Device for securing a lighting apparatus to a paintball mask

Abstract

A device 10 for securing a lighting apparatus to a paintball mask and an armband device 100 are utilized to conduct a night paintball game that includes multiple players or multiple teams of players, a dark playing area upon which said players or multiple teams of players participate, a paintball mask, lighting means secured to each player, a luminescent paintball, means for projecting the luminescent paintball, means for identifying the players or teams of players while participating upon the dark playing area, rules and/or procedures for controlling the game, referees for enforcing the rules and/or procedures, and a game objective.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:  
     
         1 . A device for securing a lighting apparatus to a paintball mask comprising: 
 means for joining the lighting apparatus to a base member of said device;    means for positioning the lighting apparatus; and    means for connecting said base member to the paintball mask.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said joining means includes a light support member.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein said light support member includes means for maintaining a preselected orientation of the lighting apparatus in relation to said device.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3  wherein said maintaining means includes a plurality of ridges that engage cooperating portions of the lighting apparatus.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4  wherein said ridges are disposed upon an arcuate portion of said maintaining means.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said positioning means includes a light positioning member.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6  wherein said light positioning member spatially separates a corresponding portion of the lighting apparatus from said base member a relatively shorter distance than the spatial separation between a portion of the lighting apparatus attached to said joining means and a cooperating portion of said base member.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7  wherein said light positioning member adjusts the lighting apparatus such that a light beam emitted from the apparatus angles upward relative to said device.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said device is manufactured from low density polyethylene.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said connecting means includes means for receiving a belt therethrough.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10  wherein said belt receiving means includes opposing apertures in said base member.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11  wherein said apertures include slots angled such that corresponding upper portions are farther separated than corresponding lower portions.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said connecting means includes a clip portion.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13  wherein said clip portion is disposed vertically opposite from said belt receiving means.  
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 13  wherein said clip portion receives a lower portion of the paintball mask therein.  
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said joining means and said positioning means include pairs of opposing recesses.  
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said base member forms substantially a “T” configuration when taking a front elevation view of the device.  
     
     
         18 . A paintball mask light support device comprising: 
 a light support portion;    a light orientation portion; and    a mask joining portion.    
     
     
         19 . A method of connecting a light fixture to a paintball mask, said method comprising the steps of: 
 providing means for supporting the light fixture;    providing means for orientating the light fixture; and    providing means for joining said supporting and orientating means to the paintball mask.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said joining means includes a strap that is secured to the paintball mask.  
     
     
         21 . A night paintball game comprising: 
 multiple players or multiple teams of players;    a dark playing area;    a paintball mask having lighting means secured thereto;    a luminescent paintball;    means for projecting said luminescent paintball;    means for identifying the players or teams of players in the dark;    referees for controlling the game; and    a night paintball game plan whereby an ultimate winning player or winning team of players is decided.    
     
     
         22 . The night paintball game of  claim 21  wherein said playing area has predetermined boundary limits.  
     
     
         23 . The night paintball game of  claim 21  wherein said lighting means is designed to illuminate an area of play proximate to the player carrying said lighting means.  
     
     
         24 . The night paintball game of  claim 23  wherein said lighting means illuminates a distance in front of a player substantially about seventy-five feet.  
     
     
         25 . The night paintball game of  claim 21  wherein said luminescent paintball is visible to a player after the paintball is projected from said projection means.  
     
     
         26 . The night paintball game of  claim 21  wherein said projection means includes a paintball gun.  
     
     
         27 . The night paintball game of  claim 21  wherein said identification means includes a luminescent indicator.  
     
     
         28 . The night paintball game of  claim 27  wherein said luminescent indicator includes a luminescent armband.  
     
     
         29 . The night paintball game of  claim 21  wherein said game plan includes the elimination of players via opposing players projecting luminescent paintballs so as to engage said players thereby causing luminescent paint to be forcibly urged from said paintball and adhere to said players, said luminescent paint providing a visible means for eliminating players from a paintball game conducted in the dark upon an unlighted playing area.  
     
     
         30 . A method of playing paintball in the dark, said method comprising the steps of: 
 providing multiple players or multiple teams of players;    supplying a playing area;    attaching lighting means to a paintball mask;    providing luminescent paintballs;    projecting said luminescent paintballs;    identifying the players or teams of players in the dark;    providing referees for controlling the game; and    establishing a night paintball plan whereby an ultimate winning player or winning team of players is decided.    
     
     
         31 . A luminescent paintball comprising: 
 a shell;    a liquefied substance being disposed within said shell; and    means for enabling said shell to glow in the dark.    
     
     
         32 . The luminescent paintball of  claim 31  wherein said enabling means includes means for enabling said liquefied substance to glow in the dark.  
     
     
         33 . The luminescent paintball of  claim 31  wherein said enabling means includes means for enabling an outer portion of said shell to glow in the dark.  
     
     
         34 . The luminescent paintball of  claim 31  wherein said enabling means includes means for enabling an inner portion of said shell to glow in the dark.  
     
     
         35 . A luminescent identifier for night paintball players comprising: 
 a deformable member that removably attaches to a night paintball player;    an indicator secured to said deformable member identifying a night paintball player as one of a team of night paintball players; and    means for enabling said indicator to glow in the dark.    
     
     
         36 . The luminescent identifier of  claim 35  wherein said deformable member includes an armband.  
     
     
         37 . The luminescent identifier of  claim 35  wherein said indicator includes screen print ink.  
     
     
         38 . The luminescent identifier of  claim 35  wherein said enabling means includes a phosphorus based powder.  
     
     
         39 . An armband device for identifying paintball players comprising: 
 a deformable wrap member having first and second side walls, said first side wall having a first securing member joined thereto, said second side wall having a second securing member joined thereto,    a transparent pocket having means for removably receiving an identifying member; and    means for adjustably joining cooperating portions of said first and second securing members to position said deformable wrap member around the players arm such that said transparent pocket and said identifying member therein are disposed to promote visual identification by another paintball player whereby said identifying member establishes the team of the player wearing said armband device.    
     
     
         40 . The armband device of  claim 39  wherein said wrap member is fabricated from rubber.  
     
     
         41 . The armband device of  claim 39  wherein said first securing member includes velcro hook members.  
     
     
         42 . The armband device of  claim 39  wherein said second securing member includes velcro loop members.  
     
     
         43 . The armband device of  claim 39  wherein said transparent pocket is fabricated from plastic and joined to a mid-portion of said wrap member.  
     
     
         44 . The armband device of  claim 39  wherein said removable receiving means includes a cavity formed between said pocket and said wrap member, and one edge portion of said pocket remaining unsecured relative to said wrap member.  
     
     
         45 . The armband device of  claim 39  wherein said identifying member is luminescent.  
     
     
         46 . The armband device of  claim 45  wherein said luminescent member is a chemical light.  
     
     
         47 . The armband device of  claim 39  wherein said adjustable joining means includes substantially all of each side wall of said wrap member having respective velcro hooks or loops joined thereto.  
     
     
         48 . An armband device for identifying paintball players comprising: 
 an arm member having first and second side walls, said first side wall having a first securing member joined thereto and said second side wall having a second securing member joined thereto; and    means for identifying the respective teams to which the paintball players belong.    
     
     
         49 . A method of identifying night paintball teams, said method comprising the steps of: 
 providing an armband that is removably received upon an arm portion of a night paintball player;    providing an identifying member;    securing a pouch to said armband such that said identifying member is removably received within said pouch; and    positioning said armband such that said pouch and identifying member therein are visible to other paintball players.    
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49  wherein the step of providing an armband includes the step of providing adjusting means that allow said armband to adjustably engage a players arm.  
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 49  wherein the step of providing an identifying member includes the step of making said identifying member luminescent.  
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 49  wherein the step of securing said pouch to said armband includes the step of allowing an upper edge portion of said pouch to remain unattached to said armband.  
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 49  wherein the step of securing said pouch to said armband includes the step of fabricating said pouch from a transparent material.  
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 49  wherein the step of positioning said armband includes the step of designing said armband to form a rectangular configuration capable of wrapping around a night paintball players arm.  
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 49  wherein the step of designing said armband includes the step of removably securing opposing end portions of said armband together.  
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55  wherein the step of designing said armband includes the step of joining Velcro loop material to a first end portion of said armband.  
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 55  wherein the step of designing said armband includes the step of joining Velcro hook material to a second end portion of said armband.