Patent Publication Number: US-2016237675-A1

Title: Modular Field Game Bunker System

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     None. 
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure relates to a bunker system, and more particularly, to a modular bunker system for use in field games that improves mobility and ease of design of game field implements. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Field games, such as laser tag, paintball, and air soft, are increasingly gaining popularity both as social and competitive sporting activities. These games typically involve human players traversing designated landscapes while adhering to various game rules in order to best position themselves relative to obstructions, cover locations, and other players. Inasmuch as field games require skill in both offensive and defensive scenarios, players must adapt to their surroundings to best maximize their in-game performance. To provide variety to the games, the fields may be designed to appear as one or more scenes, such as ghost towns, war zones, or fortresses. 
     The fields are generally confined areas, which may be set in indoor or outdoor locations. The particular size of a field may be dependent on the number of players and the layout thereof. Although the exterior boundaries place certain movement limitations on players, for the most part, they are otherwise free to navigate the fields as they choose. While some fields are wide open and feature few options for coverings, others include a plurality of structures and obstructions, such as bunkers (alternatively referred to herein as obstacles), which add character to the playing field. 
     There are many different types of bunkers or obstacles that can be used in designing a playing field, including without limitation immobile vehicles (such as cars, busses, trucks, airplanes, etc.), obstructions (such as those made from amassing various amounts and combinations of lumber, plastic piping, wooden pallets, metal bars, etc.), and structures (such as buildings, fenced enclosures, tunnels, etc.). Although having many such bunkers can make a playing field more enjoyable or interesting, it requires a substantial amount of setup time and maintenance to make sure the bunkers are properly placed and well-kept. This makes creating and modifying a playing field difficult, as it would further take another substantial amount of time to move or alter the bunkers themselves, especially given the heavy weight and bulky size of the bunkers. 
     Certain solutions are known in the art for providing playing field bunkers or obstacles capable of being more easily moved, thereby allowing field designers to rearrange their fields as desired with less effort and time required. For example, bunkers may be inflatable, which inflation adds volume and dimension to the bunkers, but keeps them light enough to be movable when deflated. Two types of inflatable bunker are often used. First, bunkers may be erected via “air tight design inflation,” wherein a high quantity of bunkers are individually inflated and tightly disposed adjacent to one another to create a large field. Although this allows a field designer to easily customize his or her field, it is noted that inflating each individual bunker may take one to five minutes, so it could take several hours to prepare the field for use (and, similarly, it could take several hours to deflate or modify the field). 
     Second, bunkers or obstacles may be erected via “constant air design inflation,” wherein inflation is maintained through a constant introduction and supply of air into the bunkers. Multiple bunkers can be maintained at any given time for a field, with the bunkers potentially sharing air and/or power supplies (which power supplies are used to operate the air supplies). However, such bunkers rely on an uninterrupted power source in order to retain their inflated shape. Furthermore, the air and power supplies necessitate conduit, such as several tubes and pipes be laid across the floor or ground of the field, which can conduit result in an undesirable tripping or safety hazard for players. Also, the connection to air and power supplies reduces the overall mobility of the bunkers. 
     Thus, while existing solutions show some features for improving the mobility and ease of use of field game bunkers or obstacles, various drawbacks, including those mentioned above, remain. 
     Consequently, there exists a need for a modular field game bunker system that can be used to create any desired field layout, which increases the mobility of the involved bunkers and decreases the amount of time needed to setup or take down same, and which does not present a risk to player safety. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages of the prior art, a modular field game bunker system configured to include all the advantages of the prior art and to overcome the drawbacks inherent therein is provided. It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a modular field game bunker system capable of constructing and/or forming any desired structure or set of structures in designing a game field. It is further an object of the present disclosure to provide a modular field game bunker system capable of being set up, modified, moved, or deconstructed with minimal effort or time required. 
     The bunker system as disclosed herein is comprised of a plurality of interlocking frame pieces that form a desired structure as wells as least one cover used to add support and aesthetic quality to the constructed structure as well as a barrier or obstacle, etc. for use in a field game. The frame can be set up to form structures of virtually any shape, which structures may include an internal region capable of receiving or accommodating one or more players while in use. The at least one cover can be used to blend the structure into a designed scene as well as to provide a barrier in the field of play of the game. For example, wherein the playing field is set up as a war zone, the cover may feature burn marks, military camouflage, or shelter aesthetics. In an embodiment wherein the structure formed by the interlocking frame pieces includes an internal region, a portion of the cover may be used to separate the internal and external regions thereof (e.g., as a door or flap used to enter and exit the structure or as a barrier between areas in which the bunker system is erected). 
     These together with other aspects of the present disclosure, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the present disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and form a part of the present disclosure. For a better understanding of the present disclosure, its operating advantages, and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and detailed description in which there are illustrated and described exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows an exemplary depiction of a bunker of the disclosed modular field game bunker system in a disassembled state accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  shows another exemplary depiction of a bunker of the disclosed modular field game bunker system in a disassembled state accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 3  shows an exemplary depiction of an assembled bunker of the disclosed modular field game bunker system in use in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the description of several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The best mode for carrying out the present disclosure is presented in terms of its preferred embodiments, herein depicted in the accompanying figures. The preferred embodiments described herein detail for illustrative purposes are subject to many variations. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present disclosure comprises a modular field game bunker system for use as a bunker or bunkers (or an obstacle or obstacles) in a field layout, which is capable of being constructed in any of a plurality of shapes and retaining a shape without the need for inflation, and which may be designed to reflect a desired appearance befitting the particular field. The system comprises a plurality of interlocking frame pieces capable of being coupled together to form a structure of a desired shape, which structure includes at preferably includes least one wall, and preferably includes at least three walls that fully enclose the structure and define an interior region therein. A cover may receive the constructed structure and may have an aesthetic feature disposed on at least an outer surface of said cover, which aesthetic feature comprises a visual design that may reflect a desired scenic design for the corresponding game field layout. 
     The modular field game bunker system as described herein is capable of being constructed into a plurality of distinct shapes to suit the user&#39;s desired field layout and obviates inflation entirely. That is, the coupled interlocking frame pieces are capable of retaining the desired structure of the disclosed bunker system without any additional support, air supply, or conduit needed. Because of this, the disclosure further eliminates concerns related to structural deformation during use or due to improper maintenance, and it wholly removes the safety risks imposed by the presence of air and power supply conduit or tubing. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 , and in an embodiment, a modular field game bunker system  100  comprises a structure  10  defined by the coupling of a plurality of interlocking frame pieces  12 . The frame pieces  12  may be bars, beams, or other elongated implements, and may be comprised of plastic pipes, wood beams, or any other suitable material. The frame pieces  12  interlock with one another via couplings that are preferably disposed on each end thereof. In an embodiment, one end of each frame piece  12  comprises a male implement and the other end comprises a female implement, wherein the interlocking engagement of a plurality of such frame pieces  12  results in a constructed structure  10 . In an alternative embodiment, each end of the frame pieces  12  comprises an aperture, wherein the apertures may be lined up to receive a peg therethrough to retain a desired structure  10 . It will be apparent that any satisfactory engagement may be utilized in connection with the frame pieces  12 , including without limitation a mechanical interference, sliding lock engagement, or other system. 
     A cover  14  is received or disposed upon the constructed structure  10  and generally surrounds the entirety of said structure  10 . The cover  14  acts as a tarp to cover the structure  10 ; however, the cover  14  is further capable of being fitted to the specific dimensions and shape(s) of the structure so as to mitigate any portions of loose cover material. The cover  14  is preferably a relatively thick and/or durable material, which, as will be described below, may provide a visual design element to the bunker system  100  in order to make the bunker system  100  fit into a desired design scheme for a playing field. The cover  14  may attach to the interlocking frame pieces  12  by way of an adhesive, zip ties, tape, or other bindings. 
     The structure  10  comprises at least one wall  16 ; however, preferably, the structure  10  will be a three-dimensional shape comprising at least three walls  16 , and indeed can be set up into virtually any three-dimensional shape, including without limitation a cube, box, prism, or pyramid. In an embodiment wherein the structure  10  comprises a three-dimensional shape, the walls  16  fully enclose the structure  10  to form said shape and define an interior region  18  within the interior surfaces thereof. In an embodiment, a wall  16  or portion of a wall  16  may be formed by attaching a cover  14  to the structure  10 . The interior region  18  is generally a space capable of receiving at least one human player  20  therein, for example, to shield the player  20  from offensive strikes by others or to strategically hide the player  20  from sight of others in preparation for launching an offensive maneuver. In an embodiment wherein the disclosed bunker system  100  comprises a structure  10  defining an interior region  18 , a portion of the cover  14  may be used to form a doorway  22  (e.g., by having at least a portion of a cover  14  remain unattached to a structure  10 ) providing an entranceway into and an exit from the interior region  18  of the structure  10 . Depending on the size of the structure  10 , the doorway  22  may permit one or more players  20  to enter or exit the structure  10  at any given time. 
     As mentioned above, the cover  14  may comprise an aesthetic feature (not shown) on at least an outer surface thereof, which aesthetic feature has the effect of making a corresponding structure  10  have a specific, desired appearance. For example, the aesthetic feature may comprise one of a camouflage design, a building design, a damaged design, a medieval design, a futuristic design, a western design, and a modern design. The aesthetic feature may also be disposed on an inner surface of the cover  14  to add further desired depiction to the structure  10 . 
     The particular design sought by the user preferably creates and/or maintains a a design flow for or theme of the game field layout. That is, wherein the game field is intended to be a war zone, the aesthetic feature may be a damaged design, and wherein the game field is intended to be a fortress, the aesthetic feature may be a medieval design. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it should be noted that nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit a user&#39;s ability to use an aesthetic feature on a structure  10  in a manner so as to be non-conforming to other portions or the remainder of a game field layout. The customizability of the aesthetic feature permits the user to operate the disclosed bunker system  100  as desired. 
     In use, the disclosed bunker system allows a user to design a game field layout that requires minimal time and effort to set up, modify, move, or tear down individual structures. By obviating inflation materials (such as air and/or power supplies), a user need not spend time inflating the system to a specified structure, but rather can create said structure by coupling a required number of interlocking frame pieces. The cover adds additional character to the bunker system and allows it to visually adapt to any of a plurality of settings. One cover can be replaced with another one so as to give a particular structure a desired aesthetic feature, thereby further customizing the game field layout without having to alter the structure of the bunker system itself. As such, the present disclosure overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The exemplary embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present disclosure and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the disclosure and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.