Tag: handcuffs 5m1ho

Handcuffs are restraint devices designed to secure an individual's wrists close together. They comprise of two parts, linked together by a chain, hinge or in the case of rigid cuffs, a bar. Each half has a rotating arm which engages with a ratchet that prevents it from being opened once closed around a person's wrist. Without the key, the person cannot move their wrists more than a few centimetres/inches apart, making many tasks difficult or impossible.

There are two distinct subtypes of contemporary metal handcuffs: one in which the cuffs are held together by a short chain, and another, of more recent origin, which uses a hinge for this purpose. Since hinged handcuffs permit less movement than a chain cuff, they are generally considered as more secure. A third type, the rigid handcuff, has a metal block or bar between the cuffs.

[Source: wiki]