CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
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This application claims priority for a previously filed provisional patent application No. 60/428,017 filed on Nov. 21, 2002 the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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This invention relates to a device that is used to control the movement of an individual and particular to the controlling of the movements of an individual by applying pressure to certain locations of the person's body. [0002]
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The human body contains locations that are known as pressure point locations. By applying certain amounts of pressure to these locations can cause the persons to be temporarily immobile or induce severe pain to the individual. Law enforcement agencies often employ techniques that involve applying pressure to these pressure point locations in order to subdue a suspect. Usually during apprehending a suspect, the law officer will use his fingers (index and middle fingers) to apply pressure to the suspect body at the pressure point location in order to control and subdue the suspect. In many instances, the officer may have an object in his hand such as a flashlight at the time the officer is attempting to subdue the suspect. The officer will usually drop the device in order to use their fingers to apply pressure to a pressure point location of the suspect. [0003]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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It is an objective of the present invention to provide a device that can be used to apply pressure-to-pressure point locations of a person's body. [0004]
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It is a second objective of the present invention to provide an end cap device that can be attached to equipment that will allow that piece of equipment to be used for the purpose of applying pressure to a pressure point on a person's body. [0005]
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It is a third objective of the pressure invention to provide a design for an end of a piece of equipment such that the piece of equipment can be used to apply pressure to a pressure point. [0006]
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It is a fourth objective of the present invention to enable the attachable end cap device to serve as a storage location for small equipment parts. [0007]
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The present invention provides a device and method for providing pressure to certain areas of an individual's body in order to subdue and restrain that individual. The During the process of apprehending or subduing a person, the law officer can use the tapered end of the flashlight to apply pressure to a pressure point on the individual in a manner similar to the conventional method of applying pressure with the fingers. The present invention provides a tapered end shape to device such as flashlight or baton that can be used to apply pressure to a pressure point location of an individual for the purpose of restraining or subduing the individual. One embodiment of the invention comprises a baton like device with a tapered shape and an end cap. The end cap is the point of the device used to apply the pressure when in the process of subduing an individual. [0008]
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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FIG. 1 on illustrates the invention implemented as an end cap for a flashlight. [0009]
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FIG. 2 illustrates the invention implemented as the end cap of a baton. [0010]
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FIG. 3 illustrates the invention implemented as the end a baton or nightstick [0011]
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
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It is an objective of the present invention to provide a device that can be used to apply pressure to pressure point locations of a person's body. [0012]
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It is a second objective of the present invention to provide an end cap device that can be attached to equipment that will allow that piece of equipment to be used for the purpose of applying pressure to a pressure point on a person's body. [0013]
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It is a third objective of the pressure invention to provide a design for an end of a piece of equipment such that the piece of equipment can be used to apply pressure to a pressure point. [0014]
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It is a fourth objective of the present invention to enable the attachable end cap device to serve as a storage location for small equipment parts. [0015]
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The present invention provides a tapered end shape to device such as flashlight or baton that can be used to apply pressure to a pressure point location of an individual for the purpose of restraining or subduing the individual. Referring to FIG. 1, an end cap 10 has a cone shape section 11 with a tapered surface 12 and a narrow end tip 13. The tapered surface 12 actually serves to support the end tip section 13. This tip is the radius area of the cone that is actual contact point where the pressure is applied to the pressure point. The other section of the end cap 14 of the cap opposite the tapered end has a flat surface 15 and threads 16 that extend from that surface to enable the cap to be screwed into the end of the flashlight 17. Surface 15 is used to grip the device in order to screw the end cap 10 into the flashlight 10. From this point 15 to the right, the threads 16 are screwed into the flashlight. In addition to the primary function of the end cap, the cone shape section can be hollow and can therefore serve as a storage location for small supply items such as flashlight bulbs or batteries. [0016]
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The During the process of apprehending or subduing a person, the law officer can use the tapered end of the flashlight to apply pressure to a pressure point on the individual in a manner similar to the conventional method of applying pressure with the fingers. With this end cap modification to the officer would not need to drop the flashlight in order to apply pressure to the pressure point locations of the individual. [0017]
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The present invention is also implemented as an end cap on a baton as illustrated in FIG. 2. The end cap [0018] 18 again has a cone section 19 with tapered sides and a rounded tip. The engaging and expanding section 20 contains the threads that will engage the baton 21 and secure the end cap to the baton.
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A third embodiment of the present invention comprises a device with a cone shaped end section 22 as shown in FIG. 3. This section would be one end of the device. An example of a device in this embodiment would be a nightstick 23 that an officer would have with them. [0019]
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Referring back to FIG. 1, the taper angle as shown is approximately 33°. The radius of the tip 13 is approximately 0.125 inches. The dimensions for the end cap can vary. The primary object is for the taper to be at an angle such that the concentration of pressure is directed to a sufficiently small enough location to have a meaningful effect on the individual. A merely round end or an end that has too wide and end surface may not give the desired effect the officer is seeking. A round end cap may have some impact for the officer, but the coned end is more effective in this application. [0020]
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The description of the figures is for figures included in the above-related provisional patent application, which is incorporated herein by reference. The apparatus described in this invention is further described and illustrated in materials contained on website www.tdm-motivator.com, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference [0021]
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The apparatus and methods of this invention provide significant advantages over the current art. The invention has been described in connection with its preferred embodiments. However, it is not limited thereto. Changes, variations and modifications to the basic design may be made without departing from the inventive concepts in this invention. In addition, these changes, variations and modifications would be obvious to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the foregoing teachings. All such changes, variations and modifications are intended to be within the scope of this invention. [0022]