US20160047622A1

US20160047622A1 - Easy-Carry, Quick-Deploy, Firm-Grip, Non-Lethal Defensive Sticks and Method of Use

Info

Publication number: US20160047622A1
Application number: US14/860,769
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph R. Tousignant
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-09-22
Filing date: 2015-09-22
Publication date: 2016-02-18

Abstract

A defensive stick and relayed system and method of use system, comprising: a defensive stick comprising at least one and no more than two strike ends thereof; a user grip tightly affixed and substantially immobile relative to the strike ends; a carriage housing removably mating with the first one of the strike ends; and a connector connecting the carriage housing to a carriage point selected from the group consisting of: a place on the user's body, a fixed place near the user, and a material object carried by the user; wherein: when, in response to a perceived threat, the user applies a separation force at least one and no more than ten pounds, the defensive stick separates from the carriage housing, has its first strike end exposed, and thereby deploys for immediate defensive use with a single separation hand motion.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is an unfortunate reality of modern life that people are often assaulted by other people and so feel the need to carry defensive weapons which can help them counteract the actions of an attacker. This is naturally the case for law-enforcement officers, but it is also true for the general population. However, the choice of defensive weapon is not always an easy one, because defensive weapons can often be turned against the person who was hoping to use them in his or her defense, either inadvertently by accident or deliberately at the hands of the attacker.
For example, a gun is certainly a lethal weapon, but in the stress of a physical confrontation the victim often freezes and fails to pull the trigger, or the safety is inadvertently left on. If quickly snatched away by an attacker, this firearm can ultimately end up proving lethal to its owner. Guns have also been known to misfire on occasion. In addition, the threat posed by a particular assault, while serious, may not rise to the level of requiring the lethal force that can be inflicted by a firearm.
Likewise, although a knife does not generally have a safety (some folding knives actually do) and cannot misfire in the same way as a gun, there is still a high likelihood that it can be wrestled away and then used in a potentially lethal attack against the defender. Smaller and weaker “victims” are what an attacker is usually looking for, so this is a real concern. Therefore a knife, by its very nature, would prove far more lethal to the victim if wrestled away and used against him or her than would a small stick-like device whose primary purpose is defensive, and which is meant to impart non-lethal pain to the attacker allowing the victim to safely retreat.
Additionally, the element of tactical surprise is an important asset for a defender. This surprise is achieved in part by the defender being able to easily carry and quickly deploy a defensive weapon before the attacker becomes aware that the defender is carrying such a defense. Guns and knives are not helpful for providing tactical surprise, because these can often be detected and if they are, an attacker knows instantly that these are serious defensive weapons. Similarly, larger stick and batons such as those employed by law enforcement are instantly recognized by an adversary as serious defensive weapons, and in many places it is illegal for civilians to carry batons.
Over many years, smaller defensive sticks have been developed which are helpful for providing effective, fast, non-lethal defense. These sticks generally go under the art names of “Yawara sticks” and “Kubotan sticks.” Despite the Yawara stick having been introduced as far back as 1937 and the Kubotan in the 1960s, these defensive sticks have gone virtually unnoticed by the vast majority of the population—potential attackers included.
These sticks are often fabricated from a hard metal, wood, or plastic. As stated at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kubotan which is hereby incorporated by reference into this disclosure, the Kubotan's “principal targets in self-defence include bony, fleshy and sensitive parts such as knuckles, forearms, the bridge of the nose, shins, stomach, solar plexus, spine, temple, ribs, groin, neck and eyes.” The same is true for the Yawara. These sticks can often be held firmly within the defender's first and so are not easily taken away by the attacker. At the same time, a quick jab or direct pressure of a hard stick end protruding from the hand, against any bony or soft, sensitive part of the attacker's body (such as the top of the hands, neck or chest area, or for an attack that appears potentially lethal, to the eyes) can inflict enough non-lethal pain on the attacker to force withdrawal.
One of the earliest mentions of the term “Yawara” is found in U.S. Pat. No. 2,099,447. At column 1, lines 5 to 18, this patent states that “among the objects of my invention are: to provide a hand held weapon projecting only a short distance each side of the hand; to provide a hand-held weapon having finger ridges to prevent the weapon from being forced out of the hand, and having short ends projecting both sides of the hand and terminating in rounded striking ends; to provide a police weapon of small size which has provision thereon to minimize the chance of having the weapon wrested from the hand of the user during action; and to provide a police weapon which is useful for police officers trained in ‘Yawara’, a Japanese system of defense and offense.”
Over time the term “Yawara Stick” has taken on a generic meaning for various designs and materials from which these sticks are made, all of which share at least some attributes of the initial design. Generally the Yawara stick has been carried in a pants pocket, jacket pocket, or purse. But this is a disadvantage, because reaching to grab the stick from those locations tends to alert an attacker that a weapon may be forthcoming since a knife (if carried) is most often carried in these same places.
Also, these Yawara sticks have often been made in sizes (large lengths and/or widths) which make concealed carry or quick deployment difficult or impossible. For example, the currently manufactured “Cold Steel” model “Koga SD1” Yawara stick http://www.coldsteel.com/Product/91K/KOGA_SD1.aspx is 7⅝″ long, and 1¼″ in diameter along much of its length. It also weighs over five (5) ounces and creates a definite bulge in and hangs out of most any pocket. A smaller model “Koga SD2” http://www.coldsteel.com/Product/91MK/MINI_KOGA_SD2.aspx is certainly pocket-able, but the rather sharp four corners on each end will tend to cut into the pockets over time and could easily draw blood, which ought not be the intent of a defensive stick. These sharp edges also can be rather uncomfortable when held in hand, with the back end resting against the palm for best use in forward thrusting maneuvers. Overall, there has been no provision to enable Yawara sticks, in more manageable and concealable sizes, to be carried discretely and securely upon the body in various locations, yet still allow for very speedy deployment. Additionally, quick “one handed retrieval and deployment,” producing an effective tactical surprise advantage, has been lacking.
As related art, the previously mentioned “Kubotan” self-defense sticks were developed in the 1960's by Takayuki Kubota as a self-defense weapon that typically is attached to a split key ring, to which various keys are added. These sticks are typically no more than 5½″ in length, and about ½″ or slightly larger in diameter. This is about the same overall size as a marker pen. These are usually made from a metal such as aluminum or titanium, or one of the high-impact plastics. Most often there are grooves or other milled-in areas along the main shaft, in an attempt to better the user's grip while deployed. However, cutting into an already thinner hand-held defensive stick to attempt to increase gripping ability teaches in the wrong direction. The various embodiments to be presented here also seek to increase a user's grip, but in a way which is more effective overall, and has better overall ergonomic “feel” in hand than the prior art in this area.
An example of a currently manufactured Kubotan stick can be found at: http://www.amazon.com/Fury-Tactical-Keychain-Pressure-5-75-Inch/dp/B007J8LBOU/ref=sr_—1_—1 ?ie=UTF8&qid=1440621841&sr=8-1&keywords=Kubotan. These smaller Kubotan sticks share all of the same target areas as the Yawara stick, and are often manufactured with one end shaped to a strong taper, terminating into a slightly rounded point. The end drilled for the split key-ring attachment usually has a flat end termination. It is common in use, such as when going to and from a vehicle or walking to or from a home entrance, to have the Kubotan “in hand” for ready access should an attack occur. Otherwise it is often “seen” dangling outside a front pocket while the owner's keys reside within the same pocket. While this carry method does allow easy access, it also allows any attacker to become aware that a defensive weapon is being carried, negating any surprise and tactical advantage. Also, because the Kubotan is directly and solidly connected to the grouping of keys, placing the Kubotan within the same pocket as the keys often creates an uncomfortable position while sitting as the Kubotan will tend to dig into the individual's leg. Consequently, to prevent this discomfort as well as to make the stick more readily available if needed, the Kubotan is often placed so as to be dangling outside the pants pocket of the user and thus easily visible by others. This of course will alert the attacker that the victim is carrying at least one type of weapon. So if an attack is made it is more likely that attack would become more vicious, in an attempt to prevent the victim from making use of such a device.
Another problem with this design, besides the possible visual warning often given to an attacker, is that the keys can often become entangled with the weapon under pressure of attack, possibly causing the defender's grip on the stick to be lost, and in any case making the stick's deployment more cumbersome than need be. The Kubotans are rather thin to begin with, but the commonly seen cutting away of material for finger groove placement along the central shaft areas makes for a much thinner gripping surface with which to gain a firm hold. Additionally, it does not help these sticks are made from a single material, with no separate high coefficient of friction material to aid in gripping ability. Further, even if the Kubotan weapon is well grasped prior to a confrontation (as when going to a vehicle or home entrance), the attacker will get likely receive some warning of a strike forthcoming due to the rattling of the attached keys during the strike if the attacker has not already seen the Kubotan dangling from the defender's pocket.
Also, there is no provision to allow free and independent use of the Kubotan without the detrimental aspects of the keys being attached, as already discussed. The burden of permanent attachment to a ring of keys, rather than an attachment which can be detached and separated in a split second with a single hand motion, greatly hinders the deployment and use of the stick. The lack of a substantial handle material to provide a firm grip is also less than optimal.
Therefore, there is room for improvement as to how these defensive sticks are configured, carried and deployed by the defender. First, from a legal standpoint, there are generally fewer restrictions on carrying devices which can be used as defensive weapons but also serve other non-weaponry purposes, versus carrying devices for which the only use is as a weapon. Second, in order to employ a defensive stick as a weapon, the defender must first manage to quickly deploy the stick into his or her first without the attacker noticing or having time to prevent said deployment. Thus, the defensive stick (or sticks, if several are carried at various locations on the user's body at the same time) needs to be hidden or disguised while it is carried on the defender in the ordinary course of events, and must be situated on the defender's body in such a way as to be deployed into the defender′ first very quickly when needed.
In addition to the Yawara and Kubotan sticks just reviewed, there is currently another design which has been used as a key chain defensive weapon, called the “Comtech Stinger,” described at http://comtechstinger.com/. This is a molded plastic palm held device with a single rounded point that protrudes between the ring and middle fingers when in use. Those same fingers also grasp two protrusions located along the central portion of the device, and are used to pull the base section into the palm, effectively locking it into the user's fist. A small opening along the side allows attachment of a split ring for keys to be added. While this design is fairly well hidden while carrying keys, with just the point visible while in hand, it does suffer the same problems as the Kubotan with the permanent, rather than detachable attachment of keys enabling split-second single-motion separation, and their possible interference with the weapon while in use. Having only one effective working end also limits its versatility compared to the Yawara stick, especially with the Yawara not hampered with the additional burden of permanently attached keys.
Consequently, it would be desirable to have available a defensive stick which, in the ordinary course of events, may be easily and innocuously carried by a defender without drawing attention.
Additionally, it would be desirable to have such defensive stick be situated on the defender's body so as to be accessible for rapid deployment into the defender's first when such deployment is required in the event of an attack, with a single split-second motion by a single hand of the user.
Additionally, it is desirable to be able to have multiple sticks available and situated at various locations upon the body. Should the defensive stick user be grabbed in such a way that would hinder retrieval of the primary stick located at the front of the chest under a shirt or jacket, for example with a bear hug, having strategic placements of additional defensive sticks elsewhere on the body would prove highly beneficial.
Finally, it would be desirable to have available a defensive stick which, once deployed, is effective to force an attacker to withdraw by inflicting non-lethal pain on the attacker, and which cannot easily be wrestled or snatched away by an attacker from a defender.
Such a device, if available, would be very useful not only to law enforcement personnel as a way of applying non-lethal force, but also to working individuals such as US Postal Service workers, UPS and FedEx delivery personal, process servers, and many other door-to-door professionals who may at times be surprised by a hostile party while making their rounds, as well as to ordinary individuals merely seeking to live their lives and do their business without being physically attacked.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A defensive stick and related system and method of use system for easy carriage and rapid deployment by a user thereof, comprising: a defensive stick comprising at least one and no more than two strike ends thereof; a user grip tightly affixed and substantially immobile relative to the at least one and no more than two strike ends; a carriage housing removably mating with the first one of the at least one and no more than two strike ends; and a connector connecting the carriage housing to a carriage point selected from the group consisting of: a place on the user's body, a fixed place near the user, and a material object carried by the user; wherein: the defensive stick is no less than three (3) inches and no greater than eight (8) inches in length from end to end; the user grip is no less than three-eighths (⅜) of an inch and no greater than one (1) inch in width; the at least one and no more than two strike ends are no less than one-quarter (¼) of an inch and no greater than three quarters (¾) of an inch in width; and the defensive stick and the carriage housing are configured and fabricated from materials such that: absent the user applying a separation force the defensive stick remains securely attached to and seated in the carriage housing so as to not fall out; and when, in response to a perceived threat, the user applies a separation force at least one and no more than ten pounds, the defensive stick separates from the carriage housing, has its first strike end exposed, and thereby deploys for immediate defensive use with a single separation hand motion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of the invention believed to be novel are set forth in the appended claims. The invention, however, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing(s) summarized below.

FIG. 1 is an upper front perspective view of a first preferred embodiment comprising a two-sided defensive stick in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a lower front perspective view of a preferred component embodiment which may alternatively be configured as a grip when used in longer length sections, or as a stick tip carriage housing employed in multiple embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 3 is an upper front perspective view of a preferred component embodiment which may alternatively be configured as a grip or as a stick tip cover employed in multiple embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 4 is an upper front perspective view of a first preferred necklace-carriage embodiment for the two-sided defensive stick of FIG. 1, in which this defensive stick is carried on a necklace hanging from the neck of a user.

FIG. 5 is a lower front perspective view of the first preferred necklace-carriage embodiment of FIG. 4, after the stick has been separated from the necklace and is deployed for defensive use.

FIG. 6 is an upper front perspective view of a second preferred belt-carriage embodiment for the two-sided defensive stick of FIG. 1, in which this defensive stick is carried hanging from a belt worn by the user.

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of the second preferred belt-carriage embodiment of FIG. 6, after the stick has been separated from the belt and is deployed for defensive use.

FIG. 8 is a lower front perspective view of a key-embodiment comprising a second preferred one-sided defensive stick embodiment in accordance with the invention, in a third preferred key-carriage embodiment whereby this defensive stick is carried as part of a key ring.

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of the one-sided defensive stick of FIG. 8, after the stick has been separated from the key ring and is deployed for defensive use.

FIG. 10 is an upper front perspective view of the first preferred necklace-carriage embodiment of FIG. 4, in a jogger's variation in which the stick is also secured to the user's torso to avert swinging while the user is jogging.

FIG. 11 is an upper front perspective view of a the one-sided defensive stick of FIG. 8, in a fourth preferred vehicle-carriage embodiment for the two-sided defensive stick whereby this defensive stick is carried hanging from a vehicle mirror.

FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of the one-sided defensive stick as carried in FIG. 11, after the stick has been separated from the vehicle mirror and is deployed for defensive use.

FIG. 13 is a front plan view of the two-sided defensive stick of FIG. 1, after it has been separated from whatever its carriage may have been, in a configuration wherein it is deployed laterally into the user's first and can be used to strike a target on an attacker with both forward (upward) and rearward (downward) thrusts.

FIG. 14 is a front plan view of the one-sided defensive stick of FIG. 8 while being carried by the user together with the key ring in accordance with the third preferred key-carriage embodiment of FIG. 8.

FIG. 15 is a front plan view of the one-sided defensive stick as illustrated in FIG. 14, after it has been separated from the key ring and is deployed transversely into the user's first so it can be used to strike a target on an attacker with transverse thrusts. Additionally, FIG. 15 illustrates the deployment of either the one-sided or the two-sided defensive sticks of FIGS. 1 and 8 respectively, deployed laterally into the user's fist, and for both the one-sided and two-sided stick, schematically illustrates how the stick has been separated from its carriage embodiment, whether the neck and vehicle hanging embodiments of FIGS. 4 and 11, the belt-hanging embodiment of FIG. 6, or the key-carriage embodiment of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

When embodiments of the invention are referred to in this disclosure, it is to be understood that there are two basic preferred stick embodiments for the defensive stick of the invention which defensive stick will generally be denoted by the reference numeral 1. The first embodiment is a two-sided defensive stick 1 as illustrated in FIG. 1. The second embodiment is a one-sided defensive stick first illustrated in FIG. 8 and shown separately as the defensive stick 1 in FIG. 9. It also to be understood that there are four illustrative non-limiting carriage embodiments through which the defensive stick 1, whether one-sided or two-sided, is carried by the user prior to its being deployed for defensive purposes in the event of an attack. These four illustrative carriage embodiments are shown in FIGS. 4, 6, 8 and 11 respectively, wherein the defensive stick 1 is carried hanging from a user's neck (FIG. 4, neck not shown), hanging from a user's belt 6 (FIG. 6), carried as part of a key ring 61 (FIG. 8), and hanging from the mount 111 of a motor vehicle mirror 110 (FIG. 11). To economize on presentation, FIGS. 4 and 6 show carriage of the two-sided defensive stick 1, while FIGS. 8 and 11 show carriage of the one-sided defensive stick 1. But this is for illustration only. It is to be understood that any of the carriage embodiments can be used to carry either the one-sided or the two-sided defensive stick 1 within the scope of this disclosure and the associated claims. Additionally, while only these four carriage embodiments are illustrated, it will be apparent to a person of ordinary skill based on this disclosure that other modes of carriage not expressly illustrated here may also be employed. It is to be understood that these other modes of carriage which are straightforward variants of what is disclosed here also reside within the scope of this disclosure and its associated claims. One such example is the jogger's variation as shown in FIG. 10. Having made this preliminary summary, we now examine each of the illustrative drawings in more detail.
FIG. 1 illustrates the first preferred stick embodiment of a two-sided defensive stick 1. This two-sided stick 1 comprises two strike ends 11 and a user grip 12 enclosing a center stick region 15 between the two strike ends 11. Merely for convenient reference—and not based on any physical distinctness between these two ends—we shall sometimes refer to these strike ends 11 as the “upper” and “lower” strike ends 11. As will be seen by the hidden lines in FIG. 1, it is highly preferred that the two strike ends 11 be simply the two ends of a single, unitarily-fabricated strike stick including the center stick region 15. The central region 15 is then enclosed by the user grip 12, which has two grip ends 13 as illustrated. The strike stick ends 11 themselves are fabricated from a hard rigid material such as titanium or another metal, or from a hard plastic, or from hard wood, or from any other equivalent hard material. It is these strike ends 11 that are used defensively to strike at a certain sensitive parts of an attacker's body in order to fend off an attack. So this material—whatever it may be—needs to be suitable to this purpose of striking an attacker and inflicting sufficient non-lethal pain to ward off an attack. The ends 11 of the strike stick 1 should be blunt or smoothly rounded, but not sharp. That is because these sticks 1 are not designed to penetrate the skin, but rather, are meant to inflict pain when they strike a soft or bony portion of the attacker's body.
The grip 12 is fabricated from a hard rubber or equivalent material with a high coefficient of friction relative to a person's hand, because it is this grip 12 which is held inside the user's first when the stick 1 is being used to ward of an attacker (see FIG. 13 in which the grip is hidden from view inside the fist). Consequently, it is important to ensure that the stick 1 does not slide out form the user's first and particularly to make it nearly impossible for an attacker to snatch the stick from the user. This is why the grip 12 requires a very high coefficient of friction in relation to the user's hand. Likewise, for the same reasons, it is important that the user grip 12 be affixed to and substantially immobile relative to the strike ends 11 (and also between the strike ends 11 for the two-sided stick). This can be achieved by fabricating the stick 1 such that the grip 12 permanently adheres to the strike ends 11 using glues and pastes and equivalents attaching the grip 12 to the center region 15, and/or by ensuring that the inside surface of the grip 12 has a high coefficient of friction relative to, and is very tightly seated about so as to be practically inseparable from, the center region 15. Alternatively, although less preferred, it is possible to manufacture defensive stick 1 to comprise both strike stick ends 11 and grip 12 as a unitary entity so that these elements are relatively immobile, so long as the strike stick ends 11 are hard and rigid, and the grip 12 has the required high frictional coefficient with the user's hand.
The physical dimensions of defensive stick 1 and its grip 12 are determined directly by the size of the user's hand. Given that people come in different shapes and sizes, it will be apparent that these defensive sticks 1 may therefore be fabricated in different sizes, such as, for example not limitation, extra small, small, medium, large and extra-large, in accordance with hand size, similarly, for example, to the sizing of gloves. What is desired is a tight, high-friction ergonomic fit when the stick is deployed in the user's first as in FIG. 13 (which is drawn substantially to scale in relation to the user's palm), together with a protrusion of the strike ends 11 of approximately one inch on either side of the user's fist, again see FIG. 13. So for an average sized-hand, the end-to-end length of a two-sided defensive stick 1 will be approximately five (5) to perhaps five and one half (5½) inches. Given anatomical variations in hand sizes, this may then be as small as three inches (3) for a small adult or for a child, and as much as eight (8) inches for an adult with a very large hand. Preferably, the width of strike ends 11 at their blunt or rounded extremities (their strike points) should be about seven-sixteenths ( 7/16) of an inch for optimum effect combined with reasonable compactness for concealable carry. However, this may vary from one-quarter (¼) of an inch to perhaps three-quarters (¾) of an inch in diameter. Again, the stick is designed to inflict non-lethal pain and not intended to penetrate the skin, and so is not sharp enough to easily penetrate the skin. However more care, especially when using the smaller one-quarter (¼) inch diameter rod versions, is called for to prevent unintended punctures due to the smaller surface area at the ends. The use of imperial system units of inches above and elsewhere in this disclosure envisions and understands that metric units of like size may also be employed to specify these physical dimensions.
The width of the grip 12 will vary from one half (½) inch for an average sized hand, to as narrow as three-eighths (⅜) of an inch for a small hand, to as wide as one (1) inch for a very large hand. The optimum length of the grip 12 between its two ends 13 is also dependent on the size of the user's hand. Ideally, as part of the ergonomic design, when the defensive stick 1 is held in the user's hand as further detailed in connection with FIG. 13, it is desirable for the user's index (first) finger to be able to wrap around the upper strike end 11 and situate just above one grip end 13, and for the user's outermost little finger (pinky) to be able to wrap around the lower strike end 11 and situate just below the other grip end 13. Consequently, the grip's length should be approximately one half (½) inch less than the total width of the base of the user's hand from the index (first) finger and the outermost little (pinky) finger inclusive, as measured with the four fingers straight and with no spaces between the fingers showing. That is, this is about one half (½) inch less than the total width of the base of the first, second, third and fourth fingers with no finger spread. This allows for a comfortable and secure grip, as the ring and pinky fingers substantially “lock” the grip ends 13 within the user's closed fist. It should be noted that there is some room for personal preference in deciding on how long the grip 12 should be for any particular individual, but the guidelines listed directly above have worked well in experimental testing and are comfortable while the sticks are deployed in various hand and finger gripping positions. It is also possible to make use of any sized defensive stick in an emergency, no matter what the dimensions, but the best ergonomic fit will certainly be noticeable and appreciated by the user if these sizing guidelines are considered.
On top of the high frictional characteristics discussed above, this ergonomic fitting adds additional security to the user's grip by making it even more difficult for the stick 1 to be dislodged by an attacker. Optionally, as part of the ergonomic design intended to further secure the user's grip, a slightly raised and rounded grip section may be provided proximate the center of the grip 12 at the region schematically indicated by the broken line 14 in FIG. 1, so as to situate between the user's middle finger and ring fingers.
FIG. 2 illustrates a component of the invention what may alternatively be configured as a grip 12 or as a stick tip carriage housing 2, which is why this component element is illustrated by both reference numerals 12 and 2. So as will be seen, this is used as a carriage housing 2 in FIGS. 4, 6, 8 and 10, but is also used (with elongation in some instances) as a grip 12 in FIGS. 4, 6, 10, 11 and 12. Similarly, FIG. 3 illustrates a component that may alternatively be configured as a grip 12 or as a stick tip cover 3, which is why this is illustrated by both reference numerals 12 and 3. So as will be seen, this component element is used as an optional stick tip cover 3 in FIGS. 4 and 6, while it is primarily used as a grip 12 in FIGS. 8 and 9, because the defensive sticks are much shorter and the FIG. 3 component when used as a grip 12 works well to fill the palm area to support the single strike end 11 of the defensive stick 1. Additionally, when the two-sided strike stick 1 as shown in FIG. 1 is used as a training device while working with a partner, use of a tip cover 3 on each end (not shown) helps to prevent possible injury for a miscalculation of depth or intensity of strike.
FIG. 4 shows the first of the four carriage embodiments used to illustrate the invention. This embodiment is for necklace carriage, and is illustrated using, without limitation, the two-sided defensive stick 1 of FIG. 1. FIG. 5 in turn illustrates how the stick 1 is deployed from this carriage embodiment for use against an attacker. We see in FIG. 4 that carriage housing 2 hangs at the end of a necklace loop 41 which loop 41 is capable of being draped around the neck (not shown) of the user. The two-sided defensive stick 1 then mates with carriage housing 2 such that when necklace loop 41 hangs from the user's neck, the upper strike end 11 removably mates and seats inside of the carriage housing 2 and so hangs from the necklace. Additionally, and entirely optionally, a stick tip cover 3 removably mates with and is seated over the lower strike end 11.
Now we turn to FIG. 5 to discuss how the stick is deployed. Initially, before the carriage housing 2 has had time for the usual initial stretching and seating in around the strike stick end 11, there can be a tighter fit than would be preferable to effect release. Until this initial stretching has been obtained, it would be advisable to use a lubricant such as Vaseline or thin grease to lightly coat the inside of the carriage release 2. In any event, irrespective of using a light lubricant on a “new” carriage housing 2 or making use of a well seated and “broken in” carriage housing 2, when the user perceives an attack, the user moves his or her hand to the front of his or her torso to the position of the stick 1, places one hand on the user grip 12, and with a mild tug initiates a smooth but rapid “one handed” release of the strike stick end 11 from the carriage housing 2 with just a moderate effort against the neck cord 41. Should the advised lubricant not be used on a “new” unbroken in carriage housing 2, the user can still initiate an effective release by placing one hand on user grip 12, the other hand on the carriage housing 2, then pulling with a slight twisting motion to free the strike stick end 11 from the carriage housing 2. Obviously it is preferable to make use of a light lubricant until the carriage housing 2 has stretched a little, in order to lighten the friction hold on the strike stick end 11, as this would allow easy “one hand” deployment of the defensive strike stick end 11.
With a well seated in or lubricated carriage housing 2, the friction between upper strike end 11 and carriage housing 2 within which it is seated is such that when the user pulls these apart with sufficient separation force in the range of a few pounds (perhaps 1 to 5 pounds, and no more than 10 pounds, for example not limitation), the stick 1 will separate 22 from carriage housing 2 and the overall necklace carrier 5. However, absent the user applying this separation force, the frictional characteristics of the system are such that the defensive stick 1 remains securely seated in the carriage housing 2 so as to not fall out.
When the optional stick tip cover 3 is in place, the user will have a ready “choice” of differing intensities of defense available when the strike stick 1 is in hand, to possibly deter a milder threat using the less painful wide rubber stick tip cover 3 end. But the user could also separate 32 this stick cover 3 from the lower strike end 11 if it were perceived a more serious attack was forthcoming and both bare stick ends 11 are required.
The frictional characteristics for separation 32 of stick cover 3 are similar to those just described for the separation 22 of carriage housing 2, except that generally no lube is used here so twisting and pulling combined work best to remove tip cover 3 until it has worn in a little through repeated cycles of adding and removing it. Once this separation 32 is done, the two sided strike stick 1 of FIG. 1 is in the user's hand, separated 22, 32 from all other components shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and so may be deployed for defensive use and used against an attacker using the various techniques that are known in the art for Yawara and Kubotan type sticks. The basic grip once the stick 1 has been so-separated, is that shown in FIG. 13, and is useful for delivering hammer-like blows in two directions.
Alternatively, for efficient forward thrusting maneuvers, it is preferable to hold the stick 1 similarly to what is shown in FIG. 13, but shifting the thumb into a position that mimics “pinching” of the upper strike end 11 (thump tip facing forward atop upper strike end 11). The base of the thumb and forefinger also rest against the upper edge 13 of user grip 12.
It will be appreciated the friction as between the strike ends 11 and both the carriage housing 2 and stick tip cover 3 is sufficient to hold these elements together absent the user applying a force to pull these elements apart, but that when the user does apply a modest force in the range of a few pounds (e.g., one to ten pounds) these elements will come apart as shown. To reassemble the carriage configuration of FIG. 4, the user simply reverses the process and pushes the elements back together along the path denoted by 22 and optionally 32.
With this, it can be seen how the carriage configuration of FIG. 4 (and other carriage embodiments to be shortly described) provide patentably-distinct advantages over defensive sticks known in the art. When an attack occurs, the defender must often take action within a fraction of a second in order to deter the attack, or will end up having to succumb to the attack. Once the defensive stick 1 is in the user's hand, it is used in ways known in the art. But the important challenge is to deploy the stick 1 securely into the user's hand very rapidly, in a split second, when required in response to a rapidly-forming attack.
Toward this end, FIG. 4 provides an unobtrusive way to carry a defensive stick on a user's body, in a location where the stick can be deployed within a split second when the need to do so arises. First, if the stick 1 is hanging inside the user's shirt, the attacker will not be on guard anticipating that the defender is even carrying the stick. Second, all that is needed to deploy the stick is a single yanking hand motion to separate 22 the stick 1 from its carriage housing 2. Third, because the user grip 12 has a high coefficient of friction with the user's hand when held as shown in FIG. 13, and is ergonomically configured to be firmly held by the user, and because it is effectively “locked” in place between the pinky and first finger wrapping around both strike ends 11, it becomes extremely difficult for the attacker to snatch the stick 1 from the user. Certainly, it would be much more difficult for the attacker to wrest the stick 1 from the user than it would be to wrest way a gun or a knife, as the latter offer far more material to seize upon. And because the stick 1 is designed to situate laterally within a tight first 131 per FIG. 13, and because the natural physiological response to an attack is for the defender's fists to clench even more tightly than usual, this stick 1 truly becomes a defensive weapon that cannot be taken away from the defender so long as the defender is conscious.
As to the stick tip cover 3, it is also seen from FIGS. 4 and 5 why this is optional. As previously mentioned, having one end covered in a softer and wider material allows the user an immediate “choice” as to how best to respond appropriately to an attack. If the user is simply grabbed by the wrist by an obnoxious drunk who won't let go no matter how hard the user pulls back, an appropriate response might be a light wrap on the top of the grabbing hand of the offender with the softer tip cover 3 as shown in FIG. 4. Against an obviously serious attack, where multiple attackers may be involved, the bare ends of both the upper and lower striking surfaces 11 might be called for. However, while use of the defense stick 1 with tip cover 3 in place is gentler and less painful on any attacker compared to making use of both strike ends 11 in an uncovered state, it is still effective as a strong deterrent to a less serious attack. In some situations the user may not have time to remove the optional stick tip cover 3, even if he or she would have preferred to do so, and so will have to make use of both the covered and uncovered strike ends 11. However, the user will always have control over which end of the strike stick 1 to use for best effect, based on which specific strikes are chosen to be initiated and delivered. Given today's litigious society, there is a real concern that the user to respond appropriately to any attack, and having multiple strike tip options immediately available seems most reasonable.
In the FIG. 4 necklace carriage embodiment, the defensive stick 1 may be positioned under a shirt with buttons along the front. This allows for quick “one handed” retrieval from between the button's spacing junctures, especially when optional tip cover 3 is in place providing a substantial gripping surface from which to pull strike stick 1 free of its carriage 2. Alternatively, is worn under a loose fitting T-shirt and carried on a longer neck cord, positioning the lower tip of strike stick 1 just above the navel allows quick retrieval from under the lower edge of the shirt providing the shirt was worn in the “untucked” casual mode. This embodiment might also be carried over a shirt, but under a partially closed jacket, similarly allowing concealable carry combined with easy accessibility.
FIGS. 6 and 7 show a second of the four carriage embodiments used to illustrate the invention. This embodiment is for belt carriage, and as with FIGS. 5 and 6, it is illustrated using, without limitation, the two-sided defensive stick 1 of FIG. 1. Indeed, the salient features of FIGS. 6 and 7 are the same as those of FIGS. 4 and 5, except that the necklace carrier 5 is now replaced by a belt carrier 7. Specifically, in this embodiment, the stick 1 is carried on the user's belt a portion of which is depicted by 6, for example not limitation, using a belt attachment loop 62 containing clasps 63 that can be mounted about the belt 6, and an attachment ring 61 joining the belt attachment loop 62 with the carriage housing 2. This embodiment may be especially useful for security guards, for example, as a backup defensive weapon, or for when lethal force is not appropriate.
It will be understood that the belt carrier 7 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is exemplary and not limiting, and that persons of ordinary skill may develop other equivalent configurations all within the scope of this disclosure and its associated claims. For example, one may omit the clasps 63 in favor of a loop 62 that simply slides over the belt 6 as the user is putting on the belt 6 while dressing. Or, the claps 63 may be replaced by equivalent attachment devices such as Velcro-type systems. An attachment ring 61—which can be a simple key ring—may also be omitted or replaced by other equivalent devices, so long as the overall functional effect is to enable attachment ring 61 to hang from a belt 6. And the illustrative use of the user's belt 6 is also not limiting; carriages hanging from other items of the user's clothing (e.g. belt loops) are equally regarded to be within the scope of tis disclosure and it associated claims.
So, in these FIGS. 6 and 7, the upper strike end 11 of the defensive stick 1 mates with carriage housing 2 in exactly the same way as in FIGS. 4 and 5, and there is again an optional stick tip cover 3 over the lower strike end 11 with identical characteristics and modes of use. Now, when the user needs to respond to an attack, the user reaches down toward his or her belt 6, and with a modest amount of force separates 22 the upper strike end 11 from the carriage housing 2, and thus the overall defensive stick 1 from the belt carrier as shown in FIG. 7. If the optional stick tip cover 3 is in place, as previously discussed there could also be a second separation 32 initiated based on the level of threat anticipated.
Additionally, to facilitate comfort, the stick used with the belt carriage embodiment may be made a little shorter so that it does not situate underneath the user's buttocks while sitting. In this variation, the element labeled as tip cover 3 in FIG. 6 could easily be employed as grip 12, with the element labeled as the grip 12 in FIG. 6 omitted or substantially reduced in length, and the center region 15 (see FIG. 1) of the stick 1 made shorter. This shortened stick variation also helps prevent holes that might otherwise be created in clothing when sitting down.
If the user is wearing a shirt or jacket on the outside over his or her pants or other bottom cover, then the fact that the user is carrying a defensive stick 1 will be concealed from the attacker, again providing a surprise advantage to the defender. Reassembly simply goes in reverse from FIG. 7 to FIG. 6. When the optional stick tip cover 3 is used in this belt carriage embodiment, this also acts as a safeguard to help prevent damage to any seat cover should the wearer fail to adjust and “clear” the strike end 11 tip prior to sitting down so as to make sure it does not situate under the buttocks.
FIGS. 8 and 9 show a third of the four carriage embodiments used to illustrate the invention. This embodiment is for key ring carriage, and it is illustrated using, without limitation, the one-sided defensive stick 1 separately denoted at the top of FIG. 9. Indeed, starting at the top of FIG. 9, we see that in this one-sided embodiment, the component element first shown in FIG. 3 is now employed as a required grip 12 rather than an optional stick tip cover 3. This means that stick tip cover 3 now is not removable from the strike tip 11. Rather, like the grip 12 embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, this grip 12, albeit differently-shaped, permanently adheres to the strike stick 1 using glues and pastes and equivalents, and/or by ensuring that the inside surface of the grip 12 has a very high coefficient of friction relative to, and is very tightly seated about so as to be practically inseparable from, the strike stick end 11.
In this key ring carriage embodiment, the single end 11 of the one-sided strike stick 1 mates with the carriage housing 2, with the same removable and frictional characteristics previously described in relation to FIGS. 4 through 7 (requisite separation force of at least one and no more than ten pounds). As in FIGS. 6 and 7, the carriage housing 2 is in turn connected with an attachment ring 61 which in this case really is a simple key ring. So in effect, as seen in FIG. 9, the carriage housing 2 is threaded onto a key ring 6 together with any and all other keys 81 to form the key ring assemblage 9. Then the one-sided strike stick 1 simply mates with and connects and disconnects from the carriage housing 2 as warranted.
FIGS. 14 and 15 actually show a preferred method by which this key ring carriage embodiment is used. The “x” 134 and directional arrow marks denoted by 132, 133 and 151 in FIG. 15 denote using the stick 1 to strike an attacker's body, respectively, in a forward, rearward, and transverse direction relative to the curl of the users' fingers.
In ordinary activity, a person walking through a parking lot or other area where there is some risk of attack would carry the key ring carrier assemblage 9 as shown in FIG. 14, with the grip 12 already enclosed and concealed within the user's hand 131 as shown by the hidden lines in FIG. 14. So to an attacker, it would appear as if the potential victim is simply dangling his or her keys 81 while walking to or from their vehicle. However, when an attack appears threatened, all the user needs to do is separate 22 the key ring assemblage 9 from the one-sided defensive stick 1 as shown in FIG. 9, which separation 22 is done via a single, rapid, split-second hand movement once the keys 81 or carriage housing 2 are grasped with the other hand.
Once this split-second movement has been completed, the user will naturally be holding the blunt strike end 11 of the defensive stick 1 protruding transversely from the defender's hand, exiting between the middle and ring finger, in the manner shown by the unbroken line drawing of the strike end 11 in FIG. 15, contrast FIG. 14. Then, the user can defend with the defensive stick 1 of FIG. 9 remaining in this transverse orientation. The strikes may be punching or jabbing strikes, which can be very disconcerting to an attacker when directed toward the face. Or, if time permits or the situation warrants, the defender can also reorient the blunt strike end 11 laterally across the hand in either of the forward or rearward orientations also shown FIG. 15. The orientation of grip 12 as shown in FIG. 15, with the strike end 11 exiting the heal of the hand (pinky side) as shown with strike directional force arrow 133, allows for very effective and quickly repeatable downward hammer strikes 134 upon such bony target areas as the collarbone, shoulder, and head. This is also probably the most powerful strike option available with these shorter single-sided strike sticks 1, because the user's whole body can generate additional power and weight behind the blows.
As with the carriage embodiments shown in FIGS. 4 through 7, in the key carriage embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 9 the reassembly of the entire embodiment proceeds from FIG. 9 to FIG. 8.
FIG. 10 illustrates a jogger's variation of the necklace carriage embodiment already discussed in connection with FIGS. 4 and 5. This variation recognizes that a person who is simply walking slowly can wear the necklace of FIGS. 4 and 5 without the defensive stick 1 swinging very much so as to draw attention from an attacker or cause discomfort to the wearer, but that when a person is jogging the defensive stick may well be prone to swinging around as a consequence of the jogger's running motions. Therefore, the stick tip cover 3 is replaced by a second carriage housing 2, which still covers the lower strike tip 11 as in FIGS. 4 and 5. However, there is now added a jogging stabilizer 10 attached to a lower portion of the second carriage housing 2. This may be attached by threading through second carriage housing 2, or by any other attachment device as will be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art. This jogging stabilizer 10 is preferably simply an elongated length of cord, fabric, or other equivalent substance or material of sufficient length to wrap around the jogger's torso (not shown). This stabilizer 10 is then tied to itself using a loop 102 or any other equivalent device known in the art and attached to/about the user's torso, such that it causes the defensive stick 1 to situate relatively motionless in the front of the user's torso somewhere between the breastbone and the navel. In this configuration, because of this damping effect on the swaying of the stick 1, if the necklace carrier 5 (see FIG. 5) and stick 1 are worn under a shirt or jacket, an attacker will be hard-pressed to notice that the runner is carrying a defensive stick 1. And the jogger will not have a swaying stick interfering with his or her comfort while running.
In the event of an attack, this variation will generally deploy with two motions, designated by the first and second separations 22 and 32 already discussed in connection with FIGS. 4 and 5. As noted then, there is a slight increase in deployment time because the defensive stick 1 must be separated from both of the carriage housings 2 illustrated in FIG. 10. But, there is an advantage gained because the restraint imposed by the second carriage housing 2 helps to avoid attention by the attacker, and so shifts some element of surprise over to the defender, especially if the device is worn under a jacket and over a shirt.
Even here, with practice the user can achieve a quicker “one motion release” from both carriage housings, should the user wear the jogging strike stick 1 of FIGS. 1 and 10 fully exposed and freely available, perhaps at night where there is less lighting and the device would not be readily discernible, or while wearing an all-black version of the jogger's strike stick 1 and against a solid black shirt. In one of these scenarios, it is fairly easy to grasp the strike stick 1 in the middle, pull downward with one hand to free it from the upper carriage housing 2, and then during the same motion rotate the hand positioning so that the thumb and forefinger begin to turn over and away from the user. Continuing in one motion the user then releases the strike stick 1 from its second lower carriage housing 2 by simply continuing to outstretch the arm as in a punching motion. This one-handed one-motion release technique could conceivably culminate in an immediately deliverable “first strike” to an attacker who is already in range, and would surely provide a tactical surprise advantage. Additionally, if worn under a shirt or jacket the natural response of a victim is to turn away from an attack and attempt to run away. This is what an attacker expects, so the absence of visual perspective by the attacker gives the defender a few moments to deceptively free and retrieve the strike stick 1 from its two carriage housings 2. Reassembly, as always, proceeds oppositely to disassembly and deployment.
FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate a fourth of the four carriage embodiments used, without limitation, to illustrate the invention. This embodiment is for vehicle mirror carriage, and it is illustrated using, without limitation, the one-sided defensive stick 1 separately denoted at the bottom of FIG. 12. Here, the defensive stick 1 is based on the illustration of FIG. 1 including the grip 12 embodiment of that Figure, but it only has one strike tip 11, not two. One could just as readily use the one-sided stick 1 illustrated in FIG. 9 with the grip 12 first shown in FIG. 3. Or, one can regard the grip 12 embodiment of FIG. 12 as being equivalent to using the FIG. 2 embodiment as a grip 12 rather than a carriage housing 2. Or, one can use the two-sided stick 1 of FIG. 1 and hang this from the vehicle mirror rather than the neck as in FIG. 4. And other permutations are also understood to be possible within the scope of this disclosure. All of this underscores the versatility and interchangeability of the basic invention elements of FIGS. 1 through 3, with various lengths of the FIG. 2 element.
In functionality, FIGS. 11 and 12 are very similar to FIGS. 4 and 5. In the FIGS. 4 and 5, the defensive stick 1 is carried hanging via a necklace loop 41 from the user's neck. In FIGS. 11 and 12 the defensive stick 1 is carried hanging via a similar loop 41 from the mount 111 of the rear view mirror 110 of the user's motor vehicle. In all other respects, aside from the modular interchangeability of the various elements of FIGS. 1 through 3 and the option of having one-sided versus two-sided sticks 1, everything is the same. If the user is in his or her vehicle and perceives an attack, then starting with the configuration of FIG. 11, the user pulls down on the grip 12 in a single split second hand motion to separate 22 the defensive stick 1 from the mirror carrier 120, and the stick may then be deployed in the various ways illustrated in FIG. 15. If the two-sided stick embodiment is used with a stick tip cover 3 as in FIGS. 4 and 6, then if desired the cover 3 can be removed in a second split-second motion, or left in place as previously discussed allowing for a choice in appropriate response.
While FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate hanging the stick from a rear view mirror, it is understood that one might also choose to hang them from other places in a vehicle, for example not limitation, the clothing hangers which are frequently installed above the rear passenger doors of motor vehicles. And while FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate the defensive stick 1 hanging by itself, it is understood that to make the stick less conspicuous to an attacker, one might hang other items (not shown) along with the stick 1, such as but not limited to, air fresheners, religious or other objects, handicapped placards, etc. which are routinely hung from rear view mirrors.
As has already been largely reviewed, FIG. 13 illustrates the two-sided defensive stick 1 of FIG. 1 laterally situated inside the defender's first 131 after said stick 1 has been separated 22 from its carriage housing 2 (irrespective of carriage embodiment) and, if applicable, also separated 32 from the optional stick tip cover 3. (While a right hand 131 is illustrated, it is of course clear that this can be used in the left hand as well.) So the method of use is to first grasp the stick 1 laterally in the palm and secure the stick 1 by making a first 131 as illustrated. To separate 22 the stick 1 from the carriage housing 2, a simple split-second hand movement completes the separation. If desired and time permits, the optional separation 32 of stick tip cover 3 can be similarly accomplished with a second split-second hand movement. The inside of the palm then firmly contacts the grip 12 (see FIG. 1, but hidden from view in FIG. 13) and the frictional characteristics of the grip 12 together with the preferred fit of the length of the grip 12 to “lock” the stick between the first and pinky fingers, make it virtually impossible for the attacker to snatch the stick 1 from the defender so long as the defender is conscious. Indeed, as already noted, the physiological tension of the defender will naturally contribute to an even tighter grip than would be obtained under relaxed circumstances.
Then, the defender may strike 134 the attacker with one or more forward thrusts 132 and/or rearward thrusts 133 as warranted under the circumstances by requirement and opportunity. The “martial arts” methods for wielding a defensive stick—such as a Yawara or Kubotan stick—against a defender are then employed with this defensive stick 1 as well. Because these methods are well known in the art, they need not be reviewed here. But what is not known in the art, and what is provided by the present invention, are the stick and carriage configurations which enable simple unobtrusive stick 1 carriage and rapid, split-second deployment of the stick into the defenders' hand for use via what are thereafter well-known martial arts methods, as well as the high-frictional, low profile ergonomic grips which also do not appear to be part of the prior art in this field of practice.
As has also already been largely reviewed, FIG. 14 illustrates how the key ring carriage embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 9 would ordinarily be carried by the user in the course of walking through an area of potential threat. As reviewed, this is carried so as to appear to an attacker that the potential victim is simply dangling his or her keys 81 while walking to or from their vehicle. But as has also been reviewed, when a real attack is threatened, the user simply separates 22 the key ring assemblage 9 from the one-sided defensive stick 1 as shown in FIG. 9 with one split second hand movement. Following, the strike end 11 of the defensive stick 1 will naturally be protruding transversely from the defender's hand as shown in the solid line portion of FIG. 15 (for strike path 151), fully deployed for defensive use, without any further adjustment whatsoever.
Then, by thrusting transversely 151, the defender strikes 134 at sensitive targets so as to inflict pain on the attacker's body, such as at the attacker's knuckles in order to escape from a grab or choke hold. Or, by shifting the wrist and arm (with knuckles and blunt strike end 11 now facing the attacker) and thrusting forward 132 the defender strikes 134 at the head, neck, or solar plexus, as already known in the art. At times, the sight of a relatively thin cylindrical weapon protruding from a responding fist, and especially coming at the attackers face repeatedly in a jabbing motion, may be enough deterrent to end the confrontation immediately without a single blow actually landing. Other times the defender may be “engulfed” in a clinch by a much larger attacker, and so will have little room from which to generate a full swing striking blow. One effective way to generate striking power in these situations, especially with the much shorter one-sided defensive stick 1 of FIG. 9, is to use the hand not holding the stick as a “pushing” force lever to drive the strike end 11 into the face or chest of the attacker. Very little working room is needed to generate a great deal of “discouragement” to the attacker, since the powerful shoulder muscles of the driving arm, together with any contribution of the hips and general body weight are generating the power, which is transferred quite effectively through the relatively small surface area of the strike end 11 of these defensive weapons.
Remembering that the intent is to escape and get away from an unprovoked attack as free of physical injury to the defender as possible, it is not the intention for these defensive sticks to be used to “win the fight.” So choosing striking points or targets which will be painful for the attacker, but not cause permanent injury or maiming should be considered first. Usually accessible to the defender and which cause lots of pain to the attacker if struck are joint areas such as the wrists, elbows, knees, top of the hands, forearms, collarbone, ribs, etc., and most anywhere where bone is close to the surface of the body. Often an actual “strike” is not needed, for simply pressing with a digging motion of the blunt end of the stick into these bony areas, or at the throat and neck areas, is sufficient to repel an attacker. This is useful, of course, when the attacker is within very close range. Only in a life-threatening assault against a knife or gun, or sexual assault, would an intentional strike to the eyes, ear canal, or temple be warranted, but every individual defender will have to decide for themselves in that regard if an unfortunate circumstance arises.
In addition to showing the deployment of the one-sided stick 1 using the key ring carriage embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 9, FIG. 15 also illustrates some other aspects of the invention and its use that cut across and unify all invention embodiments. First, FIG. 15 illustrates how the blunt strike end(s) 11 of defensive stick 1 may laterally protrude from the front or rear end of the defender's first 131 to permit forward 132 or rearward 133 thrusts. This of course is the configuration of FIG. 13 for the two-sided stick 1 of FIG. 1, but it also applies to the one-sided stick 1 of FIG. 9 after repositioning by the user. And specifically regarding the one-sided stick 1, as desirable under the circumstances and given the opportunity, the defender may simply reorient the blunt strike end 11 to point forward or rearward, and then use forward 132 or rearward 133 thrusts to deter the attacker. Or, the defender may choose to carry the key ring carriage embodiment so that it already protrudes laterally rather than transversely, in which case no reorientation is needed after separation 22.
Of special importance, due to its high effectiveness and striking efficiency, one may orient the grip 12 of the one sided strike stick 1 (of FIG. 9) into the position wherein the strike end 11 exits past the pinky finger, and the grip 12 is well secured into the center of the tightly closed fist. With this orientation repeated and rapid “icepick” style hammer blows can be delivered downward onto the head, neck, collarbone and upper body that will drive off much larger individuals. It is also a very natural movement for those without any special training, so will not easily be forgotten at a time of stress. Of course, these same downward hammer blows also work very well with the two-sided stick 1 of FIG. 1, but is especially useful with the one-sided stick because of the fewer strike direction choices immediately available at one time.
Second, FIG. 15 also illustrates the commonality and unity of invention among all of the carriage embodiments of the invention as well as between the one-sided and two-sided defensive stick 1. The arrows 152 schematically illustrate how the resulting deployment of a one or two-sided stick 1 with blunt strike end(s) 11 in the user's first 131 is the net result of a method wherein a split-second separation motion 22 by the user extracts the defensive stick 1 from its carriage, whether that carriage is the necklace carrier 5 or the mirror carrier 120 (“9 o'clock” position in FIG. 15), the belt carrier 7 (“7 o'clock” position in FIG. 15), or the key ring carrier 9 (“5 o'clock” position in FIG. 15).
It will also be apparent how while these four specific carriers have been illustrated, those of ordinary skill could readily design similar carriage embodiments fitting well within the scope of this disclosure and its associated claims. Specifically, it is clear that elements 5, 7 and 120 in FIG. 15 broadly represent hangers, wherein the stick 1, whether one or two-sided, is hung either from the user's person or from a fixed object (e.g. vehicle mirror) within reach of the user. Consequently, “hanging” from the user or from a fixed object is one primary mode of carriage. Likewise, it is clear that element 9 in FIG. 15 broadly represents attachment of the stick 1 to ordinary material objects (e.g. keys) usually carried by people as they move from one locale to another. Other ordinary objects to which the stick 1 might readily be attached in like manner would include, but are not limited to, purses and pocket books, briefcases, wallets, ID cards, cellular telephones, cameras, cases for glasses and/or hearing aids, laptop computers, and so on. Indeed, attachment to any ordinary material object that someone may routinely carry on his or her body is regarded to be within the scope of this disclosure and its associated claims. By linking/connecting the defensive sticks to carriage via a person's body, via nearby hanging places, and via routinely-carried objects, this invention makes the capacity of defensive sticks available to ordinary citizens who are merely looking to move safely and routinely through the world without being physically assaulted. In other words, these possible points of anchoring/carriage thus utilize a connector connecting the carriage housing to a carriage point selected from the group consisting of: places on the user's body, fixed places near the user, and material objects carried by the user.
Although the inventive principles have been illustrated using the two-sided stick 1 embodiment of FIG. 1 and the one-sided stick 1 embodiment shown distinctly in FIGS. 9 and 12, it is understood that once the easy carry, quick deploy and firm grip features of the invention are understood, this disclosure can be adapted and applied to other preexisting defensive sticks, including but not limited to Yawara and Kubotan sticks, fully within the scope of the associated claims. Thus, the specific sticks 1 illustrated in this disclosure are exemplary, not limiting.
Also, a commercially available solid rod fire making steel, such as the “Light My Fire” Army Model Fire Steel (see, e.g., http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0013L2DKU) with its ⅜ inch diameter rod, could work quite well as the material element (strike end 11) of a one sided defensive stick when carried similarly to what is shown in FIGS. 4, 6, 8, 11, and 14. The cord and striker commercially included with this Fire Steel would not be needed for this secondary use as a defensive stick, although the separate flat steel striker would attach easily to any key ring. A simultaneous benefit is that this is then available to start a fire if needed. Note that in FIGS. 8 and 9, it is the carriage housing 2 that is attached to the key ring 61, with the stick end 11 in turn mating with the carriage housing 2 so as to be removable therefrom with a single hand motion. In contrast, this “Light My Fire” stick, if put on a key ring in the manner shown at the link http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0013L2DKU, would be attached at its handle not at its end, and therefore cannot be removed from the keys or the key ring in a single motion were the user desirous of employing it as a defensive stick. However, if used in connection with the present invention, the “Light My Fire” stick could mate to the carriage housing 2 at its rod shaped tip similarly to what is shown in FIG. 8. The wider plastic “base” could then serve the same defensive purpose as the grip 12 as shown in FIG. 8 after separation 22 and deployment, and would be separable 22 with the same single hand motion. This “Light My Fire” stick could also serve quite well as a single sided defensive stick if carried in accordance with the neck and mirror carriage invention embodiments of FIGS. 4 and 11. So, if deployed defensively after being carried in accordance with the invention after separation from the cord and striker, the “Light My Fire” stick could similarly be unencumbered by keys and carriage assemblage. The discussion of FIGS. 8 and 9 makes clear why the permanent attachment of a defensive stick (whether or not fire-capable) to the key ring is not desirable.
Further, as has already been discussed to some degree, the particular shapes which are illustrated for the grip 12 or for stick tip carriage housing 2 are likewise exemplary, and non-limiting. It should also be clear especially from FIG. 15 that the design and fabrication of these sticks 1 and their various carriers and covers is highly modular, and that these modules may be mixed and matched as desired by the user. So, for example, a user might take a single stick 1 and be able to use that stick 1 with a choice of several different carriers. Or, for example, a user might take a single carrier, and use it sometimes with a one-sided stick 1 and at other times with a two-sided stick 1. And of course, the user may or may not choose at various time to employ the optional stick tip cover 3. All combinations and permutations of these elements, even if not expressly illustrated here, are regarded within the scope of this disclose and its associated claims.
As noted, an important aspect of this invention arises from the ability of the user to separate 22 the stick from its carrier with a single, spilt-second hand motion. This is achievable because of the light friction, requiring a force of at least one and no more than ten pounds (with a “broken in” or lubricated carriage housing 2) that holds the stick tip 11 in its carriage housing 2. Thus, this single motion truly is a single motion, because there are not any release buttons to press, sliders to slide, catches or latches to move or rotate, etc., in order to facilitate separation 22. These extraneous, cumbersome release elements which would consume precious time to actuate in the event of an attack are omitted from the present invention. One simply exerts a separating force 22 between the stick 1 and the carriage housing 2 without any other movement or action, and without actuating any type of release element.
It should be noted that choices in materials used for the strike ends 11 are considered based on the intended application, characteristics of the components and what is needed of them, a desire for compactness or superior strength, weight, and of course cost. For example, the jogger's embodiment as shown in FIG. 10 benefits greatly if a very lightweight nylon or other hard and durable plastic such as polypropylene is used for the strike ends 11, because in that application the effects of momentum and centrifugal force have to be accounted for while running. These physical forces are much reduced when lighter materials are chosen for this application, as an actual nylon prototype established in testing when compared to a similarly sized stick made from Titanium.
In most embodiments, strike ends 11 (and central regions 15) are made from Titanium in the tough Grade 5 alloy (6AL-4V) and so provide great benefits in strength and corrosion resistance. Yet, these are far more time consuming and difficult to cut and finish. Also, abrasives used to shape and finish the material wear quickly (raising production costs), and are more expensive as a raw material than some other choices. However, ultimate strength, corrosion resistance, durability and even a higher density adding somewhat to the delivered energy at the target, on balance, are weighed against countervailing factors of increased production labor and material costs.
Reinforced rubber hoses are a preferred choice for the carriage housings 2 and central grips 12 on many of the embodiments because of their high coefficients of friction, strength, availability in various internal diameter sizes, and very reasonable cost due to the economies of scale for production. These hoses are used extensively in the automobile industry as common fuel line hoses, and one long hose length can easily be cut in automated fashion into many shorter lengths suitable for use as grips and housing for the present invention. Indeed, the illustration of “open” ends for non-mating sides of the housings 2 in FIGS. 4, 6, 8, 9, 10 and 11 envisions that these housings have indeed been fabricated simply by cutting an extended length of hollow rubber hose. These rubber hoses are also of a material type that is resistant to the lubricants used until “break in” fit has been accomplished.
The tapered grip 12 of FIG. 3 as used in several illustrations of the one-sided strike stick 1 was chosen because it is comfortable to hold within the palm, and is a tight fit for use on the 7/16 inch diameter rods that are preferred in many applications. This tapered grip 12 is also fairly strong, and may be formed around a steel washer positioned within its base against which the strike end 11 rests, and which prevents the strike end 11 from breaking through during heavy use. It is also readily available at reasonable cost, again due to economies of scale since it is marketed as a popular Trekking or walking stick tip, but may be re-purposed for use in connection with this invention. Note, when these preexisting tips are used as an optional tip cover 3 for the present invention, some material can be removed as needed from within the interior walls to allow for easier installations/removals, or a lubricant such as Vaseline can used.
As part of the overall ergonomic design, all reinforced rubber hose handle 12 sections preferably have had their outer edges reasonably trued “square,” sanded, and partially beveled (area 13 on FIG. 1, but beveling not shown). Absent such beveling, the outer corners may be uncomfortably sharp to the hand, and with the potential to abrade the hand or fingers. A similar beveling procedure is preferably done to all carriage housing 2 sections, at both the top and bottom. Also, the inner corners at 13 may optionally be beveled to ease insertion of the strike end 11, dependent on the fit of the components and the sizing tolerances of any particular batch of hose.
During manufacturing, all the various rod materials used for the core sections of every defensive stick 1 are first cut to size, ground against a stone wheel to true to square, and either lightly beveled along the outer edge or fully rounded based on preference. Final finishing is done with a hand held motorized sander, followed by a final “hand brushed” finishing using, e.g., a Scotch-Brite pad or equivalent. As a general rule, when Titanium is used, each double-sided Titanium stick 1 takes about forty-five minutes to complete all the various steps when manually prepared in small batches of ten (10). By comparison, manual preparation of a nylon stick takes just ten to twelve minutes generally. In both examples this includes cutting and finishing the hose sections for handles 12 and carriage housings 2, adding the holes for the cords 41, and hammering in place the tight fitting hose handles onto the shaft, after wetting the materials for some light lubrication, and using a few special fixtures to avoid damage to the hose ends during installation. The handles 12 used along the center of the sticks do go on very tightly. Automated fabrication certainly provides faster product yields.
In the end, a variety of concealable and readily accessible defensive stick products are produced within the scope of this invention, that can fit into any budget depending on materials and overall size chosen. These sticks 1 offer anyone a reasonable chance to escape and survive an attack if they have a basic understanding of how best to use them. Training in the art of Yawara and Kubotan stick use with an instructor would of course be beneficial, and will aid in building self-confidence within the mind, and fluidity in execution of technique. However, much of the known art in Yawara and Kubotan technique is available for free through accessing online videos at YouTube and elsewhere, and so are available to most anyone. Because much of what a person does in crisis and under stress reverts to human instinct anyway, a basic understanding of defensive stick techniques, and a ready and capable “tool” at the ready, will certainly improve anyone's chances for survival if ever attacked without provocation.
The world is not what it once was, and dangerous situations can confront anyone with little or no warning on any street in America and elsewhere around the world. Many jobs require regular contact with the public, sometimes in dangerous areas or deep into the night hours. US Postal workers or private carrier personal working for UPS or FedEx, process servers, pizza and other food delivery workers, cab drivers, business owner and their employees, all could be a little safer with the right defensive tool at hand and some knowledge of how to use it. Often a firearm is difficult or impossible to acquire, and it would be unwarranted to make use of deadly force in a less serious confrontation anyway. Even those who work in a fairly secure workplace environment still have to go out in the morning as they leave for work, park in a sometimes dark and insecure parking area, and return back home in the evening. This can and on a daily basis over the whole population does place people “in the wrong place at the wrong time.” It is better to be prepared for that unfortunate possibility than have to “wing it.”
One aspect of some of the invention embodiments is their versatility when used in other ways unrelated to their defensive utility. For instance, the shorter defensive strike stick 1 as shown in FIGS. 9 and 14 with grip handle 12 attachment makes for a fine “door knocker,” with both a “sharper” and louder sounding uncovered end, and a more muffled sounding (and door finish protecting) rubber covered end. Any delivery person could reasonably be expected to carry such a utilitarian device for their line of work. Even when hanging from a stick tip carriage 2 as shown in FIG. 4 and worn around the neck in plain view, most would never suspect the device was primarily a defensive weapon.
Similarly, a strike stick 1 in a more standard length (in relation to the hand size) might be worn on the belt loop embodiment as shown in FIG. 6, also in the open if the user is a delivery person, process server, or police officer. For anyone needing to reach a homeowner at their residence, for example a process server who is a bearer of bad news that can elicit a hostile reaction, the job could justify wearing such a device. But in this case, with the longer strike stick 1 and optional stick tip cover 3 in place, (and especially if made in the heavier and denser Titanium), one also has fine “meat tenderizer” at one's disposal following a quick cleaning of the rubber tip first. This works well to break up the meat fibers by hand pounding the wider rubber covered end repeatedly into and across the entire meat surface a few times over a cutting board, and then flipping the meat over and repeating. The stick tip cover 3 used has a generous depth “crosshatching” built in that helps to prevent slipping of the tool against the meat, and a rounding to the end as well that really works the tip deeper into the fibers to break them up and tenderize. As an added bonus the user gets a mild workout, and a chance to practice some of those “icepick” hammer blows previously discussed on a partner who won't ever complain. This can also be used to crush garlic, and using the uncovered end works well to break open walnuts in the shell. For walnuts one simply places the walnut within the hand not holding the tool, and places the base of the walnut against a cutting board placed on a solid surface. Then one brings the uncovered end of the stick 1 over the top of the hand holding the walnut, and positions the uncovered tool tip through the opening of the hand and on top of the walnut along the seam of the nut casing. Gripping the walnut securely while also controlling the strike end 11 of the tool with the same hand, and using palm of the now empty strong hand, one gives a solid “rap” onto the rubber covered end of the stick. With practice one will become efficient, and again get a small workout and practice the “driving” tip technique.
Also, in an emergency such as when a child or pet is locked in a car on a hot day and in obvious distress, it is conceivable the larger sized Titanium strike stick 1 could be used to break out a side window to free the child or pet.
While all of the carriage embodiments are illustrated in this disclosure in terms of their functional utilitarian characteristics for enabling a defender to easily carry and rapidly deploy a defensive stick in response to an emerging attack, it is understood that these various embodiments may be embellished with a variety of design features, not shown or enumerated here, to make them more aesthetically pleasing in appearance. It is understood that such an enhancement in aesthetic appearance also serves the functional benefit of making the stick more unobtrusive, thus lulling an attacker into a false sense of security by not being aware that the aesthetically pleasing apparatus being carried the intended victim is in fact a defensive weapon.
The knowledge possessed by someone of ordinary skill in the art at the time of this disclosure, including but not limited to the prior art disclosed with this application, is understood to be part and parcel of this disclosure and is implicitly incorporated by reference herein, even if in the interest of economy express statements about the specific knowledge understood to be possessed by someone of ordinary skill are omitted from this disclosure. While reference may be made in this disclosure to the invention comprising a combination of a plurality of elements, it is also understood that this invention is regarded to comprise combinations which omit or exclude one or more of such elements, even if this omission or exclusion of an element or elements is not expressly stated herein, unless it is expressly stated herein that an element is essential to applicant's combination and cannot be omitted. It is further understood that the related prior art may include elements from which this invention may be distinguished by negative claim limitations, even without any express statement of such negative limitations herein. It is to be understood, between the positive statements of applicant's invention expressly stated herein, and the prior art and knowledge of the prior art by those of ordinary skill which is incorporated herein even if not expressly reproduced here for reasons of economy, that any and all such negative claim limitations supported by the prior art are also considered to be within the scope of this disclosure and its associated claims, even absent any express statement herein about any particular negative claim limitations.
Finally, while only certain preferred features of the invention have been illustrated and described, many modifications, changes and substitutions will occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.

Claims

I claim:

1. A defensive stick system for easy carriage and rapid deployment by a user thereof, comprising:

a defensive stick comprising at least one and no more than two strike ends thereof;

a user grip tightly affixed and substantially immobile relative to said at least one and no more than two strike ends;

a carriage housing removably mating with the first one of said at least one and no more than two strike ends; and

a connector connecting said carriage housing to a carriage point selected from the group consisting of: a place on the user's body, a fixed place near the user, and a material object carried by the user; wherein:

said defensive stick is no less than three (3) inches and no greater than eight (8) inches in length from end to end;

said user grip is no less than three-eighths (⅜) of an inch and no greater than one (1) inch in width;

said at least one and no more than two strike ends are no less than one-quarter (¼) of an inch and no greater than three quarters (¾) of an inch in width; and

said defensive stick and said carriage housing are configured and fabricated from materials such that:

absent the user applying a separation force said defensive stick remains securely attached to and seated in said carriage housing so as to not fall out; and

when, in response to a perceived threat, the user applies a separation force of at least one and no more than ten pounds, said defensive stick separates from said carriage housing, has its first strike end exposed, and thereby deploys for immediate defensive use with a single separation hand motion.

2. The defensive stick system of claim 1:

said carriage point consisting of a place on the user's body consisting of the user's neck;

said connector comprising a necklace loop for hanging said carriage housing from the user's neck; and

said separation force is applied by the user reaching in front of the user's torso and tugging down on said defensive stick such that upon separation, the stick is instantly deployed in the user's hand for immediate defensive use.

3. The defensive stick system of claim 2, further comprising:

said defensive stick comprising exactly two strike ends thereof;

a second carriage housing removably mating with the second one of said strike ends; and

a jogging stabilizer connecting said second carriage housing to the user's torso, wherein:

the combination of the attachments of said two strike ends to said two carriage housings and of said two carriage housings to the user's body situate the defensive stick relatively motionless in the front of the user's torso.

4. The defensive stick system of claim 1:

said carriage point consisting of a place on the user's body consisting of the user's belt;

said connector comprising a belt carrier for hanging said carriage housing from the user's belt; and

said separation force is applied by the user reaching to the location where said stick is hanging from the belt and tugging down on said defensive stick such that upon separation, the stick is instantly deployed in the user's hand for immediate defensive use.

5. The defensive stick system of claim 1:

said carriage point consisting of a material object carried by the user;

said material object carried by the user consisting of at least one key on a key ring;

said connector comprising said key ring connecting said carriage housing to said at least one key; and

said separation force is applied by the user holding said user grip in one hand, while tugging said key ring and said carriage housing away from said defensive stick with the other hand such that upon separation, the stick is instantly deployed in the user's hand for immediate defensive use.

6. The defensive stick system of claim 1:

said carriage point consisting of a fixed place near the user consisting of a mount of a motor vehicle mirror;

said connector comprising a loop for hanging said carriage housing from the said mount of said motor vehicle mirror; and

said separation force is applied by the user reaching below said mount and tugging down on said defensive stick such that upon separation, the stick is instantly deployed in the user's hand for immediate defensive use.

7. The defensive stick system of claim 1, further comprising:

said defensive stick comprising exactly two strike ends thereof; and

a stick tip cover removably mating with the second one of said two strike ends; wherein:

said defensive stick and said stick tip cover are configured and fabricated from materials such that:

absent the user applying a separation force said stick tip cover remains securely attached to and seated upon said second strike end so as to not fall off; and

when the user applies a separation force at least one and no more than ten pounds, said stick tip cover separates from and exposes said second strike end.

8. A method for a user easily carrying and rapidly deploying a defensive stick, said method comprising:

connecting a carriage housing to a carriage point selected from the group consisting of: a place on the user's body, a fixed place near the user, and a material object carried by the user;

removably mating said carriage housing with the first one of at least one and no more than two strike ends of said defensive stick such that absent the user applying a separation force said defensive stick remains securely attached to and seated in said carriage housing so as to not fall out;

in response to a perceived threat, the user applying a separation force with a single separation hand motion of at least one and no more than ten pounds upon a user grip tightly affixed and substantially immobile relative to said at least one and no more than two strike ends of said defensive stick, thereby separating said defensive stick from said carriage housing and exposing the first strike end of said defensive stick, thereby immediately deploying said defensive stick for defensive use; wherein:

said user grip is no less than three-eighths (⅜) of an inch and no greater than one (1) inch in width; and

said at least one and no more than two strike ends are no less than one-quarter (¼) of an inch and no greater than three quarters (¾) of an inch in width.

9. The method of claim 8:

hanging said carriage housing from the user's neck using said connector comprising a necklace loop; and

the user instantly deploying said stick in the user's hand for immediate defensive use by reaching in front of the user's torso and tugging down on said defensive stick.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

providing said defensive stick with exactly two strike ends thereof;

connecting a second carriage housing to the user's torso using jogging stabilizer;

removably mating said second carriage housing with the second one of said strike ends; and

situating the defensive stick relatively motionless in the front of the user's torso using said combination of the attachments of said two strike ends to said two carriage housings and of said two carriage housings to the user's body.

11. The method of claim 8:

hanging said carriage housing from the user's belt using said connector comprising a belt carrier; and

the user instantly deploying said stick in the user's hand for immediate defensive use by reaching to the location where said stick is hanging from the belt and tugging down on said defensive stick.

12. The method of claim 8:

said carriage point consisting of a material object carried by the user;

connecting said carriage housing to said at least one key using said connector comprising said key ring; and

the user instantly deploying said stick in the user's hand for immediate defensive use by holding said user grip in one hand while tugging said key ring and said carriage housing away from said defensive stick with the other hand.

13. The method of claim 8:

the user instantly deploying said stick in the user's hand for immediate defensive use by reaching below said mount and tugging down on said defensive stick.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

providing said defensive stick with exactly two strike ends thereof;

removably mating a stick tip cover with the second one of said two strike ends such that absent the user applying a separation force said stick tip cover remains securely attached to and seated upon said second strike end so as to not fall off; and

to expose said second strike end in response to a perceived threat, the user applying a separation force at least one and no more than ten pounds to separate said stick tip cover from said second strike end.