Expandable baton with low profile tip

Abstract

An expandable baton having a linear tip, is constructed of heat treatable alloy steel and is formed according to a method which provides both ease of workability of the component materials and strength for the resultant baton. The baton provides a compact and easily openable security device with the added benefit of a slim linear tip while maintaining the same manner of usability of the most prized batons of the prior art. The slim linear tip, of the type found acceptable by enlightened security, police and military forces desiring a device that cannot be used in a manner described as cruel or barbarous.

1 . An expandable baton comprising: 
 a plurality of elongated, nesting, telescoping rigid baton sections, one of which is a handle adapted for receiving and housing any remaining sections when the baton is in a retracted, collapsed position, the remaining rigid sections being releasable outwardly from the handle and selectively self-locking in an extended position and slidably retractable into the collapsed position:    the handle having a hollow interior and an open outer end through which any remaining rigid sections pass;    one additional rigid baton section having an outer perimeter adapted for passing through the open outer end of the handle, the additional baton section having opposite ends, an outer and an inner end, the inner end always being contained in an adjacent receiving rigid baton section in both the expanded and nested positions;    an intermediate baton section having a hollow interior and open inner and outer ends, and wherein the one additional baton section is of an outer perimeter adapted to pass through the open inner end of the intermediate baton section;    means for locking the baton in the extended position wherein the open outer end of the handle and the intermediate baton section each has a decreasing, tapered internal diameter and the inner end of the adjacent nesting baton section has an increasing, flared outer diameter such that the flared inner end of the nesting baton section engages the tapered outer end of the adjacent receiving baton section when the baton is in the expanded position; and    a tip portion attached to the distal end of the additional baton section and having an outer diameter substantially the same as the smallest outer diameter of the additional baton section.    
   
   
       2 . The expandable baton of  claim 1 , which includes a plurality of telescoping members, each telescoping member being formed with a heat treatable alloy steel and in which telescoping members are configured such that the swaged portion on one end of each of the telescoping members is adapted to be placed in mating engagement with the flared portion on one end of an adjacent member such that the flared portion of one member is jammed into the swaged portion of the adjacent member.  
   
   
       3 . The expandable baton of  claim 1 , further including a retainer means associated with said cap for selectively, releasably retaining the telescoping member in the retracted position, the retaining means having a holding force which is adapted to be released for automatically extending the baton through a swift whipping action of the baton, the retaining means comprising: a leaf spring having a base fixed relative to the cap of the baton and located inside the handle, the leaf spring having a pair of legs extending outwardly from the base for engaging diametrically opposed positions on the inner diameter of the telescoping member when said member is in the retracted position, for providing a balanced holding force on the telescoping member for retaining the telescoping member in the retracted position.  
   
   
       4 . The expandable baton of  claim 1 , further including padding material covering the main member of the baton.  
   
   
       5 . The expandable baton of  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate baton section comprises means to support the inner baton section when the baton is in a collapsed position.  
   
   
       6 . The expandable baton of  claim 5  wherein the means to support inner baton section is a retaining collar attached within intermediate baton section.  
   
   
       7 . The expandable baton of  claim 6 , wherein at least a portion of the interior wall of the intermediate section of the baton is threaded and the retaining collar comprises cooperative threadings on its exterior surface; the retaining collar and the intermediate baton section are releasably attached together by the threadings.  
   
   
       8 . The expandable baton of  claim 6 , wherein one surface of the retaining collar comprises at least one opening such that a tool maybe used to attach the collar within the intermediate tube.  
   
   
       9 . The expandable baton of  claim 8 , wherein the tool comprises at least one retaining collar opening engaging stud.  
   
   
       10 . The expandable baton of  claim 8 , wherein the retaining collar comprises generally a cylinder, the cylinder being tapered from its proximal end to its distal end.  
   
   
       11 . The expandable baton of  claim 10 , wherein the degree of taper of the retaining collar coincides with the degree of taper of the interior of the intermediate baton section, such that the baton section and collar are easily attached together.  
   
   
       12 . The expandable baton of  claim 10 , wherein the retaining collar can only be assembled in one direction and the retaining collar opening is placed on the distal end of the collar to guide the placement of the collar within the baton section.  
   
   
       13 . An expandable baton comprising: 
 a plurality of elongated, nesting, telescoping rigid baton sections, one of which is a handle adapted for receiving and housing any remaining sections when the baton is in a retracted, collapsed position, the remaining rigid sections being releasable outwardly from the handle and selectively self-locking in an extended position and slidably retractable into the collapsed position:    the handle having a hollow interior and an open outer end through which any remaining rigid sections pass;    one additional rigid baton section having an outer perimeter adapted for passing through the open outer end of the handle, the additional baton section having opposite ends, an outer and an inner end, the inner end always being contained in an adjacent receiving rigid baton section in both the expanded and nested positions;    an intermediate baton section having a hollow interior and open inner and outer ends, the intermediate baton section comprises a retaining collar to support the inner baton section when the baton is in a collapsed position, and wherein the one additional baton section is of an outer perimeter adapted to pass through the open inner end of the intermediate baton section;    means for locking the baton in the extended position wherein the open outer end of the handle and the intermediate baton section each has a decreasing, tapered internal diameter and the inner end of the adjacent nesting baton section has an increasing, flared outer diameter such that the flared inner end of the nesting baton section engages the tapered outer end of the adjacent receiving baton section when the baton is in the expanded position; and    a tip portion attached to the distal end of the additional baton section and having an outer diameter no greater than the smallest outer diameter of the additional baton section.    
   
   
       14 . The expandable baton of  claim 13 , which includes a plurality of telescoping members, each telescoping member being formed with a heat treatable alloy steel and in which telescoping members are configured such that the swaged portion on one end of each of the telescoping members is adapted to be placed in mating engagement with the flared portion on one end of an adjacent member such that the flared portion of one member is jammed into the swaged portion of the adjacent member.  
   
   
       15 . The expandable baton of  claim 13 , further including a retainer means associated with said cap for selectively, releasably retaining the telescoping member in the retracted position, the retaining means having a holding force which is adapted to be released for automatically extending the baton through a swift whipping action of the baton, the retaining means comprising: a leaf spring having a base fixed relative to the cap of the baton and located inside the handle, the leaf spring having a pair of legs extending outwardly from the base for engaging diametrically opposed positions on the inner diameter of the telescoping member when said member is in the retracted position, for providing a balanced holding force on the telescoping member for retaining the telescoping member in the retracted position.  
   
   
       16 . The expandable baton of  claim 13 , further including padding material covering the main member of the baton.  
   
   
       17 . The expandable baton of  claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of the interior wall of the intermediate section of the baton is threaded and the retaining collar comprises cooperative threadings on its exterior surface; the retaining collar and the intermediate baton section are releasably attached together by the threadings.  
   
   
       18 . The expandable baton of  claim 17 , wherein one surface of the retaining collar comprises at least one opening such that a tool maybe used to thread the collar within the intermediate tube.  
   
   
       19 . The expandable baton of  claim 18 , wherein the tool comprises at least one retaining collar opening engaging stud.  
   
   
       20 . The expandable baton of  claim 18 , wherein the retaining collar comprises generally a cylinder, the cylinder being tapered from its proximal end to its distal end.  
   
   
       21 . The expandable baton of  claim 20 , wherein the degree of taper of the retaining collar coincides with the degree of taper of the interior of the intermediate baton section, such that the baton section and collar are easily attached together.  
   
   
       22 . The expandable baton of  claim 20 , wherein the retaining collar can only be assembled in one direction and the retaining collar opening is placed on the distal end of the collar to guide the placement of the collar within the baton section.