EP1101075A1

EP1101075A1 - Self-defence device

Info

Publication number: EP1101075A1
Application number: EP99930984A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jürg Thomann; Raphael Fleischhauer
Original assignee: Piexon AG
Current assignee: Piexon AG
Priority date: 1998-07-27
Filing date: 1999-07-27
Publication date: 2001-05-23
Anticipated expiration: 2019-07-27
Also published as: AU4767299A; EP1101075B1; WO2000006965A1; JP2002521645A; BR9912557A; DE59904283D1

Abstract

The invention relates to a self-defence device (70) comprising at least two barrels (72a-d) which each contain a firing charge (74, 76, 75) each comprising an electrically ignited initial igniter (75) and a propelling charge (76) and an active charge (74), as well as a release mechanism (87) having a piezoelectric high-voltage pulse source (99) and a change-over switch (88). Via the change-over switch (88) one initial igniter (75) at a time can be electrically coupled to the high-voltage pulse source (99) for ignition. The release mechanism (87) has a trigger element (89) which when manually actuated acts on the high-voltage pulse source (99) such that a high-voltage pulse is generated. The change-over switch (88) is configured such that it can independently establish an electrical connection to one as yet unfired initial igniter (75) without the influence of the ignited propelling charge (76) or to a battery element. The above self-defence device is discreet in appearance, robust and easy to handle. It is recognizable as a weapon only on closer inspection. It requires no maintenance and remains operational for a period of several years.

Description

Self defense device

Technical field

The invention relates to a self-defense device according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

State of the art

The public space in which the citizens are constantly moving harbors a latent risk of crime (kidnapping, robbery, rape, murder, homicide, ...). Privacy can be made secure at the citizen's sole discretion. However, security outside one's own four walls is directly related to a sufficient presence of public security organs (police, ...). Since the protection maintained by the municipalities is no longer sufficient * for many citizens, they try to protect themselves individually. As a rule, so-called "free weapons" (weapons that are commercially available without a gun license) are used for protection. These "weapons" (CS sprays, gas and firearms, signal weapons, ...) can only be used to a limited extent. The injuries caused by the aggressor are often too small to permanently prevent him from doing his job.

A self-defense device is known from GB-A 2 161 908. The known device had a single running module or several running modules arranged together in a drum. Each barrel module had a shooting charge with a propellant charge placed in a ceramic stopper. The propellant charge was ignitable via an electrical resistor. Each barrel exit was sealed with a foil to prevent dirt from entering. In addition to the running modules, the known device had a battery as an electrical voltage source, an electrical safety switch, an electrical shooting switch and an electrical control for controlling the propellant charges, depending on whether single shots or a shot sequence were to be fired. The known self-defense device was designed to be complex and thus complicated to use and prone to failure.

Presentation of the invention

Object of the invention

The object of the invention is to develop a pure defense weapon which is discreet, robust and easy to handle. It should in particular (not at all or) only be recognized as a weapon at second glance. The defense weapon according to the invention should preferably remain functional over a long period of time (years) and without maintenance.

Solution of the task

The object is achieved in that the trigger element of the triggering device of the self-defense device is given a multi-functionality. The trigger element acts on the high-voltage pulse source to generate a high-voltage pulse which is used to ignite the propellant charge in one run. At the same time, however, this trigger element still acts on an electrical switchover unit, which preferably switches over to another barrel that has not yet been fired when the trigger element is released after triggering a firing charge in the barrel. Switching however, does not take place using the explosion energy generated by the ignition; there is also a switchover without using a battery, the state of charge of which would also have to be checked from time to time. Only through the multifunctionality of the trigger element does the simple construction of the self-defense device according to the invention shown below, as well as operational readiness without any maintenance, result over years.

This also results in an extremely simple and robust construction, which allows the entire device to be designed discreetly and easy to handle. The barrels, preferably several, are preferably formed in a one-piece barrel module. Since the barrel module or its barrels are preferably not or are not rechargeable, the barrel can be made significantly simpler than rechargeable barrels and made of less tough and therefore cheaper material. In a preferred embodiment, the entire running module is designed to be interchangeable as a whole. Depending on the changeover unit used, this can also be designed in such a way that it can be replaced individually or together with the running module as one piece.

The self-defense device according to the invention can only be recognized as a weapon at a "second" glance. However, it does not pretend to be a harmless object. Specifying a harmless object for a weapon would not be permitted, for example, under the German Arms Act.

In addition to the propellant charge and the initial charge, which is electrically ignited here by a high-voltage pulse, a firing charge also has an active charge. The active charge can now be a projectile (bullet or shot load). However, liquid or gaseous irritants as well as light rocket sets and color marking sets are also understood as active charges here. Reference is made below to special configurations of the shooting loads in question.

Since, in a preferred embodiment, the entire device is designed as a one-piece plastic part in which the barrel module is completely encapsulated, propellant charges in the barrels of the barrel module can no longer become moist and therefore unusable. There is also no energy source that could become unusable over time. The self-defense device remains ready for use at any time for years, even in the harshest of environments, without any maintenance. In the following signed variants is value was placed on simple and extremely preisgünsti ^g ge construction which is suitable for mass production.

The self-defense device described below has only a few parts to be moved and is therefore designed to be trouble-free.

Due to the low weight, which is only in the range of 200 grams and the small size, which corresponds approximately to a wallet size, the self-defense device according to the invention becomes the ideal companion.

In summary, the self-defense device is light and compact. It can be carried easily. With sufficient security, it can always be used, even under extreme climatic conditions. The energy to ignite the initial charge for the propellant charge is only generated when it is needed. There is no pressure reservoir, no electric battery and no spring under tension to ignite the primer. The self-defense device also has good ergonomics: the device, even unconsciously, is automatically picked up correctly by the user (just think of a so-called pepper spray with which you can spray yourself). The device also works in any position, in contrast to a protective spray that does not work upside down.

Further advantages of the invention and its design variants result from the following explanations.

Brief description of the drawings

Examples of the self-defense device according to the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the following drawings. Show it:

1 is a side view of the self-defense device according to the invention,

2 shows a (vertical) longitudinal section through the self-defense device shown in FIG. 1,

3 shows a cross section along the line III-III in FIG. 2,

4 shows an enlarged illustration of the cross section shown in FIG. 2 through a switchover unit and an ignition unit of the self-defense device, 5 shows a cross section through the device shown in FIG. 2, but with the trigger element 5 pressed in while the barrel 7a is ignited,

6 shows an illustration analogous to FIG. 5 after the first shot has been fired and

Releasing the trigger element 5, as a result of which the electrical circuit has been switched to barrel 7b,

7 shows a cross section through a variant of the self-defense device shown in FIG. 2 along a line VII-VII shown in FIG. 9,

8 shows the self-defense device shown in FIG. 7 as an exploded view of its exchangeable running module,

9 shows a cross section through the self-defense device shown in FIG. 7 along the line IX-IX and

10 shows a cross section through the switching and triggering device of the self-defense device shown in FIG. 7 in an enlarged representation.

Ways of Carrying Out the Invention

The self-defense device 2 shown in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 2 in a vertical longitudinal section is formed in one piece in a handy design, which easily fits into any handbag, trouser pocket or skirt pocket. In the outer contour, sharp corners and edges have been avoided. The self-defense device 2 has a completely cast-in running module 1 and a triggering device 3 which interacts with the running module 1 and is also cast in. Only one trigger element 5 of the cast-in triggering device 3 can be actuated with a finger.

The running module 1 is not designed to be reloadable. It has two runs 7a and 7b arranged one above the other. Each barrel 7a and 7b has a shot charge 9, a propellant charge 11 and an initial ignition charge 13. Both barrels 7a and 7b are produced as holes 15a and 15b in a metal block 17. A brass block is preferably used for this. Alternatively, the block 17 can also consist of cast steel or die-cast aluminum, for example. The barrel module 1, as can be seen in particular in FIG. 1, is designed in such a way that it has no barrel design reminiscent of a firearm; the elements rear sight and front sight typical of a handgun barrel are also missing. The running module 1 and thus also the running ones are completely cast in plastic. The barrel is sealed watertight by the complete plastic covering (here, for example, a shot load 9, propellant charge 11, initial charge 13). The self-defense device 2 does not even have a target device. The design of a target device and thus the representation of runs has been deliberately avoided. An open run conveys a threat and can inevitably lead to unwanted backlashes. In order to nevertheless indicate the shooting direction, the upper part of the self-defense device 2 is set off physically and in color from the rest of the self-defense device 2 as an abstract carriage 12.

In order to keep the propellant charge 11 as small as possible, the plastic cover 14 over the front ends is chosen to be so thick that normal mechanical damage, such as can occur in a handbag, trouser pocket or skirt pocket, does not cause the cover 14 to tear and only a minimal energy of the propellant charge is required for tearing open, which would otherwise be missing when accelerating the shot load. However, predetermined breaking points can also be introduced into the covering 14 by means of a notch.

The self-defense device 2, as stated above, has no pronounced target device; but it also has no pronounced handle. In the lower part of the self-defense device 2 there is a handpiece 18 on which a closed bracket 19 is arranged. The bracket 19 closes a space 21 through which the index finger for operating the trigger element 5 and the ring and middle finger for stabilizing the self-defense device 2 can be inserted by gripping the handpiece 18. The bracket 19 serves as a trigger protection. When the self-defense device 2 is in an upright position, as shown in FIG. 1, an indentation 23 is formed slightly above the trigger element 5 on the opposite side of the extension 18 for supporting the hand bow in the interdigital space between the thumb and index finger. The outer contour of the self-defense device 2 has an approximately cuboid shape except for shape deviations that are important for its function (indentation 23). From the triggering device 3, the pull-off element 5 is only visible, as already explained above. This trigger element 5 lies with a clearance fit in a recess 27 of the handpiece 18. The trigger element 5 has two recesses 29a and 29b, in which a front part 31 as a driver of a changeover unit 33 and a front part 35 of an ignition unit 37 are press-fitted. In each case a rear part 39 and 40 of the switchover unit 33 and the ignition unit 37 is firmly seated in the handpiece 18. The trigger element 5 acts centrally on the ignition unit 37. This centric action prevents the triggering device 3 from tilting when actuated in its play fit.

The front part 35 of the ignition unit 37 is sleeve-shaped. He takes one

Spring 41 on. The spring 41 acts on a plunger 43 (hammer) which is held in a clamping position in the rear part 40. If this release inhibition is exceeded by vigorously pressing in the trigger element 5, the plunger 43 strikes a piezoelectric crystal 45 which is also arranged in the ignition unit 37. The clamping is only released or overcome with a force of approximately 5 kg on the trigger element 5. This force to be applied serves the self-defense device 2 as a safeguard against unintentional triggering. The impact of the plunger 43 triggers an electrical high-voltage pulse, which is conducted to the switchover unit 33 via a cable 47. If the trigger element 5 is released, a spring 44 presses the front part 35 back into the position shown in FIG. 2.

The switchover unit 33 has, in its rear part 39, which is also sleeve-shaped, two contact elements 49a and 49b which are spaced apart but are electrically connected to one another. The contact elements 49a and 49b are connected to the cable 47. The part 39 has two further contact elements 51a and 51b opposite the contact elements 49a and 49b. The contact element 51a is connected via a cable 53 to the initial ignition charge 13 of the barrel 7a and the contact element 51b via a cable 54 to the initial ignition charge 13 of the barrel 7b. The contact elements 49a and 51a and 49b and 51b can be connected to a slide 55 which is axially displaceable in part 39. The slide 55 has two contact elements 59a and 59b which are loaded with a compression spring 57 and which, with a corresponding slide position, then establish the electrical connection between the contact pairs 49a / 51a and 49b / 51b. Arranged on the slide 55 is a plunger 60 which carries a cross beam 61 at its front free end, which can be seen in particular in FIG. 3. In advance This part 31 also has a sawtooth-shaped * locking element 64 having two tabs 63a and 63b as a coupling part of a locking coupling, the mode of operation of which is described below. The cross beam 61 is the other coupling part of the locking clutch.

FIG. 5 shows, starting from the basic position of the switching and ignition units 33 and 37 shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the trigger element 5 for firing a first defense shot in the pressed-in position; the arrow there indicates the direction of indentation. The plunger 43 has struck the crystal 45, thereby triggering a high voltage pulse. This high-voltage pulse is conducted via the cable 47 to the switching unit 33. In the switchover unit 33, the high-voltage pulse runs to the contact point 49a, then via the two contact elements 59a and 59b of the slide 55, which is still in its rearward position, to the contact element 51a of the part 39. The high-voltage pulse then runs from the contact element 51a via the cable 53 to the initial ignition charge 13 of the barrel 7a and ignites the initial ignition charge 13 here by means of an electrical spark (other ignition mechanisms can of course be used). When the trigger element 5 is pressed in in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 5, the front part 31 of the switching unit 33 is displaced to the right. The cross beam 61 has slipped over the two vertices 65 of the tabs 63a and 63b.

If the trigger element 5 is now released, the spring 44 pushes it back into its starting position. The front part 31 pulls the cross beam 61 over the two tabs 63a and 63b. The slider 55 is now in the position shown in FIG. 6. There is now a conductive connection via contacts 49b, 59a, 59b and 51b from cable 47 to cable 54. If the trigger element 5 is now pressed again, the crystal 45 generates a high-voltage pulse which ignites the initial ignition charge 13 in the course 7b. After releasing the trigger element 5, no further triggering is possible. The self-defense device 2 can no longer be used.

Instead of an arrangement with only two runs, however, several can also be used. In this case, the switchover unit then has either n-1 contact elements spaced apart from one another or transverse beams spaced apart from one another on a plunger designed analogously to the plunger 60. The switchover unit must be made longer, n indicates the number of runs. FIGS. 7 to 10 show a variant of the self-defense device 2 shown in FIGS. 1 to 6. With this self-defense device 70, which has a running module 71, a liquid irritant 74 (for example oleoresin capsicum) can be injected. Depending on the design of the barrel module 71, gaseous irritants, a color marking fluid or even flare rockets and projectiles can also be fired. In contrast to the running module 1, the running module 71 also has four runs 72a to 72d. The running module 71 is not an integral part of the self-defense device here; it can be pushed onto its base body 73 (handle module) and can therefore be replaced. There is thus a reusable base body 73 and a "disposable running module" 71. The electrical connections to the respective initial ignition sets 75 in the running module 71, which then ignite the corresponding propellant charge 76, are made by the schematically illustrated electrical plug-in connections 77a and 77b. The entire firing charge (active charge, propellant charge and initial charge) is assigned to a sleeve 79. All four sleeves 79 are arranged in the running module 71. So that the running module 71 can be exchanged in a simple manner, the base body 73 and the running module 71 have a matching coupling, here for example a dovetail guide 78a and 78b. Furthermore, the running module 71 has a resilient pawl 82a, which engages in a corresponding recess 82b in the base body 73 in the inserted state (FIG. 7).

Each sleeve 79 has a circular cross section. The initial charge 75 is arranged on the base of the sleeve, over which the respective propellant charge 76 then lies in contact. A free expansion space 80 lies above the propellant charge 76. The expansion space 80 is delimited from the space 81 receiving the liquid irritant 74 with a sealing sabot 83. The end of the sleeve 79 opposite the initial ignition charge 75 has a nozzle 85 which is closed with a membrane 84. The membrane 84 is designed such that it closes the irritant 74 properly over a longer period of time (years), but nevertheless allows the irritant 74 to escape safely after ignition. The nozzle 85 is designed such that, for example, a scatter circle of 1/10 of the operating distance is covered.

To "fire" the irritant 74, a high-voltage pulse is conducted to the initial ignition charge 75 described below via a trigger device 87 analogous to the triggering device 3 and an analogous switching unit 88 described below. This in turn ignites the propellant charge 76 (eg black powder). At the ignition Expansion gases are generated by the propellant charge 76, which fill the expansion * space 80. If the pressure in the expansion space 80 rises above a predetermined value, the sabot 83 is driven away. The sabot 83 then presses the liquid irritant 74 against the membrane 84, which is broken open. The irritant 74 then emerges from the nozzle 85 with the jet geometry described above. Due to the expansion space 80 provided between the propellant charge 76 and the propellant 83, pressure peaks of the expansion gases generated when the propellant charge 76 burns off are damped in such a way that the propellant 83 accelerates the irritant 74 from the space 81 almost uniformly through the nozzle 85.

It is now possible to assign a separate nozzle to each barrel 72a to 72d, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, or to direct all the barrels through a single nozzle.

In order that the self-defense device 70 always remains ready for use even under the harshest environmental conditions, a trigger element 89, which is displaceably arranged in the base body 73, is sealed with a sealing ring 91 as a sealant. As a result of this seal, an ignition unit 92 with a piezoelectric high-voltage pulse source and the switching unit 88 remain free of moisture.

In addition to the trigger element 89, the triggering device 87 has an ignition unit 92 with the same effect as the ignition unit 37 of an analog design. The ignition unit 92 has a first rectangular sleeve part 94 which is fixed in a printed circuit board 93 and an axially displaceable but with a clearance fit in it its axis is not rotatable relative to the sleeve part 94, the second sleeve part 95. The printed circuit board 93 is fixedly connected to the base body 73. The sleeve part 94 projects with its cylindrical end part 96, which is also one of the electrical poles of the release unit, into a precisely fitting recess 97 in the base body 73. This ensures a "wobble-free" fit of the ignition unit 92. At the bottom of the sleeve part 94, a piezoelectric crystal 99 with a shock absorber 100 is arranged. In the event of mechanical compression as a result of a impact on the impact pickup 100, the crystal 99 emits a high-voltage pulse, which is then used to ignite the corresponding initial ignition charge 75. Furthermore, in

Sleeve part 94 a compression spring 101 is arranged, which presses the other sleeve part 95 against the back 103 of the trigger element 89. The connection of this ignition unit 92 differs in the resilient abutment of the sleeve part 95 on the rear page 103 compared to the arrangement of the ignition unit 37, which was partially pressed into the trigger element 5. A mechanical coupling between the ignition unit 92 and the switching device 88 now takes place via the rear side 103 of the trigger element 89. The sleeve part 95 has an impact ram 105 which can be tensioned with a compression spring 104. The impact ram 105 has a pin 107 which projects radially from the lateral surface of the ram 105 and which lies in an opening 109 in the jacket of the sleeve part 94. The opening 109 has a rectangular basic contour, the one long side of the rectangle being modified by inserting a bevel 110. An opening edge 111 of the opening 109 runs perpendicular to the direction of impact of the plunger 105. The pin 107 rests on the opening edge 111 in the rest position of the ignition unit 92. A T-shaped recess 113, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 10, is milled into the jacket of the sleeve 94. The dashed illustration has been chosen because the recess 113 lies on the part "cut away" in FIG. 10. For the generation of a high-voltage pulse, only the axially extending part 114 and the T-beam part 116 of the recess 113 which runs downward in FIG. 10 are important; the part running upwards is only required for assembly.

To generate a high-voltage pulse, the trigger element 89 is pressed in direction A. Here, the back 103 of the trigger element 89 presses on the top of the sleeve part 95 against the force of the springs 101 and 104. The sleeve part 95 is pushed in the direction A into the sleeve part 94. The opening 109 also moves in the direction A; however, the pin 107 remains in its position, held by the recess part 116. If it is pressed in further along the path a, the pin 107 strikes at the beginning of the bevel 110 and is pushed upwards according to its position in FIG. 10 until it is shortly before Reaching the complete indentation path b comes into the axially extending recess 114 and is now thrown by the compression spring 104, which is now strongly biased by the indentation path b, in the recess 114 up to the stop on the impact sensor 100 of the crystal 99 in order to generate the high-voltage pulse; in this situation, the opening edge 111 has already been pushed so far in direction A that the pin 107 no longer strikes the opening edge 111. If the trigger element 89 is now released, the compression spring 101 presses the sleeve part 95 having the opening 109 against direction A. The opening edge 111 now takes the pin 107 again until it comes to rest in its starting position at the level of the recess 116. Since the sleeve part 95 in the sleeve part 94 is slidable and the compression spring 104 is firmly attached at one end to the sleeve part 95 and * at its other end firmly to the top of the ram, the spring 104 can be easily biased in the direction of rotation so that the pin 107 in the position now reached in the Recess 116 presses. Two spring effects of spring 104 (linear and twist) are thus used. The pin 107 is engaged and ready for the next trigger.

In the self-defense device 70, the high-voltage pulse generated by the crystal 99 first goes to a switchover unit 88. The switchover unit 88 is now constructed in such a way that not only two initial firing charges from two firing charges can be fired in succession, but several, for example four here. For this purpose, there is no longer a clutch with sawtooth-like pawls for a displacement movement, but rather a sawtooth-like clutch 119 for a rotary movement. The sawtooth-like coupling 119 is connected to a rotor 120 having electrical contacts. The structure is selected such that the rotor 120 always remains in the contact position of the electrical connection with the initial ignition charge that has not yet been fired. Only after the high-voltage pulse has been triggered does the device switch to a new, fresh primer. (However, a design could also be chosen as a variant in which the contact position would remain on the initial firing charge that had already been fired and a switchover would only be made when the trigger was coming.)

The indentation paths are selected so that after a predetermined first indentation path, the new electrical connection to the new initial ignition charge is established and then, with a deeper indentation path b, the plunger 105 only snaps onto the crystal 99. The initial ignition charge 75 is high-resistance and works particularly well with high-voltage pulse sources. As is known, there is always an optimal energy output from a voltage source when the internal resistance of the voltage source is equal to that of the consumer, here the initial ignition charge. Since the internal resistance of the high-voltage pulse source is high, that of the initial ignition charge must also be selected with high resistance.

Instead of the mechanical switching unit 33 and 88 described above, it is also possible to use electrically operating units which do not require an additional voltage source for the switching. One of the two electrical which are connected via a blocking diode to one pole of the piezoelectric crystal *. The blocking diodes are now selected so that a blocking diode with an increased blocking voltage is inserted in the conductor leading to the electrode of the subsequent initial ignition charge. The diodes must also be designed so that they lead to an interruption in the current and not to a short circuit due to their internal heating due to the current flow.

In the case of the first high-voltage pulse, there is now a current line through the first blocking diode in the supply line for the first initial ignition charge at a first breakdown voltage. A current does not flow through the other blocking diodes because their breakdown voltage is higher than that of the first. After the breakdown of the first blocking diode, there is no further increase in the voltage of the high-voltage pulse, since a current flow takes place. After the current plus, this first blocking diode is destroyed. In the case of the second high-voltage pulse, current cannot flow to the first initiation charge that has already burned down. The high voltage pulse now rises until the second blocking diode breaks down and so on. The switchover unit described here must always be replaced together with the running module.

Instead of the blocking diodes, appropriately operated transistors or thyristors can also be used. The thyristors and the transistors can also be selected in such a way that their forward voltage is continuously selected higher. The electronic switching device can then be dispensed with. However, such a circuit is somewhat more complex than that described above with non-"blowing" semiconductor elements; the components are also more expensive.

Instead of using semiconductor elements with different blocking or forward voltages, inductances of different sizes which slow the rise in current of the high-voltage pulse can also be used. Thus, one would choose a power supply with a very small inductance for the first primer. For each additional initial ignition charge, a value that is larger by a partial inductance. However, the shape of the electrode tips must be chosen such that after the ignition has occurred, no conductive connection remains between the electrode tips and the electrodes burn off with an increase in their mutual spacing, which is generally the case. Since the ignition voltage of the first burned primer has now increased significantly, the ignites second with the increase in inductance in the supply line. The same applies to the following primers *.

The self-defense device should also be able to be used by people who are not trained in shooting, ie who have problems with target acquisition. In order to enable this group of people to use the device optimally, a visible aiming beam can be used. For this purpose, a small laser (He-Ne laser, diode laser, ...) or a white light source will be integrated into the device, the beam axis of which is aligned with the ballistic trajectory and an effective shooting distance. A beam cone of the emitted radiation can also be adjusted with an imaging system in such a way that it is congruent with the scattering circle of the active charge.

In order to protect the self-defense device against unauthorized use, a security lock provided with a closing element can be provided. This safety lock will preferably block the trigger element 5 or 89 in its trigger direction A. A bolt that can be adjusted with a key can be used as a safety lock. The safety lock will preferably be placed in the handle.

In the above explanations, the active charge and propellant charge as well as the initial charge are accommodated in a sleeve with a circular cross section. However, this cross-sectional shape is not mandatory, in particular in the case of gaseous and liquid active charges. An elliptical or a polygonal cross section can thus be selected.

Claims

Claims *

1. Self-defense device (2; 70) with at least two barrels (7a, 7b; 72a-d), each with an electrically ignitable initial primer (13; 75) and a propellant (11;

76) and a shot charge (9, 11, 13; 74, 76, 75) having an active charge (9; 74), a triggering device (3; 87) having a piezoelectric high-voltage pulse source (45; 99) and a switching unit (33; 88) , characterized in that in each case one of the initial ignition charges (13; 75) can be electrically connected to the high-voltage pulse source (45; 99) via the switching unit (33; 88) and the

Tripping device (3; 87) has a trigger element (5; 89), by its manual actuation acting on the high-voltage pulse source (45; 99) to generate a high-voltage pulse, and the switchover unit (33; 88) for automatically establishing an electrical connection to each an initial ignition charge (13; 75) that has not yet been ignited without the action of the ignited propellant charge (11; 76) or a battery element.

2. Self-defense device (2; 70) according to claim 1, characterized in that the switching unit (88) and the high-voltage pulse source (99) with the trigger element (89) are matched to one another such that only after a first

Trigger path (a) the switching unit (88) electrically connects the high-voltage pulse source (99) to a selected initial charge (75) of the firing charge (74, 75, 76) and only after a second (b) compared to the first (a) larger trigger path a pulse the high voltage pulse source (99) is triggered.

3. Self-defense device (2; 70) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the switching unit (33; 88) with the trigger element (5; 89) mechanically connected driver (31; 103), a locking clutch (61, 64; 119) and an adjustable switching element (55; 120), one coupling part (63a, 63b) of the latching coupling (61, 64; 119) with the driver (31) and the other

Coupling part (61) is connected to the switching element (55) and in particular one coupling part in the pressing-in direction (A) of the trigger element (5; 89) has at least * a sawtooth-shaped pawl and the other coupling part is designed as a latching element (61) for latching into each pawl in order to release a firing charge (9, 11, 13 ; 74, 76, 75) an electrical connection via the adjusted switching element (55; 120) from the high-voltage pulse source (45; 99) to the electrically ignitable initial charge (13; 75) of the next firing charge (9, 11, 13; 74, 76, 75).

4. Self-defense device (2; 70) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each barrel (7a, 7b; 72a-d) is not rechargeable and preferably each barrel (72a-d) with propellant charge (76); Initial primer charge (75) and firing charge (74) as a whole, in particular when several barrels (72a-d) are present, are designed to be exchangeable as a whole barrel arrangement (71).

5. Self-defense device (2; 70) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the high-voltage pulse source (45; 99) a piezoelectric crystal (45; 99) and a plunger (43; 104) which can be loaded with a spring (41; 104) 105), which is held in its rest position in the housing of the high-voltage pulse source (45; 99), one end of the spring acting on the hammer surface and the other end of the spring cooperating with the trigger element (5; 89), whereby the

The plunger (43; 105) only shoots when a predetermined second push-in path (b) of the trigger element (5; 89) onto the crystal (45; 99) and after the trigger element (5; 89) is released by the spring (44; 101) is brought back to its rest position.

6. Self-defense device (2; 70) according to claim 5, characterized in that the spring constant of the acting on the trigger unit (3; 87) acting springs (41, 44; 101, 104) is dimensioned such that a spring force to exceed the predetermined insertion path must be applied, which over a predetermined level of the securing force to prevent unwanted triggering of each shooting charge (9, * 11, 13; 74, 76, 75).

7. Self-defense device (2; 70) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that no externally visible, reminiscent of a firearm

Barrel training is available and in particular each barrel (7a, 7b) is watertight, preferably sealed with a plastic covering (14), in particular the trigger element (5; 89) is also sealed moisture-tight on its movable longitudinal sides with a sealant (91) and preferably the covering envelope - Richly provided with a predetermined breaking point at each end in the exit direction.

8. Self-defense device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by a sighting aid, in particular a battery-operated light, preferably laser beam, the beam axis being oriented in accordance with the ballistic trajectory and a still effective shooting distance.

9. Self-defense device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by an ergonomically shaped handle as an integral part of a base body of the self-defense device, which is shaped such that the device is inevitably only in the hand with the barrel outlet facing away from the operator and preferably one Tripping safety unit, which is arranged in particular in the handle, is preferably designed to block the movement of the trigger element, the blocking being releasable with a closing element.