U.S. patent application number 11/340991 was filed with the patent office on 2006-08-24 for barrel blocking device.
This patent application is currently assigned to National Paintball Supply, Inc.. Invention is credited to Simon Benjamin Stevens.
Application Number | 20060185658 11/340991 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36911318 |
Filed Date | 2006-08-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060185658 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Stevens; Simon Benjamin |
August 24, 2006 |
Barrel blocking device
Abstract
A plug sized, shaped and formed to fit securely within the
firing end of the barrel of a paintball marker, for blocking
misfired or accidentally-fired paintballs. The plug is comprised of
a handle and a tip. The tip is comprised of a squeegee located
adjacent a terminal end portion of the tip, at least one rib along
the length of the tip, a channel along the length of the tip and an
energy-absorbing contact edge located adjacent the terminal end
portion. The plug is preferably flexible so as to provide for a
secure fit within the barrel, to absorb energy from misfired
paintballs and to provide for discharge of gas and debris.
Inventors: |
Stevens; Simon Benjamin;
(Sewell, NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
VOLPE AND KOENIG, P.C.
UNITED PLAZA, SUITE 1600
30 SOUTH 17TH STREET
PHILADELPHIA
PA
19103
US
|
Assignee: |
National Paintball Supply,
Inc.
Sewell
NJ
|
Family ID: |
36911318 |
Appl. No.: |
11/340991 |
Filed: |
January 27, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60647508 |
Jan 27, 2005 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
124/80 ;
42/70.11; 89/31 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41B 11/00 20130101;
F41A 17/44 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
124/080 ;
042/070.11; 089/031 |
International
Class: |
F41A 21/00 20060101
F41A021/00; F41A 17/00 20060101 F41A017/00; F41B 11/00 20060101
F41B011/00 |
Claims
1. A flexible plug shaped to removably engage the end of a
paintball marker barrel, the plug comprising: a handle; and a tip
configured to engage an inside of a marker barrel, the tip
comprising a terminal end portion and an intermediate end portion
located between the terminal end portion and the handle, and a
channel that joins the terminal end portion and the intermediate
portion.
2. The flexible plug of claim 1 wherein the tip is sized to fit
snugly within the paintball marker barrel.
3. The flexible plug of claim 1 further comprising at least one rib
defining a rib cross-sectional perimeter formed along the tip.
4. The flexible plug of claim 3 wherein walls of the channel extend
beyond the cross-sectional perimeter of the rib.
5. The flexible plug of claim 3 wherein at least one rib located
adjacent the terminal end portion has a cross-sectional perimeter
that extends beyond the other ribs formed along the tip.
6. The flexible plug of claim 1 further comprising a contact edge
adjacent the terminal end portion.
7. The flexible plug of claim 6 wherein the contact edge is shaped
to accept a paintball.
8. The flexible plug of claim 6 further comprising a hole extending
through at least a portion of the contact edge.
9. The flexible plug of claim 8 wherein the hole is contiguous with
the channel.
10. The flexible plug of claim 6 wherein the contact edge is shaped
to pierce a paintball.
11. The flexible plug of claim 1 further comprising a squeegee
adjacent the terminal end portion.
12. The flexible plug of claim 1 wherein the tip is
cylindrical.
13. The flexible plug of claim 1 wherein the channel is curved
along its path.
14. The flexible plug of claim 1 further comprising a hole in the
handle.
15. The flexible plug of claim 1 wherein the handle is a flat, oval
shape.
16. The flexible plug of claim 1 wherein the plug is comprised of
rubber.
17. The flexible plug of claim 1 further comprising a channel on
each side of the tip.
18. A method of using the flexible plug shaped to removably engage
the end of a paintball marker barrel of claim 1 comprising:
grabbing the handle; aligning the terminal end portion of the tip
with a firing end of a barrel of a paintball marker; twisting the
handle while pushing the tip into the barrel; securing the tip
within the barrel; and releasing the handle.
19. A flexible plug shaped to removably engage the end of a
paintball marker barrel, the plug comprising: a handle; a tip
configured to engage an inside of a marker barrel, the tip
comprising a terminal end portion and an intermediate end portion
located between the terminal end portion and the handle, and a
channel that joins the terminal end portion and the intermediate
portion; at least one rib defining a rib cross-sectional perimeter
formed along the tip; and ribs located adjacent the terminal end
portion, at least one rib having a cross-sectional perimeter that
extends beyond other ribs formed along the tip
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Application No.
60/647,508, filed on Jan. 27, 2005, which is incorporated by
reference as if fully set forth herein.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to paintball markers (guns) and
blocking the barrel of same to prevent inadvertent discharge of a
paintball.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Paintball is a sport where two or more players fire
paintballs at each other from a paintball marker (gun) within the
rules of a game, often like capture the flag. A player is "marked"
if a paintball contacts, bursts and sheds its colored "paint" on
him. Paintballs that do not break are not counted as marks.
Referees enforce the rules and insure safety.
[0004] Players typically wear a paintball mask and goggles to
minimize serious injury to the face, ears, and eyes. Regulated
fields require masks, goggles and marker plugs or barrel covers to
play on the field. The marker plugs and barrel covers prevent
accidental firing of a paintball while not engaged in a game.
Marker plugs will soon be required to meet American Society for
Testing and Materials ("ASTM") standards. See Proposed ASTM
Designation F 2271-03, which is incorporated by reference as if
fully set forth herein.
[0005] The ASTM Standard requires, in short, that a blocking device
prevent discharge of a paintball when the marker is fired several
times, when the barrel is dry and after immersion in paint (which
decreases friction between the barrel and any plug).
[0006] The known ways of blocking a barrel are the plugs and covers
mentioned previously. Plugs act as stoppers to prevent paintballs
from inadvertently exiting the marker's barrel. Unfortunately, such
plugs are not effective in a barrel that is slick with paint, and
few if any, of the existing plugs, can pass the proposed ASTM
standards for paintball barrel blocking devices.
[0007] Paintball covers or "condoms" cover the end of the marker
barrel, and "catch" fired balls. Cords connect the paintball cover
to an anchoring point on the marker. Such covers are more expensive
than plugs, difficult to clean, and require complicated mounting
for proper operation as compared to the plug.
SUMMARY
[0008] The present invention satisfies the above-referenced needs.
It is a flexible plug shaped to removably engage the end of a
paintball marker barrel. The plug is comprised of a handle and a
tip. The tip is sized and configured to snugly engage an inside of
a marker barrel. The tip is comprised of a terminal end portion and
an intermediate end portion located between the terminal end
portion and the handle, and an open channel that joins the terminal
end portion and the intermediate portion. Preferably, the tip is
also comprised of a squeegee portion at the terminal end portion
and ribs along the length between the terminal end portion and the
intermediate portion.
[0009] The present invention is also a method of using the flexible
plug comprising grabbing the handle, aligning the terminal end
portion of the tip with a firing end of a barrel of a paintball
marker, twisting the handle while pushing the tip into the barrel,
securing the tip within the barrel; and releasing the handle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a side view of a barrel blocking device according
to the present invention inserted into a compressed gas gun or
paintball marker.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a barrel blocking
device according to the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a front plan view of a barrel blocking device
according to the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of a barrel blocking device
according to the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a front plan view of another embodiment of a
barrel blocking device according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0015] FIGS. 1-4 show different views of a flexible barrel plug 10
according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the plug 10
can be inserted into the barrel 4 of a paintball marker 2 to stop
an inadvertent discharge of a paintball (not shown). The plug 10 is
preferably comprised of rubber but may be made of other suitable
materials such as plastic, etc.
[0016] As shown in FIG. 1 and in detail in FIGS. 2 and 3, the plug
10 has a handle 12 and tip 14. The handle 12 is shown as a
generally flattened oval-shape, but could be any easily gripped
shape. The handle 12 has two holes 16 that can attach to a cord
(not shown) for storage, or such a cord could serve as a backup to
secure the plug 10 in a marker barrel, in essence functioning like
the cord used with the traditional barrel covers. Additionally,
such cord may be used to attach the plug 10 to the marker so that
the player would be less likely to lose the plug 10 when it is not
secured in the barrel 4 of the marker 2; i.e., during play. The
location of the holes 16 is suggestive, and could be located on any
portion of the plug 10.
[0017] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the tip 14, preferably is
cylindrically shaped and sized to snugly fit into a standard marker
barrel 4. However, it may be sized and shaped to fit into modified
marker barrels including, but not limited to the Barrel Spin
Attachment shown and described in U.S. application Nos. 60/682,628,
60/703,094, and 60/717,445, the Barrel Attachment for Gas Gun shown
and described in U.S. Patent application No. 60/695,685, the
Paintball Barrel Spin Device and Improved Paintball Gun Spin Barrel
shown and described in U.S. Patent application No. 60/695,732, and
the Paintball Projectile Drop Compensator shown and described in
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/453,122. These applications are
incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. As shown in
FIG. 4, the cylindrical tip 14 has two sides 30, 32. Both sides are
comprised of a channel 24, ribbing 20 and a squeegee 18. The
ribbing defines a rib cross-sectional perimeter formed along the
tip. As shown in FIG. 4, in the preferred embodiment, the channels
24 have identical groove paths but one is rotated 180 degrees about
its axis. In another embodiment, the sides 30, 32 of the tip 14 may
be mirror images of each other. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the
squeegee 18 is essentially a lip that protrudes or extends outward
past the ribbing 20.
[0018] During insertion, the tip 14 compresses due to its
flexibility, and removably engages the inner surface of the barrel
along the tip's length as shown in FIG. 1.
[0019] Several features of the tip 14 make it advantageous over the
simple plugs of the prior art.
[0020] First, the flexibility of the plug 10 allows it to compress
during insertion into a barrel 4, but subsequently expand to
tightly engage the barrel 4, as shown in FIG. 1. Optimally, during
insertion, a user twists the plug 10, which reduces the cross
sectional area of the tip 14. Once the tip 14 is inserted deeply
into a marker barrel 4, untwisting the plug 10 expands the tip 14
so that it firmly engages the barrel 4.
[0021] Second, during insertion and removal of the plug 10, the
squeegee lip 18 wipes off the inside of the barrel 4, which is
advantageous because it removes paint or moisture from the barrel 4
that would otherwise reduce friction on the plug 10, which further
secures the plug 10 in the barrel 4. In other words, the more
friction, the less likely the plug 10 is to slip out of the barrel
4 or be discharged from the barrel 4 upon being struck by a
misfired paintball. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the channel 24
(discussed further below) also has a squeegee lip 25 that extends
above the surface of the ribs 20 such that the lip 25, during a
twisting insertion, wipes the interior of the barrel.
[0022] Third, the ribbing 20, shown in detail in FIGS. 2 and 3,
acts to further squeegee the barrel, and engages the barrel tightly
along the length of the tip 14. The ribs 20 may be the same size;
however, in an alternate embodiment (not shown), the two ribs 22
closest to the squeegee lip 18 may be larger than the other ribs.
In this embodiment, these two ribs 22 engage the barrel with more
friction, and during any partial removal of the plug 10, these ribs
22 will remain engaged until the plug 10 is fully removed. Thus, in
a partially removed condition, these ribs 22 alone might engage the
barrel with enough force to prevent a paintball from inadvertently
discharging. In an alternate embodiment not shown, the ribbing
could spiral along the length of the tip 14, thus making a twisting
insertion of the plug 10 easier.
[0023] Fourth, the curved or winding vent channels 24, which are
preferably located on opposite sides of the tip 14 as shown in FIG.
4, vent the gas expelled during firing of a paintball marker. The
channel's 24 curved shape, shown in detail in FIGS. 2 and 3,
moreover, impedes debris as it exits the barrel, thus decreasing
the damaging effect of such debris as it is fired from the marker.
The channel(s) 24 are preferably any convoluted shape, and could
number one or more along the tip 14. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in
the preferred embodiment, the walls of the channel 24 extend beyond
the cross-sectional perimeter of the ribbing 20 so as to form a
squeegee lip 25. This squeegee lip 25 functions similar to the
squeegee 18 in that the squeegee lip 25 wipes off the inside of a
barrel during a twisting insertion and removal. This is
advantageous because the lip 25 removes paint or moisture from the
barrel that would otherwise reduce friction on the plug 10, which
further secures the plug 10 in the barrel.
[0024] Fifth, the contact edge 26 of the tip 14 has advantageous
features of its own. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the edge 26 is
preferably non-contiguous due to the hole 28 that extends through
the thickness of the tip 14. This makes each edge of the contact
edge 26 more flexible, and allows it to function as a spring that
absorbs the impact of an inadvertently discharged paintball. This
absorption breaks the paintball, but also prevents the entirety of
the paintball's energy from transmission through the tip 14,
because some of the paintball's energy is absorbed, and some of the
energy escapes in the form of exploded paint (and casing) into the
hole 28 and out the channels 24. Another advantage of the shape of
the contact edge 26, which is shown in detail in FIGS. 2 and 4, is
that it is shaped to "catch" or accept a paintball, which further
absorbs its impact. Yet another advantage of the shape of the
contact edge 26 is that the hole 28 can be shaped to engage a
standard display hook in a retail store, thus making these
relatively inexpensive plugs 10 easy to mount and store.
[0025] It may be advantageous in other embodiments, as shown in
FIG. 5, to have a contact edge 34 shaped to pierce the paintball
(not shown), for example, with a pointed portion 36, thus allowing
the energy of the paintball to escape in the form of paint and
casing through the channel 24.
[0026] Sixth, the large flattened handle 12 can be easily formed
with the logo of a company or otherwise branded.
[0027] Although what has been shown and discussed is a flexible
plug 10, a less flexible plug could be used, especially if it had
the impact absorbing contact edge 26,34 that absorbs the energy of
the misfired paintball.
* * * * *