Patent Publication Number: US-4060372-A

Title: Self-defense apparatus comprising flashcube light source

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a self-defense apparatus. More particularly this invention concerns a device for temporarily incapacitating a person without permanently injuring him or her. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In recent times devices have been provided for self-defense which serve to temporarily incapacitate a would-be robber or other attacker. The best known and most commonly used such device is a simple tear-gas gun which is very effective at close range for blinding an attacker. The chief disadvantage of this arrangement is that it is effective only at very close range and occasionally poses a hazard for the user when the fumes blow back over him or her. Furthermore accidental discharge of this device in a pocket or pocketbook can be extremely inconvenient. 
     Other devices such as blank pistols, devices which can administer an electric shock and the like, are also known. All of these devices have shown themselves to be virtually useless in practice and to pose more danger for the user than for the person against whom they are likely to be used. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved self-defense apparatus. 
     Another object is the provision of such an apparatus presenting no danger whatsoever for the user but being effective for temporarily incapacitating the person against whom it is used. 
     Yet another object is the provision of such a device which is very simple and can be produced at low cost. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     These objects are attained according to the present invention in a device having a housing in which there is provided a light source capable of generating a flash of light of an intensity to temporarily blind a person. Means is provided on the housing for igniting the light source and causing it to generate at least one such flash. 
     In accordance with features of this invention the housing is provided with a reflector adjacent the source which directs the flash in a general direction away from the housing. The means for igniting the light source includes a button on the back of the housing that is readily actuatable for the user to direct it for temporarily blinding an attacker or would-be mugger with a burst of light. 
     According to other features of this invention the light source is a nonbattery-type mechanically actuated flash cube whose four photolamps can be lit either simultaneously or individually. It is also possible in accordance with this invention to use a stroboscope-type arrangement with its own battery. 
     According to yet another feature of this invention the units, which adapted to be held in the hand, is provided with a safety arrangement that prevents its premature actuation. This arrangement can be a cap that has to be removed to expose the operating button, a lever that must be swung out of the way to expose the button, or a pin that must be removed in order to allow the device to be actuated. 
     The system according to the present invention can be made at extremely low cost, and can be kept for years before being used, being instantly actuatable at any time. It is capable of emitting an extremely strong blinding flash that will temporarily completely disconcert any attacker or would-be mugger and allow the person using it to escape or summon aid. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     The above and other objects, features, and advantages will become readily apparent from the following, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of the apparatus in accordance with this invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a section through the apparatus shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a bottom view of an apparatus in accordance with this invention; and 
     FIG. 4 is a section similar to FIG. 2, illustrating another self-defense apparatus in accordance with the invention. 
    
    
     SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION 
     The apparatus according to the present invention as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has a housing 1 formed as a body of revolution (i.e. an axially symmetrical body) and defining a closed chamber 2. The front of the housing 1 is covered by a transparent synthetic-resin lens 3 of part-spherical shape, and the adjacent wall part 4 of the housing is provided internally with an annular frustoconical mirror 5 at an angle of 45° to the axis A of revolution of the housing 1. Below this portion 4 the housing has reduced-diameter neck 6 and flares out at 7 so that the user may hold the arrangement between two fingers with the lens 3 pointing away from the user. 
     The housing has at portions 6 and 7 an open end 8 covered by an end plate 9. A washer 10 is secured in a groove 11 formed at the bottom end of the housing and the inner wall 12 of the housing at the opening 8 is formed with a round-bottom groove 13 in which an O-ring 14 lies. This O-ring 14 lies in a groove formed in the ring 10 and is pressable into the groove 13 by means of four tighteners 15 received in bores 17 in the element 10. Rotation of these elements 15 presses the ring 14 into the groove 13 and secures the element 10 tightly in place inside the open end 8 of the housing 1. 
     The annular element 10 defines a space 19 and has an axially backwardly extending rim 20. The plate 9 has a central portion 21 formed with a hole 22 into which fits the base pin 23 of a nonbattery flash cube 25 having four identical photoflash lamps such as are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,540,818, 3,540,819 and 3,540,820. A button 26 normally urged away from the flash cube 25 by a leaf spring 27 has four arms 29 terminating in four ends 28 engageable through the envelope 30 of flash cube 25 and with respective actuation wires thereof. A protective cover cap 31 is force-fitted over the rim 9 and readily removable to uncover the end of the operation button 26 and allow the user to press same. 
     When the button 26 is depressed it will simultaneously fire all four of the photolamps 24 and cause light to be emitted as indicated by arrows 32 so as to form a bright bundle 33 of light that is directed outwardly away from the user and in the general direction of axis A of rotation of the housing 1. 
     It is also possible as shown in FIG. 3 to provide a four-part button having segments 26a-26d which are individually operable to individually fire the photolamp 24. 
     FIG. 4 shows an arrangement having a housing 1&#39; provided internally with a stroboscope-type photolamp 35 mounted on a power supply 36 provided with a battery 37 and a switch 38. This switch 38 is operable by a button 26&#39; comparable to button 26. In addition the bottom of the housing is provided with a swingable cover 39 held in place by a pin 40 that can be removed so as to allow swinging back of this cover and actuation of the button 26&#39;. In such an arrangement it is possible to achieve literally hundreds of flashes with the same battery prior to replacement thereof.