COMBINED WEARABLE LAW ENFORCEMENT PATROL LIGHT AND SIGNAL DEVICE AND KIT

A wearable law enforcement patrol light and signal device including a housing to be worn by a law enforcement patrol officer on a bulletproof vest or on an arm. A high intensity light source is mounted in a front plate of the housing, the high intensity light source electrically connected to a source of electric power in the housing. A switch activates and deactivates the high intensity light source, or the high intensity light source may automatically deactivate. The high intensity light source emits an alternating burst of light of at least five thousand lumens outward when the high intensity light source is activated. The housing of the device also supports a plurality of warning lights, identification badging, a communication system, and other features in a single housing that a patrol officer would normally wear as independent elements.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a multi-function utility device configured to be worn by law enforcement officers while on patrol, or mounted on moving vehicles. More specifically, the present invention is a utility device including several warning lights, cameras, sensors, communications and other features to be worn by law enforcement officers on patrol.

Law enforcement officers of many security organizations are required to wear or carry several independent devices on their body that enable them to identify and react to security incidents of all kinds in quick fashion. A few of these devices include lights, cameras, communication microphone and speaker, night vision scope, and the like. Providing all such devices individually to a patrol officer can be quite cumbersome, and add to the weight of the devices the patrol officer must carry on his/her body. At present, it is estimated that a patrol officer would be required to carry up to approximately fifteen individual devices. Each of such devices require storage or mounting in a bag or on a belt, and require handling each device individually, sometimes preventing immediate access to the needed devices which in some instances may be critical.

An object of the present invention is to provide a single wearable device that incorporates warning lights, cameras, sensors, communication devices, and defensive weapons for use by law enforcement personnel only. The presently disclosed device is adapted to be worn on the human body, and in addition can be mounted on moving vehicles such as cars, motorcycles, bicycles and boats, and is particularly configured to provide immediate access to one or more of the several components.

The presently disclosed device also includes elements that are not presently available to law enforcement officers, namely a long-range wearable light and a defensive weapon light.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIG.1, the combined wearable law enforcement light and signal device and kit10comprises a housing12having a front plate14. Housing12and front plate14may be constructed of a bulletproof mesh material, such as sold under the Kevlar® brand. In the illustrated embodiment, bulletproof housing12and front plate14can also be made of a metal resin material. Alternating red and blue patterned or prismed officer warning emergency strobe lights16,18are mounted in grooves20of front plate14. Warning strobe lights16,18are prismed to enable light emitted from the warning lights16,18to be cast over a one hundred eighty degree arc from housing12. Lights16,18strobe and flash in motion sequences to provide a warning to those in the area.

Mounted on front plate14above warning lights16,18is a high intensity confrontation or defense light source24. In the illustrated embodiment, light source24, when activated, emits a burst of a disabling ultra-bright-constant light, or ultra-high-frequency strobe light, for the purpose of temporarily blinding and disabling a bad actor or an animal approaching the law enforcement officer who is wearing device10adjacent to the officer's chest, and standing within the projected beam of light. The light beam is in the range of 5,000 lumens or brighter, rendering humans and animals defenseless due to the temporary reduction or elimination of normal vision for the period of time necessary for the restoration of vision, typically thirty seconds up to five minutes. The light beam cast from light source24also acts as a long range spotlight that projects a white beam of light for great distances, such as one mile from the device. In the illustrated embodiment, light source24comprises a laser excited phosphor (LEP) device.

Also mounted on front plate14is a strip26of yellow and/or white patterned flashing strobe lights mounted in groove28. Light strip26, comprises a plurality of light sources that strobe and flash in motion sequences to serve as a warning to people and vehicles within the area of the patrol officer wearing the device10.

Located above light strip26on front plate14is a medium range spotlight beam27comprising a high intensity LED that projects a light beam forward in the range of twenty five to three hundred feet forward from device10.

Front plate14also could include a vision protection visor30extending forward from the front plate14, and extending over the lights16,18,24,26and27. Vision protection visor30shields the eyes of the patrol officer wearing device10from the intense light projection from lights16,18,24,26and27beneath the visor30.

Just below lights16,18on front plate14is a back-lit organization identification badging insert34that is slightly moveable forward and rearward relative to the front plate14. Beneath badging insert34is a spring-loaded switch electrically connected to defensive light source24. When badging insert34is manually depressed, defensive light source24is activated. Depressing badging insert34a second time will deactivate defensive light source24, or alternately, defensive light24can be configured to automatically deactivate after a predetermined period of time, such as in the range of three to ten seconds, for example.

As seen in the embodiment ofFIG.4, badging insert34identifies the wearer as a “POLICE” officer. However, other insertable and removable badging inserts34may identify other agencies of which the wearer is a member, such as “FBI,” “HOMELAND SECURITY,” and the like. The alphanumeric text or numeral integers36comprising badging insert34are made of translucent plastic or other suitable material and the badging insert text36is backlit via lighting built into housing12. Illumination of badging insert34is controlled by manually operated on-off switch38located in housing12adjacent badging insert34.

FIG.2illustrates a bulletproof vest25with the device10mounted on vest12about chest high. Vest12comprises a front and back fabric including a bulletproof metal resin housing that prevents bullets and other projectiles from passing through the vest25.

Referring toFIG.9, a quick access manually operable dimmer switch40is pivotally mounted at41to housing12. By rotating dimmer switch40downward, the intensity of all of the lights16,18,24,26and27mounted on front plate14is lowered. When dimmer switch40is raised, the intensity of the aforesaid lights increases.

Referring toFIGS.1,3,4, and7, a plurality of easy to access light activation membrane switches42,44,46,47are mounted on the top surface48of housing12. Each switch42,44,46,47is depressible and returns to its original position after manual activation. Switch42, when depressed, activates spotlight beam27. Switch44, when depressed, activates yellow caution light strips26. Switch46, when depressed, activates officer warning red and blue lights16,18. Switch47, when depressed, turns off all of the aforementioned light sources. After activation, depression of any of buttons42,44,46,47will deactivate each respective light source. Switches42,44,46,47can be color coded to designate the light or lights activated by the respective button. For example, switch44may be colored yellow to designate control of yellow light strip26. Switch42may be colored white to designate control of the white directional spotlight27. Button46may be colored blue and red to designate control of the blue and red flashing warning lights16,18.

Referring toFIG.7, switches42,44,46,47are each mounted on a membrane switch pad strip56, where switch pad strip56comprises a plug58adapted to be removably inserted into a receptacle60in PC board62. PC board62is powered by an array of multiple batteries64in this embodiment. Switch pad strip56, in the illustrated embodiment, is covered by a switch bezel66having raised pockets42′,44′,46′,47′ into which switches42,44,46,47, extend, respectively, to prevent foreign subject matter from getting into switches42,44,46,47.

Referring toFIG.7, high intensity light24, spotlight beam27and an LED light source68are each electrically connected to PC board62and battery array64. LED light source68is used to backlight badging insert34(FIG.1), as explained previously.

Referring toFIG.8, yellow light strip26is mounted in groove28(FIG.1), and yellow light strip26has an electric wire70extending from each light on strip26to an electrical connector plug72. Plug72is received in a receptacle (not shown) on PC board62(FIG.7) to transmit electrical power from battery array64to the lights embedded in yellow light strip26. Similarly, warning light strip19includes an electric wire74attached at one end to the warning lights16,18embedded in strip19, and to a plug76adapted to be inserted into an electrical receptacle of PC board62(FIG.7).

As also illustrated inFIG.8, when badging insert34is inserted in groove32, and switch38(FIG.1) is activated, LED light source68is activated, illuminating integers36to identify the public safety agency or organization represented by the patrol officer.

Referring toFIG.10, in a further embodiment, the rear48of housing12includes a groove50open at one end52. Replaceable battery54is removably inserted into groove50to provide electric power to the device10and each of its features. A spring loaded battery release button56controls the release of battery54when replacement of the battery is required.

In the embodiment of the present invention illustrated inFIGS.3and4, a body cam camera78is mounted on front plate14and suitably electrically connected to batteries64for power. Body cam camera78is capable of recording video and audio signals adjacent the wearer when activated by on/off switch80. The embodiment ofFIG.3also comprises a communications microphone82and a speaker84. A cable wired or radio frequency (such as Bluetooth®) module (not shown) provides the wearer with full duplex communications for a two-way radio, cellular or satellite phone. Mounted on front plate14are a pair of push-to-talk switches85for manual operation of microphone82by the wearer.

Illustrated inFIG.4is a night vision sensor86mounted on front plate14of housing12. Night vision sensor86comprises a receiving lens88and a projected infrared or daylight sensor scope (not shown) capable of providing night vision or thermal imaging during ambient darkness at night. Night vision sensor86could also be mounted on the embodiment of the invention illustrated inFIG.5. The housing90of the embodiment of the invention illustrated inFIG.5could also support a pressurized container of pepper spray or mace (not shown) adapted to spray pepper or mace into the face of a bad actor by use of a manual trigger or electric switch forward or backward of the worn device10.

The device of the various embodiments, illustrated and described herein could also include a manually operable siren alert (not shown) providing an audible warning siren tone to assist with vehicle traffic or pedestrian movement. A control button for the siren alert can be located on a side panel of housing12.

Referring toFIG.1, the light cast by letters36of badging insert34projects a low intensity light that can be used as a map light.

FIG.5illustrates an embodiment of the present invention that can be worn on the lower arm or over the wrist of the wearer. In this embodiment, housing90made, for example, of stretch neoprene with a hook-and-loop fastener92is adapted to be mounted over the arm or wrist of the wearer. Mounted on housing90are high intensity light24and red/blue warning lights16,18. An on/off switch94has several positions to control the activation of lights24,16and18. A user shroud96extends outwardly from the forward end98of housing90. A strip26of flashing yellow lights, such as LED lights, is mounted on a forward facing surface of housing90or user shroud96. A strip100of constantly on or flashing red and blue warning lights16,18are mounted on an outer surface102of housing90. Each of the lights mounted on housing90and shroud96are suitably attached to a power source and to controls for activating each light (not shown).

FIG.6illustrates an alternate version of the embodiment ofFIG.5, wherein housing104is made of a breathable mesh and a hook-and-loop fastener. A rechargeable battery106is replaceably attached to a portion of the surface of housing104. An activation switch108is also mounted on an outer surface of housing104. A light housing110is also mounted on housing104, the light housing including a spot flashlight112and high intensity defense light source114adapted to project light out of forward facing opening116in housing104. Mounted to housing104is a low intensity tactical red map light118. The embodiment ofFIG.6provides the patrol officer with a hands-fee flashlight and a defensive high intensity light burst.