A Howard County man created a line of wearable self-defense jewelry called Relentless Rings. Sam Simkin-Brocato invented it after he noticed his wife was unable to easily access self-defense weapons.
“He always tries to get me to carry mace, or knives, or those heavy lead balls on the keychain things in my purse, and I won't carry them because they're too heavy. So, he came up with something I can wear and can't keep taking out of my purse,” said Corrie Simkin-Brocato.
He created a piece of jewelry that could be used for self-defense and worn while carrying her 2-year-old son.
“Everything that's currently out there, it occupies your whole hand the whole time you're using it, that was one of my wife's complaints. She couldn't get something out of her purse, she had to carry groceries or the baby, so I had to design something that would be on hand,” said Simkin-Brocato.
It looks like a ring but is meant to give the wearer extra leverage in the event of an attack. It's also shaped like a tiger claw, an idea Simkin-Brocato came up with while playing with his dog.
“I noticed the way his teeth were shaped and that's what got me going,” said Simkin-Brocato.
It's designed so that regardless of strength just a little pressure can inflict pain, and it's made of a material where even the dull side can leave a mark. He added that he designed the ring in a way to potentially gather critical evidence needed to identify an attacker.
“So one quick open handed slap and the claw definitely got a lot of DNA,” he said.
Mary Kruse is a school teacher and Baltimore City resident. She wears her Relentless Ring as an added level of protection.
“I feel a lot safer wearing it than before I had it because if someone came up to me at least I have some kind of defense on me,” Kruse said.
She's heard of recent crime incidents in the area and wanted to make sure she's prepared.
“I have a part-time job at a restaurant so I get off work around 10/10:30 p.m. sometimes, so if I'm walking home by myself I'll wear it then,” said Kruse.
She added that it's a way to not let fear dictate where she lives. “I have an alarm system in my house, and I have the ring that I'm taking extra precaution to keep me safe in the city so I don't feel the need to move out of it.”
Simkin-Brocato said the ring is meant to be used instinctively, and unlike knives or guns it doesn't require training.
“This is a lot more practical, a lot more simple, a lot more easier to use, a lot less expensive, a lot more portable, so it just makes sense,” said Corrie Simkin-Brocato.
According to a Gallup poll, 60 percent of Americans who own guns mention personal safety and protection as the primary reason for ownership. However, a study by the Violence Policy Center, using data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics National Crime Victimization Survey, shows that for the three-year period 2012 through 2014, less than one percent of victims of attempted or completed violent crimes used a firearm.
Instead Simkin-Brocato advertises his product at gun shows as a non-lethal alternative. He said it's an opportunity to defend yourself with the least amount of risk.
“There's nothing you can do to ensure that you're going to win, but you can give yourself the best chances of survival, and gaining distance from your attacker,” said Simkin-Brocato.
Relentless Rings officially launched last month. The rings sell for around $30.
If you're interested in learning more or would like to purchase one, click here.
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