Patent Application
20140263485
Embodiments of the present invention relates generally to a device for inverting pockets so that the contents of the pockets may be examined.
Law enforcement officers face a wide array of dangers in the performance of their duties. In addition to perils, such as physical assault and vehicular accidents, there are other less obvious threats to the health and wellbeing of these officers. For instance, there are various dangers associated with searching those in custody for weapons or drugs. Arrested individuals may be drug users, having both drugs and other paraphernalia in their pockets, such as needles, knives, or other sharp objects. Although law enforcement officers commonly ask suspects if they are carrying dangerous items, the reply is suspect by nature and must be verified by checking the suspects' pockets.
Also, it is not unusual for a law enforcement officer or medical personnel to be faced with injured, disoriented, and/or unconscious persons who are unable to provide either reliable information or any information at all. Typically, the individual's pockets must be checked. While performing such a check, the law enforcement officers or medical personnel may suffer injuries caused by needles or other dangerous items located in the pockets. Such injuries, in addition to being painful, might require the injured to be screened or treated for a wide variety of infectious conditions.
Some devices used for examining the contents of a pocket incorporate hook or hook-like members to catch or entangle the fabric or lining of the pocket. Other devices utilize tacky or sticky elements, surfaces, or material to catch or adhere to the pocket. It is difficult, however, to reposition such devices if they adhere to an undesired portion of the pocket. For example, if it is desired to insert the device fully into the end of a pocket, it becomes difficult to reposition the device if it catches a portion of the pocket before reaching the end. Moreover, the hook or hook-like members may pierce the pocket's fabric or skin of the detainee, potentially causing damage or injury. Additionally, devices which use tacky or sticky elements may become contaminated when items and material within the examined pockets stick to the devices.
The present invention recognizes and addresses the foregoing considerations, and others, of prior art construction and methods.
In that regard, one aspect of the present invention provides a device and method of revealing the contents of the pockets of those arrested, detained, or otherwise incompetent without requiring insertion of the hand or fingers into the pockets thereby reducing the dangers to those persons who are required to perform the contents check. Certain aspects of the present invention overcome this difficulty by providing an effective means to invert pockets without reaching therein. Such a device for inverting pockets that is compact enough to be carried by law enforcement officers or medical providers lowers the risk of a required search, and thereby lowers any costs associated with follow-up medical treatment and/or lost work hours.
In one aspect of the present invention, a pocket inverter may include a wand and a head connected with the wand. The head may include a barbed portion comprising protrusions that extend outward from a surface of the barbed portion, the protrusions each comprising a conical shape to ensnare fabric in a pocket when the head is inserted inside a pocket and rotated, but prevent the protrusions from piercing through fabric of the pocket.
In another aspect of the present invention, a method of operating a pocket inverter is provided. The pocket inverter may include a wand comprising telescoping elements, and a head connected with the wand. The head may include a barbed portion comprising protrusions that extend outward from a surface of the barbed portion. The protrusions each may include a conical shape to ensnare fabric in a pocket when the head is inserted inside a pocket and rotated, but prevent the protrusions from piercing the fabric. The telescoping elements are extended to a desired length, and the head is inserted into a pocket. Once the head is inserted to the pocket to a desired location, the head is rotated in a first direction in order to allow the protrusions to catch the inside of the pocket and ensnare a portion of the pocket material to turn the pocket inside out.
In another aspect of the present invention, a pocket inverter is provided with an elongated body and at least one strip. The elongated body includes a first end, a second end, and an interior, the first end defining a slot. The strips are disposed in the elongated body's interior and include a barbed portion located proximate to the first end. The strips are also extendable through the slot. The barbed portion is configured to ensnare fabric in a pocket when the barbed portion is extended from the elongated body, but prevent the protrusions from piercing through fabric of the pocket. The strips are curved when extended from the elongated body.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended drawings, in which:
Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent same or analogous features or elements of the invention.
Reference will now be made in detail to presently preferred embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit thereof. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment may be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
As shown, wand portion 102 includes a plurality of telescoping elements 106, 108, and 110. Although three telescoping elements are depicted, it should be understood that pocket inverter 100 may include various numbers of telescoping elements depending on the desired size, configuration, and use of pocket inverter 100. In a preferred embodiment, pocket inverter 100 is approximately the size of a writing utensil, such as an ink pen, when in the compact configuration shown in
In the presently-described embodiment, head portion 104 comprises a barbed portion 116 and a non-barbed portion 118. Barbed portion 116 is comprised of a plurality of frustroconical protrusions that extend perpendicularly outward with respect to each surface of the barbed portion from which the respective protrusion extends. The length and width of the protrusions enable barbed portion 116 to ensnare the fabric of a pocket when head portion 104 is inserted inside a pocket and rotated, as described below, but prevent the protrusions from piercing the fabric. In the present embodiment, a top and a bottom surface of cuboidal head portion 104 comprise non-barbed portion 118. Head portion 104 may be constructed from hard injection molded plastic, but it should be understood that head portion 104 may also be constructed from other suitable materials, such as metal, plastic, rubber, or a combination thereof.
In some embodiments, the protrusions extend (and/or point) in a common direction about the periphery of the surface of the barbed portion so that if the head portion is moved (or rotated) in such common direction the protrusions ensnare the material it encounters during such movement, but if the head portion is moved (or rotated) in a direction that is opposite such common direction, the head portion will not ensnare the material it encounters. For example, if the barbed portion is a cylinder, the protrusions may all be pointing or aligned toward the base of the wand portion 102 (so that if base of the wand portion is placed proximate to a surface and perpendicular to such surface with the head portion distal from the surface, the protrusions on the head portion extend from the head portion and point toward the base of the wand portion). In this regard, when the head portion is inserted into the pocket (in a direction that is substantially opposite of the direction that the protrusions point), the protrusions do not ensnare the pocket material. However, when the head portion is then attempted to be removed from the interior of the pocket (i.e., the head portion is moved in a directed that is the same direction as where the protrusions point), the protrusions then ensnare the material in the pocket (thereby inverting the pocket). In another embodiment, head portion 104 has a spherical shape and the protrusions each point in a common circular direction (and each protrusion may be aligned with a tangent to the sphere at the location of each respective protrusion). For example, as viewed from above, the protrusions could all be pointing in a clockwise fashion about the sphere so that when the head is rotated in a counterclockwise motion, the material in the pocket is not ensnare, but is ensnared when the head portion is rotated in a clockwise motion. In this regard, the protrusions may not be orientated perpendicular to the surface of head portion 104 but instead are aligned in a direction that is opposite of the direction that the user will move the head portion to ensnare the material (e.g., the protrusions all point in a common circular direction if the user intends to ensnare material by rotation in a direction that is the same as the circular direction that the protrusions point, the protrusions point back towards the base or handle of the wand portion if the user intends to ensnare material by moving the head portion toward the based or handle of wand portion, or the protrusions may be orientated in any other common direction which is the direction that the user wishes to move the head portion to ensnare the material).
Additionally, it should be noted that the protrusions are relatively small burrs on the head portion. These burrs may be between one millimeter and 500 millimeters long and between 1-500 mms in diameter. Any number of relatively small burrs may be included on head portion 104, such as between 20 and 1000 burrs.
In the presently-described embodiment, head portion 104 is hollow and affixed to telescoping portion 110. Alternatively, head portion 104 may be translucent and/or solid, depending on the intended use of the device. In the current embodiment, wand portion 102 is constructed from plastic but may alternatively be constructed from other suitable materials, such as metal.
Referring to
If the user chooses not to invert the pocket, the user rotates pocket inverter 100 in the direction opposite to the direction the inverter was previously rotated. As a result, the pocket's material is released from barbed portion 116. The user then removes head portion 104 from the pocket without inverting the pocket. After using the pocket inverter, the user retracts wand portion 102 and stores the pocket inverter. Clip 114 may be used to secure the pocket inverter, such as to the user's shirt pocket when not in use.
In the presently-described embodiment, telescoping elements 106, 108, and 110 are polygonal (e.g., square, rectangular, triangular, etc.) in cross section which allows a user to distinguish inverter 100 from other objects such as pens having a cylindrical shank. The square cross-section of telescoping elements 106, 108, and 110 also prevents them from rotating with respect to each other during use. Preferably, telescoping elements 106, 108, and 110 will temporarily lock into place when extended in order to prevent the telescoping portions from collapsing when undesired. In this embodiment, additional force is used to collapse elements 106, 108, and 110 in order to return pocket inverter 100 to the compact configuration. If the telescoping portions are cylindrical (as described below), the locking mechanism may be further adapted to prevent relative rotation between the telescoping elements.
It should be understood that the present invention contemplates other suitable configurations and shapes of the head portions described herein without departing from the scope of the present invention should they be desired. For instance,
In operation, the user inserts head portion 1000 into a pocket and rotates the wand portion, thereby causing barbs 1004 to extend through apertures 1002 and come into contact with the pocket's fabric or other material. Once portion 1006 is rotated, the user then proceeds in the manner described above with respect to
In another embodiment, head portion 1402 is formed by a molded plastic injection process and may be translucent. As a result, the entire head portion including the barbs, may form the LED's housing and/or may be illuminated by the LED.
In another embodiment, a bag is attached to the pocket inverter's base so that any contents removed from the pocket may fall into the bag. The bag may be attached to the base by means of a slit within the base portion or by any other suitable means, such as a clip or clamp.
It should be understood that the above description provides a pocket inverters that may be used to examine the contents of an individual's pocket while reducing the risk of damage or injury. The embodiments of the pocket inverters described above provide other benefits that may be advantageous to the user. It should also be understood from the above description that the pocket inverter described herein may be telescoping or have a fixed length, solid or hollow, illuminated on non-illuminated, and any combination thereof. If illuminated, the lighting mechanisms may be positioned anywhere on the pocket inverter. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that the location of the switch operatively connected to the lights and associated power source to activate the lights is not crucial to the proposed solution and may be located as desired. Additionally, the protrusions or barbs may be located, oriented, and shaped as desired, depending on the intended use of the inverter.
It should also be understood that the size and orientation of the barbs located on the head portion of the pocket inverter, as well as their location on the head portion, may be altered without departing from the scope of the present invention. In certain embodiments, for instance, the barbs may exhibit a relatively smaller cross-section than those illustrated in the attached figures. By way of an example, the size of head 1302 and 1402, as well as the barbs located thereon, illustrated in
It should be further understood that the head portion may simply be a portion of the wand portion and need not be a different shape than the wand portion. For example,
Additionally, it should be understood that the barbs or protrusions may be replaced with a material that has a high coefficient of friction, such as a piece of rubber material or vinyl material. In this regard, the material may have a relatively large surface area so that the amount of friction between the pocket material and the material is great so that the material will be ensnared with the material using friction instead of piercing the material.
Other embodiments of the pocket inverter are possible and the above embodiments should not be so limited. For example, some additional embodiments are illustrated in
In
In
In the embodiment of
The tip of the wand portion could also incorporate micro teeth oriented in different directions and should not be limited to the above-described embodiment. As an example, the micro teeth of the largest circumference of the head portion could be oriented at a right angle to the wand portion so that the device could be rotated to engage and trap the material of the recess if the contents are heavy or cumbersome while the micro teeth situated nearer the base of the wand portion could be facing the base so that the wand could be inserted and retracted as described above.
A hollow tube would allow a battery to be inserted so that the tip of the burr could contain an LED that would allow the device to be utilized in examining recesses and darkened portions of vehicles, luggage, homes etc. Additionally, such a lighted tip may be utilized to examine the suspect's pupils or outer body as well as to provide a light to follow with the eyes while administering sobriety tests. The lighted portion may be placed inside the tip with selected openings provided so that the light may escape in the desired direction. The entire burr could be comprised of a light emitting diode whose exterior surface is formed to produce the micro teeth or simply manufactured so that the micro teeth result from the encapsulating liquid material of the LED being placed in a mold designed to form the micro teeth upon hardening.
Either of the above configurations could utilize a telescoping extension tip (as illustrated in
In another embodiment illustrated at
A smooth material such as rubber or leather that exhibits a high coefficient of friction could also be utilized as a means to engage the material of the pocket. This material could also be roughened, machined or provided with tips inserted into the material to enhance its efficiency.
It should be noted that the design of the pocket inverter (or any portion thereof) can be incorporated into the design of other products such as flashlights or tactical batons, and thus need not be a stand-alone device. For example, for flashlights, the pocket inverter herein could be incorporated into the circumference of the lighted end or as an attachment in the manner of a bayonet, fixed rod, or folding rod. Also, the head of the pocket inverter could be implemented on a tactical baton to add additional functionality to the baton.
Those skilled in the art should appreciate that the barbs of the pocket inverter are manufactured and fashioned in a manner that negates any danger due to use of the inverter. The size and composition of the barbs, such as being smaller than the associated wand portion and being made of rubber, for example, reduces the likelihood that anyone or anything is injured or damaged due to the inverter's use. That is, the tip of each barb exhibits a very small surface area designed to only engage the material of the targeted pocket and poses no danger of damaging any skin adjacent thereto.
While one or more preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it should be understood that any and all equivalent realizations of the present invention are included within the scope and spirit thereof. The embodiments depicted are presented by way of example only and are not intended as limitations upon the present invention. Thus, it should be understood by those of ordinary skill in this art that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments since modifications can be made. For example, aspects of one embodiment may be combined with aspects of other embodiments to yield still further embodiments. Therefore, it is contemplated that any and all such embodiments are included in the present invention as may fall within the scope and spirit thereof.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2012/066242 | 11/12/2012 | WO | 00 | 5/19/2014 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61561959 | Nov 2011 | US |
