Patent Application
20100162775
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
The embodiments of the present invention satisfy the needs of providing disposable double loop handcuffs.
Information relevant to attempts to address these problems can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,404; which is not admitted to be prior art with respect to the present invention by its mention in this Background Section. However, it is desirable to have a better device than is disclosed in the reference.
The embodiments of the present invention are directed to an apparatus that satisfies the needs set out in the Background section.
The embodiments of the present invention comprise disposable double loop handcuffs formed from two flexible straps each strap having a first end and a second end, each strap having a terminal hinge member at the first end and a handle at the second end, the first end having an opening that is less distally-positioned and more medially-positioned than the terminal hinge member, the second end inserted through the opening in the first end to form the strap into a loop. The opening contains a unidirectional locking head comprising a ratchet with teeth and pawl, the pawl extending monolithically from the strap on the distal side of the opening, the teeth located on the second end of the strap medial to the handle. The tip of the first end of the first strap has two hinge knuckles for receiving a third hinge knuckle between them. The tip of the first end of the second strap has at least a third hinge knuckle for inserting between the two hinge knuckles of the first strap. In the preferred embodiment, the second strap is identical to the first strap, also having two hinge knuckles, one of which is inserted between the two hinge knuckles of the first strap. The two flexible straps thusly looped are pivotably connected to one another with a rivet through a rivet hole in the hinge knuckles of the terminal hinge members, both handles pointing in the same direction.
In a preferred embodiment, the handles further comprise additional members generally perpendicular to the broadest plane of the straps, which additional members form a t-shape with the straps and which facilitate grasping the handle, and which additional members may have inserted in them a reinforcing cylinder. At the intersection with the t-shaped member, the strap may be thickened. That part of the t-shaped member which is on the side of the strap away from the rivet may be longer than that part of the t-shaped member which is on the side of the rivet.
In a preferred embodiment, the terminal ends with the hinge knuckles are substantially thicker than the rest of the strap.
The advantages of the embodiments of the invention include but are not limited to the pivoting function, which makes the stored profile of the cuffs smatter, allowing for storage in a smatter pocket or pouch and for rapid deployment of an initially smatter, less cumbersome device; the independent pull handles and the storage pocket, which both separately and in combination allow for rapid deployment; and the combination of the pivoting function, the independent pull handles and the storage pocket, which in combination allow for rapid deployment.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the embodiments of the device and/or methods will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claim and accompanying drawings where:
b shows a perspective view of a handle.
Plastic means polymer, high density polyethylene, nylon, PVC, or a polymer composite such as one containing graphite or aramid fibers.
Referring now to the drawings
As shown in
In the embodiments of the present invention the second end 12 of each strap 10 is inserted through the unidirectional locking head 35 in the opening 20 in the terminal hinge member 15 in its first end 11, to form a loop. The two flexible straps 10 thusly looped are connected to one another with a rivet 41 through a rivet hole 40 in the hinge knuckles 30 of the terminal hinge members 15, with both handles 25 pointing in the same direction.
The two loops can be rotated into a position where they overlap to some extent. The position in which the two loops fully overlap, as shown in
In a preferred embodiment, the handles 25 have additional members 45 generally perpendicular to the broadest plane of the straps 10, which additional members 45 comprise a t-shaped member 45 with the straps 10 and which facilitate grasping the handle 25, and which additional members 45 may have inserted in them a reinforcing cylinder 26.
At the intersection with the t-shaped member 45, the strap 10 may be thickened. That part of the t-shaped member 45 which is on the side of the strap 10 away from the rivet 41 may be longer than that part of the t-shaped member 45 which is on the side of the rivet 41.
In a preferred embodiment, the first ends 11 are substantially thicker than the rest of the strap 10.
The invention also includes a method for manufacturing disposable double loop handcuffs, comprising: providing two flexible straps, each strap having a first end and a second end; providing each strap with a terminal hinge member at the first end and a handle at the second end, the first end having an opening that is less distally-positioned and more medially-positioned than the terminal hinge member, the second end inserted through the opening in the first end to form the strap into a loop; providing the opening with a unidirectional locking head comprising a ratchet with teeth and pawl, the pawl extending monolithically from the strap on the distal side of the opening, the teeth located on the second end of the strap medial to the handle; providing the tip of the first end of the first strap with two hinge knuckles for receiving a third hinge knuckle between them; providing the tip of the first end of the second strap with at least a third hinge knuckle for inserting between the two hinge knuckles of the first strap, the tip of the first end of the first strap having two hinge knuckles for receiving a third hinge knuckle between them, the tip of the first end of the second strap having at least a third hinge knuckle for inserting between the two hinge knuckles of the first strap, through which hinge knuckles the two straps are connected.
The providing-two-flexible-straps step may further include providing a second strap that is identical to the first strap, also having two hinge knuckles, one of which is inserted between the two hinge knuckles of the first strap, the two flexible straps thusly looped being pivotably connected to one another with a rivet through a rivet hole in the hinge knuckles of the terminal hinge members, arranged with both handles pointing in the same direction.
The providing-each-strap-with-a-handle step may further include additional members generally perpendicular to the broadest plane of the straps, which additional members form a t-shape with the straps and which facilitate grasping the handle, and which additional members may have inserted in them a reinforcing cylinder.
The method may further include the step of thickening the strap at the intersection with the t-shaped member.
The method may further include the step of making longer that part of the t-shaped member which is on the side of the strap away from the rivet, than that part of the t-shaped member which is on the side of the rivet.
The method may further include the step of making the terminal ends with the hinge knuckles substantially thicker than the rest of the strap.
In a preferred embodiment, the flexible straps 10 are manufactured preferably with a plastic, such as high density polyethylene, nylon, PVC, or a polymer composite containing graphite or aramid fibers. In a preferred embodiment, the rivet 41 is made of steel.
As previously mentioned, the advantages of the embodiments of the invention include but are not limited to the pivoting function, which makes the size of the cuffs 55 smatter, allowing for storage in a smaller pocket or pouch 50 and for rapid deployment of an initially smaller, less cumbersome device; the handles 25 and the storage pocket 50, which both separately and in combination allow for rapid deployment; and the combination of the pivoting function, the handles 25 and the deployment pocket or pouch 50, which in combination allow for rapid deployment of the handcuffs 55.
As shown in
Some advantages of the embodiments of the apparatus were previously enumerated in the Summary section. Every advantageous feature does not need to be incorporated into every embodiment of the apparatus and/or methods.
Although these versions of the invention have been described in considerable detail, other versions are possible. For example, the rivet could be made of a polymer, or the device could be used to restrain the ankles. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the versions contained therein.
