US3451445A

US3451445A - Gasoline spillage catcher

Info

Publication number: US3451445A
Application number: US687234A
Authority: US
Inventors: Leo W Sippola
Original assignee: LEO W SIPPOLA
Current assignee: LEO W SIPPOLA
Priority date: 1967-12-01
Filing date: 1967-12-01
Publication date: 1969-06-24
Anticipated expiration: 1986-06-24

Description

June 24, 1969 w. SIPPOLA 3,451,445

GASOLINE SPILLAGE CATCHEH Filed Dec. 1, 1967 INVENTOR.

Lea mswala United States Patent US. Cl. 141-285 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A spongy gasoline spillage catcher having an axial opening therethrough for receiving a gasoline pump nozzle and adapted to be placed in substantially liquid-tight communication with the spout of a vehicle-mounted gasoline tank, whereby any gasoline that backs up through the spout as the tank is being filled by the nozzle will be absorbed by the catcher, preventing the gasoline from damaging the finish of the vehicle.

The use of gasoline pumps and the nozzles thereof to fill the gasoline tanks of vehicles, such as automobiles, is old in the art. At times, when the nozzle operator attempts to fill the gasoline tank too fast, the displacement of air within the tank by the inrushing gasoline causes air pressure to build up within the tank. The air pressure forces the gasoline back out through the tank spout and over the fender or bumper of the vehicle, and the gasoline discolors and damages the finish thereof. United States Patent 3,159,409 issued Dec. 1, 1964 to R. V. Koehler entitled, Fuel Tank Filler Tube and Drain shows one possible solution to this problem.

The present invention provides a gasoline spillage catcher made of spongy material, having an opening therethrough for receiving the pump nozzle, and adapted to be placed in substantially liquid-tight communication with the tank spout. A catcher thereby is provided to absorb any gasoline which otherwise would be forced out of the spout onto the vehicles finish while at the same time permitting the displaced air to pass from the tank spout through the catcher to the atmosphere.

The best mode presently contemplated of carrying out the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side sectional view of a gasoline spillage catcher embodying the present invention, with the pump nozzle inserted in one end of the opening therethrough and with the tank spout inserted in the other end of the opening.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the catcher shown in FIGURE I, removed from the pump nozzle and the tank spout.

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal elevation of a modified form of catcher embodying the present invention, shown partly broken away.

The gasoline spillage catcher shown in FIGURE 1 has an axial opening therethrough comprising an outer orifice 11, which has a diameter which is larger than the diameter of the open end of the spout 12 of a vehiclemounted gasoline tank 13 and which is adapted to receive the open end of the spout 12 (thereby placing the catcher 10 in substantially liquid-tight communication with the spout 12); and an inner orifice 14, which has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the outer orifice 11, and which is adapted to receive a gasoline pump nozzle 15.

Although it is contemplated that the present invention encompass gasoline spillage catchers having other external shapes (such as catchers which are cylindrical),

7 it is preferred that the gasoline spillage catcher 10 be substantially in the shape of a frustum of a cone with the lower base or large diameter end thereof adjacent the inner orifice 14 of the axial opening, in order that the pump operator readily may insert the catcher 10 through a vehicle fender or bumper opening or the like to place the catcher 10 in substantially liquid-tight communication with the spout 12.

In use, the inner orifice 11 of the axial opening of the catcher 10 is placed over the open end of the spout 12 of gasoline tank 13 so that the spout 12 is received in the inner orifice 11, until the open end of the spout 12 abuts a shoulder formed by the junction within the catcher 10 of the inner orifice 11 with the outer orifice 14 of the opening, The abutting of the open end of the spout 12 with the shoulder precludes any possibility that gasoline may be freely urged backward through the open end of the spout 12 and soil the finish of the vehicle. The catcher 10 is fabricated from a spongy material (such as foam plastic or foam rubber), which is absorbent (in order to catch the backwardly urged gasoline and absorb and hold it) and yet is sufiiciently porous to permit the air in the tank 13, which is displaced by gasoline during the course of the filling of the tank 13, to escape from the spout 12 and through the catcher 10 to the atmosphere, thereby preventing the formation of back pressure in the tank 13 which would slow the rate of filling thereof.

A modified form of gasoline spillage catcher 16 is illustrated in FIGURE 3 and has an axial opening 17 therethrough, of substantially uniform diameter, for receiving only a pump nozzle. The body of the catcher 16 also is in the shape of a frustum of a cone. However, the diameter of the upper base or small diameter end of the catcher 16 is smaller, and the diameter of the lower base or larger diameter end is larger, than the diameter of the gasoline tank spout. Such a shape permits the nozzle operator to place the catcher 16 in substantially liquidtight communication with the tanks spout by inserting the small diameter end of the catcher 16 into the gasoline tank spout until the catcher 16, because of its frustum-like external shape, completely fills the open end of the spout and acts somewhat as an air permeable, liquid gasoline absorbing stopper.

I claim:

1. A liquid dispensing assembly for filling a liquid storag e tank having a filling spout having an open end, comprising:

a liquid dispensing nozzle having a liquid discharge end adapted for insertion into the open end of the filling spout, the outer dimensions of the liquid discharge end of the dispensing nozzle being less than the inner dimensions of the open end of the filling spout, and

a spillage catcher member fabricated from an air permeable, liquid absorbing material, the catcher member having an inner end, an outer end, and an axial opening extending therethrough, and adapted to surround the liquid discharge end of the nozzle with the outer end of the catcher member closing the opening defined between the inside of the filling spout of the liquid storage tank and the outside surface of the dispensing nozzle when the liquid discharge end of the nozzle is inserted in the open end of the filling spout, whereby the catcher member prevents liquid entrained in air being displaced from the tank during filling from splashing out of the filling spout while simultaneously allowing the air being displaced by the liquid entering the tank during filling to escape out of the spout through the catcher member to the atmosphere.

2. The liquid dispensing assembly of claim 1 in which the axial opening through the catcher member includes:

an outer orifice having a diameter larger than the diam- 4 eter of the open end of the filling spout to receive the open end of the spout therein, and References Cited an inner orifice opposite the outer orifice and communi- UNITED STATES PATENTS cating therewith, the inner orifice having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the outer orifice to re- 5 3362587 1/1968 Postal 222 108 ceive the liquid discharge end of the dispensing nozzle, with the orifices defining a shoulder at the junc- FOREIGN PATENTS tion thereof to engage the open end of the filling 969,607 5/ 1950 c spout of the liquid storage tank. 1,089,860 /1954 France.

3. The liquid dispensing assembly of claim 1, in which 10 330,769 8/1958 Switzerlani the catcher member defines a frustum of a cone, the diameter of the outer end of the catcher member being smaller WALTER SOBIN= Prlmary Exammerthan the inside diameter of the open end of the filling spout of the liquid storage tank and the outside diameter of the inner end of the catcher member being larger than 15 141392; 222108 the inside diameter of said open end.