Claims
- 1. A method of assisting the movement of a trigger between a firing position and a resting position to increase the rate at which paintballs can be fired from a paintball gun, the method comprising the steps of:positioning a primary magnet in the trigger of the paintball gun, the primary magnet being oriented such that the poles of the primary magnet extend along the line of movement of the trigger between the resting position and the firing position; and positioning a secondary magnet behind the trigger of the paintball gun, the secondary magnet being oriented such that the poles of the secondary magnet extend along the line of movement of the trigger between the resting position and the firing position; wherein the poles of the secondary magnet are oriented such that the secondary magnet repels the primary magnet when the trigger moves toward the secondary magnet.
- 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the primary magnet and the secondary magnet are formed from ferromagnetic material.
- 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the secondary magnet is positioned such that the secondary magnet repels the primary magnet only after the trigger has moved far enough to fire a paintball.
- 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the primary magnet and the secondary magnet are electromagnets.
- 5. A method of assisting the movement of a trigger between a resting position and a firing position to increase the rate at which paintballs can be fired from a paintball gun, the method comprising the steps of:positioning a primary electromagnet in the trigger of the paintball gun, the primary electromagnet being oriented such that the poles of the primary magnet extend along the line of movement of the trigger between the resting position and the firing position; and positioning a secondary electromagnet behind the trigger of the paintball gun, the secondary electromagnet being oriented such that the poles of the secondary electromagnet extend along the line of movement of the trigger between the resting position and the firing position; polarizing the primary and secondary electromagnets such that the electromagnets attract each other as the trigger is depressed and moved from the resting position toward the firing position; sensing the movement of the trigger to the firing position; and reversing the polarity of one of the electromagnets once the trigger reaches the firing position, such that the electromagnets repel each other and return the trigger to its resting position.
- 6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the steps of:positioning a second secondary electromagnet in front of the trigger of the paintball gun, the second secondary electromagnet being oriented such that the poles of the second secondary electromagnet extend along the line of movement of the trigger; polarizing the second secondary electromagnet such that the second secondary magnet repels the primary electromagnet as the trigger is depressed; and reversing the polarity of the second secondary electromagnet upon the trigger reaching the firing position such that the second secondary electromagnet attracts the primary electromagnet to return the trigger to the resting position.
- 7. A method of assisting the movement of a trigger between a resting position and a firing position to increase the rate at which paintballs can be fired from a paintball gun, the method comprising the steps of:positioning a force element behind the trigger of the paintball gun; sensing the movement of the trigger from the resting position to the firing position; and activating the force element to assist the movement of the trigger from the resting position to the firing position.
- 8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:positioning a second force element in front of the trigger of the paintball gun; sensing the movement of the trigger from the firing position to the resting position; and activating the second force element to assist the return movement of the trigger from the firing position to the resting position.
- 9. The method of claim 7 wherein the first force element and the second force element are electromagnets.
- 10. A method of assisting the movement of a trigger between a resting position and a firing position to increase the rate at which paintballs can be fired from a paintball gun, the method comprising the steps of:positioning a first electrically actuated solenoid behind the trigger of the paintball gun; positioning a second electrically actuated solenoid in front of the trigger of the paintball gun; sensing the movement of the trigger from the resting position to the firing position; activating the second electrically actuated solenoid to assist the movement of the trigger from the resting position to the firing position; sensing the movement of the trigger from the firing position to the resting position; and activating the first electrically actuated solenoid to assist the movement of the trigger from the firing position to the resting position.
- 11. A mechanism for assisting the movement of a trigger between a resting position and a firing position to increase the rate at which paintballs can be fired from a paintball gun, the assistance mechanism comprising a force element positioned behind the trigger, the force element being operable to assist movement of the trigger between the resting position and the firing position.
- 12. The mechanism of claim 11 wherein the force element is a secondary magnet, the secondary magnet being oriented such that the poles of the secondary magnet extend along the line of movement of the trigger, the mechanism further comprising: a primary magnet positioned in the trigger of the paintball gun, the primary magnet being oriented such that the poles of the primary magnet extend along the line of movement of the trigger; anda second secondary magnet positioned in front of the trigger, the second secondary magnet being oriented such that the poles of the second secondary magnet extend along the line of movement of the trigger; wherein the secondary magnet and the second secondary magnet are oriented relative to the primary magnet such that the secondary magnet and the second secondary magnet assist in movement of the trigger between the resting position and the firing position.
- 13. The mechanism of claim 12 wherein the secondary magnet, the primary magnet and the second secondary magnet are all electromagnets.
- 14. The mechanism of claim 13 further comprising a sensing means positioned to detect the movement of the trigger between the resting position and the firing position, wherein the polarity of the secondary magnet and the second secondary magnet are reversed upon detection of movement of the trigger to the firing position.
- 15. The mechanism of claim 11 wherein the force element is an electrically operated solenoid.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
The present application is based on and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/252,230, filed on Nov. 21, 2000.
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Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60/252230 |
Nov 2000 |
US |