Personal emergency device

Abstract

The invention relates to a portable, personal alarm device. The device features a housing comfortably held within one hand of its user. The device provides emergency tools, particularly in the event of an automotive emergency such as a vehicle accident. These features include a mechanism to cut through the web material of vehicle's seatbelts, and a mechanism to break the vehicle's windows. Both such features providing emergency means of escape for the vehicle's occupants. The inventive device further includes electronic circuits providing a flashlight function, and an emergency flasher, and also an audible alarm function. The device is water resistant and also may be provided from materials which make it visible in the dark, prior to activation of any of its functions. The inventive device also serves the routine function of a key ring so that it will always be available to the user in the event of an automotive emergency.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the personal emergency device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device of FIG. 1, also showing the blade cover removed from the housing of the device;

FIG. 3( a) is a cut-away plan view showing the arrangement of internal elements of the device of FIG. 1 when the device is in a state ready for use;

FIG. 3( b) also is a cut-away plan view showing the device of FIG. 1 when the window glass breaking mechanism is deployed;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the device of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of electronics suitable for use in the device of FIG. 1.

Claims

1. A portable emergency device comprising: a housing;a glass break mechanism disposed in said housing;a cutting mechanism within said housing; andan electric circuit means disposed with said housing.

2. A portable personal emergency device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said glass break mechanism includes a contact pin drivable from within said housing to contact glass with a breaking force.

3. A portable personal emergency device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said glass break mechanism includes a spring means for generating said breaking force.

4. A portable personal emergency device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said spring means includes a force spring and a reset spring, andwherein said glass break mechanism further comprises a pin guide fixed to said contact pin and a guide piece for guiding said pin, andwherein said force spring drives said pin in a direction outwardly from said housing.

5. A portable personal emergency device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said guide piece substantially is tubular with an open upper section defining a wall section facing said pin guide, andwherein said force spring urges said pin guide into abutment with said wall section of said guide piece to place said pin in a loaded state, ready for use.

6. A portable personal emergency device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said force spring contacts a horizontal rib in said housing, said rib causing said force spring to orient itself and said pin along an inclined axis that makes an angle with respect to a horizontal axis through a cavity in said housing, said cavity containing said reset spring, said force spring, said pin and said pin guide.

7. A portable personal emergency device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said reset spring coaxially surrounds said force spring, and said pin,wherein said reset spring abutts against said guide piece, andwherein said force spring and said pin pivot about 5° between said inclined axis and said horizontal axis within said reset spring.

8. A portable personal emergency device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said guide piece has an opening, andwherein said cavity has an inner wall with a disengagement ramp for aligning said pin with said opening of said guide piece whereupon said force spring drives said pin into window glass with said breaking force.

9. A portable personal emergency device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cutting mechanism comprises a blade mounted in said housing.

10. A portable personal emergency device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said housing comprises a main portion, an upper projecting portion connected to said main portion so as to define a recess between said main and upper portions, and a blade cover receivable within said slot,wherein said blade is mounted in said main portion of said housing so as to occupy a section of said recess, andwherein said blade cover sheaths said blade when said cover is received within said slot.

11. A portable personal emergency device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said blade cover includes a key ring.

12. A portable personal emergency device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said blade cover comprises photoluminescent material.

13. A portable personal emergency device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electric circuit means comprises visible light means for selectively providing constant light output to provide a flashlight function, and intermittent light output to provide an emergency alarm function.

14. A portable personal emergency device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said electric circuit means further comprises a circuit board, contact means for providing electrical power from a battery to said circuit board, manually operable means disposed at surfaces of said housing for controlling circuits on said circuit board, and audible alarm means connected to circuit board.

15. A portable personal emergency device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said visible light means comprises at least one LED that emits white light and at least one LED that emits red light, andwherein said audible alarm means comprises a piezoelectric speaker.

16. A portable personal emergency device as claimed in claim 15, wherein said housing includes a translucent dome covering said LEDs.