Jaws with chain - nipple clamps discontinued by PHS International - review by Kissaki

The Jaws with chain is a clover clamp, also known as a butterfly clamp. According to Wikipedia, the clover clamp is of Japanese origin. Typically, the clamps are attached to the nipples, which results in a reduction in the blood flow to the nipple. The result is a mixture of pleasure and pain. Pulling on the chain or adding weights to the chain will increase these sensations. As with any activity which constricts the blow flow to an area, it's best to start with short durations of use and build your comfort level up from there. The general rule of thumb that I've always heard is that you shouldn't exceed 30 minutes of use at a time.

Given that the minimum pinching force of this clamp is not adjustable, this item is more suitable for more advanced users who are familiar with their pain threshold.

Although typically used on nipples, you can essentially clip them on any part of the body which will fit into the jaws of the clamp (e.g. fingers, toes, earlobes, scrotum, etc.)

The clamps and chain are constructed from metal. Based on a check with a magnet, it appears to be a steel alloy.

The tips of the clamps have rubber pads inserted into them for comfort and are held in place with a couple of metal tabs. I do not believe that the rubber pads are intended to be removed, but you could do so if you so desired. Doing so would probably make this clamp more painful than I would care for as the exposed edge of the metal would most likely dig into your nipple. The rubber pads also have some nubs molded into them to help prevent the clamp from slipping when the clamp is pulled on.

Compared to the other types of clamps that I have used in the past, this clamp has a much more intimidating look to it. When I first pulled them out of the packaging, I expected them to be a heavy behemoth, but to my surprise, they are remarkably light. The entire piece tips the scales at about 1.7 ounces with each of the clamps accounting for only 0.35 ounces each and the chain making up the remaining 1 ounce. The lightness of the clamp is due in part to the thin metal from which it is stamped (about 0.020 of an inch or about 0.5 mm). This also lends to a bit of a cheap feel to the clamp as the flat parts of the mechanism feel a bit flimsy.

The dimensions of the clamp are shown below. The chain that links the two clamps is 12 inches in length. The jaws of the clamp can be opened to a maximum of about 1/2 of an inch.



The clamps are very easy to open and close. Simply press on the sides, as shown below, similar to how you would open a clothespin. This also allows you to slowly apply or release pressure to the nipples as you attach or remove the clamps.

The clover clamp differs from other common clamp styles (e.g. tweezer clamps, alligator clamps) in that, as tension is applied to the chain, either from pulling or the use of weights, the pinching force on the nipple increases. Not only does this increase the intensity of the pinching, it also helps the clamp grip better and makes it harder (but not impossible) to pull off. This is made possible by the mechanism at the back end of the clamp, without which, the clamp would simply be equivalent to a clothespin. As the chain is pulled, the two arms attached to the chain attachment act to force the finger grips of the clamp further apart, thus resulting in the jaw to clamp down more.



Unlike the tweezer clamp and alligator clamp shown below, the clover clamp cannot be adjusted to reduce the initial pinching force. Due to this, I would not recommend this clamp to first time users of nipple clamps, as they may find it too intense.

The clamps came in a plastic clam-shell package with a paperboard insert as shown on the product page. The packaging included no instructions or warnings on use beyond the standard message stating, "Sold as a novelty only. Manufacturer will assume no liability occurring from use of this product."

The package is more useful for displaying on a store shelf than it is for storing the toy after use, so I would say there is little reason to keep it. The paperboard inserts can easily be recycled. The plastic clamshell, however, does not have any markings indicating what type of plastic it is. As my local recycling center will not accept any plastic materials which are unmarked, I consider this to be an issue.