R7 Paintball Gear
R7 Paintball Gear, also known as R7 USA, was an American paintball equipment brand founded by professional player Greg Hastings. Based in Gloucester City, New Jersey, the company produced paintball pod harnesses and accessories, including modular harness systems and camera mounting equipment.[1][2][3]
History
[edit]R7 was established by Greg Hastings following his departure from Redz Comfort Gear, the company he had previously founded. The R7 name combined Hastings' nickname, "Red", with his tournament jersey number, 7.[2][3]
R7 Inc. filed a United States trademark application on 20 February 2004. The trademark covered paintball equipment, including harnesses, protective clothing and accessories. Commercial use was recorded from January 2005, and the trademark was registered on 20 December 2005.[1]
By August 2005, R7 was marketing its Modular Pack System, a pod harness incorporating a detachable belt and interchangeable pod-carrying sections. The design was reviewed by Bill Mills for WARPIG.[2]
Replay XD partnership
[edit]On 6 April 2012, R7 USA announced a partnership with action camera manufacturer Replay XD to develop a paintball-specific camera mounting system.[3]
The R7 Replay XD 1080 Paintball System combined a Replay XD camera with mounting equipment developed by Hastings. The system could attach to a marker's feedneck, a specially designed R7/Stiffi carbon-fibre barrel or protective goggles.
The product was marketed for tournament, recreational and scenario paintball. Professional players Justin Rabackoff, Nicky Cuba and Thomas Taylor were named among the athletes producing footage using the system.[3]
Products
[edit]R7 Modular Pack System
[edit]The R7 Modular Pack System was designed around two separately sold components: an adjustable waist belt and an interchangeable pod harness.[2]
The belt incorporated a padded neoprene back panel, adjustable elastic straps and hook-and-loop fasteners. The detachable harness sections attached to a semi-rigid mounting panel.
Three configurations were documented in 2005:
- 2.2 Pack – Two primary pod holders and two additional elastic loops, carrying up to four pods.
- 3.3 Pack – Three primary holders and three elastic loops, carrying up to six pods.
- 4.4 Pack – Four primary holders and four elastic loops, carrying up to eight pods.
Each configuration used downward-facing pod holders secured by hook-and-loop flaps. The modular design allowed players to change carrying capacity without replacing the waist belt.[2]
Camera mounting equipment
[edit]R7 subsequently developed accessories for recording paintball games, including:
- R7 Replay XD Paintball System – A Replay XD 1080 camera supplied with paintball mounting accessories.
- R7 universal feedneck camera mount – An aluminium mounting system designed to position a camera alongside a paintball marker.
- R7/Stiffi camera barrel – A carbon-fibre barrel configuration allowing an action camera to be attached.[3][4]
Trademark status
[edit]The original R7 trademark registration was cancelled on 5 October 2012 under Section 8 of United States trademark law.[1]
This cancellation does not establish the date the business ceased operating. R7 products continued to be documented in historical retailer catalogues, but the precise end of the brand's commercial activities has not been confirmed.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- USPTO.report – R7 Inc., United States trademark registration 3032992, application filed 20 February 2004.
- WARPIG – R7 Modular Pack, by Bill Mills, August 2005.
- Social Paintball – Greg Hastings Chooses Replay XD To Capture Paintball From A Whole New Angle, 6 April 2012.
- PB Sports – R7 Replay XD 1080p HD Video Camera System with Mounts, historical product listing.