Paint pellet pistol

Abstract

A small pistol device that shoots red paint pellets is intended to be used for personal protection. The pistol is disguised to appear as a rectangular cellular phone. The pistol is intended to be worn discreetly upon a user's belt using a clip. During a confrontation, a user would fire a paint pellet at the perpetrator causing the release of paint. It is intended that the perpetrator would think they have been shot, thereby providing an opportunity for the user to escape.

Claims

1. A paint pellet pistol, comprising: a housing having a front surface; an applied artwork disguising said paint pellet pistol; a trigger release integral to an internal trigger mechanism along a bottom side surface of said housing, said trigger release and said internal trigger mechanism act to discharge a paint pellet from a barrel aperture located along a front side surface of said housing, said trigger mechanism includes a safety button which protrudes from said bottom side surface of said housing, said safety button mechanically prevents accidental discharge of said paint pellet before pressing said trigger release to discharge said paint pellet; a gas cartridge compartment accessed along a rear side surface of said housing to insertingly contain a miniature carbon dioxide cartridge, which in tum provides a propellant which is to act upon and propel said paint pellet during discharge; and a paint pellet compartment located along a rear side surface of said housing; wherein said applied artwork resembles a cellular phone and the housing is configured to be worn upon a belt; wherein said paint pellet compartment is a cylindrical shape storing one or more paint pellets and is closed via a threaded paint pellet compartment lid.

2. The paint pellet pistol according to claim 1, wherein said gas cartridge compartment is closed via a threaded gas compartment lid which holds and positions said gas cartridge.

3. A paint pellet pistol, comprising: a housing having a front surface; an applied artwork disguising said paint pellet pistol; a trigger release integral to an internal trigger mechanism along a bottom side surface of said housing, said trigger release and trigger mechanism act to discharge a paint pellet from a barrel aperture located along a front side surface of said housing, said trigger mechanism includes a safety button which protrudes from said bottom side surface of said housing, said safety button mechanically prevents accidental discharge of said paint pellet before pressing said trigger release to discharge said paint pellet; a belt clip configured to allow said housing to be attached to a belt an internal paint pellet compartment located along a rear side surface of said housing; and an internal gas cartridge compartment accessed along a rear side surface of said housing to insertingly contain a miniature carbon dioxide cartridge, which in turn provides a propellant which is to act upon and propel said paint pellet during discharge; wherein said paint pellet compartment is a cylindrical shape storing one or more paint pellets and is closed via a threaded paint pellet compartment lid.

4. The paint pellet pistol according to claim 3, wherein said gas cartridge compartment is closed via a threaded gas compartment lid which holds and positions said gas cartridge.

5. The paint pellet pistol according to claim 3, wherein said housing is rectangular.

6. The paint pellet pistol according to claim 3, wherein said housing is five inches in length, two-and-one-half inches in width, and three-quarters of an inch in depth.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is an environmental view of a paint pellet pistol 10 depicting an in-use state, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the paint pellet pistol 10, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and,

(4) FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the paint pellet pistol 10, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTIVE KEY

(5) 10 paint pellet pistol 20 housing 25 artwork 30 belt clip 40 trigger 42 trigger mechanism 45 safety button 48 barrel aperture 50 gas compartment 55 gas compartment lid 57 gas cartridge 60 paint pellet compartment 65 paint pellet compartment lid 100 paint pellet 110 user 120 belt

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

1. Description of the Figures

(6) The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within FIGS. 1 through 3. However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment, and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one (1) particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope.

(7) The terms a and an herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one (1) of the referenced items.

(8) The present invention describes a paint pellet pistol (herein described as the device) 10, which provides a small lightweight pistol-like device that shoots paint pellets 100. The device 10 is intended to be used for personal protection and takes the form of a rectangular cellular phone. The device 10 is intended to be worn discreetly upon a user's belt 120. During a confrontation, a user 110 would fire a paint pellet 100, preferably of a red color, at the perpetrator, causing the release of paint. The use of the device 10 is intended to cause the perpetrator to think they have been shot and provide time for the user 100 to escape.

(9) Referring now to FIG. 1, an environmental view of the device 10 depicting an in-use state, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The device 10 provides a rectangular housing 20 having dimensions of approximately five inches (5 in.) in length, two-and-one-half inches (2 in.) in width, and three-quarters of an inch ( in.) in depth, thereby resembling a cellular phone. The device 10 includes a side-mounted belt clip 30 which positions the device 10 at an arm's reach to the user 110. During a dangerous confrontation, the user would quickly grab the device 10 and fire a paint pellet 100 at a perpetrator. The discharge of the paint pellet 100 from the device 10 upon the perpetrator will result in the deposit of the red paint upon the perpetrator, causing the perpetrator to think they have been shot with a firearm. Additionally, the red paint stain will make it easy to identify the perpetrator. It is envisioned that the device 10 would be easy to carry and would be especially beneficial when used by likely victims such as women and young girls.

(10) Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, front and rear perspective views of the device 10, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. A front surface of the rectangular housing 20 is envisioned to provide printed or otherwise applied artwork 25 which resembles an appearance of a cellular phone so as to disguise the device 10.

(11) An embodiment of the device 10 is illustrated here which provides an internal paint pellet compartment 60 located along a rear side surface of the housing 20. The paint pellet compartment 60 is envisioned to be of a cylindrical shape being capable of storing one (1) or more paint pellets 100. The paint pellet compartment 60 is envisioned to be closed via a threaded paint pellet compartment lid 65.

(12) A trigger release 40 together with an internal trigger mechanism 42 are located along a bottom side surface of the housing 20. The trigger release 40 and trigger mechanism 42 act to discharge the paint pellet 100 from a barrel aperture 48 located along a front side surface of the housing 20. The trigger mechanism 42 also includes a safety button 45 which protrudes from the bottom side surface of the housing 20. The safety button 45 mechanically prevents accidental discharge of a paint pellet 100 from the device 10 and would be pressed inward by the user 110 before pressing the trigger release 40 to discharge a paint pellet 100.

(13) The embodiment of the device 10 shown here also includes an internal gas cartridge compartment 50, being accessed along a rear side surface of the housing 20. The gas cartridge compartment 50 is to have a suitable shape and size to insertingly contain a standard miniature CO2 or compressed air gas cartridge 57 which in turn provides a propellant which is to act upon and propel the paint pellet 100 during discharge. The gas cartridge compartment 50 is envisioned to be closed via a threaded gas compartment lid 55 which holds and positions the gas cartridge 57 within. It is understood that the device 10 may also utilize a spring-operated mechanism or other equivalent means, in lieu of the gas cartridge 57, to propel the paint pellet 100, and as such should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the device 10.

(14) A belt clip 30 along a rear surface of the housing 20 allows the device 10 to be attached to a user's belt 120, thereby positioning the device 10 in a ready position to be easily grasped and removed from the user's belt 120 when needed. During a dangerous confrontation, the user 110 would quickly grasp the device 10, press the safety button 45, aim the barrel aperture 48, and fire a paint pellet 100 at the perpetrator.

(15) It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one (1) particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope.

2. Operation of the Preferred Embodiment

(16) The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the device 10, it would be installed as indicated in FIG. 1.

(17) The method of preparing and utilizing the device 10 may be achieved by performing the following steps: procuring the device 10; removing the gas compartment lid 55; inserting a gas cartridge 57; closing the gas compartment lid 55; removing the paint pellet compartment lid 65; loading at least one (1), paint pellet 100, preferably of a red color, into the paint pellet compartment 60; closing the paint pellet compartment lid 65; clipping the device 10 a user's belt 120 using the belt clip 30; participating in an activity such as walking, running, or the like; experiencing a threatening confrontation; grasping the device 10; removing the device 10 from the user's belt 120; pressing the safety button 45; aiming the barrel aperture portion 48 of the device 10 at the perpetrator; pressing upon the trigger 40 to discharge a paint pellet 100 at the perpetrator; fleeing the scene of the encounter; and, benefiting from a discreet and effective means to repel a perpetrator, afforded a user of the present invention 10.

(18) The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.