Paint ball gun having paint ball dispenser with threaded connector

A paint ball gun is disclosed including a dispenser having a locking connector designed to lockingly engage a locking connector on a gun feed tube or one end of a hollow connecting member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a paint ball gun with an improved paint ball dispensers.

More particularly, the present invention relates to improved paint ball gun having a threaded connection and including a dispenser having a threaded connector, where the threaded connectors are designed to interlock securing the dispenser to the gun. Alternatively, the gun includes a connecting member having a threaded connector, where the threaded connector on the dispenser and the threaded connector the connecting member are designed to interlock securing the dispenser to the connecting member. The present invention also relates to methods for making and using same.

2. Description of the Related Art

Numerous types of paint ball guns have been developed and used in a variety of manners, such as in simulated war games. These paint ball guns generally powered by CO2cartridges or cylinders which, generally, propel the paint balls at a specified velocity, such as three hundred (300) feet per second out of the gun barrel. In general, the prior art paint ball guns include a typical firearm type mechanism including a bolt, spring and cocking handle. This standard configuration is not conducive to efficient operation of the paint ball guns.

These prior art paint ball guns generally include dispenser that are secured to the gun by a connector where the connector has a first end that attaches to the gun and a second end that attaches to a dispenser. The ends are generally held in place only via a mechanical clamping force. These connections are prone to slip and often results in the paint ball dispenser being dislodged. Of course, without a supply of the paint balls, the gun is essentially worthless and simulated war game performance is hampered. In fact, the user is faced with having to find the dispenser, retrieve any unbroken and loose paint balls, loosening the tightener, reattached the dispenser and re-tightening the connector before returning to the game, if possible.

Thus, there is a need in the art for an improved paint ball gun including a connector and a dispenser which interlock designed to reduce loss of the dispenser during war game simulations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a paint ball gun including a dispenser having a first locking connector, a closed end and an opened end, where the open end includes a detachable cover. The gun also includes a second locking connector, where the two locking connectors are designed to lockingly secure the dispenser to the gun with sufficient locking force to decrease or eliminate the dispenser falling off of the gun during training exercises or games.

The present invention provides a paint ball gun including a dispenser having a first hollow locking connector, a closed end and an opened end, where the open end includes a detachable cover. The gun also includes a hollow locking connector, where the two locking connectors are designed to lockingly secure the dispenser to the gun with sufficient locking force to decrease or eliminate the dispenser falling off of the gun during training exercises or games.

The present invention provides a paint ball gun including a dispenser having a first locking connector, a closed end and an opened end, where the open end includes a detachable cover. The gun also includes a connecting member having a second locking connector, where the two locking end are designed to lockingly secure the dispenser to the connecting member with sufficient locking force to decrease or eliminate the dispenser falling off of the gun during training exercises or games.

The present invention provides a paint ball gun including a dispenser having a first hollow locking connector, a closed end and an opened end, where the open end includes a detachable cover. The gun also includes a hollow connecting member having a hollow locking connector, where the two locking connectors are designed to lockingly secure the dispenser to the connecting member with sufficient locking force to decrease or eliminate the dispenser falling off of the gun during training exercises or games.

The present invention also provides a paint ball dispenser including a detachable lid, a paint ball reservoir and a hollow neck depending from a lower central region of the dispenser and having a locking connector at a distal end of the hollow neck.

The present invention also provides an arcuate paint ball dispenser including a closed end and an opened end, where the open end includes a detachably cover. The dispenser also includes a paint ball reservoir, and a hollow, paint ball dispensing neck depending from a central region of the dispenser having a locking connector at its distal end.

The present invention also provides a connecting member including a gun attaching end and a dispenser attaching end, where at least the dispenser attaching end includes a locking connector and a security tightener, but both ends can be a locking connector and a security tightener.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The inventor has found that a paint ball dispenser can be constructed that reduces or minimizes the dispenser from unloosening and/or falling off of the paint ball gun during paint ball activities, which significantly interferes with user participation in the paint ball activities. The inventor has found that the reduction can be achieved by adding an interlocking connection such as a threaded connection between the paint ball dispensing neck of the dispenser and either the feed tube of the barrel of a paint gun or between the paint ball dispensing neck of the dispenser and a hollow connecting member interposed between the dispenser and the feed tube of the gun. The preferred assembly of this invention includes a connecting member interposed between the dispenser and the gun, where the assembly includes an interlocking connection between the dispenser and the connecting member and where the connecting member acts as a paint ball conduit between the dispenser and the feed tube of the gun barrel of the paint gun.

The paint ball dispenser can be constructed in any suitable geometry, provided that the paint balls can reliably flow from the dispenser through a delivery conduit to the barrel of the paint ball gun for ultimate firing from the gun. Preferred geometric shapes include, without limitation, banana-shapes, spherical shapes, hemispherical shapes, quadrilateral shapes such as square or rectangular shapes, triangular shapes, or any other shape that provides a paint ball reservoir and a conduit for paint balls to drop from the reservoir to the gun barrel one at a time. The dispenser can be a unitary construction or can be constructed of multiple parts that are fastened together by fasteners.

Suitable materials out of which the dispenser can be constructed include, without limitations, metals, plastics, composites, ceramics, or the like, or mixtures or combinations thereof. Preferably, the dispenser is constructed out of plastics or composites or mixtures or combinations thereof. Suitable metals include, without limitation, aluminum and its alloys such as aluminum-magnesium alloys or the like, titanium, steel or other iron alloys, copper and its alloys such as bronze, brass or the like, or any other metal or its alloys and mixture or combinations thereof. Suitable plastics include, without limitation, polyolefins such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutylene, polyhexylene, polystyrene, polyalphamethylstyrene, or the like or copolymers thereof, acrylics, urethanes, polyesters, thermoplastics, thermal setting resins, thermoplastic elastomers, liquid crystal polymers, polyalkyleneoxides, or any other structural plastic suitable for making a durable paint ball dispenser. Suitable composites includes, without limitation, polymer matrices selected from the plastics listed above reinforced by a fiber such as carbon fibers, polyamides such as Kevlar, boron-nitride fibers, glass fibers, or the like or mixture or combination thereof.

Suitable material out of which the dispenser covers can be made include, without limitation, elastomers such as natural or synthetic rubbers or the like, urethanes rubbers, silicon rubbers or any other resilient and shock absorbing materials or mixtures or combinations thereof.

Suitable locking connections include, without limitations, threaded connections comprising a male threaded connector and a female threaded connector, clip rings, cotter pins, snap fittings including a lip and an groove, quick disconnects such as used in water holes, or any other locking connection assembly or combinations thereof.

Referring now toFIG. 1A, a preferred embodiment of a paint ball gun of this invention, generally100, is shown to include a gun body102having a handle104, a barrel106and a hollow, paint ball feeding tube108extending upward from the barrel104near its handle end110of the barrel106. The feeding tube108includes a male, threaded connector112at its distal end114. The gun100also includes a paint ball dispenser116. The dispenser116includes an opened first end118having a lip120, a second end122, a paint ball reservoir124and a cover126. The cover126is designed to engage the lip120of the opened end118so that the opened end118can be closed after the reservoir124is filled with paint balls (not shown). The dispenser116further includes a hollow, paint ball dispensing neck128depending from a lower central region130of the second end122. The neck128includes a female, threaded connector132, where the connectors112and132are designed to lockingly secure the paint dispenser116to the gun feed tube108.

Referring now toFIG. 1B, another preferred embodiment of a paint ball gun of this invention, generally150, is shown to include a gun body152having a handle154, a barrel156and a hollow, paint ball feeding tube158extending upward from the barrel154near its handle end160. The feeding tube158includes a male, threaded connector162at its distal end164. The gun150also includes a paint ball dispenser166. The dispenser166includes an opened first end168having a lip170, a second end172, a paint ball reservoir174, and a cover176. The cover176is designed to engage the lip170of the opened end168so that the opened end168can be closed after the dispenser166is filled with paint balls (not shown). The dispenser166further includes a paint ball dispensing neck178depending from a lower central region180of the second end172. The neck178includes a female, threaded connector182and a security tightener184, where the connectors162and182are designed to lockingly secure the paint dispenser166to the gun feed tube158and the tightener184is designed to increase the locking force of the threaded connection between the connectors162and182.

Referring now theFIGS. 1C-E, the tightener184includes a T-shaded slot186extending upward from a distal end188of the neck178and two tightening blocks190a&bprotruding from the distal end188. The block190aincludes an aperture192aand an indentation194afor receiving a wing nut196. The block190bincludes an aperture192band an indentation194bholding a locking nut198, where the aperture192band the nut198are adapted to receive and to engage the wing nut196, respectively. The tightener184operates by inserting the wing nut196into and through the aperture192ain the block190aand into the aperture192bin the block190buntil the wing nut196engages the nut198. Once the wing nut196has engaged the locking nut198, turning the wing nut196will cause the blocks190a&bto be pulled together as shown inFIG. 1Duntil the desired tightening force is achieved on the threaded connection between the connectors162and182.

Of course, it should be easily recognized by an ordinary artisan that the feed tube can include a female connector and the dispenser can include a male connector. It should also be recognized, that by reversing the feed tube connector to a female connector, any tightener would have to be positioned on the feed tube.

Referring now toFIG. 2A, another preferred embodiment of a paint ball gun of this invention, generally200, is shown to include a gun body202having a handle204, a barrel206and a hollow, paint ball feeding tube208extending upward from the barrel204near its handle end210. The feeding tube208includes a male connector212at its distal end214. The gun200also includes a paint ball dispenser216and a bent connecting member218. The connecting member218includes a female connector220for engaging the feed tube connector212and a female, threaded dispenser connector222. The dispenser216includes an opened first end224having a lip226, a second end228, a paint ball reservoir230, and a cover232. The cover230is designed to engage the lip226of the opened end224so that the opened end224can be closed after the dispenser216is filled with paint balls (not shown). The dispenser216further includes a paint ball dispensing neck234depending from a lower central region236of the second end228, where the neck234includes a male, threaded connector238at this distal end240, where the connectors222and238are designed to lockingly secure the paint dispenser216to the connecting member218and the connectors212and222are designed to secure the connecting member218to the feed tube208. The feed tube208also includes a safety242at its proximal end244and a view slot246.

Referring now toFIG. 2B, another preferred embodiment of a paint ball gun of this invention, generally250, is shown to include a gun body252having a handle254, a barrel256and a hollow, paint ball feeding tube258extending upward from the barrel256near its handle end260. The feeding tube258includes a male connector262at its distal end264. The gun250also includes a paint ball dispenser266and a straight connecting member268. The connecting member268includes a female connector270for engaging the feed tube connector262and a female, threaded dispenser connector272. The dispenser266includes an opened first end274having a lip276, a second end278, a paint ball reservoir280, and a cover282. The cover282is designed to engage the lip276of the opened end274so that the opened end274can be closed after the dispenser266is filled with paint balls (not shown). The dispenser266further includes a paint ball dispensing neck284depending from a lower central region286of the second end278, where the neck284includes a male, threaded connector288at its distal end290. The connectors262and286are designed to lockingly secure the paint dispenser266to the connecting member268, while the connectors262and270are designed to secure the connecting member268to the feed tube258. The feed tube258also includes a safety292at its proximal end294and a view slot296.

It should be recognized that the embodiments depicted inFIGS. 3A and 3Bcan also include tighteners associated with the connectors220and222or the connectors270and272as described inFIGS. 1B-E. Looking atFIG. 2C. the paintball gun ofFIG. 2Ais shown to include a tightener248associated with the connector220, where the tightener248is designed to increase a locking force between the connectors220and212.

Referring now toFIG. 4A, another preferred embodiment of a paint ball gun of this invention, generally300, is shown to include a gun body302having a handle304, a barrel306and a hollow, paint ball feeding tube308extending upward from the barrel304near its handle end310. The feeding tube308includes a male connector312at its distal end314. The gun300also includes a paint ball dispenser316and a bent connecting member318. The connecting member318includes a female connector320for engaging the feed tube connector312and a male, threaded dispenser connector322. The dispenser316includes an opened first end324having a lip326, a second end328, a paint ball reservoir330, and a cover332. The cover332is designed to engage the lip326of the opened end324so that the opened end324can be closed after the dispenser316is filled with paint balls (not shown). The dispenser316further includes a paint ball dispensing neck334depending from a lower central region336of the second end328, where the neck334includes a female, threaded connector338at this distal end340, where the connectors322and338are designed to lockingly secure the paint dispenser316to the connecting member318and the connectors312and322are designed to secure the connecting member318to the feed tube308. The feed tube308also includes a safety342at its proximal end344and a view slot346.

Referring now toFIG. 3B, another preferred embodiment of a paint ball gun of this invention, generally350, is shown to include a gun body352having a handle354, a barrel356and a hollow, paint ball feeding tube358extending upward from the barrel356near its handle end360. The feeding tube358includes a male connector362at its distal end364. The gun350also includes a paint ball dispenser366and a straight connecting member368. The connecting member368includes a female connector370for engaging the feed tube connector362and a male, threaded dispenser connector372. The dispenser366includes an opened first end374having a lip376, a second end378, a paint ball reservoir380, and a cover382. The cover382is designed to engage the lip376of the opened end374so that the opened end374can be closed after the dispenser366is filled with paint balls (not shown). The dispenser366further includes a paint ball dispensing neck384depending from a lower central region386of the second end378, where the neck384includes a female, threaded connector388at its distal end390. The connectors362and386are designed to lockingly secure the paint dispenser366to the connecting member368, while the connectors362and370are designed to secure the connecting member368to the feed tube358. The feed tube358also includes a safety392at its proximal end394and a view slot396.

It should be recognized that the embodiments depicted inFIGS. 4A and 4Bcan also include tighteners associated with the connectors320and338or the connectors370and388as described inFIGS. 1B-E. Looking atFIG. 3G, the paintball gun ofFIG. 3Ais shown to include a first tightener348associated with the connector338and a second tightener349associated with the connector320, where the first tightener348is designed to increase a locking force between the connectors322and338and the second tightener349is designed to increase a locking force between the connectors312and320.

Referring now toFIG. 4, another preferred embodiment of a paint ball gun of this invention, generally400, is shown to include a gun body402having a handle404, a barrel406and a hollow, paint ball feeding tube408extending upward from the barrel404near its handle end410. The feeding tube408includes a male connector412at its distal end414. The gun400also includes a banana-shaped, paint ball dispenser416and a bent connecting member418. The connecting member418includes a female connector420for engaging the feed tube connector412and a female, threaded dispenser connector422. The dispenser416includes an opened end424having a lip426, a closed end428, a paint ball reservoir430, and a cover432. The cover432is designed to engage the lip426of the opened end424so that the opened end424can be closed after the dispenser416is filled with paint balls (not shown). The dispenser416further includes a paint ball dispensing neck434depending from a lower central region436of an arcuate bottom contour438of the dispenser400. The neck434includes a male, threaded connector440at this distal end442, where the connectors422and440are designed to lockingly secure the paint dispenser416to the connecting member418and the connectors412and422are designed to secure the connecting member418to the feed tube408. The feed tube408also includes a safety444at its proximal end446and a view slot448.

Referring now toFIG. 5, a preferred unitary embodiment of a banana-shaped dispenser of this invention, generally500, is shown to include an exterior shell502having an interior paint ball reservoir503, a closed end504and an opened end506having a lip508. The dispenser500also includes a cover510designed to engage the lip508of the opened end506so that the opened end506can be closed after the dispenser500is filled with paint balls. The dispenser500further includes a paint ball dispensing neck512depending at or near a center region514of an arcuate bottom contour516of the dispenser500, where the neck512includes a male, threaded end518designed to lockingly engaging a paint gun connecting member or a paint gun feed tube.

Referring now toFIG. 6, another preferred embodiment of a banana-shaped dispenser of this invention, generally600, is shown to include a shell602having a front half604and a back half606. The halves604and606are held together by a plurality of fasteners608. Each fastener608includes a front fastener part610associated with the front half604, where the front fastener part610includes an aperture612therethrough designed to receive a screw614. Coincidental with the front fastener part610on the front half604, is a corresponding back fastener part616associated with the back half606, where the back fastener part616includes a tap (not shown) for lockingly receiving the working end of the screw614. Alternatively, both parts610and616can have apertures therethrough designed to be held by a bolt and nut assembly (not shown).

Once fastened together, the two halves604and606form the shell602, which includes a closed end618and an opened end620having a lip622. The dispenser600also includes a cover624pivotally mounted on the fastener626. The cover624includes a finger628having an aperture630therethrough. The fastener626includes two extensions632. The extensions632have an apertures634therethrough. The cover or lid624is mounted on the fastener626via a pin636which is inserted through the apertures634and630. The pin636is either recessed within the apertures634or is flush with their outer surfaces638. The cover or lid624is designed to engage the lip622of the opened end620so that the opened end620can be closed after the dispenser600is filled with paint balls. The dispenser600further includes a paint ball dispensing neck640depending at or near a center region642of an arcuate bottom contour644of the dispenser600. The neck640includes a male, threaded connector646at its distal end648designed to lockingly engaging a paint gun or paint gun connecting member. As shown inFIGS. 3A&B, if the connector646is a female threaded connector instead of a male threaded connector, then the neck640may also include a security tightener. The dispenser600can optionally include a resilient cover650covering the closed end618. The cover650can either cover just the closed end618or can extend over a major part of the dispenser600as shown in the figure. The cover650can be attached to the dispenser by rivets652and may include bumps654to improve the shock resistence of the cover650.

Referring now toFIG. 7, a preferred embodiment of a spherical dispenser of this invention, generally700, is shown to include an exterior shell702having an opened end704located at a top701of the dispenser700and having a lip706. The dispenser700also includes a cover or lid708designed to engage the lip706of the opened end704so that the opened end704can be closed after the dispenser700is filled with paint balls. The dispenser700further includes a paint ball reservoir710, a paint ball dispensing flange or neck712depending at or near a center point714of a bottom716of the dispenser700. The neck712includes a male, threaded connector718at its distal end720designed to lockingly engaging a paint gun connecting member or a paint gun feed tube. As shown inFIGS. 3A&B, if the connector718is a female threaded connector instead of a male threaded connector, then the neck712may also include a security tightener.

All references cited herein are incorporated by reference. While this invention has been described fully and completely, it should be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. Although the invention has been disclosed with reference to its preferred embodiments, from reading this description those of skill in the art may appreciate changes and modification that may be made which do not depart from the scope and spirit of the invention as described above and claimed hereafter.