A lock for plastic disposable handcuffs and plastic disposable handcuffs

Abstract

The lock for plastic disposable handcuffs (1) comprises a base (2) provided with a hole (3) for pulling a toothed strap (4) through the base (2) and further provided with a ratchet mechanism for one-way locking of the toothed strap (4). Inside the base (2) of the lock there is a chamber (5) having the shape of a wedge, the ratchet mechanism being formed by a toothed wedge (6) embedded in the chamber (5). The wedge (6) is protected in the chamber (5) by a seal (12). The wedge (6) allows the toothed strap (4) to be pulled through the base in one direction only. In the case of opposite pull, the wedge (6) engages the sides of the chamber (5), thereby increasing many times the force required to pull the toothed strap (4) through the base (2) in the opposite direction. The plastic disposable handcuffs (1) combine two locks with wedges (6) in the common body of bases (2) and two toothed straps (4) connected to the common body of bases (2).

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The invention relates to a lock for locking plastic disposable handcuffs which cannot be released by pulling after they have been put on, and the invention also relates to plastic disposable handcuffs provided with this lock.Background of the Invention

[0002] The conventional cable ties are known worldwide. It is a very versatile and easy to use fastener, e.g. for bundling cables together in electrical installations. The mechanism of the cable ties uses a tooth system and a ratchet mechanism, where the tooth system is on one of the sides of the tie along its entire length from the tip to the bottom, and the ratchet mechanism is located inside the base firmly connected to the bottom of the tie. The ratchet mechanism is flexible in one direction, so when the free end of the tie is inserted into the base and tightened, the ratchet mechanism engages the teeth on the tie, while when the tie is attempted to be pulled out of the base, the ratchet mechanism jams against the teeth on the tie and prevents the tie from being pulled back out of the base.

[0003] However, the above principle of the function of cable ties has penetrated into many other areas of human needs, including plastic disposable handcuffs. The advantage of the plastic disposable handcuffs is the fast application and locking by simply pulling the plastic strap forming a loop around the limbs. This is particularly advantageous in situations that require rapid action. To release the plastic disposable handcuffs, the tie must then be cut.

[0004] An example of such plastic disposable handcuffs is the invention of US 9 194 161 B, which shows a base of the lock of a plastic disposable handcuffs. Two flexible ratchets are integrated in the base, inaccessible from the outside. There are two straps protruding from the base with a tooth system on one side of the straps. When plastic disposable handcuffs are applied, the hands, or legs, of the arrested person are pushed through the loops of the straps partially pulled through the base of the lock, whereupon the ends of the straps protruding from the base of the lock are pulled so that the loops of the straps wrap around the limbs of the handcuffed person. The lock of the plastic disposable handcuffs will not allow the arrested person to pull his or her limbs apart, and the flexible ratchet mechanisms in the lock of the plastic disposable handcuffs will prevent the arrested person from loosening the loops of the straps of the plastic disposable handcuffs and pulling his / her limb out of the loop of the plastic disposable handcuffs. To remove the plastic disposable handcuffs from the limbs of the arrested person, the straps must be cut in the area of the loop surrounding the limb.

[0005] The locks of plastic disposable handcuffs based on a flexible ratchet mechanism in the base have a well-known disadvantage, which is the possibility of deforming the flexible ratchet mechanism by force, i.e. by pulling the strap in the opposite direction of tightening the loop from the strap. There have been cases of the strap being ripped from the lock.

[0006] Another known solution is the invention of application US 2019 / 0031413 A1, which presents a cable tie having a wedge locking mechanism. In contrast to the known flexible ratchet mechanisms, the present invention presents a wedge which is located in the body of the lock. When the strap is pulled through the body of the lock, the wedge is jammed into the strap and the inner wall of the body of the lock, so that when trying to pull the strap out of the lock, the wedge is pressed against both the strap and the inner wall of the body of the lock. The more force that is applied to the strap to pull it out, the tighter the wedge is pressed and makes it impossible to pull out. The disadvantage of the solution is that the wedge is accessible from the outside. If this solution were applied on handcuffs based on cable ties, such handcuffs do not have sufficient security against loosening from the outside.

[0007] A similar solution with a wedge lock is also the invention of document US 4 688 302 B, as well as, for example, the invention of document US 4 557 023 B. Again, a wedge in the body of the lock is used, but the wedge is not secured in any way against manipulation from the outside. Thus, it is not possible to simply adopt this solution in the field of technology of plastic handcuffs.

[0008] The object of the invention is to provide a lock for plastic disposable handcuffs which would be resistant to release by pulling the strap in the opposite direction to tightening the loop of the strap, the ratchet mechanism of which would achieve greater fixation of the strap in the lock with increasing force, and which would be resistant to release from the outside while maintaining functionality. At the same time, the object of the invention is to create plastic disposable handcuffs with the present invented lock.Summary of the Invention

[0009] The stated object is solved by means of a lock for plastic disposable handcuffs according to the following invention.

[0010] The lock for plastic disposable handcuffs consists of a base which is provided with a hole for pulling a toothed strap through the base. At the same time, the base is provided with a ratchet mechanism for one-way locking of the pulled-through toothed strap inside the base.

[0011] The essence of the invention is that inside the base there is a chamber having the shape of a wedge and a hole for pulling the toothed strap through the chamber between its geometrical base and the top. At the same time, the ratchet mechanism of the base comprises a wedge loosely embedded in the chamber, which has a tooth system on its side wall facing the hole for pulling through the toothed strap for its tooth system to interact with the tooth system of the toothed strap once it is pulled through the lock.

[0012] In contrast to conventional flexible ratchets, which can be released by a strong opposing pull on the toothed strap, the wedge forming the ratchet is wedged against the walls of the chamber of the base, and the wedge shape causes that the more the force of the pull on the toothed strap increases to release it in the opposite direction, the more the wedge presses its teeth into the tooth system of the toothed strap. Even if the force of the pull on the toothed strap would lead to damage of the wedge, the wedge so damaged would have to be pulled through the tapered chamber of the base, which is not feasible under normal conditions. It is not possible to release the invented lock by pulling hardly the toothed strap.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the hole is provided with a seal to protect the wedge from tampering from the outside. The term "from the outside" in this description refers to the area outside the base. The seal is preferably formed as a plug which is pressed into the top of the hole and seals it in a non-detachable manner, the seal having holes for the passage of the toothed strap into the hole. The seal may also be formed by other means known to the skilled person, e.g. as an outer cover of the hole fixed to the base in a non-detachable manner.

[0014] Sealing the wedge from the outside prevents the toothed strap from being released by external manipulation of the wedge. The seal forms a mechanical barrier that cannot be easily overcome.

[0015] At the same time, the lock retains all the known advantages, especially the resistance to the toothed strap being pulled out of the lock by force.

[0016] The preferred embodiment of the lock according to the invention is one in which the chamber and the wedge are in cross-section in the shape of half of an isosceles triangle, where the hole for pulling the toothed strap through is parallel to the vertical side of the half of the isosceles triangle. The wedge shape, which is half of an isosceles triangle in cross-section, has a vertical side in relation to the geometric base of the wedge shape, along which the toothed strap can be pulled through without much difficulty.

[0017] Another preferred embodiment of the lock according to the invention appears to be one in which the wedge has teeth on both sides, and in which the chamber has teeth on the side distant from the hole for pulling through the toothed strap. These additional teeth increase the locking strength of the toothed strap pulled through the base. The tooth system essentially increases the roughness of the two friction surfaces, which significantly increases the friction force that must be overcome when forcibly pulling the toothed strap out of the lock in the opposite direction. It is therefore advantageous that the lock is even more secure.

[0018] Another preferred embodiment of the lock according to the invention appears to be one in which the wedge is provided with a spring for positioning it in the hole. In order to prevent the wedge from moving in the hole when handling the handcuffs, which could lead to complicated pulling of the toothed strap through the lock, or it could lead to the toothed strap and the wedge not engaging with each other, the wedge is kept in the correct position by spring.

[0019] In one preferred embodiment, the spring comprises at least one flexible finger-like projection extending from the wider base of the wedge, where the end of the flexible finger-like projection bears on the inner wall of the seal in the hole. The flexible finger-like projection preferably has an arc shape at least at its end, so that it bears better on the counter-wall and springs properly. The flexible finger-like projection may preferably have a quadrilateral cross-section, the area of which decreases towards the end of the flexible finger-like projection, which also improves the springing. Furthermore, it is preferred if the flexible finger-like projection is an integral part of the wedge and forms a single body with it, so that the entire wedge and spring can be manufactured as a single component from plastic, e.g. by injection moulding.

[0020] In another preferred embodiment of the spring, the flexible finger-like projections are two in number and are arranged with their concave surfaces opposite to each other, forming essentially a "V" shape.

[0021] For this embodiment, it is further preferred if the flexible finger-like projections are two, and are arranged in a recess formed in the wider base of the wedge, due to better utilization of the area of the wedge in the hole for engagement.

[0022] The present invention also relates to plastic disposable handcuffs that include one lock formed according to the above invention, and further include one toothed strap for locking in the lock.

[0023] Plastic disposable handcuffs cannot be unlocked as the wedge of the lock is inaccessible from the outside due to the seal.

[0024] The present invention also relates to plastic disposable handcuffs that include two locks formed according to the above invention, and further include two toothed straps for locking in the locks. In these handcuffs, the bases of the locks form a common body, with the toothed straps firmly connected to the common body at one end. It is further preferred if the common body is made of two parts, where in the folded state the first part of the common body has holes with wedge-shaped chamber and the second part of the common body forms a seal of wedges in the holes.

[0025] This is preferred for the reason that the plastic disposable handcuffs are put on hands or legs of the arrested person, with the two toothed straps forming loops to tighten on the limbs of the arrested person and simultaneously locking them in a tightened state, while the common body of bases forces the arrested person to hold the limbs close together until the plastic handcuffs are cut.

[0026] Preferably, the first part of the common body forms a socket and the second part of the common body forms a plug. The common body is assembled by inserting the second part into the first part. Assembly is simple, requiring nothing more than applying a compressive force to the second part of the common body to fit like a plug into the socket formed by the first part of the common body.

[0027] It is also preferred if the first part is provided with a fixing hole and the second part is provided with a fixing pin for a non-detachable connection of the parts of the common body. Preferably, the fixing pin can be bevelled for easy fitting into the fixing hole during assembly of the common body. The interlocking connection of the fixing pin and the fixing hole makes the common body non-detachable.

[0028] Preferably, the second part of the common body has a "T" shape, where its horizontal part forms a seal and its vertical part perpendicular to the horizontal part is formed by toothed straps. When assembling the invented handcuffs, this solution allows the horizontal part of the "T" to be pressed to fit into the socket - the first part of the common body.

[0029] The main advantages of the invention include the fact that the invented lock cannot be released by applying a pulling force to the toothed strap in the opposite direction of its pulling through the lock, because the design of the ratchet mechanism as a wedge with increasing pulling force increases the frictional force blocking the toothed strap. At the same time, it is not possible to release the lock by external manipulation of the wedge, which is placed under the seal. The toothed strap cannot be removed from the lock under normal conditions. At the same time, the lock is simple in design and therefore easy to manufacture and assemble. Plastic disposable handcuffs with an invented lock are easy to tighten and cannot be released except by cutting, so they are reliable.Explanation of drawings

[0030] The present invention will be explained in detail by means of the following figures where: Fig. 1shows a front view of plastic disposable handcuffs according to the invention, Fig. 2shows a section of two locks with anchored toothed straps for plastic disposable handcuffs arranged in the common body of bases, Fig. 3shows a more detailed view of the common body of bases shown in Fig. 2, Fig. 4shows a more detailed view of the common body of bases with the toothed straps pulled through their chambers with wedges, Fig. 5shows a perspective view of a wedge rotated with the front side to the foreground, Fig. 6shows a perspective view of a wedge rotated with the back side to the foreground, Fig. 7shows plastic disposable handcuffs in the layout prior to assembly, Fig. 8shows plastic disposable handcuffs shown in Fig. 7, the wedges of which are inserted into the chambers of bases, Fig. 9shows plastic disposable handcuffs ready to be assembled by connecting the first part of the common body of bases to the second part of the common body of bases, Fig. 10shows a detail of a toothed strap in a perspective view. Example of the invention embodiments

[0031] Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the invention of plastic disposable handcuffs 1, which comprise two locks arranged in a common body of bases 2 and two toothed straps 4 with one end anchored to the bases 2 and with the other end pulled through the bases 2 for quick application and tightening by pulling the free ends of the toothed straps 4. Plastic disposable handcuffs 1 are made of, for example, nylon. The expert will suggest by routine work other materials from the category of plastics that can be used.

[0032] Since the plastic disposable handcuffs 1 are designed to restrain persons (i.e., two hands or legs), they have two locks shown in Fig. 1 with the common body of bases 2 formed by folding the two bases 2 into a single body.

[0033] Fig. 2 and 3 show that the lock of single toothed strap 4 in the basic embodiment comprises a single base 2 in which there is a chamber 5 having a wedge shape. In addition, the base 2 is provided with a hole 3 for pulling the toothed strap 4 through the base 2. Furthermore, a wedge 6 is inserted in chamber 5 of the base 2. The wedge 6 is secured in the hole by a seal 12 which forms a closed chamber 5 inaccessible from the outside. The toothed strap 4 has one of its ends fixed in the base 2 so that when its free end is pulled through the hole 3 of the base 2, it forms a non-releasable loop for fixing the limb of the arrested person.

[0034] Fig. 2 shows that both chamber 5 and wedge 6 have the shape of half of an isosceles triangle in cross-section. Other geometrical wedge shapes are feasible if the principle of the wedge 6 as a ratchet mechanism for fixing the toothed strap 4 in the lock 2 is retained, but the shape of the half of the isosceles triangle shown in Fig. 2 appears to be virtually the most suitable in terms of use and manufacture.

[0035] The chamber 5 is provided with teeth 8 on the side facing away from the hole 3, see Fig. 2. The wedge 6 is provided with teeth 7 on both sides, see Fig. 5 and 6. When tightening the toothed strap 4 (in Fig. 1 and Fig. 4, the direction of pulling the toothed strap 4 is upwards), the wedge 6 bounces on the teeth of the toothed strap 4. However, in the case of an attempt to forcibly release the toothed strap 4 by pulling in the opposite direction (downwards), the wedge 6 is jammed against the teeth of the toothed strap 4 and the wall of the chamber 5, which makes it impossible to move the strap 4 in this direction. Stronger pulling on the toothed strap 4 downwards causes an increase in the blocking friction force exerted by the wedge 6.

[0036] In order to ensure that the wedge 6 always engages the toothed strap 4 properly during the pulling process, e.g. when the base 2 is oriented upside down, the wedge 6 is positioned by means of the spring 9. The spring 9 consists of two plastic flexible finger-like projections, see Fig. 5 and 6, which, regardless of the spatial orientation of the base 2, keep the wedge 6 in the correct position, but at the same time are not strong enough to restrict the passage of the toothed strap 4 through the hole 3. The positioning of the wedge 6 in the chamber 5 is implemented in such a way that, after the wedge 6 is inserted into the hole 3 and the seal 12 is applied, the flexible finger-like projections of the spring 9 of the wedge 6 start to push away from the seal 12, thereby pushing the wedge 6 into the top of the wedge-shaped hole 3. At this point, the pulled-through toothed strap 4 is engaged with the wedge 6. The toothed strap 4 cannot pass freely through the hole 3, with the wedge 6 being outside the top of the wedge-shaped hole 3 and not engaging the toothed strap 4.

[0037] In the illustrated embodiment, the spring 9 comprises two flexible finger-like projections extending from the wider base of the wedge 6, the ends of which engage the inner wall of the seal 12 in the hole 3. Both have an arc shape and at the end their quadrilateral cross-section, or its area, is reduced, so that the narrow ends spring very well and reliably. Each flexible finger-like projection is an integral part of the wedge 6 and together form one common plastic body. The flexible finger-like projections are arranged with their concave surfaces opposite to each other, forming essentially a "V" shape. The flexible finger-like projections are arranged in a recess formed in the wider base of the wedge 6.

[0038] In non-illustrated embodiments, the spring 9 can have other designs known to the skilled person, e.g. it can be designed as one or more compression springs or as one or more flexible rubber segments, or as one or more telescopic segments, etc.

[0039] In another non-illustrated embodiment of the lock according to the invention, two chambers 5 are formed in one base 2 in which wedges 6 are fitted. The chambers 5 are mirror placed in the base 2 next to each other. Other design details of the lock are similar to the above mentioned variant.

[0040] The principle of the invention enables, in comparison to the known state of the art, the easy manufacture and assembly of plastic disposable handcuffs 1. The individual parts of the invention can be manufactured by additive printing or, for example, by means of an injection press, etc. The parts are then simply assembled.

[0041] Fig. 7 shows the common body of the two locks in the unfolded state. The common body is formed by a first part 10 and a second part 11 with fixed ends of toothed straps 4, which forms essentially a "T" shape. These are two toothed straps 4 attached to each other. The first part 10 of the common body forms a socket into which the second part 11 of the common body is inserted. The horizontal perpendicular line "T" forms a seal 12, which makes the wedges 6 placed in the holes 3 inaccessible. A detail of the toothed strap 4 itself is shown in Fig. 10. The first part 10 of the common body has two holes 3 for the insertion of the wedges 6, see Fig. 7 to 9. The wedges 6 are loosely inserted into the holes 3 when assembling the plastic disposable handcuffs 1 before the first part 10 is closed by the second part 11. This creates closed chambers 5 for the wedges 6.

[0042] In order to make the common body non-detachable, the second part 11 of the common body is fixed in the first part 10 by means of a fixing pin 13 and a fixing hole 14. The fixing pin 13 is formed in the second part 11 and the fixing hole 14 is formed in the first part 10. The fixing pin 13 is partially bevelled to allow easier insertion of the second part 11 into the first part 10 when assembling the common body, but if somebody wanted to disconnect the parts 10 and 11 from each other by simply pulling the second part 11 out of the first part 10, he / she would have to break or otherwise remove the fixing pin 13, since after assembling the common body the fixing pin 13 is in the fixing hole 14 from which it cannot be released without destruction.

[0043] In an non-illustrated embodiment, the plastic disposable handcuffs having one lock and one toothed strap 4 were manufactured, with one of the free ends of the toothed strap 4 being inseparably connected to the base 2 of the lock.Industrial applicability

[0044] The lock for plastic disposable handcuffs and plastic disposable handcuffs according to the invention will find their application in the field of security, in particular in the field of security relating to detention.List of reference numerals

[0045] 1plastic disposable handcuffs 2base 3hole 4toothed strap 5chamber 6wedge 7wedge teeth 8chamber teeth 9wedge spring 10first part of the common body of bases 11second part of the common body of bases 12seal 13fixing pin 14fixing hole

Claims

1. A lock for plastic disposable handcuffs (1) comprising a base (2) provided with a hole (3) for pulling a toothed strap (4) through the base (2) and further provided with a toothed ratchet mechanism for one-way locking of the toothed strap (4) inside the base (2), characterized in that a wedge-shaped chamber (5) is inside the base (2), where the hole (3) passes through the chamber (5) between the geometric base and the wedge-shaped top, and at the same time the ratchet mechanism is formed by a wedge (6) fitted in the chamber (5) having teeth (7) on its side wall facing the hole (3).

2. The lock according to claim 1, characterized in that the hole (3) is provided with a seal (12) to protect the wedge (6) from tampering from the outside.

3. The lock according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the chamber (5) and the wedge (6) have the shape of half of an isosceles triangle in cross-section, with the hole (3) being parallel to the vertical side of the half of the isosceles triangle.

4. The lock according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the wedge (6) has teeth (7) on both sides and that the chamber (5) has teeth (8) on the side distant from the hole (3).

5. The lock according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the wedge (6) is provided with a spring (9) for positioning it in the hole (3).

6. The lock according to claim 5, characterized in that the spring (9) comprises at least one flexible finger-like projection extending from the wider base of the wedge (6), where the end of the flexible finger-like projection bears on the inner wall of the seal (12) in the hole (3).

7. The lock according to claim 6, characterized in that the flexible finger-like projection has an arc shape at least at its end.

8. The lock according to any of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the flexible finger-like projection has a quadrilateral cross-section, the area of which decreases towards the end of the flexible finger-like projection.

9. The lock according to any of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the flexible finger-like projection is an integral part of the wedge (6) and together form a single body.

10. The lock according to any of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the flexible finger-like projections are two in number, are arranged with their concave surfaces opposite to each other, and form essentially a "V" shape.

11. The lock according to any of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that the flexible finger-like projections are arranged in a recess formed in the wider base of the wedge (6).

12. The plastic disposable retractable handcuffs (1), characterized in that they include one lock formed according to any one of claims 1 to 11, and further include one toothed strap (4) for locking in the lock.

13. The plastic disposable handcuffs (1), characterized in that they include two locks formed according to any of claims 1 to 11, further include two toothed straps (4) for locking in the locks, the bases (2) of the locks form a common body, the common body is made of two parts, where, in the folded state, the first part (10) of the common body has holes (3) with a wedge-shaped internal space and the second part (11) of the common body forms a seal (12) of the holes (3), and the toothed straps (4) are firmly connected at one end to the second part (11) of the common body.

14. The plastic disposable handcuffs (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that the first part (10) forms a socket and the second part (11) forms a plug for inserting into the socket, where the first part (10) is provided with a fixing hole (14) and the second part (11) is provided with a fixing pin (13) for non-detachable connection of the parts (10, 11) of the common body.

15. The plastic disposable handcuffs (1) according to claim 14, characterized in that the fixing pin (13) is bevelled for easy fitting into the fixing hole (14).

16. The plastic disposable handcuffs (1) according to any of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the second part (11) has a "T" shape, where its horizontal part forms a seal (12) and its vertical part perpendicular to the horizontal part is formed by toothed straps (4).

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