FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a mechanical device that can be attached to a fuel container and used to indicate the status of the contents of the container. BACKGROUND ART

There are millions of two-stroke engines being used for countless different applications around the world. A common problem with all these engines is the risk of expensive damage if un-mixed gasoline is used.

There are several problems that occur when using two-stroke oil mixed with gasoline: 1) Where gasoline is stored for a period of time, it is easy to forget the mix status.

2) When using multiple gasoline containers, it is easy to confuse those that are mixed or unmixed.

3) Where several or many people handle gasoline intended for use in two-stroke engines, the mix status may not be effectively communicated between handlers. In most cases, particularly with synthetic two-stroke oils, it is almost impossible to visually detect whether oil has been added to gasoline. It is critical to be able to determine the mix status of the gasoline in order to prevent major engine damage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

T e invention was developed in consideration of the above problems and aims to provide a simple and cost-effective solution.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a fuel container status indicator tag for signaling the status of the contents of a fuel container, the tag comprising: a casing adapted to be secured to the container; and

an actuator mounted within the casing and movable by hand between a first locked position and a second locked position; wherein the tag displays a first status when the actuator is in the first locked position and a second status when the actuator is in the second locked position.

The invention thus allows the status of the fuel in the container to be conveniently displayed. By locking the actuator at each position, there is no risk of inadvertently changing the status displayed. A pure mechanical device is provided to avoid the possibility of electrical sparks in the environment of flammable fuel.

In an embodiment, the casing comprises a window, and the first and second status are differentiated by respective signs visible through the window.

The actuator may include a tab that protrudes through an elongate slot in the casing, the ends of the slot defining the first and second locked positions. As a first safety feature, each end of the slot may comprise a recess into which the tab is biased, whereby the tab must be manually dislodged from the recess before it can travel in the slot. This prevents tampering with the tab by a child or animal, or accidentally knocking the tab and switching the status in the process of handling the container.

As a secondary, or independent, safety feature the tag may further comprise a locking button mounted to the casing, wherein the locking button must be held in a depressed state to release the actuator and allow movement of the actuator between the first and second locked positions. In combination with the first safety feature this provides an additional level of security.

In an embodiment, the tag further comprises at least one slot or eyelet in the casing for receiving a strap for mounting the tag to the container. This allows the tag to be securely tied to the container, for example to the container's handle.

In an application, the container is adapted for storing gasoline that needs to be mixed with oil before use as fuel, and wherein the first status indicates the gasoline is not yet mixed with oil, and the second status indicates the gasoline is mixed with oil. The non- mixed status may be represented by the above-mentioned sign being in red colour, whereas for the mixed status the sign may be in green colour. Obviously, a variety of other verbal or graphic signs are possible, such as "X" and ⁴ V". In one embodiment, the tag further comprises a calculator for determining the required volumes of gasoline and oil for predetermined mix ratios. In this way, the device can be used not only to determine the status of the fuel, but also the required volumes of gasoline and oil to be mixed. T e calculator may comprise a manually rotatable disc mounted within the casing and bearing information of gasoline-oil volumes and mix ratios, and a calculator window in the casing for selectively exposing said information.

In one embodiment, a second calculator window is provided in the casing, the two calculator windows respectively revealing metric and imperial unit information. These two windows may be provided on opposite major faces of the casing, so that the user can simply flip over the tag to choose metric or imperial units.

In a further embodiment, the device functions as a converter between metric and imperial units by aligning the equivalent volume figures on the opposite faces of the calculator wheel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is illustrated, though not limited, by the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a fuel container status indicator tag in accordance with the embodiment; Fig. 2 is a front view of the tag of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the tag of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an internal view of the tag, along line A-A in Fig.5; and

Fig. 5 is a side view of the tag of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an internal view of the tag, along line B-B in Fig. 7; Fig. 7 is a front view of the tag of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 8 is an exploded view of the tag of Fig. 1 that shows all its internal components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawings, and firstly to Figs 1 to 3 and 8, the status tag according to the embodiment consists of a moulded casing 1 that has two main shell parts that may be a snap-fit or held together by one or more screws. The shell parts may be separate components or they may be hinged together in a clam formation by a web of integral plastic material along one edge. There are two windows 2 and 4 on a front face and another window 10 on a rear face of the device. Additionally on the front face is a lock release button 7.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 8, an actuator is mounted within the casing. In this embodiment, the actuator has the form of a partial disc-shaped plate 14 and a finger or tab 20 extending from the plate 14. The plate has a pair of notches 11, 12 whose function will be described later on. A portion of the plate is reserved for the status indicator signs 18, 19. The plate 14 is mounted for rotation about a central shaft 15 that is formed in the upper casing. A portion of the plate diametrically opposite the signs 18, 19 is cut away so as to expose an underlying calculator wheel 3. The distal end of the tab 20 protrudes through a slot at the bottom edge of the casing and carries a knob 6 for gripping by the user's fingers. The knob 6 is movable between the ends of the slot and when repositioned, switches the displayed colour sign in the window 4 between red 18 and green 19. Here, red indicates that the gasoline is unmixed and green indicates that two-stroke oil has been added to the gasoline and is suitable for use. Any other suitable graphic or verbal signs 18, 19 may be used in place of these colours, if desired. In order to prevent accidental switching of this mix status indicator, there is a double security system built into the device.

The button lock 7 when depressed slightly flexes the annular plate 14 of the actuator. This allows the slot 12 to clear the locking lug 13 (Fig. 4) that is formed as part of the upper casing part of the device. Once the mix indicator has been rotated, the second slot 11 will then align and lock with the lug 13. In order to reposition the mix indicator by swinging the tab 20, firstly, the lock release button 7 must be depressed and secondly, the tab must be flexed slightly downwards in order for it to clear either of the locking recesses 5 (see Figs. 1 and 8) integrated into the case at the ends of the lower slot. Once both these locks have been released, it is then possible to rotate the actuator around the shaft 15 using the knob 6, thereby changing the colour displayed in window 4 and hence the mix status of the gasoline.

It would also be possible to provide only one of these safety features (that is, either the locking recesses 5 or the locking button mechanism 7) in a more basic embodiment.

As an additional, optional, feature an integral mix-ratio calculator is included in the device. A thumbwheel disc 3 is mounted within the casing for rotation about the central shaft 15. The edge of the wheel 3 protrudes through two slots, one on each side edge of the casing. The edge of the wheel 3 is suitably serrated or otherwise textured to aid gripping, and the wheel is relative stiffly mounted about the shaft 15 so that it does not spin. A printed sticker is attached to both sides of the wheel. One sticker indicates a range of mix ratios for metric volumes (for example, litres) and on the reverse, the other sticker indicates a range of mix ratios for imperial volumes (for example, US gallons). As seen in Figs. 2, 3 and 8, the mix-ratio may also be expressed as the percentage of oil in the mixture.

As the thumbwheel is rotated, various gasoline-oil mix ratios are displayed in both windows 2 and 10. The windows 2 and 10 are suitably each covered by a moulded plastic lens 16, 17. The lens has a magnifying function and so aids in viewing the information displayed. It also protects the disc sticker from, exposure to dust, dirt and liquids. T e user can simply flip the tag over to choose metric or imperial units. Alternatively, both calculator windows may be provided on the front face of the casing, or just a single calculator window provided. However, such options are less preferred as they would limit the space for printing the mix-ratio and volume information.

As a further, optional, feature of the tag, it is possible to align the metric volumes on one face of the disc 3 with the equivalent imperial volumes on the other face. In this way, the tag functions as a converter between metric and imperial units. The user selects the volume to be converted in the window 2 or 10, and then simply flips the tag over to view the converted volume in the other window 10 or 2, respectively. As best seen in Fig. 1, a slot 8 is provided at the top of the casing so that the tag may be attached to the fuel container by means of a Velcro ^® strap or similar attachment system. As an alternative to the slot 8, one or more eyelets (not shown) may be formed in a top corner of the tag for feeding a cable or string. The device has also an integrated slot at the top of the casing that allows a cable tie 9 to be inserted as the primary means of attaching the tag to the container.

According to this embodiment, the tag will act as an indicator to show whether or not oil has been added to the gasoline. The tag is intended as an assistant for all people using two-stroke engines that require pre-mixing of two-stroke oil with gasoline. It has two primary functions:

1) a visual mix status indicator with security lock; and

2) a mix-ratio calculator (metric and US Gallons).

An attachment system allows the tag to be attached either temporally or permanently to a portable gasoline container. The tag features a security locking mix indicator that is moved manually from the unmixed to the mixed status once two-stroke oil has been added. When unmixed gasoline is refilled into the storage container, the switch is then reset back to the unmixed condition thereby indicating the unmixed gasoline may not be used in a two- stroke engine. When measuring the required amount of two-stroke oil that must be added to the gasoline for that particular engine specification, the mix wheel can be rotated to determine the quantity of oil that must be added for a specific volume of gasoline. Mix ratios are provided in both litres and US gallons.

Thus, the invention has achieved a simple and effective mechanical device that makes it easy to determine from a simple visual inspection the status of the content of a fuel container and to update the status. The device also assists in calculating the appropriate volumes of gasoline and oil required for particular engines.

The invention rriay be embodied in other specific forms without departure from the scope thereof, as defined by the claims. A device in accordance with the invention may be used to determine other types of status of the contents of a fuel container, such as distinguishing between petrol and diesel, or different grades of oil or petrol.