IMPROVEMENTS IN HANDCUFFS AND SHACKLES
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN HANDCUFFS AND SHACKLES." -A communication from
abroad by John Jacob Tower, of Brooklyn, County of Kings, and
State of Now Vonk Tinited States of Amanine
Sealed the 8th August 1871, and dated the 14th March 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville
Clark at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 14th March 1871.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN HANDCUFFS AND SHACKLES," to be
as follows:-
This Invention relates to new adjustable handcuffs which can be
enlarged or contracted to fit limbs of different sizes. As at present
made handcuffs cannot be adjusted but are of a certain size, and at
times are too large for small hands and readily slipped off by the

page_text: prisoners, or too small and injurious to the wearers. To obviate these
defects is the object of the present Invention. The same consists chiefly
in making the handcuff in two sections pivoted together, one section
carrying a lock, while the other is notched at several places to receive
the locking bolt in one of the notches.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawing represents a side view partly
in section of the new handcuff, and Figure 2 a similar view, also partly
in section, of a modification of same. Similar letters of reference
indicate corresponding parts in the two Figures.
A, B, represents the two sections constituting the handcuff, they being
curved bars which are pivoted together by a pin a so that their free ends
can be swung apart or together at will. The section A contains near
its outer end a curved slot for receiving the end of the other section B.
The section B has notches b, b, on its inner or concave side to receive a
spring bolt C which is concealed within the section A, as shown in
Figure 1. The bolt C is thrown into the notches by a spring c, and is
also connected with a weaker spring d which will withdraw the bolt if
the spring c is held clear of the same by a key. That portion of the
section A which contains the bolt C and the spring c, d, is made in
form of an enlarged case or lock which is provided with a keyhole for
withdrawing the bolt. The notches are so inclined that the section B
can be pushed into A to a suitable distance until it fits the desired limb,
but it cannot be withdrawn without the use of a key. An adjustable
handcuff is, thus provided which will fit limbs of all sizes. The
sections A, B, are bent outwardly to receive the pin a, so that the same
is always clear of the prisoner's body.
Instead of having the concave inner face of the section B notched as
in Figure 1 these notches may also be arranged on the convex outer
face of the same, as in Figure 2. In this case the bolt D is fitted into
a case arranged on the outer end of A. This plan is less practical and
convenient, than that shown in Figure 1, but provides nevertheless an
adjustable shackle. The pivot a serves also, to secure to the handcuff a
link E which may receive the chain or other device by means of which
two handcuffs are united or the prisoner secured to some other object.
•

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 12th September 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Alexander Melville Clark, Her special
licence that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such other's as I, the said Alexander Melville
Clarke, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN HANDCUFFS AND SHACKLES," a communication
to me from abroad by Jolin Jacob Tower, of Brooklyn, County of Kings,
and State of New York, United States of America, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my exe-
cutors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,
or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the Sheet of
Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say):
This Invention relates to new adjustable handcuffs, which can be
enlarged or contracted to fit limbs of different sizes. As at present
made handcuffs cannot be adjusted, but are of certain size, and at times

page_text: are two large for small hands, and readily slipped off by the prisoners, or
too small and injurious to the wearers. To obviate these defects is the
object of the present Invention; the same consists chiefly in making
the handcuff in two sections, pivoted together, one section carrying a
lock, while the other is notched at several places to receive the locking
bolt in one of the notches.
Figure 1 represents a side view, partly in section of the new handcuff;
Figure 2 is a side view of a modification of the same; Figure 3 is a side
view partly in section of said modification; Figure 4 is an edge view
of the same. Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
A, B, represents the two sections constituting the handcuff, they being
curved bars, which are pivoted together by a pin a, so that their free
ends can be swung apart or together at will. The section A contains
near its outer end a curved slot for receiving the end of the other
section B. The section B has notches b, b, on its inner or concave side
to receive a spring bolt C which is concealed within the section A, as
shown in Figure 1. The bolt C is thrown into the notches by a spring c,
and is also connected with a weaker spring d, which will withdraw the
bolt if the spring c is held clear of the same by a key. That portion
of the section A which contains the bolt C and the springs c, d, is made
in form of an enlarged case or lock, which is provided with a key hole
for withdrawing the bolt. The notches 6 are so inclined that the
section B can be pushed into A to a suitable distance until it fits the
desired limb; but it cannot be withdrawn without the use of a key.
An adjustable handcuff is thus provided which will fit limbs of all sizes.
The sections A, B, are bent outwardly to receive the pin a, so that the
same is always clear of the prisoner's body.
Instead of having the concave inner face of the section B notched,
as in Figure 1, these notches may also be arranged on the convex
outer face of the same, as in Figure 3. In this case the bolt D is fitted
into a case, arranged on the outer end of A. This plan is less practical
and convenient than that shown in Figure 1, but provides nevertheless
an adjustable shackle. The pivot a serves also to secure to the handcuff
a link E, which may receive the chain or other device, by means of
which two handcuffs are united, or the prisoner secured to some other
object.

page_text: Having described the nature of the Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to
be protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1st. The adjustable handcuff composed of the sections A, B, and
of a spring bolt locking into the same, substantially as herein shown
and described.
2ndly. The springs c, d, combined with the spring bolt C and shackles
A, B, to operate substantially as herein shown and described.
3rdly. The link E combined with the pivot a and sections A, B,
substantially as and for the purposes herein shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of September,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-one.
Witness,
JAS. O. DEWEY,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)