Bulk paintball storage, transport and loading device

Abstract

A bulk paintball storage, transport, and loading device that is used to speed load paintballs into containers or hoppers off the playing field, transport users paintballs in a protective user friendly convenient container, and store paintballs in a padded, water resistant apparatus. The apparatus is compact and easily portable, durable, machine washable, consisting of a moisture proof paintball protective inner lining, and holds up to 2000 paintballs. The device comprises a main body reservoir that includes: an adjustable carry strap used to assist the user in transport and loading; padding constructed into the main body reservoir for insulation, reinforcement, form which is designed with a sloping angled bottom to direct paintball flow towards the muzzle, and protection. A loading area is also located in the main body reservoir that comprises a zipper and an opening on the under side of the devices main body reservoir to accommodate the loading of bulk paintballs. The device also comprises a neck sloping out and downwards from the main body to provide ease of use, and maintain a free flow of paintballs by constricting or releasing pressure to the neck. The flow control device consisting of a drawstring around the neck allows the opening, closing and locking of paintball flow to the muzzle and protects foreign objects from entering the neck. The muzzle comprised of a formed circular piece secured to the neck and of sufficient size to accept various hopper and container size mouthes being loaded.

Description

PARENT CASE TEXT

[0001] This application claims the benefit of the filing date of provisional Application No. 60/374,246 filed on Apr. 22, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention generally relates to a bulk paintball container used for the purpose of storing and transporting bulk quantities of paintballs to be dispensed via its self-contained loading device into containers.

[0003] The military has long engaged in simulated war games as a method of training personnel in the arts of weaponry and combat. Non military personnel have been engaged in simulated war games as a form of recreation. Whether military or non military, those engaged in such games use weapons that launch colorant projectiles as a means of identifying another whom has been hit and is therefore eliminated from the game.

[0004] These colorant projectiles are spherical capsules having an outer layer made of gelatin and inner oil based paint fill. When a player is hit with one of these paintballs from an opponents gun, the paintball ruptures and leaves a visible mark on the player eliminating them from the game.

[0005] It is popular in the art to use containers commonly called hoppers, to be mounted above or adjacent to a marker, that feed paintballs into markers mechanically or gravitationally. In order to assist the player from having to reload paintballs into the marker one at a time, the hopper acts as a magazine, typically holding about 50-200 paintballs.

[0006] In addition to using a hopper attached to the marker, players are carrying multiple hard shell paintball filled canisters enclosed in a pack. These containers commonly called loader tubes, generally hold about 100-150 paintballs and are strapped around the players waist. The packs are generally positioned at the players back for easy access and player maneuverability. The advantage a player has in carrying cannisters onto the playing field is that these cannisters can be emptied into the hopper before the hopper exhausts its paintballs.

[0007] Thus, there is a need in the art for a device that stores bulk paintballs, speed loads bulk paintballs into tubes and hoppers off the playing field, stores and transports paintballs in a water resistant protective container, provide paintball protection using a padded machine washable material, durable, easy access flow control device, a device that can load, transport, and store a case of 2000 paintballs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] A variety of paintball loading devices are known in the art. Typically, these devices consist of dumping, pouring or scooping paintballs into hoppers or containers using plastic jugs, plastic bags, milk cartons, large funnels, and the human hand. These methods of loading paintballs incur problems such as direct human contact, uncontrollable spillage, exposure to the elements, repackaging paintballs when desired fill is complete and paintball breakage.

[0009] The present invention overcomes the deficiencies of the known prior art devices by providing a paintball storage, transport and loading device containing the following embodiments; main body reservoir, padding, loading area, adjustable strap, flow control device, neck and muzzle.

[0010] Generally speaking the device is divided into seven main sections, the main body reservoir stores bulk paintballs and is made of a water resistant material for the protection of its contents. The padding is sewn into the main body and has multiple functions. These functions include, but are not limited to: insulation, reinforcement, form, and protection of the bulk paintball container contents.

[0011] The bulk paintball container's loading area is located on the under side of the main body and extends from the paintball flow control device a sufficient length as to help accommodate the loading of paintballs into the main body. A zipper, Velcro or other closing device will seal the contents in the bulk container after they are loaded.

[0012] The neck of the bulk paintball container is located below the main body sloping out and downwards on an angle from the main body to enhance ease of use and maintain a free flow of paintballs from the main body through the neck towards the muzzle. The user controls the rate of flow by constricting or releasing pressure to the neck with his/her hand.

[0013] The flow control device is located in the neck and permits the user to control the rate of paintballs exiting the muzzle. The flow control device also contains a drawstring and locking mechanism to open, close and lock the neck area preventing the passage of the paintballs through the muzzle and foreign objects from entering the muzzle.

[0014] The muzzle, located at the end of the neck, is comprised of a formed circular piece, secured to the neck and of sufficient size to accept the various size container mouths being loaded.

[0015] The adjustable strap is attached to the main body and has multiple purposes, of which include but are not limited to the following: support the weight of the bulk paintball container and its contents during muzzle loads, carry strap during transportation, and handling strap during storage preparation.

[0016] It is the object of the present invention to provide a bulk paintball storage transport and loading device that improves upon the other known devices in the art by incorporating and eliminating paintball spillage via an improved flow control device, improving paintball protection via a padded and water resistant main body reservoir, improve paintball container loading via a formed circular muzzle of sufficient size so as to accept various container mouths, and improve the opening, closing and locking mechanism in the neck.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] FIG. 1 is a side view of the bulk paintball storage, transport and loading device.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional drawing of the bulk paintball storage, transport and loading device.

[0019] FIG. 3 is a split side view of the bulk paintball storage, transport and loading device loading a container with paintballs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0020] Referring now to the drawing, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout the view in FIG. 1, shows a side view of the embodiment. In FIG. 1 the bulk paintball container is illustrated in the upright position. Generally speaking the bulk paintball container is divided into seven main parts; main body reservoir 1, loading area 2, padding 3, adjustable strap 4, flow control device 5, neck 6 and muzzle 7.

[0021] Generally, as best shown in FIG. 1 the illustrated embodiments operational procedures are as follows. Place the bulk paintball container on its top with the loading area 2 facing up. Load bulk paintballs into the main body reservoir 1, via the loading area 2 and reseal. Sling the adjustable strap 4 over an object, so the bulk paintball container is hanging in the upright position, with the muzzle 7, at the lowermost point. The flow control device 5 is opened by unlocking the locking mechanism and loosening the drawstring, and then the contents are gravity-dispensed from the neck 6 through the muzzle 7 into the users chosen container. After the desired fill is achieved, the user constricts the neck 6 with his/her hand and proceeds to close the flow control device 5 by tightening the drawstring and locking the locking mechanism.

REFERENCES CITED

[0022] 1 References Cited:   467,074 January 1892 Anderson & Boatnes 1,955,559 September 1932 Narrow 1,927,424 September 1933 Trubenbach, et al 2,681,529 January 1954 Braithwaite 2,973,124 February 1961 Reese 3,996,916 December 1976 Koehn 5,166,457 November 1992 Lorenzetti 5,224,280 September 1993 Poerter, et al 5,257,615 November 1993 Jones 5,282,454 February 1994 Bell, et al 5,484,207 January 1996 Schnaars, et al 5,673,679 October 1997 Walters 5,791,325 August 1998 Anderson 5,809,983 September 1998 Stoneking 5,816,232 October 1998 Bell 6,055,975 May 2000 Gallagher, et al 6,305,367 October 2001 Kotsiopoulos 6,331,077 December 2001 Nickell

Claims

1. A bulk paintball storage, transport and loading device, comprising:

a main body reservoir including a loading area, padding, and an adjustable carry strap;

a neck attached to the main body including a flow control device and a muzzle;

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said main body reservoir is made of a water resistant material and comprised of 4 vertical side walls, a flat padded top surface, and a sloping bottom surface angled to reduce pressure on paintballs downward flow towards the muzzle.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said main body reservoir is formed with a moisture proof lining to protect the paintballs from condensation inside the main body reservoir from outside elements.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said loading area located on the under side of the main body reservoir with a resealable opening large enough to provide easy loading of large pre-packaged quantities of paintballs into the main body reservoir.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said loading area is comprised of a zipper, that contains bulk paintballs into the main body reservoir after loading.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said adjustable carry strap located above the main body reservoir has multiple purposes: support the weight of the bulk paintball container and its contents during muzzle loads, carry strap during transportation of paintballs, and hanging strap during paintball storage.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said padding is attached to the main body reservoir giving insulation, reinforcement, form and protection to the main body.

8. The neck of the bulk paintball storage transport and loading device comprises a flow control device consisting of a draw string, locking mechanism; and a muzzle located in the main bodies sloping bottom surface.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said neck comprises a chamber for bulk paintballs and maintains a free flow of paintballs from the main body reservoir through the neck towards the muzzle.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein said neck controls the rate of flow of the bulk paintballs by the user constricting or releasing pressure to the neck with the users hand.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein said flow control device located in the neck permits the user to control the rate of paintballs exiting the muzzle.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein said flow control device comprises a drawstring and locking mechanism used to open, close, and lock the flow control device in an open or closed position.

13. The device of claim 8, wherein said flow control device closes the neck preventing the passage of paintballs through the muzzle and foreign objects from entering the muzzle.

14. The device of claim 8, wherein said muzzle located at the end of the neck is comprised of a formed circular piece, secured to the neck and of sufficient size to accept the various size container mouths being loaded.

15. A method of loading the bulk paintball storage, transport and loading system includes placing the device upside down on its flat padded surface top; opening the loading area's opening and closing device; inserting desired amount of paintballs through the loading area into the main body reservoir; and closing the loading area's opening/closing device.

16. A method of filling containers using the bulk paintball storage, transport and loading device after the device is loaded consists of; placing the adjustable strap over an object so the device is in an upright position with the muzzle at the lowest point, place container against muzzle, unlock and loosen the drawstring in the flow control device and paintballs are gravity-dispensed into container through the neck and out the muzzle.

17. A method of using the device for multiple purposes such as: storing bulk paintballs between uses, transporting bulk paintballs to desired locations, and speed loading paintball containers off the playing field.