Patent ID: 8397768

Claim:
A removable retainer device for an activating lever on a fuel pump nozzle handle having a static electricity detection element and warning signal, the device comprising: a brace for retaining a fuel pump nozzle handle lever in an on position, the brace comprising a planar rigid body having a top surface for engaging a fuel pump nozzle handle activating lever and a bottom surface for engaging a bottom hand shield portion of the fuel pump nozzle handle, a side portion protruding laterally outwardly beyond each of the two sides of the pump nozzle handle, the brace inserted between the nozzle handle lever and the hand shield to activate the flow of fuel through nozzle and to retain the nozzle handle lever in a first position for pumping the fuel, and the brace alternately removed therefrom to release the nozzle handle lever to deactivate the flow of fuel through the nozzle; a static electricity sensing system built into the brace comprising: a static electricity sensing antenna extending along the length of an outer edge of each protruding side portion of the brace: a static electricity sensing circuit housed within the brace, the sensing circuit communicating with the sensing wire to detect presence of a static electricity potential on a hand of a user approaching the fuel pump nozzle handle before the hand of the user reaches the fuel pump nozzle handle; a visual warning signal attached to each of the protruding side portions in an outwardly visible location, the visual warning signal communicating with the static electricity sensing circuit, the visual warning signal activated by the sensing circuit upon sensing of static electricity potential by the sensing circuit; an audible warning signal attached to the brace, the audible warning signal communicating with the static electricity sensing circuit, the audible warning signal activated upon sensing of static electricity potential by the sensing circuit; thereby providing a removable retainer device for an activating lever on a fuel pump nozzle handle having a static electricity detection element and warning signals to warn the user not to touch the fuel pump hand and thereby prevent a spark being generated between the hand of the user and the fuel pump handle to prevent ignition of combustible vapors in the vicinity of the fuel pump handle.