Chinese finger trap
Encyclopedia
A Chinese finger trap (also known as a Chinese finger puzzle, Chinese handcuffs and similar variants) is a gag
toy used to play a practical joke
on children and unsuspecting adults. The finger trap is a simple puzzle that traps the victim's fingers (often the index finger
s) in both ends of a small, woven bamboo
cylinder.
The tightening is simply a normal behavior of a cylindrical, helically wound braid
, usually the common biaxial braid. Pulling the entire braid lengthens and narrows it. The length is gained by reducing the angle between the warp
and weft
threads at their crossing points, but this reduces the radial distance between opposing sides and hence the overall circumference. The more one pulls, the more the circumference shrinks (i.e. the trap tightens). The same effect is used in specialized textile manufacturing
, electrical contractor
s' wire-pullers, Indonesian woven fruit press
es, and by fly-fishers
.
Chinese finger traps are not intended for use as restraint devices. Strong victims of the prank may break the bamboo strips when they pull outwards, attempting to free their fingers and stretching the trap beyond its limits. However, a variation on the Chinese finger trap used in orthopedic medicine—namely, providing even pressure to the patient's digit(s) and at the same time immobilizing the joints—serves a similar purpose as a traction device
.
for a problem that can be overcome by relaxing, i.e., not trying too hard to solve it, or for a belief system that includes punishment for disbelief in itself. For example, in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
.
The finger trap can be seen in a number of films and television programs, such as the Stan Laurel
short "Dr. Pyckle and Mr. Pryde
" (1925), the Little Rascals short "Moan and Groan, Inc.
", the Star Trek: The Next Generation
episode "The Last Outpost" (1987), the feature film The Addams Family
(1991), Chasing Amy
(1997), 100 Women
(2002), Mulan II
(2005), Dexter's Laboratory
(episode Unfortunate Cookie) and the Simpsons
.
Joke
A joke is a phrase or a paragraph with a humorous twist. It can be in many different forms, such as a question or short story. To achieve this end, jokes may employ irony, sarcasm, word play and other devices...
toy used to play a practical joke
Practical joke
A practical joke is a mischievous trick played on someone, typically causing the victim to experience embarrassment, indignity, or discomfort. Practical jokes differ from confidence tricks in that the victim finds out, or is let in on the joke, rather than being fooled into handing over money or...
on children and unsuspecting adults. The finger trap is a simple puzzle that traps the victim's fingers (often the index finger
Index finger
The index finger, , is the first finger and the second digit of a human hand. It is located between the first and third digits, between the thumb and the middle finger...
s) in both ends of a small, woven bamboo
Bamboo
Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....
cylinder.
Design
The initial reaction of the victim is to pull the fingers outward, but this only tightens the trap much more. The solution to escaping the trap is to push the ends inward toward the middle, which enlarges the openings and frees the fingers, before slowly twisting them out of the trap so as not to trigger the tightening reflex again. A second form of escape is to push one's fingers together and then grab the ends of the trap with one's middle fingers and thumbs. The fingers can then easily be pulled out.The tightening is simply a normal behavior of a cylindrical, helically wound braid
Braid
A braid is a complex structure or pattern formed by intertwining three or more strands of flexible material such as textile fibres, wire, or human hair...
, usually the common biaxial braid. Pulling the entire braid lengthens and narrows it. The length is gained by reducing the angle between the warp
Warp (weaving)
In weaving cloth, the warp is the set of lengthwise yarns that are held in tension on a frame or loom. The yarn that is inserted over-and-under the warp threads is called the weft, woof, or filler. Each individual warp thread in a fabric is called a warp end or end. Warp means "that which is thrown...
and weft
Weft
In weaving, weft or woof is the yarn which is drawn through the warp yarns to create cloth. In North America, it is sometimes referred to as the "fill" or the "filling yarn"....
threads at their crossing points, but this reduces the radial distance between opposing sides and hence the overall circumference. The more one pulls, the more the circumference shrinks (i.e. the trap tightens). The same effect is used in specialized textile manufacturing
Textile manufacturing
Textile manufacturing is a major industry. It is based in the conversion of three types of fibre into yarn, then fabric, then textiles. These are then fabricated into clothes or other artifacts. Cotton remains the most important natural fibre, so is treated in depth...
, electrical contractor
Electrical contractor
An electrical contractor is a business person or firm that performs specialized construction work related to the design, installation, and maintenance of electrical systems—a $130 billion industry in the United States....
s' wire-pullers, Indonesian woven fruit press
Fruit press
A fruit press is a device used to separate fruit solids - stems, skins, seeds, pulp, leaves, and detritus - from fruit juice.-Cider press:A cider press is used to crush apples or pears...
es, and by fly-fishers
Fly fishing
Fly fishing is an angling method in which an artificial 'fly' is used to catch fish. The fly is cast using a fly rod, reel, and specialized weighted line. Casting a nearly weightless fly or 'lure' requires casting techniques significantly different from other forms of casting...
.
Chinese finger traps are not intended for use as restraint devices. Strong victims of the prank may break the bamboo strips when they pull outwards, attempting to free their fingers and stretching the trap beyond its limits. However, a variation on the Chinese finger trap used in orthopedic medicine—namely, providing even pressure to the patient's digit(s) and at the same time immobilizing the joints—serves a similar purpose as a traction device
Traction (orthopedics)
In orthopedic medicine, traction refers to the set of mechanisms for straightening broken bones or relieving pressure on the spine and skeletal system.There are two types of traction: skin traction and skeletal traction....
.
Cultural influence
The Chinese fingers traps is also a common metaphorMetaphor
A metaphor is a literary figure of speech that uses an image, story or tangible thing to represent a less tangible thing or some intangible quality or idea; e.g., "Her eyes were glistening jewels." Metaphor may also be used for any rhetorical figures of speech that achieve their effects via...
for a problem that can be overcome by relaxing, i.e., not trying too hard to solve it, or for a belief system that includes punishment for disbelief in itself. For example, in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Acceptance and commitment therapy or ACT is a cognitive–behavioral model of psychotherapy. It is an empirically-based psychological intervention that uses acceptance and mindfulness strategies mixed in different ways with commitment and behavior-change strategies, to increase psychological...
.
The finger trap can be seen in a number of films and television programs, such as the Stan Laurel
Stan Laurel
Arthur Stanley "Stan" Jefferson , better known as Stan Laurel, was an English comic actor, writer and film director, famous as the first half of the comedy team Laurel and Hardy. His film acting career stretched between 1917 and 1951 and included a starring role in the Academy Award winning film...
short "Dr. Pyckle and Mr. Pryde
Dr. Pyckle and Mr. Pryde
Dr. Pyckle and Mr. Pryde is a 1925 silent, black-and-white comedy film, directed by Scott Pembroke and Joe Rock .The film iself is both a spoof of the previous Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde films Dr. Pyckle and Mr. Pryde is a 1925 silent, black-and-white comedy film, directed by Scott Pembroke and Joe...
" (1925), the Little Rascals short "Moan and Groan, Inc.
Moan and Groan, Inc.
Moan and Groan, Inc. is a 1929 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Robert F. McGowan. Produced by Hal Roach and released to theaters by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, it was the 94th Our Gang short to be released.-Synopsis:...
", the Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...
episode "The Last Outpost" (1987), the feature film The Addams Family
The Addams Family (film)
The Addams Family is a 1991 American black comedy film based on the characters from the cartoon of the same name created by cartoonist Charles Addams....
(1991), Chasing Amy
Chasing Amy
Chasing Amy is a 1997 romantic comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith. The central tension revolves around sexuality, sexual history, and evolving friendships. It is the third film in Smith's View Askewniverse series....
(1997), 100 Women
100 Women
100 Women is a 2002 comedy film written and directed by Michael Davis. It tells the story of a young man named Sam and his struggle to discover why the girl of his dreams is suddenly depressed after her cheeriness brought him out of his sadness...
(2002), Mulan II
Mulan II
Mulan II is a 2004 American direct-to-video Disney animated feature directed by Darrell Rooney and Lynne Southerl and is a sequel to the 1998 animated film Mulan. The entire cast from the first film returned, except for Eddie Murphy , Miriam Margolyes , Chris Sanders and Matthew Wilder...
(2005), Dexter's Laboratory
Dexter's Laboratory
Dexter's Laboratory is an American animated television series created by Genndy Tartakovsky and produced by Cartoon Network Studios . The show is about a boy named Dexter who has an enormous secret laboratory filled with an endless collection of his inventions...
(episode Unfortunate Cookie) and the Simpsons
This Little Wiggy
"This Little Wiggy" is the eighteenth episode of The Simpsons ninth season and originally aired on the Fox network on March 22, 1998. It was written by Dan Greaney, and directed by Neil Affleck. The episode sees Ralph Wiggum becoming friends with Bart, leading to the near electrocution of Mayor...
.
See also
- Joy buzzerJoy BuzzerA joy buzzer is a practical joke device that consists of a coiled spring inside a disc worn in the palm of the hand...
- Whoopee cushionWhoopee cushionA whoopee cushion, also known as a poo-poo cushion and Razzberry Cushion, is a practical joke device, used in a form of flatulence humor, which produces a noise resembling a raspberry or human flatulence. It is made from two sheets of rubber that are glued together at the edges...
- Snake nut canSnake Nut CanA snake nut can is a practical joke device that closely resembles a can of nuts, but contains a long wire spring covered by a cloth or vinyl sheath, printed like snake skin, which leaps out of the can and startles the unsuspecting victim....
- Chewing gum bugChewing Gum BugA chewing gum bug is a practical joke gag used to play tricks on people, usually adults. The appearance is of a 5-pack of chewing gum, with one stick of gum remaining. The trick works when the prankster tricks the victim into pulling out the last stick of gum...
- Fake vomitFake vomitFake vomit is a flat plastic disc with indentations and protrusions designed to look like mucus or vomit. It is a practical joke often used by pranksters to disgust victims....