Apparatus and method for disabling a vehicle

An apparatus for disabling a motor vehicle comprises an expandable head adapted to be inserted and secured into the exhaust pipe of an automobile, motorcycle, go-kart, scooter, boat, tractor or other vehicle having an internal combustion engine. A shaft of the apparatus may be configured to engage with a tool, e.g., a socket wrench, torque wrench, drill driver, or other tool, which may impart a rotational force on the shaft to radially expand a head of the apparatus and secure it within a tailpipe of a vehicle, such that buildup of pressure within the vehicle exhaust system does not expel the apparatus from the pipe. An axial bore through the shaft may be fitted at a terminal end with a pressure release valve to selectively release pressure, e.g., before removing the device, or to allow operation of the vehicle while the apparatus is secured within the tailpipe.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to the field of motorized vehicles. More specifically, this invention relates to apparatus and methods for disabling a vehicle.

BACKGROUND

Various types of devices for inhibiting or disabling a vehicle are known, and have been used for example by vehicle owners as anti-theft devices or by law enforcement personnel to prevent a vehicle from fleeing or otherwise being moved. In the case of law enforcement, wheel locks, spike strips, projectiles, physical barriers and other devices and methods are used to prevent a chase or disable a moving vehicle. Once a chase begins, however, the use of devices such as spike strips or road blocks can result in serious harm to officers or bystanders and/or damage to property. Therefore, devices and methods for effectively disabling operation of a vehicle before a chase ensues are desired.

One method of disabling a vehicle with an internal combustion engine is to block the engine exhaust, which causes exhaust pressure to build up and inhibits the intake of air needed for the engine to start and/or continue to run. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,735 to Magrobi discloses a lockable cap adapted to fit over a modified exhaust pipe. U.S. Pat. No. 5,249,422 to Wright discloses another exhaust pipe lock utilizing a plug that is inserted into the end of an exhaust pipe and a pin or other locking key that is fitted laterally through the pipe and the plug to secure the plug. Both of these devices are clearly visible from the end of the vehicle and require modification of the tailpipe in order to secure the plug or cap to the tailpipe. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,081 to Joao and U.S. Pat. No. 5,917,406 to Postel disclose devices that require modifications to a vehicle's exhaust system to fit an electronically controlled flow inhibitor within the system.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,451,851 to Wax discloses both (i) an exhaust plug that is manually inserted using an extension handle that extends from the tailpipe, where the plug material expands upon heating and is adhesive to the exhaust pipe, and (ii) a method of disabling a vehicle by blocking the vehicle's tailpipe with a length of adhesive material attached to the front bumper of a police vehicle. Both of these methods have disadvantages, including the likelihood that the plug or adhesive may be dislodged or ejected from the tailpipe by pressure within the exhaust system, the potential to damage the tailpipe of the vehicle (e.g., by adhesive material fusing to the exhaust pipe or vehicle, or physical damage to the vehicle caused by impact of the bumper of the pursuing vehicle), and that the devices are clearly visible from the rear of the potentially “disabled” vehicle and therefore may be easily removed before starting the vehicle. Also, these and other systems may be potentially dangerous to remove from a vehicle if pressure has built up within the exhaust system.

Thus, there remains a need for devices and methods for safely and effectively disabling a vehicle without easy detection and without modifying or damaging the vehicle exhaust system.

SUMMARY

An apparatus for disabling a motor vehicle comprises an expandable body that is adapted to be manually inserted and secured into the exhaust pipe of an automobile, motorcycle, go-kart, scooter, boat, tractor or other vehicle having an internal combustion engine. The shaft preferably is configured and dimensioned to engage with a tool, e.g., a socket wrench, torque wrench, drill driver, or other tool, which may be used to impart a rotational force on an elongated shaft of the apparatus to radially expand the head of the apparatus and secure it within a tailpipe of a vehicle, such that buildup of pressure within the engine and exhaust system does not expel the apparatus from the pipe. An axial bore through the shaft is fitted at a terminal end with a pressure release valve to selectively release pressure, e.g., before removing the device, or to allow operation of the vehicle while the apparatus is secured within the tailpipe.

In one aspect, a method of disabling a vehicle comprises securing an expandable plug apparatus within the exhaust pipe of a vehicle, and activating an expander mechanism to expand the plug radially within the pipe to seal the plug against the inner walls of the pipe. In some embodiments, activating the expander mechanism comprises rotating a shaft of the device using a tool. In some embodiments, the tool is a wrench, a socket wrench, a ratchet device, a driver, or any other tool used to engage the handle portion of the plug apparatus. In some embodiments, the apparatus is secured manually. Preferably, plug is secured with enough radial force to ensure that the apparatus is not expelled from the tailpipe when engine is running. A pressure relief valve within apparatus may be closed when device is in use, and opened to relieve pressure within the exhaust system to facilitate safe removal of the apparatus from a tailpipe. In preferred embodiments, no alteration to the tailpipe or exhaust system is needed for securing the plug apparatus within a vehicle exhaust pipe, and no damage is done to the exhaust pipe or vehicle when the apparatus is used to disable the vehicle.

These as well as other aspects and advantages will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reading the following detailed description, with reference where appropriate to the accompanying drawings. Further, it should be understood that the embodiments described in this overview and elsewhere are intended to be examples only and do not necessarily limit the scope of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Described herein are apparatus and methods for disabling a vehicle having an internal combustion engine. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous examples and specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may include some or all of the features in these examples alone or in combination with other features described below, and may further include modifications and equivalents of the features and concepts described herein.

Referring toFIG. 1, an embodiment of an apparatus (also referred to herein as a plug)10for disabling a vehicle comprises an expandable head20, a shaft30and a valve40. Head is preferably expandable in a radial dimension and comprises an inner expansion mechanism covered with flexible and compressible material adapted to seal with the inner wall of an exhaust pipe when the head is in an expanded position. In some embodiments, shaft30is rotatable about a central axis such that rotating the shaft in one direction elongates and retracts the head20(e.g., such that the cross sectional radius of head20decreases), and rotating the shaft in the opposite direction longitudinally shortens and radially expands the head. The retracted and expanded states are shown inFIG. 2AandFIG. 2B, respectively.

Shaft30preferably includes an axial bore350that extends the length of the shaft. Valve40may be disposed at a proximal end of shaft and in communication with the bore, such that opening the valve40allows air to pass through the bore and closing the valve prevents or restricts the flow of air through the bore350. In some embodiments, e.g., as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, valve40may be a threaded drain valve. In some embodiments valve is a Porter Cable A17038 Drain Cock ¼″ NPT Tank Drain. In some embodiments, valve40may be an may be a pneumatic bleeder valve providing simple push-button bleeding for release of compressed air or exhaust, e.g., an Interstate V11B 1/16 Inch MPT Bleeder Valve. Other types of valves, e.g., ball valve, needle valve, spigot valve, stem valve, or any other desired type of valve or port to selectively or adjustably inhibit and allow air flow through the bore350of shaft30. Valve40may be secured to shaft via threads, or may be secured, fused or integrated with shaft by other desired means.

Referring toFIG. 2AandFIG. 2B, apparatus10is shown in its refracted (FIG. 2A) and expanded (FIG. 2B) states. In this embodiment, distal end230of shaft, e.g., end opposite valve40, is threaded to engage with a nut (e.g., nut340ofFIG. 3A) which travels along the length of threaded portion230when shaft30is rotated, thereby varying the length and thickness of head20. The portion of shaft near its proximal end (e.g., the end closer to valve40) is referred to herein as handle portion210, and may be configured and dimensioned to engage a wrench or other tool, e.g., having a hexagonal shape as shown or another shape adapted to engage a socket wrench, driver or other tool to facilitate rotation of shaft. In other embodiments, handle portion210may include a grip feature to facilitate manipulation by the hand of a user.

Referring toFIG. 3AandFIG. 3B, an example of an expander assembly300that may be employed by plug apparatus10is shown. In this example, expander assembly includes a pair of opposing wedge members310and312disposed on shaft. Each wedge member may be generally frusto-pyramidal in shape, with the distal wedge member310circumposed on threaded portion230of shaft30and proximal wedge member312circumposed on a non-threaded, cylindrical shank portion (between handle portion210and threaded portion230, e.g., shank portion620ofFIG. 6). Each wedge member310,312includes eight (or another desired number) planar wedge surfaces314, each of which is angled and dimensioned to engage an end of an expansion segment320. One or more elastic members322may be used to hold the expansion segments320in place and bias them against planar wedge surfaces314.

Distal wedge member310has a hexagonal cavity dimensioned to engage nut340such that wedge member310travels along the length of threaded portion230with nut340as shaft30is rotated. Proximal wedge member312rotates freely with respect to shaft30, and remains relatively fixed with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, such that as wedge member310moves along the length of shaft during rotation of the shaft, the distance between wedge member312and310varies. As the distance between wedge members312and310decreases, expansion segments320are forced outward to expand the radium of head portion20of the assembly300(as shown inFIG. 2B).

In some embodiments, expansion assembly300may include aspects of an expander tool for expanding pipes, such as, for example, the expander tool disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,986,383 to Petteys, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. In other embodiments, other apparatus, methods, and/or mechanisms for adjustably expanding and retracting the radius of head portion20of plug device10may be used.

Turning now toFIG. 4, and exploded side view of plug apparatus10is shown. A valve410may insert within or attach to a distal end of the expansion assembly300, as shown, e.g., to selectively prevent or control flow of air or vehicle exhaust through a central bore of the assembly300. In some embodiments, valve410may be a pressure relief valve, a pneumatic bleeder valve, a drain cock valve, a ball valve, a needle valve, a spigot valve, a stem valve, or any other desired type of valve or port to selectively or adjustably inhibit and allow air flow through a central bore in assembly300. In some embodiments, valve410may help prevent flow of air through the assembly when apparatus10is secured in a vehicle exhaust system. In some embodiments, a sleeve430is disposed over a seal420, which may be substantially cylindrical as shown and include a capped end422and an open end424configured to fit over the expansion assembly300. In some embodiments, the capped end422of the seal may include a hole or opening configured to align with the central bore of the assembly when the seal420is positioned over the assembly300. In other embodiments, sleeve430may be used without seal420. In some embodiments, one or both of sleeve430and seal420may be substantially elastic such that each expands and retracts with changes in diameter of expansion assembly300. In some embodiments, sleeve430is thicker than seal and/or compressible such that it compresses against and facilitates sealing with an inner wall of a pipe when head20is expanded within the pipe. Sleeve430may also aid in retaining the expansion segments320in desired positions such that elastic members322may not be necessary. In some embodiments, sleeve member430comprises substantially elastic and compressible material, such as neoprene, foam padding, or other desired material. In some embodiments, seal420, sleeve member430, and/or an outer sleeve or sheath440are comprised of heat resistant material.

Referring toFIG. 5, a cross-sectional view of a plug apparatus10is shown according to one embodiment, here in a retracted state. In this example, cross section is taken through the head portion20of apparatus10at distal wedge member310. Bore350is shown in cross section within threaded portion of shaft230. Ends of eight expansion segments320are shown disposed annularly around shaft230and against planar wedge surfaces314of wedge member310. Sleeve430is shown surrounding expansion segments320and an outer sheath440(e.g., made of shrink wrap tubing, rubber or other elastic material) covers sleeve430and ends of head20to facilitate sealing with the inner wall of a pipe. In some embodiments, a seal420, is disposed over the expansion member300to help minimize leakage through and around components of the expansion member300.

Referring toFIG. 6, a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a plug apparatus10is shown in use within segment of an exhaust tailpipe610of a vehicle. Head20of plug is shown in an expanded position, with wedge member310drawn toward member312when handle portion210of shaft30is rotated and nut340is moved along threaded portion230of shaft. This causes expansion segments to move outward radially, compressing sleeve430and sheath440against the inner wall of tailpipe610. Handle210may be rotated by hand and/or by using a socket wrench, drill driver, or other tool to impart sufficient torque to shaft to secure apparatus10within pipe610with a desired radial force (e.g., to prevent apparatus10from being expelled when exhaust pressure builds up), and preferably without deforming or otherwise damaging pipe610. In other embodiments, ratchet mechanisms, grip mechanisms (e.g., such as used on vice grips or other pipe expanders) or other means may be used to facilitate expansion of body20. In some embodiment, handle portion210is configured and dimensioned to facilitate gripping and turning by a users hand. In some embodiments handle portion210is tightened to five foot-pounds or more of force to secure plug10within a tailpipe610.

When plug apparatus10is secured within a tailpipe610as shown inFIG. 6, flow of exhaust through the tailpipe will be blocked, pressure will build within the exhaust system when the engine is started, and the engine will stall and/or fail to start. In some embodiments, outer sheath440covers distal end of head20and extends to threaded portion of shaft230to help restrict air from leaking thorough plug10, e.g., around components310,320and312and through head20. In some embodiments, sheath440covers nut340at distal portion of shaft as shown inFIG. 6, and in other embodiments sheath440may be disposed between wedge member310and nut340. Similarly, at proximal end of head20, sheath440may cover member312and extend to handle portion210as shown inFIG. 6. In some embodiments, proximal end of sheath may extend to shank620and be disposed between wedge member312and proximal end of handle portion210. Sheath440may be comprised of shrink wrap tubing, rubber or other desired material, and in some embodiments sheath440substantially resistant to heat to avoid melting or otherwise leaving residue on tailpipe when heated. Valve40may be twisted or otherwise engaged to prevent or restrict the flow of air through bore350. In some embodiments, device may be disposed substantially or completely within a tailpipe such that the device is not readily visible from the side or rear of the vehicle. In other embodiments of use, handle portion210extends from the end of tailpipe to facilitate engagement by a tool or by the hand of a user.

Turning now toFIG. 7andFIG. 8, two alternative embodiment examples of expansion assemblies700,800are shown. For example, assembly700may be adapted from or configured as a spider clamp having an elongate handle710and shaft720, with threads722disposed about a circumference of shaft720. Two collars730,732may be disposed about the shaft720, with the distal collar730engaged with threads722such that when handle710is rotated, collar730moves axially with respect to collar732. Such movement of collar is translated through hinged members740,742to move bars750,752radially, i.e., to expand or contract an outer diameter of the expansion member700.

Member800may be used in some embodiments to provide similar expansion of a device, e.g., to fit securely within a vehicle tail pipe. In some embodiments, member800includes a body810and a handle portion820that is rotatable about a central axis of the device800. In some embodiments, a cap or nut840, is disposed on a distal end of the handle or a coaxial shaft. In some embodiments, rotation of handle portion,820causes outward radial movement of longitudinal bars or rails830,832. Such outward movement may be used to provide overall expansion or contraction of an apparatus10, e.g., as with expansion members700,300described above.

Referring toFIGS. 9 and 10, flowcharts are shown for exemplary methods of securing900and removing1000a plug apparatus within a tailpipe. The exemplary method900for disabling a vehicle using a plug apparatus such as apparatus10may start with inserting the plug into the tailpipe910. The handle portion of shaft may then be rotated920to expand the head of the plug. A tool may be used to tighten the shaft730to secure the plug within the tailpipe. In some embodiments, shaft930may be tightened by hand. Preferably, plug is secured with enough radial force to ensure that the apparatus is not expelled from the tailpipe when the engine is running and accelerated, and that the apparatus is not easily removed manually by an unauthorized user. In some embodiments, pressure relief valve may be closed940. In other embodiments, a push or pull-button pressure relive valve is used, wherein the default position of a valve is closed, such that the valve remains closed in a resting state until a user presses or pulls a button, lever or other portion of the valve to open the valve and allow flow of air (or vehicle exhaust). In some embodiments, closing or opening the valve, or otherwise placing the valve into a desired state or position, may be done either before or after inserting the plug device within the tailpipe. In preferred embodiments, no modification to the tailpipe is necessary for securing the plug, and no damage is done to the tailpipe when used on a vehicle.

In some embodiments, a plug apparatus may be remotely activated. For example, when a plug is positioned within the tailpipe of a vehicle, the pressure relieve valve or other port in the device may be placed in a desired position (e.g., opened or closed). The valve may then be remotely activated, e.g., by a radio signal, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, cell phone, or other wired or wireless communication signal or means. In some embodiments, a pressure relieve or exhaust valve is started in an open state (thereby allowing the flow of air and operating of the vehicle while the plug is inserted in the exhaust pipe), and then the valve may be wirelessly or remotely closed to restrict flow of air and disable a vehicle. In other embodiments, a valve may start in a closed state, such that the valve may be remotely, wirelessly, or otherwise selectively opened to allow flow of exhaust and operation of the vehicle. In some embodiments, the state of the plug and/or valve within the plug may by controlled or adjusted in response to a condition in the vehicle, e.g., by turning the vehicle on or off, a heat sensor, speed of the vehicle, a selector or switch within the vehicle, an alcohol breathalyzer, or another wired or wireless sensor or activator within the vehicle or outside the vehicle. In some embodiments, more than one plug may be used in a vehicle, e.g., in a vehicle with multiple exhaust pipes, to ensure effective disabling of the vehicle.

In exemplary method1000of removing a plug, the pressure relief valve1010is activated, for example by pressing, pulling or twisting a relieve valve mechanism to allow air to escape thereby reducing pressure within the exhaust system (and reducing a pressure differential acting on the plug). Such release of pressure may help avoid expulsion of the plug from the tailpipe when it is loosened or retracted. In some embodiments, tool may be used to loosen the plug1020, e.g., by engaging and rotating the handle, and then plug may be removed from the tailpipe1030.

The foregoing description illustrates various embodiments of apparatus and methods for disabling a vehicle, along with examples of how aspects may be implemented. The above examples and embodiments should not be deemed to be the only embodiments, and are presented to illustrate the flexibility and advantages of the present invention. Based on the above disclosure and the following claims, other arrangements, embodiments, implementations and equivalents will be evident to those skilled in the art and may be employed without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented herein. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein and illustrated in the figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated herein.