Claims
- 1. A paintball loader for incorporation into a closed-bolt paintball gun,
said gun having a loading chamber and a breech; said loader for individually urging paintballs from said loading chamber into said breech as said gun cycles; said loader comprising a oscillating paintball contact surface;
said paintball contact surface residing in a contact-surface open position when said paintball gun is ready to fire; said paintball contact surface oscillatably movable, in response to the cycling of said gun, from said contact-surface open position toward said breech, and then back to said contact-surface open position; said paintball contact surface shaped, sized, mounted and positioned
(i) to provide space between said breech and said paintball contact surface for accommodating the movement of a paintball into said loading chamber when said paintball contact surface is in said contact-surface open position, and (ii) to engage and urge the paintball into said breech as said paintball contact surface moves toward said breech, and (iii) to return to said contact-surface open position, in response to the cycling of said gun.
- 2. A paintball loader for incorporation into a closed-bolt paintball gun,
said gun having a loading chamber, a breech, a loading port and a bolt assembly; said loading chamber adjacent to and outward from said breech; said bolt assembly cycling when said gun fires; said bolt assembly moving reciprocally when cycling,
from a bolt-closed position whereat said loading port is closed and said gun is ready to fire, to a bolt-open position whereat said loading port is open, and then returning to said bolt-closed position; said loader for individually urging paintballs from said loading chamber, through said loading port, and into said breech, while said loading port is open; said paintball loader comprising a oscillating paintball contact surface;
said paintball contact surface oscillatably movable in response to the cycling of said bolt assembly and shaped, sized, mounted and positioned to:
(i) reside in a contact-surface open position whereat space is provided between said breech and said paintball contact surface for accommodating the movement of a paintball into said loading chamber when said bolt assembly is in said bolt-closed position; and (ii) move through said loading chamber toward said breech to engage the paintball and to urge the paintball into said breech in response to said bolt assembly moving to said bolt-open position, (iii) return bock to the contact surface open position in response said bolt assembly returning said bolt-closed position.
- 3. A paintball loader for incorporation into a closed-bolt paintball gun,
said gun having a loading chamber, a breech, a loading port and a bolt assembly, said loading chamber adjacent to and outward from said breech, said bolt assembly cycling when said gun fires, said bolt assembly moving reciprocally when cycling,
from a bolt-closed position whereat said loading port is closed and said gun is ready to fire, to a bolt-open position whereat said loading port is open, and then returning to said bolt-closed position; said loader for individually urging paintballs from said loading chamber, through said loading port, and into said breech, while said loading port is open; said paintball loader comprising:
(a) an oscillatably movable pivot block, said pivot block pivotably mounted to said paintball gun; (b) a lever arm, said lever arm comprising a paintball contact surface thereon,
said lever arm extending from said pivot block to place said paintball contact surface in a position to be movable inward and outward through said loading chamber as said pivot block moves
(i) from a pivot-block open position whereat said paintball contact surface resides in a contact-surface open position which provides space between said breech and said paintball contact surface to accommodate the movement of a paintball into said loading chamber, (ii) to a pivot-block loading position to move said paintball contact surface inward to engage and urge said paintball into said breech, and then (iii) back to said pivot-block open position, in response to said bolt assembly moving from said bolt-closed position to said bolt-open position and then returning to said bolt-closed position.
- 4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said lever arm further comprises a paintball stop tab.
- 5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said lever arm is separable from, and removably attachable to, said pivot block.
- 6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said lever arm and said pivot block are of unitary construction.
- 7. A closed-bolt paintball gun, said gun comprising:
(a) a loading chamber, (b) a breech, (c) a loading port,
said loading chamber adjacent to and outward from said breech, (d) a bolt assembly, said bolt assembly comprising a bolt,
said bolt assembly residing, when said gun is ready to fire, in a bolt-closed position whereat said loading port is closed, said bolt assembly cycling when said gun fires between said bolt-closed position,
and a bolt-open position whereat said loading port is open, (e) a paintball loader for individually urging paintballs from said loading chamber into said breech as said bolt assembly cycles; said paintball loader comprising:
(1) an oscillatably movable pivot block, said pivot block pivotably mounted to said paintball gun; (2) a lever arm, said lever arm comprising a paintball contact surface thereon,
said lever arm extending from said pivot block to place said paintball contact surface in a position to be movable inward and outward through said loading chamber as said pivot block moves, said pivot block residing, when said gun is ready to fire, in a pivot-block open position whereat said paintball contact surface resides in a contact-surface open position which provides space between said breech and said paintball contact surface to accommodate the movement of a paintball into said loading chamber, said pivot block moving, in response to said bolt assembly cycling, from said pivot-block open position to a pivot-block loading position, thus moving said paintball contact surface inward to engage and urge said paintball into said breech, and then back to said pivot-block open position.
- 8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein said lever arm further comprises a paintball stop tab.
- 9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein said lever arm is separable from, and removably attachable to, said pivot block.
- 10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein said lever arm and said pivot block are of unitary construction.
- 11. A paintball loader for incorporation into a closed-bolt paintball gun,
said gun having a loading chamber, a breech, a loading port and a bolt assembly, said loading chamber adjacent to and outward from said breech, said bolt assembly having a cam, said bolt assembly cycling when said gun fires, said bolt assembly moving reciprocally when cycling,
from a bolt-closed position whereat said loading port is closed and said gun is ready to fire, to a bolt-open position whereat said loading port is open, and then returning to said bolt-closed position; said loader for individually urging paintballs from said loading chamber, through said loading port, and into said breech, while said loading port is open; said paintball loader comprising an oscillatably movable pivot block and a lever arm,
said pivot block pivotably mounted to said paintball gun, said pivot block comprising a cam follower, said cam and said cam follower engageable as said bolt assembly cycles, said pivot block moving in response to the engagement of said cam and said cam follower, said pivot block residing in a pivot-block open position when said bolt is in said bolt-closed position, said lever arm comprising a paintball contact surface thereon,
said lever arm extending from said pivot block to place said paintball contact surface in a position to be movable inward and outward through said loading chamber as said pivot block moves
(i) from said pivot-block open position whereat said paintball contact surface resides in a contact-surface open position which provides space between said breech and said paintball contact surface to accommodate the movement of a paintball into said loading chamber, (ii) to a pivot-block loading position to move said paintball contact surface inward to engage and urge said paintball into said breech, and then (iii) back to said pivot-block open position, in response to said bolt assembly moving from said bolt-closed position to said bolt-open position and then returning to said bolt-closed position.
- 12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein said lever arm further comprises a paintball stop tab.
- 13. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein said lever arm is separable from, and removably attachable to, said pivot block.
- 14. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein said lever arm and said pivot block are of unitary construction.
- 15. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein
said bolt assembly further has a forwardly directed cam; said pivot block further comprises a rotation axis and a rearwardly directed cam follower, said loader further comprises a push spring for urging said pivot block toward said pivot-block loading position, said pivot block pivoting around said rotation axis, said cam follower located forward of said rotation axis, said cam and said cam follower engageable as said bolt assembly moves forward, said cam follower moving outward, in response to the engagement of said cam and said cam follower, for moving said pivot block to a pivot-block open position.
- 16. The apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein said gun further has a stop boss and said loader further comprises a stop arm.
- 17. A closed-bolt paintball gun, said gun comprising:
(a) a loading chamber, (b) a breech, (c) a loading port,
said loading chamber adjacent to and outward from said breech, (d) a bolt assembly, said bolt assembly comprising a cam,
said bolt assembly residing, when said gun is ready to fire, in a bolt-closed position whereat said loading port is closed, said bolt assembly cycling when said gun fires between said bolt-closed position,
and a bolt-open position whereat said loading port is open, (e) a paintball loader for individually urging paintballs from said loading chamber into said breech as said bolt assembly cycles; said paintball loader comprising:
(1) an oscillatably movable pivot block,
said pivot block pivotably mounted to said paintball gun; said pivot block comprising a cam follower, said cam and said cam follower engageable as said bolt assembly cycles, said pivot block moving in response to the engagement of said cam and said cam follower, (2) a lever arm, said lever arm comprising a paintball contact surface thereon,
said lever arm extending from said pivot block to place said paintball contact surface in a position to be movable inward and outward through said loading chamber as said pivot block moves, said pivot block residing, when said gun is ready to fire, in a pivot-block open position whereat said paintball contact surface resides in a contact-surface open position which provides space between said breech and said paintball contact surface to accommodate the movement of a paintball into said loading chamber, said pivot block moving, in response to said bolt assembly cycling, from said pivot-block open position to a pivot-block loading position, thus moving said paintball contact surface inward to engage and urge said paintball into said breech, and then back to said pivot-block open position.
- 18. The apparatus as set forth in claim 17, wherein said lever arm further comprises a paintball stop tab.
- 19. The apparatus as set forth in claim 17, wherein said lever arm is separable from, and removably attachable to, said pivot block.
- 20. The apparatus as set forth in claim 17, wherein said lever arm and said pivot block are of unitary construction.
- 21. The apparatus as set forth in claim 17, wherein
said bolt assembly further comprises a forwardly directed cam; said pivot block further comprises a rotation axis and a rearwardly directed cam follower, said loader further comprises a push spring for urging said pivot block toward said pivot-block loading position, said pivot block pivoting around said rotation axis, said cam follower located forward of said rotation axis, said cam and said cam follower engageable as said bolt assembly moves forward, said cam follower moving outward, in response to the engagement of said cam and said cam follower, for moving said pivot block to a pivot-block open position.
- 22. The apparatus as set forth in claim 21, wherein said gun further has a stop boss and said loader further comprises a stop arm.
- 23. A paintball loader for incorporation into a closed-bolt paintball gun,
said gun having a forward end, a rearward end, a loading chamber, a breech, a loading port and a bolt assembly, said loading chamber adjacent to and outward from said breech, said bolt assembly having a rearwardly directed cam, said bolt assembly cycling when said gun fires, said bolt assembly moving reciprocally when cycling,
from a bolt-closed position whereat said loading port is closed and said gun is ready to fire, to a bolt-open position whereat said loading port is open, and then returning to said bolt-closed position; said bolt-closed position located forward of said bolt-open position, said loader for individually urging paintballs from said loading chamber, through said loading port, and into said breech, while said loading port is open; said paintball loader comprising an oscillatably movable pivot block and a lever arm,
said pivot block comprising a rotation axis and a forwardly directed cam follower, said pivot block mounted to said paintball gun to pivot around said rotation axis, said lever arm comprising a paintball contact surface thereon and a flexible elastic spring portion, said lever arm extending forward from said pivot block to place said paintball contact surface in a position to be movable inward and outward through said loading chamber as said pivot block moves, said elastic spring portion (located?) between said pivot block and said paintball contact surface, said pivot block residing, when said bolt is in said bolt-closed position, in a pivot-block open position whereat said paintball contact surface resides in a contact-surface open position which provides space between said breech and said paintball contact surface to accommodate the movement of a paintball into said loading chamber, said cam follower located rearward of said rotation axis, said cam and said cam follower engageable as said bolt assembly moves rearward, said cam follower moving outward, in response to the engagement of said cam and said cam follower, for moving said pivot block to a pivot-block loading position, and for moving said paintball contact surface inward to engage and urge said paintball into said breech.
- 24. The apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein said lever arm further comprises a paintball stop tab.
- 25. The apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein said lever arm is separable from, and removably attachable to, said pivot block.
- 26. The apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein said lever arm and said pivot block are of unitary construction.
- 27. The apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein said elastic spring portion is sized, shaped, and composed of a material selected to provide a spring force sufficient to ensure the paintball is urged by said paintball contact surface from said loading chamber into said breech while said bolt assembly is in said bolt-open position, and not so great as to cause said paintball contact surface to damage the paintball.
- 28. A closed-bolt paintball gun, said gun comprising:
(a) a forward end, (b) a rearward end, (c) a loading chamber, (d) a breech, (e) a loading port,
said loading chamber adjacent to and outward from said breech, (f) a bolt assembly, said bolt assembly comprising a rearwardly directed cam,
said bolt assembly residing, when said gun is ready to fire, in a bolt-closed position whereat said loading port is closed, said bolt assembly cycling when said gun fires between said bolt-closed position,
and a bolt-open position whereat said loading port is open, said bolt-closed position located forward of said bolt-open position, (g) a paintball loader for individually urging paintballs from said loading chamber into said breech as said bolt assembly cycles,
said paintball loader comprising an oscillatably movable pivot block and a lever arm, said pivot block comprising a rotation axis and a forwardly directed cam follower, said pivot block mounted to said paintball gun to pivot around said rotation axis, said lever arm comprising a paintball contact surface thereon and a flexible elastic spring portion, said lever arm extending forward from said pivot block to place said paintball contact surface in a position to be movable inward and outward through said loading chamber as said pivot block moves, said elastic spring portion located between said pivot block and said paintball contact surface, said pivot block residing, when said bolt is in said bolt-closed position, in a pivot-block open position whereat said paintball contact surface resides in a contact-surface open position which provides space between said breech and said paintball contact surface to accommodate the movement of a paintball into said loading chamber, said cam follower located rearward of said rotation axis, said cam and said cam follower engageable as said bolt assembly moves rearward, said cam follower moving outward, in response to the engagement of said cam and said cam follower, for moving said pivot block to a pivot-block loading position, and for moving said paintball contact surface inward to engage and urge said paintball into said breech. said loader further comprising a return spring for urging said pivot block toward said pivot-block open position.
- 29. The apparatus as set forth in claim 28, wherein said lever arm further comprises a paintball stop tab.
- 30. The apparatus as set forth in claim 28, wherein said lever arm is separable from, and removably attachable to, said pivot block.
- 31. The apparatus as set forth in claim 28, wherein said lever arm and said pivot block are of unitary construction.
- 32. The apparatus as set forth in claim 28, wherein said elastic spring portion is sized, shaped, and composed of a material selected to provide a spring force sufficient to ensure the paintball is urged by said paintball contact surface from said loading chamber into said breech while said bolt assembly is in said bolt-open position, and not so great as to cause said paintball contact surface to damage the paintball.
- 33. A method of loading a paintball into a closed-bolt paintball gun, said gun having a loading chamber and a breech, said loading chamber for holding a paintball to be loaded, said breech for receiving the paintball from said loading chamber as said paintball gun cycles, said method comprising:
(a) providing a paintball loader,
said loader comprising a oscillating paintball contact surface,
said paintball contact surface residing in a contact-surface open position when said paintball gun is ready to fire; said paintball contact surface oscillatably movable, in response to the cycling of said gun, from said contact-surface open position toward said breech, and then back to said contact-surface open position; said paintball contact surface shaped, sized, mounted and positioned
(i) to provide space between said breech and said paintball contact surface for accommodating the movement of a paintball into said loading chamber when said paintball contact surface is in said contact-surface open position, and (ii) to engage and urge the paintball into said breech as said paintball contact surface moves toward said breech, and (iii) to again provide space between said breech and said paintball contact surface for accommodating the entrance of another paintball into said loading chamber when said paintball contact surface moves back to said contact-surface open position; (b) introducing a paintball to be loaded into said loading chamber; (c) initiating the cycling of said gun; (d) moving said paintball contact surface from said contact-surface-open position toward said breech as said gun cycles; (E) engaging with said paintball contact surface the paintball in said loading chamber; (F) urging the paintball toward and into said breech; (G) returning said paintball contact surface back to said contact-surface-open position as said gun continues to cycle; (H) introducing a next paintball into said loading chamber.
RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS
[0001] This patent application claims priority from prior U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/363,450 filed on Mar. 11, 2002, entitled Paintball Loader, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference. This patent application also claims priority from prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/206,013, filed on Jul. 26, 2002, entitled Pneumatic Gun, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60363450 |
Mar 2002 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
10206013 |
Jul 2002 |
US |
Child |
10386850 |
Mar 2003 |
US |