Abstract:
A Paint Ball Loading Device includes a storage tube and a shutter head to allow the user to quickly and easily reload a paint ball gun. The shutter head of the Paint Ball Loading Device contains a series of shutters which may be moved from a closed to an open position by simply inserting the shutter head into the paint ball gun hopper and turning the storage tube. The Paint Ball Loading Device also contains a locking mechanism to prevent the shutters from opening unexpectedly.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/227,137, currently co-pending, and herein fully incorporated by this reference. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to paint ball gun accessories. More specifically, the present invention pertains to a paint ball loading device. The present invention is particularly, though not exclusively, useful for rapidly filling a paint ball gun hopper.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Paint ball guns generally utilize a top mounted hopper to supply the gun with ammunition. The capacity of the gun depends upon the size of the hopper. A larger hopper carries more paint balls, however a smaller hopper is lighter and presents a smaller target for the opposing team. Either way, a common experience while using a paint ball gun, is running out of ammunition. When this happens in the middle of a competition, a player can be left defenseless. The longer the player spends reloading, the longer the player is vulnerable to the other team. Currently, reloading a paint ball gun is accomplished using capped tubes containing paint balls. In order to refill the paint ball gun hopper the user must grab the tube, remove the lid, fill the hopper, replace the lid, and then stow the tube. Therefore, reloading is a difficult task to accomplish with one hand.  
           [0004]    Consequently, there is a need for a paint ball loading device which is able to rapidly fill a paint ball gun hopper. Such a loading device would prevent extended periods of vulnerability by allowing the user to reload quickly.  
           [0005]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a Paint Ball Loading Device which is able to rapidly fill a paint ball gun hopper. It is another object of the present invention to provide a Paint Ball Loading Device which can be used with one hand. It is another object of the present invention to provide a Paint Ball Loading Device with a clear storage tube to enable a user to easily determine if the Paint Ball Loading Device is full. It is another object of the present invention to provide a Paint Ball Loading Device which may be removably attached to a paint ball gun hopper, to extend the capacity of the paint ball gun hopper (TO GO WITH OPTIONAL INSERT FOR PAINT BALL HOPPER).  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    In accordance with the present invention, a Paint Ball Loading Device is provided and includes a storage tube and a shutter head. The shutter head contains shutters which may be opened or closed in order to transfer paint balls from the Paint Ball Loading Device to the gun hopper. The Paint Ball Loading Device may be used to quickly and easily reload a paint ball gun hopper.  
           [0007]    The Paint Ball Loading Device as described above will overcome the disadvantages of current reloading methods. For example, the Paint Ball Loading Device will greatly shorten periods of vulnerability by allowing a use to reload quickly. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0008]    The novel features of this invention, as well as the invention itself, both as to its structure and its operation, will be best understood from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description, in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, and in which:  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of the Paint Ball Loading Device of the present invention, shown with a paint ball gun hopper;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is a cross sectional perspective view of the Paint Ball Loading Device of the present invention taken along line  2 - 2  of FIG. 1;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a shutter of the Paint Ball Loading Device of the present invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the Paint Ball Loading Device of the present invention, showing the shutters in a fully closed position;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 is a top view of the shutter base of the Paint Ball Loading Device;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the shutter base of the Paint Ball Loading Device showing the shutters attached and fully closed;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the Paint Ball Loading Device showing the operation of the locking assembly, taken along line  2 - 2  of FIG. 1. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]    Referring initially to FIG. 1, Paint Ball Loading Device  100  is shown and includes storage tube  102 , shutter head  104 , and opening  106 . Storage tube  102  is a hollow tube, capped at end  108  and attached to shutter head  104  at the other end. Storage tube  102  may be filled with paint balls (not shown) through opening  106  of shutter head  104 . Paint Ball Loading Device  100  may be used to fill paint ball hopper  110  with paint balls by inserting shutter head  104  into hopper opening  112  and turning storage tube  102  in direction  114 . This causes shutters  116  to open, discussed in connection with FIG. 2. The opening of shutters  116  allows paint balls to flow from storage tube  102  into paint ball hopper  110  through opening  106 .  
         [0017]    In a preferred embodiment, tube  102  may be constructed of clear plastic, to allow a user to visually determine whether Paint Ball Loading Device  100  is full or empty. However, tube  102  may also be constructed of opaque plastic or any other material of similar weight and strength. Furthermore, In a preferred embodiment, tube  102  is of such a size that it holds enough paint balls to fill a standard hopper. Although it should be noted that tube  102  may be of larger or smaller size. Also, shutter head  104  and shutters  116  may be constructed of plastic. However, shutter head  104  and shutters  116  may instead be constructed of any material well known in the art that has similar strength.  
         [0018]    Referring next to FIG. 2, a cross sectional view of the Paint Ball Loading Device of the present invention is shown and includes storage tube  102  and shutter head  104 . Shutter head  104  includes shutters  116 , shutter base  118 , and shutter cover  120 . Shutters  116  includes pin notch  117 . Shutter base  118  includes lower vertical portion  122 , lip  124 , horizontal portion  126 , upper vertical portion  128 , locking tab catch  130 , and tab notch  131 . Shutter cover  120  includes horizontal portion  132 , pin  134 , locking tab  136 , and upper portion  138 . Shutter base  118  is affixed to storage tube  102  by inserting storage tube  102  inside of lower vertical portion  122  of shutter base  118 . Storage tube  102  rests upon lip  124 , and, in a preferred embodiment, may be glued to the interior wall of lower vertical portion  122  of shutter base  118 . However, it is important to note that storage tube  102  may also be fastened to shutter base  118  by any means well known in the art. Shutter cover  120  is held in place by locking tab catch  130 , and is positioned so that pins  134  rest within locking pin notches  117  of shutters  116 . Shutter cover  120  is not affixed to shutter base  118 , but may rotate in, and opposite to, direction  114 . By rotating shutter cover  120  relative to shutter base  118 , shutters  116  move from open position, shown in FIG. 1, to closed position, shown in conjunction with FIG. 4. When shutter cover  120  is rotated, pins  132  also move, and due to the shape of pin notches  117 , shutters  116  are moved from an opened position to a closed position. It is important to note that either shutter cover  120 , or shutter base  118  may be moved in a circular motion in order to open or close shutters  116 . It is also important to note that since Paint Ball Loading Device  100  uses pins  116  and pin notches  117  to open and close opening  106 , no gears or additional parts are needed. This prevents Paint Ball Loading Device  100  from jamming due to dirt and debris.  
         [0019]    Referring now to FIG. 3, a top perspective view of shutter  116  is shown and includes pin notch  117 , pivot hole  140 , top edge  142 , front edge  144 , and outer edge  146 . Shutter  116  is attached to shutter base  118  at pivot hole  140 , discussed in conjunction with FIG. 6.  
         [0020]    Referring to FIG. 4, a top view of shutter cover  120  shown with shutters  116  in the fully closed position. When shutters  116  are in the fully closed position, top edge  142  of one shutter  116  is in contact with front edge of an adjacent shutter  116 , so that shutters  116  interlock to completely seal off opening  106 . Further, shutter cover  120  includes ribs  148 . Ribs  148  are important for locating and locking shutter cover  120  into hopper  110 . ALSO, FOR FUTURE INCLUSION, RIBS  148  CONTAIN MECHANISM FOR LOCKING SHUTTER COVER TO OPTIONAL HOPPER INSERT.  
         [0021]    Referring now to FIG. 5, a top view of shutter base  118  is shown and includes lower vertical portion  122 , lip  124 , horizontal portion  126 , upper vertical portion  128 , spring pin  150 , and strut  152 . Spring pins  150  provides pressure against the underside of shutter cover  120 , and form an essential part of the locking mechanism of Paint Ball Loading Device  100 , discussed in conjunction with FIG. 7. Strut  152  provide additional gripping surfaces, as well as structural support to shutter base  118 .  
         [0022]    Referring now to FIG. 6, the inside of shutter base  118  is shown with attached shutters  116 . Shutters  116  are removably attached to shutter pivots  154  by inserting shutter pivots  154  into pivot hole  140  of shutter  116 . Shutters  116  are then able to rotate in direction  156 , about the axis of shutter pivots  154 . By rotating shutters  116  in direction  156 , shutters  116  are moved from closed position, shown here, to open position, shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0023]    Referring next to FIG. 7, a cross-sectional view of the Paint Ball Loading Device  100  shows the locking mechanism of the present invention. The locking mechanism of the present invention includes locking pins  150 , locking tab catches  130 , and locking tabs  136 . Locking pins  150  provide pressure against shutter cover  120  in direction  158 . This pressure keeps locking tab  136  within tab notch  131  of locking tab catch  130 . When locking tab  136  is within tab notch  131 , shutter cover  120  is unable to rotate in direction  114 , shown in FIG. 2. As noted in the discussion pertaining to FIG. 2, it is the rotation of shutter cover  120  that causes shutters  116  to open and close. By preventing shutter cover  120  from moving relative to shutter base  118 , shutters  116  are held in either the open or shut position. By pressing shutter cover  120  in the direction opposite to direction  158 , locking tab  136  is disengaged from locking tab catch  130 , and shutter cover  120  is able to freely rotate.  
         [0024]    While the Paint Ball Loading Device of the present invention as herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of obtaining and providing the advantages herein before stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of a preferred embodiment of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as described in the appended claims.