APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR AUGMENTED DETAINEE RESTRAINT

• US 20140355167A1
• Filed: 08/15/2014
• Published: 12/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Scottsdale Inventions LLC
• Original Assignee: Scottsdale Inventions LLC
• Inventors: Reese, Corbin, Pegg, Donald L., Lockwood, Lucius L.
• Application Number:
  US14/460,940
• Publication Number:
  US 20140355167A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/232
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/12 Healthy persons not otherwise provided for, e.g. subjects of a marketing survey
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/28 for electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 75/00 Handcuffs ; Finger cuffs; Leg irons; Handcuff holsters; Means for locking prisoners in automobiles retaining devices for the body or body parts A61F5/37
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0018 for nearby electrical discharge, i.e. the electrodes being positioned on the device and the device brought manually or otherwise into contact with a nearby target batons with electric discharge capability F41B15/04; electric shock devices for animals A01K15/02
• CPC Class Codes: H05C 1/00 Circuits or apparatus for generating electric shock effects
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/404 Manacles and cuffs

Abstract

There is provided a device and system for restraining detainees through devices attached to the detainees and configured to administer electrical shocks when certain predetermined conditions occur. Restraining devices may be activated by internal control systems or by external controllers that transmit activation signals to the restraining device. External controllers may be actuated by an external controlling entity such as a detention guard or other person or system, or may be controlled by an enabling signal sent by wired or wireless connections to the controller. There is also provided a system for detainee restraint where multiple detainees may be restrained collectively or individually in a controlled environment such as a detention facility, a jail, or a detainee transport vehicle.

Claims

1. A restraining device comprising:

(a) a restraint for physically constraining movement of at least a portion of a detainee'"'"'s body;

(b) an electric shock component coupled to the restraint; and

(c) a control system coupled to the electric shock component, the control system configured to cause the electric shock component to deliver a shock to the detainee when a predetermined condition occurs and to cause a warning to be provided to the detainee prior to delivering the shock.

2. The restraining device of claim 1 further comprises a sensor in communication with the control system, wherein the sensor is configured to detect whether the detainee engages in an unauthorized activity;

the control system is configured to deliver the shock to the detainee when the sensor indicates the detainee engages in the unauthorized activity.

3. The restraining device of claim 1, wherein the restraint includes at least one of:

a handcuff;

an ankle cuff;

a restraining belt;

a straightjacket;

a harness;

a facial restraint;

a helmet; and

a neck collar; and

combinations thereof.

4. The restraining device of claim 1, wherein the restraint further includes one or more electrodes coupled to the electric shock component, wherein at least one of the one or more electrodes are configured to contact the skin of the detainee to deliver the shock.

5. The restraining device of claim 4, wherein the warning comprises one or more of:

an audio warning;

a tactile warning;

a visual warning; and

combinations thereof.

6. The restraining device of claim 5, wherein the control system is configured to vary an intensity of the warning.

7. The restraining device of claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to cause the electric shock component to vary at least one of:

a magnitude of the electric shock;

a frequency of a signal generating the electric shock; and

a duration of the electric shock.

8. The restraining device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor in communication with the control system.

9. The restraining device of claim 8, wherein:

the sensor is configured to detect whether the detainee engages in an unauthorized activity;

the control system is configured to deliver the shock to the detainee when the sensor indicates the detainee engages in the unauthorized activity.

10. The restraining device of claim 9, wherein the unauthorized activity includes one or more of:

entry into an unauthorized location;

approaching a restricted area within a predetermined distance;

approaching a keep-out zone broadcasting a keep-out signal, wherein a signal power level of the keep-out signal received by the device exceeds a predetermined threshold;

exit from an authorized location;

a threatening movement;

an utterance by the detainee that exceeds a predetermined volume;

an attempt to tamper with the restraining device;

use of an unauthorized system;

failure to provide a predetermined verbal acknowledgement; and

combinations thereof.

11. The restraining device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to measure and store one or more of:

a status of the electric shock component;

a status of the restraint;

a status of the detainee;

a record of shocks delivered to the detainee;

12. The restraining device of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes one or more of:

an accelerometer;

an inclinometer;

a potentiometer;

a location sensing device;

a microphone;

a camera;

a biometric sensor; and

combinations thereof.

13. The restraining device of claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to communicate with one or more entities remote to the device, wherein the communication includes at least one of:

a wireless data transmission;

a transmission of an analog audio signal;

a transmission of a signal digitally encoding at least one of audio information and data;

a signal encoded with information comprising a command to be interpreted by the control system;

a signal encoded with authentication information; and

a signal comprising status information regarding the device.

14. The restraining device of claim 13, wherein communication between the control system and the one or more external entities includes one or more of:

a command provided by the external entity to the control system, the command for controlling one or more functions of the device;

a status provided by the control system to the external entity, the status relating to at least one of;

data relating to the detainee; and

one or more components of the device;

a message provided by the external entity to the control system, the message for delivery to the detainee through one or more output devices in communication with the control system;

information provided by the control system to the external entity, the information collected by one or more sensors in communication with the control system; and

combinations thereof.

15. The restraining device of claim 13, wherein communication between the control system and the one or more external entities is encrypted.

16. The restraining device of claim 1, further comprising a substance delivery system in communication with the control system, wherein the control system is configured to cause the substance delivery system to expose the detainee to a substance.

17. The restraining device of claim 16, where the substance includes at least one of a liquid, a gas, a dye, an irritant, a medication, a sedative, a transdermal medication, a chemical restraint, a paralytic, a medication prescribed to the detainee, and combinations thereof.

18. A method for restraining a detainee with a provided movement-limiting restraining device including a selective current delivery component, the method comprising:

attaching the provided restraining device to at least a portion of the detainee'"'"'s body;

detecting a predetermined condition has occurred indicating that an electric shock component coupled to the restraining device is to be activated; and

delivering an electric shock to the detainee.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising activating the restraining device to transition the current delivery component from a quiescent mode to an active mode.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the predetermined condition is selected from the group consisting of:

the detainee approaching a restricted area within a predetermined distance;

the detainee approaching a keep-out zone broadcasting a keep-out signal, wherein a signal power level of the keep-out signal received by the restraining device exceeds a predetermined threshold;

the detainee exiting from an authorized location;

the detainee making a threatening movement;

the detainee annunciating an utterance that exceeds a predetermined volume;

the detainee attempting to tamper with the device;

the detainee using an unauthorized system;

the detainee failing to provide a predetermined verbal acknowledgement; and

combinations thereof.

21. The method of claim 18 further comprising transmitting an activation signal from a controller to the restraining device, wherein the activation signal received by the restraining device indicates that the predetermined condition has occurred.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the controller transmits the activation signal when a controlling entity actuates a switch coupled to the controller.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising transmitting an enabling signal to the controller, wherein the enabling signal received by the controller causes the controller to transmit the activation signal to the restraining device.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the enabling signal is transmitted with a predetermined power level to limit activation of the restraining device to a predetermined area.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the enabling signal is continually transmitted by the controller.

26. The method of claim 21, further comprising transmitting a disabling signal to the controller, wherein the disabling signal received by the controller prevents the controller to from transmitting the activation signal to the restraining device.

27. The method of claim 21, further comprising transmitting an enabling signal to the controller, wherein the enabling signal received by the controller causes the controller to transmit the activation signal to the restraining device.

28. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

transmitting a keep-in activation signal from a controller to the restraining device;

and determining that the predetermined condition has occurred when a power level of the keep-in signal received by the restraining device falls below a predetermined threshold.

29. The method of claim 18 further comprising obtaining data from sensors coupled to the restraining device;

and transmitting the data to a controller.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the data comprises information regarding administration of electrical shocks to the detainee.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising suppressing the transmission of an activation signal from the controller to the restraining device when the information regarding administration of electrical shocks to the detainee satisfies a predetermined condition.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the predetermined condition comprises determining that a number of electrical shocks administered within a predetermined time period exceeds a predetermined shock administration frequency.