Abstract:
A self defense apparatus comprising a body containing a light source, a container that contains a defensive spray material, and a wireless device programmed to transmit message data to a first remote device, and activation structure that activates the light source to produce a light, the defensive spray material to exit the container, and the wireless device to transmit the message data.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority on a US provisional patent application filed on Apr. 24, 2014, and assigned Ser. No. 61/983,650, entitled FLASHLIGHT AND DEFENSIVE SPRAY APPARATUS WITH INTEGRAL LOCATOR TRANSMITTAL DEVICE, in the name of inventor Michael H. Teig, which application is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a flashlight and defensive spray apparatus, such as a flashlight and pepper spray combination apparatus. The apparatus includes activation buttons for both the flashlight and the defensive spray component in close proximity to one another so as to facilitate activation of both components by a single thumb or finger of the operator, which may be desirable in emergency situations. The present invention may also include a locator transmittal device so as to alert a predetermined entity that an alarm on the device has been activated while simultaneously transmitting the global location of the device when the alarm was activated. The location device may be activated simultaneously with activation of the pepper spray device. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention is particularly intended for use in situations where use of a flashlight, a defensive spray device, and a locator transmittal device may each be desirable, such as by police and/or military personal, and such as by civilians in self defense situations. In previous situations, a flashlight and a pepper spray device may each be carried separately by police and/or military personnel, or by civilians in self defense situations. In some prior art devices, a flashlight and a defensive spray component may be integrated into a single device. However, these devices generally include activation buttons positioned on opposite ends of the device, which makes simultaneous activation of the two components impractible or at least difficult. Such prior art devices, therefore, may not provide the effective and efficient defensive action required in emergency situations. There are also location transmittal devices in use, such as GPS devices in cars and the like. There is a need for a device that may allow activation of the multiple components simultaneously, and preferably, which allows for activation of a defensive spray, an intense light beam, and transmittal of a global location of the defensive spray device, by use of a single thumb or finger of the operator. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention provides a flashlight, defensive spray apparatus, such as a flashlight and pepper spray combination apparatus, together with a location transmittal device in a single hand held component. The apparatus includes activation buttons for the flashlight, the defensive spray component, and the location transmittal device, in close proximity to one another, or combined as a single activation button, so as to facilitate activation of both components by a single thumb or finger of the operator, which may be desirable in emergency situations. In particular, the activation buttons may be positioned next to each other, or connected to a single activation button, in an arrangement such that a single thumb of an operator may activate or deactivate both buttons, or the single button, without complicated finger movements. This time efficient and effective connected activation arrangement of the separate components of the present device may mean the difference between life and death for the operator in hostile situations. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a front isometric view of one example embodiment of a flashlight spray apparatus. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a back view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is an exploded side view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a detailed cross-sectional side view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a front isometric view of a second example embodiment of a flashlight spray apparatus. 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a back view of the apparatus of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  is a detailed cross-sectional side view of another example embodiment of a flashlight spray apparatus. 
           [0014]      FIG. 10  is a detailed cross-sectional side view of yet another example embodiment of a flashlight spray apparatus. 
           [0015]      FIG. 11  is a detailed cross-sectional side view of an example embodiment of a flashlight spray apparatus including a location transmittal device. 
           [0016]      FIG. 12  is a schematic drawing showing communication between, for example, the self defense transmittal device, the operator&#39;s cellular telephone, and other predetermined cellular telephones or receiving devices. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0017]    The invention discloses a combination flashlight, defensive spray device and location transmittal device, that may include one activation button arranged to allow simultaneous activation, by movement of a single thumb of an operator, of multiple components of the system. 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a front isometric view of a first example embodiment of a flashlight spray apparatus  10 . The flashlight/pepper spray combination apparatus  10  incorporates a self-defense flashlight  12  with concealed chemical self-defense spray  14 . The spray canister  16  is positioned parallel to the battery compartment  18  of the flashlight with the actuator  20  of the spray being positioned parallel to and slightly above the light switch  22 . The light switch  22  is an “end switch” and is positioned on the butt end off the flashlight, opposite the end where the LED  24  is located. Both the spray switch  20  and the light switch  22  are operated with a single thumb of the operator. 
         [0019]    The spray actuator  20  is located behind and slightly above the button  22  on the light and is accessed by inserting the thumb over the top of the light switch and resting it on the spray button  20  or “actuator.” The relationship of the spray actuator  20  and the lights multi-mode switch button  22 , as well as the actuation pressure of each, has been designed to allow the operator to either move his thumb easily from one button to the other or the operator (user) can position his thumb on the spray actuator to enable an immediate self-defense response without having to move his thumb. Thus the thumb can be kept in the spray position while still being able to operate the multi-mode light button  22  by simply arching his thumb but not moving it from its position above the spray actuator  20 . This simple action causes or allows the upper knuckle of the thumb to press down on the light button without applying pressure on the spray button. 
         [0020]    A hood  26  over the spray button  20  is designed to prevent accidental or unintentional actuation of the spray by foreign objects. Additionally, a safety tab can be inserted under the actuator between the actuator button  20  and the top of the canister to prevent actuation while not in use. 
         [0021]    The light function provides a unique sequencing feature with a “panic” mode that, regardless of the last mode the light was in, when initially turned on, it assumes a threat and goes into a high intensity blinding strobe designed to surprise and disorient the attacker. The user can bypass the panic mode and go to constant high beam by pushing the switch  22  down twice within approximately one-second. This can be done whether in momentary or click mode. In momentary mode, the user only has to push the button  22  partially down without clicking it. If left in that position for more that a second, it will go off when released. If left in that position for less than a second and pushed down again, partially or all the way, it will go to the next mode. There are four modes that include panic strobe, High, Low and SOS. 
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a front view of apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is a back view of apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 4  is a side view of apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 5  is an exploded side view of apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 6  is a detailed cross-sectional side view of apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 7  is a front isometric view of a second example embodiment of a flashlight spray apparatus  10 . In this embodiment the shape of the outer casing of apparatus  10  is slightly modified from the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . The functional parts of the apparatus remain the same as in  FIG. 1 , however, this embodiment includes a more rounded, less angular external design. 
         [0028]      FIG. 8  is a back view of the apparatus of  FIG. 7 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 9  is a detailed cross-sectional side view of another example embodiment of a flashlight spray apparatus  10 . This third embodiment uses either a sleeve  28  ( FIG. 10 ) or two strap-like fasteners  30  ( FIG. 9 ) to secure the pepper spray portion  14  of the apparatus  10  to a variety of third party flashlights  32  that may vary slightly in size but are close to the size of the flashlight compartment  12  in the apparatus shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . This is done by using either a rubber sleeve  28 , or bands  30 , that slips over the pepper spray portion which houses the pepper spray and the pepper spray actuator, and secures it to the third party flashlight, holding them securely together in a position that the combination may be used essentially the same as the apparatus shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The two fasteners  28  and/or  30  may be made of a variety of materials including plastic, rubber, leather, vinyl or any other material that may effectively secure the pepper spray compartment  16  to the third party flashlight  32 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 10  is a detailed cross-sectional side view of yet another example embodiment of a flashlight spray apparatus utilizing a sleeve  28 . 
         [0031]    Because the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10  utilize a typical tactical flashlight design with an end switch rather than a side switch and add the elements necessary to convert it to a self-defense device with concealed pepper spray or other chemical agents, it is adaptable to all similar lights and will be manufactured and sold also as a modification to other tactical lights to convert them to the type of apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 11  is a detailed cross-sectional side view of an example embodiment of a flashlight spray apparatus including a location transmittal device. In this embodiment, self defense apparatus  10  includes a canister  16  of spray material  14  housed within apparatus  10  as well as a flashlight  24 . Apparatus  10  may further include a location transmittal device  32  connected to actuator button  20  by a connection device  34 , such as a wire. 
         [0033]    Activation of button  20 , such as depressing button  20  with the user&#39;s thumb, will simultaneously activate spray canister  16  to discharge spray  14 , such as pepper spray, toward an assailant, and activate location transmittal device  32  to send a wireless communication from apparatus  10 . Location transmittal device  32  may comprise a Bluetooth device, such as an iBeaon device manufactured by Apple, which may be compatible with Gimbal device manufactured by Qualcomm. Location transmittal device  32  may also include a global positioning system (GPS) that accurately assesses the particular global position of apparatus  10  when button  20  is depressed. This global position of apparatus  10  is transmitted by transmittal device  32  when button  20  is activated. 
         [0034]      FIG. 12  is a schematic drawing showing communication between the self defense transmittal device  10 , an operator&#39;s cellular telephone  36 , and other predetermined cellular telephones or receiving devices  38 . Use of the apparatus  10  will now be described. During an attack situation of a user carrying apparatus  10 , the user will point apparatus  10  at an assailant and depress actuator button  20  to spray the assailant with pepper spray  14 . Simultaneous with release of spray  14  at the assailant, activation button  20  activates location device  32  to assess the exact global location of apparatus  10  using wireless global positioning information. Device  32  then transmits a “spray alert” message, or another predetermined message, from apparatus  10  to the user&#39;s telephone  36  and/or other receiving devices  38 . 
         [0035]    In one example, device  32  may transmit a wireless message  40  to the user&#39;s cellular telephone  36  which in turn then retransmits the spray alert message  40  to one or more predetermined receiving devices  38 , such as to the nearest police and/or fire station, to the computer or telephone of friends and/or family of the user, and to any other communication receiving devices, such as cellular telephones, in close proximity to apparatus  10  when activated. In another embodiment device  32  may transmit a spray alert message  40  directly to communication receiving devices  38 , such as cellular telephones in close proximity to apparatus  10  when activated. 
         [0036]    The spray alert message may include any information as desired, such as a message previously input and saved within device  32  or within the user&#39;s cellular telephone  36 , by the user, together with the global positioning information determined by device  32  at the time of activation. One example spray alert message may include the individualized portion “Spray alert notification from Jane Doe! (999) 123-4567” together with global positioning information, such as “1234 North Main Street, Anytown, USA 12345.” Such a spray alert message allows help from individuals in close proximity to the activation location, while simultaneously alerting the nearest police department of the situation. Moreover, the spray alert message may transmit the telephone number of the user so that police may contact the user for more information if the user has run from the attack location. Accordingly, the spray alert message may allow the police to contact the user to verify the user is safe, and to gather information which may be necessary for prosecution of the assailant. This spray alert message is transmitted simultaneously with release of pepper spray at the assailant, thereby allowing the user to simultaneously defend themselves and alert potential help to come to their aid. 
         [0037]    In the above description numerous details have been set forth in order to provide a more through understanding of the present invention. It will be obvious, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced using other equivalent designs.