US-12624929-B1 - Self-defense devices and related methods

US12624929B1US 12624929 B1US12624929 B1US 12624929B1US-12624929-B1

Abstract

Self-defense devices and related methods are disclosed herein. The self-defense devices are configured to be utilized by a user for protection from an aggressor and include at least one offensive component and at least one of a recording component and a communication component. In some examples, the self-defense devices include more than one offensive component and/or more than one offensive subcomponent. The offensive component may be configured to be selectively actuated to incapacitate the aggressor. The recording component may be configured to selectively record a local environment that is proximate the self-defense device. The communication component may be configured to provide wireless communication between the user and a remote location. The methods include methods of utilizing a self-defense device for protection from an aggressor and include at least one of recording a local environment that is proximate the self-defense device, communicating with a remote location, and incapacitating the aggressor.

Inventors

Joseph A. Towers, V
Jonathan J. Beagle
Tina L. Towers
Clint A. Walker

Assignees

SAFESTRIKE TECHNOLOGIES LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20250701

Claims (20)

1 . A self-defense device configured to be utilized by a user for protection from an aggressor, the self-defense device comprising: an offensive component configured to be selectively actuated to incapacitate the aggressor; a recording component configured to selectively record a local environment that is proximate the self-defense device; a communication component configured to provide wireless communication between the user and a remote location; and a user detection component configured to detect that the user is utilizing the self-defense device and automatically to enable the recording component and the communication component responsive to detecting that the user is utilizing the self-defense device; wherein, subsequent to enablement of the recording component and the communication component, the self-defense device is configured to require further authentication of the user prior to permitting actuation of the offensive component.
2 . The self-defense device of claim 1 , wherein the offensive component includes a plurality of offensive subcomponents, wherein each offensive subcomponent of the plurality of offensive subcomponents is configured to exhibit a corresponding effective range.
3 . The self-defense device of claim 2 , wherein a range ratio of a first effective range of a first offensive subcomponent of the plurality of offensive subcomponents is within a threshold range ratio multiple of a second effective range of a second offensive subcomponent of the plurality of offensive subcomponents, wherein the threshold range ratio multiple is at least 1.2 and at most 100.
4 . The self-defense device of claim 1 , wherein the offensive component includes a kinetic offensive component configured to selectively deliver a less lethal kinetic blow to incapacitate the aggressor.
5 . The self-defense device of claim 4 , wherein the kinetic offensive component includes a projectile offensive component configured to selectively deliver a less lethal projectile to incapacitate the aggressor.
6 . The self-defense device of claim 1 , wherein the offensive component includes a chemical irritant offensive component configured to selectively deliver a chemical irritant to incapacitate the aggressor.
7 . The self-defense device of claim 6 , wherein the chemical irritant offensive component is configured to at least one of: (i) spray the chemical irritant; and (ii) expel a capsule that includes the chemical irritant.
8 . The self-defense device of claim 1 , wherein the offensive component includes a conducted energy offensive component configured to selectively deliver an electric shock to incapacitate the aggressor.
9 . The self-defense device of claim 1 , wherein the offensive component includes an optical offensive component configured to emit light and selectively inhibit the aggressor's sight to incapacitate the aggressor.
10 . The self-defense device of claim 1 , wherein the recording component is configured to selectively record at least one of: (i) audio from the local environment; and (ii) video of the local environment.
11 . The self-defense device of claim 1 , wherein the recording component includes a plurality of video cameras, wherein each video camera of the plurality of video cameras is configured to record a corresponding video in a corresponding recording direction, wherein the corresponding recording direction of at least one video camera of the plurality of video cameras differs from the corresponding recording direction of at least one other video camera of the plurality of video cameras.
12 . The self-defense device of claim 1 , wherein the communication component includes a wireless interface configured to provide the wireless communication.
13 . The self-defense device of claim 1 , wherein the communication component is configured to provide at least one of: (i) an output from the recording component to the remote location; and (ii) two-way communication between the user and the remote location.
14 . The self-defense device of claim 1 , wherein the self-defense device includes a device user-authentication component configured to authenticate the user, wherein the self-defense device is configured to enable at least one restricted-access function of the self-defense device responsive to authentication of the user by the device user-authentication component, wherein the at least one restricted-access function of the self-defense device includes the offensive component, and further wherein the self-defense device is configured to permit actuation of the offensive component only when the device user-authentication component has confirmed that the user is an authorized user of the offensive component.
15 . The self-defense device of claim 14 , wherein, responsive to authentication of the user, the device user-authentication component is configured to at least one of: (i) electronically store an activation record that identifies the user; (ii) transmit an identity of the user to the remote location; and (iii) transmit a unique identifier that identifies the self-defense device to the remote location.
16 . The self-defense device of claim 1 , wherein the self-defense device further includes a tracking component configured to determine a location of the self-defense device, and further wherein the communication component is configured to provide the location of the self-defense device to the remote location.
17 . The self-defense device of claim 1 , wherein the self-defense device includes a status indicator configured to provide at least one status of the self-defense device to the user, wherein the at least one status includes at least one of: (i) a state of charge of the self-defense device; (ii) a status of communication with the remote location via the communication component; (iii) a recording status of the recording component; (iv) a communication monitor status indicative of a presence of a monitoring individual, at the remote location, who is monitoring the wireless communication between the user and the remote location; (v) an assistance call status that indicates when assistance is enroute to a location of the self-defense device; (vi) an assistance on-site status that indicates when the assistance is at the location of the self-defense device; (vii) a readiness of the offensive component to be selectively actuated to incapacitate the aggressor, and (viii) an authentication status of the user by a device user-authentication component of the self-defense device.
18 . The self-defense device of claim 1 , wherein the recording component includes a plurality of video cameras, wherein each video camera of the plurality of video cameras is configured to record a corresponding video in a corresponding recording direction, wherein the corresponding recording direction of at least one video camera of the plurality of video cameras includes at least one of a forward direction and a rearward direction, and further wherein the corresponding recording direction of at least one other video camera of the plurality of video cameras includes at least one of a leftward direction and a rightward direction.
19 . The self-defense device of claim 18 , wherein the corresponding recording direction of another video camera of the plurality of video cameras includes a downward direction.
20 . The self-defense device of claim 1 , wherein the self-defense device includes a device user-authentication component configured to authenticate the user and to provide the further authentication of the user responsive to determining that the user is an authorized user of the offensive component.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates generally to self-defense devices and to methods of utilizing self-defense devices. BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Conventional self-defense devices, such as firearms, historically have been utilized for protection from an aggressor. While such conventional self-defense devices may be effective in certain circumstances, they may be ineffective, or impermissible, in others. As an example, certain private citizens, organizations, and/or government agencies may be desirous of the capability for self-defense. However, conventional self-defense devices, such as firearms, may be an undesirable option and/or may not be permitted in certain facilities and/or at certain locations. As another example, some individuals may have a desire or need to possess a self-defense device yet are not willing or sufficiently trained to use a firearm. Thus, there exists a need for improved self-defense devices and related methods. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE Self-defense devices and related methods are disclosed herein. The self-defense devices are configured to be utilized by a user for protection from an aggressor and include at least one offensive component and at least one of a recording component and a communication component. The offensive component may be configured to be selectively actuated to incapacitate the aggressor. The self-defense devices may include more than one offensive component, the offensive component(s) may include more than one offensive subcomponent, and/or the offensive components and/or offensive subcomponents may be configured to deliver the same or different offensive outputs and/or may have the same or different effective ranges. The recording component may be configured to selectively record a local environment that is proximate the self-defense device. The communication component may be configured to provide wireless communication between the user and a remote location. The methods include methods of utilizing a self-defense device for protection from an aggressor and include at least one of recording a local environment that is proximate the self-defense device, communicating with a remote location, and incapacitating the aggressor. The recording may be performed utilizing a recording component of the self-defense device. The communicating may be performed utilizing a communication component of the self-defense device. The incapacitating may be performed utilizing an offensive component of the self-defense device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of examples of self-defense devices according to the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a less schematic side view illustrating examples of self-defense devices according to the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a top view of the self-defense devices of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a front view of the self-defense devices of FIGS. 2-3. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating examples of methods of utilizing self-defense devices, according to the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND BEST MODE OF THE DISCLOSURE FIGS. 1-5 provide examples of self-defense devices 10 and/or of methods 800, according to the present disclosure. Elements that serve a similar, or at least substantially similar, purpose are labeled with like numbers in each of FIGS. 1-5, and these elements may not be discussed in detail herein with reference to each of FIGS. 1-5. Similarly, all elements may not be labeled in each of FIGS. 1-5, but reference numerals associated therewith may be utilized herein for consistency. Elements, components, and/or features that are discussed herein with reference to one or more of FIGS. 1-5 may be included in and/or utilized with any of FIGS. 1-5 without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In general, elements that are likely to be included in a particular embodiment are illustrated in solid lines, while elements that may be optional are illustrated in dashed lines. However, elements that are shown in solid lines may not be essential to all embodiments and, in some embodiments, may be omitted without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of examples of self-defense devices 10 according to the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a less schematic side view illustrating examples of self-defense devices according to the present disclosure; FIG. 3 is a top view of the self-defense devices of FIG. 2; and FIG. 4 is a front view of the self-defense devices of FIGS. 2-3. Self-defense devices 10 are configured to be utilized by a user 2 for protection from an aggressor 4. As collectively illustrated by FIGS. 1-4, and with specific reference to FIG. 1, self-defense devices 10 include at least one offensive component 100 and one or more of a recording component 200 and a communication component 250. The offensive component is configured to be selectively actuated to incapacitate the aggressor. The recording component is configured to selectivel