Gas pump lever blocking member

Claim 1

A gas pump lever blocking member for use with a gas pump having a nozzle, a valve for regulating gas flow through the nozzle, a manually operable lever arm to open the valve, means for biasing the lever arm in a position whereby the valve is normally closed, and a lever arm guard disposed about the leverarm, comprising: (a) an elongated member having an elongation axis, first and second ends disposed along said elongation axis, and opposite side portions, one of said side portions having a plurality of notches formed therein and spaced apart along said elongation axis, each of said notches defining engagement surfaces facing generally toward said second end of said member, said engagement surfaces disposed to engage the inner surface of the lever guard; and (b) a pair of members projecting from said first end and spaced apart at a distance greater than the width of the lever arm to define a slot sized to receive the valve actuating lever arm whereby the lever arm is held in a valve opening position against the biasing means with said elongated member releasably engaged between the lever guard and the lever arm with said first end of said elongated member engaging the lever arm at a point spaced apart from the end of the lever arm.