Tourniquet

Abstract

A tourniquet includes a base plate, and a first anchor point configured to anchor a first end of a lace to the base plate. The tourniquet includes a second anchor point configured to anchor a second end of the lace to the base plate. The tourniquet includes a tunnel strap including a first lace guide connected to a first end of the tunnel strap and configured to guide the lace from the first anchor point directly to a spool, and a second lace guide connected to the first end of the tunnel strap and configured to guide the lace from the second anchor point directly to the spool. The tourniquet includes a tightening mechanism connected to the base plate and including the spool configured to accept a middle portion of the lace, and a knob configured for manually winding the middle portion of the lace onto the spool.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wearable device comprising:
 a) a tourniquet comprising:
 i) a base plate; 
 ii) a first anchor point configured to anchor a first end of a lace to the base plate; 
 iii) a second anchor point configured to anchor a second end of the lace to the base plate; 
 iv) a tightening mechanism connected to the base plate, the tightening mechanism comprising:
 A) a spool configured to accept a middle portion of the lace; and 
 B) a knob configured for manually winding the middle portion of the lace onto the spool; and 
 
 v) a tunnel strap comprising:
 A) a first lace guide connected to a first end of the tunnel strap, the first lace guide configured to guide the lace from the first anchor point directly to the spool; and 
 B) a second lace guide connected to the first end of the tunnel strap, the second lace guide configured to guide the lace from the second anchor point directly to the spool; and 
 
   b) a wearable item quick release connector connected to the tourniquet and configured to removably connect to a wearable item.   
     
     
         2 . The wearable device according to  claim 1 , wherein the wearable item comprises at least one of the following:
 a) a ballistic plate carrier;   b) a backpack;   c) a belt; and   d) a harness.   
     
     
         3 . The wearable device according to  claim 1 , wherein the wearable item quick release connector is magnetic. 
     
     
         4 . The wearable device according to  claim 1 , further comprising an outer cuff configured to cover at least a portion of the tourniquet. 
     
     
         5 . The wearable device according to  claim 1 , wherein the tightening mechanism further comprises a housing configured to house:
 a) at least a portion of the spool; and   b) the middle portion of the lace.   
     
     
         6 . The wearable device according to  claim 5 , wherein the housing is part of the base plate. 
     
     
         7 . The wearable device according to  claim 1 , wherein the base plate is configured to receive a second end of the tunnel strap. 
     
     
         8 . The wearable device according to  claim 1 , the tourniquet further comprising a tunnel strap quick release connector connected to the base plate, the tunnel strap quick release connector configured to removably connect to a second end of the tunnel strap. 
     
     
         9 . The wearable device according to  claim 8 , wherein the tunnel strap quick release connector is magnetic. 
     
     
         10 . The wearable device according to  claim 1 , the tourniquet further comprising a tunnel strap loop connector connected to the base plate, the tunnel strap loop connector configured to receive a second end of the tunnel strap. 
     
     
         11 . The wearable device according to  claim 1 , wherein the base plate comprises a tunnel strap loop connector configured to removably connect to a second end of the tunnel strap. 
     
     
         12 . A tourniquet comprising:
 a) a base plate;   b) a first anchor point configured to anchor a first end of a lace to the base plate;   c) a second anchor point configured to anchor a second end of the lace to the base plate;   d) a tightening mechanism connected to the base plate, the tightening mechanism comprising:
 i) a spool configured to accept a middle portion of the lace; and 
 ii) a knob configured for manually winding the middle portion of the lace onto the spool; and 
   e) a tunnel strap comprising:
 i) a first lace guide connected to a first end of the tunnel strap, the first lace guide configured to guide the lace from the first anchor point directly to the spool; and 
 ii) a second lace guide connected to the first end of the tunnel strap, the second lace guide configured to guide the lace from the second anchor point directly to the spool. 
   
     
     
         13 . The tourniquet according to  claim 12 , further comprising an outer cuff configured to cover at least a portion of the base plate. 
     
     
         14 . The tourniquet according to  claim 12 , wherein the tightening mechanism further comprises a housing configured to house:
 a) at least a portion of the spool; and   b) the middle portion of the lace.   
     
     
         15 . The tourniquet according to  claim 14 , wherein the housing is part of the base plate. 
     
     
         16 . The tourniquet according to  claim 12 , wherein the base plate is configured to receive a second end of the tunnel strap. 
     
     
         17 . The tourniquet according to  claim 12 , further comprising a tunnel strap quick release connector connected to the base plate, the tunnel strap quick release connector configured to removably connect to a second end of the tunnel strap. 
     
     
         18 . The tourniquet according to  claim 17 , wherein the tunnel strap quick release connector is magnetic. 
     
     
         19 . The tourniquet according to  claim 12 , further comprising a tunnel strap loop connector connected to the base plate, the tunnel strap loop connector configured to receive a second end of the tunnel strap. 
     
     
         20 . The tourniquet according to  claim 12 , wherein the base plate comprises a tunnel strap loop connector configured to removably connect to a second end of the tunnel strap.