WO2017137332A1

WO2017137332A1 - Device and method for restraining a violent person in a seat

Info

Publication number: WO2017137332A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/052479
Authority: WO
Inventors: Richard James Edward STRICKLAND; Antony Robert MORGAN
Original assignee: Total Resolve Training Limited
Priority date: 2016-02-09
Filing date: 2017-02-04
Publication date: 2017-08-17
Also published as: GB2547195B; GB2547195A; GB201602279D0

Abstract

A support strap (10) has cooperating connection means and tightening means (12) adjacent its ends enabling the strap to be formed into a first loop (24) which is passed around the seat back (26), with the connection and tightening means being behind the seat back, A restraining strap (28) has cooperating connection, means and tightening means (36) adjacent its ends enabling the strap to be formed into a second loop (34), longer than and in substantially the same plane as the first loop. The restraining strap is secured to the support strap intermediate the ends thereof and is passed around the upper arms (42) of the person and behind, the seat back, where it is secured and tightened. Neither the support strap nor the restraining strap has a reiea.se device intermediate the ends thereof. The person is thereby restrained, in a. reliable manner without substantial risk of injury.

Description

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR RESTRAINING

A VIOLENT PERSON IN A SEAT

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a device for restraining a violent person in a seat, and to a method of using such a device. In particular, the invention relates to a device and method for restraining a violent passenger in a vehicle, most especially where that vehicle is an aircraft. Background to the invention

Although most aircraft journeys take place without incident, it sometimes happens that a passenger becomes violent towards the crew and/or other passengers, endangering their safety and that of the aircraft. This situation may be triggered by the consumption of alcohol or drugs, by panic or by other reasons. In such circumstances it may become necessary for crew members, or even other passengers, to restrain that passenger and this would usually be done by strapping them into an aircraft seat.

Devices for this purpose are known and used on different aircraft. For example, a system used by a major international airline incorporates a number of separate straps made of a similar material to that used for vehicle safety belts. The straps need to be placed around various parts of the violent passenger's body and around the aircraft seat and its support frame before being coupled and tightened. Some of the straps of this known device are intended to pass across the passenger's chest, which can risk injury to the passenger especially if he or she continues to resist restraint. Furthermore, given the number of straps which have to be coupled and tightened, the process can be extremely difficult to carry out, especially if the passenger might still be fighting against restraint. Because of such difficulties, significant resources have to be spent on training crew members to carry out this process. Similar issues can arise with violent passengers in other forms of transport, or even in non-transport environments, where the violent person is a risk of safety to others and where security staff, or even members of the public, perceive the need to reduce risks by restraining the violent person in a seat. By the term "seat" in the context of the present invention, we include those items of furniture where an individual may adopt a sitting position with an element of the furniture acting as a back rest, including, for example, hospital examination tables and beds.

However, the invention is most applicable to seats that are fixed to a massive structure, such as a building or vehicle floor.

It is the objective of the present invention to provide a device which is easier and more reliable to use, even in the case of a violent passenger, and to provide an improved method of using such a device.

There are many known uses for strap arrangements, including as vehicle safety straps, parachutes, baby restraints, and the like.

For example, British Patent publication GB 2,274,049 (Aldsworth) describes a harness to be worn by an angler. The harness includes a first horizontal loop intended to pass around the wearer's chest, and second horizontal loop, intended to pass around the wearer's back, as well as shoulder and other straps. The connections between the first and second loops are widely spaced, closely adjacent the wearer's armpits. The harness can be used to enable the wearer to be strapped to the back of a chair.

German Utility Model DE 202007 005007 (Wysozki) describes a safety harness for holding an elderly or sick individual in a seat. The harness includes a wide horizontal loop in the form of a body belt and shoulder straps which are connected behind a seat backrest.

United States patent US 4,860,560 (Lundelius) describes a restraining device for use with violent prisoners or the like. The device has a horizontal waist belt to which handcuffs are chained, as well as vertical crotch and neck straps.

We are aware of United States patent US 4,637,629 (Cummings) which describes a non-encumbering torso restraint system, for use in an aircraft, as a safety restraint system for crew members. The system is mounted on the back rest of an aircraft pilot's seat and includes a pair of crisscrossing straps and a pair of tension straps connected to a U-shaped member which partially encircles the torso of the pilot.

None of these prior published documents addresses the objective of the present invention.

Summary of the invention

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a device for restraining a violent person in a seat, the arrangement including:

a support strap having cooperating connection means and tightening means adjacent its ends enabling the strap to be formed into a first loop which is capable of being passed around the seat back, with the connection and tightening means being behind the seat back;

a restraining strap having cooperating connection means and tightening means adjacent its ends enabling the restraining strap to be formed into a second loop, longer than and in substantially the same plane as the first loop, the restraining strap being secured to the support strap intermediate the ends of the support strap, and being capable of being passed around the upper arms of the person and behind the seat back, where it is capable of being secured and tightened,

neither the support strap nor the restraining strap having a release device intermediate the ends thereof.

A device as described above can be used to restrain a violent person in a seat. Thus, according to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of restraining a violent person in a seat, with the use of a device including a support member and a strap having cooperating connection means adjacent its ends and being secured to the support member, the method comprising:

a) securing the support member to the seat back;

b) placing the person in the seat in front of the support member;

c) passing the strap around the upper arms of the person and behind the seat back;

d) connecting the free ends of the strap together behind the seat back thereby to form a strap loop; and

e) tightening the loop thereby to restrain the person.

In a preferred embodiment, the support member is formed by a support strap. Therefore according to a preferred aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of restraining a violent person in a seat, with the use of a device including a support strap having cooperating connection means adjacent its ends; and a restraining strap having cooperating connection means adjacent its ends and being secured to the support strap intermediate the ends of the support strap, the method comprising:

a) forming the support strap into a first loop which passes behind the seat back, where it is secured and tightened;

b) placing the person in the seat in front of the first loop;

c) passing the restraining strap around the upper arms of the person and behind the seat back;

d) connecting the free ends of the restraining strap together behind the seat back thereby to form a restraining strap loop longer than and in substantially the same plane as the first loop; and

e) tightening the second loop thereby to restrain the person.

In an embodiment of the method of the invention, the support strap is formed into said first loop in advance of placing the first loop over the top of the seat back and then tightening the first loop. Handcuffs, or other wrist restraining devices, may be put on to the person prior to placing the person in the seat. Preferably, the support strap and/or the restraining strap is formed of webbing having a width of between 2.0 cm and 10.0 cm, ideally between 4.0 cm and 6.0 cm. From a weight consideration, the straps could be as narrow as possible, but in order to prevent the restraining strap acting as a tourniquet around the person's upper arms, thereby risking injury, the restraining strap ideally has at least the width given above.

The material of the first and/or restraining straps preferably has a breaking stress of at least 18 kN (about 4,000 lb force). This minimum breaking stress reduces the chances of the person breaking free from restraint by breaking the restraining strap and/or the support strap.

The material of the first and/or restraining straps ideally has an elasticity of less than 40% at 11.1 kN (about 2,500 lb force) preferably less than 30%, especially less than 20%. This requirement reduces the risk of the restraining strap and/or the support strap becoming loose as a result of force applied by violent person movement.

The thickness of the first and/or the restraining strap is preferably between 1.0 and 1.7 mm, most preferably between about 1.2 and 1.6 mm. This

requirement reduces the risk of the restraining strap and/or the support strap breaking as a result of force applied to them.

Suitable webbing material for the restraining and support straps are commercially available, for example nylon or polyester webbing, such as the polyester webbings ex Absolute Industrial, Somerset, United Kingdom or ex Attwoolls Manufacturing, Gloucester, United Kingdom.

The tightening means of the support strap may be such as to enable the circumference of the first loop to be adjusted to between 1.0 m and 2.0 m. Such a circumference will enable the support strap to pass around the back of a seat of the sizes used in most vehicles. The tightening means of the restraining strap may be such as to enable the circumference of the second loop to be adjusted to between 1.5 m and 2.5 m. Thereby it is ensured that the second loop is longer than the first loop. Such a circumference will enable the restraining strap to pass around the upper arms of a person of expected girth and behind the back of a seat of the sizes used in most vehicles.

For ease of use and to reduce the risk of injury to the person, the strap arrangement is as symmetrical as possible. Thus, the restraining strap is ideally secured to the support strap at a position between 30 and 90 cm, preferably between 40 and 75 cm, from one end of the support strap. This has the added advantage of ensuring that the restraining strap passes in use around each of the upper arms of the person to the extent of between 180 and 270 degrees, this range providing sufficient restraint while minimising the risk of injury to the person. The restraining strap may be secured to the support strap in face-to-face contact over a length of from 10 to 30 cm, for example by stitching. The breaking stress of the stitching or other means of connection between the support strap and the restraining strap should be at least as high as that of the straps themselves, to ensure that the person is not able to break this connection and thereby release the restraint.

The connection means of either strap may consist of a manually releasable buckle carried adjacent one end of the strap, the buckle being of a configuration enabling the opposite end of the strap to be passed through the buckle and folded back upon itself, means being provided to cause the folded-back portion of the strap to fold back over the buckle and adhere to another portion of the strap. The means provided to cause the folded-back portion of the strap to adhere to the strap is preferably constituted by hook and loop fabric, such as "Velcro" (TM), secured to a face of the strap, for example by stitching. A suitable such buckle is a three- point locking buckle, such as described in British patent application GB

1620770.6 (Total Resolve Training Limited). Introduction to the accompanying drawings

The invention will now be further illustrated, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a strap arrangement according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view taken in the direction "II" in Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a view taken in the direction "III" in Figure I;

Figure 4 is a rear view of the strap arrangement of Figure 1 in use; and

Figure 5 is a front view of the strap arrangement of Figure 1 in use.

Description of a preferred embodiment

Referring to the drawings, which are not intended to be to scale, there is shown a device for restraining a violent passenger in an aircraft seat. The device is a strap arrangement which includes a support strap 10 formed of polyester webbing having a width of 5.0 cm, a thickness of 1.4 mm, a breaking stress of at least 18 kN, and an elasticity of less than 20% at 11.1 kN.

Connection and tightening means of the support strap 10 are constituted by a buckle 12 carried adjacent one end 14 of the support strap, the buckle 12 being of a configuration enabling the opposite end 16 of the support strap to be passed through the buckle and folded back upon itself. "Velcro" (TM) 18 stitched to a face of the support strap enables the folded-back portion 20 of the support strap to fold back over the buckle 12 to secure to a Velcro portion adjacent the opposite end 14 of the support strap (see especially Figure 2). When so connected, the support strap 10 is formed into a continuous inner loop 24 which is so configured as to be capable of being passed around the seat back 26 of the aircraft seat, as shown in Figure 4. The inner loop 24 can be adjusted to a circumference between 1.0 m and 2.0 m, so as to fit aircraft seat backs of various sizes.

A restraining strap 28 is provided also formed of polyester webbing having a width of 5.0 cm, a thickness of 1.4 mm, a breaking stress of at least 18 kN, and an elasticity of less than 20% at 11.1 kN. The restraining strap 28 is stitched to the support strap 10 at the mid-point (i.e. at about 60 cm from the end 14, as indicated by broken lines 30) thereof, in face-to-face contact over a length of about 20 cm. The breaking stress of the stitching between the support strap 10 and the restraining strap 28 is higher than that of the straps themselves, to ensure that the passenger is not able to break this connection and thereby release the restraint.

The restraining strap 28 is provided with cooperating connection and tightening means in the form of a manually releasable buckle 36 by means of which the strap can be formed into a continuous outer loop 34, longer than and in substantially the same plane as the inner loop 24. The buckle has a housing part 32 and is secured to the one end of the strap 28. The tongue 40 of the buckle has slots 38 through which the opposite free end of the strap 28 is passed to enable the loop to be tightened. The end of the strap 28 is folded back over the buckle 36 and secured against the loop 34 using Velcro 18 (see especially Figure 3). The outer loop 34 is so configured as to be capable of being passed around the upper arms (indicated by broken lines 42 in Figure 1) of the passenger 44 and behind the seat back 26, with the buckle 36 being behind the seat back 26, as explained in more detail below, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The outer loop 34 can be adjusted to a circumference of between 1.5 m and 2.5 m, so as to fit passengers and aircraft seat backs of various sizes.

The device as described above can be used to restrain a violent passenger 44 in an aircraft seat. In this method, the support strap 10 is formed into the inner loop 24 which is then placed over the top of the seat back 26 so that the inner loop 24 passes behind the seat back 26, where it is secured and tightened. Handcuffs, or other wrist restraint devices (not shown) are put on to the passenger 44 prior to placing the passenger 44 in the aircraft seat, in front of the inner loop 24. The restraining strap 28 is then passed around the upper arms 42 of the passenger 44 to the extent of about 225 degrees and behind the seat back 26. The free ends of the restraining strap 28 are connected together by means of the buckle 36 behind the seat back 26 thereby to form an outer loop 34 longer than and in substantially the same plane as the inner loop 24. Finally the outer loop 34 is tightened thereby to restrain the passenger 44 in the seat.

By enabling the support strap to be fixed in position before the passenger is placed in the seat, it is less possible for the passenger to interfere with this process. Furthermore the single restraining strap can be put in position and tightened very quickly. All the strap connections are behind the seat where the passenger cannot reach them. By passing the restraining strap around the upper arms of the passenger, as opposed to across the passenger's chest as was the case with the prior art device, the risk of injury to the passenger is minimised.

Claims

1. A device for restraining a violent person in a seat, the arrangement including:

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the support strap and/or the restraining strap is formed of webbing having a width of between 2.0 cm and cm.

3. The device according to any preceding claim, wherein the material of the first and/or restraining straps has a breaking stress of at least 18 kN.

4. The device according to any preceding claim, wherein the material of the first and/or restraining straps has an elasticity of less than 40% at 11.1 kN.

5. The device according to any preceding claim, wherein the thickness of the first and/or the restraining strap is between 1.0 mm and 1.7 mm. -

6. The device according to any preceding claim, wherein the support strap includes tightening means enabling the circumference of the first loop to be adjusted to between 1.0 m and 2.0 m.

7. The device according to any preceding claim, wherein the restraining strap includes tightening means enabling the circumference of the second loop to be adjusted to between 1.5 m and 2.5 m.

8. The device according to any preceding claim, wherein the restraining strap is secured to the support strap at a position between 30 and 90 cm from one end of the support strap.

9. The device according to any preceding claim, wherein the restraining strap is secured to the support strap in face-to-face contact over a length of from 10 to 30 cm.

10. The device according to any preceding claim, wherein the connection means of the support strap and/or the restraining strap consists of a manually releasable buckle.

11. The device according to any preceding claim, wherein the connection and tightening means of the support strap and/or the restraining strap is constituted by a buckle carried adjacent one end of the strap, the buckle being of a configuration enabling the opposite end of the strap to be passed through the buckle and folded back upon itself, means being provided to cause the folded-back portion of the strap to adhere to another portion of the strap.

12. The device according to claim 11 , wherein the means provided to cause the folded-back portion of the strap to adhere to the other portion of the strap is constituted by hook and loop fabric.

13. A method of restraining a violent person in a seat, with the use of a device according to any preceding claim.

14. A method of restraining a violent person in a seat, with the use of a device including a support member; and a strap having cooperating connection means adjacent its ends and being secured to the support member, the method

comprising:

a) securing the support member to the seat back;

b) placing the person in the seat in front of the support member;

e) tightening the loop thereby to restrain the person.

15. A method of restraining a violent person in a seat, with the use of a device including a support strap having cooperating connection means adjacent its ends; and a restraining strap having cooperating connection means adjacent its ends and being secured to the support strap intermediate the ends of the support strap, the method comprising:

b) placing the person in the seat in front of the first loop;

e) tightening the second loop thereby to restrain the person.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the support strap is formed into said first loop in advance of placing the first loop over the top of the seat back and then tightening the first loop.

17. The method of claim 15 or 16, wherein a wrist restraining device is put on to the person prior to placing the person in the seat.

18. The method of any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein the restraining strap passes around each of the upper arms to the extent of between 180 degrees and 270 degrees.

19. The method of any one of claims 15 to 18, wherein the violent person is a violent passenger in a vehicle, especially an aircraft.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)