Decontamination Device

Abstract

A restraining apparatus for securing a person during decontamination and method for decontamination of the person are described. The restraining apparatus includes a seat for supporting the person, a base, a plurality of support members connecting the base to the seat, and a harness system for securing the person to the seat.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A restraining apparatus for securing a human during decontamination, the apparatus comprising:
 a seat for supporting the person, the seat having a back portion for supporting the person's back and a leg portion for supporting the person's legs, the seat having a seat length and a seat width, the seat having a plurality of openings configured to allow a liquid to drain through the seat;   a base having a base length and a base width, the base length being greater than the seat length and the base width being greater than the seat width;   a plurality of support members connecting the base to the seat, the support members extending upwardly from the base to the seat and locating the seat above the base; and   a harness system for securing the person to the seat, the harness system has at least one of the following:   a) one or more strap members;   b) one or more strap members secured to the back portion of the seat;   c) a crotch post;   d) a crotch post extending upwardly from the leg portion of the seat;   e) one or more strap members used to secure the person's torso to the seat or crotch post and secured to either or both of the back portion of the seat or the crotch post; and   f) an upper restraining member.   
     
     
         2 . The restraining apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the human is a small child. 
     
     
         3 . The restraining apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the back portion comprises a plurality of back rungs extending between a back right side member and a back left side member, wherein the back rungs define at least some of the plurality of openings. 
     
     
         4 . The restraining apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the leg portion comprises a plurality of leg rungs extending between a leg right side member and a leg left side member, wherein the leg rungs define at least some of the plurality of openings. 
     
     
         5 . The restraining apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the back right side member is unitarily formed with the leg right side member, and the back left side member is unitarily formed with the leg left side member. 
     
     
         6 . The restraining apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the back rungs and the leg rungs are round in cross section. 
     
     
         7 . The restraining apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a) a base member extending around a perimeter of the base portion to define an enclosed area;   b) a harness comprising straps comprising a series of rounded beads and;   c) a crotch support post.   
     
     
         8 . The restraining apparatus of  claim 7 , comprising:
 a) brackets on both the crotch post and back portion capable of supporting the straps, and   b) a rounded crotch post with a indent or opening in the upper portion of the crotch post that extends from 25 to 95 percent of the length of the upper portion of the crotch post.   
     
     
         9 . The restraining apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the base portion comprises:
 a) an upper retaining member;   b) back rungs;   c) right side rung members;   d) left side rung members   e) a front side with a crotch post and   f) a base member extending around a perimeter of the base portion to define an enclosed area.   
     
     
         10 . The restraining apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the base member has a hollow tubular construction defining a cavity inside the base member, the cavity configured to store a weighting material therein. 
     
     
         11 . The restraining apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the base member is ellipsoidal in shape and the seat is disposed from about 1.5 to about 2 feet above the base. 
     
     
         12 . The restraining apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the seat, the base, the plurality of support members, and the crotch post are unitarily formed and the base width is at least twice as great as the seat width. 
     
     
         13 . The restraining apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the crotch post is adjustable and includes a lower portion having a rounded surface configured to support the person's crotch and an upper portion having a substantially flat surface configured to support the person's head and torso when the person is leaned forward in the seat, the substantially flat surface being wider than the rounded surface. 
     
     
         14 . The restraining apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the top of the crotch post extends at least 30 inches above the leg portion of the seat, the lower portion of the crotch post extending between about 6 and 10 inches above the leg portion of the seat. 
     
     
         15 . The restraining apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the upper portion of the crotch post has a central groove or opening configured to accommodate the person's nose when the person's head and torso are supported by the upper portion and wherein the seat and or crotch post further comprises right and left, upper and lower strap attachments. 
     
     
         16 . The restraining apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the strap members comprise a right shoulder-left hip strap member and a left shoulder-right hip strap member, the right shoulder-left hip strap member extending from the right shoulder attachment to the left hip attachment, the left shoulder-right hip strap member extending from the left shoulder attachment to the right hip attachment. 
     
     
         17 . The restraining apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the harness system further comprises a strap-to-strap attachment and wherein the strap members include a right shoulder strap member, a left shoulder strap member, a right hip strap member, and a left hip strap member all connected to and respectively extending from the strap-to-strap attachment to the right shoulder attachment, the left shoulder attachment, the right hip attachment, and the left hip attachment. 
     
     
         18 . The restraining apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the strap members further comprise a series of connected round beads. 
     
     
         19 . A method of decontaminating a human, the method comprising: placing the human on the restraining apparatus of  claim 1  and decontaminating the human with liquids. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said human is a small child or infant and after said child is placed on or in the restraining apparatus, positioning said child on the seat of the restraining apparatus and securing the harness. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said small child or infant is positioned on the seat of the restraining apparatus with said child's legs resting on the leg portion and straddling the crotch post with the child's torso being held against the crotch post; and
 decontaminating the child's back.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said seat of said restraining apparatus is constructed of a plurality of tubular members. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the harness of the apparatus of  claim 1  consists of a series of rounded beads.