Abstract:
A seatbelt buckle system for law enforcement use, wherein the female portion of the buckle is located at the end of a segment which is in a generally upright and readily-accessible position to assure the safe and expeditious restraint of an individual. The individual securing the occupant is advantageously less prone to adverse events such as unwanted contact with or from the occupant, injury to the back or other part of the anatomy, or unwarranted charges of sexual harassment.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to seatbelts used to restrain occupants in a vehicle, and, more specifically to seatbelts used in law enforcement vehicles. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    It is well known in the art to use seatbelts in automobiles or other vehicles in order to restrain occupants in the event of a collision or other adverse event. 
         [0005]    Although the primary purpose of seatbelts is to provide safety for occupants of vehicles, a secondary purpose for law enforcement is to use seatbelts to restrain an occupant to prevent them from harming themselves or others during transportation or while the vehicle is not in motion. 
         [0006]    Seatbelts are comprised of two or more sections that link together with the occupant between the seatbelt and the seat. The seatbelt is attached to some portion of the vehicle in order to provide the necessary restraint needed to counteract the forces of a collision or other adverse event. 
         [0007]    During use, the occupant is seated in a desired position and pulls at least two sections of seatbelt together and fastens them. Typically, the fastening mechanism involves a female section of a buckle on a non-anchored section and a male section of a buckle on an anchored section. 
         [0008]    It is also well-known in the art to provide extensions for seatbelts in the event that the occupant is too large to fit between a standard coupled seatbelt and the seat. Such extensions typically have a male section of a buckle on one end and a female section of a buckle on the other end, and are provided in various lengths to extend the operative length required for the occupant. In extreme cases, two or more extensions can be used. 
         [0009]    In some instances, the occupant needs assistance with operating the seatbelt themselves. Some of these instances are people with infirmities, the elderly, the very young, or people with cognitive difficulties. Assistance can then be provided by someone else to restrain the occupant. 
         [0010]    In law enforcement situations, it is normal to have the operation of the seatbelt restraint of an occupant performed by law enforcement personnel rather than by themselves. There is a duty to transport the occupant in a safe manner, should a collision or other adverse event occur. 
         [0011]    In addition to the safe transportation of occupants, there are often situations where it is desired to restrain them from harming themselves or others while in the vehicle, the vehicle being in motion or at rest. When placed securely in the seat by the seatbelt, the occupant then has limited movement. 
         [0012]    Often in these law enforcement situations, the occupant has been previously restrained by handcuffs or other restraining mechanisms; in such cases, it is impossible for the individual to restrain themselves with the seatbelt. 
         [0013]    In these situations as well, the occupant may be combative and/or under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and therefore pose a danger to themselves or the law enforcement personnel attempting to restrain them in the vehicle. This applies even if the occupant has been previously restrained by handcuffs or other restraining means, as the occupant has several means with which to harm himself or others. These means may include biting, kicking, lunging, grabbing, striking, scratching, head-butting, or other altercations. 
         [0014]    When restraining an occupant, it is necessary for the law enforcement personnel to lean inside the vehicle and over/across the occupant in order to buckle the seatbelt. This leaves that person or persons extremely vulnerable to any or more of the adverse consequences mentioned above. Additionally, injury to the back or other anatomic area may occur as a result of the awkward positioning needed to operate the seatbelt. Finally, the occupant may falsely claim the law enforcement personnel was sexually harassing them as a result of the close proximity between the two. 
         [0015]    Typically with present vehicles, the law enforcement personnel must reach over to “fish around” for the section on the opposite side of the occupant, that section possibly lying under the occupant or between parts of the seat or otherwise not readily accessible. This is a time of typically high stress and urgency, where expediency is critical to complete the buckling operation. 
         [0016]    What is therefore needed in the art is a seatbelt apparatus that allows someone to safely and expeditiously operate buckling of the seatbelt for an occupant who is not permitted to, physically restrained from, or incapable of operating it themselves. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    The present invention provides a seatbelt buckle system which provides a way to safely and quickly buckle together sections of a seatbelt to restrain the occupant of a vehicle. 
         [0018]    The invention in one form is directed to a seatbelt buckle system comprising a first restraining apparatus which includes a male portion of a buckle on a section of flexible material anchored at each end to first and second portions of a vehicle, and a second restraining apparatus which includes a female portion of a buckle on a segmented section anchored to a third portion of the vehicle. 
         [0019]    The invention in another form is directed to a seatbelt buckle system comprising a first restraining apparatus which includes a male portion of a buckle on a section of flexible material anchored at one end to a first portion of a vehicle and the other end anchored at a second portion of the vehicle with a spool between the two anchors, and a second restraining apparatus which includes a female portion of a buckle on a generally upright end of a segmented section anchored to a third portion of the vehicle. 
         [0020]    The invention in another form is directed to a seatbelt buckle system comprising a first restraining apparatus which includes a male portion of a buckle on a section of flexible material anchored at one end to a first portion of a vehicle and the other end anchored at a second portion of the vehicle with a spool between the two anchors, and a second restraining apparatus which includes a female portion of a buckle on a generally upright end of a section with a male portion of a buckle at the opposite end for buckling into the female portion of an existing seatbelt buckle. 
         [0021]    The invention in still another form is directed to a seatbelt buckle system comprising a first restraining apparatus which includes a male portion of a buckle on a section of flexible material anchored at one end to a first portion of a vehicle and the other end anchored at a second portion of the vehicle with a remotely-actuable spool between the two anchors, and a second restraining apparatus which includes a female portion of a buckle on a generally upright end of a segmented section anchored to a third portion of the vehicle. 
         [0022]    An advantage of the present invention is the restraint of an occupant in a vehicle can be performed in a quick and repeatable manner. 
         [0023]    Another advantage of the present invention is that as a result of the ease and accessibility of the seatbelt components, there is a degree of added safety for both the occupant and the individual restraining the occupant. 
         [0024]    Still another advantage of the present invention is that as a result of the ease and accessibility of the seatbelt components, the individual restraining the occupant may be less prone to back or other injuries. 
         [0025]    Another advantage of the present invention is a reduction in unfounded sexual harassment charges, as the individual and the occupant being restrained are at a greater distance from each other than when operating a standard seatbelt. 
         [0026]    Still another advantage of the present invention is that the spool can be remotely actuable to lock and/or retract the coupled seatbelt when the door closes so the restraining individual cannot pull out more belting and create slack. 
         [0027]    Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the spool can be remotely actuable to lock and/or retract the coupled seatbelt by an individual from the operating position of the vehicle while it is in motion or at rest, in the event that the occupant is not secure or it is necessary to further secure the occupant. 
         [0028]    An advantage of an embodiment of the present invention is the ability to use it with existing seatbelts. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0029]    The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0030]      FIG. 1  is a side view of an occupant restrained by an embodiment of a seatbelt buckle system of the present invention showing the first and second restraining apparatuses as disclosed herein; 
           [0031]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the occupant of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the second restraining apparatus of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the second restraining apparatus of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  in an extended position; 
           [0034]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the second restraining apparatus of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  in a folded position; 
           [0035]      FIG. 6  is a top view of a portion of an alternate embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0036]      FIG. 7  is a schematic illustration of an activatable restraint system disclosed herein. 
       
    
    
       [0037]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates an embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0038]    The terms “seatbelt”, “restraint”, “vehicle”, and “buckle” are used principally throughout this specification for convenience but it is to be understood that these terms are not intended to be limiting. 
         [0039]    Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIGS. 1-2 , there is shown a vehicle  1  in the form of an automobile, which generally includes a chassis  2 , a door  3 , a seat  4 , seat back  5 , and a rear seating arrangement  6 ; having an embodiment of a law enforcement seatbelt buckle system  10  of the present invention. Seatbelt buckle system  10  includes a first restraining apparatus  11  and a second restraining apparatus  12 . 
         [0040]    First restraining apparatus  11  includes a first end  32 , a second end  34 , a length of flexible material  36  between and connecting first end  32  and second end  34 , and a buckle male portion  38  slidably disposed along the length of flexible material  36 . Additionally, first restraining apparatus  11  includes a spool  40 , upon which flexible material  36  is wrapped at or near second end  34 . Buckle male portion  38  is substantially similar to the male portion of seatbelt buckles currently being manufactured and used in automobiles, airplanes and other vehicles. 
         [0041]    Spool  40  operates under tension to remove any slack in seatbelt buckle system  10  when it is buckled together, or to remove any slack in first restraining apparatus  11  when not in use. The spool also selectively locks to prevent unwrapping of the flexible material  36  in the event of a collision of vehicle  1  or sudden movement of the occupant. 
         [0042]    Advantageously, door switch  42  on chassis  2  may be used to actuate the locking feature of spool  40  when the door  3  of vehicle is closed, thereby optimally securing the occupant. Alternatively or additionally, dashboard switch  50  may be used to actuate spool  40  into a locked position and/or perform additional wrapping of flexible material  36  around spool  40 , thereby optimally securing the occupant as explained further in this specification. 
         [0043]    Now, additionally referring to  FIGS. 3-5 , second restraining apparatus  12  of seatbelt buckle system  10  is described. Second restraining apparatus  12  includes a buckle female portion  14 , a first segment  16 , a second segment  18  and a pivot point  20 . Buckle female portion  14  is substantially similar to the female portion of seatbelt buckles currently being manufactured and used in automobiles, airplanes and other vehicles, and may be adapted to connect to first segment  16  in a rigid manner. 
         [0044]    First segment  16  is a rigid member with proximal end  16   a,  distal end  16   b,  top side  16   c , and bottom side  16   d.  There is a bend  16   e  toward the proximal end  16   a,  which is attached to buckle female portion  14 . Bend  16   e  is at an angle α to axis A-A, which runs longitudinally through the unbent section of first segment  16 . Angle α may be any angle greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees, and is preferably 45 degrees. Distal end  16   b  includes through hole  16   f  and protrusion  16   g.  The protrusion  16   g  may be manufactured integrally with first segment  16 , or may be a separate component such as a roll pin or spring pin. For the purpose of discussion, first segment  16  may be made of steel, plastic, composite, or any other non-webbed material. 
         [0045]    Second segment  18  is a rigid member with proximal end  18   a,  distal end  18   b,  top side  18   c,  and bottom side  18   d.  Proximal end  18   a  includes through hole  18   e.  Distal end  18   b  includes flange  18   f  with through hole  18   g.  For the purpose of discussion, second segment  18  may be made of steel, plastic, composite, or any other non-webbed material. 
         [0046]    The hole  18   g  on flange  18   f  of second segment  18  is used as a connection point for anchoring second restraining apparatus  12  to chassis  2  or another portion of vehicle  1 . The connection point can be that utilized by a conventional seatbelt system, and that system can remain in the vehicle with the present invention being added thereto. 
         [0047]    First segment  16  and second segment  18  are pivotally connected by rivet  22  at pivot point  20  through holes  16   f  and  18   e.  Second segment  18  is preferably longer than first segment  16 , and has a length and shape to extend from the connection point on the chassis  2  of the vehicle  1  to where pivot point  20  is in a location at or above where the seat  4  and seat back  5  of the rear seating arrangement  6  meet (see  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0048]    First segment  16  and second segment  18  are arranged so that first segment  16  pivots about pivot point  20  and moves in a generally vertical manner, allowing first segment  16  to fold up against the back of the seat back  5  when desired ( FIG. 5 ). When first segment  16  is folded up against the seat back  5 , for example, an individual can be placed into vehicle  1  in a generally horizontal manner and not impede the operation of buckling the seatbelt buckle system  10 . 
         [0049]    The movement-limiting protrusion  16   g  serves to limit the pivotal movement of first segment  16  relative to second segment  18 , so that when first segment  16  is moved to its desired position as shown in  FIG. 1  it can be easily accessed by law enforcement personnel without falling down to the seat  4 . 
         [0050]    In an alternate embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 6 , first segment  16  as described above—with the exception of no through hole  16   f  or protrusion  16   g —has distal end  16   b  now include buckle male portion  16   h,  which is in the shape of the male portion of a standard seatbelt buckle. In this embodiment, first segment  16  can be used in vehicles with a standard seatbelt arrangement and without second segment  18 . 
         [0051]    Now referring again to  FIGS. 1-2 , a handcuffed individual is shown after assembly of seatbelt buckle system  10 . It should be noted that buckle female portion  14  is in a position that is readily accessible, as opposed to being located at or under where the occupant contacts the seat  4 . Advantageously, in addition to the safe and expeditious restraint of the individual, unbuckling of seatbelt buckle system  10  can be accomplished in the same manner. 
         [0052]    A method of restraining an occupant with the invention is hereby described. The occupant is placed by an individual into vehicle  1  onto rear seating arrangement  6  with first restraining apparatus  11  on one side of him, and second restraining apparatus  12  on the other side of him. Grasping buckle male portion  38  and/or flexible material  36  with one or both hands, the individual urges first restraining apparatus  11  toward second restraining apparatus  12 , unwrapping flexible material  36  from around spool  40 . Buckle female portion  14  on the end of first segment  16  is already in an exposed and readily-accessible location, proximate to and away from seat  4 . Because first segment  16  is non-webbed and rigid, the individual can then connect buckle male portion  38  with buckle female portion  14  with relative ease. 
         [0053]    After the occupant is restrained in vehicle  1  by seatbelt buckle system  10 , door  3  is closed. When door  3  closes against chassis  2 , activatable restraint system  44  may be operated (see  FIG. 7 ). Activatable restraint system  44  includes a sensor  46 , an actuator  48 , and a spool  40 . An embodiment of sensor  46  of activatable restraint system  44  may be door switch  42 , which signals actuator  48  to activate spool  40  to remove any slack in seatbelt buckle system  10  and/or lock spool  40  so as to not allow any unwrapping of flexible material  36 . Alternatively or additionally, dashboard switch  50  may be used to remove any slack in seatbelt buckle system  10  and/or lock spool  40  so as to not allow any unwrapping of flexible material  36 . 
         [0054]    By the advantageous use of this invention, the occupant is quickly and securely restrained and will remain so while vehicle  1  is at rest or in motion. Further, the individual restraining the occupant has enjoyed the decreased possibility of harmful contact from the occupant, the decreased possibility of injury as a result of awkward movements or stance during the buckling procedure, and the decreased instances of false accusations of sexual harassment by the occupant as a result of the expedience of the buckling procedure as well as an increased distance between the individual and the occupant. 
         [0055]    Although the present invention has been discussed relative to an occupant in the rear seat of a vehicle, the present invention may also be utilized in the front seat of the vehicle, allowing an law enforcement officer for example to more easily access the seatbelt buckle, particularly considering bulky equipment worn by the officer. 
         [0056]    While a seatbelt apparatus has been described with respect to law enforcement use, the present invention can be used in any vehicle or for any purpose. Examples include but are not limited to child restraint seats and seating for handicapped individuals. 
         [0057]    While a seatbelt apparatus has been described with respect to at least one embodiment, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.