If I explain the hinge mechanism first, then it will be easy to explain the `lock`.
The hinge is formed from a small diameter section of stainless steel pipe, welded onto the end of two halves of the bracelet. It is in three parts, with the centre section being welded to one half of the bracelet, and the two end sections being welded to the other half of the bracelet. The pipe is so thin that it's diameter is virtually the same as the thickness of the bracelet itself, and so it does not stand proud.
The two halves are attached together by these three sections of pipe, through which a (hinge) pin is placed to form these three discrete sections of pipe into a hinge, joining the two halves. To ensure the hinge pin is not removed, the two open ends of the outer sections of the hinge body (ie the pipe which is welded to the bracelet), are welded closed.
The lock itself is not so much a lock, as a futher hinge mechanism, which has a removable pin. The second hinge / lock is again formed from three sections of pipe, but this time only one end is welded closed. The bracelet is locked on by the insertion of this second hinge / locking pin into the three sections of pipes which are brought together as the bracelet is closed around the wrist.
The pin itself is simply pushed into place, and is a few millimeters shorter than the width of the bracelet. It's removeal requires a special tool, as the end of the pipe which is open allows you only to push it further home, at a diameter of approx 1mm, inside a small pipe of diamter possibly 1.2mm, there is no possible means to remove the pin with normal tools.
The originally stainless steel pin was maintained in position by a slight bend, but this proved unsucessful as over time (and repeated pressure closed/open on the bracelet) the pin could be made to straighten somewhat, and therefore be removed by hitting on a hard surface, forcing the loosened pin towards the open end of the locking mechanism.
Tollyboy sent an upgrade which was a split pin, made from a more resilient metal (ie the only part not stainless steel), which is a surefire fix.
So how do you remove this pin (both new and old) ?. Well tollyboy supply a tool made from a section of stainless pipe, of small enough outside diameter to push into the open end of the locking mechanism, and large enough internal diameter to fit over the pin. The outward pressure from the pin (either the original bent one or the split pin) holds it inside the intermediate section of pipe used as the key, and hence it may be removed.
It is truly a masterpiece of design, to have a pin which fits so tightly into the three sections of pipe to lock it, and then a further peice of pipe as the key, which somehow fits between the two in order to remove it !
When in position the lock and the hinge appear identical, with both appearing to form part of the steel body of the bracelet. There is no risk of anyone determining that the bracelet is effectively locked on, unless they are so amazed by its almost seamless appearance as to ask for a closer look. The width of the bracelet does give it the slight appearance of a manacle, but with no visible locks, it looks similar to other plain fashion bracelets.
One of the single most erotic images I hold in my mind is that of my wife laying naked on the bed except for the bracelet she could not remove !
[ See 99-Dec message from Tollyboy ]
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Page last updated 99-Dec-01 by: Altairboy@aol.com