Patent Publication Number: US-6219887-B1

Title: Folding strap disposable restraints

Description:
FOLDING STRAP DISPOSABLE RESTRAINTS 
     This is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/149,625, filed Sep. 8, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,101,682, which is a continuation-in-part of 08/755,231, filed on Nov. 22, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,802,675, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/520,979, filed on Aug. 28, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,669,110. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The subject invention is generally related to restraining devices for use by law enforcement personnel and is specifically directed to an improved disposable restraining device having flexible straps forming two secure loops. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Restraining devices such as handcuffs are well-known and have been available for many years. The best known restraining devices are handcuffs consisting of a pair of metal rings which are placed about the wrists of an individual and locked into place. While traditional handcuffs serve the purpose of restraining an individual, they have a number of drawbacks. Conventional handcuffs are heavy, bulky to carry, expensive, require a key and are often inconvenient, particularly in multiple arrest situations such as riots and the like. Because of these drawbacks, it has become more and more desirable to design handcuffs which are lightweight, inexpensive and do not require a key. Moreover, it has become desirable to utilize disposable handcuffs, particularly in multiple arrest situations. 
     Further, there has been a movement toward using disposable handcuffs due to the increasing concern of the spreading of AIDS, as well as Hepatitis, since restrained individuals who struggle violently often create open wounds which result in blood on the handcuffs. Disposable handcuffs assure that the handcuffs will not be reused and thereby create a carrier for communicable diseases through contamination due to cuts or abrasions received during the detainment. 
     Disposable handcuffs are available which address some of the problems of conventional key-operated handcuffs. U.S. Pat. No. 4,964,419 entitled “Keyless Handcuffs”, issued to R. L. Kariker on Oct. 23, 1990; U.S. Pat. No. 4,854,138 entitled “Restraining Device”, issued to Robert S. Charland on Aug. 8, 1989; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,910,831 entitled “Two-Loop Law Enforcement Restraining Device Formed From A Single, Flat Strap” issued to Richard F. Bingold on Mar. 27, 1990 illustrate some types of disposable handcuffs. 
     While such prior art double-loop disposable handcuffs meet the functional requirements of a restraining device, a major disadvantage is that a detainee can release himself by tampering with the device. For example, the prior art plastic disposable handcuffs may be friction cut by vigorously rubbing a piece of string or twine, such as a shoelace against the strap until sufficient heat is generated to cut through the plastic. Alternatively, the detainee may release himself by using a small piece of wire or a pin or nail to wedge underneath the locking area of the handcuff to shim open the locking wedge which secures the loops in place, thereby allowing the strap to be withdrawn and releasing the handcuffs. 
     The subject invention is specifically directed to an improvement of the type of disposable handcuffs generally described in my U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/327,042, now abandoned, entitled “Flexible Strap Restraining Device” which is an improvement over the prior art devices. Specifically, the device of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/327,042 includes a flexible strap having a core material, such as a metal wire, which is designed to prevent the detainee from cutting or melting through the strap by vigorously rubbing it against a piece of string. The invention also includes a unique locking mechanism designed to prevent the detainee from using a pin or wire to shim open the lock to release himself. In order to increase the stowability of the device and provide law enforcement personnel with a convenient means for carrying it, this invention also includes an integral hinge located in the center of the strap. In addition, the invention may include a sliding cover which slides onto the strap and over the hinge area and locking mechanisms. 
     While the device of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/327,042 addresses many of the problems of the prior art devices, one drawback is that the integral hinge located in the center portion of the strap may result in a weakened area between the two loops where stress is the greatest. Moreover, due to the single strap design with the locking mechanisms and hinge located on the strap, the wire core material cannot extend through the entire strap and is not included in the center portion of the strap where the hinge is located. Thus, the center portion is more susceptible to being friction cut or broken by the detainee. 
     While the locking mechanism of the single strap device is designed to include additional locking features, another disadvantage is that the locking mechanisms are exposed and may be pried open to release the strap. Although the addition of the sliding cover to the strap may provide some protection, the sliding cover is not an integral part of the device and the detainee may be able to forcibly move the cover from its intended position to expose and tamper with the locking mechanism. Also, since the sliding cover is not an integral part of the device, the cover may become detached and lost. Further, the addition of the sliding cover to the strap may be cumbersome because of the location of the cover on the strap when the device is not in use. In addition, because the sliding cover is not required to operate the single strap device, the device may be applied without the sliding cover and any additional protection would be lost. 
     Another disadvantage of the single flexible strap device is that the hinge located in the center of the strap has a tendency to spring “flat” and the device may not stay folded for storage. In addition, the single strap device must be unfolded and then assembled into the loops before it is ready for use. Further, the long narrow part of the single strap device is more difficult to mold and costly to produce. Also, the addition of the sliding cover to the single strap device would require the manufacture of an additional part which may further increase the production costs. 
     Therefore, there is a need for an improved, disposable double-loop restraining device which is extremely strong, tamper resistant, easily carried and ready for instant application and is less costly to produce. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The subject invention is directed to an improved disposable restraining device having double loops formed of two separate flexible straps joined together by an interlocking cover. The improved disposable restraining device is specifically designed to be extremely strong and tamper resistant. The invention is designed to be folded into a compact storage position and to allow an officer to quickly and easily place the device into service from its storage position. In addition, because it utilizes two separate straps, the improved disposable restraining device is more easily molded than the long single strap of prior art devices and is less costly to manufacture. In fact, existing single loop ties, such as wire ties and the like, can be used for the improved restraining device of the preferred embodiment. 
     In the preferred embodiment, each flexible strap includes a free tip end and a locking box with a central opening at the other end. The free tip end of each strap is adapted to be threaded through the central opening of the locking box to form a loop. The locking box includes a detent or spring which projects into the central opening and resiliently engages the strap to retain the strap in the looped form once it has been inserted into the opening. The interlocking cover of the subject invention is designed to receive the locking box ends of the straps and join the looped straps together. The interlocking cover includes a top and bottom wall, open opposite ends and a hollow interior. The top and bottom walls include a pair of slots which are positioned to be in alignment with the central opening of the locking boxes once they are inserted into the cover. Because the interlocking cover protects the locking area of the straps and no unique locking mechanism is necessary, existing single loop ties can be used to construct the device. 
     Each flexible strap includes a saw-tooth ribbed surface which prevents the strap from being withdrawn once it is inserted into the opening and engaged by the detent. When assembled, the locking boxes are inserted in the open ends of the cover and the free tip end of each strap is threaded through the slots in the cover and through its respective locking box, thereby forming the straps into two loops and locking the two looped straps into the cover to form the restraining device. 
     In the preferred embodiment, each strap also includes a locking tooth positioned near the free tip end and spaced-apart from the saw-tooth ribbed surface. The locking tooth is positioned so that the free tip end of the strap does not extend beyond the wall of the cover when the locking tooth and detent are engaged. Thus, in the storage position, the free tip ends of the assembled device do not extend beyond the wall of the cover. 
     Further, the locking tooth is positioned a sufficient distance from the saw-tooth ribbed surface for creating a free zone between the locking tooth and the saw-tooth ribbed surface. The surface of the strap in the free zone is smooth to permit sliding movement of the strap in either direction for extending the free tip end beyond the wall of the cover and retracting it to its storage position. In use, the officer pushes the looped strap toward the cover to slide the free tip end through the slot and beyond the wall of the cover for grasping the free tip end. At this point, the officer may either grasp the free tip end and apply the restraint to the detainee by pulling the strap so that the detent engages the saw-tooth ribbed surface or the tip end may be slidably returned to its storage position within the cover. 
     While the straps are made of a flexible material, the cover of the preferred embodiment is constructed from a harder, less flexible material, such as a polycarbonate or even metal, to provide maximum strength at the center of the restraints where stress is the greatest. In addition, the interlocking cover of the subject invention completely surrounds and protects the locking boxes against tampering so that they cannot be pried open. In the preferred embodiment, each strap will include a tamper resistant core material extending through the length of the strap and partially into the locking box for strengthening the strap and providing a restraining device which cannot be friction cut. 
     It is an important feature of the subject invention that the interlocking cover may be reused after the straps have been cut in order to remove the device from a detainee. Once the straps are cut, they may be easily removed from the cover and replaced with two new separate, flexible straps. The device may be easily reassembled using the same interlocking cover by inserting the locking box ends of two new straps into the open ends of the cover and pulling the free tip end of each strap through the slots in the cover. Because the interlocking cover is the most expensive piece of the device, the improved disposable restraining device is less costly to produce while still providing an extremely strong, tamper resistant, disposable restraining device. 
     In the preferred embodiment, each looped strap of the restraining device includes at least one bend line or notch for folding the strap at its center to form a trifold for providing an extremely compact restraint which is easily carried and instantly ready for use by pulling out the center of each loop. Thus, the improved double loop restraining device of the subject invention can be quickly and easily applied from its storage position without requiring the officer to assemble the straps into loops after they have been moved into place. 
     It is also desirable to provide a training embodiment of the subject invention that is capable of being used repeatedly. In the non-training embodiment, once the straps are tightened, the detents prevent the straps from being loosened. To remove the restraints, the straps must be severed. Thus, for training purposes, it is desirable to provide a restraint where the straps may be repeatedly tightened and loosened. In addition, in order to provide training restraints, sometimes the detents in the locking boxes are filed down and removed. From looking at the exterior of these devices, law enforcement personnel can not tell whether the detents have been removed and, as a result, can not distinguish the training devices from the actual devices. Thus, it would be useful to provide such a restraint with means to identify it as a training embodiment. With such identifying means, law enforcement personnel can use these restraining devices in their actual training exercises without any confusion. 
     Therefore, it is an object and feature of the subject invention to provide an extremely strong, tamper resistant, disposable double loop restraining device including two separate, flexible straps joined together by an interlocking cover. 
     It is another object and feature of the subject invention to provide an improved disposable restraining device including an interlocking cover constructed of a harder, less flexible material than the straps to provide maximum strength at the center of the restraining device. 
     It is a further object and feature of the subject invention to provide an improved disposable restraining device including an interlocking cover which completely surrounds and protects the locking mechanism for each strap against tampering. 
     It is yet another object and feature of the subject invention to provide a foldable disposable double loop restraining device which is easily carried and instantly ready for use by pulling out the center of each loop. 
     It is still another object and feature to provide a training embodiment of the subject invention. 
     Other objects and of the subject invention features will be readily apparent from the accompanying drawings and description. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the improved disposable restraining device including two separate flexible straps joined together by an interlocking cover and shown in the folded, storage position. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the improved disposable restraining device including an exploded view of the locking box ends of the straps removed from the interlocking cover and illustrating the placement of the locking boxes in the cover and slots in the top and bottom walls of the cover for receiving the free tip ends of the straps. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view showing one loop in the folded storage position and the other loop pulled open for immediate use and showing the notches on the strap for folding the loop. 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the improved disposable restraining device assembled and ready for use. 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line  5 — 5  of FIG. 1 showing the ends of the straps inserted into the locking boxes and a locking tooth near the tip end and spaced apart from the saw tooth ribbed surface where the strap has been pulled through the locking box so that the saw tooth ribbed surface of the straps is engaged by the locking detent for holding the strap in place, and illustrating the core material of each strap extending into the locking box. 
     FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view taken along line  6 — 6  of FIG. 4 of the saw tooth ribbed surface ofthe straps. 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating the core material embedded in the strap. 
     FIG. 8 is a side fragmentary view of a strap showing the notches on the strap for folding the looped strap. 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the improved disposable restraining device with the straps extending horizontally from the interlocking cover and joined together by an interlocking cover and shown in the folded, storage position. 
     FIG. 10 is a side view of the alternative embodiment of the improved disposable restraining device assembled and ready for use. 
     FIG. 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the alternative embodiment showing the ends of the straps inserted into the locking boxes and the saw tooth ribbed surface of the straps engaged by the locking detent for holding the strap in place and illustrating the core material of each strap extending into the locking box. 
     FIG. 12 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the training embodiment of FIG. 1 showing the ends of the straps inserted into the locking boxes. 
     FIG. 13 is a side fragmentary view of the strap used in the training embodiment. 
     FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the free end of the strap used in the training embodiment. 
     FIG. 15 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the training restraint. 
     FIG. 16 is a side fragmentary view of the strap used in the training restraint of FIG.  15 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the improved disposable restraining device of the subject invention is generally designated by the numeral  14 . The improved disposable restraining device  14  includes a first flexible strap  16  and a second, separate flexible strap  18  formed into two loops and joined together by an interlocking cover  20 . As shown in FIG. 1, the straps  16  and  18  are designed to be folded into a compact storage position. Thus, the subject invention provides an extremely compact disposable restraining device  14  which can be easily carried yet is instantly ready for use by pulling out the center of the looped strap (see FIG.  3 ). 
     Each flexible strap  16  and  18  of the subject invention comprises an elongated, substantially flat straight strap having two outer ends. As shown in FIG. 2, the outer ends of each strap  16  and  18 , include a free tip end  22  and  24 , at one end, and a locking box  26  and  28 , at the other end. Each strap  16  and  18  is preferably made of an inexpensive, lightweight, strong, stiffly flexible, plastic material, similar to wire ties and bag ties, and the surface of each strap consists of a plurality of saw tooth ribs  17  (see FIGS.  5  and  6 ). In the preferred embodiment, the strap contains a core material imbedded in the body of each strap  16  and  18  and extending the length of the strap, partially into the locking boxes  26  and  28  (see FIGS.  5  and  7 ). The core material may be a metal wire  19  or an abrasion resistant, non-metallic fiber. 
     In the preferred embodiment, each locking box  26  and  28  is molded to extend perpendicularly from its respective strap  16  and  18 , thus forming an “L” shaped strap so that in the assembled device, the straps  16  and  18  extend vertically from the cover  20  (see FIGS.  1 - 5 ). Each locking box  26  and  28  has a central opening  30  and  32 , respectively, which extends through each box  26  and  28  and is adapted to receive the free tip end  22  and  24  of each strap  16  and  18 . 
     As shown in FIG. 5, the interior of each locking box  26  and  28  is hollow and includes a detent  46  and  48  secured to an outer wall  50  and  52 , respectively, which projects into the central openings  30  and  32 . The detents  46  and  48  are adapted to resiliently engage the saw tooth ribbed surface  17  of each strap  16  and  18 , to retain the strap once it has been inserted into each central opening  30  and  32  to prevent the strap from being withdrawn. 
     As best seen in FIG. 2, the interlocking cover  20  includes a top wall  34 , a bottom wall  36 , opposite open ends  38  and  40  and a hollow interior  35 . The top and bottom walls  34  and  36  include slots  42 , for receiving the free tip end  22  of strap  16 , and slots  44 , for receiving the free tip end  24  of strap  18 . The opposite open ends  38  and  40  of the cover  20  are adapted to receive the locking boxes  26  and  28 . When assembled, the locking boxes  26  and  28  are inserted into the open ends  38  and  40  and the slots  42  and  44  are positioned to be in alignment with central openings  30  and  32 , respectively. 
     Once it is positioned in the cover, the locking box  26  is locked in the hollow interior  35  of the cover  20  by threading the free tip end  16  through the slot  42  of the bottom wall  36 , through the central opening  30  and through the slot  42  of the top wall  34  to form a first loop. Likewise, the locking box  28  is locked in place by threading the free tip end  18  through the slot  44  of the bottom wall  36 , through the central opening  32  of the locking box  28  and through the slot  44  of the top wall  34  to form a second loop joined to the first loop by the cover  20 . Thus, by inserting the locking boxes  26  and  28  into the cover  20  and threading the free tip ends  22  and  24  therethrough, the straps  16  and  18  are formed into two loops and the two looped straps are locked into the cover  20  to form the restraining device  14 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, each strap  16  and  18  also includes a locking tooth  15  positioned near the free tip end  22  and  24  (see FIG.  5 ). The locking tooth  15  is engaged by the detents  46  and  48  to retain the strap in two loops and is positioned so that the free tip end  22  and  24  do not extend beyond the wall of the cover in the assembled storage position (see FIG.  1 ). As shown in FIG. 5, the locking tooth  15  is spaced apart from and positioned a sufficient distance from the saw tooth ribbed surface  17  for creating a recessed free zone  21  between the locking tooth  15  and the saw tooth ribbed surface. The surface of the free zone  21  is smooth to permit sliding movement of the strap in either direction for extending the free tip end beyond the wall of the cover and retracting it to its storage position. In addition, smooth surface  21  also provides a writing surface for making notations directly on restraining device  14 . As is seen in FIG. 5, smooth surface  21  may be recessed. The recessed nature of the smooth surface  21  is a significant feature of the invention because it protects the notations made thereon from smudging or accidental erasure. This is important especially in conditions where the restraining device is objected to a wet or dirty environment or where a suspect could intentionally or unintentionally rub or wipe surface  21  of device  14 . In the preferred embodiment, the length of the free zone  21  is two inches. 
     In use, an officer grips the strap and slides it toward the cover so that the free tip end is extended through the slots  42  and  44  beyond the wall of the cover for allowing the officer to grip the tip ends  22  and  24 . Because the free zone  21  permits sliding movement of the strap between the locking tooth  15  and the saw tooth ribbed surface  17 , the extended tip ends  22  and  24  may be retracted to their storage position. Alternatively, the extended tip ends may be grasped and pulled so that the saw tooth ribbed surface is engaged by the detents  46  and  48  for tightening or cinching the loops to restrain the detainee. 
     While the straps  16  and  18  are made of a flexible material, it is an important feature of the invention that the cover  20  may be constructed of a harder, less flexible material to provide maximum strength at the center of the device  14  where stress is the greatest. In the preferred embodiment, the interlocking cover  20  is constructed of a polycarbonate and the core material  19  is a metal wire. This feature, in combination with the tamper resistant core material  19  extending through the length of each strap  16  and  18 , provides an extremely strong, tamper resistant, improved disposable restraining device. Further, the two separate straps  16  and  18  of the subject invention are more easily molded and less costly to manufacture that the long, single strap of prior art disposable restraints. 
     In addition, the cover  20  completely surrounds the locking boxes  26  and  28  and provides a protective barrier for minimizing tampering. By covering the locking mechanism, the cover  20  makes it difficult to release the lock through insertion of a wire or pin into the locking box  26  and  28  to force each detent  46  and  48  out of engagement with the straps  16  and  18 , respectively. Because the interlocking cover  20  surrounds and protects the locking boxes  26  and  28 , no unique locking mechanism for minimizing tampering is necessary. Thus, the device does not require straps having specially made locking boxes and existing single loop ties, such as wire ties or the like, can be used in the device. 
     The looped straps of the assembled restraining device may be folded as shown in FIG.  1 . In the preferred embodiment, each strap  16  and  18  includes notches  54  for folding the straps into a compact storage position (see FIG.  8 ). As shown in FIG. 3, the notches  54  are positioned on each strap so that the looped strap may be folded inward toward the cover  20  to form a trifold without disassembling the loops. Thus, the restraining device  14  can be quickly and easily transformed from the compact, folded carrying position to the ready-for-use position by pulling the folded strap outward to fully extend the loop (see FIG.  3 ). 
     While the straps  16  and  18  must be severed to removed the restraining device  14  from the detainee once it has been applied, it is an important feature of the subject invention that the cover  20  may be reused to form a new restraining device. Once the straps are cut, the locking boxes  26  and  28  are no longer locked into the cover  20  and the straps may be easily removed and discarded. The restraining device may be reassembled using replacement straps by inserting the locking boxes of the straps into the cover  20  and threading the free tip ends therethrough to form two loops. Thus, the two looped replacement straps are locked into the cover  20  to form the restraining device  14 . 
     An alternative embodiment of the subject invention is shown in FIGS. 9-11. In the alternative embodiment, the restraining device  114  includes a first flexible strap  116  and a second, separate flexible strap  118  formed into two loops and joined together by the interlocking cover  20 . 
     As shown in FIG. 9, the straps  116  and  118  are also designed to be folded into a compact storage position. As in the preferred embodiment, the straps  116  and  118  contain a core material, such as metal wire  19 , imbedded in the body of each strap  16  and  18  and extending the length of the strap, partially into the locking boxes  26  and  28  (see FIG.  11 ). 
     In the alternative embodiment, each locking box  26  and  28  is molded to extend horizontally from its respective strap  116  and  118 , so that the straps  116  and  118  extend horizontally at  115  from the cover  20  (see FIGS. 9-11) instead of vertically as shown in FIGS. 1-5 of the preferred embodiment. As shown in FIG. 11, the locking boxes of the straps  116  and  118  of the alternative embodiment include the same locking mechanism as the preferred embodiment for retaining the straps  116  and  118  in loops and locking the looped straps in the cover  20  to form the restraining device  114 . 
     As in the preferred embodiment, the cover  20  of the restraining device  114  provides increased strength to the center area between the two looped straps where stress is the greatest and provides a shield for protecting the locking boxes against tampering. Thus, the alternative embodiment also provides an extremely strong, tamper resistant, improved disposable restraining device which can be easily carried and is instantly ready for use. 
     A training embodiment of the restraining device of FIG. 1 is shown in FIGS. 12-14. In this embodiment, the training restraint  214  includes a first flexible strap  216  and a second, separate flexible strap  218  formed into two loops and joined together by the interlocking cover  20 . The straps  216  and  218  of the training restraint  214  are designed to be folded into a compact storage position, in the same manner as the straps of the restraining device  14  of FIG  1  are designed to be folded. 
     In order to allow the restraint  214  to be used for training purposes, each strap  216 ,  218  is not provided with a saw tooth ribbed surface. Rather, both surfaces of each of the straps  216 ,  218  are unribbed and preferably smooth. Thus, the free ends of the straps may be grasped and pulled past the detents  46  and  48  for tightening or cinching the loops to restrain the “detainee” in a training exercise. After the training exercise is complete, the straps can be pushed back past the detents  46  and  48  to loosen the loops and allow the “detainee” to be released. Each strap lacks a saw tooth ribbed surface that detents  46  and  48  can resiliently engage to retain the strap once it has been inserted into each central opening  30 ,  32 . Detents  46  and  48  exert a force against the straps, thereby providing resistance to the movement of the straps past the detents. The resistance provided by the detents in the training restraint contributes to the realism of the training exercise. 
     Because of its design, restraint  214  provides a great advantage for training purposes. Since the restraining device of FIGS. 1-8 could only be used once, a new restraining device would have to be used for each training exercise. This practice leads to much waste and cost. Further, in order to be removed, the restraining device of FIGS. 1-8 had to be cut off. This cutting step would expose trainees to potential injury during removal. Unlike the restraining device of FIGS. 1-8, however, the training embodiment can be used repeatedly in training exercises and can be removed by simply loosening the straps as opposed to cutting them. 
     As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, each strap  216 ,  218  is provided with a locking tooth  15 . The locking tooth  15  is engaged by the detents  46 ,  48  to retain the strap in two loops. It is positioned so that the free tip ends  22 ,  24  of the straps do not extend beyond the cover  20  in the assembled storage position. The locking tooth  15  prevents each strap  216 ,  218  from disengaging from the cover  20  and the respective locking box  26 ,  28 . 
     To save on manufacturing costs, the same locking boxes  26 ,  28  may be used in the training restraint as are used in the restraining device of FIG.  1 . FIG. 11 discloses detents  46  and  48  provided in the training restraint, which exert a force against the straps to provide resistance to the movement of the straps past the detents. The locking boxes and the straps of the training restraint may be molded from production strap resin while the cover  20  may be constructed of a harder, less flexible material. Also, the same production strap resin may be used for the straps in both the standard and training restraints providing increased manufacturing efficiencies. 
     From the exterior, the training restraint of FIGS. 12-14 resembles the restraining device of FIGS. 1-8. To distinguish it from the non-training restraint, the training restraint is provided with means for identifying it as the training embodiment. As mentioned above, the training restraint of FIGS. 12-14 is provided with straps  216  and  218  that both lack a saw tooth ribbed surface. Instead both surfaces of each of the straps  216 ,  218  are unribbed and preferably smooth. Thus, the straps having unribbed or smooth surfaces function as a means to identify the restraint as a training embodiment. 
     The training restraint may be provided with a further means for identifying the restraint as a training embodiment. In the preferred embodiment, providing the cover of the training restraint in a certain color comprises a further means for identifying the restraint as a training embodiment. For example, if the cover of the restraining device of FIGS. 1-8 is black, the cover of the training restraint of FIGS. 12-14 may be provided in the color red. Such an identifying means is import to law enforcement personnel who must distinguish a training restraint from a non-training embodiment in times of need. With such identifying means, law enforcement personnel can quickly distinguish between the two embodiments and select the appropriate embodiment for each situation. Being able to visually identify the training embodiment is particularly important, in view of the fact that training restraints can be made by removing the internal detents, thereby rendering it impossible to visually identify standard restraints from training restraints. 
     An alternate embodiment of the training restraint is shown in FIGS. 15-16. As can be seen from FIGS. 15-16, the training restraint  314  is similar to training restraint  214 , but differs from it in two aspects. One difference involves the details of the straps employed and the other difference deals with the detents used in the locking boxes. 
     The training restraint  314  includes a first flexible strap  316  and a second, separate flexible strap  318  formed into two loops and joined together by the interlocking cover  20 . The straps  316  and  318  of the training restraint  314  are designed to be folded into a compact storage position, in the same manner as the straps of the restraining device  14  of FIG. 1 are designed to be folded. Unlike the straps used in the training embodiment of FIGS. 12-14, the surface of each strap  316 ,  318  is provided with a plurality of saw tooth ribs  317 . 
     In order to allow the restraint  314  to be used for training purposes, each locking box  26 ,  28  is provided with a respective detent  346 ,  348 . Detents  346 ,  348  differ from detents  46 ,  48  in that each detent is provided with an oversized tooth  356 ,  358  that prevents the detents  346 ,  348  from lockingly engaging the saw tooth ribbed surface  317  of each strap  316  and  318 . Due to the presence of the oversized teeth  356 ,  358 , the ribbed surfaces  317  can be moved past the detents  346 ,  348  in either direction. 
     To use the training restraint  314  to restrain a “detainee” in a training exercise, the free ends of the straps may be grasped and pulled past the detents  346  and  348  for tightening or cinching the loops about the detainee&#39;s wrists. After the training exercise is complete, the detainee can rapidly release the restraint by rolling the wrists outward. The presence of the oversized teeth enables the straps to be loosened by allowing the straps to be moved past the detents  346 ,  348 . 
     Although detents  346  and  348  do not lockingly engage the saw tooth ribbed surface  317  of straps  316 ,  318 , they do exert a certain amount of force against the straps, thereby providing resistance to the movement of the straps past the detents. The resistance provided by the detents in the training restraint contributes to the realism of the training exercise. To distinguish it from the non-training restraint, the training restraint  314  is provided with means for identifying it as the training embodiment. In the preferred embodiment, providing the entire training restraint in a certain color comprises a means for identifying the restraint as a training embodiment. For example, if the restraining device of FIGS. 1-8 is yellow, the training restraint of FIGS. 15-16 may be provided in the color red. Alternately, only a portion of the training restraint, such as the locking block, may be provided in the color red. With such identifying means, law enforcement personnel can quickly distinguish between the training restraint and a non-training embodiment and select the appropriate embodiment for each situation. 
     While specific embodiments and features of the invention have been disclosed herein, it will be readily understood that the invention encompasses all enhancements and modifications within the scope and spirit of the following claims.