the first button;
- a rotatable cam driven by a servo motor via a gear system, the cam configured to apply force to the squeeze lever of the gas pump handle when rotated to an engaged position;
- and
- a microcontroller configured to control rotation of the cam between a resting position and the engaged position in response to actuation of the button mechanism.
An automated method for pumping fuel, the method comprising:
- positioning a fuel pump assistance device on a gas pump handle such that a cam of the fuel pump assistance device is located between a squeeze lever and a handle frame of the gas pump handle;
- actuating a first button of the fuel pump assistance device to toggle a second button positioned inside the fuel pump assistance device;
- rotating the cam from a resting position to an engaged position via a servo motor and gear system in response to the actuation of the second button, wherein the rotation of the cam applies a force to the squeeze lever to enable fuel flow;
- and
- maintaining the cam in the engaged position until the first button is actuated again to return the cam to the resting position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.