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[0001] This is a continuation-in-part patent application of U.S. utility patent application Ser. No. 09/684,288 filed on Oct. 6, 2000.
[0002] The present invention relates to an inflatable bunker and anchoring system, and, more particularly, to a stand-alone inflatable bunker in combination with an impact dampening anchor system for improved shock absorption during a collision.
[0003] Simulated war games have been carried out by military personnel and civilians for many years for training and entertainment purposes. In order to carry out these simulations safely and effectively, players engage one another while donning protective gear and equipped with paint pellet guns. These games or simulations may be carried out in a variety of settings or arenas.
[0004] Often times, such exercises are performed in heavily wooded areas or forests where players can hide behind trees and camouflage themselves to blend in and not be detected by their enemies. The exercises are also carried out on outdoor or indoor fields or arenas designed with artificial bunkers to provide cover for players to avoid being hit by paint pellets.
[0005] One design that has been used to create these artificial bunkers comprises a manifold structure along the entire periphery of a playing field having feed tubes extending out therefrom and into various inflatable objects or bunkers. Air is fed into the manifold and supplied to the bunkers through the feed tubes by a remotely placed fan or blower. This design has proven to be cumbersome to setup, noisy, and inconvenient. The manifold, feed tubes, and bunkers have to be connected to one another, for example, by zippers. Players would often trip over the feed tubes while carrying out combat exercises. Moreover, the noise from the fan and generator is a constant nuisance. Also, the bunkers tend to deflate upon deactivating the fan, or becoming accidentally disconnected from the manifold.
[0006] Another drawback associated with this and other inflatable bunker designs is that the bunkers are secured to the ground by way of steel cables or ropes. The cables or ropes are threaded about the inflatable bunker, and then extended downward towards an anchor. The anchor may be in the form of a stake or eyelet that has been firmly secured to the ground. The cables are then secured to the stakes or eyelets. In this manner, the inflatable bunkers are rigidly affixed to the ground.
[0007] Rigidly affixing the inflatable bunkers to the ground has proven to be a hazard. For example, when players collide with the stationary bunkers, most of the force is not absorbed by the stationary object. Upon impact, the aforementioned anchoring system holds the inflatable bunker completely stationary without any give. This absolute resistance to movement does not allow the force to be distributed upon impact thereby causing great bodily harm.
[0008] Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a self-contained manifold-free inflatable bunker for use in a paintball, airsoft or projectile sports arena or playing field to provide a safe hiding place for players.
[0009] It is another object of the present invention to provide an inflatable bunker and impact dampening anchor system that is portable, easy to use and does not require a constant supply of air to remain inflated.
[0010] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an inflatable bunker and impact dampening anchor system combination to absorb the forces of an impact during a collision to minimize bodily injury.
[0011] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an inflatable bunker system kit that provides all of the necessary equipment to erect a playing field in one package.
[0012] Other objects and features will become readily apparent when the disclosure is read in combination with the drawings and appended claims.
[0013] What is disclosed is, in combination, a stand-alone inflatable bunker and impact dampening anchor system to provide cover for athletes on a paintball, airsoft or projectile field comprising, an impact dampener having a first and second end, an inflatable bunker having an inner and outer surface, the inner surface defining a bunker cavity for air containment, a two-way valve extending through the inner and outer surface for inflation and deflation of the cavity, and a handle attached to and extending outwardly from the outer surface of the bunker affixed to the first end of the impact dampener, and an anchor adapter connecting the second end of the impact dampener to a stationary ground anchor.
[0014] In the preferred embodiment, the impact dampener comprises a bungee cord. It is contemplated, however, that the impact dampener may also comprise a spring, an elastic band, a rubber band or any combination thereof.
[0015] In one embodiment, the inflatable bunker further comprises a pressure relief valve extending through the inner and outer surfaces for releasing air when the internal pressure of the bunker cavity exceeds a predetermined setpoint.
[0016] In yet another embodiment, the inflatable bunker further comprises a removably affixed weighted base by mating fasteners, the weighted base having an inner and outer surface, the inner surface defining a base cavity for containing weighting material, a fill/drain port extending through the inner and outer surface for filling and draining the base cavity.
[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the weighting material comprises sand. However, the weighting material may comprise water or a combination of sand and water.
[0018] In the preferred embodiment, the mating fasteners comprise mating Velcro® fasteners to removably affix the inflatable bunker to the weighted base. The mating fasteners, however, may also comprise a plurality of mating snaps, buckles and corresponding straps, or buttons and slots.
[0019] In one embodiment, the stationary ground anchor comprises a metal stake having an elongated shaft and a head, and the anchor adapter comprises an adapter body having proximal and distal ends. A connector on the proximal end of the tab attaches to the second end of the impact dampener, and a grommet provides opening on the distal end of the tab. The grommet has a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the stake shaft and smaller than the diameter of the stake head to prevent the anchor adapter from disengaging the stationary ground anchor.
[0020] In another embodiment, the stationary ground anchor comprises a weighted base having an inner and outer surface, the inner surface defining a base cavity for containing weighting material, a fill/drain port extending through the inner and outer surface for filling and draining the base cavity, and wherein the anchor adapter comprises a base handle affixed to and outwardly extending from the outer surface of the weighted base, the base handle affixed to the second end of the impact dampener.
[0021] In yet another embodiment, the stand-alone inflatable bunker and impact dampening anchor system to provide cover for athletes on a paintball, airsoft or projectile field comprises, an inflatable bunker having an inner and outer surface, the inner surface defining a bunker cavity for air containment, a two-way valve extending through the inner and outer surface for inflation and deflation of the bunker cavity, a pressure relief valve extending through the inner and outer surfaces for releasing air when the internal pressure of the cavity exceeds a predetermined setpoint, and a weighted base having an inner and outer surface, the inner surface defining a base cavity for containing sand, a fill/drain port extending through the inner and outer surface for filling and draining the base cavity, wherein the weighted base is removably affixed to the inflatable bunker by mating fasteners.
[0022] As another aspect of the invention, a plurality of inflatable bunkers can be combined to provide an inflatable bunker obstacle field kit. The kit comprises a container sized and shaped to hold a plurality of inflatable bunkers with a plurality of inflatable bunkers within the container having a plurality of shapes and sizes for creating a paintball, airsoft or projectile field. A pluarlity of impact dampeners are attached to each of the plurality of inflatable bunkers. A plurality of anchor adapters moveably connected to the plurality of impact dampeners provide access for a plurality of weight bags to be connected to the impact dampeners. The anchor adapters each have an aperture sized and shaped to receive a stake. The kit includes a portable blower for cumulatively inflating the plurality of inflatable bunkers prior to use of the inflatable bunkers.
[0023] The invention is illustrated in the figures of the accompanying drawings which are meant to be exemplary and not limiting, in which like references refer to like or corresponding parts, and in which:
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[0034] Turning now to the drawings, and more particularly, to FIGS.
[0035] Inflatable bunker
[0036] Bunker
[0037] It must be understood that while Bunker
[0038] Bunker
[0039] Bunker handle
[0040] Anchor adapter
[0041] Impact dampener
[0042] In an alternative embodiment, shown in
[0043] Upper portion
[0044] Alternatively, as shown in
[0045] Alternatively, bunker
[0046] In operation, the first step in preparing the stand-alone inflatable bunker system of the present invention is to inflate bunker
[0047] Once fully inflated, bunker
[0048] Impact dampener
[0049] During a paint pellet match, players dodging bullets on the playing field can seek cover behind the bunkers. Because the bunkers are of stand-alone construction, players no longer have the danger of tripping over feed tubes extending out from a manifold to continuously inflate the bunkers.
[0050] In the event that a player runs into a bunker inadvertently, bunker
[0051] In one embodiment, bunker
[0052] As yet a further embodiment of the invention, bunker
[0053] In another embodiment, bunker
[0054] In this embodiment, player running into the indoor stand-alone bunker inadvertently can avoid serious bodily injury because, as discussed above, bunker
[0055] Once the game is completed, players may disassemble the stand-alone bunkers. The fill drain ports are opened to deflate the air filled bunker portion, and the empty out the weighting material from the weighted base portion. Once emptied, the bunker and base portions are folded and packed into their respective containers for storage.
[0056] As another aspect of the invention a plurality of bunkers can be used as an inflatable bunker playing field kit
[0057] As various possible embodiments may be made in the above invention for use for different purposes and as various changes might be made in the embodiments and methods above set forth, it is understood that all of the above matters here set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.