Patent Document

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of co-pending provisional application Ser. No. 60/546,294 in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 119(e). 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates to rings used in personal defense during physical attack comprising a retractable blade.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Police officers and other law enforcement officials are commonly exposed to violent members of the public. Whether arresting a violent criminal or making a seemingly harmless road side stop, police officers are increasingly under a threat that the person they encounter will attempt to take their side arm by force. An officer who loses that struggle is left at the mercy of the perpetrator. Typically an officer has his hand on or near the handle of his side arm when he approaches a suspect for ease and quickness of deploying his side arm and to protect the side arm from being acquired by the suspect. As is often the case, the suspect will lunge quickly forward and grab the officer&#39;s hand or wrist that is protecting the weapon. The officer is left trying to fend off the attack with one free hand while covering the side arm with his gun hand. There exists a need for an easily concealed simple weapon which can be conveniently deployed with little effort and which when used effectively causes the perpetrator to think about his or her own protection during such struggles. The usefulness of these weapons extends beyond the situation described above. For example, it is anticipated that such weapons would be useful in situations involving sexual assault, robbery, or other instances involving personal physical attack.  
         [0004]     Rings which can be worn on the hands of a user and which can be employed for self defense purposes are known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,888,214 describes a self defense ring assembly comprising a pair of rings integrally joined together and receivable on two juxtaposed fingers of a user. A center portion which connects the two rings includes a hollow interior which houses a manually retractable blade. Another self defense ring which uses a sharpened blade is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,432. The top of this ring has a movable crown member with an elongate slot formed therein. A sharpened blade is arranged within the slot and mounted therein by first and second pin members. First and second pin members also pivot the blade from a retracted position to an open extended position when crown is moved. The blade extends upward from the top of the ring when the blade is open and exposed.  
         [0005]     Each of the above-described self defense rings provide some degree of defense capability; however, there are notable characteristics inherent in the designs that reduce the defense potential and/or safety of the weapon. For example, problems have been observed with the accessibility of the release mechanisms, which often require unnecessary and wasteful motion on the part of the wearer to deploy the blade. Another problem is that blades that are left exposed to any degree when retracted cause safety concerns for the wearer and others. Blades positioned on the posterior part or “back” of the hand or finger have proven cumbersome to use effectively when under attack. Finally, blades that cannot be locked in a deployed state may result in untimely retraction and a certain amount of give to the blade when external pressure is applied leading to diminished defensive effectiveness.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention relates to a self defense ring that is comfortable and aesthetically pleasing, with greatly improved defensive potential. The present invention addresses the problems set forth above by providing a ring adapted to be worn on a single finger, preferably the little finger of either hand. The self defense ring has a top and a base. The base may have at least an outer face, an inner face, and a bottom face. The ring is worn similarly to ordinary ornamental rings, but when worn properly, the base is positioned beneath the little finger and the top rests on top of the little finger. The base of the present invention may be equipped with a retractable blade that when deployed extends away from the other fingers of the same hand. Preferably, the fully deployed blade extends in the opposite direction from the ring finger of the same hand.  
         [0007]     In one embodiment of the invention, the base may contain a retractable blade housing mounted therein. A blade is slidably mounted within the retractable blade housing enclosing said blade therein when the blade is in a closed position. In this embodiment, the outer face of the base has a slot, which allows the blade to pass freely through when the blade is either being deployed or retracted. The retractable blade housing, in this embodiment also has a locking lever assembly, which through its interaction with the blade, both deploys the blade and also locks the blade in open and/or closed positions. A lever press is positioned on the face of the base nearest the ring finger of the same hand, known as the inner face and therefore is conveniently accessible to the thumb of the same hand.  
         [0008]     The present invention may also be equipped with a safety to prevent accidental deployment of the retractable blade. In one embodiment, the safety is a rotating safety lever positioned and mounted to the top of the lever press. When the safety lever is open, a cylindrical pivot on the lever press&#39;s upper surface may engage a slot positioned on the ring&#39;s surface above the lever press when the lever press is pressed upward. In an alternative embodiment, the safety is a slide lever also mounted to the lever press.  
         [0009]     In another embodiment of the present invention, the retractable blade may be a side-swinging design. In this embodiment, when in a closed position, the retractable blade lies against the ring&#39;s surface at the ring&#39;s base. The blade is mounted to the ring at a pivot point on the ring&#39;s surface. The blade pivots about the pivot point rotating the blade approximately 180 degrees to an open or closed position depending on its starting position. This retractable blade configuration may additionally have a retractable pin or bearing embedded within the surface of the ring. When the blade is open, the pin or bearing engages an aperture on the blade to secure the blade and effectively hold the blade in an open position.  
         [0010]     In order to stabilize the ring and avoid rotation of the ring about the little finger when the ring is being used in self defense, the ring may be equipped with a recessed area on the side nearest the ring finger. The ring is stabilized through the application of pressure by the ring finger on recessed area when the wearer clinches his fist. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:  
         [0012]      FIG. 1A -B depicts a ring in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  illustrates the individual components of the retractable blade housing and retractable blade in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a magnified overhead view of the retractable blade housing with the retractable blade locked in a fully deployed position in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 4A -B illustrates an alternative embodiment of the self defense ring, including one embodiment of the safety assembly;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5A -B depicts a ring equipped with a slide lever safety in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 6A -B depicts a ring equipped with a rotating safety lever in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 7A -C illustrates an alternative embodiment of the self defense ring retractable blade. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]     The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, these inventions may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.  
         [0020]     A ring  10  in accordance with one embodiment of the invention is depicted in  FIG. 1 . The ring is generally designed to be worn on the little finger of either hand. The basic components of the ring generally are a top  11  and a base  12 . The base of the present invention is generally equipped with a retractable blade  13  that when deployed or open, extends away from the other fingers of the same hand. The base  12  generally contains at least three faces, an inner face  14 , an outer face  15 , and a bottom face  16 . The bottom face  16  and the outer face  15  are best illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The inner face  14  is oriented such that the face points generally in the direction of the thumb of the same hand and is therefore accessible to interaction with the thumb. The outer face  15  is oriented such that the face points generally away from the fingers of the same hand.  
         [0021]     The ring  10  generally has a central longitudinal axis extending through the center point of said ring from the top  11  down through the base  12  of ring  10 . Generally, the retractable blade  13  of the present invention, when fully deployed, extends away from the other fingers of the same hand, and is further preferably positioned at an angle of about 45 to about 135 degrees relative to the central longitudinal axis of the ring. Preferably the fully deployed blade is positioned at an angle of about 60 to about 120 degrees relative to the central longitudinal axis of the ring. Most preferably the fully deployed blade is positioned at an angle of about 90 degrees relative to the central longitudinal axis of the of the ring  10 . The choice of blade angle may be influenced by a number of factors, including blade design and/or retraction mechanism implemented.  
         [0022]     In one embodiment, the base  12  is partially composed of a retractable blade housing  17  mounted within base  12 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 . The retractable blade housing  17  may be an insert, which fits inside base  12  of ring  10  as illustrated in  FIG. 4  or retractable blade housing may be a component of the base with one side of the housing forming one of the sides of base  12  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-2 . In this embodiment, the retractable blade housing  17  has two primary components, a sleeve  18  which cradles the blade and allows the blade to slide freely therein and a locking lever assembly  19  which engages the sleeve to form the housing  17 . The sleeve  18  has a groove  20  that engages a ridge  33  located on one side of retractable blade  13 . Groove  20  is best illustrated in  FIG. 4  and ridge  33  is best illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . The blade is allowed to slide along the path dictated by the direction and the dimensions of groove  20 . Sleeve  18  contains two vertical slots, slots  23 A  23 B, respectively on one of its sides. Slots  23 A,B engage complementary structures on the locking lever assembly  19  in order to form a complete retractable blade housing. The sleeve additionally contains horizontal slot  23 C on its inner side  24 . The locking lever assembly  19  generally has two detents  25 A and  25 B, a stop  26  and a lever press  27 . Detents  25 A and B engage vertical slots  23 A and B, respectively, on sleeve  16  to form housing  13 , but the contact is such that slight upward and downward movement may occur therein. Lever press  27  engages horizontal slot  23 C. Similarly, the contact between lever press  27  and slot  23 C is such that slight upward and downward movement may occur therein. Stop  26  has a pivot point  28 , which is defined by an aperture  29 . Aperture  29  receives assembly pin  30 . The contact between assembly pin  30  and aperture  29  both secures the retractable blade housing in place and allows for pivot motion of locking lever assembly  19 .  
         [0023]     The retractable blade  13  generally has a blade  31 , and a base  32 . See  FIG. 2 . The blade  13  generally can be any design and shape. For example, suitable blade designs include hawksbill, a standard knife, or a straight blade. The blade  31  may be any suitable length as long as the blade is not exposed when fully retracted and as long as the defensive potential of the weapon is not severely limited. For example, the blade  31  may be about 1.0 inch to about 0.10 inch long. Preferably the blade is about 0.20 to about 0.90 inches in length. Even more preferable is a blade that is about 0.30 to about 0.80 inches in length.  
         [0024]     In the embodiment described above, the base  32  of the blade has a ridge  33  on one of its sides, which as already discussed, engages groove  20  located on sleeve  18 . On the opposite side of the base from the ridge is a detent  34 . Raising lever press  27  causes the locking lever assembly  19  to pivot about pivot point  28  lifting detents  25 A and B in vertical slots  23 A and  23 B, respectively. By lifting detents  25 A and B, detent  34  on the blade is allowed to slide beneath thereby allowing the retractable blade  13  to move freely within housing  17 . The blade emerges from outer face  15  through slot  49 , which is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . As base  32  slides forward within retractable blade housing  17  along groove  20 , detent  34  engages stop  26 , preventing blade  13  from sliding out of housing  17 . The retractable blade is now in an open position. By lowering lever press  27 , forward detent  25 A prevents detent  34  from rearward movement, thus locking the retractable blade  13  in an open position.  FIG. 3  illustrates a retractable blade housing  17  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention with the retractable blade  13  locked in the open position. Retractable blade  13  is locked in a closed position in a similar manner. When retractable blade is slid to its most extreme rearward position, by lowering lever press  27 , rear detent  25 B prevents detent  34  from forward movement, thus locking the retractable blade  13  in a closed position.  
         [0025]     The retractable blade housing  13  may additionally contain a spring  35  lying between rear surface of sleeve  18  and rear surface of the base  32  of the blade  13 , as illustrated by  FIGS. 2-4 . When blade  13  is in a cocked position, spring  35  is coiled and loaded. Raising lever press  27  releases the retractable blade and spring  35  forces blade  13  open. The retractable blade housing may further contain locking spring  36 , which applies downward vertical force to the lever press  27  (illustrated by  FIGS. 2-4 ) thereby placing the locking lever assembly  19  in a locked position preventing retractable blade from moving within housing  13 . Locking spring  36  may be a coiled spring such as the one depicted in  FIGS. 2 and 3  or may be a flat spring  54  such as the one depicted in  FIG. 4 . Other types of springs may also be used and are well known in the art.  
         [0026]     A safety may be included in the present invention to prevent inadvertent or unintentional deployment of the retractable blade. In one embodiment, the safety is in the form of a rotating safety lever  37  positioned and mounted to the top of lever press  27  at pivot  38 . This embodiment is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . In this embodiment, pivot  38  is in the shape of a cylinder. When the safety is activated, lever  37  is positioned between lever press  27  and upper surface  39  of ring  10 , thus preventing upward movement of lever press  27  and inadvertent deployment of the blade. In order to inactivate the safety, lateral pressure is applied to safety lever  37  at one end rotating safety lever about pivot  38 . Directly above pivot  38  on upper surface  39  is a slot  40 . When the lever has been rotated and safety inactivated, lever press  27  may then be pressed upward. As lever press moves in this direction, pivot  38  fits within slot  40  of upper surface  39 . In an alternative embodiment, the safety is a slide lever design. This embodiment is illustrated in  FIGS. 4-5 . Slide lever  41  is slidably mounted to lever press  27 . Slide lever  41  contains a detent  42  which engages a complementary slot  43  embedded within the surface  44  of ring  10  above the slide lever. When the safety is inactivated, detent  42  aligned with slot  43  allowing upward movement of lever press  27 . When lateral pressure is exerted on slide lever  41 , the slide lever moves along a defined path until detent  42  is no longer aligned with slot  43 . At this point, lever press  27  is prevented from upward movement by the ring surface.  
         [0027]     In alternative embodiment of the present invention, the retractable blade is a side-swinging design as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . In this embodiment, the blade is not housed within the base, as with the previously described embodiment, but is positioned external the base. In this embodiment, when in a closed position, the retractable blade is in contact with surface A of base  12 , which is recessed for protection of the user. As retractable blade  13  opens it pivots about pivot point  45 . Pivot point  45  may be defined by a screw or pin  46 , which secures the blade to the surface of the ring and allows the blade to rotate about a fixed axis to effectively open and close the blade by rotating the blade around approximately 180 degrees. This retractable blade configuration may also have a locking mechanism which prevents the blade from retracting when in an open position or deploying when in a closed position. In one embodiment, blade  13  may be secured in place by a retractable pin or bearing  47  embedded within the surface of the ring. When blade  13  is deployed, bearing  47  engages aperture  48  on blade  13  securing the blade in place The ring of the present invention may also be equipped with a structure that stabilizes the ring and prevents rotation of the ring about the finger when the weapon is being used. In one embodiment, the ring  10  possesses a recessed surface  49  on the side of ring  10  nearest the ring finger of the user, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Recessed surface  49  allows the ring to fit comfortably against the ring finger while effectively stabilizing the ring and preventing the ring from spinning about the little finger. The ring is stabilized through the application of pressure by the ring finger on recessed surface  49  when the wearer clinches his fist. Other variants of stabilizing structures are also contemplated and useful for the intended purpose of preventing ring rotation about the little finger. For example, a double ring design similar to that described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,214 could also be used for stability.  
         [0028]     Because it is desirable to cock a sharpened retractable blade without touching it in order to prevent possible injury caused by accidental laceration, the ring may additionally have a cock mechanism. In one embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the underside of base  12  has a slide lever  50  which is slidably mounted to the underside of base  12  by pin of screw  51 . Pin  51  extends through a slot  52  extending lengthwise down the underside of base  12 , into another slot extending lengthwise down the underside of sleeve  18  and into an aperture  53  on the bottom of blade base  32 . When retractable blade  13  is in its open position and the wearer desires to cock the blade, the wearer may first push lever press  27  upward to unlock the blade  13  and subsequently apply lateral pressure to slide lever  50  thereby moving retractable blade  13  to a cocked position. Once retractable blade  13  is cocked, lever press  27  may be released and the safety may be activated to prevent accidental deployment.  
         [0029]     The present ring and ring blade can be constructed from a variety of different materials, including metals, metal alloys, plastics, plastic polymers, or other suitably strong materials. For example, the ring blade may be constructed from stainless steel or titanium, however, other suitable metals or metal alloys are envisioned and may be used for the purposes of this invention.  
         [0030]     Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that the modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

Technology Category: b