Patent Publication Number: US-6988297-B2

Title: Security cover for passive restraint buckle

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to vehicle safety equipment, and in particular to a security cover for seat belt buckles. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Passive restraints for occupants are standard safety equipment in many vehicles. They generally include seatbelts, shoulder harnesses and other equipment, which restrain the occupants for protection from “secondary” collisions. Various combinations and configurations of seat belts and shoulder harnesses have been developed, generally with the objectives of providing safety, comfort and convenience to the occupants. For example, both separate and combined seatbelts and shoulder harnesses have been provided in vehicles. Such belt-type passive restraints generally include buckles comprising tabs and receivers, which are selectively engaged by the occupants when securing and releasing same upon entering and exiting the vehicle. 
   Vehicles are often used for transporting individuals with special security considerations. Law enforcement officers are often required to transport individuals in custody under security conditions requiring restraint in order to prevent escape. Incidents have arisen wherein criminal suspects, convicted inmates and accomplices have involved law enforcement officers in serious and even deadly altercations in the course of being transferred between detention facilities, courthouses, etc. 
   It is therefore desirable to provide vehicle operators and others who are responsible for the safety and security of such passengers with locking restraints. Criminal suspects and inmates are commonly handcuffed during such procedures, but nevertheless pose serious hazards of escape and flight while in transit. Another criteria for such equipment is portability from vehicle-to-vehicle and adaptability to a wide range of vehicles. For example, in connection with extradition and other proceedings requiring travel to other jurisdictions, law enforcement officers are often required to use locally-available vehicles. A compact, universally-adaptable, portable restraint locking system would be highly beneficial to officers in connection with discharging such duties. 
   However, heretofore there has not been available a passive restraint locking system with the advantages and features of the present invention. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In the practice of the present invention, a security cover is provided for a belt-type passive restraint system including a buckle with a tab selectively received in a tab receiver. The tab receiver includes a release button for releasing the tab whereby the passive restraint system is opened. The security cover includes a slot for receiving the tab and a keyhole located thereover for passing a key to the release button for releasing same. An optional restraint assembly can be provided for retaining the security cover on the belt receiver. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  show a prior art security cover for the buckle of a belt-type passive restraint system. 
       FIG. 3  is a prospective view of a security cover for the buckle of a belt-type passive restraint system, including a retaining pin. 
       FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of a modified retaining pin for the security cover. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a security cover comprising another aspect of the invention, including a retaining cable. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a security cover comprising another aspect of the invention. 
       FIG. 5A  is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view of the security cover shown in  FIG. 5 , installed on a seatbelt and shoulder harness buckle. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a security cover comprising another aspect of the invention, including a retaining bolt and nut. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a security cover comprising another aspect of the invention, with a hinged lid. 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a security cover comprising another aspect of the invention, with another type of hinged lid. 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a security cover comprising another aspect of the invention, with a padlock. 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a security cover comprising another aspect of the invention, with another type of padlock. 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective the end of a security cover comprising another aspect of the invention, including a chain retainer. 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a security cover comprising another aspect of the invention, including a cable-tie type retainer. 
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a key and a keyhole. 
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a key and a keyhole with alternative configurations. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   I. Introduction and Environment 
   As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. 
   Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. For example, up, down, front, back, right and left refer to the invention as oriented in the view being referred to. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the embodiment being described and designated parts thereof. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar meaning. 
   Referring to the drawings in more detail, the reference numeral  2  generally designates a security cover embodying the present invention. Without limitation on the generality of useful applications of the security cover  2 , it is shown with a belt-type passive restraint system  4  including a buckle receiver  6  mounted on the end of a belt  8 , which forms a loop  10 . The receiver  6  includes a release button  12 , which can be pressed to release a buckle tab (not shown) from the receiver  6  for releasing the passive restraint system  4 . The passive restraint system  4  can comprise a seatbelt, a shoulder harness, a combined seatbelt-and-shoulder harness or some other type of system with a buckle. The buckle receiver  6  can also be mounted on a semi-rigid cable or attached directly to the body of a vehicle. Moreover, other configurations of passive restraint systems, buckles and release buttons can be accommodated by different aspects of the present invention. 
   II. Security Cover Preferred Embodiments 
     FIG. 3  shows the security cover  2 , which includes an open receiver end  14 , a tab end  16  with a tab slot  18  and a keyhole  44 , opposite side panels  20 , a top panel  22  and a bottom panel  24 , which collectively define an enclosure  26 . A retainer assembly  28  includes a retaining pin  30  with a proximate end  32  mounting an enlarged head  34  and a notched distal end  36 . The retaining pin  30  is adapted for passing through a retaining pin aperture  38  and one of the side panels  20  and into a retaining pin lock  40  mounted in the enclosure  26  adjacent to the receiver end  14 . A retainer keyhole is provided in the top panel  22  for actuating the retaining pin lock  40 . 
   In operation, the buckle receiver  6  is inserted into the cover enclosure  26  and the retaining pin  30  is inserted through the aperture  38 , the belt loop  10  and into the retaining pin lock  40 . Alternatively, the retaining pin  30  can be positioned over or under the belt loop  10  and retain the buckle receiver  6  within the cover enclosure  26 . The seatbelt or shoulder harness tab is inserted through the slot  18  to secure the restraint system  4 . Releasing the restraint system  4  is accomplished by inserting a key  42  through a keyhole  44  formed in the cover tab end  16  above the slot  18 . 
     FIG. 3A  shows a flexible clip  46  adapted for insertion through a flexible clip aperture  48  whereby the retaining pin  30  can be releasably secured in the cover  2  and through the belt loop  10 , as an alternative to the retaining pin lock  40 . 
     FIG. 4  shows another aspect of the invention with a retaining cable  52  attached at a proximate end  54  to a respective cover side panel  20 . A cable distal end  56  mounts a hook  58  selectively receivable and a cable lock  60  actuated through a lock keyhole  62 .  FIG. 5  shows another aspect of the invention with an unsecured cover  64 , adapted for placement over the buckle receiver  6  and retained in place by the buckle tab.  FIG. 5A  shows the cover  64  positioned on the buckle receiver  6  with a buckle tab  63  locked therein. A key  65  is inserted through a keyhole  67  and is pushing the release button  12  whereby the tab  63  will be released from the buckle receiver  6 .  FIG. 6  shows another aspect of the invention with a retaining bolt  66  threadably mounting a retaining nut  68  and adapted for placement through aligned apertures  70  formed in the top and bottom panels  22 ,  24 . The retaining bolt  66  is adapted for selectively retaining buckle receiver  6  within the cover enclosure  26 . 
     FIG. 7  shows another aspect of the invention with a modified cover including a base  74  hingedly mounting a lid  76  and collectively forming a belt opening  78  adapted for selectively capturing the belt  8 . The lid  76  can be selectively locked in a closed position by a suitable lid lock  80  adapted for actuation through a lid keyhole  82 .  FIG. 8  shows a cover  84  comprising another aspect of the invention with a modified lid  86 . 
     FIG. 9  shows another aspect of the invention including a padlock  88  with a hasp  90  extending through aligned hasp apertures  92  in the cover side panels  20 .  FIG. 10  shows another aspect of the invention including a padlock  94  with a hasp  96  extending through aligned apertures  98  in the cover top and bottom panels  22 ,  24 . 
   Fig  11  shows another aspect of the invention including a chain  102  with a connecting link  104  and multiple apertures  106  formed in the cover whereby various combinations of the apertures  106  can receive the chain  102  for securing same to a buckle receiver  6  or belt  8 .  FIG. 12  shows a similar aspect of the invention with a flexible plastic cable or wire tie  108  in place of the chain  102 . 
     FIG. 13  shows a key  110  with a generally cylindrical configuration and a keyhole  112  with a corresponding round configuration.  FIG. 14  shows an alternative key  114  with a generally cylindrical shaft  1   16  and a lever  118  extending radially therefrom. An alternative configuration keyhole  120  includes a round portion  122  adapted to receive the key shaft  116  and a slot  124  adapted to receive the lever  118 . The key  114  can comprise the type widely used by law enforcement officials for handcuffs. Other alternative configurations can be utilized for the keys and keyholes, including various geometric shapes. 
   It is to be understood that the invention can be embodied in various forms, and is not to be limited to the examples discussed above. Other components and configurations can be utilized in the practice of the present invention.