Abstract:
A breathalyzer holder having an opaque body for retaining a breathalyzer having an electrical connection and a blow-tube. The breathalyzer holder includes a body having a lower hole to allow an electrical cable to pass through the body to electrically connect to the breathalyzer. The breathalyzer holder also includes a lid having an aperture that allows a breathalyzer blow tube to pass through to allow a user to blow into the breathalyzer.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The presently disclosed subject matter is directed towards a device for assisting in the prevention of drunk driving. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Driving while drunk or alcohol impaired is almost universally considered to be dangerous activity. Statistics and scientific studies, combined with common sense and experience, prove that drivers with high blood alcohol concentration (BAC) are at a greatly increased risk of accidents and vehicular deaths. 
         [0003]    Over the years law enforcement, legislatures, and courts have given the problem of drunk driving a high priority. Courts routinely suspend or revoke driver licenses of those convicted of drunk driving, vehicles are frequently impounded by law enforcement personnel when they suspect a driver is drunk, some jurisdictions require special vehicle plates after a drunk driving conviction, open container laws are implemented and enforced, high fines are issued, mandatory alcohol education classes are usually required, jail or prison time is often ordered, and insurance rates rise dramatically after a conviction. 
         [0004]    Despite the foregoing punishments, repeat convictions for drunk driving are frustratingly common. In response those concerned with driver safety have turned to technology to try to reduce recidivist drunk and impaired driving. Numerous attempts have been made to develop devices which prevent automobiles and the like from being operated by drunk or impaired drivers. One well accepted device is the breathalyzer. By tying the starting of a vehicle to passing a breathalyzer test the incidents of recidivist drunk driving can be significantly reduced. One common approach is to implement an ignition interlock system with a breathalyzer test result. In a typical breathalyzer-interlock system a driver must pass a breathalyzer test to start a vehicle and then pass another breathalyzer test at some time interval, say every 15 or 30 minutes, to keep the vehicle operating. 
         [0005]    Breathalyzers have been so successful that courts in some areas will not permit a driver who has been convicted of drunk driving from having a driver&#39;s license unless a breathalyzer-interlock system is installed and used on the vehicle they drive. Furthermore, attempts at defeating or otherwise evading the breathalyzer-interlock system can be and are punished by fines, jail time, additional loss of license, and/or vehicle impoundment or confiscation. 
         [0006]    While breathalyzer-interlock systems are generally successful they do present a problem of potential embarrassment to the vehicle&#39;s driver. While many would be unsympathetic to that problem in the case of someone convicted of drunk driving, such embarrassment can cause some operators to attempt to remove or disconnect the systems. This reduces the effectiveness of the breathalyzers. Furthermore, some drivers recognize that they have a drinking problem and voluntarily add breathalyzer-interlock systems to their vehicles even though they have not been convicted or ordered to do so. Potential embarrassment can reduce the number of drivers who do so, a fact that could cost lives. Finally, temporary drivers of a vehicle having a breathalyzer interlock system might also be embarrassed to drive a vehicle that is so equipped. 
         [0007]    Therefore, a holder for a breathalyzer-interlock system that reduces or prevents driver embarrassment would be beneficial. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The principles of the present invention provide for a breathalyzer holder that prevents or reduces embarrassment to a driver or operator of a vehicle equipped with a breathalyzer-interlock system. A breathalyzer holder according to those principles had an opaque body for retaining a breathalyzer having an electrical connection and a blow-tube. The breathalyzer holder includes a body having a lower hole to allow an electrical cable to pass into the breathalyzer holder to electrically connect to the breathalyzer. The breathalyzer holder also includes a lid having an aperture that allows a breathalyzer blow tube to pass through to allow a user to blow into the breathalyzer. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following detailed description and claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  illustrates a front view of a prototypical breathalyzer; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view of the prototypical breathalyzer illustrated in  FIG. 1  showing both its electrical connection and an electrical cable to an ignition interlock; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of a prototypical breathalyzer housed inside a breathalyzer holder that is in accord with the principles of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the prototypical breathalyzer and the breathalyzer holder illustrated in  FIG. 3 , 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a bottom perspective view of the prototypical breathalyzer and breathalyzer holder illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4  showing the electrical cable to the ignition; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is an illustration of a breathalyzer holder in accord with the principles of the present invention being used inside a vehicle. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    The presently disclosed subject matter now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which an embodiment is shown. However, it should be understood that this invention may take many different forms and thus should not be construed as being limited to the specific embodiment set forth herein. Note that in the figures that like numbers refer to like elements throughout. 
         [0017]    The principles of the present invention are illustrated herein with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 6 . Specifically, the principles of the present invention provide for a holder for a breathalyzer.  FIG. 1  illustrates a prototypical breathalyzer  10 , which is not meant to illustrate any particular breathalyzer, any manufacturer, or any specific model. Rather, it is a generic device having traits common among breathalyzers. However, important to the principles of the present invention is that the prototypical breathalyzer  10  has a blow tube  12  and an electrical connection  14 . Usually a breathalyzer  10  will also include operation buttons  16  (such as reset and start buttons), some type of data input  18  (such as a keypad or touch screen), and a display  20 .  FIG. 2  shows a bottom perspective view of an electrical cable  60  that runs to an ignition interlock (not shown) and that connects to the electrical connection  14 . 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , briefly during operation a user turns on the breathalyzer  10  using one or more operation buttons  16  (or it comes on automatically when a driver turns the ignition key), enters data using the data input  18 , if required, waits for directions to be shown on the display  20 , blows into the blow tube  12  when directed, waits for the breathalyzer result to be displayed on the display  20 , and then starts a vehicle after the breathalyzer  10  sends control signals out of the electrical connection  14  to an ignition interlock device (not shown) via the electrical cable  60 . 
         [0019]      FIG. 3  illustrates a breathalyzer holder  28  that is in accord with the principles of the present invention. The breathalyzer holder  28  includes a removable lid  30  that attaches to a body  32 . The prototypical breathalyzer  10  fits inside the breathalyzer holder  28  such that the blow tube  12  passes through an aperture  38  in the lid  30 . At the bottom of the body  32  is a molded plastic pillow  40  that is configured to form fit with the prototypical breathalyzer  10 . This protects the prototypical breathalyzer  10 , positions it in the correct orientation to fit the breathalyzer holder, and orientates the blow tube  12  toward the aperture  38 . The plastic pillow  40  includes a hole  42  under the electrical connection  14 . That hole  42  allows the electrical cable  60  to mate to the electrical connection  14 .  FIG. 4  illustrates a bottom view of the body  32  when the electrical connection  14  is not connected, while  FIG. 5  illustrates the same view when the electrical cable  60  mates with the electrical connection  14 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 3  also shows an opening  46  that allows a user to operate the operation buttons  16 . If the prototypical breathalyzers  10  does not require that a user interact with the operation buttons  16  then the opening  46  can be omitted or, if present, closed by a window piece (not shown). It should be understood that in some models of the breathalyzer holder  28  that there will be no opening  46 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 6  illustrates the breathalyzer holder  28  being used by a driver  50  of a car  52 . The prototypical breathalyzer  10  (not shown) is placed inside the breathalyzer holder  28  such that the blow tube  12  extends out of the breathalyzer holder  28 . The electrical cable  60  passes though the breathalyzer holder  28  and makes contact with the electrical connection  14 . To start the car  52  the user  50  uses the breathalyzer  10  by blowing into the blow tube  12 . If the driver  50  is not drunk appropriate electrical signals from the breathalyzer  10  pass through electrical cable  60  to allow the car  52  to start. Meanwhile the breathalyzer holder  28  shields the prototypical breathalyzer  10  from view, which saves the driver  50  from embarrassment. 
         [0022]    It should be understood that the breathalyzer holder  28  is simply an embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that while the figures and the above description illustrate the present invention, they are exemplary only. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. Others who are skilled in the applicable arts will recognize numerous modifications and adaptations of the illustrated embodiments that remain within the principles of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is to be limited only by the appended claims.