Patent Application
20130167601
The present invention is directed to an emergency glass breaking device, and more particularly to a spring-loaded emergency glass breaking device that is easy and safe to use, and is conveniently incorporated into a vehicle key.
Glass breaking devices can be used in emergencies to gain access to or provide escape from an automobile or building. Specialized glass-breaking devices typically include a handle and a spike. The handle is swung like a hammer to impact the spike on a pane of glass to be broken. The spike is made of steel and is pointed to maximize the breaking power of the device.
Most glass breaking devices are available to emergency personnel such as firefighters, police, and emergency medical technicians. Some of these devices are combined with other tools that are likely to be used by emergency personnel. For example, the Res-Q-Rench® available from Task Force Tips, Inc. of Valparaiso, Ind. includes a glass-breaking spike, a spanner wrench, a pry tool, a gas main wrench slot, and a seat belt cutter for extricating automobile passengers who are unable to remove their seat belts. Such devices are convenient and work extremely well, but they are not typically available to the general public.
Another device that is available to the general public is the ResQMe™ sold by nov8 of Santa Barbara, Calif. The ResQMe™ auto safety device includes a glass-breaking spike and a seat belt cutting razor incorporated into a unit having an eyelet that can be attached to a key ring. A similar design is seen in WO/2002076554 to Steingass, et al. Unfortunately, though the device is relatively small, it is somewhat larger than many people prefer to put on their key ring. Therefore, the ResQMe™ auto safety device is typically placed in a receptacle or door pocket close to the driver. In an emergency, the device may be difficult to find, especially if other items have been placed on top of and buried it.
Thus, there is a need for a glass breaking device that is effective and more easily accessible to the driver in an emergency.
The present invention addresses the above-described problems by providing a multipurpose key that can be used to break through vehicle glass or cut through seatbelts in an emergency. By providing the emergency functions on the key itself, they are always available to the driver or passenger(s).
A multipurpose key for use by vehicle operators in the case of emergency. In addition to conventional key electronics, the key including a glass-breaking spike and an open slot cutter for cutting seat belts and the like. Optionally, the key may also include a light, an alarm, and other safety-related functions. A key portion may be separable from the glass-breaking spike portion to provide further flexibility.
In accordance with one aspect, a multipurpose key comprises a vehicle key extending from a key housing, and a glass-breaking portion within a housing including a spring-loaded spike for breaking vehicular glass. The key housing and the housing of the glass-breaking portion are rigidly connected so as to form a single key unit. The combined vehicle key and its key housing and the glass-breaking portion within its housing form a single key unit having dimensions of: a length of between about 2-3 inches (5-8 cm), a width of between about 1-1.5 inches (2.5-3.3 cm), and a thickness of between about 0.375-0.75 inches (0.9-1.9 cm). In one embodiment, the glass breaking portion and its housing are separable from the vehicle key and its key housing such as with a tongue and groove arrangement which can be slid apart.
In a second embodiment a multipurpose key comprise a vehicle key extending from a key housing, and a glass-breaking portion within a housing including a spring-loaded spike for breaking vehicular glass. The key housing and the housing of the glass-breaking portion are rigidly connected in a primary configuration so as to form a single key unit, wherein the glass breaking portion and its housing are selectively separable from the vehicle key and its key housing. The glass breaking portion housing and the key housing are coupled together with a tongue and groove arrangement which can be slid apart.
The separable or non-separable multipurpose key may further include a seat belt cutting portion and a corresponding housing, wherein the key housing, the housing of the glass-breaking portion and the housing of the seat belt cutting portion are rigidly connected so as to form a single key unit. The housing of the glass-breaking portion may be sandwiched between the housing of the seat belt cutting portion and the key housing, or alternatively the housing of the seatbelt cutting portion is sandwiched between the housing of the glass-breaking portion and the key housing. Desirably, the seatbelt cutting portion comprises a slot with an angled razor edge therein, and further includes a protective tab that mates with the slot to cover the razor edge. The glass-breaking portion further may have a light on one end, and the multipurpose key has an on-off switch for the light. If the glass breaking portion and its housing are separable from the vehicle key and its key housing, the light switch is on the housing of the glass-breaking portion.
A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the invention will become apparent by reference to the remaining portions of the specification and drawings.
Features and advantages of the present invention will become appreciated as the same become better understood with reference to the specification, claims, and appended drawings wherein:
The present invention is directed to an improved emergency tool incorporated into a multipurpose vehicle key having a glass-breaking spike and seat belt cutting razor therein. The glass-breaking spike is sufficiently robust to break through most tempered vehicle window glass, although such devices are typically more effective in breaking side windows rather than windshields. Of course, those of skill in the art will understand that the strength of the glass-breaking spike can be increased to break windshields too.
The multipurpose key 20 includes conventional key features such as lock 30 and unlock 32 buttons, and an alarm button 34. Internal circuitry (not shown) including a radio-frequency transmitter enable the driver to unlock and lock the vehicle door from a distance, and to set off a car alarm with the button 34. In addition, a light 36 actuated by a switch 38 may be provided. Again, the internal battery and circuitry components are conventional and will not be shown. The key 20 further may include a small ring 40 enabling attachment of other accoutrements or secondary keys typically found on vehicular key rings.
The visible part of the glass-breaking portion 24 includes a longitudinally-oriented outer housing 50 and a distal end of a safety sheath 52 that moves longitudinally within the housing. The glass-breaking function is activated by pressing the visible portion of the safety sheath 52 against glass until an internal spring causes a spike to project through a hole (not shown) on the left side of the safety sheath 52. The functional components of an exemplary glass-breaking portion 24 will be described below with respect to
The seatbelt cutting portion 26 includes a molded housing part 60 that defines a longitudinally-oriented tapered slot 62 opening to the left side. A razor edge 64 mounts across the slot 62 at an angle and recessed from the open end of the slot. The razor edge 64 is sufficiently sharp and positioned at an optimum angle such that it may easily cut through seatbelts that are fed into the slot 62. A protective tab 66 mates with the slot 62 to cover the razor edge 64 when not in use. Preferably, the tab 66 includes a detente feature that permits it to be snapped in position over the slot 62, and easily pulled off when a person needs to utilize the razor edge 64.
The multipurpose key 20 has a non-separable construction whereby the longitudinally-oriented housing 28, glass-breaking portion 24, and seat belt cutting portion 26 are fixed together. The housings of each of these three elements may be molded as a single part, or they may be molded separately and affixed together during manufacture, such as with a suitable adhesive. More likely, the three housings may be formed in two similar halves which are adhered or otherwise bonded together along a central plane. The key housing 28 and the housings of the glass-breaking portion 24 and seat belt cutting portion 26 are therefore rigidly connected so that the combined housings and their functional elements form a single key unit. A single key unit in this sense means a unit that can easily be pocketed as a unitary object like a standard vehicle key. There are no relatively moving parts; like a key having a keyring with other keys and/or objects attached. The entire single key unit has a length of between about 2-3 inches (5-8 cm), a width of between about 1-1.5 inches (2.5-3.3 cm), and a thickness of between about 0.375-0.75 inches (0.9-1.9 cm). There may be numerous permutations of shapes depending on the vehicle maker, but the important thing is the single multipurpose key unit is a rigid unitary object that mimics a standard vehicle key.
Though a tongue and groove coupling is shown for the separable emergency and key portions of the multipurpose key 20″ of
The present application also contemplates alternative multipurpose keys, such as key switches and key fobs which are essentially keyless entry devices. For instance, an alternative to the multipurpose key 20 of
Referring to
In each of the figures, the glass-breaking portion 24 can be seen as including: the housing 50, the safety sheath 52, a glass breaking spike 106, a spike shaft 114, a spike shaft collar 112, a safety sheath spring 132, and a spike shaft spring 134. All of the components of this preferred embodiment are symmetrical about and move parallel to a longitudinal axis (horizontal in the drawings) with the exception of the spike 106 and spike spring 134 which are oriented at an angle for functional reasons as described below.
The glass-breaking portion 24 includes the safety sheath 52 that is in a shape that essentially matches the housing 50 shape so that the two can move relative to one another with ease. In the illustrated example, the safety sheath 52 is cylindrical and coaxial with the cylindrical housing 50. The housing 50 and the safety sheath 52 both move longitudinally during operation of the glass-breaking portion 24.
The purpose of the safety sheath 52 is to shield a glass breaking spike 106 when not in use so that the spike 106 does not snag or puncture the user, pockets, purses, or anything else that may come into contact with the spike 106. The safety sheath 52 also serves to cock the glass breaking spike 106 as the tool 20 is pressed against the glass. The safety sheath 52 is the only portion of the tool 20 intended to make contact with the glass prior to the spike 106.
Further, the exposed end of the safety sheath 52 is preferably closed except for an opening 108 large enough that the spike 106 can extend through it when breaking glass. The opening 108 is eccentric with respect to the tool 20 or the safety sheath 52 so that it matches the eccentric travel path of the spike 106, as described below. The end of the safety sheath 52 preferably includes ridged embossments 110 that help tolerate slight variations from perpendicular alignment when it is pushed against glass. The embossments also provide a way for water to escape inside of the tool 20 and the impact area when the tool 20 is operated underwater. It is important to provide for this escape of water to avoid the risk that the spike 106 could be slowed down excessively when operated under water.
The geometry of the tip of the spike 106 should not be too blunt or too sharp. If too blunt, the spike 106 will not be able to cause enough stress in the glass to cause breakage. If too sharp, the spike 106 may not be durable enough to withstand impact with the glass, thereby blunting the spike.
Preferably, the spike 106 has a conical tip with a 90° cone angle. The tip of the conical portion of the spike is preferably a flat area with a 0.003-0.007 inch (0.076-0.178 mm) diameter. The spike 106 should be of sufficient hardness to retain proper tip geometry when impacting glass, such as 01 drill rod, heat treated to a Rockwell hardness of 60-65 on the C-scale.
Alternatively, a carbide ball of 0.04 inch (1 mm) in diameter (such as used in ball point pens) could be press-fit into the end of an unheated treated spike body. This arrangement would have a high degree of hardness and an extremely consistent geometry.
The spike 106 includes the collar 112 affixed to the shaft 114. The spike 106 and collar 112 can be threaded together, snap-fit together, or secured with a suitable adhesive, and can be permanently attached or be replaceable. In one embodiment, there is a snap-fit between a ⅛ inch (3.2 mm) diameter spike shaft 114 and a plastic collar 112 to form the spike 106.
The spike shaft 114 has a reduced-diameter section that defines a shoulder 116 that limits the rearward travel of the spike 106 as the tool 20 is being cocked. The shoulder 116 engages a housing bore 118 when the tool 20 is in the cocked position and just prior to release.
The cross-sectional views, such as
The interior of the safety sheath 52 is generally cylindrical and, as described above, is closed at its end to provide a stop for preventing the spike shaft 114 from being forced out of the housing 50 when the glass-breaking portion 24 is operated.
The housing 50 has integral tongues 152 that mate with grooves 153 in the safety sheath 52 to permit coaxial movement, but prevent relative rotation of these two parts. A tab 151 and a tongue 152 interact to form a snap that retains the safety sheath 52 in the housing 50 with a snap-fit.
The safety sheath 52 has a portion removed (on the top, as viewed) to define a shoulder 150 on which the collar 112 bears when in the positions depicted in
The spike collar 112 has a collar ramp 166 on its inner edge. The spike collar ramp 166 interacts with a housing ramp 160 during operation.
As described above, the spike 52 is typically maintained in a position that is slightly out of coaxial alignment with the other elements of the glass-breaking portion 24 (see
During operation, the glass-breaking portion 24 proceeds through essentially four primary operating positions: the ready position (
In the ready position, the safety sheath 52 has its ridged embossments 110 placed against the glass, the spike 106 is near its outermost position (left-most) relative to the housing 50, and the glass breaking spike 106 is resting against the shoulder 150 of the safety sheath 52.
Also in the ready position (
In the cocked position (
Also in response to the user pressing on the housing's outer surface, the safety sheath spring 132 is compressed so that the safety sheath 52 can remain in contact with the glass, but also slide into the housing 50, as illustrated.
The spike 106 has been moved inward (to the right) relative to the housing 50 by the shoulder 150 on the safety sheath 52, but the spike shaft ramp 166 has not engaged (in any appreciable amount) the housing ramp 160.
In the fire position (
When the housing 50 has been moved to the fire position (
During the additional movement the housing 50 has forced the housing ramp 160 into contact with the spike ramp 166. The engagement of the housing ramp 160 and the spike ramp 166 realigns the spike 106 toward the axis against the bias of the spike shaft spring 134, which in turn disengages the spike 106 from the housing ramp 160. When disengaged, the spike spring 136 is no longer compressed and will, in an instant, expand to move the spike 106 outwardly (to the left as viewed). In the illustrated embodiment, the estimated velocity of the spike at impact is 40 feet/second in air or at a slightly slower velocity (about 90% of the total velocity will be retained) when operated under water.
The result of the spike spring 136 expanding is that the spike 106 impacts and breaks the glass (
All of the above-described movements can take place as a result of a single pushing movement by the user, and they all occur in a short time. Thus, the glass-breaking portion 24 is useful in emergencies and can be used with little thought as to its operation.
Suitable materials for the glass breaker components include, but are not limited to: housing (plastic such as nylon); safety sheath (low strength impact resistant plastic such as polyethylene); spike shaft (metal such as carbon steel); sleeve (High Impact plastic such as nylon, or lightweight metal such as aluminum); spike shaft collar (preferably a standard retaining ring made from spring steel); hammer (low carbon steel); and springs (music wire).
Although the invention has been described and illustrated with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example, and that numerous changes in the combination and arrangement of parts can be resorted to by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention, as hereinafter claimed.
