US20060102161A1 - Projectile launcher with offset feed tube - Google Patents
Projectile launcher with offset feed tube Download PDFInfo
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- US20060102161A1 US20060102161A1 US11/280,011 US28001105A US2006102161A1 US 20060102161 A1 US20060102161 A1 US 20060102161A1 US 28001105 A US28001105 A US 28001105A US 2006102161 A1 US2006102161 A1 US 2006102161A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- breech
- projectile
- longitudinal axis
- paintball
- feed bore
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F41—WEAPONS
- F41B—WEAPONS FOR PROJECTING MISSILES WITHOUT USE OF EXPLOSIVE OR COMBUSTIBLE PROPELLANT CHARGE; WEAPONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F41B11/00—Compressed-gas guns, e.g. air guns; Steam guns
- F41B11/50—Magazines for compressed-gas guns; Arrangements for feeding or loading projectiles from magazines
- F41B11/52—Magazines for compressed-gas guns; Arrangements for feeding or loading projectiles from magazines the projectiles being loosely held in a magazine above the gun housing, e.g. in a hopper
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F41—WEAPONS
- F41B—WEAPONS FOR PROJECTING MISSILES WITHOUT USE OF EXPLOSIVE OR COMBUSTIBLE PROPELLANT CHARGE; WEAPONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F41B11/00—Compressed-gas guns, e.g. air guns; Steam guns
- F41B11/60—Compressed-gas guns, e.g. air guns; Steam guns characterised by the supply of compressed gas
- F41B11/62—Compressed-gas guns, e.g. air guns; Steam guns characterised by the supply of compressed gas with pressure supplied by a gas cartridge
Definitions
- the present invention generally relates to projectile launchers, including paintball markers. More specifically, the present invention relates to a new bore and feed tube configuration for projectile launchers, and, more specifically, paintball markers.
- the present invention relates to the general loading of a projectile into the breech of a projectile launcher.
- the present invention can be used in connection with any type of projectile launcher but is particularly well-suited for use in a paintball marker environment for launching paintballs. While reference may be made specifically to paintball markers for launching paintballs, this is just one of many different types of devices that can employ the present invention. It should be understood that the scope of the present invention is intended to encompass all type of projectile launchers for launching any type of projectile.
- a prior art paintball marker 10 is generally shown to include a main body 12 with a grip 20 , trigger 18 and barrel 14 . Within the main body 12 is a breech 22 with a bolt 24 that actuates back and forth therein. The bolt 24 is retracted to allow a paintball 16 at position 16 A to enter the breech 22 from a supply of paintballs in a gravity-fed hopper 26 , for example, via feed tube 30 , in preparation for launching.
- the bolt 24 can be moved forward, as in well known in the art, to prevent further projectiles to enter breech 22 . Then, the projectile 16 within the breech can then be launched in the normal fashion from the barrel 14 at position 16 C, such as by the delivery of a blast of compressed air behind the projectile 16 . However, the paintball 16 may bounce back up either fully or partially back up into the breech 22 as shown at position referenced as 16 C.
- breech sensors such as the sensor 28 shown in FIG. 1 , are typically employed to sense when the paintball 16 is in the breech 22 and ready to be launched. This sensor 28 is electronically connected to the operating system and the pneumatics of the marker 10 to fully control the timing of loading and launching. Thus, if a paintball 16 is sensed within the breech 22 because it has reached position 16 B, then it is perceived by the operating system that the paintball 16 is suitable for immediate launching.
- FIG. 2A the breech 22 of prior art marker 10 is shown receiving a paintball 16 , in position 16 A, from a vertically positioned feed tube 30 emanating downwardly from a feed hopper (not shown in FIGS. 2 A-C).
- a paintball 16 is shown moving downward into the breech 22 of the marker 10 in the direction of the indicated arrows.
- the longitudinal downward path of travel of the paintball 16 is directly aligned with the center floor position of the breech 22 marked by an “x” in FIG. 2A where the center point P of the paintball passes substantially exactly through the longitudinal axis B of the breech 22 .
- FIG. 2B illustrates a position of the paintball 16 just before it impacts with the floor of the breech 22 which is at position 16 B.
- the breech sensor 28 can sense the paintball 16 believing that it is suitable to be launched.
- the paintball 16 then bounces directly upward, as shown in FIG. 2C , as indicated by the arrow, up to position 16 C. Since the upward bounce path is aligned with the downward travel path solely within a Y axis, all energy of the travel is directed to the upward bounce path thereby causing bounce-back back up into the feed tube 30 thereby risking chop of the paintball 16 .
- the breech sensor may be programmed to only permit bolt cycling if a paintball is sensed continuously for a given period of time to ensure that it has settled down from bouncing.
- this prior art attempt to solve this problem by waiting for the paintball to settle undesirably increases cycle time.
- the present invention preserves the advantages of prior art projectile launchers and projectile feed systems, devices and methods. In addition, it provides new advantages not found in currently available systems and methods and overcomes many disadvantages of such currently available systems, devices and methods.
- the invention is generally directed to the novel and unique projectile feed tube configuration that enables faster launching cycle times while avoiding jamming of projectiles during such launching.
- the present invention includes a launcher body that defines a breech therein for receiving a projectile is provided.
- the breech defines a breech longitudinal axis through the center thereof.
- a feed tube is connected to the launcher body and defines a projectile feed bore.
- the projectile feed bore includes a projectile feed bore longitudinal axis through the center thereof.
- the breech longitudinal axis and the projectile feed bore longitudinal axis are configured to be offset from and not intersect each other.
- a projectile is routed through the feed bore, such as from a hopper using gravity, and into the breech.
- the center axis of the projectile is substantially aligned with the breech longitudinal axis so that the projectile is prevented from bouncing back into the feed bore to avoid jamming of the projectile during firing.
- an improved breech and feed tube construction to deaden the travel of a paintball upon entry into a breech to ensure that the paintball is properly positioned before the bolt cycles for launching.
- FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a prior art paintball marker
- FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view through the line 1 - 1 of FIG. 1 when a paintball is traveling through a feed tube from a hopper;
- FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view through the line 1 - 1 of FIG. 1 when a paintball is bottoming out in the breech and being sensed by the breech sensor;
- FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view through the line 1 - 1 of FIG. 1 when a paintball is bouncing back up into the feed tube after being sensed by the breech sensor;
- FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a paintball marker equipped with the feed tube and breech construction of the present invention
- FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view through the line 3 - 3 of FIG. 3 when a paintball is traveling through a feed tube from a hopper;
- FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view through the line 3 - 3 of FIG. 3 when a paintball is entering further into the breech;
- FIG. 4C is cross-sectional view through the line 3 - 3 of FIG. 3 just before a paintball bottoms out on the floor of the breech;
- FIG. 4D is a cross-sectional view through the line 3 - 3 of FIG. 3 when a paintball is bottoming out on the floor of the breech.
- FIG. 4E is a cross-sectional view through the line 3 - 3 of FIG. 3 when a paintball is deflected laterally into the breech without further bounce-back.
- the marker 110 of the present invention includes an improved breech 122 and feed tube construction where the feed tube 130 is offset relative to the breech 122 a distance O, as shown in FIG. 4A .
- a paintball, as an example projectile, is typically approximately 17.5 mm.
- an offset of feed tube 130 to breech 122 is preferably in the range of 1-5 mm but can be greater or smaller depending on the application.
- the offset can be 1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm, 5 mm or greater.
- the marker 110 construction of the present invention is shown.
- the marker 110 of the present invention is generally shown to include a main body 112 with a grip 120 , trigger 118 and barrel 114 .
- a breech 122 within the main body 112 is a breech 122 with a bolt 124 that actuates back and forth therein.
- the bolt 124 is retracted to allow a paintball 116 to enter the breech 122 from a supply of paintballs 116 in a gravity-fed hopper 126 , for example, in preparation for launching from position 116 A.
- the bolt 124 can be moved forward, as in well known in the art, to prevent further projectiles 116 to enter breech 122 . Then, the projectile 116 within the breech 116 can then be launched in the normal fashion, such as by the delivery of a blast of compressed air behind the projectile, through barrel 114 at position 116 C.
- the present invention specifically provides an improved feed tube 130 and breech 122 to prevent the paintball 116 from bouncing back up into the feed tube 130 , either fully or partially, to remain seated in the breech 122 at position 116 B.
- FIG. 4A a paintball 116 is shown descending vertically from a feed hopper (not shown in FIGS. 4 A-E) by the assistance of gravity.
- the vertical centerline 132 of the paintball 116 is aligned with the vertical centerline 134 of the feed tube 130 .
- FIG. 4B illustrates further downward movement of the paintball 116 along this vertical path.
- an off-center portion of the paintball 116 first contacts the side wall of the breech at contact point 136 .
- Such an off-center impact causes the paintball 116 to deflect laterally (i.e. to the left), as shown in FIG.
- FIG. 4E illustrates further lateral deflection of the paintball 116 to bring it to a deadened stop resting within the breech 122 without any bounce-back where the center point 138 of paintball is now aligned with the centerline 138 of the breech 122 rather than aligned with the centerline 140 of the feed tube 130 .
- the center point P of the paintball in FIG. 4E is substantially on the longitudinal axis running through the breech 122 and through the centerline 138 running therethrough.
- the paintball 116 can be is sensed within the breech 122 by breech sensor 128 to accurately indicate that there is, in fact, a paintball 116 in position 116 B which is ready for launch. Then, cycling of bolt 124 can immediately begin with confidence because the paintball 116 is ready for launching and not bouncing within the breech 122 , as in the prior art paintball constructions.
- the feed tube 130 is positioned offset relative to the breech 122 to achieve the desired results discussed herein. It is preferred that the feed tube 130 is integrated into the main body 112 of the marker 110 for improved precision control of the movement of paintballs 116 as they enter the breech 122 of a marker 110 .
- a paintball marker 110 is provided with an improved breech 112 and feed tube 130 construction.
- the offset positioning of the feed tube 130 relative to the breech 122 causes a paintball 116 to come to a stop faster at position 116 B than in prior art constructions thereby allowing bolt cycling to begin sooner with the assistance of a breech sensor 124 .
Abstract
A launcher body defining with breech therein for receiving a projectile is provided. The breech defines a breech longitudinal axis through the center thereof. A feed tube is connected to the launcher body and defines a projectile feed bore. The projectile feed bore includes a projectile feed bore longitudinal axis through the center thereof. The breech longitudinal axis and the projectile feed bore longitudinal axis are configured to be offset from and not to intersect each other. A projectile is routed through the feed bore, such as from a hopper using gravity, and into the breech. The center axis of the projectile is substantially aligned with the breech longitudinal axis so that the projectile is prevented from bouncing back into the feed bore to avoid jamming of the projectile during firing.
Description
- This application is related to and claims priority from earlier filed provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/628,855, filed Nov. 17, 2004.
- The present invention generally relates to projectile launchers, including paintball markers. More specifically, the present invention relates to a new bore and feed tube configuration for projectile launchers, and, more specifically, paintball markers.
- It should be understood that the present invention relates to the general loading of a projectile into the breech of a projectile launcher. The present invention can be used in connection with any type of projectile launcher but is particularly well-suited for use in a paintball marker environment for launching paintballs. While reference may be made specifically to paintball markers for launching paintballs, this is just one of many different types of devices that can employ the present invention. It should be understood that the scope of the present invention is intended to encompass all type of projectile launchers for launching any type of projectile.
- By way of example for ease of illustration and discussion, the prior art and the present invention will discussed in detail in connection with a paintball marker and its breech system.
- In the prior art, it is well known to feed paintballs individually from a hopper which is commonly gravity fed. As seen in
FIG. 1 , a priorart paintball marker 10 is generally shown to include amain body 12 with agrip 20, trigger 18 andbarrel 14. Within themain body 12 is abreech 22 with abolt 24 that actuates back and forth therein. Thebolt 24 is retracted to allow apaintball 16 atposition 16A to enter thebreech 22 from a supply of paintballs in a gravity-fed hopper 26, for example, viafeed tube 30, in preparation for launching. Once theball 16 is within the breech as shown at position referenced as 16B, thebolt 24 can be moved forward, as in well known in the art, to prevent further projectiles to enterbreech 22. Then, theprojectile 16 within the breech can then be launched in the normal fashion from thebarrel 14 atposition 16C, such as by the delivery of a blast of compressed air behind theprojectile 16. However, thepaintball 16 may bounce back up either fully or partially back up into thebreech 22 as shown at position referenced as 16C. - The desire for faster cycle times and firing rates has required that the loading and launching sequence be sped up considerably. This requires that the
paintball 16 be loaded and prepared for launching much faster. In the prior art, breech sensors, such as thesensor 28 shown inFIG. 1 , are typically employed to sense when thepaintball 16 is in thebreech 22 and ready to be launched. Thissensor 28 is electronically connected to the operating system and the pneumatics of themarker 10 to fully control the timing of loading and launching. Thus, if apaintball 16 is sensed within thebreech 22 because it has reachedposition 16B, then it is perceived by the operating system that thepaintball 16 is suitable for immediate launching. - However, there are significant problems that can arise in current markers that have increased firing rates. There are further problems that arise when a
breech sensor 28 is relied upon to determine whether there is apaintball 16 in the breech ready for launch atposition 16B. More specifically, as will be discussed below, it is possible that apaintball 16 may enter thebreech 22, set off thebreech sensor 28 indicating that a paintball is in the breech atposition 16B when it is, in fact, still moving within the breech, namely, bouncing upward atposition 16C. If a launch sequence is initiated when thepaintball 16 is bouncing, rather than settled in the breech atposition 16B, it will likely be chopped by thebolt 24 when it moves forward. - Turning now to 2 a, 2 b and 2 c, a prior art system is shown in detail. In
FIG. 2A , thebreech 22 ofprior art marker 10 is shown receiving apaintball 16, inposition 16A, from a vertically positionedfeed tube 30 emanating downwardly from a feed hopper (not shown in FIGS. 2A-C). Apaintball 16 is shown moving downward into thebreech 22 of themarker 10 in the direction of the indicated arrows. As can be seen, the longitudinal downward path of travel of thepaintball 16 is directly aligned with the center floor position of thebreech 22 marked by an “x” inFIG. 2A where the center point P of the paintball passes substantially exactly through the longitudinal axis B of thebreech 22. Thus, the lowermost point of thepaintball 16 contacts the floor of thebreech 22 as if thepaintball 16 were hitting a flat surface.FIG. 2B illustrates a position of thepaintball 16 just before it impacts with the floor of thebreech 22 which is atposition 16B. At point, thebreech sensor 28 can sense thepaintball 16 believing that it is suitable to be launched. However, thepaintball 16 then bounces directly upward, as shown inFIG. 2C , as indicated by the arrow, up to position 16C. Since the upward bounce path is aligned with the downward travel path solely within a Y axis, all energy of the travel is directed to the upward bounce path thereby causing bounce-back back up into thefeed tube 30 thereby risking chop of thepaintball 16. - This bounce-back, of even only a few millimeters, is very problematic because the
breech sensor 28 perceives that thepaintball 16 is in thebreech 22 when it sees it for the first time. However, it will not likely fully reside within thebreech 22 during the bounce back period, namely, when it is atposition 16C. When thebreech sensor 28 senses apaintball 16, it allows bolt cycling, namely, the movement of thebolt 24 to a forward position in preparation for launch. If apaintball 16, which has been sensed within thebreech 22, is in fact bouncing back and a pull oftrigger 18 is executed, subsequent cycling of thebolt 24 will chop the ball in half, thereby damaging it resulting in serious problems. It is possible that the marker will completely jam due to the presence of paintball shards within thebreech 22 thereby prevention further cycling ofbolt 24. Thus, detection of apaintball 16 within thebreech 22 does not mean that thepaintball 16 will still reside in thebreech 22 to stay in a proper launching position at 16B when the bolt cycles next for launching. - There have been many attempts in the prior to address the foregoing bounce-back problem associated with vertical feed tubes. In one example, the breech sensor may be programmed to only permit bolt cycling if a paintball is sensed continuously for a given period of time to ensure that it has settled down from bouncing. However, this prior art attempt to solve this problem by waiting for the paintball to settle undesirably increases cycle time.
- There have been various other attempts to speed up firing rates in the prior art where paintballs are pre-loaded with a side positioned hopper/loader. The “pre-loading” system of these markers position paintballs to be later launched within a cam or similar structure for later controlled loading into the breech. Due to this “pre-loading”, cycle times are slower than those than can be achieved with gravity fed hoppers. Also, these pre-loading systems do not use breech sensors. The use of breech sensors can dramatically speed up cycle time because the bolt system can be cycled as soon as a paintball is sensed within the breech without having to wait for the pre-loader to cycle.
- In view of the foregoing, there is a need to improve a marker construction to increase firing rates and cycle times without requiring extended wait times for paintball to settle prior to bolt cycling or custom pre-loading systems. Thus, there is a need for an improved breech and feed tube construction to deaden the travel of a paintball upon entry into a breech to ensure that the paintball is properly positioned when the bolt cycles for launching.
- The present invention preserves the advantages of prior art projectile launchers and projectile feed systems, devices and methods. In addition, it provides new advantages not found in currently available systems and methods and overcomes many disadvantages of such currently available systems, devices and methods.
- The invention is generally directed to the novel and unique projectile feed tube configuration that enables faster launching cycle times while avoiding jamming of projectiles during such launching.
- The present invention includes a launcher body that defines a breech therein for receiving a projectile is provided. The breech defines a breech longitudinal axis through the center thereof. A feed tube is connected to the launcher body and defines a projectile feed bore. The projectile feed bore includes a projectile feed bore longitudinal axis through the center thereof. The breech longitudinal axis and the projectile feed bore longitudinal axis are configured to be offset from and not intersect each other. A projectile is routed through the feed bore, such as from a hopper using gravity, and into the breech. The center axis of the projectile is substantially aligned with the breech longitudinal axis so that the projectile is prevented from bouncing back into the feed bore to avoid jamming of the projectile during firing.
- It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved marker construction that prevent unwanted bounce-back of paintballs caused by gravity fed hoppers. There is a need to increase firing rates and cycle times without requiring extended wait times for a paintball to settle in the breech prior to bolt cycling or custom pre-loading systems. Thus, there is a need for an improved breech and feed tube construction to deaden the travel of a paintball upon entry into a breech to ensure that the paintball is properly positioned before the bolt cycles for launching.
- The novel features which are characteristic of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. However, the invention's preferred embodiments, together with further objects and attendant advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
-
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a prior art paintball marker; -
FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view through the line 1-1 ofFIG. 1 when a paintball is traveling through a feed tube from a hopper; -
FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view through the line 1-1 ofFIG. 1 when a paintball is bottoming out in the breech and being sensed by the breech sensor; -
FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view through the line 1-1 ofFIG. 1 when a paintball is bouncing back up into the feed tube after being sensed by the breech sensor; -
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a paintball marker equipped with the feed tube and breech construction of the present invention; -
FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view through the line 3-3 ofFIG. 3 when a paintball is traveling through a feed tube from a hopper; -
FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view through the line 3-3 ofFIG. 3 when a paintball is entering further into the breech; -
FIG. 4C is cross-sectional view through the line 3-3 ofFIG. 3 just before a paintball bottoms out on the floor of the breech; -
FIG. 4D is a cross-sectional view through the line 3-3 ofFIG. 3 when a paintball is bottoming out on the floor of the breech; and -
FIG. 4E is a cross-sectional view through the line 3-3 ofFIG. 3 when a paintball is deflected laterally into the breech without further bounce-back. - Turning first to
FIG. 3 , and in accordance with the present invention, animproved paintball marker 110 construction is provided. Themarker 110 of the present invention includes animproved breech 122 and feed tube construction where thefeed tube 130 is offset relative to the breech 122 a distance O, as shown inFIG. 4A . - A paintball, as an example projectile, is typically approximately 17.5 mm. For this sized projectile, an offset of
feed tube 130 to breech 122 is preferably in the range of 1-5 mm but can be greater or smaller depending on the application. For example, the offset can be 1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm, 5 mm or greater. - Turning now specifically to
FIGS. 3 and 4 A-E, themarker 110 construction of the present invention is shown. InFIG. 3 , themarker 110 of the present invention is generally shown to include amain body 112 with agrip 120,trigger 118 and barrel 114. Within themain body 112 is a breech 122 with abolt 124 that actuates back and forth therein. Thebolt 124 is retracted to allow apaintball 116 to enter the breech 122 from a supply ofpaintballs 116 in a gravity-fedhopper 126, for example, in preparation for launching fromposition 116A. Once thepaintball 116 is within the breech 122 atposition 116B, thebolt 124 can be moved forward, as in well known in the art, to preventfurther projectiles 116 to enterbreech 122. Then, the projectile 116 within the breech 116 can then be launched in the normal fashion, such as by the delivery of a blast of compressed air behind the projectile, through barrel 114 at position 116C. The present invention specifically provides animproved feed tube 130 and breech 122 to prevent thepaintball 116 from bouncing back up into thefeed tube 130, either fully or partially, to remain seated in the breech 122 atposition 116B. - In
FIG. 4A , apaintball 116 is shown descending vertically from a feed hopper (not shown in FIGS. 4A-E) by the assistance of gravity. As can be seen, thevertical centerline 132 of thepaintball 116 is aligned with thevertical centerline 134 of thefeed tube 130. Thus, the travel of thepaintball 116 is initially along this vertical path.FIG. 4B illustrates further downward movement of thepaintball 116 along this vertical path. As thepaintball 116 further drops, as shown inFIG. 4C , an off-center portion of thepaintball 116 first contacts the side wall of the breech atcontact point 136. Such an off-center impact causes thepaintball 116 to deflect laterally (i.e. to the left), as shown inFIG. 4D and indicated by the arrow. With this lateral movement, the deflection forces of thepaintball 116 are distributed in both the Y and X directions as opposed to solely in the vertical Y direction as in the prior art shown in FIGS. 2A-C.FIG. 4E illustrates further lateral deflection of thepaintball 116 to bring it to a deadened stop resting within thebreech 122 without any bounce-back where thecenter point 138 of paintball is now aligned with thecenterline 138 of the breech 122 rather than aligned with thecenterline 140 of thefeed tube 130. In fact, the center point P of the paintball inFIG. 4E is substantially on the longitudinal axis running through the breech 122 and through thecenterline 138 running therethrough. At this point, as shown asposition 116B inFIG. 3 , thepaintball 116 can be is sensed within thebreech 122 bybreech sensor 128 to accurately indicate that there is, in fact, apaintball 116 inposition 116B which is ready for launch. Then, cycling ofbolt 124 can immediately begin with confidence because thepaintball 116 is ready for launching and not bouncing within thebreech 122, as in the prior art paintball constructions. - The
feed tube 130 is positioned offset relative to the breech 122 to achieve the desired results discussed herein. It is preferred that thefeed tube 130 is integrated into themain body 112 of themarker 110 for improved precision control of the movement ofpaintballs 116 as they enter thebreech 122 of amarker 110. - In view of the foregoing, a
paintball marker 110 is provided with animproved breech 112 andfeed tube 130 construction. The offset positioning of thefeed tube 130 relative to the breech 122 causes apaintball 116 to come to a stop faster atposition 116B than in prior art constructions thereby allowing bolt cycling to begin sooner with the assistance of abreech sensor 124. - It would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to the illustrated embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. All such modifications and changes are intended to be covered by the appended claims.
Claims (12)
1. A projectile launcher, comprising:
a launcher body defining a breech therein for receiving a projectile; the breech defining a breech longitudinal axis through the center thereof;
a feed tube connected to the launcher body and defining a projectile feed bore; the projectile feed bore including a projectile feed bore longitudinal axis through the center thereof; and
the breech longitudinal axis and the projectile feed bore longitudinal axis being configured to not intersect each other.
2. The projectile launcher of claim 1 , wherein the breech longitudinal axis and the projectile feed bore longitudinal axis are arranged approximately 90 degrees from each other.
3. The projectile launcher of claim 1 , wherein the breech longitudinal axis and the projectile feed bore longitudinal axis being offset from each other a distance of approximately 3 mm.
4. The projectile launcher of claim 1 , wherein the breech longitudinal axis and the projectile feed bore longitudinal axis being offset from each other a distance of approximately 4 mm.
5. The projectile launcher of claim 1 , wherein the breech longitudinal axis and the projectile feed bore longitudinal axis being offset from each other a distance in the range of approximately 1 mm to approximately 5 mm.
6. The projectile launcher of claim 1 , further comprising:
a hopper connected to the feed tube; and
projectiles located within the hopper and being routable by gravity through the projectile feed bore and into the breech.
7. A method of loading a projectile into a projectile launcher, comprising the steps of:
providing a launcher body defining a breech therein for receiving a projectile; the breech defining a breech longitudinal axis through the center thereof;
providing a feed tube connected to the launcher body and defining a projectile feed bore; the projectile feed bore including a projectile feed bore longitudinal axis through the center thereof;
positioning the breech longitudinal axis and the projectile feed bore longitudinal axis to not intersect each other;
providing a projectile for launching having a center axis therethrough;
routing a projectile through the feed bore;
routing the projectile into the breech;
substantially aligning the center axis of the projectile with the breech longitudinal axis; and
whereby the projectile is prevented from bouncing back into the feed bore.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the breech longitudinal axis and the projectile feed bore longitudinal axis are positioned approximately 90 degrees from each other.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the breech longitudinal axis and the projectile feed bore longitudinal axis are positioned from each other a distance of approximately 3 mm.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the breech longitudinal axis and the projectile feed bore longitudinal axis are positioned from each other a distance of approximately 4 mm.
11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the breech longitudinal axis and the projectile feed bore longitudinal axis are positioned from each other a distance in the range of approximately 1 mm to approximately 5 mm.
12. The method of claim 7 , further comprising the steps of:
providing a hopper connected to the feed tube with projectiles therein;
routing the projectiles from the hopper into the feed tube by gravity.
Priority Applications (1)
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US11/280,011 US20060102161A1 (en) | 2004-11-17 | 2005-11-16 | Projectile launcher with offset feed tube |
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US62885504P | 2004-11-17 | 2004-11-17 | |
US11/280,011 US20060102161A1 (en) | 2004-11-17 | 2005-11-16 | Projectile launcher with offset feed tube |
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US20060102161A1 true US20060102161A1 (en) | 2006-05-18 |
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US11/280,011 Abandoned US20060102161A1 (en) | 2004-11-17 | 2005-11-16 | Projectile launcher with offset feed tube |
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Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20080078368A1 (en) * | 2006-10-03 | 2008-04-03 | Ken Taylor | Balanced, disguised, non-clogging paintball gun hopper with optional level |
US20100170493A1 (en) * | 2009-01-05 | 2010-07-08 | Chih-Sheng Sheng | Apparatus for detecting the position of the paintball of a paintball gun |
US11460264B2 (en) * | 2019-08-07 | 2022-10-04 | Planet Eclipse UK Limited | Anti-chop system for mechanical paintball markers |
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Cited By (4)
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US20080078368A1 (en) * | 2006-10-03 | 2008-04-03 | Ken Taylor | Balanced, disguised, non-clogging paintball gun hopper with optional level |
US20100170493A1 (en) * | 2009-01-05 | 2010-07-08 | Chih-Sheng Sheng | Apparatus for detecting the position of the paintball of a paintball gun |
US7886730B2 (en) * | 2009-01-05 | 2011-02-15 | Chih-Sheng Sheng | Apparatus for detecting the position of the paintball of a paintball gun |
US11460264B2 (en) * | 2019-08-07 | 2022-10-04 | Planet Eclipse UK Limited | Anti-chop system for mechanical paintball markers |
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Owner name: PLANET ECLIPSE LIMITED, UNITED KINGDOM Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:WOOD, JACK KINGSLEY;REEL/FRAME:017231/0336 Effective date: 20050902 |
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