Barrel blocking device

Abstract

A plug sized, shaped and formed to fit securely within the firing end of the barrel of a paintball marker, for blocking misfired or accidentally-fired paintballs. The plug is comprised of a handle and a tip. The tip is comprised of a squeegee located adjacent a terminal end portion of the tip, at least one rib along the length of the tip, a channel along the length of the tip and an energy-absorbing contact edge located adjacent the terminal end portion. The plug is preferably flexible so as to provide for a secure fit within the barrel, to absorb energy from misfired paintballs and to provide for discharge of gas and debris.

1 . A flexible plug shaped to removably engage the end of a paintball marker barrel, the plug comprising: 
 a handle; and    a tip configured to engage an inside of a marker barrel, the tip comprising    a terminal end portion and an intermediate end portion located between the terminal end portion and the handle, and a channel that joins the terminal end portion and the intermediate portion.    
     
     
         2 . The flexible plug of  claim 1  wherein the tip is sized to fit snugly within the paintball marker barrel.  
     
     
         3 . The flexible plug of  claim 1  further comprising at least one rib defining a rib cross-sectional perimeter formed along the tip.  
     
     
         4 . The flexible plug of  claim 3  wherein walls of the channel extend beyond the cross-sectional perimeter of the rib.  
     
     
         5 . The flexible plug of  claim 3  wherein at least one rib located adjacent the terminal end portion has a cross-sectional perimeter that extends beyond the other ribs formed along the tip.  
     
     
         6 . The flexible plug of  claim 1  further comprising a contact edge adjacent the terminal end portion.  
     
     
         7 . The flexible plug of  claim 6  wherein the contact edge is shaped to accept a paintball.  
     
     
         8 . The flexible plug of  claim 6  further comprising a hole extending through at least a portion of the contact edge.  
     
     
         9 . The flexible plug of  claim 8  wherein the hole is contiguous with the channel.  
     
     
         10 . The flexible plug of  claim 6  wherein the contact edge is shaped to pierce a paintball.  
     
     
         11 . The flexible plug of  claim 1  further comprising a squeegee adjacent the terminal end portion.  
     
     
         12 . The flexible plug of  claim 1  wherein the tip is cylindrical.  
     
     
         13 . The flexible plug of  claim 1  wherein the channel is curved along its path.  
     
     
         14 . The flexible plug of  claim 1  further comprising a hole in the handle.  
     
     
         15 . The flexible plug of  claim 1  wherein the handle is a flat, oval shape.  
     
     
         16 . The flexible plug of  claim 1  wherein the plug is comprised of rubber.  
     
     
         17 . The flexible plug of  claim 1  further comprising a channel on each side of the tip.  
     
     
         18 . A method of using the flexible plug shaped to removably engage the end of a paintball marker barrel of  claim 1  comprising: 
 grabbing the handle;    aligning the terminal end portion of the tip with a firing end of a barrel of a paintball marker;    twisting the handle while pushing the tip into the barrel;    securing the tip within the barrel; and    releasing the handle.    
     
     
         19 . A flexible plug shaped to removably engage the end of a paintball marker barrel, the plug comprising: 
 a handle;    a tip configured to engage an inside of a marker barrel, the tip comprising    a terminal end portion and an intermediate end portion located between the terminal end portion and the handle, and a channel that joins the terminal end portion and the intermediate portion;    at least one rib defining a rib cross-sectional perimeter formed along the tip; and    ribs located adjacent the terminal end portion, at least one rib having a cross-sectional perimeter that extends beyond other ribs formed along the tip