Impact device and method
An impact device and method for use by a policeman. The device mounts on the shin and is used by kicking the opponent with the impact device cushioning the kicker's shin. The police device has a rounded surface for exerting a measured blow on the opponent while a military version has a cutting edge for cutting the opponent. The device may be covered and obscured by the pant leg of the user.
This invention relates to an impact device and method.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONPolice officers have official guidelines as to how much force they should use in a particular situation. For example, the amount of force to be used might be coded as green, yellow or red depending on whether there is no danger to the officer, or mortal danger, or an intermediate situation where the individual is illegally resisting arrest but there is little or no danger to the officer. A police officer frequently carries a pistol which might be grabbed by a criminal if the officer does not protect the pistol by grasping it or by covering it with his hand. It is desirable that the police officer have available a weapon permitting the officer to apply measured force and at the same time to protect the officer's pistol.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is therefor an object of the invention to provide an improved weapon for use by a police officer permitting the application of a measured amount of force.
Another object of the invention is to provide an impact weapon for use by the military.
One embodiment of the invention is an impact weapon including a main body having an elongated curved shape for mounting on the shin. The body has an inside curved surface adapted to nest on the shin and has an outside surface. A retainer is secured to the main body for retaining the main body on the shin. An elongated rigid member is fixed to the outside surface of the main body and extends along the length of the main body.
Another embodiment of the invention is a method for subduing an opponent which includes providing an impact weapon with a main body having an elongated curved shape for mounting on the shin. An elongated rigid member is secured to the outside surface of the main body and extends along the length of the main body. The method further includes securing the weapon to the shin and striking the opponent with the elongated rigid member by kicking the opponent with the weapon.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, and alterations and modifications in the illustrated device, and further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein are herein contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.
Referring to
Referring to the perspective view
The impact device of the present invention can take various forms. The specific embodiment illustrated in
The impact device 16 is secured in place on the leg of the user by a retainer and/or retainers 32 and 35. In the illustrated embodiment the retainers 32 and 35 are straps 36 and 37 which have Velcro 40 mounted on them. The strap 36 is received between the main body 20 and the elongated rigid member 26 and is secured in place by appropriate fasteners. The strap 36 has a loop or ring 41 on the strap through which the strap is inserted prior to use of the Velcro to attach the strap 36 to itself. The retainer 35 includes the strap 37 which is secured by appropriate fasteners between the main body 20 and the cushion 25. The end portions of the strap 37 have the complementary Velcro sections on them for securing the end portions together and mounting the impact device on the leg.
The invention includes other alternative embodiments. For example the elongated rigid member 26 might be constructed integrally with the main body 20. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the elongated rigid member 26 and the main body 20 are made out of rigid plastic but they could be made out of other materials such as metal or wood as examples. One manner of constructing the impact weapon of the present invention includes modifying a commercially available soccer leg guard by adding to it and mounting on it the elongated rigid member 26. Still another alternative embodiment of the invention includes making the elongated rigid member out of more than one piece such as, for example, a series of spaced or contiguous or adjacent pieces.
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.
Claims
1. An impact weapon comprising a main body having an elongated curved shape for mounting on the shin, said main body having an inside curved surface adapted to nest on the shin and having an outside surface, a retainer secured to said main body for retaining said main body on the shin, an elongated rigid member fixed to the outside surface of the main body and extending along the length of the main body.
2. The weapon of claim 1 additionally comprising a cushion mounted on the main body and covering the inside curved surface of the main body for protecting the shin.
3. The weapon of claim 1 wherein the elongated member has an external curved surface facing away from said main body and has a thickness adjacent said external curved surface of approximately {fraction (1/8)} of an inch.
4. The weapon of claim 1 wherein the elongated member has a sharp edge facing away from said main body.
5. The weapon of claim 1 wherein the main body and the elongated member are integral.
6. A method for subduing an opponent which comprises:
- providing an impact weapon including a main body having an elongated curved shape for mounting on the shin and having an elongated rigid member secured to the outside surface of the main body and extending along the length of the main body;
- securing the weapon to the shin; and
- striking the opponent with the elongated rigid member by kicking the opponent with the weapon.
7. The method of claim 6 comprising the additional step of covering the impact weapon with a pant leg to obscure the weapon prior to kicking the opponent.
8. The method of claim 6 wherein the elongated rigid member is sharp whereby the striking produces a cutting action on the opponent.
9. The method of claim 6 wherein the rigid member and the main body are integral.
10. The method of claim 6 additionally comprising a cushion mounted on the main body and covering the inside curved surface of the main body for protecting the shin.
11. The method of claim 6 wherein the elongated member has an external curved surface facing away from the main body and has a thickness adjacent said external curved surface of approximately {fraction (1/8)} of an inch.
12. The method of claim 6 wherein the elongated member has a sharp edge facing away from said main body.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 4, 2003
Publication Date: Mar 10, 2005
Inventor: James Likens (Indianapolis, IN)
Application Number: 10/654,729