Cloth and plastic mitten with elastic properties that restricts the movement of the fingers and the thumb from acting in concert or separately

Abstract

The present invention is a knitted cloth mitten for the hand(s) preferably comprised of nylon, polyester and Lycra that is closed on one end and open on the opposite end. The open end has a knitted collar around the mitten with a small cut or opening to allow for insertion of a releasable cable tie. A piece of plastic is adhered to the palm portion of the mitten, from the fingertips to the middle of the palm, to make the palm area rigid. A releasable cable tie is threaded through the collar and around the open part of the mitten. After an individual's hands are restrained using properly placed and properly secured handcuffs, the present invention will be slid over an individual's hands with the rigid (plastic) side of the mitten to the palm side of the hand. The mitten will be extended to stop just below the handcuffs. The releasable cable tie is then pulled taught around the wearer's wrist, so as to not allow removal by the wearer. The present invention will keep the wearer from using his/her fingers separately or in concert to be utilized as a weapon or destroy forensic evidence.

1 . A secure mitten comprising: a knitted cloth mitten sewn or otherwise closed at the fingertips, with an open collar at the top that has a small incision: a piece of plastic: a releasable cable tie: wherein one side of the piece of plastic is adhered to the palm side of the mitten starting at the fingertip area and extending toward the palm: wherein the cable tie is inserted into the collar through the incision in the collar and the cable tie completely encircles the collar. 
   
   
       2 . The invention of  claim 1  is a knitted cloth mitten closed on one end and open on the opposite end with a collar. 
   
   
       3 . The invention of  claim 2  is a piece of plastic adhered to the cloth mitten. 
   
   
       4 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein the plastic is adhered to the palm portion of the mitten with injection molding technique. 
   
   
       5 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein a precut plastic piece is bonded to the palm portion of the mitten with sonic welding technique. When a law enforcement official is confronted with a situation in which an individual needs to be restrained, either an arrest situation, a transport situation, court appearance, field interview or officer/public safety situation the restraint method most commonly utilized is the placement of handcuffs on an individual. The vast majority of law enforcement agencies in the United States teach that the proper placement of handcuffs on an individual be performed while the hands are placed behind an individual's back and the handcuffs are placed around the wrists. Only in rare instances is it advisable or permitted to handcuff an individual in the front of his/her person. Over the years numerous instances of serious injury and death to law enforcement officials and the general public have been documented through data compiled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and numerous local, county and state law enforcement agencies. These incidents occurred even though some suspects hands were restrained with handcuffs and proper handcuffing techniques were followed, such as handcuffing in the back of the individual. The product is a cloth and elastic mitten that is slid individually over both hands. The cloth mitten is constructed preferably of polyester and Lycra, but can be constructed on nylon, cotton, spandex or various other natural or manmade fibers in a knitted pattern. The fingers and thumb are held in a restricted position, the piece of plastic is adhered to the palm portion of the mitten so as not to allow any movement, thereby, not making it feasible to grab, control and discharge a firearm at a police officer or innocent bystander. Potential physical evidence, such as but not limited to, DNA, that may be located on a subject's hands will be protected and/or preserved within the mitt itself to be collected as evidence of possible criminal activity. The product allows for the preservation of physical evidence that may be concealed on an individual's person that could be discarded if the fingers and hands are not under complete control. These types of physical evidence, would include, but not limited to, narcotics, contraband, weapons and any other items on an individual that could be discarded before a complete search of the individual's person.