Abstract:
A personal safety device for protection from a firearm attack includes a conventional accessory item adapted for use other than as a personal safety device and a bullet resistant panel that is integrated into the conventional accessory item. The conventional accessory item may take the form of a clipboard, a backpack or other item. Integration of the panel with the selected item is conducted in such a manner as to cause the panel to be placed in the path of fire when a person engages in natural defensive posturing. The clipboard is provided with a light, multiple spring clips and a suitably sized handle to encourage proper grasp of the clipboard for the intended purpose.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to personal safety. More particularly, the invention relates to methods and apparatus adapted for cooperation with a person&#39;s natural defensive instincts to provide readily available protection from a firearms attack. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Notwithstanding the evolution of society, violent crime persists as a threat to virtually anyone at any time. In fact, with the passage of time, the manner and circumstances in and under which one may fall victim to violence have only increased. For example, firearms are now readily available to virtually any individual desiring to inflict violence and, in the age of instant broadcast of news of violent attacks, any “new” manner of inflicting violence is typically copied by others resulting in “waves” of attacks on law enforcement or security officers, school shootings and the like. 
   Because no amount of gun control or other preventive measures is likely to result in the unavailability of firearms to the elements of society who truly wish to do harm to others, it is left to the remainder of society to take precautions for personal safety. This fact of life is daily exemplified by the wearing by law enforcement officers of bullet resistant garments and the constant admonishment to children that they should avoid talking to strangers or taking a shortcut home through the proverbial “dark alley.” 
   Unfortunately, the foregoing longstanding measures continue to fall short—law enforcement and security officers are still killed or seriously wounded by gunfire and children or others are still not completely safe even in the most public places. Furthermore, because most people, including law enforcement and security officers, are not routinely the victims of firearms attacks, training in defensive tactics often fails under the stress of an actual attack. 
   It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to improve upon the personal safety devices presently available by providing personal safety devices that function in cooperation with a victim&#39;s natural defensive instincts for the delivery of protection. Additionally, it is an object of the present invention to provide such devices that are also integrated into the daily routine of those who possess the devices in order that the devices are readily available if ever needed. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with the foregoing objects, the present invention—a personal safety device for protection from a firearm attack generally comprises a conventional accessory item adapted for use other than as a personal safety device and a bullet resistant panel that is integrated into the conventional accessory item. In at least one implementation of the present invention, the conventional accessory item may comprise an item other than apparel or an apparel accessory that a user of the safety device may expect to ordinarily carry in the conduct of job related or other similar functions such as, for example, a clipboard as may be carried by a law enforcement or security officer. In at least one other implementation of the present invention, the conventional accessory item may comprise apparel or an apparel accessory item such as, for example, a backpack as may be worn or carried by a student. 
   Finally, many other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant arts, especially in light of the foregoing discussions and the following drawings, exemplary detailed description and appended claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Although the scope of the present invention is much broader than any particular embodiment, a detailed description of the preferred embodiment follows together with illustrative figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like components, and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  shows, in a top plan view, the preferred embodiment of a first implementation of the personal safety device of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  shows, in a cross-sectional view taken through cut line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 , various details of the construction of the personal safety device of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  shows, in a perspective view, the personal safety device of  FIG. 1  as used by a law enforcement officer in the conduct of the officer&#39;s ordinary duties; 
       FIG. 4  shows, a perspective view generally corresponding to the view of  FIG. 3 , the personal safety device of  FIG. 1  as used by a law enforcement officer for protection from a sudden firearm attack; 
       FIG. 5  shows, in a perspective view, a first preferred embodiment of a second implementation of the personal safety device of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 6  shows, in a perspective view, a second preferred embodiment of the personal safety device of  FIG. 5 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Although those of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize many alternative embodiments, especially in light of the illustrations provided herein, this detailed description is exemplary of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the scope of which is limited only by the claims appended hereto. 
   Referring now to the figures generally, the personal safety device  10  of the present invention generally comprises a conventional accessory item adapted for use other than as a personal safety device and a bullet resistant panel that is integrated into the conventional accessory item. In at least one implementation of the present invention, the conventional accessory item may comprise an item other than apparel or an apparel accessory that a user of the safety device  10  may expect to ordinarily carry in the conduct of job related or other similar functions such as, for example, a clipboard  11  as may be carried by a law enforcement or security officer  34 . In at least one other implementation of the present invention, the conventional accessory item may comprise apparel or an apparel accessory item such as, for example, a backpack  26  as may be worn or carried by a student. 
   In an implementation of the present invention comprising a clipboard  11 , the clipboard  11  is preferably formed of a substantially planar panel  12 , as particularly shown in  FIG. 1 , which panel  12  is manufactured from bullet resistant material and used in the ordinary course as a writing surface. As is conventional, the panel  11  is preferably provided with a document clip  19  and may also be provided with an additional clip  20  for use in holding an identification card or the like. Likewise, the panel  12  may be provided about its edges  13  with an aesthetic and/or protective edge treatment  15  as is known in the art. Although the edges  13  of the panel  12  may generally take any shape as may be desired in a particular implementation, at least a portion  14  of the edge  13  of the panel  12  should be substantially linear as will be better understood further herein. 
   As a critical aspect of this implementation of the present invention, the clipboard  11  must be provided with a handhold  16  adapted and positioned such that should the user  34  of the clipboard  11  come under a firearm attack the manner in which the user  34  is holding the clipboard  11  will cause the bullet resistant panel  12  to be interposed into the line of fire under the ordinary reaction of the user  34 . In particular, the handhold  16  is formed as an elongate orifice through the panel  12  substantially adjacent and parallel to the substantially linear portion  14  of the edge  13  of the panel  12 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the described arrangement will naturally cause the user  34  of the clipboard  11  to hold the clipboard  11  by gripping (with his or her weak hand) the panel  12  with thumb up and fingers under and up through the elongate orifice through the panel  12 . In this manner, should the user  34  of the clipboard  11  come under an unexpected firearm attack while using the clipboard  11 , the user&#39;s natural instinct to defensively raise his or her weak hand will result in the placement of the bullet resistant panel  12  directly in the unprotected line of fire while leaving free the user&#39;s strong hand for offensive retaliation, as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
   In order to ensure that the user  34  maintains a secure grasp of the clipboard  11  under such a circumstance, the clipboard  11  is preferably provided with a grip  17  as particularly shown in  FIG. 2 . The grip  17 , which may comprise a semi-rigid rubber or plastics material, is preferably elongate for provision on the clipboard  11  in the area between the elongate orifice therethrough and the substantially linear portion  14  of the edge  13  thereof. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the grip  17  may comprise a plurality of appurtenances to the panel  12 , each of which is preferably generally semicircular in cross section in order to better conform to the user&#39;s grip. Although the preferred embodiment comprises such an arrangement, it is noted that the present invention may also be implemented with a single appurtenance or with a grip  17  integrally formed of the material of construction of the panel  12 . 
   In order to ensure that the user  34  of the clipboard  11  holds the clipboard  11  in the manner as has been described, it is preferable that the clipboard  11  also be provided with a lighting fixture  21  attached thereto. In this manner, the user  34  will not be tempted to adopt an alternative manner of holding the clipboard  11  in an attempt to also hold a flashlight. In such embodiments as may include this provision it is noted that the grip  17  may double as a battery compartment  23  or a battery compartment  23  may be otherwise implemented within the internal space  18  of a portion of the grip  17 . The light source  22 , which may comprise an energy efficient light emitting diode or any other light source, is in any case preferably affixed to the battery compartment  23  and batteries  24  therein through a flexible neck  25 . In this manner, the user may adjust the light cast from the lighting fixture  21  as desired, thereby doubly ensuring that the user  34  will naturally properly hold the clipboard  11  during ordinary tasks. 
   In an implementation of the present invention comprising a bullet resistant backpack  26 , an otherwise conventional backpack  27  is provided with a compartment  29  that is adapted to receive therein a bullet resistant panel  33 . The compartment is further preferably adapted to maintain the orientation of the panel  33  such that if a wearer of the backpack  26  is fleeing from an assailant the planar surface of the panel  33  will be generally perpendicular to the line of fire, thereby affording maximum protection to the wearer. The compartment  29  may be formed as a scabbard  30  into which the panel  33  may be slipped (as shown in  FIG. 5 ), formed as a pocket  31  in which the panel  33  may be secreted (as shown in  FIG. 6 ) or may be formed in any other substantially equivalent manner. In the case of a pocket  31 , a zipper  32  or other closure may be provided. Additionally, although for exemplification of the present invention the compartment  29  is shown on the outside of the bullet resistant backpack  26 , it should be noted that the compartment  29  may also be provided in the interior of the backpack  26 . 
   Still further, it is noted that the compartment  29  is shown to be provided adjacent the back side  28  of the backpack  26 . Although not critical to the implementation of the present invention, it is additionally noted that such implementation is preferred inasmuch as placement of the bullet resistant panel  33  such that the body of the backpack  26  and contents thereof are interposed the line of fire and the wearer&#39;s body allows the body of the backpack  26  and contents thereof to act as a cushion. This is especially important when the wearer of the backpack  26  is a child as all steps possible should be taken to disperse the very powerful force with which a bullet will impact the panel  33 . 
   While the foregoing description is exemplary of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, those of ordinary skill in the relevant arts will recognize the many variations, alterations, modifications, substitutions and the like as are readily possible, especially in light of this description, the accompanying drawings and claims drawn thereto. In any case, because the scope of the present invention is much broader than any particular embodiment, the foregoing detailed description should not be construed as a limitation of the scope of the present invention, which is limited only by the claims appended hereto.