Locks – Portable – Fetters
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-26
2001-03-06
Barrett, Suzanne Dino (Department: 3627)
Locks
Portable
Fetters
C024S0160PB
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196033
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to keyless restraints such as hand cuffs. More particularly, the invention sets forth a restraining device which employs ordinary bundling ties in combination with a securing block to form a keyless restraint. The invention finds its principal application in the field of law enforcement, wherein police and others charged with detaining suspects and prisoners must restrain the same.
2. Description of the Prior Art
When police and others authorized detain and restrain persons taken into custody, they usually employ conventional hand cuffs and leg shackles. These conventional restraint devices are usually fabricated from metals and require key operated locks to release the restrainee. In order to reduce cost, complexity, and ease of operation, the prior art has suggested keyless restraints based on ratchet action bundling ties modified to be usable as restraints.
Examples are seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,910,831, issued to Richard F. Bingold on Mar. 27, 1990, U.S. Pat. No. 4,964,419, issued to Roy L. Karriker on Oct. 23, 1990, U.S. Pat. No. 5,088,158, issued to Gary D. Burkholder on Feb. 18, 1992, U.S. Pat. No. 5,443,155, issued to Edwin Robinson on Aug. 22, 1995, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,669,110 and 5,802,888, issued to Kevin L. Parsons respectively on Sep. 23, 1997, and Sep. 8, 1998. In each example, the subject device requires special configuration of the cables to succeed. By contrast, the present invention successfully utilizes inexpensive, readily available conventional industrial or commercial bundling ties. None of the prior art devices employs the securing block of the present invention which securing block enables conventional bundling ties to be utilized.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention sets forth a securing block having openings dimensioned and configured to receive two conventional bundling ties to form restraints such as keyless handcuffs and leg shackles for low and medium security applications, such as temporary detention and transport between legal facilities. Of course, the restraints can be employed in other settings, such as by farmers and hunters who must immobilize and transport animals, or to establish a suitable hand hold for carrying animal carcasses. In still other examples, the restraints can be employed to join posts together to form the skeleton of a structure, such as a tent, free standing corral, sections of fence, and the like.
Internal openings formed in the securing block serve two functions. One is to hold the bundling ties, once drawn tight, in suitable positions such that the resultant device serves as a restraint. A second function is that of enabling the ties to be drawn to desired tightness employing ratchet action conventionally practiced with bundling ties.
A bundling tie is held captive within the securing block after being passed through an entry slot of the securing block, the pawl block of the bundling tie, and an egress slot of the securing block. The cavity of the securing block has projections which retain the pawl block of the bundling tie in place within the securing block before the toothed section of the bundling tie engages the pawl. Once the bundling tie is cut, the pawl block is easily removed from the securing block, which can then be reused when desired by uncomplicated insertion of a new bundling tie.
A significant advantage of this invention is that conventional bundling ties may be employed. Complicated, expensive configurations of the prior art keyless restraints are substantially avoided. This feature greatly reduces production and acquisition costs, and makes procurement of replacement ties easy and inexpensive.
The novel restraint is quickly and easily assembled by drawing conventional bundling ties through the securing block, wherein they will oppose release by ratchet action. Restraints can thus be assembled or installed without keys, tools and other hardware. Conventional bundling ties are inexpensive and easily cut to release the detainee once he or she has arrived at a destination. The securing blocks can be readily reused with new bundling ties. Therefore, unlike most prior art keyless restraints, the most expensive component of the restraint is readily reused almost indefinitely.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, two securing blocks are provided, each tethered to yet spaced apart from the other. The tether is flexible. This alternative embodiment serves as leg shackles which allow a person to walk but not to extend the stride as one would do when running.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide keyless restraints which employ conventional bundling ties.
It is another object of the invention to provide convenient apparatus for joining posts together to build structures.
It is a further object of the invention to provide keyless restraints which are readily assembled and released.
Still another object of the invention is to provide keyless restraints which are inexpensive.
Yet another object of the invention is to secure the pawl block of a bundling tie within the securing block of the restraint before the toothed section of the tie engages the pawl of the restraint.
An additional object of the invention is to enable ready removal of a spent bundling tie once it is cut, so that the securing block is readily reusable.
It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.
These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4024736 (1977-05-01), De Michieli
patent: 4071023 (1978-01-01), Gregory
patent: 4909051 (1990-03-01), Lee
patent: 5193254 (1993-03-01), Geisinger
patent: 5377388 (1995-01-01), DeBever
patent: 5398383 (1995-03-01), Bingold
patent: 5551086 (1996-09-01), Albanese
patent: 5802675 (1998-09-01), Parsons
Barrett Suzanne Dino
Siemens Patent Services LC
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