US4424932A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electric shock prod
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1982-03-19
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Granted: 1984-01-10
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Expires: 2002-03-19
Abstract
Abstract The shock prod comprises a circuit for producing high-voltage electrical pulses. The circuit is mounted in a housing and communicates electrically with two conductors integral with a prod extension. The prod extension extends from the housing in a fixed predetermined direction with respect to the housing. The extension is elongated in the fixed direction, terminates in a free end, and is generally flat with a high width-to-thickness ratio, having sufficiently high flexural rigidity and buckling resistance to avoid excessive deflection or deformation in use. With this novel configuration, the extension is constrained to bend in a preferred plane parallel to the thickness dimension. Loads applied in the other planes produce torsional deflection so as to allow bending in this preferred deflection plane. This wide, thin cross-section permits a wide electrode spacing simultaneously with a thin bending surface, resulting in the following: A minimum bending radius which greatly reduces instances of breakage; allows electrification and desired electrode spacing over any desired portion of the prod extension; eliminates need for separate electrode mounting hardware; remains operational even if the extension is snapped in two, when a sufficient electrode-conductor spacing geometry exists along the length of the prod extension.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerald F. Allen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 18:24
CPC Classifications
F; F41; F41H; F41H13/00; F41H13/0012; F41H13/0018; F41B; F41B15/00; F41B15/02; F41B15/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
An electric shock prod apparatus, comprising: circuit means for producng high-voltage electrical pulses; a housing mounting said circuit means; a prod extension attached to said housing and extending from said housing in a fixed, predetermined direction with respect to said housing, said extension comprising: a beam, said beam being elongated in said direction and terminating in a free end, said beam being flat with a large width-to-thickness ratio and being made from a stiff, non-pliable, material having high flexural strength and buckling resistance; and two eletrodes attached to said beam and spacedly supported thereby, said electrodes extending along said beam and being exposed at portions of said beam and being connected to said circuit means for transmitting said pulses to said exposed portions for delivering a shock to a subject contacted by said exposed portions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
An electric shock prod apparatus, comprising: circuit means for producng high-voltage electrical pulses; a housing mounting said circuit means; a prod extension attached to said housing and extending from said housing in a fixed, predetermined direction with respect to said housing, said extension comprising: a beam, said beam being elongated in said direction and terminating in a free end, said beam being flat with a large width-to-thickness ratio and being made from a stiff, non-pliable, material having high flexural strength and buckling resistance; and two eletrodes attached to said beam and spacedly supported thereby, said electrodes extending along said beam and being exposed at portions of said beam and being connected to said circuit means for transmitting said pulses to said exposed portions for delivering a shock to a subject contacted by said exposed portions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said beam has a flexural strength in the range of 10,000 psi to 60,000 psi.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said beam has a flexural elastic modulus in the range of 250,000 psi to 5,000,000 psi.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said beam has a modulus of resilience of 100 psi to 300 psi.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said beam has a flexural rigidity of 400 lb-in 2 to 800 lb-in 2 .
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said beam has a minimum bending radius less than 12 inches.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said housing is a unitary construction containing a recessed portion forming a handle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein portions of said electrodes are exposed at said free end and along opposite longitudinal edges of said beam.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said electrodes are disposed in a zigzag pattern extending along said beam.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein portions of said electrodes are exposed at said free end and along opposite longitudinal edges of said beam.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said housing includes a handle portion and a pair of extension mounting surfaces to which said extension is attached.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein said extension mounting surfaces are disposed forward and rearward of said handle portion such that said extension extends across said handle portion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said beam is unitary in construction.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein said electrodes are flat conductors.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said extension is a laminated construction comprising a plurality of laminations.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein said electrodes are sandwiched between two of said laminations.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein said electrodes are formed on opposite sides of said beam.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said circuit means includes a power source having a battery, and a battery recharging circuit and a diode connected between said battery and said battery recharging circuit, said diode being oriented to prevent a short circuit in said battery charging circuit from affecting said battery.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said circuit means includes a high-voltage generator, a power supply, and an on-off switch disposed between said power supply and said high-voltage generator, and a transient suppression network connected so as to protect said power supply and said switch.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 19 and further wherein said high-voltage generator includes a charging inductance and a peak limiter network across said charging inductance to limit no load voltage peaks to a safe level to avoid arcing, as well as excess voltage-level damage to generator components.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said electrodes are attached to said beam in a neutral bending plane of said beam.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein separate electrode projections are affixed to at least some of said portions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-01-09 | 1987-07-11 | 1988-01-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-01-09 | 1991-07-11 | 1992-01-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-01-09 | 1995-07-11 | 1996-01-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |