U.S. patent application number 11/233518 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-22 for multiple cannister supply paintball marker.
Invention is credited to Lester Broersma.
Application Number | 20070062510 11/233518 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37882837 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070062510 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Broersma; Lester |
March 22, 2007 |
Multiple cannister supply paintball marker
Abstract
A paintball marker using a gas combination chamber having
multiple inputs for sealably connecting to multiple gas supply
canisters. Multiple seals and piercing needles are provided to
release the compressed gas from the separate canisters into the
combination chamber. A single release valve is then provided for
launching the paintball marker using the combined gas supply. A
body including an alignment chamber and a screw on back cover is
provided for aligning the canisters in position and then generating
the pressure for sealing and piercing the multiple canisters. The
multiple canister connection provides an increased gas capacity
over known markers while still using the low supply capacity of the
commercially available gas canisters. The simple guided alignment
provided by the marker body and the screw on pressure cap provide
for quick field replacement of the canisters in the rough playing
environment associated with the game of paintball.
Inventors: |
Broersma; Lester; (San
Diego, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KEISLING PIEPER & SCOTT PLC;Bank of America Plaza
Suite 217
1 East Center Street
Fayetteville
AR
72701
US
|
Family ID: |
37882837 |
Appl. No.: |
11/233518 |
Filed: |
September 22, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
124/74 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41B 11/62 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
124/074 |
International
Class: |
F41B 11/00 20060101
F41B011/00 |
Claims
1. A paintball marker apparatus adapted to launch a paintball using
a pressurized gas supplied from a plurality of gas cartridges, each
gas cartridge having a gas containment body, the apparatus
comprising: a plurality of gas inputs, each gas input adapted to
flowably connected to one gas cartridge; and a gas combination
chamber flowably connected to the plurality of gas inputs.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, each gas input comprising: a gas seal;
and a gas flow structure, the gas seal adapted to sealably connect
the gas containment body to the gas flow structure such that the
pressurized gas sealably flows from the gas containment body into
the gas flow structure.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, the gas flow structure further
comprising: a piercing needle, the piercing needle adapted to
puncture the gas containment body.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, the apparatus further comprising: a
cartridge housing defining a multiple cartridge holding area.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, the apparatus further comprising: a
pressure application device, the pressure application device having
a first range of motion adapted to apply sealing pressure to the
gas cartridges.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, the pressure application device also
having a second range of motion adapted to apply piercing pressure
to the gas cartridges.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, the apparatus further comprising: a
cartridge housing defining a first thread; and a cartridge cap
defining a second thread and a multiple cartridge contact area, the
second thread adapted to engage the first thread such that the
multiple cartridge contact area applies pressure to the gas
cartridges.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, the gas combination chamber further
comprising: a pressure release valve including a releasable chamber
seal.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, the pressure release valve further
comprising: a seal biasing spring connected to the releasable
chamber seal, the seal biasing spring adapted to bias the chamber
seal to a sealed position.
10. The apparatus of claim 8, the gas combination chamber defining
an expansion volume.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, the gas combination chamber defining
an expansion volume.
12. A multiple supply marker apparatus adapted to receive and
launch a paintball using a pressurized gas provided in a container,
the apparatus comprising: a gas input means for accepting
pressurized gas from multiple containers and combining the gas to
form a combined gas supply; and a launching means for releasing the
combined gas supply to launch the paintball.
13. The apparatus of claim 1, each gas input means comprising: a
gas sealing means for sealing the container to the gas input
means.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising: a pressure
application means for applying sealing pressure between the gas
sealing means and the gas cartridge.
15. The apparatus of claim 1, each gas input means comprising: a
piercing means for puncturing the container.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising: a pressure
application means for applying piercing pressure between the
piercing means and the container.
17. A method for launching a paintball using pressurized gas from
multiple gas cartridges, the method comprising: providing multiple
inputs for accepting the pressurized gas from each of gas
cartridges; releasing the pressurized gas from the cartridges;
combining at least a portion of the pressurized gas from each of
the gas cartridges to form a combined gas supply; selectively
releasing the combined gas supply to act on the paintball.
18. The method of claim 17, releasing the pressurized gas further
comprising: sealing at least a portion of the multiple gas
cartridges; and then piercing the sealed portion of a plurality of
the multiple gas cartridges to release the pressurized gas.
19. The method of claim 18, piercing further comprising: providing
a piercing needle; and pressing the gas cartridge against the
piercing needle.
20. The method of claim 17 further comprising: providing a gas
expansion chamber; and using a combined volume chamber to provide a
launching volume of gas.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not Applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable.
REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX
[0003] Not Applicable.
RESERVATION OF RIGHTS
[0004] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains
material which is subject to intellectual property rights such as
but not limited to copyright, trademark, and/or trade dress
protection. The owner has no objection to the facsimile
reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent
disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent
files or records but otherwise reserves all rights whatsoever.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0005] 1. Field of the Invention
[0006] The present invention relates to the field of paintball
markers. In particular, the present invention relates specifically
to paintball markers using gas provided by a gas canister. Known
art may be found in U.S. Class 124 Mechanical Guns and Projectors:
Subclass 53 Having Cut-Off, Subclass 63 Provided by Movement of
User-Actuated, Projector-Mounted Pressure Member, Subclass 73 By
Valve Means; Class 141 Fluent Material Handling, with Receiver or
Receiver Coacting Means: Subclass 290 With Flue or Vent Externally
Returning to Supply as well as in other classes and subclasses.
[0007] 2. Description of the Known Art
[0008] As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, gas
cartridges have been used to supply gas to paintball markers.
Patents and Applications disclosing information regarding various
canister or marker configurations include U.S. Patent Publication
No. 2003/0131834, issued to Rice on Jul. 17, 2003; U.S. Patent
Publication No. 2003/0178018, issued to Cherry on Sep. 25, 2003;
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004/0144012, issued to Adams on Jul.
29, 2004; U.S. Pat. No. 1,743,576, issued to Smith on Jul. 14,
1927; U.S. Pat. No. 3,494,344, issued to Vadas on Feb. 10, 1970;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,362,145, issued to Stelcher on Dec. 7, 1982; U.S.
Pat. No. 4,819,609, issued to Tippmann on Apr. 11, 1989; U.S. Pat.
No. 5,634,456, issued to Perrone on Jun. 3, 1997; U.S. Pat. No.
5,839,422, issued to Ferris on Nov. 24, 1998; and U.S. Pat. No.
6,494,194, issued to Shipachev on Dec. 17, 2002. Each of these
patents and publications are hereby expressly incorporated by
reference in their entirety.
[0009] This prior art shows the desire to use a gas cartridge
because a filled cartridge may be shipped within the department of
transportation guidelines. However, the prior art fails to teach
the limitations imposed by these cartridges and how to overcome
these limitations. Thus, it may be seen that these prior art
patents are very limited in their teaching and utilization, and an
improved marker is needed to overcome these limitations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention is directed to an improved paintball
marker having an increased gas supply through a sealing and
piercing connection with multiple gas canisters. In accordance with
one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a paintball
marker is provided using a pressurized gas supplied from a
plurality of gas cartridges. Each of the gas cartridges has a gas
containment body that needs to be pierced to release the
pressurized gas. The inventive aspect of the marker uses a
plurality of gas inputs to connect to multiple gas cartridges. The
marker uses a unique construction such that each of the multiple
gas inputs is sealably connectable to one gas cartridge and then a
piercing needle is used to puncture the sealed gas cartridge. The
gas is then directed by the needle and the input to a common
chamber. In this manner, the gas inputs are fluidly connected to a
gas combination chamber. This combined gas flow is then used to
launch paintballs. As noted by this invention, one inventive aspect
of the invention is provided by a pressure application device which
applies the sealing pressure to the gas cartridges and then applies
the piercing pressure to the gas cartridges.
[0011] A method is also taught that uses the elements of providing
multiple inputs for accepting the pressurized gas from each of gas
cartridges; releasing the pressurized gas from the cartridges;
combining at least a portion of the pressurized gas from each of
the gas cartridges to form a combined gas supply; and selectively
releasing the combined gas supply to act on the paintball. Other
elements that may be included in this method include sealing at
least a portion of the multiple gas cartridges and then piercing
the sealed portion of a plurality of the multiple gas cartridges to
release the pressurized gas; providing a piercing needle and
pressing the gas cartridge against the piercing needle; or
providing a gas expansion chamber and using a combined volume
chamber to provide a launching volume of gas.
[0012] One object of the present invention is to provide an
increased gas supply by combining multiple cartridge supplies while
still providing a single valve assembly that is easily and
inexpensively controlled.
[0013] A further object of the invention is a method for sealing
and piercing multiple cartridges without prematurely releasing gas
from one of the canisters.
[0014] These and other objects and advantages of the present
invention, along with features of novelty appurtenant thereto, will
appear or become apparent by reviewing the following detailed
description of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] In the following drawings, which form a part of the
specification and which are to be construed in conjunction
therewith, and in which like reference numerals have been employed
throughout wherever possible to indicate like parts in the various
views:
[0016] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a paintball marker.
[0017] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the paintball marker of FIG.
1.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the multiple cartridges and
combination chamber arrangement before connection.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the connected arrangement for
the multiple cartridges and combination chamber.
[0020] FIG. 5 is a cut away schematic view of the paintball marker
of FIG. 1.
[0021] FIG. 6 is a an exploded view of the combination chamber area
of FIG. 5.
[0022] FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the combination chamber.
[0023] FIG. 8 is a top view of the combination chamber.
[0024] FIG. 9 is a front view of the combination chamber.
[0025] FIG. 10 is a right side view of the combination chamber.
[0026] FIG. 11 is a back view of the combination chamber.
[0027] FIG. 12 is a left side view of the combination chamber.
[0028] FIG. 13 is a bottom view of the combination chamber.
[0029] FIG. 14 is a cutaway view of the combination chamber of FIG.
11 along line B-B.
[0030] FIG. 15 is a cutaway view of the combination chamber of FIG.
14 along line A-A.
[0031] FIG. 16 is an expanded view of the gas input on the
combination chamber of FIG. 14 with the cartridge ready to be
inserted.
[0032] FIG. 17 is an expanded view of the gas input on the
combination chamber of FIG. 14 with the cartridge contacting the
seal.
[0033] FIG. 18 is an expanded view of the gas input on the
combination chamber of FIG. 14 with the cartridge compressing the
seal.
[0034] FIG. 19 is an expanded view of the gas input on the
combination chamber of FIG. 14 with the needle piercing the
cartridge.
[0035] FIG. 20 is a flow chart of the preferred method of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0036] As shown in FIGS. 1 through 19 of the drawings, one
exemplary embodiment of the present invention is generally shown as
a multiple canister supply paintball marker 100 for using
pressurized gas 22 for launching a paintball 10. The gas is
provided in commercially known and available gas cartridges 20
shown in FIGS. 2 through 6 that hold a pressurized gas 22 within a
gas containment body 24. The gas cartridges 20 are also known as
gas containers 20. The pressurized gas 22 may be seen in its
initial position within the gas container 20 through the cutaway
section of the gas containment body 24 shown in FIG. 3. The gas
containment body includes a release neck 26, an elongated central
compartment 28 and a domed end 30. The gas cartridges 20 are
designed so that they will release the pressurized gas 22 upon
puncturing of the release neck 26. The release neck 26 is flowably
connected to the elongated central compartment 28 which is capped
by the domed end 30 of the cartridge 20.
[0037] FIG. 1 shows an external overview of the multiple canister
paintball marker 100 having a marker body 102. Extending downward
from the marker body 102 is the grip 110 which houses the trigger
112. The safety 124 interacts with the trigger 112 to selectively
lock the marker 100 in an inoperable condition. On top of the
marker body 102 is mounted the hopper 116 which is selectively
attached and released by the hopper release button 118. Extending
from the front of the marker body 102 is the barrel 120 and the
cocking pump handle 122. The back of the marker body 102 is covered
by the piercing screw cartridge cap 172. This is the area where the
multiple gas cartridges 20 are mounted in, sealed to, and pierced
by the marker 100.
[0038] FIG. 2 of the drawings shows an exploded view of the
multiple cartridge apparatus 100. This figure shows how the
cartridges 20 are mounted into a fixed position in the marker body
102 such that the piercing cap 172 can apply the sealing pressure
and the piercing pressure to release the gas into the marker 100.
The marker body 102 is made up of a left housing 104 and a right
housing 106 which are connected together by screws 108. As shown in
FIG. 2, the grip 110 is molded as an integral part of the marker
body 102. The trigger 112 pivots within a cavity in the housings
104, 106 and is biased by a trigger spring 114 to engage the hammer
assembly 130. The hopper 116 slides into the housings 104, 106 and
is releasably held in place by the hopper release button 118. The
back of the hopper release button 118 is designed with a pivot axis
and the front of the hopper release button 118 slides in the
housings 104, 106 such that the release button 118 downwardly
flexes to provide the necessary movement for releasing the hopper
116. The barrel 120 is molded into the left housing 104 to provide
a smooth barrel without a molding separation line. The cocking pump
handle 122 slides over the barrel and uses an extended arm 123 to
connect with the bolt assembly 132 for cocking the marker 100. The
safety 124 slides sideways in the housings 104, 106 to selectively
block the movement of the trigger 112.
[0039] The launching device 126 includes a hammer compression
spring 128 mounted between a hammer assembly 130 and a bolt
assembly 132. In the basic operation of the marker 100, the
extension 123 of the cocking pump handle 122 engages the bolt
assembly 132 and is pushed back until the hammer release 131
engages the bolt assembly 132. This rearward movement of the bolt
assembly 132 also allows a paintball (not shown in this Figure) to
drop from the hopper into the breech area. The coking pump handle
122 is then moved forward which moves the paintball 10 into the
firing position and carries the compressed spring 128 and hammer
assembly 130 forward with the cocking pump handle 122. The firing
position of the paintball is shown in FIG. 5. The hammer release
131 then engages the trigger 112 and the marker 100 is ready to
fire. Pulling the trigger 112 releases the hammer assembly 130 such
that the energy of the compressed spring 128 moves the hammer
backwards to contact and open the pressure release valve 146 in the
valve body assembly 134 to allow the pressurized gas to launch the
paintball 10.
[0040] As shown in FIGS. 3 through 19, the valve body assembly 134
provides a unique combination of elements to allow for multiple
cartridges 20 to be used to supply the pressurized gas 22. While
any number of multiple inputs could be utilized, the preferred
embodiment uses two gas inputs 136. As shown in the sealing and
then piercing of FIGS. 16 through 19, each gas input 136 includes a
gas seal 138 mounted to seal the cartridge to the gas flow
structure 140. The gas seal 138 is a compression seal that is
adapted to seal the gas flow structure 140 to the gas cartridge 20
before puncturing of the cartridge 20 to release the pressurized
gas 22. The cartridge 20 is shown in FIG. 16 before insertion into
the gas input 136. FIG. 17 then shows the cartridge 20 contacting
the seal 138, and FIG. 18 shows the cartridge 20 compacting the
seal 138 to seal the cartridge to the gas input 136. FIG. 19 then
shows the needle 142 piercing the cartridge 20 to release the gas
22. The present invention uses a hollow piercing needle 142 to
puncture the cartridge 20 and the hollow center body of the needle
provides the gas flow structure 140. The released pressurized gas
22 is guided to the gas combination chamber 144. The gas
combination chamber 144 and its expansion volume 156 are shown in
FIG. 14. Because the pressurized gas may be in liquid form, the gas
combination chamber 144 is designed not only to mix the multiple
gas flows together to form a combined gas supply 158, but also
provides an expansion volume 156 to allow for the gas to expand to
become a more viscous gaseous flow.
[0041] A releasable chamber seal 154 is formed in one end of the
chamber 144 that allows for selectively releasing the combined gas
supply 158. This chamber seal 154 is formed as a pressure release
valve 146 that is mounted to the hammer end of the gas combination
chamber 144. The pressure release valve 146 has a valve seal 148
that is biased into a sealed position by the seal biasing spring
150. In this manner, the hammer may impact the seal driving rod 149
to move the valve seal backwards to a released position 151 to
release the combined pressurized gas supply 158. The seal biasing
spring 150 then returns the valve seal 148 to the sealed
position.
[0042] An important aspect of the present embodiment is the
alignment and pressure sealing of all of the canisters 20 into one
of the inputs 136 before piercing of any of the canisters 20. As
shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 of the drawings, the present invention
utilizes a cartridge housing 160 with ribs 161 guiding the
canisters 20 into position within a multiple cartridge holding area
162. A pressure application device 164 is then used with a first
range of motion 166 to seal the canisters 20 and a second range of
motion 168 for piercing the canisters. The preferred embodiment
uses a first thread 170 on a piercing screw cartridge cap 172 that
engages a second thread 174 on the body 110 of the marker 100. The
piercing cap 172 has a circular interior area forming a multiple
cartridge contact area 176 which slideably engages the domed end 30
of the cartridges 20 to apply the necessary compression pressure to
first seal and then pierce the cartridges 20. Thus, the cartridges
20 are put into the housing 160 and then the piercing cap 172 is
screwed onto the marker body 110. As the cap is tightened, the
length of the housing 160 is reduced and both of the cartridges 20
are equally forced into the gas inputs 136. This provides for the
sealing on both cartridges and the piercing of both cartridges to
occur substantially simultaneously. This provides the necessary
seal and the piercing function to avoid the use individual gas
valves in each of the gas inputs. It is envisioned that the present
invention could be embodied with these multiple valves, but the
unique design of the preferred embodiment shown here provides a
less expensive alternative.
[0043] From the embodiment of the present invention, it may be seen
that a multiple cartridge launching method 180 is taught as shown
by the flow chart of FIG. 20. The basic method includes the
elements of providing inputs 182 for connecting to the multiple
canisters and then releasing gas 184 from the canisters. The method
continues by combining the gases 194 from the multiple cartridges
and then selectively releasing the gases 200 to launch the
paintball. The element of releasing the gas 184 from the cartridges
may include the elements of sealing the cartridge 186 into the
inputs and then piercing the cartridges 188. Piercing the
cartridges 188 may include the elements of providing a needle 190
and then pressing the needle 192 against the cartridge to puncture
the cartridge. The method 180 may also include the elements of
providing an expansion chamber 196 and using the volume chamber 198
to provide the necessary initial quantity of gas to ensure the
appropriate launching speed for the paintball. The volume chamber
198 should be sufficiently sized in accordance with the release
valve as is well known in the art of single tank supplies such that
the launching speed of the paintball is within the applicable ASTM
standards.
[0044] Reference numerals used throughout the detailed description
and the drawings correspond to the following elements: [0045] a
paintball 10 [0046] gas cartridge/gas container 20 [0047] a
pressurized gas 22 [0048] a gas containment body 24 [0049] release
neck 26 [0050] elongated central compartment 28 [0051] domed end 30
[0052] a paintball marker apparatus 100 [0053] marker body 102
[0054] left housing 104 [0055] right housing 106 [0056] screw 108
[0057] grip 110 [0058] trigger 112 [0059] trigger spring 114 [0060]
hopper 116 [0061] hopper release button 118 [0062] barrel 120
[0063] cocking pump handle 122 [0064] an extended arm 123 [0065]
safety 124 [0066] a launching device 126 [0067] hammer compression
spring 128 [0068] hammer assembly 130 [0069] bolt assembly 132
[0070] valve body assembly 134 [0071] gas inputs 136 [0072] a gas
seal 138 [0073] a gas flow structure 140 [0074] a piercing needle
142 [0075] a gas combination chamber 144 [0076] a pressure release
valve 146 [0077] a valve seal 148 [0078] seal driving rod 149
[0079] a seal biasing spring 150 [0080] a release position 151
[0081] a releasable chamber seal 154 [0082] an expansion volume 156
[0083] a combined gas supply 158 [0084] a cartridge housing 160
[0085] ribs 161 [0086] a multiple cartridge holding area 162 [0087]
a pressure application device 164 [0088] a first range of motion
166 [0089] a second range of motion 168 [0090] a first thread 170
[0091] a piercing screw cartridge cap 172 [0092] a second thread
174 [0093] a multiple cartridge contact area 176 [0094] a multiple
cartridge launching method 180 [0095] Providing inputs 182 [0096]
Releasing gas 184 [0097] Sealing cartridge 186 [0098] Piercing
cartridge 188 [0099] providing needle 190 [0100] pressing needle
192 [0101] combining gases 194 [0102] providing expansion chamber
196 [0103] using volume chamber 198 [0104] selectively releasing
gases 200
[0105] From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention well
adapted to obtain all the ends and objects herein set forth,
together with other advantages which are inherent to the structure.
It will also be understood that certain features and
subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without
reference to other features and subcombinations. This is
contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims. Many
possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing
from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is to be understood that all
matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to
be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
* * * * *