USPatent applicationPatented

Cushioned restraint assembly

Granted 28 Oct 2014 · 2 office actions

Assignee: Joseph S. Thompson

Law firm: Law firm · Log in to unlock

Attorney: Attorney · Log in to unlock

Inventors: Joseph S. Thompson · Examiner: Ophelia A Hawthorne · AU 3772 · TC 3700

Application· this page
13/557,624
filed 25 Jul 2012
Publication
Not published
not published
Patent
US 8,869,801
granted 28 Oct 2014

Life of the application

8 dated events
⤢ drag to zoom20122014201620182020202220242026202820302032ProsecutionTerm & fees
ProsecutionTerm & feeshover for detail · click to open

Abstract

A cushioned restraint assembly secures a limb comfortably to a structure. The assembly includes an elongated cuff configured for encircling a limb. A band is coupled to and extends along the cuff. The band is configured for securing the cuff around the limb. A strap is coupled to and extends from the cuff. The strap is configured for coupling to a structure. A cushion is coupled to an interior face of the cuff whereby the cushion is configured for positioning between the cuff and the limb.

Description

5 parts
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
›Field of the Disclosure

The disclosure relates to restraint devices and more particularly pertains to a new restraint device for cushioning limbs held secure by the restraint device.

›SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising an elongated cuff configured for encircling a limb. A band is coupled to and extends along the cuff. The band is configured for securing the cuff around the limb. A strap is coupled to and extends from the cuff. The strap is configured for coupling to a structure. A cushion is coupled to an interior face of the cuff whereby the cushion is configured for positioning between the cuff and the limb.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

›BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an in-use perspective view of a cushioned restraint assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure taken along line 5 - 5 of FIG. 4 .

›DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, a new restraint device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5 , the cushioned restraint assembly 10 generally comprises an elongated flexible cuff 12 configured for encircling a limb 16 such as an arm or leg. A band 14 coupled to and extends along a longitudinal axis of the cuff 12 . The band 14 has a length greater than a length of the cuff 12 . The band 14 is configured for securing the cuff 12 around the limb 16 . A strap 18 is coupled to and extends transversely from the cuff 12 . The strap 18 is configured for coupling to a structure 20 such as a bed rail 22 . The strap 18 may have a first end 24 coupled to the band 14 . The strap 18 has a second end 26 extending away from the cuff 12 configured for coupling to the structure 20 by tying the strap 18 into a knot 28 .

A cushion 30 is coupled to an interior face 32 of the cuff 12 whereby the cushion 30 is configured for positioning between the cuff 12 and the limb 16 . The cushion 30 is a bladder 34 filled with a cushioning material 36 . The cushioning material 36 may be air or gel. The bladder 34 has a plurality of spaced walls 38 defining a plurality of chambers 40 . Indentations 42 are formed between the chambers 40 and extending towards the cuff 12 to facilitate bending of the bladder 34 around the limb 16 . Each of the chambers 40 is filled with the cushioning material 36 . An outer perimeter edge 46 of the cushion 30 is laterally offset from a peripheral edge 48 of the cuff 12 whereby the cushion 30 covers an entirety of the interior face 32 of the cuff 12 . The bladder 34 is filled such that each chamber 40 is sufficiently bulbous to prevent the peripheral edge 48 of the cuff 12 from contacting the limb 16 . Further, the outer perimeter edge 46 of the bladder 34 may be prevented from contacting the limb 16 by an outwardly facing surface 74 of each chamber 40 being rounded when the chamber 40 is filled with the cushioning material 36 .

A buckle 50 is coupled to a first end 52 of the band 14 . A second end 54 of the band 14 is selectively couplable to the buckle 50 such that the band 14 is securable around the cuff 12 . The buckle 50 may have a loop 56 . A first elongated side 58 of the loop 56 is coupled to the band 14 . The buckle 50 may be positioned proximate a center 60 of the cuff 12 to prevent the buckle 50 from contacting the limb 16 . A plurality of teeth 62 extend from a second elongated side 64 of the loop 56 towards the first elongated side 58 of the loop 56 . A sliding jaw 66 of the buckle 50 is coupled to the loop 56 . The jaw 66 has a plurality of complimentary teeth 68 extending towards and interlocking with the teeth 62 on the first side 58 of the loop 56 . Thus, the buckle 50 prevents loosening of the band 14 from around the cuff 12 when the band 14 is engaged to the buckle 50 around the jaw 66 and further extending between the first side 58 of the loop 56 and the jaw 66 .

In use, the cuff 12 is positioned around the limb 16 . The band 14 is secured around the cuff 12 by the buckle 50 holding the cuff 12 on the limb 16 . The strap 18 is secured to the structure 20 . Thus, the assembly 10 provides secure comfortable coupling of the limb 16 to the structure 20 as may be needed in a hospital setting or similar situation.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure.

Claims as granted

7 claims

Log in to read the claims of this application.

Log in to unlock

Classifications

4 codes
IPC · International Patent Classification
Section A — Human necessities
  • A61F5/37
  • A61F5/00
USPC · US Patent Classification
128/869602/21

Claim changes

Soon
Coming soonHow the claims changed between publication and grant

See which claims were amended, added or cancelled during examination, with every added and removed word marked.

AmendedAddedCancelledUnchanged

The published claims of this application are not paired with the granted ones in what we hold.

File wrapper

⤢ drag to zoomJul 2012Oct 2012Jan 2013Apr 2013Jul 2013Oct 2013Jan 2014Apr 2014Jul 2014Oct 2014USPTOApplicantNon-final rejectionResponse after non-finalFinal rejection
USPTOApplicanthover for detail · click to open
Pendency
2.3 y
825 days filing → grant
Office actions
2
non-final + final
Responses
2
no RCE
Examiner
Ophelia A Hawthorne
art unit 3772 · TC 3700
Citations: 12 back · 2 forward

See the full prosecution history — every USPTO and applicant action on this file, in order.

Log in to unlock

Documents

Log in to open the documents of this file: the application as filed, every office action and response, the notice of allowance.

Log in to unlock

Chain of title

No assignments have been recorded for this application yet.