Device and method for containing projectiles
Embodiments of the invention include devices, systems, and methods for storing and dispensing paintballs or other projectiles, as well as the projectiles and devices for firing the projectiles. The device or system containing the paintballs or projectiles may be opened by application of a force to an actuator remote from an opening through which paintballs or projectiles are passed.
The present invention is related generally to containing objects, and more specifically, embodiments of the present invention are directed toward containing or storing projectiles or to mechanisms or methods of dispensing projectiles.
BACKGROUNDDevices for firing projectiles are limited in their ability to store projectiles. Therefore, it is common to have secondary caches of projectiles available in some other container or storage device. With firearms, for example, a magazine or “clip” of ammunition is provided that is detachable from a weapon.
Another example is found in the sport of paintball. In the sport of paintball, the device for firing projectiles is sometimes called a “marker.” The marker has a reservoir in which a number of projectiles, or “paintballs,” are held prior to being fired from the marker.
Because many more paintballs may be used in the course of a paintball contest than can be stored in the reservoir 101 of the marker 100, players carry secondary caches of paintballs. Because the contest is played at a very fast pace, and because a player must always be aware of players on the opposing team who may shoot paintballs at the player, it is a significant advantage to be able to load paintballs 102 into the reservoir 101 of the marker 100 quickly, and to do so while maintaining concentration on the game.
One common type of secondary cache, or container, used by those skilled in the game of paintball is a called a “pod.” A pod is a generally cylindrical container with a hinged lid at one end. A pod of the prior art is typically opened by applying a force directly to the hinged lid. A prior art pod is therefore difficult to open with one hand because the one hand would have to be used to both grip the pod and apply a force to the hinged lid. While applying force to the lid, a player's grip on the pod tends to slip. Failure to grip the pod may result in dropping the pod and its contents. To ensure predictable opening, some players will grip the pod with one hand and pull open the lid with the other hand, or release the lid by hooking it on an article of clothing, the marker, or some other object. However, use of both hands or secondary objects reduces a player's ability to concentrate on the surrounding environment, removes his hands from his marker, and increases the amount of time required to load projectiles.
Many prior art projectile containers or caches for other types of firing devices are similarly lacking in their design to enable a user to quickly and efficiently store and deliver projectiles from a container or cache to the device operable to fire the projectiles.
SUMMARYAn embodiment of the invention is a container for storing and dispensing paintballs. The container may include at least a vessel with an opening and a closure device operable to selectively cover at least a portion of the opening. An actuator that is operable to move the closure device away from at least a portion of the opening by application of a force to the actuator at a portion of the container remote from the opening is coupled to the vessel.
Another embodiment of the invention is a system for storing projectiles and for dispensing projectiles into a device operable to fire the projectiles. The system may include at least multiple projectiles, a vessel with an opening, the vessel containing the projectiles, and a closure device operable to selectively cover at least a portion of the opening. The system may also include an actuator operable to move the closure device away from at least a portion of the opening by application of a force to the actuator at a location remote from the opening.
Still another embodiment of the invention is a device for storing and dispensing paintballs that may include at least multiple paintballs, a vessel with an opening and an associated closure device, the vessel containing the multiple paintballs, and a means for moving at least a portion of the closure device away from the opening. In some embodiments, when the closure device is moved away from at least a portion of the opening, the multiple paintballs may be poured from the device.
Yet another embodiment of the invention is a method of dispensing projectiles from a container. The method may include at least the acts of controlling the container and applying a force to an actuator portion of the container remote from an opening in the container. One or more of the projectiles may then be removed from the container.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring to
The illustrated embodiment shows a hinged lid serving as the closure device 4. In other embodiments, the closure device 4 may be a sliding mechanism, a pivoting mechanism, may have multiple components that cooperate to provide a closure, or may be of any other operable configuration to provide closure to the opening 3. The closure device 4 shown operates by moving at least in part away from a plane containing the opening 3. In other embodiments, the closure device 4 may operate to reveal the opening 3 by operation within the plane of the opening 3, or by some other mechanism or by movement in some other direction.
An actuator 5 is coupled to the vessel 2. As illustrated, the actuator 5 is a curved rod that penetrates a portion of the vessel 2. The penetration of the vessel by the actuator 5 is better illustrated in
As illustrated, the actuator 5 in operation moves the closure device 4 away from at least a portion of the opening 3 by application of a force F to the actuator 5 at a portion of the container 1 remote from the opening 3.
The force F illustrated in
As shown in
With any of the embodiments of the invention described or implied in the preceding disclosure, multiple projectiles, or in particular, paintballs, may be included as part of the invention. The type of projectile may vary, without limitation, according to the needs presented by the gun or marker used to fire the projectile, the type of game played, the target presented, the type of projectile preferred, etc.
Embodiments of the invention are employed to dispense projectiles from a vessel, or container, by at least controlling the container, applying a force to an actuator portion of the container remote from an opening in the container, and removing the projectiles from the container. For example, a container 1, as illustrated in
The act of removing one or more of the projectiles from the container may include pouring the projectiles from the container, grasping projectiles singly or in groups and placing the projectiles in another location, or any other act effective to remove the projectiles. One, some, or all of the projectiles may be removed from the container in one or more acts of removing the projectiles.
Embodiments of the invention enable the container to be closed without dispensing all of the projectiles held in the container. For example, by applying a force to the closure device 4 illustrated in
In some embodiments of the invention, the closure device is operable either by applying a force to an actuator portion remote from the opening covered by the closure device, or by applying a force directly to the closure device. Such an embodiment allows a user of the container to choose the method of operation or to alternate between methods of operation.
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and description, the preceding are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character.
Claims
1. A container for storing and dispensing paintballs comprising:
- a vessel with an opening;
- a closure device operable to selectively cover at least a portion of the opening; and
- an actuator coupled to the vessel;
- wherein the actuator is operable to move the closure device away from at least a portion of the opening by application of a force to the actuator at a portion of the container remote from the opening.
2. The container of claim 1 wherein the vessel has a generally cylindrical perimeter.
3. The container of claim 1 wherein the vessel has a generally frusto-conical portion adjacent to the closure device.
4. The container of claim 1 wherein the closure device is a hinged lid.
5. The container of claim 1 wherein the closure device when operated moves at least in part away from the plane of the opening.
6. The container of claim 1 wherein the actuator is coupled to the vessel by penetrating a portion of the vessel.
7. The container of claim 1 wherein the actuator is a rod extending from the closure device to a portion of the container remote from the opening.
8. The container of claim 1 wherein the actuator includes a generally annular grip extending substantially around the vessel.
9. The container of claim 1 wherein the force applied to the actuator is a linear force.
10. The container of claim 1 wherein the force applied to the actuator is a twisting force.
11. The container of claim 1 wherein a force may be applied to the actuator and a force may be applied to the closure device to move the closure device away from at least a portion of the opening.
12. A system for storing projectiles and for dispensing projectiles into a device operable to fire the projectiles comprising:
- multiple projectiles;
- a vessel with an opening, the vessel containing the projectiles;
- a closure device operable to selectively cover at least a portion of the opening; and
- an actuator operable to move the closure device away from at least a portion of the opening by application of a force to the actuator at a location remote from the opening.
13. The system of claim 12 wherein the multiple projectiles are paintballs.
14. The system of claim 12 wherein the closure device is a hinged lid.
15. The system of claim 12 wherein the closure device when operated moves at least in part away from the plane of the opening.
16. The system of claim 12 wherein the actuator is coupled to the vessel by penetrating a portion of the vessel.
17. The system of claim 12 wherein the actuator is a rod extending from the closure device to a portion of the container remote from the opening.
18. The system of claim 12 wherein the actuator includes a generally annular grip extending substantially around the vessel.
19. The system of claim 12 wherein the force applied to the actuator is a linear force.
20. The system of claim 12 wherein the force applied to the actuator is a twisting force.
21. The system of claim 12 wherein a force may be applied to the actuator and a force may be applied to the closure device to move the closure device away from at least a portion of the opening.
22. The system of claim 12 further comprising the device for firing the projectiles.
23. A device for storing and dispensing paintballs comprising:
- multiple paintballs;
- a vessel with an opening and an associated closure device, the vessel containing the multiple paintballs; and
- a means for moving at least a portion of the closure device away from the opening;
- wherein when the closure device is moved away from at least a portion of the opening the multiple paintballs may be poured from the device.
24. A method of dispensing projectiles from a container comprising the acts of:
- controlling the container;
- applying a force to an actuator portion of the container remote from an opening in the container; and
- removing one or more projectiles from the container.
25. The method of claim 24 wherein the act of removing the projectiles from the container includes pouring the projectiles from the container.
26. The method of claim 24 further comprising applying a second force to close the container when less than all of the projectiles have been removed from the container.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 18, 2004
Publication Date: May 18, 2006
Inventors: Gary Zambito (Collierville, TN), Christian Patterson (Memphis, TN)
Application Number: 10/992,442
International Classification: F41F 1/00 (20060101);