Patent ID: 8043327

Claim:
An auto-release tourniquet apparatus comprising: a strap having a first end and a second end; a housing having a first slot therein suitable for receiving said first end of said strap therein and a second slot suitable for receiving a portion of said strap therein, said strap extending outwardly of said housing; a strap releasing means positioned in said housing, said strap releasing means for releasing at least one of said first and second ends of said strap from said housing after a predetermined period of time, said first end of said strap having an anchor attached thereto, said anchor having a tongue extending into said first slot, said strap releasing means for acting on said tongue so as to release said first end from said housing, said first slot being a tubular member conforming to a shape of said tongue, said tubular member having an opening formed along a surface thereof, said tongue having a leaf resiliently extending outwardly of said tubular member through said opening when said tongue is positioned in said tubular member, said housing having a spring positioned therein so as to resiliently urge against an end of said tongue opposite said anchor, said strap releasing means comprising: an actuating means positioned in said housing adjacent said leaf for pushing downwardly on said leaf after the predetermined period of time, said spring suitable for ejecting said tongue from said slot after the predetermined period of time, said actuating means comprising: a solenoid having a arm extendable so as to push downwardly on said leaf; and a controlling means cooperative with said solenoid for actuating said solenoid after the predetermined period of time, said controlling means positioned in said housing and electrically connected to said solenoid, said spring having a switching means connected thereto, said switching means for initiating a time of said controlling means when said end of said tongue urges against said spring.