Fluid nozzle and adapter for existing fluid nozzles

Abstract

A fluid dispensing nozzle includes an elongated body having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, a valve having an open position and a closed position. The valve has first and second ports, the first and second ports are in fluid communication within the valve in the open position and not in fluid communication in the closed position. The first port is in fluid communication with the inlet and the second port is in fluid communication with the outlet. The apparatus includes structure for operating the nozzle that includes a pivotally mounted lever having a handle portion which is movable toward and away from the outlet. Movement of the handle portion toward the outlet increases the rate of fluid flow by increasing the opening of the valve, whereby a handicapped user may use arm or torso movement to both urge the nozzle toward a vehicle being refueled as well as change the rate of fluid flow.

1 . A fluid dispensing nozzle which comprises: 
 an elongated body having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;    a valve having an open position and a closed position, said valve having first and second ports, said first and second ports being in fluid communication within said valve in said open position and not in fluid communication in said closed position;    said first port being in fluid communication with said inlet and said second port being in fluid communication with said outlet;    said nozzle further including a pivot mounting carried on said body;    a first lever pivotally mounted on said pivot mounting, said first lever being coupled to said valve whereby pivotal movement of said first lever causes said valve to move between said open and said closed positions; and    a second lever pivotally mounted on said body, said second lever engaging said first lever whereby pivotal movement of said second lever results in pivotal movement of said first lever about a first axis to move said valve to said open position.    
   
   
       2 . The fluid dispensing nozzle as described in  claim 1  wherein: 
 said second lever is generally L-shaped.    
   
   
       3 . The fluid dispensing nozzle as described in  claim 2  wherein: 
 said second lever comprises first and second arms intersecting with an included angle of approximately 90° and said second lever is mounted for pivotal movement proximate to the intersection of said first and second arms.    
   
   
       4 . The fluid dispensing nozzle as described in  claim 3  wherein: 
 said second lever is pivotally movable toward and away from said fluid outlet.    
   
   
       5 . The fluid dispensing nozzle as describing  claim 4  wherein: 
 pivotal movement of said second lever toward said fluid outlet causes an engagement of said second lever with said first lever which causes opening of said valve.    
   
   
       6 . The fluid delivery nozzle as described in  claim 3  wherein: 
 said second lever is mounted for pivotal movement about a second axis, said second axis being parallel to said first axis.    
   
   
       7 . The fluid delivery nozzle as described in  claim 6  wherein: 
 said elongated body has an external surface that is generally a cylindrical section.    
   
   
       8 . The fluid delivery nozzle as described in  claim 7  wherein: 
 said second lever has a generally cylindrical section shaped first arm.    
   
   
       9 . The fluid delivery nozzle as described in claim in each wherein said surface on said elongated body that is generally a cylindrical section nests with said generally cylindrical section shaped surface first arm.  
   
   
       10 . The fluid delivery nozzle as describing  claim 1  wherein: 
 said second lever has a roller mounted thereon that is dimensioned and configured for engagement we said first lever.    
   
   
       11 . An attachment for cooperation with an associated fluid dispensing nozzle having an elongated body having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, a valve having an open position and a closed position and first and second ports, the first and second ports being in fluid communication within the valve in the open position and not in fluid communication in said closed position, the first port being in fluid communication with the inlet and second port being in fluid communication with said outlet, the nozzle further including a pivot mounting carried on said body, and a first lever pivotally mounted on said pivot mounting, the first lever being coupled to the valve whereby pivotal movement of the first lever causes the valve to move between said open and said closed positions wherein the improvement comprises: 
 means for mounting on the elongated body; and    a second lever pivotally mounted on said means for mounting, said second lever being dimensioned and configured for engaging said first lever whereby pivotal movement of said second lever results in pivotal movement of said first lever about a first axis to move said valve to an open position.    
   
   
       12 . The attachment for cooperation with a fluid dispensing nozzle as described in  claim 11  wherein: 
 said second lever is generally L-shaped.    
   
   
       13 . The attachment for cooperation with a fluid dispensing nozzle as described in  claim 12  wherein: 
 said second lever comprises first and second arms intersecting with an included angle of approximately 90° and said second lever is mounted for pivotal movement proximate to the intersection of said first and second arms.    
   
   
       14 . The attachment for cooperation with an fluid dispensing nozzle as described in  claim 13  wherein: 
 said second lever is pivotally movable toward and away from said fluid outlet.    
   
   
       15 . The attachment for cooperation with a fluid dispensing nozzle as described in  claim 14  wherein: 
 pivotal movement of said second lever toward said fluid outlet causes an engagement of said second lever with said first lever which causes opening of said valve.    
   
   
       16 . The attachment for cooperation with a fluid delivery nozzle as described in  claim 13  wherein: 
 said second lever is mounted for pivotal movement about a second axis, said second axis being parallel to said first axis.    
   
   
       17 . The attachment for cooperation with a fluid delivery nozzle as described in  claim 16  wherein: 
 said elongated body has an external surface that is generally a cylindrical section.    
   
   
       18 . The attachment for cooperation with a fluid delivery nozzle as described in  claim 17  wherein: 
 said second lever has a generally cylindrical section shaped first arm.    
   
   
       19 . The attachment for cooperation with a fluid delivery nozzle as described in claim in each wherein said surface on said elongated body that is generally a cylindrical section nests with said generally cylindrical section shaped surface first arm.  
   
   
       20 . The attachment for cooperation with a fluid delivery nozzle as described in  claim 11  wherein: 
 said second lever has a roller mounted thereon that is dimensioned and configured for engagement we said first lever.    
   
   
       21 . A fluid dispensing nozzle which comprises: 
 an elongated body having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;    a valve having an open position and a closed position, said valve having first and second ports, said first and second ports being in fluid communication within said valve in said open position and not in fluid communication in said closed position;    said first port being in fluid communication with said inlet and said second port being in fluid communication with said outlet;    means for operating said nozzle including a pivotally mounted lever having a handle portion which is movable toward and away from said outlet, movement of said handle portion toward said outlet increasing the rate of fluid flow by increasing the opening of said valve, whereby a handicapped user may use arm or torso movement to both urge the nozzle toward a vehicle being refueled as well has changed the rate of fluid flow.    
   
   
       22 . An attachment for a fluid dispensing nozzle having an elongated body having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, a valve having an open position and a closed position, the valve having first and second ports, the first and second ports being in fluid communication within the valve in the open position and not in fluid communication in the closed position, the first port being in fluid communication with the inlet and the second port being in fluid communication with the outlet wherein the improvement comprises: 
 means for mounting an attachment on the elongated body; and    means for operating said nozzle including a pivotally mounted lever having a handle portion which is movable toward and away from said outlet, movement of said handle portion toward said outlet increasing the rate of fluid flow by increasing the opening of said valve, whereby a handicapped user may use arm or torso movement to both urge the nozzle toward a vehicle being refueled as well has changed the rate of fluid flow.