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A remote controlled retractable leg iron device provides a restraint device which can be used by police or any other authority to maintain control of persons while in transport. The device is remote controlled so an operator can control the wearer from a distance. The cuffs are secured to the legs o

A remote controlled retractable leg iron device provides a restraint device which can be used by police or any other authority to maintain control of persons while in transport. The device is remote controlled so an operator can control the wearer from a distance. The cuffs are secured to the legs of the wearer and are attached to the housing unit by cables which coil around winch drums within the housing unit. The winch drums rotate freely in a normal operation mode so that the wearer can walk or move with little resistance. In an emergency mode, the device retracts the wire cables into the housing unit so that the wearer's legs are restrained tightly together—removing the lack of resistance and thus stopping the wearer's motion. The emergency mode is activated using the remote control.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A retractable leg restraint device comprising a housing unit,a left cable,a right cable,a retraction means,a left cuff,a right cuff, anda remote control unit;with the housing unit having a hollow interior, with a first aperture located at one end of the housing unit and allowing access into the h

1. A retractable leg restraint device comprising a housing unit,a left cable,a right cable,a retraction means,a left cuff,a right cuff, anda remote control unit;with the housing unit having a hollow interior, with a first aperture located at one end of the housing unit and allowing access into the hollow interior of the housing unit and a second aperture located at an opposite end of the housing unit and allowing access into the hollow interior of the housing unit;the left cable being a flexible, elongate member having a first end and a second end;the right cable being a flexible, elongate member having a first end and a second end;the retraction means being located within the hollow interior of the housing unit, with the first end of the left cable being attached to the retraction means such that the retraction means is capable of drawing at least a portion of the left cable into the hollow interior of the housing unit through the first aperture, and the first end of the right cable being attached to the retraction means such that the retraction means is capable of drawing at least a portion of the right cable into the hollow interior of the housing unit through the second aperture;the left cuff being configured to be placed around a portion of a left human leg, with the left cuff attached to the second end of the left cable, the left cuff having a locked mode and an unlocked mode, whereby while in the unlocked mode the left cuff may be placed around and removed from the portion of the left human leg and while in the locked mode the left cuff cannot be removed from the portion of the left human leg if the left cuff has been placed around the portion of the left human leg;the right cuff being configured to be placed around a portion of a right human leg, with the right cuff attached to the second end of the right cable, the right cuff having a locked mode and an unlocked mode, whereby while in the unlocked mode the right cuff may be placed around and removed from the portion of the right human leg and while in the locked mode the right cuff cannot be removed from the portion of the right human leg if the right cuff has been placed around the portion of the right human leg; andthe remote control unit being in wireless communication with the housing unit and being capable of sending one or more signals to the housing unit such that upon receipt of at least one of the one or more signals the housing unit causes the retraction means to draw at least a portion of the left cable into the hollow interior of the housing unit and to draw at least a portion of the right cable into the hollow interior of the housing unit. 2. The retractable leg restraint device of claim 1 wherein the retraction means comprises a left winch drum and a right winch drum, wherein the left winch drum is positioned within the hollow interior of the housing unit and is capable of rotating in a first winding direction and in a second unwinding direction, whereby the first end of the left cable is attached to the left winch drum, and when the left winch drum rotates in the first winding direction the left cable is coiled onto the left winch drum, and when the left winch drum rotates in the second unwinding direction the left cable is uncoiled from the left winch drum; andthe right winch drum is positioned within the hollow interior of the housing unit and is capable of rotating in a first winding direction and in a second unwinding direction, whereby the first end of the right cable is attached to the right winch drum, and when the right winch drum rotates in the first winding direction the right cable is coiled onto the right winch drum, and when the right winch drum rotates in the second unwinding direction the right cable is uncoiled from the right winch drum;whereby the retraction means has a normal operating mode and a locked mode, wherein when the retraction means is in the normal operating mode the left winch drum is free to rotate in the first winding direction and in the second unwinding direction, and the right winch drum is free to rotate in the first winding direction and in the second unwinding direction; and when the retraction means is in the locked mode the left winch drum does not rotate and the right winch drum does not rotate. 3. The retractable leg restraint device of claim 2 wherein the retraction means further comprises a first servomotor and a second servomotor, whereinthe first servomotor is in connection with the left winch drum and is capable of rotating the left winch drum in the first winding direction to coil the left cable around the left winch drum, and the second servomotor is in connection with the right winch drum and is capable of rotating the right winch drum in the first winding direction to coil the right cable around the right winch drum. 4. The retractable leg restraint device of claim 3 wherein the remote control unit comprises a transmitter, and the housing unit further comprises a sensor and a control unit,with the transmitter of the remote control unit being capable of wirelessly sending one or more distinct signals to the sensor,the sensor being capable of receiving the one or more distinct signals from the transmitter, andthe control unit being in communication with the sensor and the retraction means;whereby when the sensor receives one or more distinct signals from the transmitter the sensor communicates the one or more distinct signals to the control unit, andwhen the control unit receives one or more distinct signals from the sensor the control unit operates the retraction means. 5. The retractable leg restraint device of claim 4 wherein at least one of the one or more distinct signals sent by the transmitter is a retract instruction, whereby upon the sensor receiving the retract instruction from the transmitter the sensor communicates the retract instruction to the control unit, and when the control unit receives the retract instruction from the sensor the control unit causes the first servomotor to rotate the left winch drum in the first winding direction to coil the left cable around the left winch drum, and causes the second servomotor to rotate the right winch drum in the first winding direction to coil the right cable around the right winch drum, until substantially all of the left cable is coiled around the left winch drum and the left cuff is adjacent to the first aperture of the housing unit, and substantially all of the right cable is coiled around the right winch drum and the right cuff is adjacent to the second aperture of the housing unit, and the retraction means is placed into locked mode. 6. The retractable leg restraint device of claim 4 wherein at least one of the one or more distinct signals sent by the transmitter is a lock instruction, whereby upon the sensor receiving the lock instruction from the transmitter the sensor communicates the lock instruction to the control unit, and when the control unit receives the lock instruction from the sensor the control unit locks the left winch drum and locks the right winch drum and places the retraction means into locked mode. 7. The retractable leg restraint device of claim 4 wherein at least one of the one or more distinct signals sent by the transmitter is an unlock instruction, whereby upon the sensor receiving the unlock instruction from the transmitter the sensor communicates the unlock instruction to the control unit, and when the control unit receives the unlock instruction from the sensor the control unit unlocks the left winch drum and the right winch drum and places the retraction means into normal operating mode. 8. The retractable leg restraint device of claim 1 further comprising a battery pack, with the battery pack capable of powering the retraction means. 9. The retractable leg restraint device of claim 8 wherein the battery pack is located within the hollow interior of the housing unit, is comprised of rechargeable batteries, and the housing unit comprises a charging port providing access to the rechargeable batteries. 10. The retractable leg restraint device of claim 9 wherein the left cable, the right cable, the left cuff, and the right cuff are made of electrically conductive material, andthe battery pack is capable of generating an electrical current that passes through the left cable, the right cable, the left cuff, and the right cuff; andthe remote control unit further comprises a shock switch, said shock switch capable of being manipulated by a user, such that when the shock switch is manipulated by the user the remote control unit sends a distinct signal which is a shock instruction, and when the shock instruction is received the battery pack generates an electrical current which passes through the left cable, the right cable, the left cuff, and the right cuff. 11. The retractable leg restraint device of claim 10 wherein the remote control unit further comprises a recording device, said recording device capable of recording a duration of time corresponding to the manipulation of the shock switch by the user. 12. The retractable leg restraint device of claim 11 wherein the remote control unit further comprises a display, such that the duration of time corresponding to the manipulation of the shock switch by the user can be perceived by the user. 13. The retractable leg restraint device of claim 10 wherein the remote control unit further comprises an intensity switch, said intensity switch capable of being manipulated by the user, such that when the intensity switch is manipulated by the user the remote control unit sends one or more distinct signals which indicate an intensity of electrical current to be generated by the battery pack when the shock switch is manipulated by the user. 14. The retractable leg restraint device of claim 13 wherein the remote control unit further comprises a display, such that the intensity of electrical current selected by manipulation of the intensity switch by the user can be perceived by the user. 15. The retractable leg restraint device of claim 1 wherein the left cuff is made of a high tensile strength material and the right cuff is made of a high tensile strength material. 16. The retractable leg restraint device of claim 1 wherein the left cuff is retained in locked mode by a pawl locking mechanism, and the right cuff is retained in locked mode by a pawl locking mechanism. 17. The retractable leg restraint device of claim 1 wherein the left cable is a metal wire cable, and the right cable is a metal wire cable. 18. The retractable leg restraint device of claim 1 wherein the left cable is a thin sheet metal strap, and the right cable is a thin sheet metal strap. 19. The retractable leg restraint device of claim 1 wherein the left cable is encased within a covering, and the right cable is encased within a covering, with said covering of the left cable being one of the group of a fabric covering and a durable plastic polymer covering, and with said covering of the right cable being one of the group of a fabric covering and a durable plastic polymer covering. 20. The retractable leg restraint device of claim 2 wherein the left winch drum comprises a first biasing mechanism that rotates the left winch drum in the first winding direction, and the right winch drum comprises a second biasing mechanism that rotates the right winch drum in the first winding direction;whereby in the absence of tension on the left cable the first biasing mechanism rotates the left winch drum in the first winding direction, and in the absence of tension in the right cable the second biasing mechanism rotates the right winch drum in the first winding direction. 21. The retractable leg restraint device of claim 20 wherein the first biasing mechanism comprises one or more torsion springs, each of the one or more torsion springs being in connection with the left winch drum, andthe second biasing mechanism comprises one or more torsion springs, each of the one or more torsion springs being in connection with the right winch drum. 22. The retractable leg restraint device of claim 1 wherein the retraction means comprises a central winch drum, wherein the central winch drum is positioned vertically within the hollow interior of the housing unit and is capable of rotating in a first winding direction and in a second unwinding direction, whereby the first end of the left cable is attached to the central winch drum and the first end of the right cable is attached to the central winch drum, and when the central winch drum rotates in the first winding direction the left cable is coiled onto the central winch drum and the right cable is coiled onto the central winch drum, and when the central winch drum rotates in the second unwinding direction the left cable is uncoiled from the central winch drum and the right cable is uncoiled from the central winch drum;whereby the retraction means has a normal operating mode and a locked mode, wherein when the retraction means is in the normal operating mode the central winch drum is free to rotate in the first winding direction and in the second unwinding direction, and when the retraction means is in the locked mode the central winch drum does not rotate. 23. A retractable leg restraint device comprising a first housing unit,a second housing unit,a cable,a first retraction means,a second retraction means,a first cuff,a second cuff, anda remote control unit;with the first housing unit having a hollow interior, with an aperture located at one end of the first housing unit and allowing access into the hollow interior of the first housing unit;the second housing unit having a hollow interior, with an aperture located at one end of the second housing unit and allowing access into the hollow interior of the second housing unit;the cable being a flexible, elongate member having a first end and a second end;the first retraction means being located within the hollow interior of the first housing unit, with the first end of the cable being attached to the first retraction means such that the first retraction means is capable of drawing at least a portion of the cable into the hollow interior of the first housing unit through the aperture of the first housing unit;the second retraction means being located within the hollow interior of the second housing unit, with the second end of the cable being attached to the second retraction means such that the second retraction means is capable of drawing at least a portion of the cable into the hollow interior of the second housing unit through the aperture of the second housing unit;the first cuff being configured to be placed around a portion of a first human leg, with the first cuff attached to the first housing unit at a location opposite the aperture of the first housing unit, the first cuff having a locked mode and an unlocked mode, whereby while in the unlocked mode the first cuff may be placed around and removed from the portion of the first human leg and while in the locked mode the first cuff cannot be removed from the portion of the first human leg if the first cuff has been placed around the portion of the first human leg;the second cuff being configured to be placed around a portion of a second human leg, with the second cuff attached to the second housing unit at a location opposite the aperture of the second housing unit, the second cuff having a locked mode and an unlocked mode, whereby while in the unlocked mode the second cuff may be placed around and removed from the portion of the second human leg and while in the locked mode the second cuff cannot be removed from the portion of the second human leg if the second cuff has been placed around the portion of the second human leg; andthe remote control unit being in wireless communication with the first housing unit and with the second housing unit, and being capable of sending one or more signals to the first housing unit and to the second housing unit, such that upon receipt of at least one of the one or more signals the first housing unit causes the first retraction means to draw at least a portion of the cable into the hollow interior of the first housing unit, and the second housing unit causes the second retraction means to draw at least a portion of the cable into the hollow interior of the second housing unit. 24. The retractable leg restraint device of claim 23 wherein the first retraction means comprises a first winch drum, andthe second retraction means comprises a second winch drum;wherein the first winch drum is positioned vertically within the hollow interior of the first housing unit and is capable of rotating in a first winding direction and in a second unwinding direction, whereby the first end of the cable is attached to the first winch drum, and when the first winch drum rotates in the first winding direction the cable is coiled onto the first winch drum, and when the first winch drum rotates in the second unwinding direction the cable is uncoiled from the first winch drum; andthe second winch drum is positioned vertically within the hollow interior of the second housing unit and is capable of rotating in a first winding direction and in a second unwinding direction, whereby the second end of the cable is attached to the second winch drum, and when the second winch drum rotates in the first winding direction the cable is coiled onto the second winch drum, and when the second winch drum rotates in the second unwinding direction the cable is uncoiled from the second winch drum;whereby the first retraction means has a normal operating mode and a locked mode, wherein when the first retraction means is in the normal operating mode the first winch drum is free to rotate in the first winding direction and in the second unwinding direction, and when the first retraction means is in the locked mode the first winch drum does not rotate; andthe second retraction means has a normal operating mode and a locked mode, wherein when the second retraction means is in the normal operating mode the second winch drum is free to rotate in the first winding direction and in the second unwinding direction, and when the second retraction means is in the locked mode the second winch drum does not rotate. 25. The retractable leg restraint device of claim 24 wherein the first retraction means further comprises a first servomotor, andthe second retraction means further comprises a second servomotor;wherein the first servomotor is in connection with the first winch drum and is capable of rotating the first winch drum in the first winding direction to coil the cable around the first winch drum; andthe second servomotor is in connection with the second winch drum and is capable of rotating the second winch drum in the first winding direction to coil the cable around the second winch drum. 26. The retractable leg restraint device of claim 24 wherein the first winch drum comprises a first biasing mechanism that rotates the first winch drum in the first winding direction and the second winch drum comprises a second biasing mechanism that rotates the second winch drum in the first winding direction; whereby in the absence of tension on the cable the first biasing mechanism rotates the first winch drum in the first winding direction and the second biasing mechanism rotates the second winch drum in the first winding direction.