Abstract:
A device and method for countering, i.e., disrupting an attack by a dangerous assailant, particularly in a public space such as a classroom. A pressurized spray canister contains oleoresin capsicum (OC), a.k.a. pepper spray, in a gel formulation, and the canister is adapted for spraying a jet of the OC gel that is concentrated in the area of a person&#39;s head located up to 25 feet away from a user. To prevent misuse, the canister is securely stored in a box having a door with a latch for resisting non-emergency access to the canister stored in the box. A gel formulation has been selected for properties, in addition to its powerful pepper (OC) effects, that enhance defense including opaque, sticky, high density coverage, and brightly colored long lasting stains.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/025,372, filed Jul. 16, 2014, said application hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     School shootings have been a recurring problem in American schools for decades. The massacres at Columbine High School in 1999 and Virginia Tech University in 2007 forced the nation&#39;s educational institutions to tighten security protocols and train students on lockdown procedures in the event of an attack. Since the horror of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. in December 2012, K-12 schools, and colleges and universities, have spent millions of dollars to install access control systems, strengthen classroom doors, invest in radio communications equipment, and train teachers, administrators and students how to respond in the event of a violent incident. Despite these efforts, there have been 74 violent attacks at schools and colleges in the US with more than 35 killed, and over 100 injured in the 17 months since Sandy Hook. 
     Law enforcement experts acknowledge that a determined person will find a way past access control systems, and the average 7-14 minutes it takes first responders to reach the scene means it is up to teachers and administrators to save themselves and their students. But current training protocols fall short of providing effective countermeasures to stop a violent attack. 
     The most popular training protocol adopted by schools following Sandy Hook calls for students and teachers to throw books, pencils and small objects at a shooter who enters the classroom, then physically swarm him to stop an attack. The protocol may be preferable to passive victimhood, but it unnecessarily endangers students and teachers by forcing them to become visual targets as they stand to throw things, and to physically attack an armed assailant. Proximity to an attacker increases the risk of injury and death. Many educators are concerned about the ineffectiveness and danger of the current approach and are searching for a more effective way to counter a violent attack, without having to arm teachers with firearms. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the invention a powerful delivery system for a carefully selected formulation of a Pepper-Based Defense Product (PBDP) e.g., Oleoresin Capsicum (OC), a.k.a. “pepper spray/gel/foam” in a secure but quickly accessible storage box is provided to give staff members, particularly in public buildings, a non-lethal defensive countermeasure to disrupt a violent intruder, active shooter, or other physical attacker and minimize loss of life and injuries while they wait for first responders to arrive. 
     The inventive apparatus and method of deployment allows the user to maintain a safe distance from an assailant while deploying a powerful dose of OC such as pepper gel to disrupt the attack. It does not require the user or bystanders like students, residents, customers, or other employees to expose themselves to further danger, and is simple to use, especially with a relatively small amount of training. 
     The invention is particularly suitable for use by teachers, administrators, managers, or other designated staff members in public buildings (for example: day care centers, schools at all levels, dormitories, public housing, health care facilities, retail establishments, manufacturing and warehouse facilities, governmental facilities, and offices). 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in light of the following description thereof. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Reference will be made in detail to preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures. The figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Although the invention is generally described in the context of these preferred embodiments, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the spirit and scope of the invention to these particular embodiments. 
       Certain elements in selected ones of the drawings may be illustrated not-to-scale, for illustrative clarity. The cross-sectional views, if any, presented herein may be in the form of “slices”, or “near-sighted” cross-sectional views, omitting certain background lines which would otherwise be visible in a true cross-sectional view, for illustrative clarity. 
       Elements of the figures can be numbered such that similar (including identical) elements may be referred to with similar numbers in a single drawing. For example, each of a plurality of elements collectively referred to as 199 may be referred to individually as 199a, 199b, 199c, etc. Or, related but modified elements may have the same number but are distinguished by primes. For example, 109, 109′, and 109″ are three different versions of an element 109 which are similar or related in some way but are separately referenced for the purpose of describing modifications to the parent element (109). Such relationships, if any, between similar elements in the same or different figures will become apparent throughout the specification, including, if applicable, in the claims and abstract. 
       The structure, operation, and advantages of the present preferred embodiment of the invention will become further apparent upon consideration of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a top view (top wall omitted) of an attack countermeasure device including a spray canister in a secure storage box, all according to the invention. 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  are front, and side (side box wall omitted) elevational views, respectively, of an attack countermeasure device according to the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a front upper right perspective view of an attack countermeasure device when an access door to the box is opened, all according to the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is an elevational view of a spray canister part of an attack countermeasure device according to the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic perspective view (room walls omitted) illustrating an example installation of the attack countermeasure device, and showing implementation of an attack countermeasure method, all according to the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following table is a glossary of terms and definitions, particularly listing drawing reference numbers or symbols and associated names of elements, features and aspects of the invention(s) disclosed herein. 
     
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 REF. 
                 TERMS AND DEFINITIONS 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 SECURE STORAGE BOX 
               
               
                 100 
                 Box 
               
               
                 102 
                 Access door 
               
               
                 104 
                 Latch 
               
               
                 106 
                 Tab 
               
               
                 108 
                 Latch actuating mechanism, optionally including 
               
               
                   
                 area communications and remote control gear 
               
               
                 110 
                 Door handle 
               
               
                 112 
                 Back wall of box, which is mounted on a building 
               
               
                   
                 wall or similar structure 
               
               
                 114 
                 Window for viewing inside the box 
               
               
                   
                 PBDP (PEPPER BASED DEFENSE PRODUCT) 
               
               
                 200 
                 Canister (Spray Canister, OC Canister) adapted for 
               
               
                   
                 spraying OC gel 
               
               
                 201 
                 Nozzle adapted for directing OC gel in a relatively 
               
               
                   
                 horizontal, narrow cone for a 25-30′ distance 
               
               
                 202 
                 Bracket 
               
               
                 204 
                 Handle 
               
               
                 206 
                 Trigger 
               
               
                 208 
                 Safety locking pin 
               
               
                 210 
                 Pepper gel (stored in canister 200), Oleoresin 
               
               
                   
                 Capsicum (OC) in a gel formulation 
               
               
                   
                 INSTALLATION AND METHOD OF USE 
               
               
                 300 
                 Classroom 
               
               
                 302 
                 Marker decal 
               
               
                 304 
                 Horizontal travel distance of pepper gel jet 
               
               
                 306 
                 Cone angle spread of pepper gel jet 
               
               
                 307 
                 Pepper gel jet, particularly indicating the jet 
               
               
                   
                 centerline (trajectory) 
               
               
                 308 
                 Attacker 
               
               
                 310 
                 Defender 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The invention(s) will now be described with reference to the drawings using the reference numbers and symbols listed in the above table. The invention is characterized by at least some of the following elements and features, both as apparatus and, wherever appropriate, as steps or elements of the inventive method of deployment and use thereof:
         An enclosure, box  100  made of a sufficiently strong and durable material (e.g., metal, plastic, fiberglass-reinforced material) for securely storing a pressurized canister  200  of PBDP  210 , and having a door  102  for accessing the PBDP when needed.   For security the box door  102  is held in a closed position (latched) by a locking mechanism such as, for example, a latch  104  and tab  106  inside the box, a magnetic lock closure  104 , an electronic latch  108 , and the like.   A handle  110  is provided for helping open the box door  102 . In an embodiment the handle is near the door edge opposite a hinge. This handle is designed to enable opening the box  100  by application of moderately substantial human force if the user is unwilling or unable to open the latch  104 ,  108  by means of its key or combination in an emergency situation, or if the door  102  is designed to be without any external unlocking mechanism. The internal latch  104  and/or tab  106  is designed to break or bend out of the way under the applied force. In a preferred embodiment, the applied force needed to open the door this way is about 10 to 40 pounds, most preferably about 30 pounds (133 N.)   In another embodiment, the handle  110  is a lever that is mounted on a sidewall of the box such that operating it will push outward against an edge of the door  102 .   The back wall  112  of the box is designed to be mounted on a building wall or other fixed structure, in a location accessible to designated persons who may use it for defensive purposes. The mounting means and supporting structure are strong enough to resist the door opening force without breaking or pulling apart.   The box  100  may contain a battery operated alarm that is activated when the box is opened to notify designated personnel that the box has been accessed, and/or to alert occupants of a room or building that there is an emergency by virtue of the box being opened to access the OC canister(s)  200  inside. The interior mounted alarm may be a continuous alarm, or an alarm that can be disarmed upon entry into the box. The alarm may be a loud audible sound, or a silent alarm that is transmitted elsewhere, e.g., by a wireless transmitter. The alarm and/or transmitter may be part of the electronic latch  108  which is also battery operated.   The box  100  may be connected via wireless technology  108  to other boxes  100  in a facility such that when an audible emergency notification system is activated to alert occupants of the facility of an emergency, the wireless system that connects the boxes is programmed to release an electronic (e.g., magnetic) locking system  108  on the boxes such that the locking mechanism  104  on all boxes is released simultaneously so that occupants or designated operators can access a box anywhere in the facility without having to disengage the locking mechanism manually. Additionally, the wireless technology connecting the boxes may be accessed by designated personnel via smartphone enabled emergency notification applications such that upon learning that a facility or persons in a facility are under attack, the person may set off the alarm via smartphone such that the locking mechanism  108 ,  104  on all boxes  100  in the facility will simultaneously disengage to allow access to the boxes. Additionally, when the emergency notification alarm is set off, local police, fire departments and/or emergency medical services may also be notified of the attack so that they can respond to the location of the attack. A feature of the alarm notification inside a facility may be a human voice saying “emergency, emergency, we are under attack.” This voice recorded alarm notification may be more distinctive than a typical siren sound or other known type of alarm sound so that people occupying a facility will know instantly that this is a violent event, not a fire, weather or medical emergency, and will not confuse the alarm for other types of emergency situations.   The box door  102  may be equipped with an electronic or mechanical key operated latch actuating mechanism  108  such as a barrel lock with key, an electronic keypad lock (as shown in  FIG. 2 ), a mechanical keypad lock, and the like. Optionally, it may have no latch actuating mechanism  108 . When the mechanism  108  is absent, the latch  104  cannot be actuated from the outside and is factory-installed in the closed position. In this case the handle  110  may be used to force open the door as described above.   The canister  200  of PBDP is removably mounted to a bracket  202  affixed to the interior of the box opposite the door.   In a preferred embodiment, the box has a window  114  in the front door that provides a visual confirmation that the PBDP canister is present inside. This window is small enough to prevent removal of the canister through it.   In a preferred embodiment of the inventive attack countermeasure method as shown in  FIG. 5 , one or more decals  302  are affixed to the floor or ceiling of the classroom, office, or other indoor area  300  being protected, at one or more spots chosen to provide optimal accuracy, speed, distance and effectiveness of response to the attacker.   In a preferred embodiment, the PBDP canister  200  comprises a nozzle  201 , a handle  202 , a trigger  206  attached to or near the handle, and a removable trigger locking means  208 . In a more preferred embodiment, this safety locking means  208  is a pin with a grab ring, wherein the pin is inserted through the handle  202  to block the trigger  206 . The pin is removed quickly and easily to operate the unit.   In a preferred embodiment, the handle  204  of the OC canister  200  is made of an orange material to indicate to law enforcement that the canister is not a lethal weapon, much as airsoft guns, BB guns and other facsimile guns are required to be manufactured so that law enforcement can quickly visually identify a potential weapon as non-lethal.   In a preferred embodiment, the trigger mechanism  206  on the OC canister  200  is a type that is operated by simply pressing a thumb downward on it.   In an alternative embodiment, the box  100  can be configured to hold two or more OC canisters  200  that may be individually bracket mounted side by side.   In a preferred embodiment, the formulation of the PBDP (OC)  210 , and the canister  200  that sprays it, are designed so that the PBDP jet  307 , when released through the canister&#39;s nozzle  201 , travels a horizontal distance  304  of at least 15 feet, and such that at 25 feet (8 meters) it has a cone angle spread  306  of no more than 3 feet (1 m), and preferably the centerline  307  drops less than about 1 foot (30 cm).   One product that meets the foregoing requirements is a pressurized pepper gel spray canister.   In a preferred embodiment, the pepper gel  210  contained in the canister  200  has a bright red or orange color and is substantially opaque, though for use in consumer settings such as homes or apartments or other residences such as trailers or mobile homes, the red orange color may be modified so as to prevent permanent staining of furniture, flooring, fabrics and the like.   In a further preferred embodiment, the pepper gel  210  contains an invisible dye that adheres to human skin for an extended period of time, even after the gel is washed off. The dye luminesces under ultraviolet light for forensic identification.       

     Selection of Pepper-Based Defensive Product 
     Having evaluated all available weapon types and tactics to defend against an attack, the inventors concluded that Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) generically known as pepper-based defensive products (PBDPs) are the most desirable option for the following reasons:
         PBDPs are extremely effective at disrupting and temporarily disabling attackers, yet they are non-lethal, posing no threat of permanent injury or death to attackers or bystanders.   Anyone can be trained to use OC pepper-based products effectively. They do not require a high level of skill, and under duress, when people lose fine motor skills, they can be deployed easily using only gross motor skills   If unintended contamination of innocent bystanders occurs, it is simple to treat OC pepper-based product exposure with a combination of water and air. The effects can be mitigated within 30-45 minutes with no permanent harm to those exposed.       

     Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) is the ingredient in pepper-based defense products that causes the physiological and psychological responses that impair violent actions. OC is available in spray, foam and gel formulations. Preferred embodiments of the invention use the gel formulation. 
     Most manufacturers of pepper spray sell it in a colorless formulation that is clear when deployed. Some attackers may wear protective clothing that includes a face mask that protects the eyes and respiratory system, e.g., goggles and respirator, or eyeglasses at a minimum. If clear pepper spray products are deployed at an assailant wearing a protective mask, it would have little effect in disrupting the attack as the attacker would be able to maintain enough visual acuity to aim a firearm or other weapon. Therefore, a diffusing or opaque spray that sticks to eye covering is preferred, a gel for example. 
     Some manufacturers of pepper spray products leave in the natural color of the peppers from which the oleoresin capsicum is derived, a red-orange. The natural color in a pepper spray product allows users to see if they are hitting a target, and thus have the ability to correct their aim or spray pattern, and to visually impair assailants who wear protective masks. If a colored pepper spray is deployed at the protective mask of an assailant, he has to remove his mask to continue to operate visually, which exposes his eyes, nose and mouth to a second shot. 
     Aerosol spray is the most common PBDP formulation. However, this disperses in a relatively wide-angle cone as a fine mist that will spread beyond the cone. Therefore, collateral contamination (e.g., of bystanders) is extensive. Deploying a mist/aerosol spray formulation in an enclosed space causes significant exposure of all persons present in that space, defeating the ability to target only the assailant. The spray may also escape into heating/ventilation systems, spreading the product throughout the building. 
     Foam formulations are thick and viscous, so they cannot be projected at distances of more than about 6-8 feet. Using pepper foam requires the user to get dangerously close to an assailant in order to reach the target. Additionally, violent people have been known to simply scoop the foam off their faces and throw it to the floor when hit with this formulation. 
     The inventors concluded that the gel formulation of OC is the most desirable of the three for the purpose of the inventive product. Pepper gel has the consistency of shaving gel, and can be projected effectively for a distance  304  of about 25 feet or so, thus eliminating the need to get close to an attacker. Additionally, the cone angle  306  of a gel jet is narrow, so that the gel  210  can be targeted narrowly at an assailant  308  and cause little collateral contamination to other persons in the area. It does not vaporize broadly into the air, which further protects other persons in the room  300 , and therefore it does not contaminate heating/ventilation systems. Pepper gel sticks to the assailant (or protective masks) but liquefies very quickly so he cannot simply scrape it off his face or clothing. 
     For these reasons, the OC product preferred in the inventive product is a naturally colored (red-orange) pepper gel that can project up to 25 feet when deployed, and causing little collateral contamination to bystanders or first responders. Even better, the ideal pepper gel formulation can also contain a UV-luminescent dye that cannot be removed from the skin for an extended period of time. Dyes retaining their effectiveness up to 24 hours are commercially available. The UV-luminescent dye helps law enforcement agents identify a perpetrator for up to 24 hours after commission of a crime simply by scanning his skin with a UV light source. 
     A specific commercial example of the red pepper gel with UV die is SABRE* Red 92H2060-G produced by the Security Equipment Corporation of Fenton, Mo., USA, as shown at the following Internet web page: www.sabrered.com/servlet/the-template/LawEnforcement-dsh-CrowdManagement/Page *The name SABRE may be trademarked. 
     Floor/Ceiling Markers 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , there are strategically located points in a room  300  from which a defender  310  can best surprise and accurately hit an assailant  308  with a defensive pepper gel jet  307 . These locations depend on the placement of entry points (e.g. doors), concealing objects (e.g. furniture), and the box  100 . Furthermore, a maximum recommended jet travel distance  304  (e.g., 25 feet) must be accommodated. It may be difficult for a responsible staff member to judge all these factors optimally in a stressful emergency situation. Therefore, a recommended step in our defensive method is to determine and mark one or two best defensive positions  302  in advance. The marking can be achieved by means of durable colored decals  302  adhering to the floor. To avoid drawing too much attention in normal times, or to minimize wear, the decals could also be placed overhead on the ceiling. In the example illustrated by  FIG. 5 , the decals are placed at a recommended distance of 17 feet—well within the effective jet spray distance of 25-30 feet so as to improve aim, but still reasonably far away for safety sake. 
     Canister Design 
     Preferably, the canister  200  has a safety locking pin  208  with a pull ring, similar to the pin commonly found on fire extinguishers. This helps even a panicky user to recognize the pin  208  as something that must be removed before use. The pin prevents premature squeezing of the trigger  206  by a nervous user. It slides out easily in a single motion. This makes operation of the unit simple, without requiring fine motor skills. 
     The canister  200  has an orange handle  204  and/or orange nozzle  201  so that law enforcement agents responding to an active shooter or violent attack will not mistake the pepper gel canister  200  for a firearm or other lethal weapon. Orange is universally recognized by law enforcement as an indicator of a non-lethal weapon or toy. In the chaos of a violent attack, the user of the pepper gel is trained to take the unit with them when they evacuate, and the orange top visually signals to law enforcement that the holder of the canister  200  is not an assailant. 
     Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character—it being understood that the embodiments shown and described have been selected as representative examples including presently preferred embodiments plus others indicative of the nature of changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention(s) being disclosed and within the scope of invention(s) as claimed in this and any other applications that incorporate relevant portions of the present disclosure for support of those claims. Undoubtedly, other “variations” based on the teachings set forth herein will occur to one having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention most nearly pertains, and such variations are intended to be within the scope of the present disclosure and of any claims to invention supported by said disclosure.