US794457A - Restraining device. - Google Patents

Description

No. 794,457. PATENTED JULY 11, 1905. J. GAITER.

RESTRAINING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED JAN.6.'1905.

FIG.

WI TNES SE" S,

Patented July 11, 1905.

ATENT @Tiucn JOHN- GAITER, OF LIVERMORE, CALIFORNIA.

RESTRAINING DEVICE.

SIPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 794,457, dated July 11, 1905.

Application filed January 6, 1905. Serial No. 239,900.

To al whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN GAI'IER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Livermore, in

the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Restraining Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a device for restraining insane or unruly persons without the use of the severe straight-jacket apparatus.

It consists of a combination and arrangement of straps, cuffs, and the like, and in details of construction which will be more fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows the application of my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of bodystraps. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of anklestraps.

For the purpose of restraining violently insane and otherwise unruly persons it has been customary to confine them in a more or less severe apparatus, such as straightjackets, which are often dangerous when applied for a long time.

It is the object of my invention to provide a device which will perfectly restrain the persons and at the same time allow them the greatest possible amount of liberty, while preventing them from injuring themselves or others.

As shown in the drawings, A is a stout leather or equivalent flexible band having upon the ends straps B with locking-buckles C, by which the main portion A may be firmly attached to a bed or other point.

2 is a band strongly riveted or stitched to the part A and having a width substantially the same as the part A. The lines of stitching at the top and bottom are sufiiciently separated to allow a stout strap 3 to be passed between the parts A and 2. Thence the ends of the strap are led around to the front, passing through guides 4, which are secured to the part 2, and one end of the strap 3 has a lock-bucklethe other end being perforated with holes through which the tongue of the buckle may be passed. The band 2 may thus be drawn together to fit the waist of anysized person to which it may be desired to apply it by simply overlapping the ends of 2 and making the strap 3 as long or short as is necessary, securing it firmly by the buckle at the proper point.

Inside ofthe band 2 is a second soft-leather band 5, which is provided with broad straps 6, and these are of such size that the band 2 may slip freely through them, thus firmly securing the band 5 within the band 2 and making a perfectly smooth and soft surface of contact. The ends of this band overlap each other in the same manner as the band 2, and it can be thus lengthened and shortened in unison with said band. It will be seen that by this construction a soft pliable interior may be fixed to the stiffer and stronger exterior band and can be readily removed for cleansing whenever required.

7 represents straps riveted or otherwise secured at convenient points upon the band A and, as here shown, extending at right angles therewith These straps are also provided with holes and lock-buckles, as at 9, so that they may be lengthened or shortened at will.

Transversely to the ends of the straps 7 are fixed other straps, as at 8, and these straps are also provided with lock-buckles and are capable of lengthening or shortening.

Interior to the straps 8 are fitted the broad soft bands 10 by means of loops, as at 11, so that they may be easily slipped within the straps 8, to which they are attached. These broad soft bands 10 also overlap and may be drawn into any desired size by means of the exterior straps 8 and serve to clasp the wrists of the patient. 1

If the patient is not very violent, the straps 8 may be let out to considerable length, thus giving the hands and arms a good deal of freedom; but if very violent or dangerous these straps may be drawn up until the hands would be held close to the band A, and they will be thus prevented from reaching each other or other parts of the body.

If the patient is especially violent and dangerous, mitts of any suitable character may be placed upon the hands and locked to the wristbands or straps, so as to prevent the patients from tearing the bedclothes or injuring themselves.

12 is another broad band,which may be made of leather, stout canvas, or other suitable material, and this band has straps 13,With lockbuckles and holes for adjustment. This band 12 has loops, as at 14:, fixed at suitable points and through these loops pass the straps 15.

These straps pass through loops upon broad soft bands 16, which are designed to inclose the ankles, these bands overlapping, as previously described, for the bands 5 and 10 and the straps 15, have the usual lock-buckles and holes, so that the bands 16 may be adjusted to fit ankles of any size. The band 12 being secured by its straps 13 at any desired point, it will be seen that the feet and ankles of the patient will thus be held in place, and if desired to prevent the feet from being drawn up another strap 17 is attached to a stout ring secured, as at 1-8, central to the band 12. This strap 17 is of sufiicient length so that it may be carried down over the foot of the bed or other support and secured by a lock-buckle similar to those previously described. A

person is thus restrained by the least possible amount of material and contact with the body, and in hot weather there.is no inclosure of a large part of the body, which is sometimes dangerous. The straps, and especially the lining-bands, being all soft and flexible, it is impossible for the patient to injure himself. If desired, various combinations of these straps may be made. Thus the ankle, cuffs, and one side strap will make a small-sized day belt, the ankle, cuffs and the center foot-strap will make a large-sized day belt,'being connected in line with each other, and the ankles, cufi's, and one side strap will make a set of hopples, which when the patient is free will prevent his running away.

'In order to use the day belt, the two anklecuifs 16 may be taken off with the short straps having the locks on the ends. These straps may be passedaround the wrists with the small securing-straps and locked on. One of the side straps may then be passed through the strap which is around the cuffs and may be locked in the back. It will be seen from this that various combinations of the straps and bands may be employed for such purposes as may be required.

The straps to which the wrist-cuffs are attached may have a small ring fixed to them through which a lock-strap 8 is passed, so that the arms may be extended and secured to the sides of the bed if the patient is very violent. This, with the devices heretofore described, provides fora variety of positions upon both wide and narrow beds with sufficient freedom of movement to allow free circulation, but will prevent the hands from coming into contact with the body or with the body-belt.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a restraining device, a main band with securing-straps and buckies,asecond band centrally secured to the main band having a space between the two, a strap slidable through said space and through tongues upon the second band, an interior soft overlapping band having broad loops inclosin'g the second band and cuff-bands with straps attaching them to the main band.

2. In a restraining device, a main and supplemental band and lining therefor, a strap with lock-buckle whereby said second hand may be attached around the waist, straps fixed to the main band intermediate between its ends and the central belt, said straps being capable of lengthening or shortening, other straps fixed at right angles with the firstnamed straps and wristlets or cuffs, with loops through which the said straps pass and by which they may be enlarged or diminished and secured.

3. In a restraining device, a main band, with securing-straps and buckles at the end, a bodyband with removable lining detachably carried thereon, and a strap by which said bodyband and lining may be adjusted to the person, cufi's adapted to fit the wrists and adjustable straps by which they are attached to the main band, a second hand with straps by which it may be secured at points coincident with the ankles of'the patient, ankle cuffs and straps by which they are secured to the band'and adjustably fitted to the ankles.

&. In a restraining device, a main waistband and a second band coincident with the position of the ankles, a supplemental bodyband and lining with lock-strap by which it is fitted to the body, cuffs with extension straps whereby they may be fitted to the wrists and extended or contracted, other cuffs carried by a second securing band and straps by which they are adjustably fixed upon the ankles and a center strap adapted to be secured to the lower end of the bed or support.

5. In a restraining device, a main bodyband with securing-straps and buckles, wristcuffs, straps by which said cuffs are adjustably connected with the first-named straps, ring attachments to the lower sides of the wristcuifs, and straps by which the arms may be pinioned in a substantially extended position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN GAITER. Witnesses:

OHAs. WARDEN, LEWIS RUPPEL

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