Paint ball caddy

Abstract

A paint ball caddy for use with competitive paint ball guns for conveniently transporting paint balls for use as ammunition. The paint ball caddy has a body that accompanies the entire contents of a conventional paint ball carton, but which includes a pouring spout and a handle on the body that can be gripped to tip the paint ball caddy and pour a quantity of paint balls out of the spout in a controlled manner. The top of the paint ball caddy is provided with a large refill opening, which may be closed with a removable lid. Paint balls may be poured from the caddy into smaller, conventional paint ball canisters, or directly into the hopper of the magazine of a conventional paint ball gun.

1 . A paint ball caddy for transporting, storing, and dispensing a plurality of paint balls, comprising: 
 a hollow, barrel-shaped body having a bottom, a top, and a sidewall, the top comprising a dispensing opening and a refill opening, the refill opening comprising an area larger than that of the dispensing opening, the bottom comprising an indented contour for providing structural stability, and the sidewall comprising respective flow channels for facilitating flow of the plurality of paint balls during refilling and dispensing, the respective flow channels comprising a radius of curvature which approximates that of a paint ball;    a refill cover for selectively closing and exposing the refill opening;    a dispensing cover for selectively closing and exposing the dispensing opening; and    a handgrip.    
   
   
       2 . A paint ball caddy, as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of paint balls disposed within the barrel-shaped body, wherein the barrel-shaped body defines a paint ball enclosure with a volume greater than 1 gallon.  
   
   
       3 . A paint ball caddy, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the barrel-shaped body and the refill cover each comprise a polymeric material.  
   
   
       4 . A paint ball caddy, as recited in  claim 3 , 
 wherein the barrel-shaped body comprises a pouring spout disposed at the dispensing opening, and    wherein the dispensing opening comprises a cross-section selected from a group consisting essentially of a circular cross-section, a semi-circular cross-section, and an elliptical cross-section.    
   
   
       5 . A paint ball caddy, as recited in  claim 1 , 
 wherein the refill opening is surrounded by a rim projecting upwardly from the top, and    wherein the refill cover comprises a removable cap having a friction-fit with the rim, and    wherein the refill opening comprises a cross-sectional area of approximately 10 in 2  and approximately 15 in 2 .    
   
   
       6 . A paint ball caddy, as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the removable cap comprises a lifting tab that extends laterally outwardly and projects beyond the barrel-shaped body.  
   
   
       7 . A paint ball caddy, as recited in  claim 4 , 
 wherein the dispensing opening comprises a dimension selected from a group consisting essentially of:    a dimension in a range of approximately ¾ inch to approximately 3 inches, and    a dimension of approximately 2 inches.    
   
   
       8 . A paint ball caddy, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing opening and the refill opening are disposed on opposing sides of the top.  
   
   
       9 . A paint ball caddy, as recited in  claim 8 , 
 wherein the handgrip is integrally formed with the barrel-shaped body by an indented contour for accommodating the hand, and    wherein the handgrip, being integrally formed, optimizes a volume of the barrel-shaped body for storing the plurality of paint balls.    
   
   
       10 . A paint ball caddy for transporting, storing, and dispensing a plurality of paint balls, comprising: 
 a hollow, barrel-shaped body having a bottom, a top, and a sidewall, the top comprising a dispensing opening and a refill opening, the refill opening comprising an area larger than that of the dispensing opening, the bottom comprising an indented contour for providing structural stability, and the sidewall comprising respective flow channels for facilitating flow of the plurality of paint balls during refilling and dispensing, the respective flow channels comprising a radius of curvature which approximates that of a paint ball;    a refill cover for selectively closing and exposing the refill opening;    a dispensing cover for selectively closing and exposing the dispensing opening;    a handgrip; and    a plurality of paint balls disposed within the barrel-shaped body,    wherein the barrel-shaped body defines a paint ball enclosure with a volume greater than 1 gallon,    wherein the barrel-shaped body and the refill cover each comprise a polymeric material,    wherein the barrel-shaped body comprises a pouring spout disposed at the dispensing opening,    wherein the dispensing opening comprises a cross-section selected from a group consisting essentially of a circular cross-section, a semi-circular cross-section, and an elliptical cross-section,    wherein the refill opening is surrounded by a rim projecting upwardly from the top,    wherein the refill cover comprises a removable cap having a friction-fit with the rim,    wherein the refill opening comprises a cross-sectional area of approximately 10 in 2 ,    wherein the removable cap comprises a lifting tab that extends laterally outwardly and projects beyond the barrel-shaped body,    wherein the dispensing opening comprises a dimension selected from a group consisting essentially of:    a dimension in a range of approximately ¾ inch to approximately 3 inches, and a dimension of approximately two inches,    wherein the dispensing opening and the refill opening are disposed on opposing sides of the top,    wherein the handgrip is integrally formed with the barrel-shaped body by an indented contour for accommodating the hand, and    wherein the handgrip, being integrally formed, optimizes a volume of the barrel-shaped body for storing the plurality of paint balls.    
   
   
       11 . A method of fabricating a paint ball caddy for transporting, storing, and dispensing a plurality of paint balls, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a hollow, barrel-shaped body having a bottom, a top, and a sidewall, the body providing step comprising providing the top with a dispensing opening and a refill opening, the top providing step comprising providing the refill opening with an area larger than that of the dispensing opening, the body providing step comprising providing the bottom with an indented contour for providing structural stability, and the body providing step comprising providing the sidewall with respective flow channels for facilitating flow of the plurality of paint balls during refilling and dispensing, the sidewall providing step comprising providing the respective flow channels with a radius of curvature which approximates that of a paint ball;    providing a refill cover for selectively closing and exposing the refill opening;    providing a dispensing cover for selectively closing and exposing the dispensing opening; and    providing a handgrip.    
   
   
       12 . A method, as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising the step of providing a plurality of paint balls disposed within the barrel-shaped body, wherein the barrel-shaped body providing step comprises defining a paint ball enclosure with a volume greater than 1 gallon.  
   
   
       13 . A method, as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the barrel-shaped body providing step and the refill cover providing step each comprise providing a polymeric material.  
   
   
       14 . A method, as recited in  claim 13 , 
 wherein the barrel-shaped body providing step comprises providing a pouring spout at the dispensing opening, and    wherein the barrel-shaped body providing step comprises providing the dispensing opening with a cross-section selected from a group consisting essentially of a circular cross-section, a semi-circular cross-section, and an elliptical cross-section.    
   
   
       15 . A method, as recited in  claim 11 , 
 wherein the barrel-shaped body providing step comprises providing the refill opening being surrounded by a rim projecting upwardly from the top,    wherein the refill cover providing step comprises providing a removable cap having a friction-fit with the rim, and    wherein the barrel-shaped body providing step comprises providing the refill opening with a cross-sectional area of approximately 10 in 2  and approximately 15 in 2 .    
   
   
       16 . A method, as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the refill cover providing step comprises providing the removable cap with a lifting tab that extends laterally outwardly and projects beyond the barrel-shaped body.  
   
   
       17 . A method, as recited in  claim 14 , 
 wherein the barrel-shaped body providing step comprises providing the dispensing opening with a dimension selected from a group consisting essentially of:    a dimension in a range of approximately ¾ inch to approximately 3 inches, and    a dimension of approximately 2 inches.    
   
   
       18 . A method, as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the barrel-shaped body providing step comprises disposing the dispensing opening and the refill opening on opposing sides of the top.  
   
   
       19 . A method, as recited in  claim 18 , 
 wherein the handgrip providing step comprises integrally forming the handgrip with the barrel-shaped body by forming an indented contour for accommodating the hand, and    wherein the handgrip integrally forming step comprises optimizing a volume of the barrel-shaped body for storing the plurality of paint balls.    
   
   
       20 . A method, as recited in  claim 11 , 
 wherein the barrel-shaped body providing step comprises defining a paint ball enclosure with a volume greater than 1 gallon,    wherein the barrel-shaped body providing step and the refill cover providing step each comprise providing a polymeric material,    wherein the barrel-shaped body providing step comprises providing a pouring spout at the dispensing opening,    wherein the barrel-shaped body providing step comprises providing the dispensing opening with a cross-section selected from a group consisting essentially of a circular cross-section, a semi-circular cross-section, and an elliptical cross-section,    wherein the barrel-shaped body providing step comprises providing the refill opening being surrounded by a rim projecting upwardly from the top,    wherein the refill cover providing step comprises providing a removable cap having a friction-fit with the rim,    wherein the barrel-shaped body providing step comprises providing the refill opening with a cross-sectional area of approximately 10 in 2  and approximately 15 in 2 ,    wherein the refill cover providing step comprises providing the removable cap with a lifting tab that extends laterally outwardly and projects beyond the barrel-shaped body,    wherein the barrel-shaped body providing step comprises providing the dispensing opening with a dimension selected from a group consisting essentially of:    a dimension in a range of approximately ¾ inch to approximately 3 inches, and    a dimension of approximately 2 inches,    wherein the barrel-shaped body providing step comprises disposing the dispensing opening and the refill opening on opposing sides of the top,    wherein the handgrip providing step comprises integrally forming the handgrip with the barrel-shaped body by forming an indented contour for accommodating the hand, and    wherein the handgrip integrally forming step comprises optimizing a volume of the barrel-shaped body for storing the plurality of paint balls.    
   
   
       21 . A method of transporting, storing, and dispensing a plurality of paint balls by way of a paint ball caddy for, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a paint ball caddy, the paint ball caddy providing step comprising the steps of: 
 providing a hollow, barrel-shaped body having a bottom, a top, and a sidewall, the body providing step comprising providing the top with a dispensing opening and a refill opening, the top providing step comprising providing the refill opening with an area larger than that of the dispensing opening, the body providing step comprising providing the bottom with an indented contour for providing structural stability, and the body providing step comprising providing the sidewall with respective flow channels for facilitating flow of the plurality of paint balls during refilling and dispensing, the sidewall providing step comprising providing the respective flow channels with a radius of curvature which approximates that of a paint ball;  
 providing a refill cover for selectively closing and exposing the refill opening;  
 providing a dispensing cover for selectively closing and exposing the dispensing opening; and  
 providing a handgrip;  
   filling the caddy with the plurality of paint balls; and    dispensing the plurality of paint balls into at least one ammunition loading element selected from a group consisting essentially of a canister and a magazine.    
   
   
       22 . A method, as recited in  claim 21 , further comprising the step of providing a plurality of paint balls disposed within the barrel-shaped body, wherein the barrel-shaped body providing step comprises defining a paint ball enclosure with a volume greater than 1 gallon.