Paint ball caddy

Abstract

A paint ball caddy for use with competitive paint ball guns for conveniently transporting paint balls for use as ammunition. The paint ball caddy has a body that accompanies the entire contents of a conventional paint ball carton, but which includes a pouring spout and a handle on the body that can be gripped to tip the paint ball caddy and pour a quantity of paint balls out of the spout in a controlled manner. The top of the paint ball caddy is provided with a large refill opening, which may be closed with a removable lid. Paint balls may be poured from the caddy into smaller, conventional paint ball canisters, or directly into the hopper of the magazine of a conventional paint ball gun.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

[0001] This document is a continuation-in-part application which is co-pending with, and claims priority from, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/134,959, entitled "Paint Ball Caddy," filed Apr. 30, 2002, which is incorporated herein by this reference thereto.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present invention is technically related to devices for storing, transporting, and dispensing paint balls that are used in paint guns of the type utilized in competitive games in which opponents use the paint guns to shoot paint balls either at each other or at targets.

BACKGROUND ART

[0003] In recent years, the use of paint guns to shoot paint balls for target practice has become increasingly popular. Paint guns of this type are shaped generally in the form of an elongated automatic weapon having a relatively long barrel, a stock, a trigger mechanism, and an ammunition receiving chamber located between the stock and the barrel. A small magazine or hopper is typically located atop the chamber and feeds paint balls into the chamber, one at a time, in response to actuation of the trigger mechanism. Competitive opponents utilize paint guns of this type to shoot paint balls at each other and attempt to surpass the other opponents in speed and accuracy. The paint balls burst upon impact leaving a mark of paint at the point of impact. The impact of the paint balls upon an opponent causes no pain, but registers a mark upon the body or clothing of the targeted participant that indicates a point of impact.

[0004] In conventional practice, the paint balls are formed as spherical balls of congealed paint approximately eleven-sixteenths of an inch in diameter. A few of these paint balls can be carried in a magazine or a hopper that is mounted atop a paint gun and that discharges the paint balls into the loading mechanism of the paint gun as the user fires the gun. However, these magazines can carry only a limited supply of the paint balls which are usually used up rather rapidly.

[0005] Additional paint balls can be carried in tubular canisters which fit into pockets or loops of a bandolier. These canisters are typically approximately five inches in length and approximately two and three-eighths inches in diameter. Canisters of this type accommodate approximately 100 paint balls when filled. The bandoliers in which the canisters are carried are normally strapped approximately the user's waist, but they can also be worn diagonally across the user's chest or back.

[0006] Currently, paint balls that are utilized as ammunition, as above-described, are sold within shapeless plastic bags that are packaged in large, rectangular, paperboard cartons. Paint balls are often sold in lots of 1000 in this manner.

[0007] In conventional practice, a user attempts to pour a smaller number of paint balls from the plastic bag in a carton directly either into the smaller canisters or into the magazine attached to the top of the paint gun. However, the paint balls spill very frequently as the user attempts to fill the canister or the magazine in this fashion. When the paint balls spill, they sometimes break. Since each paint ball costs approximately five cents, this can represent a significant loss. In actual practice, two people are typically required for pouring the paint balls from the cartons, in which they are sold, into the paint ball canisters or magazines that are often utilized with the paint ball guns.

[0008] Also, attempting to carry the paperboard box or to carry the plastic bag without the box is rather cumbersome for the user. Thusfar, no satisfactory method exists for transporting an adequate number of paint balls for use as ammunition in contests or for transferring quantities of the paint balls from the bulk packages, in which they are sold, to the paint ball canisters and paint ball gun magazines that are so widely utilized.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0009] According to the present invention, a paint ball caddy and corresponding methods are provided which will accommodate the entire contents of a conventional bulk paint ball carton, but which includes a pouring spout that may be utilized to dispense the paint balls into the smaller paint ball canisters or directly into the magazine on top of the paint ball gun. The paint ball caddy dispenses the paint balls much more efficiently than has been possible by attempting to pour paint balls from a plastic bag into canisters or directly into the magazine on the gun.

[0010] The paint ball caddy of the present invention comprises a container body which has a generally cylindrical, drum-shaped, or barrel-shaped configuration, preferably comprising dimensions of approximately eight inches in height and approximately six inches in diameter. The paint ball caddy has a pouring spout disposed at its top portion, the pouring spout being shaped as a slightly tapered, frustoconical structure that has an opening at its upper extremity, preferably approximately two inches in diameter. The pouring spout is located on one side of the barrel-shaped body. A handgrip is attached to the outside surface of the body, on the side thereof opposite the pouring spout. Alternatively, the handgrip may be integrally formed with the container body, e.g., as an indented handgrip contour. The indented handgrip contours optimizes the container's volume for storing the paint balls.

[0011] On the other side of the container top, opposite the pouring spout, a raised, semicircular rim is formed that surrounds a refill opening in the top, wherein the refill opening may be circular or semicircular. The paint balls can be easily poured from the plastic bags in the bulk cartons, in which they are sold, into the paint ball caddy of the present invention through the refill opening in the top of the caddy. Below the pouring spout and the refill opening, the container body may comprise respective flow channels for facilitating both inward and outward flow of the paint balls, i.e., by preventing the occurrence of trapped paint balls.

[0012] The paint ball caddy of the invention also includes a refill cap, e.g., a circular cap or a semicircular cap, with a lifting tab that fits onto the raised rim to close the refill opening in the caddy once the body of the caddy has been filled with paint balls. Thereafter, when the user lifts and tilts the caddy to pour paint balls out of the spout and into the canisters or the magazine of a paint ball gun, the cap over the refill opening prevents the paint balls from spilling out.

[0013] In one broad aspect, the present invention may be considered to be a paint ball caddy for transporting, storing, and dispensing paint balls. The paint ball caddy of the invention is formed with a hollow, barrel-shaped body having a bottom and a top equipped with a pouring spout having a distal, circular dispensing opening between approximately three-quarters of an inch and approximately three inches in diameter. The caddy also has a refill opening larger in area than the dispensing opening. A refill cover is provided for selectively closing and exposing the refill opening. A handle is attached to the barrel-shaped body.

[0014] In another broad aspect, the present invention is a paint ball caddy comprising: a container having a laterally enclosed floor, wall surfaces extending upwardly approximately the entire perimeter of the enclosed floor, a top located at the upper extremities of the wall surfaces, the top including a pouring spout with an interior cross section that narrows from the upper extremities of the wall surfaces to a distal tip having a circular pouring opening preferably defined therein between approximately three-quarters of an inch. and approximately three inches in diameter. The top also defines a refill opening larger than the pouring opening, a handle attached to the wall surfaces, and a lid removably positionable on the refill opening.

[0015] In still another aspect, the present invention is an article for transporting and dispensing paint balls. The article comprises a container having a top, a bottom, and upright, laterally encompassing sidewalls extending between the top and bottom to define a paint ball storage enclosure. A pouring spout is provided at the top in communication with the paint ball storage enclosure. The pouring spout terminates in a distal paint ball dispensing opening having a circular cross section between approximately three-quarters of an inch and three inches in diameter. A refill opening is defined in the top of the container. The refill opening is greater in area than the paint ball dispensing opening. A lid covers the refill opening and is displaceable to uncover the opening. A carrying handle is attached to the laterally encompassing sidewall. Other features of the present invention are disclosed, or are apparent, in the section entitled "Mode(s) for Carrying-Out the Invention," disclosed, infra.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0016] For better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the below-referenced accompanying Drawing. Reference numbers refer to the same or equivalent parts of the present invention throughout the several figures of the Drawing.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a paint ball caddy, according to the present invention, being utilized to fill the magazine of a paint ball gun shown in broken lines as environmental matter.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a paint ball caddy, according to the present invention, being utilized to fill a conventional paint ball canister.

[0019] FIG. 3 is a sectional elevation view of the paint ball caddy of FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0020] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the paint ball caddy of FIG. 3.

[0021] FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of a lid employed in the paint ball caddy of FIG. 3, shown in isolation.

[0022] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a paint ball caddy, according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention, being utilized to fill the magazine of a paint ball gun shown in broken lines as environmental matter.

[0023] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a paint ball caddy, according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention, being utilized to fill a conventional paint ball canister.

[0024] FIG. 8 is a sectional elevation view of the paint ball caddy of FIGS. 6 and 7.

[0025] FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the paint ball caddy of FIG. 8.

[0026] FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view of a lid employed in the paint ball caddy of FIG. 8, shown in isolation.

MODE(S) FOR CARRYING-OUT THE INVENTION

[0027] FIGS. 1 and 6 illustrate, in perspective views, alternate embodiments of a paint ball caddy 10, according to the present invention, being utilized to fill the magazine 14 of a paint ball gun 16. FIGS. 1 and 6 further show the manner in which the alternate embodiments of the paint ball caddy 10 can be utilized to pour a supply of paint balls 12 into a paint ball magazine 14 mounted atop a conventional paint ball gun 16. Both the magazine 14 and the paint ball gun 16 are shown in phantom as environmental subject matter. The caddy 10 may also comprise respective flow channels 66, 68 for facilitating flow of the plurality of paint balls 12 during refilling and dispensing. The flow channels 66, 68 may comprise a radius of curvature which approximates that of a paint ball 12 for preventing blockage (FIGS. 6-10).

[0028] FIGS. 2 and 7 illustrate, in perspective views, alternate embodiments of a paint ball caddy 10, according to the present invention, being utilized to fill a conventional paint ball canister 18. FIGS. 2 and 7 further show the manner in which the alternate embodiments of the paint ball caddy 10 can be utilized to fill a conventional paint ball canister 18.

[0029] The paint ball caddy 10 has a drum-shaped, or barrel-shaped body 20, and comprises a polymeric material, such as plastic, with an upright, cylindrical, outer wall surface 22 and an upright, cylindrical, inner wall surface 24, i.e., the sidewalls. The wall surfaces 22 and 24 extend upwardly approximately the entire perimeter of a flat, circular bottom 26b which has an outer diameter of seven inches. Alternatively, the bottom 26b may comprise an upwardly indented contour for providing increased structural stability as well as for permitting the caddy 10 to rest on all surfaces, including irregular or uneven surfaces, such as may be the case while out in the field. In addition, another advantage of the present invention the indented contour in the bottom 26b also prevents a "tea-kettle" effect, such effect being the condition where a flat-molding process for container bottoms would otherwise tend to result in bumpy regions that render the container unstable. The inner surface of the container bottom 26b forms an upwardly facing enclosed floor 28. The outer wall surface 22 extends upwardly a distance of approximately 8 inches and terminates at the top 26t. The paint ball caddy 10, thereby, defines a generally cylindrical cavity or paint ball enclosure 30 having a preferable cubic volume greater than 1 gallon.

[0030] On one side of the top 26t, the paint ball caddy 10 is formed with a pouring spout 32, e.g., a frustoconical pouring spout, the inner surface of which forms a funnel 34 that terminates in a circular distal discharge or dispensing opening 36, preferably having dimensions of approximately two inches in inner diameter. The pouring spout 32 preferably has a slight taper so that the funnel 34 narrows from a maximum diameter of approximately 2.5 inches proximate the top of the paint ball enclosure 30 to 2 inches in diameter at the paint ball dispensing opening 36.

[0031] The pouring spout 32 is located off-center on the top 26t, proximate the wall surfaces 22 and 24. The outer periphery of the base of the pouring spout 32 proximate the paint ball storage enclosure 30 is located at the periphery of the top 26t so that a smooth transition exists between the top of the storage enclosure 30 where it ends at the upper extremity of the interior wall surface 24 and the interior funnel wall 34. This allows the paint balls 12 to flow unimpeded by any obstruction from the cylindrical paint ball enclosure 30, through the frustoconical funnel 34 and out of the dispensing opening 36.

[0032] The pouring spout 32 is formed on the side of the top 26t opposite a refill opening 38. The refill opening 38 is larger in area than the dispensing opening 36, and preferably is between approximately 10 in.sup.2 and approximately 15 in.sup.2 in area. Preferably, the refill opening 38 has an interior dimension or diameter of approximately 6 inches. The arcuate portion of the refill opening 38 follows the contour of the wall surfaces 22 and 24 and is located opposite the pouring spout 32.

[0033] The paint caddy 10 is equipped with a polymeric material cap 40, e.g., a plastic cap, that is removably engageable with the refill opening 38. The top 26t of the paint ball caddy 10 is formed with an upright rim 42 that projects upwardly from the surrounding flat surface of the top 26t a distance of preferably approximately 0.40 inches. The rim 42 has a circular or a semicircular, annular shape that surrounds the refill opening 38. The rim 42 has a preferable thickness of approximately 0.04 inches.

[0034] The cap 40 is formed with a pair of concentric gripping walls in its underside, including an outer wall 44 and an inner wall 46. The walls 44 and 46 in the underside of the lid 40 form a semicircular channel 48 therebetween (FIG. 5). The width or gap of the channel 48 is preferably approximately 0.04 inches. The outer wall thickness of the wall 44 is preferably approximately 0.08 inches, and the height of the outer wall 44, as measured from the flat top surface 50 of the lid 40, is preferably approximately 0.315 inches. The thickness of the inner wall 46 is preferably approximately 0.04 inches and the inner wall height is preferably approximately 0.354 inches.

[0035] The lid 40 is a cap that is removably engageable with the refill opening 38. The size and shape of the rim 42 and the channel 48 defined between the inner wall 46 and outer wall 44 of the lid 40 are such that the lid 40 may be pressed downwardly to tightly close the refill opening 38. The rim 42 conforms to the shape of the semicircular channel 48 between the otter wall 44 and inner wall 46 of the lid 40. The lid 40 is thereby snugly attached to the top 26t of the paint caddy 10 and is secured to the rim 42 by a friction fit.

[0036] The lid 40 is provided with a laterally projecting, rectangular-shaped lifting tab 52. The lift tab 52 projects radially outwardly from the arcuately curved edge of the outer wall 44 of the lid 40, preferably a distance of approximately one inch. The width of the lift tab 52 is also preferably approximately one inch, and the lift tab 52 may have a preferable thickness of 0.04 inches.

[0037] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 8, the paint caddy 10 is also provided with a handgrip 54, such as a handle or an indented handgrip contour. The handgrip 54 may be formed as a generally U-shaped grip having upper and lower legs 56 and 58 that are attached to the outer surface 22 of the barrel-shaped body 20 at vertically separated locations, as shown in FIG. 3, or it may be an indented handgrip contour, as shown in FIG. 8. In FIG. 3, the handle legs 56 and 58 are preferably spaced approximately five inches apart and project outwardly from the outer wall surface 22 of the paint caddy container body 20 a preferable distance of approximately one and a quarter inches. The handle may have a preferable thickness of approximately 0.25 inches, as measured perpendicular to the axis of alignment of the paint caddy body 20, and may have a width perpendicular to its thickness of approximately one inch. The rigid legs 56 and 58 of the handle are rigidly joined to the barrel-shaped body 20 beneath the side of the top 26t in which the refill opening 38 is formed. That is, the handle should be located on the side of the paint caddy 10 opposite the side at which the pouring spout 32 is located (FIG. 3).

[0038] To utilize the paint ball caddy 10, the lid 40 is first lifted by a gripping tab 52 to disengage the channel 48 between the outer and inner walls 44 and 46 of the lid 44 from the upright rim 42 surrounding the refill opening 38. With the lid 44 removed, the mouth of the conventional plastic bag in which paint balls 12 are sold in bulk is inserted through the refill opening 38, and the paint balls 12 are then emptied from the bag into the paint ball enclosure 30 of the paint ball caddy 10. The paint ball enclosure 30 will accommodate the entire quantity of 1000 paint balls 12 which are typically sold in a conventional paint ball bag.

[0039] The lid 40 is then pressed downwardly onto the top 26t with the channel 48 in the underside of the lid 40 in registration with the rim 42 surrounding the refill opening 38. The lid 40 is thereby attached to the top 26t of the paint ball caddy 10, by the grip of the lid walls 44 and 46 against the rim 42 at the top 26t of the paint caddy container body 20.

[0040] The user may then utilize the paint ball caddy 10 as a convenient, readily transportable, easily usable supply container. As illustrated in FIG. 1, to pour some paint balls 12 from the paint ball caddy 10 into the hopper of a conventional paint ball gun magazine 14, the user merely seizes the handgrip 54 and tilts the pouring spout 32 toward the opening of the hopper into the magazine 14 that receives the paint balls 12. The paint balls 12 will then tumble in a controlled manner into the open mouth of the hopper of the magazine 14. When the magazine 14 is filled, the user merely tilts the paint ball caddy 10 back from the pouring position shown in FIG. 1, to the upright position illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0041] The paint ball caddy 10 may be utilized in the same manner to refill conventional tubular paint ball cartridges 18 of the type illustrated in FIG. 2. The paint balls 12 can be poured into the canisters 18 by a single user, utilizing one hand to hold the handgrip 54 of the paint ball caddy 10 and the other to grip the paint ball canister 18.

[0042] Undoubtedly, numerous variations and modifications of the invention are contemplated by, and are within, the scope of the present invention. For example, the body 20 of the paint ball caddy 10 does not necessarily need to have a cylindrical shape. The body 20 can have virtually any shape that provides a sufficient volume. Also, the handgrip 54 does not necessarily need to be of a U-shaped configuration to form a closed loop with the outer wall surface of the container body 20.

[0043] The present invention also involves a method M1 of fabricating a paint ball caddy 10 for transporting, storing, and dispensing a plurality of paint balls 12, comprising the steps of: providing a hollow, barrel-shaped body 20 having a bottom 26b, a top 26t, and a sidewall, the body 20 providing step comprising providing the top with a dispensing opening 36 and a refill opening 38, the top 26t providing step comprising providing the refill opening 38 with an area larger than that of the dispensing opening 36, the body 20 providing step comprising providing the bottom 26b with an indented contour for providing structural stability, and the body 20 providing step comprising providing the sidewall with respective flow channels 66, 68 for facilitating flow of the plurality of paint balls 12 during refilling and dispensing; providing a refill cover or lid 40 for selectively closing and exposing the refill opening 38; providing a dispensing cover 65 for selectively closing and exposing the dispensing opening 36; and providing a handgrip 54. The flow channels 66, 68 define a bulged contour in the body 20.

[0044] In the fabrication method M1, the barrel-shaped body providing step comprises defining a paint ball enclosure 30 with a volume greater than 1 gallon, the barrel-shaped body 20 providing step and the refill cover 40 providing step each comprise providing a polymeric material, the barrel-shaped body 20 providing step comprises providing a pouring spout. 32 at the dispensing opening, the barrel-shaped body 20 providing step comprises providing the dispensing opening 36 with a cross-section selected from a group consisting essentially of a circular cross-section, a semi-circular cross-section, and an. elliptical cross-section, the barrel-shaped body 20 providing step comprises providing the refill opening 38 being surrounded by a rim projecting upwardly from the top 26t, the lid or refill cover 40 providing step comprises providing a removable cap having a friction-fit with the rim, the barrel-shaped body 20 providing step comprises providing the refill opening 38 with a cross-sectional area of approximately 10 in.sup.2 and approximately 15 in.sup.2, the refill cover 40 providing step comprises providing the removable cap with a lifting tab 52 that extends laterally outwardly and projects beyond the barrel-shaped body 20, the barrel-shaped body 20 providing step comprises providing the dispensing opening 36 with a dimension selected from a group consisting essentially of a dimension in a range of approximately 3/4 inch to approximately 3 inches and a dimension of approximately 2 inches, the barrel-shaped body 20 providing step comprises disposing the dispensing opening 36 and the refill opening 38 on opposing sides of the top 26t, the handgrip 54 providing step comprises integrally forming the handgrip 54 with the barrel-shaped body 20 by forming an indented contour for accommodating the hand, and the handgrip 54 integrally forming step comprises optimizing a volume of the barrel-shaped body 20 for storing the plurality of paint balls 12.

[0045] A method M2 of transporting, storing, and dispensing a plurality of paint balls 12 by way of a paint ball caddy 10, comprising the steps of: providing a paint ball caddy 10, the paint ball caddy 10 providing step comprising the steps of: providing a hollow, barrel-shaped body 20 having a bottom 26b, a top 26t, and a sidewall, the body 20 providing step comprising providing the top 26t with a dispensing opening 36 and a refill opening 38, the top 26t providing step comprising providing the refill opening 38 with an area larger than that of the dispensing opening 36, the body 20 providing step comprising providing the bottom 26b with an indented contour for providing structural stability, and the body 20 providing step comprising providing the sidewall with respective flow channels 66, 68 for facilitating flow, i.e., tumbling. of the plurality of paint balls 12 during refilling and dispensing; providing a refill cover 40 for selectively closing and exposing the refill opening 38; providing a dispensing cover 65 for selectively closing and exposing the dispensing opening 36; and providing a handgrip 54; filling the caddy 10 with the plurality of paint balls 12; and dispensing the plurality of paint balls 12 into at least one ammunition loading element selected from a group consisting essentially of a canister 18 and a magazine 14.

[0046] Information as herein shown and described in detail is fully capable of attaining the above-described object of the invention, the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, and is, thus, representative of the subject matter which is broadly contemplated by the present invention. The scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments which may become obvious to those skilled in the art, and is to be limited, accordingly, by nothing other than the appended claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean "one and only one" unless explicitly so stated, but rather "one or more." All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the above-described preferred embodiment and additional embodiments that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art are hereby expressly incorporated by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the present claims.

[0047] Moreover, no requirement exists for a device or method to address each and every problem sought to be resolved by the present invention, for such to be encompassed by the present claims. Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. However, that various changes and modifications in form, material, and fabrication material may be made, without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventions as set forth in the appended claims, should be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. No claim herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. .sctn.112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase "means for."

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0048] The present the invention industrially applies to a device for storing, transporting, and dispensing paint balls that are used in paint guns of the type utilized in competitive games in which opponents use the paint guns to shoot paint balls at each other or at targets.

Claims

1. A paint ball caddy for transporting, storing, and dispensing a plurality of paint balls, comprising: a hollow, barrel-shaped body having a bottom, a top, and a sidewall, the top comprising a dispensing opening and a refill opening, the refill opening comprising an area larger than that of the dispensing opening, the bottom comprising an indented contour for providing structural stability, and the sidewall comprising respective flow channels for facilitating flow of the plurality of paint balls during refilling and dispensing, the respective flow channels comprising a radius of curvature which approximates that of a paint ball; a refill cover for selectively closing and exposing the refill opening; a dispensing cover for selectively closing and exposing the dispensing opening; and a handgrip.

2. A paint ball caddy, as recited in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of paint balls disposed within the barrel-shaped body, wherein the barrel-shaped body defines a paint ball enclosure with a volume greater than 1 gallon.

3. A paint ball caddy, as recited in claim 1, wherein the barrel-shaped body and the refill cover each comprise a polymeric material.

4. A paint ball caddy, as recited in claim 3, wherein the barrel-shaped body comprises a pouring spout disposed at the dispensing opening, and wherein the dispensing opening comprises a cross-section selected from a group consisting essentially of a circular cross-section, a semi-circular cross-section, and an elliptical cross-section.

5. A paint ball caddy, as recited in claim 1, wherein the refill opening is surrounded by a rim projecting upwardly from the top, and wherein the refill cover comprises a removable cap having a friction-fit with the rim, and wherein the refill opening comprises a cross-sectional area of approximately 10 in.sup.2 and approximately 15 in.sup.2.

6. A paint ball caddy, as recited in claim 5, wherein the removable cap comprises a lifting tab that extends laterally outwardly and projects beyond the barrel-shaped body.

7. A paint ball caddy, as recited in claim 4, wherein the dispensing opening comprises a dimension selected from a group consisting essentially of: a dimension in a range of approximately 3/4 inch to approximately 3 inches, and a dimension of approximately 2 inches.

8. A paint ball caddy, as recited in claim 1, wherein the dispensing opening and the refill opening are disposed on opposing sides of the top.

9. A paint ball caddy, as recited in claim 8, wherein the handgrip is integrally formed with the barrel-shaped body by an indented contour for accommodating the hand, and wherein the handgrip, being integrally formed, optimizes a volume of the barrel-shaped body for storing the plurality of paint balls.

10. A paint ball caddy for transporting, storing, and dispensing a plurality of paint balls, comprising: a hollow, barrel-shaped body having a bottom, a top, and a sidewall, the top comprising a dispensing opening and a refill opening, the refill opening comprising an area larger than that of the dispensing opening, the bottom comprising an indented contour for providing structural stability, and the sidewall comprising respective flow channels for facilitating flow of the plurality of paint balls during refilling and dispensing, the respective flow channels comprising a radius of curvature which approximates that of a paint ball; a refill cover for selectively closing and exposing the refill opening; a dispensing cover for selectively closing and exposing the dispensing opening; a handgrip; and a plurality of paint balls disposed within the barrel-shaped body, wherein the barrel-shaped body defines a paint ball enclosure with a volume greater than 1 gallon, wherein the barrel-shaped body and the refill cover each comprise a polymeric material, wherein the barrel-shaped body comprises a pouring spout disposed at the dispensing opening, wherein the dispensing opening comprises a cross-section selected from a group consisting essentially of a circular cross-section, a semi-circular cross-section, and an elliptical cross-section, wherein the refill opening is surrounded by a rim projecting upwardly from the top, wherein the refill cover comprises a removable cap having a friction-fit with the rim, wherein the refill opening comprises a cross-sectional area of approximately 10 in.sup.2, wherein the removable cap comprises a lifting tab that extends laterally outwardly and projects beyond the barrel-shaped body, wherein the dispensing opening comprises a dimension selected from a group consisting essentially of: a dimension in a range of approximately 3/4 inch to approximately 3 inches, and a dimension of approximately two inches, wherein the dispensing opening and the refill opening are disposed on opposing sides of the top, wherein the handgrip is integrally formed with the barrel-shaped body by an indented contour for accommodating the hand, and wherein the handgrip, being integrally formed, optimizes a volume of the barrel-shaped body for storing the plurality of paint balls.

11. A method of fabricating a paint ball caddy for transporting, storing, and dispensing a plurality of paint balls, comprising the steps of: providing a hollow, barrel-shaped body having a bottom, a top, and a sidewall, the body providing step comprising providing the top with a dispensing opening and a refill opening, the top providing step comprising providing the refill opening with an area larger than that of the dispensing opening, the body providing step comprising providing the bottom with an indented contour for providing structural stability, and the body providing step comprising providing the sidewall with respective flow channels for facilitating flow of the plurality of paint balls during refilling and dispensing, the sidewall providing step comprising providing the respective flow channels with a radius of curvature which approximates that of a paint ball; providing a refill cover for selectively closing and exposing the refill opening; providing a dispensing cover for selectively closing and exposing the dispensing opening; and providing a handgrip.

12. A method, as recited in claim 11, further comprising the step of providing a plurality of paint balls disposed within the barrel-shaped body, wherein the barrel-shaped body providing step comprises defining a paint ball enclosure with a volume greater than 1 gallon.

13. A method, as recited in claim 11, wherein the barrel-shaped body providing step and the refill cover providing step each comprise providing a polymeric material.

14. A method, as recited in claim 13, wherein the barrel-shaped body providing step comprises providing a pouring spout at the dispensing opening, and wherein the barrel-shaped body providing step comprises providing the dispensing opening with a cross-section selected from a group consisting essentially of a circular cross-section, a semi-circular cross-section, and an elliptical cross-section.

15. A method, as recited in claim 11, wherein the barrel-shaped body providing step comprises providing the refill opening being surrounded by a rim projecting upwardly from the top, wherein the refill cover providing step comprises providing a removable cap having a friction-fit with the rim, and wherein the barrel-shaped body providing step comprises providing the refill opening with a cross-sectional area of approximately 10 in.sup.2 and approximately 15 in.sup.2.

16. A method, as recited in claim 15, wherein the refill cover providing step comprises providing the removable cap with a lifting tab that extends laterally outwardly and projects beyond the barrel-shaped body.

17. A method, as recited in claim 14, wherein the barrel-shaped body providing step comprises providing the dispensing opening with a dimension selected from a group consisting essentially of: a dimension in a range of approximately 3/4 inch to approximately 3 inches, and a dimension of approximately 2 inches.

18. A method, as recited in claim 11, wherein the barrel-shaped body providing step comprises disposing the dispensing opening and the refill opening on opposing sides of the top.

19. A method, as recited in claim 18, wherein the handgrip providing step comprises integrally forming the handgrip with the barrel-shaped body by forming an indented contour for accommodating the hand, and wherein the handgrip integrally forming step comprises optimizing a volume of the barrel-shaped body for storing the plurality of paint balls.

20. A method, as recited in claim 11, wherein the barrel-shaped body providing step comprises defining a paint ball enclosure with a volume greater than 1 gallon, wherein the barrel-shaped body providing step and the refill cover providing step each comprise providing a polymeric material, wherein the barrel-shaped body providing step comprises providing a pouring spout at the dispensing opening, wherein the barrel-shaped body providing step comprises providing the dispensing opening with a cross-section selected from a group consisting essentially of a circular cross-section, a semi-circular cross-section, and an elliptical cross-section, wherein the barrel-shaped body providing step comprises providing the refill opening being surrounded by a rim projecting upwardly from the top, wherein the refill cover providing step comprises providing a removable cap having a friction-fit with the rim, wherein the barrel-shaped body providing step comprises providing the refill opening with a cross-sectional area of approximately 10 in.sup.2 and approximately 15 in.sup.2, wherein the refill cover providing step comprises providing the removable cap with a lifting tab that extends laterally outwardly and projects beyond the barrel-shaped body, wherein the barrel-shaped body providing step comprises providing the dispensing opening with a dimension selected from a group consisting essentially of: a dimension in a range of approximately 3/4 inch to approximately 3 inches, and a dimension of approximately 2 inches, wherein the barrel-shaped body providing step comprises disposing the dispensing opening and the refill opening on opposing sides of the top, wherein the handgrip providing step comprises integrally forming the handgrip with the barrel-shaped body by forming an indented contour for accommodating the hand, and wherein the handgrip integrally forming step comprises optimizing a volume of the barrel-shaped body for storing the plurality of paint balls.

21. A method of transporting, storing, and dispensing a plurality of paint balls by way of a paint ball caddy for, comprising the steps of: providing a paint ball caddy, the paint ball caddy providing step comprising the steps of: providing a hollow, barrel-shaped body having a bottom, a top, and a sidewall, the body providing step comprising providing the top with a dispensing opening and a refill opening, the top providing step comprising providing the refill opening with an area larger than that of the dispensing opening, the body providing step comprising providing the bottom with an indented contour for providing structural stability, and the body providing step comprising providing the sidewall with respective flow channels for facilitating flow of the plurality of paint balls during refilling and dispensing, the sidewall providing step comprising providing the respective flow channels with a radius of curvature which approximates that of a paint ball; providing a refill cover for selectively closing and exposing the refill opening; providing a dispensing cover for selectively closing and exposing the dispensing opening; and providing a handgrip; filling the caddy with the plurality of paint balls; and dispensing the plurality of paint balls into at least one ammunition loading element selected from a group consisting essentially of a canister and a magazine.

22. A method, as recited in claim 21, further comprising the step of providing a plurality of paint balls disposed within the barrel-shaped body, wherein the barrel-shaped body providing step comprises defining a paint ball enclosure with a volume greater than 1 gallon.