It’s not hard to imagine a time when someone might need to protect themselves from a violent offender. Violent crimes are unfortunately a far too common occurrence. According to the FBI, “in 2011 approximately 1.3 million Americans were victims of violent crimes,” states Seth Froom, CTO and inventor of the Yellow Jacket iPhone case, “the world’s only stun gun smartphone case.”
The idea for the device came after Froom was victimized in a violent robbery. While he had firearms in the house, they “in the moment did nothing to protect me,” says Froom. He also owned a traditional stun gun, coincidentally in the shape of a cell phone, but he never carried the device as it was bulky and inconvenient. So the idea was born: a non-lethal protection device he could carry that was conveniently attached to his cell phone.
The Yellow Jacket packs a whopping 650 thousand volts in a 14 oz. iPhone case. Currently, it is only available for iPhone 4/4s models, but Yellow Jacket is debuting their iPhone 5/5s case at the 2014 International CES, ready for purchase in February. Cases for the Samsung Galaxy S4 and other devices are planned to be available Summer 2014.
The Yellow Jacket might be one of the most interesting devices at CES. While most devices raved about are for entertainment, think Samsung’s or LG’s curved UHD televisions, or wearable tech, like smart watches and wellness trackers, Yellow Jacket may be the only personal protection device at the trade show giant. Several other exhibitors are demoing smartphone case battery packs, but this is the only one that provides a “sting” as well.
However, the case can power and iPhone when one might need an extra charge. The Yellow Jacket provides up to an additional 24 hours of battery life without affecting the stun gun’s operation. That’s because the stun gun has a separate battery so it doesn’t fail in time of need. And a full charge can be obtained in just about 4 hours.
But that’s not really the main focus for Froom and the CEO Sean Simone. “We are committed to branding the Yellow Jacket case as a successful means of protection,” said Simone. According to research conducted by Yellow Jacket, “approximately 13 percent of women living in the United States will be attacked at one point in their lifetime,” emphasized Froom, spotlighting women as one potential audience.
Concerns about the safety of the user arose when designing the case. To prevent accidental self-shock, Yellow Jacket has two safety features that deter user error. First a safety switch must be engaged before the trigger can be activated; secondly, there is a physical barrier in the form of a safety cap that prevents electrode-to-skin contact that must be flipped down.
While this may prevent accidental discharge, it may take up crucial time during an attack. Yellow Jacket recommends education about self-defense and their equipment for all customers. Their website offers Krav Maga schools as a source for self-defense education. “Violent crimes leave a victim traumatized,” said Froom, speaking from his experience.
CES 2014 Spotlight: Yellow Jacket, The First Stun Gun Cell Phone Charging Case
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