Illumination – With implement or hand held holder therefor – Key holder
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-09
2001-08-28
O'Shea, Sandra (Department: 2875)
Illumination
With implement or hand held holder therefor
Key holder
C362S109000, C362S206000, C362S202000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06280046
ABSTRACT:
This invention is an illuminated handcuff key allowing police officers to illuminate a key slot on a set of handcuffs while using the key.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Police officers routinely handcuff and remove handcuffs from suspects, during daylight and at night. Conventional handcuffs include a pair of arms that latch together when one arm is telescoped inside the other. A second locking mechanism includes a slot on the side of the handcuffs that exposes a latching element. To double lock the handcuffs, a locking pin is required to pass through the slot and manipulate the latching element. A standard locking pin is about 0.10″ in diameter and at least about 0.25″ long.
Although the procedures of police departments differ, it is considered sound practice to double lock the handcuffs on anyone being transported for a substantial distance or time. A transporting officer sometimes discovers that a suspect has a standard handcuff key and is surprised to find the person uncuffed. An unattended handcuffed person with a handcuff key can unlock a set of handcuffs even if the double lock is locked.
To remove a standard handcuff that is single or double locked, a standard handcuff key is required. The standard handcuff key is L-shaped with relatively sharp corners and edges and can be used to unlock any set of standard handcuffs. To unlock single locked handcuffs, the key is inserted in the key slot and turned counter-clockwise. This unlocks a single locked standard handcuff.
To remove double locked handcuffs, the standard handcuff key is inserted in the key slot and turned clockwise. This releases the double lock mechanism. The office then turns the key counter-clockwise to unlock the single lock mechanism thereby releasing the cuff. This is done on each cuff to remove the handcuffs.
A typical officer has a handcuff key that includes a locking pin, generally loose in a pocket or on a key ring. The key and pin are easy to lose or misplace, particularly when handled at night because they can be dropped and thereby disappear.
Disclosures relevant to the disclosure of this invention are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,863,062; 4,302,797; 4,864,474; 5,181,927; 5,460,022; 5,541,817; 5,568,741; 5,704,236; 5,713,656; 5,772,308; 5,730,013; 5,826,969; 5,845,986 and 5,937,680.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In this invention, a handcuff key and a locking pin are provided on an assembly which includes means for illuminating the key. The assembly provides a simple and expeditious technique for holding the handcuff key and locking pin and preferably includes a clip so the assembly can be carried in a pocket, in a manner analogous to a pen.
Construction of the assembly is simple. A metallic tube provides a housing receiving a light transmitting fixture at one end. The fixture provides a slot for receiving the handcuff key and a fastener secures the key to the fixture. A locking pin is provided at the opposite end of the housing. The locking pin is part of a threaded member, acting as a switch, which is advanced into the housing to complete an electric circuit to a bulb thereby illuminating the key.
The electric circuit energizing the bulb is simplicity itself. The bulb fits in a recess in the light transmitting fixture and abuts a washer making electrical connection to the housing. One or more batteries are located inside the housing and one abuts a terminal on the end of the bulb. At the locking pin end of the assembly, a threaded cap allows access to the batteries to remove and replace them as needed. A resilient grommet is inside the housing and is compressed by the threaded cap to prevent the batteries and bulb from rattling. When one wants to light the handcuff key, one threadably advances the locking pin so it contacts the end of the battery. This completes an electric circuit energizing the bulb.
It is an object of this invention to provide an improved handcuff key assembly.
A further object of this invention is to provide an illuminated handcuff key assembly including a locking pin for double locking a pair of handcuffs and unlocking the double lock.
Another object of this invention is to provide an handcuff key assembly providing a simple reliable electric circuit for illuminating the handcuff key.
These and other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent as this description proceeds, reference being made to the accompanying drawings and appended claims.
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Moller G. Turner
Negron Ismael
O'Shea Sandra
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