Dispensing – Volume or rate of flow metering
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-13
2001-01-16
Bomberg, Kenneth (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
Volume or rate of flow metering
C222S074000, C222S173000, C312S257100, C312S205000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06173865
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention.
The present invention relates to a fuel dispenser and, in particular, a fuel dispenser with telescoping frame.
2. Description of the Related Art.
Many contemporary fuel dispensers contain a base unit with two upright column portions attached to the left and right side of the base unit and extending upward from the base. A raceway or valance portion is then attached to the top of the uprights, spanning the distance between the two upright column portions. Traditionally, the frame (the two uprights and valance portion) are assembled together for shipment as a single unit.
Many freight forwarders impose height restrictions on the size of the package a carrier will ship. For example, in Asia, the height limit is 14 inches shorter than that of the United States. With this height restriction in mind, fuel dispenser manufacturers will manufacture and design fuel dispensers which are shorter to accommodate the height restriction when shipping their fuel dispenser to foreign countries.
One problem in the art is that it is not possible to manufacture and ship a single fuel dispenser model for both domestic and foreign use. Due to some countries' shipping height restrictions, a different model with a lower height is manufactured for distribution in countries with such height restrictions. Having to manufacture, design, and inventory multiple models having different heights increases the cost of manufacturing fuel dispensers.
What is needed in the art is a fuel dispenser for domestic and foreign distribution which accommodates a shipping height limitation while permitting a maximum height installation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a fuel dispenser with telescoping frame. The telescoping frame contains a lower column portion attached to a base. An upper column portion is operatively affixed to the lower column portion for movement of the upper column portion relative to the lower column portion. Raising and lowering the upper column portion relative to the base permits a fuel dispenser to telescope from a low telescoping position to a high telescoping position.
During shipment, the fuel dispenser can be in its low telescoping or shipment configuration. In its shipment configuration, the upper column portion is in its lowest position. The upper column portion can be telescoped from the shipment confirmation to a high telescoping or an installed confirmation by raising the upper column portion relative to the lower column portion. Depending upon the height desired, the upper column portion may be raised or lowered as desired for ones particular installation.
The invention, in one form thereof, is a fuel dispenser with telescoping frame. The fuel dispenser contains a base and a lower column portion affixed to the base. An upper column portion is operatively affixed to the lower column portion for movement of said upper column portion relative to said lower column portion. In a further embodiment, the fuel dispenser contains a second upper column portion and a valance spanning between the upper column portions.
The invention, in another embodiment thereof, is a fuel dispenser with telescoping frame. The fuel dispenser contains a base and a pair of lower column portions. The pair of lower column portions are affixed to the base. The pair of upper column portions are operatively affixed to the pair of lower column portions for movement of the upper column portions relative to the lower column portions. A valance spans between the pair of upper column portions. The pair of upper column portions are adapted for movement toward and away from base
12
. A hose is attached to one of one pair of upper column portions and the valance.
One advantage of the present invention is that a single model may be manufactured for both domestic and foreign distribution. The fuel dispenser of the present invention may be shipped in a shipment or lower telescoping configuration. When in its shipment configuration, the fuel dispenser has a dimension compliant with both domestic and foreign shipping restrictions. At the installation site, the fuel dispenser can be transformed from its shipping configuration to its installed configuration. Therefore, a single model may be manufactured for both domestic and foreign distribution.
Another advantage of the present invention is that a smaller dimensioned dispenser can be shipped. The decrease in dimension, and in particular, height of the present invention over the prior art, permits a smaller dimensioned dispenser to be shipped. As a result of the smaller shipping size, there the cost savings attributed to the decrease in size as compared with traditional full-height fuel dispensers.
Another advantage of the present invention is that a single person can transform the present invention from its shipment configuration to its installed configuration.
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Bomberg Kenneth
Knuth Randall J.
Tokheim Corporation
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