Modular grip system for handcuffs
View Patent ↗A handcuff apparatus includes accessory rails formed on the bottom surface of the handcuff member housings. The accessory rail can have a T-shaped configuration to provide support for desired accessories, such as a spacer that will extend between accessory rails on the housings of opposing handcuff members to convert the handcuff apparatus into a rigid handcuff configuration. Placement of the spacer can be made on accessory rails on either or both opposing sides of the mount for connecting the flexible tether between the handcuff members. The accessory rails can also be used to mount other accessories, such as a GPS/cellular tracking device. A grip apparatus is also provided to facilitate the engagement of the handcuff members. The grip members can have a recessed keyhole surrounded by LEDs and a double lock button accessible through the grip member. The grip member is selectively removable from the housing.
1 . A handcuff apparatus, comprising:
first and second handcuff members having a housing;
a flexible connector interconnecting said first and second handcuff members at a mount;
an accessory rail integrally formed on a bottom surface of each said housing, said accessory rail defining a cavity having a slotted opening therein providing a T-shaped configuration; and
an accessory formed with a T-shaped mounting configuration corresponding to the T-shaped configuration of the cavity and slotted opening of each said accessory rail and being selectively engagable into said cavity through said slotted opening of at least one of said accessary rails such that said accessory is carried by the corresponding said housing.
2 . The handcuff apparatus claim 1 , wherein said accessory is engagable with accessory rails on each of said handcuff members.
3 . The handcuff apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said accessory is a spacer having a predetermined length to convert said handcuff apparatus from a flexible configuration into a rigid configuration.
4 . The handcuff apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said accessary rail is formed to extend from said mount to an outward corner of the corresponding said housing.
5 . The handcuff apparatus of claim 4 , wherein each said housing includes one of said accessory rails on opposing sides of said mount such that one of said accessories can be mounted on opposing sides of said mount.
6 . The handcuff apparatus of claim 5 , wherein said accessory is a pair of spacers having a predetermined length and being positionable on the accessory rails on opposing sides of said mount to convert said handcuff apparatus from a flexible configuration into a rigid configuration.
7 . The handcuff apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said accessory rail includes a fastener opening for the insertion of a fastener into engagement with said accessory in order to secure the accessory to the corresponding accessory rail.
8 . The handcuff apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a grip apparatus formed as a shell having an upper portion having a cavity therein defined by a pair of side walls, a forward wall, a rearward wall and a bottom wall, the side walls being spaced apart sufficiently to receive said housing of the handcuff into said cavity; and
a slotted opening formed in said forward wall to permit the vertical passage of the flexible connector into said cavity, said slotted opening extending into said bottom wall and terminating in said bottom wall at a centrally located passageway.
9 . The handcuff apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the grip apparatus includes:
a keyway formed in one of said side walls for the engagement of a cuff key into a lock mechanism within said handcuff housing; and
a lighting device surrounding said keyway, said lighting device being operatively coupled to a switch housed within one of said side walls to activate said lighting device, said switch being located on the same side wall as said keyway and spaced therefrom.
10 . The handcuff apparatus of claim 8 , wherein said grip apparatus is molded from plastic or rubber compounds that will hold the formed shape.
11 . The handcuff apparatus of claim 10 , wherein each said housing includes a double lock button accessible through the grip apparatus.
12 . A handcuff apparatus convertible between a flexible configuration and a rigid configuration, comprising:
first and second handcuff members having a housing;
a flexible connector interconnecting said first and second handcuff members at a mount;
an accessory rail mounted on a bottom surface of each said housing and having a cavity with a T-shaped opening; and
a spacer formed with a mounting configuration corresponding to said accessory rails and being selectively engagable onto opposing corresponding said accessary rails such that said spacer is selectively carried by the housings to render the handcuff apparatus into a rigid configuration, each said accessory rail having an opening therein for engagement of a fastener to secure the position of said spacer with respect to the corresponding said accessory rail.
13 . The handcuff apparatus of claim 12 , wherein each said housing includes one of said accessory rails on opposing sides of said mount such that a spacer can be mounted on the accessory rails on opposing sides of said mount.