CarryGuard - pepper spray disguised as a cellphone

We assume the idea behind the CarryGuard — a can of pepper spray camouflaged to look like a cellphone — is the idea that you can carry it with you inconspicuously (nevermind the racecar red) while traversing dark alleys and other dangerous locales. We suppose that might work — if your would-be attacker isn't a skilled cellphone thief. A more effective disguise might be one that's less ostentatious, like, say a can of soda or a pack of cigarettes. And as long as we're redesigning this thing, can we replace the pepper spray with something more effective, like maybe a Taser?

[Via textually]

[Ethan @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Why exactly would you want to disguise pepper spray? Half the point of having it is to demonstrate, pre-attack, that you have a defense. I would expect the other-way-around to be better: a cell phone that looks like pepper spray. That would a) say "don't attack me" and b) this isn't a cell phone for you to steal.

[Ken @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

They should really make that cell phone/stun gun that was in that Kyocera commercial where the guy accidentally shocks his coworker. A cell phone with a Tazer antennae would be awesome. Maybe when they start Segal mobile.

[Arthur @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Or a pepper spray wrist watch. Be great for something joggers to wear as well (won't be an inconvience to wear).

[DaLa @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Does this thing have bluetooth?

[lupinstel @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Can you hear me OWWWWWWW!!!

[Jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

"Why exactly would you want to disguise pepper spray?"

Probably because pepper spray is illegal for civilians to carry in many locales, and is totally illegal to bring on-board airplanes anywhere.

Really, I'm not sure Engadget should even be covering this (it's not like pepper spray is a "gadget"; it's a non-lethal weapon), as the only useful purpose for it that I can see is to break the law. Because I agree, if it's legal for you to carry pepper spray, you're more likely to want people to know you've got it than not.

[Sean DL @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Many places it's illegal to carry around said device...Funny you can buy it, but can't carry it around...

[battamer @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

The TSA must hate these.

[cecil @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

If the guy has a gun, you want a hidden method. You don't want him to think you are pulling anything. As the sketchy dude rolls up, pull out the "cell phone" and pretend to start talking. He gets closer and then fire. Proceed to kick the crap out of him while he is incapasitated, grab his gun that he dropped and unload the entire clip into his head. Wipe the gun down, place gun back in his hand, leave. Done

This of course, is a best case scenario. He'll most likely fire a cap or two into your ass as soon as he sees the stream of mace coming his way(So you might want to pull some Jackie Chan avoidance type shit move as soon as you press the button)

[JayP @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

My wife is a realtor- I could see her with this device... hidden to keep the legit customers from getting bent but in hand for the pervs.

[Vasco @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Thats why, #9, they should replace the peper spray with a taser-dart. Taser because it works MUCH better then peper spray (so it kills the guy.... boo hoo, he was attacking me with a fucking gun!) and A dart because it can be fired repetedly unlike the little shock box that is present on most Taser guns, that just gives you one shot.

[Russ @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

#1 is right. Pepper spray is good because it deters potential muggers/rapists/whatever from even coming close to you. If they think you've got a defense, even just pepper spray, they're much less likely to try anything. They'd rather just wait for the next person who is likely unarmed. This might be good in certain situations, but usually you just want people to know you've got pepper spray.

[eddie @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

They might find out it is fake if your actual cell phone rings while you are holding this in your hands.

[Chase Bailey @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

"Hold on, crook. Let me take a friendly picture of you with my cool umm... camera phone, so you can show it to all your friends after you swipe my phone."

PSHHHH!!!!! SPRAY!! ahhhh..... tsssshhhhhh....

"Ha! I totally got you, fool! You should read the engadget news!"

[mountb @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Here's my experience with pepper spray: My wife and I are leaving dinner at a friend's in LA. We are both equipped with pepper spray. A not-scary young man walks up to us, apparently to ask directions. We are in a well-lit area with other people around. He pulls out a glock and demands our money. At this point, I: a) pull out my pepper spray to deter him, b) call the police, c) hand over my money and hope neither of us get shot in the head?

A taser disguised as a wallet might have worked.

[Bryan @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

"Hey dude, I'm just gonna borrow your phone real quick to call my mom.."

*spray*

"AHH OMFG"

hahaha :P

[Anja @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I think they should just call it "Hello goodbye".

Haha

[WOV @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

One thing I've noticed is that while cops view "shooting you" as like a one-time thing (they shoot you until you fall over,) those Taser guns put them sort of in the mindset of mocrowaving a bowl of oatmeal. I've walked in to a few calls to get from a sheriff the "hold on a minute" index finger...VZZZZZZT, wait just one more second...VZZZT...hmm...VZT....Vt...um, OK, he should be good. Except, great thanks, now we're all standing around in this like mirage of vaporized crackhead urine.

At least you don't have to then laboriously wash pepper spray out of their eyes.

[Scott @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Who do you think this will really appeal to? The law abiding citizen who wishes to protect himself, or the drug dealing punk who thinks he can drop a cop during a traffic stop? The only thing that these types of gadgets are good for is creating more friction between the police and the community. The first time the use of one of these gets passed through an officer safety bulletin, you can expect to get you and your cell phone yanked out of your car whenever your are stopped by a cop. Recommendation: don't be talking on your cell phone when the cop walks up to your car.

[Undertow @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Pepper spray is extremely effective in stopping undesirable actions by an assailant. For military security force training we go through an OC course where you are sprayed in the eyes and then have to complete a number of self defense/law enforcement related tasks before washing it out of your eyes. OC was the most painful thing I've ever experienced in my entire life, and those of you that knock it obviously have no experience with it or have done the research on its effectiveness.