Patent Publication Number: US-6666566-B1

Title: Emergency device with glass breaking function

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The field of the present invention is handheld emergency tools such as handheld flashlights for emergency use. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Flashlights are commonly used in emergency situations. For example, firefighters or other emergency personnel use flashlights to provide illumination at an emergency site. Such illumination is not only needed at night, but also can be necessary during daylight hours for emergencies occurring in dark areas such as a dark or smoke-filled building. Since flashlights are often used, emergency personnel frequently routinely carry a flashlight or have one at hand. 
     Many flashlights are known. For example, commonly invented and assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,904,415 discloses a flashlight with a gas permeable membrane and battery polarization carrier. This patent is incorporated herein by reference as if set forth in its entirety herein. 
     Emergency or rescue personnel (such as firefighters or police) often are required to break glass while responding to an emergency. For example, rescue personnel responding to an automobile accident may need to break a vehicle window or windshield to reach a trapped victim. Breaking vehicle glass can be difficult as vehicle windows typically are constructed of a tempered glass. Tempered glass is also often used in other instances that may present barriers in emergency situations, such as in sliding glass doors, entry door panes, and windows close to an exit. Thus, there are situations in which emergency personnel need to break tempered glass in areas that do not involve vehicles. 
     Tempered glass typically is constructed to deform into small glass fragments when broken. In contrast, non-tempered glass frequently will shatter into relatively sharp shards when broken, which may present hazards to victims and rescue workers in emergency situations. Thus, the use of tempered glass minimizes the risk of injury due to broken glass. Tempering also provides an increased level of impact resistance for glass. 
     In one example, the tempering process deposits or creates a thin layer over a glass pane (such as 0.0020-0.0030 inch), which tends to resist breakage. In order to break a pane of temper glass cleanly and safely, this thin layer typically needs to be penetrated. 
     Emergency personnel typically use a hammer or axe to break tempered glass. Of course, emergency personnel must use extreme caution when swinging a hammer or axe through a window so as to avoid injury to themselves, victims or property from glass fragments, or from the hammer or axe alone. For example, swinging an axe or hammer concentrates significant inertial forces in the tool&#39;s head. When the axe or hammer impacts a windowpane, the substantial inertia in the hammer or axe may propel the hammer or axe toward or into a victim or property and may strike on the other side. Because of the potential for injury due to hammers and axes, rescue personnel may feel constrained to use restraint when breaking glass to avoid injuries to people or property. 
     It is desirable that emergency personnel carry equipment to handle diverse situations. In order to diminish the load such people must carry, it is desirable to provide a single device to perform multiple tasks, thereby reducing the number of devices that must be carried. 
     Various multi-function emergency tools have been provided. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,657,543 discloses an emergency tool having a seatbelt cutting knife and a spring-loaded spike in a single tool. This tool is specifically designed for use during a car rescue. Rescue personnel can use the knife to cut a victim free from a seat belt. The tool also is designed to provide a glass breaking function. This device suffers a disadvantage in that in order to break glass, the user must compress and cock a glass-breaking spike. The device is placed against a glass pane and the user releases a trigger. Thereby the glass-breaking spike is propelled into the glass driven by a spring force. This tool is especially complicated to use for breaking multiple panes of glass in succession, as may be required if multiple car or house windows must be broken. An additional disadvantage is that the extra time required to load, cock, and trigger the device might hinder a rescue operation. 
     A multiple-use emergency escape tool is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,097,599. This tool combines a scissors with a retractable spike driver. The spike is initially loaded into a retraction member and held there under spring tension. In use, an exposed end of the spike is pressed against a window glass. Then, the driver is propelled by the spring force toward the spike. The force of the driver is transferred to the spike, causing an impulse onto the window glass. This device suffers a disadvantage in that the spike driver must be reset for each use of the tool. In an emergency situation, a user can be occupied with resetting the driver for each window to be broken, a task requiring time and some skill. 
     Another multiple-use tool is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,952,916. This tool has a light bulb housed in a main body for emitting warning light or for providing illumination as a flashlight. A percussion imparting member is mounted on the head of the signaling device adjacent the light bulb, which can be used for breaking glass. The percussion imparting member extends radially from the housing of the signaling device at a point near the light bulb. Thus, the head of the signaling device acts as a hammer for breaking a window glass. A disadvantage is that the percussion member extends from the head of the signaling device, so a user needs to use some skill to make sure the percussion imparting member squarely strikes the window glass while not injuring the light bulb or transparent lens window. By using the device as a glass hammer, the user risks damaging or ruining the light bulb, the filament in the light bulb, or breaking its lens. A further disadvantage of this device is that the head is an area of low mass concentration, because batteries tend to have a higher mass, and in this device are located away from the glass hammer. 
     Accordingly, there exists a need for an emergency tool having multiple capabilities that can break glass in an efficient manner. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention alleviates to a great extent the disadvantages of the known glass breaking devices by providing a multi-function emergency tool that efficiently breaks glass, while also providing illumination. In the preferred embodiment, a flashlight is provided which includes a housing having a lamp end and a rear distal end, and, typically, a gripping area therebetween. Batteries are preferably housed to the rear of the lamp end. A mounting area supporting a glass breaking member is provided on the housing at the rear end. 
     In a one embodiment, the mounting area is generally perpendicular to a length direction of the housing. In use for breaking glass, the flashlight is propelled rear-end first (i.e. in a length or axial direction) towards a target (i.e., a glass pane) so that the glass breaking element strikes the glass pane at an impact point. Furthermore, using this device, inertial energy of the flashlight and flashlight batteries is concentrated in the axial direction, assisting in propelling the glass breaker into the pane of glass. One of the advantages of the present invention is that the breaking force imparted in the length direction of the flashlight can be positively and relatively easily controlled by the user. In such a manner, the user is able to break a pane of glass in a relatively safe and controlled manner. 
     In another embodiment, the mounting area is transverse to the length direction. A glass breaking element is mounted, with a striking surface extending out one or both sides of the flashlight. In use for breaking glass, the flashlight is propelled rear-end first in a hammer-type motion towards a target (i.e., a glass pane) so that the glass breaking element strikes the glass pane at an impact point. Furthermore, using this device, inertial energy of the flashlight and flashlight batteries is concentrated in the direction of motion, assisting in propelling the glass breaker into the pane of glass. 
     An advantage of the present invention is that the inertial mass of the emergency device (i.e. flashlight) is concentrated at the striking surface. One way this is achieved is by placing the batteries in close proximity to the rear (i.e. distal) end of the flashlight, rather than displaced forward as in known spring loaded flashlights. In such a manner, the user is able to break a pane of glass in a relatively efficient and controlled manner. Moreover, the number of devices to be carried by emergency personnel can be reduced because an efficient glass breaking capability is provided on a flashlight, rendering a hammer or axe unnecessary in many applications. In addition, because the striking surface is at the far end of the device from the illumination source (light bulb), the potential for damage to the illumination source (including the bulb filament) is reduced. 
     These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be appreciated from review of the following detailed description of the invention, along with the accompanying figures in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an emergency flashlight made in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the emergency flashlight made in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view of the distal end of an emergency flashlight made in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view of a glass breaker for use in an emergency flashlight made in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view of a glass breaker for use in an emergency flashlight made in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is top view of an emergency flashlight made in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a side view of an emergency flashlight made in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a bottom view of an emergency flashlight made in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a view of the distal end of an emergency flashlight made in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional side view of an emergency flashlight made in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 11 is an exploded view of an emergency flashlight made in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 12 is an illustration of another emergency flashlight made in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 13 is an illustration of another emergency flashlight made in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an emergency flashlight made in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 15 is another perspective view of the emergency flashlight made in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 16 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view of the distal end of an emergency flashlight made in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 17 is top view of an emergency flashlight made in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 18 is a side view of an emergency flashlight made in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 19 is a bottom view of an emergency flashlight made in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 20 is a view of the distal end of an emergency flashlight made in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 21 is a side view of glass breakers for use in an emergency flashlight made in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 22 is an side cross-sectional view of glass breakers for use in an emergency flashlight made in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional side view of an emergency flashlight made in accordance with the present invention; and 
     FIG. 24 is an exploded view of an emergency flashlight made in accordance with the present invention; 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1,  2 ,  14  and  15 , an emergency tool  10  made in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is provided. It is preferred that the emergency tool  10  be a flashlight and for the remainder of this description the emergency tool will interchangeably be referred to as “flashlight  10 ” or “emergency flashlight  10 ”, although it should be appreciated that emergency tools other than flashlights may be equipped with the glass breaking and inertia concentrating apparatus of the present invention. 
     The emergency flashlight  10  generally comprises a housing  12  having a rearward (or distal) end  12   a  and a forward end  12   b  (also referred to as the lamp end). Optionally, housing  12  has various grip elements such as projections  92 , facets  94  and ribs  96 , which can help a user to grasp the housing in a grip area  13 . Any gripping configuration can be used in addition to those illustrated, although the gripping area  13  preferably is provided on the housing  12  between the lamp end  12   b  and the rearward end  12   a . The preferred embodiment of the emergency flashlight  10  provides the housing  12  in a generally cylindrical shape, although any other shape may be used. The housing  12  has an axis running in a length direction  21 , i.e., the axial direction. It also has an axis running in a transverse, or radial, direction  22 , which is perpendicular to the length direction  21 . An optional hinged clip  98  (illustrated for example in FIGS. 1 and 2) may be provided to facilitate attaching the emergency flashlight  10  to a user&#39;s belt or other clothing. As illustrated, the clip  98  includes a hinge receiving aperture  255  for mounting to the housing  12 , although any structure for securing to the housing may be used. In the illustrated embodiment, the aperture  255  receives post  260 , which in turn is mounted within apertures  265  in the housing  12 . Optional coil spring  270  is provided to bias the clip towards the housing  12 . 
     Alternatively, an optional cutting tool  150  (illustrated for example in FIGS. 15 and 25) may be provided, such as might be used to cut a seat belt trapping a victim. In the illustrated embodiment, the cutting tool  150  includes a cutting blade  155  that is shielded within guide surfaces  152 ,  153 . Preferably, the cutting blade  155  is retained in the housing of the flashlight such as by using spring clips engaging holes  156  on the cutting blade. In addition, the cutting blade  155  preferably has two cutting surfaces  157 ,  158 , allowing the cutting blade  155  to be reversed when one of the cutting surfaces becomes dull. In use, the user may grasp the flashlight in any fashion and engage a material (such as a seatbelt or other web) to be cut by guiding the cutting knife  150  using the guide surfaces  152 ,  153  to engage the material with the cutting blade  155 . Once the material is engaged, the flashlight may be pulled, thereby providing force for the cutting blade  155  to cut the material to be cut. For example, the user may pull from the front end  12   a  such as with the gripping assistant of grip surface  96 . It is noted that in a preferred embodiment, the cutting knife has a rounded top surface  159 . By providing such a surface without sharp edges, it is easier to insert the flashlight  10  in a pocket, without catching it on the pocket material. 
     Preferably both the cutting tool  150  and the clip  98  are removable, allowing a user to select the desired configuration of the flashlight  10 . 
     In an alternative embodiment illustrated in FIG. 25, a combined cutting tool and clip is provided. This combined cutter/clip is illustrated with reference number  250 . As illustrated, the combined cutter/clip  250  includes a hinge receiving aperture  255  for mounting to the housing  12 , although any structure for securing to the housing may be used. In the illustrated embodiment, the aperture  255  receives post  260 , which in turn is mounted within apertures  265  in the housing  12 . Optional coil spring  270  is provided to bias the clip towards the housing  12 . The combined cutter/clip  250  includes guide surfaces  152 ,  153  and cutting blade  155 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 6-9 and  17 - 20 , the rearward end  12   a  of the housing  12  is closed with a rear wall  25 . The rear wall  25  includes a mounting area  91  (or  191 ) receiving glass breaker  71 . The glass breaker  71  preferably includes at least one tip  79  for impacting and breaking glass. 
     In use, a user of the emergency flashlight  10  may hold the emergency flashlight  10  in any fashion, although the gripping area  13  is provided as a convenience. In such a manner, the user can conveniently position the lamp end  12   b  of the emergency flashlight  10  to illuminate in a forward direction. When the user desires to break a pane of glass, the user may continue to hold the flashlight (in any fashion), and propel the glass breaker  71  toward the window glass. When striking in this fashion, the inertial energy of the flashlight is concentrated at the distal end  12   a  by virtue of the concentration of mass at that end. The inertial energy transfers to the glass breaker  71 , including its impact tip  79 , when the glass breaker  71  hits the window pane. Because the user is securely grasping the housing  12 , the glass breaking motion can be accomplished in a safe, controlled manner. Further, the clip  98  and/or the cutting tool  150  and/or the combined clip/cutter  250  also can assist in keeping the user&#39;s hand away from the striking surface should the user&#39;s hand slip during a striking motion. In such a manner, the clip  98  or cutting tool  150  or combined clip/cutter will act as a stop tending to inhibit the user&#39;s hand from slipping toward the rear end of the housing  12 . It will be appreciated that any form of stop structure may also be provided that can serve to inhibit grip slippage in use. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1,  2  and  6 - 9 , the user can push the flashlight  10  in an axial direction, as indicated with arrow  21 . In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 14,  15  and  17 - 20 , the user can swing the rear portion of the flashlight  10  in a transverse direction so that the transversely mounted glass breaker  71  strikes a surface. This can be done with the user gripping the grip area  13  or alternatively the forward end  12   b , such as near or at grip surfaces  96 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 3,  4 , and  5  and  16 ,  21  and  22 , the glass breaker  71  will be described in more detail. The glass breaker  71  generally comprises at least one spike  73  preferably mounted with some form of a base structure  77 . A single spike system may be used as illustrated in FIGS. 3-5 or alternatively a dual spike system may be used as illustrated in FIGS. 16,  21  and  22 . The dual spike system is preferred, although it should be understood that the invention can be practiced using the single spike system as well. In one embodiment the spike  73  has a shaft portion  83  mounted to or integrally formed with a floor  89  of the base  77 . The shaft  83  can be any shape providing sufficient strength, although it is illustrated as being cylindrical. The shaft  83  extends from the floor  89 . The shaft  83  has a cone portion  81  that comes to a peak at tip  79 . It should be appreciated that any shape can be used and that a cone  81  and pointed tip  79  are for illustration purposes only. Other shapes that can serve to concentrate forces for impact may be used as well. 
     In the illustrated (and preferred) embodiment, the base  77  concentrically surrounds the shaft  83 . The base  77  has an extended annular shoulder  80  that rests on the mounting area  91  of the housing  12 . In such a manner, the shoulder  80  provides additional contact area and support for the glass breaker  71 . In the preferred embodiment, the base  77  has an inclined wall  78  extending between the shoulder  80  and an upper rim  84 . An inner wall  82  slopes from the rim  84  to the floor  89 . In such a manner, an annular recess  90  is defined between the inner wall  82  and the shaft  83 . 
     In the preferred embodiment the shaft  83  extends a short distance above the recess  90 . In such a manner, only a short segment of the shaft  83 , the conical portion  81 , and the tip  79  of the spike  73  extend beyond the base  77 . In such a manner, the base  77  acts to limit penetration of the spike  73  at the point of impact. Further, the rim  84  and the inclining side wall  78  act to assist in shattering a glass pane after the tip  79  and conical portion  81  have initially penetrated the glass. 
     As discussed above, it should be appreciated that other shapes may be substituted for the shaft  73 , conical portion  81 , and/or tip  79  while meeting the objectives of the invention. Dual tips  79  also may be provided. Further, it should be appreciated that any suitable size and shape of the base  77  can be used. 
     In the axially mounted embodiment a hole  74  is provided in the mounting area  91 . The hole an internal  74  has an internal countersink  72  for providing a shoulder  76 . A plug  75  is mounted with or integrally formed with the base  77 . The plug  75  has a first portion  85  and a second portion  87  with an annular groove  86  therebetween. The annular groove  86  receives a rubber o-ring  88 . The diameter of the hole  74  is set slightly larger than the diameter of the first portion  85 . In such a manner, the plug  75  is received into the hole  74  and pressed until the shoulder  80  bottoms with the mounting area  91 . The first portion  85  is sized such that the o-ring  88  is compressed as it is pressed through the hole  74 , until it is positioned in the countersink  72  and rests adjacent the shoulder  76 . In such a manner, the plug  75  is securely, but removably, retained in the hole  74 . 
     However, with sufficient force applied to the plug  75 , the o-ring  88  can be compressed and pass the shoulder  76 . For example, if a compressive force is built within the housing  12 , once sufficient pressure is built the internal compressive forces will cause ejection of the plug  75  from the housing  12 . Thereby the plug  75  and the glass breaker  71  act as a safety pressure release to release dangerous pressures, which could build inside the housing if, for example, a battery has a chemical malfunction. 
     In operation of the axially mounted embodiment, the glass breaker  71  provides for a controlled and safe breaking of glass and can serve as a pressure release for unsafe pressure accumulation within the housing  12  of the emergency flashlight  10 . 
     In operation, the glass breaker  71  provides for a controlled and safe breaking of glass and can serve as a pressure release for unsafe pressure accumulation within the housing  12  of the emergency flashlight  10 . 
     In the dual spike transversely mounted embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 14-24, a hole  174  is provided in the mounting area  191 . The hole  174  preferably has an internal countersink (not shown) for providing a shoulder (not shown). A post  175  extends inwardly from the cone  81 . The post  175  includes mounting element  186 , which is illustrated as an annular groove. When mounted within the mounting portion  191 , the annular groove  186  receives a rubber o-ring  88  so as to hold it in place. The diameter of the hole  174  is set slightly larger than the diameter of the post  175 . In such a manner, the post  175  is received into the hole  174  and pressed until the shoulder it is in place within the hole  174 , such as where the rubber o-ring  88  is received within the internal countersink hole  174 . 
     In the transversely mounted embodiment, the hole  174  preferably extends through the entire width of the rear end  12   a  of the flashlight  10 . Two glass breakers  71  are inserted into the hole  174 , with their respective tips  79 ,  79  extending from the two ends of the hole  174 . In this way, a dual spike system is created, with transverse mounting. The spikes may be individually mounted using the rubber o-rings  88  as described above. Alternatively (or additionally), they may be fixed within the hole with additional mechanical support, such as using an adhesive. Any form of adhesive may be used that will retain a glass breaker  71  within the hole  174  with sufficient adhesive force to retain the glass breaker  71  in place when used to strike a target object. 
     It should be appreciated that a glass breaker  71 , with two tips  79  at opposite ends may be used. Alternatively, glass breakers can be used and mounted so that their respective tips  79 ,  79  extend opposite one another out of opposite sides of hole  174 . In this embodiment, the glass breakers  71  optionally may be mounted or bound to one another. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 21, the rear sides  190 ,  190  of two adjacent spikes are lined up adjacent one another. An adhesive layer  195  is provided between the rear sides  190 ,  190  adhering them together. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 22, a mechanical bond can be provided, with the rear end  190  of one glass breaker  71  having a protruding member  210  and the rear end  190  of the other glass breaker  71  having a receiving surface  220  defining a receiving aperture. Optionally, the protruding member  210  and inside surface of receiving surface  220  may be threaded, affording further mechanical stability. It should be appreciated that any shape post  210  and receiving surface  220  may be provided so long as they sufficiently match one another to allow for mounting the two spikes together. In one embodiment, further mounting force is provided by furnishing an adhesive between the two glass breakers  71 , allowing them to be further adhered together via an adhesive layer  195 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 10 and 11, batteries  14 ,  16  and  18  are positioned in the housing  12 . The batteries  14 ,  16  and  18  are generally positioned adjacent the gripping area  13 , although they can be positioned anywhere within the apparatus. In addition, any number of batteries may be used as desired. The batteries  14 ,  16  and  18  in the illustrated embodiment represent a significant portion of the mass of the emergency flashlight  10 . Since the batteries are located adjacent the gripping area, the emergency flashlight  10  provides a user superior control of inertia generated while moving the flashlight. Therefore, a user is able to control the flashlight safely and accurately while propelling the glass breaker  71  toward a pane of glass. 
     Further, since the glass breaker  71  is mounted at the rear end  12   a , the inertial force assists in driving the glass breaker into the glass at the point of impact. Indeed, the batteries  14 ,  16  and  18  are serially aligned with the length direction  21 , thereby further concentrating inertia forces in the glass breaker  71  in the axially mounted glass breaker embodiment. 
     However, these same inertial forces generated in the length direction  21  could potentially damage one or more of the batteries  14 ,  16  and  18 . Indeed, such inertial forces could collapse the posts on one or more of the batteries  14 ,  16  and  18 , thereby causing the emergency flashlight  10  to malfunction as the flow of electrical energy could be disrupted. Typically, in known batteries the post portion tends to be a weaker portion of the battery structure. Damage to a battery may also lead to undesired chemical reactions causing caustic or other detrimental effects. Therefore, the preferred embodiment of the emergency flashlight  10  positions the batteries  14 ,  16  and  18  in a protective battery carrier  20 . 
     The protective battery carrier  20  has a front wall  46 , a rear wall  48 , and dividers  50  and  51 . In such a manner, the protective carrier  20  holds battery  14  in a compartment bounded by the front wall  46  and divider  50 , a second battery in another compartment bounded by the divider  50  and the divider  51 , and the third battery  18  in yet another compartment bounded by the divider  51  and rear wall  48 . The battery carrier, along with the front wall, intermediate walls  50  and  51 , and rear wall  48  are constructed from a rigid plastic material for providing superior impact resistance. Electrical conductivity is provided between compartments by conductive contacts  52  and  52   a . Conductivity at the rear end of the battery carrier  20  is provided by conductive contact  53 , while conductivity at the front end of the battery carrier  20  is provided by contact member  44 . Conductive member  43  provides electrical connection from the conductive contact  53  to the spring  42  at the front end of the housing  12 . 
     The lamp  24  is inserted into a socket assembly  22 . A metal rivet  40  is inserted into the socket assembly  22  for providing electrical contact to one terminal of the lamp  24 . The other terminal of the lamp is electrically connected to the reflector  26 , which is electrically connected to the spring  42 . When the threaded barrel  32  is threaded onto the housing  12 , the lamp and socket assembly  22  is drawn toward the battery carrier  20 . As the threaded barrel  32  is further threaded to the housing  12 , the spring  42  is compressed until the rivet  40  makes contact with the contact member  44 . Thereby as the threaded barrel  32  is threaded on to the housing  12 , an electrical circuit is created between the batteries  14 ,  16  and  18  and the lamp  24 . Thereby the lamp  24  is illuminated and in association with reflector  26  provides illuminating light through the lamp end of the emergency flashlight  10 . 
     As shown in FIG. 10, to further reduce the risk of damaging batteries  14 ,  16  and  18  during an impact motion, the battery carrier  20  is securely held against the rear wall  25  of the housing  12  by the spring tension from spring  42 . By having the protective battery carrier  20  bottomed against the rear wall  25  of the housing  12 , internal battery and battery compartment movement is minimized at the time of impact. In such a manner, the risk of damaging internal components of the flashlight and the batteries is minimized. 
     Although the preferred embodiment shows the use of three C batteries serially aligned, those skilled in the art will recognize other numbers and configurations of batteries may be used while retaining the spirit of this invention. 
     An alternative embodiment of an emergency flashlight in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in FIG.  12 . Emergency flashlight  100  has a lamp end  102  and a distal end  104 . A gripping area  106  is provided between the lamp end  102  and the distal end  104 . The emergency flashlight  100  generally comprises a housing  108  in a cylindrical shape. Batteries (not shown) are aligned within the housing  108  in a length direction  110 . A spike mount  112  is provided on the circumference of the housing  108  adjacent to the distal end  104 . The spike mount  112  has a retractable spike  120  that can be extended in the length direction to extend beyond a back wall  122  of the housing  108 . A locking lever  124  locks the spike  120  either in an extended position as shown, or in a retracted position (not shown). When extended, the spike  120  extends generally perpendicularly from the back wall  122  in the length direction  110 . 
     As with the embodiment discussed previously, pertaining to emergency flashlight  10 , the embodiment of emergency flashlight  100  can be used to break glass with a stabbing or jabbing motion that propels the spike  120  into a pane of glass. Similar to emergency flashlight  10 , inertial forces of the batteries are directed along the length direction  110  and assist in propelling the spike  120  into the glass pane. Further, the rear wall  122  of the housing  108  acts to limit the depth that the spike can penetrate and further assists in shattering the glass after penetration by the glass spike. 
     FIG. 13 shows another embodiment of the present invention, illustrated as emergency flashlight  130 . Emergency flashlight  130  has a gripping handle  132  which couples to battery housing  134 , and is positioned between a rear wall  138  and a lamp end  144 . Battery housing  134  can hold a plurality of smaller batteries, or may be configured to hold a single large battery. Emergency flashlight  130  has a housing that may be rectangularity shaped, but still has a length direction  136 . The rear wall  138  of the battery housing  134  has a mounting area  140 , which is perpendicular to the length direction  136 . A glass breaking spike  142  is mounted to the mounting area  140 . The glass breaking spike  142  is like glass breaking spike  71 , discussed earlier. The glass-breaking spike  142  may be adhered with an adhesive to the mounting surface  140 , or attached via a plug as with emergency flashlight  10 . In use, a user propels the flashlight in the length direction so that the glass breaker  142  impacts a pane of glass. In such a manner, the inertia of the battery and flashlight are used to assist in driving the glass breaker  142  into and through the pane of glass. 
     The glass breaker  71 ,  120 , and  142  are milled from hardened steel in the preferred embodiment. Such a material is used as penetrating tempered glass requires a highly rigid material. However, any other material and manufacturing technique may be used that can achieve a desired shape and strength for glass breaking. For example the glass breaker can be manufactured using alternative techniques such as molding. 
     The glass breaker  71 ,  120 , and  142  are preferably constructed with integral plug members. The plug members facilitate the removal of the glass breaker from the housing, for example, for repair or replacement. Further, as described above, the integral plugs acts as a safety release for excessive accumulations of pressure within the housing of the emergency flashlight, in the axially mounted embodiment. 
     One skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be practiced by other than the preferred embodiments which are presented in this description for purposes of illustration and not of limitation, and the present invention is limited only by the claims which follow. It is noted that equivalents for the particular embodiments discussed in this description may practice the invention as well.