Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Specific application – apparatus or process – Article handling
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-14
2001-10-09
Ellis, Christopher P. (Department: 3651)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Specific application, apparatus or process
Article handling
C700S237000, C700S244000, C700S236000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06301523
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to pumping systems and methods for dispensing asphalt sealant, and more particularly relates to pumping systems and methods for dispensing asphalt sealant to the individual purchasers of asphalt sealant from an asphalt sealant supplier.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Local asphalt sealant distributors typically have a large volume tank for holding asphalt sealant for resale to individual asphalt maintenance service companies. To distribute the asphalt sealant to the individual asphalt maintenance service companies, the tank is associated with a hydraulically driven asphalt sealant pump (due to the viscous nature of the asphalt sealant), a hydraulic pump and reservoir for driving the asphalt sealant pump, a mechanical meter for indicating the amount of asphalt sealant pumped and a hose for temporary connection to the smaller tank of the maintenance distributor vehicle. Local asphalt sealant distributors also typically sell other supplies to individual asphalt maintenance service companies such as paint for asphalt striping, crack fillers, brooms, blowers and the like.
Because many commercial parking lots, driveways and thoroughfares are typically subject to heavy traffic and use during normal business hours, it is often desirable to conduct maintenance on the asphalt surfaces of such lots and thoroughfares during non-business hours, such as during evenings, nights or weekends. Such maintenance includes coating the asphalt surface with a coat of asphalt sealant. Asphalt sealant is a water based, highly viscous substance that fills the small cracks and acts as a binder material to seal the asphalt surface. Other activities may also be performed during such maintenance such as filling cracks with crack fillers, and striping the parking spaces with paint. Although it is desirable to conduct maintenance on commercial lots and thoroughfares during non-business hours, it is also often desirable to conduct asphalt maintenance on residential and other smaller commercial lots during normal business hours.
In view of the forgoing, it will readily be appreciated by those in the asphalt sealant and asphalt maintenance industry that local asphalt suppliers have long had and continue to have the difficulty of supplying asphalt sealant during both business hours and non-business hours, in order to stay competitive. Although an asphalt maintenance service company can typically purchase a sufficient amount of crack fillers and paint striping materials (and other supplies such as brooms and blowers), it may not be able to purchase a sufficient amount of asphalt sealant (which is carried in the tank of an asphalt distributor vehicle or trailer) for a particular work job. To meet the needs and maintain customer loyalty, local asphalt sealant distributors have had the burden of supplying asphalt sealant during non-business hours, even though such operations are not typically “open” during non-business hours. Such service during non-business hours is necessary to maintain customer loyalty. This is particularly difficult for smaller local asphalt sealant distributor operations. What this often means is that the actual owner of a local asphalt sealant supplier company has the burden of being telephoned on weekends, evenings, nights and holidays, and then the additional burden of meeting the representative of the asphalt maintenance service company so that asphalt sealant can be dispensed. In light of the foregoing there has been a long existing problem in the asphalt sealant and asphalt maintenance industry dealing with how to service customers during non-business hours.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a system and method for asphalt sealant supplier companies to better and more easily service their customers during non-business hours.
It is a further object of the present invention to increase the availability of asphalt sealant to asphalt maintenance service companies for their usage during non-business hours such as during evenings, nights and weekends.
It is another object of the present invention to achieve these objects while retaining use of the existing equipment already owned by asphalt sealant supplier companies.
In accordance with these and other objectives, the present invention is directed towards a novel apparatus for dispensing asphalt sealant during non-business hours. The apparatus includes more conventional components including a tank containing asphalt sealant; an asphalt sealant pump fluidically connected to the tank adapted to pump asphalt sealant from the tank; and a hydraulic actuating pump having an electrical input and a hydraulic output for driving the asphalt sealant pump. An electromechanical meter is also provided to indicate the amount of asphalt sealant pumped from the tank. To provide for access during non-business hours, the apparatus also includes an electronic user access interface having a user input adapted to identify a customer of the business from a plurality of customers. The user access interface controls the electrical input to the hydraulic actuating pump, allowing pumping of asphalt sealant when a customer is identified and preventing pumping of asphalt sealant when a customer is not identified. A recording device is also provided that is responsive to the meter and adapted to record the amount of asphalt sealant pumped and to whom it was sold.
In addition to being used during non-business hours, the system can also be used during normal business hours. It is an advantage of the invention that existing suppliers can keep track of where or to whom every gallon of sealer is sold during normal business hours using the novel system. This invention also cuts down on employee theft if occurring by recording automatically the amount sold to individual purchasers.
It is an aspect of the invention that a security enclosure is provided to prevent access to certain components during non-business hours to prevent tampering, but allowing access to the asphalt sealant transfer hose via an opening in the security enclosure. The security enclosure securely encloses the meter, the hydraulic actuating pump and the asphalt sealant pump when in a closed position and allows access to the meter, the hydraulic actuating pump and the asphalt sealant pump when in an open position.
It is a feature of the present invention that a second meter readout is provided outside of the security enclosure so that the customer can determine how much asphalt sealant has been pumped during usage of the system during non-business hours.
The present invention is also directed at a novel method of dispensing asphalt sealant from a tank during non-business hours of a business without a representative of said business being present. The method comprises electronically identifying a customer from a plurality of customers. Once a customer is electronically identified, the system provides access to an asphalt sealant pump. The customer is then allowed to pump asphalt sealant from the tank. The amount of asphalt pumped by the customer is then recorded.
Other objectives and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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pat
Butler Michael E
Ellis Christopher P.
Leydig , Voit & Mayer, Ltd.
LGM, Inc.
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