US2998008A - Restraining device - Google Patents

Description

All@ 29, 1961 A. KLEsA 2,998,008

RESTRAINING DEVICE Filed Nov. 25, 1959 IN VENTOR ARLENE K L E SA AGENT This invention relates to a restraining device and more particularly to a device for restraining the movement of the arms or legs of patients who because they are delirious or mentally ill might otherwise inflict injury upon themselves or others or interfere with a surgeon while he is performing an operation.

Most of the restraining devices heretofore in use have not proved entirely satisfactory. An objection often raised to many restraining devices currently employed is that they have a tendency to produce burns, abrasions, bruises, etc. on the wrists and `ankles of patients. Such injuries have been found particularly severe in the more serious mental cases and during the administration to mental patients of coma therapy as, for inst-ance, insulin coma treatment. Many other restraining devices commonly employed are heavy, cumbersome, expensive and consequently entirely too impractical for hospital use.

The prime object of the present invention is to provide a restraining device which largely reduces the likelihood of injury to the patients `arms or legs. Another object of this invention is to provide a device which is simple, durable, strong and inexpensive to manufacture which can be readily adjusted to -t the limbs of the patient and quickly secured to -give the desired restraint.

Another object is to provide a device that generally restrains the patient but permits a limited range of movement of the limbs, thus preventing injury to limbs, cramping o-f muscles and lessening the fear and mental tension that often arises in patients Where limbs are restrained from all movement.

A further object is to provide a device that can be easily disassembled when not in use so as to facilitate storage and can be laundered as often as desired.

My invention will be better understood by reference to the `accompanying drawings in Which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan View of the restraining device;

FIGURE 2 is a detailed longitudinal sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is :a detailed sectional View of a preferred modification of the device -as applied; and

FIGURE 4 is an exploded view of the main mponents of the restraining device.

Referring to the drawings the restraining device comprises a soft flexible cushioning member designated generally :as 1 of suicient length to pass around the limb of the wearer. This member may be made of any soft flexible material, for instance, cotton, foam rubber, or synthetic materials having similar soft, resilient characteristics. The thickness of the material can vary depending upon the protection desired and the characteristics of the particular material employed. Ordinarily, a thickness of yabout one-quarter of an inch is found suitable. If found desirable, member 1 can be a composite of a durable textile cover la and a soft, resilient liner 1b (see FIG. 3), the cover having an opening (not shown) on its bottom side, that is the side to be placed adjacent the limb, for introduction and removal of the so-ft flexible liner. 'The liner can be any soft, resilient material such as foam rubber, cotton, or other synthetic material having similar soft, resilient characteristics. The cushion 1 is provided on its top side with a strip of flexible material 4 such as a flexible fabric lattached along its longitudinal edges to the cushion, as for example, by stitching, so as to provide openings 5 and 6. 'Ille strip is also provided with atnt O 2,998,008 Patented Aug. 29, 1961 ICC an opening 7 approximately near its center. A exible band 8 preferably of fabric such as heavy canvas is provided with a series of slots '10; 12 and '14, 16 near its ends with an opening 18 approximately at its center. In use this band is positioned over fabric strip 4 so that the opening 7 of strip '4 coincides with opening 18 of fabric band 8. The fabric band 8` should be of sufficient length to extend over the openings 5 and r6 of strip 4, preferably of a length that just overlaps the longitudinal ends of cushion 1. A ring 19, prefereably of metal which will not 'bend or break, is positioned within the coincident openings 7 and 18. A belt 29, is inserted, respectively, through one of `the openings 10, 12, opening 5, ring 19, opening 6, and one of the openings 14, 16. The openings in the series of openings 10, 12 'and 14, 16 selected for belt 2l) should be those that best tit the size of the patients wrist or ankle. Another belt 22 is looped through ring 19.

The restraining `device las shown in FIGURE l is ready for application to the -wrist or ankle of -a patient. The device is placed on the limb and the belt 20 tightened to the desired pressure or size about fthe wrist or ankle as shown in FIGURE 3. The belt 22 of leather or other sturdy material may then be buckled on a nearby structure, as `for instance, on the posts, sides or bottom of the patients bed, chair, etc.

It is to be observed that the patients arms or legs are permitted a desirable amount of rotary movement by virtue of ring 19. This feature, together with those more obvious from the drawings and description, greatly lessens the chance of injury to the patients limbs and yet Sulliciently restrains the patient. Additional movement can be provided the patients limbs, if desirable, by increasing the length of the belt 22 Ifrom ring to point of attachment. It is also to be observed that when not in use, the device can be simply disassembled and conveniently stored in a minimum of space.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention h-as been shown for purposes of illustration, it is to be understood that various changes and modications may be made therein as will readily appear to a person skilled in the art.

I claim:

l. A restraining device comprising a Sofft flexible cushion, a strip of flexible material attached by its longitudinal edges to one side of said cushion, said strip having an opening at approximately the center thereof, a flexible band having a slot near each end and an opening approximately in the center thereof superimposed over said strip so that the central opening of said band coincides with the central opening of said strip, a metal ring inserted in the coincident openings, a belt inserted, respectively, through a slot near one end of said band, under the strip and through said ring and through a slot at the other end of said band.

2. The device of claim l wherein -a sorft flexible cushion is a piece of foam rubber with a fabric cover.

3. The device of claim '1 wherein the soi'lt flexible cushion is a composite of a textile cover and a soft resilient liner, said cover having an opening for the introduction and removal of the soft resilient liner.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 822,710 Askew June 5, 1906 2,361,108 Johnson Oct. 24, 1944 2,695,019 Welter Nov. 23, 1954 2,706,477 Daake Apr'. 19, 1955 2,726,714 McAndrews Dec. 13, .1955

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