Shoulder restraint apparatus

A patient restraint apparatus includes a restraint strap unit which includes a pair of restraint strap ends, a pair of intermediate restraint strap portions connected to the pair of restraint strap ends, a central restraint strap portion connected between the pair of restraint strap portions, and a pair of strap connectors connected to the pair of restraint strap ends. A pair of tie up strap units are connected to the pair of strap connectors. The pair of strap connectors includes a pair of first buckle members. Each of the tie up strap units includes a second buckle member for connection to a respective first buckle member. Each of the tie up strap units includes a tie strap for tying onto the bed frame. With another embodiment of the invention, the tie strap includes a pair of strap portions that pass through a strap reception channel in one of the second buckle members. The restraint strap ends and portions of the restraint strap portions are in the form of loops. The loops are attached to other portions of the restraint strap portions by sewn stitches.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 1. Field of the Invention
 The present invention relates generally to restraints for patients and,
 more particularly, to a restraint especially adapted for restraining a
 patient to a bed.
 2. Description of the Prior Art
 It is well known that under certain circumstances a patient must be
 restrained on a bed. In this respect, throughout the years, a number of
 innovations have been developed relating to such patient restraints, and
 the following U.S. patents are representative of some of those
 innovations: U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,848,993, 3,641,997, 4,524,768, 4,685,454,
 4,744,354, 5,522,404, and 5,526,824. More specifically, U.S. Pat. No.
 2,848,993 discloses a restraining device which includes wrist straps.
 Often when a patient is restrained on a bed it is desirable for the
 patient's hands and wrists to be free of restraint. In this respect, it
 would be desirable if a patient restraint device were provided which does
 not employ wrist straps.
 U.S. Pat. No. 3,641,997 discloses a restraining device which employs a
 jacket and a waist strap. Often when a patient is restrained on a bed it
 is desirable for the patient's waist to be free of restraint. In this
 respect, it would be desirable if a restraining device were provided which
 does not employ a waist strap.
 Each of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,524,768, 4,685,454, and 4,744,354 discloses a
 restraining device which employs a jacket which is worn by a patient.
 Wearing of a jacket can pose a number of problems, one of which is
 restricted access to a patient's back. In this respect, it would be
 desirable if a patient restraining device were provided which does not
 employ a jacket.
 U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,404 discloses a safety harness which includes a strap
 that encircles a patient's chest. When it would be desirable to have clear
 access to a patient's without interference from a chest-encircling strap,
 such a safety harness may pose a problem. In this respect, it would be
 desirable if a patient restraining device were provided that does not
 include a chest-encircling strap.
 U.S. Pat. No. 5,526,824 discloses a modular restraint system that employs a
 plurality of modular components for encircling a plurality of body parts.
 Rather than dealing with the complexities of encircling one or more body
 parts, it would be desirable if a patient restraint system were provided
 which does not employ any straps that encircle any body parts.
 Thus, while the foregoing body of prior art indicates it to be well known
 to use patient restraining devices, the prior art described above does not
 teach or suggest a shoulder restraint apparatus which has the following
 combination of desirable features: (1) does not employ wrist straps; (2)
 does not employ a waist strap; (3) does not employ a jacket; (4) does not
 include a chest-encircling strap; and (5) does not employ any straps that
 encircle any body parts. The foregoing desired characteristics are
 provided by the unique shoulder restraint apparatus of the present
 invention as will be made apparent from the following description thereof.
 Other advantages of the present invention over the prior art also will be
 rendered evident.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 To achieve the foregoing and other advantages, the present invention,
 briefly described, provides a patient restraint apparatus which includes a
 restraint strap unit which includes a pair of restraint strap ends, a pair
 of intermediate restraint strap portions connected to the pair of
 restraint strap ends, a central restraint strap portion connected between
 the pair of restraint strap portions, and a pair of strap connectors
 connected to the pair of restraint strap ends. A pair of tie up strap
 units are connected to the pair of strap connectors.
 The pair of strap connectors includes a pair of first buckle members. Each
 of the tie up strap units includes a second buckle member for connection
 to a respective first buckle member. Each of the tie up strap units
 includes a tie strap for tying onto the bed frame.
 With another embodiment of the invention, the tie strap includes a pair of
 strap portions that pass through a strap reception channel in one of the
 second buckle members. The restraint strap ends and portions of the
 restraint strap portions are in the form of loops. The loops are attached
 to other portions of the restraint strap portions by sewn stitches.
 The above brief description sets forth rather broadly the more important
 features of the present invention in order that the detailed description
 thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the
 present contributions to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of
 course, additional features of the invention that will be described
 hereinafter and which will be for the subject matter of the claims
 appended hereto.
 In this respect, before explaining at least two preferred embodiments of
 the invention in detail, it is understood that the invention is not
 limited in its application to the details of the construction and to the
 arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or
 illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments
 and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be
 understood, that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for
 the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
 As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon
 which disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for
 designing other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the
 several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore,
 that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions
 insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present
 invention.
 It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and
 improved shoulder restraint apparatus which has all of the advantages of
 the prior art and none of the disadvantages.
 It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved
 shoulder restraint apparatus which may be easily and efficiently
 manufactured and marketed.
 It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and
 improved shoulder restraint apparatus which is of durable and reliable
 construction.
 An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and
 improved shoulder restraint apparatus which is susceptible of a low cost
 of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which
 accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming
 public, thereby making such shoulder restraint apparatus available to the
 buying public.
 Still yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a new and
 improved shoulder restraint apparatus which does not employ wrist straps.
 Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and
 improved shoulder restraint apparatus that does not employ a waist strap.
 Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and
 improved shoulder restraint apparatus which does not employ a jacket.
 Even another object of the present invention is to provide a new and
 improved shoulder restraint apparatus that does not include a
 chest-encircling strap.
 Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a new and
 improved shoulder restraint apparatus which does not employ any straps
 that encircle any body parts.
 These together with still other objects of the invention, along with the
 various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed
 out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this
 disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating
 advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should
 be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there
 are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
 With reference to the drawings, a new and improved shoulder restraint
 apparatus embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention
 will be described.
 Turning to FIGS. 1-6, there is shown a first embodiment of the shoulder
 restraint apparatus of the invention generally designated by reference
 numeral 10. In the first embodiment shoulder restraint apparatus 10
 includes a restraint strap unit 18 which includes a pair of restraint
 strap ends 26, a pair of intermediate restraint strap portions 24
 connected to the pair of restraint strap ends 26, a central restraint
 strap portion 22 connected between the pair of restraint strap portions
 24, and a pair of strap connectors connected to the pair of restraint
 strap ends 26. A pair of tie up strap units 20 are connected to the pair
 of strap connectors.
 Briefly, to use the patient restraint apparatus 10 of the invention, the
 restraint strap unit 18 is placed on a patient 12 who is lying on a bed
 14, and the tie up strap units 20 are fastened to a portion of a bed frame
 16 that is adjacent to the head of the patient 12.
 More specifically, as shown in the embodiment of the invention illustrated
 in FIGS. 1-6, the pair of strap connectors includes a pair of first buckle
 members 28. Each of the tie up strap units 20 includes a second buckle
 member 30 for connection to a respective first buckle member 28. Each of
 the tie up strap units 20 includes a tie strap 32 for tying onto the bed
 frame 16.
 As shown in FIG. 1, to use the patient restraint apparatus 10 of the
 invention on a patient 12 who is lying on one's back on a bed 14, the
 central restraint strap portion 22 of the patient restraint apparatus 10
 is placed on the backside of the patient's neck. Each of the restraint
 strap portions 24 are threaded across a top and front portion of one of
 the patient's shoulders, under an armpit, and back upward under a rear
 portion of a respective shoulder. The first buckle members 28 are
 connected to the second buckle member 30, and the tie straps 32 are tied
 to the bed frame 16.
 As shown in FIG. 6, each of the first buckle members 28 includes a prong
 reception channel 34 which includes barb reception apertures 36. Also,
 each of the second buckle members 30 includes a plurality of prongs 38
 which includes barbs 40. When a first buckle member 28 and a second buckle
 member 30 are connected together, the barbs 40 and prongs 38 enter the
 prong reception channel 34, and the barbs 40 extend through the barb
 reception apertures 36 to secure the respective second buckle member 30 to
 the respective first buckle member 28.
 As shown in FIG. 5, the central restraint strap portion 22 includes an
 interior strap portion 44 and an exterior foam jacket 42.
 Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The tie
 strap 32 includes a pair of strap portions that pass through a strap
 reception channel in one of the second buckle members 30. The restraint
 strap ends 26 and first areas of the restraint strap portions 24 are in
 the form of loops. The loops are attached to second areas of the restraint
 strap portions 24 by sewn stitches. To attach the second embodiment of the
 invention to a bed frame 16, the pair of strap portions are tied to the
 bed frame 16.
 The components of the shoulder restraint apparatus of the 92 invention can
 be made from inexpensive and durable metal, plastic, and fabric materials.
 As to the manner of usage and operation of the instant invention, the same
 is apparent from the above disclosure, and accordingly, no further
 discussion relative to the manner of usage and operation need be provided.
 It is apparent from the above that the present invention accomplishes all
 of the objects set forth by providing a new and improved shoulder
 restraint apparatus that is low in cost, relatively simple in design and
 operation, and which may advantageously be used without employing wrist
 straps. With the invention, a shoulder restraint apparatus is provided
 which does not employ a waist strap. With the invention, a shoulder
 restraint apparatus is provided which does not employ a jacket. With the
 invention, a shoulder restraint apparatus is provided which does not
 include a chest-encircling strap. With the invention, a shoulder restraint
 apparatus is provided which does not employ any straps that encircle any
 body parts.
 Thus, while the present invention has been shown in the drawings and fully
 described above with particularity and detail in connection with what is
 presently deemed to be the most practical and preferred embodiment(s) of
 the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art
 that many modifications thereof may be made without departing from the
 principles and concepts set forth herein, including, but not limited to,
 variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of
 operation, assembly and use.
 Hence, the proper scope of the present invention should be determined only
 by the broadest interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass
 all such modifications as well as all relationships equivalent to those
 illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification.
 Finally, it will be appreciated that the purpose of the annexed Abstract is
 to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally,
 and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who
 are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine
 quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical
 disclosure of the application. Accordingly, the Abstract is neither
 intended to define the invention or the application, which only is
 measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope
 of the invention in any way.