Patent Publication Number: US-9851184-B2

Title: Personal defense accessory for a mobile communications device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Divisional Application of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/210,407, filed Mar. 13, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,541,352, issued Jan. 10, 2017, and though which claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/782,857, filed Mar. 14, 2013, the disclosures of both of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     This invention relates in general to personal defense and mobile communication devices. 
     One kind of known personal defense device is the electroshock weapon. Generally, an electroshock weapon is a device that incapacitates a person by administering electric shock. One type of electroshock weapon includes projectiles tethered by thin flexible wire that deliver a shock from a power source disposed in a main housing. Another type of electroshock weapon includes electrodes disposed in the housing for shock by direct contact. Examples of such weapons include stun guns and stun batons. 
     Generally, however, most people do not carry a weapon on their person at all times while away from home. If an armed attacker confronts such a person, the person may be at a serious disadvantage. 
     A large number of people do, however, often carry a mobile communications device, such a mobile phone or cellular phone, a smart phone, PDA or other portable personal communications device. These devices generally allow a user free mobility while using the device. When not in use, a user typically keeps the device in his or her pocket, handbag, or holster. This way, the device may be readily available should the individual need to use the device. 
     While useful for keeping in contact with people, or other communication, while not at home, a mobile communication device is not especially advantageous for defending oneself if the situation should arise. In such a situation, such a device may principally be used to contact help. However, this generally requires that the potential victim to ward off his or her attacker long enough to initiate such contact with the device. 
     SUMMARY 
     This invention relates to a personal defense system. The personal defense system includes a mobile communications device with an electrical port and a central processing unit. The personal defense system also includes a personal defense accessory with a main housing attached to the mobile communications device. The personal defense accessory has a pair of electrodes disposed in the main housing, a controller disposed with the main housing an connected to the pair of electrodes to deliver a stun rated shock, and an electrical port disposed in the main housing and connected to the electrical port in the mobile communications device for transmission of data between the controller and the central processing unit. The central processing unit runs a software application to either control, monitor, or control and monitor a state of the personal defense accessory. 
     The software application may be configured to output data to a display of the mobile communications device regarding the state of the personal defense accessory. 
     The mobile communications device may further includes a battery to provide the power for the stun rated shock through the electrical ports. 
     The personal defense accessory may further includes a battery disposed in the main housing to provide the power for the stun rated shock. 
     The central processing unit and the controller transmit and receive data through the electrical ports. 
     The personal defense accessory further includes a trigger disposed in the main housing and connected to the controller for activating the stun rated shock. 
     The personal defense accessory further includes a battery disposed with the main housing and connected to the controller to provide the power for the stun rated shock. 
     The software application may be responsive to the actuation of stun rated shock to perform at least one communication operation with the mobile communications device. 
     Various aspects will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of mobile communication personal defense system. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of another mobile communication personal defense system. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the mobile communication personal defense system of  FIG. 2  with the personal defense accessory dethatched. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of yet another mobile communication personal defense system. 
         FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 4  with the mobile communication device removed. 
         FIG. 6  is a rotated perspective view of the personal defense accessory of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram of a further mobile communication personal defense system. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an additional mobile communication personal defense system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in  FIG. 1-8  various embodiments of a personal defense system  102 . Like reference numerals in various drawings designate similar or corresponding parts throughout the several views. However, the inclusion of like elements in different views does not mean a given embodiment necessarily includes such elements or that all embodiments include such elements. 
     The personal defense system  102  includes a mobile communications device  104  and a personal defense accessory  106 . The mobile communications device  104  may be a mobile phone or cellular phone, a smart phone, a personal data assistant (PDA) or other portable personal communications device. The mobile communication device  104   
     The mobile communications device  104  includes at least a first electrical port  107  and may include an optional second electrical port  108 . The electrical ports  107  and  108  may each be configured for data transfer, power transfer or booth as desired. The mobile communications device  104  also includes a display  110  and a user interface  112 , which may or may not be integrated together. 
     The mobile communications device  104  further includes a central processing unit  114  for operation of the mobile communications device  104 . The mobile communications device  104  also includes a power source, such as a battery  116  to power the mobile communications device  104 . 
     The mobile communications device  104  may also include a Global Positioning System (GPS) module  118  for the determination of location, and a communication module  120  to enable communications on the mobile communications device  104 . 
     Additionally, the mobile communications device  104  may also include personal defense software  122 , as will be further described below. 
     The personal defense accessory  106  has a main housing  124  which is configured to be attached to the mobile communications device  104 . The personal defense accessory  106  has a controller  126  disposed with the main housing  124 . The personal defense accessory  106  may includes an optional self contained power source, such as a battery  127 , disposed within the main housing  124 . A pair of electrodes  128  disposed in the main housing  124  and are connected to the controller  126  to deliver a stun rated shock from a power source, such as the battery  127 , or as will otherwise be discussed below. The personal defense accessory  106  may also include an optional trigger  130  to actuate the delivery of the stun rated shock. However, it must be understood that any suitable actuation mechanism may be utilized. 
     The personal defense accessory  106  includes at least a first electrical port  132  and may include an optional second electrical port  134  disposed in the main housing  124  The electrical ports  132  and  134  may each be configured for data transfer, power transfer or booth as desired. The electrical ports  132  and  134  of the personal defense accessory  106  are connected respectively to the electrical ports  107  and  108  of the mobile communications device  104  for transmission of data between the controller  126  and the central processing unit  114 . The central processing unit  114  may run the personal defense software  122  to either control, monitor, or control and monitor a state of the personal defense accessory  106 . 
     The personal defense software  122  may be configured to output data to the display  110  of the mobile communications device  104  regarding the state of the personal defense accessory  106 . The personal defense software  122  may be responsive to the actuation of stun rated shock to perform at least one communication operation with the mobile communications device  104 , such as place an emergency phone call, make an emergency text or send an emergency email, or any other suitable communication operation. 
     The battery  116  of the mobile communications device  104  may provide the power for the stun rated shock through the electrical ports  107 ,  108 ,  132 , and  134 . 
     The main housing  124  may also form a case  136  defining a recess  138  to house the mobile communications device  104 . The case  136  may be formed of resiliently deformable material, such as an elastomeric rubber or silicone rubber, to fit around the mobile communications device  104 , Alternatively the case  136  may be generally rigid and fit around the mobile communications deice  104  in fixable pieces, such as with a snap interface  140 . It must be understood that the preceding examples are merely illustrative and not intended to be limiting. Any suitable configuration of the case  136  may be used so as to house the mobile communications device  104 . 
     In various embodiments, the personal defense software  122  may discharge, charge, make safe, or provide other additional services related to the personal defense accessory  106 . 
     In various embodiments, the personal defense accessory  106  may be activated by the trigger  130  or the personal defense software  122 . 
     In various embodiments, the personal defense accessory  106  may utilize power from an internal power source, such as the battery  127  of the personal defense accessory  106 , and/or may utilize power from an external source, such as the battery  116  of the mobile communications device  104 . 
     In various embodiments, the personal defense accessory  106  may include a wireless communication unit  129  configured for wireless data transfer through at least one mode of wireless communication such as but not limited to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or any other mode suitable for communication for electronic data transfer. Using the wireless communication unit  129  the personal defense accessory  106  may wirelessly communicate with a mobile communications device  104  equipped with a wireless communication unit  115  capable wireless data transfer through the same wireless communication mode as the personal defense accessory  106 . 
     In various embodiments, the personal defense accessory  106  may be integrated with a mobile peripheral device or user input device  105  such as a wireless keyboard or other peripheral device suitable for user input with a mobile communication device  104 . The mobile peripheral device  105  may contain a wireless communication unit  129  configured for wireless data transfer through at least one mode of wireless communication such as but not limited to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or any other mode suitable for communication for electronic data transfer. Using the wireless communication unit  129  the personal defense accessory  106  may wirelessly communicate with a mobile communications device  104  equipped with a wireless communication unit  115  capable wireless data transfer through the same wireless communication mode as the personal defense accessory  106 . 
     In various embodiments, the mobile peripheral device with integrated personal defense accessory  111  may be indirectly attached to the mobile communication device  104  via an accessory designed to hold both the mobile communications device  104  and the mobile peripheral device with integrated personal defense accessory  111 . The mobile peripheral device with integrated personal defense accessory  111  indirectly attached in the aforementioned manner may be wirelessly connected to the mobile communication device  104 . 
     The personal defense accessory  106  may be integrated into an accessory such as a wallet, or purse. The personal defense accessory  106  may be indirectly attached to the mobile communication device  104  via a compartment designed to hold the mobile communications device  104 . The compartment may be a sleeve, holster or holder. The personal defense accessory  106  indirectly attached in the aforementioned manner may be wirelessly connected to the mobile communication device  104 . 
     While principles and modes of operation have been explained and illustrated with regard to particular embodiments, it must be understood, however, that this may be practiced otherwise than as specifically explained and illustrated without departing from its spirit or scope.