Mechanical guns and projectors – Element
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-16
2002-04-09
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3644)
Mechanical guns and projectors
Element
C042S094000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06367466
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present device is a support, or cradle, for holding a paintball gun when it is not in play.
2. Background Information
The number of people playing the game of paintball indoors and out has increased a great deal in the last five years or so. It is an especially popular weekend activity for young adults, particularly men in their 20s and 30s. Specialized equipment is necessary to play the sport, including face masks and vests. Most importantly, each player needs a paintball gun in order to play. Paintball guns include a detachable, reloadable paint ball dispenser, which drops a line-up of paint balls into the gun for firing. The gun is connected to a pressurized gas tank, usually oxygen or carbon dioxide, which provides the force required to fire the paint ball from the gun. The paint ball dispenser is normally at the top of the gun, and the gas cylinder is normally positioned below the gun. The paintball gun includes a long barrel through which the paint balls are fired, a handle, and a trigger.
Some cities have paintball stores and indoor arenas which rent paintball guns to players. Serious enthusiasts, though, have purchased their own paintball guns, which can be quite expensive and “hi-tech”. Since paintball gun cradles are not generally available, paintball guns and their attachments are frequently tossed on the ground or on tables during breaks in the game. The gas cylinder at the bottom of the paintball gun apparatus makes it difficult to store paintball guns in an orderly fashion. On occasion, a player cannot immediately locate his or her gun, or picks up the wrong gun from among the jumble of guns on the ground. Another disadvantage is that dirt, mud, stones or crawling insects can enter or damage the barrel or other parts of the gun. Also, the rough treatment may damage parts of the gun, all needlessly adding to the cost of this form of recreation.
The present invention is a paintball gun cradle used to conveniently store a paintball gun when it is not in use. The gun cradle of the present invention has many advantages, aside from providing a boost in player status. The cradle is lightweight and easy to use, and may be carried along as easily as a paintball gun. With the present invention, it is no longer necessary to toss expensive paintball guns on the ground or other surfaces. The guns are not as likely to be scratched or damaged when they are stored in this cradle. When the cradle of the present invention is used, it is easier for a player to locate his or her gun, and players are not as likely to pick up someone else's gun. When this gun support is used, it is less likely that dirt, mud, stones or crawling insects will enter and damage the barrel or other parts of the paintball gun.
Since the paintball gun cradle is as portable as the paintball gun itself, it may be used anywhere a paintball gun is used. The paintball gun cradle is especially useful outdoors at the site where the paintball game is played. The paintball gun is likely to receive rough treatment in the field. The paintball gun cradle of the present invention may also be used indoors to protect paintball guns when they are being stored.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a cradle for supporting a paintball gun when it is not in use. The cradle includes:
(a) a generally horizontal support base adapted to be disposed on a supporting surface, the support base comprising: (1) a pair of elongated side members, which are parallel to each other and are adapted for supporting a lower side of a paintball gun gas cylinder between them, each side member having a front end and an opposite rear end, and (2) a cross member having two opposite ends, each affixed to the front end of one of the side members; the cross member connecting the side members;
(b) a vertical arm member having an upper end and an opposite, lower end, the lower end being coupled to the cross member, the vertical arm member extending generally perpendicularly upward relative to the length of the support base; and
(c) a T-shaped T-bar portion attached to the upper end of the vertical arm member, the T-bar portion being adapted for supporting a gun barrel.
The vertical arm member preferably folds downward toward the support base for easier carrying and storage. It may also telescope to accommodate guns of different heights and shapes and guns with different sized gas cylinders.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1072203 (1913-09-01), Boecker
patent: 3827172 (1974-08-01), Howe
patent: 3964613 (1976-06-01), Anderson, Jr.
patent: 4007554 (1977-02-01), Helmstadter
patent: 4026057 (1977-05-01), Cady
patent: 4438581 (1984-03-01), LaValle
patent: 4449314 (1984-05-01), Sorensen
patent: 4461385 (1984-07-01), Clouser
patent: 4624372 (1986-11-01), Brolin
patent: 4841839 (1989-06-01), Stuart
patent: 4858359 (1989-08-01), Danz
patent: 4873777 (1989-10-01), Southard
patent: 4971208 (1990-11-01), Reinfried, Jr. et al.
patent: 4972619 (1990-11-01), Eckert
patent: 4998944 (1991-03-01), Land
patent: 5058302 (1991-10-01), Minneman
patent: 5070636 (1991-12-01), Mueller
patent: 5074188 (1991-12-01), Harris
patent: 5081783 (1992-01-01), Jarvis
patent: 5173563 (1992-12-01), Gray
patent: 5333829 (1994-08-01), Bell et al.
patent: 5370105 (1994-12-01), Firman
patent: 5375905 (1994-12-01), Flitter et al.
patent: 5628135 (1997-05-01), Cady
patent: 5642584 (1997-07-01), Riggenbach
patent: 5666757 (1997-09-01), Helmstadter
patent: 5682700 (1997-11-01), Sandberg
patent: 5758447 (1998-06-01), Venetz
patent: 5811720 (1998-09-01), Quinnell et al.
patent: 5845427 (1998-12-01), Taylor
patent: 5875580 (1999-03-01), Hill et al.
patent: 5937561 (1999-08-01), Abernethy
patent: 5964435 (1999-10-01), Peltier
patent: 5979099 (1999-11-01), Kervin
Harleston Kathleen M.
Harleston Law Firm
Holzen Stephen
Jordan Charles T.
LandOfFree
Paintball gun cradle does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Paintball gun cradle, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Paintball gun cradle will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2880279