US2948278A

US2948278A - Body restrainer

Info

Publication number: US2948278A
Application number: US741081A
Authority: US
Inventors: Topa Peter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1958-06-10
Filing date: 1958-06-10
Publication date: 1960-08-09
Anticipated expiration: 1977-08-09

Description

Aug. 9, 1960 P. TOPA 2,948,278

' BODY RESTRAINER Filed June 10, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Tnzul.

INVENTOR ETE/P 75px ATTO NEY g- 1960 P. TOPA 2,948,278

' BODY RESTRAINER Filed June 10, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 1 57a? 75pm ATTORNEY United States Patent BODY RESTRAINER Peter Topa, 39 Sargent St., Hartford, Conn.

Filed June 10, 1958, Ser. No. 741,081

7 Claims. (Cl. 1281'34) This invention relates to body restrainers for the treatment or management of neurotic and violent patients in hospitals, mental institutions, and the like, and for the transportation of such patients in ambulances and the like.

The present invention constitutes an improvement upon the body restrainers described and claimed in my previous United States Patent No. 2,766,751, issued October In attempting to secure a. violent patient into 'ahody restrainer such as that disclosed in the above mentioned patent, the patient may act with such violence by-thrashing around his arms and legs, that it is extremely 'difficult to fold the body restrainer around'him and thereafter to bind the straps. body restrainer, the patient may continue to thrash around with both his legs and body in such a manner as to cause himself and the attendants considerable bodily harm.

According to the present invention, I provide means for quicklyenclosin'g the patient into a' shoulder-to-toe enclosure which, while it does not completely restrain-all motions of'the patient, nevertheless permits the'attendants to proceed undisturbed in" wrapping the final binding around the patient and securing the belts and shackles.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a body restrainer which'satisfies medical requirements for the safety and comfort of the patient, while providing a safety factor for those attendants, orderlies and nurses who are required to handle him.

The invention comprises 'g'enerally'a rectangular sheet of strong canvas orthe like, into which the patient is ultimately rolled and fastened, said sheet extending generally from'the shoulders of the patient down to at least the knees or below the knees. Additionally, the inner surface of the sheet is provided witha coat-like, sleeveless to approximately just below the knees of the patient.

Still other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the specification; 7

The features of novelty which 'I believe to be characteristic of my invention are set forth herein and will best be understood, both as to their fundamental principles. and as to their particular embodiments, by reference to the specification and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a plan view of the interior of the body re-' strainer showing the coat-like inner garment attached thereto, some parts being shown in phantom outline;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the body restrainer showinga patient enclosed in the coat-like garment;

. Fig.3 is an end view of the body restrainer, taken in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2;

Often after having been bound in the.

Fig. 4 is a section view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a side perspective view of a patient enclosed completely in both the inner garment as Well as the complete body restrainer;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing a modification of the inner garment; and

Fig. 7 is a plan view similar to Fig. 1, showing the body restrainer as constructed in the embodiment of Fig. 6.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the body restrainer of the present invention comprises a large rectangular sheet, generally designated 12, made of strong, woven canvas, or the like. In some embodiments the fabric may be made of rubberized cloth or rubber sheeting, or any other suitable flexible but strong material;

In order to add strength to the restraining device, there is inserted into each of 'a number of spaced apart, parallel, elongated pockets 15 extending across the width dimension of sheet 12, a slat 16 which may be made of a thin flexibleandresilient material, such as wood, steel, plastic or the like, said slats serving to maintain the body of the patient in-a generally straightened position, and to prevent him from making any excessive movement within the restraining sheet.

A series of spaced apart elongated straps 17 are attached by sewing, stapling or the like, to the exterior surface of sheet 12 at points 18, said straps extending substantially perpendicularly to slats 16, and cooperating with respective cinch buckles 21 which are attached by suitable means to the exterior surface of sheet 12 at 1' points 18.

- being arrayed at the back portion of the garment.

' remainder ofgarment 22 comprises a pair of opposing be coextensive with the body restrainer itself and extend

panels

24 and 25 which can be combined to encircle the body ofthe patient.

Garment 22 has a pair of shoulder portions 26 which surround a neck opening 27. The opposing elongated edges of

panels

24 and 25 of garment 22 are each provided with suitable slide fastener hooks 28 which are caused to interlock with each other by means of slide fastener element 29. In some embodiments, a flap 31 of suitable fabric such as canvas, felt, cotton or the like,

may be sewn to the neck portion 27 to extend loosely over slide fastener element 29 in order to protect the patient therefrom. The bottom edges of garment 22 may also be provided with slide fastening hook elements 32, which can be secured together by means of slide fastener element 33 which is drawn from the bottom of the sheet at the heels of the patient to the toes thereof.

While in some embodiments that portion of garment 22 extending from the shoulders to the legs may be made of a unitary sheet of canvas or the like, Figs. 1and 4 show that said garment may be made of two separate units making'up

panels

24 and 25 which are joined together by a double stitched seam 34 or the like.

When it is desired to enclose a patient into the body restrainer, the opposing edges of

panels

24 and 25 are spread out apart from each other, and the patient is laid into the center thereof. The two panels are quickly brought together, slide fastener element 29 is adjusted to panel edges together, enclosing the body, arms and legs 3 of the patient. Thereafter, the bottom slide fastener 33 is operated to enclose the feet of the patient, while his head protrudes from the neck portion thereof. Then the ends of sheet '12 are folded over the garment enclosed body as shown in Fig. 5, and straps 17 are inserted through and engaged by corresponding buckles -21 to the extent necessary to render the patient immobile. By this means the patient is completely enclosed in a restraining garment which ensures him from bodily harm and also protects the attendants from any violence in thrashing about and kicking.

In some cases it is desirable or necessary to administer stimulants or sedatives by injection to the patient while bound in the body restrainer. For that purpose there is provided in panel 25 a slit 35 which is opened and closed by means of a slide fastener 36 (Fig. 2) Also in sheet 12 there is provided a slit 37 which is opened and closed by means of a slide fastener 38 (Figs. 2 and S). Slits 35' and 37 are arrayed in such a manner that they are posit'ioned sufliciently close to each other when the patient is wrapped completely in the restraining garment so that access to the patient may be had through both slits at the same time. It is also apparent that injections may be administered to the patient through slit 35 prior to his being bound in sheet 12' (Fig. 2).

Additionally, there may be provided two pairs of hand loops 41 that are secured by sewing or stapling to the outer surface of sheet 12 whereby the patient may be carried by attendants in the completely wrapped andbound condition (Figs. 3 and In some cases it is possible to dispense with binding the lower legs of the patient, and the body restrainer may take the form shown in Figs. 6 and 7, in which the lower portion of the inner coat-like garment, generally desig nated 42, is substantially coextensive with the lower edge of sheet 12, whereby the patient is bound from the neck down to just below the knees, leaving the patient free to walk, provided he is sufficient tractable" for that purpose.

Although the inner coat-like garment is shown in the drawings as extending up to and around the neck of the patient, it is understood that said garment may otherwise extend only to the shoulders or the torso of the patient to a sufficient extent whereby the arms of the patient may be constrained against the patients body after being secured in said garment.

The slide fastening element 29 may perform its closing function upon the edges of

panels

24 and 25 in both directions relative to the disposition of the patients body within garment 22, starting either from the bottom to the top, or starting from the top to the bottom, of the garment.

In the specification, I have explained the principles of my invention, and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying those principles, so as to distinguish my invention from other inventions; and I have particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed the pare-mode or combination which I claim as my invention or discovery.

While I have shown and described certain preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that modifications and changes may be made without departing from the function and scope thereof, as will be clear to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A body restrainer comprising a fabric sheet adapted to-be wrapped around a persons body, a coat-like garment attached to the inner surface of said sheet, a pair ofopposing panels on said garment extending from the neck of the person to the feet thereof, a slide fastener adapted to secure said opposing panels together over the body prior to wrapping said sheet around said garment, and a plurality of spacedapart substantially parallel-straps secured to the outer surface of said sheet and extending laterally across said sheet, said straps being-positionedto 4 encircle and bind the body of the person after said sheet has been wrapped around the fastened garment.

2. A body restrainer comprising a fabric sheet adapted to be wrapped around a persons body, a coat-like garment attached to the inner surface of said sheet, a pair of opposing panels on said garment extending from the neck of the person to the feet thereof, a slide fastener adapted to secure said opposing panels together over the body prior to wrapping said sheet around said body, a slit in one of said panels, a slide fastener for opening and closing saidslit, a second slit in said sheet, and a slide fastener for opening and closing said second slit, both of said slits being positioned near each other when the person is enclosed in both the garment and said sheet whereby access is obtained to the body of the person through said sheet and garment.

3. A body restrainer comprising a fabric sheet adapted to be wrapped around a persons body, a coat-like garment attached to the inner surface of said sheet, a pair of opposing panels on said garment extending from the shoulders of the person to the legs thereof, a slide fastener adapted to secure said opposing panels together over the body prior to wrapping said sheet around said garmerit, and a plurality of spaced apart straps secured to the outer surface of said sheet and extending in substantially parallel array perpendicularly in respect of the body of the person secured therein, said straps being arranged to encircle and secure the body enclosed in said garment and sheet.

4. A body restrainer comprising a' fabric sheet adapted to be wrapped around a persons body, a coat-like garment attached to the inner surface of said sheet, a pair of opposing panels on said garment extending from the shoulders of the person to the legs thereof, a slide fastener adapted to secure said opposing panels together over the body prior to wrapping said sheet around said garment, a slot in at least one of said panels of said garment; and a slot in said sheet, both of said slots being substantially aligned with each other when the body is wrapped inzboth the garment and said sheet, whereby access may be had to the body from outside the restrainer.

5. A body restrainer comprising a fabric sheet adapted to be wrapped around a persons body, a coat-like garment attached to the inner surface of said sheet, a pair of opposing panels on said garment extending from the shoulders of the person to the legs thereof, a slide fastener adapted to secure said opposing panels together over the body prior to wrapping said sheet around said garment, a slot inat least one of said panels of said garment, a slide fastener for opening and closing said slot, a slot in said sheet,- and a slide fastener for open ing and closing said slot in said'sheet, both of said slots being substantially aligned with each other when the body is wrapped in both the garment and said sheet, whereby access may be had to the body from outside the restrainer.

6. A body restrainer comprising a fabric sheet adapted to be wrapped around a persons body, a coat-like garment attached-to the inner surface of said sheet, said garment being adapted'to enclose said'body and at least a portion of the'legs of the person, a pair of opposing panels on said garment, the edges of said panels extend- 'mg longitudinally of thepersons body, a slide fastener forsecuring said'opposing panels together over the body and legs prior to wrapping said sheet around said garment, and a plurality of spaced apart straps secured to theouter surface of; said sheet and extending in substantially parallel array perpendicularly in respect of said body, said straps being positioned to encircle and secure the body enclosed in said garment and saidsheet.

7. A body restrainer comprising a fabric sheet adapted to be wrapped around'a personsf body,'a coat-like garment attached to? the inner surface of said sheet, said garment"being-adaptedto enclose'said body and the legs 5 V and feet of the person, a pair of opposing panels on said of said body, said straps being positioned to encircle and garment, the edges of said panels extending longitudisecure the body enclosed in said garment and said sheet. nally of the persons body, a first slide fastener for securing said opposing panels Joggther overd the dbody and References Cited in the file of this patent egs prior to wrapping sai s eet aroun sai garment, 5 a second slide fastener for securing said opposing panels UNITED STATES PATENTS over said feet, and a plurality of spaced apart straps se- 1,964,271 ODwyer June 26, 1934 cured to the outer surface of said sheet and extending 2,530,464 Hamon Nov. 21, 1950 in substantially parallel array perpendicularly in respect 2,579,276 Schworm Dec, 18, 1951