GB2282905A

GB2282905A - Personal protection device

Info

Publication number: GB2282905A
Application number: GB9321458A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Keith Edward Perry Griffiths
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-10-18
Filing date: 1993-10-18
Publication date: 1995-04-19
Also published as: GB9321458D0

Abstract

A handle 11 for attachment to means to be carried, e.g. briefcase 10, comprises a trigger 23 and means for producing an alarm sound or for projecting a noxious substance when the trigger is actuated. The apparatus may be operated by a gas bottle of propellant contained within portion 14 of the handle. The latter can also be attached to an umbrella or walking stick. <IMAGE>

Description

PERSONAL PROTECTION DEVICE The present invention relates to a personal protection device.

If a person is attacked it can be difficult to summon assistance.

Solutions to this problem have been proposed including a personal alarm which, when a trigger is pressed, will create a shrieking sound. The apparatus may be electrical or may commonly be operated by means of a gas bottle or bottle of propellant.

Whilst useful in many circumstances, the difficulty with such an arrangement, however, is that the alarm is often kept in a ladies handbag or in a pocket and may not be readily available for use.

Clearly attacks on persons are fairly rare and it would be inconvenient to carry the alarm apparatus around in one's hand continuously.

Another problem with personal alarms is that they do not physically stop an attacker.

According to a first aspect the present invention provides a handle which includes a personal protection apparatus and may form part of or be attached to, for example, luggage in the form of a briefcase or to a walking stick, (a situation which would be particularly useful for older people,) or an umbrella.

The handle incorporates a trigger and either means for producing an alarm sound or means for projecting a noxious substance (such as a dye or so-called "pepper gas").

The means for producing the alarm sound or projection means may preferably be operated by a gas bottle or a bottle of propellant. In the case of the alarm, the gas vibrates a diaphragm.

In a convenient arrangement the handle is moulded, in which case the mould may be formed of several parts. For ease of manufacture the part of the mould for moulding the handle part may be common to different embodiments.

In a preferred arrangement the handle part itself may be adapted to mount the gas or propellant bottle and the trigger may also be incorporated in the handle part and may include a latch which, one the trigger has been moved to the on position, maintains the trigger in that position.

According to a further aspect, the invention provides a personal protection apparatus comprising means to be grasped by a hand including means to mount a gas bottle or bottle of propellant including a dye or noxious substance, and trigger means to release the dye or noxious substance.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention comprising a briefcase handle, Figure 2 is a side view of the handle of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a side view of a trigger and alarm member for use in the handle of Figure 1, Figure 4 is a detailed horizontal cross section of part of the trigger and alarm of Figure 3, Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view of a latching mechanism for the trigger and alarm shown in the first position, Figure 6 is a view corresponding to Figure 5 with the mechanism in a second position, Figure 7 is a side view of a second embodiment of the invention comprising a handle for an umbrella, Figure 8 is a detailed part-sectional view of part of the embodiment of Figure 7, Figure 9 is a side view partly in section, of a third embodiment of the invention comprising a handle for a walking stick, Figure 10 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the invention comprising a briefcase handle, Figure ii is a side view of an internal member for use in the handle of Figure 10, Figure 12 is a side view of a fifth embodiment of the invention comprising a handle for an umbrella, Figure 13 is a side view, partly in section, of a sixth embodiment of the invention comprising a handle for a walking stick, and Figure 14 is a side view of a seventh embodiment of the invention.

Referring to Figure 1 there is shown part of the top of a briefcase 10 of standard construction and a handle 11 pivotally connected to the top of the briefcase 10 by means of two brackets 12 mounted on the top surface of the case 10. As is clear from Figure 2 the brackets 121 are connected to cylindrical connecting lugs 13 attached to the handle 11.

The handle 11 comprises a top handle portion 14 which is gripped by the hand of the person carrying the briefcase 10 and two leg portions 16,17 to which the connecting lugs 13 are attached. The handle 11 is moulded from plastics material.

The top handle portion 14 is of hollow construction, a central generally circular bore 15 passing along the length of the portion 14 and being closed (at the right hand end in Figure 1) by a slidable cover 21. At the left hand end of the handle portion 14 there is provided a trigger mechanism 22. The trigger mechanism 22 includes a trigger 23 (shown in more detail in Figures 3 and 4) which protrudes through a suitable aperture 24 in the top surface of the handle portion 14. There are also provided on each side of the handle portion 14 adjacent the trigger mechanism 22 three holes 26 the purpose of which will become clear later.

In use, mounted within the bore 15 in the interior of the hollow top handle portion 14 is a cylindrical bottle 30 containing gas under pressure or a propellant, that is a liquid which when under pressure within the bottle 30 remains liquid but when released from the bottle 30 to atmospheric pressure becomes gas. Such bottles are well known and are generally cylindrical having a flat bottom which in this case abuts the slidable cover 21 and a valve mechanism at the opposite end which valve mechanism will engage the trigger 23.

Figure 3 shows a side view of the trigger 23 and the valve mechanism of the gas bottle.

The valve mechanism includes a tube 25, axial movement of which opens the valve to release gas from the bottle 30 through the tube 25. The tube 25 is engageable in a bore 27 in the trigger 23, a shoulder 28 engaging the end of the tube 25 and a further bore 29 extending from the end of the bore 27 adjacent the shoulder 28 so as to allow passage of the gas released by the bottle 30 via the tube 25.

Referring now to Figure 4 which is a partial horizontal section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3, the bore 29 communicates with an annular chamber 31 in the trigger 23. A cylindrical wall 32 defines the inner surface of the annular chamber 31. The lower edge (in Figure 4) of this cylindrical wall 32 defines a circular lip 33. A flexible diaphragm 34 is mounted within the trigger 23 by means of an annular ring 36 engaged in a cylindrical bore 37 coaxial with the cylindrical wall 32, the diaphragm 34 extending across one side (a front surface 38) of the ring 36. The plane of the front surface 38 is parallel to but is slightly higher (in Figure 4) than the plane of the lip 33 so that the diaphragm 34 is held in tension to seal with the circular lip 33.

The open side of the bore 37 and the open side of the bore 39 communicate with the holes 26 previously described.

In operation if a person holding the case 10 by means of the handle 11 wishes to raise an alarm, the trigger 23 is pulled by means of a gripping surface 25 horizontally to the right in Figure 2 which opens the valve in the gas or propellant bottle so that gas passes along the bore 29 under pressure into the annular chamber 31 and escapes by forcing the diaphragm away from its sealing engagement with the circular lip 33. This of course reduces the pressure and the diaphragm then vibrates back and forth into engagement with the circular lip 33, this motion producing a piercing sound which is transmitted out through the holes 26.

A latching mechanism is incorporated in the trigger mechanism in that once the trigger has been operated by sliding to the right in Figure 2 it cannot readily be released. Thus, even if the case is taken from the person raising the alarm, the piercing noise will continue to be produced. This latching mechanism will now be described with reference to Figures 5 and 6.

Referring to Figure 5 there is shown a side view of the trigger 23 which generally corresponds to Figure 3. Attached to the front edge of the trigger 23 is a latch plate 40, the top edge of which extends to the top surface of the trigger 23 and carries serrations corresponding to the serrations on the gripping surface 25. The latch plate 40 has oppositely disposed lugs 41 which are slidably engaged in slots 42 in the trigger 23. The lower edge of the latch plate 40 abuts a forwardly disposed toe 43 of the trigger 23. Figures 5 and 6 also illustrate the shape of the inside surface 45 of the top handle portion 14 and as is clear, in the configuration shown in Figure 5 in which the trigger 23 is in its normal "off" position a forwardly extending toe 44 on the upper edge of the latch plate 40 extends under a shoulder 46 of the top handle portion 14.

When the trigger 23 is withdrawn to a very small extent the apparatus is set into operation as previously described (i.e. gas leaves the bottle 30 to make the alarm sound) and so long as the toe 43 does not disengage under the shoulder 48 then release of the trigger will cause the trigger 23 to return to the left in Figure 5 which will stop the release of the valve mechanism on the gas bottle. Hence, this small movement of the trigger 23 can be used to provide an alarm signal which is under the direct control of the operator.

However further movement of the trigger 23 to the right in Figure 5 moves the trigger to the position shown in Figure 6 in which the toe 43 is disengaged from the shoulder 48. This causes the trigger 23 to move upwardly under the action of springs 50 disposed between the latch plate 40 and trigger 23. Hence the is lifted so that the top edge of the latch plate 40 is above the shoulder 46. This is shown in Figure 6 and release of the trigger 23 in this position does not allow the trigger to return to the position shown in Figure 5 since the latch plate 40 will engage with the shoulder 46. Thus the latch holds trigger 23 in the position shown in Figure 6.

To release the trigger 23 it is necessary to physically push down the latch plate 40 which in view of its narrow width is not easily carried out in a hurry.

Although the handle as described can be fitted as original equipment to briefcases or other types of cases it is also intended that it should be supplied as a replacement handle for existing cases and a variety of alternative arrangements of connecting lugs 13 may be provided.

The mould for the handle 11 comprises several parts and is arranged so that separate parts mould the top handle portion 14 and the two leg portions 16,17.

Changing the mould of the leg portions allows different embodiments to be moulded using a common mould portion to mould the top handle portion.

Referring to Figures 7 and 8 there is shown an alternative handle 50 having a top handle portion 14 identical to that shown in Figures 1 to 6. The handle 50 is intended to fit onto an umbrella and in place of the leg portion 17 there is provided a simple finishing moulding 51.

In place of the leg portion 16 there is a leg portion 52 which is adapted to be engageable with the shaft of an umbrella. Figure 8 shows a part sectional view of the leg portion 52. Figure 8 shows that the leg portion 52 has a central bore 53 which is engageable with the shaft 59 of an umbrella after the existing umbrella handle has been detached or cut off. The central bore 53 has a tapered inner end so as to be engageable with different diameters of umbrella shaft 59.

The lower outer surface of the leg portion 52 includes a threaded portion 54 which is engageable with an internally threaded nut 56.

Between the nut 56 and the leg portion 52-there is provided a washer 57 of low friction material such as nylon and a compressible washer 58 in the form of an .0.. ring of, for example neoprene or rubber.

In operation the nut 56, washer 57 and compressible washer 58 are threaded onto the thread 54 and an umbrella shaft 59 is inserted into the central bore 53 until it engages with the tapered inner end thereof. The nut 56 is then tightened onto the thread 54 which compresses the compressible washer 58 so that it is urged into engagement around the shaft 59 of the umbrellas to retain the shaft of the umbrella. The washer 57 allows for rotation of the nut relative to the washer 58 during this compression.

In this way the advantages of an audible alarm can be applied to an umbrella handle.

A third embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figure 9. In this case a handle 60 is provided for attachment to a walking stick.

The handle 60 incorporates a top handle portion 14 identical to that of Figure 1 and a finishing moulding 51 identical to that in Figure 7.

However the leg portion 16 is replaced by a leg portion 61 of moulded plastic having a central bore 62 with flutes 63 of or? plastic extending radially inwardly from the surface of the central bore 62.

To attach the handle 60 to a walking stick 64, it is necessary to cut off the existing handle of the walking stick, make the diameter of the top part of the walking stick 64 identical to the diameter of the central bore 62 and then to force the handle 62 on to the top of the shaft of the walking stick. The central bore slightly reduces from its outer end towards its inner end so as to grip the walking stock as do the flutes 63. There is also provided through the top surface of the leg portion 61 a screw hole 65 so that, with the trigger mechanism 22 removed or slid to the right a screw may be inserted so as to integrally engage the handle 60 with the top of the walking stock shaft.

Figure 10 shows a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the invention. As will be clear in general terms the appearance of the fourth embodiment of the invention is similar to that of the embodiment shown in Figure 1.

However, in the fourth embodiment, in place of plain gas in the gas bottle, there is provided so-called pepper gas". This is a gas which includes natural products derived from oleo resin of Capsicum (capsicum is the name applied to tropical plant commonly known as Cayenne pepper). A nozzle 100 is provided for the pepper gas outlet.

Figure 11 shows the construction of the internal part which corresponds to the trigger and alarm member 23 of Figure 3. The alarm mechanism (which includes for example the flexible diaphragm 34 of Figure 3) is not present in this arrangement but the bore 29 is extended so as to pass right through the trigger 23 and to align with the outlet 100.

The trigger mechanism of Figures 3 and 4 has been modified. The trigger 23 continues to protrude through a suitable aperture 24 in the top surface of the handle portion 14. However, the trigger 23 is now in two parts, the outer part being of the same overall shape as the trigger 23 of Figure 3 and including a central bore 101. Mounted within this central bore 101 is a tubular part 102 having a nozzle output 103 which engages in the outlet 100. A shoulder 104 in the end of the tubular member 102 engages with the outlet of the gas tube 25 so that gas can pass from the bottle 30 through the central bore 101 to the outlet 100.

In use, operating the trigger 23 will cause a jet (which may be shaped by the various orifices) of pepper gas which can be directed at an assailant. The spray when sprayed in the face of an attacker causes the eyes to swell shut. The mucous membranes swell to restrict breathing and this takes place substantially instantaneously. The effect on the eyes tends to last for about 10 minutes and breathing is impaired for up to 30 minutes. These effectively prevents the attacker from resuming aggressive behaviour.

We prefer to use this noxious gas rather than the more common formulations of Mace (RTM) and tear gas because these other chemical irritants are effective only if the attacker can feel pain. If the attacker is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they may be less effective. Furthermore, the so-called pepper gas" is effective against animals such as dogs.

In other respects, the arrangement of Figure 10 may be substantially identical to Figure 1 except that it may be preferred not to incorporate the latch mechanism.

Referring now to Figure 12, there is shown an umbrella handle which is similar to the arrangement of Figure 7, except that once again it incorporates a pepper gas or other noxious substance canister and an outlet 100 is provided for the jet of noxious gas.

Figure 13 is similar to Figure 9 but once again provides a walking stick handle similar to Figure 9 but once again the gas canister contains a noxious substance and the trigger mechanism is modified as in Figure 11 to provide a stream of noxious gas such as pepper gas.

The arrangement of Figure 14 shows a simple hand-held gas squirting apparatus which is generally similar to the other embodiments of Figures 10 to 13 except that it is not adapted to act a briefcase handle or umbrella handle or walking stick handle, but as a simple hand-held component for use as a personal protector. It includes a hand-held casing in which is mounted the canister of noxious gas, and includes a trigger of the type shown in Figure 11 with an outlet 100.

In place of, or in addition to a noxious gas, a dye may be used to suitably mark an assailant.

Claims

1. A handle for attachment to means to mean s be carried comprising a trigger and means for producing an alarm sound or means for projecting a pious substance.

2. A handle as claimed in clam I wherein the means for producing the alarm sound or projection means is operated by a gas bottle.

3. A handle as claimed in claim 1 therein the means for producing the alarm sound or projecting means is operated by a bottle of propel lant.

4. A handle as claimed in claim 2 or 3 in which there is provided means for producing an alarm sound, said alarm sound producing means being operated by gas or propellant vibrating a diaphragm.

5. A handle as claimed in claim 1 in which the.handle is moulded and is formed of several Parts 5. A handle as claimed in claim 1 in which the trigger includes a latch which, once the trigger has been moved to the "on" position maintains the trigger in that position.

7, A personal protection apparatus comprising weans to be grasped by a hand including means to mount a gas bottle or bottle propellant including a dye or noxious substance, and trigger means te release the die or noxious substance.