Abstract:
A collapsible shaped structure to be used in paintball as a bunker having at least two loop members to use to stake to the ground for stability, to attach to additional shaped structures and also to secure the shape in the collapsed position. Each shape is comprised of a helically coiled rod supporting a covering, which is attached to the rod to define a shape. The first and second ends define endings or openings depending on the shape. Some shapes will be completely closed while other shapes will have one or more open ends. Shapes will be able to be collapsed flat to store and transport.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     This invention relates to play structures for paintball fields, and in particular to collapsible bunkers to be used in paintball for which players can hide behind, crawl through and climb on. In their normal opened configurations, the structures define a plurality of bunkers. The structures may also be collapsed and folded into a compact configuration for easy transportation and storage.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     Two important considerations for bunkers targeted for paintball players are convenience and variety. Relating to convenience, a bunker must be easily transportable so that the players can move it around the field, or even to other places such as a wooded area. A bunker must also be easily stored since a field, team or player is likely to have many other bunkers that compete for precious storage space. As for variety, a bunker must offer enough variety in play so that the players will be able to enjoy it for a long period of time without getting bored.  
         [0005]     Larger bunkers often pose a greater problem with regards to convenience. The larger bunkers tend to be bulky, which makes it difficult to move them around the fields, and sometimes makes it prohibitive to move them around once they are set up. Bulky bunkers also take up much storage space. Inflatable bunkers require the use of blowers, fans and several other devices to operate. They are also heavy and prone to puncture resulting in higher maintenance costs.  
         [0006]     In the past, attempts have been made to provide bunker structures for the use in paintball. Such bunker structures have been provided in many different shapes and sizes. For example, some have been shaped as playhouses to allow players to climb into and out of the structure. However, in order to provide a structure that can temporarily house a player, such a structure must be quite large and would be difficult to transport and store.  
         [0007]     A type of play structure that has been popular with children is a play tunnel. These play tunnels provide a long passageway or tunnel through which a child can crawl. These play tunnels are normally made by wrapping a piece of fabric about a helically-shaped metal loop, with the loop defining the shape of the tunnel. Since the metal loop is helical, the tunnel may be collapsed into a smaller configuration by pressing both ends of the tunnel against each other, and then tying both ends together. Unfortunately, these play tunnels do not provide much variety or durability in the paintball field.  
         [0008]     Thus, there remains a need for a collapsible bunker to be adapted to the sport of paintball. Shapes which may be adapted at the player&#39;s discretion to assume a plurality of different configurations for increased variety of play, and is convenient to use, to transport, and to store.  
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE  
       [0009]     In order to accomplish the objects of the present invention, the collapsible bunker structure according to the present invention comprises at least two sets of loop members at opposite ends coupled to each other, each ending having a particular size and configuration. The bunker structure of this invention comprises a helically coiled rod supporting a covering which is attached to the rod to define a shape. The opposite ends of each shape adapted to be connected to one of the loop members of the connector on the other end. The ends of each shape can be connected to a corresponding loop member of another shape.  
         [0010]     Each shape according to the present invention further comprises at least two tie members provided at the first end, the first end of each shape adapted to be compressed against the second end of that same shape, with the at least two tie members at the first end used to secure the particular shape in a compressed state against the loop connectors at the second end.  
         [0011]     In a preferred embodiment according to this invention, the structure can be collapsed or reduced to a smaller size by first compressing the first end of each shape against its second end. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a collapsible bunker structure;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an internal wire that is used to define and support any of the collapsible bunkers of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a bunker of  FIG. 1  taken along line  3 -- 3  thereof;  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  illustrates how the collapsible bunker structure of  FIG. 1  may be collapsed and folded for compact storage;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  illustrates how the collapsible bunker structure of  FIG. 1  may be held in the collapsed state;  
         [0017]      FIGS. 1, 6 ,  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10 ,  11  are perspective views of various shapes of collapsible bunker; 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0018]     The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.  
         [0019]      FIG. 1  shows the deployed bunker structure  1  of this invention.  
         [0020]      FIGS. 6-11  show different, but not limited to, various shapes that can also be created.  
         [0021]     Each shape  1 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10  and  11  comprises an internal support rod  12  supporting a covering  13  which is attached to the rod  12  to define the bunker shape. The rod  12  is helically coiled, with the adjacent coils  17  being normally biased in spaced apart relation, as shown in  FIG. 2 . The rod  12  defines a first end  15  and a second end  16 . At the first and second ends  15  and  16 , the rod  12  extends past the outer coil  17   a  and  17   b , respectively, so that a segment  18   a  and  18   b  at each end  15 , 16  of the rod  12  overlaps with the outer coil  17   a  and  17   b , respectively.  
         [0022]     The covering  13  is attached to the rod  12  by gluing, stitching, fusing, mechanically fastening or other conventional attachment methods. Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 3 , a sleeve  14  may be stitched or otherwise provided along the covering  13  with the rod  12  housed or attached therein. The first end  16  of the rod  12  terminates at a first substantially coiled edge  23  of the covering  13 . The outer coil  17   a  of the first end  16  forms a substantially coiled end rod portion  20  to provide support to the first edge  23  of the covering  13 . Similarly, the second end  15  of the rod  12  terminates at a second substantially coiled edge  24  of the covering  13 . The outer coil  17   b  of the second end  15  forms another substantially coiled end rod portion  19  to provide support to the second edge  24 . The circular end rod portions  20  and  19  and their respective coiled edges  23  and  24  each defines an opening through which a player may crawl into or hide behind.  
         [0023]     A first set of tie members  22  are provided in spaced-apart manner along the first edge  23 , and a second set of tie members  21  are provided in spaced-apart manner along the second edge  24 . Each tie member  22 ,  21  comprises of one loop and one toggle which can be clasped together. Each set of connecting members  22 ,  21  could comprise any number of loop and toggle members, but preferably comprises at least two loop and toggle members. In addition, each edge  23  and  24  preferably comprises two sets of loop and toggle members, although any number of sets of loop and toggle members can be utilized at each edge  23  and  24  without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
         [0024]     The rod  12  is preferably made from a strong yet springy material, such as steel, but also can be made from other strong and coilable materials, such as fiberglass or plastic. Such materials are preferably capable of allowing the rod  12  to maintain its coiled shape. The covering  13  is preferably made from a strong durable fabric, such as cotton, canvas, mesh or net, but can also be made from other strong durable materials such as PVC or plastic. The term fabric is to be given its broadest meaning and should be made from strong, lightweight materials and may include woven fabrics, sheet fabrics or even films. The covering  13  should be water-resistant and durable to withstand the wear and tear associated with rough treatment by paintball players.  
         [0025]     The collapsible bunker structure  1  can be easily collapsed and folded for storage. In the first step shown in  FIG. 4 , each of the bunkers  1 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10  and  11  are compressed against the opposite  15  and  16  ends. Specifically, to compress a bunker, for example, bunker  1 , the user grips the circular end rod portion  20 , or the first edge  23 , of the bunker  1  with one hand, and while using the other hand to grip the corresponding loop member  24  and attached end rod portion  19 , pushes or compresses the end rod portion  20  against the end rod portion  19 . This compresses the plurality of helical coils of the rod  12  against each other. This compression is made possible by the springy nature of the rod  12 , and its helically coiled configuration. With the rod  12  compressed, both ends of the toggle assembly  21  and  22  are locked together to keep the bunker compressed.  
         [0026]     The dimensions of the end  15  are not critical, but must be large enough for a player to crawl through or hide behind. The dimensions will also depend on the type of player targeted. For example, a collapsible tunnel structure  1  targeted at pre-teens may be smaller than one that is targeted at adults  
         [0027]     Further, the shapes of the bunker structure can be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the toggle connectors  21  and  22  are not required to have only two loop and toggle members defining the round configuration shown in  FIGS. 1 and 6 - 11 , but may comprise two, three, five or even a greater number of loop and toggle members to define a triangular, rectangular, or other polygonal, geometric configuration. Similarly, the shapes  1 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10  and  11  not necessarily be substantially straight, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 6 - 11 , but can assume other configurations such as an L-shaped, S-shaped, U-shaped, or other configurations. This can be accomplished by providing the internal support wire  12  in the desired configuration and then attaching the covering  13  to it to form the tunnel. Further, the length of the bunkers can be varied to form bunkers of different lengths and shapes. As a further example, the bunkers  1 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10  and  11  do not necessarily need to be substantially circular, but can assume a square, rectangular, triangular, polygonal or other shape. This can accomplished by coiling the internal support wire  12  to the desired shape and then attaching the covering  13  to it to form the tunnel. Moreover, any combination of modifications described hereinabove may be utilized to provide bunkers  1 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10  and  11  of varying shapes and sizes without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Each bunker  1 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10  and  11  can also be provided with loop members of different shapes and sizes to facilitate use with tunnels of different shapes and sizes.  
         [0028]     One example is illustrated in  FIG. 6-11 , in which a collapsible bunker structure having different shapes and sizes. Thus, for the collapsible tunnel structures according to the present invention, the separate bunkers  1 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10  and  11  may be provided or purchased on an individual basis so that a player or field may be able to create a bunker field structure of a desired shape and size. Alternatively, a specific number of different bunkers  1 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10  and  11  may be packaged and sold together. However, it will be appreciated that only one bunker  1  structure according to the present invention. In either case, the player or field will have the opportunity to create an endless variety of bunker structures at their disposal, thereby enhancing the amusement value of the bunker structures.  
         [0029]     Further, the structure and configuration of the bunkers according to the present invention allow any resulting bunker structure to be easily folded and collapsed for transportation and storage.  
         [0030]     While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.