Abstract:
A device and method for cleaning an inside barrel of a paint ball gun is provided. The cleaning device comprises a compressible cleaning tip configurable to have a smaller diameter than the inside barrel in response to a compression member, the tip being mounted to an end of an elongated tube. The inside of the paintball gun barrel is cleaned by inserting the cleaning device while compressed, and retracting it in its decompressed state.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to the field of paintball equipment and, more particularly, pertains to cleaning devices used in removing from the barrel of a paintball gun residual paint deposits left from previously ruptured paintballs. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The game of paintball has enjoyed great success in recent years and is a game in which two or more teams try to capture one another&#39;s flags. The players on each of the teams each carry a CO 2  powered gun that shoots paintballs that are propelled by short bursts of the pressurized gas. Typically, paintballs are gelatin covered, spherical capsules having a diameter of approximately 11/16 of an inch that contain a colored liquid, and typically cannot withstand significant compression without breaking. When a player is hit with a paintball from an opponent&#39;s gun, the paintball ruptures and leaves a colored mark on the hit player who then must leave the game. 
   As the game of paintball has grown in sophistication, semi-automatic paintball guns, guns that sequentially fire paintballs as fast as the trigger can be repeatedly pulled by the user, have become more prevalent. A high firing rate capacity of semi-automatic paintball guns results in the occasional rupture or breakage of paintballs which leave shell or capsule particles and filler paint deposits on the inside surface of a paintball gun barrel. If there are paint deposits on the gun barrel, the next ball will likely be crushed and broken upon its leaving the barrel. Such deposits negatively affect the performance of the paintball gun. 
   The cleaning of the inside surface of the paintball gun barrel typically involves using a rod-like cleaning device such as disclosed in U.S. Design Pat. No. 393,115 issued Mar. 31, 1998 to Bell et al. One end of this device is provided with a series of spaced apart, disc-like wiping elements such that it is inserted into the barrel of the paintball gun and pulled through to expel the build up of deposits inside the barrel. This type of cleaning process is not ideally effective during paintball competition because it pushes residual paint back into the gun breech, which is where the paintballs are dropped into the barrel. Moreover, known cleaner designs come in varying lengths, which forces the player to buy two or more cleaners to properly fit the barrel length of their particular paintball guns. 
   In view of the foregoing, there is a need for improved techniques for remove residual paint deposits from paintball gun barrels; in particular, there is a need for an approach that does not push paint into the gun&#39;s breech, and also efficiently accommodates various gun barrel lengths. Such a paintball barrel residual paint remover should be cost effective, highly portable, and very convenient to use. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which: 
       FIG. 1  illustrates the components used to build an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  demonstrates a cross-sectional view of multiple embodiments of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  demonstrates a cross-sectional view of yet other embodiments of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a completed device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of the completed device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  illustrates various alternative embodiments of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 7  illustrates additional alternative embodiments of the present invention. 
   

   The above referenced illustrations are not necessarily drawn to scale. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   To achieve the forgoing and other objects and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, a technique to remove residual paint deposits from paintball gun barrels is described. 
   In one embodiment, a paint ball gun cleaning device for cleaning an inside barrel of a paint ball gun is set fort that comprises an outer tube having a first end and a second end where the diameter of the outer tube is configured to permit the outer tube to be inserted and removed along the length of the inside barrel of the paint ball gun. An inner tube having a first end and a second end, and sized appropriately, is inserted along the length of the outer tube. A compressible cleaning tip having a smaller diameter than the inside barrel is used in conjunction with a cleaning tip compression member which constrains the position of the compressible cleaning tip in the proximity of the first end of the outer tube, the cleaning tip compression member used to induce a compression state change in the first compressible cleaning tip when the inner tube is moved relative to the outer tube, thereby selectively inducing the non-compressed state and the compressed state. 
   In another embodiment the above described device also includes a cleaning tip adaptor member that is joined with the inner tube on one end, and a second compressible cleaning tip for cleaning the inside barrel on the other end. 
   Other embodiments include a removable protective sleeve that substantially prevents harmful contact with the inside barrel and provides some degree of rigid support between the cleaning tip adaptor member and the second compressible cleaning tip. 
   In yet other embodiments of the present invention, the paint ball gun cleaning device includes at least one flexible but sufficiently rigid section in its inner and outer tubes that permit the paint ball gun cleaning device to flexibly fold but otherwise be stiff enough to be pushed through the inside barrel when not folded. 
   In some embodiments, the paint ball gun cleaning device according to the present invention have an outer tube and inner tube that are made of a malleable material that may be cut to an arbitrary length using common cutting tools. 
   A method to clean an inside barrel of a paint ball gun in accordance with the present invention is shown, which method includes the steps of inserting into the inside barrel a non-compressed compressible cleaning tip until ready to begin the cleaning process, whereby the compressible cleaning tip is compressed and retracted. While the compressible cleaning tip is compressed and retracted it removes residual paint in the direction of the retraction and out of the gun barrel. 
   Other features, advantages, and object of the present invention will become more apparent and be more readily understood from the following detailed description, which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The present invention is best understood by reference to the detailed figures and description set forth herein. 
   Embodiments of the invention are discussed below with reference to the Figures. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes as the invention extends beyond these limited embodiments. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , the components to construct an embodiment of the present invention are shown by way of example, where a brief description immediately follows, and detailed description is presented thereafter. In the Figure, an outer tube  100  and an inner tube  105  with an end section  107  are shown. These components form the main structure where the inner tube  105  is inserted inside of the outer tube  100 , which structure receives on one end a cleaning tip  110  held in place by fastener  115 , and receives on the opposite end an adapter  120 , with protective sleeve  130 , and swab  140 . Fastener  115  includes a wider end section herein referred to as fastener end  117 . A lanyard  150  is available to removabley secure the completed device to the user, while still being able to slide freely along outer tube  100 . 
   A detailed description of a way to construct an embodiment of the present follows.  FIG. 2  demonstrates the initial step, STEP A, of attaching cleaning tip  110  to inner tube  105  by way of fastener  115 . In this example, cleaning tip  110  is configured to have a central hole sized to allow fastener  115  to be movabley inserted through cleaning tip  110  and is long enough to penetrate through both cleaning tip  110  and into an end section of inner tube  105 . Fastener  115  is fixed to inner tube  105  by known means, for example, epoxy glue, or being screwed in. Outer tube  100  is then slid over inner tube  105  as shown in STEP B of the Figure. The paint cleaner assembly  200  of this intermediate construction represents a minimal configuration of the present invention for some embodiments as will be made clear in detail below. In short, outer tube  100  presses against the end of cleaning tip  110  opposite from fastener end  117 . Fastener end  117 , via its attachment to inner tube  105 , may be pulled in relative to outer tube  100  thereby providing a compression force onto cleaning tip  110 . Hence, although it is anticipated that there are many known ways to configure fastener  115  and inner tube  105 , some known practical considerations should be preferably met. For example, fastener  115  should preferably be joined to inner tube  105  with a bond that is sufficiently strong to withstand a high number of compression cycles on cleaning tip  110 . Similarly, fastener  115  should preferably be strong enough to withstand a high number of compression cycles on cleaning tip  110 . 
   It should be further understood that there are many known ways to actuate the compression of cleaning tip  110  in paint cleaner assembly  200  as described above. In alternative embodiments of the present invention, it is anticipated that depending on the particular application, a multiplicity of known attachments may be connected to end section  107  by known techniques thereby conveniently enabling a user to pull in fastener end  117  to compress cleaning tip  110 . It is also anticipated that although it is shown that outer tube  100  and inner tube  105  have the same length, some embodiments may design inner tube  105  to extend beyond outer tube  100  (not shown) thereby permitting a user to pull directly on end section  107  without the need of additional attachments. 
   Although the operating principles of the present invention are described in detail below by way of an embodiment with an exemplar attachment to end section  107 , conceptually paint cleaner assembly  200 , according to the principles of the present invention, is designed small enough to be inserted into the barrel of paint ball gun without significantly making contact with the inner surface of the gun barrel until the user retracts inner tube  105  to compress cleaning tip  110 , which expands against the inner surface of the gun barrel and effects the removal of residual surface paint as paint cleaner assembly  200  is retracted from the gun barrel. 
   Still referring to  FIG. 2 , STEP C illustrates the making of an alternative embodiment of the present invention where an example of an attachment, adapter  120 , and its assembly is shown, whereby a male end of adapter  120  is inserted into and fixed to end section  107 , by being screwed in for example, as shown in STEP D of  FIG. 3 . Adapter  120 , as shown in the present embodiment, has an exposed end that is suitable to receive a multiplicity of end attachments designed for the particular application, and serve the dual use of providing a gripping mechanism to actuate the compression of cleaning tip  110  during paint removal from paintball gun barrels. Adapter  120  may be constructed from any material that serves the described purpose, where, by way of example, brass is a suitable choice for robust performance. 
   In another alternative embodiment, as shown in STEP E of  FIG. 3 , protective sleeve  130  is placed to sufficiently cover adapter  120  thereby minimizing the risk of scratching the inside surface of the paintball gun barrel. Protective sleeve  130  is preferably made of soft plastic, such as vinyl for example, and held in place by friction so that it can be easily removed when needed. Other known methods of providing a protective barrier as described may be employed. Lanyard  150  is an optional accessory that serves to secure the present invention to the user. In the embodiment shown, lanyard  150  has a detachable ring  155 , which ring is placed around outer tube  100  and held from sliding off by adapter  120 , or protective sleeve  130 , or any attachment fixed to adapter  120 . There are many lanyard designs known to those in the art, which designs may be implemented in some embodiments depending on the particular application. 
   Fixing attachment  140  to adapter  120  as shown in STEP F of  FIG. 3  completes the present embodiment. Many known techniques are available to secure attachment  140  to adapter  120 , including, for example, by screwing a screw  145  into a threaded female receiving end  125  formed in adapter  120  as shown in  FIG. 4(   a ), thereby providing a completed paintball gun barrel cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment of attachment  140 , a shotgun swab is used; however, a multiplicity of known attachments is contemplated depending on the application. 
   To actuate the cleaning mechanism in the present embodiment the user simply pulls attachment  140  in the direction of the arrows shown in  FIG. 4(   b ). When actuated, cleaning tip  110  is forced into its compressed state  400 , thereby increasing its diameter perpendicular to the lengthwise axis of the outer tube  100 . 
   To clean the inside barrel of a paint ball gun, the user of the present embodiment would simply insert the present invention into the paintball gun barrel while cleaning tip  110  is in the non-compressed as shown in  FIG. 4(   a ). When the user has inserted cleaning tip  110  to the desired depth into the paintball gun barrel, attachment  140  is retracted in the direction of the arrows shown in  FIG. 4(   b ) thereby expanding cleaning tip  110  into compressed state  400 , which firmly presses against the inside surface of the paintball gun barrel. Continued retraction force keeps cleaning tip  110  in compressed state  400  and acting like a squeegee sweeping away paint in the direction of the retraction until cleaning tip  110  is pulled out of the paintball gun barrel and the residual paint deposits in the paintball gun barrel are removed.  FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 4(   a ). 
   Cleaning tip  110  is preferable made out of rubber to provide the desired compressibility and squeegee characteristics described; however, any suitable material known to those in the art may be used. Cleaning tip  110  is preferably sized to be very small to enter the barrel the paintball gun barrel without making substantial contact with the barrel, and yet be large enough to expand to the required diameter, as described above, when compressed. Attachment  140  may be configured as a secondary cleaner adapted to fit known paintball gun barrel cleaners including, for example, any gauge of cotton, cloths, or brushes as shown in  FIG. 6(   a ). The optional secondary cleaners further insuring a clean and dry paintball gun barrel. In some embodiments, the application may require various sizes of swab  620 , and in yet other applications, an alternative flag tip  630  that can hold flags or cotton may be desired. 
   When outer tube  100  and inner tube  105  are made from sufficiently soft and malleable plastic, an attendant capability of the present invention is to enable the user to cut, using common cutting tools, outer tube  100  and inner tube  105  to a desired length for a particular paintball gun barrel application. Those in the art will appreciate that the user may readily determine the optimal length required for their particular application. 
   Yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 6(   b ) where a section  600  of the relatively rigid shafts of outer tube  100  and inner tube  105  is removed and replaced with relatively flexible materials that permit folding as shown in  FIG. 6(   c ). For example, section  600  of outer tube  100  is be replaced with flexible surgical tubing and joined to the remaining rigid sections of outer tube  100  by known means, and section  600  inner tube  105  is replaced with a monofilament line joined to the remaining rigid sections of inner tube  105  by known means. Thus, a foldable embodiment of the present invention is achieved, while maintaining all the attendant characteristics and functionality as previously described. 
   Yet other embodiments according to the present invention are anticipated where the cleaning tip  110  takes on a multiplicity of various forms that achieve the same function and operate according to the principals of the present invention. For example, referring to  FIG. 7(   a ), cleaning tip  110  may be replaced with at least one cleaning disc(s)  710  or a balloon, globe like shape  720 , depending on the application. Cleaning disc(s)  710 , in accordance with the principles of the present invention, perform a similar function as cleaning tip  110 , but operate in a somewhat different manner. That is, to clean a gun barrel, the user would first insert cleaning disc(s)  710  into the barrel while in their non-vertical substantially parallel position as shown in the Figure. Each disc can pivot with respect to the axis when inserted into the paintball gun thereby not pushing paint into the breach. Then, in a similar manner as described for cleaning tip  110 , the user retracts inner tube  105 , thereby pressing outer tube  100  against cleaning disc(s)  710  and forcing it into the vertical position, which results in firm contact between the out edge of cleaning disc(s)  710  and the inside gun barrel. Thus, when cleaning disc(s)  710  gets to the breach upon outward force the discs are then forced to stand in a perpendicular axis and thus causing a tight seal and expelling paint upon the users outward pull. As described for cleaning tip  110 , the cleaning disc(s)  710  in the vertical position act as a squeegee sweeping away paint in the direction of the retraction until cleaning disc(s)  710  is pulled out of the paintball gun barrel and the residual paint deposits in the paintball gun barrel are removed. 
   In addition, some embodiments may not have protective sleeve  130  as shown in  FIG. 7(   b ). Yet other alternative embodiments may remove swab  620  and replace it with a handgrip attachment  730  (a t-bar handle is shown by way of example) that is used to pull in inner tube  105  thereby compressing cleaning tip  110 . 
   Having fully described at least one embodiment of the present invention, other equivalent or alternative methods of implementing a paintball gun barrel cleaner according to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The invention has been described above by way of illustration, and the specific embodiments disclosed are not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed. The invention is thus to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the following claims.