US3947221A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Personal protection device using flashcubes
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-08-30
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Granted: 1976-03-30
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Expires: 1994-08-30
Abstract
Abstract An attachment for converting a standard camera flashbulb unit into a personal defense device for use against criminals. The attachment consists of a support element adapted to be attached to a standard flashbulb unit, the support element being provided with a manually operable flexible trigger arm having a lug engageable through a slot in the bottom of the flashbulb unit with the cocked percussion spring of the unit to release the spring and cause it to fire the unit. The attachment is provided with an outwardly projecting carrying ring to facilitate transportation and handling of the flashbulb unit when the attachment is operatively connected thereto. In one form of the attachment it can rotatably receive the bottom base post of the flashbulb unit and allow the various flash sections of a multiple-flash unit to be successively fired. In another form of the attachment it can be connected to the flashbulb unit for single triggering action.
Inventors
- 👤 Francis P. Mauser
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 14:06
CPC Classifications
F; F41; F41H; F41H13/00; F41H13/0043; F41H13/0087
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
A personal defense attachment for use with a flashbulb unit of the type including a casing and at least one flashbulb having percussive flash means with a percussion striker arm engaging a detent which can fire the bulb responsive to movement of the striker arm off the detent, the casing having an aperture adjacent the striker arm, said attachment comprising a flexible arm, means to secure said flexible arm to the casing, a trigger lug on the flexible arm engageable through said aperture and being of sufficient length to engage the striker arm and move it off the detent when the flexible arm is flexed toward the aperture in the casing, a carrying ring, and means securing said carrying ring to the flexible arm in a position such as to allow a user's finger to be engaged therein and so that another finger on the same hand is operatively engageable with said flexible arm to flex said arm toward said aperture.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
161 words
A personal defense attachment for use with a flashbulb unit of the type including a casing and at least one flashbulb having percussive flash means with a percussion striker arm engaging a detent which can fire the bulb responsive to movement of the striker arm off the detent, the casing having an aperture adjacent the striker arm, said attachment comprising a flexible arm, means to secure said flexible arm to the casing, a trigger lug on the flexible arm engageable through said aperture and being of sufficient length to engage the striker arm and move it off the detent when the flexible arm is flexed toward the aperture in the casing, a carrying ring, and means securing said carrying ring to the flexible arm in a position such as to allow a user's finger to be engaged therein and so that another finger on the same hand is operatively engageable with said flexible arm to flex said arm toward said aperture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The personal defense attachment of claim 1, and wherein the means to secure the flexible arm to the casing comprises a plate member carrying the flexible arm, and means to fasten said plate member to the casing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The personal defense attachment of claim 1, and wherein the means to secure the flexible arm to the casing comprises a plate member carrying the flexible arm, and means to rotatably connect said plate member to the casing in a position wherein said lug can be registered with said aperture.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The personal defense attachment of claim 3, and wherein said carrying ring is secured to an outer end portion of said plate member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
164 words
A personal defense device comprising the combination of a flashbulb unit and an attachment therefore, said unit including a casing and at least one flashbulb having percussive flash means with a percussion striker arm engaging a detent which can fire the bulb responsive to movement of the striker arm off the detent, the casing having an aperture adjacent the striker arm, said attachment comprising a flexible arm, means to secure said flexible arm to the casing, a trigger lug on the flexible arm engageable through said aperture and being of sufficient length to engage the striker arm and move it off the detent when the flexible arm is flexed toward the aperture in the casing, a carrying ring, and means securing said ring to said flexible arm in a position such as to allow a user's finger to be engaged therein and so that another finger on the same hand is operatively engageable with said flexible arm to flex said arm toward said aperture.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
164 words
A personal defense device comprising the combination of a flashbulb unit and an attachment therefore, said unit including a casing and at least one flashbulb having percussive flash means with a percussion striker arm engaging a detent which can fire the bulb responsive to movement of the striker arm off the detent, the casing having an aperture adjacent the striker arm, said attachment comprising a flexible arm, means to secure said flexible arm to the casing, a trigger lug on the flexible arm engageable through said aperture and being of sufficient length to engage the striker arm and move it off the detent when the flexible arm is flexed toward the aperture in the casing, a carrying ring, and means securing said ring to said flexible arm in a position such as to allow a user's finger to be engaged therein and so that another finger on the same hand is operatively engageable with said flexible arm to flex said arm toward said aperture.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The personal defense device of claim 5, and wherein the means to secure the flexible arm to the casing comprises a plate member carrying the flexible arm, and means to fasten said plate member to the casing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
The personal defense device of claim 5, and wherein the means to secure the flexible arm to the casing comprises a plate member carrying the flexible arm, and means to rotatably connect said plate member to the casing in a position wherein said lug can be registered with said aperture.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The personal defense device of claim 7, and wherein said carrying ring is secured to an outer end portion of said plate member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The personal defense device of claim 6, and wherein the casing is provided with a center post on said axis and the plate member has an opening receiving said center post.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The personal defense device of claim 9, and retaining cap means secured to said center post and retentively engaging said plate member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The personal defense device of claim 6, and wherein said carrying ring is secured to an outer end portion of the plate member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
123 words
The personal defense device of claim 5, and wherein said flashbulb unit is of the multiple flash type having a plurality of flash bulbs, each provided with identical percussive flash means, each having a resilient and tensed percussion arm engaging a detent which can fire the associated bulb responsive to movement of the percussion arm off its detent, the casing having respective apertures adjacent the percussion arms, and wherein the means to secure the flexible arm to the casing comprises a plate member carrying the flexible arm, and means to rotatably secure the plate member to the casing for rotation around an axis centered relative to said apertures, the trigger lug being at the same radial distance from said axis as said apertures.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
The personal defense device of claim 12, and interengaging yieldable detent means on the plate member and casing located to align the lug with the respective apertures in the various firing positions of the flexible arm.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-03-30 | 1979-09-29 | 1980-03-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-03-30 | 1983-09-29 | 1984-03-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-03-30 | 1987-09-29 | 1988-03-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |