PERSONAL DEFENSE DEVICE

Abstract

A personal safety device is provided to be held in a user's hand and to apply a striking force at an impact tip. The device includes a body defining a longitudinal axis, an upper end, and a lower end. An upper saddle may be provided to position the user's thumb over the upper end of the body. An index finger saddle may extend around the body adjacent the upper saddle to receive the index finger of the user's hand. A palm swell may curve outwardly from the body to fit into the user's palm. The body may be provided with smoothly curved contours between the saddles and the swell, so that the device is comfortably gripped and the striking force is spread throughout the user's hand. An alarm, strobe, camera, light, wireless transmitter, GPS device, fluid collection port, dye marker, straps, sheaths, and other defense and security features may be provided with the device.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

A personal safety device may be used for defending against an attack on the user's person by providing an impact tip for striking the attacker. The device may be designed to fit in the user's hand to strengthen the user's fist to reduce the likelihood of injury, to provide an impact point or points for applying a force to the attacker's body, and to conform to the internal contours of the user's palm, thumb, and fingers to distribute the force from the impact point over the structure of the hand.

BACKGROUND

The human hand has a natural shape, common to all of us, in what is termed the position of function. In this position, the hand is believed to be most ready to provide a maximum gripping strength on an object. The position of function includes that the thumb is roughly in line with the radius bone of the forearm, the thumb joints are slightly flexed, and the fingers are more extensively flexed, i.e. they are bending inwardly toward the palm at the knuckle joints and at the interphalangeal joints. In the position of function, the extent of flexing of the fingers increases from the index finger toward the little finger. The result is that the opening defined by the palm and fingers is widest at the index finger and narrows toward the little finger. In the position of function, the hand can grip an object with a minimal degree of further articular movement at the joints.

Hand-held tools have been provided with various shapes in attempts to make the tools feel more comfortable in the hand, or to provide ridges for the separate fingers or friction-type material to improve the grip. These attempts have had several drawbacks, including that they do not take into account the position of function of the hand. Thus, the interface between the hand and the tool does not provide for a grip that distributes forces on the tool throughout the hand. These tools have typically been based on a rectangular or cylindrical body, with ribs or ridges added thereon roughly approximating the finger locations. At least one such tool, shown in U.S. Pat. No. Des. 503,451, is provided with the finger ridges on a rectangular body with sharp, right-angle edges between the major surfaces of the rectangular body.

These tools are used to strike a target using an end of the tool, such as the striking knob shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,863,251. The force resulting from such a strike will typically have a major component along a longitudinal axis of the tool and also at least a minor component in a lateral direction. Both components of the force will affect one's grip on the tool. The longitudinal force tends to drive the tool directly out of the grip, while a lateral force tends to wrench the tool sideways out of the hand. The lateral force in particular, depending on its direction relative to the thumb and fingers, may make the tool very difficult to hold onto.

A user's grip on a tool would be improved by providing the tool with a shape that conforms to the internal contours of the user's hand in the position of function. The tool with such shape is believed to spread throughout the hand the components of a force of impact on the tool. So, when one end of the tool strikes an object, the longitudinal and lateral components of the force are spread out to the thumb, fingers, and palm, and the tool is more easily retained in the hand. The tool may be provided with an overall size and shape and with features corresponding to major hand structures to impart the force-spreading capability. Furthermore, providing the tool with smooth contours, between some or all of the features that correspond to major hand structures, results in a tool that causes less stress and less potential for damage to the hand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The personal safety device described in the present application provides an elongate body sized and shaped to conform to the internal contour of a user's hand. The elongate body includes an upper end held under the thumb and a lower end held adjacent the little finger with the hand closed in a fist. The lower end typically extends out of the fist beyond the little finger. The device may include a thumb heel saddle with a depression aligned and curved so that the heel of the thumb of the user's hand fits therein. This depression or groove typically extends in a direction generally alongside and spaced apart from a longitudinal axis of the body and is located adjacent the upper end of the body.

The device further includes an impact tip generally aligned with or extending along the longitudinal axis. The impact tip is typically at or adjacent the lower end of the body and culminates in a surface or point that is relatively small, such as one defining an area of no more than about one square centimeter.

The device may also include a thumb saddle with a depression shaped to receive a thumb of the user's hand. This depression may be positioned over the upper end of the body and extend substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the body. When both the thumb heel saddle and the thumb saddle are provided on the device, they may be joined by a depression that curves from one saddle to the other and they position the user's thumb for application of a force in a direction toward the impact tip.

The device may also include an index finger saddle with a depression for receiving the index finger of the user's hand, typically extending around the longitudinal axis of the body from one side of the thumb heel saddle depression to the other.

A structure that fits into the palm of the user's hand by curving outwardly from the body may be provided adjacent the thumb heel saddle. Such a palm swell is typically located about 90° around the body from the thumb heel saddle. A fingertip panel may be provided opposite the palm swell. A cross-section of the body here, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, is typically substantially trapezoidal.

The body typically tapers in cross-section from below the index finger saddle in a direction toward the impact tip. In general, the body may be provided with a plurality of smoothly curved contours between one or more pairs of the foregoing structures.

The device may also include one or more lanyards or straps to aid in retaining the body in or associated with the hand, such as a knuckle strap or a wrist strap. The impact tip may be provided with a fluid collection port, such as an opening on the impact tip with a funnel-shaped channel leading to an internal bay in the body for retention of the fluid. Various other safety or defense features may be provided on the device, typically with operational features located on or adjacent the impact tip, e.g., at a raised portion. These may include a dye marking unit, a strobe light or a flashlight, an alarm with a speaker and/or a wireless transmitter, a GPS device, a camera and/or other features.

The device may also be associated with a sheath for stowage, typically with a first opening through which the body is inserted and removed, and a second opening opposite the first, that allows the impact tip to extend out of the sheath while the rest of the body is stowed within the sheath.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a side view of a 3-dimensional depiction of the personal safety device of the present disclosure, showing a saddle for receiving the user's thumb and heel of the hand, particularly the heel of the hand adjacent the thumb, referred to herein as the thumb heel, and showing a swell that extends into the user's palm.

FIG. 2a is a side view of the device of FIG. 1, showing a panel for receiving the user's fingertips, the location for the index finger being at the top and for the pinkie at the bottom of the figure and also showing in dashed outline a hand, held open, to show the relative location of the device and hand for gripping the device.

FIG. 2b is a side view of a device similar to that of FIGS. 1 and 2a, showing the features for the device as shown in FIG. 2a and also the user's hand gripping the device.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the device of FIG. 1, showing at the top the thumb portion of the saddle, an impact tip, and a riser adjacent the tip.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1, showing the palm swell.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1, showing a saddle for receiving the index finger of the user.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a second embodiment of a personal safety device, showing a thumb saddle on the top, an index finger saddle below that, and a fingertip panel adjacent that wherein the fingertip panel is further raised with respect to the palm swell (see FIG. 7) to accommodate longer fingernails.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the device of FIG. 6, showing the fingertip panel at the top and the palm swell at the bottom.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 6, further showing the fingertip panel.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a third embodiment of a personal safety device, showing a shield that fits between the thumb and the edge of hand, to be carried therebetween, the shield also providing a second impact tip at an opposite end of the device from the first impact tip (see FIG. 3).

FIG. 10 is a side view of the device of FIG. 9, further showing the thumb shield.

FIG. 11 is a side view of a fourth embodiment of a personal safety device, including an overmolded rubber grip adjacent the palm swell, which grip may include a selected EDM finish, and a lanyard attachment point adjacent the thumb saddle.

FIG. 12 is a side view of the device of FIG. 11, further showing the grip, which may extend over either or both of the palm swell-adjacent area and the fingertip panel area.

FIGS. 13 and 14 are front and back views of a fifth embodiment of the personal safety device with a more narrow width between the palm swell and fingertip panel.

FIGS. 15 and 16 are front and side views of a sixth embodiment of the personal safety device, with more pronounced features for gripping.

FIGS. 17, 18, and 19 are back, side, and top views respectively of a sheath for carrying the personal safety device, the sheath including a pocket and a clip for attaching the sheath to a loop (see FIGS. 20-22), and showing typical dimensions, materials, and features.

FIGS. 20, 21, and 22 are top, side, and detail views respectively of a wrist strap for carrying the sheath for the personal safety device, including the loop for attaching to the sheath, and showing typical dimensions, materials, and features.

FIG. 23 is a side view of a lanyard for the personal safety device.

FIG. 24 is a side view of a bolo-style wrist lanyard for the personal safety device.

FIG. 25 is a side view of an embodiment of the personal safety device including two halves or sections joined at a seam, with an internal bay and openings in communication with the internal bay and attachment points for a strap or a lanyard.

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of one half or section of the device of FIG. 25, showing the seam, a void providing a part of the internal bay, and the openings and attachment points.

FIG. 27 is a perspective view of the assembled device of FIG. 25, showing the attachment points.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A personal safety device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is indicated generally at 10, e.g. in FIGS. 1-16 and 25-27. A user's hand H is shown, held open, in FIG. 2a. Hand H is gripping device 10, in FIG. 2b, these figures together illustrating how the device is gripped within an internal contour of a hand of the user. The device may be operated by the user in a variety of manners which will be described further herein. One manner of operation is to strike an object with device 10, typically with the device gripped in the hand and swung or pressed downwardly along a longitudinal axis A with the user's thumb T up and the little finger LF down.

Device 10 typically includes an elongate body 12 sized and shaped to conform to the internal contour of the user's hand. Body 12 generally defines longitudinal axis A and has an upper end 14 and a lower end 16 opposite the upper end. As shown, e.g., in FIGS. 2a and 2b, body 12 is generally sized to extend along longitudinal axis A about 1-inch longer than a distance from an index finger IF of the user's hand to a little finger of the user's hand. This additional length of body 12 may be varied, typically between about 0.75-inches and about 1.25-inches, or more as suited to a particular application for the device. In most adult male human hands, the distance between the outsides of the little finger and the index finger is between about 3.25-inches and about 3.75 inches, with adult female hands being about 0.25 to about 0.5 inches narrower. Thus, a suitable length for body 12 is between about 4-inches and about 5-inches, although other lengths may be provided for younger, smaller, or larger users or for varied intentions for use of the device. A preferred length is between about 4.3-inches and about 4.7-inches. As noted above, when the device is used to strike an object, a lateral force may be felt in the user's hand, tending to wrench the device out of the hand. Such lateral force tends to have less effect with a shorter device and/or with a device that extends less far out of the hand beyond the little finger.

Device 10 may include adjacent upper end 14 a saddle 18 which includes a groove or depression 20 that extends in roughly an L-shape from the side of body 12 over the top. Saddle 18 is sized and shaped to receive at least a part of the heel of the user's hand and at least a part of the user's thumb.

Upper saddle 18 may be considered to have three parts, the first of which is a thumb heel saddle 22 as herein used. Thumb heel saddle 22 includes a depression 24 for receiving a portion of the heel of the user's hand that is adjacent the thumb and which herein is termed a thumb heel TH. Depression 24 typically extends in a direction generally along or alongside longitudinal axis A of body 12, which will be understood to include that depression 24 can be substantially parallel to or at a low grazing angle with respect to longitudinal axis A, including the angles as depicted in the various embodiments shown herein.

Depression 24 of thumb heel saddle 22 is typically spaced apart from longitudinal axis A of body 12 and adjacent upper end 14 of body 12. Depression 24 is defined between first and second sides 26 of thumb heel saddle 22. Either or both of sides 26 may form lips 28 along body 12 or may have a more gradual contour transitioning to other features on body 12. Preferably sides 26 are smoothly contoured in such transitions.

Depression 24 includes a lower side 30 where its surface swells or curves outwardly at a location that will correspond with the end of the user's thumb heel. Lower side 30 may also be referred to as a thumb heel swell. Depression 24 is preferably deep enough and curved to receive and help hold in place the user's thumb heel TH. The area in and around depression 24 may be curved with a plurality of compound radiuses to best approximate and conform to the shape of the user's hand. Such conformance of the device allows the hand to safely and comfortably absorb stress transferred from the device to the hand.

The second part of upper saddle 18 is a thumb saddle 32 that includes a depression 34 that is positioned over upper end 14 of body 12. Typically, depression 34 includes at least a portion that extends substantially perpendicularly to longitudinal axis A of body 12, although other angles may be used. Depression 34 is preferably deep enough and curved to receive and help hold in place a thumb T of the user's hand. Depression 34 is bordered by two sides 36 either or both of which may provide a lip 38 along and/or around the edge of the thumb saddle. Preferably, thumb saddle 32 extends over substantially all of upper end 14 of body 12.

The third part of upper saddle 18 is a depression 42 that may provide a curved transition between the thumb heel saddle depression and the thumb saddle depression are joined. Typically depression 42 will curve by about 90° in the transition, depending on the relative angles of saddles 22, 32. Depression 42 is deep enough and curved to receive the thumb adjacent the proximal joint of the thumb. Separately and together, thumb heel saddle 22, thumb saddle 32, and depression 42 position the user's thumb over longitudinal axis A. Typically, the proximal bone T1 of the thumb is positioned over longitudinal axis A. In a position over longitudinal axis A, the thumb is located for application of a force in a direction toward an impact tip 44.

In device 10, impact tip 44 extends along longitudinal axis A adjacent lower end 16 of body 12. Typically, impact tip 44 culminates in a surface 46 defining an area of no more than about one square centimeter, and preferably no more than about 0.5 square centimeters.

For most users and applications, surface 46 of impact tip 44 is positioned between about 4-inches and about 5-inches from thumb saddle 32. In other words, the device and the impact tip are sized to extend out of the user's hand adjacent a little finger of the user's hand by about 0.75-inches to about 1.25-inches. This size and extension are considered to be sufficient for applying a striking force at the impact tip to an object or an assailant while allowing the user to maintain control of the device because lateral forces on the impact tip have insufficient leverage to force the device out of the grip. A larger size device, such as a billy club or a smaller-sized club, extending out of the hand more than the device of the present embodiment, is considered not to be useful for striking with an end because the resulting lateral force tends to require two hands or an extremely strong grip to prevent the club from being wrenched out of the hand.

Device 10 typically includes an index finger saddle 50 with a depression 52 between an upper side 54 and a lower side 56. Depression 52 is sized and shaped to receive an index finger IF of the user's hand. Depression 52 typically extends substantially per to longitudinal axis A of body 12, and may extend from adjacent one side 26 of the thumb heel saddle, around body 12, to adjacent the other side of the thumb heel saddle. Upper side 54 of index finger saddle 50 may provide the lip 38 of thumb saddle 32. The index finger saddle and the thumb heel saddle may, together, substantially surround the body of the device in a direction around the longitudinal axis.

Device 10 may include a palm swell 60 adjacent thumb heel saddle 22. Palm swell 60 curves outwardly from body 12 to be sized and shaped to fit into a palm P of the user's hand. Typically palm swell 60 is located on body 12 on a side that, in a direction around the longitudinal axis, is about 90° from thumb heel saddle 22. For example, as seen in FIG. 1, thumb heel saddle 22 faces toward the viewer, while palm swell 60 curves outwardly to the right on the side that is 90° from the thumb heel saddle. Palm swell 60 typically starts to curve outwardly at a point 62 that is roughly coincident with lower side 56 of index finger saddle 50, and above lower side 30 of thumb heel saddle 22, and extends downwardly toward lower end 16, to a point 64 at about the location for the user's little finger LF, although these starting and ending locations may be varied for different applications of the device. A typical maximum distance for palm swell 60 to curve outwardly is about 2-mm although various other curves may be used.

Device may also include a fingertip panel 70 on a side of body 12 that is substantially opposite the side where the palm swell is located. Body 12 may define, in a cross-section that is perpendicular to longitudinal axis A and that is between the starting and ending points of the palm swell, a substantially trapezoidal shape with the finger tip panel and the palm swell providing the angled sides, and the thumb heel saddle being on the longer of the parallel sides, the other parallel side being opposite thereto.

Body 12 may be considered to have a portion 80 that generally tapers in cross-section from below index finger saddle 50 in a direction toward impact tip 44. Preferably, generally tapering portion 80 begins at about a midpoint of palm swell 60. Body 12 may be considered to generally taper notwithstanding the presence of a raised portion, such as tip riser 90 adjacent impact tip 44. Uses of raised portion 90 will be described in more detail below.

Impact tip 44 may be provided with any of a variety of shapes of a more or less rounded or sharpened impact point 100, as suited to a particular application. For example, impact point 100 may be provided with a head having a substantially rectangular cross-section or a substantially circular cross-section, or a substantially hemispheric shape as suited to a particular application for the device. Ordinarily, body 12 and impact tip 44 are hard and generally inflexible. For example, the device may be molded or otherwise formed with a polycarbonate body, or other suitable material for a personal safety device. For use as a training device, body 12 may be provided with a cushioned or collapsing tip adjacent lower end 16.

Body 12, as seen in FIGS. 1-16 and 25-27, may be provided with a plurality of smoothly curved contours that extend between the major surfaces of the device, as described above. Such contours may extend between thumb heel saddle 22 and thumb saddle 32, between thumb heel saddle 22 and index finger saddle 50, between palm swell 60 and thumb heel saddle 22, and between thumb saddle 32 and index finger saddle 50. The device is typically provided with compound radii, e.g., at the thumb saddle, index finger saddle, palm swell, and/or fingertip panel designed for ergonomic fitting into variously sized hands. In general, the shape described herein provides for the device to feel comfortable in the hand, thereby increasing grip strength and distributing impact force throughout the hand.

As seen in FIGS. 9 and 10, device 10 may include a thumb shield 110 that extends upwardly from a side of the thumb saddle. Thumb shield 110 may provide an additional impact tip 112 for striking upwardly or for use on a pressure point of the assailant. Thumb shield 110, located between the thumb and the edge of the hand, facilitates holding the device with just thumb pressure.

As seen in FIGS. 11 and 12, device 10 may include a grip 120 extending over at least a portion of body 12. Grip 120 may, for example, by a rubber overmolding applied over, and adhered to body 12. Grip 120 may be located in one or more troughs defined in body 12 for a substantially flush configuration of grip 120. The surface of grip 120 may be provided with an EDM finish.

As seen in FIGS. 13 and 14 device 10 may be provided with a more narrow width between the palm swell and fingertip panel.

As seen in FIGS. 15 and 16 device 10 may be provided with more pronounced features for gripping.

As seen in FIGS. 17-19, device 10 may include a sheath 130 for stowage and use. Typically sheath 130 defines an internal space 132, a first end 134, and a second end 136 opposite the first. Sheath 130 may include a first opening 138 adjacent first end 134. Typically, first opening 138 and internal space 132 are sized and shape for insertion of body 12 into sheath 130 for stowing therein. Sheath may also include a second opening 140 adjacent second end 136. With body 12 including a widened portion, such as at tip riser 90, adjacent impact tip 44, second opening 140 may be sized smaller than widened portion 90 and larger than impact tip 44. As such, second opening 140 allows impact tip 44 to extend through the opening for use while body 12 is stowed within sheath 130.

As seen in FIGS. 25 and 26, body 12 may be formed in two sections 150, 152 coupled together at a seam 154. One or both of sections 150, 152 may include a void 156 that provides, with the two sections coupled together, an internal bay 158 within body 12.

An electronic system 160 may be provided within internal bay 158 for a variety of purposes, and typically including, as necessary, batteries or other power supply, electronics, antenna(s), connections, speaker, light sources, and an interface to a control switch or other triggering mechanism on the surface of the body or elsewhere, such as being built into impact tip 44, and/or responsive to a force at impact tip 44.

Electronic system 160 in conjunction with an output interface 162, located, e.g., in raised portion 90, may provide additional defense and security measures. For example, output interface may be a light, such as a strobe light or an LED flashlight that shines out at an opening 164 in raised portion 90. Typically, opening 164 is aligned with impact tip 44 for use of output interface 162 in conjunction with impact tip 44.

Electronic system 160 may include an alarm with output interface 162 providing a speaker and the alarm operable by the user to produce an audible sound. Operation of the alarm may be a control switch accessible from outside body 12 or by a sensor associated with impact tip 44 and triggered by a striking force applied at impact tip 44. Electronic system 160 may include a wireless transmitter, similarly operable by the user and preprogrammed to communicate to a safety agency, such as to a network of call boxes located on a college campus, or other security-enhanced area, and connected with a police department or security agency. Electronic system 160 may include a GPS device which can provide a current location to the wireless transmitter for sending to the safety agency. Electronic system 160 and output interface 162 may incorporate a camera operable by the user to take a photograph or series of photographs, e.g., by switch or by impact. Operation by impact may incorporate a brief delay to record the time just after the time of impact. A strobe light and lens may be provided at opening 164 with the light illuminating the area upon which the lens is directed and that the camera photographs.

Additionally or alternatively, a dye marking unit or defensive spray may be provided adjacent the impact tip, e.g., at output interface 162 with a nozzle directed out opening 164. Additionally or alternatively, electronics system 160 may include a taser, or a remote control operable, e.g., for automotive entry.

Impact tip 44 may be provided with a fluid collection port 166, e.g., at the center of impact surface 146. Fluid collection port 166 provides a conduit for fluid or other material from the attacker or other object to be captured when struck with the device. Port 166 may include a circular opening 168 to a channel 170 that may be provided with a funnel or other shape. A funnel shape is considered to be conducive to accelerating the fluid for injection into internal bay 158. Fluid collection port 166 may include one or more internal ridges that tend to retain the fluid within the port.

Generally speaking, body 12 may include at least one opening in communication with at least a portion of internal bay 158. E.g., opening 164, port 168, and/or other openings, ports, slots, doors, or other features may provide access to internal bay 158 for various purposes including temporary or permanent stowage of electronics, valuables, keys, ID tags, or other desired materials.

As seen in FIGS. 25, 26, and 27, device 10 may include one or more attachment slots or loops 180 adjacent upper and lower ends 14, 16 of body 12, or at any other convenient location on body 12. Internally, sections 150, 152 may include ribs 182 adjacent slots 180 to facilitate insertion of a strap, such as a knuckle strap or hand lanyard 184 (FIG. 23) for securing in slots 180. Such strap typically defines two ends 186, 188 for attaching adjacent lower end 16 of body 12 and upper end 14 of body 12. Preferably, the knuckle strap is sized to fit around the knuckles of the user's hands.

As seen in FIGS. 20-24, device 10 may include straps or lanyards such as a wrist strap 200 or a wrist lanyard 210 for wrapping and securing around the user's wrist. Wrist strap 200 or wrist lanyard 210 may be coupled to the knuckle strap, to body 12, and/or may provide an attachment loop 202 for a clip of sheath 130.

Device 10 may also include a glove, in which case a sheath, such as 130, may be coupled to the glove. Sheath 130 provides for stowing body 12 in internal space 132 as described above. Sheath 130 may be attached by its clip to a loop on the back of the glove. Alternatively, sheath 130 may be attached at first end 134 by a hinged connection to the back of the glove adjacent the thumb, and may be releasably connected, e.g., by Velcro fastener, at second end 136 to the back of the glove adjacent the little finger. Device 10 may also include a thumb strap coupled at the thumb saddle for retaining the device at the user's thumb.

Although the invention has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose, and variations can be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, except as it may be limited by the claims.

Applicants regard the subject matter of their invention to include all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed herein. No single feature, function, element or property of the disclosed examples is essential to all examples. The following claims define certain combinations and subcombinations which are regarded as novel and non-obvious. Other combinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of the present claims or presentation of new claims in this or a related application. Such claims, whether they are different, broader, narrower or equal in scope to the original claims, are also regarded as included within the subject matter of applicants' invention.

Claims

1-67. (canceled)

68. A personal safety device for operation by a user and to be held within an internal contour of a hand of the user, the device comprising:

an elongate body sized and shaped to conform to the internal contour of the user's hand, the elongate body generally defining a longitudinal axis and having an upper end and a lower end opposite the upper end, the body generally sized to extend along the longitudinal axis longer than a distance from an index finger of the user's hand to a little finger of the user's hand;

a thumb heel saddle including a depression for receiving a thumb heel of the user's hand, the depression extending in a direction generally along and spaced apart from the longitudinal axis of the body, the thumb heel saddle located adjacent the upper end of the body and defining a first side and a second side, the sides substantially parallel to the depression of the thumb heel saddle;

an impact tip extending along the longitudinal axis adjacent the lower end of the body; and

an index finger saddle including a depression for receiving the index finger of the user's hand, the depression of the index finger saddle extending substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the body, wherein the depression of the index finger saddle extends from adjacent the first side of the thumb heel saddle depression, around the body, to adjacent the second side of the thumb heel saddle depression.

69. The personal safety device of claim 68 wherein the index finger saddle and the thumb heel saddle substantially surround the body of the device in the direction around the longitudinal axis.

70. The personal safety device of claim 68 further including a thumb saddle having a depression for receiving a thumb of the user's hand, the depression positioned over the upper end of the body and extending substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the body.

71. The personal safety device of claim 70 wherein the depression of the index finger saddle includes an upper side defining a lip of the thumb saddle.

72. The personal safety device of claim 70 wherein the thumb heel saddle depression and the thumb saddle depression are joined by a curved depression extending therebetween.

73. The personal safety device of claim 68 further including a palm swell adjacent the thumb heel saddle, the palm swell curving outwardly from the body of the device and sized and shaped to fit into a palm of the user's hand.

74. The personal safety device of claim 73 wherein the palm swell is located on the body on a side that is about 90° in a direction around the longitudinal axis from the thumb heel saddle.

75. The personal safety device of claim 74 further including a fingertip panel on a side that is substantially opposite the side where the palm swell is located.

76. The personal safety device of claim 68 wherein the impact tip includes a fluid collection port.

77. The personal safety device of claim 68 further including an alarm coupled to the body.

78. The personal safety device of claim 77 wherein the alarm further includes a wireless transmitter operable by the user to communicate to a safety agency.

79. The personal safety device of claim 68 further including a camera coupled to the body and operable by the user to take a photograph.

80. A personal safety device for operation by a user and to be held within an internal contour of a hand of the user, the device comprising:

an elongate body sized and shaped to conform to the internal contour of the user's hand, the elongate body generally defining a longitudinal axis and having an upper end and a lower end opposite the upper end;

a thumb heel saddle including a depression for receiving a thumb heel of the user's hand, the depression extending along the body, the thumb heel saddle located adjacent the upper end of the body;

a thumb saddle including a depression for receiving a thumb of the user's hand, the depression positioned over the upper end of the body;

a curved depression extending between and joining the thumb heel saddle depression and the thumb saddle depression;

a palm swell adjacent the thumb heel saddle, the palm swell curving outwardly from the body of the device and sized and shaped to fit into a palm of the user's hand; and

an impact tip extending along the longitudinal axis adjacent the lower end of the body, the impact tip culminating in a surface defining an area of no more than about one square centimeter, the surface of the impact tip positioned between about 4-inches and about 5-inches from the thumb saddle;

an internal bay within the body; and

an opening on the body in communication with at least a portion of the internal bay.

81. A personal safety device for operation by a user and to be gripped within an internal contour of a hand of the user, the device comprising:

an elongate body sized and shaped to conform to the internal contour of the user's hand, the elongate body generally defining a longitudinal axis and having an upper end and a lower end opposite the upper end, the body generally sized to extend along the longitudinal axis longer than a distance from an index finger of the user's hand to a little finger of the user's hand;

a thumb heel saddle including a depression for receiving a thumb heel of the user's hand, the depression extending in a direction generally along and spaced apart from the longitudinal axis of the body, the thumb heel saddle located adjacent the upper end of the body;

an impact tip extending along the longitudinal axis adjacent the lower end of the body, the impact tip culminating in a surface defining an area of no more than about one square centimeter and wherein the impact tip includes a fluid collection port;

a thumb saddle including a depression for receiving a thumb of the user's hand, the depression positioned over the upper end of the body and extending substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the body, wherein the thumb heel saddle and the thumb saddle position the user's thumb for application of a force in a direction toward the impact tip.

82. The personal safety device of claim 81 wherein the fluid collection port includes a funnel-shaped channel.

83. The personal safety device of claim 81 wherein the fluid collection port includes at least one internal ridge for retaining a fluid within the port.

84. The personal safety device of claim 81 further including an index finger saddle including a depression for receiving the index finger of the user's hand.

85. The personal safety device of claim 85 wherein the depression of the index finger saddle extends from adjacent a first side of the thumb heel saddle depression, around the body, to adjacent a second side of the thumb heel saddle depression.

86. The personal safety device of claim 84 wherein the depression of the index finger saddle includes an upper side defining a lip of the thumb saddle.

87. The personal safety device of claim 84 wherein the index finger saddle and the thumb heel saddle substantially surround the body of the device in a direction around the longitudinal axis.