CA2279832A1 - Auto-activated self-defense alarm apparatus - Google Patents
Auto-activated self-defense alarm apparatus Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2279832A1 CA2279832A1 CA002279832A CA2279832A CA2279832A1 CA 2279832 A1 CA2279832 A1 CA 2279832A1 CA 002279832 A CA002279832 A CA 002279832A CA 2279832 A CA2279832 A CA 2279832A CA 2279832 A1 CA2279832 A1 CA 2279832A1
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- Prior art keywords
- cone
- alarm
- container
- cone element
- alarm apparatus
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Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01M—CATCHING, TRAPPING OR SCARING OF ANIMALS; APPARATUS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS ANIMALS OR NOXIOUS PLANTS
- A01M29/00—Scaring or repelling devices, e.g. bird-scaring apparatus
- A01M29/12—Scaring or repelling devices, e.g. bird-scaring apparatus using odoriferous substances, e.g. aromas, pheromones or chemical agents
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01M—CATCHING, TRAPPING OR SCARING OF ANIMALS; APPARATUS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS ANIMALS OR NOXIOUS PLANTS
- A01M29/00—Scaring or repelling devices, e.g. bird-scaring apparatus
- A01M29/16—Scaring or repelling devices, e.g. bird-scaring apparatus using sound waves
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- G08B15/00—Identifying, scaring or incapacitating burglars, thieves or intruders, e.g. by explosives
- G08B15/004—Identifying, scaring or incapacitating burglars, thieves or intruders, e.g. by explosives using portable personal devices
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- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Pest Control & Pesticides (AREA)
- Birds (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Insects & Arthropods (AREA)
- Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
- Zoology (AREA)
- Environmental Sciences (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Toxicology (AREA)
- Burglar Alarm Systems (AREA)
Abstract
The present invention relates to a personal alarm apparatus and system to deter or stop various types of aggressors, particularly bears or other dangerous animals. The apparatus is capable of being activated by the user/victim or, if the victim is unable to activate the apparatus in time, the alarm apparatus may be activated by the actions of an attacker upon initiating the attack, The apparatus is compact, inexpensive, simple to use, and has a loud and long lasting sound that can stun or deter even large animals, such as bears. Optionally, it is capable of discharging smoke as an added means of frightening an attacker such as a bear. In one embodiment the self-defense alarm apparatus comprises a generally spherical container for a pressurized fluid. The container has an opening with an elongate, open-ended, cone element extending into the container. A sound transducer, such as a whistle, is located within the cone element. A plug element is located at an outer end of the cone element, and includes a pin element which, upon activation, allows the pressurized fluid to escape through the cone element and sound transducer to create a desired noise.
Description
TEM File No. 217.1 TITLE: AUTO-ACTIVATED SELF-DEFENSE ALARM SYSTEM
g FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to personal safety devices generally, and in particular relates to alarm systems used to deter or stop various types of aggressors, particularly bears or other dangerous animals.
to BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Encounters with various wildlife, particularly with bears protecting their cubs or food sources, can be extremely dangerous to typical nature enthusiasts, and even to those carrying rifles or other weapons (such as park wardens or hunters). A bear attack frequently results in the mauling or killing of the human. Unfortunately, the attacking bear 15 is also affected by being relocated elsewhere or by being destroyed.
To prevent an attack, experts urge humans to avoid eye contact with the animal and to distract or confuse it by moving bright colored objects or by generating any sort of loud noise. There are also various self protection devices available aimed at warding off attacks by animals or by other humans, the most common of which are pepper sprays, stun 20 ~~ ~d sirens. These devices are typically manually activated by the user, or victim, by pushing a button or pulling a pin. A key disadvantage of such devices is that they are useless if the victim is unable to actuate them during a sudden or surprise attack.
US Patent No. 4,759,309 to Zediker attempts to address this disadvantage by providing a passive self protection device which, once armed, is readily activated by a user by simply releasing one's grip on the device. A drawback of the Zediker device is that it has to be held in the user's hand at all times when activated, which is inconvenient, cumbersome and very tiresome to one's hand and arm muscles.
U.S. Patent No. 4,067,290 to Hartley teaches a purse theft alarm device adapted to link into a purse's strap and be activated by a sudden pull or jerking force exerted by a thief. Such a jolt sensitive product is not suitable for other uses where a strap carries various heavier loads, such as a hiker's backpack. Another disadvantage is that the intensity and duration of the Hartley's whistle transducer and small fluid container may be insufficient to disorient or frighten away an aggressive bear or the like.
o What is desired therefore is a novel alarm apparatus and system which overcomes the limitations and disadvantages of prior art alarm devices. Preferably, it should be capable of being activated by the user/victim or, if the victim is unable to activate the apparatus in time, the alarm apparatus should be adapted to be activated by the actions of an attacker upon initiating the attack. The apparatus should be compact, inexpensive, simple to use, and have a loud and long lasting sound that can stun or deter even large animals, such as bears. Further, optionally, it should be capable of discharging smoke as an added means of frightening an attacker such as a bear.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
2o Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of an alarm ball according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a sectional side view of a valve of the alarm ball of fig. l;
g FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to personal safety devices generally, and in particular relates to alarm systems used to deter or stop various types of aggressors, particularly bears or other dangerous animals.
to BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Encounters with various wildlife, particularly with bears protecting their cubs or food sources, can be extremely dangerous to typical nature enthusiasts, and even to those carrying rifles or other weapons (such as park wardens or hunters). A bear attack frequently results in the mauling or killing of the human. Unfortunately, the attacking bear 15 is also affected by being relocated elsewhere or by being destroyed.
To prevent an attack, experts urge humans to avoid eye contact with the animal and to distract or confuse it by moving bright colored objects or by generating any sort of loud noise. There are also various self protection devices available aimed at warding off attacks by animals or by other humans, the most common of which are pepper sprays, stun 20 ~~ ~d sirens. These devices are typically manually activated by the user, or victim, by pushing a button or pulling a pin. A key disadvantage of such devices is that they are useless if the victim is unable to actuate them during a sudden or surprise attack.
US Patent No. 4,759,309 to Zediker attempts to address this disadvantage by providing a passive self protection device which, once armed, is readily activated by a user by simply releasing one's grip on the device. A drawback of the Zediker device is that it has to be held in the user's hand at all times when activated, which is inconvenient, cumbersome and very tiresome to one's hand and arm muscles.
U.S. Patent No. 4,067,290 to Hartley teaches a purse theft alarm device adapted to link into a purse's strap and be activated by a sudden pull or jerking force exerted by a thief. Such a jolt sensitive product is not suitable for other uses where a strap carries various heavier loads, such as a hiker's backpack. Another disadvantage is that the intensity and duration of the Hartley's whistle transducer and small fluid container may be insufficient to disorient or frighten away an aggressive bear or the like.
o What is desired therefore is a novel alarm apparatus and system which overcomes the limitations and disadvantages of prior art alarm devices. Preferably, it should be capable of being activated by the user/victim or, if the victim is unable to activate the apparatus in time, the alarm apparatus should be adapted to be activated by the actions of an attacker upon initiating the attack. The apparatus should be compact, inexpensive, simple to use, and have a loud and long lasting sound that can stun or deter even large animals, such as bears. Further, optionally, it should be capable of discharging smoke as an added means of frightening an attacker such as a bear.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
2o Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of an alarm ball according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a sectional side view of a valve of the alarm ball of fig. l;
. CA 02279832 1999-08-10 Figure 3 is a perspective view of a whistle of the alarm ball of fig. l;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a diaphragm of the alarm ball of fig. l;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a plug of the alarm ball of fig. l;
Figure 6 shows a harness with the alarm balls of fig. l mounted thereon according to one version of the invention;
Figure 7 shows a vest with the alarm balls of fig. 1 mounted thereon according to another version of the invention;
Figure 8 shows a back pack with the alarm balls of fig.l mounted thereon according to yet another version of the invention; and 1o Figure 9 shows the alarm balls of fig. l set up in a zone pattern about a tent or camp site for warning of and protection from intruders, such as bears.
TABLE OF
PARTS
ALARM BALL
20 Vessel 22 sphere 23 joint 24 cone fluid 20 26 indentation 28 base 29 hole Valve 32 bore . CA 02279832 1999-08-10 34 lip 36 top 48 tip 40 Whistle 42 rim 44 rib 46 tube 48 port 50 Diaphragm 52 disk 54 membrane 56 tube 60 Plug 62 pin i 5 64 cap 66 eye 70 Restraint 72 chain 74 shackle 76 swivel 81 Harness 83 Vest 85 Back Pack 91, 93 , 95, 97 tree, tent, bear and string, respectively DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Reference is first made to Fig. 1 which shows an alarm ball (indicated generally by reference numeral 10) according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention having a vessel 20, a valve 30, a whistle 40 (or, alternately, a diaphragm 50), a plug 60, and a chain 70. The vessel 20 is formed by a sphere 22 attached at joint 23 to a cone 24 to create a containment area or zone for holding a fluid 25, which may be in the form of a gas and/or a liquid. The cone 24 has an opening at its narrower or lower end (as oriented in fig.l) which is located near the center of the sphere 22 for receiving the valve 30 described in further detail below. The cone's fiusto-conical shape aids in amplifying noise to generated by a sound transducer, namely whistle 40 or diaphragm 50, also described below. The whistle or diaphragm is mounted to a circumferential outward indentation 26 formed about the periphery of the cone about mid-way between its narrower and wider ends.
A base 28 is affixed to a lower end ofthe sphere (i.e. opposite the opening for the plug 60) using glue, welds or other suitable attachment means. The base serves to hold the alarm ball in the upright position as shown in Fig. l and prevent it from rolling about when placed on a flat surface. The base also adds weight to the lower portion of the ball to make it "bottom heavy" to urge the ball to remain in the upright position if floating on water, and therefore to keep the water away from the vicinity of the plug 60.
The base has 2o holes 29 to receive a string or small rope for tying the device to a structure or a tree as shown in the Fig. 9 example.
Referring now to Fig. 2, valve 30 has a double conical shape in the vertical cross-section shown, and has a circular profile when viewed from its ends (i.e. from top or bottom). A hollow bore 32 passes through the center of the valve. The tip 38 at the valve's lower end is tapered for forced insertion through the lower opening of the cone.
The valve's top portion 36 is also tapered so as to rest tightly against the correspondingly shaped inside wall of the cone 24 in an air-tight manner. The lip 34 formed intermediate the valve's top portion 36 and tip 38 seats the valve 30 in the cone upon pressing the tip 38 through the cone's lower/narrower opening, thereby preventing the fluid pressure within the sphere from pushing the valve :30 outwardly from the cone and providing enough holding force to achieve the air-tight seal between the valve and cone.
The cone's top portion 36 prevents the cone from falling inside the sphere. The valve 30 is preferably made of a generally resilient or rubbery material that provided sufficient compression to followed by expansion of the valve as it is being pushed or installed at the lower opening of the cone.
Fig. 3 shows one version of a sound transducer for the cone, namely the whistle 40 which has a circular rim element 42 attached to an elongate, hollow central shaft or tube 46 via radially projecting spokes or ribs 44. The tube 46 has an orifice or port 48 adapted to produce a loud whistling sound when gas passes therethrough. Different sized ports may be chosen for different ball models so that various pitches of whistling noises may be generated for various purposes, depending on the type of intruder being targetted. Certain noises are more effective against bears, for example, than against other animals or humans.
A metallic composition is preferred for the whistle, although other materials such a plastics 2o may also be suitable. The whistle 40 is placed within the cone 24 by snapping the rim element 42 into the cone's indentation 26, at which point the tube's 46 lower end should sit on the valve 30 and over the valve's bore 32. The tube's lower end may optionally be shaped for insertion into the bore. In any event, a passage should be formed for air communication from within the sphere 22, through the aligned bore 32 and hollow tube 46, and out the port 48.
Fig. 4 shows another version of a sound transducer for the cone, namely a diaphragm 50 having a planar disk 52 mounted on one end of a hollow tube 56.
An opening at the juncture of the tube and disk has a circumferential membrane 54 mounted thereabout. The tube 56 should be aligned with the valve bore 32 so that gas may pass from the spherical reservoir 22 and contact the sound producing membrane. The diaphragm is used in lieu of the whistle when louder horn noises are desired.
Fig. S shows the plug 60 which has a long slender pin 62 extending from the center of one side of a solid circular cap 64, and an eyelet 66 extending from the opposite side of the cap. The pin 62 has a diameter which is small enough to pass through the whistle's hollow tube 46 (or the diaphragm's hollow tube 56), but which is slightly larger than the open valve bore 32. Hence, when the pin 62 is inserted through the tube 46 (or 56) and pressed into the valve bore 32, an air-tight seal is created to prevent the gas from flowing from the sphere 22 to the sound transducer. The cap 64 preferably has an outward curvature to roughly match that of the sphere. The cap's circular perimeter should be su$xciently large to be held within the cone by the joint 23 of the sphere and cone. When the plug 60 is installed in the ball, the combined resistance of the cap within the cone and of the pin within the valve's bore should be suflxcient to retain the plug and prevent its 2o inadvertent release from the ball and escape of the fluid 25. However, this retention force should not be so large as to prevent manual release of the pin when pulled either by the user or by an attacker during an assault.
Fig. 5 also shows a restraint 70 having a chain 72, shackle 74 and swivel 76.
The chain may be made of metal links, rope or the like. The shackle should have a simple but _7_ secure detachable coupling for attachment to desired elements such as hooks, rings or stiff surfaces about a person's clothing. The swivel allows the ball to rotate freely without the chain getting tangled during movement of the user.
Figs. 6, 7 and 8 show a body harness 81, vest 83, and back pack 85, respectively, each with alarm balls 10 mounted thereto at strategic locations for auto-activation during an attack. These locations should be either accessible to the user for quickly grabbing and pulling a ball when threatened by an attacker, and/or near areas of the body that are wlnerable and common targets during an attack (particularly the wearer's back, neck/shoulder area, chest and stomach regions), such as by a bear, to increase the ~o likelihood that the attacker will accidentally dislodge, and therefore activate, one or more balls during the attack.
Fig. 9 illustrates shows a tent 93 set-up in a wooded area where trees 91 are used as corner posts to hold strings 97 and alarm balls 10 therebetween to create a "protected zone" around the tent from intruding bears 95 or other such animals. Each side of the i5 "zone" is created by attaching either the ball's base 28 or restraint 70 end to a tree. Then the string 97, which should be of strong and light-weight material such as fishing line, is tied to the ball's other end and is pulled along and tied to an adjacent tree at a height that the bear would be sure to hit or trip it. Once a ball is activated by the bear's force on the string, the alarm should scare the bear away from the tent and would also warn the campers in or around the tent that the bear or other intruder is in the area, and allow them to take necessary precautions.
The operation and many advantages of the present invention may now be better understood. In a typical wilderness hiking scenario where the hiker/camper has time to react to a pending bear attack, the hiker can pull the alarm ball or balls off the hiker's _g_ clothing or backpack where they are attached to activate the alarm. The hiker can then simply hold the balls or throw them like grenades at the bear to further frighten the bear.
The balls may be painted in many different or odd colors to visually impact the bear.
Hence, the rolling motion of the thrown balls, the odd colors of the balls, and the s extremely loud noise should make the bear leave the area for at least long enough to give the intended victim time to escape. In surprise situations where the bear attacks quickly without the victim realizing it, the swats, bites and other moves of the bear onto and over the victim's body should be enough to pull at least some of the balls from the victim (whether attached to a harness 81, vest 83, backpack 85 or elsewhere on the hiker), 1o thereby activating the pulled balls and convincing the animal to stop the assault and flee.
The quantity of fluid 25 provided within the sphere 22 is such that its liquid phase or portion is kept out of contact from the bottom of the valve bore 32, regardless of the orientation of the ball. This then allows the gaseous phase or portion of the fluid to be propelled from inside the container while the liquid phase of the fluid further converts to is its gaseous phase during the depressurization caused by the escape the gaseous phase through the whistle or diaphragm 40, 50 to create the desired noise. While simple compressed air works well to blow the whistle or the horn of the device, a refrigerant is preferred because it significantly lengthens the duration of the noise. Using a refrigerant also generates a visible, freezing exhaust to exit the ball, which may serve to further ba8le 2o the attacker. Other suitable fluids that also generate a smoky exhaust may also be used to create as much confusion and fear for the attacking animal, and so increase the chances that the animal will break off any contemplated attack or one that is in progress.
One can now appreciate that an important advantage of the present invention is the ability to be activated by either the victim or by the attacker during an attack, and also the use of colors, motion and smoke to further bewilder the attacker, particularly an animal.
Further, the floating feature of the balls also means that they provide an alarm and serve to protect the victim if attacked while in a body of water, whether there initially (such as a fisherman) or if pushed into the water by the attacker. A ball's tendency to float upright means it should make noise unmui~led by water when left on its own.
The above description is intended in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and variations to the specific configurations described may be apparent to skilled persons in adapting the present invention to other specific applications. Such variations are intended to form part of the present invention insofar as they are within the spirit and 1o scope of the claims below. For example, the balls may be adapted for use to fend off either various animal or human attackers. The balls may, if need be, be insulated with foam, cloth, rubber or other material. An additional valve may be added for easier refilling of the sphere with fluid. A test valve, pressure gauge or see-through window may also be added to help assess the readiness of the device.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a diaphragm of the alarm ball of fig. l;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a plug of the alarm ball of fig. l;
Figure 6 shows a harness with the alarm balls of fig. l mounted thereon according to one version of the invention;
Figure 7 shows a vest with the alarm balls of fig. 1 mounted thereon according to another version of the invention;
Figure 8 shows a back pack with the alarm balls of fig.l mounted thereon according to yet another version of the invention; and 1o Figure 9 shows the alarm balls of fig. l set up in a zone pattern about a tent or camp site for warning of and protection from intruders, such as bears.
TABLE OF
PARTS
ALARM BALL
20 Vessel 22 sphere 23 joint 24 cone fluid 20 26 indentation 28 base 29 hole Valve 32 bore . CA 02279832 1999-08-10 34 lip 36 top 48 tip 40 Whistle 42 rim 44 rib 46 tube 48 port 50 Diaphragm 52 disk 54 membrane 56 tube 60 Plug 62 pin i 5 64 cap 66 eye 70 Restraint 72 chain 74 shackle 76 swivel 81 Harness 83 Vest 85 Back Pack 91, 93 , 95, 97 tree, tent, bear and string, respectively DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Reference is first made to Fig. 1 which shows an alarm ball (indicated generally by reference numeral 10) according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention having a vessel 20, a valve 30, a whistle 40 (or, alternately, a diaphragm 50), a plug 60, and a chain 70. The vessel 20 is formed by a sphere 22 attached at joint 23 to a cone 24 to create a containment area or zone for holding a fluid 25, which may be in the form of a gas and/or a liquid. The cone 24 has an opening at its narrower or lower end (as oriented in fig.l) which is located near the center of the sphere 22 for receiving the valve 30 described in further detail below. The cone's fiusto-conical shape aids in amplifying noise to generated by a sound transducer, namely whistle 40 or diaphragm 50, also described below. The whistle or diaphragm is mounted to a circumferential outward indentation 26 formed about the periphery of the cone about mid-way between its narrower and wider ends.
A base 28 is affixed to a lower end ofthe sphere (i.e. opposite the opening for the plug 60) using glue, welds or other suitable attachment means. The base serves to hold the alarm ball in the upright position as shown in Fig. l and prevent it from rolling about when placed on a flat surface. The base also adds weight to the lower portion of the ball to make it "bottom heavy" to urge the ball to remain in the upright position if floating on water, and therefore to keep the water away from the vicinity of the plug 60.
The base has 2o holes 29 to receive a string or small rope for tying the device to a structure or a tree as shown in the Fig. 9 example.
Referring now to Fig. 2, valve 30 has a double conical shape in the vertical cross-section shown, and has a circular profile when viewed from its ends (i.e. from top or bottom). A hollow bore 32 passes through the center of the valve. The tip 38 at the valve's lower end is tapered for forced insertion through the lower opening of the cone.
The valve's top portion 36 is also tapered so as to rest tightly against the correspondingly shaped inside wall of the cone 24 in an air-tight manner. The lip 34 formed intermediate the valve's top portion 36 and tip 38 seats the valve 30 in the cone upon pressing the tip 38 through the cone's lower/narrower opening, thereby preventing the fluid pressure within the sphere from pushing the valve :30 outwardly from the cone and providing enough holding force to achieve the air-tight seal between the valve and cone.
The cone's top portion 36 prevents the cone from falling inside the sphere. The valve 30 is preferably made of a generally resilient or rubbery material that provided sufficient compression to followed by expansion of the valve as it is being pushed or installed at the lower opening of the cone.
Fig. 3 shows one version of a sound transducer for the cone, namely the whistle 40 which has a circular rim element 42 attached to an elongate, hollow central shaft or tube 46 via radially projecting spokes or ribs 44. The tube 46 has an orifice or port 48 adapted to produce a loud whistling sound when gas passes therethrough. Different sized ports may be chosen for different ball models so that various pitches of whistling noises may be generated for various purposes, depending on the type of intruder being targetted. Certain noises are more effective against bears, for example, than against other animals or humans.
A metallic composition is preferred for the whistle, although other materials such a plastics 2o may also be suitable. The whistle 40 is placed within the cone 24 by snapping the rim element 42 into the cone's indentation 26, at which point the tube's 46 lower end should sit on the valve 30 and over the valve's bore 32. The tube's lower end may optionally be shaped for insertion into the bore. In any event, a passage should be formed for air communication from within the sphere 22, through the aligned bore 32 and hollow tube 46, and out the port 48.
Fig. 4 shows another version of a sound transducer for the cone, namely a diaphragm 50 having a planar disk 52 mounted on one end of a hollow tube 56.
An opening at the juncture of the tube and disk has a circumferential membrane 54 mounted thereabout. The tube 56 should be aligned with the valve bore 32 so that gas may pass from the spherical reservoir 22 and contact the sound producing membrane. The diaphragm is used in lieu of the whistle when louder horn noises are desired.
Fig. S shows the plug 60 which has a long slender pin 62 extending from the center of one side of a solid circular cap 64, and an eyelet 66 extending from the opposite side of the cap. The pin 62 has a diameter which is small enough to pass through the whistle's hollow tube 46 (or the diaphragm's hollow tube 56), but which is slightly larger than the open valve bore 32. Hence, when the pin 62 is inserted through the tube 46 (or 56) and pressed into the valve bore 32, an air-tight seal is created to prevent the gas from flowing from the sphere 22 to the sound transducer. The cap 64 preferably has an outward curvature to roughly match that of the sphere. The cap's circular perimeter should be su$xciently large to be held within the cone by the joint 23 of the sphere and cone. When the plug 60 is installed in the ball, the combined resistance of the cap within the cone and of the pin within the valve's bore should be suflxcient to retain the plug and prevent its 2o inadvertent release from the ball and escape of the fluid 25. However, this retention force should not be so large as to prevent manual release of the pin when pulled either by the user or by an attacker during an assault.
Fig. 5 also shows a restraint 70 having a chain 72, shackle 74 and swivel 76.
The chain may be made of metal links, rope or the like. The shackle should have a simple but _7_ secure detachable coupling for attachment to desired elements such as hooks, rings or stiff surfaces about a person's clothing. The swivel allows the ball to rotate freely without the chain getting tangled during movement of the user.
Figs. 6, 7 and 8 show a body harness 81, vest 83, and back pack 85, respectively, each with alarm balls 10 mounted thereto at strategic locations for auto-activation during an attack. These locations should be either accessible to the user for quickly grabbing and pulling a ball when threatened by an attacker, and/or near areas of the body that are wlnerable and common targets during an attack (particularly the wearer's back, neck/shoulder area, chest and stomach regions), such as by a bear, to increase the ~o likelihood that the attacker will accidentally dislodge, and therefore activate, one or more balls during the attack.
Fig. 9 illustrates shows a tent 93 set-up in a wooded area where trees 91 are used as corner posts to hold strings 97 and alarm balls 10 therebetween to create a "protected zone" around the tent from intruding bears 95 or other such animals. Each side of the i5 "zone" is created by attaching either the ball's base 28 or restraint 70 end to a tree. Then the string 97, which should be of strong and light-weight material such as fishing line, is tied to the ball's other end and is pulled along and tied to an adjacent tree at a height that the bear would be sure to hit or trip it. Once a ball is activated by the bear's force on the string, the alarm should scare the bear away from the tent and would also warn the campers in or around the tent that the bear or other intruder is in the area, and allow them to take necessary precautions.
The operation and many advantages of the present invention may now be better understood. In a typical wilderness hiking scenario where the hiker/camper has time to react to a pending bear attack, the hiker can pull the alarm ball or balls off the hiker's _g_ clothing or backpack where they are attached to activate the alarm. The hiker can then simply hold the balls or throw them like grenades at the bear to further frighten the bear.
The balls may be painted in many different or odd colors to visually impact the bear.
Hence, the rolling motion of the thrown balls, the odd colors of the balls, and the s extremely loud noise should make the bear leave the area for at least long enough to give the intended victim time to escape. In surprise situations where the bear attacks quickly without the victim realizing it, the swats, bites and other moves of the bear onto and over the victim's body should be enough to pull at least some of the balls from the victim (whether attached to a harness 81, vest 83, backpack 85 or elsewhere on the hiker), 1o thereby activating the pulled balls and convincing the animal to stop the assault and flee.
The quantity of fluid 25 provided within the sphere 22 is such that its liquid phase or portion is kept out of contact from the bottom of the valve bore 32, regardless of the orientation of the ball. This then allows the gaseous phase or portion of the fluid to be propelled from inside the container while the liquid phase of the fluid further converts to is its gaseous phase during the depressurization caused by the escape the gaseous phase through the whistle or diaphragm 40, 50 to create the desired noise. While simple compressed air works well to blow the whistle or the horn of the device, a refrigerant is preferred because it significantly lengthens the duration of the noise. Using a refrigerant also generates a visible, freezing exhaust to exit the ball, which may serve to further ba8le 2o the attacker. Other suitable fluids that also generate a smoky exhaust may also be used to create as much confusion and fear for the attacking animal, and so increase the chances that the animal will break off any contemplated attack or one that is in progress.
One can now appreciate that an important advantage of the present invention is the ability to be activated by either the victim or by the attacker during an attack, and also the use of colors, motion and smoke to further bewilder the attacker, particularly an animal.
Further, the floating feature of the balls also means that they provide an alarm and serve to protect the victim if attacked while in a body of water, whether there initially (such as a fisherman) or if pushed into the water by the attacker. A ball's tendency to float upright means it should make noise unmui~led by water when left on its own.
The above description is intended in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and variations to the specific configurations described may be apparent to skilled persons in adapting the present invention to other specific applications. Such variations are intended to form part of the present invention insofar as they are within the spirit and 1o scope of the claims below. For example, the balls may be adapted for use to fend off either various animal or human attackers. The balls may, if need be, be insulated with foam, cloth, rubber or other material. An additional valve may be added for easier refilling of the sphere with fluid. A test valve, pressure gauge or see-through window may also be added to help assess the readiness of the device.
Claims
1. A self-defense alarm apparatus comprising:
a generally spherical container for a pressurized fluid, said container having an opening;
an elongate, open-ended, cone element extending from said opening into said container;
a sound transducer located within said cone element;
a plug element located at an outer end of said cone element, including a pin element which upon activation allows said pressurized fluid to escape through said cone element and sound transducer to atmosphere to create a desired noise.
a generally spherical container for a pressurized fluid, said container having an opening;
an elongate, open-ended, cone element extending from said opening into said container;
a sound transducer located within said cone element;
a plug element located at an outer end of said cone element, including a pin element which upon activation allows said pressurized fluid to escape through said cone element and sound transducer to atmosphere to create a desired noise.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002279832A CA2279832A1 (en) | 1999-08-09 | 1999-08-09 | Auto-activated self-defense alarm apparatus |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002279832A CA2279832A1 (en) | 1999-08-09 | 1999-08-09 | Auto-activated self-defense alarm apparatus |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2279832A1 true CA2279832A1 (en) | 2001-02-09 |
Family
ID=4163945
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002279832A Abandoned CA2279832A1 (en) | 1999-08-09 | 1999-08-09 | Auto-activated self-defense alarm apparatus |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2279832A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2901667A1 (en) * | 2006-06-06 | 2007-12-07 | Tecknisolar Seni Sarl Sarl | DEVICE FOR PROTECTING A PERSON AGAINST AN ANIMAL |
| US9072289B1 (en) | 2012-10-10 | 2015-07-07 | William D. Lucas | Bear repellant device mounted on a backpack |
| CN110663675A (en) * | 2019-11-06 | 2020-01-10 | 唐山市安航电子科技有限公司 | Automatic spring-up type bird repeller |
-
1999
- 1999-08-09 CA CA002279832A patent/CA2279832A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2901667A1 (en) * | 2006-06-06 | 2007-12-07 | Tecknisolar Seni Sarl Sarl | DEVICE FOR PROTECTING A PERSON AGAINST AN ANIMAL |
| WO2007141008A1 (en) * | 2006-06-06 | 2007-12-13 | Tecknisolar-Seni S.A.R.L. | Device for protecting a person from an animal |
| US9072289B1 (en) | 2012-10-10 | 2015-07-07 | William D. Lucas | Bear repellant device mounted on a backpack |
| CN110663675A (en) * | 2019-11-06 | 2020-01-10 | 唐山市安航电子科技有限公司 | Automatic spring-up type bird repeller |
| CN110663675B (en) * | 2019-11-06 | 2022-02-01 | 唐山市安航电子科技有限公司 | Automatic spring-up type bird repeller |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Discontinued | ||
| FZDE | Discontinued |
Effective date: 20040809 |