Self-defense device

• US 8,690,020 B1
• Filed: 06/20/2012
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lance T. Murray
• Original Assignee: Lance T. Murray
• Inventors: Murray, Lance T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Durand, Paul R
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRUBY, RANDALL A
• Application Number:
  US13/528,531
• Time in Patent Office: 657 Days
• Field of Search: 222/192, 222/78, 222/153.1, 222/153.13, 222/402.11, 222/402.13, 222/182, 222/129, 222/30, 222/39, 222/402.15, 222135-136, 222/113, 222/3, 222/143, 362/96, 362/101, 362/109, 362/113, 102/367, 102/370, 239/304
• US Class Current: 222/192
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 9/10 Hand-held or body-worn self-defence devices using repellant gases or chemicals

Abstract

A self-defense device is disclosed. The self-defense device includes an alert unit which alerts others to danger when activated. The self-defense device also includes a defense unit which can be used to disable or repel an attacker when activated. In a particular embodiment the alert unit is an air horn. In a particular embodiment the defense unit is a canister of self-defense aerosol spray. The self-defense device can include a coupling device which couples the defense unit to the alert unit. The self-defense device also includes a trigger which activates both the alert unit and the defense unit. The trigger has an ON state and an OFF state. The trigger can include a first trigger portion, a second trigger portion, and a trigger portion coupler. The trigger is coupled to the coupling device in some embodiments.

Claims

1. A self-defense device comprising:

a trigger with an ON state and an OFF state;

an air horn, wherein the air horn produces a noise in response to the trigger being in the ON state;

a self-defense aerosol spray unit, wherein the self-defense aerosol spray unit sprays a stream of self-defense aerosol in response to the trigger being in the ON state; and

a coupling device, wherein the coupling device couples the air horn to the self defense aerosol spray unit, wherein the coupling device comprises a nozzle, a trigger guard, a coupling piece and a coupling piece cover;

wherein the trigger comprises;

a first trigger portion, wherein the first trigger portion places the self-defense aerosol spray unit in the ON state in response to the first trigger portion receiving pressure;

a second trigger portion, wherein the second trigger portion places the air horn in the ON state in response to the first trigger portion receiving pressure; and

a trigger portion coupler, wherein the trigger portion coupler mechanically couples the first trigger portion to the second trigger portion;

wherein the second trigger portion comprises;

a semi-annular ring coupled to the trigger portion coupler, wherein the semi-annular ring comprises;

a first tab;

and

a second tab;

wherein the first tab and the second tab place the air horn in the ON state in response to the first trigger portion receiving pressure;

and

a lever mount coupled to the semi-annular ring, wherein the lever mount couples the trigger to the coupling device.

2. The self-defense device of claim 1,

wherein the stream of self-defense aerosol is sprayed from the nozzle;

and

wherein the trigger guard swings on an axle to move from an engaged state to a disengaged state, and wherein the trigger guard prevents the trigger from being placed in the ON state in response to the trigger guard being in an engaged state.

3. The self-defense device of claim 1, wherein a horn bell directs the noise in a predetermined direction, and wherein the nozzle sprays self-defense aerosol in the predetermined direction.

4. The self-defense device of claim 3, further including a canister of marking material aerosol, wherein the canister of marking material aerosol sprays marking material into the predetermined direction in response to the trigger being in the ON state.

5. A self-defense device comprising:

a defense unit;

an alert unit;

a coupling device comprising a nozzle, a trigger guard, a coupling piece and a coupling piece cover, wherein the coupling device couples the defense unit to the alert unit; and

a trigger, wherein the trigger comprises;

a first trigger portion, wherein the first trigger portion activates the defense unit;

a second trigger portion, wherein the second trigger portion activates the alert unit;

a trigger portion coupler, wherein the trigger portion coupler couples the second trigger portion to the first trigger portion; and

a lever mount, wherein the lever mount is inserted into a lever mount hole in the coupling device;

wherein the second trigger portion comprises;

a semi-annular ring coupled to the trigger portion coupler, wherein the semi-annular ring comprises;

a first tab;

and

a second tab;

wherein the first tab and the second tab place the air horn in the ON state in response to the first trigger portion receiving pressure;

and

a lever mount coupled to the semi-annular ring, wherein the lever mount couples the trigger to the coupling device.

6. The self-defense device of claim 5, wherein the defense unit comprises a canister of self-defense aerosol spray.

7. The self-defense device of claim 5, wherein the defense unit comprises an electronic discharge self-defense device.

8. The self-defense device of claim 5, wherein the alert unit comprises an air horn.

9. The self-defense device of claim 5, wherein the alert unit comprises a strobe light.

10. The self-defense device of claim 5, wherein the coupling device comprises a camera, wherein the trigger activates the camera.

11. A method of forming a self-defense device, the method comprising the steps of:

coupling an air horn to a coupling device comprising a nozzle, a trigger guard, a coupling piece and a coupling piece cover;

coupling a canister of self-defense aerosol spray to the coupling device;

and

coupling a trigger to the coupling device, wherein the trigger activates both the air horn and the canister of self-defense aerosol spray, wherein the trigger comprises;

a first trigger portion, wherein the first trigger portion activates the defense unit;

a second trigger portion, wherein the second trigger portion activates the alert unit;

a trigger portion coupler, wherein the trigger portion coupler couples the second trigger portion to the first trigger portion; and

a lever mount, wherein the lever mount is inserted into a lever mount hole in the coupling device;

wherein the second trigger portion comprises;

a semi-annular ring coupled to the trigger portion coupler, wherein the semi-annular ring comprises;

a first tab;

and

a second tab;

wherein the first tab and the second tab place the air horn in the ON state in response to the first trigger portion receiving pressure;

and

a lever mount coupled to the semi-annular ring, wherein the lever mount couples the trigger to the coupling device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of coupling the air horn to the coupling device comprises coupling the air horn to the coupling device such that the air horn directs noise into a predetermined direction in response to the air horn being activated.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of coupling a camera to the coupling device, wherein the trigger activates the camera.