TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an anti-ligature hook and a method for manufacturing an anti-ligature hook.

BACKGROUND ART

Hooks, which are mountable to vertical supports such as walls for supporting the weight of articles of clothing and the like, are usually made of stiff material or are reinforced to make them stiff for holding articles. While the hooks are widely used and application in many commercial and residential installations, such are not as suitable in institutional facilities, where the danger of suicide attempts may be quite high. Persons so confined in penal and mental institutions and the like may attempt to terminate their lives by committing suicide. It frequently occurs that persons so confined attempt to commit suicide by strangulation by the use of any tensile object near at hand, as for example, a torn-up bed sheet, a shoe string or other similar object. The person then must seek out a suitable support structure to which such tension element may be attached, such as a clothes' hook. Such a wall-mounted hook is frequently capable of supporting weight, such as the body of the person confined to the institution, and, therefore, poses a potential hazard for such would-be suicide victims.

Consequently, it is highly desirable to incorporate in the design of a clothes' hook intended for institutional use, specifically the hooks should be adapted for preventing the hook to be used as a means of self-harm. There are hooks on the market adapted to, to some extent prevent for the hook to be used as a means for self-harm - i.e. being classified as anti-ligature hooks.

However, the anti-ligature hooks available have the disadvantage that even though they may prevent a person from directly using the hook for self-harm, they are not adapted for preventing a person to use the hook in combination with other objects for self-harm or applying load to the hooks in different directions that are able to take up more load i.e. indirectly using the hook for self-harm. Based on the above, there is a need for an anti-ligature hook that is improved in terms of safety. More specifically, there is need for an improved anti-ligature hook that can prevent a person trying to harm themselves by both direct and indirect use of the hook.

Even though some currently known solutions work well in some situations it would be desirable to provide an anti-ligature hook that is improved in terms of safety.

SUMMARY

It is therefore an object of the present disclosure to provide an anti-ligature hook and a method for manufacturing an anti-ligature hook to mitigate, alleviate or eliminate one or more of the deficiencies and disadvantages of currently known solutions.

This object is achieved by means of an anti-ligature hook and a method for manufacturing an anti-ligature hook as defined in the appended claims.

The present disclosure relates to an anti-ligature hook for supporting an article comprising a base portion for mounting the hook to a supporting surface and a hook portion being integral with a first surface of the base portion or more preferably, being integral with the base portion as such. The hook portion and the base portion being formed by a flexible material. Further, the hook portion comprises an anti-ligature section and a hook section. The antiligature section having a circumferentially tapered extension, extending outwardly away from the first surface of the base portion. The hook section further extends from an end of said anti-ligature section.

The hook according to the present disclosure can prevent a user from self-harm to a high extent. By having the hook section formed at the end of an anti-ligature section with a circumferentially tapered extension it may be adapted to withstand lower loads compared to conventional hooks, thereby being improved in safety while maintaining its function as a support for articles. Also, the hook is thereby adapted to be deformable in all directions, preventing users to do self-harm by trying to apply pressure to the hook in different directions (e.g., in different directions along the first surface).

The hook section may extend in an extension direction being non-parallel with said first surface so to further increase the safety of the hook section as it will become further more challenging to utilize it for self-harming purposes. The flexible material may be thermoplastic polyurethane which in combination with the hooks structural features allows it to be deformable upon taking up loads being equal to or greater than 50Nproviding a hook being improved in terms of safety. In some aspects, it may take up loads being equal to or greater than 60N, 70N or 75N.

The extension direction may form an angle relative said first surface, the angle being in the range of 135-165 degrees, preferably 140-150 degrees. Such an angle range may form an optimal angle for simultaneously providing a hook suitable for hanging articles, while efficiently preventing self-harm.

The anti-ligature section may be longer than said hook section, accordingly, the anti-ligature section may provide stiffness to the hook.

Moreover, the anti-ligature section may have a maximum thickness of at least 18mm, preferably 18-22 mm providing a sufficient stiffness to the anti-ligature section. The hook section may have a width of 3mm - 8 mm. The hook section may have a maximum thickness being in the range of 1 mm - 3 mm. The preferred width of the hook may provide a hook that may withstand forces of up to 50N in all directions prior to deforming, thus being unsuitable for self-harm while functioning as an article-hanger.

The maximum thickness of the hook section may be 5-20% of the maximum thickness of the anti-ligature section, preferably 8-13%. Accordingly, such a ratio provides a stiff and robust hook while providing a high safety.

The anti-ligature section may extend in the form of a frustum; the frustum may be a conical frustum or a frustum of a pyramid having at least three sides preferably four. The hook section extends from an (flat) end of said frustum. Such a frustum form allows the hook to be more convenient in manufacturing, while having a high stiffness - further the frustum shape allows the hook section to be smaller in shape, which in combination with its material allows for deformation at a lower force which in turn results in an improved anti-ligature hook in terms of safety. In other words, the anti-ligature section may extend in the form of a frustum, wherein the hook section extends from an end of said frustum. The hook may comprise a rigid reinforcing base arranged in a cavity formed on a second surface opposite to the first surface of said base portion. A benefit of such a rigid reinforcing base is that it may increase the rigidity of the hook without having any visibility when the hook is mounted to a wall. Since the hook portion and base portion may be integral of a deformable material it may be more vulnerable to stress, accordingly, a rigid reinforcing base arranged in a cavity formed on a second opposite surface can increase its rigidity and stiffness. Thereby, the hook can be secured to a wall in an improved manner and the hook section may be more tolerant to external forces. The rigid reinforcing base may have a bulge thereon. The rigid reinforcing face is arranged to face a wall.

The base portion may have a surrounding portion that covers an edge area of said rigid reinforcing base. This provides the benefit of preventing/making it more challenging for a person to 1. Detach the hook when attached to a wall. 2. Fitting a strap, rope or any other means in-between a wall and the base portion when attached to the wall. The surrounding portion will deform when the hook is attached to a wall, thereby no gaps will be provided between the wall and the base portion when the hook is attached to the wall, preventing any means to enter in-between the base portion of the hook and the wall.

The anti-ligature hook may further comprise at least one attachment hole, preferably two, on said base portion, said attachment hole being axially aligned with mating attachment holes on said rigid reinforcing base. Preferably, the anti-ligature hook comprises two attachment holes on opposing sides of the hook section.

Further, the base and or first surface thereof may extend beyond the hook portion in a first and a second direction.

The rigid reinforcing base may comprise at least one anchoring cavity, said base portion comprises anchoring elements filling said anchoring cavities. The anchoring cavities may provide an improved connection between the deformable material and the rigid material of the anti-ligature hook, thereby providing increased rigidity of the anti-ligature hook. The antiligature hook may be made by two-shot injection moulding - providing a rapid and convenient way of manufacturing.

There is further provided a method for manufacturing the anti-ligature hook according to any aspect herein, the method comprising the steps of: providing a first and a second material. Further, performing a two-shot injection moulding of the first and second material to form said anti-ligature hook. The first material is preferably the thermoplastic polyurethane, any thermoplastic elastomer or an elastomer, and the second material being a stiff/rigid material for example a mixture of polypropylene and glassfibers, or a mixture of polycarbonate (PC) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following, the disclosure will be described in a non-limiting way and in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments illustrated in the enclosed drawings, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates an objective view of an anti-ligature hook In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

Figure 2 illustrates an objective exploded front view of an anti-ligature hook In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

Figure 3 illustrates an objective exploded back view of an anti-ligature hook In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

Figure 4 illustrates a cross-sectional side view of an anti-ligature hook In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

Figure 5 illustrates a top view of an anti-ligature hook In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

Figure 6 illustrates a front view of an anti-ligature hook in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; and

Figure 7 illustrates a side view of an anti-ligature hook in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; and

Figure 8 illustrates a flowchart schematically depicting a method for manufacturing an anti-ligature hook in accordance with any aspect of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, some embodiments of the present disclosure will be described. However, it is to be understood that features of the different embodiments are exchangeable between the embodiments and may be combined in different ways, unless anything else is specifically indicated. Even though in the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a more thorough understanding of the provided disclosure, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the embodiments in the present disclosure may be realized without these details. In other instances, well-known constructions or functions are not described in detail, so as not to obscure the present disclosure.

In the following description of example embodiments, the same reference numerals denote the same or similar components.

Figure 1 illustrates an anti-ligature hook 1 for supporting an article comprising a base portion 2 for mounting the hook to a supporting surface (e.g. a wall) and a hook portion 3 being integral with a first surface 2' of the base portion 2. Further, the hook portion 3 and the base portion 2 being formed by a flexible material. Further, the hook portion 3 comprises an anti-ligature section 4 and a hook section 5 both being suitable for receiving e.g. clothes for hanging thereon. More specifically, the clothes may hang on the anti-ligature section 4 or between the anti-ligature section 4 and the hook section 5, after being manoeuvred over the hook section 5. Thus, the anti-ligature section 4 may also be referred to as an anti-ligature clothes-hanging section 4. Moreover, the anti-ligature section 4 has a circumferentially tapered extension, extending outwardly away from the first surface 2' of the base portion 2. The anti-ligature section 4 may be circumferentially tapered at least to said hook section 4. In other words, the anti-ligature section 4 extends in a direction forming an angle of e.g. 65-115 degrees with said base portion 2 or a plane 2a of said base portion 2 (shown in Figure 4). Furthermore, figure 1 illustrates that the hook section 5 extends from an end 6 of said anti-ligature section 4, the hook section 5 extending in an extension direction el being non-parallel with said first surface 2' (or the plane 2a of said base portion 2), preferably also non-perpendicular with respect to said first surface 2'. The non-parallel extension of said hook section 2' is optional and may be excluded in some aspects of the present disclosure. The hook section 5 may be defined by that the hook portion 3 exceeds a specific thickness tl (see fig.4), e.g., equal to or less than 3 mm. The flexible material is preferably a thermoplastic polyurethane. The anti-ligature hook 1 may be arranged to withstand forces of up to 50N, or in some aspects up to 60N or up to 75N.

Figure 1 further illustrates that the anti-ligature section 4 may extend in the form of a frustum having four sides, wherein the hook section 5 extends from an (flat) end 6 of said frustum.

Thus, the anti-ligature section 4 may have a pyramid shape without an apex i.e. form a frustum. The frustum may have more or less than four sides. Accordingly, the frustum may be a conical frustum or a pyramid frustum. Thus, the anti-ligature section 4 may extend in the form of a frustum, the frustum being a pyramid frustum or a conical frustum. The edges of the frustum (if it is a pyramid frustum) may be soft edges. The term "pyramid frustum" or "frustum of a pyramid" also encompasses a twisted pyramid, a right pyramid and a non-right pyramid in accordance with the present disclosure.

Figure 2 illustrates an objective exploded view of an anti-ligature hook comprising a rigid reinforcing base 16 . Further, Figure 3 illustrates the view of Figure 2 from a back view. Figure 3 illustrates that the rigid reinforcing base 16 is to be arranged in a cavity 7 formed on a second surface 2” opposite to the first surface 2' of said base portion 2. The second surface 2” of the base portion 2 is the surface that is arranged to face a wall. The first surface 2', the second surface 2” and the hook portion 3 may be integrally formed.

Figures 2-3 illustrates that the anti-ligature hook 1 may further comprise at least one attachment hole 10 on said base portion 2, said attachment hole 10 being axially aligned with mating attachment holes 10' on said rigid reinforcing base 16. Preferably, the anti-ligature hook 1 comprises attachment holes 10 on opposing sides of said hook section 5 as illustrated in Figure 2.

Figure 4 illustrates a side cross-sectional view of said anti-ligature hook 1, showing that said extension direction el forms an angle al relative said first surface 2', the angle al being in the range of 135-165 degrees, preferably 140-150 degrees.

Figure 4 further illustrates that the hook section 5 may have a maximum thickness tl being in the range of 1 mm - 3 mm. The phrase "maximum thickness" refers to that the greatest thickness tl of said hook section 5 may be 1-3 mm. In other words, the thickness of the hook section 5 may vary, however the maximum thickness may then be 1-3 mm. The anti-ligature section 4 may have a maximum thickness t2 being at least 17 mm.

Figure 4 further illustrates that the rigid reinforcing base 16 may comprise at least one anchoring cavity 11, said base portion 2 comprises anchoring elements 12 filling said anchoring cavities 11.

Figure 4 further illustrates more in detail that the anti-ligature section 4 has a circumferentially tapered extension extending outwardly away from the first surface 2'. The anti-ligature section 4 may comprise a central axis Cl that extends perpendicular to the first surface 2' (or the plane 2a) away from the first surface 2' as shown in Figure 4. The antiligature section 4 may have a circumferentially tapered extension along a central axis Cl thereof, extending outwardly away from the first surface 2'. Thus, the anti-ligature section 4 may extend along its central axis Cl away from the base portion 2, preferably in a non- symmetrical tapered manner as shown in Figure 4. In other words, when attached to a wall (vertical surface), the section 4 extends perpendicular to the wall extension away from the wall. Figure 4 further illustrates that the hook section 5 may extend in an extension direction el being non-parallel to the first surface 2'. Moreover, the extension direction el of the hook section 5 may also be non-parallel to the central axis Cl of the anti-ligature section 4. In other words, the direction of the central axis Cl and the extension direction el may be different.

The phrase "circumferentially tapered extension" may refer to that the anti-ligature section 4, tapers circumferentially along its whole extension about the central axis Cl (i.e. tapers in at least a first and a second direction).

The extension direction may refer to the direction el in which a hook end portion 14 is extending in (see Figure 4).

The transition of the anti-ligature section 4 to the hook section 5 may be a smooth transition as shown in Figure 4. A tapering thickness may be at least 10 mm, thus, the hook portion 3 may decrease in thickness with at least 10 mm along its extension from said anti-ligature section 3 to said hook section 5 and/or wherein the hook portion 3 may decrease in thickness with a at least of 40% (preferably 50-65%) along its extension from said anti-ligature section 4 to said hook section 5. In other words it may decrease from a first thickness e.g. being t2 (see Figure 4) to a second thickness e.g. being tl. Accordingly, in other words the hook portion 3 may decrease in thickness with at least of 40% from a maximum thickness t2 to a minimum thickness tl. The anti-ligature section 4 having the maximum thickness t2, and the hook section 5 having the minimum thickness tl.

Figure 5 illustrates a top view of said anti-ligature hook 1, showing that the hook section 5 may have a maximum width being in the range of 3-7 mm. It should be noted that in some embodiments, the maximum width may be 1-3 mm and the maximum thickness may be 3-7 mm.

Figures 3-5 further illustrate that the rigid reinforcing base 16 may comprise a bulge 13 thereon, the bulge 13 arranged to reinforce the hook portion 3. As shown in Figures 3-5, the bulge 13 extends as a protrusion extending towards the hook portion 3 and is positioned on an opposing side of said hook portion 3.

Figure 6 illustrates a front view of the anti-ligature hook 1 of the present disclosure. The phrase "circumferentially tapered extension" refers to, as shown in Figure 6, which the antiligature section 4 tapers in at least a first direction xl and a second direction x2 along its extension away from the base portion 2, which in Figure 6 is represented by the frustum shape of the anti-ligature section 4. Thereby providing a hook section 5, which can be compact enough to prevent ligature, while maintaining an overall robust hook 1. Thus, along its extension away from the base portion 2 to at least the hook section 5, the anti-ligature section 4 may continuously decrease its circumference/perimeter, so to transition into said hook section 5 that extends in said extension direction el. Figure 6 further illustrates that the base 2 is, when said anti-ligature hook 1 is attached to said supporting surface, parallel to said supporting surface. Further, Figure 6 illustrates that the base 2 extends beyond the hook portion 3 in the first and the second direction xl, x2. In other words, the hook portion 3 does not extend beyond peripheral edges of the base 2. Therefore, the hook portion 3, as it is also tapering, cannot be used as a means for ligature e.g. by twisting a wire around the hook portion 3. Further, the hook portion 3 is more securely attached to the base 2 such that it is more challenging to rip off, grip and manipulate.

Figure 7 illustrates a side view of the anti-ligature hook 1 showing that the hook 1 is arranged to deform upon taking up loads (being e.g., equal to or greater than 50N), further Figure 7 illustrates that the hook 1 will regain its original shape after being deformed upon taking up a load. Thus, the hook 1 can be used extensively for a long period of time.

Figure 8 illustrates a flowchart schematically showing a method 100 for manufacturing the anti-ligature hook according to any aspect of the present disclosure, the method 100 comprising the steps of providing 101 a first and a second material, and performing 102 a two- shot injection moulding of the first and second material to form said anti-ligature hook

The first material may be polyurethane and the second material may be any suitable plastic or a mixture comprising plastic for example a mixture of polypropylene and glassfibers, or a mixture of polycarbonate (PC) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).