Secure paintball harness attachment system
A system for securing a paintball container to a harness is provided comprising a harness having a magnetic portion or magnetically attractable insert, and an item of paintball sport equipment having a magnetic portion or magnetically attractable insert, wherein the item of paintball sport equipment is held securely to the harness via magnetic attraction.
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This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/498,444, filed Aug. 28, 2003, which is incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth.
FIELD OF INVENTIONThis invention relates to paintball sport equipment, and more particularly, to improved attachments between items of paintball sport equipment and paintball harnesses.
BACKGROUNDPaintball is a sporting game having two teams of players usually trying to capture one another's flag. The sport is played on a large field with opposing home bases at each end. Each team's flag is located at the player's home base. In addition, all of the players have paintball markers that shoot paintballs. These paintballs are generally spherical gelatin capsules filled with paint. During play of the sport, the players on each team advance towards the opposing team's base in hopes of stealing the opposing team's flag, without being eliminated from the game. A player is eliminated from the game when the player is hit by a paintball fired from an opposing player's marker. When the paintball hits a player, a “splat” of paint is left on the player.
Participating in the sport of paintball requires several pieces of equipment for carrying, transporting, storing, and utilizing the paintball ammunition. Paintballs are held in paintball carriers, often referred to as “guppies” or “pods”, and are typically cylindrical tubes. Participants wear paintball harnesses with several compartments for holding the various pieces of equipment a participant would need, such as extra paintballs, spare goggles, flashlight, and cleaning wipes.
A common paintball harness holds a paintball carrier by inserting the carrier into a pocket, and then closing a flap or strap secured by hook-and-loop fasteners or snaps. This system of carrying paintball carriers is not ideal. Paintball is a sport in which time is an important factor. When a player stops to reload their paintball marker, they are vulnerable to being marked an opposing player. The reloading process is difficult in itself because the player's vision is obscured by goggles, and their dexterity hindered by gloves. If the player has to further find the correct pocket, open the flap, and reach in and extract the paintball carrier, valuable time is lost.
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It is also a known practice to connect all of a player's paintball carriers together, and then attach the entire bundle of carriers to the player's harness with a buckle, flap or strap secured by hook-and-loop fasteners or snaps. This is even less desirable. With this system, a player has to stop, release the strap securing the bundle, remove a carrier, load the marker, then replace the carrier, and strap the bundle to their back again. This process is even more time consuming, especially considering the difficulties and challenges to dexterity caused by wearing paintball gloves and a paintball face mask.
Accordingly, there is a need for a way of attaching a paintball carrier to a paintball harness such that the carrier can be released and replaced quickly with low vision and dexterity requirements.
SUMMARYBriefly stated, the present invention is directed to a system of attaching a paintball carrier to a paintball harness using magnets.
A system for attaching a paintball carrier or other paintball sport item to a paintball harness according to the present invention comprises an item of paintball sport equipment, and a receiving portion on the harness for receiving the paintball carrier. At least one of the harness receiving portion and the item of paintball sport equipment includes a first magnetic portion. The other of the harness receiving portion and the paintball carrier includes at least one of a second magnetic portion or a magnetically attractable insert. The second magnetic portion or the magnetically attractable insert is positioned to magnetically engage the first magnetic portion when the paintball carrier is placed in the harness receiving portion.
A paintball harness according to the present invention comprises at least one receiving portion for receiving an item of paintball sport equipment. A first magnetic portion is provided adjacent the receiving portion. A second magnetic portion or magnetically attractable insert is provided on the outer surface of the item of paintball sport equipment.
A method for attaching an item of paintball sport equipment to a paintball harness according to the present invention is also disclosed. An item of paintball sport equipment is attached to a receiving portion of a paintball harness using a combination of magnets and/or magnetically attractable inserts. At least one of the harness receiving portion and the item of paintball sport equipment is provided with a first magnetic portion. The other of the harness receiving portion and the item of paintball sport equipment is provided with at least one of a second magnetic portion or a magnetically attractable insert. The second magnetic portion or the magnetically attractable insert is positioned to magnetically engage the first magnetic portion when the item of paintball sport equipment is placed adjacent the receiving portion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)
Certain terminology is used in the following detailed description for convenience only and is not considered limiting. The word “upper” and “lower” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. Additionally, the terms “a” and “one” are defined as including one or more of the referenced item unless specifically noted.
Referring now to
The receiving portion 12 may be formed as a recess or indentation in the main body of the harness 10, formed to receive an item of paintball sport equipment. The receiving portion 12 includes at least one first magnetic portion 16 for securing the paintball carrier 14 to the paintball harness 10. The first magnetic portion 16 may be attached to and extend from a surface of the receiving portion 12, or it may be held in a pocket on, or otherwise molded into the surface of, or disposed within, the receiving portion 12. For example, the harness may be made from a cloth, fabric, nylon, neoprene, canvas, or any other acceptable material, and the magnetic portion 16 may be sewn into the harness 10 or otherwise embedded within the harness when the harness is fabricated. The first magnetic portion 16 may be formed as an insertable or securable magnet of appropriate size, or a strip or swatch of magnetic material, and may cover any desired area of the receiving portion 12 to accomplish the goals of the present invention. In addition, it is appreciated that a plurality of first magnetic portions may be positioned at various locations adjacent the receiving portion.
An item of paintball sport equipment such as a paintball carrier 14 is provided with at least one second magnetic portion 18 or magnetically attractable insert that is sized and positioned to magnetically engage the first magnetic portion 16 when the paintball carrier 14 is placed adjacent the receiving portion 12, as shown in
In one embodiment, the second magnetic portion 18 extends from the outer surface of the item of paintball sport equipment such as a paintball carrier 14, as shown in
The second magnetic portion 18 is of opposite polarity as compared to the polarity of the first magnetic portion 16, such that when the item of paintball sport equipment such as a paintball carrier 14 is placed the receiving portion 12, the first magnetic portion 16 and second magnetic portion 18 hold the item of paintball sport equipment securely on the harness 10 through magnetic attraction. If a magnetically attractable insert is used, it may be formed as a metallic insert, preferably of a magnetically attractable ferrous metal.
The receiving portion 12 of the harness 10 may be any area of the harness 10 provided with a magnetic portion or plurality of magnetic portions.
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In another embodiment, as shown in
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In an alternate embodiment, shown in
Having thus described in detail several embodiments of the attachment system of the present invention, it is to be appreciated and will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many physical changes, only a few of which are exemplified in the detailed description of the invention, could be made without altering the inventive concepts and principles embodied therein. It is also to be appreciated that numerous embodiments incorporating only part of a preferred embodiment are possible which do not alter, with respect to those parts, the inventive concepts and principles embodied therein. The present embodiment and optional configurations are therefore to be considered in all respects as exemplary and/or illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all alternate embodiments and changes to this embodiment which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of said claims are therefore to be embraced therein.
Claims
1. A system for attaching an item of paintball sport equipment to a paintball harness, comprising:
- at least one item of paintball sport equipment;
- a paintball harness including at least one receiving portion located on the paintball harness for receiving the item of paintball sport equipment;
- at least one of the receiving portion and the item of paintball sport equipment including a first magnetic portion; and
- the other of the receiving portion and the item of paintball sport equipment including at least one of a second magnetic portion or a magnetically attractable insert, wherein the at least one second magnetic portion or the second magnetically attractable insert is positioned to magnetically engage the first magnetic portion when the item of paintball sport equipment is adjacent the receiving portion.
2. The system for attaching an item of paintball sport equipment to a paintball harness according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of the second magnetic portion or the magnetically attractable insert is a second magnetic portion which has a polarity opposite the polarity of the at least one first magnetic portion.
3. The system for attaching an item of paintball sport equipment to a paintball harness according to claim 1, wherein the receiving portion is a pocket.
4. The system for attaching an item of paintball sport equipment to a paintball harness according to claim 1, wherein the receiving portion is a recessed groove in a surface of the harness.
5. The system for attaching an item of paintball sport equipment to a paintball harness according to claim 4, wherein the surface of the groove has a shape that is complementary to a portion of a surface of the item of paintball sport equipment.
6. The system for attaching an item of paintball sport equipment to a paintball harness according to claim 1, wherein the receiving portion is a cradle extending from a surface of the paintball harness.
7. The system for attaching an item of paintball sport equipment to a paintball harness according to claim 6, wherein at least a portion of the cradle has a shape complementary to a portion of the surface of the item of paintball sport equipment.
8. The system for attaching an item of paintball sport equipment to a paintball harness according to claim 1, wherein the first magnetic portion is embedded in the paintball harness adjacent the receiving portion.
9. The system for attaching an item of paintball sport equipment to a paintball harness according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of the second magnetic portion or the magnetically attractable insert is embedded in the item of paintball sport equipment.
10. The system for attaching an item of paintball sport equipment to a paintball harness according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of the second magnetic portion or the magnetically attractable insert is held within a sleeve placed about the item of paintball sport equipment.
11. A paintball harness for carrying at least on item of paintball sport equipment, comprising:
- at least one receiving portion for receiving an item of paintball sport equipment;
- at least one of the receiving portion and the item of paintball sport equipment including at least one first magnetic portion; and the other of the receiving portion and the item of paintball sport equipment including at least one of a second magnetic portion or a magnetically attractable insert, wherein the at least one second magnetic portion or the magnetically attractable insert is positioned to magnetically engage the first magnetic portion when the item of paintball sport equipment is placed adjacent the receiving portion.
12. The paintball harness according to claim 11, wherein the at least one of the second magnetic portion or the magnetically attractable insert is a second magnetic portion which has a polarity opposite the polarity of the at least one first magnetic portion.
13. The paintball harness according to claim 11, wherein the receiving portion is a pocket.
14. The paintball harness according to claim 11, wherein the receiving portion is a recessed groove in a surface of the harness.
15. The paintball harness according to claim 14, wherein the surface of the groove has a shape that is complementary to a portion of a surface of the item of paintball sport equipment.
16. The paintball harness according to claim 11, wherein the receiving portion is a cradle extending from a surface of the harness.
17. The paintball harness according to claim 16, wherein at least a portion of the cradle has a shape complementary to a portion of the surface of the item of paintball sport equipment.
18. The paintball harness according to claim 11, wherein the at least one of the second magnetic portion or the magnetically attractable insert is embedded in the item of paintball sport equipment.
19. The paintball harness according to claim 11, wherein the first magnetic portion is embedded in the paintball harness adjacent the receiving portion.
20. The paintball harness according to claim 11, wherein the at least one of the second magnetic portion or the magnetically attractable insert is held within a sleeve at least one sleeve for securing about an item of paintball sport equipment.
21. A system for attaching an item of paintball sport equipment to a paintball harness, comprising:
- a paintball harness including at least one receiving portion located on the paintball harness for receiving the item of paintball sport equipment carrying the sleeve;
- at least one of the receiving portion and the sleeve including at least one first magnetic portion; and
- the other of the receiving portion and the sleeve including at least one of a second magnetic portion or a magnetically attractable insert, wherein the at least one second magnetic portion or the magnetically attractable insert is positioned to magnetically engage the first magnetic portion when the sleeve is adjacent the receiving portion.
22. The system for attaching an item of paintball sport equipment to a paintball harness according to claim 21, wherein the at least one of the second magnetic portion or the magnetically attractable insert is a second magnetic portion which has a polarity opposite the polarity of the at least one first magnetic portion.
23. The system for attaching an item of paintball sport equipment to a paintball harness according to claim 21, wherein the receiving portion is a pocket.
24. The system for attaching an item of paintball sport equipment to a paintball harness according to claim 21, wherein the receiving portion is a recessed groove in a surface of the harness.
25. The system for attaching an item of paintball sport equipment to a paintball harness according to claim 24, wherein the surface of the groove has a shape that is complementary to a portion of a surface of the item of paintball sport equipment.
26. The system for attaching an item of paintball sport equipment to a paintball harness according to claim 21, wherein the receiving portion is a cradle extending from a surface of the paintball harness.
27. The system for attaching an item of paintball sport equipment to a paintball harness according to claim 26, wherein at least a portion of the cradle has a shape complementary to a portion of the surface of the item of paintball sport equipment.
28. The system for attaching an item of paintball sport equipment to a paintball harness according to claim 21, wherein the first magnetic portion is embedded in the paintball harness adjacent the receiving portion.
29. The system for attaching an item of paintball sport equipment to a paintball harness according to claim 21, wherein the at least one of the second magnetic portion or the magnetically attractable insert is embedded in the sleeve.
30. A method of attaching an item of paintball sport equipment to a paintball harness, comprising:
- providing an item of paintball sport equipment;
- providing the paintball harness with at least one receiving portion for receiving the item of paintball sport equipment;
- providing at least one of the receiving portion and the item of paintball sport equipment with at least one first magnetic portion; and
- providing the other of the receiving portion and the item of paintball sport equipment with at least one of a second magnetic portion or a magnetically attractable insert, wherein the at least one second magnetic portion or the magnetically attractable insert is positioned to magnetically engage the at least one first magnetic portion when the item of paintball sport equipment is adjacent the receiving portion.
31. The method according to claim 30, wherein the at least one of the second magnetic portion or the magnetically attractable insert is a second magnetic portion which has a polarity opposite the polarity of the at least one first magnetic portion.
32. The method according to claim 30, wherein the receiving portion is a pocket.
33. The method according to claim 30, wherein the receiving portion is a recessed groove in a surface of the harness.
34. The method according to claim 33, wherein the surface of the groove has a shape that is complementary to a portion of a surface of the item of paintball sport equipment.
35. The method according to claim 30, wherein the receiving portion is a cradle extending from a surface of the harness.
36. The method according to claim 35, wherein at least a portion of the cradle has a shape complementary to a portion of a surface of the item of paintball sport equipment.
37. The method according to claim 30, wherein the at least one of the second magnetic portion or magnetically attractable insert is embedded in the item of paintball sport equipment.
38. The method according to claim 30, wherein the at least one first magnetic portion is embedded in the paintball harness.
39. The method according to claim 30, wherein the at least one of the second magnetic portion or the magnetically attractable insert is held within a sleeve placed about the item of paintball sport equipment.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 30, 2004
Publication Date: Jun 9, 2005
Applicant: National Paintball Supply, Inc. (Sewell, NJ)
Inventor: Louis Spicer (Mantua, NJ)
Application Number: 10/929,241