INTRODUCTION
The present disclosure relates to a baton with incorporated chemical spray.
Police utilize batons for protection and subduing violent criminals. A baton may include a blunt instrument such as a stick. A baton may include a single handle or may include a primary handle and a secondary, perpendicular handle. A baton may include a fixed length or may be retractable.
Chemical spray may be utilized to subdue a violent criminal or utilized to control/repel an angry crowd. Chemical sprays may include an irritant such as pepper sprays that include a high capsaicin count. Chemical sprays may include chemicals utilized in tear gas or may be generally described as mace.
SUMMARY
A baton with incorporated chemical spray is provided. The baton includes a handle and a striking portion connected to the handle portion. The striking portion and the handle portion enable a primary use of the baton as a striking device. The baton further includes a chemical spray canister encased within the handle portion and enabling a secondary use of the baton as a chemical spray device. The baton further includes a nozzle configured to receive a chemical flow from the chemical spray canister and dispense the chemical spray and a spray activation mechanism configured to selectively release the chemical flow from the chemical spray canister and channel the chemical flow to the nozzle.
In some embodiments, the nozzle is disposed at an end of the striking portion.
In some embodiments, the chemical spray canister is disposed within the handle.
In some embodiments, the handle is a primary handle portion, and the primary handle portion is in-line with the striking portion. The baton further includes a secondary handle portion oriented perpendicular to the primary handle portion.
In some embodiments, the chemical spray canister is disposed within the primary handle portion.
In some embodiments, the chemical spray canister is disposed within the secondary handle portion.
In some embodiments, the nozzle is disposed at an end of the handle.
In some embodiments, the chemical spray canister is disposed within the handle.
In some embodiments, the handle is a primary handle portion, and the primary handle portion is in-line with the striking portion. The baton further includes a secondary handle portion oriented perpendicular to the primary handle portion.
In some embodiments, the chemical spray canister is disposed within the primary handle portion.
In some embodiments, the chemical spray canister is disposed within the secondary handle portion.
In some embodiments, the baton is configured for existing alternatively in a retracted/ready to dispense spray state or in an extended/spray disabled state.
According to one alternative embodiment, a baton with incorporated chemical spray is provided. The baton includes a striking portion, a primary handle portion oriented to be in-line with the striking portion, and a secondary handle portion oriented to be perpendicular to the primary handle portion. The baton further includes a chemical spray canister encased within the primary handle portion or the secondary handle portion, a nozzle configured to dispense the chemical spray, and a spray activation mechanism configured to selectively release a flow of chemical from the chemical spray canister. The flow of the chemical is channeled to the nozzle.
In some embodiments, the chemical spray canister is disposed within the primary handle portion.
In some embodiments, the chemical spray canister is disposed within the secondary handle portion.
According to one alternative embodiment, a baton with incorporated chemical spray is provided. The baton includes a handle portion, a striking portion including a plurality of extending portions, and a chemical spray canister encased within the baton. The baton further includes a nozzle configured to dispense the chemical spray and a spray activation mechanism configured to selectively release a flow of chemical from the chemical spray canister and channel the flow of the chemical to the nozzle. The baton is configured for existing alternatively in a retracted/ready to dispense spray state or in an extended/spray disabled state.
The above features and advantages and other features and advantages of the present disclosure are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best modes for carrying out the disclosure when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a baton including a striking portion, a primary handle portion, a secondary handle portion, a chemical spray activation button, and a nozzle, in accordance with the present disclosure;
FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the baton of FIG. 1 in cross section, in accordance with the present disclosure;
FIGS. 3A and 3B schematically illustrate an alternative embodiment of a baton including an extendable striking portion and a nozzle configured for dispensing a chemical spray, in accordance with the present disclosure;
FIGS. 4A and 4B schematically illustrate the baton of FIGS. 3A and 3B in cross section, in accordance with the present disclosure;
FIG. 5 schematically illustrates an exemplary chemical spray canister in cross section, in accordance with the present disclosure; and
FIG. 6 schematically illustrates an alternative embodiment of a baton including a spray canister incorporated therewith, in accordance with the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
A police officer may need to subdue or repel a bad actor/criminal. A baton may be utilized to provide the officer with graduated force, enabling the officer to react to an escalation by an opponent without resorting to firearms. Chemical sprays similarly provide a police officer with an option to subdue or repel a bad actor/criminal, spraying the opponent with an irritant that may distract or incapacitate the opponent.
Potentially violent situations evolve quickly. A bad actor may feign good faith approaching an officer and may become violent only when the bad actor reaches the officer. In such instances, the officer may have to react quickly. A baton is one option. A chemical spray is another option. If both devices are located on the belt of the officer, he or she must make a decision which device to grab. The officer may lose the encounter, may fail to apprehend the bad actor, or may be injured if the wrong device is grabbed.
A baton with an incorporated chemical spray device is provided. The baton includes a handle and a striking end. The baton further includes an integrated chemical spray canister, a nozzle configured for spraying the chemical spray at a bad actor, and an activation mechanism.
FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a baton 10 including a striking portion 20, a primary handle portion 40, a secondary handle portion 30, a chemical spray activation button 50, and a nozzle 60. The primary handle portion 40 includes grip features 44 and a removable spray canister cap 42. The secondary handle portion 30 is optional and includes an optional retention knob 32. A chemical spray canister is located within the primary handle portion 40, and the chemical spray activation button 50 is configured to control activation of a spray, releasing a flow of the chemical from the chemical spray canister, through a spray passage within the striking portion 20, and from the nozzle 60. The chemical spray activation button 50 may alternatively be described as a spray activation switch.
FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the baton 10 of FIG. 1 in cross section. The baton 10 is illustrated including the striking portion 20, the secondary handle portion 30, the optional retention knob 32, the chemical spray activation button 50, and the nozzle 60. A chemical spray canister 70 including a release valve mechanism 72 is illustrated inserted within the primary handle portion 40. In another embodiment, the chemical spray canister 70 could instead be within the secondary handle portion 30. The chemical spray activation button 50 is illustrated connected to a spray activation mechanism 52. Depressing the chemical spray activation button 50 activates the spray activation mechanism, which in turn applies a depressing force upon the release valve mechanism 72, thereby activating a flow of the chemical from the chemical spray canister 70. The flow of the chemical is channeled through the spray activation mechanism 52 into a spray passage 54 within the striking portion 20 and is then channeled to the nozzle 60.
The removable spray canister cap 42 is illustrated removed from the primary handle portion 40 of FIG. 1 for purposes of illustration. The removable spray canister cap 42 includes a first threaded portion 46, and the primary handle portion 40 includes a mating second threaded portion 48. The removable spray canister cap 42, when installed to the primary handle portion 40, secures the chemical spray canister 70 in place and fixes the release valve mechanism 72 against the spray activation mechanism 52 in preparation for being dispensed.
FIGS. 3A and 3B schematically illustrate an alternative embodiment of a baton 100 including an extendable striking portion and a nozzle 130 configured for dispensing a chemical spray. FIG. 3A illustrates the baton 100 in a retracted/ready to dispense spray state. FIG. 3B illustrates the baton 100 in an extended/spray disabled state. The baton 100 is illustrated including a primary case 110, a first extending portion 140, and a second extending portion 150. The primary case 110 is configured for use as a handle. The primary case 110 is hollow and receives the telescoping components including the first extending portion 140 and the second extending portion 150 therewithin. A user, holding the primary case 110 with the first extending portion 140 and the second extending portion 150 retracted within the primary case 110, as is illustrated in FIG. 3A, may swing the baton 100 in an arc. Centrifugal force may act upon the first extending portion 140 and the second extending portion 150, causing the first extending portion 140 and the second extending portion 150 to move relative to the primary case 110 and to each other, transitioning to the extended/spray disabled state of FIG. 3B.
While in the retracted/ready to spray state of FIG. 3A, the baton 100 is configured for releasing a spray of chemical from the nozzle 130. A removable spray canister cap 112 enables a user to load a chemical spray canister within the primary case 110. A chemical spray activation button 120 is illustrated upon the primary case 110. An optional spray deactivation safety switch 122 is illustrated, which may selectively lock the chemical spray activation button 120 and prevent accidental activation of the spray.
FIGS. 4A and 4B schematically illustrate the baton 100 of FIGS. 3A and 3B in cross section. FIG. 4A illustrates the baton 100 in a retracted/ready to dispense spray state. FIG. 4B illustrates the baton 100 in an extended/spray disabled state. The baton 100 is illustrated including the primary case 110, the removable spray canister cap 112, the nozzle 130, the first extending portion 140, and the second extending portion 150. The primary case 110 is hollow and receives the telescoping components including the first extending portion 140 and the second extending portion 150 therewithin. Retaining features 142 prevent the first extending portion 140 from being removed from the primary case 110, and retaining features 152 prevent the second extending portion 150 from being removed from the first extending portion 140. The primary case 110, the first extending portion 140, and the second extending portion 150 are examples, and baton 100 may include different numbers of extending portions configured to extend and retract. The chemical spray activation button 120 of FIG. 3A is connected to a spray activation mechanism 124. A spray canister 70 including a release valve mechanism 72 is illustrated. The release valve mechanism 72 is seated against the spray activation mechanism 124. Activation of the chemical spray activation button 120 activates the spray activation mechanism 124, which in turn causes the spray canister 70 to release a flow of the chemical. The spray activation mechanism 124 includes a feature 126 configured for engaging with a receiving portion 154 of the second extending portion 150. When the baton 100 is in the retracted/ready to dispense spray state, the feature 126 is seated into the receiving portion 154, such that the flow of the chemical is channeled through a hollow center portion of the second extending portion 150 to the nozzle 130.
FIG. 5 schematically illustrates an exemplary chemical spray canister 70 in cross section. The chemical spray canister 70 includes the release valve mechanism 72 which includes a force sensitive valve portion 320. A canister body 310 is illustrated including a canister configured to contain a pressurized liquid and gas. The canister body 310 includes an internal volume 340 which includes a mass of chemical 350 and a mass of pressurized propellent 360. The force sensitive valve portion 320 is attached to a chemical collection tube 322 which extends into the mass of chemical 350. Upon force activation of the release valve mechanism 72, a spring within the force sensitive valve portion 320 is depressed and the force sensitive valve portion 320 releases a flow of the chemical from a hollow outlet of the release valve mechanism 72.
The chemical spray canister 70 may be constructed to fit into a known baton size. For example, handles of batons may be particularly configured to fit into a user's hand. A minimum wall thickness for a handle of the baton may be selected or set based upon durability and material strength guidelines used in the art. The chemical spray canister 70 may include a selected diameter operable to fit within the handle of the baton configured to fit a user's hand, wherein the hole in which the chemical spray canister 70 fits is the diameter of the handle minus two times the minimum wall thickness, selected as described herein. Further, a minimum or desirable volume of chemical spray within the chemical spray canister 70, given the selected diameter of the chemical spray canister 70, may be achieved by setting a selected length of the chemical spray canister 70 given by the approximate formula of CHEMICAL SPRAY VOLUME (CSV) equals DIAMETER OF THE CANISTER (DC) times LENGTH OF THE CANISTER (LC) or CSV=DC*LC. This formula assumes the chemical spray canister 70 is cylindrical. The formula may be adjusted for non-cylindrical features based upon methods used in the art to determine volume of a container. Given the selected diameter and the selected length of the chemical spray canister 70, the geometry of the matching lumen or cavity within the baton may be set. These parameters of the chemical spray canister 70 and the matching lumen or cavity within the baton are examples, any number of variations or parameter compromises may be accommodated, and the disclosure is not intended to be limited according to the examples provided herein. In another example, an off-the-shelf or readily available chemical spray canister 70, for example, as are widely commercially available for inclusion on key rings for personal protection, may be selected for use, and the configuration of the baton may be set according to accommodating use of the commercially available chemical spray canister 70.
FIG. 6 schematically illustrates an alternative embodiment of a baton 410 including a spray canister 70 incorporated therewith. The baton 410 is similar to the baton 10 of FIG. 1, except that the baton 410 is configured for releasing a flow of a chemical spray from an end of a primary handle portion 440 of the baton 410. The baton 410 includes a striking portion 420, the primary handle portion 440, a secondary handle portion 430, a chemical spray activation button 480, and a nozzle 460. The secondary handle portion 430 includes a removable spray canister cap 432 configured to be received by a canister interface connector 450. The primary handle portion 440 is illustrated including a spray passage 442 and the nozzle 460. A chemical spray canister 70 is located within the secondary handle portion 430, and the chemical spray activation button 480 is configured to control activation of a spray, releasing a flow of the chemical from the chemical spray canister 70, through a spray channel 452 of the canister interface connector 450 and the spray passage 442, and from the nozzle 460. The striking portion 420 of FIG. 6 may include excellent durability as a result of not including any spray components therein.
FIGS. 1 and 2, 4A and 4B, and 6 illustrate batons 10, 100, 410 including the spray canister 70 within the primary handle portion 40, primary case 110 operating as a handle, and within the secondary handle portion 430, respectively. In different embodiments, the spray canister 70 may be located at any position within the disclosed device. Batons 10, 100, 410, including the spray canister 70 within the handle portions provide reduced shock or physical impact forces to the spray canister 70, as compared to versions which may include the spray canister 70 in portions used for striking. As a result, the illustrated embodiments of batons 10, 100, 410 provide excellent durability of the chemical spray function provided by the batons 10, 100, 410. Further, wherein a spray passage 54 and a nozzle 60 may be disposed within and upon a portion of the baton 10 of FIG. 2 used for striking, the baton 10 may be optimized, for example, with the portion made for striking including the spray passage 54 and the nozzle 60 being constructed of a single piece, high-strength polymer to minimize occurrence of the baton 10 being used in its striking function from disabling the functionality of the baton 10 in its chemical spray function.
The chemical spray canister 70 of FIG. 5 includes the release valve mechanism 72 of FIG. 5 which includes the force sensitive valve portion 320. The release valve mechanism 72 and the force sensitive valve portion 320 may be relatively delicate mechanisms which are not configured for receiving impact forces such as may be applied to an external feature of the batons 10, 100, 410 of the disclosure. The batons 10, 100, 410 may house the chemical spray canister 70 including the release valve mechanism 72 of FIG. 5 and the force sensitive valve portion 320 entirely encased within the baton 10, 100, 410 in order to minimize a chance of damaging the delicate mechanisms and avoid accidental discharge of the chemical spray. The release valve mechanism 72 of FIG. 5 may be entirely encased within the baton 10, 100, 410, thereby avoiding any button or switch of the release valve mechanism 72 from being exposed to the outside of the device. The spray activation button or spray activation switch of the baton 10, 100, 410 may be configured to minimize an effect of impacts upon the spray activation button or spray activation switch, for example, with oversized or generously proportioned button features distributing impact forces over greater areas than smaller button features. Further, the spray activation button or spray activation switch may include a feature such as a safety switch which, when activated, prevents impact forces imparted to the button from being transmitted to the more delicate release valve mechanism 72 of the chemical spray canister 70 or channels an entirety or a portion of the impact forces away from the release valve mechanism 72. In one embodiment, the release valve mechanism 72 may be disposed upon a centerline of a cylindrical or nearly-cylindrical handle portion of the baton 10, 100, 410 to provide excellent protection of the release valve mechanism 72 from impact forces.
While the best modes for carrying out the disclosure have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this disclosure relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the disclosure within the scope of the appended claims.
Patent Application
20240344802
