Patent Publication Number: US-7216650-B1

Title: Handcuffing assisting apparatus and method

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to handcuffing assisting devices and more particularly pertains to a new handcuffing assisting device for securing an inmate&#39;s arms and wrists through a cell door so that handcuffs may safely be positioned on the inmate. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   The use of handcuffing assisting devices is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,007,257 describes a device that acts as a safety shield for the positioning of handcuffs on a person&#39;s wrists. Other types of prisoner restraint devices include U.S. Pat. No. 6,000,249 as well as U.S. Pat. No. 4,351,169. 
   While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a device that is adapted for receiving and securing a prisoner&#39;s arms as the arms are extended through a food tray receiving slot of a cell door. This will allow handcuffs to then be placed or removed from the prisoner&#39;s wrists without fear that the prisoner will be able to grab and injure a correction officer. Once the handcuffs have been safely positioned over the wrists of the inmate, the device may be removed. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a panel that has a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, a second edge, a front side and a back side. The panel has a pair of openings therein extending into the front side and outwardly of the back side. The panel has a break therein extending from the first side edge to the second side edge to define an upper portion and a lower portion of the panel. The upper portion has a greater depth than the lower portion. The upper portion has a lower edge has a slot extending therein and an upper edge of the lower portion is positionable in the slot to define a closed position. The upper and lower portions are pivotally coupled together. The break extends through each of the openings. A securing assembly is attached to the panel for selectively securing the panel in the closed position. The arms of an inmate are extended through a tray slot of a cell door and positioned in the openings and the upper and lower portions are placed in the closed position. The upper and lower portions are secured in the closed position. Handcuffs are then positioned on and secured to the wrists of the inmate and the panel removed from the inmate&#39;s arms. Alternately, the present invention may be used to remove handcuffs from an inmate&#39;s arms by following the reverse procedure. 
   There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
   The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective in-use view of a handcuffing assisting apparatus and method according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a top in-use view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a front view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  4 — 4  of  FIG. 3  of the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 4  thereof, a new handcuffing assisting device embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
   As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 4 , the handcuffing assisting apparatus and method  10  generally comprises a panel  12  that has a top edge  14 , a bottom edge  16 , a first side edge  18 , a second edge  20 , a front side  22  and a back side  24 . The panel  12  has a pair of openings  27  therein extending into the front side  22  and outwardly of the back side  24 . The panel  12  has a break  26  therein extending from the first side edge  18  to the second side edge  20  and defines an upper portion  28  of the panel and a lower portion  30  of the panel  12 . The upper portion  28  has a greater depth than the lower portion  30 . The depth of each of the upper  28  and lower  30  portions is preferably between ½ inch and 1 inch. The upper portion  28  has a lower edge  32  having a slot  34  extending therein. An upper edge  36  of the lower portion  30  is positionable in the slot  34  to define a closed position. The upper  28  and lower  30  portions are pivotally coupled together by a pivot rod  38 . The break  26  extends through each of the openings  27 . The panel  12  is comprised of a rigid material that may include a plastic, a wood material or a metallic material. 
   The openings  27  each have a generally round shape and a diameter generally between 2.50 inches and 3.50 inches when the upper  28  and lower  30  portions are in the closed position. The openings  27  are horizontally aligned with each other and are spaced between 1 inch and 4 inches apart from each other and each of the openings  27  is spaced at least 4 inches away from each of the first and second side edges. The panel  12  has a width from the first side edge  18  to the second side edge  20  generally between 18 inches and 22 inches and a height generally between 10 inches and 14 inches. A cushioning material  40 , such as a foamed elastomer, is attached to and extends along an upper edge of each of the openings  27 . 
   A securing assembly  50  is attached to the panel  12  for selectively securing the panel  12  in the closed position. The securing assembly  50  may include a conventional lock  52  or pawl mounted in the upper portion  28  that is positioned for engaging a toothed plate  54  in the lower portion  30 . 
   In use, the arms  6  of an inmate are extended through a tray slot  8  of a cell door  9 . The arms  6  are then positioned in the openings  27  and the upper  28  and lower  30  portions are placed in the closed position so that the inmate&#39;s arms  6  are secured in the panel  12 . The upper  28  and lower  30  portions are then secured in the closed position with the securing assembly  50 . Handcuffs  60  are positioned on and secured to the wrists  7  of the inmate and the panel  12  is removed from the inmate&#39;s arms  6 . The size of the panel  12  and the positioning of the openings  27  allow the handcuffs  60  to placed on the inmate&#39;s wrists  7  without fear of the inmate being able to grab the correctional officer. It should be understood that the reverse procedure may also be followed wherein an inmate is placed in a cell with handcuffs  60  already positioned on the arms  6  of the inmate. The inmate will extend his or her arms  6  through the cell door and the upper  28  and lower  30  portions attached to the arms  6  while the handcuffs are removed. 
   With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
   Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.