Abstract:
This invention is characterized by its appearance as a bracelet or a wrist watch, for example. The distinctive features of this device are its micro size, stealth-ness, and light weight. The object of this invention is to a provide state-of-the-art personal protection in two forms, a firearm and a knife, both of which are totally concealable even if the wearer is not wearing clothes. They are both instantly available and easily deployed to protect oneself from an imminent threat.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application filed on Feb. 18, 2016 and assigned Application No. 62/296683, which is incorporated herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In today&#39;s society, attacks by weapon-carrying perpetrators against individuals are not uncommon. Moreover, sexual assaults by males against often physically weaker females are unfortunately commonplace. One need only read the latest news stories or watch a broadcast news show. In addition to the increase in attacks against individuals, terroristic actions against gathered groups of people, such as at sporting or entertainment events, nightclubs, and movie theaters have increased. As well, armed robberies of convenience stores and similar establishments continue to be problematic. Further, individuals engaging in various athletic or sporting activities may not be wearing apparel that is suitable for concealing a weapon, for example, jogging or bicycle shorts and a T-shirt; or, the activity in which they are engaged may prevent their easy access to a weapon, for example, mountain climbing or bicycling. Today we all tend to be at least a little anxious that we may be the next victim of an assault in one form or another. 
         [0003]    According to certain experts in the law enforcement field, the increased level of specific acts of violence may be effectively thwarted, deterred or discouraged by carrying and using, if needed, a concealed weapon against the attacker. One&#39;s level of anxiety may be reduced and consequently, their enjoyment of life enhanced by carrying a device for use in defending one&#39;s person in the event of an attack by another or others. 
         [0004]    There are many circumstances where it is desirable or necessary for a person to carry an article in complete concealment on his or her person. Articles such as passports, money, jewelry, or other valuables may be carried in concealment by a person, because concealed items are more likely to be untouched if a conventional carrying device such as a purse or wallet is stolen. Handguns are often carried in concealment by law enforcement officers and others who are authorized or licensed to do so, and it is often desirable to carry “concealed” weapons in complete concealment on the wearer&#39;s body. The concept of complete concealment, in the context of concealed weapons, means that the weapon will continue to not be visible to a casual observer even when the wearer removes an article of clothing, such as a coat or other outer garment 
         [0005]    Most states have concealed weapon laws that prohibit the carrying of a weapon that is concealed or otherwise disguised from public view without a concealed weapon permit. However, even when lawful to carry a concealed weapon, under a garment or in a bag, for example, the user/wearer will likely find it cumbersome and time consuming to gain quick access to a defensive weapon, remove the weapon from its carry-location, and be in a position to commence using it to defend oneself from an attacker. Additionally, the user/wearer must ensure that he/she has carefully withdrawn the weapon from its concealed location and properly gripped it. The weapon must also be properly stowed to insure against an accidental firing. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0006]    The skilled artisan will understand that the drawings, as described below, are for illustration purposes only. The drawings are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way. Several of the Figures are block diagrams that depict the components necessary for the operation of the invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  illustrates a cut-away top view of a bracelet-encased firearm device constructed according to the teachings of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  illustrates a “ready” condition for the firearm of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  illustrates a double-coil embodiment of a weapon or firearm constructed according to the teachings of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  illustrates an alternative embodiment of a weapon or firearm according to the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate different embodiments of a helical spring for use in different embodiments of the weapon of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate different embodiments of a coil spring for use in different embodiments of the weapon of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  illustrates a front view of a dual barreled weapon. 
           [0014]      FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C , illustrate respective top, cut-away, and bottom views of the dual barreled weapon of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0015]      FIGS. 11 and 12  illustrates a safety cover, in closed and open positions, for use with a firearm of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIGS. 13A and 13B  illustrate two views of a dual barrel weapon disposed within an ornamental item. 
           [0017]      FIG. 14  is a sectional view of a wrist band for use with a weapon of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 15  illustrates a jewelry item in which a firearm according to one of the embodiments of the present invention has been embedded. 
           [0019]      FIGS. 16, 17 and 18  illustrate embodiments of the present invention for firing different sized rounds. 
           [0020]      FIG. 19  illustrates an insignia disposed on a decorative cover of a jewelry item for carrying a weapon of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIGS. 20 and 21  illustrate a wrist-worn time piece carrying a firearm according to the teachings of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIGS. 22 and 23  illustrate different views of an embodiment of the present invention comprising both a firearm and a blade embedded in a wearable item. 
           [0023]      FIG. 24  illustrates a cut away view with a blade in a retracted position. 
           [0024]      FIG. 25  illustrates a cut away view of an embodiment comprising both a blade and a firearm. 
           [0025]      FIGS. 26 and 27  illustrate a bottom view and a rear view of the blade embodiment. 
           [0026]      FIG. 28  illustrates the blade as deployed from a wearable item. 
           [0027]      FIG. 29  illustrates a side view of the compartment layers of an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0028]    Before describing in detail the particular methods and apparatuses related to a weapon embedded in a wearable item, it should be observed that the present invention resides primarily in a novel and non-obvious combination of elements and process steps. So as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, certain conventional elements and steps have been presented with lesser detail, while the drawings and the specification describe in greater detail other elements and steps pertinent to understanding the inventions. 
         [0029]    The presented embodiments are not intended to define limits as to the structures, elements or methods of the inventions, but only to provide exemplary constructions. The embodiments are permissive rather than mandatory and illustrative rather than exhaustive. 
         [0030]    The present invention overcomes the disadvantages described above by both making the weapon readily and easily useable for defense against an attacker, and concealing the weapon in a wearable item, worn on the person, including both men and women; while, at the same time, “softening,” the otherwise utilitarian appearance of a firearm by adding a fashion element or enhancement, or jewelry application. As used herein the term “weapon” refers to a firearm or a blade or any other instrument or device intended to be used by a person in an attack or for defensive purposes. 
         [0031]    In one embodiment, the wearable item comprises a jewelry item a bracelet or wrist watch, for example. When concealed in the bracelet or wrist watch the weapon is not discernable until a lid or top cover is opened or lifted from its resting place, or a pin is activated, thereby making the weapon immediately ready for defensive action against an attacker. 
         [0032]    Both men and women may have occasion or proclivity to wear an item of jewelry or other ornamental-type adornment about their body. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a defensive weapon may be effectively concealed in certain items of jewelry and/or bracelets and be immediately ready for defensive action against an attacker. 
         [0033]    Thus, the present invention relates generally to an article, a jewelry or fashion item or decorative wristband, for example, carried by or on the person with a defensive device, e.g., a bullet discharging device and or knife embedded therein. According to one embodiment, the defensive device is concealed within the article and cannot be visualized until a lid, cover or top-like component is removed or lifted from its resting place or a pin is activated. 
         [0034]      FIG. 1  illustrates a cut-away top view of a bracelet-encased firearm device (“the device”)  8  comprising an ornamental item  10  and bracelet or wristband  11 . A firearm device  12  is embedded and concealed within the ornamental item  10  (more generally embedded and concealed within an enclosure). When activated by a user, a bullet  14  is ejected from a barrel  16 . 
         [0035]    The bullet  14  is encased within a shell  15 . A rear surface of the shell  15  comprises a charge within a shell  17 . 
         [0036]    A side view of  FIG. 2  illustrates a “ready ”condition for the firearm  12 . A coil  20  (or a spring-like component) is shown in a biased or cocked condition, applying a force to a rear surface of a firing pin  22 . 
         [0037]    A spring or coil  30  urges a firing pin lock  32  upwardly within a U-shaped support  34  to retain the firing pin  22  in the “ready” configuration against the force exerted on it by the coil  20 . 
         [0038]    To fire the weapon, first a primer safety component  36  is displaced from contact with a rear surface of the shell  17  by applying a force against a primer safety handle  38  to move the handle and thus the primer safety toward an edge of the weapon  12 . This action exposes the shell  17 . 
         [0039]    Depressing a trigger  39  lowers the firing pin lock  32  within the support  34 , releasing the coil  20  from its biased condition, driving the firing pin  22  forward to strike the shell  17  to eject the bullet  14  from the barrel  16 . 
         [0040]    To place the weapon  12  in a firing-ready condition a firing pin slider  40  is moved within a groove  42  in a direction away from the barrel  16 . This action biases the coil  20  and causes the spring  30  to force the firing pin lock  32  upwardly. As best illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the firing pin lock  32  prevents the firing pin  22  from moving forward until the trigger  39  is depressed. 
         [0041]    Returning to the top view of  FIG. 1 , certain components of the weapon  12 , as discussed in conjunction with  FIG. 2  are illustrated. All of the components are conveniently compact to fit within the ornamental item  10 . The coil  20  generates sufficient force to drive the firing pin  22  forward to strike the charge  17  to eject the bullet  14  from the barrel  16 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 3  illustrates a double-coil embodiment comprising two coils  20 A and  20 B that exert a greater force on the firing pin  22  than the single-coil embodiment of Figures one and two. The force exerted by the two-coil embodiment also tends to be more symmetrical relative to a centerline of the weapon. 
         [0043]      FIG. 4  illustrates an embodiment comprising the coil  20  and a helical spring  60  for exerting a force on the firing pin  22 . 
         [0044]      FIGS. 5 and 6  depict different embodiments of a helical spring  62  and  63  for use in the different embodiments of the weapon of the present invention, should the force exerted by the coils  64  and  66 , depicted in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , respectively, need to be increased or augmented to eject the bullet. 
         [0045]      FIGS. 7 and 8  depict different embodiments of a coil  64  and  66  for use in the weapon of the present invention as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , replacing the coil  20 . 
         [0046]    Returning to  FIG. 2 , a laser  70 , powered by a battery  72 , emits a laser beam  73  through an opening  74  in the body of the ornamental item  10  as depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0047]    Use of the laser beam provides more accurate aiming at a target for the user. Conductors  76  supply power from the battery  72  to the laser  70 . In one embodiment, the laser turns on when the user opens the safety cover  120  as depicted in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . In another embodiment the laser turns on when the user depresses a laser on-off manual activator  153 , as depicted in  FIG. 10A . 
         [0048]      FIG. 9  illustrates a front view of a dual barreled weapon version  80  comprising coils  30 , primer safeties  38 , firing pins  22 , etc. as described elsewhere herein. A common firing pin lock  32  and common trigger  39  are also illustrated. Since each barrel in  FIG. 9  includes a primer safety  38 , a bullet from each barrel can be fired simultaneously (by removing both primer safeties) or individually (by removing only one primer safety). 
         [0049]      FIGS. 10A, 10B and 10C , illustrate respective top, cut-away, and bottom views of the dual barreled weapon of  FIG. 9 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 10A  illustrates the primer safeties  38 , the firing pin sliders  40  and the common trigger  39 , as well as lines indicating the travel direction for each, and the laser on-off manual activator  153 . 
         [0051]      FIG. 10B  illustrates the cut-away top view depicting barrels  90  and  91 . 
         [0052]      FIG. 10C  is a bottom view depicting a battery cover  100  for closing a compartment in which the battery  72  is contained or disposed. A loading zone cover  102 , when opened, reveals the barrels  90  and  91  each for receiving a bullet  16 . 
         [0053]      FIG. 11  illustrates a safety cover  120 , connected to the firearm device through a spring-loaded hinge  122 , in a closed position. The primer safeties  38  and the common trigger  39  are illustrated in phantom as they are obscured by the safety cover  120 . Flaps  124  extending from the safety cover  120  conceal the weapons barrels. 
         [0054]      FIG. 12  illustrates the safety cover  120  in an opened position, revealing the firing pin slider  40 , as well as the primer safeties  38  and the common trigger  39 . The firing pins  22 , which are concentric with the barrels  90  and  91 , as depicted in  FIG. 10B  are also illustrated. 
         [0055]      FIGS. 13A and 13B  illustrate two views of the dual barrel weapon  80  disposed within an ornamental item  130  attached to a wrist band  132 . 
         [0056]      FIG. 14  is a sectional view of the wrist band  132  illustrating a layer of shock-absorbing gel  136  embedded within the wrist band as illustrated. In another embodiment the shock-absorbing gel  136  comprises a liner layer as depicted in  FIG. 13A . In either embodiment, the shock-absorbing gel absorbs shock forces that are generated when the weapon is fired and minimizes forces from being transmitted to the arm of the user/wearer. 
         [0057]      FIG. 15  illustrates a jewelry item  140  comprising the dual barrel weapon  80  disposed in the ornamental item  130  attached to the wrist band  132  worn by a user. In particular,  FIG. 15  depicts the orientation for the jewelry item  140  relative to a shirt sleeve  150  extending out from a jacket sleeve  152 . In particular, the safety cover  120  opens in a direction toward the shirt sleeve  150  and jacket sleeve  152 . When fired, the bullets exit the dual barrel weapon  80  in a direction substantially perpendicular to the wearer&#39;s arm. 
         [0058]      FIG. 16  illustrates a relatively square-shaped embodiment of the present invention for firing  22  caliber short rounds. 
         [0059]      FIGS. 17 and 18  illustrate rectangular-shaped embodiments for firing, respectively  25  caliber hollow point bullet and a 9 mm caliber hollow point bullet. 
         [0060]      FIG. 19  illustrates one design insignia disposed on a decorative cover  170  which serves as the safety cover  120 , as shown in  FIG. 15 , for example. As those skilled in the jewelry design art are aware, there exist many different insignias, types of metal, jewels, etc. that can be used as a design element for the decorative cover  170  of the invention. 
         [0061]    In  FIG. 20  a decorative cover  172  comprises a time piece.  FIG. 21  is a cut-away view of an ornamental item, according to any of the various embodiments of the invention, showing the firearm components of the weapon. 
         [0062]    In the exemplary commercial embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 19 and 20  the visible decorative safety cover conceals the weapon and its components, especially the barrel(s). The safety cover can be adorned on its outer side with different insignias, types of metals, jewels, etc. Located beneath the decorative safety cover are the operational components of the device which are exposed when the decorative safety cover is opened. Opening the safety cover reveals the user controls (e.g., trigger, primer safety and firing pin slider) for operating the weapon. 
         [0063]    In a preferred embodiment, the weapon of the present invention further comprises a blade that is concealed within the ornamental item  10  and when activated by the user extends perpendicular outwardly therefrom. 
         [0064]      FIG. 22  is a cut-away view of a blade compartment in which the blade and its associated components are located;  FIG. 23  is a side view of the blade compartment.  FIGS. 22 and 23  depict an embodiment wherein only the blade and associated components are present in an ornamental item, i.e., the firearm is not present. 
         [0065]    In  FIG. 22  a blade  200  is shown in a retracted position concealed within the blade compartment  201  of the ornamental item  10 . A rear end  200 A of the blade  200  is supported within a U-shaped support member  204 . 
         [0066]    The blade  200  is withdrawn into the retracted position from an exposed position by applying a rearward-directed force (relative to the blade tip) to a slider  240  as depicted in  FIG. 26 . The slider is attached to the support member  204  and moves within a groove area  205 . As the support member  204  is moved rearward, spring leafs  212 A,  212 B,  213 A, and  213 B of respective coils  212  and  213  are placed in a biased or cocked condition. A center region  212 C and  213 C of each respective coil  212  and  213  is fixed in location by action of respective fasteners  216  and  217  thereby permitting biasing of the spring leafs. 
         [0067]    As can best be seen in  FIG. 24 , when the blade  200  is placed in the ready or cocked orientation, a blade lock bar  226  is urged upwardly by action of a spring  228  to contact a ledge  204 A. The blade lock bar  226  retains the blade  200  in the cocked orientation. 
         [0068]    To eject the blade  200  from its concealed, retracted position, a downward directed force is applied to release pins  230  (see especially  FIG. 22 ) extending outwardly from two sides of the blade compartment  201 . This force moves the blade lock bar  226  downwardly and releases the blade  200 . The potential energy stored within the coils  212  and  213 , as depicted in  FIG. 22 , is released to drive the blade out of the blade compartment  201  and out of the ornamental item  10  as depicted in  FIG. 28 . 
         [0069]    As the blade  200  travels outward from its concealed position, a notch  204 B defined in the support member  204  also moves outward as depicted in  FIG. 24 . The blade lock bar  226 , by action of the spring  228 , slides into the notch  204 B as it reaches the blade lock bar. This action stops outward travel of the blade  200  and holds the blade in this extended position. The blade  200  is now in position to be used against an attacker. To retract the blade the user must remove or loosen the ornamental item  10  from the wrist; lower the release pins  230  with a downward force, and while moving the slider  240  in the opposite direction of the blade tip, lock the blade in place behind the blade lock bar  226 . 
         [0070]    According to another embodiment depicted in  FIG. 25 , an ornamental item  10  includes both a firearm (housed in a firearm compartment) and a blade (housed in a blade compartment). 
         [0071]    As illustrated in  FIG. 25 , the blade compartment (containing the blade-associated components as seen in  FIG. 22 ) is disposed below the firearm compartment (containing the firearm-associated components as seen in  FIG. 2 ) when the ornamental item  10  is worn by the user. 
         [0072]      FIG. 26  is a bottom view of the embodiment of the blade compartment and  FIG. 27  a rear view of the embodiment of the blade compartment. In this embodiment a blade compartment would be positioned closest to the wearer&#39;s skin and serves as the bottom of the ornamental item  10  and the firearm compartment is positioned above it as depicted in  FIG. 25 . A slider handle  240  for use in retracting the blade travels within a groove  242 . The user must remove or loosen the ornamental item  10  to gain access to the slider handle  240 . A loading zone cover  243 A and  243 B, when opened, reveals the barrels  90  and  91  each for receiving a bullet  16 . 
         [0073]      FIG. 29  depicts a simple view of the compartment layers of the embodiment of the ornamental item  10 , which includes the safety cover  120  as depicted in  FIG. 2 , the firearm  12  as depicted in  FIG. 2 , the blade compartment  201  as depicted in  FIG. 22  and the wrist band  132  as depicted in  FIG. 15 . 
         [0074]    Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to a certain preferred embodiment or embodiments, equivalent alterations and modifications may occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. In particular regard to the various functions performed by the above described components (assemblies, devices, circuits, etc.), the terms used to describe such components are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any component that performs the specified function of the described component (i.e., that is functionally equivalent), even though not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure, which performs the function in the herein illustrated exemplary embodiments of the invention. In addition, while a particular feature of the invention may have been disclosed with respect to only one of several embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other embodiments as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application.