B65D, G05D, A47J

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for regulating the purchase and dispensing of fuel including liquid and gaseous state fuels.

BACKGOUND

The prior art relevant to the invention provides for refilling of gas containers whose refill quantity is determined and fixed by the supplier, and all gas containers to be filled are accordingly refilled with a predetermined gas quantity. Alternately gas quantity is typically determined by a pressure sensor, which reflects the internal pressure of the container. This enables an operator or apparatus to stop filling the container once a desired pressure level and corresponding quantity is achieved. By example, a 9kg capacity container will be filled until a pressure corresponding to 9kg of gas is achieved. As will be appreciated, the 9kg of gas will provide a different pressure reading in an 18kg gas container. Accordingly, such prior art is unable to accurately accommodate the refilling of varying container sizes under varying temperatures in the absence of careful calibration of filling apparatus. The prior art is particularly unsuitable for accurately filling gas containers to individual end-user determined volumes.

In accordance with the aforementioned prior art - while the predetermined gas refill quantity may be adjusted, the quantity is not regulated on an individual refill basis, nor is non-standard refill quantities determined by the individual end-user. Additionally, the prior art only enables the gas refilling apparatus operator to select the quantity of gas to be refilled but not the value of the gas to be refilled. Other prior art allows for liquid refilling based on liquid value, however the recipient of the liquid is unknown to the refilling apparatus and refilling may occur into an unauthorised container resulting payment of, and illegal refilling of a container. Known prior art does not enable the end-user container to accurately control quantity of liquid being refilled and independently regulate the refilling of the container.

The prior art is unable to accommodate the user selecting the quantity or value of gas to be refilled through a software application, which gas payment and regulation of container refilling is regulated by a container refill apparatus secured to a container.

The inability of the user to purchase fractional amounts of gas is particularly problematic in low-income households, who may not have adequate funds to purchase standard full gas container refills. They may however have a lesser amount of money available to purchase a fractional amount of gas. In such instances, these low-income households are left without the ability to cook with gas until they obtain adequate funds to purchase a full gas container refill. The invention is aimed at alleviating the plight of such low-income households who are only able to purchase fractional amounts of gas.

Of particular relevance to the invention is the refilling of containers due to the ability of the refilling apparatus to detect the unique identity of a wireless communication gas regulation device by other wireless communication devices.

Of particular relevance to the invention is the ability to detect the unique identity of a wireless communication device by other wireless communication devices where the devices are known or affiliated with one another. In this regard, the invention pertains to the use of RFID or wifi sensor identification data associated with RFID or wifi communication devices as a unique device identification means.

In the invention the term fuel may apply to any one of a gas or liquid-state fuel. The invention seeks to provide a suitable fuel regulation device and method of use that at least partially ameliorates the abovementioned disadvantages associated with the prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a method and apparatus for purchasing fractional quantity fuel refills of containers and refilling of fuel containers comprising the steps of

- inputting the quantity of fuel to be filled into an electronic communication device using suitably enabled hardware and a software application, the software application enabling the selection of fuel quantity to be filled;

- after inputting the fuel quantity to be filled - the software application facilitating the electronic communication device communicating with a fuel refilling apparatus to authorise at least one of: the fuel supplying apparatus to dispense a fuel quantity corresponding with the fuel quantity inputted; or a fuel regulation apparatus secured to a fuel receiving container to allow the refilling into the receiving container of a fuel quantity corresponding with the fuel quantity inputted;

- filling the fuel container with the fuel quantity inputted.

Conveniently the software application enables the inputting of a unique identification associated with at least one of a user, a fuel container, or a fuel inflow regulation apparatus, which unique identification is required to refill a container.

Conveniently the refilling apparatus permits the fuel refilling of the fuel container only where the container is affiliated with the unique identification.

Conveniently the unique identification is associated with a fuel inflow regulation apparatus secured onto the fuel container, wherein the regulation apparatus comprises a wireless data broadcasting apparatus which broadcasts the unique identification, wherein the refilling apparatus comprises enabling hardware and software to identify the unique identification broadcast and refill the fuel container of a fuel quantity corresponding to the fuel quantity inputted; alternately, the fuel inflow regulation apparatus allows the refilling of fuel from the refilling apparatus which refill quantity corresponds to the fuel quantity inputted into the electronic communication device. By example, the fuel inflow regulation apparatus broadcasts the unique identification data by RFID or wifi.

Conveniently pre-payment of fuel quantity to be refilled is required prior to a refill authorisation being generated, wherein payment is recorded and processed by at least one of a payment confirmation code being received and automatically processed by the software application; or payment confirmation being inputted manually by an authorised user, who in use, operates the refilling apparatus.

Conveniently the payment confirmation code may be generated through a remote payment porthole, which transmits an authorisation code to a server associated with the software application, thereafter the software application facilitates the processing of a payment confirmation and generating a specific fuel refilling quantity authorisation in accordance with the payment made, in use.

Conveniently the software application enables a user to at least perform one ordering the collection of the fuel container to be refilled from a user designated location, or ordering the refilling of the fuel container at a user designated location; or detecting the number of fuel containers requiring refilling in a geographic area, wherein at least one of the fuel container or the fuel inflow regulation apparatus comprise a gps location apparatus for determining the location of the fuel container to be refilled. In such embodiments, the quantity of fuel to be refilled corresponds with the pre-paid quantity of fuel purchased thereby enabling rapid refilling of containers due to the refilling apparatus or fuel inflow regulator automatically determining refill quantities. In the case of container collections, the unique identification and gps coordinates of the container collection point enables the return delivery of the container with the required refill quantity. As will be appreciated, this enables a plurality of containers which have different quantities of fuel to be delivered to their intended destination.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the fuel inflow regulator comprises a lighting apparatus which lights up upon the container being proximal to the delivery gps coordinates. In doing so, the delivery person is able to easily and swiftly identify the appropriate container for delivery when reaching the delivery gps coordinates.

Conveniently the invention provides a method of scheduling the refilling of the containers, wherein the user inputs the time when collection, alternately refilling of the container needs to take place and at a predetermined geographical location. As will be appreciated, the fuel refilling service provider will be able to more accurately arrange logistics associated with fuel refilling.

Conveniently the software application enables the tracking of at least one of the fuel container collected, alternately the location of the fuel container refill service provider upon the ordering of a fuel refill.

Conveniently the software application enables at least one of monitoring the quantity of gas used, or the level of remaining gas, wherein notifications are transmitted to the user upon predetermined refill fuel container quantities being reached. The refill criteria may be based on fuel remaining in the container or historical fuel usage by the user. Accordingly the refill notification criteria are customisable and assist the user in better planning the refill of their fuel containers. In one embodiment of the invention the refill notification results in a prompt being generated on the user's electronic communication device to purchase a fuel refill. The user is thereafter prompted to select the amount or quantity of fuel to be refilled, whereafter payment is facilitated in accordance with the invention. The user may also have the option of ordering a fuel container refill collection in accordance with the invention. Conveniently the software application enables users to pay for a plurality of fuel container refills. The software application enables users to communicate with one another and transmit a request for fuel prompt, wherein the paying user may accept, decline or modify the payment amount to be donated to the requesting user. Upon paying for the donated fuel value, the requesting user is credited with a corresponding pre-paid fuel value. Accordingly, a user may solicit the assistance of a plurality of users to cumulatively purchase a desired amount of gas. As such, even a small payment donated can be beneficial.

Further features, variants and/or advantages of the invention will emerge from the following non-limiting description of an example of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a method and apparatus for purchasing fractional quantity fuel refills of containers and refilling of fuel containers comprising the steps of

- inputting the quantity of fuel to be filled into an electronic communication device using suitably enabled hardware and a software application, the software application enabling the selection of fuel quantity to be filled;

- after inputting the fuel quantity to be filled - the software application facilitating the electronic communication device communicating with a fuel refilling apparatus to authorise at least one of: the fuel supplying apparatus to dispense a fuel quantity corresponding with the fuel quantity inputted; or a fuel regulation apparatus secured to a fuel receiving container to allow the refilling into the receiving container of a fuel quantity corresponding with the fuel quantity inputted;

- filling the fuel container with the fuel quantity inputted.

In one embodiment of the invention, a fuel inflow regulation apparatus, which is attached to a fuel container, comprises a unique RFID identification. The RFID identification is broadcast and used to uniquely identify a specific fuel container. A fuel inflow valve is integrated with the unique RFID identification. In the event that the fuel inflow regulation apparatus is tampered with - the valve shuts and the container is no longer refillable. Removing of the fuel inflow regulation apparatus would similarly make the container defunct and unusable.

In use, the fuel refilling apparatus comprises enabling hardware and software to identify the unique identification broadcast by the container's fuel inflow regulation apparatus and refill the fuel container of a fuel quantity corresponding to the fuel quantity paid for by the user.

Pre-payment of fuel quantity to be refilled is required prior to a refill authorisation being generated by the software application. Payment for the fuel is recorded and processed by at least one of a payment confirmation code being received and automatically processed by the software application; or payment confirmation being inputted manually by an authorised user, who in use, operates the refilling apparatus. The payment confirmation code is generated through a remote payment porthole, which transmits an authorisation code to a server associated with the software application, thereafter the software application facilitates the processing of a payment confirmation and generates a fuel refilling quantity authorisation in accordance with the payment made, in use. The authorisation is associated with a specific fuel container.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the software application enables a user to order the collection and refilling of their fuel container from a user designated location. In such case refilling may be performed remotely or onsite. Where refilling is performed remotely - the refilled container is returned to the collection location. The fuel inflow regulation apparatus comprises a gps location apparatus for determining the location of the fuel container to be refilled. In accordance with the invention, the quantity of fuel to be purchased is pre-paid. This enables rapid refilling of containers due to the refilling apparatus or fuel inflow regulator automatically determining refill quantities. In the case of container collections, the unique identifier and gps coordinates of the container collection point enables the return delivery of the container with the required refill quantity. As will be appreciated, this enables a plurality of containers which have different quantities of fuel to be delivered to their intended destination. In a further aspect of the invention, the fuel inflow regulator comprises a lighting apparatus which lights up upon the container being proximal to the delivery gps coordinates. In doing so, the delivery person is able to easily and swiftly identify the appropriate container for delivery when reaching the delivery gps coordinates.

The invention further provides a method of scheduling the refilling of the containers, wherein the user inputs the time when collection, alternately refilling of the container needs to take place and at a predetermined geographical location. As will be appreciated, the fuel refilling service provider will be able to more accurately arrange logistics associated with fuel refilling. The software application enables the tracking of at least one of the fuel container collected, alternately the location of the fuel container refill service provider upon the ordering of a fuel refill.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the software application enables the monitoring of the quantity of gas used, and the level of remaining gas. Notifications are transmitted to the user upon predetermined refill fuel container quantities being reached. The refill criteria may be based on fuel remaining in the container or historical fuel usage by the user. Accordingly the refill notification criteria are customisable and assist the user in better planning the refill of their fuel containers. In one embodiment of the invention the refill notification results in a prompt being generated on the user's electronic communication device to purchase a fuel refill. The user is thereafter prompted to select the amount or quantity of fuel to be refilled, whereafter payment is facilitated in accordance with the invention.

To reduce the risk of container theft, the fuel inflow regulator apparatus valve is open or shut by an authentication notification being sent to the apparatus. The notification may be in the form of a PIN inputted into the software application user interface or proximity to an authenticating device such as a RFID tag which is used to authenticate the user and enable use of the fuel container. By example, where a thief steals the container - the container would be inoperable due to the thief not knowing the authentication PIN to unlock the container. As will be appreciated, this feature serves as a safety feature to prevent unsupervised children using the container's fuel.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a user is enabled to use a self- service fuel refilling apparatus. In such embodiment, the user simply attaches their container to the refilling apparatus connector. Thereafter, the refilling apparatus refills the user's fuel container in accordance with the pre-paid fuel quantity selected by the user. This embodiment thus enables unmanned remote refilling stations to be erected and fuel refilling available to users throughout the day or night. The invention also reduces the risk of vandalism and fuel theft as the refilling apparatus only dispenses fuel upon confirming the proximity and attachment of a uniquely identified fuel container.

The invention is not limited to the precise details described above. Modifications may be made and other embodiments developed without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the software application may enable users to communicate with one another and transmit a request for fuel prompt, wherein the paying user may accept, decline or modify the payment amount to be donated to the requesting user. Upon paying for the donated fuel value, the requesting user is credited with a corresponding pre-paid fuel value.

The Summary of Invention and Claims forms an integral aspect of the description of the invention.