Hinged handle cap for baton

Abstract

A baton has a body with a first end and a second end. A handle is connected to and extends from the body between the two ends. A cap is hingedly connected to an end of the handle. A locking mechanism selectively locks the cap to the handle and includes a catch plate that includes a catch, a latch releasably engaged with the catch, and an actuation button. The actuation button is movably engaged with the latch to disengage the latch from the catch. The actuation button is movable along a stop axis and a latch axis different than the stop axis.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A baton comprising:
 a body having a first end and a second end;   a handle connected to and extending from the body between the first end and the second end;   a cap hingedly connected to an end of the handle; and   a locking mechanism for selectively locking the cap to the handle, wherein the locking mechanism comprises:
 a catch plate comprising a catch; 
 a latch releasably engaged with the catch; and 
 an actuation button movably engaged with the latch for disengaging the latch from the catch, wherein the actuation button is movable along a stop axis and a latch axis different than the stop axis. 
   
     
     
         2 . The baton of  claim 1 , wherein the actuation button comprises a stop positionable along the stop axis in a first stop position and a second stop position, wherein when in the first stop position, the stop is engaged with a recess defined by at least one of the catch plate, the cap, and the handle, and wherein when in the second stop position, the stop is disengaged from the recess. 
     
     
         3 . The baton of  claim 2 , wherein the actuation button is movable along the latch axis only when the stop is disengaged from the recess. 
     
     
         4 . The baton of  claim 1 , wherein the latch is positionable along the latch axis in a first latch position and a second latch position, wherein when in the first latch position, the latch is engaged with the catch, and wherein when in the second latch position, the latch is disengaged from the catch. 
     
     
         5 . The baton of  claim 2 , wherein the stop is biased into the first stop position. 
     
     
         6 . The baton of  claim 4 , wherein the latch is biased into the first latch position. 
     
     
         7 . The baton of  claim 1 , wherein the catch plate is secured to the handle, and wherein the latch is movably secured to the cap. 
     
     
         8 . The baton of  claim 5 , wherein the latch comprises an arm extending therefrom, and wherein the actuation button comprises a spring configured to bias the actuation button away from the arm. 
     
     
         9 . The baton of  claim 1 , wherein the actuation button comprises two buttons, wherein each of the two is disposed on opposite sides of the cap. 
     
     
         10 . A baton comprising:
 a body;   a handle extending from the body;   a hinged cap disposed at an end of the handle; and   a locking mechanism configured to selectively secure the hinged cap to the handle, wherein the locking mechanism is movable in a first range of motion and a second range of motion so as to unlock the locking mechanism.   
     
     
         11 . The baton of  claim 10 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises an actuation button movable in a first direction and a latch movable in a second direction. 
     
     
         12 . The baton of  claim 11 , wherein the actuation button is movable in the second direction. 
     
     
         13 . The baton of  claim 12 , wherein the actuation button comprises two actuation buttons, wherein the two actuation buttons are biased away from each other. 
     
     
         14 . The baton of  claim 13 , wherein each actuation button is biased by a plurality of springs. 
     
     
         15 . The baton of  claim 13 , wherein each actuation button is movably secured to an arm that extends from the latch. 
     
     
         16 . The baton of  claim 12 , wherein the actuation button comprises a stop configured to engage a recess so as to prevent movement of the actuation button in the second direction. 
     
     
         17 . The baton of  claim 11 , wherein locking mechanism comprises a catch and wherein the latch is configured to releasably engage the catch. 
     
     
         18 . A method of actuating a locking mechanism, the method comprising:
 engaging a recess with a stop, wherein the recess is connected to an actuation button;   moving the actuation button in a first direction so as to disengage the recess from the stop;   moving the actuation button in a second direction different than the first direction, so as to disengage a latch from a catch; and   hingedly lifting the locking hinge cap.