Key-releasable restraint

Claim 1

A key-releasable restraining device, comprising: a flexible strap having a lock integral with the strap and located on one end of the strap, a free end opposite the end with the lock for insertion into the lock to form an adjustable loop, and a set of strap teeth spaced along the strap; the lock including a cavity through which the strap passes, the cavity being bounded by a wall on one side to receive the strap and a ratchet-mounting wall on the opposite side, and the lock further including a one-way ratchet integrally formed with the lock having a body spaced apart from the ratchet-mounting wall, the body having a free end and a hinge end opposite the free end, and a hinge extending from the hinge end of the body to the ratchet-mounting wall, and a set of ratchet teeth normally engaging the strap teeth to allow the strap teeth to pass the ratchet in a first direction as the strap is inserted into the lock but not in a second direction opposite the first direction when the strap is urged out of the lock; and a key-operated ratchet release to disengage the ratchet teeth from the strap teeth to allow the strap teeth to pass the ratchet teeth in said second direction to allow the strap to be withdrawn from the ratchet, the ratchet release including a keyhole to receive a key, the keyhole having a hole portion to receive a barrel of a key and a slot portion to receive a tab of a key, the keyhole being positioned such that the insertion of the key into the keyhole and the subsequent rotation of the key causes the tab to apply a force against the hinge end of the ratchet body to rotate the ratchet about the hinge to disengage the ratchet teeth from the strap teeth to allow the strap to be withdrawn from the lock.