U.S. patent application number 10/146987 was filed with the patent office on 2003-11-20 for infeed connector for a paintball gun.
Invention is credited to Bell, David Wesley.
Application Number | 20030213481 10/146987 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29418930 |
Filed Date | 2003-11-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030213481 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bell, David Wesley |
November 20, 2003 |
Infeed connector for a paintball gun
Abstract
An infeed connector for coupling an outlet pipe of a bulk
loading hopper to an inlet pipe of a paintball gun is provided
comprising a pipe section having a first end for receiving the
outlet pipe therewithin and a second end for receiving the inlet
pipe therewithin. The first and second ends are formed with
compression fittings, the compression fitting at each end further
having external annular threads therearound for receiving a
compression nut. First and second compression nuts are provided
having internal annular threads for threading on the annular
threads of each respective pipe section compression fitting and
operable when fully threaded thereon and tightened to secure a
respective end of each outlet pipe and said inlet pipe, within a
corresponding end of the infeed connector.
Inventors: |
Bell, David Wesley;
(Mesquite, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HOWISON & ARNOTT, L.L.P
P.O. BOX 741715
DALLAS
TX
75374-1715
US
|
Family ID: |
29418930 |
Appl. No.: |
10/146987 |
Filed: |
May 16, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
124/56 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41B 11/52 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
124/56 |
International
Class: |
F41B 011/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An assembly, comprising: a paintball gun having a firing chamber
coupled with a gun barrel and having an inlet pipe, said inlet pipe
joined with said firing chamber and further having a first
diameter, for passing a paintball into said firing chamber; a bulk
loading hopper having a storage chamber for paintballs and an
outlet pipe extending from said hopper, said outlet pipe further
having a second diameter, for dispensing a paintball therefrom; and
an infeed tube for joining said outlet pipe to said inlet pipe to
provide for delivery of said paintballs into said firing chamber
wherein said infeed tube comprises: a pipe section having a first
end for receiving said outlet pipe therewithin and a second end for
receiving said inlet pipe therewithin, said first and second ends
further formed with a plurality of longitudinal slots disposed at
substantially equal intervals therearound, each said end further
having a series of external annular threads therearound and
overlapping said plurality of slots for threadably receiving a
compression nut; and first and second annular compression nuts
having internal annular threads for threading on said annular
threads of each said respective pipe section compression fitting
and operable when fully threaded thereon and tightened to secure a
respective end of each said outlet pipe and said inlet pipe within
a corresponding end of said pipe section of said infeed tube.
2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said inlet pipe is disposed
approximately perpendicular to a centerline of said gun barrel
wherein further said firing chamber and said gun barrel have
approximately the same centerline.
3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said inlet pipe joins said
firing chamber at a side-directed angle between 25 and 65 degrees
from a vertical axis passing through said centerline.
4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said outlet pipe of said bulk
loading hopper extends downward from a lower extremity of said
hopper.
5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said plurality of longitudinal
slots extend for a predetermined distance along a wall of said pipe
section from each said end of said pipe section.
6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said infeed tube provides a
change of direction through it of approximately 45 degrees.
7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said infeed tube provides a
change of direction through it.
8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said inlet pipe and said outlet
pipe have a same diameter.
9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said inlet pipe has a different
diameter than said outlet pipe.
10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said outlet pipe has a larger
diameter than said inlet pipe.
11. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each said compression fitting
on said pipe section has at least three longitudinal slots.
12. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said annular threads allow
said compression nut to engage said pipe section through at least
one full turn of said compression nut on said pipe section.
13. An infeed connector for coupling a paintball gun having an
inlet pipe with a paintball hopper having an outlet pipe,
comprising: a pipe section having a first end for receiving said
outlet pipe therewithin and a second end for receiving said inlet
pipe therewithin, said first and second ends further formed with a
plurality of longitudinal slots disposed at substantially equal
intervals therearound and extending for a predetermined distance
through a wall of said pipe section from said end of said pipe
section, each said end further having a series of external annular
threads therearound and overlapping said plurality of slots for
receiving a compression nut; and first and second compression nuts
having internal annular threads for threading on said annular
threads of each said respective pipe section and operable when
fully threaded thereon and tightened to secure a respective end of
each said outlet pipe and said inlet pipe within a corresponding
end of said pipe section of said infeed elbow.
14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein said infeed connector
provides a change of direction through it of approximately 45
degrees.
15. The assembly of claim 13, wherein said infeed connector
provides a change of direction through it.
16. The infeed connector of claim 13, wherein said infeed connector
provides a straight passage for paintballs from said hopper to said
paintball gun.
17. The assembly of claim 13, wherein said inlet pipe and said
outlet pipe have a same diameter.
18. The assembly of claim 13, wherein said inlet pipe has a
different diameter than said outlet pipe.
19. The assembly of claim 13, wherein said outlet pipe has a larger
diameter than said inlet pipe.
20. The assembly of claim 13, wherein each said compression fitting
on said pipe section has at least three longitudinal slots.
21. The assembly of claim 13, wherein said annular threads allow
said compression nut to engage said pipe section through at least
one full turn of said compression nut on said pipe section.
22. An assembly, comprising: a paintball gun having a firing
chamber coupled with a gun barrel and having an inlet pipe, said
inlet pipe joined with said firing chamber of said paintball gun
and further having a first diameter for receiving a paintball into
said firing chamber; a bulk loading hopper having a storage chamber
and an outlet pipe section extending from said hopper, said outlet
pipe section further having a second diameter for dispensing a
paintball therefrom wherein said outlet end of said outlet pipe
section is configured with an infeed connector for coupling to said
inlet pipe to provide for delivery of said paintballs, wherein said
infeed connector comprises: a plurality of longitudinal slots
disposed at substantially equal intervals around said outlet end of
said outlet pipe section and further having a series of external
annular threads around said outlet end and overlapping said
plurality of slots for receiving a compression nut; and an annular
compression nut having internal annular threads for threading on
said annular threads of said outlet pipe section compression
fitting and operable when fully threaded thereon and tightened to
secure said inlet pipe within said outlet end of said outlet pipe
section of said infeed elbow.
23. The assembly of claim 22, wherein said infeed connector
provides a change of direction through it.
24. The assembly of claim 22, wherein said infeed connector
provides a straight passage of said paintballs from said hopper to
said paintball gun.
25. The assembly of claim 22, wherein each said compression fitting
on said outlet pipe section has at least three longitudinal
slots.
26. The assembly of claim 22, wherein said plurality of
longitudinal slots extend for a predetermined distance along a wall
of said pipe section from each said end of said pipe section.
27. The assembly of claim 21, wherein said annular threads allow
said compression nut to engage said outlet pipe section through at
least one full turn of said compression nut on said pipe
section.
28. A bulk loading hopper for a paintball gun, comprising: a bulk
loading hopper having a storage chamber for paintballs and an
outlet pipe section extending from said hopper, said outlet pipe
section further having a second diameter, for dispensing a
paintball therefrom wherein said outlet end of said outlet pipe
section is configured with an infeed connector in said outlet pipe
section for coupling to an inlet pipe to provide for delivery of
said paintballs, wherein said infeed connector comprises: an outlet
end for receiving said inlet pipe therewithin, said outlet end
further formed with a plurality of longitudinal slots disposed at
substantially equal intervals therearound and further having a
series of external annular threads therearound and overlapping said
plurality of slots for receiving a compression nut; and an annular
compression nut having internal annular threads for threading on
said annular threads of said outlet pipe section compression
fitting and operable when fully threaded thereon and tightened to
secure said inlet pipe within said outlet end of said outlet pipe
section of said infeed elbow.
29. The assembly of claim 28, wherein said infeed connector
provides straight passage of paintballs from said hopper to said
paintball gun.
30. The assembly of claim 28, wherein said infeed connector
provides a change of direction through it.
31. The assembly of claim 28, wherein said plurality of
longitudinal slots extend for a predetermined distance along a wall
of said pipe section from each said end of said pipe section.
32. The assembly of claim 28, wherein each said compression fitting
on said outlet pipe section has at least three longitudinal
slots.
33. The assembly of claim 28, wherein said annular threads allow
said compression nut to engage said outlet pipe section through at
least one full turn of said compression nut on said pipe section.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention disclosed herein relates generally to
paintball guns and, more particularly, to an infeed connector
adapted for connecting a bulk loading paintball hopper to a
paintball gun.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Bulk loaders for use with paintball guns provide for storage
of paintball ammunition in a hopper that is configured for allowing
paintballs to be gravity fed from a bottom outlet into a feed inlet
to a flying chamber of a paintball gun. A pipe section may be used
to couple the feed inlet tube to the outlet tube of the hopper. The
feed inlet tube may be straight or offset at an angle to allow
positioning the hopper off to one side, for example, to the right
of the paintball gun barrel so as to avoid blocking the user's view
when sighting along the barrel to aim the gun. Thus, a pipe elbow
may be used to couple the hopper outlet to the feed inlet of the
paintball gun so that the pipe elbow supports the weight of the
hopper a n d paintballs in a stable manner as well as allowing the
paintballs to pass through the interior passage of the pipe elbow
en route to the firing chamber. Conventional paintball gun infeed
connectors are typically equipped with inexpensive hose clamps to
clamp the outlet and feed inlet tubes into the elbow. This type of
clamp is simple and accommodates variations in tube diameters, etc.
However, it has the disadvantage of distorting the outlet and feed
inlet tubes when the clamp is tightened enough to securely support
the hopper on the feed inlet of the paintball gun. This distortion
can cause jamming in the outlet tube or the inlet tube because the
distorted passage no longer has a round cross section. Moreover, it
is difficult to adjust the clamp to relieve the distortion without
leaving the assembly too loose to securely support the hopper on
the paintball gun. What is needed is a clamping system for the pipe
elbow that avoids these deficiencies.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention disclosed and claimed herein, in one
aspect thereof, comprises an infeed connector for coupling an
outlet pipe of a bulk loading hopper to an inlet pipe of a
paintball gun. A pipe section is provided having a first end for
receiving the outlet pipe therewithin and a second end for
receiving the inlet pipe therewithin. The first and second ends are
further formed with compression fittings, the compression fitting
at each end further having external annular threads therearound for
receiving a compression nut. First and second compression nuts are
provided having internal annular threads for threading on the
annular threads of each respective pipe section compression fitting
and operable when fully threaded thereon and tightened to secure
the respective ends of the outlet pipe and inlet pipe within a
corresponding end of the infeed connector.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] For a more complete understanding of the present invention
and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings in
which:
[0005] FIG. 1A illustrates a side view of a prior art infeed
connector which utilizes a hose clamp device at each end of an
elbow pipe section;
[0006] FIG. 1B illustrates a top view of the prior art infeed
connector illustrated in FIG. 1A;
[0007] FIG. 2A illustrates a side view of an infeed connector
according to the present disclosure having a compression fitting
and a clamp nut at each end thereof with the upper clamp nut shown
separated from the infeed elbow portion to show its
construction;
[0008] FIG. 2B illustrates a top view of the infeed connector of
FIG. 2A;
[0009] FIG. 3 illustrates a pictorial view of one embodiment of the
present disclosure shown with the clamp nuts separated from the
infeed elbow portion to show its construction;
[0010] FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded view of a paintball gun and a
bulk loading hopper that may be joined by an infeed connector
according to the present disclosure;
[0011] FIG. 5 illustrates a rear view of the paintball gun, infeed
elbow connector and bulk loading hopper of the embodiment of FIG. 4
when assembled together;
[0012] FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of an alternate embodiment of
a paintball gun having a hopper integrated with an infeed connector
according to the present disclosure;
[0013] FIG. 7 illustrates an alternate embodiment of a
compression-type connector for joining a paintball hopper to a
paintball gun;
[0014] FIG. 8A illustrates a rear view of a paintball gun and a
range of possible positions and angular orientations of alternate
embodiments of infeed connectors according to the present
disclosure; and
[0015] FIG. 8B illustrates a side view of the alternate embodiment
of a paintball gun of FIG. 8A and the range of possible alternate
orientations of infeed connectors according to the present
disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] Referring now to FIG. 1A there is illustrated a side view of
a prior art infeed connector which utilizes a hose clamp style of
device to secure the outlet pipe of a bulk loading hopper in the
upper end of the infeed connector and the infeed pipe of the
paintball gun in the lower end of the infeed connector. The infeed
connector 10 has a pipe section 12 which is typically bent through
an angle of approximately 45.degree. in the illustrated connector.
An integral hose clamp device 14 is disposed in the upper end 16 of
the pipe section 12. In a typical prior art infeed elbow connector
10, the inside diameter of the upper end of the pipe section 12 is
nominally 1.050 inches. This dimension accommodates the industry
standard outside diameter of the outlet pipe of the bulk loading
hopper. The hose clamp device 14 includes a pair of tabs 18
extending outward at about 90.degree. from the body of the hose
clamp 14 and oriented parallel to each other, each tab having a
hole therethrough for the passage of a screw 20 for drawing the
tabs closer together when a nut 22 is threaded on the screw 20. By
tightening the nut 22 on the screw 20, the tabs 18 are drawn closer
together, thereby reducing the diameter of the hose clamp section
14 so that the hose clamp 14 may grip a pipe section inserted into
the upper end 16 of the pipe section 12. Similarly, a lower hose
clamp section 24 disposed at the lower end 26 of pipe section 12
includes tabs 28, screw 30 and nut 32 for drawing tabs 28 closer
together to tighten hose clamp section 24 around a pipe section
inserted into the lower end 26 of the pipe section 12. In a typical
prior art infeed elbow connector 10, the inside diameter of the
lower end of the pipe section 12 is nominally 0.875 inches. This
diameter accommodates the industry standard outside diameter of the
infeed pipe of the paintball gun. The clamping action of hose clamp
14 is facilitated by the T-shaped slot 38 in the side wall of hose
clamp 14 by permitting bending to occur in the body of the hose
claim 14 to allow the movement of the tabs 18 under the force
exerted by the screw 20 and nut 22. Similarly, the lower hose clamp
24 includes a T-shaped slot 40 in the sidewall of the hose clamp 24
to permit the tabs 28 to be drawn more closely together when the
nut 32 is tightened on of the screw 30. Also shown in FIG. 1A by
dashed lines are internal shoulders 34 and 36 which limit the
entrance of a pipe section being clamped into the respective end 16
or 26 of the infeed elbow connector 10 for clamping therein.
[0017] Referring now to FIG. 1B, there is illustrated a top view of
the prior art infeed elbow connector illustrated in FIG. 1A. The
features of the prior art connector identified in FIG. 1B bear the
same reference numbers and descriptions as the corresponding
structures of FIG. 1A and are in fact the same features. It will be
apparent to persons skilled in the art that the hose clamp design
of the prior art infeed elbow connector 10 has several
disadvantages. Among them are included the requirement for tools to
secure the hose clamp portions of the infeed elbow around the
inserted pipe sections and perhaps more significantly the inherent
distortion of the hose clamp section itself due to the bending of
the portions of the hose clamp in the vicinity of the tabs that are
drawn together by the action of the screw and nut. This distortion,
when applied to an inlet pipe section which is not completely rigid
may also distort the pipe section and cause the cross section of
the internal passage of the pipe to depart from a circle. Such
distortion can limit the passage of paintballs therethrough and may
lead to jamming of the paintballs therein.
[0018] In the description of the various embodiments of the present
invention disclosed herein, some of the illustrations show an
infeed connector having an angle of approximately 45 degrees formed
in the tubular portion of the infeed connector, as is typically
found in paintball-and-hopper assemblies presently available.
However, there is no reason that the infeed tube and connector
assemblies of the present disclosure must be limited to 45 degrees
and may not be formed or oriented at different angles. In fact, any
angular orientation around the centerline of the paintball gun
barrel, or a variety of positions along that centerline are
possible, using the infeed connector assemblies of the present
disclosure. Some orientations naturally take advantage of gravity
feed from the paintball hopper; other orientations rely on some
type of supplemental force to cause the paintballs to pass through
the infeed assembly into the paintball gun. Thus, it is to be
understood that while an infeed elbow configuration having a 45
degree angle is illustrated herein, infeed tube connectors and
assemblies may embody other angles ranging from zero degrees, i.e.,
a straight infeed connector, up to 90 degrees and still be
contemplated within the teachings of the present disclosure. It
will be appreciated therefore that the term "infeed elbow" may be
generalized to "infeed connector," yet refer to the same structure
and function of providing for passage of a paintball between a
reservoir of paintballs and the firing chamber of the paintball gun
to which it is attached. Several of these alternate embodiments
will be described hereinbelow.
[0019] Referring now to FIG. 2A there is illustrated a side view of
an infeed elbow according to the present disclosure that utilizes
compression fittings to exert a uniform clamping force around a
pipe section that is inserted into an end of the infeed elbow. The
infeed connector 42 of FIG. 2A includes the pipe section 44 which
is internally very similar to the pipe section 12 of the FIGS. 1A
and 1B except that the ends of the pipe section are configured with
compression fittings instead of hose clamp type clamping devices.
The upper end 46 of pipe section 44 includes therearound a tapered
portion of the compression fitting. This tapered portion 48 is
provided uniformly around the full circumference of the upper end
46 of the pipe section 44. Included in the upper end 46 of the pipe
section 44 are a plurality of longitudinal slots 50 which extend
from the upper end 46 of the pipe section 44 longitudinally along
the pipe section for a distance that extends beyond the tapered
portion 48 and through the threaded region of the pipe section 44.
The length of the longitudinal slots 50 will be predetermined for
each embodiment, depending on such factors as thickness and
stiffness of the material used for the infeed connector pipe
section.
[0020] Disposed around the pipe section 44 beginning at the edge of
the tapered section 48 away from the upper end of the pipe section
46 are a series of annular threads 52 which extend for at least two
complete circuits around the pipe section 44. A compression nut 54,
which includes a corresponding tapered section and annular threads
to be described hereinbelow, is shown immediately above the upper
end 46 of the infeed connector 42 of FIG. 2A. The operation of a
compression fitting is well known in the art and will only be
briefly described herein. When compression nut 54 is inserted onto
the upper end 46 of the infeed connector 42 and rotated therearound
to engage the corresponding annular threads, the opposing tapered
portions of both the compression nut 54 and the upper end 46 of the
infeed tube are engaged to cause the portions of the infeed tube
between the longitudinal slots to bend inward and grip the outer
surface of a pipe section inserted into the upper end 46 of the
infeed connector 42. The lower end 56 of the infeed connector 42 is
configured exactly the same way as the upper end 46 and includes a
compression nut 58 for exerting the clamping force around a pipe
section inserted into the lower end 56 of the infeed connector 42.
FIG. 2A also includes dashed lines showing the internal structure
of the pipe section 44 wherein are shown the internal shoulders 60
and 62 for limiting the entrance of the pipe sections which are
clamped within the interior of the infeed connector 42.
[0021] Referring now to FIG. 2B there is illustrated a top view of
the infeed connector 42 of the present disclosure shown in FIG. 2A
having the same structural features as the infeed elbow of FIG. 2A
and identified by the same reference numbers. In FIGS. 2A and 2B
the inside diameters of both the upper end 46 and the lower end 56
of the pipe section 44 are dimensioned to accommodate the
respective industry standard outside diameters of the outlet pipe
of the bulk loading hopper and the infeed pipe of the paintball
gun. FIG. 2B shows six longitudinal slots 50 evenly arrayed around
the circumference of the pipe section 44 at the upper end 46. The
number of longitudinal slots 50 which may be used is variable and
depends on such properties as the thickness and flexibility of the
material of the infeed below. Generally, good results may be
achieved with four to eight longitudinal slots, equally spaced
around the circumference of the pipe section 44. It can thus be
seen in FIG. 2B that the end portions of the pipe section 44
between each pair of longitudinal slots 50 may be bent inward by
the force exerted thereon by the compression nut 54 thus tending to
clamp a pipe section inserted into the upper end of the infeed
connector 42. Since these end sections of the upper end 46 of the
pipe section 44 of the infeed connector 42 are of uniform thickness
and width and placed under uniform pressure from the action of the
compression nut 54, it can be readily appreciated that the force
exerted upon a pipe section inserted into the infeed connector 42
will enable the pipe section to be uniformly gripped around its
full circumference. This action minimizes any distortion that might
take place because of the uniform distribution of longitudinal
slots 50 around the pipe section 44 and the flexible construction
of the pipe section that may be inserted therein. Moreover, it can
also be appreciated that the compression nut, which includes a
fluted outer surface for an improved grip, may be installed and
tightened by hand without the use of tools. The surface of the
compression nut may also be knurled or provided with other types of
slip-resistant finishes.
[0022] Referring now to FIG. 3, there is illustrated an infeed
connector 42 of one embodiment of the present disclosure as it
might be manufactured showing the same features as the infeed
connector 42 of FIGS. 2A and 2B and having corresponding features
bearing the same reference numbers and descriptions. A somewhat
more detailed view of the compression nuts is shown in FIG. 3,
particularly that the compression nut 54 includes the internal
tapered portion 64 which complements the dimensions of the tapered
portion 48 when the compression nut 54 is installed upon the upper
end 46 of the infeed elbow 42. Also shown is a portion of the
interior annular thread 66 which engages the exterior annular
thread 52 on the body of the pipe section 44 of the infeed elbow
42. Compression nut 54 includes machinings 68 for providing a more
easily gripped surface of the compression nut 54 to permit it to be
installed by hand. These machinings 68 may provide a fluted or a
knurled finish or an otherwise roughened surface by machining or by
molding operations upon the surface of the compression nut 54. The
lower end 56 of the infeed connector 42 of FIG. 3 also includes a
compression nut 54 having the same features as the compression nut
disposed above the upper end 46 of the infeed connector 42. The
compression nut 54 at the lower end 56 of the infeed connector 42
clearly shows the internal taper 64 and the internal annular thread
66 which cooperate with the taper 48 and the longitudinal slots 50
and the annular threads 52 to provide the action of the compression
fitting for securing a pipe section within the lower end 56 of the
infeed connector 42. In FIG. 3 the inside diameters of both the
upper end 46 and the lower end 56 of the pipe section 44 are
dimensioned to accommodate the respective industry standard outside
diameters of the outlet pipe of the bulk loading hopper and the
infeed pipe of the paintball gun.
[0023] Referring now to FIG. 4, there is illustrated an exploded
view of a paintball gun with a bulk loading hopper full of
paintballs and an infeed elbow connector of the present disclosure.
This infeed elbow connector provides the connecting structure for
securely installing the bulk loading hopper upon the paintball gun
and permitting the free passage of paintballs therethrough during
the operation of the paintball gun. Paintball gun 70 includes a gun
barrel 72 and a firing chamber portion 74 along with an inlet pipe
76. The inlet pipe 76 joins the firing chamber 74 of the paintball
gun 70 at an angle relative to a vertical reference passing through
the longitudinal centerline C.sub.L of the paintball gun barrel 72
and disposed to the right from this reference. The longitudinal
centerline C.sub.L is shown in FIG. 4 as a dashed line through the
gun barrel 72 and firing chamber 74. A bulk loading hopper 80 is
shown filled with paintballs 82 and is equipped with an outlet pipe
84. The infeed elbow pipe section 44, as also illustrated in FIGS.
2A, 2B and 3, includes the compression nuts 54 to be installed on
both the upper end and the lower end of the infeed elbow pipe
section 44 to assemble the units together. The infeed connector 42
is installed over the inlet pipe 76 until the upper end of the
inlet pipe 76 is secure against the internal shoulder 62 of the
infeed elbow pipe section 44 (see FIG. 2A). The compression nut 54
is tightened around the lower end of the infeed elbow pipe section
44 to secure the infeed elbow pipe section 44 upon the inlet pipe
76. Similarly, the outlet pipe 84 of the hopper 80 is inserted into
the upper end of the infeed elbow pipe section 44 until it butts
against the internal shoulder 60 of the infeed elbow pipe section
44 (shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B) and the compression nut 54 at the
upper end of the infeed connector 42 is tightened to secure the
outlet pipe 84 within the infeed elbow pipe section 44. As
described hereinabove, the compression nuts 54 may be tightened by
hand. The round cross sections of the outlet pipe and the inlet
pipe are maintained and a precise angular adjustment of the outlet
pipe and the inlet pipe within the infeed elbow is achieved while
tightening the compression nuts 54 upon the infeed elbow pipe
section 44.
[0024] Referring now to FIG. 5, there is illustrated a rear view of
the paintball gun 70, the infeed connector 42 and the bulk loading
hopper 80 of the present disclosure assembled together as described
in the previous description for FIG. 4 hereinabove. From this rear
view along the center line mentioned previously in the description
of FIG. 4, there is shown the outside surface of the firing chamber
74 joined with the inlet pipe 76, the inlet pipe 76 protruding at
an angle in this embodiment of approximately 45 degrees from the
vertical, and into the lower end of the infeed elbow pipe section
44 to be tightened therein with the compression nut 54. The
internal passage through the infeed elbow pipe section 44 is bent
at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to return the direction of
the interior passage of the infeed elbow pipe section to a vertical
direction in line with the outlet pipe 84 that extends below the
bulk loading hopper 80. The outlet pipe 84 is similarly tightened
within the infeed connector 42 by the action of the compression nut
54. Because of the uniform clamping force provided by the
compression fittings and the compression nuts at each end of the
infeed connector 42, the interior passage from the bulk loading
hopper 80 all the way into the firing chamber 74 is maintained in
alignment and with a round cross section permitting the free
passage of the round paintballs through the outlet pipe, the infeed
connector and the inlet pipe. In some embodiments the angle between
the firing chamber 74 center line and the inlet pipe 76 may vary
from the approximately 45 degrees shown in FIG. 5 to suit
particular requirements. This angle may be anywhere between 0
degrees, that is a vertical direction, or 90 degrees, that is a
horizontal direction. As an example, in many embodiments an angle
in the range of approximately 30 degrees to approximately 60
degrees provides an angle which satisfies both the need for
offsetting the bulk loading hopper out of the line of sight of the
user of the paintball gun as well as the need to provide a downward
sloping passage to enable the free and expeditious passage of the
paintballs therethrough. The angle of the infeed elbow is chosen in
the illustrated embodiment, as a 45 degree angle which returns the
outlet pipe to a vertical direction to maximize the opportunity for
paintballs to fall through the outlet pipe and the infeed elbow
into the inlet pipe to the firing chamber of the paintball gun.
[0025] Referring now to FIG. 6, there is illustrated a side view of
an alternate embodiment of a paintball gun with a bulk loading
hopper full of paintballs and an integral infeed connector
according to the present disclosure. This integral infeed connector
provides the connecting structure for securely installing the bulk
loading hopper upon the paintball gun and permitting the free
passage of paintballs therethrough during the operation of the
paintball gun. Paintball gun 70 includes a gun barrel 72 and a
firing chamber portion 74 along with an inlet pipe 76. The inlet
pipe 76 joins the firing chamber 74 of the paintball gun 70 at an
angle disposed to the right from the reference point (see FIGS. 4
and 5), along the center line shown as a dashed line through the
gun barrel 72 and firing chamber 74. A bulk loading hopper 86 is
shown filled with paintballs 82 and is equipped with an outlet pipe
section 88 which includes an integral infeed connector 92 having an
annular compression nut 90 installed therearound. This combined
outlet pipe section 88 (also called the infeed connector pipe
section 88) and annular compression nut is referred to hereinbelow
as the integral infeed connector 92 of the present disclosure. The
integral infeed connector 92 has the same external and internal
structural features as described for the lower end of the infeed
elbow 42 of FIGS. 2A and 3. The integral infeed connector 92 of the
bulk loading hopper 86 is installed over the inlet pipe 76 until
the upper end of the inlet pipe 76 is secure against the internal
shoulder 62 of the infeed connector pipe section 88 as shown in
FIG. 2A. Then the compression nut 90 is tightened around the lower
end of the infeed connector 92 to secure the infeed connector 92
and loading hopper 86 upon the inlet pipe 76. Thus, the outlet pipe
section 88 of the hopper 86 is installed over the upper end of the
inlet pipe 76. As described hereinabove, the compression nuts 90
may be tightened by hand. The round cross sections of the outlet
pipe section 88 and the inlet pipe 76 are maintained and a precise
angular adjustment of the outlet pipe and the inlet pipe within the
elbow connector 92 is achieved while tightening the compression
nuts 90.
[0026] Referring now to FIG. 7, there is illustrated an alternate
embodiment of a compression-type connector for joining a paintball
hopper to a paintball gun. In the lower portion of FIG. 7 there is
shown a gun barrel 72 and a firing chamber portion 74 of a
paintball gun similar to that illustrated in FIG. 6. Attached to
the firing chamber portion 74 of the paintball gun is an infeed
tube 100 shown partially cut away along a diameter of the infeed
tube 100 in the plane of the sheet of FIG. 7 to show the internal
structure of the infeed tube 100. The internal structure of the
infeed tube 100 includes an internal bore 102 dimensioned to allow
the free passage of a paintball therethrough. The internal bore 102
increases upwardly, in the upper portion of the infeed tube 100 in
FIG. 7, to a wider diameter 104. The wider diameter 104 and the
internal bore 102 are joined by a tapered bore section 106, the
purpose of which will become clear hereinbelow. The upper end of
the infeed tube 100 includes an opening 108 having the same
diameter as the wider diameter portion 104. Also shown in FIG. 7
within the internal bore of infeed tube 100 is a series of internal
annular threads 110.
[0027] Continuing further with FIG. 7 there is illustrated a
compression fitting 116 configured generally as a hollow-center
screw having a knob portion 118, which knob portion 118 includes a
fluted or knurled outer surface 120. Compression fitting 116
further includes an internal bore shown in the dashed lines 122 for
receiving the outflow tube 114 of the paintball hopper 112
therewithin. The compression fitting 116 further includes a body
124 having a diameter slightly less than the wider diameter 104 of
the infeed tube 100. The body of the compression fitting 116
further includes a tapered portion 126 which corresponds to the
tapered portion 106 of the infeed tube 100. The body 124 of the
compression fitting 116 also includes an opening 128 of
approximately the same diameter as the internal bore 102 of the
infeed tube 100 for the passage of paintballs therethrough. Formed
around the outer surface of the body 124 in the tapered section 126
of the compression fitting 116 is a series of external annular
threads 130 of the same pitch as the internal annular threads 110
of the infeed tube 100. Compression fitting 116 also includes a
plurality of longitudinal slots 134 cut through the body 124 in the
tapered section 126 of the compression fitting 116. These
longitudinal slots, of which there are typically four to eight
slots evenly positioned around the circumference of the body 124 in
the tapered section 126, enable each of the portions of the tapered
section 126 of the compression fitting between the slots to be
slightly bent as the compression fitting 116 is threaded into the
infeed tube 100 wherein the external annular threads 130 engage
with the internal annular threads of the infeed tube 100 to exert a
clapping force upon the outflow tube 114 of the paintball hopper
112 as it is inserted through the compression fitting 116 and into
the infeed tube 100. The compression fitting 116 may be tightened
by hand to clamp the outflow tube 114 within the infeed tube 100
while maintaining alignment along a common centerline (not shown),
respectively passing through outflow tube 114, compression fitting
116 and infeed tube 100, and permitting the free passage of
paintballs therethrough.
[0028] Referring now to FIG. 8A, there is illustrated a rearview of
a paintball gun and possible positions and angular orientations of
alternate embodiments of infeed connectors according to the present
disclosure. Some of the reference numbers appearing in FIG. 8A are
the same as those appearing in FIG. 5 which relate to the same
structures. Other reference numbers representing the same
structures in differing positions are referenced with a reference
number having an alpha suffix to indicate the similarity of the
structure with FIG. 5 though they may be oriented in different
positions. In FIG. 8A, there is illustrated a rearview of a
paintball gun 70 having a firing chamber 74 shown with a vertical
centerline indicated by the designation V.sub.L. Oriented along
this vertical centerline V.sub.L are phantom representations shown
in dashed lines of two positions or orientations of infeed tubes
76. In the uppermost phantom view, infeed tube 76A is shown with
compression nut 54A. In the lower orientation, infeed tube 76B is
shown with compression nut 54B. These two phantom views indicate
two possible orientations of the infeed tubes 76A and B. However,
the circular lines 51 and 53 indicate that the orientation of an
infeed tube 76 may be at any angle with respect to the vertical
centerline V.sub.L and on either side of the paintball gun 70 as
represented by the curved line 51 on the right side and the curved
line 53 on the left side of FIG. 8A.
[0029] Referring now to FIG. 8B, there is illustrated a side view
of an alternate embodiment of a paintball gun 70 and some possible
alternate orientations of infeed connectors in one of many possible
positions relative to the longitudinal centerline C.sub.L according
to the present disclosure. FIG. 8B includes the same firing chamber
74 of the paintball gun 70 as shown in FIG. 8A along with the two
vertically oriented positions of the infeed tube 76A and 76B as
shown in FIG. 8A but from a side view perspective positioned along
a rearward extension 75 of the firing chamber 74 of the paintball
gun 70. Each infeed tube 76A and 76B includes a compression nut
respectively 90A and 90B. The phantom representations of the infeed
tube 76A and 76B in FIG. 8B represent just two possible positions
both angularly as shown in FIG. 8A. Alternatively, infeed tube 76A
or 76B may be positioned at various positions longitudinally along
the centerline of the firing chamber 74 as shown in FIG. 8B. Not
shown in either FIG. 8A or FIG. 8B are the connecting structures
from the paintball hopper which has been previously described. It
will be understood that the operation of the compression fitting
connector of the present disclosure is the same in FIGS. 8A and 8B
as previously described hereinabove.
[0030] It will be appreciated in reference to FIGS. 7, 8A and 8B
that the infeed connectors assemblies of the present disclosure may
be oriented in a variety of positions around the firing chamber 74
of a paintball gun 70. As disclosed hereinabove, when the infeed
tube is positioned above the centerline C.sub.L of the firing
chamber 74 that gravity feed may be advantageously used to
introduce paintballs into the firing chamber 74 from the paintball
hopper. When the infeed tube is oriented or positioned below the
centerline C.sub.L of the firing chamber 74, other methods
requiring some sort of supplemental force to cause the paintballs
to pass through the infeed tubes will of course be required as will
be readily recognized by a person skilled in the art.
[0031] The infeed connector illustrated in FIGS. 2A, 2B, 3, 4, 5,
6, 7 and 8A and 8B may be manufactured of a wide variety of
materials either by molding or machining, such materials including
a wide variety of plastics or metal. The material used and the
process used for manufacture may depend upon individual application
requirements as well as the degree of precision required by the
application or to meet specified cost objectives. Moreover, the
infeed connector of the present disclosure is not limited to use
with a paintball gun and the bulk loading hopper as described, but
may be applied in other applications where it is desired to join
two pipe sections through a straight or curved structure permitting
easy installation and adjustment without hand tools in order to
maintain a nearly perfect round cross section through the infeed
connector and the connections of the pipe sections. The pipe
sections and the infeed connectors of the present disclosure thus
permit the free passage of round objects or other materials through
them.
[0032] Although the preferred embodiment has been described in
detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions
and alterations can be made therein without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended
claims.
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