Elongated Pole Wheel Lock for Safe Vehicle Immobilization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wheel lock devices pose a danger to law enforcement officers during traffic stops as they require the officer to position themselves in a vulnerable state to disable a vehicle, diverting their attention from the driver and increasing the risk of injury or harm.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a locking assembly with adjustable arms and a trigger release mechanism, deployable via an elongated application pole, which can be used to lock a vehicle's wheel without requiring the officer to stoop or divert their attention, ensuring safety and ease of use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a law enforcement officer uses existing wheel lock devices or tire puncture strips to disable a vehicle, then the vehicle can be disabled, but the officer must position themselves in a vulnerable location (under or in front of the vehicle) which diverts attention from the driver and increases the risk of injury

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle immobilization effectivenessVSAvoidofficer safety risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a long pole as an intermediary tool that allows the officer to deploy the wheel lock device from a safe distance. The pole acts as a mediator between the officer and the wheel lock mechanism, enabling the officer to operate the device without approaching the vulnerable zones under or in front of the vehicle. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining vehicle immobilization effectiveness while eliminating the safety risk associated with officer positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If a law enforcement officer approaches the driver of a stopped vehicle to check documents or conduct investigation, then the officer can perform necessary procedures, but the driver may attempt to flee by suddenly accelerating, causing the officer to be injured or delayed in pursuit

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraffic stop procedure completionVSAvoidofficer injury risk from fleeing vehicle

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the officer to perform preliminary action by deploying the wheel lock device before approaching the driver's side of the vehicle. By securing the vehicle's wheel in advance, the officer eliminates the possibility of sudden acceleration and fleeing. This allows the officer to safely complete necessary procedures such as checking documents while the vehicle remains immobilized, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and officer safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If a law enforcement officer uses tire puncture strips to disable a vehicle, then the vehicle can be disabled, but the officer must stand in front of the vehicle which places the officer's body in danger and requires the officer to take eyes away from the driver

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle disabling capabilityVSAvoidofficer operational safety

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The long pole serves as an intermediary that allows the officer to deploy the wheel lock device without standing in front of the vehicle. The officer can remain in a safe position while using the pole to propel and position the device onto the wheel. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining vehicle disabling capability while improving officer operational safety and keeping the officer's attention focused on the driver.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables safe and efficient vehicle immobilization by allowing law enforcement officers to disable a vehicle from a safe distance, reducing the risk of injury and facilitating a secure traffic stop without distracting them from the driver's actions.

Implementation Method 1

At least one spring element is provided for biasing the arms into their locked configuration

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpring biasing: Spring

Implementation Method 2

The application pole has a first end that engages the locking assembly and can be used to propel the locking assembly along the ground and into contact with a wheel of the vehicle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical force transmission: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentUS8777511B1System and method for a law enforcement officer to temporarily disable a vehicle during a traffic stop

Publication Date: 2014.07.15 ROSE SHAWN G

AI summary

A system and method for temporarily hindering the ability of a vehicle to be driven. A locking assembly is provided that has arms and a trigger release. At least one spring element is provided for biasing the arms into a locked configuration. The arms are cocked into the open configuration against the bias of the spring element. When the trigger release is activated, the arms automatically spring back to the locked configuration. An elongated application pole is provided that is used to propel the locking assembly a wheel of the vehicle. The contact activates the trigger release and causes the arms to move into the locked configuration and mechanically engage the wheel. Once the locking assembly is locked onto the wheel, the wheel is inhibited from turning and the vehicle becomes disabled.