# Where can I find/buy a ratchet mechanism like in the description below? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 3, 2013, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-buy-a-ratchet-mechanism-like-in-the-description-below/645934 "2013-01-03T07:46:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-buy-a-ratchet-mechanism-like-in-the-description-below/645934/1 "2013-01-03T07:46:09Z")
Where can I find/buy a ratchet mechanism like the one shown [here](http://imgur.com/pswmN) ? I could have sworn I’ve seen something similar before, made out of metal and around 6 inches, but for the life of me, can’t find it anywhere using Google. Any ideas? EDIT: To be clear, there is one part with metal teeth that inserts into another part. You can then press some “buttons” on the latter part to adjust the depth the former part. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-buy-a-ratchet-mechanism-like-in-the-description-below/645934/2 "2013-01-03T08:03:32Z")
I’ve seen this mechanism on the telescoping handles of wheeled personal luggage. What is your intended purpose for this mechanism (it makes a difference - i.e. whether you want it to support significant loads, or just prop up a parasol) ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-buy-a-ratchet-mechanism-like-in-the-description-below/645934/3 "2013-01-03T08:44:25Z")
Something like this? [http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7117569-0-large.jpg](http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7117569-0-large.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-buy-a-ratchet-mechanism-like-in-the-description-below/645934/4 "2013-01-03T16:24:10Z")
It looks similar to a vehicle’s head rest adjustment mechanism. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-buy-a-ratchet-mechanism-like-in-the-description-below/645934/5 "2013-01-03T17:57:44Z")
I’ve got a Hoover canister vac with a collapsing wand that uses a similar mechanism. It’s not really a ratchet though - you have to press the button to shorten or extend it. Don’t think this is the kind of thing you can just buy off the shelf at Home Depot or even McMaster-Carr, unless you could work with [gear rack](http://www.mcmaster.com/#rack-and-pinion-gears/=kvkpk6). ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-buy-a-ratchet-mechanism-like-in-the-description-below/645934/6 "2013-01-03T18:19:13Z")
It looks just like a cobra buckle, but with more teeth on the male end, and a through-hole on the female end so it can be adjusted. Cobra Buckle [![](https://www.itstactical.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Raptor-Buckle-Main.jpg) ](https://www.itstactical.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Raptor-Buckle-Main.jpg) I found the patent for the exact thing that the OP is talking about here: > **[7117569.pdf](https://www.freepatentsonline.com/7117569.pdf)** It looks like it was invented by this guy: [http://parks.slu.edu/faculty-staff/parks-faculty/gary-bledsoe/](http://parks.slu.edu/faculty-staff/parks-faculty/gary-bledsoe/) I checked out all of their products at [http://www.bledsoebrace.com/home.asp](http://www.bledsoebrace.com/home.asp) but none of them seem to be using that exact type of adjustable ratchet buckle. Perhaps you can contact them at that website and ask them where you can get just the buckle. Or email the inventor and ask if any products are using his buckle.