Definition: Toothed Rods

More Toothed Rods for More Safety

Toothed rods in handcuffs and some other restraints heighten their safety. But how is a higher degree of safety achieved through gear racks?

Handcuffs and other kinds of restraints are often equipped with one or more toothed rods. Toothed rods are metal bows which are designed with a toothing. They are pushed forward in a handcuff or other restraints with the help of a spring. When the moveable part of the shackle is slid into the mount the teeth of the shackle are being held and kept in the matching notches of the toothed rod. The shackle is fixated and arrested in the wanted position because the teeth of the toothed rod are canted and therefore cannot slide back.

Because of this mechanic feature, the rule is: The more toothed rods a restraint is equipped with, the safer it is. Because the keeper and the shackle have more and usually also a different teething and a larger surface. Therefore, opening the handcuffs is additionally more difficult and the risk for attempts at manipulation is reduced significantly.

As an example we used ASP handcuffs which are available in three different variations.	Handcuff bow sliding and engaging into the shackle.