Abstract:
An ergonomic auto emergency tool for alternatively functioning as a flashlight, an illuminating distress signal, a sonic alai in, a tire depth gauge, a tire air pressure gauge, a seat belt cutter and a motor vehicle window glass breaker. The auto emergency tool includes a main portion and a projecting portion extending from a joining portion and being integral with the main portion, and defining a seat belt-receiving notch therebetween. A knife blade extends across the notch proximate the joining portion. An inner main portion-facing upper surface of the projecting portion is configured to facilitate the movement of the tool towards and through a seat belt, and the bottom outer surface of the projecting portion is curved for both easy handling and for enabling a firm grip when the tool is used to break window glass. The window-breaking mechanism includes a depressible plunger cover for releasing a spring-loaded impact member. A projecting portion and a main housing portion cooperate to define a seat belt receptacle. A blade cover is insertable into the seat belt receptacle. A blade cover includes a tire tread-depth gauge. The auto emergency tool farther has ado: pressure gauge with a digital display. An optional visor clip is also provided for storing the tool on the visor of a motor vehicle. The visor clip has an alternate blade cover for attaching the tool to the visor.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/787,203 filed Mar. 15, 2013, under Title 35, United States Code, Section 119(e), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates to handheld emergency tools, and in particular to small emergency tools to enable a person to escape from a motor vehicle, such as an automobile, when the motor vehicle is in an emergency situation, and a visor clip therefor. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    There are many incidences where persons in a motor vehicle, such as an automobile, require assistance to escape from the motor vehicle quickly and safely. This could occur in the event the motor vehicle was involved in a collision with another motor vehicle or with some other object, became immersed in water, caught on fire and the like. In most motor vehicles, there are two obstacles for preventing easy escape from the vehicle; these are the windows of the vehicle and the seat belt which is used to hold an occupant in place. Furthermore, a person in distress from such a motor vehicle incident requires assistance in both finding a path to escape the vehicle and to emit a signal to possible rescuers. If an occupant is unable to open a window in the vehicle as a path of escape, it would be necessary to break the window in as short a period of time as possible while requiring limited strength and range of motion, particularly if the occupant is injured, fragile, weak, and in some instances having a little time or room to break the window. Also, there may be instances where an occupant is unable to open a locked seat belt apparatus, such as in the event the operating mechanism is inoperative possibly because of an accident, because the occupant is unable to reach the release mechanism for the seat belt, because obstacles impeding access to release the operating mechanism, because the operating mechanism is malfunctioning or for some other reason cannot release the seat belt. 
         [0006]    Commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 7,557,720, entitled “Personal Emergency Device,” is directed to a personal emergency device which can be kept on a keyring and is useful in various emergency functions, such as those directed to emergency situations involving automobiles. This device has been found very useful because it is small and provides a device for cutting an automobile vehicle&#39;s seat belt webbing in the event the driver or passengers are unable to unfasten their seat belts, it includes a device for breaking tempered, unlaminated automobile side window glass by means of a spring-actuated pin having a sharp point that is driven into the glass to break it and which automatically resets for further use. The foregoing device also includes electronically operated items including a high beam and low beam LED flashlight, an emergency red LED light flasher, a thermometer, a digital tire gauge and an audible alarm. While the latter device, which is currently on the market and sold as a Swiss+Tech BodyGard® 7-in-1 Automobile Emergency Tool, its illumination could be brighter considering the emergency situation in which it could be involved, such as a warning signal and/or to illuminate a path of escape, and its battery life could advantageously be extended. Additionally, its ergonomics could be improved. 
         [0007]    Another automobile emergency tool was marketed by the applicant under the name Swiss+Tech BodyGard® ESC 5-in-1 Automobile Emergency Tool. This was an ergonomic device which was small enough to be held on a keychain, and had a glass breaker, a seat belt cutter, a sonic alarm, an LED flashlight and an emergency red LED light flasher. Subsequently introduced to the market was a device entitled Swiss+Tech BodyGard® PTX Auto Emergency Tool. The latter tool is the subject of International Publication No. WO 2013/122604 A1. The latter device is an ergonomic auto emergency tool having a glass breaker, a seat belt cutter and an LED flashlight. The latter device is relatively small compared to the two auto emergency tools discussed above. Each of the foregoing products marketed by the applicant have a razor-sharp safety blade for cutting a seatbelt, and a blade cover slides in and out over the blade to protect the blade and to avoid unintentional cutting when the blade is not in use for cutting a seat belt. The foregoing BodyGard® 7-in-one Auto Emergency Tool has a sonic alarm, which is turned on and off by the pressing of a button. It can be deactivated by simply removing the user&#39;s hand from the button but keeps generating a warning signal for a period of time. 
         [0008]    There are other similar devices which have serious setbacks. U.S. Pat. No. 5,657,543, entitled “Emergency Tool,” is directed to a device which is large and bulky, and is for use by emergency personnel having a spring-loaded, trigger operated impact member for breaking glass in a vehicle. The device has an emergency glass-breaking tool, a pivotal knife blade, but no warning or alarm member. The device is fairly large, and would fill up a user&#39;s hand. Another known device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,952,916, entitled “Hammer Equipped Emergency Signal Device,” having an LED for emitting a warning light, an alarm buzzer and a pair of percussion imparting members which must be swung as a hammer to break the glass. This device is large, requires space to operate and expensive for one to buy. Another device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,418,628, which is allegedly small enough to be carried on a keychain, in a pocket or a purse and includes a spring-loaded glass breaker. It also includes a V-shaped razor blade for cutting a seat belt. This device does not have a light of any sort. 
         [0009]    There are other devices known which are of general interest. Referring to U.S. Pat. No. 4,209,870, there is disclosed a handheld cleaning device having a cleaning section and an illuminating system for acting alternatively as a flashlight or as a beacon. An aiming post light is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,290,095. This light is used for artillery and mortar operations at night, and can be used to provide either steady light or a blinking light, and the blinking light could be red or green, which could be used to assist colorblind operators to distinguish between the two colors. An emergency flashlight is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,033,042. This apparatus has a flashlight body with a battery storage unit and incorporates a hook member for supporting the flashlight on various objects, such as a belt or a handle ring of handbag. It also has a glass-cutting edge with a hammer piece which can be used to cut, strike and break glass and other debris during an emergency situation. None of the latter three devices are small enough to be easily held in a pocket, handbag or on a keyring. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    An object of the present invention is to provide an emergency tool for use in motor vehicles, such as automobiles, which is ergonomic and easy to handle in emergency situations, provides the features of an easily accessible cutting tool for cutting seat belts, easy-to-use with an instant reset glass breaker for breaking the tempered, unlaminated glass windows of motor vehicle in times of an emergency, and a compact yet brighter light than previous similar devices which can be used for enabling the user to detect things in dark places and as a flashing signal device. 
         [0011]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved emergency tool which is small enough to be held in a person&#39;s pocket, such as on a keyring, or in a handbag, or in an easily accessible place in a motor vehicle. 
         [0012]    It is still another object of the present invention to provide a miniature auto emergency tool which provides the functions of being a seat belt cutter, a glass breaker and an illumination signal device, a tire air pressure gauge and a tire-tread-depth indicator. 
         [0013]    It is still another object of the present invention to provide an auto emergency tool as discussed above having simple electronics without the necessity for a functionally complicated circuit board or for batteries larger than disc batteries and can be made and sold relatively inexpensively compared to other vehicle emergency escape tools. 
         [0014]    It is further an object of the present invention to provide an easy to use tire-tread-depth mechanism which does not increase the dimensions on the auto emergency tool. 
         [0015]    Another object is to provide easily accessible, manually operable and compact switches to operate the flashlight and warning signal, an audible alarm and a digital tire pressure gauge. 
         [0016]    A still further object of the present invention is to provide an automobile emergency tool having a pair of red LEDs for sending out strong emergency illumination rather than a single red LED. 
         [0017]    Another object of the invention is to provide a flashlight/flasher operating device with a button which is pressed one time to operate the flashlight, twice to operate the pair of LED flashers, and a third time to turn the illumination devices off. 
         [0018]    Another still further object of the present invention is to provide a sonic alarm with the actuating button for actuating the alarm when the button is depressed, and for delaying the cessation of the alarm for a period of time after the button is released to assure that an audible warning signal is generated even if the alarm is grabbed by an assailant. 
         [0019]    It is also an object of the present invention to provide a digital tire gauge which can be voluntarily changed between a psi scale and a bar scale. 
         [0020]    It is also a still further object of the present invention to provide a tire gauge indicator which is easily read by means of color indicators on the gauge. 
         [0021]    A yet further object of the invention is the provision of a releasable blocking mechanism for blocking the inadvertent removal of a blade cover from a blade in an auto emergency tool. 
         [0022]    It is yet another object to provide an auto emergency tool having a pair of warning flashers. 
         [0023]    An additional object of the invention is the provision of an auto emergency tool as defined herein along with a visor storage clip which also serves as a blade cover. 
         [0024]    It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an auto emergency tool having the features indicated above, including the visor storage clip, which is durable, effective in use and able to withstand detrimental conditions, such as water immersion. 
         [0025]    These and other objects of the present invention should occur to those skilled in the art from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the claims. 
         [0026]    The foregoing objects are achieved according to the preferred embodiment of the invention which includes a housing having a main portion and a projecting portion extending from the main portion at a joining section. The main portion and the projecting portion are spaced apart to define a recess or notch. A knife blade extends between the main portion and the projecting portion adjacent to the joining portion, the blade having a razor sharp edge. The projecting portion is configured so that in one motion a person can operate the auto emergency tool to break a vehicle window and then cut a seat belt. A blade cover can be slid in the notch and be guided by cooperating structure on the blade cover and the housing to follow a longitudinally extending path and slide the blade cover into the notch. A slit in the blade cover admits the knife blade as the blade cover enters the notch, and an indented channel in the blade cover receives a dimple or protrusion from the projecting portion of the housing to releasably guide the blade cover to a blade covering position. A recess in the blade cover receives the dimple when the blade cover is in the fully-inserted or closed position to prevent the inadvertent removal of the blade cover from its closed position. The blade cover can easily be pulled from the notch by means of a keyring extending through a hole in the key cover. The blade cover has an easy-to-use tire tread-depth gauge. The tread-depth gauge is incorporated at an end of the blade cover which is proximal the blade when the blade cover is in its closed, inserted position and is protecting the blade. The tire tread-depth gauge has three striped bars, the bar closest to the end of the blade cutter is red, showing that it is time to change the tire. The next bar is yellow, which serves as a warning that the tire tread is substantially worn, and the innermost bar is green indicating that the tire tread is satisfactory. At one end of the auto emergency tool is a translucent LED lens, behind which (i.e. towards the front of the tool) is an LED light and a pair of LED warning lights, and at the other end is a glass breaking mechanism including a guide piece for a spring-loaded impact pin which is released when the guide piece is firmly pressed against the vehicle window to break the glass and enable an escape from the vehicle. The flashlight/flasher lights are operated with a single button. The button is pressed once to actuate the LED flashlight, and the button is actuated twice in order to actuate the pair of LED red flashers, which blink on and off, until the button is pressed a third time, which turns the lights off. The glass breaking mechanism includes components for automatically resetting the mechanism. The actuating switch for the flashlight and flashers is on the lower side of the main body, opposite from the blade and notch, adjacent the LED&#39;s for turning the light on and off. An audible alarm switch is also on the lower side, near the glass breaking mechanism. The audible alarm switch is a single button, which upon being pressed actuates an audible alarm. Once the pressure on the button is released, the alarm keeps emitting an audible, loud signal for a period of time to alert others in the area that an assailant may have attacked the user, and the assailant would be unable to immediately deactivate the alarm serving both as a warning and to possibly cause the assailant to flee. The auto emergency tool is ergonomic and can easily be held and operated, as well as being stored while taking up little room and causing no discomfort even if stored in one&#39;s pocket. The operation of the blade to cut a seat belt and the operation of the glass cutter are so positioned to enable the breaking of the glass and the cutting of the seat belt possible in basically a single motion. The batteries for the LED are small disc batteries, and the battery compartment in the main portion extends longitudinally in the tool. The tire air pressure nozzle is located below the LED lens, and due to a curvature in the lower part of the tool, is very accessible for receiving a tire nozzle. The battery cover can easily be opened by means of a captive screw, which is not removable. An optional visor clip can be used to attach the wide flat surface of the auto emergency tool to the visor of the automobile. The visor clip incorporates a blade cover that is configured much like the blade cover for insertion into the blade notch, thus facilitating the withdrawal of the auto emergency tool from the visor clip. The auto emergency tool is small in size, effective in operation and less expensive than other similar tools presently available. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0027]      FIG. 1  is a bottom, front perspective view of the auto emergency tool according to the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 2  is a rear, top, perspective view of the auto emergency tool according to the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the auto emergency tool according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, with the blade cover being partially removed. 
           [0030]      FIG. 4  is the same side view of the auto emergency tool shown in  FIG. 3  with the blade cover fully installed. 
           [0031]      FIG. 5  is aside view of the auto emergency tool on the side opposite from that in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 6  is an exploded, perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
           [0033]      FIG. 7  is a front view of the auto emergency tool according to the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
           [0034]      FIG. 8  is a rear view of the auto emergency tool according to the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
           [0035]      FIGS. 9 ,  10 ,  11  and  12  are perspective, top, side and end views of the blade cover according to the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
           [0036]      FIGS. 13 and 14  are front and side views of the decal for the tread-depth gauge according to the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
           [0037]      FIGS. 15-18  are an interior perspective, an interior side, an exterior side and end views of a battery door used on the auto emergency tool according to the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
           [0038]      FIGS. 19-23  are, respectively, exterior perspective, exterior side, interior side, front and rear views of the housing front portion according to the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
           [0039]      FIGS. 24-29  are respectively an exterior perspective, a side exterior, a front, a rear, a side interior and top views of the housing back portion according to the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
           [0040]      FIG. 30  is a rear, side perspective cut-away view of the invention in its preferred form. 
           [0041]      FIGS. 31-35  are perspective, one side, bottom, opposite side and end views, respectively, of a visor clip which can be used with the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
           [0042]      FIGS. 36-38  are top front perspective, top rear perspective and side rear perspective views of an auto emergency tool as installed in a visor clip according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
           [0043]      FIG. 39  is a perspective view of an auto emergency tool in the process of being installed in a visor clip to the installed condition shown in  FIGS. 36-38 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0044]    The automobile emergency tool as discussed in the present application is an ergonomic tool which is easy to hold and operate, and is small enough to easily be held in a user&#39;s pocket, handbag or the like. It is attractive in appearance and can be made to operate for a long period of time in an inexpensive manner. A visor clip is also described for holding the inventive auto emergency tool. 
         [0045]    Turning first to  FIGS. 1-2 , an auto emergency tool  100  is shown. Auto emergency tool comprises an ergonomic housing  2  having a main housing portion or main portion  4  and a projecting portion  6  which is integral with main portion  4 . Main portion  4  has a forward end or generally flat front surface  8  and a rearward end or generally flat rear surface  10 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , forward end  8  has a circular opening  12  for receiving part of a glass-breaker assembly  14  (shown in the exploded view of  FIG. 6 ) described below. As shown in  FIG. 8 , rearward end  10  of main portion  4  of housing  2  has a flashlight and flasher opening  16  for receiving an LED lens  17  of an illumination assembly which advantageously is a flashlight and flasher assembly  18 . 
         [0046]    Main portion  4  has an upper portion  19  with a relatively large thickness T 1 . T 1  is advantageously about ¾ inch wide. Main portion  4  of housing  2  has a lower portion or rearwardly inclined rearward bottom surface  20  with a tire gauge nozzle opening  22 . The latter is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 8 . Lower portion  20  has a bottom surface  25 . Bottom surface  25  has a centrally-disposed concave portion or finger-grasping curved surface  24  which is so configured that a person can grasp auto emergency tool  100  at curved surface  24  and hold the person&#39;s thumb along the length of projecting portion  6  to firmly hold auto emergency tool  100  in position for use. Lower portion  20  has relatively thin thickness T 2 , T 2  is advantageously about ⅝ inch wide. Curved surface  24  is concave and ergonomic to render auto emergency tool  100  effective in use. The radius of curved surface  24  has been found to be at or about 3½ inches. Bottom surface  25  further has an inclined forwardly-disposed surface  27  interconnecting surface  25  with forward end  8 , and an inclined rearwardly-disposed surface  31  interconnecting surfaces  25  and rearward end  10 . 
         [0047]    Projecting portion  6  is integral with main portion  4  of housing  2  and extends from main portion  4  at a projecting portion juncture  26 . Main portion  4  has a main housing top surface or upper portion  28  which is generally flat and has a forwardly-disposed main top portion  33  and a projecting portion junction  26 . Juncture  26  is at upper portion  28  and at forward end  8 . Projecting portion  6  has an interior or inner surface  29  opposite to a main portion upper surface or generally flat housing top portion  30 . A portion of the latter surfaces is shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . Projecting portion  6  has a uniform projecting portion height  32 , a concave forward-projecting surface having an initial curve  34  near juncture  26 , and a concave rearward portion surface or curved end  36  at its free end, which is curved oppositely from a curved surface  34  proximal juncture  26 . Curved surfaces  34  and  36  can be seen, for example, in  FIGS. 1-4 . Interior surfaces  29  thus has a generally flat intermediate projection portion surface interconnecting the concave forward projecting surface and the concave rearward-projecting portion surface. 
         [0048]    An inclined seat belt cutter blade  38  extends in the space between inner surface  28  of projecting portion  6  and inner surface  30  of main portion  4 , which extends from the area adjacent juncture  26  and is inclined rearwardly and downwardly, spanning projecting portion height  32  closest to juncture  26  and reaching a 0 (zero) height distal juncture  26 , as shown, for example, in  FIG. 3 . Blade  38  has straight, inclined portion  40 , which extends between inner surface  29  of projecting portion  6  and inner surface  30  of main portion  4 , and makes an interior angle of about 20° with the surface defining inner surface  30 . 
         [0049]    The space between inner surface  28  of projecting portion  6  and inner surface  30  of main portion  4 , or the projecting portion interior surface  29  cooperating with the top surface  28 , defines a seat belt receptacle  42  ( FIG. 3 ) for receiving a seat belt in a manner discussed below. A portion of seat belt cutter blade  38  is located in seat belt receptacle  42  at the forward end of auto emergency tool  100 . 
         [0050]    A blade cover  44  is insertable into seat belt receptacle  42 . Blade cover  44  has a forward end portion  46  and a rearward end portion  48 . Blade cover  44  has a notch or slit  50  ( FIGS. 9 and 10 ) located in its forward end portion  46 , which is defined by a pair of opposing blade cover sections  52  and  54 . Cover sections  52  and  54  constitute an elongated recessed portion  55  which terminates at recess  64 . Blade cover  44  has a curved surface  56  at its forward end  46  which is configured to snuggly engage curve  34  of projecting portion  6  with blade  38  inserted into notch  50 . Blade cover  44  has an upwardly curved rearward end  58  at the portion of blade cover  44  when fully inserted in notch  50 , which has the same curve  60  as curve  36  of projecting portion  6  so that curved rearward end  58  is in snug contact with curved surface  36  of projecting portion  6 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  5 . Rearward end portion  48  of blade cover  44  has a keyring hole  62  for receiving a keyring. When a keyring is installed on blade cover  44  through keyring hole  62 , this combination has two important purposes. First, it enables auto emergency tool  100  to be attached to a keyring or to some other device which can fit through hole  62 , and further to facilitate the fast withdrawal of blade cover  44  in the event one wants to use seat belt cutter blade  38 . 
         [0051]    Recess  64  is provided in blade cover  44  for receiving a guiding projection or protuberance  66  extending downwardly from inner surface  29  of projecting portion  6  (halves of which are shown as  66 ′ and  66 ″ in  FIGS. 20-22 ,  25  and  28 ). As blade cover  44  is slid into seat belt receptacle  42 , protuberance  66  remains in elongated recess portion  55  and accurately guides blade cover  44  into receptacle  42 . When blade cover  44  is fully inserted or installed in receptacle  42 , protuberance  66  drops into recess  64 . The cooperation of recess  64  and protuberance  66  prevents the inadvertent removal of blade cover  44  from seat belt receptacle  42 . Cover section  52  of blade cover  44  is wider than blade cover section  54 , as shown in  FIG. 10 . Blade cover section  52  is also a tire tread-depth indicator  71 . A decal  72 , shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , is attached the forward end of cover section  52 . Decal  72  is marked to show whether a tire tread has appropriate depth or not. In the preferred form of the invention, decal  72  has a red portion  74  at the free end of blade cover  44 , and adjacent yellow portion  76  and a final contiguous green portion  78  which is furthest from forward end portion  46  of blade cover  44 . One uses the tire tread-depth indicator by removing blade cover  44  from seat belt receptacle  42  and positioning cover section  52  into the space between two treads of a tire. If section  52  can only go up to red portion  74 , this indicates that the tire should be changed since the tread is too shallow. If the depth only goes to yellow portion  76 , this is a warning that the tread of a tire is close to being dangerous. Finally, if the depth of the tread is indicated by green portion  78 , this indicates that the tire tread depth is safe. 
         [0052]    Glass-breaker assembly  14  is located at forward end  8  of housing  2 . Only parts of glass-breaker assembly  14  are visible when auto emergency tool  100  is fully assembled. With reference to FIGS.  1  and  3 - 5 , and glass-breaker assembly  14  includes a guide housing  80  which is visible through opening  12  in forward end  8  of housing  2 . Guide piece  80  has an opening  82  for alignment with a pointed end  147  of a pin-and-guide assembly  144  as discussed below. Located in lower portion  20  of housing  2  is a tire pressure gauge assembly  84  which is disposed in tire pressure gauge opening  22 . This can be seen in  FIGS. 1 and 8 , and gauge  84  has a pressure washer  86  for receiving the tire nozzle, which would apply tire air pressure to a tire pressure gauge nozzle  87 . Auto emergency tool  100  further has a tire pressure gauge indicator  88  which is visible through an opening  90  in housing  2 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  4 . A pressure button  92  is located near tire pressure gauge indicator  88  and can be pressed once or twice so that indicator  88  can either give out pounds per square inch (“psi”) or barometric scale readings, respectively, based on atmospheric pressure at sea level. For example, 32.2 psi at sea level equals 2.21 BAR. 
         [0053]    Auto emergency tool  100  further has an illuminating assembly  96 , which is partly visible in fully-assembled tool  100 . Turning first to  FIG. 8 , disposed in flashlight and flasher opening  16  is an LED lens  17  having a flashlight LED  98  disposed between a pair of flasher LED&#39;s  99  disposed above and below flashlight lens  98 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  5 , an LED actuator button  102  located near rearward end  10  of housing  2  and on a lower part of main housing  4  in the form of a lower curved side portion  104 . Operation of illuminating assembly  96  will be discussed below. 
         [0054]    Auto emergency tool  100  further has a sonic alarm assembly  106 . The only part of sonic alarm assembly  106  which is visible in a fully-assembled emergency tool  100  is a sonic alarm actuator button  108 . Alarm actuator button  108  is also disposed on lower curved portion  104  and is forward of LED button  102 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  4 . The operation of sonic alarm assembly  106  is to be described hereinafter. 
         [0055]    With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 5 , main portion  4  of housing  2  has a battery door  110 . Battery door.  110  houses a battery compartment, as described later. Battery door  110  is shown in  FIGS. 15-18  and is configured to fit snugly in a frame  112  shown in  FIGS. 24 and 25 . Battery door  110  has a generally rectangular shape with a pair of arms  114  configured to be received on the interior of frame  112 . Battery door  110  has a protrusion  116  with a screw hole  118 , and protrusion  116  fits snugly in a receptacle  120  of housing  2 . Receptacle  120  has a screw hole  122  in alignment with screw hole  118 . A captive screw  123  ( FIG. 5 ) is screwed into screw holes  118  and  122  to fix battery door  110  to housing  2 . Battery door  110  further has an exterior part  124  of an inclined, concave shoulder  127  which extends across housing  2 . The other side of housing  2  has a corresponding inclined, concave shoulder  129 . The user can use shoulders  126  and  129  as a finger rest when holding emergency tool  100  for use. 
         [0056]    With reference to  FIGS. 1-2 ,  7 - 8 , and  19 - 29 , ergonomic housing  2  includes a housing front portion  128  and a housing back portion  130 . The exterior of housing back portion  130  is shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  5 ,  24 - 27  and  29 , which is part of the ergonomic housing  2 . The interior of housing back portion  130  is shown in  FIG. 28 . It will be understood that housing front portion  128  and housing back portion  130  are sealed together to form housing  2 . Housing front portion  128  has a set of ribs  132  which support portions of glass-breaker assembly  14  as shown in  FIG. 21 . Housing back portion  130  has a similar set of ribs  134 , as shown most clearly in  FIG. 28 . Housing back portion  130  has a projecting portion half  136  which, when combined with projecting portion half  138  which is part of housing front portion  128 , together form projecting portion  6 . Each of housing front portion  128  and housing portion  130  are made of molded plastic, with the respective parts working together to hold the respective components of auto emergency tool  100  in place, as shown in  FIGS. 1-2 . 
         [0057]    Referring to  FIGS. 19-23 , housing front portion  128  is shown. Considering first the exterior view, it has opening  90  for tire pressure-gauge indicator  88 . An opening  140  receives LED button  102 , and an opening  142  receives alarm actuator button  108 . The other components of housing front portion  128  are provided to cooperate with corresponding components of housing back portion  130  to snugly and firmly hold the various parts of auto emergency tool  100 . 
         [0058]    Glass-breaker assembly  14 , shown most clearly in  FIGS. 5 and 30 , includes guide piece  80 , a pin-and-guide assembly  144 , a force spring  145  and a reset spring  146 . Guide piece  80  is a guide for pin-and-guide assembly  144  which is used for breaking an automobile window, and preferably a side window, in emergency situations where one in a motor vehicle must escape from the motor vehicle. Guide piece  80  is designed to be retractable into housing  2 . Since guide piece  80  must alternately retract or extend from housing  2 , it regulates the movement of pin-and-guide assembly  144 . Pin-and-guide assembly  144  has a pointed end  147  that is driven into a window glass. A bulb end  148  restricts assembly  144  from separating from auto emergency tool  100 . With reference to  FIG. 30 , pin-and-guide assembly  144  is shown in its deployed condition. Initially, when pin-and-guide assembly  144  is in its loaded state, it is disposed to form an angle of about 5° with respect to a horizontal axis through a cavity  150 . Force spring  145  coaxially surrounds assembly  144  in cavity  150  to provide the driving force for assembly  144 , and reset spring  146  resets glass-breaker assembly  14 . When pin-and-guide assembly  144  is loaded, the rear end of force spring  145  contacts a horizontal rib  152  at only a lower portion. Contact with rib  152  causes assembly  144  and force spring  145  to pivot and re-orient from the horizontal axis to go along an inclined axis. A forward portion of force spring  145  urges against a pin guide, and forward portion of force spring  142  is anchored in the pin guide. Pin-and-guide assembly  144  and force spring  145  must be free to pivot back from an inclined axis to a horizontal axis within cavity  150 , and within reset spring  146  no such pivotal motion is necessary for the resetting of reset spring  146 . 
         [0059]    Pin-and-guide assembly  144  is maintained along the inclined axis by guide piece  80 . Guide housing  80  is generally tubular and has a first arcuate wall section facing assembly  144 . A wall section acts as a guide for guide housing  80  when assembly  144  abuts the wall section. To release pin-and-guide assembly  144  or deployment, cavity  150  has an upper wall with a downwardly facing disengagement ramp. As glass-breaker assembly  14  is operated by pushing guide housing  80  against glass, guide housing  80  retracts into housing  2 , and by means of an arcuate wall moves pin-and-guide assembly  144  into contact with the ramp. The ramp acts to move the pin-and-guide assembly  144  downwardly in order to align pin-and-guide assembly  144  within an opening  82  in guide housing  80 . As soon as pin-and-guide assembly  144  comes into alignment with opening  82 , force spring  145  becomes free to urge pin-and-guide assembly  144  out of opening  82  and into the window glass. Pin-and-guide assembly  144  ejects forwardly until bulb end  148  reaches the wall section to prevent pin-and-guide assembly  144  from leaving housing  2 . 
         [0060]    Once hand pressure on guide housing  80  is released, reset spring  146  relaxes and urges guide housing  80  to return to its unretracted, forward, ready position. The rear end of reset spring  130  is anchored in its cavity and its forward end merely presses against a second rear wall section of guide housing  80 . Reset spring  146  does not extend into guide housing  80 . As reset spring  146  urges guide housing  80  out to its forward position, contact between force spring  145  and the horizontal rib automatically orients pin-and-guide assembly  144  to the inclined position whereupon the pin-and-guide assembly  144  re-engages the arcuate wall to reset glass-breaker assembly  14  for further use. The operation of glass-breaker assembly  14  is essentially the same as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,557,720 (Rubin et al, Jul. 7, 2009), and reference is made to the latter patent which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, especially with respect to a description of the operation of glass-breaker assembly  14 . 
         [0061]    Housing front portion  128  has a battery compartment part  150  which cooperates with the interior side of battery door  10  in housing back portion  130  to hold three cell batteries  160 , as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 30 . Battery compartment parts  150  and the interior of battery door  110  form a battery compartment to which access is available through battery door  110 . A spring (not shown) is provided in the rearward part of the battery compartment to urge batteries  160  forwardly. Auto emergency tool  110  uses three cell batteries  160 , cylindrical in shape, which are loaded in compartments defined by walls  144 . Batteries  160  are AG13 batteries, which are compact and do not require an increase in the thickness of housing  2 . A longitudinal axis  162  of batteries  160  is parallel with the longitudinal axis  164  of pin-and-guide assembly  144  when assembly  144  is in the deployed state as shown in  FIG. 30 . 
         [0062]    The components of auto emergency tool  100  are shown in the exploded view of  FIG. 6 . Housed within housing front portion  128  and housing back portion  130  are the individual parts and subassemblies discussed above. These include glass-breaker assembly  14  and its component parts, namely, guide housing  80 , pin-and-guide assembly  144 , force spring  145  and reset spring  146 . Blade  38  shown for mounting between a projecting portion half  170  of housing front portion  128  and projecting portion  172  of housing back portion  130 . A digital tire air pressure gauge assembly is built in auto emergency tool  100 , and it converts the pressure into an electric signal that the electronic circuitry analyzes and effects the generation of the measurement displayed in tire pressure gauge indicator  88 . The tire pressure gauge assembly includes a pressure chamber  170 , a pressure washer  86 , a tire pressure liquid crystal diode (LCD)  168 , an O-ring  176 , pressure button  92  and, in part, main printed circuit board  166 . Tire pressure liquid crystal diode (LCD)  168  provides the air pressure detected by pressure chamber  170 , which is held in place by pressure washer  172 . O-ring  176  is used for mounting pressure chamber  170 . Printed circuit board  166  controls the operation of the various electronic systems included in auto emergency tool  100 , including the display of the measurement of the tire air pressure. Printed circuit board  166  has flashlight LED  98  and red flashers  99 , and they emit illumination through LED lens  17 . A printed circuit board button contact  178  is in alignment with alarm button  108 . 
         [0063]    Sonic alarm assembly  106  includes an electrical circuit or circuit board button contact  178 , and a piezo electric speaker  174  makes the alarm sound. Closing actuator button  108  connects the transmitter to the battery power source. Release of button  108  does not immediately put sonic alarm assembly  178  in an alarm termination mode, because the circuitry has a delay device which keeps the transmitter in an alarm transmitting mode for a predetermined period of time. LED button  102  actuates LED&#39;s  98  and  99 , as discussed previously. A pin plate  180  is used as an abutment for bulb  148  of pin-and-guide assembly  144 . Housing front portion  128  and housing back portion  130  are held together by various screws shown collectively by numeral  182 . 
         [0064]    Illuminating assembly  96  thus includes an electrical circuit including circuit board  166 , an LED flashlight bulb  98  and a pair of flasher LED&#39;s  99 . A switch device on printed circuit board  166  connects LED flashlight bulb  98  to the battery power source to illuminate bulb  198  upon a single actuation of button  102 . Actuation of button  102  twice similarly connects LED flasher bulbs  99  intermittently to the battery source to cause the intermittent illumination of bulbs  99 . Actuation of button  102  a third time disconnects the circuit from the battery source and turns off bulbs  99 . 
         [0065]    Auto emergency tool  100  has a number of significant advantages over the prior art. Auto emergency tool  100  can firmly and easily be held due to its ergonomic configuration. Tool  100  can very efficiently be used to both break the window of a vehicle and, in the same motion, slide a seat belt to receptacle  42  to cut the seat belt with blade  38 . Tire pressure gauge  84  can be used quickly and easily to measure the air pressure in a tire, and with a simply actuation of button  48 , determine the pressure in both pounds per square inch and bar. Flashlight LED  98  or flashers  99  can quickly and easily be actuated by the depression of button  102  either once or twice. The sonic alarm can be actuated by the simple pressing of alarm button  108 , which continues to operate for a period of time after it is released; this avoiding the problem of having the alai in being shut off if someone were to misappropriate auto emergency tool  100  while the alarm has been actuated. 
         [0066]    The simple removal of blade cover  44  makes available for use tire tread-depth depth-indicator  71 , all without requiring an increase in the size of auto emergency tool  100 . The use of three batteries  160  is an improved longer, yet brighter illumination because of their increased electrical potential over the prior art. Blade cover  144  can easily be removed by means of a keyring which offers a quick release. 
         [0067]    Auto emergency tool  100  is compact to be easily stored in a person&#39;s pocket or handbag, yet large enough to be readily useable for its intended purposes. A preferred length L shown in  FIG. 5  is about 3⅛ inches long, and its preferred maximum length is about 1 31/32 inches as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0068]    An auto emergency tool apparatus includes auto emergency tool  100  and a visor clip  190 . A visor clip  190  shown in  FIGS. 31-35  can also be a helpful accessory. Visor clip  190  has an attachment hook  192  to be slipped on a visor of the motor vehicle to hold the visor clip in place. A blade cover  193  having the same configuration and purpose of blade cover  44  renders visor clip  190  particularly helpful and puts auto emergency tool  100  in easy access should it be required. Clip  190  is attached to blade cover  193  by means of a connecting flange  195 . The other components on the blade cover have the same identification numbers that were used previously in the description of blade cover  44 . In order to install auto emergency tool  100  on visor clip  190 , the user simply aligns the entrance to receptacle  42  with the end of blade cover  193  having the entrance to notch  50 , and slide it forward until curve  34  abuts curved surface  56 . To remove the emergency tool from visor clip  190 , one reverses the foregoing procedure. Visor clip  190  can readily be removed from a visor to enable use of tire tread-depth indicator  71 . 
         [0069]    Perspective views of auto emergency tool  100  installed in visor clip  190  are shown in  FIGS. 36-38 . Referring to  FIG. 39 , which shows the installation of auto emergency tool  100  on visor clip  190 , visor clip  190  is clipped on a visor of a motor vehicle by means of attachment hook  192  slipped over a visor so that, in use, the view shown in  FIG. 39  would be rotated 90° in the counterclockwise direction. In order to install auto emergency tool  100  on visor clip  190 , one abuts the upper part of housing back portion  130  against a vertical part  197  of flange  195  which simultaneously aligns projecting portion  66  with elongated recessed portion  55 . Auto emergency tool  100  is slid with its rear portion  10  moving against the rear portion of hook  192  until curve  34  of projecting portion  6  abuts curved rearward end  58  and auto emergency tool  100  being installed on visor clip  190 . The direction of movement of auto emergency tool  100  onto visor clip  190  is shown by the arrow  197 . 
         [0070]    The invention has been described in detail, with particular emphasis on the preferred embodiments thereof, but variations and modifications may occur to those skilled in the art from the above description and from the appended claims.