The present invention relates to an automotive accessory and in particular to an electronic device adapted to indicate to a motor vehicle driver the position of the fuel filler cap. Most motor vehicle manufacturers position the fuel filler caps either on the left-hand side of the vehicle or the right hand side of the vehicle and even those vehicles which position the fuel filler caps at the rear often bias the filler to one side or other of the vehicle. Positioning of fuel filler caps at the rear of the vehicle is now uncommon due to regulations which seek to prevent fire or explosion during rear end collisions. No uniformity amongst manufacturers has however developed and consequently drivers are constantly required to remember the side of the vehicle upon which the fuel filler cap is positioned in order that they may approach fuel bowsers in the most efficient way. For example if one approaches a fuel bowser on the opposite side to that on which the fuel filler cap is located the hose associated with the bowser may not be long enough to reach the fuel filler cap or alternatively the paintwork of the vehicle may be damaged by dragging the fuel filler hose over the paintwork of the vehicle in order the that the browser nozzle reach the fuel filler.
2 These difficulties are exacerbated for persons who own multiple vehicles or for persons who frequently hire motor vehicles as it becomes difficult to remember the side of the vehicle upon which the fuel filler is placed. It is also the case that persons often forget to replace the fuel filler cap before departing from a petrol station which action results in considerable inconvenience associated with returning to the petrol station or having to purchase a new fuel filler cap. It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a device to ameliorate one or more of the above disadvantages or at least to provide the consumer with alternatives to existing motor vehicle technology. According to the present invention there is provided an electronic device having a display with switchable indicia indicating the right or left hand side of the vehicle corresponding to the side of the vehicle upon which the fuel filler is located. One embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view from the front of a device in accordance with the present invention and; 3 Figure 2 is a perspective view from the rear of the device of figure 1 in accordance with the present invention. According to the embodiment of Figure 1 there is disclosed a battery powered electronic device in a casing 1 the front face of which includes a left-hand directed arrow 2 and a right hand directed arrow 3 with each arrow capable of being illuminated from within the casing. The casing also includes a momentary "on" button 4 and a left or right switch 5. The circuitry within the casing 1 is designed such that when the left or right switch 5 is biased to either the left or the right position then the pressing of the momentary "on" button will illuminate either the left hand directed arrow 3 or the right hand directed arrow 4 according to the position of the left or right switch 5. The embodiment depicted in figures 1 and 2 is battery-powered and is movable from vehicle to vehicle which is particularly convenient for the type of person who may most require an article in accordance with the present invention such as persons who hire different motor vehicles frequently or are called upon to drive different motor vehicles frequently. A device in accordance with the present invention may however be installed as original equipment on a motor vehicle.
4 It should also be appreciated that instead of the illuminated arrows 2 and 3 depicted with reference to the embodiment of Figure 1 a liquid crystal display could be employed. As liquid crystal displays do not consume a lot of power a liquid crystal display may be particularly well suited to a battery operated embodiment. The inclusion of an instantaneous "on" button is intended to assist in reducing power consumption as is important with a battery-powered unit. The inclusion of this feature ensures that that the illumination for the left or right arrows is not permanently on but rather illumination is only activated when the operator enters a petrol station and presses the "on" button instantaneously. Illumination of the relevant arrow may in some embodiments be designed to occur for a short period after the door of the vehicle is opened in order that a driver may be reminded each time he or she enters the motor vehicle of the relevant side on which the petrol filler resides. Such an embodiment would involve additional wiring connecting the unit to the driver's door or circuitry already present in a motor vehicle designed to detect opening of the drivers door. More frequent illumination of the relevant arrow or indicator would serve to reinforce in the driver's mind the location of the fuel filler cap.
5 Ideally the embodiment of figures 1 and 2 may be provided with an adhesive backed hook and loop fastening on its rear surface so that affixation of a small complementary hook and loop fastening strip on the dashboard of the motor vehicle facilitates removable attachment of the device to that motor vehicle. Naturally other known attachment methods may be utilised and more permanent attachment methods may be utilised where it is not required that the unit be transferred from vehicle to vehicle. It is envisaged that a device in accordance with the present invention may be combined with an indicator which warns when the petrol filler cap is not attached to the vehicle or the fuel filler door is left open. Although this embodiment is not depicted it may readily be incorporated into the present device by way of an audible or visual warning either hard-wired to a switch or contact associated with the fuel filler cap or in wireless communication with a switch on the fuel filler cap (not shown).