Emergency assistance method and device for a firearm

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to an attachment for a firearm that communicates with remote device or person such as emergency services. One embodiment of the present invention is selectively interconnected to a picatinny rail, weaver rail, or other mounting means, and the embodiment includes a button that allows a user to initiate communication with emergency services without removing his or her hands from the firearm.

Claims

1. An emergency assistance device for a firearm, comprising: a housing having a mounting feature disposed on the housing, the mounting feature adapted to selectively interconnect to a firearm, wherein a channel extends into the housing, the channel has two upper portions extending in one direction and a lower portion extending in another direction, and the lower portion joins the upper portions together; a first camera disposed on the housing; a first light source disposed on the housing; a transceiver disposed in the housing, the transceiver configured to emit an emergency signal; an activation feature configured to move between a first position and a second position and configured to be retained in the first position and retained in the second position; a pin extending from the activation feature and into the channel, wherein the pin is positioned in one upper portion when the activation feature is retained in the first position, wherein the pin moves along the lower portion as the activation feature moves from the first position to the second position, and wherein the pin is positioned in the other upper portion when the activation feature is retained in the second position; and wherein movement of the activation feature out of retainment in the first position, from the first position to the second position, and into retainment in the second position causes at least one of: the first camera to record a video; the first light source to emit a light; or the transceiver to emit the emergency signal.

2. The emergency assistance device of claim 1, wherein the mounting feature is disposed on a first surface of the housing, and the first camera and the first light source are disposed on a second surface of the housing; wherein a microphone is disposed on the second surface of the housing, and the microphone is configured to record a sound that corresponds to the recorded video of the first camera; wherein a speaker is disposed on a third surface of the housing, and the transceiver sends an audio signal to the speaker and the speaker generates a corresponding sound.

3. The emergency assistance device of claim 2, further comprising a second microphone disposed on the third surface of the housing, wherein the microphone is configured to record the sound that corresponds to the recorded video of the first camera.

4. The emergency assistance device of claim 3, further comprising a sound device that compares an aspect of the sound as recorded by the first microphone to the aspect of the sound as recorded by the second microphone.

5. The emergency assistance device of claim 1, further comprising a wireless network having a base transceiver station configured to receive the emitted emergency signal from the emergency assistance device, wherein the base transceiver relays the emergency signal to a remote user.

6. The emergency assistance device of claim 1, further comprising a bias member positioned between the activation feature and the housing to retain the activation member in the first position and the second position.

7. The emergency assistance device of claim 1, wherein the emergency assistance device further comprises a button on the emergency assistance device to cause the transceiver to emit the emergency signal.

8. The emergency assistance device of claim 1, wherein the activation feature is a slide button.

9. An emergency assistance device for a firearm, comprising: a housing having a mounting feature adapted to selectively interconnect to a firearm, wherein a channel extends into the housing, the channel has two upper portions extending in one direction and a lower portion extending in another direction, and the lower portion joins the upper portions together; a first camera disposed on the housing; a first light source disposed on the housing; a second light source disposed on the housing; an activation feature configured to move between a first position and a second position and configured to be retained in the first position and retained in the second position; a pin extending from the activation feature and into the channel, wherein the pin is positioned in one upper portion when the activation feature is retained in the first position, wherein the pin moves along the lower portion as the activation feature moves from the first position to the second position, and wherein the pin is positioned in the other upper portion when the activation feature is retained in the second position; and wherein movement of the activation feature out of retainment in the first position, from the first position to the second position, and into retainment in the second position causes at least one of: the first camera to record a video; the first light source to emit a light; and the second light source to emit a light.

10. The emergency assistance device of claim 9, wherein the mounting feature is disposed on a first surface of the housing, the first camera and the first light source are disposed on a second surface of the housing, and the second light source is disposed on a third surface of the housing; wherein a transceiver is disposed in the housing, the transceiver configured to emit an emergency signal; and wherein a second camera is disposed on the third surface of the housing, wherein the first camera has a first recordation field and the second camera has a second recordation field, wherein at least a portion of the first recordation field overlaps at least a portion of the second recordation field.

11. The emergency assistance device of claim 10, further comprising a microphone disposed on the second surface of the housing, wherein the microphone is configured to send a corresponding audio signal to the transceiver.

12. The emergency assistance device of claim 10, wherein the emergency assistance device further comprises a button on the emergency assistance device to cause the transceiver to emit the emergency signal.

13. The emergency assistance device of claim 12, wherein the channel comprises a third upper portion and a second lower portion, and a second pin extends from the activation feature into the channel, wherein the second pin is positioned in the other upper portion when the activation feature is retained in the first position, wherein the second pin moves along the second lower portion as the activation feature moves from the first position to the second position, and wherein the second pin is retained in the third upper portion when the activation feature is retained in the second position.

14. The emergency assistance device of claim 9, wherein a receiver disposed in the housing gathers position data of the emergency assistance device from at least one of a Global Positioning System, a Galileo system, a LORAN system, a Glonass system, an Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System, a Chinese Compass navigation system, and a cell phone tower.

15. The emergency assistance device of claim 9, wherein the housing comprises a recess that corresponds to a trigger guard of the firearm.

16. An emergency assistance device, comprising: a mounting feature configured to selectively interconnect to a firearm; a transceiver configured to emit an emergency signal; an activation feature configured to move between a first position and a second position and configured to be retained in the first position and retained in the second position, wherein movement of the activation feature out of retainment in the first position, from the first position to the second position, and into retainment in the second position causes the first transceiver to emit the emergency signal; a channel extending into a side of the housing, wherein the channel has two upper portions extending in one direction and a lower portion extending in another direction, wherein the lower portion joins the upper portions together; a pin extending from the activation feature and into the channel, wherein the pin is positioned in one upper portion when the activation feature is retained in the first position, wherein the pin moves along the lower portion as the activation feature moves from the first position to the second position, and wherein the pin is positioned in the other upper portion when the activation feature is retained in the second position.

17. The emergency assistance device of claim 16, further comprising: a light source disposed on a front surface of the emergency assistance device.

18. The emergency assistance device of claim 17, wherein in a first mode of operation engagement of the activation feature causes the light source to emit light, wherein in a second mode of operation engagement of the activation feature causes the transceiver to emit the emergency signal.

19. The emergency assistance device of claim 16, further comprising: a camera disposed on a front surface of the emergency assistance device.

20. The emergency assistance device of claim 19, wherein in a first mode of operation engagement of the activation feature causes the camera to record video, wherein in a second mode of operation engagement of the activation feature causes the transceiver to emit the emergency signal.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying drawings are incorporated into and form a part of the specification to illustrate several examples of the present invention(s). These drawings, together with the description, explain the principles of the invention(s). The drawings simply illustrate preferred and alternative examples of how the invention(s) can be made and used and are not to be construed as limiting the invention(s) to the illustrated and described below.

(2) FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of an emergency assistance device according to some embodiments of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 depicts a left elevation view of the emergency assistance device of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 depicts a right elevation view of the emergency assistance device of FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 4 depicts a front elevation view of the emergency assistance device of FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 5 depicts a rear elevation view of the emergency assistance device of FIG. 1;

(7) FIG. 6 depicts a top plan view of the emergency assistance device of FIG. 1;

(8) FIG. 7 depicts a bottom plan view of the emergency assistance device of FIG. 1;

(9) FIG. 8 depicts a system having a firearm equipped with an emergency assistance device in electronic communication with a remote user;

(10) FIG. 9 depicts a system having a firearm equipped with an emergency assistance device using a mobile electronic device to communicate with a remote user; and

(11) FIG. 10A depicts a right elevation view of a further embodiment of an emergency device according to some embodiments of the present invention;

(12) FIG. 10B depicts a left elevation view of the emergency device of FIG. 10A;

(13) FIG. 10C depicts a front elevation view of the emergency device of FIG. 10A;

(14) FIG. 10D depicts a top plan view of the emergency device of FIG. 10A;

(15) FIG. 10E depicts a bottom plan view of the emergency device of FIG. 10A;

(16) FIG. 11A depicts a partial cross-sectional, left elevation view of an emergency device;

(17) FIG. 11B depicts a top plan view of an activation feature according to some embodiments of the present invention; and

(18) FIG. 11C depicts a side elevation view of the activation feature of FIG. 11B.

(19) Further features and advantages will become apparent from the following, more detailed, description of the various embodiments of the invention(s), as illustrated by the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(20) As described in detail below, various embodiments of the present invention include an emergency assistance device. The present invention has significant benefits across a broad spectrum of endeavors. It is the Applicant's intent that this specification and the claims appended hereto be accorded a breadth in keeping with the scope and spirit of the invention being disclosed despite what might appear to be limiting language imposed by the requirements of referring to the specific examples disclosed.

(21) FIGS. 1-7 depict various views of an emergency assistance device 2 that can be selectively mounted to a firearm. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the emergency assistance device 2 with various features. First, the emergency assistance device 2 has a housing 4 that provides a location for many of the features to be disposed and also protects the more sensitive components of the device 2. In some embodiments, the housing 4 is made from injection molded plastic such as polyethylene and polystyrene. However, it will be appreciated that the housing 4 may also be made from other processes such as milling, stamping, casting, etc.

(22) One surface of the housing 4 may comprise a mounting feature 6 that allows for the selective interconnection of the emergency assistance device 2 to a firearm or other weapon, e.g., a bow. One common type of selective interconnection used in the firearm industry is the picatinny rail system where one component has outwardly extending protrusions that correspond to channels in another component. One or both of the components has an engagement feature such as a thumb screw or a clamp that holds the two components in place. The mounting feature 6 of the emergency assistance device 6 may be a one of the two components in the picatinny rail system and may have an engagement feature to secure the emergency assistance device 2 to a firearm. However, it will be appreciated that other means of selective interconnection may be utilized by the mounting feature 6 as discuss elsewhere herein. For example, weaver mounts and quick disconnect couplings are frequently used in the firearm industry.

(23) The mounting feature 6 of the emergency assistance device 2 in FIG. 1 is located on a top surface of the housing 4. Thus, in various embodiments, the emergency assistance device 2 will be mounted underneath a pistol's barrel and out of the user's field of view. A firearm typically has a sight on top of the weapon, and a user focuses on the sight when shooting. The human eye comprises a fovea centralis, which is an area of the eye that is densely packed with cones and provides the focus area of human vision. This focus area is approximately 2 degrees of visual angle. Thus, when a user is looking down the sight of a firearm, 2 degrees of visual angle may constitute a conical volume of space that is not obstructed by the emergency assistance device, which is mounted underneath the firearm in this embodiment.

(24) Another aspect of mounting the emergency assistance device 2 is the forces experienced by the device 2 when the firearm is fired. The emergency device may be configured to abut the trigger guard that surrounds the trigger of the firearm in order to provide additional support to the emergency assistance device 2. By abutting the emergency assistance device 2 against the trigger guard or any other portion of the firearm, the emergency assistance device 2 has an even more secure attachment to the firearm.

(25) To accommodate this abutment, the emergency assistance device 2 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a guard recess 8. This guard recess 8 provides more surface area for a trigger guard or other portion of the firearm to contact the emergency assistance device 2. Specifically, the guard recess 8 supports the emergency assistance device 2 along an axis that is parallel with an axis of the firearm's barrel. The increase in surface area provides more support for the emergency assistance device 2 as the firearm is used.

(26) Some components of the emergency assistance device 2 are positioned on a front surface of the housing 4. First, a light source 10 is positioned on the front surface of the housing 4. The light source 10 may be a L.E.D. or any other light generating device. As shown in this embodiment, the light source 10 is positioned on a front surface of the housing, and the light source 10 is oriented in a forward direction of the emergency assistance device 2 to illuminate any target in front of the firearm. However, it will be appreciated that other embodiments of the invention have more than one light source 10, and the light source 10 or light sources 10 may be oriented in different directions.

(27) When using a firearm in an emergency situation, it is advantageous to illuminate the target in front of the firearm. Yet, in some scenarios it may be advantageous to illuminate the immediate surroundings. Therefore, in some embodiments of the invention, a light source 10 may be disposed on any surface of the housing 4, including the left and right side surfaces of the housing 4, to illuminate the surrounding area. There may also be more than one light source located on the first surface of the housing 4 wherein each light source 10 is oriented in a different direction to illuminate the surrounding area.

(28) A light source 10 may have a particular area or volume that the light source 10 is capable of effectively illuminating. In embodiments with multiple light sources 10, each light source 10 may have an effective illumination field where, for example, the emitted light retains 50% of the maximum luminosity of the light source 10. It will be appreciated that other definitions of the effective illumination field may include 90%, 80%, 70%, 60%, 40%, 30%, 20%, and 10% of the maximum luminosity of the light source 10. Thus, in some embodiments, the plurality of light sources 10 each have an effective illumination field wherein a portion of each illumination field overlaps with at least a portion of another illumination field.

(29) Next, a camera 12 is disposed on the front surface of the housing 4 in FIG. 1. The camera 12 may be any device that records video and even audio in some embodiments. The camera 12 may be activated in a number of ways as described elsewhere herein. But in some embodiments, the camera 12 is activated when a user engages a button or other similar feature. The camera 12 may record the visual and audio data to a local memory device of the emergency assistance device 2. The recorded media may then be relayed to another location such as a remote server, or the recorded media may be recovered locally, for example, by a flash drive, a Bluetooth-enabled device, or other similar means.

(30) Similar to the light source 10, more than one camera 12 may be disposed on the housing 4 of the emergency assistance device 2. Similar again, the camera 12 may have a particular recordation field, i.e., an area or volume that is capable of being recorded by the camera 12 at any one time. Multiple cameras 12, whether on one surface of the housing 4 or many, may each have a recordation field that has a portion that overlaps with at least a portion of another recordation field to provide a more complete video recordation of the surrounding area.

(31) A microphone 14 may be disposed on the front surface of the housing 4 in FIG. 1. The microphone 14 may be used to capture audio of the surrounding area and used alone or in combination with other components, for example, an audio recordation feature of the camera 12. As with other components, multiple microphones 14 may be positioned on one or more surfaces of the housing 4. Since microphones 14 may capture sounds, having a plurality of microphones 14 may be useful to triangulate the direction of incoming sounds such as an incoming bullet. The microphones 14 may be positioned on multiple surfaces of the housing 4 or oriented in multiple directions. Therefore, depending on the intensity of an incoming sound, such as a bullet, the direction of the incoming sound may be discerned. Once the direction of the incoming object has been ascertained, the directional data may be coupled with GPS information and directional information within the emergency assistance device 2. Therefore, the direction of a sound such as an incoming object may be mapped to a global coordinate and directional system.

(32) Further components of the emergency assistance device 2 may be positioned on a side surface of the housing 4. These components include a second microphone 16, a speaker 18, and a button 20. The button 20 may be used in various modes to engage one or more components of the emergency assistance device 2. For example, pressing the button 20 once may activate the light 10, the camera 12, and the first microphone 14. Pressing the button 20 a second time may activate a transceiver in the emergency device 2 wherein the transceiver emits an electronic emergency signal to establish a wireless communication with an emergency service. The second microphone 16 and the speaker 18 may allow for two way communication with a remote user such as a 9-1-1 operator.

(33) FIGS. 2-7 depict various alternative views of the emergency assistance device 2 and its various components.

(34) Now referring to FIG. 8, a system for transmitting an emergency signal from a firearm 22 to a remote user 26 is provided. The firearm 22 in this system is a pistol with a picatinny rail located on the frame of the pistol, underneath the barrel of the pistol. An emergency assistance device 2 is selectively interconnected to the picatinny rail of the firearm 22. The location of the selective interconnection between the firearm 22 and the emergency assistance device 2 allows the emergency assistance device 2 to remain out of the user's line of sight, which may be defined as three dimensional conical volume extending from the user's eye down the sight of the firearm at an approximately 2 degree visual angle.

(35) The emergency assistance device 2 may comprise a transceiver that emits an emergency signal. As described in embodiments elsewhere herein, a user may press, for example, a button on the emergency assistance device 2 to cause the transceiver to emit an emergency signal. This emergency signal may then be received by a base transceiver station 24 that is commonly utilized in wireless cellular phone networks. Emergency signals are prioritized by the base transceiver station regardless of whether the user has a subscription to use the base transceiver station 24 of a particular telecommunications company.

(36) Once the base transceiver station 24 receives the emergency signal from the emergency assistance device 2, the base transceiver station 24 may relay the emergency signal to the transceiver of a remote user 26, which in this embodiment is a police station or a public-safety answering point. The transceivers of the emergency assistance device 2 and the remote user 26 may establish a two-way wireless communication connection via the base transceiver station 24, much like a conventional cellular telephone call. This allows the user of the firearm 22 to communicate directly, for example, with a 9-1-1 operator without the user taking his or her hands off of the firearm 22.

(37) In some embodiments, the emergency signal from the emergency assistance device 2 is simply a distress beacon that may contain information regarding the user's position. Embodiments of the emergency assistance device 2 may be equipped with GPS receivers. Thus, the emergency assistance device 2 may transmit the user's current location to a remote user 26 such that emergency help may be sent to the latest GPS coordinates of the emergency assistance device 2.

(38) FIG. 9 depicts a system for transmitting an emergency signal from a firearm 22 to a remote user 26 using a mobile electronic device 28. In some embodiments of the present invention, it may be advantageous to incorporate a mobile electronic device 28 such as a cell phone into the system. Thus, the emergency assistance device 2 establishes an electronic communication with the mobile electronic device 28, which is likely to be nearby, instead of directly with a base transceiver station 24, which may be miles away. Accordingly, the emergency assistance device 2 may be outfitted with a lower power transceiver and/or a smaller power source, for example, a smaller battery.

(39) As noted above, the emergency assistance device 2 may establish an electronic communication with a nearby mobile electronic device 28. Many protocols that currently exist—or that may be implemented in the future—can be used to establish the electronic communication. For example, the currently popular Bluetooth standard may be utilized to establish a short-range electronic communication between the emergency assistance device 2 and the mobile electronic device 28. Other protocols that may be utilized include Bluetooth Low Energy, Near Field Communications (ISO/IEC 14443 and ISO/IEC 18000-3), etc.

(40) In one scenario, a user has a firearm 22 equipped with an emergency assistance device 2, and the user desires to contact an emergency service such as 9-1-1. To begin the effort, the user presses an activation feature on the emergency assistance device 2. A transceiver within the emergency assistance device 2 emits an electromagnetic signal according to a first protocol to establish an electronic communication with a mobile electronic device 28. Once the mobile electronic device 28 receives the signal from the emergency assistance device 2, the mobile electronic device 28 establishes an electronic communication with a base transceiver station 24 according to a second protocol such as cellular communication standards, which in turn relays the electronic communication to a remote user 26 such as a 9-1-1 operator. The emergency assistance device 22 may be paired with a downloadable application on the mobile electronic device 28. The application may interpret the received electronic signal from the emergency assistance device 2 and instruct the mobile electronic device 28 to place an emergency call to the remote user 26.

(41) It will be appreciated that systems and embodiments of the present invention described herein may incorporate a mobile electronic device 28. For example, when an electronic communication is described between the emergency assistance device 2 and the base transceiver station 24, the mobile electronic device 28 may be incorporated as an intermediary device that already has the capability of sending an emergency signal to a base transceiver station 24 and a remote user 26.

(42) FIGS. 10A-10E depict various views of a further embodiment of an emergency assistance device 2. FIG. 10A shows a side elevation view of the emergency device 2, which comprises a housing 4, a mounting feature 6, and a button 20a as described elsewhere herein. The emergency device 2 also has an activation feature 30 that moves along a lower portion 32 of the emergency device 2. Activation features such as switches and buttons are described elsewhere herein, and as shown in FIG. 10A, the activation feature 30 is a slider button that moves between a rear position and a fore position along the lower portion 32. The activation feature 30 in FIG. 10A is shown in the rear position such that any functionality associated with the activation feature 30 has not yet been “activated”. When the activation feature 30 is moved to a fore position along the lower portion 32, the emergency device 2 “activates” or causes the emergency device 2 to perform one or more functions as described elsewhere herein. For instance, when the activation feature 30 moves from a rear position to a fore position along the lower portion 32, the emergency device 2 can establish electronic communication with a base transceiver station and a remote user.

(43) It will be appreciated that the activation feature 2 can move from a fore position to a rear position, a left position to a right position, rotate between positions, etc. to cause the electronic device 2 to perform one or more functions. Additional functions can include turning on a light, a microphone, a speaker, etc. The emergency device 2 can also have various indicators 34, which in this embodiment are lights, that display the status of various functions of the emergency device 2. The light labeled “net” can turn on to indicate when a transceiver of the emergency device 2 has successfully established a connection with a remote station and user. This lets the user of the emergency device 2 know that the user can communicate into a microphone to the remote user, receive instructions from the remote user via a speaker, etc. The light labeled “on” can turn on to indicate that the emergency device is powered and ready to receive inputs and/or provide outputs such as performing a function. In addition, the light labeled “low” can turn on to indicate that a power supply or battery of the emergency device 2 is low on power and should be soon replaced or recharged.

(44) FIGS. 10B-10E show further views of the emergency device 2 of FIG. 10A. FIG. OB shows a length dimension 36 and a height dimension 38 of the emergency device 2. In some embodiments, the length dimension 36 is between approximately 65 and 80 mm. In various embodiments, the length dimension 36 is approximately 72 mm. In some embodiments, the height dimension 38 is between approximately 30 and 50 mm. In various embodiments, the height dimension 38 is approximately 40 mm. Also shown in FIG. 10B is another button 20b, which can be activated to cause the emergency device 2 to perform one or more functions as described herein. For instance, pressing the button 20b can turn on a light. FIG. 10C shows a front elevation view where a light 10 and a camera 12 are depicted. FIG. 10D shows a top plan view of the emergency device 2 where the mounting device 6 is depicted. FIG. 10E shows a bottom plan view of the emergency device 2 and a width dimension 40 of the emergency device 2. In some embodiments, the width dimension 40 is between approximately 25 to 40 mm. In various embodiments, the width dimension 40 is approximately 32 mm.

(45) FIGS. 11A-11C depicted various views of an exemplary arrangement between the activation feature 30 and the lower portion 32 of the emergency device 2. The emergency device 2 can be attached to a weapon, and the unintentional movement of the activation feature to cause the performance of one or more functions can have negative consequences. During an emergency such as a home invasion, the unintentional flashing of a light or broadcast of an audible signal can compromise the safety of the user. Moreover, the unintentional request for assistance from a base station and remote user such as an emergency service can draw from the limited resources of that emergency service. Thus, the activation feature 30 in some embodiments does not move directly from the rear position to the fore position in a single direction. The activation feature 30 shown in FIGS. 11A-11C is retained in a rear position such that the activation feature 30 must first move downward before moving from a rear position to a fore position. A biasing member such as a spring can press the activation feature 30 upward such that the activation feature 30 is retained in the rear and fore positions. Thus, the down-forward-up sliding motion and retention at rear and fore positions reduces the likelihood of an unintentional movement of the activation feature 30.

(46) FIG. 11A, is a partial cross-sectional view of the emergency device 2 in FIG. 10A where part of the activation feature 30 has been cut away to reveal a channel 42 extending into a side of the lower portion 32 of the emergency device 2. In this embodiment, the channel 42 has a first upper portion 44a, a second upper portion 44b, and a third upper portion 44c. The channel 42 also has a first lower portion 46a that joins the first and second upper portions 44a, 44b and has a second lower portion 46b that joins the second and third upper portions 44b, 44c. These various portions 44a, 44b, 44c, 46a, 46b form a continuous channel 42 with a constant width and depth along a length of the channel 42. However, it will be appreciated that embodiments of the emergency device 2 can include a channel 42 with varying width and/or depth.

(47) FIGS. 11B and 11C show a rear pin 48a and a fore pin 48b that extend from the inner surface of the activation feature 30 into the channel 42. The pins 48a, 48b can move along the channel 42 such that the activation feature 30 moves along the lower portion 32. When the activation feature 30 is in a rear position relative along the lower portion 32, the rear pin 48a is positioned in the first upper portion 44a of the channel 42, and the fore pin 48b is positioned in the second upper portion 44b of the channel 42. As mentioned above, a bias member such as a spring can hold and retain the activation feature 30 in this position. Thus, the activate feature 30 is less likely to be unintentionally dislodged from the rear position.

(48) To move the activation feature 30 to the fore position along the lower portion 32 and cause the emergency device 2 to perform one or more functions, the activation feature 30 is first moved downward to overcome the bias member. This moves the rear pin 48a into the first lower portion 46a of the channel 42 and the fore pin 48b into the second lower portion 46b. Now the pins 48a, 48b, and thus the activation feature 30, can move forward in the lower portions 46a, 46b of the channel 42. Once the activation feature 30 is at the fore position, the user can release the activation feature 30 such that the bias member presses upward, and the rear pin 48a enters the second upper portion 44b of the channel 42, and the fore pin 48b enters the third upper portion 44c of the channel 42. Again, the activation feature 30 is retained in the fore position such that unintentional movement of the activation feature 30 is less likely.

(49) The two pin 48a, 48b configuration makes the engagement between the activation feature 30 and the lower portion 32 more stable and prevents a forward and rearward tilt of the activation feature 30 relative to the lower portion 32. However, it will be appreciated that any number of pins and portions of the channel are contemplated. For example, the activation feature 30 may have two pins 48a, 48b, but the channel 42 can have four upper portions and three lower portions such that the activation feature 30 can selectively move between three positions instead of two. The upper and lower portions of the channel 42 can also be flipped in some embodiments such that the activation feature 30 is retained in a downward position. It will be appreciated that while the channel 42 is depicted as extending into one side of the lower portion 32, the emergency device 2 can have a pin and channel combination on both the left and right sides of the lower portion 32.

(50) In this specification, the phrases “at least one”, “one or more”, and “and/or”, as used herein, are open-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation. For example, each of the expressions “at least one of A, B, and C”, “at least one of A, B, or C”, “one or more of A, B, and C”, “one or more of A, B, or C,” and “A, B, and/or C” means A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B, and C together.

(51) Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities, dimensions, conditions, and so forth used in the specification, drawings, and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about.”

(52) The term “a” or “an” entity, as used herein, refers to one or more of that entity. As such, the terms “a” (or “an”), “one or more” and “at least one” can be used interchangeably herein.

(53) The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having,” and variations thereof, is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Accordingly, the terms “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof can be used interchangeably herein.

(54) It shall be understood that the term “means” as used herein shall be given its broadest possible interpretation in accordance with 35 U.S.C., Section 112(f). Accordingly, a claim incorporating the term “means” shall cover all structures, materials, or acts set forth herein, and all of the equivalents thereof. Further, the structures, materials, or acts, and the equivalents thereof, shall include all those described in the summary of the invention, brief description of the drawings, detailed description, abstract, and claims themselves.

(55) The foregoing description of the present invention has been presented for illustration and description purposes. However, the description is not intended to limit the invention to only the forms disclosed herein. In the foregoing Detailed Description for example, various features of the invention are grouped together in one or more embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate preferred embodiment of the invention.

(56) Consequently, variations and modifications commensurate with the above teachings and skill and knowledge of the relevant art are within the scope of the present invention. The embodiments described herein above are further intended to explain best modes of practicing the invention and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in such a manner, or include other embodiments with various modifications as required by the particular application(s) or use(s) of the present invention. Thus, it is intended that the claims be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art.