Improvements in or relating to Handouffs or the. like.
Year: 1894

page_text: •
Date of Application, 27th Dec., 1894
Complete Specification Left. 27th Sept., 1895-Accepted, 2nd Nov., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Handouffs or the. like.
We LOUIS WILLIAM GARNETT FLENT of 7 Walmer Road and CILARVES
COVENTRY of 15 Albert Road, bath in Birkdale near Southport in the County
of Lancaster Engineer and Draughtsman respectively do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows..-
This invention relates to that kind of handcuff known as a "snap" "smp" or
apprehender adapted to be placed on one wrist of a prisonet and having a handle
which may be held by the police officer or other in charge.
Hitherto these have usually been made of two S shaped pieces of metal pivotted
together at their middles in such manner as to be capable of being opened out
for application to the wrist, and closed the con and held in the closed position by
A catch
Our invention has for its object an improved instrument that will require simply
pressuno upon a wrist to close it and which may be easily opened at will by the
officer thus obviating a defect in existing devices which are very liable to become
tightly closed during a struggle.
We provide a handle preferably of oval shape having a rigid inwardly curved
aim projecting from the top edge thereof somewhat in the manner of a claw of
suficient size to partially enclose & hold one side of a wrist At the corresponding
point on the other side we provide a similarly shaped claw which is hinged or
other wise pivottully connected to said handle and is free to open to allow the wast
to pass between the two claws. A lever preferably made in ono with the movable
claw hes close to the edge of the handle in the space between them & when the
device is opened, oscillates in such manner that its free end travels approximately
along the ioner curve of the rigid claw upon which may be a projection to limit
its tiavel
A bevilled bolt slides in a slot at the base of the rigid claw & when the device
is closed engages the free end of the lever and thus prevents unintentional.
opening.
We provide a light spindle which lies beneath the lever & which is at one end.
attached to the bolt & at the other projects through the hinge or boss to which
the movable claw is attached and its exposed end cales a button or equivalent.
A spiral spring onencles the spindle and 13 fastened thereto at the bolt end
thereof and at its other to a lng or extension on the under side of the hinged claw.
The mode of action is as follows
The device may be canned closed in the pocket & when requned for use tho
haudlo s grasped by the officers hand and his thumb pressing upon the button
slides the spindle in opposition to the spring so as to push back the bolt and release
the lever. The sping pulling on the Ing on the movable claw causes it to open
the lever thereby canting. The device is applied by simple pressure upon the
wist (between the open claws) and this pressure causes the lever to return to its
closed position where it is caught by the bolt, the movable claw also closing and
thus the wrist is held between the two claws.
We may provide a safety catch, such as a pin passing through the bolt and its

page_text: cheeks, or the button may be screwed down onto the projecting portion of the
spindle when the prisoner is secured, to prevent advertant opening.
We do not limit ourselves to the precise details mentioned.
Dated this 24th day of December 1894.
ps in or relating to Handguns or the like.
We, Louis WILLIAM GARNETT FLYNT of 7 Walmer Road, and CHARLES
COVENTRY of 15 Albert Road, both in Birkdale near Southport in the County of
Lancaster Engineer and Draughtsman respectively do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement.-
suip'
"
This invention relates to that kind of handcuff known as a "snap," *
"grip" or apprehender adapted to be placed on one wrist of a pusoner and having
a handle which may be held by the police officer or other in charge.
Hitherto these have usually been made of two S shaped pieces of metal pivotted
together at the middles in such a manner as to be capable of being opened out
for application to the waist and closed theicon and held in the closed position by
a catch.
Our invention has for its object an improved instrument that will require simply
pressure upon a wrist to close it and which may be easily opened at will by the
ofhcer thus obviating a defect in existing devices which are liable to become
tightly closed during a struggle.
The accompanying diawings shew one form of our invention which is very
successful actual use.
Fig is an elevation of the device in its closed position the dotted lines
represent the open position of the movable claw and leaver hereinafter described.
Fig. 2 18 a similar view to Fig 1, parts being in section.
We provide a handle, A. preferably of oval shape having a rigid inwardly
curved arm B. projecting from the top edge thereof somewhat in the manner of a
claw, of sufficient size to partially enclose and hold one side of a wist At tho
corresponding pout on the other side we provide a boss & on which is pivotted a
somewhat similarly shaped claw c' and which is free to open to allow a prisoners
wrist to pass between the two claws. A lever D preferably made in one piece
with the movable claw clies close to the top edge of the handle in the space
between said claws and when the device is opened, oscillates in such a manner
that its free end travels approximately along the inner curve of the rigid claw
upon which may be a projection to limit its travel.
A bevelled bolt or latch lock E slides in a slot e at the base of the igid claw B
and when the device is closed engages the fice end of the lever D and thus
prevents unintentional opening. We provide a light spindle F which lies beneath
the lever D and which is at one end attached to the bolt E and at the other projects
through the hinge or boss to which the movable claw c' is attached. The free end
of spindle is supported by a plate or portion of the main handle though which
it shghtly projects. We provide a small pivotted rocking lever Gattached to the
outside of the handle in such position as to be conveniently actuated by the thumb
of the officer if its lower and be raised its upper end is depressed & thereby by
pushing on said spindle F reti acts lock and releases the end of lever D A hood
protects the end of lever G. A spal sping 11 encircles the spindle and s

page_text: fastened thereto at the bolt end thereof as shown and at its other to a lug or
extension I on the under side of the hinged claw.
The mode of action is as follows.
The device may be carried closed in the pocket and when required for use the
handle A is grasped by the officer's hand and his thumb pressing up the rocking
lever slides the spindle in opposition to the sping II so as to push back tho
bolt E & release the lever D. The spring II pulling on the lug I of the movable
claw causes it to open, the lever D thereby canting into position shown by
dotted lines.
The device is applied by simple pressure upon the wrist (between the open
claws B. c) and this pressure causes the lever D to return to its closed position
where it is caught by the holt E, the movable claw also closing and thus the
Wst 18 held between the two claws.
We may provide a safety catch, such as a pin passing through the bolt E and
its cheeks;
We do not limit ourselves to the precise details mentioned as modifications
may be made in the structural details without departing from the principal of the
invention.
In some cases we may pivot both arms B. e & employ a lever D attached by
links or otherwise.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claun 15,
A handcuff or similar device such as described which may be caused to grip
the wrist and to lock in its closed positiou by simple pressure thereon, substantially
as described.
2 A handcuff or similar device such as described having a handle, a fixed Jaw
rigid therewith, a movable jaw pivotted thercon a lever movable with said jaw, a
catch for securing said movable jaw and lover in their closed position and means
tor releasing same, substantially as described.
3 The combination of handlo A, Jaw B rigid therewith, jaw c¹ pivotted thereov
lever such as D movable with said jaw c', a latch or bolt E, spindle F adapted to
slide or move saul bolt, a rocking lever G partially covered by a hood g and a
spring II, substantially as described and shown.
4 In a handcuff' or similar device a movable jaw having a lover attached
thereto in such manner that pressure on said level will close said ja w, substantially
is described.
5. In a handcuff or similar device such as described a spal spring teuding to
open the movable portion thereof and to cause the bolt therefor to engage,
substantially as described.
6. The improved handcuff, “grip” o1 snap" taken as a whole substantially as
lescribed and shown
Dated this 26th day of September 1895.
CHARLES COVENTRY,
Agent for Applicants