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Title:
DEVICE TO PROTECT A POTENTIAL VICTIM AND/OR MAKE A POTENTIAL PERPETRATOR IDENTIFIABLE
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2017/188817
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a device to protect a potential victim and/or make a potential perpetrator identifiable, comprising: - a housing with an inner space; - a container comprising a content, wherein said container is arranged in said inner space of said housing; - wherein said housing is transformable between a first state protecting said container against breaking and a second state; - wherein the container itself is made of a breakable material; and - wherein, in said second state of said housing, the container is susceptible to willful easy breaking with human force by a transverse breaking force applied transverse relative to a longitudinal direction of said container.

Inventors:
VAN DER KAMP ROEL ADRIAAN CORNELIS (NL)
BOUMA HELEEN (NL)
DE JONG IRIS MYRTE (NL)
Application Number:
PCT/NL2017/050272
Publication Date:
November 02, 2017
Filing Date:
April 28, 2017
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
PEARLTECT B V (NL)
International Classes:
G08B15/02; A44C9/00; A62B3/00; F41H9/10; F42B12/46
Domestic Patent References:
WO2009039221A22009-03-26
Foreign References:
US4449474A1984-05-22
US4241850A1980-12-30
US4135645A1979-01-23
DE29717194U11998-02-05
US4431118A1984-02-14
US4449474A1984-05-22
GB2198924A1988-06-29
US4241850A1980-12-30
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
HAAN, Raimond Johannes Gerardus (NL)
Download PDF:
Claims:
CLAIMS

1. Device to protect a potential victim and/or make a potential perpetrator identifiable, comprising:

- a housing with an inner space;

- a container comprising a content, wherein said container is arranged in said inner space of said housing; and

- wherein said housing is transformable between a first state protecting said container against breaking and a second state,

characterized in that

- the container itself is made of a breakable material; and

- in said second state of said housing, the container is susceptible to willful easy breaking with human force by a transverse breaking force applied transverse relative to a longitudinal direction of said container.

2. Device according to claim 1 , wherein said housing is manually transformable between the first state and second state.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said content of said container comprises a volatile fluid with a repellent odor.

4. Device according to any of the foregoing claims, wherein said content of said container comprises a marker, more preferably a DNA dye and/or micro dots. 5. Device according to any of the foregoing claims, wherein said housing comprises a first housing part and a second housing part which are slideable with respect to each other between a retracted state, that identifies the first state, and an extended state, that identifies the second state. 6. Device according to claim 5, wherein the extended state provides a lever action for willful easy breaking said container by a transverse breaking force applied with human force.

7. Device according to any of claims 5-6, wherein said container is at least arranged in said first housing part.

8. Device according to any of claims 5-7, wherein, in the first state, the second housing part encloses at least a part of the first housing part, wherein the second housing part strengthens the enclosed part of the first housing part.

9. Device according to any of claims 5-8, wherein, in the second state, the second housing part is displaced relative to the first housing part, wherein a first part of the first housing part is uncovered by said second housing part.

10. Device according to any of claims 5-9, wherein the first part comprises a break line. 11. Device according to any of claims 5-10, wherein the first part of the first housing part comprises a reduced wall thickness compared to a second part of the first housing part.

12. Device according to claim 11, wherein the second housing part and the second part of the first housing part exhibit a substantially identical outer diameter, and wherein an inner diameter of said second housing part is larger than an outer diameter of the first part of the first housing part.

13. Device according to any of the foregoing claims, further comprising:

- a spring that is pre-tensioned in the first state and that tries to force a transformation of the housing from the first state into the second state; and

- a lock that locks the housing in the first state.

14. Device according to claim 13, wherein said spring pre -tensions the container into said first housing part.

15. Device according to claim 13 or 14, wherein said lock comprises an elastic member that extends from the first housing part and that, in the first state, engages in a hook-like manner with said second housing part.

16. Device according to claim 15, wherein said elastic member extends from the first housing part till past an edge of said second housing part, where it is engageable with said edge in a hook-like manner.

17. Device according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the elastic member of said lock, in the second state, engages in a hook-like manner with an abutment of said second housing part.

18. Device according to claim 17, wherein said abutment is arranged inside said second housing part.

19. Device according to any of the foregoing claims, wherein said first and/or second housing part are connected to a cord, chain or strap and said device is a wearable device.

20. Jewelry, especially a bracelet or necklace, comprising a device according to any of the foregoing claims.

21. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions adapted to cause a 3D printer to print the device according to any of the claims 1-19.

Description:
Device to protect a potential victim and/or make a potential perpetrator identifiable

The present invention relates to a device to protect a potential victim and/or make a potential perpetrator identifiable. In particular this device is a wearable device, such as jewelry, and more particular a bracelet or necklace.

In order to protect people, such as women and elderly people, against violent physical attacks, various self-defence or deterrent devices have been proposed.

US-A-4,449,474, which is considered the closest prior art, discloses a personal security device which comprises a trigger actuated aerosol canister contained in a two-piece telescopic housing. A trigger which releases the contents of the canister is completely covered by the outer housing with the device in a closed position. With the inner housing in an extended position, an opening is provided into the inner housing interior allowing one to place a finger on the canister trigger. Activation of the trigger causes the contents of canister to be released.

High stress situations are known for a reduction in fine motor skills, and thus the victim is mainly limited to his/her gross motor skills. Consequently, activation of the security device of US-A-4,449,474 may be difficult when a victim is exposed to high stress levels. For activation of the security device, as a first step, a raised portion has to be depressed. Secondly, the inner housing has to be moved outwardly. Thirdly, a finger has to be placed into an opening, and as a fourth and final step the trigger has to be activated. High stress situations are known for a reduction in fine motor skills, and they are required for multiple steps, especially placing the finger into the opening.

GB-A-2 198 924 discloses an attack deterrent and marking device, comprising a readily breakable or openable dye -filled capsule connected to a chain or strap and worn in the manner of a necklace or bracelet. The unprotected capsule is formed in two parts with a break-line there between. The capsule can be ruptured to release dye, which may be scented, upon application of force to the chain or strap. The dye then marks the attacker, so that he/she can later be identified.

US-A-4,241,850 is acknowledged as further prior art.

Preferably the dye in the capsule is scented. If the broken capsule disperses a foul smell, this may repel an attacker, even if the attack takes place at a relatively remote location where there is not likely to be anyone in the vicinity to assist the person under attack. A foul smell is expected to be especially effective in the case of a sexual assault.

When a device is worn as a necklace or bracelet on the body, this safeguards that the protective device is always readily available for the person under attack. It however also has the disadvantage that it is carried at an exposed and relatively vulnerable position. Especially if the fluid in the capsule is scented with a foul smell, it is of the utmost importance that inadvertent breaking of the capsule is prevented at all times, even in a friendly romp, when accidentally falling or even in an accident. On the other hand, activation during a real attack should be easy.

There is a need for a device to protect a potential victim and/or make a potential perpetrator identifiable, that may be activated easily under stress, while preventing activation even in wild but non-threatening situations.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device to protect a potential victim and/or make a potential perpetrator identifiable, that is improved relative to the prior art and wherein at least one of the above stated problems is obviated.

Said object is achieved with the device to protect a potential victim and/or make a potential perpetrator identifiable according to the present invention, said device comprising:

- a housing with an inner space;

- a container comprising a content, wherein said container is arranged in said inner space of said housing; and

- wherein said housing is transformable between a first state protecting said container against breaking and a second state,

- wherein the container itself is made of a breakable material; and

- wherein, in said second state of said housing, the container is susceptible to willful easy breaking with human force by a transverse breaking force applied transverse relative to a longitudinal direction of said container.

Due to the housing having a first state protecting said container against breaking and a second state in which said container is susceptible to willful easy breaking with human force, the container is well protected in the first state while readily available and easy to break in the second state. The container itself is made of a breakable material, and may be easily broken with human force when the container is exposed to a transverse breaking force. This allows for an easy activation during stress, wherein this activation mainly relies on gross motor skills of the victim.

Objectives as indicated above, and/or other benefits or inventive effects, are attained according to the present disclosure by the assembly of features in the appended claims.

In the following description preferred embodiments of the present invention are further elucidated with reference to the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bracelet with the protective device in a retracted first state; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the bracelet of figure 1 with the protective device in an extended second state;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the retracted first state of figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of the extended second state of figure 2; and Figure 5 is a cross sectional view showing activation of the protective device.

In the embodiment shown in figures 1-5, a device 1 to protect a potential victim and/or make a potential perpetrator identifiable, is embodied as a wearable device 1 in the form of a bracelet. The device 1 comprises a housing 2 with a first housing part 6 and a second housing part 26. In case of a bracelet, both housing parts 6, 26 are connected, e.g. with pins 46, to a cord, chain or strap 44.

The housing 2 has an inner space 4, and in said inner space 4 there is arranged a container 40 comprising a content 42. The content 42 of said container 40 preferably comprises a volatile fluid with a repellent odor, that is able to deter a potential perpetrator, such as a person trying to rape a potential victim. The content 42 may, as an alternative or as an addition, also comprise a marker, more preferably a DNA dye and/or micro dots. A DNA dye may expose the potential perpetrator to a unique identifier, which may be used as evidence after an arrest. Also, the content 42 may, as an alternative or as an addition, comprise fluids like oleoresin capsicum (pepper spray).

The housing 2 of the device 1 is transformable between a first state protecting said container 40 against breaking and a second state in which said container 40 is susceptible to willful easy breaking with human force. If said housing 2 is manually transformable between the first state and second state, a potential victim may break the container 40 and in this way expose the potential perpetrator to the content 42 of said container 40.

Said housing 2 comprises a first housing part 6 and a second housing part 26 which are slideable with respect to each other between a retracted state (figures 1 and 3), that identifies the first state, and an extended state (figures 2 and 4), that identifies the second state. In the extended second state, the container 40 may be broken with human force (figure 5). The extended state provides a lever action for willful and easy breaking of said container by a transverse breaking force applied with human force, which purely relies on gross motor skills and is therefore easy to use in high stress situations.

As shown especially in figures 4 and 5, the container 40 is at least arranged in said first housing part 6. The first housing part 6 is designed such that the container 40 is susceptible to willful easy breaking by human force. In the first state, shown in figures 1 and 3, the second housing part 26 encloses at least a first part 8 of the first housing part 6. In this way, the second housing part 26 strengthens the enclosed first part 8 of the first housing part 6. As a result, the container 40 is well protected against breakage in the first retracted state of the housing 2.

In the second state, shown in figures 2 and 4, the second housing part 26 is displaced relative to the first housing part 6, wherein a first part 8 of the first housing part 6 is uncovered by said second housing part 26. Consequently, the container 40 is susceptible to willful and easy breaking in the second extended state of the housing 2. In the extended second state, the length of the device 1 is increased due to the relative displacement between the first housing part 6 and second housing part 26. Consequently, the length of the moment arm increases from the retracted state to the extended state, thereby providing leverage. Thus, the container 40 is exposed only in the second state. In this extended stated, the container 40 is susceptible to willful easy breaking by human force due to the additional leverage.

Especially when the device 1 is a bracelet, the wrist of the user may be used as a fulcrum when the human force is applied, improving efficient breaking. A typical use of a bracelet may comprise the steps of bringing the housing from the retracted first state into the extended second state, and the victim successively pulling the strap 44 at a position substantially opposite the housing 2 away from the victim' s arm. The wrist will then be used as a fulcrum while a pulling force is applied by the victim to the strap 44. The extended second state allows and enhances the lever action that results in willful easy breaking of said container 40 by human force. The breaking action only relies on gross motor skills. In addition the wearer can warn the attacker easily by showing the bracelet 1 , if desired in the already extended second state wherein the device 1 only requires one final step for activation thereof. Moreover, with a bracelet 1 on the wrist it is relatively easy to aim the fluid to a specific target, such as an attacker or maybe even yourself.

In order to promote easy breaking of the container 40 in the second state, the first part 8 of the first housing part 6 is preferably weakened by one or more than one opening 10. This opening is preferably a break line 12 that may be arranged over only part of the circumference of the first part 8 of the first housing part 6.

Preferably, the break line 12 is interrupted by a bridge 13. This bridge 13 forms a hinge in the state shown in figure 5, and this hinge connects the first housing part 6 and the second housing part 26 even after the container 40 has been broken. Because the bridge 13 bends but does not break, it maintains a connection between the first housing part 6 and the second housing part 26. In case of a bracelet, the device 1 remains on the wrist of the user even after activation of said device 1. In this way, loss of the device 1 is prevented, so that it may form part of future legal evidence. After all, if e.g. a DNA dye or marker with micro dots has been used, the perpetrator and device 1 have been exposed to the same identifiers.

The bridge 13 preferably experience a plastic deformation, so that the container 40 will remain in an opened state, i.e. the bridge 13 will not close the container due to elastic resilience.

If the first part 8 of the first housing part 6 comprises a reduced wall thickness compared to a second part 22 of the first housing part 6, this results in a weaker part, which may be beneficial for promoting willful breaking of the container 40 in the second state.

A substantially flush housing 2 may be obtained in the first state, when the second housing part 26 and the second part 22 of the first housing part 6 exhibit a substantially identical outer diameter. If an inner diameter of the second housing part 26 is larger than an outer diameter of the first part 8 of the first housing part 6, this allows the second housing part 26 to slide over the first part 8 of the first housing part 6.

The device further comprises a spring 34 that is pre-tensioned in the first state

(figure 3) and that tries to force a transformation of the housing 2 from the first state into the second state (figure 4). A lock 14 locks the housing 2 in the first state, such that the spring 34 only presses the first housing part 6 and second housing part 26 away from each other when the lock 14 is manually unlocked. After releasing lock 14, only one further action is required by the user. After all, the spring 34 automatically forces the housing 2 into the extended second state. It is now sufficient for the victim to pull on the strap 44 to apply a lever action that causes a transverse breaking force to the cartridge 42. The present invention thus only requires a minimum amount of activation steps: releasing lock 14 and breaking the cartridge 42. Please note that especially the final step of breaking the cartridge 42 only relies on gross motor skills, which greatly increases the chances of being successfully applied when exposed to a high stress situation. At the start of a threatening situation, the stress levels are still relatively low, and the lock may already be released in this phase. When the threatening situation escalates, the device 1 is ready for activation in a final step that only relies on gross motor skills.

The spring 34 also pre -tensions the container 40 into the first housing part 6. As described above, this first housing part 6 is designed to receive the container 40 such that it is susceptible for willful easy breaking by human force (figure 5). The spring 34 presses the container 40 against a ring 36 in the first housing part 6, and in this way the position of the container in said first housing part 6 is exactly known. This could allow the container to have a (not shown) break line as well at a position that corresponds to a break line of the first part 8 of the first housing part 6. If the spring 34 presses against the container 40 that is arranged in the inner space of the first housing part 6, the spring 34 may also simultaneously press the first housing part 6 and second housing part 26 away from each other when the lock 14 is manually unlocked.

The spring 34 and the ring 36 moreover provide a resilient suspension of the container 40 inside the housing 2 in the first state, thereby protecting the container 40 against breakage in the first retracted state of the housing 2. Due to the resilient suspension, the container is less susceptible to breaking due to an impact, e.g. when the user falls on the ground or experiences a (traffic) accident.

As shown in figure 3, the lock 14 comprises an elastic member 16 that extends from the first housing part 6 and that, in the first state, engages in a hook-like manner with said second housing part 26. The elastic member 16 extends from the first housing part 6 till past an edge 28 of said second housing part 26, where it engages with said edge 28 in a hook-like manner (figure 3).

By pressing the end part 18 of the elastic member 16 in the direction of the arrow in figure 3, the hook 20 is brought out of engagement with the edge 28, and the spring 34 presses the first housing part 6 and second housing part 26 away from each other such that the housing 2 will get into the second state shown in figure 4.

In the second state, the elastic member 16 of the lock 14 engages in a hook-like manner with an abutment 30 of the second housing part 26, in this way holding the first housing part 6 and second housing part 26 in the second state (figure 4). The abutment 30 is arranged inside the second housing part 26.

Although they show preferred embodiments of the invention, the above described embodiments are intended only to illustrate the invention and not to limit in any way the scope of the invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that where features mentioned in the appended claims are followed by reference signs, such signs are included solely for the purpose of enhancing the intelligibility of the claims and are in no way limiting on the scope of the claims. Furthermore, it is particularly noted that the skilled person can combine technical measures of the different embodiments. The scope of the invention is therefore defined solely by the following claims.