VEHICLE CONNECTOR LOCKOUT APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USING SAME
First Claim
1. A vehicle connector lockout apparatus, comprising:
- means for attaching a blocking mating connector to a vehicle diagnostic port connector, said vehicle diagnostic port connector having a raised protrusion extending from a casing of the diagnostic port in the direction of the mating connector;
means for locking said blocking mating connector to said vehicle diagnostic port connector by a pressure mechanism for clamping the blocking mating connector to said protrusion; and
means for unlocking said blocking mating connector from said vehicle diagnostic port connector by releasing said pressure mechanism.
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Accused Products
Abstract
According to the present invention, a vehicle connector lockout apparatus capable of being connected to the diagnostic port of a vehicle is provided. The preferred embodiment of the invention uses a raised protrusion, located in the common space below the two rows of pin spacing of the diagnostic port, as a locking point. The preferred embodiment provides a blocking mating connector with a pressure mechanism for clamping the mating connector to the protrusion. In the preferred embodiment the pressure mechanism is activated and released mechanically by operation of a key in a key lock which is an integral part of the mating connector, where rotation of the key to the locked position in the key lock applies pressure to the protrusion so as to clamp the blocking mating connector to the protrusion. A further embodiment of the invention provides a non-volatile microchip memory component to store information about the vehicle operator usable by medical personnel at the scene of a crash.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vehicle connector lockout apparatus, comprising:
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means for attaching a blocking mating connector to a vehicle diagnostic port connector, said vehicle diagnostic port connector having a raised protrusion extending from a casing of the diagnostic port in the direction of the mating connector; means for locking said blocking mating connector to said vehicle diagnostic port connector by a pressure mechanism for clamping the blocking mating connector to said protrusion; and means for unlocking said blocking mating connector from said vehicle diagnostic port connector by releasing said pressure mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A vehicle connector lockout apparatus for protecting vehicle owner interests, comprising:
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means for blocking access to a vehicle diagnostic port connector, said blocking means further comprising, means for attaching a blocking mating connector to a vehicle diagnostic port connector, said vehicle diagnostic port connector having a raised protrusion extending from a casing of the diagnostic port in the direction of the mating connector; means for locking said blocking mating connector to said vehicle diagnostic port connector by a pressure mechanism for clamping the blocking mating connector to said protrusion; and means for unlocking said blocking mating connector from said vehicle diagnostic port connector by releasing said pressure mechanism; and means attached to said blocking means for enabling access by responders at the scene of a crash of the vehicle to information about the vehicle owner. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification