Defense band and method of self-defense

• US 20030172436A1
• Filed: 03/15/2002
• Published: 09/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Greg Thompson
• Original Assignee: Greg Thompson
• Inventors: Thompson, Greg
• Granted Patent: US 6,687,916 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 2/170
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/0007 Bracelets specially adapted for other functions or with means for attaching other articles
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 15/00 Weapons not otherwise provided for , e.g. nunchakus, throwing knives
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 33/002 Slings for carrying longguns, e.g. straps attachment of slings F41C23/02; shooting harnesses F41C33/001

Abstract

A band, including an extendable loop and worn around a user'"'"'s arm, is used to apply a compressive force to an attacker'"'"'s neck in self-defense. When the user positions the hand associated with the band against one side of the neck and grasps the extendable loop from the other side of the neck with the other hand, the user'"'"'s arms become interconnected. This traps the attacker'"'"'s neck between the user'"'"'s interconnected arms and the extendable loop, and allows the user to apply a compressive force to the attacker'"'"'s neck by simply extending the interconnected arms. The compressive force constricts the flow of blood in the carotid arteries that eventually incapacitate the attacker.

Claims

1. A combination wristband and defense device comprising:

a wristband having first and second end portions and an intermediate portion;

a releasable fastener having a first part and a second part, wherein the first part is attached to the second end portion, and wherein the second part is attached to the intermediate portion and engagable with the first part to secure the wristband to a users wrist;

wherein the second end portion folds back against the intermediate portion of the wristband such that the first and second parts of the releasable fastener engage; and

a loop formed in the second end portion sized to receive at least one human digit.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising a first ring attached to the first end portion wherein the second end portion passes through the first ring.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the loop is formed by folding the second end portion back against itself and securing a terminal end of the second end portion to the wristband.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the loop is formed by a longitudinal slit in the wristband.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the loop is formed by a strap having a first end secured adjacent a terminal end of the second end portion and a second end secured adjacent the intermediate portion.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the releasable fastener is a hook and loop fastener.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the releasable fastener is a snap fastener.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the wristband is comprised of at least two segments.

9. The device of claim 8 further comprising a second ring joining two adjacent segments of the wristband such that a transverse slot exists between the segments when the segments are attached to the second ring.

10. The device of claim 9 further comprising a secondary strap attached to the wristband for mounting a timepiece to the wristband.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the secondary strap includes a fixed end and a free end, and wherein the fixed end is secured to the first end portion of the wristband, and wherein the free end is adapted to pass through the transverse slot in the second ring and fasten to the intermediate portion of the wristband.

12. A self-defense device allowing a user to apply a compressive force, the device comprising:

a band securable to the user'"'"'s first arm;

an extendable loop secured to the band and adapted to receive at least a portion of a hand on the other arm; and

wherein when the user places a first hand of the first arm on one side of the attacker'"'"'s neck and grasps the extendable loop with at least a portion of the other hand from the opposing side of the attacker'"'"'s neck thereby trapping the attacker'"'"'s neck between the user'"'"'s interconnected arms and the extended loop, the user can apply a compressive force by pivoting the user'"'"'s arms while maintaining a grasp on the extendable loop.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein the extendable loop is formed by folding a portion of the band back against itself and securing a terminal end of the portion to the band.

14. The device of claim 12 wherein the loop is formed by a longitudinal slit in the band.

15. The device of claim 12 wherein the loop is formed by a strap secured to the band.

16. The device of claim 12 wherein the band is further comprised of two or more segments.

17. The device of claim 16 further comprising a second ring operable to join the segments such that a transverse slot exists between the segments when the segments are attached to the second ring.

18. The device of claim 17 further comprising a secondary strap attached to the wristband for mounting an optional timepiece.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein the secondary strap includes a fixed end secured to the first end portion of the wristband, and a free end adapted to pass through the transverse slot in the second ring, and fasten to the underside of the adjacent segment.

20. A method of self-defense, the method comprising:

placing a user'"'"'s first arm having a wristband with an extendable loop on a first side of an attacker'"'"'s neck;

grasping the extendable loop with at least a portion of a hand on the user'"'"'s other arm from the opposite side of the attacker'"'"'s neck to trap the neck between the user'"'"'s interconnected arms; and

applying a compressive force to the attacker'"'"'s neck by pivoting the user'"'"'s arms while maintaining the grasp on the extendable loop.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein placing the first arm on a first side of a user'"'"'s neck comprises positioning a hand associated with the user'"'"'s first arm such that the outside edge of the hand presses against the attacker'"'"'s neck generally in the area of at least one of the attacker'"'"'s carotid arteries.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein grasping the extendable loop comprises reaching around the attacker'"'"'s neck with the user'"'"'s other arm and actuating a releasable fastener on the wristband such that the loop extends outwardly from the wristband.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein grasping the extendable loop further comprises interconnecting the user'"'"'s arms by sliding at least a portion of the other hand into the extendable loop, thereby trapping the attacker'"'"'s neck in an area defined by the user'"'"'s interconnected arms and the extendable loop.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein applying compressive force comprises extending the user'"'"'s arms away from the user'"'"'s body while maintaining the grasp on the extendable loop such that the user'"'"'s arms pivot around the attacker'"'"'s neck, thereby constricting the flow of blood through the attacker'"'"'s carotid arteries and incapacitating the attacker.