Abstract:
A paint ball grenade includes a base having a chamber for holding a compressed gas, an outer housing mounted on the base, the outer housing including guides through which fluid communication is provided between an interior and exterior of the outer housing, each guide releasably holding a paint ball, a valve arrangement for blocking fluid communication between the chamber and the interior of the housing in a first position and for permitting fluid communication between the chamber and the interior of the housing in a second position, an actuator for opening the valve arrangement to provide fluid communication between the chamber and the interior of the housing to eject the paint balls from the guides, and a reed valve separately associated with each guide for substantially preventing further supply of the compressed gas through each guide after the paint ball therein has been ejected.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the paint ball shooting devices, and more particularly, is directed to a paint ball grenade that can simultaneously shoot a plurality of paint balls. 
     In the game of paint ball, each person has a gun that shoots tiny balls of paint at another person. When a paint ball impacts, the paint from the paint ball splatters against the person who is shot. However, in many times, a person would like to hit multiple people with paint balls at the same time. This may happen, for example, when a person is in close proximity to multiple players from an opposing team. However, this is extremely difficult with a single paint ball gun. 
     Although the concept of providing multiple projectiles from a grenade is known from U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,944,521; 5,877,448; and 5,996,503, these devices rely on a mechanical pin being pulled and/or a lever operated in order to rupture a compressed gas cylinder in the interior of the grenade so that the compressed gas from the cylinder operates to eject the paint balls. Various ones of these devices also provide a delayed firing arrangement. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,521 discloses the use of plugs in the passages leading to the paint balls to provide a delay in the firing of the paint balls from the release of the compressed gas. This, however, relies on the friction of the plugs in the passages, which can vary, and therefore, the delay time can be difficult to gauge. U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,503 uses a plunger connected with the handle lever to provide the delay. However, this device relies on suction of the plunger, which will vary depending upon such conditions as temperature, humidity, etc., and is therefore not very reliable. 
     In addition, with all of these devices, if one paint ball is ejected prior to the others, there will be much less resistance in the passageway leading to that paint ball. As a result, the compressed gas will travel along the path of least resistance, namely, the passageway corresponding to the first paint ball that had been fired. Accordingly, the other paint balls may not be fired. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a paint ball grenade that overcomes the problems with the aforementioned prior art. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a paint ball grenade which will simultaneously shoot a plurality of paint balls. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a paint ball grenade that has a timer mechanism in order to delay firing and give the person activating the grenade time to retreat. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a paint ball grenade that can be remotely detonated. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a paint ball grenade that does not require a separate canister of compressed gas inside the device, but rather, provides a rechargeable base, along with a valve arrangement which can be opened to permit the compressed gas to flow through and eject the paint balls. 
     It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a paint ball grenade which uses a chemical reaction to produce the dual effect of driving a piston down in order to open the valve arrangement and permit the flow of compressed air, and also acting as a timer mechanism. 
     It is a yet further object of the present invention to provide a paint ball grenade having reed valves associated with the ejection of the paint balls so that after the initial blast of compressed air to eject each paint ball, the reed valve associated therewith is closed, thereby preventing the rapid escape of unused compressed gas. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a paint ball grenade that is easy and economical to use and manufacture. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a paint ball grenade includes a base having a chamber for holding a compressed gas, an outer housing mounted on the base, the outer housing including a plurality of guides through which fluid communication is provided between an interior of the outer housing and an exterior of the outer housing, each guide adapted to releasably hold a paint ball, a valve arrangement for blocking fluid communication between the chamber and the interior of the housing in a first position and for permitting fluid communication between the chamber and the interior of the housing in a second position, and an actuator for opening the valve arrangement to provide fluid communication between the chamber and the interior of the housing such that the paint balls in the guides are ejected from the guides. 
     The valve arrangement includes a housing having an inlet opening in fluid communication with the chamber, an outlet opening in fluid communication with the interior of the outer housing, and a sealing member movable between the first position in blocking relation between the inlet and outlet openings and the second position out of the blocking relation between the inlet and outlet openings. The housing further includes a bore between the inlet and outlet openings, with the sealing member including a sealing piston slidably mounted in the bore. 
     The actuator includes a spring member positioned in the bore for biasing the sealing piston out of the bore to the second position. The actuator further includes a restraining abutment for maintaining the sealing member in the first position in blocking relation between the inlet and outlet openings, and a device for moving the restraining abutment such that the sealing member can move to the second position out of the blocking relation between the inlet and outlet openings. 
     The device for moving the restraining abutment includes a tower mounted on the base and positioned within the outer housing, a rod having one end connected with the restraining abutment, an actuating piston connected with an opposite end of the rod and movably mounted within the tower, and a piston driver for moving the actuating piston in the tower so that the restraining abutment moves with the actuating piston out of blocking relation to the sealing piston such that the sealing piston is biased by the spring member to the second position out of the blocking relation between the inlet and outlet openings. 
     The piston driver includes a device for mixing two ingredients to form a chemical reaction of an expanding gas to move the actuating piston such that the restraining abutment moves with a time delay with the actuating piston out of the blocking relation to the sealing piston. Preferably, the ingredients are vinegar and baking soda. Specifically, the device for mixing includes a device for breaking containers in the tower which hold one ingredient such that the one ingredient mixes with the other ingredient to form the chemical reaction. In a preferred embodiment, the device for breaking includes an upper closure member for the tower, a rod slidably mounted in the tower, and an enlarged head mounted to an end of the rod in the tower such that slidable movement of the rod crushes the containers between the upper closure member and the enlarged head so as to free the one ingredient from the containers. 
     In another embodiment, the actuating piston is replaced by a solenoid connected with an opposite end of the rod and mounted within the tower for reciprocally moving the rod so that the restraining abutment moves with the rod out of blocking relation to the sealing piston such that the sealing piston is biased by the spring member to the second position out of the blocking relation between the inlet and outlet openings. In order to remotely actuate the solenoid, a receiver is electrically connected with the solenoid for actuating the solenoid in response to a transmitted signal from a remote location. 
     In addition, the guides are mounted to an outer surface of the outer housing, and the outer housing includes a plurality of openings in alignment with the guides for providing the fluid communication between the interior of the outer housing and the exterior of the outer housing. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a paint ball grenade includes a supply of compressed gas, an outer housing including a plurality of guides through which fluid communication is provided between an interior of the outer housing and an exterior of the outer housing, each guide adapted to releasably hold a paint ball, an arrangement for supplying the compressed gas from the supply to the outer housing for ejecting the paint balls from the guides, and a valve arrangement separately associated with each guide for substantially preventing further supply of the compressed gas through each guide after the paint ball in the respective guide has been ejected therefrom. 
     The valve arrangement includes a reed valve associated with an inlet of each guide, the reed valve permitting fluid communication between the supply and the respective guide when a paint ball is positioned in the guide and which substantially prevents the fluid communication between the supply and the respective guide when the paint ball has been ejected from the guide. The valve arrangement further includes a pin connected with each reed valve for biasing the respective reed valve to an open position when a paint ball is positioned in the guide. 
     In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, a paint ball grenade includes a base having a chamber for holding a compressed gas, an outer housing mounted on the base, the outer housing including a plurality of guides through which fluid communication is provided between an interior of the outer housing and an exterior of the outer housing, each guide adapted to releasably hold a paint ball, a first valve arrangement for blocking fluid communication between the chamber and the interior of the housing in a first position and for permitting fluid communication between the chamber and the interior of the housing in a second position, an actuator for opening the first valve arrangement to provide fluid communication between the chamber and the interior of the housing such that the paint balls in the guides are ejected from the guides, and a second valve arrangement separately associated with each guide for substantially preventing further supply of the compressed gas through each guide after the paint ball in the respective guide has been ejected therefrom. 
     The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description thereof which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a paint ball grenade according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the base and tower assembly of the paint ball grenade of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the annular outer housing of the paint ball grenade of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the paint ball grenade of FIG. 1, prior to activation; 
     FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the paint ball grenade of FIG. 1, after activation; and 
     FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a paint ball grenade according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially to FIGS. 1-5, a paint ball grenade  10  according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes a hollow cylindrical base  12  defined by a bottom wall  14 , an annular side wall  16  and a top wall  18 , which define a chamber  20  therein that can be filled with pressurized or compressed gas or air through a one way valve  22  or the like in bottom wall  14 . 
     Four equi-angularly arranged housings  24  sit on the upper surface of top wall  18  of base  12 , and are secured thereto by any suitable means such as bolts  25 . As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, each housing  24  includes a rectangular lower section  26  and a rectangular upper section  28  formed integrally as a single piece with rectangular lower section  26  and formed on top of rectangular lower section  26 , with the radially directed dimensions of lower and upper sections  26  and  28  being the same and the tangentially directed dimension of lower section  26  being greater than the tangentially directed dimension of upper section  28 , although the present invention is not limited thereby. Bolts  25  extend through lower sections  26 . A cylindrical, radially directed bore  30  extends radially outward from the inner facing surface  32  of each housing  24 . 
     As shown best in FIG. 4, top wall  18  includes four openings  34  in alignment with and positioned below each housing  24 . An inlet opening  36  in each housing  24  fluidly connects the pressurized air in base  12  with radially directed bore  30 , via a respective opening  34 . Each housing  24  further includes an outlet opening  38  in the upper surface of upper section  28  which is in fluid communication with bore  30 . An O-ring  35  provides a seal between each housing  24  and top wall  18 . 
     In order to prevent the compressed air from escaping from inlet opening  36  to outlet opening  38 , a sealing piston  40  is slidably positioned for radial movement in each bore  30 . Each sealing piston  40  includes a sealing O-ring  42  near a radially outer end thereof, and which is in sealing engagement with the inner walls which define bore  30 . Thus, when piston  40  is in the position shown in FIG. 4, the compressed air is prevented from traveling to outlet opening  38 , and when piston  40  is in the position shown in FIG. 5, the compressed air is permitted to travel to outlet opening  38 . A coil spring  44  is positioned between the radial outer end of piston  40  and an inner wall which defines bore  30  to normally bias piston  40  toward the radial inward direction to the position of FIG.  5 . Bores  30 , inlet openings  36 , outlet openings  38  and sealing pistons  40  together form a valve arrangement. 
     A tower  46  is centrally mounted to the upper surface of top wall  18  and is surrounded by housings  24 . Specifically, tower  46  includes an annular stub post  48  fixedly secured to the center of the upper surface of top wall  18 , and has internal threads  50  at the upper end thereof. An elongated tube  52  has a lower short stub tube  54  secured to the inside of the lower end thereof and extending downwardly, with lower short stub tube  54  having external threads  56  at the lower end thereof for threaded engagement with internal threads  50  in order to releasably secure elongated tube  52  to annular stub post  48 . The upper surface of lower short stub tube  54  defines a shoulder  58  that functions as a stop, as will be understood from the description hereinafter. Elongated tube  52  further has an upper short stub tube  60  secured to the outside of the upper end thereof and extending upwardly, with upper short stub tube  60  having internal threads  62  at the upper end. 
     A piston  64  is slidably provided in the interior of elongated tube  52  and is sealed thereat by an O-ring  66 . O-ring  66  forms a friction fit with the inner surface of elongated tube  52  so as to retain piston  64  in one position until an external force is applied thereto. Alternatively, the entire outer surface of piston  64  can be in sliding engagement with the inner surface of elongated tube  52  and sealed thereby. In such case, piston  64  could be made from a rubber or other sealing material. A piston rod  68  has one end connected to piston  64  and the opposite end to a restraining abutment  70  which is initially positioned in line with sealing pistons  40  such that the radially inner ends of sealing pistons  40  are biased by coil springs  44  into engagement with restraining abutment  70 , as shown in FIG.  4 . In this position, sealing pistons  40  and O-rings  42  prevent the compressed air in base  12  from escaping through outlet openings  38 . The outer periphery of restraining abutment  70  can take any shape such as circular, square or the like. 
     It will be appreciated that, when piston  64  moves downwardly, restraining abutment  70  also moves downwardly therewith, out of alignment with sealing pistons  40 . As a result, coil springs  44  force sealing pistons  40  in a radial inward direction out of blocking relation to outlet openings  38  and preferably into engagement with piston rod  68 , as shown in FIG. 5, so that the compressed air in base  12  is permitted to pass very quickly through openings  34 , inlet openings  36 , bores  30  and outlet openings  38 . 
     An annular outer housing  72  is provided in surrounding relation to tower  46 . Outer housing  72  includes a lower housing section  74  which seats on the upper surface of top wall  18 , an annular wall  76  connected to the upper end of lower housing section  74  and an upper annular flange  78  connected to the upper end of annular wall  76 . 
     Lower housing section  74 , as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, is cut away at the bottom thereof to define open areas  80  which receive housings  24  when annular outer housing  72  seats on base  12 . A thin rubber sealing layer  82  is secured to the lower surface of lower housing section  74  to provide a seal between lower housing section  74  and the upper surface of top wall  18  of base  12 . 
     Annular wall  76  includes a plurality of radially directed openings  84 . Preferably, there are about fourteen to twenty openings  84 . Openings  84  are also preferably arranged in a plurality of columns extending around annular wall  76 , with two axially spaced apart openings  84  in each column, and with openings  84  in adjacent columns being axially offset from each other. However, the present invention is not so limited, and the number and positioning of openings  84  can vary within the scope of the present invention. 
     An annular passageway  86  exists between annular wall  76  and tower  46 . In this manner, the compressed air travels through outlet openings  38  into passageway  86 , and then out through openings  84  in order to eject paint balls, as will be explained in greater detail hereinafter. 
     A plurality of cylindrical paint ball retaining guides  88  are radially mounted to the outer surface of annular wall  76  in alignment with openings  84 . Because of the offset of openings  84 , guides  88  are likewise offset in the same manner, as shown in FIG. 1. A flexible reed valve  90  of rubber, plastic, metal or other suitable material has one end mounted to the inner surface of annular wall  76  in covering relation to each opening  84 . Reed valve  90  can be constructed to be normally pre-biased to a position to close the respective opening  84 , although this is not required by the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, each reed valve  90  can be moved in a radially inward direction so as to provide fluid communication between the respective opening  84  and passageway  86 . Although reed valves  90  are shown attached at only one end, reed valves  90  can be attached at opposite ends on opposite sides of openings  84  so that only the middle portion of each reed valve  90  moves in a radially inward direction. A pin  92  is secured to the radially directed outer surface of each reed valve  90  and extends through the respective opening  84  and partially within the respective guide  88 . 
     In order to move piston  64  downwardly and also to seal the upper end of passageway  86 , an actuator/seal assembly  94  is threadedly engaged at the upper end of tower  46 . Specifically, an annular disk  96  is mounted on the upper end of a short stub tube  98  having external threads  100  that threadedly engage with internal threads  62  of upper short stub tube  60 . Annular disk  96  preferably has the same outer diameter as annular wall  76 . A rubber sealing layer  102  is provided on the underside of annular disk  96  so as to provide an air-tight seal between annular wall  76  and annular disk  96 . 
     An annular guide  104  is fixedly mounted within short stub tube  98  and has a central axial bore  106 . A rod  108  slidably extends through central axial bore  106  and is sealed by an O-ring  110  thereat. An enlarged grasping head  112  is mounted to the upper end of rod  108  for grasping the same in order to move rod  108  in an axial direction of paint ball grenade  10 . A nut  114  is threaded to the lower end of rod  108 . 
     A plurality of small glass ampules  116  are held by a rubber band  118  or the like around the lower end of rod  108  so as to seat on nut  114 . Ampules  116  preferably include vinegar as a first ingredient. Baking soda  120  or the like is set within tower  46  as a second ingredient, so as to rest on the upper surface of piston  64 . 
     In operation, one paint ball  122  is inserted in each guide  88  such that the paint balls  122  engage the respective pins  92  and push the same inwardly, thereby opening reed valves  90 , that is, moving reed valves  90  in a radially inward direction, as shown in FIG.  4 . The force necessary to move pins  92  inwardly will not rupture or compromise the structure of paint balls  122 . Because of the slight friction fit of paint balls  122  in guides  88 , paint balls  122  stay in position and reed valves  90  remain open. Then, enlarged grasping head  112  is grasped and pulled up, whereby rod  108  is pulled up therewith. As a result, ampules  116  are trapped between annular guide  104  and nut  114 . Upon continued movement of rod  108 , ampules  116  are crushed between these two elements, thereby releasing the vinegar, which mixes with baking soda  120 . This causes a chemical reaction with expanding carbon dioxide gas that pushes piston  64  downwardly. Since it takes some time for the vinegar to mix with the baking soda and cause this reaction to move piston  64  down, for example, from three to five seconds, this effectively forms a timer for grenade  10 . 
     As described above, when piston  64  moves down, restraining abutment  70  also moves down therewith, thereby releasing sealing pistons  40 , as shown in FIG. 5, which are caused to move inwardly by springs  44 . In this position, the compressed air in base  12  passes very quickly through openings  34 , inlet openings  36 , bores  30  and outlet openings  38 , into passageway  86 . Initially, the compressed air exits very fast through openings  84  to push out and fire paint balls  122  from guides  8 . However, after the first paint ball  122  is fired, the resistance provided by that paint ball  122  no longer exists so that the compressed air would quickly exit out of the guide  88  from which the first paint ball  122  was fired, since this is the path of least resistance. However, after each paint ball  122  is fired, the respective pins  92  are no longer restrained, so that the compressed air then forces the respective reed valves  90  to the closed position of FIG. 5, thus sealing the respective openings  84 . In this manner, the remaining compressed air is still used to fire the other paint balls  122 . 
     As a result of this operation, a plurality of paint balls  122  are simultaneously fired from paint ball grenade  10  after a time delay. For example, a person can pull enlarged grasping head  112  and throw paint grenade  10  toward a group of people, whereupon paint balls  122  will simultaneously be fired. 
     It will be appreciated that other activating devices can be used with the present invention. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, in place of the chemical reaction of the first embodiment, a solenoid  124  is mounted within elongated tube  52  and includes a reciprocally mounted rod  126  in place of piston rod  68 . A receiver  128  is also provided in elongated tube  52  for receiving an actuating signal and for actuating solenoid  124  in response thereto. A battery  130  is also positioned in elongated tube  52  for powering solenoid  124  and receiver  128 . Because of this arrangement, rod  108 , enlarged grasping head  112  and nut  114  are eliminated. Also, short stub tube  98  and annular guide  104  are replaced by a combined c closure member  132 . 
     Alternatively, a remote control device can be hard wired to solenoid  124  to activate the same, thereby eliminating receiver  128 . 
     With this embodiment, a user can position paint ball grenade  10  at a remote location, wait for a group of people to arrive and then, by remote transmitter, transmit an actuating signal to paint ball grenade  10 , which is received by receiver  128 . Accordingly, solenoid  124  reciprocates rod  126  to the position shown in FIG. 5 with the same result. 
     Of course, it will be appreciated that paint ball grenade  10  is a one-time use device, since it must be reset and loaded with compressed air after each use. In such case, after paint balls  122  have been fired, actuator/seal assembly  94  is removed by disengaging short stub tube  98  from upper short stub tube  60 . Then, lower short stub tube  54  in FIG. 4 is disengaged from annular stub post  48 , thereby providing access whereby sealing pistons  40  can be moved radially outward and restraining abutment  70  can be moved back to the position shown in FIG.  4 . Alternatively, bolts  25  can be removed in order to remove housings  24 , and thereby remove sealing pistons  40  in order to reposition restraining abutment  70 . Then, the aforementioned elements of housings  24 , sealing pistons  40  and tower  46  are reset. New baking soda  120  is provided on the upper surface of piston  64 . New ampules  116  are secured about rod  108 , and actuator/seal assembly  94  is secured to tower  46 . With this arrangement, paint ball grenade  10  is ready for use again. 
     Having described specific preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to those precise embodiments and that various changes and modifications can be effected therein by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention defined by the appended claims.