Coiled disposable handcuffs and apparatus for coiling the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to disposable police restraints (hand cuffs), of both the single loop variety and the double loop variety. Specifically, the present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for coiling such cuffs, which are normally carried in their open configuration, or in a partially closed loop, into a small, easy to carry, and easy to use, coiled cuff form. Other embodiments of the present invention are the coiled disposable cuffs themselves, both in the single loop form and the double loop form.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of forming a compact disposable police restraint comprising the steps of: 
 (a) selecting a cuff device comprising at least one elongated, substantially flat semi-rigid strap, connected to a toothed socket clasp;    (b) rolling the flat strap of the cuff device into a coil; and    (c) securing the coil with a plastic banding device.    
     
     
         2 . A compact disposable police restraint formed by the method of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cuff device comprises a single substantially flat, toothed strap and a single slot, toothed socket clasp at one end thereof.  
     
     
         4 . A compact disposable police restraint formed by the method of  claim 3 .  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the flat strap is rolled so as to leave the toothed socket clasp on the outside of the coil.  
     
     
         6 . A compact disposable police restraint formed by the method of  claim 5 .  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the flat strap is rolled so as to place the toothed socket clasp on the inside of the coil.  
     
     
         8 . A compact disposable police restraint formed by the method of  claim 7 .  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cuff device comprises two substantially flat, semi-rigid toothed straps and a two slot, toothed socket clasp at one about the midpoint of said straps.  
     
     
         10 . A compact disposable police restraint formed by the method of  claim 9 .  
     
     
         11 . Apparatus for manufacturing a compact disposable police restraint, said apparatus comprising two spaced apart, rotatable mandrels, which when rotated will form coils from an elongated, substantially flat strap of a cuff device attached thereto.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the mandrels are slotted through the center, with the slots having the shape of a radius.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the mandrels are counter rotated using drive gears, such that they move toward one another in order to coil the cuff sections tight against each other.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the drive gears which move the counter rotating mandrels are powered by a motor.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a movable plate, mounted over the two mandrels, so that the cuff, once it has been tightly coiled and secured with a band, can be ejected from the mandrels.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising a yoke with a handle, attached to the movable plate, which forces the plate forward to eject the coiled and banded cuff.  
     
     
         17 . A disposable handcuff comprising a single tightly coiled semi-rigid toothed strap with a single slot, toothed socket clasp at one end thereof.  
     
     
         18 . A disposable handcuff comprising a single coiled semi-rigid toothed strap with a single slot, toothed socket clasp at one end thereof, further comprising a plastic banding device holding the coil in place.  
     
     
         19 . A disposable handcuff comprising two tightly coiled semi-rigid toothed straps and a two slot, toothed socket clasp at about the midpoint of said straps.  
     
     
         20 . A disposable handcuff comprising two coiled semi-rigid toothed straps and a two slot, toothed socket clasp at about the midpoint of said straps, further comprising a plastic banding device holding the coils in place.  
     
     
         21 . A method of forming a compact disposable police restraint comprising the steps of: 
 (a) selecting a disposable police restraint device comprising at least one semi-rigid strap connected to a toothed socket clasp;    (b) coiling the rigid strap of the device into a small, tight coil having at least three concentric coiled loops; and    (c) securing the compact police restraint with a plastic banding device capable of maintaining the coiled shape of the device.    
     
     
         22 . A disposable handcuff comprising a single tightly coiled semi-rigid toothed strap with a single slot, toothed socket clasp at one end thereof, further comprising a banding device holding the coil in place, made by the method of  claim 21 .  
     
     
         23 . The disposable handcuff of  claim 22 , wherein the semi-rigid strap comprises Nylon.  
     
     
         24 . The disposable handcuff of  claim 23 , wherein the Nylon is impact enhanced Nylon 66.  
     
     
         25 . A method of forming a compact disposable police restraint comprising the steps of: 
 (a) selecting a disposable police restraint device comprising two semi-rigid straps, each connected to opposite sides of a toothed socket clasp;    (b) coiling the semi-rigid straps of the device into individual small tight coils, each having at least three concentric coiled loops; and    (c) securing the compact coiled police restraint with a banding device capable of maintaining the coiled shapes of the straps.    
     
     
         26 . A disposable handcuff comprising two tightly coiled semi-rigid toothed straps and a two slot, toothed socket clasp at about the midpoint of said straps, made by the method of  claim 25 .  
     
     
         27 . The disposable handcuff of  claim 26 , wherein the semi-rigid strap comprises Nylon.  
     
     
         28 . The disposable handcuff of  claim 27 , wherein the Nylon is impact enhanced Nylon 66.