Patent Application
20170330468
The present invention relates to criminal justice training and, more particularly, to a training kit for investigating police scenes.
Criminal Justice is the system of practices and institutions of governments directed at upholding social control, deterring and mitigating crime, or sanctioning those who violate laws with criminal penalties and rehabilitation efforts. Criminal justice degree programs at four-year institutions typically include coursework in statistics, methods of research, criminal justice, policing, U.S court systems, criminal courts, corrections, community corrections, criminal procedure, criminal law, victimology, juvenile justice, and a variety of special topics. A number of colleges and universities offer a Bachelor of Criminal Justice. Currently, colleges and universities are unable to properly teach criminal justice students how to investigate a police scene due to limited budgeting.
As can be seen, there is a need for an improved training aid for investigating police scenes.
In one aspect of the present invention, a police scene training apparatus comprises: a first sidewall and a second sidewall; a plurality of dowels, each comprising a first end secured to the first sidewall and a second end secured to the second sidewall, wherein the plurality of dowels are oriented above and below one another; a plurality of blocks rotatably disposed about each of the plurality of dowels, wherein each of the plurality of blocks comprises a plurality of sides, wherein at least two of the plurality of sides of each of the plurality of blocks comprises an image, and a plurality of aligned sides form a surface comprising a plurality of images forming a police investigative scene depiction.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.
The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
The present invention includes a changeable crime/crash scene using triangular prisms with various images. The triangular prism design is a self-contained, small, portable, tool that allows for changeable crime and crash scenes at a low cost. This design can replace many tools currently used. Further, the present invention may be used for hands-on measurements and photographs.
Since the images are in specific locations on each side of each prism, reconstructing a crime scene or crash scene can be more exact. An instructor can easily assess a student's work later on by setting up each prism as seen by the student at the time of the assignment. Turning prisms are easier, quicker, and more exact than placing loose pieces on a board.
Referring to
As mentioned above, the plurality of images 38 form a police investigative scene, such as a car crash or crime scene. The images 38 aligned together may form the same police investigative scene depiction on each side. However, each image 38 may include a different depicted item. For example, the depicted items may include a car, a truck, a weapon, a body, glass, blood, bullet casings, and the like. Therefore, users may rotate the blocks 24 and depict the same scene with different items.
In certain embodiments, the present invention may further include a base 10 connecting the first and second sidewalls 14, 16 at a bottom end, and a cover 12 connecting the first and second sidewalls 14, 16 at a top end. The base 10 and cover 12 may be secured to the sidewalls 14, 16 by screws 36. The present invention may further include a support block 18 and a support dowel 20 secured to the sidewalls 14, 16 behind the blocks 24 to add additional support.
In certain embodiments, the present invention may resemble a police car. For example, a plurality of large blocks 28 and a small block 30 may be secured to the cover 12. The large blocks 28 and small block 30 may include a blue and red color and may be arranged to look like police car lights. Further, different decorative blocks, such as triangular blocks 32 and arched rooftop blocks 34 may be secured to the cover 12. In certain embodiments, wheel blocks 26 having a black color may be secured to the base 10.
The rotatable blocks 24 of the present invention may be a prism shape and thereby may include three sides. Each of the three sides may include an image 38 of a portion of the same police investigative scene depiction. In certain embodiments, each of the three sides may include a different depicted item within the police investigative scene depiction. For example, a first side may include a gun, a second side may include a body, and a third side may include blood. Therefore, a user may rotate each block 24 to show the same police investigative scene depiction with a different orientation of items.
The images 38 of the present invention may include pictures or drawings that make up the full police investigative scene depiction. The images 38 may be directly etched or printed onto each side of the rotatable blocks 24. However, in certain embodiments, each of the images 38 may be secured to the side of the block by an adhesive 40.
As illustrated in
It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.
