Seatbeltlock, a controlled release seat belt buckle cover for law enforcement

United States Patent Application 20060196020

A release resistant buckle cover is shown having a primarily rectangular shape for engagement with a top or side release female buckle portion of a seat belt. A hole in the top and another hole in one side are provided to allow insertion of a standard police issue handcuff key that when depressed allows the release button under the buckle cover to release the belt locking mechanism thus disengaging the seat belt.

Symns, Robert Allen (Hays, KS, US)

10/906782

09/07/2006

03/07/2005

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24/633

A44B99/00

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MENEZES, MARCUS

Robert A Symns (Hays, KS, US)

What is claimed is:

1. A device for prohibiting the premature release of vehicular seat belts used in law enforcement applications. This devise is comprised of a buckle cover or sleeve that has four sides that encompass and surround a receiver latching seat belt mechanism. These four sides are connected to a top on the object that has an access hole in the shape that allows a standard police issue handcuff key to be inserted into to contact the release button on the seat belt mechanism. Pressure applied to the release button with the handcuff keys allows the seat belt to be unlocked in the normal manor. Another handcuff key shaped hole in the side of the cover allows seat belts with side release buttons to use this same devise, in the same operating manor. This cover prevents a person from releasing the seatbelt with their finger. The handcuff key sized hole prohibits the use of typical vehicle keys, or similar larger objects. Seatbelts save lives and a properly secured prisoner is paramount to officer safety. Historically, prisoners that have released their seat belts prematurely while in police custody have caused accidents, escapes and injuries or death to themselves and the police officers involved. This device will prevent those undesirable situations and the liabilities that are associated with those undesirable situations. This invention was designed to be maintenance free and simple. It may be carried in the vehicle or with the officer. It may be used in all seating positions in the vehicle, and it is designed to fit most late model vehicles in use by law enforcement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a top view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a front side view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show a side view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a cutaway side view of one embodiment of the present invention with a female buckle portion, male belt portion and release key on top for that type of seat belt buckle.

FIG. 7 shows a cutaway side view of one embodiment of the present invention with a female buckle portion, male belt portion and a release key on the front side for that type of seat belt buckle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like elements are indicated by like numerals, there is shown in FIG. 1 a perspective view of the release resistant buckle cover. The buckle cover is primarily rectangular in shape having an open or hollowed out central portion, FIG. 2, for surrounding a female buckle A, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. While this embodiment shows a buckle cover having an approximately rectangular configuration, the buckle cover could be custom fit to a particular model or company shape of female buckle A and therefore could take on other configurations matching the female buckle A, such as round or oblong or oval and others.

The buckle cover has a first end wall 10 opposite a second end wall 12 joined to first and second side walls 11 and 14. FIG. 1 The bottom of the rectangle has no wall, or is open, while the top of the rectangle has a partial wall and a gap. In a preferred embodiment, the buckle cover is constructed of aluminum or stainless steel.

This particular embodiment shows a front side 14 gap and slot 16 and a top side 13 gap and slot 15 that allows passage of the standard issue handcuff key E in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 to access seat belt buckle release buttons C FIG. 6 and D FIG. 7. Adjacent the partial top side 13 is the gap which allows passage of objects B from above the buckle cover into the central portion of the buckle cover where the female portion of the seat belt latching mechanism A may be accessed.

The side walls 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 of the buckle cover, should be large enough such that a female buckle A, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 can be mostly contained within the central portion of the buckle cover. The buckle cover should cover the female buckle A such that no access to the release button C, D could be obtained except through one of the gaps 15 or 16.

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 shows the buckle cover covering the female buckle A To release the male belt B from the female buckle A requires one to insert a key E or any other similar object into one of the gaps 15,16. In this configuration, the user would insert key E into either gap 15 or gap 16 to engage the release button C or D and by pushing the release button C or D releasing the male belt B from the female buckle A.

The gaps are sized such that only handcuff key sized objects will fit where an adults finger would not be able to disengage the seat belt.

It will now be apparent to those skilled in the art that other embodiments, improvements, details and uses can be made consistent with the letter and spirit of the foregoing disclosure and within the scope of this patent, which is limited only by the following claims, construed in accordance with the patent law including the doctrine of equivalents.