Restraining device

A non-lethal restraining device includes an extendable restraining strap retained within a device body until deployed, when the extendable restraining strap is then looped over a person. A biasing element allows the extendable restraining strap to be tightened once it has been fully deployed and looped around a person's body to restrict the person's movement. When the extendable strap is tightened around the person's body, the device provides control points to direct and manipulate the person safely.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed herein are directed generally toward restraining devices and more particularly toward a first-contact, non-lethal device for restraining an uncooperative person.

BACKGROUND

During aggressive confrontations, such as confrontations between police officers and a criminal suspect, police officers have few options for non-lethal intervention. Even generally non-lethal options carry substantial risks. In situations where a person needs to be restrained to prevent injury to himself or others, a police officer may need to apply substantial physical force to place the person in a position to be handcuffed or otherwise rendered harmless; such force may be physically injurious to the person.

What is needed is a non-lethal device for restraining a person without an injurious amount of physical force.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed herein are directed to a non-lethal device for restraining a person without an injurious amount of physical force. The device includes an extendable restraining strap. The extendable restraining strap is retained within a device body until deployed, when the extendable restraining strap is then looped over a person. The device includes a biasing element that allows the extendable restraining strap to be tightened once it has been fully deployed. When the extendable strap is looped around a person, tightening the extendable strap around the person's body (or some portion of the person's body) restricts the person's movement without injury.

In a further aspect, when the extendable strap is tightened around a person's body, the device provides control points to direct and manipulate the person safely.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Broadly, embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed herein are directed to a restraining device for rendering a person substantially harmless to himself and others with a minimal application of physical force.

Referring toFIG. 1, a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a restraining device according to the present disclosure is shown. The restraining device includes a body100defining a handle102and a strap cavity108. A flexible, extendable strap104is wound or coiled inside the strap cavity108with a portion extending through a strap endstop retaining element114, forming an extension loop106, and passing back through the body100. The device includes a tightening handle112or grip portion attached to the free end for tightening the flexible, extendable strap104; the tightening handle112may comprise a looped portion of the flexible, extendable strap104or a separate artifice connected to the flexible, extendable strap104. The strap endstop retaining element114allows the flexible, extendable strap to pass through unopposed but prevents an endstop portion110from passing through. A biasing element116allows the flexible, extendable strap to pass though as the handle12is pulled, but prevents the flexible, extendable strap from passing through in the opposite direction unless the biasing element116is disengaged.

The flexible, extendable strap104may comprise a metal band, a polycarbonate strap, woven nylon, or some other material sufficiently flexible to be wound inside the strap cavity108, and sufficiently strong to restrain a person around the person's arms and upper body, legs, wrists, or any other portion of the body.

Referring toFIGS. 2 and 3, an environmental side view and perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a restraining device according to the present disclosure are shown. The body100further defines an extending loop channel202that guides the flexible, extendable strap104out of the body100and terminates with the endstop retaining element114. The body100further defines a retracting loop channel204that guides the flexible extendable strap104through the body100, past the biasing element116, into the tightening handle112.

In some embodiments, the biasing element116comprises a spring biased tooth device connected to a disengaging lever208that allows the biasing element116to be disengaged by sliding the biasing element116along a biasing disengaging channel206defined by the body100. The biasing disengaging channel206may include a locking portion that allows the biasing element116to be locked in a disengaged position.

While a toothed biasing element116is shown, other biasing elements116are envisioned. Any device providing a sufficient mechanical resistance to the flexible, extendable strap104to prevent it from loosening, while at the same time allowing the user to tighten the flexible, extendable strap104by pulling the tightening handle112may be utilized. Further exemplary embodiments are shown herein.

A user places the device in a deployed configuration by, in one embodiment, pulling on the extension loop106. Pulling on the extension loop causes the flexible, extendable strap104to unwind and exit the strap cavity108through the extending loop channel202and strap endstop retaining element114until the endstop portion110engages the endstop retaining element114. The biasing element116prevents the flexible, extendable strap104from being pulled through the retracting loop channel204. When fully extended, the flexible, extendable strap104forms a restraining loop218.

In at least one embodiment, the flexible, extendable strap104may be spring actuated to deploy into a restraining loop218. For example, where the flexible, extendable strap104is a metal band, the metallurgical properties of the metal band may allow it to automatically deploy due to the spring nature of the metal band when coiled within the strap cavity108. Alternatively, or in addition, a spring device disposed on the body may automatically deploy the flexible, extendable strap104.

Referring toFIGS. 4 and 5, environmental views of a restraining device according to the present disclosure are shown. A police officer400carries a restraining device402where the body100of the restraining device402engages a holster408or clip configured to hold the restraining device402in an orientation that allows for a quick release of the restraining device402with the extension loop106and tightening handle112in positions to be quickly accessible to the hands of the police officer400when an unarmed, uncooperative person500requires restraint.

Referring toFIG. 6, another environmental view of a restraining device according to the present disclosure is shown. Once a police officer400determines that a person500is unarmed and in need of restraint, the police officer400removes the restraining device402from the holster408or clip and extends a flexible, extendable strap into a restraining loop218. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that the holster408or clip is an exemplary mechanism for keeping the restraining device in an easily accessible orientation, and should not be limiting in any way.

Referring toFIGS. 7, 8, 9, and 10, environmental views of a restraining device according to the present disclosure are shown. The police officer400having extended the restraining loop218from the restraining device402, the extended restraining device402is utilized by orienting the restraining loop218into a first orientation700over a person to be restrained, then into a second orientation702around the person to be restrained. The flexible, extendable strap comprising the flexible, extendable loop218is generally flexible in one dimension but substantially rigid in a second dimension, so that the restraining loop218remains well formed to place over the person being restrained in the second orientation702.

When the restraining loop218is in the second orientation702around the person500being restrained, the person's arms900,902are at least partially within the restraining loop218. The police officer400may maintain the device body100at the back of the person500being restrained to help isolate the police officer400from harm as the police officer400tightens the restraining loop218. The police officer400tightens the restraining loop218by pulling on the tightening handle112. Pulling on the tightening handle112causes the flexible, extendable strap forming the restraining loop218to pass through a biasing element that prevents the restraining loop218from loosening once tightened.

Referring toFIG. 11, another environmental view of a restraining device according to the present disclosure is shown. Once the restraining device402is tightened, the restraining loop forms a binding restraint1102on the person being restrained500, with the person's arms900,902largely immobilized. The device body100, including the handle defined by the device body100, may be maintained at the person's back so that a police officer may maintain a grip on the person500from behind. The police officer may also hold and apply additional force to the tightening handle112to further control the movement of the person500. Furthermore, if the person500continues to be belligerent and uncooperative, the police officer may simply release the handle of the device body100to prevent injury to the person500or police officer, while continuing to restrain the arms900,902of the person500.

In an alternative deployment, the restraining loop may be tightened around the person's legs to immobilize the person500. Likewise, the device may be used on the person's legs after the person's arms900,902are immobilized. The person500may thereby be safely immobilized in stages without substantial risk to the person500or a police officer.

WhileFIGS. 9-11show the person500being restrained about the arms900,902, a person skilled in the art will appreciate that the person500may restrained about any portion of the body that provides some form of physical restraint.

Referring toFIG. 12, a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a restraining device according to the present disclosure is shown. The restraining device includes a body1200defining a handle1202and a strap cavity1208. A flexible, extendable strap1204is wound inside the strap cavity1208with a portion extending through a strap endstop retaining element1214, forming an extension loop1206, and passing back through the body1200, connected to a handle1212which may include a solid ring or self-engaging tie. The strap endstop retaining element1214allows the flexible, extendable strap to pass through unopposed but prevents an endstop portion1210from passing through. A biasing element1216allows the flexible, extendable strap to pass though as the handle1212is pulled, but prevents the flexible, extendable strap from passing through in the opposite direction unless the biasing element1216is disengaged. In at least one embodiment, the biasing element1216may comprise a toothed element that may be spring biased.

Referring toFIG. 13, a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a restraining device according to the present disclosure is shown. The restraining device includes a body1300defining a handle1302and a cartridge cavity. A replaceable cartridge1318contains a flexible, extendable strap1320stored in a coiled or rolled up state inside the replaceable cartridge1318. The replaceable cartridge1318is inserted into the cartridge cavity with the flexible, extendable strap1320fed through an extending loop channel, forming an extending loop1306, and fed through a retracting channel and biasing element1316to a tightening handle1312.

The replaceable cartridge1318may include a locking mechanism1322. The locking mechanism1322may lock the replaceable cartridge1318in the device body1300and/or lock the flexible, extendable strap1320inside the replaceable cartridge1318until inserted in to the device body1300.

Referring toFIG. 14, a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a restraining device according to the present disclosure is shown. The restraining device includes a body1400defining a handle1402and a strap cavity containing a winding mechanism1420. A flexible, extendable strap1404is wound inside the strap cavity via the winding mechanism1420with a portion extending through an extending channel, forming an extension loop1406, and passing back through a retracting cavity to a tightening handle1412. The winding mechanism1420prevents the flexible, extendable strap1404from extending too far so as to exit the device body1400. A biasing element1416allows the flexible, extendable strap to pass though as the tightening handle1412is pulled, but prevents the flexible, extendable strap from passing through in the opposite direction unless the biasing element1416is disengaged.

The winding mechanism1420may be biased to wind in only one direction, such as via a toothed wheel. The teeth1418on the toothed wheel may engage a tooth lock1422that is biased via a spring1424to prevent counter-rotation of the winding mechanism1420unless the tooth lock1422is disengaged via a disengaging lever1426.

Referring toFIG. 15, a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a restraining device according to the present disclosure is shown. The restraining device includes a body1500defining a handle1502and a strap cavity1508. A flexible, extendable strap1504is wound inside the strap cavity1508with a portion extending through an extending channel, forming an extension loop1506, and affixed to a tightening handle1512that allows the user to apply a tensioning force to the flexible, extendable strap1504. The device may also contain one or more bearings1520in the strap cavity1508to facilitate smooth extension of the flexible, extendable strap1504through an endstop restraining portion1514that defines a channel to prevent passage of an endstop portion1510. In at least one embodiment, the endstop portion1510may comprise a loop in the flexible, extendable strap1504that further facilitates winding the flexible, extendable strap1504back into the strap cavity1508after use.

In at least one embodiment, the restraining device includes a spring cam biasing element1516. A cam housing defined by the body1500provides a bottom surface to engage a first lobe1524of the cam biasing element1516, and allows access to the flexible, extendable strap1504passing through the body1500, to apply a force and wedge the flexible, extendable strap1504between a second lobe1526of the cam biasing element1516and the body1500. Each of the first lobe1524and second lobe1526define cam profiles having lifts sufficient to wedge the flexible, extendable strap1504. The profiles of the first lobe1524and second lobe1526may be similar or disparate as necessary to achieve the desired wedging force. A cam spring1518generally biases the cam biasing element1516into an orientation to allow a user to pull on the tightening handle1512and tighten the flexible, extendable strap1504, but does not allow the flexible, extendable strap1504to be loosened.

The restraining device may include a release1522for manually pushing the cam biasing element1516into an orientation that allows the flexible, extendable strap1504to loosen; that is to say, release the wedging force.

Referring toFIG. 16, a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a restraining device according to the present disclosure is shown. Where the restraining device includes a body1600defining a handle1602and a strap cavity1608containing a flexible, extendable strap1604biased by a spring cam biasing element1616, it may be desirable to adjust the force applied the flexible, extendable strap1604by the cam biasing element1616.

A cam housing defined by the body1600provides a bottom surface1624or adjustable bottom plate to engage a first lobe1630of the cam biasing element1616, and allows access to the flexible, extendable strap1604passing through the body1600, to apply a force and wedge the flexible, extendable strap1604between a second lobe1632of the cam biasing element1616and the body1600. The position of the first contact surface may be adjusted by adjusting means1626such as a screw, cam lever, insertable plates, or any other similar means. Likewise, such adjusting means1626may adjust the position of the adjustable bottom plate which has the effect of changing the location of the interface between the first lobe1630and the adjustable bottom plate and altering the effect of the lift defined by the profile of the first lobe1630.

Where a cam spring1618generally biases the cam biasing element1616into an orientation to allows a user to pull on the tightening handle1612and tighten the flexible, extendable strap1604, it may be desirable to induce the cam biasing element1616to apply more force to the flexible, extendable strap1604than is applied by the cam spring1618alone. An additional pressure mechanism1628may be useful for pushing the cam biasing element1616in a direction to manually apply additional force to the flexible, extendable strap1604. Such additional pressure mechanism1628may comprise a pushrod, cam lever or other such means, and may also include a releasable ratcheting element to temporarily maintain the additional force.

The restraining device may include a release1622for manually pushing the cam biasing element1616into an orientation that allows the flexible, extendable strap1604to loosen. Such release1622may also release or otherwise deactivate the additional pressure mechanism1628where necessary.

Referring toFIG. 17, a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a restraining device according to the present disclosure is shown. The restraining device includes a body1700defining a strap cavity1708containing a flexible, extendable strap1704, with a portion forming an extension loop1706. The device may also contain one or more bearings1720in the strap cavity1708to facilitate smooth extension of the flexible, extendable strap1704through an endstop restraining portion1714that defines a channel to prevent passage of an endstop portion.

Alternatively, or in addition, the end strap portion may be affixed to a motor1710. The motor1710is configured to wind the flexible, extendable strap1704back into the strap cavity1708after deployment. In at least one embodiment, the motor1710may also be configured to deploy the flexible, extendable strap1704into a large extension loop1706.

Referring toFIG. 18, a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a restraining device according to the present disclosure is shown. The restraining device includes a body1800defining a strap cavity containing a flexible, extendable strap1804, with a portion forming an extension loop1806. In ordinary usage, the extension loop1806is extended to encircle a person to be restrained, and the flexible, extendable strap1804is tightened as described herein. Tightening the flexible, extendable strap1804tends to bring a leading edge of the body1800in contact with the person being restrained.

In at least one embodiment, a less than lethal immobilizing device1824is disposed on the body1800such that a functional element1828of the less than lethal immobilizing device1824extends from the leading edge to contact the person being restrained. The less than lethal immobilizing device1824may comprise an electrically operable stun device. Such electrically operable stun device may be activated by a switch1826disposed within a handle1802defined by the body1800.

Alternatively, the less than lethal immobilizing device1824may comprise a chemical tranquilizer. Chemical tranquilizers are generally unsafe because effective dosages are difficult or impossible to determine, especially in a tense situation where a restraining device is called for. However, when used in conjunction with a physical restraining device, a known safe dosage may be predetermined because the goal is relative placidity rather than unconsciousness.

Alternatively, the less than lethal immobilizing device1824may comprise a strobe device. Such strobe device may be activated prior to deployment of the extension loop1806to disorient the person being restrained and thereby facilitate restraint of the person.

The less than lethal immobilizing device1824may include a replaceable cartridge1830. The replaceable cartridge1830is a one-time use device.

Referring toFIG. 19, a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a restraining device according to the present disclosure is shown. The restraining device includes a body1900defining a handle1902and a strap cavity1908where an inflatable strap1904is coiled or otherwise folded with a portion extending through a extending channel1914, forming an extension loop1906, and affixed to a tightening handle1912that allows the user to apply a tensioning force to the inflatable strap1904. The inflatable strap1904may be inflated by a CO2cartridge1924.

In some embodiments, where the inflatable strap1904is coiled within the strap cavity1908so as to deploy from the strap cavity when pushed out by the force of inflation, a switch1926disposed in the handle1902may activate the CO2cartridge1924. When the inflatable strap1904is inflated, it may form a rigid or semi-rigid loop. When the inflated loop is placed over a person to be restrained, a tensioning force applied to the handle1912may force the CO2from the inflatable strap1904as it passed through the body1900and held in place in a biasing element1916.

In at least one embodiment, a portion of the inflatable strap1904may be configured to engage an auto-inflating device1928when the inflatable strap1904is manually unspooled.

In at least one embodiment, the biasing element1916may comprise a cam biasing element and a spring1918to force the cam biasing element1916into an orientation to wedge the inflatable strap1904against the body1900but allow the inflatable strap1904to continue to be tightened by pulling on the handle1912. The restraining device may include a release1922for manually pushing the cam biasing element1916into an orientation that allows the inflatable strap1904to loosen.

Referring toFIG. 20, a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a restraining device according to the present disclosure is shown. The restraining device includes a body2000defining a handle2002and a strap cavity containing a flexible, extendable strap2004with a portion extending through an extending channel, forming an extension loop2006, and affixed to a tightening handle2012that allows the user to apply a tensioning force to the flexible, extendable strap2004.

In at least one embodiment, the restraining device includes a spring wedge biasing element2016within a wedge housing defined by the body2000that provides a surface to engage a bottom surface of the wedge biasing element2016and force the wedge biasing element2016into contact with the flexible, extendable strap2004. In at least one embodiment, a top surface of the wedge biasing element2016may include a friction enhancing element such as knurling or any other texturing configured increase friction between the wedge biasing element2016and the flexible, extendable strap2004such that when a force is applied to the flexible, extendable strap2004that would tend to loosen the flexible, extendable strap2004, such force tends to pull the wedge biasing element2016to further increase the wedging force applied by the wedge biasing element2016to the flexible, extendable strap2004.

A biasing spring2018generally biases the wedge biasing element2016into an orientation to allow a user to pull on the tightening handle2012and tighten the flexible, extendable strap2004, but does not allow the flexible, extendable strap2004to be loosened. The biasing spring2018may be adjustable via a biasing force adjusting element2020, such as a screw configured to increase or decrease the resting force applied to the wedge biasing element2016.

The restraining device may include a release2022for manually pulling the wedge biasing element2016into an orientation that allows the flexible, extendable strap2004to loosen.

Referring toFIG. 21, a flowchart for a method of restraining a person according to the present disclosure is shown. A restraining device according to embodiments of the present disclosure may be used to restrain a person by extending2100a restraining strap from a strap cavity to form a semi-rigid loop. The semi-rigid loop is then used to encircle2102a person. The strap is tightened2104to restrain the person, and the strap is prevented2106from loosening by a biasing element. In some embodiments, the person may be temporarily incapacitated2108by a less-than-lethal device disposed on the restraining device.

It is believed that the inventive concepts disclosed herein and many of their attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description of embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the broad scope of the inventive concepts disclosed herein or without sacrificing all of their material advantages. For example, various features of each disclosed embodiment may be combined with alternative embodiments without departing from the principles of the invention. The form herein before described being merely an explanatory embodiment thereof, it is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.