USRE1650E - Improvement in handcuffs - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORG-E W. REED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNEE OF WM. V. ADAMS, `OF

Y SAME IJLAGE.

IMPROVEMENT IN HANDCUFFS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 35,576, dated .lune 17, 1862; Reissue No. 1,650, dated April 5, 1864.

.To all'whom it may concern:

Be it known that WILLIAM V. ADAMS, of the city, county, and State of New York, did invent a certain new and Improved Handcuft' or Shackle for Contining the Trists and Ankles of Prisoners; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference 1narked.thereon.

1n the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my handcui or shackle. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional view.

The handcuffs or shackles in common use l for coniining the wrists and ankles of prison-' ers consist of two sections hinged together so as to be closed upon the limbs and locked in a xed manner without any adjustment to lit diii'erent-sized limbs. Such iixed handcuffs or shackles are often slipped oil' over small hands, thus giving the prisoner the free use of the hands to wrench the shackles from his ankles or otherwise assist in eii'ecting his escape. In other cases the wrists and ankles of prisoners are necessarily compressed by the handcuii's and shackles litting too tightly, thus producingchating, acute swellings, and chronic sores.

The object of my invention is to produce a light yet strong and adjustable handcuii' or shackle, thus with a single instrument fitting different-sized limbs without any excess ot' 1ron.

My invention consists ot' an adjustable handcuii' or shackle of peculiar construction for accurately fitting either smaller or larger limbs, said cutl's or shackles being made in two sections pivoted together at one end ot' said sections, while the other ends are provided with an adjustable lock or fastening.

In the construction of my handcui' or shackle I make twov sections, A and B, Figs. 1 and 3, and hinge the same together by a pivot, G, so that the two sections may be` opened, as in Fig. 1, or closed, as in'Fig. 3. Both of these sections are made very smooth and as light as is consistent with prtxperl strength, in order to prevent chafing or compression and swelling from roughness or mere weight of iron.

The section A is much shorter than `the other, and is provided with a concealed lock,

C, shown in section in Fig. 3, where the face plate of the lock is removed. In this lock is a dog or pawl, D, pressed forward by a rubber spring, c, Fig. 3.

'Ihe section B has a long nger, B', notched upon its face, as shown at e, Fig. 3, and titted to pass through a mortise or hole in section A, (or the -lock 0,) when the two sections are clasped together, as in Fig. 3. As the sections are closed together and the linger B enters the lock C to a greater or less extent, the spring-dog D automatically seizes the notched linger B', preventing the same from being withdrawn. made self-locking.

In order to loosen the handcuff or shackle from the limb of a prisoner, or to openthe two sections, a key is inserted into the hole H, and the dog D thus pushed back from the notched nge-r until the latter is Withdrawn.

The linger B must be accurately fitted to the mortise or hole in section A, (indicatedin dotted lines, Fig. 1,) and the face-plate of the lock must be well riveted in place in order to prevent picking or breaking the lock.r The position and lightness of the dog D makes it impossible for a prisoner to loosen the shackle by concussion of the lock.

The two sections A and B have a peculiar ogee curve (similar in both sections) extending from the hinge or pivot G nearly to the lock on the section A. When the sections are expanded, these ogee curves apply to or iit the limbs throughout the extent ofthe curves, as is apparent from Fig. l; but when the sections are closed upon a small limb, as in Fig. 3, the sections approach each other at the points bA and c, so as to narrow the general area or space for the limb, leaving a sharp angle at the hinge, into which the limb cannot enter. Thus the transverse diameter of the handcuii or shackle is diminished as the other diameter is shortened by closing the sections; or, in other words, the working diameters of the cuff or shackle are both lengthened and shortened by simply openingand closing the sections.

A hasp or staple, E, Fig. `2, embraces the hinge of the two sections A and B, thus strengthening such hinge without interfering` Thus the handcuii' or shackle is' with its free motion', and at the sanie time giving a proper attachment for a chainusually employed for connecting two cuffs or shackles, or for confining the prisoner.

' One advantage of my adjustable shackle or handcuff is the convenience with. which it may be expanded in ease the limb is suddenly inflamed and swollen.

I am aware that a pair of handcuffs made of two pieces of metal connected b v a single rivet in the form of a gure 8, or like a pair of shears, has been made adjustable upon both Wi'ists by a single lock, therefore I do not claim such adjustment; but I believe my adjustable handcus or shackles for fitting one limb at a time and allowing to such limb a free, independent motion is new and a great improveas set forth.

G. W. REED,

Assignee. litnessesz E. P. BREED, R. D. VWELLS.

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