Prisoner Safety Seat and Method of Use

Abstract

A prisoner seat security device includes a retractable strap which hooks or clasps onto a prisoner, preferably by a restraint device on the prisoner, such as hand-cuffs. As the prison seats in the seat, the strap retracts. The officer can then lock the retraction mechanism so that the strap will not extend and the prisoner is held in place. When it is desired for the prisoner to get out of the chair, the lock is released, allowing the prisoner to stand the strap to be disconnected.

1 . A prisoner safety seat comprising:
 a seat;   a retractable restraint device having a tether configured for attachment to attach to a pair of handcuffs, a retraction mechanism for retracting the tether and a locking mechanism and a locking mechanism for selectively limiting extension of the tether; and   a guide formed in the seat and configured to accept the retractable restraint such that a portion of the tether can be passed through the guide.   
   
   
       2 . The prisoner safety set of  claim 1  further comprising a user activated control, remote from the locking member and person in the seat and configured for selectively locking the locking member. 
   
   
       3 . The prisoner safety seat of  claim 2 , wherein the chair comprises a channel formed therein for passing the tether through the chair. 
   
   
       4 . The prisoner safety chair of  claim 3 , wherein the chair has a back portion and a base portion and wherein the channel if formed in the base portion of the chair. 
   
   
       5 . The prisoner safety chair of  claim 1 , further comprising an expansion module for communicating with remote devices. 
   
   
       6 . The prisoner safety chair of  claim 5 , wherein the expansion module further comprises a network interface. 
   
   
       7 . The prisoner safety chair of  claim 1 , wherein the chair has a back portion and a bottom portion and wherein the guide is disposed in the middle of the bottom portion such that a person could sit on either side of the guide or with the guide between their legs. 
   
   
       8 . A prisoner safety seat comprising:
 a seat having a base portion;   a tether configured to attach to a person;   a retraction mechanism configured to retract the tether as the person sits in the seat, the retraction mechanism being mounted to the seat;   a tether guide mounted upon the base portion of the seat and configured to accept the tether;   a locking mechanism configured to receive a signal and to prevent extension of the tether after receipt of the signal such that the person is held in the seat; and   a user operated signal source remote to the person in the seat, the signal source providing the signal to the locking mechanism.   
   
   
       9 . The prisoner safety seat of  claim 8 , wherein base portion has a front edge and wherein the tether guide is attached to base portion rearwardly of the front edge. 
   
   
       10 . The prisoner safety seat of  claim 8 , wherein the seat further comprises a visual indicator which identifies when the locking mechanism is activated. 
   
   
       11 . A method for restraining a person in custody, the method comprising:
 selecting a tether connected to a retraction mechanism, the tether having an attachment mechanism on a free end thereof;   placing the tether through a guide located on the base portion of a seat;   selecting a person wearing a restraint mechanism;   attaching the attachment mechanism to the restraint mechanism;   retracting the tether as the person sits in the seat; and   locking the retraction mechanism to hold the person in the seat by use of a control operated by a second person.   
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the seat comprises a chair and wherein the method comprises using a chair having the retraction mechanism disposed on an opposite side of the chair than the person wearing the restraint mechanism. 
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises producing a visual indication when the retraction mechanism is locked to thereby ensure that the person is properly restrained in the seat. 
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the method comprises sitting the person wearing a restraint mechanism into the seat so that the guide is disposed between the person's legs. 
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the method comprises using a wireless remote to unlock the retraction mechanism. 
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising providing information about whether the retraction mechanism is locked over a network. 
   
   
       17 . A method for restraining a prisoner, the method comprising:
 attaching a tether to a person and retracting the tether with a retraction mechanism as the person sits down in a seat;   locking the retraction mechanism to hold the person in the seat; and   producing a visual indication that the retraction mechanism is in a locked orientation.   
   
   
       18 . A prisoner restraint system comprising;
 a retractable restraint disposable adjacent a seat, the retractable restraint comprising a tether for attachment to a person, a retraction mechanism and a locking mechanism for preventing extension of the tether; and   a visual indicator for identifying when the locking mechanism is activated.