Fuel nozzle guard

#This invention relates to devices used with fuel nozzles. In the field of commercial gasoline stations, there is an increased awareness of the dangers of electrostatic discharge around fuel pumps. Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) is often defined as a transfer of electrostatic charge between bodies at different electrostatic potentials caused by direct contact or induced by an electrostatic field. For purposes of this application, ESD refers to a rapid transfer of an electrostatic charge, resulting in a spark sufficient to ignite combustible gases. When ESD occurs around a fuel pump, it can ignite the gasoline vapors and start a fire. These fires may, for example, be caused by a person re-entering his or her vehicle during refueling to get warm, or by containers not being filled on the ground. As a result, different devices and methods have been developed to try to safely discharge static charges around fuel pumps.

#One method of solving the problem of ESD near a fuel dispensing apparatus places static dissipative signs near the pump for consumers. These signs require the consumer to purposely approach and touch the sign to safely discharge any static charges he or she is carrying. However, if the consumer fails to notice or use the sign, the risk of ESD occurring and starting a fire is still present. It is now common to require that a fuel hose connected to the fuel nozzle be grounded. In theory, static charges are safely dissipated through the hose when the consumer contacts the nozzle or fuel hose, before fueling begins. However, in practice the nozzle and fuel hose are typically covered with insulating materials that may prevent safe discharge of the user, and in any event the consumer may take actions, like re-entering the vehicle, which change his or her electrostatic potential after fueling has begun. Unless the user has previously been grounded, contact by the user with the fuel nozzle or other objects may cause a dangerous spark by ESD.

#It is common practice to equip fuel dispensing nozzles with a guard, which is generally a close-fitting elastomeric jacket or cover that is pulled over the nozzle to provide a comfortable handgrip for the nozzle user, and to provide a bumper surface to keep from nicking the finish of vehicles with the nozzle as gasoline is dispensed. The guard is usually formed of a soft plastic material such as vinyl, which may be easily injection molded, or dip molded using a formed mandrel plunged into a vinyl plastisol, wherein the vinyl guard may be then stripped from the mandrel for use on the nozzle. The vinyl compounds used for guards are fairly impervious to gasoline and other contaminants encountered in the field, and may be replaced when damaged.

#In the accompanying drawings which form part of the specification:

#FIG. 1 is a schematic view of fuel dispensing system incorporating a fuel nozzle.

#FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of a fuel nozzle guard suitable for use on the nozzle of FIG. 1.

#Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

#The following detailed description illustrates the invention by way of example and not by way of limitation. The description clearly enables one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives, and uses of the invention, including what is presently believed to be the best mode of carrying out the invention.

#As shown in FIG. 1, a fuel pump system includes a fuel pump 1 operatively connected to a fuel hose 2 for communicating fuel to a fuel dispensing nozzle 30. Conventionally, the hose 2 includes an electrical conductor which electrically grounds the nozzle 30 through the pump 1. The fuel nozzle 30 is covered by one embodiment of a static control fuel nozzle guard 3 of the present invention. The nozzle guard 3 is formed of a static control material and is electrically connected to ground through the fuel nozzle 30 and the fuel hose 2 so that electrostatic charges are safely dissipated through the guard 3 and hose 2 to the ground when the consumer contacts the guard 3 or hose 2.