Paint ball container with speed loading system

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part patent application of the provisional patent application entitled “PAINT BALL CONTAINER WITH SPEED LOADING SYSTEM” filed May 18, 2006, Ser. No. 60/801,206

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field

This invention pertains to paint ball loading devices. In particular it pertains to an improved fillable container with a pour spout and spring loaded snap cap positioned for rapid loading of a paint ball gun magazine.

2. State of the Art

A number of paint ball magazines and storage containers are known, such as Miller, U.S. Pat. No. 5,097,816 dated Mar. 24, 1992, which is a paintball magazine container with a helical ramp to feed paintballs into the firing chamber of a paintball weapon. It is adapted for removably mounting to the paintball weapon. Santangini et al, U.S. Pat. No. 6,708,843 dated Mar. 23, 2004 is a paintball container tube loading stand designed to fill cylindrical container tubes. Yokota et al, U.S. Pat. No. 6,725,852 dated Apr. 27, 2004 is a free-flowing paintball hopper ammunition magazine with an electrical stirring arm to aid in dispensing paintballs into a gun adapted to shoot said projectiles. Trier et al, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2003/0154967 dated Aug. 21, 2003 is a paint ball hopper/pod loader comprising a storage container with a single nozzle opening used both for storage and filling of a paintball gun magazine. Woods, Sr., U.S. Patent Publication 2002/0059927 dated May 23, 2002 is another cylindrical paint ball loading device with a single opening used both for storage and filling of a paintball gun magazine.

Clark, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2003/0200960 dated Oct. 30, 2003 discloses a paintball caddy with a capped fill port and an uncovered pour spout, making its contents susceptible to water damage. The fill port is used for filling the container, and the open pour spout is used to fill paintball canisters or magazine hoppers of a conventional paint ball gun.

These paintball magazines and storage containers have various advantages and disadvantages. The present invention is designed to provide a easily refillable paint ball storage container with an ergonomically located pour spout with spring loaded snap cap positioned such that when one tilts the handle the ball readily pour out into a magazine without arm strain.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a paint ball container with speed loading system. It has a water resistant container with an openable and closable top for filling the container with gelatin covered paint balls. The container is constructed of a lightweight waterproof material, such as plastic or nylon, to protect its contents from water damage. The openable and closable top has a threaded wide mouth fill portal with a removable screw on cap. The screw on cap is removed during filling, and then screwed back on to prevent the contents from spilling out and maintaining the waterproof seal.

The container has a pour spout located on the side of the container opposite a carrying handle. The pour spout is ergonomically angled and located to aid in pouring. The pout spout is covered with a spring loaded snap cap, which is snapped open and held out of the way when pouring paint balls into a paint ball gun hopper for rapid loading especially during competition play. After loading the paint ball gun, the snap cap is then snapped closed to secure within the container the remaining paint balls. This allows the container to be water tight during rough transport to prevent the gelatin covered paint balls from deteriorating during transport and storage.

The container is sized to accommodate a large number of paintballs required for competition. Usually this requires a storage capacity of up to 1,000 paintballs. The pour spout is therefore ergonomically positioned at an angle to reduce arm strain from the weight while pouring from a full container.

The paintball container with speed loading system is primarily used for speed loading paint ball guns, but may be used for other purposes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the openable screw top of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the openable screw top of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the pour spout and spring loaded snap cap of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the pour spout edge of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIG. 1, the invention comprises a paint ball container with speed loading system 10. It has a water resistant container 12 with an openable and closable screw top 14 for filling the container 12 with gelatin covered paint balls. The container 12 is constructed of a lightweight waterproof material to protect its contents from water damage. The openable and closable top 14 has a threaded wide mouth fill portal 15 shown in FIG. 3 adapted to be covered with a removable screw on lid 16. The screw on lid 16 is removed during filling, and then screwed back on to prevent the contents from spilling out and maintaining the waterproof seal.

The container has a pour spout 17 with an opening 17a located on the side of the container 12 opposite a carrying handle 18. The pour spout 17 is covered with a spring loaded snap cap 19, which is snapped open and held out of the way by a spring 22 when pouring paint balls into a paint ball gun hopper for rapid loading, especially during competition play. After loading the paint ball gun, the snap cap 19 is then snapped closed to secure within the container 12 the remaining paint balls. This allows the container 12 to be water tight during rough usage to prevent the gelatin covered paint balls from deteriorating during transport and storage.

The container 12 is preferably sized to accommodate a large number of paintballs required for competition. Typical dimensions of a preferred embodiment are approximately 8 inches by 11 inches to form an internal storage space having a capacity of up to 1,000 paintballs. The pour spout 16 is ergonomically positioned at an angle to reduce arm strain while pouring from a full container 12.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1 with the snap cap 19 and screw on lid 16.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the openable screw top of FIG. 1 showing the fill portal 15, which is defined by the open top 14 surrounded by external male threads 20. The screw on lid 16 has corresponding internal male threads, not shown, to the external male threads 20, which form a water tight seal when screwed together.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the openable screw top of FIG. 1 showing the external male threads 20.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the pour spout 17 and its spring loaded snap cap 19. The snap cap 19 is placed under tension with spring 22 to snap open when the lid 19 is removed from the edges 24 of the pour spout 17 so that paint balls may be rapidly emptied from the container 12.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the pour spout edge of FIG. 1 showing how the edges 24 of the pour spout 17 is adapted to removably secure to a corresponding lip 25 of the lid 19.

Although this specification has referred to the illustrated embodiments, it is not intended to restrict the scope of the claims, which include those features deemed essential to the invention.