Abstract:
The method and device of this invention immobilizes a person in a secure, upright restraint system in a police vehicle. It can be easily and safely applied by public safety officers including police or other law enforcement personnel and medical personnel to secure a person against undesired movement while maintaining them in an upright, sitting position which leaves the diaphragm free for natural, unrestrained breathing movement. The asphyxia-preventing restraining device comprises an ALR/ELR retractor. The ALR/ELR retractor comprises a shoulder harness having a pair of seat belt buckles, which significantly reduces the possibilities of injuries to police officers.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/725,018, filed on Dec. 1, 2003, which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/941,887 filed on Aug. 28, 2001. The disclosure of the above applications is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a seat belt system for restraining a prisoner in a law enforcement vehicle.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     A seat belt system for restraining a seated prisoner in a law enforcement vehicle ordinarily includes seat belt webbing, a seat belt buckle, and a seat belt retractor. A locking tongue on the webbing is releasably lockable in the buckle when the webbing has been extracted from the retractor and moved to a position in which shoulder and lap belt sections of the webbing extend across the prisoner. If the vehicle experiences a crash, a locking mechanism in the retractor blocks further extraction of the webbing. The webbing then restrains movement of the prisoner to protect the prisoner from a forceful impact with parts of the vehicle as a result of the crash.  
         [0004]     Often, however, seat belts in police vehicles are simply not used. This is due to the location of the belt system within a police vehicle, which places the retractor mounted outboard of the prisoner and the buckle is positioned inboard of the prisoner. Police officers are under considerable risk of injury should they belt the prisoner. Injuries to the police officer can be caused by the prisoner biting, kicking, or head butting the police officer while the officer reaches over the prisoner to buckle him. As such, the belt in police vehicles are rarely used. As a result, a significant liability risk exists for municipalities which may be found responsible for injuries caused to a prisoner during a vehicle accident.  
         [0005]     Seat belt retractors fall into two broad categories. The first being an emergency locking retractor (ELR) which is activated only during an emergency to prevent protraction of the seat belt (webbing) wound about a spool of the retractor. This type of retractor includes various known sensors such as a web sensor with initiates the locking of the spool when the webbing is pulled at a rate above a designated level and a vehicle or inertia sensor sensitive to levels of vehicle deceleration to bring the spool into a locked condition. The second type of retractor is one which is brought into a locked condition after a determinable length of webbing has been protracted. Once this length of webbing has been protracted, the retractor spool is automatically in its locked condition preventing further protraction of the webbing. This type of retractor is often referred to as an automatic locking retractor (ALR). The ALR retractor is reset once the webbing is fully retracted upon the spool. The ALR function has also been incorporated into an ELR retractor. This type of retractor includes a mode switching mechanism to switch the retractor from operating as an ELR to one that operates as an ALR retractor.  
         [0006]     This mode switching mechanism can take many forms such as a feeler bar that rides upon the webbing coiled upon the spool. As the webbing is protracted, the feeler bar rotates inwardly and at some angle, indicative of an amount of webbing protracted from the retractor. The feeler bar causes a lock pawl to be moved into engagement with the lock teeth of the retractor. A more complex mode switching mechanism can be realized using a series of gears which rotate with the spool and, at a predetermined position, one or more of these gears activate a lever to cause a lock pawl to engage a lock teeth of the retractor.  
         [0007]     This ELR/ALR retractor operates as an ELR retractor during an emergency and acts as an ALR once the seat belt webbing has been protracted a determinable length. A retractor with an ALR feature has proven useful in securing a child seat to the vehicle seat. After the child seat is in place upon the vehicle seat, the webbing is fully protracted from the retractor, activating the mode switching mechanism. After the latch plate (also referred to as a tongue) is secured into its buckle the webbing is released and rewound into the retractor by its rewind spring. Once this occurs, the webbing is pulled tight about the child seat. Since the retractor is now in its ALR mode of operation, the webbing is prevented from protracting during an emergency and, as such, the child seat is held securely upon the seat.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     In accordance with the present invention, a prisoner restraint system for a law enforcement vehicle restrains the seated prisoner&#39;s movement. The system restrains kicking movement by restraining movement of the prisoner&#39;s feet upward from positions resting on the vehicle floor, and also by restraining forward movement of the prisoner&#39;s feet. The system includes seat belt webbing, a seatbelt retractor, a first and second seat belt buckles, a seat belt locking tongue, and has an engaged condition in which the tongue is interlocked with the first seat belt buckle to position the seatbelt in a position convenient for an officer&#39;s use and in the second buckle to restrain the prisoner.  
         [0009]     A primary object of the present invention is to provide an ALR/ELR seat belt retractor which has a mode switching mechanism, the mode switching of which can be used as a means to control the movement of a prisoner in a vehicle seat. A further object of the invention is to provide a safety restraint system that has a switch or sensing means which will detect the change of operational mode from the ELR mode to ALR mode, indicative of the fact that the webbing has been secured about a prisoner seat and provide a signal which will be used to vary the output of a lamp. Other objects, features, and advantages will become apparent from the following description and appended claims.  
         [0010]     Accordingly, the invention includes a seat belt retractor having a mode switching mechanism capable of transforming the retractor to operate as an ALR or ELR retractor. The system provides a center mounted seatbelt retractor and a pair of seatbelt buckles. The first buckle is placed in a forward location in the vehicle compartment. The second buckle is placed in a location adjacent the vehicle seat. A sensing means capable of detecting the mode of operation of the retractor and to provide a signal, which can be used to modify the output of a warning lamp is provided. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     The foregoing and other features of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art to which the present invention relates upon consideration of the following description of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the seatbelt system of the present invention in a police vehicle;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a top view of apparatus of  FIG. 1  in a police vehicle;  
         [0014]      FIGS. 3 and 4  represent a schematic views of other apparatus of the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a seatbelt retractor according to the teachings of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is a modular seat according to the teachings of the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is a prisoner screen according to the teachings of the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 8  is a floor pan according to the teachings of the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 9  represents a close up front view of a portion of the restraint system according to the teachings;  
         [0020]      FIG. 10  is a door assembly according to the teachings; and  
         [0021]      FIGS. 11 and 12  are front and perspective rear views of the restraint. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0022]     An apparatus  10  comprising a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1 . The apparatus  10  includes vehicle occupant restraint system  12  for a rear seat  16  of a vehicle  18 . The vehicle  18  is a law enforcement vehicle such as an automobile, truck, van, or the like which is used to transport prisoners. The first restraint system  12  is a three-point seat belt system for restraining an occupant of the seat  16  upon the occurrence of a vehicle crash. Accordingly, the restraint system  12  can continuously restrain a seated prisoner  17  so that the prisoner can move within the vehicle without causing damage to himself, the adjacent door, window, front seat, or security grill.  
         [0023]     The restraint system  12  includes seat belt webbing  30  and a seat belt retractor  32  for the webbing  30 . As is shown schematically in  FIG. 1 , the retractor  32  has a spool  34  upon which the webbing  30  is wound. A rewind spring  36  biases the spool  34  to rotate in a winding direction. The webbing  30  is movable back and forth between a fully retracted position and a fully extracted position upon winding and unwinding of the webbing  30  on the spool  34 .  
         [0024]     The first restraint system  12  further includes a seat belt locking tongue  40  and a first seat belt buckle  42 . The tongue  40  is preferably slidable along the length of the webbing  30 , and is releasably lockable in the first buckle  42 . The buckle  42  is anchored directly to the seat  16 , or directly to the vehicle floor  44 , in a known manner. The second buckle  43  is placed at the adjacent door b-pillar  45 , front seat, or security grill.  
         [0025]     When the webbing  30  is in a first position, it extends upward from the retractor  32  to the second buckle  43  and then to an anchor  46 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . The anchor  46  fixes the webbing  30  to the seat  16  or to the floor  44  in a known manner. When the webbing  30  is in the second position, shown in  FIG. 2 , it is extracted from the retractor  32  sufficiently to enable the tongue  40  to reach the first buckle  42 . A shoulder belt section  50  of the webbing  30  then extends across the seat  16  from the retractor  32  to the tongue  40 . A lap belt section  52  of the webbing  30  extends across the seat  16  from the anchor  46  to the tongue  40 .  
         [0026]     The rewind spring  36  in the retractor  32  is stressed as the spool  34  rotates in an unwinding direction when the webbing  30  is being extracted from the retractor  32  and the tongue  40  is being moved toward the buckle  42 . When the tongue  40  is released from the buckle  42 , the rewind spring  36  rotates the spool  34  in the winding direction to retract the webbing  30  into the retractor  32 , and thereby to move the webbing  30  back to the fully retracted position.  
         [0027]     The retractor  32  further includes a locking assembly  60 . The locking assembly  60  blocks further extraction of the webbing  30  when the webbing  30  is required to restrain the occupant of the seat  16 . Preferably, the locking assembly  60  includes both an emergency locking mechanism  62  and an automatic locking mechanism  64 . The emergency locking mechanism  62  blocks unwinding rotation of the spool  34  in response to an emergency condition such as, for example, vehicle roll-over, sudden vehicle deceleration, or sudden extracting movement of the webbing  30 . The automatic locking mechanism  64 , which is sometimes referred to as a cinch mechanism, continuously blocks unwinding rotation of the spool  34 . Such an automatic locking mechanism may be actuated in response to extraction of the webbing  30 , locking of the tongue  40  in the buckle  42 , or any other condition indicating that an occupant of the seat is wearing the webbing  30  for protection upon the occurrence of a vehicle crash.  
         [0028]     When the first webbing section  50  is in its first retracted position, as shown in  FIG. 1 , it preferably extends outward from beneath the seat  16  only far enough for the tongue  40  to be easily accessible to a law enforcement officer reaching into the vehicle  18  across a seated prisoner. When the first webbing section  50  is in the extracted position shown in  FIG. 2 , it extends outward from beneath the seat  16  sufficiently for the tongue  40  to be locked in the buckle  43  at the end of the second webbing section  52 .  
         [0029]     In accordance with a particular feature of the present invention, the first buckle  42  is located on the outboard side of the seated prisoner  17  when the restraint system  12  is in the engaged condition of  FIG. 4 . This ensures that the first buckle  42  is easily accessible to a law enforcement officer reaching into the vehicle  18  to unlock the tongue  40  from the first buckle  42 .  FIG. 5  is illustrative of an ELR/ALR retractor  32  with a mode changing mechanism  22  shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,811,912, which is incorporated herein by reference. This retractor  32  includes a gear mechanism  64 , which rotates as the webbing is extracted from the retractor  32 . At a predetermined position, a lever-ratchet  8  of the mechanism  22  is caused to change position, thus initiating a change in the mode of operation of the retractor.  FIG. 5  also shows a sensing means  60  positioned proximate to the lever  8  to detect this change in position of the lever  8  (which is indicative of the change in operating mode from its ELR mode to its ALR mode).  
         [0030]     The following describes the operation of the invention. The seatbelt is placed into its first position by locking the tongue  40  into the first buckle  42 . The webbing of the retractor is extended. As the webbing is protracted, the retractor spool rotates moving the gears of the mode switching mechanism to the point the ALR mechanism  64  is engaged. The prisoner  17  is first placed on the vehicle seat  16 . As the webbing is protracted, the retractor spool rotates moving the gears of the mode switching mechanism. With the webbing extended, the lever  8  is caused to move placing the retractor  32  in its ALR mode of operation. Thereafter, the webbing is released and is rewound upon the retractor spool drawing the webbing  30  tightly. The tongue  40  is released from the first buckle and inserted into the second buckle  43 . Thereafter, the webbing is again released and is rewound upon the retractor spool drawing the webbing  30  tightly around the prisoner  17 . Optionally, the movement of the lever  8  is sensed by the sensing means  60  and communicated to and used by the control unit  29  to display a light visible to the police officer showing the status of the system.  
         [0031]     It is envisioned that the police vehicle of the present invention can be outfitted with modular components. As seen in  FIGS. 6 through 8 , the interior of a police vehicle can be outfitted with modular components such as a single piece polymer seat  16 , a screen  66  and a floor pan  68 , which is fastened into the police vehicle. It is envisioned that the seat  16  can be configured to accept a center mounted seat belt retractor  32 . Additionally the seat  16  can be adapted to accept the mounting of the outwardly positioned seat belt buckle  42 .  
         [0032]      FIGS. 7 and 8  depict a prisoner screen  66  and floor according to the teachings of the present invention. The screen  66  can be configured to have the second forward position. It is envisioned that this second forward position can have a hook, a latch, or a second seatbelt buckle as previously described. Additionally, the screen  66  can have a generally transparent window.  
         [0033]      FIG. 9  represents a front view of the restraint system according to a second embodiment. Shown is a police vehicle having a rear passenger compartment configured to transport a prisoner with a vehicle seat  16  within the rear passenger compartment having a center mount location and a vehicle door  80 . A blocking flange  82 , which is configured and positioned to prevent access to the seat belt buckle  42  is disposed on the door  80 . A retractor  32  is disposed at the center mount location, and can include a mode switching mechanism capable of changing the mode of operation of the retractor between an automatic locking retractor mode and an emergency locking retractor mode in response to an amount of seat belt webbing extracted from the retractor.  
         [0034]     The rear passenger compartment defines a first coupling position located adjacent to the vehicle seat  16  and a second forward coupling position located forward of the vehicle seat generally near the b-pillar or prisoner screen. As described above, the first and second coupling positions are configured to restrain the tongue. The retractor  32  is configured to resist movement of the prisoner while the seat belt tongue  40  is in the first coupling position and the retractor  32 . The blocking flange  82  is disposed adjacent to the first coupling location to prevent release of the tongue  40  by the passenger or prisoner when the door  80  is in a closed position.  
         [0035]     When the tongue  40  is in the first coupling position, the webbing has a chest portion which is extracted so as to extend across the seat from the retractor. The belt further has a lap belt section which extends across the seat from the anchor to the tongue. When the door  80  is closed, the blocking flange  82 , which can be on either on one or both of the door  80  or seat  16 , covers a seat belt buckle  42 . The blocking flange  82  is positioned to prevent release of the tongue  40  by the passenger or prisoner when the door  80  is in a closed position. As described above, the system can have a first seatbelt buckle  42  disposed at the first coupling position; and a hook or buckle disposed at said second forward coupling position.  
         [0036]      FIG. 10  is a door  80  assembly according to the teachings. Shown is the blocking flange  82  which is generally horizontal which is integral or fixed to the door interior facia. The blocking flange  82  is generally positioned above or at the top surface of the vehicle seat. Generally, the blocking flange  82  is shown positioned so as to just cover the buckle  42  and tongue  40  in the first coupling position. It is envisioned the blocking flange  82  can extend the full length of the door  80 . Vertically, the blocking flange  82  can be positioned on the door  80  so that the blocking flange  82  contacts the seat  16  when the door  80  is in a closed position. Alternately, the blocking flange  82  may be disposed above and not contact the seat  16  when the door is in a closed position. In this position, the blocking flange  82  inhibits the ability of the passenger or prisoner to access the button of the buckle  42 .  
         [0037]      FIGS. 11 and 12  represent front and rear perspective views of the restraint system according to the alternate embodiment. Shown is the relative positioning of the system elements with respect to the vehicle seat within a rear passenger compartment of a vehicle. It is envisioned the blocking flange  82  can be formed of porous foam material having a sufficient stiffness to prevent access to the first coupling location. In this regard, it is envisioned the blocking flange can be reinforced with an internal stiff rib formed of metal or polymer. As described above, the system has a first coupling position located adjacent to the vehicle seat, a second coupling position forward of the vehicle seat and a passenger compartment door having a blocking flange.  
         [0038]     Referring again to  FIGS. 1, 2  and  4 , in operation, the prisoner is placed on the vehicle seat  16 . The tongue  40  is coupled to the buckle  42  at the first coupling position. At this point, the webbing is protracted from the retractor to engage the automatic locking retractor mode. Releasing the webbing restrains the prisoner against the vehicle seat  16 . At this point, the vehicle door  80  is shut, thus covering the tongue and buckle with the blocking flange  82 , to prevent access.  
         [0039]     8. The method according to claim  7  comprising the step of coupling the tongue to the second coupling position forward of the seat.  
         [0040]     9. The method according to claim  8  comprising the step of coupling the tongue to the first coupling position adjacent the vehicle seat.  
         [0041]     10. The method according to claim  8  comprising the step of closing the door so as to position the blocking flange adjacent to the first coupling location.  
         [0042]     11. The method according to claim  10  comprising the step of releasing the webbing to restrain the prisoner.  
         [0043]      FIG. 14  represents a close up front view of a portion of the restraint system.  
         [0044]     From the above description of the invention, those skilled in the art will perceive improvements, changes and modifications. Such improvements, changes and modifications within the skill of the art are intended to be covered by the appended claims.