Patent Application
20180177252
The present invention relates to self-defense devices. More specifically, the present invention provides a self-defense glove having a pepper spray canister, at least one electrode configured to deliver an electrical shock and a control on the palm portion configured to actuate the pepper spray canister and electrode.
Many individuals recognize that there is a risk of being attacked in public places. Particularly when walking alone at night, there is a risk that an individual will be attacked by a mugger or other assailant. Individuals often carry various means of protection on their persons in order to provide self-defense in case of an attack or to deter a suspected assailant from attacking. Some individuals carry self-defense weapons such as batons, stun guns, firearms, knives, and the like. One drawback to these devices is that they require an individual be close to the attacker for them to be affective, which places the individual in danger. Additionally, some of these devices, particularly knives and firearms, are often deadly, and individuals may not wish to inflict deadly force on an attacker.
A more effective self-defense device exists that allows users to deter attackers from a distance using an irritating pepper spray aimed at the attacker's face. The pepper spray irritates the eyes, mouth, and nostrils of the assailant, which causes them to desist or become incapacitated due to the discomfort. Pepper spray is normally contained in a spray canister. Typical pepper spray canisters are carried by a user and have a trigger that the user can depress with their finger in order to dispense pepper spray from the canister.
Pepper spray is often very effective at repelling assailants and allows individuals to do so from a distance. However, in order for a pepper spray canister to be effective at deterring a surprise attack, the individual must already be holding the pepper spray canister before the attack occurs. The pepper spray canister therefore occupies the individual's hand and prevents the individual from using their hand for other tasks. Additionally, pepper spray canisters do not have prominent warning labels to notify would-be attackers that the individual is armed with a self-defense device. Such a warning decreases the likelihood the individual will be attacked in the first place, providing additional pre-emptive self-defense. Therefore, there is need for a self-defense device that allows users to utilize a pepper spray canister while still allowing the individual use of both hands, wherein the same device displays a warning to would-be assailants in order to deter attacks.
Furthermore, a self-defense glove comprises at least one electrode may be desirable. An electrode configured to deliver an electrical shock to a target may be useful to a wearer if they are attacked and need a method of defense for themselves at a close range.
In light of existing self-defense devices in the prior art, it is submitted that the present invention substantially diverges in design elements from the prior art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing self-defense devices. In this regard the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of self-defense devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a self-defense glove wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when carrying pepper spray for self-defense.
The self-defense glove includes a body having a palm portion, a rear portion, and a plurality of finger openings, each of the finger openings configured to receive a finger therethrough. A pocket is disposed on the rear portion, wherein the pocket is configured to receive a spray canister having an actuator. A control is disposed on the palm portion of the body. The control is in operative communication with the actuator of the spray canister via a control circuit. The control is configured to cause pepper spray to be emitted from the spray canister when activated.
One object of the present invention is to provide a self-defense glove having all of the advantages of existing self-defense devices and none of the disadvantages.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a self-defense glove having a warning symbol on an exterior surface thereof in order to deter would-be assailants.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a self-defense glove having a light on an exterior surface thereof in order to illuminate the wearer's surroundings and provide additional safety to the wearer.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a self-defense glove having at least one electrode embedded therein wherein the electrode is configured to deliver an electrical shock to a target.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.
Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the self-defense glove. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for providing self-defense capabilities to a wearer. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.
Referring now to
The self-defense glove 11 further comprises a pocket 19 disposed on the rear side 14. The pocket 19 is configured to receive a pepper spray canister 20 therein. In the illustrated embodiment, the pocket 19 includes a circular cross-section in order to accommodate a cylindrical spray canister 20, however, other shapes and configurations of the pocket 19 may be utilized. The pepper spray canister 20 includes an actuator 18 thereon. The actuator 18 is configured to dispense the contents of the pepper spray canister 20 when actuated via a control disposed on the palm side of the self-defense glove (not visible). The direction of spray of the pepper spray canister 20 is preferably in the direction of the fingers 22 of the wearer, allowing the wearer to easily aim the pepper spray canister 20 at an attacker.
A warning symbol 13 is disposed on the rear side 14. The warning symbol 13 is preferably one that notifies others that the wearer of the self-defense glove 11 is armed with a self-defense device. For example, the warning symbol 13 may be a radio-active symbol, which is a universal indicator of danger. In the illustrated embodiment, the self-defense glove 11 further comprises a secondary warning 21 prompting unwanted individuals to stay away from the wearer of the self-defense glove 11.
The self-defense glove 11 additionally comprises a light 17 such as an LED disposed on the rear side 14. The light 17 may be oriented in any desired direction when the user orients the self-defense glove 11. The light 17 may be controlled via the same control as the actuator 18 of the pepper spray canister 20. Alternatively, the light 17 may be controlled via a dedicated light control disposed on either the rear side 14 or the palm side of the self-defense glove.
Furthermore, the self-defense glove 11 additionally comprises at least one electrode 40. The electrode 40 is configured to release an electrical current therethrough, so as to deliver an electrical shock to a target. The electrode 40 is configured to be exposed when a fist is formed by a wearer of the self-defense glove 11. The electrode 40 is operably attached to the actuator 18 such as to activate an electrical current through the electrode when the control is engaged and the actuator is actuated. A power source 41 is operably attached to the electrode so as to generate an electrical current when the actuator is actuated.
Referring now to
In the illustrated embodiment, the self-defense glove 11 further comprises a fastener 27 that is utilized to tightly secure the self-defense glove 11 to a user's hand. The fastener 27 may include buckles, snaps, hook and loop material, or any other suitable fastener 27 capable of securing the self-defense glove 11 to the wearer's hand. Alternatively, the self-defense glove 11 may be composed of an elastic material that allows the self-defense glove 11 to stretch and fit snuggly over a wearer's hand. The fastener 27 may either be disposed on the palm side 26 or the front side of the self-defense glove 11.
Referring now to
The power source 33 is in operative communication with the control circuit 32 of the self-defense glove and provides electrical power to the various components of the self-defense glove. The control circuit 32 is configured to enact the various functions of the self-defense glove. The control circuit 32 includes a control 35 such as a button or level disposed on the palm side of the self-defense glove. The control circuit further includes a light 36 and an actuator 34 of a pepper spray canister. The control 35 is in operative communication with the actuator 34 of the pepper spray canister and the light 36. When the control 35 is activated, for example, via depression of the button, the control is configured to cause the actuator 34 to actuate, which in turn dispenses the contents of the pepper spray canister. In one embodiment, the light 36 is configured to be controlled via the control 35. In an alternate embodiment, there may be a second control 35 that is configured to control the light 36. The light 36 may maintain a variety of illumination settings, such as constantly lit, strobing, or off.
It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in various embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 15/154,621 filed on May 13, 2016 which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/160,843 filed on May 13, 2015. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62160843 | May 2015 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 15154621 | May 2016 | US |
| Child | 15901544 | US |
