Collapsible gas lever lock

A collapsible gas lever lock that is inserted between the gas lever and the bottom of the gas pump handle to maintain the gas lever in the fueling position eliminating the need apply a constant squeezing force to the gas lever during the entire fueling operation. The compressible gas lever lock includes a support assembly and a securing strap assembly. The support assembly includes top and bottom support plates connected together by a spring and a fabric outer cover. The securing strap assemblies holds the top and bottom support plates in the compressed configuration between uses for carrying in a purse or pocket.

TECHNICAL FIELD
 The present invention relates to automobile accessories and more
 particularly to a collapsible gas lever lock that is inserted between the
 gas lever and the bottom of the gas pump handle to maintain the gas lever
 in the fueling position eliminating the need apply a constant squeezing
 force to the gas lever during the entire fueling operation; the
 compressible gas lever lock including a support assembly and a securing
 strap assembly; the support assembly including top and bottom support
 plates connected together by a spring and a fabric outer cover; each of
 the top and bottom support plates including a spring retainer structure
 extending outwardly therefrom between a base portion and an outermost
 portion; the outermost portion being of a greater diameter than the base
 portion; the spring having an inner coil diameter selected such that an
 end of the spring is snap fit over the outermost portion and resiliently
 returns to an inner diameter substantially equal to a bottom portion
 diameter such that the end of the spring is held in connection with the
 retaining structure; the securing strap assembly including a strap member
 and a strap faster element; the strap member having a first end
 permanently secured to one of the top and bottom support plates and a
 second end having a strap faster portion provided thereon that is
 companionate with the strap faster element; the strap faster element being
 secured to the same one of the top and bottom support plates as the first
 end of the strap member; the strap member being of a length such that,
 when the top and bottom support plates are fully compressed toward each
 other, the strap member is positionable around the support assembly and
 the strap faster portion securable to the strap fastener to hold the
 support assembly in the compressed configuration for carrying in a purse
 or pocket; one of the top and bottom support plates having a key ring
 attachment loop in connection therewith.
 BACKGROUND ART
 Many individuals find it difficult to maintain a constant grip of the gas
 lever of a gas refueling nozzle while refueling a vehicle. It would be a
 benefit to these individuals to have a gas lever lock that could be used
 to maintain the gas lever in the refueling position. Because the gas lever
 lock must be of a certain size to accomplish its task, most gas lever
 locks are difficult to carry in a purse or pocket. It would be a benefit,
 therefore, to have a gas lever lock that was collapsible for carrying in a
 purse or pocket and extendable for use.
 GENERAL SUMMARY DISCUSSION OF INVENTION
 It is thus an object of the invention to provide a collapsible gas lever
 lock that includes a support assembly and a securing strap assembly; the
 support assembly including top and bottom support plates connected
 together by a spring and a fabric outer cover; each of the top and bottom
 support plates including a spring retainer structure extending outwardly
 therefrom between a base portion and an outermost portion; the outermost
 portion being of a greater diameter than the base portion; the spring
 having an inner coil diameter selected such that an end of the spring is
 snap fit over the outermost portion and resiliently returns to an inner
 diameter substantially equal to a bottom portion diameter such that the
 end of the spring is held in connection with the retaining structure; the
 securing strap assembly including a strap member and a strap faster
 element; the strap member having a first end permanently secured to one of
 the top and bottom support plates and a second end having a strap faster
 portion provided thereon that is companionate with the strap faster
 element; the strap faster element being secured to the same one of the top
 and bottom support plates as the first end of the strap member; the strap
 member being of a length such that, when the top and bottom support plates
 are fully compressed toward each other, the strap member is positionable
 around the support assembly and the strap faster portion securable to the
 strap fastener to hold the support assembly in the compressed
 configuration for carrying in a purse or pocket; one of the top and bottom
 support plates having a key ring attachment loop in connection therewith.
 Accordingly, a collapsible gas lever lock is provided. The collapsible gas
 lever lock includes a support assembly and a securing strap assembly; the
 support assembly including top and bottom support plates connected
 together by a spring and a fabric outer cover; each of the top and bottom
 support plates including a spring retainer structure extending outwardly
 therefrom between a base portion and an outermost portion; the outermost
 portion being of a greater diameter than the base portion; the spring
 having an inner coil diameter selected such that an end of the spring is
 snap fit over the outermost portion and resiliently returns to an inner
 diameter substantially equal to a bottom portion diameter such that the
 end of the spring is held in connection with the retaining structure; the
 securing strap assembly including a strap member and a strap faster
 element; the strap member having a first end permanently secured to one of
 the top and bottom support plates and a second end having a strap faster
 portion provided thereon that is companionate with the strap faster
 element; the strap faster element being secured to the same one of the top
 and bottom support plates as the first end of the strap member; the strap
 member being of a length such that, when the top and bottom support plates
 are fully compressed toward each other, the strap member is positionable
 around the support assembly and the strap faster portion securable to the
 strap fastener to hold the support assembly in the compressed
 configuration for carrying in a purse or pocket; one of the top and bottom
 support plates having a key ring attachment loop in connection therewith.

EXEMPLARY MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
 FIGS. 1-3 show various aspects of an exemplary embodiment of the
 collapsible gas lever lock of the present invention, generally designated
 10. Collapsible gas lever lock 10 includes a support assembly, generally
 designated 12, and a securing strap assembly, generally designated 14.
 Support assembly 12 includes top and bottom support plates 16,18 connected
 together by a spring 20 and a nylon fabric outer cover 22. Each of the top
 and bottom support plates 16,18 includes a spring retainer structure,
 generally designated 24 extending outwardly therefrom between a base
 portion 26 and an outermost portion 28. Outermost portion 28 has a
 diameter "A" which is greater than the diameter "B" of base portion 26.
 Spring 20 has an inner coil diameter "C" selected such that an end 30 of
 spring 20 is snap fit over outermost portion 28 and resiliently returns to
 an inner diameter "C" substantially equal to diameter "B" of bottom
 portion 26 such that the end 30 of spring 20 is held in connection with
 retaining structure 24. Outer cover 22 is a nylon fabric tube connected
 between top and bottom support plates 16,18 with retaining rings 25 that
 each snap fit into a retaining ring channel 27 formed around the perimeter
 edge of each of top and bottom support plates 16,18.
 Securing strap assembly 14 includes a nylon strap member 34 and a strap
 faster element 36. Strap member 34 has a first end 40 permanently secured
 to one of the top and bottom support plates 16,18 and a second end 38
 having a strap faster portion 40 provided thereon that is companionate
 with strap faster element 36. Strap faster element 36 is secured to the
 same one of the top and bottom support plates 16,18 as the first end 40 of
 strap member 34. Strap member 34 is of a length such that, when the top
 and bottom support plates 16,18 are fully compressed toward each other,
 strap member 34 is positionable around support assembly 12 and strap
 faster portion 40 is securable to strap fastener 36 to hold support
 assembly 12 in the compressed configuration for carrying in a purse or
 pocket. Bottom support plate 18 has a key ring attachment loop 44 in
 connection therewith.
 It can be seen from the preceding description that a collapsible gas lever
 lock has been provided.
 It is noted that the embodiment of the collapsible gas lever lock described
 herein in detail for exemplary purposes is of course subject to many
 different variations in structure, design, application and methodology.
 Because many varying and different embodiments may be made within the
 scope of the inventive concept(s) herein taught, and because many
 modifications may be made in the embodiment herein detailed in accordance
 with the descriptive requirements of the law, it is to be understood that
 the details herein are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a
 limiting sense.