Lanyard-Mounted Defense Spray with Quick-Release Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing personal defense spray devices require excessive time and effort to deploy due to their design, which can be detrimental in high-stress situations, as they often necessitate locating the device within a bag, removing it, and orienting the nozzle, typically requiring both hands and diverting attention from the threat.
Innovation Solution
A personal self-defense spray device mounted on a lanyard or clip, allowing rapid deployment with one hand, featuring a safety mechanism that disarms when connected to a holder and arms when disconnected, along with an integrated high-intensity LED light and audible alarm for enhanced deterrence and ease of use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the spray device is carried in a bag or conventional holder, then it is easily accessible for storage, but it requires excessive time to locate, remove, and orient the device for deployment
Solution Approach 1:
The spray device is pre-mounted on a holder with a quick-release mechanism, and the nozzle is pre-oriented in a fixed position. This preliminary arrangement eliminates the need for locating, removing, and orienting the device during deployment, allowing the user to activate the spray immediately by simply releasing the safety mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder and spray device are combined into a single integrated unit, with the holder serving both as storage and deployment platform. The quick-release mechanism merges the functions of retention and rapid release, while the fixed nozzle orientation merges storage position with firing orientation, eliminating separate manipulation steps.
2Speed
If the spray canister is freely rotatable in conventional holders, then it is easy to store, but the user must spend time orienting the nozzle towards the threat before deployment
Solution Approach 1:
The holder is designed with an asymmetric nozzle orientation that is optimized for the user's dominant hand. The nozzle is fixed at a specific angle and direction, creating an asymmetric configuration that eliminates the need for rotation during deployment, while the asymmetric shape also provides ergonomic grip and intuitive orientation.
3Ease of operation
If the safety mechanism requires both hands to operate, then it ensures safe handling, but it prevents the user from maintaining balance or striking during an attack
Solution Approach 1:
The safety mechanism is extracted from the spray canister itself and relocated to the holder. This separation allows the safety to be operated independently with one hand while the spray canister remains secured. The safety lever on the holder can be manipulated with the thumb or fingers of one hand, freeing the other hand for balance or defensive actions.
Data Source
AI summary
A self defense spray device comprising a spray unit having a spray canister with an irritant spray, a nozzle operable to release the irritant spray, and a first connector attached to the spray canister. The device further includes a holder having a second connector adapted to releasably engage the first connector to releasably connect the spray unit to the holder, and a safety mechanism that prevents the nozzle from releasing the spray when the spray unit is connected to the holder, thus disarming the device. Once the spray unit is removed from the holder, the safety no longer blocks the nozzle thus arming the device.