RESTRAINT SYSTEM

Abstract: A restraint system comprises a tie (20) for tying about a person to be restrained and a bracket (10) for fastening to a fixed object, such as the boot of a car. The tie (20) comprises an elongate serrated strap (21), a head (25) at one end of the strap (21), an aperture (26) extending through the head (25) from an insertion opening to an outlet, and a pawl (22) disposed in the head aperture (26) for engaging the strap serrations (23) when the strap (21) is formed into a loop about the wrists of the person to be restrained and then inserted into the head aperture (26) through the insertion opening. The bracket (10) comprises a through passage (13) having a mouth which tapers outwardly from a narrow central portion towards an insertion opening (14), a pawl (16) disposed in the central portion of the passage (13) for engaging the portion of the strap (21) which projects through the head aperture (26) of the fastened tie (20), when the projecting strap portion is inserted into the passage (13) through the insertion opening (14) thereof. The head (25) of the tie (20) comprises an abutment surface, which is arranged to abut the bracket (10) at the insertion opening (14) of the passage (13), so that the outlet of the head aperture (26) is positioned away from the insertion opening (14) of the passage (13) in the bracket (10). Thus, the restrained person can be released from the bracket (10) without having to cut the strap (21) from around his wrists, since sufficient room to cut the strap (21) between the outlet of the head aperture (26) and the insertion opening (14) of the bracket (10).

Description: RESTRAINT SYSTEM This invention relates to a system for restraining detainees, convicts and the like. It is well known to restrain detainees, convicts and the like by applying so-called cable ties around their wrists. One such cable tie comprises an elongate serrated strap having an apertured head at one end thereof. A pawl is disposed inside the head aperture for engaging the strap serrations when the strap is formed into a loop and its free end is passed through the head aperture. The pawl is configured so that the diameter of the loop into which the strap is formed can be reduced. However, the pawl does not allow the diameter of the loop to be increased and the cable tie forms an effective and convenient alternative to traditional handcuffs. There are often occasions when a person who has been handcuffed with a cable tie needs to be left unattended, say whilst other persons are being handcuffed. A disadvantage of this is that it could provide an opportunity for the detainee or convict to escape. Thus, it has been proposed to provide a bracket for securely fixing to an immovable object and to which the tie can be engaged. The bracket comprises a through-passage having a pawl disposed therein, rather like the head of a cable tie. In use, once the detainee or convict has been handcuffed with the cable tie, the free, projecting end portion of the strap of the tie is inserted into the passage in the bracket, such that the pawl therein engages the strap and prevents it from being detached. Often, the detainee or convict tries to resist when the tie by which he is restrained is being attached to the bracket, thereby making it difficult to insert the strap of the tie into the passage in the bracket. In order to overcome this problem, it has been proposed to enlarge the passage of the bracket at the insertion end, so as to make it easier to insert the strap. In order to release the detainee or convict from the bracket, it is necessary to cut the strap at a point between the head of the tie and the bracket. However, a disadvantage of this is that the head of the tie often gets pulled into the enlarged end of the passage, thereby making it impossible to detach the detainee or convict from the bracket without cutting the portion of the strap which extends around his wrists. We have now devised a restraint system which alleviates the above-mentioned problems. In accordance with this invention there is provided a restraint system comprising a tie for tying about the person to be restrained and a bracket for fastening to a fixed object, the tie comprising an elongate serrated strap, a head at one end of the strap, an aperture extending through the head from an insertion opening to an outlet, a pawl disposed in the head aperture for engaging the strap serrations when the strap is formed into a loop about the person to be restrained and inserted into the head aperture through said insertion opening and an abutment having a surface which is disposed at or outwardly of said outlet, the bracket comprising a through passage having a mouth which tapers outwardly from a narrow central portion towards an insertion opening, means disposed in said central portion of the passage for engaging a portion of the strap which projects through the head aperture of the tie, when said strap portion is inserted into the passage through the insertion opening thereof, the abutment surface of the tie being spaced from a surface of the projecting portion of the strap by a distance which is sufficient so that the abutment surface of the tie abuts the bracket at said insertion opening of the passage when the projecting portion of the strap is extending in the plane of the central portion of the passage, thereby causing the outlet of the head aperture to be disposed at or adjacent the entry to the insertion end of the passage. It is relatively easy to cut the strap to release the person from the bracket, since the point at which the strap emerges from the head aperture is disposed at or adjacent the entry to the insertion end of the bracket passage, thereby making it easy to gain access to the strap with a cutting tool. In one embodiment, the strap of the tie is preferably flat, the abutment surface being disposed on one side only of the head aperture, so that the abutment surface is free to pivot away from the bracket, in order to provide access to the strap between the abutment surface and the bracket. Preferably the head comprises a pair of opposed walls which define said head aperture, the abutment surface being provided on an end surface of a said wall. Preferably the head comprises an inner end wall, an outer end wall and a pair of opposed side walls, which define the head aperture, the strap extending perpendicular to the passage from said inner end wall, the inner end wall being thicker than said outer end wall to provide said abutment surface on its upper end. Preferably the distance between opposite surfaces of the inner and outer end walls of the head is greater than the width of the insertion end of the passage, so that the head does not fit into the passage. Preferably the abutment surface is inclined outwardly from said outlet of the tie aperture, so that the abutment surface is wedged in engagement with the bracket. In an alternative embodiment, the abutment surface is disposed on a projection which extends outwardly of the outlet, so that the person can be released from the bracket by cutting through the projection and the strap. Preferably the projection is tubular, the outlet communicating with the through passage in the tubular projection. Preferably the projection is formed of a thin material, so that it can be cut through relatively easily. Embodiments of this invention will now be described by way of examples only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a sectional view of a prior art restraint system, when in use; and FIGURE 2 is a sectional view through an embodiment of restraint system in accordance with this invention, when in use ; and FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the head of the tie of an alternative embodiment of restraint system in accordance with this invention. Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown a prior art restraint system comprising a bracket 10 for permanently securing to a fixed object, such as the boot of a police car, and a one-piece plastics tie 20. The bracket 10 comprises a flat base 11 for attaching to the surface of the fixed object and a body 12 extending from the base 11. A passage 13 extends through the body 12 between front and rear surfaces thereof. The passage 13 has a large insertion opening 14, which tapers inwardly towards a narrow central section. The narrow central section of the passage 13 extends through a removable cartridge 15, carrying a pawl 16 that extends into the passage 13. The pawl 16 is inclined towards the outlet end of the passage. The tie 20 comprises a flat elongate strap 21 provided with a series of transverse ratchet serrations 23 on one side and with a head 25 at one end, the head projecting from the opposite side of the strap 21. The head 25 comprises an inner end wall 27 and an outer end wall 29 and a pair of opposite side walls defining an aperture 26 extending through the head 25. The width of the aperture 26, between the opposite side walls, is only slightly wider than the width of the strap 21, which is inserted into the aperture 26. A pawl 22 is disposed in the aperture 26 for engaging the strap serrations 23 when the strap is inserted into the head. In use, the strap 21 of the tie 20 is formed into a loop L around the wrists of the person to be restrained and passed through the head aperture 26, as shown in the drawing. The pawl 22 inside the head aperture rides over the serrations 23 as the strap 21 is tightened. However, the pawl 22 engages the strap 21 and prevents the latter from being loosened. Once the tie 20 has been fastened and the person is suitably restrained, the police officer is able to attach the person to his police car, say whilst other persons are being restrained. This is achieved by inserting the projecting length of strap into the passage 13 in the bracket 10. The wide opening 14 to the passage 13 makes it easier for the strap to be inserted into the passage, especially when the person being restrained is struggling. The pawl 16 inside the bracket passage 13 engages the strap, so as to allow the strap to move in the insertion direction but so as to prevent withdrawal of the strap 21. The pawl 16 may be arranged to engage the strap serrations 23, however preferably the pawl 16 comprises a metal blade which engages the plastics material of the strap 21: this has the advantage that the strap 21 can be inserted with the strap serrations 23 facing either way. It will be appreciated that the tie 20 is securely fastened to the bracket 10, thereby making it possible to leave the restrained person attached to the police car, whilst other persons are restrained. In order to release the restrained person from the bracket 10, the strap 21 has to be cut between the head 25 of the tie and the bracket. However, a disadvantage of this is that the head often works its way into the wide insertion opening 14 of the passage 13 in the bracket 10, as shown in Figure 1: this makes it impossible to cut the strap 21 at the desired point. Hitherto, the only way of releasing the person from the bracket is to cut the looped portion of the strap. However, it will be appreciated that a disadvantage of this is that it releases the hands of the person being restrained. Referring to Figure 2 of the drawings, there is shown a restraint system in accordance with this invention and like parts are given like reference numerals. In accordance with this invention, the inner end wall 27 of the head 25 of the tie 20 is substantially thickened, so that it abuts the bracket 10 adjacent the entry to insertion opening 14 of the aperture 13, as shown in Figure 2. The inner end wall 27 may comprise a cored-out portion 30, in order to reduce the amount of plastics that is required for moulding and in order to provide better cooling in the mould. The strap 21 of the tie can be cut between the head 25 and the bracket 10 by pivoting the loop L downwardly (in direction P) , so as to form a gap between the upper end wall of the tie and the bracket, through which a cutting implement can be inserted. In this manner, the restrained person can be released from the bracket 10 without having to cut the strap from around his wrists . Referring to Figure 3 of the drawings, in an alternative embodiment, the head 25 of the tie 20 is hexagonal in section, with the width of the head 25 being substantially greater than the width of the insertion opening in the bracket 10. A hexagonal-section tubular projection 31 is disposed around the outlet end of the head aperture 26. The external surfaces of the walls of the projection 31 lie parallel to, but inwardly of the external surfaces of the corresponding walls of the head 25, such that the profile of the head 25 is stepped. In use, when a person is restrained, the width of the outer end of the projection 31 is such that it abuts the bracket 10, adjacent the entry to insertion opening 14 of the aperture 13. Thus, the outlet end of the head aperture is prevented from being pulled into the insertion opening 14 in the bracket 10. The tie 20 can be released from the bracket 10 by cutting through the projection 31 and then through the portion of the strap 21 extending through the projection: the material of the projection 31 is thin compared with the thickness of the strap 21 and thus it is relatively easy to cut through the projection 31. It will be appreciated that the projection serves to position the outlet of the head aperture away from the insertion opening 14 of the aperture 13 in the bracket 10, so as to provide sufficient room to cut the strap 21 between the outlet of the head aperture 26 and the insertion opening 13.

Claims: Claims 1) A restraint system comprising a tie for tying about the person to be restrained and a bracket for fastening to a fixed object, the tie comprising an elongate serrated strap, a head at one end of the strap, an aperture extending through the head from an insertion opening to an outlet, a pawl disposed in the head aperture for engaging the strap serrations when the strap is formed into a loop about the person to be restrained and inserted into the head aperture through said insertion opening and an abutment having a surface which is disposed at or outwardly of said outlet, the bracket comprising a through passage having a mouth which tapers outwardly from a narrow central portion towards an insertion opening, means disposed in said central portion of the passage for engaging a portion of the strap which projects through the head aperture of the tie, when said strap portion is inserted into the passage through the insertion opening thereof, the abutment surface of the tie being spaced from a surface of the projecting portion of the strap by a distance which is sufficient so that the abutment surface of the tie abuts the bracket at said insertion opening of the passage when the projecting portion of the strap is extending in the plane of the central portion of the passage, thereby causing the outlet of the head aperture to be disposed at or adjacent the entry to the insertion end of the passage. 2) A restraint system as claimed in claim 1, in which the strap of the tie is flat, the abutment surface being disposed on one side only of the head aperture, so that the abutment surface is free to pivot away from the bracket, in order to provide access to the strap between the abutment surface and the bracket. 3) A restraint system as claimed in claims 1 or 2 , in which the head comprises a pair of opposed walls which define said head aperture, the abutment surface being provided on an end surface of a said wall. 4) A restraint system as claimed in claim 3, in which the head comprises an inner end wall, an outer end wall and a pair of opposed side walls, which define the head aperture, the strap extending perpendicular to the passage from said inner end wall, the inner end wall being thicker than said outer end wall to provide said abutment surface on its upper end. 5) A restraint system as claimed in claim 4, in which the distance between opposite surfaces of the inner and outer end walls of the head is greater than the width of the insertion end of the passage. 6) A restraint system as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the abutment surface is inclined outwardly from said outlet of the head aperture. 7) A restraint system as claimed in claim 1, in which the abutment surface is disposed on a projection which extends outwardly of the outlet of the head aperture. 8) A restraint system as claimed in claim 7, in which the projection is tubular, the outlet of the aperture communicating with the through passage in the tubular projection. 9) A restraint system as claimed in claims 7 or 8 , in which the diameter of the tubular projection is sufficient for the an outer end of the projection to abut the bracket at said insertion opening of the passage, when the projecting portion of the strap is inserted into the passage through the insertion opening thereof. 10) A restraint system as claimed in any of claims 7 to 9, in which the projection is formed of a material which is thin compared with the thickness of the strap.

Inventors: BLANKS STEVEN JOHN, BLANKS, STEVEN, JOHN
Applicants: BLANKS STEVEN JOHN, BOWTHORPE PLC, BLANKS, STEVEN, JOHN
Application year: 1998
Main classification: E05B75
IPC codes: A61F5, E05B75