Belly chain anchor

Abstract

The belly chain anchor is a system that is incorporated into incarceration uniforms that allows law enforcement officers to secure belly chains to the uniforms, preventing the detainees from stepping out of the belly chains and using them as weapons. The belly chain anchor limits the mobility of one or both of the detainees' hands or arms by securing the belly chain to the uniform. The belly chain is secured to the anchor at about the location that the chain that connects to the detainee's handcuff chain.

Description

BACKGROUND

Currently, incarceration uniforms do not contain a means to secure the belly chains used to handcuff detainees while they are in use. As a result, the belly chain encircles the detainees' waists, connecting the handcuffs secured on each wrist. Detainees can step out of the belly chains, placing both chains on the front or back side of their bodies, providing mobility for their hands and arms, and enabling them to use the belly chains as deadly weapons against themselves, officers, and others. The belly chain anchor secures the belly chains to the incarceration uniform, preventing their use as weapons.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The belly chain anchor is made of sturdy material and securely fastened to incarceration uniforms, allowing one to secure the belly chains to the incarceration uniform, preventing the detainees from stepping out of the chains and using them as weapons.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the belly chain anchor assembled, prior to being secured into the incarceration uniform.

FIG. 2 shows the placement of the belly chain anchor into the incarceration uniform top and jumpsuit, including placement of the anchor tabs.

FIG. 3 shows the side view of the belly chain anchor secured into the incarceration uniform, including placement of the anchor tabs.

FIG. 4 shows how the belly chain anchor interacts with the belly chain and padlock to secure the belly chain to the belly chain anchor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows the belly chain anchor made of 1000 denier nylon, approximately 1.5 to 2 inches wide, the length depending on the size of the uniform in which it is being placed. The main strap has two anchor tabs, made of the same nylon as the strap, stitched onto the strap at the location of the left and right sides of the uniform. These tabs are attached to the strap by reinforced stitching, using a high strength thread such as nylon thread. The stitching should be a different color than the nylon to permit observation of the condition of the stitching. Each of the anchor tabs have a slotted anchor hole approximately 0.75 inches in length, which is reinforced by stitching. The belly chain anchor can be made long enough to be sewn around the front and back of the uniform, or just one half, preferably the back.

FIG. 2 shows the placement of the belly chain anchor on the two differently types of uniforms, those with separate tops and those that are jumpsuits. The belly chain anchor is placed on the interior or exterior of the uniforms at about the lower waist area, with the anchor tabs on the left and right sides. Alternatively, the belly chain anchor can be sewn so that the anchor tabs lay on the front and back of the uniform if desired.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the belly chain anchor on a uniform top, with the anchor tabs aligned on the sides.

FIG. 4 shows the placement of the belly chain anchors with the belly chains. The belly chain anchor is sewn into the uniform, ideally during the manufacturing. When belly chains are placed around the waists of detainees by law enforcement officials, with one chain on the front and one chain on the back of the detainees' waists, the officer can secure the belly chain to the uniform with the belly chain anchor.

When utilizing uniforms with belly chain anchors, the law enforcement official places the belly chains on the detainee, then takes a padlock or other shackle locking mechanism and places it through a chain link in the belly chain and through one of the anchor holes. The officer then locks the mechanism thereby securing the belly chain to the uniform and limiting the detainees arm mobility. This limited mobility prevents the detainee from stepping out from the middle of the belly chains and using them as a weapon.

This anchoring system can be used as an alternative cuffing system, particularly for abnormally large people. It can also be used in non-law enforcement industries, such as whenever arm mobility needs to be limited, such as various healthcare situations.

While the present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these disclosed embodiments. This invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of illustration only and so that this disclosure will be thorough, complete and will fully convey the full scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Indeed, many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind of those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains, and which are intended to be and are covered by both this disclosure, the drawings and the claims.

Claims

1. A belly chain anchor comprising: a strip of reinforcement material sewn to the interior or exterior circumference or front/back half of an incarceration uniform, either to the lower portion of a shirt or the midsection of a jumpsuit at the lower waist line, with anchor tabs securely stitched to the left and right sides of the belly chain anchor, containing reinforced slotted holes in each the left and right side anchor tabs.

2. The invention of claim 1 further comprising leather, nylon, or other durable material, which is integrated into the incarceration uniform by stitching, as to securely fasten it to the uniform.

3. The invention of claim 2 further comprising one slotted anchor hole at least 0.75 inches long in each of the anchor tabs, with the anchor tabs positioned on the left and right sides of the uniform, at about the location of the detainees arms.

4. The invention of claim 3 further comprising reinforced stitching of the left and right slotted anchor holes.