Restraining device employing bundling ties

• US 6,196,033 B1
• Filed: 08/26/1999
• Issued: 03/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Christopher A. Dowdle
• Original Assignee: Christopher A. Dowdle
• Inventors: Dowdle, Christopher A.
• Primary Examiner(s): BARRETT, SUZANNE LALE DINO
• Application Number:
  US09/383,075
• Time in Patent Office: 558 Days
• Field of Search: 70/14--17, 24/16.PB
• US Class Current: 70/16
• 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: Y10T 24/1498 Plastic band
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/404 Manacles and cuffs

Abstract

Keyless restraints similar to handcuffs and leg shackles, which restraints employ conventional ratchet action bundling ties. The restraints include a securing block which has two receptacle each capable of receiving the pawl block of one bundling tie. After the pawl block of each bundling tie is placed in its respective receptacle, the toothed strap of each bundling tie is inserted through aligned slots formed in opposing sides of its associated receptacle. The toothed strap engages the pawl block by conventional ratchet action. The bundling ties are then entrapped within the securing block, and can be drawn around the wrists of a detainee or any other object being secured. Each receptacle has a projection which releasably retains the pawl block of the bundling tie in place within the receptacle. Optionally, the receptacles are connected by a flexible tether long enough to permit a detainee to walk, but too short to permit running.

Claims

1. A keyless restraint, comprising:

a securing block for receiving bundling ties, comprising a housing having a first receptacle, a second receptacle, and a bridge connecting said first receptacle and said second receptacle; and

a first bundling tie having a pawl block and a toothed strap attached to said pawl block of said first bundling tie, and a second bundling tie having a pawl block and a toothed strap attached to said pawl block of said second bundling tie,

wherein said first receptacle is dimensioned and configured to receive said pawl block of said first bundling tie, and has a first slot and a second slot disposed such that said toothed strap of said first bundling tie may be inserted into said first slot of said first receptacle, through said pawl block of said first bundling tie, and through said second slot of said first receptacle, and said first bundling tie is entrapped by interengagement with said securing block, and

wherein said second receptacle is dimensioned and configured to receive said pawl block of said second bundling tie, and has a first slot and a second slot disposed such that said toothed strap of said second bundling tie may be inserted into said first slot of said second receptacle, through said pawl block of said second bundling tie, and through said second slot of said second receptacle, and said second bundling tie is entrapped by interengagement with said securing block,

wherein said securing block further comprises a shoulder formed in said securing block in a location which limits insertion of said first pawl block into said first receptacle, and a second shoulder formed in said securing block in a location which limits insertion of said second pawl block into said second receptacle, such that said first pawl block and said second pawl block are spaced apart from one another when fully inserted respectively into said first receptacle and said second receptacle.

2. The keyless restraint according to claim 1, wherein said bridge is elongate and flexible, whereby said keyless restraint may be employed as leg shackles which enable a person wearing said keyless restraint to walk while preventing the person wearing said keyless restraint from running.

3. A keyless restraint, comprising:

a securing block for receiving bundling ties, comprising a housing having a first receptacle, a second receptacle, and a bridge connecting said first receptacle and said second receptacle; and

a first bundling tie having a pawl block and a toothed strap attached to said pawl block of said first bundling tie, and a second bundling tie having a pawl block and a toothed strap attached to said pawl block of said second bundling tie,

wherein said first receptacle is dimensioned and configured to receive said pawl block of said first bundling tie, and has a first slot and a second slot disposed such that said toothed strap of said first bundling tie may be inserted into said first slot of said first receptacle, through said pawl block of said first bundling tie, and through said second slot of said first receptacle, and said first bundling tie is entrapped by interengagement with said securing block, and

wherein said second receptacle is dimensioned and configured to receive said pawl block of said second bundling tie, and has a first slot and a second slot disposed such that said toothed strap of said second bundling tie may be inserted into said first slot of said second receptacle, through said pawl block of said second bundling tie, and through said second slot of said second receptacle, and said second bundling tie is entrapped by interengagement with said securing block, wherein said first receptacle and said second receptacle each have a short projection projecting thereinto, and wherein said housing is sufficiently resilient such that each of said projections are resiliently displaced when said pawl block of said bundling tie is inserted into said receptacle, and said projection is located within said receptacle such that said projection entraps said pawl block within said receptacle when said pawl block is fully inserted into said receptacle.

4. A securing block for a keyless restraint employing conventional bundling ties, comprising a housing having a first receptacle for receiving the pawl block of a bundling tie, a second receptacle for receiving the pawl block of a bundling tie, and a bridge connecting said first receptacle and said second receptacle in spaced apart relation, wherein said first receptacle and said second receptacle each comprise

a lateral wall defining and partially enclosing a rectangular chamber therein, said lateral wall having a first slot and an opposed second slot disposed to receive and pass the toothed strap of a bundling tie into and through said receptacle, and

a member interfering with and limiting insertion of a pawl block into said receptacle beyond a predetermined distance assuring that said first slot and said second slot align with the slot of the pawl block of the bundling tie when the pawl block of the bundling tie is fully inserted into said receptacle, wherein said first receptacle and said second receptacle each have a short projection projecting thereinto, and wherein said housing is sufficiently resilient such that each of said projections are resiliently displaced when said pawl block of said bundling tie is inserted into said receptacle, and said projection is located within said receptacle such that said projection entraps said pawl block within said receptacle when said pawl block is fully inserted into said receptacle.

5. The securing block according to claim 4, wherein said first receptacle and said second receptacle each have length, and said bridge has length greater than the combined lengths of said first receptacle and said second receptacle, and wherein said bridge is flexible.