Patent Publication Number: US-7210317-B2

Title: Controllably extendible restraint interconnections

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Not Applicable 
   FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
   Not Applicable 
   SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM 
   Not Applicable 
   BACKGROUND—FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to human restraints such as are used by law enforcement officials, and more specifically, to improved devices for controllably, extendibly interconnecting one or more such restraints to each other or to a fixed object. 
   BACKGROUND—DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART 
   To facilitate this description and the specification to follow, the terms “police officer,” “officer,” and the like, will often be used as general terms for all law enforcement officials as lawful detainers. Similarly, the terms “arrestee,” “prisoner,” and “subject” will often be used as general terms for all detainees, whether prisoners or people otherwise lawfully restrained. And similarly, gender specific terms such as “he,” or “him,” are intended to be understood as implying both male and female gender possibilities as detainers or detainees. 
   Detainment by material means has been known throughout recorded human history as is well documented in the Bible and other ancient documents. Handcuffs and leg restraints of one form or another, as well as other forms of material restraints, have been in use since antiquity. Generally defined, wrist, leg or other appendage restraints consist of some form of interconnecting linkage between one or more restraint members, or between one or more restraint members and a pre-positioned anchor. Restraint members are typically made of metal, leather, fabric or plastic rings or ring portions that can be encircled and locked about one or more wrists, ankles, or other appendages, or the mid-section, to restrain a detainee, or to fasten him or her to another person or to a pre-positioned object. 
   The act of detaining an unruly subject by wrist capture and restraint is often a risky affair. Soldiers, police and security personnel, among other officers, often encounter situations where the application of conventional forms of wrist cuffs, i.e., handcuffs, to a subject is made difficult by the refusal of the subject to allow his arms to be brought together behind his back so that the handcuffs may be properly applied to his wrists. Adding to this problem is the fact that conventional restraining devices typically utilize interconnecting linkage methods that place their respective, individual restraint members in close proximity to one another, usually a few inches apart. Often it requires several officers to gain sufficient control over a resisting subject in order to compel his arms into close proximity so that the handcuffs may be attached to his wrists. It would be more advantageous to have a single device that would allow one wrist to be captured by a first restraint, and then briefly allow a second restraint to be moved outward across the required distance to capture the subject&#39;s second wrist, and then controllably bring the two restraints together until the device closed to a conventional length. 
   Officers also often encounter situations where the application of conventional forms of handcuffs or other restraints to an arrestee is complicated by the inability of larger subjects to bring their wrists fully together behind their back. In these situations, an officer might choose to bridge the increased distance between a larger-sized subject&#39;s wrists by connecting one handcuff from a first set of handcuffs to a handcuff from a second set, and then place the two remaining, unconnected cuffs about the prisoner&#39;s wrists. It would be more advantageous to have a single device with restraints that could be controllably distance-locked to properly reach between a larger subject&#39;s wrists, especially when the larger subject is to be handcuffed from behind. 
   Additionally, once an unruly subject is arrested, it is often difficult for an officer to control the distance which the subject may travel within the processing room during the arrest procedure. Because of the limited reach of conventional handcuff interconnections, the attachment of one conventional handcuff to a pre-positioned wall anchor (such as a wall-mounted eyehook) may prevent the completion of the arrest processing. It would be more advantageous to have a restraint device that would allow a prisoner to be tethered at a reasonable length from a pre-positioned wall anchor. 
   The majority of prior art references which consider police-employed restraints do so either: a. with a view toward making improvements on the restraints themselves, e.g., different forms of handcuffs or other encircling devices; or, b. with a view toward making improvements on the manner in which the encircling devices are closely connected at fixed distances, e.g., by lengths of chain, hinges, pivots, straps, or other generally fixed interconnections. Very few patent or other prior art references located deal directly with controllably altering the interconnectional distance between restraints or between one or more restraints and a fixed object. Of those few prior art patents which deal with extendible interconnections between restraints, the most relevant are listed below. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 1,534,936 issued to E. E. Fischbach on Apr. 21, 1925, entitled “Confining and Restraining Device,” discloses the use of separate, yet joinable and lockable, strap devices for the quick restraint of an individual. Finger rings at the ends of a strap accommodate a single finger on the detainer&#39;s hands thereby allowing the detainer to grasp, with the remaining fingers, the lockable joining means near the finger rings. The detainer is then required to toss the strap over and around the detainee and quickly bring together the joining means. After the strap is joined and locked, the detainer pulls outwardly on the finger rings to further tighten the strap. The detainer must then release his hands from the finger rings or risk being pulled along with arrestee. There is no indication in the reference for using the device to interconnect separated restraints such as handcuffs, nor would it be reasonable to do so with the device. The device has only one continuous cinching strap restraint which is utilized by being looped and cinched around whatever is to be bound within the loop. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,024,736 issued to W. P. DeMichieli on May 24, 1977, entitled “Prisoner Restrainer,” discloses a strap rewind reel connected between two ankle cuffs that allows a detainee to walk with a predetermined stride while cuffed. The reel unwinds the strap as the detainee&#39;s legs are spread apart, and winds-in the strap as the legs are brought together. A centrifugally-actuated ratchet lock inside the wheel activates if the strap unwinds at an excessive rate, thereby preventing the detainee from assuming a running stride. The reeled strap is not intended to be used to capture an arrestee, but is only utilized as a custodial form of security device to deter a prisoner from attempting a running escape by binding his ankles at the distance set when the ratchet stops the strap. There is no indication in the reference that the device should or could utilize a manually-activated, recoiling-ratchet mechanism for the purpose of assisting the closing of two restraints together. Moreover, the presence of the retractor speed limiter is contrary to the teachings of the present invention. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,026,661 issued to C. Spiropoulos on Feb. 22, 2000, entitled “Restraining Device and Method of Using,” discloses a pair of handcuff members, each connected to separate elongated cable sections. The cable sections are attached at their other ends to a rotatable spool that is housed within a manually rotated box-ratchet assembly. A release mechanism enables a user to lengthen the distance between the handcuffs and the housing assembly, thereby lengthening the distance between the separate handcuffs in preparation for their application. The cables are then reeled onto the spool member with a ratcheting motion, thereby joining the handcuffs. The reference does not take into account that without at least a second assisting officer, control over a resisting subject is lost once the initial officer begins using both hands to operate the ratchet and reel mechanism. Additionally, during the reeling process the arrestee would be clearly able to manipulate the overly long cables suggested and use them as a means to ensnare and possible choke or otherwise harm the arresting officer. There is also no indication in this reference that the device should or could utilize a manually-activated recoiling-ratchet mechanism for the purpose of assisting the closing of two restraints together. Moreover, the presence of a manually wound reeling device is contrary to the teachings of the present invention. 
   SUMMARY 
   The apparatus of the present invention typically comprises a pair of opposing restraint members wherein a first restraint member is attached to a first end of a thin, flexible, high tensile belt, cord or cable tether, whose second end is attached to a controllably-ratcheted, winding-rewinding spool within a suitable housing. A second restraint member is attached to an opposite end of the housing. The housing may have respective arms which further include a pivotable connection. 
   When actuated by a user, a controllable ratchet-pawl release mechanism permits the tether to be withdrawn against the tension of the rewinding mechanism. When the ratchet-pawl release mechanism ceases to be actuated, the tether can no longer be extracted and can only be ratcheted back onto the spool while being retracted by the rewinding mechanism, thus bringing the attached opposing restraint members toward a closed connection. 
   Objects and Advantages 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a restraint device that has a controllably extendible interconnection between restraints to enable law enforcement officials to more efficiently control and handcuff a resisting arrestee. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a restraint device for resisting arrestees that will automatically rewind a controllably extendible tether between two restraints, and prevent outreeling by ratcheted control methods. It is another object of the invention to provide restraint members that are detachably attachable to such a restraint device. 
   It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a controllably extendible restraining device that may be applied to a larger-sized subject to safely secure him in the rear while the restraints are separated by an appropriate distance. 
   It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a controllably extendible restraining device that may be securely attached to a fixed object such as a pre-positioned wall anchor. 
   It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a controllably extendible restraining device that may be compactly folded and securely attached to a location adjacent the law enforcement official&#39;s body for easy storage, access and implementation. It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a controllably extendible restraining device that is simple to use and more efficient than conventional handcuff devices. 
   As noted above, the three primary advantages of having controllably extendible restraint interconnections for law enforcement purposes, as opposed to having only fixed distance interconnections, briefly, are that having controllably extendible restraint interconnections allows a law enforcement official: a. to more efficiently subdue an uncooperative person being arrested or detained by providing the officer with a greater reach between a cuffed hand and an opposite hand to be cuffed; b. to better accommodate larger persons whose arm positioning prevents a rear closure of restraints at a conventional length; c. to better controllably restrict the movement of a person about a pivotal fixed object (such as a pre-positioned wall anchor) at an adjustable distance. 
   There is a clear need for a restraining interconnection system that is more efficient, practical and safer for all individuals involved than the conventional restraining interconnection systems of the prior art, including those currently offered in the marketplace. The present invention of controllably extendible restraint interconnections has been specifically designed to alleviate the difficulties involved in capturing those individuals who resist arrest, or who by their larger order size cannot willfully comply with the restraining process. As well, the present invention of controllably extendible restraint interconnections has been designed to better control unpredictable detainees by tethering them at reasonable distances to fixed points within a processing or other area. 
   Other objects and advantages of the invention will become clear upon review of the following detailed description in conjunction with the appended drawings. 

   
     DRAWING FIGURES 
       FIG. 1  is a frontal, schematic, perspective view of a preferred controllably extendible restraint interconnection method of the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a frontal schematic perspective view of  FIG. 1  illustrating the extraction of a controllably extendible restraint from its docking channel. 
       FIG. 3  is a front view of a preferred embodiment of a controllably extendible restraint interconnection device of the present invention shown unfolded and rigidly extended. 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of the interconnection device of  FIG. 3  shown rigidly extended. 
       FIG. 5  is a front view of the interconnection device of  FIG. 3  showing the left restraint separated from its docking channel along the line of a belt tether. 
       FIG. 6  is a top view of the interconnection device of  FIG. 3  showing the left restraint separated from its docking channel along the line of a belt tether. 
       FIG. 7  is a front, partially cutaway, enlarged scale, cross-section view taken along line  7 — 7  of  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 7A  is a front, diagrammatic perspective, stand-alone view of the ratchet control assembly shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
       FIG. 7B  is a right side view of an extended pin handcuff key. 
       FIG. 7C  is a front view of  FIG. 7B . 
       FIG. 7D  is a rear view of  FIG. 7B . 
       FIG. 8  is a top, partially cutaway, enlarged scale, cross-sectional view taken along line  8 — 8  of  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 9  is a partial cutaway, rear view of the interconnection device of  FIG. 3  shown rigidly extended, and detailing the rear hinge and locking bar assemblies. 
       FIG. 9A  is left side view of the hinge assembly and locking bar assembly configuration when the device of  FIG. 3  is rigidified. 
       FIG. 9B  is a side view of the hinge assembly and locking bar assembly configuration when the device of  FIG. 3  is folded open. 
       FIG. 10  is a partially cutaway, bottom view of the interconnection device of  FIG. 3  shown rigidly extended. 
       FIG. 11  is a top, partially cutaway view of the interconnection device of  FIG. 3  shown folded in half with its opposing restraints substantially parallel. 
       FIG. 12  is a right side view of a belt-carrying pouch for the folded device shown in  FIG. 11  showing the folded device within the pouch with its restraints parallel and upwardly vertically disposed. 
       FIG. 13  is a rear view of the belt-carrying pouch of  FIG. 12  showing the folded device within the pouch with its restraints upwardly vertically disposed and overlying each other. 
       FIG. 14  is a front, transversely-centralized, cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the interconnection device of the present invention wherein a cable is utilized as a tethering method. 
       FIG. 15  is a top cross-sectional view of the alternate embodiment of  FIG. 14  taken along line  15 — 15  of  FIG. 14 . 
       FIG. 16  is a right side view of an alternate embodiment of the invention wherein the back side of an integral housing is shown bolt-mounted to a wall. 
       FIG. 17  is a top view of the alternate embodiment of  FIG. 16 . 
   

   REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS 
   
     FIG. 1–2 
   
   
       
         101 =housing 
         101 A=upper axle hub 
         102 =insertion member 
         103 =docking channel 
         104 A=left restraint heel 
         104 B=right restraint heel 
         105 A=left restraint 
         105 B=right restraint 
         106 =tether spool 
         106 A=spool axle 
         107 =retractor spring enclosure 
         108 =retractor spring 
         109 =top ratchet gear 
         110 =bottom ratchet gear 
         111 =ratchet pawl bar 
         112 =pawl spring 
         113 =pawl release bar 
         113 A=top pawl release bar travel slot 
         113 B=bottom pawl release bar travel slot 
         114 =spring-retaining block 
         114 A=spring block aperture 
         115 =tether 
         116 A=counterclockwise block arrow 
         116 B=clockwise block arrow 
         117 A=left-pointing projection arrow line 
         117 B=right-pointing projection arrow line
   FIGS. 3–13   
         201 =left handcuff assembly 
         201 A=left single strand 
         201 B=left rivet hinge 
         201 C=left double strand 
         201 D=left heel 
         201 E=left keyhole 
         201 F=left push pin lock hole 
         201 G=left upper heel rivet hole 
         201 H=left lower heel rivet hole 
         201 I=left upper handcuff rivet 
         201 J=left lower handcuff rivet 
         201 K=left ratchet tooth set 
         202 =right handcuff assembly 
         202 A=right single strand 
         202 B=right rivet hinge 
         202 C=right double strand 
         202 D=right heel 
         202 E=right keyhole 
         202 F=right push pin lock hole 
         202 G=right upper heel mounting hole 
         202 H=right lower heel mounting hole 
         202 I=right upper handcuff mounting rivet 
         202 J=right lower handcuff mounting rivet 
         202 K=right ratchet tooth set 
         203 =left housing arm 
         203 A=recessed area for axle top housing 
         203 B=circularly recessed area for retractor spring enclosure bottom 
         203 C=spool enclosure right outside wall 
         203 D=upper tooth receiving aperture 
         203 E=lower tooth receiving aperture 
         203 F=cutaway section of left arm  203   
         203 G=truncated part of left arm  203   
         204 =right housing arm 
         204 A=right arm upper right front and rear rivet mounting hole 
         204 B=lower right rivet front and rear mounting hole 
         204 C=heel receiving aperture 
         204 D=right arm arcurate wall 
         204 E=pawl spring retaining aperture 
         204 F=upper pawl slide hole 
         204 G=lower pawl slide hole 
         204 H=rear mounting block aperture 
         204 I=front mounting block aperture 
         204 J=push bar coil spring aperture 
         204 K=push bar button lower retaining aperture 
         204 L=double-lock button hole 
         204 M=double-lock push pin hole 
         204 N=upper arcurate wall pawl tooth aperture 
         204 O=lower arcurate wall pawl tooth aperture 
         205 =vertical hinge assembly 
         205 A=left hinge pin collars ( 3 ) 
         205 B=right hinge collars ( 4 ) 
         205 C=hinge pin 
         206 =slidable locking bar 
         206 A=left locking bar storage aperture 
         206 B=right locking bar receiving aperture 
         206 C=locking bar pin aperture 
         206 D=locking bar slide stop member 
         207 =belt tether 
         208 =tether spool 
         208 A=tether spool enclosure 
         208 B=spool vertical axle 
         208 C=upper spool axle housing 
         209 =insertion member 
         209 A=belt clamping slot 
         210 =docking channel 
         211 =insertion member stop bar 
         211 A=upper stop bar slot (filled by stop bar) 
         211 B=lower stop bar slot (filled by stop bar) 
         211 C=vertical belt aperture 
         211 D=vertical brush 
         212 =upper mounted ratchet gear 
         212 A=upper gear teeth 
         213 =lower mounted ratchet gear 
         213 A=lower gear teeth 
         214 =retractor spring enclosure 
         214 A=retractor spring 
         214 B=left locking protrusion 
         214 C=front locking protrusion 
         215 =ratchet pawl bar 
         215 A=upper ratchet pawl tooth 
         215 B=lower ratchet pawl tooth 
         215 C=upper gear bar 
         215 D=lower gear bar 
         215 E=pawl spring bar 
         215 F=notched rear terminus of  215 E 
         215 G=spring bar helical spring 
         215 H=upper set of downward-facing gear bar teeth 
         215 I=lower set of upward-facing gear bar teeth 
         216 =spring mounting block 
         216 A=upper endpiece slot (shown filled by  219 I) 
         216 B=lower endpiece slot (shown filled by  219 J) 
         217 =upper cylindrical gear 
         217 A=front upper gear aperture (shown filled by  217  axle) 
         217 B=rear upper gear aperture (shown filled by  217  axle) 
         217 C=upper cylindrical gear teeth 
         218 =lower cylindrical gear 
         218 A=front lower gear aperture (shown filled by  218  axle) 
         218 B=rear lower gear aperture (shown filled by  218  axle) 
         218 C=lower cylindrical gear teeth 
         219 =push bar 
         219 A=lower push bar gear track teeth 
         219 B=upper push bar gear track teeth 
         219 C=push bar coil spring 
         219 D=push bar end notch 
         219 E=push bar release button 
         219 F=slotted cap aperture 
         219 G=upper push bar guide 
         219 H=lower push bar guide 
         219 I=upper fastening endpiece 
         219 J=lower fastening endpiece 
         219 K=push bar stop disk 
         220 =double-locking assembly 
         220 A=double-lock button 
         220 B=double-lock rod 
         220 C=double-lock guide block 
         220 D=double-lock rod guide hole 
         220 E=double-lock rod stop disk 
         221 =carrying pouch 
         221 A=pouch belt loop 
         221 B=pouch rivets 
         222 =extended pin handcuff key 
         222 A=key barrel 
         222 B=vertical barrel pin 
         222 C=extended handcuff pin 
         222 D=key ring retaining hole
   FIGS. 14–15   
         300 =central housing 
         300 A=top panel 
         300 B=bottom panel 
         300 C=right wall horizontal slot 
         300 D=right wall vertical slot 
         300 E=retractor spring enclosure receptacle slot 
         300 F=pawl bar top through aperture 
         301 =left loop restraint 
         301 A=left loop retaining member 
         301 B=upper left loop arm 
         301 C=lower left loop arm 
         301 D=left locking detent 
         302 =right loop restraint 
         302 A=right loop retaining member 
         302 B=upper right loop arm 
         302 C=lower right loop arm 
         302 D=right loop locking detent 
         303 =left buckle housing 
         303 A=left buckle tongue 
         303 B=left connector link 
         303 C=left buckle receiving slot 
         303 D=left latch receiving hole 
         304 =right buckle housing 
         304 A=right buckle tongue 
         304 B=right connector link 
         304 C=right buckle receiving slot 
         304 D=right latch-receiving hole 
         305 =right link retaining bar 
         306 A=left latch bar 
         306 B=right latch bar 
         307 =cable tether 
         307 A=cable ring-shaped endpiece 
         307 B=reeling aperture 
         308 =cable tether spool 
         308 A=spool axle 
         308 B=axle housing 
         309 A=left lower mounting block 
         309 B=left cylindrical aperture 
         309 C=left slotted slide tube 
         310 A=right lower mounting block 
         310 B=right cylindrical aperture 
         310 C=right slotted slide tube 
         311 =left slidable cylindrical rod 
         311 A=left slidable cross bar 
         311 B=left latch bar 
         311 C=left latch bar slide tube 
         311 D=left latch bar receiving aperture 
         311 E=left coil spring 
         312 =right slidable cylindrical rod 
         312 A=right slidable cross bar 
         312 B=right latch bar 
         312 C=right latch bar slide tube 
         312 D=right latch bar receiving aperture 
         312 E=right coil spring 
         313 =retractor spring enclosure 
         313 A=retractor spring 
         314 =ratchet gear 
         314 A=ratchet gear teeth 
         315 =pawl bar 
         315 A=pawl tooth 
         315 B=pawl bar mounting hole (filled by  315 C) 
         315 C=pawl bar axle 
         315 D=pawl bar threaded top end 
         315 E=pawl bar knurled cap 
         316 =pawl bar mounting block 
         316 A=mounting block vertical slot (shown filled by  315 ) 
         316 B=front mounting block hole (shown filled by  315 ) 
         316 C=rear mounting block hole (shown filled by  315 ) 
         317 =tension block 
         317 A=tension block brace bar 
         317 B=brace bar tension block mounting slot (filled by upper portion of  317 A) 
         317 C=lower brace bar mounting slot (filled by lower portion of  317 A)
   FIGS. 16–17   
         400 =integral housing 
         400 A=spool enclosure 
         401 =mounting plate 
         401 A=right top hole (filled by bolt  403 A) 
         401 B=right bottom hole (filled by bolt  403 B) 
         401 C=left top hole (filled by bolt  403 C) 
         401 D=left bottom hole (not shown) 
         402 =wall 
         403 A=right top bolt 
         403 B=right bottom bolt 
         403 C=left top bolt 
         403 D=left bottom bolt (not shown) 
         404 =handcuff assembly 
         404 A=double strand member 
         404 B=single strand member 
         404 C=hinge pin 
         404 D=ratchet teeth 
         404 E=pawl (not shown) 
         404 F=frontal keyway 
         404 G=double lock pin hole 
         405 =insertion member 
         405 A=belt slot 
         405 B=cylindrical portion of belt slot 
         405 C=clamping rivet 
         406 =belt tether 
         406 A=belt retaining pin 
         406 B=stitch line 
         406 C=rivet aperture (shown filled by rivet  405 C) 
         407 =docking channel 
         408 =spool 
         408 A=spool axle 
         408 B=retractor spring enclosure 
         408 C=retractor spring 
         409 =lock release button 
         410 =double-locking button 
         410 A=pin aperture
 
Description—FIGS.  1 – 2 —Preferred Method of the Invention
 
Preliminary Information
 
     
  
   In principle, all linked tactical restraints such as handcuffs, shackles, manacles, ankle cuffs, plastic loops, straps, etc., as are well known in the prior art, are “tethered restraints” in that one restraint is tethered by a chain, strap, cable, bar, hinged bar, or pivot to an opposite equivalent or differing restraint, or to a mooring object. Typically, tactical restraints are interconnected or “tethered” by means which vary in length from approximately 25.4 mm (1″) to whatever distance is appropriate for the custodial situation. 
   In the specification to follow, the definition of “tethered restraints” is expanded to mean controllably extendible interconnections between restraints or between restraints and anchored mooring points, such as a pipe or a wall hook, wherein the interconnection between the restraints and/or moorings are controllably extendible in relation to each other, and typically provided with coil-spring retractable, ratcheted tethering means connections between any of the restraint or mooring class members, but which may also reach a rigidified closure point in a common housing between such restraints or moorings. Such a controllably extendible interconnection between restraints and/or moorings as just described will henceforth be known in the specification to follow as a “Controllably Extendible Restraint Interconnection” system, or for brevity, a “CERI” system. 
   Controllably extendible restraint interconnections, or CERI systems between two or more restraints and/or moorings may be done in one of three ways, either by utilizing rigid materials for the controllably extendible interconnection, or by utilizing a flexible material, or by utilizing a combination of both rigid and flexible materials. It is thus possible to devise controllably extendible interconnections between restraint and/or mooring class members by utilizing a plurality of rigid, interconnected sliding bars or telescoping tubes, or other rigid material extensions, with or without ratcheting and pawl mechanisms incorporated between them. Experiments with rigid material embodiments have shown that these devices will tend to bend during difficult takedown situations. Also, they are not desirable due to their larger-order size and greater weight and cost problems. Longer rigid handcuff assemblies have also not fared well in the marketplace. Another problem, which controllably-extendible rigid restraint interconnections share with conventional hinged-handcuff assemblies, is that they do not afford the detainer an altered angle of attack (orientation) toward effective second wrist capture once the first wrist is captured. It has also not proven to be practical to interconnect flexible tethers with rigid tethers. 
   The preferred method for producing a practical and effective CERI system is thus with a flexible tethering method, for example, by the utilization of thin, lightweight, high tensile, flexible materials such as are used in the manufacture of nylon seat belt material, or by the utilization of Kevlar™, a tough, light, aramid synthetic fiber. Belts and cords made of such material, as a preferred tethering method between various restraint class members and/or moorings, has proven to be a size, weight and cost efficient method of approaching the various developmental problems of the CERI system embodiments shown and described in the specification below. As well, the use of various forms of spring-retracted cable and belt mechanisms with ratchet-control mechanisms incorporated between the various restraint and mooring class members have led to an easier and more efficient method of appropriately designing a practical CERI system. 
   Description of a Preferred Method of a CERI System 
     FIG. 1  is a front schematic perspective view of a preferred controllably extendible restraint interconnection method of the invention.  FIG. 2  is a front schematic perspective view of  FIG. 1  illustrating the extraction of a controllably extendible restraint from its docking channel. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , a rounded, rectangular parallelepiped (box-like) metal or composite material housing  101  is utilized at its left end as an enclosing container for a metal or composite material insertion member  102  which slidably travels within a suitably sized aperture or docking channel  103  (filled in  FIG. 1 ) within the left side of housing  101 . Insertion member  102  is suitably attached by bolts or other fasteners (not shown) at its outside (left) end to a left heel  104 A of a circular, symbolic, left restraint  105 A. Housing  101  is also utilized in its middle area as an enclosing container for a conventional form of metal or composite material cable or belt tether spool  106  with a spool axle  106 A suitably connected at its bottom portion to a conventional form of retractor spring enclosure  107  with a conventional internal, coil-type, metal retractor spring  108 . Alternately, retractor spring  108  can be replaced by an electrically motorized retractor with a suitably connected power source, such as a battery, and appropriate electric connections and switchwork. 
   Spool  106  has a set of connected, conventional metal or composite ratchet gears, a top ratchet gear  109 , and a bottom ratchet gear  110 . Housing  101  also has a metal or composite, spring-actuated ratchet pawl bar  111  actuated by a suitable metal pawl spring  112  which urges pawl bar  111  to engage gears  109 ,  110 . Pawl bar  111  also has a metal or composite manually actuable pawl release bar  113 , formed of the same material as pawl bar  111 , or made suitably connective, by which pawl bar  111  may be manually, temporarily disengaged from gears  109 ,  110  against the urging spring force of pawl spring  112 . Spring  112  is seated within an aperture  114 A in a metal or composite spring-retaining block  114 . Pawl release bar  113  slidably travels forward or rearward through a top pawl release bar travel slot  113 A and a bottom pawl release bar travel slot  113 B provided in housing  101 . Alternately, pawl bar  111  may be any other conventional ratchet-locking device associated with any other conventional ratchet-locking and unlocking mechanism. 
   A circular, symbolic, second or right restraint  105 B is suitably attached at a second or right restraint heel  104 B by bolts or other fastener methods (not shown) to the right end of housing  101 . 
   In  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , first or left restraint  105 A with attached insertion member  102  is suitably connected at the forward (right) end of insertion member  102  to a first end of a tether  115 . Connection may be performed by a clamping slot and/or rivets or bolts (not shown). Tether  115  is connected at its opposite wound end to tether spool  106  by conventional methods. Tether  115  may be a conventional metal or a Kevlar™ material tether cable, or a conventional fabric or a Kevlar™ tether belt. 
   In  FIG. 1 , tether  115  is shown shorter indicating that insertion member  102  is fully retracted by retractor spring  108  into docking channel  103 , and that spring-actuated ratchet pawl  111  is currently engaged with gears  109 ,  110  by the urging force of pawl spring  112 . In  FIG. 2 , tether  115  is shown longer indicating that insertion member  102  has been extracted from docking channel  103 .  FIG. 2  also shows ratchet pawl  111  being temporarily moved away from gears  109 ,  110  by pawl release bar  113  thus rearwardly compressing pawl spring  112  through aperture  114 A into spring-retaining block  114 . 
   Tether spool  106  with wrapped cable or belt tether  115 , along with connective top and bottom ratchet gears  109 ,  110  and retractor spring enclosure  107  with retractor spring  108 , are made suitably connective within central housing  101  by inserting an upper hub  101 A for spool axle  106 A into the upper inside material of housing  101  and by pressure fitting lower retractor spring enclosure  107  into the inside bottom material of housing  101 , or by other suitable retaining methods. 
   Counterclockwise block arrow  116 A and clockwise block arrow  116 B indicate tether spool  106  rotational directions and are explained more fully below. Left-pointing projection arrow line  117 A and right-pointing projection arrow line  117 B respectively indicate left restraint  105 A left and right movement and are explained more fully below. 
   Operation—FIGS.  1 – 2 —Preferred Method of the Invention 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , manual removal of left restraint heel  104 A from housing  101  is only possible when pawl release bar  113  has been manually, slidably actuated to disengage pawl bar  111  from ratchet gears  109 ,  110 . This is typically done by using an upper and lower portion of a user&#39;s hand to simultaneously, rearwardly urge the respective upper and lower portions of pawl release bar  113  with connective pawl bar  111  away from gears  109 ,  110 , thus urging pawl spring  112  into a higher state of tension. When manually urged, pawl release bar  113  slidably travels rearward through top pawl release bar travel slot  113 A and bottom pawl release bar travel slot  113 B and pawl spring  112  compresses through spring aperture  114 A into spring block  114 . 
   Still referring to  FIG. 2 , left-pointing projection arrow line  117 A indicates the direction of manual removal of left restraint heel  104 A and attached insertion member  102  away from docking channel  103 . Such a manual removal pulls along attached tether  115  which then unwinds counterclockwise from tether spool  106 , as indicated by block arrow  116 A. This action then causes retractor spring  108  in retractor spring enclosure  107  to wind into a higher state of tension. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , a right-pointing projection arrow line  117 B indicates the direction of travel for the insertion of left restraint heel  104 A with attached insertion member  102  back into docking channel  103  once pawl release bar  113  has been manually released and pawl spring  112  has urgingly reacted to again re-engage pawl bar  111  within ratchet gears  109 ,  110 . Pawl bar  111  is then set to only allow a slidably clockwise passage of ratchet gears  109 ,  110  past pawl bar  111  as indicated by clockwise block arrow  116 B. Since retractor spring  108  in retractor spring enclosure  107  was placed in a higher state of tension by the manual removal of left restraint  105 A (as shown in  FIG. 2 ), spring  108  is now urging tether  115  to rewind. Tether  115  will then only pull insertion member  102  with attached left restraint heel  104 A toward docking channel  103 , and engaged pawl bar  111  will then forcibly stop ratchet gears  109 ,  110  from turning counterclockwise, and thus prevent tether  115  from being further unwound. Thus, if an arrestee or other detainee has had his wrists (or other appendages) placed into respective restraints  105 A,  105 B while tether  115  was extended and pawl bar  111  re-engaged, it will no longer be possible for him (or her) to separate his wrists, but only bring them closer together with each successive movement of the ratchet teeth in gears  109 ,  110 . 
   Alternately, other CERI system methods may be utilized such as would involve: a. a reconfiguration of the aforementioned elements in relation to one another, e.g., a spool and ratchet assembly that has a differing orientation from vertical, or an alternate interconnection of one or more restraints in a differing configuration; or, b. a replacement of a spool and ratchet assembly with an alternate form of controllably releasable-engagable tether extraction and retraction mechanism such as an alternate form of spool and/or ratchet and pawl assembly, or an alternate form of spring return system for a tether, or any other mechanical variation which yet allows a CERI device to function in terms of the given method of the invention. 
   Description—FIGS.  3 – 13 —Preferred Embodiment of the Invention 
   In terms of the preceding method of a controllably extendible restraint interconnection, or CERI system, although the preferred embodiment will be specified below in terms of a “belt tether,” the terms “tether” or “tethering means,” as used herein to describe and claim the present invention should be understood (with explained modifications) to cover tether members having cross sectional shapes other than flat, and may include circular or other shapes such as would describe cords, cables, or other flexible interconnections between restraints. 
   In the preferred embodiment of a CERI system shown in  FIGS. 3–13 , the type of handcuffs, represented in the drawings generally, left handcuff assembly  201  and right handcuff assembly  202 , are known as a set of “swing-through” handcuffs. Typically in swing-through handcuffs, a lower arcurate portion of the respective left and right handcuffs  201 ,  202 , commonly known as a “single strand” member, being a left single strand  201 A and a right single strand  202 A, are respectively rivet-hinged with a set of rivet hinges  201 B,  202 B to their respective upper arcurate “double strand” members, being a left double strand  201 C, and a right double strand  202 C. The respective hinges  201 B,  202 B connect single strands  201 A,  202 A within double strands  201 C,  202 C through suitably sized holes (shown filled by rivet hinges  201 B,  202 B) at their respective swinging ends so that movable single strands  201 A,  202 A may respectively “swing through” the fixed position double strands  201 C,  202 C. The outer portion of the free end of each single strand  201 A,  202 A has a set of ratchet teeth (not shown) which when swung around on rivet hinges  201 B,  202 B reach a ratcheting interconnection with opposing ratchet teeth on a spring actuated pawl (not shown) within the respective heels  201 D,  202 D of the handcuff mechanism. In  FIGS. 3–13 , the left upper double strand  201 C and left lower single strand member  201 A, and the right upper double strand member  202 C and right lower single strand member  201 A are shown closed on their respective hinges  201 B,  202 B and thus have ratcheted connections with their respective pawls (not shown). 
   Typically, swing-through handcuffs are made from machined aluminum or titanium steel, and have a left and a right first locking-unlocking mechanism and appropriately positioned first locking-unlocking mechanism front keyways, or keyholes  201 E,  202 E for a standard-sized handcuff key ( FIGS. 7B–7D ). Such conventional handcuffs also typically have a set of push pin lock holes  201 F,  202 F containing a push-pin lock for double-locking the first lock mechanism which is actuated by a pin extension on the reverse end of the handcuff key known as a double-lock actuator. Swing-through handcuffs are typically ratcheted loosely closed onto the wrists of subjects being arrested or otherwise detained or restrained to prevent escape or to prevent injury to themselves or others. The push-pin lock serves to prevent the ratchet from moving away from the pawl and so prevents further closure on the subject&#39;s wrists. 
   The first locking-unlocking mechanism, when operated by the handcuff key within holes  201 E,  202 E in one direction releases the double-ratchet lock, and when turned in the other direction releases the ratchet grasp and allows single strands  201 A,  202 A to be dropped away from the subject&#39;s wrists. Typically, when conventional non-extendible restraint interconnections are used with this type of left and right swing-through handcuffs, they are closely interconnected to within a few inches of each other by utilizing steel chain, solid blocks, or by various types of pivots or hinging mechanisms. 
     FIG. 3  is a front view of a preferred embodiment of a controllably extendible restraint interconnection device, or CERI system, of the present invention. The preferred CERI embodiment of  FIG. 3  may be made in one of two primary ways, either as an integral rigid unit such as was shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , or as a foldable unit composed of separate, opposing, pivoting arms which are unfolded and mechanically rigidified when the device is to be used. In the description below, the device will be explained as a foldable device. However, the same descriptive account would apply to an integral rigid embodiment of the device whenever components used exclusively to provide foldability are disregarded. 
   Regarding the preferred CERI device of  FIGS. 3–13  as a foldable device then,  FIG. 4  is a top view of the restraint interconnection device of  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 9  is a rear view of  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 10  is a bottom view of  FIG. 3 . The preferred interconnection device of  FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  9 ,  10 , is primarily comprised of two separate housing arms, a first or left housing arm  203 , and second or right housing arm  204  which are connected together at the rear by a vertical hinge assembly  205 , and which are rigidified by an internal sliding locking bar  206  which slidably travels from a left arm storage aperture  206 A into a slotted receiving aperture  206 B ( FIG. 9B ,  11 ; otherwise shown filled by bar  206 ) in right arm  204 . Hinge  205  as seen from the top in  FIG. 4 , and from the rear in  FIG. 9 , allow the integral device comprised of arms  203 ,  204  to be folded in half, back-to-back, along a bisecting vertical hinge pin  205 C when slidable locking bar  206  is disengaged. When folded, the device appears as shown in  FIGS. 9B ,  11 . Hinge  205  and locking bar  206  will be explained more fully below. 
   Left housing arm  203  and right housing arm  204  are typically made of metal or hardened plastic resin composites with thick walls, and are typically made in a box-like form with appropriate screw-down top and bottom cover plates (not shown) so that their inner mechanisms can be properly introduced and maintained. Right angled sides of the respective housings  203 ,  204  typically have their edges rounded wherever a human hand may incur possible harm during use of the device. Except for minor protrusions and apertures (to be explained below), respective arms  203 ,  204  are enclosed units which cooperatively function as an integral unitary device. 
   Considering the device of  FIGS. 3 ,  4  initially as a rigid, integral unit,  FIGS. 3 ,  4  show left housing arm  203  and right housing arm  204  each with an associated connective restraint, a first or left metal restraint handcuff  201  and a second or right metal restraint handcuff  202 , each having a respective handcuff heel, left handcuff heel  201 D and right handcuff heel  202 D. 
     FIG. 5  shows a front view of the interconnection device of  FIG. 3  showing left handcuff  201  with left heel  201 D separated from left housing arm  203  along the line of an interconnected belt tether  207  which has been extracted from a tether spool  208  within a tether spool enclosure  208 A in left housing arm  203 . Left heel  201 D has an extended right portion which serves as an insertion member  209  which slidably engages and traverses a docking channel  210 , which is a box-like aperture in the left side of left arm  203 . Docking channel  210  is suitably sized and configured to slidably receive insertion member  209  in a close-fitting manner.  FIG. 6  shows a top view of the interconnection device of  FIG. 3  showing left restraint  201  and left heel  201 D with extended portion insertion member  209  separated from left housing arm  203  along the line of belt tether  207 . Insertion member  209  is made vertically and horizontally symmetrical to avoid re-entry problems into docking channel  210  in the event that one of the handcuffs is accidentally applied in an inverted position and left handcuff  201  must be received with belt tether  207  inverted into docking channel  210 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 7 ,  8 , belt tether  207  passes from tether spool  208  to its connection with insertion member  209  through a metal or composite, slotted, vertically disposed, insertion member stop bar  211 . When belt tether  207  is fully rewound as shown in  FIGS. 7 ,  8 , insertion member  209  comes to rest in docking channel  210  against vertical stop bar  211 . Stop bar  211  is mounted between the upper and lower inner material of left arm  203  in upper stop bar slot  211 A and lower stop bar slot  211 B (shown filled by stop bar  211 ). Vertical stop bar  211  has a vertical aperture  211 C which is suitably sized for belt tether  207  to freely travel through. Typically, stop bar  211  will have a vertical brush  211 D with horizontal-disposed nylon or other type of bristles which brush against the sides of belt  207  as it passes inward through vertical aperture  211 C. Any accumulated debris from the brushing of belt  207  is then tamped out through docking channel  210  when insertion member  209  is withdrawn. Any debris within spool enclosure  208 A may be removed when the left housing arm covers (not shown) are removed, or, alternately, a tamping hole with a suitably sized rubber-like material cover plug may be provided at the bottom of right arm  204  for removal of debris from spool enclosure  208 A. 
     FIG. 7  is a front, partially cutaway, enlarged scale, cross section view of the interconnection device of  FIGS. 3 ,  4  taken along line  7 — 7  of  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 7  shows the integral device rigidly extended and reveals a conventional form of ratcheted tether spool  208  with an upper mounted ratchet gear  212 , a lower mounted ratchet gear  213 , and a lower mounted retractor spring enclosure  214  with retractor spring  214 A.  FIG. 8  is a top, partially cutaway, enlarged scale, cross section view of  FIG. 7  taken along line  8 — 8  of  FIG. 7 . Referring to  FIGS. 5–8 , right handcuff  202  has a heel  202 D which serves as a vertical mounting portion which has a set of provided suitably sized and configured mounting holes  202 G,  202 H through which a set of suitably sized, metal, right handcuff mounting bolts or flush rivets, an upper right handcuff rivet  202 I, and a lower right handcuff rivet  202 J may be respectively passed through right heel  202 D for secure fastening through a set of suitably sized holes, an upper right rivet hole  204 A, and a lower right rivet hole  204 B within the front and rear walls of a suitably sized heel-receiving aperture  204 C ( FIG. 7 ) in the right side of right arm  204 . Left handcuff  201  has an extended heel  201 D (which includes insertion member  209  portion) provided with a set of rivet holes, an upper left rivet hole  201 G, and a lower left rivet hole  201 H, through which suitably sized metal or composite material bolts or flush rivets, an upper left handcuff rivet  201 I, and a lower left handcuff rivet  201 J are passed. When fastened, rivets  201 I,  201 J force together the two sides of a vertical and horizontal belt clamping slot  209 A within insertion member  209  (filled by belt tether  207 ). Clamping slot  209 A is sized to receive the end of a thin, approximate 31.75 mm (1.25″) high, 60.9 cm (2′) long, fabric belt tether  207 , typically made of nylon or Kevlar™ with a tensile strength greater than 300 lb. to satisfy the breakaway limit requirements of the National Institute of Justice standards for handcuffs. Belt tether  207  has provided a set of two suitably sized and configured holes, and upper belt hole  207 A (not shown), and a lower belt hole  207 B (not shown), which allow passage of rivets  201 I,  201 J. Rivets  201 I,  201 J tightly compress the inserted left end of belt tether  207  within slot  209 A. Typically, belt  207  will be slightly folded over prior to insertion of holes  207 A,  207 B and the insertion of rivets  201 I,  201 J to add strength to the connection between belt  207  and insertion member  209 . Belt  207  is further restrained from movement by being clamped within insertion member  209  through the compression action of its structure. This maintains belt  207  firmly in a horizontal position and parallel to left arm  203 . 
   Alternately, left cuff heel  201 D and insertion member portion  209  may be made as separate members which are made connective by a slot and protrusion method, or by another fastening arrangement between themselves utilizing rivets  201 I,  201 J and holes  201 H,  201 J or other fastening arrangements. And alternately, the tethered end of belt  207  may be folded over around a vertical retaining pin and stitched. A suitably sized containment and compression area would then be provided within insertion member  209  for retention of the retaining pin. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 5–8 , belt  207  extends from its clamped end within insertion member  209  to a metal or plastic composite belt spool  208  such as is conventional in the art of seat belt spool manufacturing. Spool  208  is contained within a spool enclosure  208 A within left arm  203  where belt  207  is wound flat about belt spool  208 . Spool  208  is mounted onto a suitably sized cylindrical metal vertical axle  208 B which is held in place at its top by a recessed internally cylindrical, metal upper axle housing  208 C sized to rotatably accommodate the top of axle  208 B. Axle housing  208 C is typically form-fit into a recessed area  203 A within the upper inside material portion of left arm  203  (shown filled by axle housing  208 C). The bottom portion of axle  208 B is typically rectangularly shaped, or rounded and slotted, and sized to fit within the top middle portion of an external retractor spring enclosure receptacle (not shown) within retractor spring enclosure  214 , such as is conventional in the art of seat belt retractor manufacturing. Referring to  FIGS. 7 ,  8 , spool  208  has been sized smaller than a conventional seat belt retractor spool and is only intended to wind approximately 45.7 to 60.9 cm (18″ to 2′) of thin nylon or Kevlar™ belt. 
   Retractor spring enclosure  214  has a conventional coil retractor spring  214 A which is in a relaxed state when belt  207  has been wound during a clockwise rotation of axle  208 B. In  FIGS. 7 ,  8  belt  207  is considered to have been wound around spool  208  when spool  208  was turned in a clockwise direction if viewed from above, and so spring  214 A is in a relaxed state in  FIGS. 7 ,  8 . If, as shown in  FIG. 5 ,  6 , belt  207  is pulled outward to unwind from spool  208 , spool  208  turns counterclockwise to unwind belt  207  and thus winds coil retractor spring  214 A within retractor spring enclosure  214  to a state of higher spring tension. Retractor spring enclosure  214  is circularly shaped on the outside and has two locking protrusions, left locking protrusion  214 B, and front locking protrusion  214 C, which fit within suitably sized recesses within a circularly recessed area  203 B (all shown filled by enclosure  214 ) within the lower material of left arm  203 . The positioning of the bottom of retractor spring enclosure  214  and protrusions  214 B,  214 C are determined by the vertically disposed, fixed positioning of spool axle  208 B. When retractor spring enclosure  214  is properly seated within the bottom base material it cannot rotate or otherwise move when winding tension is applied to spool  208  and axle  208 B as belt  207  is pulled from spool  208 . Alternately, retractor spring  214 A may be additionally provided with a braking mechanism such as is conventional in the art to slow the rate at which retraction occurs. Alternately, retractor spring  214 A can be replaced by an electrically motorized retractor with a suitably connected power source, such as a battery, and appropriate electric connections and switchwork. 
   The top plate portion of spool  208  is made in the form of a circular, hardened metal or resin composite ratchet gear  212  which rotates with spool  208  and axle  208 B. Equivalently, the bottom plate portion of spool  208  is made in the form of a circular, hardened metal or resin composite ratchet gear  213  which rotates with spool  208  and axle  208 B. A hardened metal ratchet pawl bar  215  with a leftward-protruding set of slide-or-stop teeth, an upper pawl tooth  215 A, and a lower pawl tooth  215 B, such as are conventional in the art of seat belt and other ratchet assembly manufacturing, is positioned to the right of gears  212 ,  213 . Pawl teeth  215 A,  215 B, as shown in  FIGS. 7 ,  8 ,  9 B,  11 , protrude through provided apertures, an upper pawl tooth aperture  204 N, and a lower pawl tooth aperture  204 O, in a left-facing arcurate wall  204 D of right arm  204  so that during a foldable separation and re-connection of arms  203 ,  204 , pawl teeth  215 A,  215 B will fall into place against spool ratchet gears  212 ,  213 . Spool enclosure right side wall  203 C in left arm  203  has an equivalently sized set of pawl teeth receiving apertures, an upper tooth receiving aperture  203 D as shown in  FIGS. 7 ,  8 ,  9 B,  11 , and a lower tooth receiving aperture  203 E, as shown in  FIG. 9B  and indicated in  FIG. 7 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 7 , pawl bar  215  is positioned between an upper slide hole  204 F and a lower slide hole  204 G formed respectively into portions of the inside top and bottom material of right arm  204 , or into a metal or composite box set within the top portion of the inner material of left arm  203 . Slide holes  204 F,  204 G allow ratchet pawl bar  215  to move slightly forward and backward and also prevent ratchet pawl bar  215  from shifting sideways during a situation where belt tether  207  is being pulled against the resistance of pawl bar  215  when it is lockably engaged in gears  212 ,  213 . Pawl bar  215  is sized, configured, and positioned with respect to any provided size and shape of ratchet gear teeth, for example, upper gear teeth  212 A, and lower gear teeth  213 A ( FIG. 7A ) to either allow gear teeth  212 A,  213 A to slide past bar teeth  215 A,  215 B during a clockwise rotation, or to engage bar teeth  215 A,  215 B whenever spool  208  and axle  208 B are induced to attempt a counterclockwise rotation. 
   Alternately, pawl bar  215  may be any other conventional ratchet-locking device associated with any other conventional ratchet-locking and unlocking mechanism, as is generally known to those skilled in that art, utilized with any practical size ratchet gear or gears of any workable ratchet tooth design and configuration, e.g., vertical teeth rather than horizontal, and the ratchet pawl release assembly may be placed anywhere in the configuration of the device, e.g., over vertical teeth rather than horizontally adjacent to, so long as it operates the pawl release and does not interfere with the operation of the device during the restraining process. 
     FIG. 7A  is a frontal, diagrammatic perspective, stand-alone view of the ratchet control assembly shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . Referring to  FIGS. 7 ,  7 A,  8 , at the back side of ratchet pawl bar  215  is a ratchet-locking-unlocking mechanical assembly, or ratchet control assembly, generally, to the rear (right) of ratchet pawl bar  215 , which is generally positioned between the back side of pawl bar  215  and the inside portion of the right side of right housing arm  204 . 
   Vertical ratchet pawl bar  215  has three horizontally disposed, right-facing, right-angled extensions which connect it with the remaining parts of the ratchet control assembly, being a longer metal or composite upper gear bar  215 C, a lower, slightly shorter metal or composite gear bar  215 D, and a metal or composite pawl spring bar  215 E positioned between gear bars  215 C and  215 D. In  FIG. 7A  spring bar  215 E is shown (with projection lines) as being separated in approximately its middle portion in order to better view the ratcheting assembly components. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 7 ,  7 A,  8 , spring bar  215 E is typically a flat plate made in a right-angled, general T-shape with the T-top parallel to pawl bar  215 . The rear (right) portion of spring bar  215 E is sized smaller than the front (left) portion and suitably sized and notched so that its rear terminus  215 F will fit securely within the front inner coil portion of a suitably sized, metal or composite helical spring  215 G. Spring  215 G is positioned within a suitably sized, spring-retaining aperture  204 E within a metal or composite, cross-mounted spring mounting block  216 . Block  216  is either formed from the inside back (right) wall material of right arm  204 , or is set within two suitably sized apertures, a rear aperture  204 H and a front aperture  204 I within the inside material of the front and rear walls of right arm  204  (shown filled by block  216 ). Gear bars  215 C,  215 D and spring bar  215 E are either formed from the material of pawl bar  215 , or otherwise affixed by spot welding or other suitable fastening methods. When vertical pawl bar  215  moves horizontally within slide holes  204 F,  204 G, attached gear bars  215 C,  215 D and spring bar  215 E move equivalently. Gear bars  215 C,  215 D are provided with opposing, equivalent sets of gear teeth, respectively, an upper set of downward-facing gear bar teeth  215 H, and a lower set of upward-facing gear bar teeth  215 I. Spring  215 G biases spring bar  215 E with connective pawl bar  215  and pawl teeth  215 A,  215 B, and connective gear bars  215 C,  215 D to a forward (leftward) position. 
   Between gear bars  215 C,  215 D are two metal or composite cylindrical gears, an upper cylindrical gear  217 , and a lower cylindrical gear  218 , which respectively have extended axle portions which fit within suitably sized apertures within the inside material of front and rear walls of right arm  204 . Upper gear  217  is rotatably set within a front upper gear aperture  217 A, and a rear upper aperture  217 B, and lower gear  218  is rotatably set within a front lower gear aperture  218 A and a rear lower gear aperture  218 B (shown filled by the respective gear axles). Gears  217 ,  218  respectively have an encircling set of upper cylindrical gear teeth  217 C and lower cylindrical gear teeth  218 C respectively set around their perimeters. Gear teeth sets  217 C,  218 C are respectively sized and configured to rotatably interact with gear bar teeth sets  215 H,  215 I. 
   Set between cylindrical gears  217 ,  218  is a metal or other material push bar  219 . Push bar  219  is a vertically disposed, manually actuated, downwardly spring-biased, gear bar. On its lower, left-facing portion, push bar  219  has a lower gear track with a set of lower gear teeth  219 A, and on its opposing upper, right-facing portion, push bar  219  has an upper gear track with a set of upper gear teeth  219 B. Gear teeth sets  219 A,  219 B rest respectively within cylinder gears  217 ,  218 , and are sized and configured to be enabled to engage and rotatably interact with gears  217 ,  218 . Push bar  219  is shown in  FIGS. 7 ,  7 A,  8  as a flat bar, but may alternately have any shape which preserves a sufficient portion of gear track teeth  219 A,  219 B to interact with and actuate cylinder gears  217 ,  218 . 
   At its upper terminus, push bar  219  is suitably mated with a metal or composite push bar coil spring  219 C at a push bar end notch  219 D ( FIG. 7A ), which is a narrowed portion of the upper terminus of push bar  219  which is snugly insertable within coil spring  219 C. Coil spring  219 C is set within a push bar coil spring aperture  204 J, or within a suitably made metal or other material containment box, within the upper inside material of right arm  204 . At its lower terminus, push bar  219  has a metal or composite push bar cap, or push bar release button  219 E fastened either by pressure fit, with or without adhesive, into a suitably sized, slotted cap aperture  219 F, or is otherwise suitably fastened thereupon. Release button  219 E is typically an inversely domed or truncated, fingertip-sized metal or composite, rounded or otherwise shaped button member. Release button  219 E is slidably contained within a suitably sized and shaped release button aperture  204 K ( FIG. 7 ) in the bottom material of right arm  204  in a middle position between the front and rear sides of right arm  204 . Release button  219 E is slightly recessed within aperture  204 K both so that it may be easily located for actuation by a user&#39;s fingertip as it travels along the bottom of right arm  204 , and so that it will not be accidentally actuated by a user&#39;s grasp around the device. Alternately, release button  219 E may be a lower terminal portion of push bar  219 . 
   Push bar  219  has a set of two metal or other material encircling guides, an upper push bar guide  219 G, and a lower push bar guide  219 H, both of which respectively have formed-in, vertically disposed, transverse endpieces, an upper fastening endpiece  219 I and a lower fastening endpiece  219 J, by which guides  219 G,  219 H are attached to spring mounting block  216  for support via a suitable adhesive placed into pressure-fit slots, respectively, upper endpiece slot  216 A (not shown) and lower endpiece slot  216 B (shown filled by endpieces  219 I,  219 J in  FIG. 7 ), cut or preformed within mounting block  216 . Alternately, endpieces  219 I,  219 J may be provided with further method of securement such as crosswise retaining pins set within block  216 . 
   To gauge and limit the travel distance of push bar  219  within the ratchet assembly and between guides  219 G,  219 H, a suitably sized, right-angled push bar stop disk  219 K is provided in the middle portion area of push bar  219  which stops when striking the bottom of upper guide  219 G or the top of lower guide  219 H. Thus push bar  219  is situated so that coil spring  219 C biases push bar  219  to a downward position which places the lower face of stop disk  219 K against the top of lower push bar guide  219 H, and conversely stops push bar  219  from any upward travel once the upper face of stop disk  219 K reaches the bottom of upper guide  219 G. 
   Push bar  219  is positioned forward of spring bar  215 E and between gears  217 ,  218  so that when push bar  219  travels upward or downward, its respective sets of teeth  219 A,  219 B will engage gear teeth sets  217 C,  218 C and urge gears  217 ,  218  to rotate. Thus as release button  219 E is upwardly depressed, typically by a fingertip, connective push bar  219  travels upward. This action urges lower gear  217  to rotate in a counterclockwise manner, and urges upper gear  218  to rotate in a counterclockwise manner. This upward action also places push bar coil spring  219 C in a higher state of tension. Thus, conversely, when coil spring  219 C is free to release its tension, push bar  219  is urged to travel downward, lower gear  218  is urged to rotate in a clockwise manner, and upper gear  217  is urged to move in a clockwise manner. 
   When gears  217 ,  218  are made to rotate by the manual actuation of push bar  219 , gears  217 ,  218  respectively engage gear teeth  215 H,  215 I on gear bars  215 C,  215 D. Thus as gears  217 ,  218  rotate clockwise (as viewed from the front) gear bars  215 C,  215 D will be urged to travel rearward (toward the right), and when gears  217 ,  218  rotate counterclockwise under the urging of spring  219 C, gear bars  215 C,  215 D will be urged to travel forward. Since gear bars  215 C,  215 D are in a fixed relationship with pawl bar  215 , whenever push bar  219  travels upward or downward, gears  217 ,  218  will urge gear bars  215 C,  215 D to urge pawl bar  215  with attached pawl teeth  215 A,  215 B to respectively engage into or disengage from ratchet gear teeth sets  212 A,  213 A. 
   Vertical ratchet pawl bar  215  is held in place within slide holes  204 F,  204 G by the urging interaction between spring bar  215 E and helical spring  215 G. Whenever pawl bar  215  is urged to travel rearward, connective helical spring  215 G is compressed into a higher state of tension, and whenever pawl bar  215  is unconstrained, any stored tension in helical spring  215 G urges pawl bar  215  with teeth  215 A,  215 B to travel forward and re-engage ratchet gear teeth  212 A,  213 A. 
   Whenever ratchet pawl bar  215  with teeth  215 A,  215 B is free to move, the shape and configuration of teeth  215 A,  215 B allows them to slidably pass over ratchet gear teeth  212 A,  213 A during a clockwise rotation of gears  217 ,  218 . Thus the cooperative arrangement between ratchet pawl bar  215 , spring bar  215 E, and spring  215 G allows ratchet pawl bar  215  to alternately move spring  215 G into and out of a state of tension and to thus have a slightly springy forward and backward movement within slide holes  204 F,  204 G, and as well allows ratchet pawl bar  215  to have the possibility of a locked forward movement when engaging teeth  212 A,  213 A during any counterclockwise spool rotation. 
   Thus, from the above account, whenever release button  219 E is manually depressed upwards, it urges push bar  219  to actuate the ratchet assembly in the aforementioned method and allow belt  207  to be freely unwound from spool  208 , and whenever release button  219 E is not depressed belt  207  may not be unwound from spool  208 . The purpose of release button  219 E is thus to effectively permit ratchet pawl bar  215  to disengage from gear teeth  212 A,  213 A to allow spool  208  to unwind counterclockwise to release belt  207 , and then to swiftly capture belt  207  at a desired distance when release button  219 E is no longer depressed. Thus, when release button  219 E is actuated, insertion member  209  may be slowly or swiftly pulled away from left arm  203 , thus increasing the tension of retractor coil spring  214 A, which then increases its tension proportionately to the distance to which belt  207  is pulled outward. When belt  207  has been drawn out to a desired distance, release button  219 E: is disengaged and urged to return to its rest position by the action of push bar return spring  219 C. Ratchet pawl bar  215  will also respond to the spring action and be returned to a forward position to prevent any counterclockwise movement of spool  208 , which will then only permit insertion member  209  and arm  203  to move toward each other incrementally with a ratcheted action. Release button  219 E thus provides a manually-actuable method for controllably disengaging the spring-actuated ratchet-locking assembly. When belt tether  207  is being rewound on tether spool  208  by retractor spring  214 A and the aforementioned incremental ratchet action is occurring, the slightly springy forward and backward movement of spring  215 G will transfer through the mechanism and also cause push bar  219  to also have a slightly springy movement up and down. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 7 ,  7 A,  8 , to prevent release button  219 E from being further actuated, the ratchet assembly may be locked and unlocked utilizing a provided slidable, double-locking assembly, generally,  220 . As shown in  FIGS. 7 ,  7 A,  8 , a metal or composite double-lock button  220 A is set and recessed into a suitably sized button hole  204 L in the rear wall of right arm  204 . Double-lock button  220 A is slightly recessed both so that it may be easily located for actuation by a user&#39;s fingertip as it travels along the rear of right arm  204 , and so that it will not be accidentally actuated by a user&#39;s grasp around the device. 
   Double-lock button  220 A is at the rear end of a horizontally disposed, rearward-facing, metal or composite double-lock rod  220 B which is suitably sized to be the same diameter as a standard handcuff key double-lock actuator push pin. The front end of double-lock rod  220 B slidably engages a rearward portion of suitably sized push pin hole  204 M in the frontal wall portion of left arm  204 . When double-lock rod  220 B is pushed forward by the act of depressing double-lock button  220 A into hole  204 M, the front portion of double-lock rod  220 B slides against the rear portion (right side) of right-facing lower gear bar  215 D and prevents gear bar  215 D from further rearward travel, thus locking any further movement counterclockwise movement of ratchet gears  212 ,  213 , and thus preventing push bar release button  219 E from being actuated. Double-lock rod  220 B is disengaged from the right side of lower gear bar  215 D by the manual insertion of an extended pin handcuff key  222  (explained below) into push pin recess hole  204 M which then pushes double-lock rod  220 B front end rearward thus disengaging rod  220 B from the right side of lower gear bar  215 D and thereby unlocking double-lock button  220 A for further use. 
   To guide double-lock rod  220 B during its slidable travel, a suitably sized and positioned double-lock guide block  220 C with a suitably sized and shaped double-lock rod guide hole  220 D is provided between the front and rear walls of right arm  204  adjacent to spring mounting block  216 . Hole  220 D is suitably sized to provide sufficient friction against the length of rod  220 B within hole  220 D so that rod  220 B will remain where positioned unless acted by an external force causing it to slide forward or rearward. Guide block  220 C may be a formed part of the inner bottom material of right arm  204  along with spring mounting block  216 , or be a suitably attached separate metal or composite member. To prevent accidental rearward slippage of double-lock button  220 A out of entry hole  204 L, a small suitably sized, metal or composite centered double-lock stop-disk  220 E made of the same material as rod  220 B is provided at a right angle to rod  220 B and positioned adjacent to the front edge of guide block  220 C. Stop disk  220 E then acts as a travel stop between the front edge of guide block  220 C and the rear edge of lower gear bar  215 D, and thus also acts as a gauge for the travel distance for rod  220 B to slidably lock and unlock the ratchet assembly. 
     FIG. 7B  is a right side view of an extended pin handcuff key  222 .  FIG. 7C  is a front view of  FIG. 7B .  FIG. 7D  is a rear view of  FIG. 7B . In order to properly operate double-lock assembly  220 , the use of a an extended pin hand cuff key  222  with an extended pin  222 C is required in order to properly reach into double-lock push pin hole  204 M and push double-lock rod  220 D away from its locked position against the front of lower gear bar  215 I. Handcuff key  222  will also properly operate with all other conventional handcuffs with conventional keyholes sizings the size of handcuff pin holes  201 F,  202 F. Key  222  has a conventionally sized key barrel  222 A, and a conventionally sized vertical barrel pin  222 B, and a conventionally sized key ring retaining hole  222 D. 
   Alternately, in lieu of double-lock button  220 A as a method of pushing rod  220 B to lock the ratcheting control assembly, a second opposing recess hole (not shown), which is suitably sized to be the same diameter as a standard handcuff key double-lock actuator push pin, may be provided at the double-lock button side of housing  204  directly opposite hole  204 M. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 9 ,  9 A,  10 , where  FIG. 9  is a rear view of  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 9A  is a left side view of  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 10  is a bottom view of  FIG. 3 , the two separate housing arms  203 ,  204  are shown connected together at the rear by a middle-positioned, vertical hinge assembly, generally  205 , which has a left arm set of three rearwardly-protruding hinge pin collars  205 A suitably sized to be enabled to be interlaced with a suitably sized right arm set of four rearwardly-protruding hinge pin collars  205 B (reversed because of being shown from the back in  FIG. 9 ). Hinge pin collar sets  205 A,  205 B are protruding, circularly-wrapped hinge pin retainers formed from the same material, respectively, as left arm  203  and right arm  204 , and when fully, cooperatively interposed, are rotatably connective with each other by an inserted, force-fit, peened or capped metal hinge pin  205 C which fits tightly within the circular apertures within the respective encircling collars. When hinge pin collar sets  205 A,  205 B are foldably rotated on hinge pin  205 C, folded arms  203 ,  204  are substantially parallel in a back-to-back manner and appear as shown in top view in  FIG. 11 .  FIG. 9B  is a side view of the hinge assembly and locking plate control aperture configuration when the device of  FIG. 3  is folded open.  FIG. 9B  also shows the relationship between upper and lower ratchet teeth  215 A,  215 B and their respective upper and lower receiving apertures  203 D and  203 E in spool enclosure right outside wall  203 C. 
   When arms  203 ,  204  are unfolded from their position in  FIGS. 9B ,  11  to the rigid extension position of  FIG. 9  by being rotatably extended by hinge  205  on hinge pin  205 C so that arms  203 ,  204  are transversely aligned, a slidable locking bar  206  is manually slidably engaged within and between the rear inside walls of arms  203 ,  204  to rigidify the device. Slidable locking bar  206  is a metal or other material transverse bar which slidably travels within aligned suitably sized vertically disposed channels, a larger, left storage aperture  206 A which runs transversely through left arm  203 , and a lesser sized stopping slot, a right locking bar receiving aperture  206 B in right arm  204  where locking bar  206  enters to rigidify the two arms into an integral unit (again, reversed because  FIG. 9  shows the rear side of the device). 
   The left top end of bar  206  has an upper portion, a locking bar slide stop member  206 D, which is a vertically extended and widened portion of the material of bar  206 . Centered within slide stop member  206 D is a vertically disposed, upward facing, recessed receiving aperture  206 C suitably sized to receive the pin end of a standard handcuff key (or key  222  in  FIG. 7B ). When bar  206  travels through storage aperture  206 A into receiving aperture  206 B, slide stop member  206 D causes the travel distance of locking bar  206  to be gauged and limited by the fixed slide distance of slide stop member  206 D between the opposite vertically disposed ends of a transverse cutaway section  203 F of left arm  203 . 
   On the left side of cutaway section  203 F is a truncated part  203 G of left arm  203  which is top-cut to be approximately half the vertical length of slide stop member  206 D to allow for the entry of a user&#39;s fingertip (typically, an index fingertip) to manually urge stop member  206 D from the truncated part  203 G of cutaway section  203 F to its opposed end stop against the vertically cutaway material of left arm  203 . When bar  206  is manually urged to travel through storage aperture  206 A into receiving aperture  206 B, it is thus limited to the transverse slide distance of slide stop member  206 D between the opposing ends of cutaway section  203 F. 
   Alternately, the preferred embodiment could also be provided with an internal or external transverse retaining clasp, or other type of retainer, and such a clasp or other retainer be made connective with an opposing spring-biased pin or bar-locking mechanism which would be matably, lockably unlockable by a standard handcuff key or other provided locking-unlocking mechanism. 
   Alternately, locking bar  206  could be otherwise positioned, configured or designed, for example, as a pivoting locking plate, or as a bottom-mounted, barrel bolt type of slidable locking device within the rear wall of left arm  203 . And alternately, a slide stop member such as  206 D could be otherwise designed with an internal stop member piece which would slide within a fixed distance, transverse slot within left arm  203 . Alternately, a conventional double-plate hinge assembly may be utilized in lieu of hinge assembly  205  with the respective hinge plates being connected to a recessed, rear portion of arms  203 ,  204  and held thereto by a plurality of rivets or screws which are set into the inner wall material of the respective arms  203 ,  204  through a suitable set of provided screw holes within such hinge plates. Such alternate hinge plates would then be held rotatably together by a hinge pin such as hinge pin  205 C and configured to be beneath lock bar  206 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 9A ,  11 , when the rigidified device is to again be folded on hinge pin  205 C, and bar  206  is to be withdrawn through apertures  206 A,  206 B, the user inserts the pin end of a standard handcuff key (not shown) into cutaway section  203 F and thence into pin receiving aperture  206 C and pulls bar  206  to the left urging it to slidably travel out of right arm receiving aperture  206 B and back into its enclosed storage position in storage aperture  206 A. As bar  206  reaches a point where its right terminus is slightly protruding from storage aperture  206 A, slide stop member  206 D strikes and stops at the left, truncated inside wall of cutaway section  203 F. Bar  206  is left slightly protruding from storage aperture  206 A to allow it to better engage receiving aperture  206 B when the device is unfolded. If belt  207  is overly tight at the time folding is occurring, push bar release button  219 E will be momentarily upwardly depressed to release pawl bar  215  and belt  207  as explained above. 
   As previously noted, CERI embodiments can be made either in a rigid or a foldable configuration, that is, so that they only remain in an integral rigid configuration, or so that they may be singly or multiply foldable where the assembly of individual sections are then unfolded and made integrally rigid. In those embodiments that are permanently rigid, the left and right sections can either be made in one piece or in two or more pieces which when assembled will remain integral and rigid during use as a restraining method. 
   In those embodiments that are foldable in half so that opposing restraints overlie each other, typically a flat hinge assembly such as hinge  205  or its mechanical equivalent will be used if the device is to be foldably rotated so that the back sides of opposing arms  203 ,  204  are to be folded back-to-back. However, if an embodiment is to be folded front-to-front, arms  203 ,  204  will be axle-pivoted from axle protrusions provided respectively at the top and bottom of spool enclosure  208 A within respectively provided upper and lower extended spool enclosure covers which are respectively further provided with axle end retainers which rotatably capture such an alternate form of spool enclosure axle protrusions. A front-to-front spool-pivot rotationally foldable method is typically not utilized unless the width of arms  203 ,  204  is less than half the diameter of cylindrical spool enclosure  208 A so that when the arms  203 ,  204  are folded they will confront each other in a substantially parallel manner. Alternately, any hinge or pivoting configuration may be utilized to make a CERI system device foldable. 
   Typically, a CERI system using arcurate, swing-through handcuffs or the like, would be carried folded in half, cuffs-up, in a lined leather or a fabric carrying pouch appropriately sized for the particular CERI system, and fastened to an officer&#39;s belt rig using a typical belt loop method.  FIGS. 12 and 13  respectively show a side and a rear view of such a carrying pouch  221  with the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 3  inserted after having been folded in the manner of  FIG. 11 . A belt loop  221 A is fastened to pouch  221  utilizing a set of conventional metal rivets  221 B. Alternately, a carrying pouch such as pouch  221  as just described for  FIGS. 12 ,  13 , could be provided with a cover piece extending upward from the rear, or front or a side of the alternate pouch. Such a cover piece would be provided with a typical leather button snap assembly or a hook-and-loop clasping device. And alternately, a carrying pouch could be provided for portability on an officer&#39;s belt rig wherein the pouch is worn along a thigh with a hook-and-loop or otherwise connected side strap around the thigh and a carrying or support strap rising vertically to a clip to be placed on the officers belt rig. And alternately, the embodiment of  FIGS. 3–13  could be made as a non-foldable rigid device with an integral housing rather than separately contained left and right arms. If made rigid, the arcurate wall  204 D of the right arm and the right outside spool enclosure wall  203 C of the left arm shown in  FIGS. 7 ,  8  would not be present. A rigid embodiment of the device would be carried on an officer&#39;s belt rig in a more elongated embodiment of pouch  221  shown in  FIGS. 12 ,  13 . 
   Operation—FIGS.  3 – 13 —Preferred Embodiment of the Invention 
   Basic Tactical Operation Without Tether Deployment 
   Law enforcement officials generally prefer restraint devices that can be rigidified for easier application and also be made foldable for easier carrying. The preferred embodiment of the CERI system described above has been designed so that it operates as either a rigid integral assembly for compliant subject arrest circumstances, or as a separated and extended set of restraints that may be utilized if a subject is resisting the application of the restraining device. 
   In order to make the device integrally rigid and yet foldable for easy carrying, the two opposing housing arms  203 ,  204  are provided with a rotatable assembly comprising a hinge  205  with a hinge pin  205 , and a slidable locking bar  206 , that allows left arm  203  and right arm  204  to be rotated with respect to each other on hinge pin  205 C, so that arms  203 ,  204  may become either: a. rigidly, linearly, transversely aligned, and then slide-locked into a rigidified position by manually pushing locking bar slide stop member  206 D, typically with an index fingertip, to urge connective slidable locking bar  206  into right aperture  206 B, as shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  4 ; or, b. folded so that respective arms  203 ,  204  are substantially parallel, and so that restraints  201 ,  202  overlie each other, as shown in  FIG. 11 . Procedurally, when arms  203 ,  204  are to be again manually unfolded from their position in  FIG. 3  to the folded position of  FIGS. 9A ,  11 , locking bar  206  is disengaged by inserting a handcuff pin into pin aperture  206 C within bar  206 , and then manually urging bar  206  to slidably travel out of right bar aperture  206 B until slide stop member  206 D brings bar  206  to a secure rest position. If belt  207  is overly tight at the time folding is occurring, push bar release button  219 E will be momentarily upwardly depressed to release pawl bar  215  and belt  207  to allow the device to be manually folded on hinge pin  205 C until arms  203 ,  204  are again substantially parallel. In the rigidified position of  FIGS. 3 ,  4 , the device is operated using the same methods as would be utilized for conventional unfolded and rigidified hinged handcuffs, unless the decision is made to deploy belt tether  207 , as will be explained more fully below. 
   A typical hand grasp of the rigidified device when approaching a compliant subject would utilize the web of an index finger and thumb (not shown) to grasp around spool enclosure  208 A from the side, or to grasp over spool enclosure  208 A with the palm resting on top of spool enclosure  208 A. In either grasp, the middle, ring, and little finger (not shown) will be downwardly disposed and able to reach around the back side and bottom of the device. In a right-handed operation, this will position the right-hand fingers to face toward the left, with the thumb to the front and the other fingers to the rear side of the device reaching down and around the bottom of the device. A left-handed operation would be oppositely positioned. A preferred hand grasp may also depend on the particular CERI embodiment&#39;s spool size and housing dimensions, as these will vary according to the differing embodiments. For example, a lesser or greater length belt tether  207  will require a lesser or greater sized spool  208 , and spool size will as well depend on the thickness of the belt material utilized in the embodiment. Similarly, in alternate embodiments, the sizing of a ratcheting control assembly and/or hinge method may result in a smaller or larger overall size for housing arms  203 ,  204 . 
   The sizing of the detainer&#39;s hand, large, medium or small, should be irrelevant when grasping the CERI device shown and described in terms of  FIGS. 3–11 . This is so because the device would typically be made with a shorter tether length and so with a spool enclosure sufficiently reduced in size for a small hand to grasp the device securely, and yet provide the device with sufficient surface area for a reach-around method for a medium or larger hand. Irrespective of the detainer&#39;s hand size, if the detainee becomes non-compliant and the detainer chooses to deploy belt tether  207 , the two finger-actuated control buttons, release button  219 E and double-lock button  220 A, are easily within finger reach and easily finger-actuated. 
   When approaching a subject who appears to be of average size and compliant with the officer&#39;s orders or directions, the detainer officer will, as aforementioned, use conventional handcuffing methods to apply handcuffs  201 ,  202  and then double-lock the cuffs as was previously explained using the pin end of a standard-sized handcuff key inserted into push pin holes  201 F,  202 F. To avoid further security problems, the officer will also double-lock belt tether  207  by inwardly depressing double-lock button  220 A to actuate double-lock rod  220 B to lock lower gear bar  215 D in place to prevent the subject from possibly depressing release button  219 E and extending belt tether  207 . In an ideal compliant detainment scenario, the officer will maintain the restraints on an arrestee until arrival at a secure detention facility, and thereafter remove the restraints or otherwise secure the subject. When the restraint portion of the arrest is completed and the CERI device is to be placed into storage containment in carrying pouch  221  or be otherwise stored, the device would typically be again folded on hinge pin  205 C after bar  206  is withdrawn through apertures  206 A,  206 B as was just explained above. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 12 ,  13 , the CERI system will typically be worn on an officer&#39;s belt rig and carried in a pouch similar to carrying pouch  221 . Typically, carrying pouch  221  will be carried to the front left or front right strong side of a detainer with cuffs  201 ,  202  pointing upward for easy withdrawal from the pouch. Alternately, the CERI cuffs can be worn folded and draped through the detainer&#39;s belt, or be carried cuffs-up from the belt rig via a draped strapping method. 
   Basic Tactical Operation with Tether Deployed 
   To operate the apparatus of the preferred embodiment of the CERI system using a tether deployment method in an attempt to restrain either a larger-sized subject and/or a subject who is potentially non-compliant to the officer&#39;s verbal orders or directions, the detainer officer will begin by grasping the device as explained above. If a rear approach to the subject can be made with the intent of handcuffing the subject behind his back, in terms of a right-handed officer, the officer&#39;s initial objective will be to handcuff the subject&#39;s left wrist with left handcuff  201 . The reason for this is so that if tether deployment is likely, it is easier for a right-handed officer to pull the device away to the right from a secured left wrist since this will allow the officer to maintain finger control over control buttons  219 E and  220 A. A left-handed officer may choose to first cuff the subject&#39;s right hand so that his potential tether deployment results in a pull to the left and so that his left-hand fingers maintain control over control buttons  219 E and  220 A. 
   Belt tether  207  is never deployed before tethered left cuff  201  is fully secured to a wrist (or ankle, etc.) so that there is no chance that retractor spring  214 A will suddenly retract tether  207  with tethered cuff  201  and strike the officer. Similarly, an officer never positions a grasping hand over the device so that any portion of the hand extends beyond left arm  203  so that in the event of an accidental recoil the officer will not be struck by a moving part. An officer should also be aware that if he releases right arm  204  from his grasp while tether  207  is deployed, that retractor spring  214 A will urge tether  207  to retract and thus urge the device toward tethered cuff  201 . 
   As previously stated, when a CERI device is rigidly extended as shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  7 – 10 , insertion member  209  with its associated connective restraint, here, left handcuff  201 , can be made to separate from the main body of the device with its associated connective restraint, here, right handcuff  202 , in a controllably extendible method along the line of belt tether  207  as shown in  FIGS. 5 ,  6 . Referring to  FIGS. 3 ,  4 , and  7 ,  8 , the controllable separation is performed by the officer in a right-handed manner after applying left restraint  201  to the subject&#39;s left wrist, and while grasping the middle or right portion of the rigidified device with the officer&#39;s right hand (not shown) in a palm-down, over-the-top positioning, with the officer being ready to use his right hand to pull the device to the right. In this position, the fingertips of the officer&#39;s right hand will be curled beneath the device so that either the middle, ring or little finger (not shown) will be in a position to be manipulated so that a curled fingertip may engage and upwardly depress recessed release button  219 E and then hold button  219 E upwards against the tension of coil spring  219 C into retaining aperture  204 J. As the ratchet assembly then actuates pawl bar  215  to disengage from gears  212 ,  213 , belt tether  207  will be freed to be extracted from spool  208  when the officer&#39;s right hand pulls the device to the right. 
   The officer or other detainer will then use his left hand to brace the subject&#39;s left arm as the officer initiates a pull of the device to the right while release button  219 E is upwardly depressed. As the device moves outward, belt tether  207  will unwind between the subject&#39;s left wrist and the officer&#39;s right hand. If a left-handed operation is used, the description above would be hand-reversed. 
   When the officer has brought belt tether  207  out to a sufficient distance, he will release button  219 E. When release button  219 E is no longer held upward, coil spring  219 C will return button  219 E to its normal rest position and pawl bar  215  will re-engage gears  212 ,  213  and belt tether  207  will no longer be able to be pulled outward. Concurrently, retractor spring  214 A, raised to higher state of tension in proportion to the outward extraction distance of belt tether  207 , will be set to urge belt  207  to rewind around spool  208  when no further outward urging force is applied, thereby setting up mechanical conditions for bringing insertion member  209  with attached left restraint  201  to again come to rest within docking channel  210 . 
   Once the officer has applied left swing-through cuff  201  to the subject&#39;s left wrist until it is ratchet-locked, and deployed belt tether  207  as described above, the officer will then remove his left hand from the subject&#39;s cuffed left hand. The officer&#39;s left hand will then be moved to grasp the subject&#39;s right arm or hand. The officer will then use his right hand, preferably, to position extended right cuff  202  to the inside (left side) of the subject&#39;s wrist and then apply right cuff  202  to the subject&#39;s right wrist. Once the right wrist of the subject is engaged by right cuff  202  it will be tethered to the opposite left cuff  201  along the line of tether  207 . At this point any attempted movement of the subject&#39;s arms away from each other will result in the previously described activation of the ratcheting mechanism. And any movement of the subject&#39;s arms toward each other will result in the activation of retractor spring  214 A as it urges belt tether  207  to rewind back around spool  208 . Other less preferable right-cuffing methods are considered below. 
   If the subject does not then willfully comply in moving his wrists together and allow belt tether  207  to rewind until insertion member  209  reaches either a flush and rigid connection with docking channel  210 , or a reasonably close separation distance, the officer will then begin to either compel the subject&#39;s arms or legs together, or continue to impel the subject off-balance so that the subject&#39;s own movements cause retractor spring  214 A to activate and so cause belt tether  207  to unidirectionally rewind on to spool  208  and also prevent the subject from further separating opposing cuffs  201 ,  202 . 
   Or again, as an arresting officer or other detainer attempts to control a subject, or uses other measures to cause a subject&#39;s arms to come together, each slight movement of insertion member  209  toward left arm  203  will result in an action by retractor spring  214 A to rewind belt tether  207 , and each attempt by the subject to force his arms and hands apart will be met with the overpowering resistance of ratchet pawl teeth  215 A,  215 B falling incrementally into successive ratchet teeth  212 A,  213 A in ratchet gears  212 ,  213  preventing spool  208  and so belt tether  207  from further unwinding. As the officer continues in small or large increments to bring the subject&#39;s opposing arms toward a central position behind the subject&#39;s back, insertion member  209  will eventually be ratcheted back either flush and rigid with docking channel  210 , or insertion member  209  will be stopped at a reasonable distance for a larger-sized subject where belt  207 &#39;s distance will then be held in place by the ratchet mechanism. 
   Once the detainer has managed to bring the subject&#39;s two cuffed hands together so that insertion member  209  has either been rigidly secured within docking channel  210 , or stopped at a comfortable distance for the subject&#39;s size, and handcuffs  201 ,  202  have been double-locked as previously explained using the pin end of a standard sized handcuff key inserted into push pin holes  201 F,  202 F, double-lock button  220 A may then be inwardly depressed to actuate double-lock rod  220 B to lock lower gear bar  215 D in place to prevent the arrested subject from possibly depressing release button  219 E and further extending belt tether  207 . 
   Once the subject has been transported to the processing room, if he is yet unruly, the officer may choose to only remove right restraint  202  and place the removed restraint in connection with a fixed post retainer or a pre-positioned wall anchor such as a typical processing room eyehook device. The officer can then selectively control the distance which he will permit for radial movement of the subject about the retaining pivot point of connection depending on the tether length provided in the controllably extendible restraint interconnection. Alternately, the officer may release one handcuff and place belt tether  207  around an object such as a pole or pipe, and then reattach the second cuff to keep the subject in one location. To better secure the subject, the tether could be cross-wrapped around the pole or pipe and then ratchet-locked at a close distance to the object. 
   Alternate Circumstances of Use Guidelines 
   As noted above, when belt tether  207  is extended, it could allow for an easier takedown of a difficult subject. Part of that easier takedown is owing to the extended reach provided by belt tether  207 , but equally important is the fact that the extended right cuff  202  can be manipulated into any orientation required to capture the subject&#39;s right wrist. Since belt tether  207  is flexible and supple, and can be bent, twisted, or folded without breaking, cracking, etc., it is possible to re-orientate right cuff  202  for a cuffing procedure far more easily than is possible to orientate conventional chain-linked or rigidified cuff embodiments. The controllable extension of belt tether  207  between restraints  201 ,  202  also allows an officer a “working zone” wherein he may better apply right cuff  202  to an as yet uncuffed wrist. 
   Occasionally, a subject will attempt to “spin out” from the restraint situation after one cuff is applied. If this occurs, an officer will typically have one of several options to resolve the situation: a. the officer can work his way down the belt tether from the officer-held right side cuff  202  toward tethered cuff  201  and then use right cuff  202  to torque against the subject&#39;s wrist area to cause momentary pain compliance and thus control the subject as he would normally do when the device is rigidified; or, b. the officer can let go of right cuff  202  and allow the CERI device to retract back toward left cuff  201  so that the subject has the CERI device in his possession, but attached to his left wrist, and then escalate the use of force to regain control over the subject; or, c. the officer can quickly double-lock the CERI device using double-lock button  220 A and grasp right cuff  202  in an attempt to pull the subject back toward the officer; or, d. the officer can attempt to rotate belt tether  207  around the officer&#39;s body to impel the subject off balance while extending a leg to trip the subject and possibly relocate him to the ground; or, e. the officer can fasten unsecured cuff  202  to a fixed object and then act to regain control over the subject. In an alternate negative scenario, when an unruly subject pulls completely away from the officer after one cuff is applied and the subject has the CERI device still attached and free-wheeling, unless the subject hold restraints  201 ,  202  apart, the retractor assembly will retract belt tether  207  and be ratchet-locked at his left-cuffed wrist. At this point the officer would be required to proceed to the next level of force to regain control over the device. 
   Generally speaking, the most efficient tether length for a takedown from behind is approximately 45.7 mm (18″) as measured left cuff  201  center to right cuff  202  center. At this distance the subject&#39;s arms can be effectively urged together behind him without the potential problems incurred with a greater distance. At this distance an average-sized, rear-cuffed subject cannot raise belt tether  207  from behind to a point over his head in an attempt to move the cuffs to his front. This makes it more difficult for him to attempt a “step through” of belt  207  to bring restraints  201 ,  202  in front of his body. As well, a minimal belt tether  207  use length reduces the possibility of a loss of control over the subject and belt tether  207  as well. 
   To follow is an alternate form of front cuffing, utilizing a CERI device with a sufficiently long belt tether  207 , in terms of a right-handed officer. If a compliant subject is to be cuffed in front, the officer will face him (or her) and have the subject cross his forearms one over the other. He will then and apply left cuff  201  to the subject&#39;s crossed left wrist. Belt tether  207  will be extended as previously described, and the officer will have the subject slightly raise his crossed forearms. The officer will then weave right cuff  202  with the trailing belt tether  207  under the subject&#39;s left armpit, and then wrap right cuff  202  and belt tether  207  around his upper back, and then thread them back through the subject&#39;s left armpit area toward his front. The officer will then place right cuff  202  on the subject&#39;s left wrist. As the subject again lowers his forearms to a rest position against his chest the retractor mechanism in the device will shorten the belt tether  207  until it is relatively tight around the subject&#39;s backside. This positioning of belt tether  207  will then keep the subject&#39;s forearms comfortably crossed, but unable to be moved outward or over his head. The ratchet assembly will then be double-locked by depressing double-lock button  220 A. If the officer is left-handed, he will use his opposite hands in the above account of operation. 
   Insertion member  209  is designed symmetrically so that it may enter docking channel  210  even if inverted. Thus, in a situation where an officer unintentionally applies one of the two handcuffs in an inverted manner, insertion member  209  will still engage docking channel  210  so long as belt tether  207  is not multiply twisted forming a block to entrance. However, even if this occurs, insertion member  209  may be stopped short of docking channel  210  and the ratchet assembly within the device will still prevent the two opposing handcuffs from separating further. Thus, if alignment during closure is not a possibility due to the difficulty of a takedown struggle, rather than forcing himself to the point of exhaustion, the officer may choose to leave insertion member  209  external to docking channel  210  and simply double-lock the ratcheting control assembly by using double-lock button  220 A to prevent arrestee escape. Although it is unlikely that a handcuffed subject could reach release button  219 E in an attempt to extract belt tether  207 , if the double-lock device is utilized, release button  219 E will not be depressible. 
   Compliant and non-compliant takedown situations may arise in various handcuffing positions: wall, free-standing, prone, kneeling, hands in front, hands on top of head, hands behind back, and hands behind head. Resisting generally starts prior to handcuffing or at the application of the first cuff. Handcuffs should not typically be deployed until the subject is stable, however an arrestee may appear stable and then suddenly become unruly. The two positions that are the more difficult are the hands on top of head and behind the head, because they respectively require more movement of the arms to bring the wrists together. Generally, when one cuff is applied, and the cuffed arm is moved to the small of the back to met the other arm, in principle, if the subject begins to resist the application of the restraining device, an officer can then apply an arm bar or a tactical maneuver which will relocate the subject to the ground or floor. Most subjects who resist the application of the restraining device end up on the ground or floor, which is where a CERI system is most beneficial to the officer. When an officer is on top of a prone subject, the officer is typically attempting to drag, push or pull the subject&#39;s arms to restrain the subject. With a tethered cuffing system, less actual movement is required to reach the subject&#39;s extended, uncuffed wrist, and then cuff that wrist and bring it toward the opposing restraint via the CERI ratcheting system. Additionally, in this ground-based positioning, an officer has the benefit of greater strength and leverage when his arms are closer to his body, and less as his arms move further away from his body. 
   As with any handcuffing method of unruly subjects, various foreseeable problems can also arise during the utilization of a tethered belt or cable system. For example, it is possible during an attempted cuffing procedure of an unruly subject to inadvertently pass the tether around a movable or a fixed object, or have a subject move an unrestrained arm outward or upward to a point further out than the current extension of the tether, or have a have an arrestee who seems to stop resisting and then suddenly pulls away in the same direction that the officer is pushing, or have an arrestee who attempts to strike or grab at anyone around him, or who does not begin to become unruly until he is being uncuffed, or who attempts any number of various negative actions. Because these problems are foreseeable, they can be effectively dealt with when officers are trained in the use of the CERI method. 
   A temporary loss of control by an officer during handcuffing or restraint application using a CERI method could involve a number of foreseeable negative scenarios other than those already mentioned. For example, if a cuffed detainee attempted to prevent tether retraction by holding the belt  207  in a fixed distance position, the solution to regaining control could possibly be to move the arm of the subject that can best be levered to move toward the opposing arm to utilize the retractor mechanism. Oppositely, if a subject was attempting to ensnare the officer in an overly extended tether, an officer could respond either by grasping belt  207  in an attempt to wrench it away from the subject, or he could release the CERI device and move to the next level of force to gain compliance. Or, for example, if after the tethered cuff was applied, a subject was attempting to wrench the device away from an officer in order to begin flailing around the unsecured cuff housing, the officer could again be required to move to the next level of force. An upward change of force levels is not owing to any particular fault with the use of the CERI device, but would equally apply to any difficult takedown procedure. When a CERI device is offered for use, it will most likely be accompanied by a basic training manual for use of the CERI system which illustrates and explains the various counter moves that would typically be utilized to defeat the aforementioned and other negative scenarios, and to better define procedural methods of operation, and thus increase officer confidence in the use of the CERI method. 
   The operational objective of any Controllably Extendible Restraint Interconnection system, or CERI system device is to provide a restraint system that works as effectively as conventional restraints under ideal circumstances, and which will as well operate more effectively, and not mechanically fail, or be awkward or impossible to use under difficult arrest circumstances when the restraints have been controllably extended. With the proper mindset and training environment, a CERI system can provide a safer and more secure way to effectively restraint unruly subjects as well as perform equivalently to more traditional restraint methods. 
   Alternately, a CERI device as is, or as otherwise modified, could be utilized operationally by a street officer in a variety of ways. For example, to keep a subject temporarily fixed in one location, a subject could be stood face-side or back-side next to a pole, tree or other fixed object, and belt tether  207  passed around the fixed object before being attached to the other wrist or ankle. Or, the device itself could be connected either to two fixed objects, or to itself around a tree or pole, and belt tether  207  utilized for securing multiple arrestees by loop straps around the tether to temporarily keep multiple subjects in one place. The device could also be utilized under extenuating circumstances to assist in carrying an injured person, or to tether two objects together, or to suspend a load on a tether, or could be cuffed to itself to provide a looping belt for securing objects together. 
   Description— FIGS. 14 ,  15 —Alternate Embodiment 
   As previously noted, for the purposes of the specification, although the preferred embodiment has been specified in terms of a “belt tether,” the term “tether” as used herein to describe and claim the present invention should be understood (with explained modifications) to cover tether members having cross sectional shapes other than flat, and may include circular or other shapes such as would describe cords, cables, or other flexible interconnections between restraints. 
     FIG. 14  is a front, transversely centralized, cross sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the restraint interconnection device of the present invention wherein a cord or cable tether  307  is utilized as a tethering method.  FIG. 15  is a top sectional view of the alternate embodiment of  FIG. 14  taken along lines  15 — 15  of  FIG. 14 . The alternate embodiment of  FIGS. 14 ,  15  also exemplifies a CERI system wherein an attachably-detachable restraint retaining method has been utilized (as opposed to the fixed-attachment restraint retaining method of  FIGS. 3–11 ) in conjunction with an integral, metal or composite central housing  300  which houses a vertically disposed cable spool  308  and a ratchet assembly. Central housing  300  has an oval-shaped body, a flat top panel  300 A, and a parallel flat bottom panel  300 B. Typically, top and bottom panels  300 A,  300 B are screwed onto the oval body portion of housing  300  for removal for repair and cleaning (not shown). Central housing  300  is suitably sized to be graspable by an average-sized user&#39;s hand. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 14 ,  15 , a diagrammatic set of restraints, generally, a left releasably-lockable loop restraint  301 , and a right releasably-lockable loop restraint  302 , have been shown to exemplify any conventional form of restraint, such as handcuffs, manacles, etc., which may be utilized with the alternate embodiment. In the alternate embodiment, in lieu of a fixed-restraint connection method such as was shown for the preferred embodiment, an attachably-detachable, restraint-retaining buckling method is utilized. A metal or composite left buckle housing  303  and a right buckle housing  304  are provided on the respective outside ends of central housing  300 . The right central wall of left buckle housing  303  is provided with a hardened metal left connector link  303 B either by forming link  303 B into the material of left buckle housing  303 , or by utilizing a separate link affixed by conventional link-fastening methods. Left connector link  303 B is fastened on its right to an end of a metal cable or Kevlar™ cord, or its equivalent, a cable tether  307 , at a terminal cable tether loop, either by utilizing a manufactured ring-shaped endpiece  307 A or by other cable attachment methods such as a ferrule and stop. 
   The left central wall of right buckle housing  304  is provided with a hardened metal right connector link  304 B either by forming link  304 A into the material of right buckle housing  304 , or by utilizing a separate link affixed by conventional link-fastening methods. Right connector link  304 B is fastened on its left to a right wall of housing  300  by utilizing a hardened metal, cross braced, link-retaining bar  304 C which passes horizontally through a suitably sized slot  300 C in the right wall portions of housing  300 . Link  304 A is contained within a suitably sized vertical wall slot  300 D at the right end of housing  300 , and held therein by retaining bar  305  which is suitably sized to be force-fitted through slot  300 C while being tightly passed through link  304 A. 
   Buckle housings  303 ,  304  respectively have a slotted aperture on their outside ends, a left buckle receiving slot  303 C, and a right buckle receiving slot  304 C, suitably positioned and sized to receive a set of metal or composite, elongated, attachably-detachable restraint buckle tongues, respectively a left restraint buckle tongue  303 A, and a right restraint buckle tongue  304 A, each suitably sized to slidably fit tightly within receiving slots  303 C,  304 C. Tongues  303 A,  304 A are either a formed part of, or suitably affixed to the inward-facing sides of a left loop restraint-retaining member  301 A, and a right loop restraint-retaining member  302 A, and respectively have latch-bar receiving holes, a left buckle tongue latch-bar receiving hole  303 D and a right buckle tongue latch-bar receiving hole  304 D. Restraint-retaining members  301 A,  302 A are then respectively connected at their outward-facing sides to a left and a right releasably-lockable, typically integral loop restraint, generally  301 ,  302 , and are either a formed part of, or suitably affixed to, or suitably clamped around, that portion of loops  301 ,  302  which face toward the respective outside ends of buckle housings  303 ,  304 . 
   Loop restraints  301 ,  302  are typically integral restraining devices which when affixed to retaining members  301 A,  302 A (as explained above) respectively have a pair of elongated loop arms, an upper-left loop arm  301 B, and a lower-left loop arm  301 C, and a upper-right loop arm  302 B, and a lower-right loop arm  302 C, with each respective set of loop arms disposed in a partial circle manner toward each other as they respectively outwardly extend from retaining members  301 A,  302 A. Loop restraints  301 ,  302  are suitably sized to be enable to fully encircle a larger-sized human wrist or ankle. 
   Loop restraints  301 ,  302  respectively have transverse teeth on one side (not shown) which slidably engage with a left releasably-lockable detent  301 D, and a right releasably-lockable detent  302 D which are respectively provided for loop restraints  301 ,  302  typically at the terminus of upper loops  301 B,  302 B. Such releasably-lockable restraints as  301 ,  302  utilizing releasably-lockable detents such as  301 D,  302 D are fully explained in U.S. Pat. No. 3,991,444, Nov. 16, 1976, Releasable Cable Tie, to Michael S. Bailey, Palos Hills, Ill., and are licensed to and available from Panduit Corporation, Tinley Park, Ill. Any other conventional loop type of releasably-lockable restraint or detent may also be utilized in lieu of restraints  301 ,  302  or detents  301 D,  302 D. 
   When buckle tongues  303 A,  304 A are respectively passed through left receiving slot  303 C and right receiving slot  304 C in respective buckle housings  303 A,  304 A, their respective reception into slots  303 C,  304 C is stopped by downwardly disposed spring-biased latch bars, a left cylindrical spring-biased latch bar  311 B, and a right cylindrical spring-biased latch bar  312 B in respective buckle housings  303 A,  304 A which are respectively downwardly spring-biased by a set of latch coil springs  311 E,  312 E (as properly explained below), which urge latch bars  311 B,  312 B to travel through buckle tongue holes  303 D,  304 D, thereby locking the respective tongues within their respective housings. 
   Left buckle housing  303  contains a left lower mounting block  309 A which is a formed part of housing  303 , or is attached therein as a metal or composite form-fitting block. Block  309 A has a left vertically disposed, cylindrical aperture  309 B which is suitably sized to accommodate a vertically disposed, left-slotted slide tube  309 C suitably sized to accommodate a handcuff pin-sized left slidable cylindrical rod  311 . Tube  309 C is slotted vertically on its right side and accommodates a left-slidable cross bar  311 A which is formed into rod  311  or attached at a right-facing right angle to rod  311 . Cross bar  311 A is formed into or attached to cylindrical left spring-biased latch bar  311 B. Left latch bar  311 B is contained at its upper end within a vertically disposed, left latch bar slide tube  311 C which contains a left latch coil spring  311 E above latch bar  311 B. Directly below latch bar  311 B, within block  309 A, is a cylindrical, left-receiving aperture  311 D for a lower portion of latch bar  311 B. 
   In order to introduce left buckle tongue  303 A into buckle housing  303 , the user inserts the pin end of a handcuff key (not shown) into the lower end of tube  309 C and pushes rod  311  upward. Connective cross bar  311 A is then carried upward along with connective latch bar  311 B and forces spring  311 C upwards into a higher state of tension. Buckle tongue  303 A is then inserted while latch bar  311 B is held in an upward position. Buckle tongue  303 A has a provided left, circular latch aperture  303 D which then aligns below the travel path of latch bar  311 B. When buckle tongue  303 A is fully inserted into receiving slot  303 C, the handcuff pin is withdrawn from tube  309 C and coil spring  311 C urges latch bar  311 B (along with cross bar  311 A and rod  311 ) to travel downward, and latch bar  311 B enters into mounting-block receiving aperture  311 D and latches buckle tongue  303 A in place within buckle housing  303 . 
   Right buckle housing  304  contains equivalent and oppositely configured components, being a right-lower mounting block  310 A, a right-vertically disposed, cylindrical aperture  310 B, a right-slotted slide tube  310 C, a right-slidable cylindrical rod  312 , a right-slidable cross bar  312 A, a right spring-biased latch bar  312 B, a right latch bar slide tube  312 C, a right latch-bar receiving aperture  312 D, and a right coil spring  312 E, all of which components interact and operate in the same manner as described for left buckle housing  303 . Right buckle tongue  304 A is then introduced into right buckle housing  304  using the same method described for the insertion of left buckle tongue  303 . 
   Cable tether  307  is threaded through a reeling aperture  307 B formed or drilled into the left center of central housing  300 , and thence passes into housing  300  where it is reeled onto a metal or plastic composite cable tether spool  308  and is wound tightly about cable tether spool  308  in a clockwise direction when viewed from the top. Spool  308  is mounted onto a cylindrical metal vertical axle  308 A which is held in place at its top by a recessed internally cylindrical metal axle housing  308 B suitably sized to accommodate the top of axle  308 A. Axle housing  308 B is form-fit into the upper inside material portion of central housing  300 . The bottom portion of axle  308 B is rectangular shaped (not shown) and sized to fit within a rectangular receptacle (not shown) within an external metal or plastic retractor spring enclosure  313 . Alternately, an internal winding spring method within spool  308  may be utilized. 
   Retractor spring enclosure  313  has a conventional coil retractor spring  313 A which is relaxed when cable tether  307  has been wound tight during a clockwise rotation of axle  308 A. As stated, in  FIGS. 14 ,  15  cable tether  307  is considered to have been wound around spool  308  when spool  308  was turned in a clockwise direction if viewed from above, and thus spring  313 A is in a relaxed state in  FIGS. 14 ,  15 . If cable tether  307  is then pulled outward to unwind from spool  308 , spool  308  turns counterclockwise to unwind cable tether  307  and thus will wind coil retractor spring  313 A within retractor spring enclosure  313  to a state of higher spring tension. 
   Retractor spring enclosure  313  is rectangularly shaped on the outside and slides into an appropriately sized receptacle slot  300 E in the inside base material of housing  300 . When retractor enclosure  313  is properly seated within the base material it cannot rotate or otherwise move when winding tension is applied to spool  308  and axle  308 A as cable tether  307  is pulled from spool  308 . Alternately, retractor spring  313 A can be replaced by an electrically motorized retractor with a suitably connected power source, such as a battery, and appropriate electric connections and switchwork. 
   The top plate portion of spool  308  is made in the form of a circular, hardened metal or resin composite ratchet gear  314  which rotates with spool  308  and axle  308 A. A hardened metal or resin composite ratchet slide-and-stop tooth  315 A is formed into or connective with the rearward portion of a metal or resin composite vertical ratchet pawl bar  315  with a protruding pawl tooth  315 A. Pawl tooth  315 A is sized and positioned with respect to ratchet gear teeth  314 A to either allow ratchet teeth  314 A to slide past tooth  315 A during a clockwise rotation, or to engage ratchet gear teeth  314 A whenever spool  308  and axle  308 A are induced to attempt a counterclockwise rotation. 
   Vertical ratchet pawl bar  315  has a mounting hole  315 B sized to accommodate (and shown filled by) a ratchet pawl bar axle  315 C. Vertical ratchet pawl bar  315  is held in place at its bottom by a metal or other material ratchet pawl bar mounting block  316 . Block  316  has a vertical slot  316 A (not shown) suitably sized to accommodate the insertion of the bottom of bar  315 , and also has two opposing holes, a front hole  316 B, and a rear hole  316 C (not shown) on either side of slot  316 A (not shown) sized to accommodate bar axle  315 C. 
   When the bottom of ratchet pawl bar  315  is inserted into slot  316 A (not shown) in block  316 , axle  315 C fits snugly through holes  316 B,  316 C and less snugly through hole  315 B in the bottom of ratchet pawl bar  315 . This arrangement allows ratchet pawl bar  315  to have a slight forward and backward movement on axle  315 C whenever top pawl tooth  315 A is sliding past ratchet teeth  314 A during a counterclockwise rotation of gear  314 , and to have the possibility of a forward movement when engaging teeth  314 A during any clockwise spool rotation. 
   At the back side of ratchet pawl bar  315  is a tension block  317  made of a rubber-like springy substance. Tension block  317  contains a vertically disposed metal or other material brace bar  317 A which has been pressure fit into a tension block mounting slot  317 B (not shown; filled by  317 A) within block  317 &#39;s lower middle section. Brace bar  317 A then passes downward into a pressure fit with a lower brace bar mounting slot  317 C (not shown; filled by  317 A) set within a rear material portion of pawl bar mounting block  316 . Brace bar  317 A prevents tension block  317  from any movement from its preset position within housing  300 . 
   Tension block  317  is positioned between the back side of ratchet pawl bar  315  and the inside portion of the right side of housing  300 . Tension block  317  forces ratchet pawl bar  315  and its top ratchet tooth  315 A forward so that tooth  315 A engages gear teeth  314 A and thus forces spool  308  into a locked position whenever a clockwise rotation of spool  308  is attempted. Whenever a counterclockwise rotation of spool  308  occurs, gear teeth  314 A touch against the slide portion of ratchet tooth  315 A and induce tension block  317  to momentarily compress as each of ratchet teeth  314 A slidably passes over ratchet tooth  315 A. 
   A ratchet pawl bar top end  315 D has screw threads which extend to a slight distance through and above a top slot  300 F in the top of housing  300 . A metal or composite screw-on knurled cap  315 E is then affixed to ratchet pawl bar top  315 D. The screw threads are utilized to tighten cap  315 E to top panel  300 A of housing  300  in order to prevent ratchet pawl bar  315  from moving from a chosen position of ratchet engagement or disengagement. Top slot  300 F is sized so that pawl bar  315  may be moved a sufficient distance to the right to permit ratchet tooth  315 A to disengage from gear teeth  314 A to allow spool  308  to unwind clockwise to release cable tether  307 . 
   Thus, if lateral pressure is applied to the right against ratchet pawl bar cap  315 E, this will move ratchet pawl bar  315  to compress tension block  317  and move ratchet tooth  315 A away from any connection with ratchet teeth  314 A. This action will then permit cable tether  307  to be pulled away from housing  300 , thus increasing the tension of retractor spring  313 A, which then increases its tension proportionately to the distance to which cable tether  307  is pulled outward. Top slot  300 F also has the function of preventing any side-shifting movement of ratchet pawl bar  315  during a situation where cable tether  307  is being pulled against the pressure of pawl bar  315  when it is engaged in gear  314 . 
   When cap  315 E is then loosened (unscrewed), tension block  317  will restore itself to its previous non-deformed state and push pawl bar  315  forward causing tooth  315 A to re-engage ratchet teeth  314 A and so lock gear  314 , spool  308  and the drawn out cable tether  307  at that length. If cap  315 E is again pushed to the right, retractor spring  313 A will exert its stored tension and begin to recoil and cause axle  308 A with spool  308  to rotate clockwise and so rewind cable tether  307  back onto spool  308  and bring cable tether  307  back to its rest position against the left side of housing  300 . 
   When cable tether  307  has been withdraw from housing  300  to a desired length in the manner just described, and when both loop restraints  301 ,  302  have been applied to a subject unwilling to bring his cuffed hands together, the tension in retractor spring  313 A will not be sufficient to rewind cable tether  307  into housing  300 . However, as the arresting officer attempts to compel the subject&#39;s arms together, each slight movement of cable tether  307  toward housing  300  will result in an action by retractor spring  313 A to incrementally rewind cable tether  307 , and each attempt by the subject to propel his arms and hands apart will be met with the overpowering resistance of ratchet tooth  315 A falling into successive ratchet teeth  314 A in ratchet gear  315  preventing cable tether  307  from unwinding. 
   Alternately, pawl bar  315  may be any other conventional ratchet-locking device associated with any other conventional ratchet-locking and unlocking mechanism, as is generally known to those skilled in that art, utilized with any practical size ratchet gear or gears of any workable ratchet tooth design and configuration, so long as it operates the pawl release and does not interfere with the operation of the device during the restraining process. Although the above described cable tether CERI embodiment does not reach a rigidified connection upon reaching its closure point, it is nonetheless a relatively inexpensive, versatile and practical solution to many law enforcement problems. 
   Operation— FIGS. 14 ,  15 —Alternate Embodiment 
   The operation of the alternate cable tether embodiment of  FIGS. 14 ,  15  is generally similar to the operation of the preferred embodiment with the following exceptions: a. rather than having a release button and double-lock mechanism for ratchet control, the alternate embodiment has a vertical ratchet pawl bar  315  release method wherein bar  315  must be side-shifted to operate, and then have its cap  315 E screw-twisted to lock the ratchet engagement; b. the embodiment cannot be rigidified as shown; c. carrying is typically done by strapping the two cuffs together and strapping them to the officer&#39;s belt rig. Street use of the alternate cable tether embodiment is essentially the same as was given for the preferred embodiment with the following exceptions: a. the grasping method is similar to the one used for chain-linked or hinged handcuffs wherein the control hand wraps around the middle portion, here, central housing  300 , and then guides loop restraints  301 ,  302  to the subject&#39;s wrists or ankles; b. the utilized cable length is more restricted, and generally confined to approximately 45.7 mm (18″) due to the greater potential for officer control loss with the thinner cable body. 
   To operate the cable tether embodiment of the present invention in an attempt to cuff a subject behind his back, in terms of a right-handed officer in a typical use situation, the officer grasps central housing  300  palm down with his right hand with his fingers wrapped below the middle length of the housing. He then grasps the subject&#39;s left arm or hand with his left hand and applies and locks left loop restraint  301  about the subject&#39;s wrist. The officer then typically actuates the ratchet-pin release mechanism by side shifting ratchet pawl bar  315  using his palm edge or a fingertip of his right hand. He does this while he is grasping central housing  300  with his remaining fingers and pulls housing  300  right loop restraint  302  to the right so that cable tether  307  reels out to a desired distance to approach the position of the subject&#39;s right wrist. Once the officer releases ratchet pawl bar  315 , spring tension from tension block  317  forces ratchet tooth  315 A to re-engage, and cable tether spool  308  is no longer able to be unwound. 
   The officer will then remove his left hand from the subject&#39;s restrained left hand, and the officer will move his left hand to grasp the subject&#39;s right arm or hand and position right loop restraint  302  to the inside or left of the subject&#39;s wrist and then apply left loop restraint  301  to the subject&#39;s right wrist. Once the right wrist of the subject is secured by loop restraint  302  it will be tethered to the opposite left restraint  301  along the line of cable tether  307 . Therefore, any movement of the subject&#39;s arms toward each other will result in the activation of the ratcheting mechanism as retractor spring  313 A seeks to rewind tether cable  307  back around spool  308 . If the subject does not then willfully comply in placing his wrists together, the officer will then begin to urge the subject&#39;s arms or legs together. As he does so the ratchet-locked spool  308  will prevent the subject from pulling away from the opposing restraint, and retractor spring  313 A will continue to rewind cable tether  307  back onto spool  308 . As the officer continues in small or large increments to bring the opposing arms toward a central position behind the subject&#39;s back, cable tether  307  will eventually be ratcheted back against central housing  300  where it will then be held in place by the ratchet mechanism. 
   If the subject is of a larger than average sizing, the cable tether will not actually reach central housing  300 , but the subject will nonetheless be securely held in the restraints. Once the officer determines that a final rest position has been reached for the respective restraints, he will twist-lock ratchet pawl bar cap  315 E which will prevent accidental unreeling of spool  308 . If the officer is left-handed, or if extenuating circumstances exist, he will use his opposite hands in the above account of operation. The same general operation would apply if ankle restraints were being applied to the subject&#39;s legs. 
   If the particular loop restraint system being used has a key operated, lockably unlockable detent system, once the subject has been brought to the processing room, if he is yet unruly, the officer may choose to only remove the right loop restraint and place the removed restraint in connection with a fixed post retainer or a pre-positioned wall anchor such as a typical processing room eyehook device. The officer can then selectively control the distance which he will permit for radial movement of the subject about the retaining pivot point of connection depending on the tether length provided in the controllably extendible restraint interconnection. Alternately, the officer may release one restraint and place cable tether  307  around an object such as a pole or pipe, and then reattach the second cuff to keep the subject in one location. 
   Description— FIGS. 16 ,  17 —Alternate Embodiment 
   As stated at the beginning of the specification, a CERI system is defined as a “tethered restraints” system and comprises any controllably extendible interconnections between restraints or between restraints and anchored mooring points, such as a pipe or a wall hook, wherein the interconnection between the restraints and/or moorings are controllably extendible in relation to each other, and provided with spring-retractable, ratcheted tether connections between any of the restraint or mooring class members, but which may also reach a rigidified closure point between such restraints or moorings. 
     FIG. 16  is a front view of an alternate embodiment of the CERI invention wherein an integral housing  400  of a CERI system is also a bolt-mounted, pre-positioned wall anchor.  FIG. 17  is a top view of the alternate embodiment of  FIG. 16 . Referring to  FIGS. 16 ,  17 , in principle, the embodiment of  FIGS. 16 ,  17  is identical to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1–2 , or the rigidified embodiment of  FIGS. 3–10 , with various exceptions. Since the device is not carried by a detainer, the embodiment need not be typically provided with means to make the device foldable, but instead is typically made utilizing a fortified, rigidified, integral housing  400 . To fortify the device, for example, the outer casing of integral housing  400  can be provided with thicker metal or composite walls (not shown) to prevent accidental or intentional breakage of the device, and the internal components (not shown) can be made larger and more sturdy. In such an alternate, static embodiment, the right restraint assembly of the previously discussed embodiments would typically be replaced by a suitable means for mounting the alternate embodiment to a predetermined object of choice. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 16 ,  17 , a metal or composite mounting plate  401  would be typically utilized for mounting to a concrete or wood stud processing room wall  402 . Mounting plate  402  would typically be provided as a thick metal or other material, rectangular or otherwise shaped, mountable plate which would be typically welded or otherwise securely attached to the right (or here, the back portion) of housing  400 . Plate  401  would typically be provided with a plurality of holes, for example, a right top hole  401 A, a right bottom hole  401 B, a left top hole  401 C, and a left bottom hole  402 D (not shown). Plate  401  would typically be affixed to a concrete wall  402  by utilizing a plurality of wall-anchoring bolts, for example, a right top bolt  403 A, a right bottom bolt  403 B, and a left top bolt  403 C, and a left bottom bolt  403 D (not shown). 
   In  FIGS. 16 ,  17 , a left swing-through handcuff assembly  404 , similar to that shown and described for  FIGS. 3–11  has a rearward (right) portion which is extended to become a beveled insertion member  405 . Handcuff assembly  404  has a conventional double strand member  404 A with a single strand member  404 B, and a conventional hinge pin  404 C and conventional ratchet teeth  404 D used with a conventional pawl  404 E (not shown), and utilizes a conventional locking means accessed through a frontal keyway  404 F, and a conventional double lock pin hole  404 G. 
   A belt tether  406  is attached within a vertically and transversely disposed belt slot  405 A provided within the forward (right) end of insertion member  405 . Slot  405 A has a vertically disposed, cylindrical portion  405 B. A belt retaining pin  406 A around which belt  406  is folded and stitched at stitch line  406 B is vertically introduced into slot  405 A and slot portion  405 B by spreading slot  405 A open. Slot  405 A also has a metal or other material clamping rivet  405 C which is inserted through a side to side aperture  406 C (shown filled by rivet  405 C) just forward (right) of pin  406 A. When rivet  405 C is introduced through aperture  406 C it punches a hole through folded belt  406 . Insertion member  405  with attached belt  406  are received into a suitably sized docking channel  407  (shown in hidden lines) in the left (or forward) end of housing  400 . A spool  408  on a vertical axle  408 A (both shown in hidden lines) within spool enclosure  400 A, equivalent to the one described for  FIGS. 3–11  and with an equivalent mechanical ratcheting control assembly (not shown), and with an equivalent retractor spring enclosure  408 B containing a retractor spring  408 C (both shown in hidden lines) is operated by identical methods utilizing a bottom positioned lock release button  409  (shown in hidden lines) and a right side mounted double-locking button  410  with a forward pin hole access aperture  410 A (also shown in hidden lines). The wall plate mounting method would have housing  400  permanently mounted to wall  402  with the tethered cuff end retracted awaiting use for an incoming subject. 
   Alternately, a CERI wall-mounted embodiment could be made in a fashion similar to a seat belt retractor assembly, and could be provided with an end similar to a seat belt buckle. The buckle assembly would be further provided with a key-releasable catch for a buckle tongue insertion method, or a pin-release method equivalent or similar to that shown and described in the previous alternate embodiment of  FIGS. 14 ,  15 . A prisoner could then be tether-buckled to a wall mount using modified restraints, for example, such as handcuffs, loop cuffs or a restraining belt, which had a provided suitable buckle tongue. 
   Operation— FIGS. 16 ,  17 —Alternate Embodiment 
   The alternate embodiment of  FIGS. 16 ,  17  may be utilized in a processing room setting whenever a prisoner or detainee requires restraint, but is also required to move some distance about the room to complete the processing, e.g. photographing, fingerprinting, interviewing, or to provide preventative security when the subject is using a rest room, a phone, or eating, etc. In typical use, the detained subject would either: a. remain handcuffed from the original incident and have the swing-through handcuff applied to a wrist or ankle, or applied directly to the incident cuffs; or, b. have the CERI cuff ( 404 ) applied to a wrist or ankle and then have the incident cuffs removed. 
   Prior to or after the subject is tethered to the CERI system, the controlling officer would set the distance for the tether in the way previously described by releasing belt tether  406  utilizing release button  409  and then double-locking the device with double-lock button  410 . The subject would have to first be thoroughly searched for removal of any pin-like items which could be used to release the double-lock mechanism. Alternately, the embodiment could be modified with a provided handcuff key-lock double-locking assembly. If a problem arose during processing due to the subject&#39;s unruly behavior, he could then be forced back toward housing  400  and be resecured by the ratcheting mechanism. 
   CONCLUSIONS, RAMIFICATIONS AND SCOPE 
   There are many possible alternate embodiments of the present invention of a Controllably Extendible Restraint system, or CERI system, each with many possible external and internal differences which still employ the method of the invention. Housing embodiments of varying materials, shapes, contouring, sizes, with varying connection methods with their respective tethered restraints are possible. And as well, the specified elements of the invention could in various alternate embodiments be made of different materials, shapes, contouring, sizes, or the respective elements be placed in differing mechanical configurations. Alternately, various other ratchet and pawl mechanisms of different sizes, shapes and configurations could be utilized within the invention. For example, alternately a graspable housing could be otherwise configured in relation to a fixed restraint and a tethered restraint so that both restraints were respectively at the top ends of a wide-mouthed V-formation and wherein a winding spool, ratchet assembly, and control method were placed in the lower form of the V-shaped housing. Or for example, alternately, a pawl bar in a ratchet assembly could be operated by an externally actuated direct pull or levering rod or bar which protruded through the top, bottom or sides of the embodiment, or could be operated by a button-depressible, tilt-lever mechanism. 
   Alternately, the tether-docking end of a housing need not be a vertical channel, but could be a receiving spring catch assembly for a matable protruding pin assembly at the forward end of an alternate tethered restraint member. Or alternately, an insertion member could have a cone-shaped head for entering a funnel-shaped recess in a right arm, with or without locking-pin mechanisms added in. Or, alternately, a spool may be elsewhere positioned in the assembly configuration, for example, to the rear of the device or to the side, rather than in the middle front. Or alternately, a CERI system may be provided with two or more ratcheted spools and two or more cables or belts, both with associated release mechanisms. Or alternately, the device could have belt or cable rollers or a Teflon-like slide-guide at an end of a housing where the belt or cable reels out of the housing to allow for an easier extraction and retraction of a belt or cable tethered restraint. And alternately, an embodiment of the device could have a wedge-shaped or otherwise shaped funneling extension just forward of the belt or cable spool to better control the release and rewind of a tether. 
   Alternately, a ratchet lock-open switching assembly could be provided for the invention allowing a connection between wrists or ankles to be connected between two wrist or ankle cuffs that allows a detainee respectively to use his hands or walk at a predetermined distance while cuffed. The reel would unwind the strap as the detainee&#39;s respective arms or legs are spread apart, and wind-in the strap as the respective arms or legs were brought together. A similar wall-mounted device could also be utilized to set a predetermined distance for a tether restrained prisoner to move about a fixed pre-positioned point. 
   Alternately, a CERI device could be made in two separate housings with only a tether cable or belt connecting the two separate housings. The two housings would typically have a protruding end in one housing that mated with an equivalently configured recessed area in the opposing end of the opposite housing so that the opposing housings could be made integral and rigid when interconnected. Such an alternate CERI device would be foldable at its tether for slinging over a belt loop or be otherwise carried in a folded manner. 
   Alternately, various mock model embodiments of any CERI system embodiment may be manufactured for training use purposes. Such mock model embodiments would duplicate the principles of the actual embodiments and would typically be made of lighter weight materials such as plastic. 
   Alternately, a CERI system could have various types of restraints provided with attachably-detachable seat belt-like, single or multiple slotted buckle plates for insertion into either a fixed position end or an insertion module end of a CERI device. The buckled restraints would respectively be provided with a spring catch mechanism for a buckle plate slot, and be further provided with a keying mechanism, typically a handcuff keying mechanism, for locking and unlocking the restraint insertion buckle from the ends of the device. And alternately, the above described configuration could be reversed and the attachably-detachable restraints could have a key-lockable insertion-buckle receiver and the right arm have a single or multiple slotted buckle plates. 
   Alternately, an embodiment could be provided at the respective outward facing ends of a right arm and a left arm with lockably foldable hinges for respective attached end restraints to decrease the overall length of the folded unit. Alternately, a CERI system device could be provided with multiple end restraints to enable an officer to tether two or more subjects to each other or to a fixed object such as a pre-positioned wall anchor. 
   Alternately, an embodiment could be made with lockably unlockable, attachably-detachable release systems for temporary attachment to individual restraints, for example, such as would fit around a conventional interconnecting chain for handcuffs. 
   Alternately, a foldable embodiment of the invention may have any workable type of pivoting configuration connection utilized between its opposing arms. Alternately, either or both arms can be made to rotate about a common pivoting hinge point, or on two separate hinge pivots. 
   Alternately, different configurations of releasably-lockable mechanisms can be utilized to integrate and rigidify a folding embodiment, for example, in an upper and lower spool cover capturing embodiment, spring-biased locking bars or pins would be affixed to one arm which would be insertable into apertures within the rotatable spool covers of the opposing arm. 
   Alternately, an externally-levered ratchet assembly could be provided for an embodiment by providing a fixed, directly connective rod or bar or similar lever which may be actuated from the outside of the device and which would actuate the internal mechanism of the ratchet assembly to gain mechanical advantage. Equivalently, an alternate embodiment could have an attachably-detachable lever which is utilized by insertion into an aperture which enables a connection with a ratchet assembly to lever its ratchet. 
   Alternately, in a more advanced electronically operated embodiment, a remote electronic key locking and unlocking device could be provided to actuate one or more locking mechanisms provided within the invention. Or alternately, an embodiment could be provided with electrified accessories, for example, a motor-driven rewinding ratchet gears, with provided appropriate circuitry and switchwork. Or alternately, an embodiment could be provided with a flashlight and/or recharging unit with a rechargeable battery. Alternately, a CERI embodiment could be provided with an internal Ground Position Satellite locator system (GPS) to assist in the location of an escaped cuffed prisoner. 
   Alternately, any embodiment of the invention could have any color scheme from a conventional nickel or satin finish to a darker embodiment for undercover use, and as well have any surface texture from smooth to dot stippled or ridged. Alternately, an embodiment could be provided with a high friction plastic casing with provided openings for accessing various restraint control portions such as the keyway or double-lock aperture of conventional handcuffs, and as well be provided with ergonomic finger grips with arcurate sections and finger indentations. 
   Alternately, a CERI cable or belt tether could be ruler marked with color coding or other indicia to reflect metric and/or English measures and be utilized as way of determining the distance which the tether has been extracted from the device, or could be utilized as a ruler method. 
   Alternately, a simplistic CERI system embodiment could be made which comprised two or more restraints, each respectively connected to an extended cord, which two cords would then commonly pass through a slidably movable cinching block. The cords may or may not terminate in a common tying point or other locking fastener on the side of the cinching block opposite the restraints. Either the two cords or a fastener could then be held with one hand for leverage while the cinching block was slid toward the restraints by the other hand. Once the separate cuffs are applied, the user could hold the two cords or fastener and then slide the cinching block toward the restraints until they were forced together. 
   Controllably extendible restraint interconnections, or CERI systems represent a novel approach to the arrest procedure. With a compliant subject, the various embodiments must be able to do whatever other cuffs will do. With an unruly subject, the various CERI embodiments now represent a new way of thinking about tactical situations where it is kept in mind that extending the distance between restraints is now a possible option. Using a CERI system means learning a new tactical arrest method that is easier, safer and more effective. New techniques of cuff application and removal will be required to be taught which means more costs for mock devices for training and actual devices for street use. However, the reduced liability during difficult takedown injuries for both officers and offenders should offset these costs to make them appear both reasonable and wise. Assuming the respective CERI embodiments are durably made in such a manner as to not fail or break during a difficult takedown utilization, they will represent state of the art survival equipment for law enforcement officials. 
   ESSENCE OF THE INVENTION 
   From all of the drawings, descriptions and accounts of operation of the various implementation embodiments of the present invention cited above, the essence of the invention as a controllably extendible restraint interconnection system is that it has:
         1. a graspable housing or the equivalent thereof,   2. a plurality of restraint members;   3. a tether winding apparatus with a minimum of one connected ratchet gear;   4. a cable, cord, or belt tether connected at one end to the tether winding apparatus, and at the other end to a first restraint member;   5. a second restraint member suitably attached to the graspable housing or its equivalent;   6. a ratchet-locking assembly connective with the winding apparatus to forcibly stop the unwinding of the tether therefrom;   7. a manually-actuable mechanism for controllably disengaging the ratchet locking assembly,       

   whereby:
         a. when the second restraint member connected to the tether connected to the winding apparatus is outwardly drawn; and   b. when the ratcheted locking assembly in the winding apparatus to stop the unwinding of the tether therefrom is engaged,   c. the winding apparatus will only be enabled to rewind the tether in ratcheted increments, and thereby draw the first restraint member and the second restraint member together whenever there is no resisting force which will re-engage the locking assembly.       

   What is new and significant about the controllably extendible restraint interconnections invention is that the method of the various embodiments:
         a. permits a user to controllably extend opposing restraints, or restraints from pre-positioned anchors, and then to controllably ratchet the opposing restraints or restraints and anchor together with the urging of a tether rewinding mechanism;   b. permits a user to controllably, lockably unlockably distance a tether between two or more restraints or between restraints and a pre-positioned anchor, so that various uses may made of the extended tether length.       

   Therefore, if a device bearing the specific combination of manufacturing parameters as just specified were made and referred to by others as, for example, a “ratcheted retractor connection device for restraints,” or the like, each would be, by direct reference or implication, implementation devices of the method of the present invention. 
   The several embodiments described above are only illustrative examples of the present invention and it should not be construed that the present invention is limited to those particular embodiments. Various changes and modifications in alternate embodiments of the present invention, as noted above or as may be determined in the future, may be effected by one skilled in the art to which the invention relates without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.