Locks – Portable – Fetters
Reexamination Certificate
2002-04-05
2003-09-16
Barrett, Suzanne Dino (Department: 3676)
Locks
Portable
Fetters
Reexamination Certificate
active
06619077
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improved locking mechanism for restraints such as handcuffs. More specifically, the invention provides a locking mechanism having a flat spring, serving to bias the bolt against the jaw, and to resist movement of the stop when the stop is in the double locked position.
2. Description of the Related Art
Double locking restraints such as handcuffs, leg irons, and other shackles are commonly used by police to restrain those in their custody, for both the additional security that they offer, and the increased safety for the handcuffed person achieved by minimizing the likelihood that the jaw will inadvertently tighten around the person's wrist or ankle. Single locked is defined as permitting the jaw to ratchet inward to tighten the bracelet of the handcuff, but not move outward to loosen or open the bracelet. Double locked is defined as resisting both inward, tightening, and outward, loosening, movement of the jaw. However, presently available double lock mechanisms utilize a stop that is held in place by a spring-biased tab abutting a detent within the stop. Such designs provide maximum resistance to movement of the stop immediately before movement begins, with no resistance to movement provided after the stop begins moving. Such designs may not only be picked too easily, but also the stop may slide from the double locked to the single locked position if the handcuff is subjected to a sufficiently strong blow.
Others have proposed various modifications to handcuffs in an attempt to address this and other problems. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,314,466, issued to J. E. Harris on Feb. 9, 1982, describes a handcuff incorporating a sliding stop for preventing the bolt from moving out of engagement with the jaw. The bolt is automatically pushed into the double locked position by a lever actuated by contact with a handcuffed person's wrist as the handcuff is applied. When the stop is moved into the double locked position, the end of the stop closest to the pin slides into a recess, so that a ledge resists movement of the stop in the opposite direction. Unlocking the handcuff requires moving the stop so that it clears the ledge before turning the key to move the stop. Means for moving the stop away from the ledge include a second pin, a second keyhole for a second key, or a rod extending through the swivel. Turning the key in the opposite direction moves the bolt away from the jaw in the conventional manner.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,574,600, issued to W. P. Moffett on Mar. 11, 1986, describes a handcuff wherein a leaf spring biasing the bolt toward the jaw slides between a position wherein it blocks movement of the bolt, and a position wherein it permits movement of the bolt, but continues to bias the bolt toward the jaw. The spring is moved to the first position by inserting a pin on a handcuff key into the appropriate slot, and move to the second position by inserting and turning the key in the keyhole.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,694,666, issued to R. S. Bellingham, et al. on Sep. 22, 1987, describes a handcuff having a sliding runner that blocks movement of the bolt in one position, permitting movement in the other position. The handcuff is unlocked by turning the key to slide the runner out of engagement with the bolt, and continuing to turn the key in the same direction to move the bolt out of engagement with the jaw.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,697,441, issued to M. L. Allen on Oct. 6, 1987, describes a handcuff using a conventional locking mechanism, and having bracelets joined by a single pin, permitting the bracelets to pivot within the plane in which they are located with respect to each other, thereby remaining parallel both in use and in storage.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,138,852, issued to D. E. Corcoran on Aug. 18, 1992, describes a handcuff having a locking mechanism with a pair of individually spring-biased pawls combined with a slidable bolt for blocking movement of the pawls. The bolt includes a pair of detents for engaging a tab at the opposite end of each spring for the pawls. The handcuff has a cushioned edge, with the cushion capable of fitting between the side plates when not compressed, but not fitting between the side plates when compressed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,461,890, issued to R. LeFavor on Oct. 31, 1995, describes a handcuff having a handle for controlling a handcuffed person. This patent does not describe or illustrate any double locking mechanism.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,463,884, issued to L. S. Woo et al. on Nov. 7, 1995, describes a handcuff having a quick release button. The quick release button may operate either the bolt but not the double lock, or may operate both the bolt and the double lock. In the second configuration wherein the quick release button operates both the bolt and double lock, it is removable so that the handcuff can be used for both training and for restraining those in custody. A similar handcuff is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,117, issued to L. S. Woo on Apr. 28, 1998.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,555,751, issued to F. W. Strickland et al. on Sep. 17, 1996, describes a handcuff wherein each bracelet is closed by sliding a telescoping handle portion surrounding the handcuff's locking mechanism toward that bracelet. When the handle is moved toward the bracelet, it causes a tapered cam to engage rollers on each bracelet arm, thereby pivoting the arms to their closed position. A spring-biased bolt secures the cams in their closed position. Inserting and turning a key engages the spring-biased bolt, causing the cam springs to retract the cams and open the bracelet.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,381, issued to J. M. Savage on Mar. 25, 1997, describes a rigid handcuff incorporating a deadbolt for engaging a waist chain, actuated by the same cam used to move the bolts out of engagement with the jaws. This patent does not illustrate or describe any double locking mechanism.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,064, issued to R. J. Ecker et al. on Aug. 26, 1997, describes a handcuff having a double lock bolt with two notches for receiving a spring-biased tab, with one notch corresponding to the double locked position (wherein the bolt resists movement of the ratchet arm), and the other notch corresponding to the single locked position (wherein the bolt does not resist movement of the ratchet arm).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,231, issued to T. H. Tobin, Jr., on Dec. 16, 1997, describes a handcuff wherein the two bracelets are joined by a swivel link having a pair of spherical lobes connected by a neck. Each spherical lobe is secured within the lock housing of one of the two bracelets.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,284, issued to A. E. Lurie on Aug. 25, 1998, describes a handcuff having the position of the spring-biased bolt controlled by a cylinder lock. The cylinder lock has a central position permitting ratcheting engagement of the bolt and jaw. The cylinder lock may rotate between one position wherein movement of the bolt is resisted, and a second position disengaging the bolt from the jaw.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,799,514, issued to T. H. Tobin, Jr., et al. on Sep. 1, 1998, describes a handcuff having a locking mechanism controlled by compressed gas pressure. A spring-biased bolt engages the jaw. A piston having a default central position permitting ratcheting movement of the jaw may be moved by compressed gas pressure between one position wherein all movement of the bolt is resisted, and another position disengaging the bolt from the jaw.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,311,529, issued to J. B. Kang on Nov. 6, 2001, describes a handcuff having one or two gears engaging the bracelet's jaw, with each gear having a secondary gear engaging a pivoting, flat spring-biased ratchet arm. A sliding stop member may double lock the handcuff being moved into a position wherein it abuts the ratchet arm, resisting movement of the ratchet arm.
French Patent Application No. 2518-622-A, published Jun. 24, 1983, describes a handcuff using an arcuate ratchet biased towards its locked position by a coil spring, thereby securing the jaw. A barrel lock using a second key is used to
Barrett Suzanne Dino
Lang IV William F.
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