Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6199726
-
Patent Number
6,199,726
-
Date Filed
Tuesday, May 11, 199925 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, March 13, 200123 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Shaver; Kevin
- Bui; Thach H
Agents
- Bracewell & Patterson, L.L.P.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 222 23
- 222 15311
- 222 183
- 222 4021
- 222 40211
- 222 40221
- 222 325
- 222 40215
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
According to the present invention, a dispenser for dispensing a substance from a pressurized canister having a nozzle selectively operable to control release of the substance is provided. The dispenser includes an elongate housing for a pressurized canister, where the housing includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a sidewall. The distal end of the housing has an aperture formed therein, and the sidewall has an opening formed therein. An actuator, which is movable at least axially forward toward the distal end and axially backward toward the proximate end, extends within the elongate housing through the opening and cooperates with a nozzle of the pressurized canister. To operate the dispenser, the actuator is moved to an axially forward firing position in which the actuator causes the nozzle to operate, thereby releasing the substance from the pressurized canister through the aperture in a substantially axial direction.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to a self-defense device and in particular to chemical irritant dispenser suitable for self-defense. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a hand-held chemical irritant dispenser that is easily oriented, aimed, and actuated in crisis situations.
2. Description of the Related Art
Crimes against persons, while a fact of life, are not unavoidable. Proper preparation and the exercise of caution can greatly diminish the probability that an individual will be victimized. In particular, the availability and use of self-defense devices have been demonstrated to be strong deterrents to and defenses against crimes against persons.
Perhaps the best known and most widely marketed non-lethal self-defense devices are chemical irritant dispensers that, when actuated, release an aerosol chemical irritant such as MACE® or pepper spray. Conventional chemical irritant dispensers of this sort typically comprise an elongate cylindrical housing storing an aerosol chemical irritant, a button surmounting one end of the housing that is depressed to release the chemical irritant, and an aperture in the housing through which the chemical irritant is propelled in a radial direction from the cylindrical housing. As a consequence of this construction, these conventional chemical irritant dispensers are held in a vertical position when deployed and are actuated by downward motion of the index finger of the user, much like a common aerosol can.
Conventional chemical irritant dispensers like those described above are subject to a number of shortcomings that reduce their effectiveness. First, conventional chemical irritant dispensers have in the past tended to be unsightly and bulky (e.g., 6 inches (15.24 cm) long and 1 inch (2.54 cm) in diameter). Such large dimensions make carrying the chemical irritant dispenser in a handbag or garment pocket inconvenient, and the unsightly appearance of conventional dispensers has made users reluctant to carry one on a regular basis. Obviously, the utility of a chemical irritant dispenser is vitiated if it is unavailable when needed to fend off a would-be assailant.
Second, conventional chemical irritant dispenser are difficult to actuate under duress due to the awkward safety devices that are often provided to prevent accidental discharge. For vertically-oriented chemical irritant dispensers with top-located actuator buttons, the safety device typically takes the form of a plastic or leather strap covering the actuator button and/or obstructions to the downward travel of the actuator button that require the actuator button to be rotated before it is depressed. Such elaborate safety measures may be desirable when the dispenser is not being used in order to prevent accidental discharge, but present a significant hurdle to rapid use of the dispenser. The difficulty of quickly disengaging such safety devices and actuating a vertically-oriented chemical irritant dispenser was recognized by U.S. Pat. No. 5,509,581 to Parsons, which described a chemical irritant dispenser having a thumb-operated swiveling safety lock. However, actuating Parsons' chemical irritant dispenser still requires two distinct movements of the thumb—rotation of the swiveling safety lock and then depression of the actuator button—which require significant dexterity and are difficult to accomplish while under duress.
A third drawback of conventional chemical irritant dispensers is the difficulty in aiming them. As also noted by Parsons, vertically-oriented chemical irritant dispensers are difficult to orient and aim. As a result, when under stress, an individual may improperly orient the aperture of the dispenser, missing an assailant and possibly even spraying himself or herself. Parsons attempts to address this problem by providing a chemical irritant dispenser that intended to be held in the palm of the hand, with the fingers curled around the cylindrical housing and the thumb axially depressing an actuator button located at one end of the housing. This hand position naturally tends to cause the user to actuate the dispenser with his or her upper arm approximately parallel with the ground and forearm substantially vertical, sighting along the length of the housing. This body position is not instinctive, does not provide a broad range of firing positions due to the physiology of the arm and hand in that position, and therefore does not adequately address the shortcomings of conventional vertically-actuated chemical irritant dispensers. Moreover, both Parsons' dispenser and conventional vertically-oriented dispensers encourage firing positions close to the user's face and/or eyes in order to comfortably actuate and aim the dispensers. Needless to say, it is preferably for the user to release the chemical irritant as far away as possible from the user's face.
To address and overcome the foregoing and additional shortcomings in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved chemical irritant dispenser that is compact, easy to actuate, and can be quickly, comfortably, and accurately aimed under duress in an instinctive manner and body position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, a dispenser for dispensing a substance from a pressurized canister having a nozzle selectively operable to control release of the substance is provided. The dispenser includes an elongate housing for a pressurized canister, where the housing includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a sidewall. The distal end of the housing has an aperture formed therein, and the sidewall has an opening formed therein. An actuator, which is movable at least axially forward toward the distal end and axially backward toward the proximate end, extends within the elongate housing through the opening and cooperates with a nozzle of the pressurized canister. To operate the dispenser, the actuator is moved to an axially forward firing position in which the actuator causes the nozzle to operate, thereby releasing the substance from the pressurized canister through the aperture in a substantially axial direction.
In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the actuator is also movable, at the axially forward firing position, radially inward and radially outward. Moving the actuator radially inward at the axially forward firing position causes the nozzle to operate and the substance to be released. The dispenser may also include a biasing mechanism that urges the actuator axially backward, and preferably urges the actuator both axially backward and radially outward. In one preferred embodiment, the biasing mechanism is implemented as a substantially L-shaped spring including first and second legs. The outer end of the first leg is attached to the actuator, and the outer end of second leg is retained substantially stationary with respect to the pressurized canister. The second leg has an opening through which the nozzle of the pressurized canister extends. With this arrangement, the outer end of the first leg can flex toward and pivot about the outer end of the second leg to permit at least one of the actuator and the substantially L-shaped spring to contact the nozzle, diverting the nozzle from axial alignment with the canister and releasing the substance from the canister.
All objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed written description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1
depicts a perspective view of a hand-held chemical irritant dispenser in accordance the present invention;
FIGS. 2A and 2B
respectively illustrate exploded top and bottom views of an illustrative embodiment of the chemical irritant dispenser shown in
FIG. 1
together with a holster and canister;
FIG. 2C
is an enlarged view of a detent and notch of the removable proximate end piece of the chemical irritant dispenser interlocked with a vertical protrusion of the bottom piece of the chemical irritant dispenser;
FIG. 3
is a more detailed view of the firing mechanism of the chemical irritant dispenser shown in
FIGS. 2A and 2B
;
FIGS. 4A and 4B
respectively illustrate the actuator of the chemical irritant dispenser in an axially backward safety position and an axially forward firing position;
FIG. 5A
depicts a top plan view of the chemical irritant dispenser shown in
FIGS. 2A and 2B
; and
FIGS. 5B and 5C
are cross-sectional views of the chemical irritant dispenser shown in
FIGS. 2A and 2B
in which the actuator is in the axially backward safety position and the axially forward firing position, respectively.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT
With reference now to the figures and in particular with reference to
FIG. 1
, there is depicted a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of a hand-held chemical irritant dispenser in accordance the present invention. As shown, chemical irritant dispenser
10
includes an elongate housing
12
having a long axis extending between a proximal end
14
and a distal end
16
. Elongate housing
12
has a generally elliptical radial cross-section, with the longer elliptical axis being generally horizontal and the shorter elliptical axis being generally vertical in the view shown in FIG.
1
. Although the dimensions of elongate housing
12
are a matter of design choice, it is preferred that the long axis of elongate housing
12
have a length in the range of approximately 4-15 cm. More particularly, it is preferred that the long axis of elongate housing
12
have a length in the range of 7-11 cm.
Elongate housing
12
defines an interior volume that is sized to receive and enclose a pressurized canister containing a chemical irritant to be dispensed, as described in greater detail below. The pressurized canister includes a nozzle that is aligned, at least during dispensing of the chemical irritant, with an aperture
18
(better seen in
FIG. 2B
) in distal end
16
. Intermediate proximal end
14
and distal end
16
, a slot
20
is formed in the sidewall of elongate housing
12
. An actuator
22
, which is movable at least axially backward toward the proximate end
14
and axially forward toward distal end
16
, extends within slot
20
and cooperates with the valve controlling release of the chemical irritant from the canister. In this manner, the chemical irritant is projected from the canister through aperture
18
in a substantially axial direction when actuator
22
is moved to an axially forward firing position.
The location of aperture
18
and the forward-directed firing motion of actuator
22
(i.e., toward distal end
16
) instinctively suggest the deployment of chemical irritant dispenser
10
as shown in FIG.
1
. That is, chemical irritant dispenser
10
is intended to be cradled by the fingers of a human hand, with the thumb being utilized to manipulate actuator
22
. This combination of dispenser orientation and firing motion has numerous advantages over the prior art. In particular, accuracy in aiming the chemical irritant projected from chemical irritant dispenser
10
is improved over conventional vertically-deployed dispensers in that aiming aperture
18
by the direction in which a user's thumb is pointing is a rapid, instinctive motion promoted by the design of chemical irritant dispenser
10
. In addition, because chemical irritant dispenser
10
must be held in the proper orientation in order to move actuator
22
into its axially forward firing position (i.e., a forward motion with the thumb will not move actuator
22
if chemical irritant dispenser
10
is held with aperture
18
toward the user), the probability that a user under duress will inadvertently spray himself or herself with chemical irritant is greatly diminished.
Upon reference to the foregoing, it should be understood that the general principles of chemical irritant dispenser design and use discussed above can be realized in a number of different dispenser embodiments employing differing canister designs and firing mechanisms. Such embodiments include those in which moving actuator
22
in turn moves a canister housed within the dispenser, driving a nozzle of the canister into an obstruction and opening a valve (e.g., a reciprocating valve) of the canister. In other dispenser embodiments, the canister itself remains stationary within the dispenser and movement of the actuator causes operation of the canister nozzle. An example of this second type of embodiment is shown in FIG.
2
A.
Referring now to
FIG. 2A
, there is illustrated an exploded top view of an illustrative embodiment of the chemical irritant dispenser shown in
FIG. 1
together with a holster and pressurized canister containing a chemical irritant. In the depicted illustrative embodiment elongate housing
12
is formed by three pieces: a top piece
30
and bottom piece
32
, which together form a main body of elongate housing
12
, and a selectively removable proximate end piece
34
. All three of these pieces are preferably molded, machined, or otherwise formed of a conventional rigid plastic; however, pieces
30
-
34
may alternatively be formed of metal or other suitable material. Top piece
30
and bottom piece
32
are intended to be permanently bonded to each other, for example, by suitable epoxy, sonic welding, or other means. As indicated, proximate end piece
34
is not intended to be permanently bonded to the main body of elongate housing
12
, but is selectively removable in order to permit the insertion and removal of a disposable canister
36
from the interior volume of elongate housing
12
.
When elongate housing
12
is completely assembled, a snug fit is achieved between proximate end piece
34
and each of top piece
30
and bottom piece
32
through the cooperation of a number of design elements. First, extension
36
, which is disposed at a top center of the proximate end piece
34
, is received between corresponding spaced-apart extensions
40
a
and
40
b
forming a portion of top piece
30
. In addition, as best shown in
FIG. 2C
, a detent
44
and notch
42
in each of extensions
38
a
and
38
b
interlock with a respective vertical protrusion
46
formed as a part of bottom piece
32
. As can further be seen by reference to
FIGS. 2B and 2C
, the upward extending portion
50
of each extension
38
is also received in a slot defined by a sidewall and a rail
52
of top piece
30
. As is illustrated in
FIG. 2B
, the fit of proximate end piece
34
with the main body of elongate housing
12
is also enhanced by a pair of wings
128
formed at the proximate end of bottom piece
32
that are received within corresponding wings
130
of proximate end piece
34
. The combination of these elements ensures that proximate end piece
34
can securely (yet removably) be attached to the main body of elongate housing
10
with minimum play therebetween.
Referring back to
FIG. 2A
, if proximate end piece
34
is formed of sufficiently flexible plastic, proximate end piece
34
may be removed simply by inwardly deforming one or both extensions
38
a
and
38
b
by manual pressure exerted on the external sidewall of elongate housing
12
. Alternatively, or in addition, corresponding arcuate surfaces
48
can be formed on the edges of top piece
30
and bottom piece
32
on at least one side of elongate housing
12
to define a release opening permitting external access to a detent
44
. Thus, proximate end piece
34
may be removed from the main body of elongate housing
12
by inserting a small object (e.g., the point of a pen) through a release opening in elongate housing
12
and applying sufficient inward force on the detent
44
to deform its extension
38
enough to permit the detent
44
to be released from the interlocking vertical protrusion
46
. Freeing one detent
44
from its interlocking vertical protrusion
46
in this manner would generally be sufficient to enable removal of proximate end piece
34
with moderate backward force. The release opening defined by arcuate surfaces
48
can also be utilized to further secure proximate end piece
34
to the main body through the insertion of a pin or screw to retain the adjacent extension
38
.
As shown in
FIG. 2A
, canister
56
, which can be formed of aluminum or other suitable material, includes a cylindrical portion
58
, a valve portion
60
, and a nozzle
62
having a enlarged diameter portion
64
. Valve portion
60
preferably contains a spring-loaded toggle valve that is closed when nozzle
62
is axially aligned with cylindrical portion
58
and is open when nozzle
62
is diverted from axial alignment with cylindrical portion
58
. The spring-action of the toggle valve urges nozzle
62
into axial alignment with cylindrical portion
58
. Cylindrical portion
58
contains a selected substance under sufficient pressure such that the substance is forcefully projected from chemical irritant dispenser
10
when actuator
22
is actuated to open the toggle valve within valve portion
40
. In a preferred embodiment, chemical irritant dispenser
10
is packaged together with multiple canisters
36
, at least one of which is a “practice” or training canister containing water or other a non-irritating substance and at least one of which contains a chemical irritant such as pepper spray or a mixture containing oleocapsicum. In this manner, a user is safely able to familiarize himself or herself with the operation and firing characteristics of chemical irritant dispenser
10
prior to use under duress. As discussed further below, such “practice” or training canisters can be distinguished from those containing a chemical irritant by color-coding all or a portion of canisters
36
(e.g., blue for a “practice” canister and red for a canister containing a chemical irritant).
A canister
56
loaded into elongate housing
12
rests within a cradle
70
molded into bottom piece
32
. Canister
56
remains substantially stationary within cradle
70
, with its forward travel (i.e., toward distal end
16
) constrained by molded stops such as a pair of posts
72
(only one of which can be seen) that engage the shoulder
74
of valve portion
60
. The backward travel (i.e., toward proximal end
14
) of canister
56
is inhibited by interference fit within the interior surfaces of elongate housing
12
. With canister
56
installed in this manner, nozzle
62
extends through an opening
78
in L-shaped spring
76
.
L-shaped spring
76
, which together with actuator
22
forms the firing mechanism of chemical irritant dispenser
10
, is preferably formed of a highly flexible material having no (or very low) memory such as beryllium copper. L-shaped spring
76
has a first leg
80
to which actuator
22
is attached and a second leg
86
in which opening
78
is formed. Actuator
22
is attached to first leg
80
, for example, by interference fit, spring tension, or suitable epoxy. One preferred method of attaching actuator
22
to L-shaped spring
76
is depicted in
FIG. 3
, which illustrates first leg
80
terminating with an attachment tab
82
having an integral spring member
84
. As indicated in
FIG. 3
with dashed lines, attachment tab
82
is received within a corresponding slot in the interior of actuator
22
, and integral spring member
84
engages an interior surface of actuator
22
, thereby removably attaching actuator
22
to first leg
80
of L-shaped spring
76
.
Referring again to
FIG. 2A
, when chemical irritant dispenser
10
is fully assembled, the terminating end of second leg
86
is captured between one or more ramps
90
and a wall
92
integral to bottom piece
32
. Thus, the terminating end of second leg
86
is retained substantially stationary to a canister
56
installed in chemical irritant dispenser
10
. In addition, wings
94
integral to actuator
22
rest on respective supports
96
integral to bottom piece
32
and extending into the interior of elongate housing
12
. Supports
96
preferably have a length at least co-extensive with the axial distance actuator
22
is permitted to travel by the axial dimension of slot
20
in top piece
30
. In this manner, the profile of supports
96
determines the range of radially inward motion the actuator
22
is permitted at each point along its axial range of motion.
As best depicted in
FIGS. 4A and 4B
, the profile of each support
96
varies along its length so that each support
96
includes a higher portion
100
and a lower portion
102
. The higher portions
100
of supports
96
define an axially backward safety position of actuator
22
in which movement of actuator
22
is substantially constrained to translation in an axial direction. Actuator
22
is pictured in a backward safety position in FIG.
4
A. The lower portions
102
of supports
96
further define an axially forward firing position in which actuator
22
is permitted to move radially inward and outward.
FIG. 4B
illustrates actuator
22
in the axially forward firing position.
Referring again to
FIG. 2A
, chemical irritant dispenser
10
can advantageously be paired with a holster
110
to enhance the availability and accessibility of chemical irritant dispenser
10
. Holster
110
comprises a sleeve portion
112
and a clip portion
114
, which permits holster
110
to be worn on a belt, hooked over a garment waistband, clipped to a handbag or briefcase, etc. Sleeve portion
112
has an inner surface that is contoured to interference fit with the exterior surface of elongate housing
12
. Sleeve portion
112
is highly relieved to permit access to actuator
22
and to avoid obstruction of aperture
18
when chemical irritant dispenser
10
is holstered. Thus, chemical irritant dispenser
10
may be readily deployed and fired even while retained within holster
110
. It is preferred that chemical irritant dispenser
10
be easily retrievable via posterior opening
118
of holster
110
and that arms
116
defining anterior opening
120
have appropriate flexibility and spacing to securely retain chemical irritant dispenser
10
within holster
110
under normal carrying conditions but to permit removal of chemical irritant dispenser
10
from holster
110
via anterior opening
120
if significant yet non-destructive manual force is applied, for example, in a crisis situation. Holster
110
can advantageously be formed of a photo-luminescent material, for example, a plastic containing zinc sulfide or strontium aluminate, in order to improve visibility of holster
110
(and therefore chemical irritant dispenser
10
) in dark conditions or when stored inside a handbag or other container. The accessibility of holster
110
can further be enhanced by applying adhesive-backed hook-and-loop (e.g., VELCRO®) material to the exterior surface of clip portion
114
, which permits holster
110
to be temporarily attached to another surface such as an automobile dashboard.
With reference now to
FIG. 2B
, there is depicted an exploded bottom view of chemical irritant dispenser
10
from FIG.
2
A. In addition to many of the features described hereinabove,
FIG. 2B
illustrates a textured gripping region
122
on the exterior surface of bottom piece
32
. Textured gripping region
122
, which is preferably formed of rubber or other material having a high coefficient of friction, serves a number of purposes, including enhancing a user's grip, serving as a tactile register that encourages optimal finger positioning, and reducing unintended movement of chemical irritant dispenser
10
within holster
110
(e.g., when chemical irritant dispenser
10
is holstered and the user is running or walking with holster
110
clipped to his or her waistband). As shown in
FIGS. 2A and 3
, a similar textured material may also advantageously be applied to the top surface and at least a portion of the proximate side of actuator
22
to facilitate digital manipulation of actuator
22
.
Referring again to
FIG. 2B
, bottom piece
32
also has a view port
124
formed therethrough. View port
124
enables a user to readily determine if a canister
56
is loaded into chemical irritant dispenser
10
and, if so, to determine the contents of the canister
56
by the color-coding scheme described above. Bottom piece
32
further includes an integral attachment loop
126
to permit a key ring, wrist strap, or other accessory to be attached to chemical irritant dispenser
10
. Attachment loop
126
is located at proximate end
14
of elongate housing
12
in order to prevent interference of an attached accessory with deployment and use of chemical irritant dispenser
10
.
Referring now to
FIG. 5A
, there is depicted a top plan view of chemical irritant dispenser
10
illustrating a line A—A along which the cross-sectional views shown in
FIGS. 5B and 5C
are taken.
FIG. 5B
illustrates a cross-sectional view of chemical irritant dispenser
10
in which actuator
22
is located in an axially backward safety position. As discussed above, when actuator
22
is in an axially backward safety position, actuator
22
is constrained from substantial radially inward movement, and nozzle
62
remains in axial alignment with canister
56
. Thus, the toggle valve of canister
56
is closed, and the substance stored under pressure within canister
56
is not dispensed. As shown in
FIGS. 5A and 5B
, with actuator
22
in an axially backward safety position, first leg
80
of L-shaped spring
76
also advantageously blocks access to the interior of chemical irritant dispenser
10
through slot
20
, thereby preventing inadvertent dispensing of the substance in canister
56
due to an object contacting nozzle
62
through slot
20
.
With reference now to
FIG. 5B
, there is depicted a cross-sectional view of chemical irritant dispenser
10
in which actuator
22
is located in the axially forward and radially inward firing position. In order to move actuator
22
from the axially backward safety position shown in
FIG. 5A
to the axially forward and radially inward firing position shown in
FIG. 5B
, the user translates actuator
22
axially forward (i.e., toward distal end
16
) against the axially backward force of L-shaped spring
76
, preferably with the thumb of his or her hand. In order to provide tactile feedback to the user that actuator
22
is being moved from the axially backward safety position to the axially forward firing position, the surface of upper regions
100
of supports
96
can include a texture such as bumps
140
(shown in
FIG. 4B
) that provide nominal resistance to the translation of actuator
22
when mated with corresponding hollows
142
(shown in
FIG. 3
) formed into wings
94
of actuator
22
. Of course, in an alternative embodiment, the location of the bumps and hollows can be reversed, with the “male” texture located on the underside of wings
94
and a female texture formed into the upper surface of supports
96
.
After actuator
22
has been moved axially forward from its most axially backward position, substantial movement of actuator
22
radially inward is prevented as long as wings
94
of actuator
22
overlap with upper regions
100
of supports
96
. However, once wings
94
have cleared upper regions
100
of supports
96
, actuator
22
may selectively be driven radially inward toward the outer end of second leg
86
of L-shaped spring
76
against the radially outward force of L-shaped spring
76
. Lower regions
102
of supports
96
are sufficiently different in height from upper regions
100
to permit one or both of actuator
22
and first leg
80
of L-shaped spring
76
to engage enlarged diameter portion
64
of nozzle
62
. As shown in
FIG. 5C
, nozzle
62
may thus be diverted from axially alignment with canister
56
against the combined spring force of L-shaped spring
76
and the toggle valve spring, thereby forcing the toggle valve open and dispensing substance
144
from canister
56
as a result of the pressure differential between the ambient environment and the interior of canister
56
. The maximum extent to which nozzle
62
may be diverted from axial alignment with canister
56
can be controlled by any number of factors, including the stiffness of L-shaped spring
76
, the shape of ramps
90
, the diameter of enlarged diameter portion
64
of nozzle
62
in relation to the interior of chemical irritant dispenser
10
, and the height of lower regions
102
of supports
96
. When the force applied to actuator
22
diminishes to less than the spring force of L-shaped spring
76
, the radially outward and axially backward spring force of L-shaped spring
76
automatically returns actuator
22
to the axially backward safety position shown in
FIG. 5B
, and the spring force of the toggle valve closes the toggle valve and returns nozzle
62
to axial alignment with canister
56
, as also shown in FIG.
5
B.
As has been described, the present invention provides an improved dispenser that may advantageously be utilized as a chemical irritant dispenser for self-defense. The dispenser has numerous advantages over conventional chemical irritant dispensers in that the dispenser of the present invention is compact, can utilize disposable cartridges, and can be quickly deployed and fired even when loaded in its holster. In addition, the dispenser of the present invention promotes instinctive aiming and permits a user to rapidly disengage the actuator from its safety position and “fire” the dispenser with a single fluid motion that requires only minimum dexterity.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to an illustrative embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
- 1. A dispenser for dispensing a substance from a pressurized canister having a valve selectively operable to control release of the substance, said dispenser comprising:an elongate housing for a pressurized canister, said elongate housing having a proximal end, a distal end, and a sidewall, wherein said distal end has an aperture formed therein and said sidewall has an opening formed therein; and an actuator that extends within said elongate housing through said opening, said actuator being movable at least axially forward toward said distal end and axially backward toward said proximate end, said actuator having an axially forward firing position in which said actuator is operatively coupled to the pressurized canister to open the valve and release the substance from the pressurized canister through the aperture in a substantially axial direction.
- 2. The dispenser of claim 1, said actuator further being movable, at said axially forward firing position, between a radially inward position and a radially outward position, wherein said actuator is operatively coupled to the pressurized canister to open the valve and release the substance only at the radially inward position.
- 3. The dispenser of claim 1, and further comprising the pressurized canister, wherein the pressurized cannister includes a nozzle and wherein the valve of the pressurized canister is opened by said actuator by diverting the nozzle from axial alignment with said pressurized canister.
- 4. The dispenser of claim 1, and further comprising a biasing mechanism urging said actuator at least axially backward.
- 5. The dispenser of claim 4, said biasing mechanism comprising a spring within said elongate housing urging said actuator both radially outward and axially backward.
- 6. The dispenser of claim 5, wherein said spring is formed of beryllium copper.
- 7. The dispenser of claim 5, said spring having a first leg and a second leg, wherein said actuator is attached to said first leg and said second leg has an opening therein through which a nozzle of the pressurized cannister extends.
- 8. The dispenser of claim 7, and further comprising at least one ridge integral to an interior of said elongate housing that engages an end of said second leg to retain said end of said second leg substantially stationary with respect to the pressurized canister.
- 9. The dispenser of claim 1, said elongate housing including at least a main body and a selectively removable proximal end piece.
- 10. The dispenser of claim 1, said elongate housing having an attachment loop toward said proximal end.
- 11. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein said elongate housing is substantially elliptical in radial cross-section, said substantially elliptical radial cross-section having a larger major axis and a smaller minor axis, wherein said actuator is disposed adjacent said minor axis at an exterior of said elongate housing.
- 12. The dispenser of claim 11, said elongate housing having a textured region on an exterior side opposite said actuator.
- 13. The dispenser of claim 1, said elongate housing having an axial length of approximately 13 centimeters or less.
- 14. The dispenser of claim 1, and further comprising at least one support within an interior of said elongate housing, said support having an upper surface and a length, wherein a profile of said upper surface along said length limits an extent of radial inward movement of said actuator.
- 15. The dispenser of claim 14, said length of said support including a safety region at which said profile prevents operation of said nozzle.
- 16. The dispenser of claim 14, wherein at least one of said upper surface and said actuator includes at least one protrusion providing tactile feedback regarding a position of said actuator.
- 17. An actuator apparatus suitable for dispensing a substance from a pressurized canister having a nozzle and a selectively operable valve that is open when the nozzle is diverted from axial alignment with said canister and closed otherwise, said actuator apparatus comprising:a manually manipulable element; and a spring including a first leg and a second leg having an opening therein through which the nozzle of the pressurized canister can extend, wherein an outer end of said first leg is attached to said manually manipulable element and wherein an outer end of second leg is retained substantially stationary with respect to the pressurized canister, such that said outer end of said first leg can flex toward and pivot about said outer end of said second leg to permit at least one of said manually manipulable element and said spring to contact said nozzle and divert said nozzle from axial alignment with said canister to open the valve and release said substance.
- 18. The actuator apparatus of claim 17, wherein said spring is substantially L-shaped.
- 19. The actuator apparatus of claim 17, wherein said second leg defines an enclosed perimeter of said opening.
- 20. A dispenser, comprising:a housing sized to enclose a pressurized canisters; and an actuator apparatus as recited in claim 17.
- 21. A dispenser for dispensing a substance from a pressurized canister having a nozzle and a selectively operable valve that is open when the nozzle is diverted from axial alignment with said canister and closed otherwise, said dispenser comprising:an elongate housing for a pressurized canister, said elongate housing having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein said distal end has an aperture formed therein; a manually manipulable element; and a spring within said elongate housing, said spring including a first leg and a second leg having an opening therein through which the nozzle of the pressurized canister can extend, wherein an outer end of said first leg is attached to said manually manipulable element and wherein an outer end of second leg is retained substantially stationary with respect to the pressurized canister, such that said outer end of said first leg can flex toward and pivot about said outer end of said second leg to permit at least one of said manually manipulable element and said spring to contact said nozzle and divert said nozzle from axial alignment with said canister to open the valve and release said substance through said aperture.
- 22. The dispenser of claim 21, and further comprising the pressurized canister.
- 23. The dispenser of claim 21, wherein said spring is substantially L-shaped.
- 24. The dispenser of claim 21, said elongate housing including at least a main body and a selectively removable proximal end piece.
- 25. The dispenser of claim 21, said elongate housing having an attachment loop toward said proximal end.
- 26. The dispenser of claim 21, wherein said elongate housing is substantially elliptical in radial cross-section, said substantially elliptical radial cross-section having a larger major axis and a smaller minor axis, wherein said manually manipulable element is disposed adjacent said minor axis at an exterior of said elongate housing.
- 27. The dispenser of claim 26, said elongate housing having a textured region on an exterior side opposite said manually manipulable element.
- 28. The dispenser of claim 21, said elongate housing having an axial length of less than 13 centimeters.
- 29. The dispenser of claim 21, and further comprising at least one ridge integral to an interior of said elongate housing that engages said outer end of said second leg to retain said outer end of said second leg substantially stationary with respect to said pressurized canister.
- 30. The dispenser of claim 21, and further comprising at least one sidewall within an interior of said elongate housing, said sidewall having a upper surface, a length and a profile, wherein said profile of said sidewall limits an extent of movement of said manually manipulable element and said outer end of said first leg toward said outer end of said second leg.
- 31. The dispenser of claim 30, said length of said sidewall including a safety region at which said profile prevents diversion of said nozzle from axial alignment with said canister.
- 32. The dispenser of claim 30, wherein at least one of said upper surface and said actuator includes at least one protrusion providing tactile feedback regarding a position of said actuator.
- 33. The dispenser of claim 9, wherein said selectively removable proximal end piece has a detent arranged to engage a surface of said main body when said selectively removable proximal end piece is assembled together with said main body.
- 34. The actuator apparatus of claim 17, wherein said spring is formed of beryllium copper.
- 35. The dispenser of claim 21, wherein said spring is formed of beryllium copper.
- 36. The dispenser of claim 24, wherein said selectively removable proximal end piece has a detent arranged to engage a surface of said main body when said selectively removable proximal end piece is assembled together with said main body.
US Referenced Citations (22)
Foreign Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Date |
Country |
1057353 |
Feb 1967 |
GB |
2282905A |
Apr 1995 |
GB |
WO 8100997 |
Apr 1981 |
WO |