Abstract:
A handcuff restraint strap is disclosed herein. The strap is made of a substantially soft, flexible, and strong material, such that it is comfortable to hold, and will withstand the forces applied while an officer holds and controls a suspect. The strap mounts to the center chain on the handcuffs and provides a handle for an officer to easily manage a handcuffed individual.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to Provisional Application No. 60/209,102, filed on Jun. 2, 2000. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a restraint device that works in conjunction with conventional handcuffs. More specifically, this invention relates to a restraint strap that is used in conjunction with conventional handcuffs to provide a handle for restraining a handcuffed individual. 
     BACKGROUND 
     When a police officer or other security personal attempts to detain a suspect, the officer normally handcuffs the suspect. This process is one of the most dangerous procedures for a police officer largely due to the possibility of a prisoner attempting to escape. If the suspect attempts to escape as they are being handcuffed, the police officer can be hurt by trying to restrain the suspect by grabbing the handcuff or handcuff chain, or the suspect may escape if the officer fails to hold onto the handcuff. Thus, what is needed in the art is a mechanism for safely restraining a suspect during the handcuff process. 
     SUMMARY 
     One embodiment of the invention is a restraint device that mounts a chain disposed between two handcuffs. The restraint device includes: a loop of material adapted to be gripped by a human hand; and a securing device associated with the loop of material, wherein the securing device separates the loop of material into a first gripping loop and a second mounting loop, and wherein the second mounting loop is adapted to securely mount to said chain. 
     Another embodiment of the invention is a pair of handcuffs and a restraint device that mounts a chain disposed between the handcuffs, wherein the restraint device includes: a loop of material adapted to be gripped by a human hand; and a securing device associated with the loop of material, wherein the securing device separates the loop of material into a first gripping loop and a second mounting loop, and wherein the second mounting loop is adapted to securely mount to said chain. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a pair of handcuffs and one embodiment of a restraining strap. 
     FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along the line  2 — 2  of FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the invention relate to restraining straps that mount between a pair of handcuffs to provide a means for a law enforcement officer to restrain a suspect. In one embodiment, a restraining strap is slid over one handcuff and reversibly, yet securely mounts between each handcuff. The restraining strap thus provides a secure and comfortable grip for the officer to control and restrain a handcuffed suspect. 
     One embodiment of the restraining strap includes a flexible outer shell made of nylon, leather, neoprene, Kevlar or other flexible, yet durable, material. For example, one-inch wide tubular nylon webbing has been found to be suitable due to its tensile strength and smooth texture. As discussed below, the handcuff-mounting portion of the restraining strap can include a loop of material that fits over a handcuff chain and is secured to the chain by a securing band. The securing band prevents the handcuff strap from inadvertently sliding off the handcuff chain. In addition, in one embodiment, the handgrip portion of the restraining strap includes a cushioned hand-grip area that provides a soft surface for gripping with a hand. 
     In another embodiment of a restraining strap, the hand-grip portion is in the shape of a loop that is connected to a single strap. The single strap is then attached between the handcuffs by, for example, tying a knot, using a snap or any other means for connecting the single strap to the handcuffs. 
     It should be realized that the hand-grip portion is not limited to only comprising a loop shaped piece of material. For example, the hand-grip portion can be in the shape of a “T” or any other shape that is easily gripped by a human hand. 
     In use, the police officer mounts the restraining strap to the chain that links the handcuffs. The restraining strap is preferably in the shape of a flexible loop and is adapted to fit inside the palm, or over the hand, of the officer. An officer may hold the handle of the restraining strap in the palm of their hand, or they may place the gripping loop of the strap over their hand. With the restraining strap mounted on the handcuffs and securely held, the officer may place the handcuffs on a suspect while maintaining a secure grip on the handcuffs. Thus if the suspect attempts to fight or escape with one or both handcuffs secured, the officer has a controlling grip on the strap attached to the handcuffs by which to restrain the suspect. 
     FIG. 1 shows a typical pair of handcuffs  10 , including a left handcuff  12  and right handcuff  14 . Disposed between the right and left handcuffs is a chain  16  that prevents the right and left handcuffs  12 ,  14  from being separated. The particular design and materials of handcuffs are well known, and beyond the scope of the present description, thus they will not be discussed herein. For example, some handcuffs incorporate a hinge between each handcuff in place of the chain  16 . Embodiments of the invention include restraining straps that mount to the such a hinge in addition to restraining straps that mount to the chain  16 . 
     One embodiment of a handcuff restraining strap  20  is shown in FIG.  1 . The handcuff restraining strap  20  is generally characterized by a mounting loop  24  and a gripping loop  28  separated by a retaining band  30 , both of which are preferably adjustable in size. It should be noted that in this embodiment, the mounting loop  24  and gripping loop  28  are formed from a single loop of material. 
     The restraint strap  20  has a front portion  32  and a rear portion  34  integrally formed with at least the mounting loop  24  as shown. Preferably, the retaining band  30  fits snugly about the front and rear  32 ,  34  portions so that it is secured around the chain  16 . 
     The handcuff restraining strap  20  is preferably made from a substantially flexible, but substantially strong material such that the restraining strap is comfortable to hold, yet has sufficient tensile strength so that it will not break under expected loads. The mounting loop  24  is preferably made of a material which will resist abrasion from contact with the chain  16 . 
     The retaining band  30  may be made from any suitable material such that it will perform the functions described herein without abrading the material of the mounting loop  24 . For example, the retaining band  30  may be made from a substantially flexible nylon, Kevlar®, or a substantially rigid metal. In one embodiment, the retaining band  30  is fixed to the front portion  32 , leaving the rear portion  34  free to slide relative to the retaining band  30  and the front portion  32 . Thus the size of the mounting loop may be increased or decreased by sliding the free, rear portion  34  in the appropriate direction relative to the retaining band  30 . 
     For example, the size of the mounting loop  24  can be increased by sliding the rear portion  34  toward the mounting loop  24 , thus decreasing the size of the gripping loop  28 . This embodiment has the particular advantage that when the restraining strap  20  is disposed on a handcuff chain  16  as shown, and the handle  36  is pulled, the mounting loop  24  will tighten around the chain  16 . Alternatively, the retaining band  30  may be disposed such that both front and rear portions  32 ,  34  may be free to slide relative to the retaining band  30 . 
     It should also be realized that the means for mounting the restraining strap to the chain does not necessarily need to be a loop of material. For example, a strong snap or latch mechanism can be positioned within the restraining strap so that once the strap is slid over the chain, the latch or snap can be closed to secure the restraining strap to the handcuff chain. Any similar securing device for reversibly mounting the restraining strap to the handcuff chain is within the scope of the invention. 
     The gripping loop  28  preferably comprises a handle section  36 . The handle section  36  is preferably sufficiently large to allow a user to comfortably and controllably grip the handcuff restraint strap  20 . The material of the gripping loop  28  is preferably comfortable to hold and substantially flexible. The gripping loop  28  preferably comprises a larger diameter than the mounting loop  24 . The gripping loop  28  may be gripped such that the user&#39;s fingers wrap around the handle section  36 , or the user may slide their hand through the gripping loop  28 , thus retaining the restraint strap  20  on the user&#39;s wrist. 
     FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the restraining strap  20  taken across line  2 — 2  (FIG.  1 ). As indicated, the handle section  36  of the restraining strap includes, in one embodiment, an outer shell  50  made of a flexible material, such as neoprene, woven cloth, nylon, Kevlar, cotton, or other similar material. Placed within the interior of the outer shell  50  is, in one embodiment, a strong, thick material  55 , such as rope, rubber, or polystyrene. The combination of the outer shell  50  and inner material  55  provides a gripable area due to its relatively large circumference. The handle section  36  may comprise a variety of materials such that it provides a comfortable handle for the user. 
     The use and assembly of a restraining strap  20  will now be described with reference to FIG.  1 . In order to put the restraining strap  20  on the handcuff chain  16 , the size of the mounting loop  24  of the restraining strap  20  is increased as much as possible, as discussed above. The mounting loop  24  is then slid over an open end of one of the handcuffs  12  or  14 . Once the mounting loop  24  has been slid over the handcuff  12  or  14 , the mounting loop is tightened across the chain  16  by sliding the rear portion  34  toward the gripping loop  28  through the retaining band  30 . As can be imagined, the retaining band  30  provides a means for securing the restraining strap  20  to the chain  16  and thus the handcuffs  12  and  14 . 
     In one embodiment, a handcuff restraint strap  20  may be made by taking a section of tubular nylon webbing, inserting a segment of rope into the space within the webbing and sliding it to a position substantially within the webbing. The material is then formed into a loop by securing the ends of the webbing together using any method known to those skilled in the art. For example, the ends may be glued, welded, bar-tacked, sewn, or stapled. A retaining band  30  is then preferably placed about the front and back portions  32 ,  34  as described above, and fixed to the front portion  32  if desired. The retaining band  30  is preferably placed about the restraining strap  20  at a position such that it covers and may reinforce the joint of the two ends of the restraining strap material  38 . 
     In another embodiment, a handcuff restraint strap  20  may be made by taking a section of suitable material as described above, inserting it into a tubular handle material such as a section of rubber or latex tubing, then attaching the ends of the strap material by a method suitable for that material. A retaining band  30  is then preferably placed about the front and back portions  32 ,  34  of the restraining strap  20  as described above, and fixed to the front portion  32  if desired. The retaining band  30  is preferably placed about the restraining strap at a position such that it covers and may reinforce the joint of the two ends of the restraining strap material  38 . 
     Although this invention has been disclosed in the context of certain preferred embodiments and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the invention and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the present invention herein disclosed should not be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments described above, but should be determined only by a fair reading of the claims that follow.