Abstract:
An inventive restraint connection system and method of use thereof are provided. The inventive restraint connection system consists of a number of point connector elements that releasably attach to wrist and ankle cuff elements of an existing mechanical restraint system already applied to a subject, that also releasably attach to a stationary or mobile structure, such as a bed or wheelchair. Four point connector elements are typically utilized (two for the wrists and two for the ankles) with an optional fifth leg connector element that releasably centrally attaches to an interlink between ankle cuffs. The point connector elements may be utilized in conjunction with any mechanical restraint system where at least the wrist and ankle cuff modules are supplied with releasable connectors that correspond to the releasable connectors utilized in the point restraint connector elements. During use of the inventive restraint connection system, the restrained subject is placed onto the structure, and the cuff modules (and optionally the ankle interconnect) are releasably connected to the point connector elements by simply snapping in the cuff module connectors into the corresponding connectors on the point connector elements. In an emergency the releasable connectors may be quickly disengaged enabling the subject to be easily removed from the stationary restraint position while advantageously maintaining the application of the existing restraint system to the subject.

Description:
REFERENCE TO PREVIOUSLY FILED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    The present patent application claims priority from a previously filed commonly assigned U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No.: 60/327,671, entitled “Multi-Point Soft Restraint Apparatus and Method” filed on Oct. 6, 2001. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention is directed to a multi-point connector system that, in conjunction with a mechanical restraint system, may be utilized to easily and quickly restrain a subject in an ordinary bed or any other stationary or mobile structure.  
           [0003]    There are many thousands of human service and law enforcement agencies and facilities that provide care and supervision to aggressive, suicidal, and emotionally disturbed persons (hereinafter commonly referred to as “EDPs”). The staff and officers working in these agencies regularly come into physical contact with the EDPs through the use of physical subduing or restraint holds when the EDP becomes aggressive. Although there are many types of well-known physical subduing holds, the safest and most advantageous physical subduing hold is a Primary Restraint Technique (PRT) described in greater detail in a commonly assigned co-pending U.S. Patent Application entitled “APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SAFELY MAINTAINING A RESTRAINING HOLD ON A PERSON”.  
           [0004]    While restraint holds are useful for relatively short periods of time, often restraint of the EDP is necessary for an extended period of time. In such cases, the EDP must be restrained using some sort of a mechanical restraint system. Typically, this involves placing wrist and ankle restraints on the EDP so that the EDP may be restrained for an extended period of time at the place of the restraint hold, or, transported to another location while wearing the restraints. Also, for extended restraints, special beds with integrated restraints are used in many facilities. Previously known restraint systems involve mechanical locks—for example, the popular Posey TAT restraint utilizes a mechanical spring-loaded lock that require a special key to open. It takes at least 4-5 staff members to successfully apply such restraints at a speed of no lower than 2-3 minutes per restraint. During application of the restraints, the EDP must be held down and poses a constant threat to the staff members until the restraining process is complete.  
           [0005]    Accordingly, removal of such restraints prior to re-application of stationary bed restraints in emergency situations (i.e., in a medical emergency) takes a significant amount of time since a key must be located and used to open each restraint on each limb—this is especially problematic because without the key, which may not be immediately available in case of an emergency, the restraints cannot be removed at all. Manipulation of stationary restraints once attached to the EDP is difficult as well, requiring several people to pull webbing through a complex system of buckles and connectors. Another problem that often arises, is that a bed with integrated mechanical restrains for restraining the EDP for extended periods of time may not be available when necessary, thus forcing the staff members to find alternate long-term restraint means. Finally, complex previously known stationary restraint systems are expensive, heavy, and require extensive training to use properly. This is especially true of beds with integrated restraint systems.  
           [0006]    Thus, it would be desirable to provide an apparatus and method for quickly and easily connecting to existing mechanical restraints, already applied to a person, to secure that person to a stationary or mobile object, such as a bed or a wheelchair. It would furthermore be desirable to provide a mechanical restraint connection apparatus that is comfortable to the subject and that may be quickly and easily removed in case of an emergency. It would also be desirable to provide a lightweight mechanical restraint connection system that is easy to transport and use and that is inexpensive to manufacture. Moreover, it would be desirable to provide a mechanical restraint connection system that may be easily controlled by a single person after its application. Finally, it would be desirable to provide a mechanical restraint connection system that may be easily utilized for deployment on beds and other stationary or mobile structures for long term EDP restraint.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The apparatus of the present invention, and method of use thereof, remedies the problems associated with securing an already restrained violent and/or struggling EDP to a stationary or mobile structure for long term restraint, and with quickly and easily removing the restrained EDP from the secured position in case of an emergency. In brief summary, the inventive multi-point restraint connection apparatus advantageously provides: (1) quick and easy deployment and connection to an existing mechanical restraint system that has been previously applied to the EDP as well as quick and easy disconnection from the restraint system in case of an emergency; (2) severe restriction to the range of motion of the EDPs arms and legs during long term restraint; (3) a secure fit to any EDP size and any stationary or mobile structure configuration as the inventive restraint connection apparatus is dynamically fitted exactly to the EDP and structure size during application thereof; (4) lightweight and simple construction, making the inventive restraint connectors easy to transport and use, and inexpensive to manufacture; and (5) easy control of the restraint connection apparatus by a single person during and after its application to the EDP.  
           [0008]    In summary, the inventive system consists of a number of point connector elements that releasably attach to wrist and ankle cuff elements of an existing mechanical restraint system already applied to the EDP and also releasably attach to a stationary or mobile structure such as a bed or a wheelchair. Four point connector elements are typically utilized (two for the wrists and two for the ankles) with an optional fifth leg connector element that releasably centrally attaches to an interlink between ankle cuffs to further prevent movement of the EDP&#39;s legs and lower body subsequent to application of the other point restraint connector elements. The point connector elements may be utilized in conjunction with any mechanical restraint system where at least the wrist and ankle cuff modules are s supplied with releasable connectors that correspond to the releasable connectors utilized in the point restraint connector elements (i.e. male connectors on the cuff modules, if the point restraint connector elements include female releasable connectors, and vice versa).  
           [0009]    During use of the inventive point connector elements, the restrained EDP is brought to a structure (such as a bed) where the point connector elements have been already positioned in appropriate locations and removably secured to the object, such that when the EDP is placed onto the object, a staff member can easily releasably connect the cuff modules (and optionally the ankle interconnect) to the point connector elements by simply snapping in the cuff module connectors into the corresponding connectors on the point connector elements. In an emergency the releasable connectors may be quickly disengaged enabling the EDP to be easily removed from the stationary restraint position while advantageously maintaining the application of the existing restraint system to the EDP.  
           [0010]    Alternately, the point connector elements may be deployed after the restrained EDP has been brought to the structure and applied to the wrist and ankle cuffs (and optionally interconnect) one at a time.  
           [0011]    In one embodiment of the present invention, each point connector element is individually stored and utilized. In another embodiment of the invention, two point connector elements may be connected to one another by elastic webbing or by a tensionable webbing to facilitate quick and easy deployment onto a stationary or mobile structure in preparation for arrival of a restrained EDP. This arrangement also enables the wrist and ankle point connector elements to maintain a desirable position on the structure prior to arrival of the restrained EDP is brought to the structure, the various point connector elements are aligned with their counterpart connectors on the respective wrist and ankle cuffs.  
           [0012]    Optionally, a protective sleeve may also be provided for releasable connectors on the wrist point connector elements to prevent the EDP from somehow disengaging the wrist point connector elements. The sleeve enables release of the connectors only by using a long thin object such as a pen perpendicular to the connector (i.e. so a special key is not required). The required angle of use of the object and the required pressure force make it impossible for the EDP to disengage the connector even if the EDP somehow got hold of such an object.  
           [0013]    Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention, for which reference should be made to the appended claims.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    In the drawings, wherein like reference characters denote corresponding or similar elements throughout the various figures:  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 shows a top view of a point connector element of a first embodiment of the multi-point restraint system of the present invention for releasable connection to wrist or ankle cuff restraints;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 shows a top view of a second embodiment of the present invention in which a pair of the inventive point connector elements of FIG. 1, are connected to one another to facilitate their deployment and positioning on a stationary or mobile structure;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 shows a top view of a point connector element of the multi-point restraint system of the present invention of FIGS.  1  or  2 , for releasable connection to an ankle cuff interconnect;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 shows top and side views of an optional releasable connector protective sleeve that may be utilized in conjunction with the point connector elements of FIGS.  1  or  2  to prevent the restrained subject from disengaging the releasable connector;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 shows a top-isometric view of the inventive point connector elements of FIGS. 2 and 3 deployed on a bed in a ready position;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 6 shows a top-isometric view of the inventive point connector elements of FIGS. 2 and 3 connected to multiple elements of a circular soft restraint system applied to a restrained subject; and  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 7 shows a top-perspective simplified view of mechanical wrist and ankle cuff restraints and interconnects that are applied to a restrained subject and that are used in conjunction with the inventive point connector elements of FIGS. 2 and 3.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0022]    The present invention relates to a multi-point restraint connector system that, in conjunction with a mechanical restraint system already applied to a subject, may be utilized to easily and quickly restrain a subject in an ordinary bed or in any other stationary or mobile structure (e.g. a wheelchair, a gurney). Preferably, the apparatus and method of the present invention are utilized in conjunction with soft circular restraints, such as those disclosed in the commonly assigned co-pending U.S. patent applications entitled, respectively, “Soft Circular Restraint Apparatus and Method” and “Rapid Deployment Soft Restraint Apparatus and Method” which are hereby both incorporated by reference in their entirety. However, the inventive restraint point connector system may be utilized with other mechanical restraint systems, if the other systems are provided with appropriate releasable interface connectors.  
         [0023]    It should be understood, that while the present invention refers to Emotionally Disturbed Persons (hereinafter “EDPs”) and Staff Members, the inventive techniques and apparatus may be applied in virtually any situation where a subject is being restrained and application of mechanical restraints is warranted. Thus, the present invention is applicable in law enforcement, hospitals, mental health care facilities, drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers, etc.  
         [0024]    Furthermore, while description of the various embodiments of the present invention refers to connecting to a bed, it should be understood that the inventive point connector elements may be advantageously used to connect to any stationary or mobile structure (such as a wheelchair or a gurney) where it is desirable to maintain the EDP in a restrained position for an extended period of time.  
         [0025]    Finally, while a number of exemplary releasable connectors are illustrated in the various drawings and described in conjunction therewith, it should be understood that other types of releasable connectors may be used as a matter of design choice without departing from the spirit of the invention.  
         [0026]    Before application of any sort of mechanical restraints, it is important that control over the EDP is established by placing the EDP into a restraining hold. The Primary Restraint Technique (hereinafter “PRT”) is an advantageous modular single person restraint that is applied by an EDP care professional (hereinafter “staff member”) to an EDP from behind. The maneuvers involved in implementing the PRT are described in greater detail in connection with the Primary Restraint Technique (PRT) described in greater detail in a commonly assigned co-pending U.S. Patent Application entitled “APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SAFELY MAINTAINING A RESTRAINING HOLD ON A PERSON” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. It should be noted, however, that the restraint system of the present invention does not require use of the PRT—it may be advantageously be utilized in any situation where the EDP is physically restrained by one or more staff members or other individuals.  
         [0027]    Referring first to FIG. 7, the multi-point restraint system of the present invention is used in conjunction with wrist cuff restraint system  220  and an ankle cuff restraint system  230 . The wrist cuff restraint system  220  is shown in a simplified form includes two wrist cuff restraints  208 ,  210 , each having a respective releasable connector  222 ,  224 , and an optional waist interconnect  216  connecting the wrist cuff restraints  208 ,  210 . The ankle cuff restraint system  230  is also shown in a simplified form and includes two ankle cuff restraints  212 ,  214 , each having a respective releasable connector  234 ,  236 , and an optional ankle interconnect  232  connecting the ankle cuff restraints  212 ,  214  optionally supplied with a perpendicularly mounted releasable connector  218 .  
         [0028]    The wrist and ankle cuff restraint systems  220 ,  230  are preferably ones disclosed in the above-incorporated commonly assigned U.S. patent applications “Soft Circular Restraint Apparatus and Method” and “Rapid Deployment Soft Restraint Apparatus and Method”. However, as a matter of design choice, any mechanical restrain system supplied with releasable connectors  222 ,  224 ,  234  and  236  (and optionally connector  218 ) or the like, may be readily utilized in conjunction with the inventive multi-point restraint connection system, without departing from the sprit of the invention.  
         [0029]    Referring now to FIG. 1, a first embodiment of the inventive multi-point restraint system is shown as a point connector element  10 . The point connector element  10  comprises a releasable point connector  12  for releasably connecting to a stationary or mobile structure, such as a bed frame (not shown), at one end, a first webbing element  14  connected to a tensioning mechanism  16  and a second webbing element  15  connecting the tensioning mechanism  16  to a releasable restraint connector  18 . An optional elastic loop  20  may be positioned between the tensioning mechanism  16  and the releasable connector  18  for retaining a folded potion of the webbing element  15  that passes through the tensioning mechanism  16  and that is used to adjust the length of the point connector element  10 .  
         [0030]    The tensioning mechanism  16  can be used to control the overall length of the point connector element  10 . The webbing elements  14  and  15  are preferably composed of a strong flexible material such as synthetic webbing (for example, the nylon webbing used in seat belts and parachute straps) or a similar strong flexible material having high tensile strength. The tensioning mechanism  16  may be any buckle-type tensioning device composed of rigid plastic or metal. The releasable point connector  12  may be any openable releasable connector (such as a carabiner-type connector) capable of connecting to a bed frame or the like. Optionally, the point connector  12  and a portion of the webbing element  14  may be looped around a frame or another portion of a structure on which the EDP is being restrained (not shown) and releasably connected back to the webbing element  14  forming a noose-like loop.  
         [0031]    The restraint connector  18  is configured for and used to releasably connect to a corresponding releasable connector  222 ,  224  on the wrist cuff system  220  or to a corresponding releasable connector  234 ,  236  on the ankle cuff system  230  (see FIG. 7). The releasable connector  18  and the corresponding releasable connectors  222 ,  224 ,  234 , and  236 , may be any matched releasable mechanical connector such as a snap buckle, or a male/female seatbelt-type connector. For example, if the connectors  222 ,  224 ,  234 , and  236  are male seatbelt-type connectors, the releasable connector  18  is a female seatbelt-type connector.  
         [0032]    During use of the inventive multi-point restraint connector system, four point connector elements  10  are preferably utilized—two for wrist cuff restraint system  220  and two for the ankle cuff restraint system  230 . The point connectors  12  are releasably connected to the structure on which the EDP is being restrained (not shown) while the restraint connectors  18  are connected to the corresponding releasable connectors  222 ,  224 ,  234 , and  236  such that the EDP is releasably restrained at the stationary or mobile structure. In case of an emergency, the EDP can be easily and quickly removed from the structure without disengaging the wrist and ankle restraint systems  220 ,  230  by simply disengaging the restraint connectors  18  on each point connector elements  10 .  
         [0033]    Referring now to FIG. 2, a second embodiment of the present invention is shown as a dual point restraint connector system  50  that may be utilized either with the wrist restraint system  220 , or with the ankle restraint system  230 . The connector system  50  includes two point connector elements  52  and  54  connected to one another via an interconnect  76 . Each of the point connector elements  52  and  54  are substantially identical to the point connector element  10  of FIG. 1 and include components that correspond to equivalents on the point connector element  10 . Thus, releasable point connectors  62 ,  72  correspond to the releasable point connector  12 , webbing elements  56 ,  66  correspond to the webbing element  14  (FIG. 1), webbing elements  57 ,  67  correspond to the webbing element  15  (FIG. 1), tensioning mechanisms  60 ,  70  correspond to the tensioning mechanism  16 , releasable restraint connectors  58 ,  68  correspond to the releasable restraint connector  18 ; and the elastic loops  64 ,  74  correspond to the elastic loop  20 .  
         [0034]    The interconnect  76  is preferably a flexible (and optionally elastic) member secured to undersides of webbing elements  57 ,  67  proximal to the respective releasable restraint connectors  58 ,  68 . The main purpose of the interconnect  76  is to keep the point connector elements  52  and  54  in pairs and to facilitate ready deployment on a stationary or mobile structure (not shown) prior to arrival of the restrained EDP. This functionality of the interconnect  76  is described in greater detail below in connection with FIG. 5. The interconnect  76  may be composed of any flexible resilient material such as rubber or rubberized material, stretch webbing, or a non-stretch synthetic webbing. Optionally, if the interconnect  76  is not elastic, it may be supplied with a tensioning mechanism (not shown) to control its length.  
         [0035]    An alternate embodiment of the interconnect  76  is shown in FIG. 2 as releasable interconnect  78 . The releasable interconnect  78  includes a first webbing element  80  secured by its first end to one of the webbing elements  57 ,  67  and a is second webbing element  88  secured by its first end to the other of the webbing elements  57 ,  67 . The second ends of the elements  80 ,  88  include matched releasable connectors  82 ,  84  configured for releasable connection to one another. The releasable connectors  82 ,  84  may be snap buckles or a male/female seatbelt-type connector system. A tensioning mechanism  86  is provided on or both one of  20  the elements  80 ,  88  to control the length of the releasable interconnect  78  (only one tensioning mechanism is shown in FIG. 2). The releasable interconnect  78  may be used to disconnect the point connector elements  52  and  54  in case one of them becomes damaged or needs to be replaced.  
         [0036]    Referring now to FIG. 3, an optional leg tensioning point element  80 , that may be used in conjunction with the inventive embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2 is shown. The tensioning point element  80  includes a releasable point connector  88 , such as a carabineer, at one end, a webbing element  82  connecting the releasable point connector  88  to a tensioning mechanism  86  with an integrated releasable restraint connector  84  at the other end configured to releasably connect to a corresponding releasable connector  218  disposed perpendicular to the interconnect  232  on the ankle restraint system  230 . Optionally, the tensioning mechanism  86  may be a separate device from the releasable restraint connection  84 . The tensioning point element  80  may be advantageously utilized to further restrict movement of the EDPs legs and lower body once the EDP has been secured to a stationary or mobile structure (not shown) by connecting the releasable connectors  84  and  218 , connecting the releasable point connector  88  to a stationary or mobile structure (not shown), and then adjusting the tensioning mechanism  86  to secure the EDPs legs to the structure as tightly as possible and to prevent lateral and vertical movement thereof.  
         [0037]    Referring now to FIG. 4, an optional secure releasable connector  90  is shown. The secure releasable connector  90  may be used when the point connector elements  10 ,  52 ,  54  utilize seatbelt-type female connectors as a replacement for the releasable connectors  18 ,  58 ,  58 . While seatbelt-type releasable connectors are easy to use and easy to release in case of an emergency, they may become accessible to a particularly flexible or clever EDP and thus pose a risk of EDP disengaging themselves from the connectors by pressing release buttons (not shown) with their fingers. The secure releasable connector  90  solves this challenge by proving a protective sleeve over a standard seatbelt-type female connector and restricting access to the release button.  
         [0038]    The secure releasable connector  90  is connected to a webbing element  92  (corresponding to one of the webbing elements  15 ,  57  or  67 ) and includes a female seatbelt-type connector  94  with a release button  98 . The connector  94  is encased in a protective sleeve  96  (for example composed of plastic or a synthetic material such as nylon) with a small opening  100  positioned over the release button  98 . The opening  100  is preferably too small for a finger and thus a long thin object  102  (such as a pen or a pencil) is necessary to disengage the connector  94  by passing the object  102  through the opening  100  until the release button  98  is sufficiently depressed. The force necessary for activation of the release button  98  and the angle of entry of the object  102  make it impossible for the EDP to disengage the connector  90 , even if the EDP somehow obtains the object  102 . Because the EDPs can only potentially access point connector elements that proximal to their hands, the secure connector  90  is only useful in point connector elements  10  or  52 ,  54  that are used in conjunction with the wrist restraint system  220 .  
         [0039]    Referring now to FIG. 5, the inventive multi-point restraint connector system of FIGS. 2 and 3 is shown as deployed (and ready to receive the restrained EDP) on a bed  200  having a mattress  202  and a circumferential frame  204 . Two sets of point restraint systems  50  are positioned on the mattress  202 , one for each wrist and ankle restraint system  220 ,  230 , and a tensioning point element  80  is positioned at the foot of the bed  200  ready to releasably connect to the ankle restraint system  230 . The interconnects  76  advantageously enable the point restraint systems  50  to be easily positioned in desirable locations on the mattress  202  without the possibility of the individual point connector elements  52 ,  54  sliding off the mattress  202  either prior to or after the EDP is brought to the bed  200 .  
         [0040]    Typically, one staff member prepares the point restraint systems  50  and the tensioning point element  80  by connecting the respective connectors  62 ,  72  and  88  to the bed frame  204 , while one or more other staff members escort the EDP, already in wrist and ankle restraints  220 ,  230 , to the bed  200  and place the EDP thereon.  
         [0041]    Referring now to FIG. 6, the EDP  206  is positioned on the bed  200  and the various releasable connector elements  58 ,  68 , and  84  are connected to corresponding releasable connectors of the restraint systems  220 ,  230  disposed on the EDP  206 . The EDP  206  is thereby restrained on the bed  200  and may be quickly removed from the bed  200  for transport or in case of an emergency without releasing the EDP  206  from the restraint systems  220 ,  230 . This is particularly advantageous because in all previously known systems, the mechanical restraints were incorporated into the bed and, if the EDP had to be moved, the staff members were forced to release the EDP from the bed restraints before applying separate transport restraints, thus putting themselves and the EDP at risk. Furthermore, in case of am emergency, not only are previously known bed restraints slow to remove, but also the EDP will be left unrestrained if there is no time to apply a new set of restraints (such as in case of a fire).  
         [0042]    It should be noted that the specific structures and appearance of the elements and components of FIGS.  1 - 7  are shown by way example only and shall not serve as a limitation on structure and functionality of the inventive elements.  
         [0043]    All together, the lightweight inventive point connector restraint elements  10 ,  52 ,  54 ,  80  can withstand approximately 10,000 pounds of force, all without any metal key elements. Because all elements of the inventive systems are flexible and soft, the EDP will not hurt themselves or experience significant discomfort by struggling against the restraints. It takes less than  25  seconds for a single person to deploy each of the inventive arm and leg restraint systems from a storage position to their deployed restraint position. Most importantly, the inventive point connector elements  10 ,  52 ,  54 ,  80  can be easily released in several second in an emergency situation without need for a special key. Moreover, the multi-point restraint connection system of the present invention is easy and intuitive to use and inexpensive to manufacture. Finally, the construction of the inventive multi-point restraint connection system makes it easy to deploy in any setting and with any stationary or mobile structure, such as a bed, a wheelchair, or a gurney even one that is not designed for use with restraints.  
         [0044]    Thus, while there have been shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices and methods illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention.