Abstract:
A lid for a paintball container is disclosed which comprises a body, a means for connecting said lid to said paintball container, aa first opening to transfer at least one paintball from said container into the lid, a second opening to transfer at least one paintball to outside of the lid; and a rotatable door for controlling the release of a paintball. The advantages of the present invention are that said lid can be operated rapidly and single handedly. It is a further advantage of the invention, that the lid does not require an adaptor or collar for use with the hopper of a paintball gun, the collar portion of the lid of the present invention being inserted into the hopper prior to opening thus preventing any individual paint balls being spilled during transfer from the pod to the desired location via the lid.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a lid for use with a paintball container i.e. a “pod” used to carry additional paintballs to facilitate the re-loading of a paintball gun. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Paintballing is an extreme sport performed at both recreational and competitive levels world-wide in which players on one team seek to capture the flag of an opposing team and/or eliminate all members of the opposing team by shooting them with a water-soluble dye shot in paint-filled pellets (paintballs) shot from compressed-air guns. When a player is shot, the paint-filled pellet, which typically has a plastic or gelatinous capsule bursts on impact, marking the player with said water-soluble dye, and subsequently eliminating them from the game. 
         [0003]    The structure of a typical compressed-air paintball gun (also known as a paintball marker) is shown in  FIG. 1 . In brief a compressed-air paintball gun  100  comprises: a body  101 , which houses a trigger frame, bolt and valve which are the primary components of the mechanical firing mechanism; a barrel  102 , which guides the direction of the paintball; an air tank  103  which holds compressed gas (e.g. CO 2 , high-pressure air or propane), which is used to propel individual paint-filled balls/pellets through the gun barrel; and a loader/hopper  104  which holds multiple individual paint-filled pellets for the marker to fire. These individual components of compressed-air paintball guns are interchangeable and permit different brands of hopper to be used with various models of marker for example. 
         [0004]    During periods of sustained play, players may require additional paintballs, which can be carried in “pods”. Pods, also known as cartridges or guppies, are typically rigid tube container pod bodies with a pod lid which hold in the region of 100 to 140 paintballs, although variations in capacity are known. Paintballing is a highly competitive activity, accordingly, the ability of a player to quickly and accurately load his/her paintball gun during combat with additional paintballs from a pod is highly desirable to avoid being shot during this reloading process and thus being eliminated. Paintball pods  200  are known as substantially illustrated in  FIG. 2 , which comprise a substantially flat, spring-loaded plastic lid  201  which can be opened quickly and single-handedly. However, these flat-top embodiments are do not readily align with the inlet of the hopper, and must be opened prior to aligning the pod with the hopper, subsequently, during transfer of the paintballs from the pod body to the paintball hopper in high-pressure environments where speed is crucial e.g. mid-game, frequently several individual paintballs are misaligned with the inlet and are split, reducing the number of shots available for a player to play with and increasing the frequency in which reloading is required. 
         [0005]    Adapted paintball systems are know which aim to address the misalignment of the paintball pod and hopper and therefore reduce spill rate. These paintball containers  300  utilize a claw-like pod opening  301  which is maintained in a closed position by a resilient biasing means  302  (elastic band) surrounding the individual claw-like teeth. To open the claw-like entry/exit point of the pod, significant force must be applied such that the body of the pod is slid into the internal lumen of the claw-like structure, causing the individual components of the claw-like structure to separate and thus opening the pod (as illustrated in  FIG. 3 ). These claw-like pods require significant force and are often cumbersome to operate single handedly. Consequentially, they are often used with a custom fit collar adaptor which fits between the hopper and the claw-like pod, so that the pod is inserted into the collar and then the claw-like structure is opened retaining all individual paint-filled pellets within the gun assembly. It is a limitation of this system that to achieve maximum benefit both the collar adaptor and the claw-like pods must be purchased increasing the cost incurred to the player. Such collars are difficult to fit and not compatible with all models of paintball hopper, incurring further costs to the player as a compatible hopper may also need purchasing to enable use. Another noted limitation of the system is that the elastic resilient biasing means, which is used to maintain the claw-like structure in a closed position can frequently become detached and/or break rendering the pod unusable until repair. 
         [0006]    A further variation of a standard paintball pod is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,722,355B1 titled ‘paintball container and method’. U.S. Pat. No. 6,722,355B1 details a pod having a semi-circular door which interacts with a collar of a complementary magazine fitted on the body or a paintball gun. Said magazine also having a semi-circular door such that when the pod is inserted into the collar of the magazine and rotated 180°, the doors of the pod and the doors of the magazine are simultaneously opened allowing the transfer of paint-filled pellets from the pod to the magazine mounted on the paintball gun body. Subsequently, this system requires a complementary magazine having a collar for re-loading a paintball gun hopper, incurring greater expense to the player. If the pod were used independently of the magazine collar, it would have to be mechanically rotated 180° to affect opening of the semi-circular doors. Such mechanical operation could not easily be performed single handedly. Moreover, as with the other prior art pods, U.S. Pat. No. 6,722,355B1 is also a flat-top embodiment which does not readily align with the inlet of the hopper, subsequently, during transfer of the paintballs from the pod body to the paintball hopper, therefore under high-pressure environments where speed is crucial e.g. mid-game the pod would also be easily misaligned with the hopper (if used without the magazine collar) and therefore prone to spilling. 
         [0007]    There is accordingly a genuine need for an improved paintball container lid, which can be fitted retrospectively to existing pod bodies such that existing pod bodies can be accurately aligned with the hopper to prevent spillage of individual paint-filled pellets and which can be operated single handedly, and affect rapid transfer of paint-filled pellets/balls from the pod into the hopper both during play and outside of play. Such retro-fitting would also serve to minimize the cost incurred for those who have existing pod bodies at their disposal. 
         [0008]    Further, there is a need for an improved paintball container, which can be accurately aligned with the hopper to prevent spillage of individual paint-filled pellets and which can be opened inside of the paintball hopper, operated single handedly, and which can affect rapid transfer of paint-filled pellets/balls from the pod into the hopper both during play and outside of play. 
         [0009]    There is also a need for a paint-ball containing pod with improved accuracy, which can be opened inside of the paintball hopper, operated single handedly and which can be used uniformly across a range of makes and models of paintball guns/markers/hoppers etc. without the need for additional expense and inconvenience incurred in purchasing and fitting the necessary adaptors for the product to be compatible with existing equipment. 
         [0010]    The term paintball gun (also known as a paintball marker) used throughout this specification will be understood to include: a body, a barrel, a compressed-gas tank with or without a loader/hopper. 
         [0011]    The term paintball container used throughout this specification will be understood to be the complete assembly of a ‘pod’ lid and a receptacle portion for holding and storing individual paintballs. The entire paintball container (pod) being capable of loading multiple individual paintballs into the hopper of a paintball gun or directly loading said paintballs into the body of a paintball gun. It will also be understood that the pod may simply be used for the transport of individual paintballs/paint-filled pellets. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    The novel lid for a paintball container described herein comprises: 
         [0013]    a body; 
         [0014]    a connector for connecting said lid to said paintball container; 
         [0015]    a first opening to transfer at least one paintball from said container into the lid, 
         [0016]    a second opening to transfer at least one paintball to outside of the lid; and 
         [0017]    a rotatable door for controlling the release of a paintball. 
         [0018]    A further embodiment of the present invention relates to the lid in combination with a receptacle portion for the holding and storage of individual paintballs i.e. a complete paintball container “pod” assembly. 
         [0019]    Advantageously, all embodiments of said lid described herein can be operated single handedly. Furthermore, a collar defines the second opening of said lid permitting the entire paintball container to be easily guided and aligned with the receptacle into which the paintballs are to be transferred, before the lid is opened, preventing spillage of any individual paintballs and thus maximizing the number of individual paintballs available for the player to play with. 
         [0020]    The collar defining the second opening can be inserted fully into the opening of a paintball hopper before it is opened to further reduce spillage of any individual paintballs. 
         [0021]    The rotatable door of the container lid is located in between said first and second openings, and said rotatable door extends across the lid body in a closed position to prevent the paintballs from exiting the pod via the second opening. Meanwhile, the substantially circular shape of the rotatable door, is only millimetres wider than the width of the lid body such that the lids is lightweight, and in a closed position, the rotatable door does not extend greatly beyond the overall lid diameter to be both aesthetically pleasing and ergonomically easy to hold and operate by one hand. 
         [0022]    The lid body has a slot therein for receiving the rotatable door of the container lid there through. Subsequently, the rotatable lid is always in contact with the slot present in the lid body, negating the need to align the rotatable door with the slot and facilitating quick closure of said rotatable door. 
         [0023]    The lid further comprises a stop attached to the lid body to limit the rotation of said rotatable door. By limiting the rotation of the rotatable door, the lid remains within the users hand span allowing the door to be closed single handedly after use for ease of storage. 
         [0024]    The rotatable door of the lid is attached to the lid body by a resilient biasing means, which biases said door in an open position, allowing quick release of individual paintballs from within the paintball container. Preferably, the rotatable door is attached to the container lid body by a torsion spring. 
         [0025]    To prevent paintball(s) from leaving the receptacle portion of the container the lid body further comprises a protrusion which engages with a complementary recess on the rotatable door, to bias the rotatable door in a closed position. 
         [0026]    Advantageously, all embodiments of said lid described herein can be fitted retrospectively to a variety of makes and models of existing paintball containers, minimising cost to the paintball player. Costs of the lid are further reduced by manufacturing the product from relatively inexpensive moulded plastics materials. 
         [0027]    Further, the connector for connecting the lid to the paintball container receptacle portion will be an interference fit between the outside walls of the opening of the pod body and the inside walls of the first opening of the lid. Since, most paintball receptacle portions have a standard width of approximately 7 cm, this will reduce the costs incurred by the player, since single lid will be compatible with multiple individual paintball container receptacle portions. It will be understood that alternative means for connecting the lid to the portion of the container which is a receptacle for holding and storing paintballs will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, a screw thread compatible with the receptacle portion of the container, hinges, or snap-fit fixings. 
         [0028]    In another aspect the lid for a paintball container, comprises a tubular member having a central passage, an upper end and a lower end, said tubular wall having a cut-out section between said upper end and said lower end; a closure member comprising a flat plate member, wherein in an open position, said plate member locates outside a main central passage of said tubular member, and which in a closed position said plate member locates across said central passage, thereby closing off said main central passage; said closure member being movable between said open and closed positions, such that said plate member passes through said cut-out section; said closure member being pivotally attached to said tubular member at a location on the outside of said tubular member; and a tab member having a protruding portion which at all times protrudes outside of said tubular member, wherein said tab member is movable between a first position in which said closure member is in said open position, and a second position in which said closure member is in said closed position; wherein movement of said tab member between said second position and said first position causes said closure member to move between said closed position and said open position. 
         [0029]    Other aspects of the lid for the paintball container or the lid in combination with a receptacle for holding and storing paintballs (i.e. a complete pod assembly lid and receptacle) are as set out in the claims herein. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0030]    For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, there will now be described by way of example only, specific embodiments, methods and processes according to the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0031]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of the structure of a compressed gas paintball gun. 
           [0032]      FIGS. 2 and 3  illustrate prior art paintball containers. 
           [0033]      FIG. 4  is a side view of a lid for a paintball container in closed configuration, in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0034]      FIG. 5  is a side view of a lid for a paintball container in open configuration, in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0035]      FIG. 6  is a deconstructed side view of the first embodiment of the body portion of the present invention which is a lid for a paintball container. 
           [0036]      FIG. 7 a    is a plan view of rotatable door portion of the lid for a paintball container in the first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0037]      FIG. 7 b    is a plan view of torsion spring used in the hinge attachment of the rotatable door portion to the body of the lid of a paintball container, suitable for you in any embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0038]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a lid for a paintball container, attached to a receptacle portion of a paintball container in open configuration, in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0039]      FIG. 9  is a side view of a lid for a paintball container, attached to a receptacle portion of a filled paintball container in closed configuration, in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0040]      FIG. 10  is a side view of a lid for a paintball container in closed configuration, in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0041]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a lid for a paintball container in open configuration, in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0042]      FIG. 12  is a deconstructed side view of the second embodiment of the body portion of the present invention which is a lid for a paintball container. 
           [0043]      FIG. 13  is a deconstructed side view of the second embodiment of the body portion of the present invention which is a lid for a paintball container. 
           [0044]      FIG. 14  is a deconstructed plan view of the door component of a lid for a paintball container, in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0045]      FIG. 15  is a plan view of a lid for a paintball container, in open configuration, in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0046]    There will now be described by way of example a specific mode contemplated by the inventor. In the following description numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding. It will be apparent however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced without limitation to these specific details. In other instances, well known methods and structures have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure the description. 
         [0047]    Referring to  FIG. 4  herein there is shown a side view of a lid  400  for a paintball container in closed configuration, in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. The lid comprises a first opening  401  to transfer at least one paintball from said container into the lid and at a substantially opposing end of the lid a second opening  402  to transfer at least one paintball to outside of the lid. A rotatable door  408 , attached to the lid body  403  by a connector in the form of a pin hinge  404  separates the first and second openings and controls the release of at least one paintball from the lid to outside of the paintball container. 
         [0048]    The second opening  402  is defined by a collar  405  which is not of uniform diameter throughout the circumference of the second opening  402 , said collar  405  being narrower than the diameter of the overall lid body  403 . The collar extends from a lower region  406  which is substantially aligned with the hinge  404  of the container lid to a higher region  407  located at substantially 180° to the hinge  404 . The optimum height of the collar at the lower region  406  is 0.5 cm and at the higher region  407  the optimum height of the collar is 4 cm. Essentially, the collar  405  forms a funnel to assist transfer of paintballs from the paintball container to the desired end location. 
         [0049]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , there is shown a side view of a first embodiment of the lid  400  for a paintball container in open configuration, there is shown a first opening  401  and at a substantially opposing end of the lid body  403  a second opening  402  and a rotatable door  408 , attached to the lid body  403  by a torsion spring hinge  404 . The rotatable door  408  is substantially circular in shape and separates the first  401  and second openings  402  and controls the release of at least one paintball from the lid to outside of the paintball container. 
         [0050]    Approximately three-quarters of the perimeter of substantially circular door is surrounded by a lip  409  which protrudes both above and below the substantially flat circular door area  408   a.  The circular door area  408   a  is received into a slot  410  in the body  403  of the lid  400 . The slot  410  is parallel with the first opening  401  and at an approximate 45° angle to the sloped perimeter of the collar  405  surrounding the second opening  402 . 
         [0051]    The body  403  also has lip  411  which is located above slot  410  and extends outwardly of the lid body  403 . Said lip  411  is of substantially equal diameter as the lip  409  protruding from the flat region  408   a  of the circular door  408 , such that the two lips  409  and  411  form a substantially singular lip, when the rotatable door  408  is in a closed position. 
         [0052]    It will be understood that variations in lip  409  and  411  size and diameter will be apparent which would not substantially alter the function of the lid  400 . 
         [0053]      FIG. 6  herein shows a deconstructed side view of the first embodiment of lid for the paintball container  400  in which the lid body  403  has a slot  410  for receiving a door therein. The hinge  404  consists of a pin hinge with a fixed anchor point and  404   b  and a recess  404   a  for receiving the hinge pin therein, which interact with a rotatable door (as shown  FIG. 7 ) to affect movement of said door. Fixed anchor point  404   a  of the pin hinge has a recesses therein for receiving a pin of the hinge pin mechanism, whilst said pin protrudes from fixed anchor point  404   b  through an aperture in the rotatable door into  404   a.    
         [0054]      FIG. 7 a    herein shows the rotatable door component  408  of the lid  400  subject of the first embodiment of the present invention. The door  408  comprises an aperture  412  for receiving the pin of fixed anchor point  404   b  there through, said aperture  412  is located in the lip  409  of the door. 
         [0055]    At an opposing end  409   a  of the lip  409  to the aperture  412 , there is located a tab  413  to assist in the operation and gripping of said door  408 . On the inside perimeter of lip  409 , there is a recess  414  for engaging with a protrusion present on the lid body to bias the door  408  in a closed position in a snap-fit mechanism. 
         [0056]      FIG. 7 b    herein shows an enlarged illustration of a torsion spring  500  having an aperture  501  which is aligned with the aperture of the rotatable door  408  of the lid  400  for the paintball container. Said spring  500  has two outer ends  502  and  503  which protrude from a central coiled core and are biased in an opposing orientation. When the pin assembly of anchor point  404   b  is located in the center of aperture  501 , outer end  502  abuts the body  403  of the lid  400 , whilst outer portion  503  abuts the inner perimeter of the lip  409  on the rotatable door  408 . In a resting position, this arrangement biases the rotatable door in an open position. When force is applied to the tab  413  of rotatable door  408 , the torsion spring  500  is compressed, outer portions  502  and  503  of spring  500  are brought closer in proximity allowing recess  414  of the rotatable door  408  to engage with the protrusion of the lid body and thus maintain the rotatable door  408  in a closed position. 
         [0057]    It will be understood that the pin hinge may be substituted with alternative pivoting means of means of rotation. 
         [0058]    It will be understood that the pin hinge described in  FIG. 7 b    is also suitable for use in the second embodiment of the present invention detailed in  FIGS. 10 to 15 . 
         [0059]    Referring to  FIG. 8  herein there is shown a perspective view of a first embodiment of a lid for a paintball container  400 , attached to a receptacle portion of an empty paintball container  600  in open configuration, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. A view into the mouth  601  of the receptacle portion is shown. The inference fit between protrusions  602  on the outer perimeter of the receptacle portion opening  601  and the inner perimeter of the first opening  401  of the lid  500  is evident. 
         [0060]    It will be readily understood by the skilled person, that numerous alternative attachment means may be used in place of the inference fit between the outer perimeter of the outer protrusions  602  of the receptacle portion  600  and the inner perimeter of the first opening  401  of lid  400 ; for example a screw threaded means of attachment. Alternatively, the lid  400  may be permanently adhered to the receptacle portion  600 , or the lid  400  and receptacle portion  600  may be molded as a single structure, rather than being two separate entities. 
         [0061]    Referring to  FIG. 9  herein there is shown a side view of a complete assembly  700  of first embodiment of a lid for a paintball container  400 , attached to a receptacle portion  600  of a filled paintball container  600  in closed configuration, in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0062]    The lid  400  may have a protrusion or tab  701  which is compatible with the molded plastic circumference of the receptacle portion  600 , such that the lid  400  can be snap-fittably engaged over the outer portion of the receptacle circumference to obtain and inference fit. 
         [0063]    It will be understood that the lid  400  may be supplied in conjunction with the receptacle portion  600  or as a complete paintball assembly  700 . 
         [0064]    Alternatively, the lid may be fitted retrospectively to existing receptacle portions  600  to minimize cost incurred to the paintball container user. 
         [0065]    Referring to  FIG. 10  herein there is shown a side view of a second embodiment of a lid  800  for a paintball container in closed configuration. The lid comprises a first opening  801  to transfer at least one paintball from said container into the lid and at a substantially opposing end of the lid a second opening  802  to transfer at least one paintball to outside of the lid. A rotatable door (see  803   FIG. 11 ) attached to the lid body  804  by a pin hinge  805  separates the first and second openings and controls the release of at least one paintball from the lid to outside of the paintball container. 
         [0066]    The second opening  802  is defined by a collar  806  which is not of uniform diameter throughout the circumference of the second opening  802 , said collar  806  being narrower than the diameter of the overall lid body  804 . The collar  806  extends from the outer circumference of the second opening  802  in a curved incline to a lip approximately ¼ of the height of the overall lid body  804 . The maximum height  807  of said collar  806  being substantially aligned with the hinge  805  of the container lid. 
         [0067]    In the second embodiment of the invention, the optimum maximum height of the collar is between approximately 0.5 cm and 4 cm. Essentially, the collar  806  forms a funnel to assist transfer of paintballs from the paintball container to the desired end location. 
         [0068]    When the second embodiment of the paintball lid  800  is viewed from the side in a closed configuration, closing tab  808  is visible extending through an aperture  809  in the lid body  804 . 
         [0069]    Referring to  FIG. 11  herein, a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention shows the lid  800  for a paintball container in open configuration, there is shown a first opening  801 , at a substantially opposing end of the lid body  804  a second opening  802  and a rotatable door  803 , attached to the lid body  804  by a torsion spring hinge  805 . The rotatable door  803  is substantially circular in shape and separates the first  801  and second openings  802  and controls the release of at least one paintball from the lid to outside of the paintball container. 
         [0070]    Approximately half of the perimeter of the substantially circular door is surrounded by a lip  809  which protrudes both above the substantially flat circular door area  803   a.  The circular door area  803   a,  and locking tab  808  are received into a slot  810  in the body  804  of the lid  800 . The slot  810  is parallel with the first opening  801  and with the flat portion of the perimeter of the second opening  802 . 
         [0071]    It will be understood that variations in lip  809  and tab  808  will be apparent which would not substantially alter the function of the lid  800 . 
         [0072]      FIG. 12  herein shows a deconstructed side view of the second embodiment of lid for the paintball container  800  in which the lid body  804  has a slot  810  for receiving a substantially circular door therein. The hinge  805  consists of a pin hinge with two fixed anchor points  805   a  and  805   b  which interact with a rotatable door (as shown  FIG. 14 ) to affect movement of said door. Fixed anchor point  805   a  of the pin hinge has a recesses therein for receiving a pin of the hinge pin mechanism. Said pin protrudes from fixed anchor point  805   b  through an aperture in the rotatable door into  805   a.    
         [0073]      FIG. 13  herein shows a deconstructed side view of the second embodiment of lid for the paintball container  800  in which the lid body  804  has a slot  810  for receiving a substantially circular door therein. A wall portion  811  extend approximately a third of the way into the diameter of slot  810 . Said wall  811  abuts the perimeter of the substantially circular door shown I  FIG. 14  which is absent of lip  809  to form a continuous barrier around slot  810  in a closed configuration. 
         [0074]    The hinge  805  consists of a pin hinge with two fixed anchor points  805   a  and  805   b  which interact with a rotatable door (as shown  FIG. 14 ) to affect movement of said door. Fixed anchor point  805   a  of the pin hinge has a recesses therein for receiving a pin of the hinge pin mechanism. Said pin protrudes from fixed anchor point  805   b  through an aperture in the rotatable door into  805   a.    
         [0075]    The lid  800  may have a protrusion or tab  812  on the bottom for affixing said lid  800  to a molded plastic circumference of a pod receptacle portion, such that the lid  800  can be snap-fittably engaged over the outer portion of the receptacle circumference to obtain and inference fit. 
         [0076]    It will be understood that the lid  800  may be supplied in conjunction with a receptacle portion for holding individual paintballs or as a complete paintball assembly. Alternatively, the lid may be fitted retrospectively to existing receptacle portions to minimize cost incurred to the paintball container user. 
         [0077]    It will be readily understood by the skilled person that numerous alternative attachment means may be used in place of the inference fit between the outer perimeter of the receptacle and the protrusion or tab  812  on the bottom of lid  800 ; for example a screw threaded means of attachment may be employed. Alternatively, the lid  800  may be permanently adhered to a receptacle portion for containing the individual paintballs, or the lid  800  and a receptacle portion may be molded as a single structure, rather than being two separate entities. 
         [0078]      FIG. 14  herein shows a plan view of the rotatable door component  803  of the lid  800  subject of the second embodiment of the present invention. The door  803  comprises an aperture  813  for receiving the pin of fixed anchor point  805   b  there through, said aperture  813  is located in the lip  809  of the door. 
         [0079]    Lip  809  extends continuously around approximately half of the perimeter of the door  803  and stops substantially opposite the aperture  813 . A second lip  814  is present, covering approximately a quarter of the perimeter of door  803  and terminating in closing tab  808 . 
         [0080]    The second lip  814  is tapered and contains a protrusion  815  which interacts with the inner circumferential surface of wall  811  which protrudes into slot  810  (see  FIG. 11 ) to maintain the lid  800  in a closed position (see  FIG. 10 ). 
         [0081]      FIG. 15  herein shows a plan view of a second embodiment of a lid for a paintball container  800 , in an open configuration. A view into the mouth  802  of the lid is shown. 
         [0082]    Lip  809  which protrudes both above the substantially flat circular door area  803   a  is visible in plan view. The locking tab  808  and hinge  805  are also visible. It will be understood that variations in lip  809  and tab  808  will be apparent which would not substantially alter the function of the lid  800 . 
         [0083]    Second lip  814  which covers approximately a quarter of the circumference of door  803 , is slightly tapered and interacts with the inner circumferential surface of wall  811  which protrudes into slot  810  to maintain the lid  800  in a closed position (see  FIG. 10 ). 
         [0084]    The embodiments described herein are provided by way of non-limitative example only, and that alternative embodiments including the above inventive principle may be evident without limitation to these specific details as defined in the claims.