WO2020079453A1

WO2020079453A1 - A person restraining device

Info

Publication number: WO2020079453A1
Application number: PCT/GB2019/052989
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rajiv Varma; David Ho
Original assignee: Rajiv Varma; David Ho
Priority date: 2018-10-19
Filing date: 2019-10-18
Publication date: 2020-04-23
Also published as: GB2578164A; GB201817084D0; GB2578164B

Abstract

A person restraining device (10) for restraining a person. The restraining device (10) comprises a restraining surface (1) configured to restrain the movement of a person and at least one handle (3) for a user to hold to manoeuvre the restraining device (10). In use, the restraining device (10) is held by a user and manoeuvred such that the restraining surface (1) forms a cavity around the person and restrains the movement of the person.

Description

A PERSON RESTRAINING DEVICE FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a person restraining device,

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Physical restraints of people by law enforcement officers or healthcare staff can lead to unintended harm including death. These people are deemed necessary to be subdued often due to the grave and serious risk they pose to others, and themselves.

However, there are many problems with known means of physical restraint. For example, risk of serious harm to the person. Known restraint techniques employ coordinated manipulation of the person’s arm and holding the person down onto the ground. This is typically done by several enforcers and can lead to increased likelihood of serious body compression injuries including asphyxiation (fatality resulting from lack of oxygen). This occurs when the person is held with force, face down (prone position) for the amount of time required to employ further measures. These include allowing for the person’s arms to be handcuffed behind his or her back (such as in the security services), or medication to be administered intramuscularly in the gluteal (buttock) region as a means of rapid tranquilization (such as in the health care services).

Further use of physical restraint is required to achieve escorting of a person to a different area (e.g. segregation facility). Operator or staff injuries often occur as a result of employing conventional physical restraint techniques on persons.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Inventors of the present invention have appreciated the need for a person restraining device that can restrain a subject without risk of injury to the person or the user of the device attempting to restraining the person. A restraining device is therefore provided to address these problems. The device may be used for safely restraining subjects in the health and security industry. Arrangements are described in more detail below and take the form of a person restraining device for restraining a person. The restraining device comprises a restraining surface configured to restrain the movement of a person and at least one handle for a user to hold to manoeuvre the restraining device. In use, the restraining device is held by a user and manoeuvred such that the restraining surface forms a cavity around the person and restrains the movement of the person.

The invention in its various aspects is defined in the independent claims below to which reference should now be made. Optional features are set forth in the dependent claims.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a person restraining device for restraining a person, the restraining device comprising· a restraining surface configured to restrain the movement of a person, and at least one handle for a user to hold and manoeuvre the restraining device, wherein, in use, the device is held and manoeuvred by a user such that the restraining surface forms a cavity around the person and restrains the movement of the person.

The restraining surface may be any suitable surface configured to restrain the movement of a person. For example, the restraining surface may be a concave semi-circular arch shaped or semi-cylindrical surface, with a first surface, such as the inner surface, facing the subject or person during use. The user of the device is not the person being restrained. The user is another person. The restraining surface may be any other shape suitable for restraining a person, such as a rectangular prism shape or any other box like shape. A rectangular prism is a solid, three-dimensional object which has six faces that are rectangles and it has the same cross-section along a length. The restraining surface forms a cavity around the person. The cavity may be formed between the restraining surface and another surface by bringing the edges of the restraining surface into contact with another surface, for example the floor or a wall. The walls of the cavity therefore comprise the restraining surface and the other surface.

The restraining device comprises at least one handle for a user to hold and manoeuvre the restraining device. The device may have two or more handles on a second or outer surface of the restraining surface. For example, the device may comprise two handles on a convex surface of a semi-cylindrical surface. The handles may project outwardly from the restraining surface, which enables a user to sling the device over a shoulder to make the device easier to carry. Projecting handles may be fastened to the restraining surface by fastening means such as with bolts, or the handles may be integral with the restraining surface or otherwise formed or moulded from the material itself. Alternatively, the handles may comprise holes or grips on or through the restraining surface, rather than outwardly projecting handles. The handles may be located, for example, along a middle axis of the restraining surface, or located towards the edges of the restraining surface.

The restraining surface may also comprise one or more projecting portions which project away from the at least one handle.

To enable the user of the device visibility of the person being restrained, the restraining surface may comprise a transparent portion. In other words, a portion that allows light to pass through so that the person being restrained behind can be distinctly seen. The transparent portion may be positioned towards one end of the restraining surface such that the user can see through during use. The transparent portion may comprise some of, a substantial portion of, or the whole of the surface. For example, the transparent portion may comprise at least 50% of the surface, or preferably at least 60% of the surface, or even more preferably at least 70% of the surface.

The restraining surface may comprise a plurality of surface portions. The plurality of surface portions may be configured to be connected together and disconnected, for example with a hinge mechanism. Different numbers of surface portions may be connected together to form different size of restraining surface depending on the size of the person being restrained. When the surface portions are disconnected, the person restraining device is compact for ease of transportation and storage. The plurality of surface portions may be provided as a kit of parts. The surface portions may be configured to slide relative to one another. This allows for the size of the restraining surface to be adjusted. Methods to allow for two or more surface portions to be attached and used together in parallel (side-by-side) and/or lengthwise.

The surface portions may also be connected together by a flexible material such as in the form of a sheet to enable the surface portions to be brought together and moved apart, thus extending and reducing the length of the device, while still being connected by the flexible material. The flexible material may be strong enough to not break, split, or elastically deform during use, for example an engineering plastic or polymer. The flexible material may be configured to be inflated, for example the flexible material may for a balloon. The material may distend when inflated. By inflating the flexible portion, the chance of harm or injury to the person being restrained is reduced. The surface portions may also be connected by one or more handles. The handles may be telescopic. That is, the one or more handles form concentric sections such that they can slide relative to one another, enabling extension and retraction.

The surface portions themselves may be arranged to be telescopic to enable the device to be extended, for example during use, and retracted, for example when storing and transporting the device.

The restraining surface may be made of a high tensile strength material such as high tensile strength polyurethane, rigid foam, polycarbonate or other similar material. For example, the material may have a tensile strength above 100kPa, preferably above 1 MPa, for example between 1 MPa and 100MPa.

In use, the restraining device may encompass the person’s body such that their movement is restrained. The person may be restricted against a surface such that that the restraining surface forms a cavity around the person. The surface may be the ground or a wall or any other suitable surface. The person’s movement is restricted such that it removes their ability to cause harm to a user of the person restraining device or themselves while allowing respiratory movements, therefore eradicating the chance of prolonged body compression and asphyxiation.

The inner surface, that is the surface that is closest to the restrained person in use, may comprise a material which is configured to be inflated. For example, the material may form inner balloon portions or an inflatable lining on the inside surface of the restraining surface. The material may distend when inflated. The inflatable balloon portions reduce the risk of harm to the person during use. During use, the balloon portions may be inflated to further restrict the person’s or subject’s movement.

The restraining device may also comprise sensors, for example biometric sensors, preferably on the inner surface of the restraining surface. These sensors may be used to monitor characteristics of the person being restrained, for example, the person’s vital signs or vitals including pulse, respiration or breathing, and oxygen levels. The monitoring is for safety. They indicate danger to the subject or person being restrained. . The sensors may have inbuilt or integral alarms. The alarms may be sound or visual, such as one or more flashing lights. The sensors may also be linked to an indicator or alarm device which alerts via a sound or a visual alert. For example, an LED on the outer surface of the restraining surface may flash or light up if to alert the user that the person is in danger, for example if their respiration is being restricted and they cannot breathe. Each characteristic being monitored may be given a predetermined value or range or safe value or range and if a sensor senses that a characteristic is above or below the predetermined value or outside of the predetermined range, the user is alerted. The sensors and alarms significantly increase the safety of the person being restrained, in particular, by monitoring respiration to prevent asphyxiation.

Once the person is restrained, a portion of the restraining device may be opened, either by lifting a flap portion, sliding a sliding portion, or by any other means to allow the user to safely interact with the restrained person. For example, to safely handcuff the person’s hands or introduce medication to the person, for example via an injection into the gluteal region. The person may then be allowed to lie safely on the ground until they are deemed safe to be moved, without the risk of adverse medical consequences due to prolonged compressive force.

The device may include a base attachment in the form of a stretcher attachment. There may be a mechanism to attach or slide a stretcher like device under the restraining surface, such as clip mechanisms or grooves on each side of the restraining surface to slide the stretched into. This allows the person to be transported easily and safely, for example, moved safely to a safe and secure site if required.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for restraining a person, the method comprising a user holding at least one handle on a restraining surface of a person restraining device; and the user manoeuvring the restraining surface to form a cavity around a person to restrict the movement of the person.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in more detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a person restraining device embodying an aspect of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of another person restraining device embodying an aspect of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the person restraining device of Figure 1 from another direction; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the person restraining device of Figure 1 in use;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of another person restraining device embodying an aspect of the present invention;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a yet further person restraining device embodying an aspect of the present invention; Figure 7 is a perspective view of a still further person restraining device embodying an aspect of the present invention;

Figure 8a is a perspective view of another person restraining device embodying an aspect of the present invention in a retracted form; and

Figure 8b is a perspective view of the person restraining device of Figure 8a in an extended form.

Like features of the drawings are denoted by like reference numerals^

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A person restraining device and a method for restraining a person will now be described with reference to Figures 1 to 7, 8a and 8b. Figure 1 illustrates a person restraining device 10. The restraining device 10 has a restraining surface 1 , which in this example is a semi-cyiindrical shaped surface made of a high tensile strength polyurethane. The restraining surface comprises an outer convex surface 1 1 and an inner concave surface 4. The example restraining device also comprises multiple handles, in this example, two handles 3, which in this example are projecting handles, projecting outwardly from the restraining surface 1 and located along a middle longitudinal axis of the restraining surface 1. However, the handles may be located at different sites. The restraining device has a material on the inner surface which is configured to be inflated. In this example, the material forms a plurality of inflatable inner balloon portions 5.

Figure 2 illustrates a similar apparatus or device 20 to that of Figure 1 but Figure 2 further includes a second surface portions attached in lineto the a single restraining surface 1 of Figure 1. The surface portions 1 ,2 are attached with a hinge mechanism (not shown). Each surface portion 1 ,2 comprises its own handle or handles. There may be more than two surface portions in line.

Figure 3 illustrates a different perspective view of the restraining device 10 of Figure 1 so that the interior or inside surface 22 of the restraining device against which a person may be restrained can be seen. The restraining device further includes sensors 6 and, in particular, safety sensors of the restraining device which in this example are located on the inside surface of the restraining device on the inflatable portions 5.

Figure 4 illustrates the restraining device 10 of Figure 1 in use, applied to a person 30 in a horizontal position on the ground. The inflatable inner attachment 5 is inflated (emphasised by the use of reference numeral 5a). The inflatable portion provides safety to the person being restrained. The inflatable portion reduces movement of the person being restrained. This attachment inflates away from the device towards the person being restrained. The person is restrained in a cavity formed between a restraining surface of the device formed by an inside surface and another surface, in this example, the ground. In this way, the person’s movements are restricted. In particular, the person is held face down. The person’s arms are held at their sides. The person has limited or restricted movement of their torso, head and legs.

Figure 5 illustrates a stretcher base 7 attached to the example restraining device 10 of Figure 1. The stretcher base includes handles 36 extending from it. This arrangement allows for easy and safe transport of the person or subject if required. The stretcher base 7 is attached to the restraining surface 1 with a clipping mechanism or arrangement 8. This arrangement includes clips 32 spaced apart along free edges 34 of the device to clip to the base. In this way, the device is converted to a stretcher to carry the subject safely to another site if required. Figure 6 illustrates another example of a restraining device 40. This example restraining device includes a transparent portion 12 in the surface portion 1 and a removable portion 9 in the surface portion. In this example, the removable portion opens outwardly on a hinge mechanism towards the user using a handle 19 attached to the removable portion. The transparent portion allows a person being restrained to be viewed by a user of the device. Figure 7 illustrates a restraining device 50 comprising a plurality of surface portions 1. Each surface portion 1 has its own handle 3 and the handles are located in line with one another along a central length axis of the device. In this example, the surface portions are connected to one another by a flexible material 52 to enable the surface portions to be brought together and moved apart, while still being connected by the flexible material. The flexible material allows the device to be expanded to a longer length. The flexible material may be inflatable for strength and/or to restrict the subject or person’s movement safely.

Figure 8a illustrates a restraining device 60 similar to that of Figure 7, but significantly, in this example, the restraining device further comprises a telescopic handle arrangement 62. In this example, a single telescopic handle arrangement is located on the top of the device. Alternatively, a plurality of telescopic handle arrangements could be provided. These arrangements could be on the sides of the device. In Figure 8a, the telescopic handle arrangement is shown retracted. The inline surface portions 1 are connected by the flexible material 52, but they are also connected by the telescopic handle 62. The telescopic handle is formed of concentric sections 64 such that one can slide into another, enabling extension to expand the total length of the device and retraction. In Figure 8b, the arrangement is shown extended.

In use, described with reference to the restraining device 10 of Figures 1 and 4, a user holds the handles 3 of the restraining device 10 to manoeuvre the device around or over a person 30 against a surface such as a wall or floor, such that a cavity is formed between the inner surface 4 of the restraining surface 1 and the surface. The person’s movement is therefore restrained as the person is enclosed in the formed cavity. The user is able to inflate the inflatable inner attachments 5 which applies pressure on the person in order to further, but safely, restrain the person.

In the example of Figure 6, during use, the user is able to monitor the condition of the person visually using the transparent portion 12, as well as the sensors 6. The sensors 6 are linked to an alarm (not shown) which alerts a user by a visible light emitting diode (LED) flashing on the outer surface 11 if the person is in danger during the restraint. The user is also able to further secure or restrain the person using the removable portion 9. The user can lift the removable portion 9 or flap and secure the person’s hands with handcuffs. The user can also administer medication to further subdue the person.

Referring to the example of Figure 5, once the person is restrained and/or medicated, the stretcher attachment 7 may be attached using clips 8. The stretcher attachment or base 7 is slid under the person, forming a cavity between the inner surface 4 of the restraining surface 1 and the stretcher attachment or base 7. Users may then transport the safely restrained person.

Embodiments of the present invention have been described. It will be appreciated that variations and modifications may be made to the described embodiments within the scope of the present invention. Some or all of the features of the different embodiments described may be combined as will be clear to the person skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A person restraining device for restraining a person, the person restraining device comprising:

a restraining surface configured to restrain the movement of a person, and at least one handle for a user to hold and manoeuvre the person restraining device, wherein, in use, the person restraining device is held and manoeuvred by a user such that the restraining surface forms a cavity around the person and restrains the movement of the person.

2. A person restraining device according to claim 1 , wherein the restraining surface comprises one or more projecting portions which project in a direction away from the at least one handle.

3. A person restraining device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the restraining surface approximately defines a semi-cylindrical shape.

4. A person restraining device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the restraining surface approximately defines a rectangular prism shape.

5. A person restraining device according to any preceding claim, wherein the

restraining surface comprises a transparent portion.

6. A person restraining device according to claim 5, wherein the transparent portion comprises a substantial part of the restraining surface.

7. A person restraining device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the transparent portion comprises at least 70% of the restraining surface.

8. A person restraining device according to any preceding claim, wherein the person restraining device is configurable to extend and retract.

9. A person restraining device according to any preceding claim, wherein the

restraining surface comprises a plurality of surface portions.

10. A person restraining device according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of surface portions are configured to connect and disconnect with one another.

1 1 . A person restraining device according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of surface portions are connected with a sheet material.

12. A person restraining device according to claim 1 1 , wherein the sheet material is configured to be inflated,

13. A person restraining device according to any preceding claim, wherein the

restraining surface is made from a material with a high tensile strength. 4. A person restraining device according to claim 13, wherein the material is

polyurethane, rigid foam, or polycarbonate.

15. A person restraining device according to any preceding claim, wherein the device further comprises a material configured to be inflated which covers at least a portion of a surface of the restraining surface.

16. A person restraining device according to any preceding claim, wherein the device further comprises sensors configured to monitor characteristics of the person.

17. A person restraining device according to claim 16, wherein the sensors are

connected to one or more indicators configured to indicate when one or more monitored characteristics are not in a predetermined range.

18. A person restraining device according to any preceding claim, wherein a portion of the restraining surface is openable or detachable.

19. A person restraining device according to any preceding claim, wherein the device is mountable to a stretcher.

20. A person restraining device according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one handle is telescopic.

21. A person restraining device according to any preceding claim, wherein the person is not the user.

22. A method for restraining a person, the method comprising:

a user holding at least one handle on a restraining surface of a person restraining device; and

the user manoeuvring the restraining surface to form a cavity around a person to restrict the movement of the person.

23. A method for restraining a person according to claim 22, wherein the cavity is

formed between the restraining surface and another surface.

24. A method for restraining a person according to claim 23, wherein the another

surface is a wall or a floor.

25. A method for restraining a person according to any of claims 22 to 24, wherein the restraining surface comprises one or more projecting portions which project in a direction away from the at least one handle.