Paintball target range

• US 20050242507A1
• Filed: 01/13/2004
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kapone Paintball LLC
• Original Assignee: Kapone Paintball LLC
• Inventors: Patterson, Kelly, Patterson, Christian, Zambito, Gary F.
• Application Number:
  US10/755,473
• Publication Number:
  US 20050242507A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 273/348
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 11/00 Target ranges timetables, lists or forms for shooter enlistment B42D15/0066

Abstract

A paintball shooting range includes a housing, a plurality of shooting booths each set with a paintball marker and located at a first end of the housing, a control area located at the first end of the housing and shielded with paintball-proof means, a target area set with targets and located at a second end opposite to the first end of the housing, and at least one of: (1) maker restraining means for mechanically restraining the movement of the paintball marker; (2) paintball dispensing means for selectively and automatically dispensing paintballs to the paintball marker; and (3) cleaning means for automatically cleaning at least the target area. In addition, a trailer may constitutes the housing and a truck for transporting the trailer.

Claims

1. A paintball shooting range, comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of shooting booths each set with a paintball marker and located at a first end of the housing;

a control area located at the first end of the housing and shielded with paintball-proof means;

a target area set with targets and located at a second end opposite to the first end of the housing; and

at least one of;

(1) maker restraining means for mechanically restraining the movement of said paintball marker.

(2) paintball dispensing means for selectively and automatically dispensing paintballs to said paintball marker.

(3) cleaning means for automatically cleaning at least the target area.

2. The paintball shooting range according to claim 1, further comprising a power generator, wherein said paintball marker is powered by said power generator.

3. The paintball shooting range according to claim 2, further comprising a transformer.

4. The paintball shooting range according to claim 2, further comprising a external power source, as well as a router, a switch, or a power split.

5. The paintball shooting range according to claim 1, further comprising at least one air tank connected to said marker via an air hose, wherein said paintball marker is powered by said air tank.

6. The paintball shooting range according to claim 5, further comprising compressor, a regular, a valve connected between said air tank and said each marker to adjust the air pressure difference therebetween.

7. The paintball shooting range according to claim 3, wherein said paintball marker is separately powered by said air tank via a corresponding valve or switch.

8. The paintball shooting range according to claim 1, wherein said paintball marker is powered to shoot paintballs at a velocity of 200 ft/sec.

9. The paintball shooting range according to claim 1, wherein said paintball marker is powered to shoot paintballs at a velocity range of 0-300 ft/sec.

10. The paintball shooting range according to claim 1, wherein said paintball-proof means is a plastic sheet.

11. The paintball shooting range according to claim 1, wherein each of the booths has a counter top, and said marker restraining means includes a tether with one end secured to the counter top and the other end secured to said marker.

12. The paintball shooting range according to claim 11, wherein the tether with one end secured to the counter top and the other end of the tether is secured to a barrel or a trigger frame of said marker.

13. The paintball shooting range according to claim 11, wherein the tether is 6-16′

long.

14. The paintball shooting range according to claim 1, wherein each of the booths has a counter top, and said marker restraining means includes a supporting seat set on the counter top for resting said marker, and a tether with one end secured to the supporting seat and the other end secured to said marker.

15. The paintball shooting range according to claim 3, wherein said restraining means includes said air hose connected to said marker.

16. The paintball shooting range according to claim 1, wherein said paintball dispensing means includes a reservoir for receiving and storing paintballs, and selectively dispensing the paintballs to a loader of said marker.

17. The paintball shooting range according to claim 16, wherein the reservoir has a sloped plate placed above a deadspace, one ball dispensing mechanism for each of said marker.

18. The paintball shooting range according to claim 17, wherein said paintball dispensing mechanism is a turret/accelerator assembly for receiving balls that fall by gravity.

19. The paintball shooting range according to claim 18, wherein said turret/accelerator assembly has a circumferential array of peripheral openings each sized to receive one of the paintballs, and a turret rotated about its axis to urge balls fall by gravity onto the turret/accelerator assembly by centrifugal force toward a respective peripheral opening connecting to the loader of said marker.

20. The paintball shooting range according to claim 1, wherein said paintball dispensing means includes counting means for counting paintballs dispensed into each of said marker.

21. The paintball shooting range according to claim 1, wherein said paintball dispensing means includes an air-conditioning unit for keeping the paintballs at 18-24°

C.

22. The paintball shooting range according to claim 1, wherein said cleaning means includes a transparent plastic sheet placed behind the target area and on neighboring side walls of the housing for the paintballs to burst thereon.

23. The paintball shooting range according to claim 1, wherein said cleaning means includes a fresh water holding tank with a pump for pressure-water-cleaning at least the target area, a floor drain for collecting paint and waste water, and a floor tapered from the bottom of the target area toward the floor drain.

24. The paintball shooting range according to claim 1, wherein said cleaning means includes a spray system for spraying at least the target system.

25. The paintball shooting range according to claim 1, further comprising a microprocessor for locally or remotely controlling at least said paintball dispensing means and said cleaning means.

26. The paintball shooting range according to claim 1, wherein the targets are non-human targets.

27. The paintball shooting range according to claim 1, wherein an outside surface of the housing is painted or posted with commercials of the paintball shooting range.

28. A paintball shooting range, comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of shooting booths each set with a paintball marker and located at a first end of the housing;

a control area located at the first end of the housing and shielded with paintball-proof means;

a target area set with targets and located at a second end opposite to the first end of the housing; and

a trailer constituting the housing and a truck for transporting the trailer.

29. A paintball storage system comprising a reservoir and air-conditioning means assembled into a removable unit for controlling paintballs stored therein in a fixed temperature range.