Abstract:
A tubular reservoir for wear on a finger contains a deterrent to ward off an assailant. A housing, defining the reservoir, collapses upon flexing of the finger to propel the deterrent for nozzle discharge. A cap is carried by a retainer which is rapidly dislodged by a finger adjacent the finger worn device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention pertains to a self-defense device and particularly to that type of device emitting a liquid deterrent such as mace. 
     Small containers of a pressurized liquid for use as a self-defense purpose are common. Such containers may contain a quantity of mace or pepper spray and have a finger actuated valve contents. While use of such containers may deter an attack on the person, a problem exists in the actuation of same. Such containers are normally carried in a pocket or a purse are largely useless in the event of an unanticipated attack. Further, a mace or pepper spray container must be, to some extent, aimed at an attacker to be effective. Accordingly, the usefulness of such containers is diminished by the difficulty in rapidly accessing the container and the aiming of same. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The present invention is embodied within a spray discharging device which is worn on a finger of the user and readily actuated by flexing of the finger. The device includes a chamber in which a quantity of liquid is carried with flexure of the device by the finger causing discharge of the liquid in the direction of the pointed finger. A lip of the device facilitates flexure of the device and release of a deterrent fluid. 
     Important objectives of the present device include the provision of a receptacle charged with a deterrent liquid which is carried on a finger of the user in an unobtrusive manner and capable of rapid discharge of the fluid simply by flexing of the finger; the provision of an inconspicuous self-defense device that enables the immediate discharge of a deterrent upon the device being partially collapsed by flexing of a supporting finger; the provision of a self-defensive device which spray emit a deterrent toward the face of an aggressor simply by pointing of the finger toward the aggressor and flexing the finger; the provision of a self-defense device which includes a quantity of liquid and having a cap releasable by a finger or thumb adjacent the finger on which the device is worn. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the accompanying drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the present device; 
     FIG. 2 is a view showing the present self-defense device in place on a finger of a user; 
     FIG.  3  and FIG. 4 are vertical sectional views taken along lines  3  and  4  of FIG.  1  and showing respectively a fixed portion and a displaceable portion of the device; 
     FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the device; 
     FIG. 6 is a plan view of the device removed from a finger, and 
     FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG.  2  and showing a modified form of the device. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With continuing attention to the drawings wherein applied reference numerals indicate parts similarly hereinafter identified, the reference numeral  1  indicates generally a finger of the user, preferably an index finger, having phalanges at  2 ,  3  and  4  of a hand at H. 
     The present device is of tubular configuration with a housing having an outer flexible member  6  and a radially spaced, inner flexible member  7 . In one suitable embodiment of the device, the outer and inner flexible members may be of rubber of a semi-rigid nature so as to permit flexing but when unbiased are concentric to define an annular chamber at  8 . 
     Chamber  8  is closed at its ends by a first ring at  10  which may be termed a fixed ring while a second ring  11 , termed a movable ring, is supported in an axially spaced apart relationship from ring  10  by flexible members  6  and  7 , attached to the rings by a suitable adhesive. Said rings define the chamber  8  along with and inner and outer flexible sleeves  6  and  7 , for the reception of a quantity of a sprayable deterrent at  12 . A projection  13  on ring  11  projects toward the distal end of finger  1 , which is inserted through the device, to locate projection  13  below second phalange  3  as shown in FIG.  1 . Extension  13  serves as a trigger to activate the device as further elaborated. 
     Ring  10  is provided with a nozzle  15  including a nozzle support  14  on the ring. A passageway  19  in the ring delivers fluid to the support and nozzle  15 . Nozzle  15  is directed toward the distal end of a wearer&#39;s finger  1  when the device is operatively positioned. A cap  16  frictionally engages nozzle  15 . The cap is elongate and is held in place on nozzle  15  by a retainer  17  having arms  18  which terminate in fittings  20  which serve to receive finger tip pressure from either thumb of the wearer&#39;s two hands to permit separation of retainer  17  and of cap  16  integral therewith. Upon cap separation, nozzle  15  conducts deterrent liquid from chamber  8  and discharges same in a spray pattern in a direction approximately parallel to the axis of finger phalanx  4 . 
     Actuation of the device entails phalanx  3  being displaced downwardly toward projection  13  which, in turn, causes displacement of ring  11  toward ring  10  to pressurize fluid  12  in chamber  8 . Prior to such actuation the cap  16  is separated by the user&#39;s thumb acting on fitting  20  to remove cap  16 . It will be apparent that cap removal and pressurization of the device by flexing of the wearer&#39;s finger  1  will be virtually instantaneous as it requires only displacement of retainer  17  and cap  16  by the user&#39;s thumb and pointing of the finger  1  (typically the index finger) toward the aggressor and downward flexing of phalanx  3 . The retainer  17  is shaped at  21  to engage nozzle support  14  in a biased manner to normally retain cap  16  in place. Finger tip pressure on either fitting  20 , depending on which hand the device is located, will urge retainer  17  in a forward or distal direction to the extent the nozzle is uncapped. 
     With attention to FIG. 2, upon downward flexing of phalanx  3  ring  11  will be displaced toward ring  10 , as shown in broken lines, to reduce the volume of chamber  8  and pressurizing a deterent fluid  12  therein. Ring members  6  and  7  are of flexible material permitting same to collapse during ring actuation. Cap  16  will have been detached from nozzle  15  prior to actuation of the present device. 
     The range of travel of movable or second ring  11 , during collapsing of the device, is enhanced by a bevel at  10 A on ring  10 . 
     While I have shown but a few forms of the device, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied still otherwise without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention.