Variable weight expandable baton

A self defense tool includes a tubular body provided with an axial bore and a removable closed handle end opposite a removable closed striking end. A variable weight holding arrangement is positioned inside the axial bore of the body between the handle and striking ends and is engageable with the striking end. The holding arrangement is adapted to retain at least one weight member inside the axial bore to selectively enable changing weight of the tool. The variable weight holding arrangement includes a stop disposed in the axial bore of the body, and a coil spring inserted in the axial bore and extending between the stop and striking end. The at least one weight member is adapted to be received in the axial bore and held between the spring and the striking end.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to expandable batons or night sticks employed by law enforcement personnel. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a three section, telescopic baton having a variable weight feature.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Expandable batons have been used for many years by law enforcement officers as a convenient alternative to conventional one-piece batons or night sticks. In the retracted position, expandable batons can be worn in a holster attached to the equipment belt of a law enforcement officer without interfering with the movement of the officer. Additionally, when retracted, the expandable baton can be somewhat concealed by the officer to reduce his or her threatening appearance when confronted with a delicate situation.

Expandable batons typically include an outer gripping tube that acts as the handle for the baton when the baton is in the extended position. One or two telescoping sections nest within the gripping tube such that the retracted length of the expandable baton is approximately one-third of its extended length. During use, the baton is sharply swung in an arc such that the inner telescoping sections are flung outward by the centrifugal force generated during the swinging action. Typically, each of the telescoping sections include an expanded end that interacts with a tapered surface formed on the outer section to frictionally lock the baton in its extended position.

Although currently available expandable batons work reasonably well, improvements may be made to enhance their capability and efficiency. When a law enforcement officer attempts to restrain an individual through a swinging action of the baton, the amount of force associated with the swing is attributable to the centrifugal force generated at the striking end of the baton. Thus, the greater the weight of the baton and the longer the baton, the greater the force that may be imparted. Notwithstanding that current expandable batons have permitted an increase in inertia provided by weapon use in a swinging fashion, there remains a need to provide for a customized design in which an officer may selectively change the weight and strike force capability of the expandable baton. It is also desirable to upgrade the handling of the baton so that it can be accessed more easily from one's holster and can be positively grasped to provide a reliable intermediate force weapon for the officer. Furthermore, it is desirable to offer an expandable baton in which the telescoping sections may be extended at variable rates and lengths as desired by the individual user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a general object of the present invention to provide an expandable baton which provides improved strike force capability, handling and operating efficiency for law enforcement personnel.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a variable weight expandable baton in which removable slugs are slidably inserted inside the striking tube of the baton.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an expandable baton having an upgraded gripping structure on the gripping tube of the baton.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an expandable baton having an adjustable closure cap and force retention arrangement on the gripping tube for variably changing the rate in which the baton is moved from the retracted position to the extended position.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide an expandable baton in which the length of the striking tube may be increased.

In one aspect of the invention, a self defense tool has a tubular body provided with an axial bore and a removable closed handle end opposite a removable closed striking end. The invention is improved by a variable weight holding arrangement positioned inside the axial bore of the body between the handle and the striking ends and engageable with the striking end. The holding arrangement is adapted to retain at least one weight member inside the axial bore to selectively enable changing weight of the tool. The variable weight holding arrangement is accessible from at least the striking end. The variable weight holding arrangement includes a stop disposed in the axial bore of the body, a coil spring inserted in the axial bore and extending between the stop and the striking end, and the at least one weight member being adapted to be received in the axial bore and held between the spring and the striking end. The stop is a set screw threadably received in the axial bore of the body. The spring has a first end engaged with the set screw, and a second end normally engaged with the striking end, and adapted to be engaged with the at least one weight member. Upon removal of the striking end, the spring will urge the at least one weight member out of the tubular body.

In another aspect of the invention, a variable weight baton is expandable between a retracted position and an extended position. The baton includes a gripping tube having an outer wall and an inner wall defining an axial bore extending between a first end and a second end provided with a removable end cap. A striking tube is telescopingly slidable into and out of the axial bore of the gripping tube. The striking tube has an external wall and an internal wall defining an axial passageway extending between a first end provided with a removable end cap and a second end slidably received in the first end of the gripping tube. The striking tube includes a stop positioned in the axial passageway, a spring extending between the stop and the end cap, and at least one weight member disposed between the spring and the end cap for selectively enabling changing weight of the baton. In the retracted position, the striking tube is retained within the gripping tube by a resilient member which forms a retention force. The gripping tube includes adjustment structure for changing the retention force between the gripping tube and the striking tube. The spring extends along a substantial length of the axial passageway of the striking tube. An external surface of the gripping tube is provided with a non-slip, resilient gripping member formed with a plurality of grip-enhancing holes.

In yet another aspect of the invention, a variable weight baton is expandable between a retracted position and an extended position. The baton includes a gripping tube having an outer wall and an inner wall defining an axial bore extending between a first end and a second end provided with a closure cap. A center tube is telescopingly slidable into and out of the axial bore of the gripping tube. The center tube has an exterior wall and an interior wall defining an axial chamber extending between a first end and a second end. A striking tube is telescopingly slidable into and out of the axial chamber of the center tube. The striking tube has an external wall and an internal wall defining an axial passageway extending between a first end provided with an end cap, and a second end slidably received in the first end of the center tube. The striking tube includes a stop positioned in the axial passageway, a spring extending between the stop and the end cap, and a weight arrangement disposed between the spring and the end cap for selectively enabling changing weight of the baton. The stop is a set screw threadably received in the axial passageway of the striking tube. The spring has a first end engaged with the set screw, and a second end engaged against the weight arrangement. In one embodiment, the weight arrangement is comprised of a single removable weight member slidably insertable into and out of the axial passageway of the striking tube. In another embodiment, the weight arrangement is comprised of a series of adjacently disposed, removable weight members. Each weight member preferably is a bullet-shaped slug having a flat rear end and a curved front end. Each rear end is recessed to receive a curved front end of an adjacently disposed weight member. The closure cap may be provided with an external knurled surface to enhance handling of the baton.

Various other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be made apparent from the following description taken together with the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings,FIGS. 1 and 2generally illustrate a variable weight, expandable baton10of the present invention. The baton10is expandable between the retracted position shown inFIGS. 5 and 5Aand the extended, operative position shown inFIGS. 1,2,2A,3and4.

The baton10generally includes a gripping tube12, a center tube14and a striking tube16. The gripping tube12extends longitudinally between a first end18and a second end20and includes an outer wall21and inner wall22that defines an axial bore23. The axial bore23formed in the gripping tube12is sized to receive the center tube14and the striking tube16in a nested fashion as seen inFIGS. 5 and 5A. Specifically, an external wall17of the striking tube16is received within an axial chamber24formed in the center tube14, and an exterior wall15of the center tube14is received in the axial bore23. A resilient, non-slip grip member26, such as constructed from a rubber material, is adhered to the outer circumference of the gripping tube12. The grip member26is provided with a series of spaced apart holes27to improve retention of the baton10in the hands of its user, and to enhance the aesthetics of the baton10.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a closure cap28is threadably attached to the second end20of the gripping tube12. The closure cap28includes a well30that opens into the axial bore23which is sized large enough to receive a second end32of the striking tube16and a second end34of the center tube14when the baton10is in the retracted position. A resilient wire retainer36is attached to a bottom wall38of the well30by a fastener40. The wire retainer36extends from the closure cap28into the axial bore23and is compressed into contact with an internal wall42of striking tube16when the baton10is in the retracted position. The interaction between the wire retainer36and the internal wall42of the striking tube16exerts a retention force to hold the tubes of the baton10in the retracted position. To extend the baton10, an outward force must be applied to the striking tube16to overcome the retention force created by wire retainer36. The outward force can be created by either swinging the baton10in an arc to generate a centrifugal force, or by grasping a bulbous end cap44on a first end45of striking tube16and pulling the striking tube16from within the axial bore23.

As a feature of the invention illustrated inFIG. 5A, the closure cap28may be unscrewed several threads from the second end20of gripping tube12to lessen the maximum frictional force exerted by the wire retainer36relative to internal wall42of striking tube16as shown inFIG. 5. This selective adjustment has the effect of permitting the baton10to be whipped out into the extended position at variable rates.

As seen inFIGS. 2A,3and4, the first end18of gripping tube12includes a tapered portion46having an inner diameter which gradually decreases from the inner diameter of axial bore23. The second end34of the center tube14also includes a tapered portion48which increases in diameter from the diameter of an interior wall50defining axial chamber24. When the baton10is in the extended position, the increasing diameter of portion48on center tube14interacts with the decreasing tapered portion46formed on first end18of gripping tube12. The frictional engagement between these two members holds the center tube14and gripping tube12in their extended positions.

A first end52of the center tube14includes a decreasing diameter tapered portion54having a diameter which is slightly reduced from the diameter of interior wall50. An increasing diameter tapered portion56is contained on second end32of striking tube16. When the baton10is in the extended position, the increasing diameter portion56on striking tube interacts with the decreasing diameter tapered portion54formed on first end52of center tube14. The frictional engagement between these two members holds the center tube14and the striking tube16in their extended positions. An expanded guide bore58is formed on the second end32of striking tube16in alignment with an axial passageway60defined by the inner wall42. The guide bore58aids in guiding the wire retainer36into the striking tube16when the baton10is moved to the retracted position as shown inFIGS. 5 and 5A. The first end45of striking tube16is internally threaded to receive an externally threaded attachment shank62of end cap44which has a striking portion64. The end cap44has a bulbous contour which is designed not to cause puncture wounds if the retracted baton10is used to poke or prod a suspect. The threaded engagement between the attachment shank62and the striking tube16allows the end cap44to be removed from the striking tube16, if desired.

In accordance with the invention, the striking tube16is provided with a variable weight holding arrangement positioned in axial passageway60between the first end45and the second end32to selectively enable changing the weight of the baton10.

Referring toFIG. 2A, the striking tube16is internally threaded to threadably receive a stop in the form of a set screw66near the second end32. An elongated coil spring68is slidably inserted in the axial passageway60by removing end cap44. The spring68has a first end70engaged against an end of the set screw66facing end cap44. A second end72of spring68is engaged against the end of the attachment shank62of end cap44when end cap44is threaded back into striking tube16. The set screw66and the spring68define the holding arrangement for slidably receiving and retaining one or more removable weight members74inside the axial passageway60. InFIG. 2A, the striking tube16is not provided with any weight member74.

InFIG. 3, the striking tube16is provided with a single weight member74to slightly increase the weight of the baton10.FIG. 4shows the striking tube16equipped with a series of adjacently disposed weight members74disposed between spring68and attachment shank62. In the preferred embodiment shown inFIG. 4A, the weight members74are bullet-shaped slugs with the back end76of each slug74being recessed or countersunk at78to receive a nose80of an adjacently disposed slug74so as to ensure alignment of the slugs74and prevent any rattling. The back end76of each weight slug74has a diameter slightly less than the diameter of axial passageway60so that each weight slug74slides cleanly into the striking tube internal wall42. The overall weight of the striking tube16can thus be modified by selectively inserting or removing the weight slugs74. In this manner, the baton can be modified by the owner. The spring68is designed so that upon removal of the end cap44, the weight slugs74will be expelled from the open end45. It may also be possible to further use variably weighted end caps44to selectively change the weight of the baton10. Increasing the weight of the baton10will enable the user to exert a greater striking force in use.

The invention contemplates providing a striking tube16with longer lengths if desired as represented by the phantom lines inFIG. 2. Likewise, the gripping tube and the center tube may have variable lengths. In addition, it should be understood that closure cap28may be provided with a knurled surface82and a diameter greater than the diameter of the grip member26, as shown inFIG. 6, to prevent slippage from the user's hand. Also, it should be appreciated that the gripping tube12, center tube14and striking tube16may be formed of various rigid materials having various wall thicknesses to provide the requisite strength of the baton10.

While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain substitutions, alterations and omissions may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. Accordingly, the foregoing description is meant to be exemplary only and should not be deemed limitative on the scope of the invention set forth with the following claims.