U.S. patent application number 10/641503 was filed with the patent office on 2005-02-17 for dual grip walking and defense baton.
Invention is credited to Pickens, Thomas JR..
Application Number | 20050037847 10/641503 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34136368 |
Filed Date | 2005-02-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050037847 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pickens, Thomas JR. |
February 17, 2005 |
Dual grip walking and defense baton
Abstract
A dual grip walking and defense baton comprising a shaft, a
medial grip located axially along a medial region of the shaft, and
an end grip located axially along a region adjacent a first end of
the shaft. The shaft can be telescopically extendible from a second
end and can be fitted with a defense spray and/or a flashlight
mechanism. A contact member can be disposed on the second shaft end
for applying force to an assailant's pressure point. A wrist strap
can be attached to the baton on or adjacent the end grip at a point
distal from the first end of the shaft.
Inventors: |
Pickens, Thomas JR.;
(Palmdale, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FULBRIGHT AND JAWORSKI L L P
PATENT DOCKETING 29TH FLOOR
865 SOUTH FIGUEROA STREET
LOS ANGELES
CA
900172576
|
Family ID: |
34136368 |
Appl. No.: |
10/641503 |
Filed: |
August 14, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/47.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41B 15/027 20130101;
A63B 15/02 20130101; A63B 2225/74 20200801; A63B 15/00
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/047.2 |
International
Class: |
A63B 015/00 |
Claims
1. A baton comprising: a shaft; a medial grip located axially along
a medial region of the shaft; and an end grip located axially along
a region adjacent a first end of the shaft.
2. The baton of claim 1 in which the end grip is formed with a
plurality of configured members axially aligned along one side of
the shaft and which are sized and positioned to accommodate the
fingers of a user when the baton is grasped.
3. The baton of claim 2 in which the configured members of the end
grip extend outwardly of the shaft to define finger holds
therebetween.
4. The baton of claim 3 in which the end grip has four configured
members defining three finger holds.
5. The baton of claim 2 in which the end grip is formed of a
pliable hollow material slip-fit onto said first shaft end.
6. The baton of claim 1 in which the medial grip is formed with a
plurality of configured members axially aligned along and around
the shaft and which are sized and positioned to accommodate the
fingers of a user when the baton is grasped.
7. The baton of claim 6 in which the configured members extend
radially outwardly of the shaft to define finger holds
therebetween.
8. The baton of claim 6 in which the medial grip has five
configured members defining four finger holds.
9. The baton of claim 6 in which the shaft comprises a pair of
axially aligned cylindrical members secured to opposite ends of the
medial grip.
10. The baton of claim 1 in which the shaft is telescopically
extendible.
11. The baton of claim 10 in which the shaft is hollow along at
least a substantial portion of its length and includes an elongate
tubular member telescopically disposed therein, the baton having a
release and retaining mechanism for enabling the tubular member to
be retained in a collapsed telescoped position, to be released to
extend from an end of the shaft, or to be releasably secured in its
extended position.
12. The baton of claim 11 in which the end of the shaft from which
the tubular member extends is at a second end of the shaft,
opposite said first shaft end.
13. The baton of claim 12 in which said release and retaining
mechanism is located adjacent the second end of the shaft.
14. The baton of claim 1 further comprising a replaceable defense
spray container having defense material therein and disposed in one
end of the shaft, the shaft having a first opening through one side
thereof sufficiently sized to enable a user's finger to actuate the
spray container and having a second opening through the opposite
side thereof sufficiently sized to enable defense material to spray
out from the baton.
15. The baton of claim 14 in which the spray container is disposed
in said first shaft end and wherein the end grip is formed with a
plurality of configured members axially aligned along one side of
the shaft and which are sized and positioned to accommodate the
fingers of a user when the baton is grasped so that the spray from
the spray container is directed away from the user.
16. The baton of claim 1 further comprising a flashlight mechanism
disposed on one end of the shaft, the shaft being hollow thereat,
said mechanism including a battery and support therefor within said
hollow one end of the shaft and a bulb and bulb housing.
17. The baton of claim 16 in which said bulb housing protrudes from
said one shaft end.
18. The baton of claim 17 in which said bulb housing has the shape
of an onion dome.
19. The baton of claim 16 in which said flashlight mechanism is
disposed on said first end of the shaft adjacent the end grip.
20. The baton of claim 1 further comprising a contact member on one
end for applying force to an assailant's pressure point.
21. The baton of claim 20 in which the contact member has the shape
of an onion dome.
22. The baton of claim 20 in which the contact member protrudes
from a second end of the shaft, opposite said first shaft end.
23. The baton of claim 1 further comprising a pedometer affixed
thereto.
24. The baton of claim 1 further comprising one or more reflector
bans fitted thereon.
25. The baton of claim 1 further comprising a wrist strap attached
to the baton on or adjacent the end grip at a point distal from the
first end of the shaft.
26. A baton comprising: a shaft hollow along at least a substantial
portion of its length; a medial grip located axially along a medial
region of the shaft formed with a plurality of configured members
axially aligned along and around the shaft and extending radially
outwardly of the shaft to define finger holds therebetween, and
which are sized and positioned to accommodate the fingers of a user
when the baton is grasped; an end grip located axially along a
region adjacent a first end of the shaft formed with a plurality of
configured members axially aligned along one side of the shaft and
extending outwardly of the shaft to define finger holds
therebetween, and which are sized and positioned to accommodate the
fingers of a user when the baton is grasped; and an elongate
tubular member telescopically in the shaft at a second end of the
shaft, opposite said first shaft end, the baton having a release
and retaining mechanism adjacent the second end of the shaft for
enabling the tubular member to be retained in a collapsed
telescoped position, to be released to extend from the second end
of the shaft, or to be releasably secured in its extended
position
27. The baton of claim 26 further comprising a replaceable defense
spray container having defense material therein and disposed in
said first shaft end, the shaft having a first opening through one
side thereof sufficiently sized to enable a user's finger to
actuate the spray container and having a second opening through the
opposite side thereof sufficiently sized to enable defense material
to spray out from the baton, and wherein the plurality of
configured members the end grip are positioned to accommodate the
fingers of a user when the baton is grasped so that the spray from
the spray container is directed away from the user.
28. The baton of claim 26 further comprising a flashlight mechanism
disposed to protrude from the first end of the shaft adjacent the
end grip, the shaft being hollow thereat, said mechanism including
a battery and support therefor within said hollow one end of the
shaft and a bulb and bulb housing.
29. The baton of claim 26 further comprising a contact member
protruding from the second shaft end and having the shape of an
onion dome for applying force to an assailant's pressure point.
30. The baton of claim 26 further comprising a pedometer affixed
thereto.
31. The baton of claim 26 further comprising one or more reflector
bans fitted thereon.
32. The baton of claim 26 further comprising a wrist strap attached
to the baton on or adjacent the end grip at a point distal from the
first end of the shaft.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention is directed to a baton which may be carried by
a person while walking and/or for self protection in the event of a
threat of bodily harm.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A wide variety of batons have been devised for personal
protection and for use by police officers. Batons have been devised
with medially located grips for balance, with contact members to
apply force against an assailant, with attached or incorporated
pepper spray devices, with flashlight attachments, and with looped
wrist straps to facilitate carrying the baton. U.S. Pat. Nos.
4,522,398 and 5,086,377 provide batons having medially positioned
grips recognizing the advantage of balanced weight distribution,
the latter patent also describing the benefits of physically
incorporating a flashlight mechanism and an aerosol spray device in
the baton. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,160,140, 5,370,407, 5,919,093,
6,261,188 and 6,306,040 provide batons with end grips and
telescoping shafts enabling the batons to have an extended reach.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,728,003 provides a baton formed on an end with a
contact member for applying force to an assailant's pressure point.
Batons with built in pepper spray devices are described in some of
the foregoing patents and in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,673,819, 6,386,726
and 6,499,855. Batons incorporating flashlight mechanisms are
described in some of the foregoing patents and in U.S. Pat. No.
5,347,436. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,957,057, 5,733,195 and 5,938,532
provide batons with wrist straps.
[0003] As illustrated, for example by the aforesaid U.S. Pat. Nos.
5,347,436, 6,386,726 and 6,499,855, police batons are often formed
with two grips, one on the stick portion, the other on a handle
orthogonal to the stick portion, and various such batons contain a
variety of the above-described features. Generally, only one grip
is provided for batons without an orthogonal handle notwithstanding
the incorporation of various of the above described pepper spray
and flashlight devices. The grip is either medially located or on
one end of the baton. In either case, the grip is not in an ideal
position for use with one or the other of such devices.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0004] The present invention provides a baton that can carry a
pepper spray device and/or a flashlight mechanism without the above
disadvantages. A dual grip walking and defense baton is provided
which has a medially located grip as well as an end grip, both
located axially along regions of a baton shaft or stick. The end
grip is located adjacent a first end of the shaft while the
medially located grip is located intermediate the first shaft end
and the opposite, second shaft end. In specific embodiments, the
shaft is telescopically extendible from the second end and the
first shaft is fitted with a defense spray and/or a flashlight
mechanism. In a further embodiment, a contact member is disposed on
the second shaft end for applying force to an assailant's pressure
point. In still further embodiments, a pedometer is affixed to the
baton, one or more reflector bands are fitted to the baton, and a
wrist strap is attached to the baton on or adjacent the end grip at
a point distal from the first end of the shaft.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a baton of this invention;
[0006] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the baton with a shaft
telescopically extended;
[0007] FIG. 3 is a perspective exploded view of the baton;
[0008] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional, unexploded view of the baton,
taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and
[0009] FIG. 5 is a detail view of the release and retaining
mechanism for the telescoping shaft.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] Referring to FIG. 1, a baton 10 comprises a shaft 12 formed
of axially aligned cylindrical members 14 and 16 secured to
opposite ends of a medial grip 18 defining a medial region of the
shaft 12. An end grip 20 is located axially along a region adjacent
a first end 22 of the shaft 12. The medial grip 18 is formed with a
plurality of configured members 24 defining finger holds axially
aligned along and around the shaft 12, which extend radially
outwardly of the shaft and are sized and positioned to accommodate
the fingers of a user when the baton 10 is grasped at its center.
In this embodiment, there are five configured members 24 defining
four finger holds 26.
[0011] The end grip 20 of the baton 10 is also formed with a
plurality of configured members 28 defining finger holds 30 axially
aligned along one side of the shaft, which extend outwardly of the
shaft and are sized and positioned to accommodate the fingers of a
user when the baton 10 is grasped by its end. In this embodiment,
there are four configured members 28 defining three finger holds
30. The end grip 20 is formed of a pliable hollow material, such as
neoprene slip-fit onto the first shaft end 22.
[0012] Referring to FIG. 2, the baton 10 is telescopically
extendible from a second end 36 of the shaft 12, opposite the first
shaft end 22. The shaft 12 is hollow along at least a substantial
portion of its length and includes an elongate tubular member 32,
which is a hollow aluminum cylinder, telescopically disposed in the
shaft 12 and. The baton 10 has a release and retaining mechanism
34, described in more detail hereinafter in connection with FIG. 5,
for enabling the tubular member 32 to be retained in a collapsed
telescoped position, to be released to extend from an end of the
shaft 12, or to be releasably secured in its extended position.
[0013] In a particular embodiment, the centrally located grip 18 is
about 31/2 inches long, about 13/8 wide at the configured members
24 and 11/4 inches at the finger holds 26 which extend about 1/2
inch between adjacent configured members 24. The end grip 20 is
about 43/8 inches long, about 13/4 wide at the configured members
28 and 11/2 inches at the finger holds 26 which extend about 5/8
inch between adjacent configured members 28. The cylindrical
members 14 and 16 of the shaft 12 are about 11/4 inch in outer
diameters and the tubular member 32 is about 131/2 inch long and 1
inch in outer diameter.
[0014] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, in this embodiment, the baton 10
includes a replaceable defense spray container 38 having defense
material such as an aerosol tear gas or pepper spray therein. The
defense spray container 38 is disposed in the first end 22 of the
shaft 12, the shaft 12 having a finger opening 40 through one side
thereof sufficiently sized to enable a user's finger to actuate the
spray container 38, and having a spray opening 42 through the
opposite side thereof sufficiently sized to enable defense material
to spray out from the baton 10. The configured members 28 of the
end grip 20 are sized and positioned to accommodate the fingers of
a user when the baton is grasped so that the spray from the spray
container 38 is directed away from the user.
[0015] A pedometer, shown schematically at 43, is affixed to the
baton adjacent the rear of the release and retaining mechanism 34.
Forward and rear reflector bands, respectively 45 and 47, are
fitted to the baton 10.
[0016] Referring specifically to FIG. 4, in this embodiment, the
baton 10 further includes a flashlight mechanism 44 disposed on the
first end 22 of the shaft 12, the shaft 12 being hollow thereat.
The flashlight mechanism 44 includes a battery 46 and support
therefor within the hollow one end of the shaft 12 and a bulb 48
and bulb housing 50. The bulb housing 50 protrudes from the shaft
end 22 and has the shape of an onion dome.
[0017] Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the baton 10 further has a contact
member 52 on the second end 36 of the shaft 12, carried by the end
of the telescopic tubular member 32. The contact member 52 is
shaped to enable the user to apply painful force to an assailant's
pressure point. In this embodiment, the contact member 52 has the
shape of an onion dome. It has been found that such a shape enables
tremendous pain to be inflicted on an assailant. As
above-described, the bulb housing 50 protruding from the shaft end
22 also has the shape of an onion dome, for balanced aesthetic
purposes.
[0018] Referring to FIGS. 1-4, particularly FIG. 3, a looped wrist
strap 54 is attached to the baton 10 on or adjacent the end grip 20
at a point distal from the first end 22 of the shaft 12. The wrist
strap 54 in conjunction with the finger holds 30, enables the user
to comfortably hold the baton 10 while walking. If suddenly
assailed, the wrist strap enable the user to quickly bring the
baton 10 to a defensive position to block blows and to inflict
pressure point pain.
[0019] The baton 10 can be used without telescopically extending it
or it can be extended quickly and easily. Referring to FIGS. 4 and
5, details of the release and retaining mechanism 34 are shown. The
tubular member 32 is formed with a forward slot 56 and rearward
slot 58. The release and retaining mechanism 34 includes a latch
member 60 loaded to a lock position by a coil spring 62 to
releasably lock into the forward slot 56 when the tubular member 32
is retracted and releasably lock into the rearward slot 58 when the
tubular member 32 is extended. The latch member is raised from its
lock position by a pivot 64 connected to the latch member 60 at one
end and to a push button 66 loaded to an up position by a coil
spring 62. By pushing the button 66 down, the latch member 60 is
raised up out of engagement with the slot 56 or 58 enabling the
tubular member to be retained in a collapsed telescoped position,
to be released to extend from an end of the shaft, or to be
releasably secured in its extended position.
[0020] Although the present invention and its advantages have been
described in detail, it should be understood that various changes,
substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the
appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is
not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments described
in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will
readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention,
means presently existing or later to be developed that perform
substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same
result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be
utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the
appended claims are intended to include such means within their
scope.
* * * * *