Hopper shroud for paintball guns

Abstract

A shroud made of a resilient, form fitting material reinforces and stabilizes the attachment of a hopper to the feed chute of a paintball gun. The shroud includes a main body sized and configured to at least partially surround and snugly engage the exterior of the hopper. Straps extend from the main body and are adapted to be adjustably secured about the barrel of the paintball gun using cooperatively positioned releasable fasteners so that the straps and main body are pulled taut about the hopper and paintball gun barrel.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to releasable and adjustable securing devices which wrap about two or more components and, more particularly, to a protective and resilient shroud which at least partially covers the hopper of a paintball gun and straps around the barrel of the gun to reinforce and stabilize the attachment of the hopper to the feed chute of a paintball gun.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

Paintball is becoming an increasing popular activity for a wide variety of people, both male and female, ranging from young teenagers to older adults. Typically formatted as a team activity in a simulated game of “warfare”, wherein the usual goal is to capture the opponent team's flag, paintball is highly competitive in nature and requires considerable mental and physical skills. Paintball guns, once rather simplistic in design and operation, are now more sophisticated and are designed to simulate various firearm weapons. Many of the newer paintball guns are considerably expensive. One of the trends in the sport of paintball is to provide rapid, semi-automatic firing of paintballs from the paintball gun. The magazines used to load bullets or ammunition rounds in traditional firearms are not suited to hold paintballs. Accordingly, feed hoppers have been adapted for connection to paintball guns for supplying a continuous feed of paintballs to the firing chamber of the paintball gun. A variety of hoppers are available on the market in different sizes and shapes, some of which can hold several hundred paintballs. All of these hoppers have an enlarged chamber and a somewhat narrow neck which extends from a bottom of the enlarged chamber. The neck on these hoppers is specifically sized and structured for attachment to a fitting on the top of the paint gun barrel surrounding the feed chute. The hopper provides a gravity feed wherein paintballs in the enlarged holding chamber naturally (i.e. by gravity) move into the neck, in vertical linear arrangement, and then sequentially into the feed chute and firing chamber of the paintball gun.

While hoppers have proven to beg effective in providing rapid and sequential supply of paintballs to the firing chamber of paintball guns, thereby enabling semi-automatic firing of paintballs from the gun, problems have resulted in the attachment of the hopper to the paintball gun, primarily due to the structure of the relatively narrow neck of hoppers. In particular, the hopper can come loose, wobbly, or even fall off of the gun as a result of the stresses that arise during the game (e.g. running, jumping, diving to the ground, etc.). The present invention seeks to address this problem by providing a resilient and adjustable shroud that reinforces and stabilizes the attachment of the hopper to the paintball gun. In particular, a shroud formed of a resilient, form fitting material, such as neoprene, wraps around the hopper. Straps with hook and loop type fasteners adjustably tighten the attachment of the shroud about the paintball gun barrel and the hopper, thereby discouraging twisting, turning or wobbling movement of the hopper relative to the paintball gun and otherwise holding the hopper in fixed, secure position on the paintball gun. The resilient, stretchable and form fitting nature of the shroud allows the invention to be used on a variety of paintball guns and hoppers.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

Considering the foregoing, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a removable and adjustable device which reinforces and stabilizes the attachment of a hopper to a paintball gun.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a resilient shroud which is structured and disposed to at least partially surround the hopper and adjustably secure under and about the barrel of a paintball gun to stabilize the hopper on the paintball gun.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a removable and adjustable device which stabilizes a hopper on a paintball gun so that the hopper doesn't inadvertently turn, twist or wobble relative to the paintball gun, particularly during play.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a resilient shroud device which reinforces and stabilizes the attachment of a hopper to a paintball gun and which substantially reduces the likelihood of the hopper from breaking or becoming separated from the paintball gun.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a resilient and stylish hopper shroud for a paintball gun which enhances the overall esthetic appearance of the paintball gun and hopper assembly.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a resilient hopper shroud for a paintball gun which provides an impact absorbing feature to reduce the chance of a paintball bursting upon striking the shroud covering the hopper, and thereby potentially saving a paintball player from elimination during a competition.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are more readily apparent with reference to the detailed description and accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a shroud for use on a paintball gun in order to reinforce the attachment of a hopper to the feed chute of the paintball gun. In various preferred embodiments, the shroud is manufactured of one or more resilient materials which allow the shroud to stretch and conform to the exterior configuration of the hopper. More particularly, the shroud includes a main body which is sized and configured to at least partially surround and snugly engage the exterior surface of the hopper. The shroud further includes straps which extend from the main body. The straps are adapted to be adjustably secured under the barrel of the paintball gun with the straps pulled taut and wrapping at least partially around the sides of the barrel. In several preferred embodiments, the shroud includes forward strap extensions and rear strap extensions. The forward strap extensions are adapted to be secured and adjustably tightened under the barrel of the paintball gun, forward of the trigger assembly. The rear strap segments are adapted to be secured and adjustably tightened under the protruding butt end of the gun, rearward of the handle and trigger assembly. Cooperatively positioned releasable fasteners, such as hook and loop type fasteners, are provided on both the forward and rear strap extensions to permit releasable and adjustable fastening and tightening of the strap extensions about the barrel of the gun so that the straps and main body of the shroud are pulled taut about the hopper and paintball gun barrel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top front perspective view illustrating the shroud of the present invention secured about a hopper and barrel on a paintball gun;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom, side perspective view showing a further embodiment of the shroud of the present invention secured about the hopper and barrel of a paintball gun, wherein front and rear securing straps are slotted to provide for crossing arrangement of the straps;

FIG. 4 is a top, front perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view illustrating an alternative embodiment of the shroud of the present invention, shown removed from the hopper and paintball gun;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of still a further embodiment of the shroud which is similar to the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the embodiment of FIG. 6 shown with the rear strap extension removed from the main body to illustrate the manner of construction of the hopper shroud during manufacture;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the main body and forward strap extensions of the embodiment of FIG. 6, with left and right halves of the body shown separated to demonstrate the manner of assembly of the main body during manufacture; and

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the rear strap extensions of the embodiment of FIG. 6.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, the shroud of the present invention is shown in working relationship with both a paintball gun G and a hopper H, wherein the shroud is generally indicated as 10. The paintball gun G includes a handle and trigger arrangement 1, a barrel 2 and a fitting 3 at the opening of a feed chute communicating with the firing chamber in the barrel of the gun G. The hopper H has an enlarged body 4 surrounding an interior chamber for holding a supply of paintballs therein. A hollow neck 5 extends downwardly from the body 4 and communicates with the interior chamber. The bottom portion of the neck is adapted to be threadably secured to the fitting 3 to hold the hopper H on the paintball gun G in a manner which directs paintballs contained in the chamber of the hopper into the firing chamber of the gun, by gravity feed, thereby allowing sequential feed and rapid fire of paintballs from the gun. An access door 7 on the hopper opens to permit loading of paintballs into the holding chamber.

The shroud 10 is formed of a resilient, form fitting material which allows the shroud to stretch and conform to the exterior configuration of the hopper H and gun barrel 2. In one preferred embodiment, the shroud 10 is made of a neoprene material, similar to that used in the manufacture of wetsuits. Other resilient materials may be used in the manufacture of the shroud 10, and virtually any suitable resilient material is contemplated within the spirit and scope of the invention.

The specific structural design, shape and overall configuration of the shroud 10 may vary, as demonstrated by the various embodiments throughout the drawings. As seen throughout the drawings, and initially with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the shroud 10 includes a main body 12 which is sized, structured and configured to at least partially enshroud and snugly engage the exterior surface of the hopper H and particularly the enlarged body 4. To this extent, the main body 12 of the shroud 10 is shaped to form a pocket which receives the enlarged body 4 of the hopper H therein, so that the main body 12 of the shroud 10 tightly wraps about the hopper, and particularly the upper and side surfaces of the enlarged body, while maintaining the access door 7 uncovered and exposed so that the access door 7 can be periodically opened, as necessary, to reload paintballs into the hopper H.

The shroud 10 is further provided with securing straps 14 which extend from the main body 12. The securing straps are specifically structured and arranged to wrap under and about the sides of the barrel of the paintball gun so that the straps are pulled taught between the barrel and hopper. To facilitate releasable and adjustable attachment and tightening of the straps about the gun barrel, cooperating releasable fasteners are provided on the distal end positions of the straps. In a preferred embodiment, hook and loop type fasteners are provided on the distal end portions of opposing strap extensions under and for adjustably tightening the strap extensions under and about the sides of the barrel 2 of the paintball gun G. In the embodiments shown FIGS. 1-4 and 6-9, the shroud is provided with forward strap extensions 16, 17 and rear strap extensions 18, 19. The forward strap extensions 16, 17 are adapted to extend down from the hopper H and around the underside of the barrel 2 of the gun G forward of the handle and trigger assembly 1. Cooperating releasable fasteners, such as hook and loop type fasteners may be provided on the lower portions of the forward strap extensions 16, 17 to permit releasable fastening and adjustable tightening of the strap extensions 16, 17 to one another once secured under the gun barrel 2. Similarly, strap extensions 18 and 19 extend downwardly from the hopper H and rearwardly for fastening under the protruding butt end of the gun barrel, behind the handle and trigger assembly 1. The rear strap extensions 18, 19 are also provided with cooperating releasable fastening means, such as hook and loop type fasteners, to permit releasable attachment and adjustable tightening of the strap extensions 18, 19 under the gun barrel 2, rearward of the handle and trigger assembly 1, as clearly depicted in FIGS. 1-4.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate an alternative arrangement of the forward strap extensions 16, 17 and the rear strap extensions 18, 19. Specifically, the forward strap extension 16 is provided with a slot which may be reinforced with a plastic or other rigid material frame to prevent tearing of the resilient material. The slot 20 is specifically sized and positioned to permit crossing passage of strap extension 17 therethrough, with the strap extensions 16, 17 extending under the gun barrel 2 for secure and tight fastening thereabout, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Similarly, the rear strap extension 18 is provided with a slot 22 which also may be reinforced with a plastic or other rigid material frame. The slot 22 is specifically sized and positioned to permit crossing passage of strap extension 19 therethrough with the strap extensions 18, 19 wrapping under the gun barrel 2, rearward of the handle and trigger assembly 1 for secure and tightened fastening, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Referring to FIGS. 6-9, a variation of the embodiment of FIG. 1 is shown. In this embodiment (FIGS. 6-9), the forward strap extensions 16, 17 are integrally formed with the main body and secured together by stitching, at areas indicated by the ovals 30 in FIG. 8. The rear strap extensions 18, 19 are stitched to the main body along the sides, as seen in FIG. 7, at the top ends, as indicated by the oval 40 in FIG. 9. The main body 12 consists of two symmetrical halves 12a, 12b that are stitched together along the top edges within the oval 50 in FIG. 8. Finally, the back end of the two halves of the main body is stitched along the edges within oval 60 in FIG. 8. The distal end zones of rear strap extensions 18, 19 are provided with releasable fastening means 34, 36, such as hook and loop type fasteners.

It is noted that other well known and suited releasable fastening means may be used to fasten the strap extension 16, 17 and 18, 19 in lieu of hook and loop type fasteners. Moreover, the securing straps 14 may be formed as a single, continuous loop extending from the main body 12 in either of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-2 and 3-4.

FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of the invention wherein the shroud is generally indicated as 110. Similar to the embodiments described above, the shroud 110 is made of a resilient material, such as neoprene. The shroud 110 shown in FIG. 5 includes a hopper engaging portion 112 which defines a main body of the shroud. The hopper engaging portion 112 includes an inner hopper area 114 and a hopper adjustment strap 116. Inner hopper area 114 is of a sufficient size to fairly snugly engage hopper H. Hopper adjustment strap 116 is pulled and engages the cooperating releasable fastener located on the hopper engaging portion outer surface 118. In the embodiment described herein, these cooperating engagement areas 120, 122 are hook and loop type fasteners. It should be emphasized that many other complementary, releasable engagement means could be employed. The adjustment strap 116 more closely conforms the hopper engaging portion 112 with hopper H.

The shroud 110 further includes a feed neck engaging portion 130 having an outer surface 132. Attached to the outer surface 132 is feed neck engaging strap 134. As in the hopper engaging portion 112, described above, the neck engaging portion outer surface 132 and neck engaging strap 134 have cooperating releasable engagement areas 136,138 provided with hook and loop type fasteners. The feed neck engaging portion 130 is also provided with a stabilizer 140. The stabilizer 140 is formed of a thicker material or a rigid collar, such as a plastic collar, located approximate the feed chute of the gun. The rigid stabilizer 140 is specifically structured to discourage wobbling of the hopper H relative to the gun.

Lastly, distal to the hopper engaging portion 112 are the gun barrel engaging straps 150, 152. These straps are provided with cooperating releasable engagement portions 154,156. In a preferred embodiment, these releasable engagement portions are hook and loop type fasteners, although other releasable fasteners are contemplated. Straps 150, 152 are wrapped securely about the gun barrel 2 to secure the hopper H fixed firmly in attachment with the gun G so that turning, twisting or wobbling of the hopper H is discouraged.

While the instant invention has been shown and described in accordance with a preferred and practical embodiment thereof, it is recognized that departures from the instant disclosure are contemplated within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A shroud for use on a paintball gun having a barrel, a firing chamber in the barrel, a feed chute on the top of the barrel and communicating with the firing chamber, and a hopper with an enlarged body for holding a supply of paintballs therein and a hollow neck extending down from the enlarged body and being attachable to the feed chute for delivery of the paintballs from the enlarged body of the hopper into the feed chute and within the firing chamber, said shroud comprising:

a main body sized, structured and configured to at least partially surround and snuggly engage the enlarged body of the hopper; and

at least one strap extending from said main body and being structured and disposed to be pulled taut between the main body of the shroud on the hopper and the paintball gun to hold the neck of the hopper in the feed chute and reinforce the attachment of the hopper to the feed chute of the paintball gun and to discourage movement of the hopper relative to the paintball gun.

2. The shroud as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

a forward strap and a rear strap for reinforcing the attachment of the hopper to the feed chute of the paintball gun.

3. The shroud as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least one strap is structured and disposed to extend under the barrel of the paintball gun.

4. The shroud as recited in claim 3 wherein said at least one strap includes a left strap extension and a right strap extension, said left and right strap extensions extending from said main body and terminating at distal end portions, and said distal end portions of said left and right strap extensions including cooperating releasable fasteners for securing said distal end portions of said left and right strap extensions together with said left and right strap extensions pulled taut and about the under side of the barrel of the paintball gun.

5. The shroud as recited in claim 2 wherein said rear strap includes a rear left strap extension and a rear right strap extension, and said rear left and right strap extensions including cooperating releasable fasteners for securing and adjustably tightening said rear left and right strap extensions so that said rear left and right strap extensions are pulled taut between the shroud and the paintball gun.

6. The shroud as recited in claim 5 wherein said rear left and right strap extensions are structured and disposed to wrap and secure about the underside of the barrel of the paintball gun.

7. The shroud as recited in claim 2 wherein said forward strap includes a forward left strap extension and a forward right strap extension, and said forward left and right strap extensions including cooperating releasable fasteners for securing an adjustably tightening said forward left and right strap extensions so that said forward left and right strap extensions are pulled taut between the shroud and the paintball gun.

8. The shroud as recited in claim 7 wherein said forward left and right strap extensions are structured and disposed to wrap and secure about the underside of the barrel of the paintball gun.