Water-Based Sprayable Deterrent Composition for Intruder Incapacitation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional self-defense materials like pepper spray, chemical mace, and tear gas cause significant harm and discomfort to innocent bystanders and impede access to the location of the threat, making them unsuitable for use inside buildings with active shooters, as they can harm victims and delay responders.

Innovation Solution

A sprayable deterrent composition comprising propionic acid, citric acid, ethoxylated alcohol, and water, with a water content of at least 60% by weight, is used in a system with a nozzle and controller to temporarily incapacitate intruders without causing long-term harm, allowing immediate access and egress.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional self-defense materials (pepper spray, chemical mace, tear gas) are used to incapacitate intruders, then the intruder is effectively deterred, but innocent bystanders and victims are harmed and responders are impeded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveintruder incapacitation effectivenessVSAvoidharm to bystanders and victims

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The spray composition is designed to affect primarily the intruder's sensory systems (eyes, nose, throat) through localized irritation, while the water-based formulation ensures rapid dilution and mitigation if contact with victims or bystanders occurs, creating a localized effect that degrades quickly beyond the target area

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The composition uses a water content of at least 60% by weight, fundamentally changing the physical parameters compared to conventional oil-based or solvent-based irritants. This high water content enables rapid evaporation and dilution, reducing the duration and intensity of harmful effects on non-target individuals while maintaining effectiveness against the intruder

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If conventional self-defense materials are sprayed to incapacitate an intruder, then the intruder is temporarily disabled, but access to the location is impeded for an unacceptable length of time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveintruder incapacitationVSAvoidaccess time for responders

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The spray composition is formulated to provide periodic or transient irritation rather than persistent effects. The high water content ensures the irritant effects diminish over time through evaporation and dilution, creating a temporary barrier that degrades within minutes, allowing responders to access the location after a short delay rather than being blocked for an unacceptable length of time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The water-based formulation, which could be seen as reducing the potency of the irritant, actually provides a benefit by enabling rapid mitigation. The same water content that delivers the irritant also serves as a vehicle for rapid dilution and removal, converting what might be a persistent harmful effect into a temporary, easily mitigated irritation that clears quickly for responder access

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a high water content composition (at least 60% water) is used to reduce harm to bystanders, then mitigation is improved, but the deterrent effectiveness against intruders may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveharm to bystandersVSAvoiddeterrent effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The composition merges multiple irritant agents (propionic acid, citric acid, ethoxylated alcohol) within a high water content base. This combination creates a synergistic effect where the acids provide strong sensory irritation to the intruder's eyes, nose, and throat, while the water content ensures rapid dilution and reduced harm to bystanders, achieving both deterrent effectiveness and safety simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The composition effectively irritates intruders, allowing for temporary incapacitation without harming victims, enabling quick access and minimizing long-term adverse effects, as demonstrated by experimental results showing rapid mitigation with water and no lingering effects.

Implementation Method 1

The composition effectively irritates intruders, allowing for temporary incapacitation without harming victims

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChemical irritation:

Data Source

PatentUS10168125B2Sprayable composition for deterring intruders

Publication Date: 2019.01.01 CROTEGA LLC

AI summary

A composition for deterring intruders includes propionic acid, ammonia and water. A content of water in the composition is at least approximately 60% by weight. A system for spraying a composition comprises a nozzle configured to spray the composition in an area inside a building. The composition comprises propionic acid, ammonia and water. A content of water in the composition is at least approximately 60% by weight.