Abstract:
A readily transportable and rapidly deployable vehicle immobilization device is provided. The exhaust of an internal combustion engine is obstructed, resulting in choking off and stopping of the engine. In an aspect, a plug is provided having an extension fixed to the plug for human grasping, and facilitating insertion into an end of a vehicle exhaust pipe. In an aspect the plug expands upon being heated and is adhesive to the exhaust pipe for at least partially sealing the exhaust pipe. In another aspect, a length of adhesive material is attached to the front of a pursuing vehicle and engages an end of an exhaust pipe of a fleeing vehicle.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent application is a continuation patent application, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. sec. 120, of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/941,144 filed Sep. 14, 2004, which claims benefit of U.S. provisional patent application 60/503,513, filed Sep. 15, 2003, entitled A Method and Apparatus to Immobilize an Internal Combustion Engine Motor Vehicle, all of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The invention relates generally to stopping a motor vehicle, and more particularly to choking off and stopping an internal combustion engine. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Law enforcement officials must routinely stop motor vehicles by a roadway. As part of a routine procedure and for safety precautions, the motor vehicle operator is often requested to turn off the motor vehicle engine. The law enforcement officer may make such a request for additional reasons including suspicion that the vehicle operator may flee. In some cases, the vehicle operator does flee. 
         [0004]    Additionally, law enforcement officials are often called on to forcibly stop a fleeing vehicle. High speed pursuit by law enforcement frequently results in personal injury and property damage. Often, law enforcement officers will pursue motor vehicle suspects for a considerable amount of time while subjecting the suspects, officers and bystanders to potential risk of injury and property damage during high speed pursuits. It is of interest that occupants of a fleeing vehicle, which may include hostages, not be injured by immobilization of the vehicle. 
         [0005]    Known vehicle immobilization systems exhibit shortcomings and dangers to those involved in a vehicle chase and to innocent bystanders. One known method is to force the fleeing vehicle to stop by driving the pursuing vehicle to the side or in front of the fleeing vehicle, or to push the fleeing vehicle from a back corner so that the fleeing driver looses control of the vehicle. Other known methods of stopping fleeing vehicles include tire spikes and eventual fuel depletion. Tire spikes may lead to additional property damage by an uncontrollable vehicle. Fuel depletion often requires a lengthy hot pursuit during which persons and property are subject to possible injury and damage. Another known technique includes engaging a metal structure on the fleeing vehicle and force stopping the fleeing vehicle, which presents a difficult maneuver given a moving and evasive vehicle. Further, road blocks are not easily deployed or positioned and a fleeing vehicle may simply reroute to an alternate path around a road block. 
         [0006]    A need for detaining or immobilizing motor vehicles also applies to other settings including border settings, military settings and water settings with boating vehicles. A need exists for a transportable, rapidly deployed, vehicle immobilization device that does not encompass the shortcomings and dangers of the prior art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a conical plug having a handle, in an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a rectangular plug having an extension and handle, in an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a side view of a conical plug having an extension and handle, in an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a side view illustration of insertion of a plug by a human into an exhaust pipe of a motor vehicle, in an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a side view illustration of a plug having been inserted into an exhaust pipe of a motor vehicle, in an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a side view illustration of a plug block mounted to the front end of a law enforcement vehicle, in an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a front view illustration of a plug block mounted to the front end of a law enforcement vehicle, in an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a side view illustration of a law enforcement vehicle having a plug block mounted to the front end forcing plug material into an exhaust pipe of a fleeing vehicle, in an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    Exemplary embodiments are described with reference to specific configurations. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that various changes and modifications can be made while remaining within the scope of the appended claims. Additionally, well-known elements, devices, components, methods and the like may not be set forth in detail in order to avoid obscuring the invention. 
         [0017]    A method and apparatus of choking off and stopping an internal combustion engine is described herein. It will be apparent that features of the discussion and claims may be utilized with a motor vehicles including, a car, a truck, a boat, military vehicles, as well as other motor vehicles. In an embodiment, the present invention may be used to detain a stationary vehicle so that the engine shuts down and cannot be restarted until the device is removed. In another embodiment, the present invention may be used to stop a fleeing vehicle. In an embodiment, the present invention may be employed by law enforcement and at geographical borders of countries, or vehicle inspection checkpoints. 
         [0018]    Referring to the drawings wherein identical reference numerals denote the same elements throughout the various views,  FIG. 1  illustrates stationary detainment device  100  in an embodiment of the present invention. Stationary detainment device  100  includes conical plug  102  having a handle  104 . Conical plug  102  is shaped such that a first end is smaller in diameter than a second end, to fit with a variety of sizes or diameters of internal combustion engine exhaust pipes. As the plug enters an exhaust pipe, it reaches a position wherein it fits tight with and seals the exhaust pipe. Handle  104  is provided for a human hand to have a solid grasping place for facilitating insertion (and extraction) of the plug  102 , and can be twisted to further obtain a tight fit within an exhaust pipe. Additionally, in an embodiment, plug  102  is comprised of a material (as discussed below) that expands upon heating, to further obtain a tight fit with the inside surface of an exhaust pipe. In an embodiment, plug  102  is formed of an adhesive material that adheres to a metal exhaust pipe. 
         [0019]    The material selected for plug  102  is nonflammable when exposed to temperatures of hot exhaust fumes that are expelled from exhaust pipes. For better sealing results, plug  102  is comprised of a material that remains intact or does not substantially melt when being subjected to exhaust temperatures. It is to be appreciated that only a partial seal by plug  102  with an exhaust pipe can choke off and stop an internal combustion engine due to partial blockage. Therefore, while plug  102  might partially seal an exhaust pipe, the engine can in some cases nevertheless be stopped. Additionally, in an embodiment, plug  102  is comprised of a material that can be inserted into and exhaust pipe and pulled from or completely retracted from an exhaust pipe without leaving any remaining material in the exhaust pipe. Further, the plug  102  is to be of a material that is not easily blown or expelled from an exhaust pipe by exiting exhaust fumes. 
         [0020]    Various materials can be used for plug  102 . In an embodiment, the material is a sticky, tacky, gluey and metal adhesive substance. Alternatively, a sticky foam may be used. Further alternative materials that can be used for plug  102  include a caulk, putty, paste, plaster, bond, epoxy, adhesive, binder, sealant, glue, cement, gum, plaster, resin, motor, wax and tar. 
         [0021]    In an embodiment, plug  102  is comprised of a metal adhesive. Metal adhesives include acrylic, polyurethane, PU, Polysufide, PSR, Anaerobic, Epoxy, EP, and cyanoacrylate. The bonding of an adhesive to an exhaust pipe is a result of mechanical, physical and chemical forces. One force, mechanical interlocking, is caused by mechanical anchoring of adhesive in the pores, holes, crevices and other irregularities of the exhaust pipe surface. Another force, electrostatic forces, is caused by differences in electronegatives of adhering materials, and other adhesion mechanisms dealing with intermolecular and chemical bonding forces that occur at interfaces. For example, when an organic polymer contacts metal, electrons are transferred from the metal into the polymer, creating an attracting electrical double layer. The electrostatic forces at the interface account for resistance to separation of the adhesive and the substrate. 
         [0022]    An internal combustion engine may be stopped by sealing an exhaust pipe since the engine is choked off. In order for the engine to run, a fresh mixture of gasoline (fuel vapor) and air must be introduced into the combustion chamber. However, the fresh mixture cannot be injected or be effective unless the spent, burned-up fumes and exhaust is expelled. Further, back pressure in the engine prevents the engine from restarting. 
         [0023]    It is to be appreciated that conical plug  102  having handle  104  provides an easily transportable and rapidly deployed device for emergency use. The conical plug  102  and handle  104  may further be carried by law enforcement officers on foot, attached to a person&#39;s belt. 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a rectangular plug  202  having an extension  206  and handle  204 , in an embodiment of the present invention. Rectangular plug  202  is an alternative shape to conical plug  102 . Extension  206  is provided for additional reach by a human to an exhaust pipe and can be used to seat plug  202  further into an exhaust pipe. 
         [0025]      FIG. 3  shows is a side view of conical plug  102  having an extension  306  and handle  104  in a further embodiment of the present invention. Extension  306  can be sized as a desired length. 
         [0026]      FIG. 4  is a side view illustration of insertion of plug  306  by a human  420  into an exhaust pipe  408  of a motor vehicle  402 . This method may be utilized by a law enforcement officer to detain a stationary vehicle by stopping the internal combustion engine. As may be observed, extension  306  provides additional reach for insertion of plug  102  into exhaust pipe  408 . Muffler  406  is shown connected to exhaust pipe  408 , positioned at the back end  404  of detained vehicle  402 . 
         [0027]    Further, to the advantage of the law enforcement officer, the operator/driver of vehicle  402  would not have a clear view (or any view) of the actions by a law enforcement officer inserting plug  102  into exhaust pipe  408 , and the engine may quit before the vehicle operator realizes what has occurred. 
         [0028]      FIG. 5  shows a side view illustration of a plug having been inserted into an exhaust pipe of a motor vehicle. It is to be observed that plug  502  extends into exhaust pipe  408  and, in an embodiment, is compressed and also expands in any internal exhaust pipe surface irregularities forming a tight seal, while plug end  504  expands around an outer edge of exhaust pipe  408 . Extension  506  and handle  508  provide additional reach to exhaust pipe  408 , and a twisting/tightening means for a human. Plug  502  could be extracted from exhaust pipe  408  when desired by pulling on handle  508 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 6  shows a side view illustration of a plug block  602  mounted to the front end  606  of a law enforcement vehicle  604 , in an embodiment of the present invention. Attachment  610  provides an attachment means for attaching plug block  602  to front end  606 . Plug block  602  is positioned clear and safely away from air intake/radiator or tires  620  of law enforcement vehicle  604 . In an embodiment, plug block  602  is shaped having an angled and extended end  616  for directed impact and insertion into an exhaust pipe of a fleeing vehicle. 
         [0030]      FIG. 7  shows a front view illustration of plug block  602  mounted to the front end  606  of a law enforcement vehicle  604 , in an embodiment of the present invention. It will be observed that, in an embodiment, plug block  602  extends across the entire width of law enforcement vehicle  604 . The height and width of plug block  602  can be designed as desired, but should not obstruct the law enforcement vehicle  604  driver/operator view. It is to be appreciated that plug block  602  can take on other shapes, dimensions and position orientations other than that as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 8  shows a side view illustration of a law enforcement vehicle  820  having a plug block  602  mounted to the front end  606 , forcing material  816  into an exhaust pipe  812  of a fleeing vehicle  810 . The front end  606  of law enforcement vehicle  820  is driven into the back end  818  of the fleeing vehicle  810 , wherein a portion of the plug block  602  is forced into exhaust pipe  812  of fleeing vehicle  810 . In some cases, the back end  818  of fleeing vehicle  810  will be squared up with law enforcement vehicle  820 , and in other cases the back end  818  of fleeing vehicle  810  will not be squared up with law enforcement vehicle  820 . However, plug block  602  can in many cases nevertheless be forced into exhaust pipe  812 . Once the plug block  602  is forced into exhaust pipe  812  of the fleeing vehicle  810 , a portion of the plug block  602  can break off or separate from the portion attached to law enforcement vehicle  820 . It is to be appreciated that the material utilized for plug block  602  can be similar or the same as that utilized for plug  102  ( FIG. 1 ). However, the material utilized for plug block  602  (and inserted in an exhaust pipe) should readily break or separate from the portion attached to law enforcement vehicle  820 . This way, it is unnecessary for law enforcement vehicle  820  to maintain contact or a close proximity to fleeing vehicle  810 . Once some portion of plug block  602  is forced into and sufficiently seals exhaust pipe  812 , the fleeing vehicle will either slow or stop, since the exhaust of the internal combustion engine will be obstructed. Loss of control of fleeing vehicle  810  is therefore avoided since forcing the vehicle into an out-of-control spin is avoided. Should the fleeing driver attempt to restart the vehicle, attempts would be futile in virtually all or all cases. A non-lethal method and device is therefore provided by the present invention to stop a fleeing vehicle and driver. Further, it is to be appreciated that plug block  602  provides an easily transportable and rapidly attachable and deployed device for emergency use. 
         [0032]    Other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent to a person of skill in the art who studies this disclosure. For example, the plug  102  ( FIG. 1 ) may be further employed in a situation wherein vehicle door and ignition keys are locked within a vehicle and it is desired that the vehicle be shut down. Thus, exemplary embodiments, modifications and variations may be made to the disclosed embodiments while remaining within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.