Smart self defense apparatus

• US 8,245,878 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2008
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Charlotte Ann Smith
• Original Assignee: Charlotte Ann Smith
• Inventors: Smith, Charlotte Ann, Simmons, William Monty
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Ahshik
• Application Number:
  US12/264,249
• Publication Number:
  US 20090127283A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,387 Days
• Field of Search: 235/492, 235/439, 340/425.5, 340/573.1, 222/3, 222/195
• US Class Current: 222/3
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 9/10 Hand-held or body-worn self-defence devices using repellant gases or chemicals
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/34 involving the use of external additional devices, e.g. dongles or smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/81 by operating on the power supply, e.g. enabling or disabling power-on, sleep or resume operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/83 input devices, e.g. keyboards, mice or controllers thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/073 Special arrangements for circuits, e.g. for protecting identification code in memory protection against unauthorised use of computer memory G06F12/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07354 by biometrically sensitive means, e.g. fingerprint sensitive fingerprint sensors in general G06V40/12; biometrically activated access control G07C9/25
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/004 using portable personal devices hand-held or body-worn self-defence devices using repellent gases or chemicals F41H9/10

Abstract

The invention relates to a self-defense apparatus configured to release a substance when activated and further configured to transmit control signals to a remote device. Such remote device may be a cell phone configured to transmit emergency data to a remote location. Such emergency data may include GPS coordinates, image data, sound data, vehicle control signals, alarm system control signals, lighting control signals, and other signals.

Claims

1. A substance dispenser configured for providing a self defense function, said substance dispenser comprising:

a housing comprising a first end and a second end defining a void there between, wherein an electronic module is associated with said first end and an end cap is associated with said second end;

a substance container disposed inside said void and configured to hold a substance to be dispensed;

a substance output port associated with said electronic module and further associated with said substance container;

an activator associated with said substance container and said electronic module, wherein said activator is configured for releasing said substance thereby allowing said substance to be dispensed through said output port when said activator is actuated; and

wherein said electronic module comprises a processing device associated with a memory and further associated with a transmitter; and

wherein said processing device is configured to detect when said activator has been actuated and to transmit a signal to a remote device when said activator is actuated.

2. A substance dispenser configured for providing a self defense function as in claim 1, wherein said remote device is a communication device electrically paired with said electronic module.

3. A substance dispenser configured for providing a self defense function as in claim 2, wherein said signal comprise situation data to be transmitted to a remote location.

4. A substance dispenser configured for providing a self defense function as in claim 3, wherein said situation data includes at least one of (a) Global Positioning System data, identification data, video data, sound data, and a contact number.

5. A substance dispenser configured for providing a self defense function as in claim 1, wherein said remote device is an electronic module associated with a vehicle.

6. A substance dispenser configured for providing a self defense function as in claim 5, wherein said signal comprise situation data to be transmitted to a remote location.

7. A substance dispenser configured for providing a self defense function as in claim 5, wherein said signal comprise commands for said electronic module to execute.

8. A substance dispenser configured for providing a self defense function as in claim 7, wherein said commands include at least one of:

(a) unlock door, (b) start vehicle, (c) sound alarm, and (d) activate lights.

9. A substance dispenser configured for providing a self defense function as in claim 7, wherein said commands include at least one of:

(a) record sound data, (b) record video data, and (c) dispense a substance.

10. A substance dispenser configured for providing a self defense function as in claim 1, wherein said remote device is an electronic module associated with a home.

11. A substance dispenser configured for providing a self defense function as in claim 10, wherein said signal comprise situation data to be transmitted to a remote location.

12. A substance dispenser configured for providing a self defense function as in claim 10, wherein said signal comprise commands for said electronic module to execute.

13. A substance dispenser configured for providing a self defense function as in claim 12, wherein said commands include at least one of:

(a) unlock door, (b) sound alarm, (c) activate lights, (d) call a number, (e) activate a machine, and (f) disable a machine.

14. A substance dispenser configured for providing a self defense function as in claim 12, wherein said commands include a release an animal command.

15. A substance dispenser configured for providing a self defense function, said substance dispenser comprising:

a substance housing configured for housing a substance to be sprayed on an attacker, said substance housing defining an substance output port;

an dispenser housing associated with said substance housing, said dispenser housing comprising an activator associated with said substance output port, said activator configured to allow substance flow through said substance output port when the activator is actuated;

an electronic module associated with said dispenser housing, said electronic module comprising a processing device associated with a memory, a power source, and a transmitter; and

wherein said electronic module is further associated with said activator wherein said electronic module is configured to detect actuation of said activator and transmit a dispenser-signal to a remote device.

16. A substance dispenser configured for providing a self defense function as in claim 15, wherein said remote device is a communication device electrically paired with said electronic module.

17. A substance dispenser configured for providing a self defense function as in claim 15, wherein said electronic module further comprises at least one of an imaging element configured for acquiring image data and an audio element configured for acquiring sound data.

18. A substance dispenser configured for providing a self defense function as in claim 17, wherein said electronic module, is further configured to acquire one of image data and sound data when activator is actuated.