GB2393301A

GB2393301A - Personal defence system

Info

Publication number: GB2393301A
Application number: GB0221483A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nigel Jonathan Davies
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-09-17
Filing date: 2002-09-17
Publication date: 2004-03-24
Also published as: GB0221483D0

Abstract

Similar to a watch in appearance, and capable of withstanding excessive externally applied force and pressure the device is an irremovable, shock and water resistant personal defence system either worn around the wrist or ankle, or stitched into a frequently used item of clothing or belonging. Capable of emitting an individually identifiable indelible ink/dye/stain marker (6), and featuring a sonic attack alarm (8), transmitter and geographical positioning mechanism (5) that can only be removed by the individual wearing it (1). The device and any of its functions can be activated by the individual (3) or by another using a unique unit telephone number, and can only be deactivated by the remote telephone number. The device is switched on when it is placed in a cradle to recharge. Otherwise the device is controlled and can be switched off by telephoning the unit and using the telephone keypad to send operating instructions to the unit, to set functions, and customise it to suit the owner's requirements. Should the device detect only a remaining 2hrs of transmittable battery life it will automatically commence transmission. The device can be customised by the owner to suit their needs, and, if worn as a bracelet around the wrist or ankle, can only be removed using a unique key.

Description

J 239330 1

Page 1 of 8 PATENT SPECIFICATION

PERSONAL DEFENCE SYSTEM

The Description

Background

1. This invention relates to the protection of the vulnerable in today's society from attack, abduction and worse.

The Problem 2. There is an increasing awareness and fear of attack, abduction and murder in today's society.

3. Parents are worried about leaving/allowing their children to play outside un-attended. Reduction of freedom will inhibit a child's growth.

4. Very little affordable and practical protection is currently available on the open market.

5. There is an inadequate level of protection given to the vulnerable members of society from those stronger than they.

6. There is an inadequate level of protection available to all in society capable of only being used As a shield and not a swords.

7. Most of the protection available to society can be used against the victim.

8. Most of the protection available to society can be easily separated from the victim.

9. Most of the protection available to society does not defend the victim if unconscious. 10.Most of the protection available to society does not assist rescuers to locate the victims.

11. Most of the protection available to society does not provide a twostage defence. 12. Victims often have difficulty identifying the assailant.

Page 2 of 8 Objective of the Invention 13.The object of this invention is to protect the vulnerable in society from attack and assist the rescue services to locate and recover victims.

Essential Features 14.A shock and water resistant device locked around the wrist or ankle using an un-cuttable/un-breakable strap (Ref. 4), or stitched into a frequently used item of clothing or belonging capable of emitting an individually identifiable indelible ink/dye/stain marker (Ref. 6), and featuring a sonic attack alarm (Ref. 8), transmitter and geographical positioning mechanism (Ref. 5) that can only be removed by the individual wearing it (Ref. 1 and 4) 15.The device and any of its functions can be activated either by the individual wearing the device (Ref. 3) or by another using a simple individual unit telephone number to activate the device from a remote position. 16.The device is switched on when it is placed in its cradle to recharge.

Otherwise the device is controlled and can be switched off by telephoning the unit and using the telephone keypad to send operating instructions to the unit, to set functions, and customise it to suit the owner's requirements.

17. Once activated the unit can only be de-activated by the remote telephone number. 18.Accordingly, this invention provides protection, and a system of location and recovery.

19. Should the device unit detect that it is approaching the remaining 2hrs of transmittable battery life it will commence transmission until recharging commences. 20. The device is charged from the mains by removing the charging pins cover (Ref. 7) and sitting the device in its charging cradle.

Non-Essential Features 21. The invention is made of metals and plastics that ensure that the device is lightweight and practical.

22. The materials used ensure that the device can resist excessive amounts of externally applied force and pressure.

Page 3 of 8 23.The device is similar to a watch in appearance but with no visible strap buckle. 24. The device weighs less than 75g.

25.The device is worn either as a bracelet on the ankle or wrist, or alternatively stitched into a frequently worn item of clothing or bag.

Page 4 of 8 The Drawinns 26. A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 27. FIGURE 1 shows a plan/front elevation view of the personal defence system. Reference (Refl 1 is the location where the un-cuttable/un-

breakable strap (Ref. 4) slides into and is locked into position by the unique key.

28. FIGURE 1 also shows Ref. 2 which is the activation button protection cap, to protect the device from accidental activation. Once Ref. 2 is lifted the activation button Ref. 3 can be pressed. If Ref. 3 is pressed and immediately released the sonic alarm (Ref. 8) located beneath Ref. 3 is activated together with the transmitter which, using the built in microphone (Ref. 5), begins to transmit a signal in the same way as a mobile phone does when a person is using it to speak to another. Once the sonic alarm battery is drained Ref. 5 transmits the sound heard by the microphone for a limited period to a base station, once this period is complete the device continues to emit a signal as would an ordinary mobile phone when be used to communicate speech until the battery is drained. The signal emitted by the device can be used to triangulate the position of the unit and enable the rescue services to locate and rescue the unit. If Ref. 3 is pressed and held down for more than 2 seconds then the individually identifiable indelible ink/dye/stain marker (Ref. 6) is jettisoned spraying the marker away from the device at the assailant. The ink in each unit has it's own unique code so that it will be possible to trace fragments of the ink from the location of where it was jettisoned and from whoever and whatever the ink came into contact with. Thus all those people and objects at the scene of the attack with whom the ink came into contact will share a common temporary traceable characteristic.

29.FIGURE 2 shows a plan/rear elevation view of the personal defence system. Ref. 7 is a water resistant cap used to protect the device's charging pins from water, sweat and corrosives. Ref. 7 is locked into position by two pins. Once the device is being worn/locked in position it will be impossible to gain access to the pins.

30. FIGURE 3 shows a section elevation view of the personal defence system.

Reference (Refl 1 is the location where the strap (Ref. 4) slides into and is locked into position by the unique key. Ref. 2 is the activation button protection cap, to protect the device from accidental activation. Once Ref.

2 is lifted the activation button Ref. 3 can be pressed. If Ref. 3 is pressed and immediately released the sonic alarm (Ref. 8) located beneath Ref. 3 is activated together with the transmitter which, using the built in microphone (Ref. 5), begins to transmit a signal in the same way as a mobile phone does when a person is using it to speak to another. Once

Page 5 of 8 the sonic alarm battery is drained Ref. 5 transmits the sound heard by the microphone for a limited period to a base station, once this period is complete the device continues to emit a signal as would an ordinary mobile phone when be used to communicate speech until the battery is drained. The signal emitted by the device can be used to triangulate the position of the unit and enable the rescue services to locate and rescue the unit. If Ref. 3 is pressed and held down for more than 2 seconds then the individually identifiable indelible ink/dye/stain marker (Ref. 6) is jettisoned spraying the marker away from the device at the assailant. The ink in each unit has it's own unique code so that it will be possible to trace fragments of the ink from the location of where it was jettisoned and from whoever and whatever the ink came into contact with. Thus all those people and objects at the scene of the attack with whom the ink came into contact will share a common temporary traceable characteristic. Ref. 7 is a water resistant cap used to protect the device's charging pins from water, sweat and corrosives. Ref. 7 is locked into position by two pins. Once the device is being worn/locked in position it will be impossible to gain access to the pins.

Detailed Descriotion 31.The owner can customise the device. The owner can deactivate Ref. 3 shown on the drawing so that the unit's features can only be activated by the use of the device's mobile phone number. This would then render it most useful for small children. Parents could attach the device to the leg of their infant using the strap (Ref 4) and lock (Ref. 1) if they were going to a busy shopping mall. If the child wondered off out of sight the parent could activate the sonic alarm by the use of a mobile phone to enable the parent to locate the child. If matters are worse and the parent believes that the child has been snatched, the parent could activate the sonic alarm, jettison the security ink marker and activate the unit's signal. This would act as both a deterrent to a possible assailant, would bring the attention of onlookers to the child thus creating reliable witnesses to events, and assist the rescue services in the swift recovery of the child.

32. Alternatively older children or vulnerable members of society could use the device features to deter possible would be criminal assailants.

33. The device's features could also be used by law enforcement agencies to enhance their ability to secure a successful conviction of the assailant and reduce crime.

Claims

Page 6 of 8 CLAIMS

PERSONAL DEFENCE SYSTEM

34.An irremovable shock and water resistant personal defence system worn around the wrist or ankle using an un-cuttable/un-breakable strap (Ref. 4) , or stitched into a frequently used item of clothing or belonging capable of emitting an individually identifiable indelible ink/dye/stain marker (Ref. 6), and featuring a sonic attack alarm (Ref. 8), transmitter and geographical positioning mechanism (Ref. 5) that can only be removed by the individual wearing it (Ref. 1).

35.The individual wearing the device can activate the personal defence system and any of its functions as claimed in 34 (Ref. 3).

36.The device is switched on when it is placed in its cradle to recharge.

Otherwise the device is controlled and can be switched off by telephoning the unit and using the telephone keypad to send operating instructions to the unit, to set functions, and customise it to suit the owner's requirements.

37. The personal defence system and any of its functions as claimed in 34 can therefore be activated by another using a simple individual unit telephone number to activate the device by remote.

38.The personal defence system can only be de-activated by the remote telephone number.

39. Should the device unit detect that it is approaching the remaining 2hrs of transmittable battery life it will commence transmission until recharging commences. 40.Any of the personal defence system functions so claimed in 34 can be neutralized by the owner if the function is not required before wearing the device, allowing each owner to customise the personal defence system to suit their needs.

41.The personal defence system so claimed in 34 is worn as a bracelet locked around the wrist or ankle with no visible strap buckle and can only be removed using a unique key (Ref. 1).

42. The personal defence system so claimed in 34 may, instead of being worn as a bracelet as claimed in 41, be stitched into a clothing or a belonging if desired. 43.The personal defence system so claimed in 34 is made of metals and plastics that ensure that the device is lightweight and practical.

Page 7 of 8 44. The materials used ensure that the personal defence system so claimed in 43 can resist excessive amounts of externally applied force and pressure.

45.The personal defence system so claimed in 34 is similar to a watch in appearance. 46. The personal defence system so claimed in 34 weighs less than 75g.

47.A personal defence system substantially as herein described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.