General

[Schmitti]

Anybody think we should move this to the members section now that we are publishing usable arguments for SP?

E

[Azzy]

That Zap gun doesnt have HP going through the grip, as shown in their patent. It only has LP hoses, like the ion.

[WilD]

Haven't there been custom guns made with fully enclosed airlines? I know Ken from KPCS has done some slick work in that area.

[LK-13]

the only way to get a message to Smart Parts is to hit them where it hurts, their sales/bank account.

stop buying anything made by Smart Parts.
simple as that.
once Smart Parts looses enough sales, and sees that it is because of their image as patent bullies.
they will re-think their methods.

just stop buying anything made by Smart Parts.

i stopped buying SP products back in 2002.
haven't bought any since, don't miss them one bit.

[incynr8]

Originally Posted by WilD

Haven't there been custom guns made with fully enclosed airlines? I know Ken from KPCS has done some slick work in that area.

yes Punisher, Ken, and I think Doc have done it.

Originally Posted by LK-13

the only way to get a message to Smart Parts is to hit them where it hurts, their sales/bank account.

stop buying anything made by Smart Parts.
simple as that.
once Smart Parts looses enough sales, and sees that it is because of their image as patent bullies.
they will re-think their methods.

i stopped buying SP products back in 2002.
haven't bought any since, don't miss them one bit.

No they won't, since almost every item sold by anyone else also pays them. Even then, this is the wrong crowd to mention that too, it's the mainstream buyers (teenagers and young adults for the 1-2 years they stay in anyway), that would affect this market.

The true resultant of an effective embargo would be one highend marker for tourney teams, spin off brand relabeling, and the same constant fee acquisition by agreements already in the stone.

What are they going to buy instead? If it doesn't go blinky and suggest it will fire 45 times by the mere thought of it, it isn't wanted, nor is it used for competition.

[dempsey626]

I believe that this has more to do with the new models of the smaller Shocker and Ion that Smart Parts will be releasing at the World Cup....Guns with MP3 players will be next cool thing....

"The transfer path can, for instance, be a tube, a flexible hose, or another transfer mechanism. Compressed gas from the transfer path can be supplied to a solenoid valve. The solenoid valve can transfer compressed gas to the bolt piston to operate the bolt during operation of the paintball gun."

Sounds like they do not care about the previous mechanical type of markers. The part about the transfer tube leading to a solenoid sounds like an SL-68II would not fall under this patent..but the ION and MINI would...

[Riverraider90]

These arguments are all well and good. But unless someone in the industry or some benign paintball benifactor goes after SP instead of writing them checks; nothing will change. I own nothing SP old, new or patented. I will however steer the little Agglets I play with away from SP....

[stevedavidson]

here's the FIRST claim in the application:

1. A pneumatic paintball gun, comprising: a rear hand grip comprising a compressed gas supply port configured to receive compressed gas from an external compressed gas source directly into the rear hand grip; an input port configured to receive compressed gas from the rear hand grip. wherein said compressed gas is to be supplied to one or more pneumatic components within the paintball gun; and a transfer path configured to route the compressed gas from the supply port to the input port.

the relevant language is "pneumatic paintball gun", "rear hand grip","input port configured to receive...", "transfer path"

Note "transfer path"; no specification of the type of transfer path, or, in other words, ANY method that transfers the compressed gas from the "supply port" to the "input port".

Note also that this is claim #1, upon which everything else depends (except for 11 and up, which is the same thing as 1 through 10 except its just the grip itself, not the whole marker).

If you knock out claim #1, there are no legs to stand on.

There are methods for bringing prior art to the attention of the PTO AFTER THEY HAVE GRANTED. This can cause a 'reexamination' process, during which a patent and/or some claims can be invalidated.

I have yet to find the method for informing the pto of prior art DURING THE APPLICATION PROCESS.

I am looking into forming a 501(c) corp who's purpose will be to serve as a watchdog over patent applications relating to paintball.

There are several organizations that do this for other fields of invention and I am reaching out to them.

If anyone wishes to donate to the cause, let me know...

[stevedavidson]

I also have a perfect prior art example, that is in a publication from 1996 - PUBLICATION. That's key, as its proof of public disclosure AND dated...

I'm looking for where to send it...

[LONGBALL]

patent or no patent..... do your part and educate the new players and support a boycott on SP products.