Restraining and protective device and method

A restraining and protective device has a pouch A for receiving the handcuffed hands of a person under restraint, and a central transverse strap B attached to one side of the pouch and threaded through an opposite side of the pouch, being tightenable and fastenable for securing and protecting the hands.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to protective devices for aiding in securing the 
handcuffed hands of a person under restraint which is especially useful 
for law enforcement personnel as when transporting prisoners. 
This invention is an improvement upon the protective mitt for use with 
handcuffs described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,741,051. 
It has been found that protective mitts constructed in accordance with the 
invention of the above patent are relatively expensive as they are not 
reuseable and because the ties used in fastening the handcuffs and the 
hands within the pouch must be cut for release of the hands from the 
device, and accordingly they, too, are not reuseable. The pouch of the 
patented device has been constructed of fabric wall panels, and such are 
not as effective as thicker padded variety of panels used in forming the 
pouch of the present invention. 
Accordingly, it is an important object of this invention to provide an 
improved restraining and protective device which may be reuseable and 
which is more comfortable and effectively secures the handcuffed hands of 
a person in custody or otherwise restrained. 
Another important object of the invention is to provide an improved 
fastening means for securing a protective pouch about the handcuffed hands 
of a person in custody. 
Another important object of the invention is to provide an apparatus and 
method for effectively securing the handcuffed hands of an individual 
within a protective covering or pouch which is releasable therefrom 
without making such release means susceptible for use by the prisoner or 
person under restraint. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It has been found that an improved restraining and protective device and 
method may be provided wherein the handcuffed hands of a person may be 
placed in a pouch which is open at the top and having opposed sides which 
are secured and closed for forming the pouch and having a Velcro strap 
fastened on one end on a central portion on one of the sides and passing 
between the sides. By providing a slotted guide formed in a central 
portion of an opposite side, the Velcro strap may be received and secured 
to a fastener affixed outside a central portion of the opposite side for 
attachment of the Velcro strap.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The drawings illustrate a restraining and protective device for receiving 
the handcuffed hands of a person under restraint. A pouch A is open at the 
top and has opposed sides secured and closed thereabout. A strap B is 
secured on one end in a central portion of one of the sides and passes 
therebetween. A slotted guide C is formed in a central portion of an 
opposite side receiving the strap. A fastener D is affixed to an outside 
central portion of the opposite side for attachment of the strap thereto. 
A fastener member E receiving the strap is carried adjacent the Velcro 
fastener. Thus the strap is tightenable and fastenable for securing and 
protecting the hands. 
A pouch A may be of integral construction but is illustrated as being 
constructed of opposed respective first and second side panels 10 and 11. 
Preferably construction of paneled cloth material with the panels 10a 
suitable cushioning material 10b is contained in each of the sides. The 
panel construction is preferable because the sides may be readily secured 
thereby as by stitching 12 leaving an open top 13. The strap B has a strap 
portion which may be constructed of textile material as illustrated at 14 
for carrying fabric possessing a first plurality of hooks or loops, sold 
under the trademark VELCRO on an opposite side. 
The slotted guide C is preferably in the form of a metallic grommet and the 
like which has an elongated slot 16 of suitable length to accommodate the 
width of the strap 15. 
The fastener D is preferably as a strip of comparable width as the strap 
and is secured suitably for reception thereby and securement thereto 
through being provided at a surface with fabric having a second plurality 
of hooks or loops, also sold under the trademark VELCRO, which mates with 
the VELCRO material carried by the strap B. The strap for the fastener D 
is secured as is the strap 15 with the aid of a reinforcement portion 17 
sewed to the inside of the side panel 10. 
A fastener member is provided in the form of a loop constructed preferably 
of textile material which extends horizontally sufficiently and in proper 
alignment to receive the strap B as by a rolling action beneath the loop 
as illustrated in FIG. 3. 
As illustrated in FIG. 4 the strap may be loosened for removal of the 
device by folding back an end and feeding same upwardly beneath the loop E 
preparatory to exerting a pulling action for release of the strap and 
removal of the restraining device. 
It will be observed that a flap 18 is provided at the top of the panel 10 
and carries thereon a portion 18a of the fastener D. The flap is folded 
downwardly over the panel 11 after tightening of the strap 15 by pulling 
same through the slotted guide preparatory to folding the strap 15 
downwardly by securement as described above beneath the fastening member 
E. 
It is thus seen that the device is easy to use. When handcuffs are used on 
suspects, they are prevented from using a gun or retrieving most objects 
with their hands. When the device is used on suspects, it serves to 
prevent them from grabbing hold of or scratching the officer. The 
restraining device is used for protecting law enforcement officers when 
arresting or transporting any person. The person restrained is prevented 
from getting and using a hidden weapon or the officer's weapon. 
Furthermore, when transporting prisoners or mentally ill patients, the 
device serves to prevent them scratching themselves or the transporting 
officers. The device can be used in the case of mass arrests when it may 
be impossible to thoroughly search suspects. Since prisoners' hands are 
rendered virtually useless, there is no way that drugs or evidence can be 
injected or discarded. 
While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described using 
specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it 
is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without 
departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.