Abstract:
An apparatus ( 20 ) for assisting in the application and removal of handcuffs. The handcuffs including two cuffs joined by a central portion. The apparatus ( 20 ) comprises a base ( 22 ) adapted for stationary fixing, a switch ( 40 ) and a means ( 36 ) to selectively restrain the central portion of the handcuffs relative to the base within an opening ( 30 ) through which the cuffs cannot pass, in response to activation of the switch ( 40 ).

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for assisting in the application and removal of handcuffs. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Numerous different styles of handcuffs are available for restraining the wrists of detainees for law enforcement purposes. The two main styles of handcuffs are chained and hinged, which refer to how the two cuffs are joined. 
         [0003]    Among the various handcuffs available, the physical dimensions and characteristics vary greatly on account of numerous features including different metal plate thicknesses, different weight characteristics and ergonomic shape considerations. 
         [0004]    Whilst a detainee is being released from handcuffs, a law enforcement officer is at risk of being injured after one of the detainee&#39;s hands has been released, as the detainee is then able to move both arms independently. 
         [0005]    When applying handcuffs to a detainee, law enforcement officers are also at risk of being injured if the detainee resists arrest. 
         [0006]    Also, absent some other restraint, when a detainees wrists are not secured to each other during handcuff application or removal, the detainee is able to independently use both hands to attempt escape. 
       OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate one or more of the above disadvantages, or at least to provide a useful alternative. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    In a first aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for assisting in the application and removal of handcuffs, the handcuffs including two cuffs joined by a central portion, the apparatus comprising: 
         [0009]    a base adapted for stationary fixing; 
         [0010]    a switch; and 
         [0011]    a means to selectively restrain the central portion of the handcuffs relative to the base within an opening through which the cuffs cannot pass, in response to activation of the switch. 
         [0012]    Preferably, the switch is associated with the base. 
         [0013]    The apparatus preferably includes an adjustment means adapted to selectively alter the size of the opening, thereby accommodating different sized handcuffs. 
         [0014]    The restraint means preferably includes a recess formed in the base. The recess is preferably a slot. 
         [0015]    The restraint means preferably includes a pin transversely extendable across the slot. 
         [0016]    The adjustment means is preferably adapted to alter the distance between the bottom of the slot and the pin. 
         [0017]    The adjustment means is preferably a spring biased plate. 
         [0018]    The adjustment means preferably includes a screw extendable into a hole in the bottom of the slot, the screw being engagable with a fastener inside the base. 
         [0019]    Preferably, the switch is a foot pedal. The switch is preferably in electrical communication with the restraint means. 
         [0020]    The switch is preferably shielded on one or more sides by a shield member. 
         [0021]    The base is preferably an elongate tube. 
         [0022]    The tube is preferably connectable at a first end to a base plate, and the restraint means is located at a second end of the tube. 
         [0023]    The base plate preferably includes a number of apertures adapted to receive fasteners for securing the apparatus. 
         [0024]    The base preferably has an internal cavity housing a bar, the bar mechanically connecting the foot pedal to the restraint means. 
         [0025]    The bar is spring biased to close the restraint means when no force is applied to the pedal. 
         [0026]    In a second aspect, the present invention provides a method of applying handcuffs to a person, the handcuffs including two cuffs joined by a central portion, the method including the steps of: 
         [0027]    placing the central portion in an opening of a fixed apparatus; 
         [0028]    restricting the opening such that the central portion is restrained therein; 
         [0029]    placing one of the person&#39;s wrists in one of the cuffs and locking the cuff; and 
         [0030]    placing the person&#39;s other wrist in the other cuff and locking that cuff. 
         [0031]    In a third aspect, the present invention provides a method of removing handcuffs from a person, the handcuffs including two cuffs joined by a central portion, the method including the steps of: 
         [0032]    placing the central portion in an opening of a fixed apparatus; 
         [0033]    restricting the opening such that the central portion is restrained therein; 
         [0034]    unlocking one of the cuffs and thereby releasing one of the person&#39;s wrists; and 
         [0035]    unlocking the other cuff and thereby releasing the person&#39;s other wrist. 
         [0036]    The method preferably includes the step of adjusting the size of the opening to correspond to the size of the central portion of the handcuffs. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0037]    A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0038]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a first embodiment of an apparatus for assisting in the application and removal of handcuffs according to the invention; 
           [0039]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the base plate of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0040]      FIG. 3  is a partial side view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0041]      FIG. 4  is a top view of a head plate of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0042]      FIG. 5  is a front view of a head cover of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0043]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the head cover shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0044]      FIG. 7  shows an inner bar and spring of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0045]      FIG. 8  is a top view of a pedal of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0046]      FIG. 9  is a side view of the pedal shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0047]      FIG. 10  shows a pedal lever of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0048]      FIG. 11  is a side view of a head of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0049]      FIG. 12  is a front view of the head shown in  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0050]      FIG. 13  is a top view of the head shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 ; 
           [0051]      FIG. 14  is a bottom view of the head shown in  FIGS. 11 to 13 ; 
           [0052]      FIG. 15  shows a locking pin of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0053]      FIG. 16  shows a top view of a head spacer of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0054]      FIG. 17  shows a side view of the head spacer shown in  FIG. 16 ; 
           [0055]      FIG. 18  shows a front view of the pedal shield; 
           [0056]      FIG. 19  shows a side view of the pedal shield shown in  FIG. 18 ; 
           [0057]      FIG. 20  is a front view of a second embodiment of an apparatus for assisting in the application and removal of handcuffs according to the invention; 
           [0058]      FIG. 21  is a front view of a head cover shown in  FIG. 20 ; and 
           [0059]      FIG. 22  is a side view of the cover shown in  FIG. 21 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0060]      FIG. 1  shows a front view of a first embodiment of an apparatus for assisting in the application and removal of handcuffs, generally indicated by the reference numeral  20 . The apparatus  20  includes a base  22  made from square metal tubing. As best seen in  FIG. 2 , the base  22  is connected at its lower end to a flanged base plate  24 . The base plate  24  has holes  25  for securing the apparatus  20 , to for example, a floor by expanding bolts (not shown) or the like. 
         [0061]      FIG. 4  shows a head plate  26  connected to the upper end of the base  22 . The head plate  26  is connected to and supports a head  28 , which is shown in detail in  FIGS. 11 to 14 . The head  28  includes an opening, in the form of a vertical slot  30 , which extends downwardly from the top surface of the head  28 . A head cover  32  (see  FIGS. 5 and 6 ) is attached to the side of the head  28 , and covers the internal cavity formed inside the tubular base  22 . 
         [0062]    The head  28  is vertically positioned above the ground at a suitable height corresponding to the height of the wrists of a typical detainee standing with their arms in a relaxed state. 
         [0063]    An adjustment means, in the form of a head spacer  34 , is attached to the head  28 , and positioned in the bottom of the slot  30 . The head spacer  34  is spring loaded and is adapted to vary the depth of the slot  30 . The head spacer  34  is attached on its underside to a screw  33  which extends into the base  22  through a hole  37  in the bottom of the slot  30 , and through the head plate  26 . The screw  33  is fastened by a nut (not shown) on the inside of the housing underneath the head plate  26 . Adjustment of the screw  33  and nut is used to manually set the desired height of the head spacer  34 , and hence the gap between the head spacer  34  and the top of the slot  30 . The nut is accessed by an access cover plate  35  which is bolted to the side of the base  22 . 
         [0064]    As best seen in  FIG. 15 , the apparatus  20  also includes a restraint means, in the form of a stainless steel locking pin  36 , which projects from the head  28  transversely across the slot  30 . 
         [0065]    As best seen in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , a switch, in the form of a pedal  40 , projects from the lower end of the base  22 . The pedal  40  is connected to a pedal lever  42  (see  FIG. 10 ) which is in turn attached to an inner bar  44  (see  FIG. 7 ), disposed inside the tubular cavity of the base  22 . The inner bar  44  is mechanically coupled to the locking pin  36 , and the inner bar  44  is spring biased to close the locking pin  36  when no force is applied to the pedal  40 . 
         [0066]      FIG. 1  shows a pedal shield  38 , attached to the base plate  24  (see  FIGS. 18 and 19  for detail). The pedal shield  38  covers the pedal  40  from one side and from above. 
         [0067]    The operation of the apparatus  20  will now be described. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the apparatus  20  is fastened to the floor in a suitable location such as a police station, a prisoner processing area of a court, a prison, or other such facility. The apparatus  20  is rigidly bolted to the floor by a number of bolts which are received by holes  25  in the base plate  24 . 
         [0068]    To apply handcuffs to a detainee, a law enforcement official places one of his/her feet inside the pedal shield  38 , and applies a force to the pedal  40 , which is transmitted through the pedal lever  42 , and through the inner bar  44 . The force causes the locking pin  36  to retract into the head cover  32 , and remain retracted whilst the pedal  40  is depressed. A pair of handcuffs (not shown) are then placed into the slot  30  with the central portion of the handcuffs (i.e. the chain or hinge region) being placed immediately beneath the locking pin  36 , and above the head spacer  34 . 
         [0069]    The pedal  40  is then released and the spring loaded locking pin  36 , slides back across the slot  30 . This prevents the handcuffs from being removed from the apparatus  20  as the distance between the bottom of the slot  30  and the bottom of the pin  36  is less than the maximum circumferential diameter of each of the cuffs. 
         [0070]    A detainee&#39;s wrist is then placed in one of the cuffs, and that cuff is then locked in the normal manner. Once the detainee has one arm restrained in the apparatus  20 , he/she is unable to escape from the apparatus  20 . The detainee&#39;s second arm is then placed in the second cuff which is also locked at that stage. 
         [0071]    The detainee is now secured to the apparatus  20 , and unable to escape, or use is their arms in an attack. The shield  38  over the pedal  40  prevents the detainee from accessing the pedal  40  to release the handcuffs from the apparatus  20 , because he/she is standing on the opposite side of the apparatus  20 . 
         [0072]    The apparatus  20  can be used to cuff the detainee standing with their arms in front of their body or behind their back. 
         [0073]    To remove handcuffs from a detainee, the pin  36  is retracted by depressing the pedal  40 . The law enforcement officer then instructs the detainee to place the centre of the cuffs into the slot  30  of apparatus  20 . The pedal  40  is then released, and the locking pin  36  closes in the manner outlined above such that the detainee is secured to the apparatus  20 . The cuffs are removed one at a time, in a reverse process to that of securing a detainee. The detainee remains secured to the apparatus  20  until the second cuff is removed. 
         [0074]    Different styles and brands of handcuffs have different dimensions, especially in the chain or hinged region between the cuffs. For example, the chain type cuffs have a smaller interconnecting region than hinged handcuffs. The head spacer  34  is used to adjust the space between the locking pin (when in the locked position) and the lowest portion of the slot  30 . By removing the access cover  35 , the law enforcement officer manually adjusts the height of the head spacer  34  to accommodate different sized handcuffs, by adjusting the internal screw. 
         [0075]      FIGS. 21 to 22  show a second embodiment of an apparatus for assisting in the application and removal of handcuffs, generally indicated by the reference numeral  120 . The apparatus  120  is similar in construction to the apparatus  20  shown in  FIGS. 1 to 19  and like reference numerals to those used in describing the first embodiment are used to indicate like features in the second embodiment. However, the apparatus  120  also includes a lock  42  in the head cover  32 . The lock  42  is configured as a deadlocking device so that, once the key is removed from the lock  42 , activating the pedal  40  will not retract the locking pin  36 . 
         [0076]    In another embodiment (not shown), the base  22  of the apparatus  20  is significantly shortened, and adapted to be securing to a bench top, wall or other such surface. In this embodiment the locking pin  36  is operated by a hand lever. 
         [0077]    In another embodiment (not shown), the apparatus  20  includes a locking pin  36  located near the ground of the base  22  and adapted to receive and secure a pair of leg irons in a similar manner as outlined above. In one embodiment, the apparatus  20  has corresponding upper and lower locking pins to independently secure handcuffs and leg irons. 
         [0078]    In a further embodiment (not shown), the vertical height of the base  22  is adjustable to accommodate the height of the detainee being secured. This prevents the detainee from extending his/her arms higher than is comfortable, or hunching over when secured to the apparatus  20 . 
         [0079]    In a further embodiment (not shown), the switch  40  is an electrical switch, and the restraint means  36  is a solenoid, or other such electrically driven locking device. In this embodiment the switch  40  can be mounted on the base  22 , or alternatively mounted remote from the base  22 . The solenoid is actuated by a signal transmission cable or a transmitted signal such as infra-red or the like. 
         [0080]    An advantage of the apparatus  20  is that it ensures that a detainee is secured during a handcuff application procedure after only one cuff has been applied. Similarly, when a detainee is being released from handcuffs, the detainee is secure until the second cuff is removed. 
         [0081]    A further advantage of the apparatus  20  is that it can be used to temporarily secure a detainee during processing, without requiring further supervision from a law enforcement officer. 
         [0082]    Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.