Claims
- 1. A multi-purpose self defense baton comprising:
- (a) a handle portion including:
- (i) a central portion; and
- (ii) a housing member connected to one end of said central portion;
- (b) a flashlight portion connected to the other end of said central portion;
- (c) at least one telescoping member slidably disposed within said housing member;
- (d) a tip member replaceably attached to a distal end of said at least one telescoping member, said tip member having a periphery which extends beyond the periphery of said at least one telescoping member;
- (e) means for expanding said at least one telescoping member, said expanding means including:
- (i) a spring guide rod disposed substantially coaxially within said housing member, one end of said spring guide rod being connected to said central portion; and
- (ii) a release spring, at least a portion of which is disposed around said spring guide rod, said spring being compressed when said at least one telescoping member is in a collapsed configuration;
- (f) releasable latching means for maintaining said at least one telescoping member in the collapsed configuration, said releaseable latching means comprising a bayonet-type latch which includes:
- (i) a pin extending from said housing member; and
- (ii) a groove in the periphery of said tip member, said groove adapted to receive and releasably retain said pin; and
- (g) securing means for receiving a user's finger to secure said baton to said user's hand, said securing means comprising a ring rotatably attached to a swivel member, said swivel member being rotatably attached to a side of said handle portion.
- 2. The baton in accordance with claim 1 comprising two telescoping members, a second telescoping member being slidably disposed within a first telescoping member which is slidably disposed within said housing member.
- 3. The baton in accordance with claim 2 where said ring comprises a key ring.
- 4. The baton in accordance with claim 1 wherein said flashlight portion comprises:
- (i) a battery housing attached to the other end of said central portion;
- (ii) a bulb housing connected to said battery housing; and
- (iii) activation means for effecting the illumination of a bulb disposed within said bulb housing.
- 5. A baton in accordance with claim 4 wherein said activation means comprises a rotatably connected bulb housing for advancing a terminal of a bulb disposed within said bulb housing into electrical contact with a terminal of a battery disposed within said battery housing.
- 6. The baton in accordance with claim 3 wherein said telescoping members and said housing member are tapered from a larger end to a smaller end.
- 7. The baton in accordance with claim 6 wherein said means for maintaining said telescoping members in an expanded configuration comprises sizing said larger end of said tapered telescoping member to engage in a friction fit with respect to the smaller end of a surrounding tapered member.
- 8. The baton in accordance with claim 7 wherein said release spring, when at least partially compressed, extends from said central portion to the end of said second telescoping member when said telescoping members are in said expanded configuration.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 011,129, filed Feb. 5, 1987, now abandoned, which is a continuation in part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 810,608, filed Dec. 19, 1985, now abandoned.
This invention relates to self defense apparatus and more particularly to a combination expandable baton and flashlight having improved handling means.
Batons, sometimes known as night sticks or billy clubs, have been proven effective for warding off attackers. Combining such batons with flashlights provides the additional advantage of having a light source for signaling or searching. Combinations of batons and lights are shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,489,305 and 2,260,639. The major difficulties with the apparatuses disclosed in these patents are that they are too bulky to be conveniently carried in pocket or purse and they are relatively difficult to handle and manipulate. This latter difficulty can cause a severe compromise in the effectiveness of the apparatus for self defense.
Attempts have been made to facilitate handling and manipulation of batons. One such attempt, the use of a side handle, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,479,171. However, the addition of a side-handle makes this apparatus even more bulky than its predecessors and therefore even more inconvenient to carry. Furthermore, the baton could slip out of the users hand while attempting to manipulate it during a confrontation with an attacker. Although U.S. Pat. No. 257,227 discloses the use of a wrist strap to secure the night stick in place, its use is problematical in that quickly reobtaining an effective grip on the night stick could prove difficult while the night stick is wildly swinging about the wrist strap during the heat of a confrontation.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a baton having a relatively small size for ease in carrying on the person while being expandable for use.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a baton having an improved handling and gripping means.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a baton, in combination with a flashlight, which may be collapsed to relatively small dimensions.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a baton including means for preventing the baton from slipping out of the hand of the user, which means are also effective to enhance the maneuverability of the baton.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a multipurpose baton having means for preventing the baton from slipping out of the hand of the user, which means also serves as key retaining means.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following description of one form of the invention.
The present invention is directed to an expandable baton having a flashlight disposed in one end thereof. The baton comprises at least one spring-loaded, telescoping member which slides into the handle when the baton is collapsed A ring is rotatably attached to the side of the handle. The telescoping member has a quick release which is operable by a thumb or finger of a person grasping the device. In use, the user grasps the device, inserting one of the fingers of the grasping hand through the ring. In the preferred embodiment, the user operates the quick release means by rotating the end of the telescoping portion with the thumb of the grasping hand. The spring causes the telescoping portion to extend to its limit. By releasing the grasp on the handle, while maintaining the finger through the ring, the baton may be rotated by the user thereby changing the orientation of the extended portion with respect to the hand, without releasing control of the baton. In this way, the baton can be quickly manipulated as required for self defense. The ring is also useable as a key ring for retaining keys thereon.
US Referenced Citations (24)
Foreign Referenced Citations (4)
| Number |
Date |
Country |
| 763454 |
May 1934 |
FRX |
| 802983 |
Sep 1936 |
FRX |
| 322091 |
May 1957 |
FRX |
| 265020 |
Dec 1927 |
ITX |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (3)
| Entry |
| "Black Belt" Martial Arts Magazine, Ads from pp. 64 and 112, Oct. 1987 Issue. |
| "Romatron" pamphlet for Adult Key Chain & 5 Mode Self Defense System (Copywrite: Bontron, Inc. 1986). |
| Black Belt magazine published in Feb. of 1987. |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
| Parent |
11129 |
Feb 1987 |
|
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
| Parent |
810608 |
Dec 1985 |
|
Patent Grant
4819137
