Ammunition and explosives – Shells – Practice
Reexamination Certificate
2002-05-09
2004-02-10
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3644)
Ammunition and explosives
Shells
Practice
C102S401000, C102S513000, C102S502000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06688234
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to land mines. More particularly, our invention relates to non-lethal land mines used for combat simulation and the game of paintball. The most pertinent known prior art is believed properly classified in U.S. Patent Class 102, Subclasses 401 and 407.
II. Description of the Prior Art
Simulated war games involving “safe” or “harmless” weapons have long been used for military training purposes. Adequate practice weapons are vital in conditioning soldiers during basic training. Training devices like mines, grenades and rifles often visually appear like the “real thing,” being shaped and colored approximately the same, and often weighing the same as well. Training weapons can readily sharpen combat skills, and their use can facilitate objectively scoring of drills and combat simulation exercises. Numerous simulated weapons including practice mines and grenades have evolved for use in training exercises. Rifles having the “look and feel” of modern automatic combat arms may include laser systems for registering with target laser-receptors worn by the participants. When a target registers a laser “hit” a casualty is simulated. This type of device develops both the skill of the user, and the apprehension or caution of the simulated victim.
The developing phenomenon of “paint ball” provides a simulated war game. The popularity of paint ball, and the number of participants, have both grown tremendously in number in recent years. Regular “events” and combat simulating sessions are commonly scheduled throughout the country. The game has become very popular amongst civilians, i.e., non-military personnel, who delight in the games challenges. The ever-developing popularity of paint ball has concurrently increased the demand for a wide variety of paint ball guns and accessories.
Paint ball games utilize a diverse collection of usually hand-held “firearms” that are gas-operated. The most common paint ball weapon is a gas-operated “rifle” that shoots paint balls. Modern paint ball hand guns and rifles dependably fire paint ball “ammunition” approximately fifty to one hundred feet. The propellant comprises compressed air or carbon dioxide, stored in removable gas cartridges removably fitted within the weapon. Paint ball guns have evolved from single shot pistols and rifles to modern, semi-automatic and full-automatic “machine guns” characterized by a high rate of paint ball firing.
Common ammunition (i.e., “paint balls”) comprises spherical capsules, of approximately 68 caliber, which have a deformable periphery made of non-poisonous gelatin, plastic or the like. Paint ball capsules contain a safe and chemically harmless liquid or dye that is very brightly and distinctively colored. When impacting a target within range, paint balls rupture, and the paint or dye is widely dispersed upon the impacted target, clearly and unambiguously marking it as “hit.”
Multiple players may be arranged in opposing teams that employ various strategies and tactics according to established rules. For example, competing teams may be provided with a distinctive flag that must be defended against capture by the opposition. When a projectile impacts a target, colored liquid is widely splattered as the projectile disintegrates with an audible “splat.” Usually, when a player is shot by a paint ball, he or she is considered a casualty of war, and is usually disqualified from further play. Because bright colors are unmistakably splattered upon the “victim,” the scoring of hits or casualties is objectively enhanced. When the colorant strikes the target (i.e., opposing personnel), that target or person is identified by the colorant as being eliminated from the game.
While the majority of weapons for simulated war gaines comprise various forms of “guns,” various simulating “grenades” and mines have come into widespread use. Most known devices suitable for paint ball employ internal pressurized gas cylinders for detonation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,521 issued to Greeno on Jul. 31, 1990 discloses a paint ball or combat training grenade that discharges paint ball projectiles or capsules. The hand grenade has an elongated, elliptical housing with a central passageway coaxially extending through the housing. An internal piercing mechanism actuated by the grenade handle pierces an enclosed gas cylinder when the user sets off the grenade. Pressurized gas outputted by the cylinder enters a plurality of internal channels and propels paint ball projectiles from sides of the grenade. Players contacted by the high-speed grenade projectiles are marked with distinct colors from internal fluid as the splashing projectiles disintegrate.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,449 issued to Eidson on May 28, 1991 shows another training grenade. The rigid grenade body has numerous internal discharge passages externally extending from an internal central bore. Prior to throwing the grenade, a user conventionally pulls the grenade handle. After a predetermined delay, an internal piston forcibly ruptures an internal capsule containing colored fluid, and the fluid is propelled from the grenade body via the discharge passages, contacting and marking anyone within range of the thrown grenade.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,590,886 issued to Lush on Jan. 7, 1997 discloses a reusable paint ball grenade that employs standard paint balls. When thrown towards a target, an actuator fires upon impact, crushing internal paint balls against cutters and forcibly expelling the colored paint.
Another grenade is seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,503 issued to Woodall et. al. on Dec. 7, 1999. This reusable, gas powered grenade has a number of internal launch tubes in which projectiles are loaded. A sealed, internal reservoir stores pressurized gas. A rupturing device is mounted in the housing for breaking the reservoir's seal upon impact. A triggering mechanism coupled to the rupturing device maintains separation between the rupturing device and the seal until the triggering mechanism is activated. Once activated, the triggering mechanism moves the rupturing device to impact the seal so that gas pressure propels the projectiles from the launch tubes.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,289,819, issued to Dolderer on Sep. 18, 2001, discloses a paint ball land mine capable of propelling standard caliber paint balls. It simulates a U.S. military Claymore anti-personnel mine. A discharge tube is configured to receive a pyrotechnic charge in the form of a 12 gauge shotgun blank round and/or a .38 caliber blank round. In a preferred embodiment a firing pin is pivotally attached in operative relation to the pyrotechnic charge and spring-biased into contact therewith. A trigger mechanism including a trip pin fixedly attached to a trip wire is interposed between the pyrotechnic charge and the firing pin. When a participant comes into contact with the trigger mechanism the paintballs are propelled at a velocity up to 200 feet per second.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,877,448 issued to Denton et. al. Mar. 2, 1999 discloses a reusable gas-powered land mine comprising at least one launch tube and projectile. A compressed gas reservoir is ruptured by a triggering mechanism when the mine is activated, and freed, compressed gases are directed to the breech end of the launch tubes to forcibly eject the temporarily constrained paint ball projectiles.
The closest prior art reference known to us comprises U.S. Pat. No. 4,690,061 issued to Armer, Jr. , et al. on Sep. 1, 1987, which depicts a land mine for use in conjunction with simulated war games. The mine comprises a housing internally containing a first chamber holding a colored slurry and dispersing agent. A second chamber in fluid flow communication with the first chamber secures a pressurized cylinder containing propellant gas. A trigger mechanism having a portion extending externally of the mine is internally linked to the cylinder activator. Detonation of the mine occurs in response to physical contact by an unwary player with a trip wire. Upon activation, the suddenly-applied gas pressure propels the slu
Huber Eric D.
Huber Michael E.
Alimenti Susan C.
Carver Stephen D.
Jordan Charles T.
Paintball Combat LLC
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