Dispensing – Simulations
Patent
1989-12-29
1991-04-30
Shaver, Kevin P.
Dispensing
Simulations
222 83, 222 87, 222175, 222182, 222192, B67B 724
Patent
active
050110446
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Basic to the concept of self-preservation is the instinct to protect oneself from attack by another. Over the years man has developed a number of means to ward off attack by the would-be assailant. One such means involves the use of obnoxious, repulsive chemicals in proximity to the would-be assailant which renders the environment in the immediate area so disagreeable that the assailant is forced to retire before making an attack.
There are a number of devices known for dispensing obnoxious chemicals by the would-be attack victim. Several dispense the chemical through a valve assembly by means of a pressurized gas. U.S. Pat. No. 4,241,850 discloses a fluid container located inside an article commonly worn on the person such as a piece of jewelry or a pen. The flow of obnoxious material is controlled by a safety lock means. The obnoxious material is preferably ejected under pressure. U.S. Pat. No. 4,550,861 discloses a lachrymator/dye dispensing apparatus which sprays obnoxious material under pressure through a spool valve. U.S. Pat. No. 4,061,249 discloses a dispenser ring which contains an irritant substance under pressure which is releasable upon activation of a valve assembly.
Repulsive or obnoxious material can also be dispensed without added pressure. The 4,241,850 patent, described above, also states alternatively that an article of jewelry containing a concealed chemical reservoir and a safety lock may emit the obnoxious chemical in a slow flowing or oozing manner. U.S. Pat. No. 4,275,820 discloses a protection device which consists of a deformable plastic capsule enclosing a rupturable vial which is broken by applying sufficient pressure to the capsule.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an anti-assault device which is not readily discernible as such but which is nevertheless easily accessible.
It is a further object that the device be easily activated yet be safe from accidental activation without the need for manually-operated safety lock assemblies.
It is a further object that the device be capable of delivering a sufficiently large amount of obnoxious material to virtually ensure retreat by the assailant.
These and other objects will become readily apparent from the description and claims as disclosed herein below.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The anti-assault device of this invention consists of a sealed, rupturable vial, a base with one set of resilient fingers to retain the vial and a second set to support the cover, and a cover having a skirt containing projections which rest upon and engage the second set of resilient fingers and having means for rupturing the vial.
The vial is preferably glass, but may be any other rupturable material which is inert to the obnoxious chemical and will not break absent a forced contact with the rupturing means on the cover. The vial is filled with a foul-smelling repulsive chemical, such as butyl mercaptan, and then sealed prior to placement onto the base.
The base serves both to retain the vial and to support the cover. The base comprises a plate having front and rear faces, an edge, and resilient fingers or prongs extending essentially perpendicular from the front face and positioned adjacent to the edge. At the ends of the fingers opposite the base are engaging tips; each finger has a tip which is directed either inward or outward. All the fingers are sufficiently flexible to permit movement along a radial line using manual force. The fingers having inward directed tips function to engage and retain the sealed vial. The flexibility of the fingers permits the vial to be pushed down over the inward directed tips and retained in position. The fingers having outward directed tips function to temporarily engage the cover.
The cover provides a pleasing appearance to the anti-assault device and contains the rupturing means necessary to break the sealed vial. The cover comprises a plate having front and rear faces, an edge, a skirt attached to the edge and positioned approximately perpendicular to the rear face, and r
REFERENCES:
patent: 2830602 (1958-04-01), Levi
patent: 3228565 (1966-01-01), Stanzel
patent: 4023712 (1977-05-01), Babiak et al.
patent: 4061249 (1977-12-01), Smith
patent: 4135645 (1979-01-01), Kimmel
patent: 4241850 (1980-12-01), Speer
patent: 4275820 (1981-06-01), LeBlond
patent: 4308976 (1982-01-01), Speer et al.
patent: 4353365 (1982-10-01), Hallworth et al.
patent: 4374571 (1983-02-01), Hirvela
patent: 4431118 (1984-02-01), Namdari
patent: 4550861 (1985-11-01), Fay, Sr. et al.
LandOfFree
Anti-assault device does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Anti-assault device, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Anti-assault device will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-635078