U.S. patent application number 11/376712 was filed with the patent office on 2007-09-20 for pneumatically actuated clip for a paintball gun.
Invention is credited to William Gardner, Danial Jones.
Application Number | 20070215137 11/376712 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38510210 |
Filed Date | 2007-09-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070215137 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jones; Danial ; et
al. |
September 20, 2007 |
Pneumatically actuated clip for a paintball gun
Abstract
A pneumatically actuated clip for a paintball gun may include a
driving member such as a soft sealing ball or a flexible drive
piston that conforms in shape and size to a cross-sectional area of
a passageway containing a supply of paintballs. The passageway
preferably provides a paintball route (or pathway) inside the clip
that supplies the paintballs to the paintball gun. In one
embodiment, the driving member creates a pneumatic chamber (sealing
as it moves) in the area behind the driving member. Pressurized gas
supplied to the pneumatic chamber preferably drives the driving
member and the supply of paintballs forward along the pathway. The
pressurized gas that drives the driving member can, for instance,
be controlled by means of an integrated regulator or can be a timed
pulse of air supplied through a solenoid valve as controlled by a
signal from a control board. The signal could be generated using a
breech sensor to determine when a paintball has been loaded into
the breech to determine when to actuate the supply solenoid.
Alternatively, a pressure switch can control the supply of
pressurized gas through a solenoid. Other features and embodiments
are also disclosed.
Inventors: |
Jones; Danial; (Loyalhanna,
PA) ; Gardner; William; (Loyalhann, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MARGER JOHNSON & MCCOLLOM, P.C.
210 SW MORRISON STREET, SUITE 400
PORTLAND
OR
97204
US
|
Family ID: |
38510210 |
Appl. No.: |
11/376712 |
Filed: |
March 14, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
124/82 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41B 11/56 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
124/82 |
International
Class: |
F41B 9/00 20060101
F41B009/00 |
Claims
1. A pneumatically-operated clip for a paintball gun, comprising: a
housing; a passageway arranged in the housing, said passageway
configured to house a quantity of paintballs; an opening located at
a first end of the passageway, said opening arranged in
communication with a breech of a paintball gun during operation to
supply the quantity of paintballs to the paintball gun; and a
pneumatic chamber arranged at a second end of the passageway, said
pneumatic chamber configured to receive a quantity of compressed
gas during operation to urge the quantity of paintballs toward the
opening.
2. A clip according to claim 1, further comprising: a driving
member arranged between the second end of the passageway and the
supply of paintballs, wherein said pneumatic chamber is arranged
between the driving member and the second end of the passageway,
and wherein the driving member supplies a force to the quantity of
paintballs to urge the paintballs toward the first end of the
passageway in response to a gas pressure in the pneumatic
chamber.
3. A clip according to claim 2, wherein the driving member
comprises a driving ball or piston that occupies substantially all
of a cross-sectional area of the passageway to substantially seal
the pneumatic chamber from the remainder of the passageway.
4. A clip according to claim 1, further comprising: a pneumatic
regulator arranged in communication with the pneumatic chamber to
supply compressed gas to the pneumatic chamber at a substantially
constant pressure.
5. A clip according to claim 1, further comprising: a pressure
switch arranged to detect a pressure in the pneumatic chamber and
configured to relay a signal to direct a solenoid valve to supply
compressed gas to the pneumatic chamber when the pressure drops
below a desired pressure.
6. A clip according to claim 1, wherein the passageway is
configured in a substantially U-like shape between the first and
second ends.
7. A clip according to claim 1, further comprising: a solenoid
valve configured to selectively supply a quantity of compressed gas
to the pneumatic chamber to drive the quantity of paintballs toward
the first end.
8. A clip according to claim 7, wherein the solenoid valve supplies
compressed gas to the pneumatic chamber in response to a signal
from a control board of the paintball gun.
9. A clip according to claim 8, wherein the paintball gun control
board generates the signal in response to a firing operation of the
paintball gun.
10. A clip according to claim 8, wherein the paintball gun
comprises a breech sensor and wherein the control board generates
the signal based on a signal from the breech sensor.
11. A pneumatically-operated clip for a paintball gun, comprising:
a housing configured to attach to a paintball gun; a passageway
arranged in the housing, said passageway configured to house a
quantity of paintballs; and a pneumatic chamber arranged in
communication with the passageway, said pneumatic chamber
configured to receive a quantity of compressed gas during operation
to urge the quantity of paintballs forward along the
passageway.
12. A clip according to claim 11, wherein said pneumatic chamber is
arranged in the passageway and receives the quantity of compressed
gas through a pneumatic fitting located at a first end of the
passageway.
13. A clip according to claim 12, wherein said passageway comprises
an opening at a second end of the passageway, said opening
configured to supply the quantity of paintballs to a receiving
chamber of the paintball gun during operation.
14. A clip according to claim 13, further comprising a driving
member arranged in the passageway between the pneumatic chamber and
the quantity of paintballs, said driving member configured to push
the quantity of paintballs along the passageway toward the
opening.
15. A clip according to claim 14, wherein said driving member
substantially seals the passageway and wherein a pressure applied
by the quantity of compressed gas drives the driving member forward
along the passageway.
16. A method of operating a clip for a paintball gun, comprising:
supplying compressed gas to a passageway in a clip containing a
supply of paintballs to drive the paintballs forward along the
passageway.
17. A method according to claim 16, wherein supplying compressed
gas comprises selectively supplying a quantity of compressed gas to
the passageway through a solenoid valve in response to a control
signal.
18. A method according to claim 17, further comprising: generating
the control signal in response to a sensor signal from a paintball
gun.
19. A method according to claim 16, wherein supplying compressed
gas comprises supplying the compressed gas to the passageway at a
constant pressure.
20. A method according to claim 16, wherein supplying compressed
gas comprises selectively supplying the compressed gas to the
passageway in response to a signal from a pressure switch in the
passageway.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This application relates generally to paintball guns (or
markers) and their feeding systems. More particularly, the
inventive principles disclosed in this application primarily relate
to clips or magazines for supplying a quantity of paintballs to a
paintball gun.
[0002] Conventional paintball guns typically use bulk loaders
containing hundreds of rounds of ammunition to provide the supply
of paintballs to the paintball gun. While acceptable for many
players, scenario players frequently desire paintball guns bearing
a closer resemblance to traditional firearms. In addition, military
and police force training groups also typically desire paintball
guns that bear a closer resemblance to firearms they are likely use
in the course of their duties. Accordingly, it is desirable to have
a paintball gun that uses a clip or magazine, as opposed to a bulk
loader, to provide the supply of paintballs to the marker.
[0003] It is known for pneumatic paintball guns, including
semi-automatic and automatic firing compressed gas paintball guns,
to use clips or magazines for supplying the paintballs to the gun.
For instance, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,470,872 and 6,892,718, a
removable magazine stores both projectiles and propellant. The
magazine in those designs is small enough to fit into a handle of a
paintball gun pistol. In those designs, a spring advances a pad
upward along the magazine to urge the projectiles toward and into a
projectile chamber. An improved mechanism for driving or advancing
the projectiles in a clip is desirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] According to one embodiment incorporating principles of the
present invention, a pneumatically actuated clip for a paintball
gun preferably comprises a clip or magazine housing. A pathway is
preferably formed in the housing for containing a store of
projectiles, for instance in single-file. The pathway can be formed
as a curved, U-like shape with no abrupt edges. A pneumatic fitting
is preferably arranged at one end of the pathway with an opening
being formed at the opposite end of the pathway. A driving member
such as a ball formed of foam, rubber, or other suitable material
can be arranged in the pathway proximal to the pneumatic fitting
behind the store of projectiles. Alternatively, one of the
paintballs or other projectiles can provide the driving member. The
driving member may have a cross-sectional area slightly larger than
the cross-sectional area of the pathway to provide a sealing
function.
[0005] In operation, when the clip is attached to a properly
configured paintball gun, a supply of compressed gas is preferably
provided to the pneumatic fitting. The supply of compressed gas
travels through the pneumatic fitting into a pneumatic chamber. The
pneumatic chamber communicates the compressed gas to a rearward
surface of the driving member to urge it forward along the pathway.
The driving member thereby, in turn, supplies a driving force to
the store of projectiles to urge them forward along the pathway and
out the opening. During operation, the pathway opening is
preferably arranged in communication with a firing chamber or
breech of a paintball gun.
[0006] The supply of compressed gas can, for instance, be constant
or selective. A constant supply of compressed gas can be provided,
for instance, through a regulator integrated into the clip. The
integrated regulator can, for instance, receive a constant supply
of compressed gas from a paintball gun compressed gas source or
from a separate compressed gas source.
[0007] In another embodiment, a pressure switch can be directly
connected to the incoming air through a solenoid. The pressure
switch could, for example, be used to determine a pressure in the
pressurized area (or pneumatic chamber) located behind the driving
member. If the pressure in the pneumatic chamber drops, or if
additional pressure is desired, a signal from the switch can be
used to direct a solenoid valve to supply additional compressed gas
to the chamber. In these embodiments, the pathway is preferably
airtight to prevent the leakage of compressed gas from the
pneumatic chamber.
[0008] In an alternate embodiment, a selective, timed pulse of
compressed gas can be supplied through a solenoid valve in response
to a signal from a paintball gun control board or a separate clip
control board. This timed pulse of compressed gas can be triggered,
for instance, by a firing operation of the paintball gun in order
to direct the pulse of compressed gas to urge the paintballs
forward during a subsequent loading operation. The solenoid valve
may, for example, receive compressed gas from the paintball gun
compressed gas source or a separate compressed gas source
associated with the clip.
[0009] In a still further embodiment, the pressurized gas supply to
the clip can be controlled using one or more breech sensors or
"eyes" arranged in the firing chamber (or breech) of the paintball
gun. The breech sensor(s) can be used to detect the presence and/or
absence of a paintball in the firing chamber and send a
corresponding signal to a control board. In one embodiment, the
supply of compressed gas could be provided to the pneumatic fitting
until the sensor(s) detect the presence of a paintball in the
firing chamber (or for as long as an absence of a paintball is
detected). Once a paintball is determined to be in the firing
chamber, another signal (or absence of a signal) could then cause
the flow of compressed gas into the pneumatic fitting to stop until
after the gun is fired. When the sensor(s) again detect the absence
of a paintball gun in the firing chamber, a signal (or absence of a
signal) can be sent to again initiate the flow of compressed gas to
the pneumatic fitting until another paintball is arranged in the
firing chamber.
[0010] A method for operating a pneumatically-actuated clip for a
paintball gun is also provided. Specifically, according to a
preferred embodiment, a clip is preferably connected to the
paintball gun such that a pneumatic fitting on the clip mates with
a pneumatic receiver on the paintball gun in a sealing
relationship. Compressed gas is preferably supplied to the
pneumatic fitting on the clip through the pneumatic receiver on the
paintball gun. A driving member can be arranged in the clip to
providing a driving force to a supply of paintballs arranged in a
pathway. The supply of compressed gas is preferably provided to a
rearward surface area of the driving member to urge it forward
along a pathway. As the driving member is driven forward, it pushes
the supply of paintballs arranged in the pathway forward towards an
opening in the pathway.
[0011] The compressed gas supply can be constant or selective. In
one embodiment, for example, compressed gas is constantly supplied
to the pneumatic fitting on the clip to provide a constant force on
the driving member. This constant force urges the driving member
and the supply of paintballs along the passageway toward the
opening and into the breech as the firing chamber empties. Constant
pressure can be supplied, for instance, using a regulator
integrated with the clip, using a regulated supply of compressed
gas from the paintball gun, or using a pressure switch and
solenoid.
[0012] Alternatively, compressed gas can be selectively supplied to
the driving member. In one embodiment, for instance, a signal from
a control board directs a solenoid to release a timed pulse of
compressed gas into contact with the driving member. The signal can
be generated in response to a firing operation of the paintball gun
such that during a subsequent loading operation the timed pulse of
compressed gas can force a paintball into the emptied firing
chamber.
[0013] In another embodiment, the flow of compressed gas into the
clip can be controlled based on detecting the presence or absence
of a paintball in the firing chamber of the paintball gun. In this
embodiment, the presence or absence of a paintball gun in the
firing chamber is detected. If the firing chamber is empty,
compressed gas can be supplied to the clip to move the drive ball
or other driving member forward until a paintball is loaded into
the firing chamber. The supply of compressed gas to the clip can
then be terminated until the firing chamber is again empty.
[0014] Accordingly, the principles of the present invention help,
among other things, to prevent over-pressurized ball push, thereby
resulting in more reliable ball feeding without a bulk loader to
meet the desires of the scenario player. Other variations on and
combinations of the herein-described embodiments are within the
scope of this invention and will be readily apparent to those
skilled in the art from the following description explaining the
inventive principles herein in more detail.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of
the present invention will become more readily apparent from the
following detailed description of various preferred embodiments,
proceeding with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic perspective view of a
pneumatically actuated clip for a paintball gun according to a
preferred embodiment of the invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a somewhat schematic cross-sectional side view of
the pneumatically actuated clip of FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a somewhat schematic cross-sectional side view of
the pneumatically actuated clip for a paintball gun of FIG. 1 shown
attached to a paintball gun according to another aspect of the
present invention; and
[0019] FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram representing the
components of a paintball gun having the pneumatically actuated
clip of FIG. 1 attached thereto, further illustrating principles of
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] Various aspects and embodiments of the present invention
will now be described in greater detail with reference to the
accompany drawings. Beginning with FIGS. 1 and 2, these figures
provide a perspective and cross-sectional side view, respectively
of a clip 100 for a paintball gun according to a preferred
embodiment of the present invention. Referring first to FIG. 1, a
pneumatically actuated clip 100 preferably comprises a housing 110.
The housing 110 preferably comprises an opening 112 for supplying
paintballs to a paintball gun 200 (see FIG. 4) and a pneumatic
fitting 114 for connecting to a source of pressurized gas 260 (see
FIG. 4). The pneumatic fitting 114 and opening 112 are preferably
arranged in a top portion of the clip 100. If desired, one or more
sidewalls 111 (or portions of the sidewalls 111) of the clip 100
can be made of a transparent or translucent material to permit a
user to visually identify when the supply of paintballs 120 in the
clip 100 is running low.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the pneumatically
actuated clip 100 of FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 2, a pathway 116 is
preferably arranged in the housing 100 between the pneumatic
fitting 114 and the opening 112. The pathway 116 is preferably a
hollow tunnel or tubular member having a circular cross-section
formed in a curved U-like (or other) shape without any abrupt edges
or turns to enable the paintballs to transition smoothly through
the pathway 116.
[0022] The pathway 116 can either be integrally formed in the
housing 110 or it can be formed of a separate, tubular member
arranged to fit within the housing 110. The housing 110 can, for
instance, have an opening in the top, bottom, or side to receive
the tubed pathway, or can be formed of separate halves that
snap-lock or otherwise connect together to house the pathway 116.
In one embodiment, the pathway 116 can be formed of a flexible,
tubular member that can be straightened to receive a supply of
paintballs 120 and then bent and placed within the housing 110. The
tubular member could, for instance, be formed of a flexible rubber
or plastic tube that is sufficiently flexible to conform to the
shape and size of the paintballs being supplied therethrough. In
this case, the flexible tube can have a cross-sectional diameter
slightly smaller than the paintballs and a paintball can act as the
driving member. The tubular pathway 116 can be airtight to prevent
compressed gas from leaking therefrom.
[0023] In another embodiment, the tubular member or tunnel can be
more rigid. In this case, the cross-sectional diameter of the
pathway 116 is preferably just slightly larger than the diameter of
the paintballs arranged therein. Conventional paintballs are
substantially spherical and are generally approximately 0.68'' in
diameter, although the principles of the present invention are not
limited to supplying any particular size or shape projectile and
can also be used for projectiles other than paintballs. A driving
member 118, such as a drive piston or sealing ball, is preferably
provided proximal to the pneumatic fitting 114 so as to be behind a
supply of paintballs 120. The driving member 118 is preferably
formed of foam, soft rubber, or other suitable material that
conforms to the cross-sectional area of the pathway as it travels
along the pathway while providing a seal-like function.
[0024] In a most preferred embodiment, the driving member 118 is a
soft, flexible foam or rubber ball with a diameter just slightly
larger than the cross-sectional diameter of the pathway 116. One or
more detents (not shown) can be used to provide sufficient
resistance to keep the paintballs 120 from inadvertently exiting
the pathway 116 through the opening 112 and to keep the driving
member 118 from exiting the pathway 116. The tubular pathway 116
can also be formed of translucent or transparent material to permit
viewing of the paintball supply 120 arranged therein.
[0025] Referring now to FIG. 3, a paintball gun 200 is preferably
configured to receive the pneumatically actuated clip 100 into a
clip port 210. A pneumatic connection port (not shown) is
preferably arranged in the clip port 210 to connect to the
pneumatic fitting 114 of the clip 100. The pneumatic connection
port may include a sealing device to provide an airtight connection
between the connection port and the pneumatic fitting 114 of a clip
100 arranged in the clip port 210. A paintball feed receptacle 230
is preferably arranged in the paintball gun 200 to receive the
supply of paintballs 120 from the pneumatic clip 100. The feed
receptacle 230 can, for example, be a tube or simply an opening
arranged in the paintball gun 200 in communication with the opening
112 of the clip 100.
[0026] FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a paintball gun 200
and clip 100 illustrating additional principles and aspects of the
present invention. Referring additionally to FIG. 4, the paintball
gun 200 can further include an electronic control board 250 and one
or more breech sensors 252 (such as light sensing "eyes," pressure
sensors, or other sensors) for detecting the presence or absence of
a paintball in the breech area (or firing chamber) 212 of the
paintball gun 200. The paintball gun 200 further preferably
includes a regulator 260 configured to receive and regulate a
supply of compressed gas from a compressed gas source 270. A
solenoid valve 240 may also be provided to selectively communicate
compressed gas between the regulator 260 and the pneumatic fitting
114 of the clip 100. The solenoid valve can, for instance, be a
two-way solenoid valve. Alternatively, the pneumatic fitting 114
can receive a constant supply of compressed gas directly from the
regulator 260 or from the compressed gas source 270. The pneumatic
clip 100 can also be provided with an integrated regulator (not
shown) independent of, or receiving compressed gas from, the
paintball gun regulator 260.
[0027] The operation of the pneumatically actuated clip 100,
according to various alternative embodiments thereof, will now be
described more fully with reference to FIGS. 1-4. A supply of
paintballs 120 is preferably loaded into the clip 100 through the
opening 112. The driving member 118 is arranged between the supply
of paintballs 120 and the pneumatic fitting 114. The clip 100 is
then arranged in the clip port 210 of the paintball gun 200. A
mechanical connection, such as a clamp, snap lock, or other
connection, is preferably used to hold the clip 100 in place in the
paintball gun 200.
[0028] When the clip 100 is mounted in the clip port 210 of the
paintball gun 200, the opening 112 is preferably arranged in
communication with the feed receptacle 230 for loading paintballs
into a firing chamber (or breech) 212 of the paintball gun 200. The
pneumatic fitting 114 is preferably engaged by a connection port
(not shown) in the clip port 210 in a sealing relationship. Once
properly connected, compressed gas supplied to the driving member
118 through the pneumatic fitting 114 provides a driving force for
pushing the supply of paintballs 120 through the pathway 116, out
the opening 112, and into the feed receptacle 230 of the paintball
gun 200.
[0029] The supply of compressed gas to the driving member 118 can
be constant so as to provide a constant force urging the supply of
paintballs towards the firing chamber of the paintball gun. In one
embodiment, for instance, a regulator (not shown) can be integrated
into the pneumatic clip 100 and receive a supply of compressed gas
directly from a compressed gas source 270. Alternatively, a
regulated supply of compressed gas can be supplied to the clip 100
through a regulator 260 the paintball gun 200. Where a constant
supply of compressed gas is provided, the pathway 116 in the
housing 110 is preferably airtight such that compressed gas cannot
escape from behind the driving member 118. The supply of paintballs
120 is thereby preferably urged forward into the paintball gun 200,
with a new paintball 120 entering the firing chamber after the
previous one is expelled, until the last paintball 120 is emptied
from the clip 100. The clip 100 can thereafter be removed and a new
clip 100 loaded into the paintball gun 200.
[0030] In an alternate embodiment, as illustrated schematically in
FIG. 4, the supply of compressed gas to the driving member 118 can
be selective. For instance, an electrical signal from a control
board 250 of the paintball gun 200 or a control board (not shown)
of the pneumatic clip 100 could direct a solenoid valve 240 to
supply a timed burst of compressed gas to the driving member 118
through the pneumatic fitting 114. The timed burst can be
configured to be applied in response to a firing operation of the
paintball gun 200 such that it will drive a paintball 120 into a
vacated firing chamber (or breech) 212 during a loading operation
immediately following the firing operation.
[0031] In yet another embodiment, one or more breech sensor(s) or
"eyes" 252 could be used to detect the presence or absence of a
paintball 120 in the breech 212. A signal could be sent to a
solenoid valve 240 to direct compressed gas into the pneumatic clip
100 through the pneumatic fitting 114 until the presence of a
paintball 120 is detected in the breech or firing chamber 212 of
the paintball gun 200. When a paintball 120 is detected in the
firing chamber 212, the solenoid valve 240 could be directed to
cease supplying compressed gas to the pneumatic clip 100. When
timed bursts of compressed gas are used, the pathway 116 does not
need to be airtight, but may be airtight, if desired.
[0032] In a still further embodiment, a pressure switch (not shown)
could be used to direct the supply of compressed gas to the driving
member 118. The pressure switch could, for instance, be used to
determine a gas pressure in the chamber behind the driving member
118 and to send a pressure signal to the control board 250. The
control board could then direct a supply of compressed gas to the
clip 100 through the solenoid valve 240 when the chamber pressure
drops below a desired pressure or when an increase in pressure is
desired.
[0033] Having described and illustrated the principles of the
invention in various preferred embodiments thereof, it should be
apparent that the invention can be modified in arrangement and
detail without departing from such principles. We claim all
modifications and variations coming within the spirit and scope of
the following claims.
* * * * *