Abstract:
A flashlight and defensive spray apparatus, such as a flashlight and pepper spray combination apparatus, includes activation buttons for both the flashlight and the defensive spray component in close proximity to one another so as to facilitate activation of both components by a single thumb or finger of the operator, which may be desirable in emergency situations.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority on U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/866,414, filed on Aug. 15, 2013, entitled FLASHLIGHT AND DEFENSIVE SPRAY APPARATUS, in the name of inventor Michael H. Teig, which application is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a flashlight and defensive spray apparatus, such as a flashlight and pepper spray combination apparatus. The apparatus includes activation buttons for both the flashlight and the defensive spray component in close proximity to one another so as to facilitate activation of both components by a single thumb or finger of the operator, which may be desirable in emergency situations. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention is particularly intended for use in situations where use of a flashlight and a defensive spray device may both be desirable, such as by police and/or military personal, and such as by civilians in self defense situations. In previous situations, a flashlight and a pepper spray device may each be carried separately by police and/or military personnel, or by civilians in self defense situations. In some prior art devices, a flashlight and a defensive spray component may be integrated into a single device. However, these devices generally include activation buttons positioned on opposite ends of the device, which makes simultaneous activation of the two components impractible or at least difficult. Such prior art devices, therefore, may not provide the effective and efficient defensive action required in emergency situations. There is a need therefore for a device that may allow activation of the two components simultaneously, and preferably, which allows for activation of both components by a single thumb or finger of the operator. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention provides a flashlight and defensive spray apparatus, such as a flashlight and pepper spray combination apparatus. The apparatus includes activation buttons for both the flashlight and the defensive spray component in close proximity to one another so as to facilitate activation of both components by a single thumb or finger of the operator, which may be desirable in emergency situations. In particular, the activation buttons may be positioned next to each other in an arrangement such that a single thumb of an operator may activate or deactivate both buttons individually without moving their thumb on the device. More particularly, the operator may rock or pivot the end of their thumb on the two buttons to activate or deactivate either of the two buttons as desired, without loosening or adjusting their grip on the device. This time efficient and effective arrangement of the activation buttons of the present device may mean the difference between life and death for the operator in hostile situations. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a front isometric view of one example embodiment of a flashlight spray apparatus. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a back view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is an exploded side view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a detailed cross-sectional side view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a front isometric view of a second example embodiment of a flashlight spray apparatus. 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a back view of the apparatus of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  is a detailed cross-sectional side view of another example embodiment of a flashlight spray apparatus. 
           [0014]      FIG. 10  is a detailed cross-sectional side view of yet another example embodiment of a flashlight spray apparatus. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0015]    The invention discloses a combination flashlight and defensive spray device that includes two activation buttons arranged to allow individual activation or deactivation by movement of a single thumb of an operator, without requiring shifting of the operators hand during use. 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a front isometric view of a first example embodiment of a flashlight spray apparatus  10 . The flashlight/pepper spray combination apparatus  10  incorporates a self-defense flashlight  12  with concealed chemical self-defense spray  14 . The spray canister  16  is positioned parallel to the battery compartment  18  of the flashlight with the actuator  20  of the spray being positioned parallel to and slightly above the light switch  22 . The light switch  22  is an “end switch” and is positioned on the butt end off the flashlight, opposite the end where the LED  24  is located. Both the spray switch  20  and the light switch  22  are operated with a single thumb of the operator. 
         [0017]    The spray actuator  20  is located behind and slightly above the button  22  on the light and is accessed by inserting the thumb over the top of the light switch and resting it on the spray button  20  or “actuator.” The relationship of the spray actuator  20  and the lights multi-mode switch button  22 , as well as the actuation pressure of each, has been designed to allow the operator to either move his thumb easily from one button to the other or the operator (user) can position his thumb on the spray actuator to enable an immediate self-defense response without having to move his thumb. Thus the thumb can be kept in the spray position while still being able to operate the multi-mode light button  22  by simply arching his thumb but not moving it from its position above the spray actuator  20 . This simple action causes or allows the upper knuckle of the thumb to press down on the light button without applying pressure on the spray button. 
         [0018]    A hood  26  over the spray button  20  is designed to prevent accidental or unintentional actuation of the spray by foreign objects. Additionally, a safety tab can be inserted under the actuator between the actuator button  20  and the top of the canister to prevent actuation while not in use. 
         [0019]    The light function provides a unique sequencing feature with a “panic” mode that, regardless of the last mode the light was in, when initially turned on, it assumes a threat and goes into a high intensity blinding strobe designed to surprise and disorient the attacker. The user can bypass the panic mode and go to constant high beam by pushing the switch  22  down twice within approximately one-second. This can be done whether in momentary or click mode. In momentary mode, the user only has to push the button  22  partially down without clicking it. If left in that position for more that a second, it will go off when released. If left in that position for less than a second and pushed down again, partially or all the way, it will go to the next mode. There are four modes that include panic strobe, High, Low and SOS. 
         [0020]      FIG. 2  is a front view of apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 3  is a back view of apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 4  is a side view of apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 5  is an exploded side view of apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 6  is a detailed cross-sectional side view of apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 7  is a front isometric view of a second example embodiment of a flashlight spray apparatus  10 . In this embodiment the shape of the outer casing of apparatus  10  is slightly modified from the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . The functional parts of the apparatus remain the same as in  FIG. 1 , however, this embodiment includes a more rounded, less angular external design. 
         [0026]      FIG. 8  is a back view of the apparatus of  FIG. 7 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 9  is a detailed cross-sectional side view of another example embodiment of a flashlight spray apparatus  10 . This third embodiment uses either a sleeve  28  ( FIG. 10 ) or two strap-like fasteners  30  ( FIG. 9 ) to secure the pepper spray portion  14  of the apparatus  10  to a variety of third party flashlights  32  that may vary slightly in size but are close to the size of the flashlight compartment  12  in the apparatus shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . This is done by using either a rubber sleeve  28 , or bands  30 , that slips over the pepper spray portion which houses the pepper spray and the pepper spray actuator, and secures it to the third party flashlight, holding them securely together in a position that the combination may be used essentially the same as the apparatus shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The two fasteners  28  and/or  30  may be made of a variety of materials including plastic, rubber, leather, vinyl or any other material that may effectively secure the pepper spray compartment  16  to the third party flashlight  32 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 10  is a detailed cross-sectional side view of yet another example embodiment of a flashlight spray apparatus utilizing a sleeve  28 . 
         [0029]    Because the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10  utilize a typical tactical flashlight design with an end switch rather than a side switch and add the elements necessary to convert it to a self-defense device with concealed pepper spray or other chemical agents, it is adaptable to all similar lights and will be manufactured and sold also as a modification to other tactical lights to convert them to the type of apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 10  shows first activation button  40  and second activation button  42  both positioned on the same end  36  of the body of apparatus  10  such that both buttons may simultaneously be depressed by an operator&#39;s thumb  38  to simultaneously activate the spray and light functions of apparatus  10 . Buttons  40  and  42  may be referred to as positioned adjacent to one another, positioned on the same end of the body of apparatus  10 , positioned substantially in the same plane  44 , positioned next to each other, and/or positioned in a single operational or activation location, which individually all mean that an operator may activate two distinct functions of apparatus  10  without shifting their hand on the device  10 . In other words, thumb  38  of an operator can activate both buttons simultaneously or individually without shifting the position of their thumb  38  on apparatus  10 , which may be very important in stressful defensive situations. 
         [0031]    In the above description numerous details have been set forth in order to provide a more through understanding of the present invention. It will be obvious, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced using other equivalent designs.