Patent Publication Number: US-7581416-B1

Title: Prisoner transport system

Description:
This application refers to and claims priority on U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/801,295, filed May 18, 2006, the content of which is incorporated by reference. 

   BACKGROUND 
   The present disclosure relates to security restraining-type belt or strap systems to insure security when transporting prisoners or others to be restrained from one location to another by any selected method such as in a vehicle or by air, and designed to reduce the possibility of escape. 
   A common type of transport belt has a ring onto which handcuffs, a belly chain or a “gang chain” can be held with a lock. One can utilize what is called a “blue box” which is a housing that will go between the wrist encircling portion of the handcuffs and then a belly chain can be used hold the handcuff box in place for securing the cuffs. When the prisoner is placed into the cuffs, and the box is secured to the belly chain, little movement is permitted. Additionally, chains can be used on the legs, and a connector chain from the leg chains can be secured with a padlock back to the ring that supports the handcuffs on the transport belt. The existing transport belts are leather and are hard to sterilize after use. 
   SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
   The present device discloses offers improvements in a restraint harness or strap that is placed on a prisoner or other person and which has improved attachments for handcuffs and body bands or to the strap. The restraint strap is not easily destroyed, can be sanitized, and is made so that the stitching that is used for stitching in rings and forming loops is protected against ripping. The strap in one form of the disclosure has a length adjustment that is easy to use so that the amount of slack that is available to the prisoner when the prisoner sits down is minimized. A second form of restraining strap has a back chain that can be adjusted to a selected length. The front of a vertically extending (head to crotch) restraint strap or belt has an elongated link that has its length in vertical direction, with one end permanently attached to a top ring sewn into the strap and which is long enough to permit handcuffs or belly chains to be secured and this link also will receive a “D” ring from a conventional transport belt. The link has a free end that can be inserted through a second sewn in ring and secured with a padlock. The handcuffs also can be held with a padlock to the link. 
   One embodiment includes an accessory quick attach latch link which again is an elongated or race tracked shaped enclosed link, and which has a permanently attached annular stop ring looped into it. The quick attach auxiliary link is used for securing body bands, belts or chains to a back strap or back chain member chain in one form of the disclosure. The quick attach latch link permits one to add additional restraint devices, such as leg irons or a gang chain to the restraint. The quick attach latch link will permit attaching a belly chain of various kinds, as well as a chain for joining a plurality of prisoners together without permitting one prisoner to work on release of another to attempt to escape. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a front view of a person having the prisoner restraint strap made according to one form of the present disclosure installed, and showing handcuffs in place on the wrists of the wearer; 
       FIG. 2  is a rear view of the prisoner restraint strap installed on a user; 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of a user with the prisoner restraint strap in place; 
       FIG. 4  is a side schematic layout of the prisoner restraint strap system of one form of the present disclosure illustrating various features; 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of an elongated retainer link mount schematically showing a holder or box for mounting the handcuffs called a “blue box”, shown in place; 
       FIG. 6  is a front view of a completely enclosed quick link for locking various items with a permanently attached ring thereon. 
       FIG. 7  is a side schematic, fragmentary layout of a restraint strap system of a second form of the present disclosure, using a back chain at the lower end thereof; 
       FIG. 8  is a front view of a person having the restraint system of the second form installed thereon; 
       FIG. 9  is a back view of a person shown in  FIG. 8  with the second form of the restraint system installed; 
       FIG. 10  is an enlarged view of the locking portions of the restraint system shown in  FIG. 9 ; 
       FIG. 11  is a front view similar to  FIG. 8 , with a different type of a body encircling band or member in place; 
       FIG. 12  is an enlarged schematic view of devices for securing of handcuffs in place in the system shown in  FIG. 11 ; 
       FIG. 13  is an enlarged view of the securing device for a belly chain at the rear of a person; 
       FIG. 14  is fragmentary front view of a typical conventional body belt being secured into the restraint strap system of the second form of the disclosure; 
       FIG. 15  is a rear view of a body belt being secured to the back chain of the second form of the restraint strap system; and 
       FIG. 16  is a front view schematically showing the attachment of a handcuff box to the strap system of the second form of the disclosure. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , a prisoner represented at  10  as shown in the restraint strap system or assembly  12  of one form of the present disclosure, that comprises an elongated strap  14  that is approximately 1 inch wide and is made of suitable strong fabric type material, in one embodiment, of nylon, so that it can be sterilized, and does not stretch substantially, and also so it can be sewn. The strap  14  has a neck loop  16  of size to go over the head and that extends around the neck of the prisoner  10 . Two layers of the strap overlie each other and are sewn in desired locations so the strap  14  is a single width, and double strength. The junction  18  forming the neck loop  16  is sewn. The main chest or frontal portion  12  of the restraint strap assembly is from a continuous strap, as shown in  FIG. 4 , that is looped at the back of the neck and is sewn together in the region  48  ( FIG. 2 ), with strong, and rip resistant stitching. The rings and link are sewn in as well. 
   Approximately 17 inches or so down from the junction  18  a retainer ring  22  is placed between two layers or lengths of strap with a strap end portion  14 D having an end section  14 E between the layers or lengths of strap and adjacent the ring  22 . The strap layers are stitched or sewn on opposite sides of the ring  22 . The retainer ring  22  is approximately 1¼ inches in diameter, or it can be a “D” ring. 
   Between the stitching at the neck loop and the stitching for the retainer ring  22  the two lengths of the strap are unattached so a body encircling chest band can be passed between the lengths, as will be shown. Ring  22  is permanently attached to an elongated link  24  that is held in the ring  22 . The link  24  is a closed race track elongated link and is welded closed. After forming, the link  24  has one free end and can be slid along the ring  22 . A second ring  26 , which is perhaps best seen in  FIG. 4 , is held in an end loop of the strap  14  with sewing, and it is spaced from ring  22  a distance less than the length of the elongated link  24 . The ring  26  is of size so that it will receive the end portion  28  of the race track or elongated link  24 , and leave the closed end  28  of the link extending out from the ring  26  so that a padlock can be passed through the opening at the end  28  of the link  24 , as shown perhaps best in  FIG. 5  illustratively. The elongated link  24  can be slid on ring  22  and the rings  22  and  26  can be tilted for manipulation when securing end portion  28  through ring  26 . 
   The race track or elongated link  24  is thus held spaced from the surface of the strap, chains, belts, handcuff chains and the like can be passed through the openings in the link  24 . Also, the link  24  is insertable through an individual link of restraint chains. When it is locked into place at the end  28 , the padlock hasp passes through the end portion  28  of the elongated link  24  which is then secured in place by the rings  22  and  26  on the restraint strap or harness  14 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 4 , one end of the continuous strap is folded at end portion  14 A around the ring  26 , and as perhaps best seen in  FIG. 6 , a portion  14 D is placed between two lengths of strap  14  and the end surface  14 E of the 1 inch wide strap is in place to abut against ring  22  when the ring is sewn in place. The end portion  14 D is between a top length  14 T and the bottom length  14 C, and the three thicknesses of strap are sewn together. 
   The strap length  14 C forms an extension beyond the ring  26 , and is of sufficient length so that it will pass underneath the crotch of the wearer, and toward the back. This is shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , where a tie ring  30  is held in a loop  32  of the web strap material  32 . The strap  14  is made adjustable in length by passing through two rings  34  and  36  and held by doubling back, over one ring and under the other, much like a chin strap on a motorcycle helmet. 
   The strap end portions loop  32  of the strap length  14 C thus loops around the ring  30 , and through the double rings  34  and  36  so that ring  30  is inside the loop  32 . The end  38  of the strap length  14 C is also in the loop  32  and is folded and sewed to secure the rings  34  and  30  in place. The ring  30  holds a back strap or flexible elongated member  40 , which is looped through the ring  30  and doubled upon itself and sewed together as at  42 . The other end the back strap  40  has a ring  44  that is sewn in place in a loop of the strap  40  as shown at  46 , at a suitable length. As can see in  FIG. 2 , when the restraint strap is in place on a person, the ring  44  is secured to a ring  47  that is sewn into the rear strap end  50  extending from a rear junction  48  at the rear of the neck loop  16 . The rings  47  and  44  can be held together with a padlock or lock member  49  so that the restraint strap system is held securely. The lock member  49  is not accessible to the prisoner. 
   The elongated link  24 , as can be seen is of size so that a handcuff chain shown at  54  can pass through the link opening, and this link and the handcuff chain can also be held together with a padlock, which is shown at  49  ( FIG. 2 ). Additionally, if a belly chain or band is desired, the belly chain can be passed through link  24 , and held in place with the same padlock which is also shown partially in  FIG. 1  at  49 . 
   A connector chain or strap can be extended down from the link  24  to leg irons or chains if desired, and held in place with a separate padlock or with the same padlock. 
     FIG. 5  shows a padlock box  60  that is of convention design, and one form of such box is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,000,249. The box  60  is a prior art device, and a through opening in the box is large enough to receive the free end of the elongated link  24  before the link was locked in place with the outwardly extending end portion  28  of the link  24  held in the ring  26  by the padlock  49 . 
   When the restraint strap system is installed, as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 , an adjustment for length can be made at rings  34  and  36 . The length adjustments rings are at the crotch of the prisoner in use, so the length adjustment is inaccessible to the person wearing the strap restraint system. When the prisoner sits down the amount of slack in the front portion of the strap  14  is kept at a minimum. The elongated link  24  permits a wide variety of accessories to be fastened in place, and securing handcuffs to the front or frontal vertical strap, that loops over the head, prevents picking the junction padlock  49  which is positioned in the middle of the back and holds rings  44  and  47  together. 
   By adding a connector chain to leg irons or chains and a belly chain or band, and securing them to the elongated link  24 , complete security can be achieved and the escape likelihood is substantially nil. 
     FIG. 6  illustrates a quick link assembly  69 , which as shown has an elongated race track-like open center link  70 , that is completely enclosed with a stop ring  72  thereon. Ring  72  is a continuous ring that slides along the link  70 , to any position. The stop ring  72  is in the range of 1¼ inches in diameter, and would slide freely on the elongated link  70 . The elongated link  70  thus can be inserted through the opening of link  24 , and used for receiving a belly chain, or leg iron chains, and then that can be held in place with a suitable padlock. The stop ring  72  prevents the link  70  from sliding all the way through the link  24 . The link  70  is of size so that it can pass through a chain link of a belly chain, or if desired the belly chain can pass through the link  70  and then the link can be locked into place. 
   When an end of the link  70  is inserted through one of the rings on the restraint assembly, for example, if it is inserted through the ring  26 , the stop ring  72  prevents the link  70  from passing all the way through the ring  26 , and forms a stop so that the link  70  can be extended out from the ring in which it is inserted and the extending end portion of the link used for holding accessories for restraining the prisoner. The accessories on the outwardly extending end can be locked in place with a padlock through the outer end of the link. 
   The completely enclosed, elongated link  70 , in one form (but not the only form) would have an opening approximately 3 inches in length on the inside and 9/16 inches wide. This size will fit through a number of standard law enforcement restraint rings, links of chains, as well as holding a handcuff box. The link  70  can be used in a wide variety of ways for securing chains, belts handcuffs and other restraints. 
   The adjustment for length of the restraint strap can be by splicing or securing a length of chain to one end of the restraint strap so the adjustment can be one chain link at a time. Also a separate control strap  40 A shown in  FIG. 2  can be left unattached or locked on as desired. 
   Hook and loop fasteners (sold under the Trademark VELCRO) can be used in certain locations if desired as well. 
   A prisoner restraint comprising a transport system of a second embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 7-10 , and includes adjusting the length of the restraint strap by using a length of chain in place of a back strap  40 , to provide for adjustment and also for additional security. 
   In  FIG. 7 , a flat layout of the restraint strap system or assembly is shown at  100 . This comprises a single continuous strap  101  of approximately one-inch wide, suitable strong fabric, such as nylon, as previously explained. Starting at one end, which is adjacent the crotch when installed, there is a loop  102 . It can be seen that an end portion  104  is folded under a short strap portion that is formed in loop  102  around a link  106  of a back chain assembly  108 , which is a standard chain. After being looped around link  106  the strap  101  has a continuous length  110 , that extends from the crotch end portion to a loop  112  for an upper back ring  114 . The upper back ring  114  will be at the rear of the neck of a wearer. The strap  101  is looped around the back ring  114 , and extends back toward end portion  104  and forms a back strap  115 . The strap  115  is stitched securely as at  113  to form the loop  112 . 
   The double strap layer back strap  115  is then formed (see  FIG. 9 ) and ends at stitching  128 . Strap sections  110 E and  110 F are left unstitched to form a neck loop  130  ( FIGS. 8 and 9 ) at a top end of the back strap  115  and the neck loop passes to the front of the wearer, where it ends at stitching  118 . A lower strap section  110 A and an upper strap section  110 B are unstitched and can be spaced apart to permit a cross chest band or body band  116  to be inserted between the two strap sections  110 A and  110 B. The strap sections  110 A and  110 B are then stitched together farther down the chest of the wearer as shown at  119  ( FIG. 8 ). 
   A strap section  110 C is raised up from lower length  110  at the end of the stitching  119  and a permanently attached retainer ring  120  and an elongated link  126 , which is permanently looped on the ring  120  is placed between the strap section  110 C and the lower length  110  in that region. Then strap section  110 C as looped around a second spaced retainer ring  122  and an end section  110 D is then placed underneath the strap section  110 C and stitching  124  extends through the three layers of strap material comprising the lower length  110 , the strap section  110 C and strap section  110 D. This secures the rings  120  and  122  in position so the rings are spaced longitudinally apart a selected distance. Again, it can be seen that a single strap  101  is used for the entire restraint strap system or assembly, and is doubled back on itself to form the back strap, neck loop, body band passage or loop, and loop retainers for the rings used. 
   In this form of the restraint system the chain  108  is provided for extending up the back of the wearer and for adjustment. Chain section  108  is shown only partially in  FIG. 7 , but, as shown in  FIG. 9 , it is made to have sufficient length so that it would go up around the back of the wearer or prisoner to loop around back ring  115  and provide adequate adjustment for locking in place with a quick attach elongated ring  70 . 
   Elongated link  126  is a race track type link as shown, similar to or identical with link  70 , and it is of length so that it can be extended through the ring  122  (it is not permanently attached to the ring  122 ) to provide end portion  126 A on an outer side of ring  122  through which a padlock, or chain links or other securing devices can be passed. 
   In  FIG. 9  the back strap  115  is shown ending at stitching  128 , which permits strap sections  110 E and  110 F to be separated to form a neck loop  130 , which extends from the back of the wearer to the front of the wearer as shown in  FIG. 8 , and is stitched as at  118  to form the neck loop. The strap sections  110 A and  110 B are then separated at a location below the stitching  118 , to form an opening through which a body band  116  may be passed, as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
   In  FIG. 8 , the secured ring  120  which is shown in place and the elongated link  126  are illustrated retaining handcuffs  134  on the wearer, with the handcuff chain  136  passing through the elongated link  126 , and then the end portion of  126 A of the link is passed through ring  122  and is secured with a padlock  138 . The link  126  is held by and extends between the rings  120  and  122 . The link  126  can be slid along the ring  120 , as shown in dotted lines in  FIG. 7 . 
     FIG. 9 , the back view, illustrates the end ring  106  is just at the rear of the crotch of the wearer, and the chain  108  extends upwardly, including an upwardly extending length  108 A of a plurality of links that are of course permanently secured together, and then the chain is passed through the ring  114  that is held with the strap  115  at the back of the neck loop  130 . 
   The chain  108 , after passing through the ring  114 , has a length  108 B that extends downwardly. The chain length is only illustrated generally, but it is cinched up so that the length  108 A is fairly snug, and then the elongated link assembly  69 , which is made specifically of size so that it will pass through the links of the chain  108 , is used for securing the body band  116 , and the two of chain lengths  108 A and  108 B, together with a padlock  138 , which is the same construction as the padlock shown in  FIG. 8 . When securing the restraint strap system, the race track or elongated link  70  is passed through links of both of the chain lengths  108 A and  108 B, with one link of each of the lengths  108 A and  108 B having the ring  70  pass through it. The body band  116  is also passed through the opening of the link  70 , as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . The body band is secured around the body of the wearer with a pair of locking rings  140 , which are secured to one end of the body band and operated like a helmet strap, by looping the free end  116 A of the body band in through the rings  140 , and passing the free end of the body band back over one ring and under the other so that the free end  116 A extends out of the locking rings  140 . An open loop  116 B is formed at the end of the free end of the body band and the padlock hasp  138 A of the padlock  138 , as shown in  FIG. 10  passes through the end of the elongated race track link  70  and through the loop  116 B and locked in place. 
   Again, it should be noted that the ring  72  secured to the link  70  is used as a stop so that the elongated link  70  can be inserted through links of the chain lengths  108 B and  108 A and will be retained in place by the padlock. The ring  72  is a securely enclosed, non-separable ring, as is the race track link  70 . 
   With the body band  116  secured in place, and the chain  108  adjusted for snugness, the prisoner or person being restrained is not able to bend over and loosen the straps sufficiently to pass a leg through or disengage the restraint system in any way. 
   The elongated quick attach link assembly  69  again is used advantageously for securing the chain lengths and body band or belt  116 , and then always has a free end to which a hasp  138 A of a padlock  138  can be passed for securing parts together. 
     FIG. 11  shows a version of restraint using the restraint strap system  100 , as shown in  FIGS. 7 ,  8  and  9 , where a different type of a body encircling band or restraint. In the showing in  FIG. 11 , the body band  116  has been replaced with a chain body band  150 , commonly called a belly chain, that is passed under the arms of a user (the handcuffs, the rings and other parts of the same as that shown in  FIG. 8 ), and body band or belly chain  150  is passed through the elongated link  126 . The free end of link  126  can be passed through a link  150 F of chain  150  and then through the ring  122  so that the padlock  138  can secure the end of the link  126 . The band or chain  150  also could be passed through the open center of the elongated link  126 . The chain  150  then is placed around the body of the wearer of the restraint system to the back of the wearer. The elongated link  126  securely holds both the hand cuffs  134  and chain  150  in place on the restraint strap system. 
     FIG. 12  is an enlarged view of the arrangement shown in  FIG. 11 , with the handcuffs illustrated without the arms of the user in place.  FIG. 12  illustrates the link  126  extending through link  150 F of chain  150 . 
   It can be again seen that the rings  120  and  122  secure elongated link  126  in place and the padlock on the end portion  126 A and the handcuff chain  136  are illustrated more clearly. The body band or belly chain  150 , as can be seen has the link  126  passing through an individual link  150 F of the belly chain for additional security, and this link  150 F is between the rings  120  and  122 . 
     FIG. 13  illustrates the back arrangement for securing the body band or belly chain to the adjustable back chain  108  of the strap system. The chain lengths  108 A and  108 B are shown as separated, so the connections are more clearly shown. The quick attach link assembly  69 , has the elongated link  70  passing through an individual link  150 B of the body band or belly chain, then through an individual link  108 D of the chain length or section  108 A, through an individual link  108 E of the chain length or section  108 B, through a second individual link  150 C of the opposite end portion of the body band or belly chain  150 , and then the hasp  138 A is passed through the end portion of the link  70  that protrudes beyond the link  150 C of the body band or belly chain and is locked in place with the padlock  138 . 
   The belly chain can be adjusted in length by leaving a greater end length loose, before securing the belly chain in place with the quick attach elongated link  70 , which again forms a good tool for security because it can pass through individual links of the back chain  108  and the belly chain  150  and quickly secure the chains in place. The ring  72  will stop the link  70  from passing all the way through the other chain links. 
   The transport system can also be used with a conventional leather body band, commonly called a belly belt that is used at the present time around the waist of a prisoner or other person to be restrained, and which is then used for securing handcuffs in place.  FIGS. 14 and 15  illustrate a conventional body band or belly belt  160 , that can be buckled in place as shown in  FIG. 15  where they buckle  162  is at the back of the person to be restrained, and which has a permanently affixed quite large ring  164  at the front side. It can be seen that the leather belt  160  has a strap that secures this ring in place. The strap is held in place securely with large rivets or other fasteners. The elongated link  126  is of size so that ring  164  will pass through the elongated ring  126  that is secured to the ring  120  on the restraint strap system  100 . 
   The outer end portion of the ring  164  goes all the way through the elongated link  126  and fits between the ring  120  and the ring  122  on the frontal section of the strap system as shown at the lower portion of  FIG. 14 . 
   The padlock  138  can then be secured to the end portion  126 A of the link  126  that extends out through the ring  122 , as previously shown. In  FIG. 14 , handcuffs  134  are merely shown in place within the permanent ring  164  of the body belt, for illustrative purposes, but of course they would be secured to the wrists of the person being held by the restraint strap system  100 . 
     FIG. 15  illustrates the rear view of the use of the body band or belt  160 , and as mentioned the buckle  162  is placed at the rear. In this case, the chain lengths  108 A and  108 B are illustrated again, and the quick attach link assembly  69  is in place with the race track link  70  passing through individual links of the chain sections  108 A and  108 B, and held by the end ring  72 . The quick attach link  70  is of size so that the belt  160  will pass through this link and the belt can be buckled with the buckle  162 . There is no need for a padlock at the back, because of the locking together of the belt  160 , the link  70 , and the chain links from the chain lengths  108 A and  108 B. 
     FIG. 16  is an illustration using the system  100  with a cuffbox of conventional design such as that illustrated in  FIG. 5 . In this form, the cuffbox  60 , with handcuffs  134  in place is shown, with the link  126  passing through the opening in the cuffbox, such as that opening shown in  FIG. 5 , and then with the end portion  126 A of the link  126  extends through the ring  122  and is held in place with a hasp  138 A of a padlock  138 , to secure the cuffbox and the handcuffs in place. 
   The strap portion  110  is illustrated in  FIG. 16 , and passes under the crotch of the wearer, so that the ring  106  is at the rear of the wearer as illustrated in  FIG. 9 . The body band  116  is also illustrated in  FIG. 16 , and can be put into place in any of the combinations. 
   The elongated links, and the rings placed in the restraint strap system are stainless steel and welded so that they are continuous and not openable. The chains such as that shown at  108 , as well as the belly chain  150  can be standard welded link chains, generally of a size as a number 2 elongated link chain. The rings are usually 6 or 7 gauge stainless wire welded closed, and with parallel sides for the elongated quick attach link assembly  69  and the links  24  and  124 . The elongated links  24 ,  70  and  126  are generally made of a size that would be approximately 3 inches long of the interior of the opening, with an interior opening width of about 9/16 of an inch, which would accommodate the size of the back and belly chain being used. The overall outside length of the links  24 ,  70  and  126  would then be about 3⅜ inches. The continuous strap formed as shown in  FIG. 7 , by way of example only, would have a length approximately 54 inches at the dimension X, in  FIG. 7 . The dimension Y, from the end of the loop  112  to the end where the ring  122  is fastened is in the range of 38 inches, while dimension Z would be in the range of 16 inches. The back chain  108  could be approximately 40 inches long, and it would accommodate a range of persons that would be transported. The length of the single length  101  of web material for forming the strap system  100  would be approximately 100 inches. Preferably it would be bright orange or some very visible color. 
   The quick connect link assembly  69  also can be used for providing a gang of prisoners or persons to be restrained along a chain by passing elongated links  70  through spaced links of a common gang chain that would be strung from prisoner to prisoner and having the handcuffs of each person held by one quick attach elongated link  70  to secure them in position, with the spacings selected by the person doing transport. 
   The present strap system can be worn under clothing, to be mostly concealed. It would be unobtrusive when transporting prisoners, for example by air. The elongated links used also can provide some movement of the hands for eating in a seated position if necessary. 
   The strap system shown in the first form of the invention, for example in  FIG. 4  with the back strap  40  is usable for transporting persons that may be mentally challenged, where one could not let them wander off, while the system using the back chain for adjustment is primarily usable for prisoners that might attempt escape. A very secure transport system is thus provided. 
   Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.