Legcuffs

Leg irons, shackles or leg irons also called, are used to restrain the feet with the goal of achieving a movement restriction. In form and function shackles are often very similar to handcuffs, but differ from them by a larger opening and usually also by a longer connecting chain between the two closed rings.

Nomenclature

The plural name shackles ( in analogy to handcuffs ) for enlarged handcuffs with a long chain is the most common. The term ankle bracelet is preferably from manufacturers and dealers, in common parlance, this also includes all sorts of other devices to the foot or feet and captivate not only metal shackles, as can be seen in the term electronic ankle bracelet. Leg irons when not in use synonymously with leg irons, characterizes an old metal bondage or with other closure system as that of standard hand and leg irons. The leg iron (singular ) refers to a single ring or the concrete half a Fußschellenpaares.

History

The earliest archaeological finds of bondage dating from the Bronze and Iron Ages, as the closing mechanism is mainly a puzzle mechanism. From the Roman period, a number of other forms of bondage are known, so there are clamps with leaf spring locks to be riveted clamps and even early forms of capsule clamps which have been used up to modern times. Simple designs without built castle, however, were more common in the Middle Ages, before the installation of locks has been priced affordably in chains with mass production of industrialization.

Simple fetter types but were still used, such as puzzle shackles as the typical slave bondage in the southern states of America or riveted shackles when transporting prisoners in prison camps overseas.

The Bilboes - type (also called Grillo or caltrops ) is applied as a simple and easy to produce ankle bracelet in many countries until modern times. This curved brackets are placed around the ankles in "U " shape, which are secured to the open sides by an iron rod which is pushed this through two eyelets provided on the brackets. This rod is in this case often fixedly mounted on a device or close to a wall or column, so although there remains a certain freedom of movement, the freedom of movement of the target person, however, is repealed.

The development of modern shackles with screw went like handcuffs toward the spring-loaded screw ( " Darby -type chains "), which were in Europe until the mid 20th century to the police in action. In the United States there was from the end of the 19th century a number of new mechanisms and building types, often at the same time built as handcuffs and leg irons, until then the Peerless type has prevailed with by swinging brackets and lock mechanism than today's standard design.

A development of the last decades are so-called high security restraints, in which instead of a regular tumbler lock is a lock cylinder is installed.

In 2005, the British customs seized some models with leg iron chain Hiatt 104 as instruments of torture. The reason given was that " shackles with chain " are ostracized as " torture devices" by the UN. They are therefore likely to be sold only in the respective Country. Each cross-border delivery is prohibited.

Leg irons are made, depending on the application, different materials. For quick and temporary fix so-called " suspenders " ( cable ties) are used. For longer fixations they usually consist of two metal rings that are connected by a chain. In the medical field seals are designed for fixation of the limbs mainly of leather or solid tissue. The Hamburg Bondage is a combination of hand and ankle cuffs that can be worn by the captives under the clothes and walk normally allows. It takes place mainly in the judicial screening of offenders use.

Compared with handcuffs is typically achieved with a lower leg irons Disabilities, which is limited to a reduction in stride length and allows only a lower walking and running pace, also in the case faster creates the risk of tripping movements of the bound person. In some countries prison shackles are therefore considered suitable for long wearing periods. In order not to abet this controversial practice that has existed for some time, a ban on the export leg irons outside the European Union. Shackles for the intended long-term use are therefore largely manufactured locally by the respective countries and marketed in the meantime. One example is the Chinese leg irons (see figure), which are designed especially for longer duration. Here a metal plate is screwed onto the shutter opening after sealing, for example to in the context of forced labor in the outdoor area to prevent the ingress of dirt into the mechanism.

If combined with leg irons handcuffs, thus a very far-reaching restriction of movement is achieved depending on the application method. In addition to this is still a connection chain between wrist and ankle cuffs used, or a belly chain to be created.