Collapsible paintball pod

Abstract

According to various principles of the present invention, a collapsible paintball container may include a plurality of cylindrical sections arranged to form a holder sized to contain a supply of paintballs in a expanded state and arranged to fit one within another in a collapsed state. The container has a closed end and an open end. A lid can be provided to cover the open end and can be hingedly connected to the container. A spring or other biasing member can be provided to bias the lid in an open position when the lid is opened. The biasing member may also bias the lid in a closed position when the lid is closed. A locking member can be provided to retain the paintball container in its expanded state.

1 . A paintball container, comprising:
 a plurality of cylindrical sections arranged to form a hollow tube having a closed end and an open end, the cylindrical sections further arranged to fit one within another in a collapsed state; and   a lid to cover the open end.   
     
     
         2 . The paintball container of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cylindrical sections includes a top section, at least one intermediate section, and a bottom section having respectively decreasing diameters. 
     
     
         3 . The paintball container of  claim 2 , wherein the cylindrical sections are arranged such that the bottom section fits within the at least one intermediate section and the at least one intermediate section fits within the top section when the container is in the collapsed state. 
     
     
         4 . The paintball container of  claim 2 , wherein the top section comprises a recessed area having a depressible contact area that can be pushed inward to release the lid. 
     
     
         5 . The paintball container of  claim 1 , further comprising a locking mechanism to selectively retain the plurality of cylindrical sections in an expanded state. 
     
     
         6 . The paintball container of  claim 5 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises:
 a channel disposed along a wall of a first section, the channel including a catch groove;   a guide element attached to an adjacent wall of a second, mating section, wherein the guide element is arranged within the channel of the first section and configured to slide within the channel between a second end of the channel in the collapsed state and towards a first end of the channel in the expanded state; and   wherein the catch groove is arranged proximal to the first end of the channel, and wherein the guide element is configured to be arranged within the catch groove of the channel to lock the first and second sections in an extended relationship.   
     
     
         7 . The paintball container of  claim 1 , further comprising a hinge attaching the lid to the paintball container, wherein the hinge permits opening of the lid without detaching the lid from the container. 
     
     
         8 . The paintball container of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a hinge connecting the lid to the paintball container, the hinge including a spring that biases the lid in an open position when the lid is opened.   
     
     
         9 . The paintball container of  claim 4 , wherein the lid comprises a locking lip disposed along the perimeter of the lid that engages a corresponding portion of the paintball container and holds the lid in a closed position. 
     
     
         10 . The paintball container of  claim 9 , wherein the locking lip comprises a latch that corresponds to a ridge arranged proximal to the recessed area of the top section. 
     
     
         11 . The paintball container of  claim 4 , wherein the recessed area comprises two longitudinal slots formed spaced apart from one another through a sidewall of the paintball container to permit the recessed area to be depressed inward when pushed by a user. 
     
     
         12 . The paintball container of  claim 11 , wherein the top section comprises a flexible material arranged to cover the two slots in the recessed area. 
     
     
         13 . A paintball container, comprising:
 a plurality of cylindrical sections arranged together to form a hollow tube in an expanded state having a size sufficient to hold a quantity of paintballs, the tube having a closed end and an open end, and wherein the cylindrical sections are further arranged to fit one within another in a collapsed state;   a lid to cover the open end;   a hinge connecting the lid to the paintball container;   a biasing member arranged proximal to the hinge, the biasing member configured to bias the lid toward an open position when the lid is opened.   
     
     
         14 . The paintball container of  claim 13 , wherein one or more of the plurality of cylindrical sections include a channel for receiving a guide member of a corresponding section, and wherein the channel includes a catch groove disposed proximal to one end of the channel. 
     
     
         15 . The paintball container of  claim 14 , wherein the guide member slides along the channel when the corresponding sections are transitioned between a collapsed and an expanded state, and wherein the guide member is received into the catch groove to lock corresponding sections in the expanded state. 
     
     
         16 . The paintball container according to  claim 15 , wherein the guide member is received into the catch groove by rotating the corresponding sections with respect to one another. 
     
     
         17 . A paintball container for containing a quantity of paintballs, said container comprising:
 a plurality of tubular sections sized and configured to mate with each other in a collapsible and expandable relationship;   a lid hingedly attached to a first tubular section to cover an opening of the container, said lid comprising a latching lip configured to latchingly engage a portion of the first tubular section proximal to a push tab, wherein depressing the push tab releases engagement of the lip with the first tubular section; and   a biasing member configured to bias the lid toward an open position.   
     
     
         18 . The paintball container according to  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of tubular sections comprises:
 a first tubular section having a first opening at a top portion, a second opening at a bottom portion, and a sidewall extending from the top portion to the bottom portion;   a second tubular section having a third opening at a top portion, a fourth opening at a bottom portion, and a sidewall extending from the top portion to the bottom portion, wherein the bottom portion of the second tubular section is sized to fit within the second opening of the first tubular section and wherein the top portion of the second tubular section cannot fit through the second opening;   said second tubular section configured to slide within said first tubular section between an extended and a collapsed position, wherein a majority of said second tubular section is configured to fit within said first tubular section when in the collapsed position;   a third tubular section having a fifth opening at a top portion, a closed bottom portion, and a sidewall extending from the top portion to the bottom portion, wherein the bottom portion of the third tubular section is sized to fit within the fourth opening of the second tubular section and wherein the top portion of the third tubular section cannot fit through the fourth opening; and   said third tubular section configured to slide within said second tubular section and said first tubular section between an extended and a collapsed position, wherein a majority of said third tubular section is configured to fit within said first tubular section and said second tubular section when in the collapsed position.   
     
     
         19 . The paintball container according to  claim 17 , further comprising a locking member for locking the tubular sections in an expanded position. 
     
     
         20 . The paintball container according to  claim 19 , wherein the locking member comprises a groove and detent.