Tourniquet and connection assembly therefor

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to first aid articles and more specifically tourniquets suitable for one handed application. One embodiment of the invention is directed to a tourniquet having a base defining first and second ends. A constricting band is attached to and extends from the first end of the base. A handle is engaged with the constricting band. The constricting band is threaded through a buckle assembly including a hexagonal frame member. A hook member includes an eyelet and a cuff which is releasably engaged to a first side of the hexagonal frame member. A loop is fixedly attached to said base which attaches the eyelet of said hook member to the base.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tourniquet comprising:
 a base;   a constricting band disposed at least partially within the base, the constricting band extending from the base and having a first end attached to the base;   a handle engaged with said constricting band;   a buckle assembly including a polygonal frame member having a lengthwise dimension L 2 , a free end of said constricting band being threaded through the polygonal frame member; and   a hook member including an eyelet, said hook member being pivotally attached to the first end of the constricting band via a loop, the hook member having a cuff configured to releasably engage said polygonal frame member, where a side of the polygonal frame member that engages the cuff has a length L 3  that is less than a length L 4  of an opposing side of the polygonal frame member and said hook has a length L 1  that is about one half of the lengthwise dimension L 2  of the opening of the polygonal frame member.   
     
     
         2 . The tourniquet of  claim 1  wherein said hook member forms a friction fit with said polygonal frame member. 
     
     
         3 . The tourniquet of  claim 1  wherein said hook member includes an interior surface having a plurality of protrusions. 
     
     
         4 . The tourniquet of  claim 1  wherein the length L 3  is greater than the length L 1  of said hook. 
     
     
         5 . The tourniquet of  claim 4  wherein the side of the polygonal frame member that engages said hook has rectangular cross section. 
     
     
         6 . A tourniquet comprising:
 a base;   a constricting band disposed at least partially within the base, the constricting band extending from the base and having a first end attached to the base;   a handle engaged with said constricting band;   a buckle assembly including a hexagonal frame member, a free end of the constricting band being threaded through the hexagonal frame member; and   a hook member including an eyelet and a cuff, the hook member including a cuff configured to releasably engage a first side of said hexagonal frame member, the first side of said hexagonal frame member being parallel to a second side and the cuff having a length L 1  that is shorter than a length L 3  of the second side of the hexagonal frame member; and   a loop fixedly attached to said base, said loop engaging the eyelet of said hook member.   
     
     
         7 . The tourniquet of  claim 6  wherein said polygonal frame has an opening having a lengthwise dimension and said hook member has length where said the length of said hook member is less than the lengthwise dimension of the opening the polygonal frame. 
     
     
         8 . The tourniquet of  claim 7  wherein the length of the hook member is about on half of the lengthwise dimension of the opening of the polygonal frame. 
     
     
         9 . The tourniquet of  claim 7  wherein a side of the polygonal frame that engages said hook member has a length that is slightly greater than the length of said hook member. 
     
     
         10 . The tourniquet of  claim 9  wherein the side of the polygonal frame that engages said hook member has rectangular cross section. 
     
     
         11 . A connection assembly for a tourniquet comprising:
 a buckle assembly including a polygonal frame member configured to receive a constricting band;   a hook member including an eyelet and a cuff, a cuff being configured to releasably engage a first side of said hexagonal frame member, the cuff including an interior surface having a plurality of protrusions, the first side of said polygonal frame member being parallel to a second side and the cuff having a length L 1  that is shorter than a length L 3  of the second side of the polygonal frame member; and   a loop configured to be fixedly attached to a tourniquet base, said loop engaging the eyelet of said hook member.   
     
     
         12 . The tourniquet of  claim 11  wherein said polygonal frame has an opening having a lengthwise dimension L 2  and the cuff has length L 1  which is less than L 2 . 
     
     
         13 . The tourniquet of  claim 12  wherein the length of the cuff L 1  is about one half of the lengthwise dimension L 2  of the opening of the polygonal frame. 
     
     
         14 . The tourniquet of  claim 11  wherein said hook member and said buckle are metal assembly.