Paintball marker with release mechanism

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

0001The invention relates generally to paintball markers and air soft guns and the gameplay related thereto. The sport of paintball is very well known and includes the use of a paintball marker or gun to pneumatically launch a rubber ball or a ball that is typically filled with a colored liquid. For air soft, plastic projectiles are shot at opposing players. Each of the players in the game has such a marker or gun so they can launch projectiles toward players on the opposing team. When players on the opposing team are marked or hit with a projectile, there is typically a scoring event.

0002The present invention is particularly related to the game of paintball and the related paintball markers. Therefore, the invention will be discussed in detail in connection with paintball markers for ease of illustration but it should be understood that the present invention is applicable to the air soft sport and air soft guns as well.

0003It is well known in the art of paintball markers that a burst of stored gas is released from a storage reservoir by opening some type of valve assembly to launch a projectile, such as a paintball. Such a valve assembly is typically opened via the actuation of a trigger assembly to open the valve assembly for launch. For this purpose, some types of paintball markers employ a "knock-open 2-2" valve mechanism to release the burst off gas that accelerates the projectile down the barrel for launch. They typically utilize a pneumatic cylinder as a "hammer" mechanism to "knock" or "actuate" the valve open in order to release gas from the storage reservoir in order to launch a projectile from the paintball marker. For ease of reference, the pneumatic cylinder or other structure for actuating the valve is generally referred to as a "hammer" herein.

0004This mechanism is also used in other kinds of launching devices. For example, such a mechanism may be used with Airsoft type guns.

0005In many of these paintball markers the bolt mechanism and the hammer mechanism are mechanically linked so that they move in unison to simultaneously load a projectile into the barrel and then open the knock-open valve mechanism. This is preferred as it simplifies two separate mechanisms into one combined element in the system. The speed and direction in which the bolt and hammer move are the same. This results in the knock-open valve mechanism being opened with the same speed as the bolt and hammer are moving at, which is at the point that the hammer and bolt mechanism strikes the knock-open valve. Thus, the force acting on the knock-open valve mechanism is proportional to the speed and mass of the combined bolt and hammer mechanism.

0006<patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="EP2317275A2"><text>EP 2 317 275 A2</text></patcit> discloses a projectile launching device as described in the preamble of claim 1. With the prior art there is no way to alter the force acting on the knock-open valve mechanism without altering either the speed or the mass of the bolt and hammer mechanism. In prior art there are no elements within the system that can be altered to either increase or decrease the force acting on the valve mechanism without altering the speed and/or the mass of the hammer and bolt mechanism. The fact that the force acting on the valve is fixed to the mass of the hammer and bolt mechanism can create problems and presents limitations in the operation and construction of the marker. Most notably, current systems make it impossible to customize the force profile acting on the valve independently from the impact speed and/or mass.

0007Therefore, there is a need for an advanced gas release system that can achieve such independent control of the force acting on the valve separately to the speed and/or mass of the hammer and bolt mechanism.

0008There is a need for an advanced gas release system that can achieve the aforesaid independent control while still providing superior launch control.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

0009The present invention is directed to a projectile launching device comprising the features of claim 1. The present invention preserves the advantages of prior art gas release mechanisms for paintball markers and airsoft guns accessories and adds thereto. In addition, it provides new advantages not found in currently available gas release systems.

0010The present invention provides a new advanced gas release mechanism that includes a new force transfer and control element between the valve mechanism and the hammer mechanism. The new element allows the forces acting on the valve mechanism to be manipulated completely independently of the bolt/hammer speed and mass. The new element is a lever with a cam surface. The valve, lever or cam and bolt/hammer may be in any orientation and in any plane in respect to both each other and the vector of the projectile being loaded and fired. The principle is to utilize mechanical advantage to alter the force profile at the valve mechanism in relationship to the hammer/bolt force profile.

0011Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a gas release mechanism that can permit the force profile acted on the valve to be controlled.

0012There is a further object of the present invention to provide a gas release mechanism that has superior performance while providing control of the forces delivered to the valve mechanism.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0013The 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: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li><figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> is a cross-sectional view of the a paintball marker employing the gas release mechanism of the present invention in the state of projectile loading;</li><li><figref idref="f0002">Fig. 2</figref> is a cross-sectional view of the a paintball marker employing the gas release mechanism of the present invention in the state of projectile loading showing initial movement of the hammer and bolt together;</li><li><figref idref="f0003">Fig. 3</figref> is a cross-sectional view of the paintball marker employing the gas release mechanism of the present invention showing further movement of the hammer and bolt together with the leading end of the hammer making an initial contact with the cam of the gas release mechanism of the present invention;</li><li><figref idref="f0004">Fig. 4</figref> is a cross-sectional view of the paintball marker employing the gas release mechanism of the present invention showing further movement of the hammer and bolt together with the leading end of the hammer making contact with the cam to start to open the exhaust valve with the cam starting to pivot;</li><li><figref idref="f0005">Fig. 5</figref> is a cross-sectional view of the paintball marker employing the gas release mechanism of the present invention showing even further movement of the hammer and bolt together with the leading end of the hammer making contact with the cam to even further open the exhaust valve with further pivoting of the cam;</li><li><figref idref="f0006">Fig. 6</figref> is a cross-sectional view of the paintball marker employing the gas release mechanism of the present invention showing maximum forward movement of the hammer and bolt together with the leading end of the hammer making full contact with the cam to fully open the exhaust valve with the cam fully pivoted;</li><li><figref idref="f0007">Fig. 7</figref> shows a close-up partial cross-sectional view of a marker using the gas release mechanism of the present invention; and</li><li><figref idref="f0008">Fig. 8</figref> shows a partial cross-sectional view of a marker, with the valve guide shown in cross-sectional, using the gas release mechanism of the present invention.</li></ul>

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

0014Referring now to the drawings, the paintball marker with advanced gas release mechanism is illustrated and generally indicated at 10 in <figref idref="f0001 f0002 f0003 f0004 f0005 f0006 f0007 f0008">Figs. 1-8</figref>. As will be more fully described, the instant paintball marker with advanced gas release mechanism provides a force control device that can be used to modify and finely control the force applied to a knock-open valve, generally referred to as 33, or also known as an exhaust valve, used to fire the projectiles.

0015The present invention, shown in <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref>, provides a projectile launching device 12 that can be used to launch paintball or another projectile 14. The device 12 has a main body 16 including a breech 18 and a feed port 20 that are configured for accommodating and launching a projectile 14. A hopper 22 for dispensing projectiles may be secured to the projectile launching device 12 so that it can dispense projectiles into the breech 18 through the feed port 20 when the device is in the loading position, as shown in <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref>.

0016In front of the breech 18, a barrel 24 is connected to the main body 16 and allows the user to control the direction of a projectile 14 fired from the device 12. The barrel 24 has a front portion with an opening through which a projectile may exit the device 12, and a rear portion 26 that has an opening that engages with the breech 18.

0017To facilitate launching of a projectile 14 from the device 12, a bolt 28 located rearwardly from the breech 18 is slidably mounted within the device 12 so that it can move a projectile 14 from the breech 18 into the barrel 24. <figref idref="f0001 f0002 f0003 f0004">Figs. 1-4</figref> show this movement of the bolt 28 within the device 12 to move a projectile 14 into the barrel 24. The bolt 28 is movable from a loading position, as shown in <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref>, in which a projectile may be moved from the hopper 22 into the breech 18, and a launching position, as shown in <figref idref="f0004">Fig. 4</figref>, in which the bolt 28 extends through the breech 18. When a projectile 14 is loaded in the breech 18 and the bolt 28 moves from the loading position to the launching position, a front surface 30 on the bolt 28 moves a projectile 14 from the breech 18 into the barrel 24, where it may be launched, as can be seen in <figref idref="f0002">Fig. 2</figref>.

0018The projectile 14 is then launched from the device 12 using compressed air. A valve guide structure 32 of knock-open valve 33, described in more detail below, controls and directs the compressed air supply within the device 12. Valve pin 34 is movable from a spring biased sealing position, as shown in <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref>, in which it does not allow air to pass through the valve guide structure 32, and an open position, as shown in <figref idref="f0006">Fig. 6</figref>, in which air may pass through the valve guide structure 32 in order to launch a projectile 14 from the device 12. The configuration of the knock-open valve 33 can also be seen in <figref idref="f0008">Fig. 8</figref>. When a user is ready to launch a projectile 14 from the device 12, the user may trigger a hammer 36 to strike the valve pin 34 of knock-open valve 33 so that it is moved to the open position. The hammer 36 may be connected to the bolt 28 so that movement of the bolt results in simultaneous movement of the hammer. <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> shows how a bolt pin 38 running transversely through the bolt 28 and the hammer 36 can be used to link the movement of the hammer 36 and the bolt 28. The operation of the valve guide 32, valve pin 34, and hammer 36 are described in more detail below.

0019The present invention greatly improves prior art projectile launching devices by including a further translation element 60 into the system between the valve mechanism 33 and the hammer mechanism to provide force translation and control. This new element 60 allows the forces acting on the valve mechanism 33 to be manipulated completely independently of the bolt/hammer speed and mass. The new element 60 is a lever with a cam surface, as shown in <figref idref="f0001 f0002 f0003 f0004 f0005 f0006 f0007 f0008">Figs. 1-8</figref>. The principle is to utilize mechanical advantage to alter the force profile at the valve mechanism 33 in relationship to the hammer/bolt force profile. The present invention shows just one example of a further element 60 that provides force translation control within a projectile launching device. Other devices and structures may be used and still be within the scope of the present invention.

0020As shown in <figref idref="f0003">Fig. 3</figref>, a translation element 60, in the configuration of a lever, is secured to the main body 16 at a pivot 62 by a cam holder 61. As the hammer 36 is moved towards the valve pin 34 of the knock-open valve 33, the hammer 36 contacts a point on the lever cam 60 that is further away from the pivot point 62 of the lever cam 60 than the point at which the valve pin 34 contacts the other side of the lever cam 60. Thus, when the hammer 36 is forced progressively to the left, as shown in <figref idref="f0003 f0004 f0005 f0006">Figs. 3-6</figref>, it rotates the lever 60 counterclockwise about the pivot point 62. The lever 60 then pushes the valve pin 34 to the left through the valve guide 32, but the displacement of the valve pin 34 and thus the knock-open valve 33 as a whole is less than the displacement of the hammer 36 because the valve pin 34 contacts the lever 60 closer to the pivot point 62 than the hammer 36 does.

0021The cam surfaces on the lever 60 also help reduce the displacement of the valve pin 34 of knock-open valve 33 relative to the hammer 36. The left surface of the lever 60 in <figref idref="f0003 f0004 f0005 f0006">Figs. 3-6</figref> is shown as a convex surface 59, with the leftmost part of the convex surface 59 in contact with the valve pin 34. Counterclockwise rotation of the lever 60 tends to push the valve pin 34 to the left, but the convex front surface 59 of the lever offsets that to some degree.

0022By inference, it can be seen that the lever 60 or cam can also be arranged so that the speed at which the valve 33 opens, via movement of the valve pin 34, can be controlled independently of the hammer/bolt speed.

0023The speed that the valve 33 opens from movement of the valve pin 34 at can be finely controlled by a cam "profile" or other profile, shape or configuration of the translation element employed, or by altering the distance of the hammer 36 and the valve pin 34 from the pivot point of a lever 60. Thus, the force is translated and altered, e.g. reduced or even increased, if desired, by use of the interim element 60. <figref idref="f0001 f0002 f0003 f0004 f0005 f0006">Figs. 1-6</figref>, attached, show the entirety of the travel of the hammer/follower and bolt 28, travelling in unison due to interconnection using a pin bolt, from a resting rearward position stepped through to full opening of the knock-open valve 33 but full movement of valve pin 34 as controlled by the lever mechanism 60 of the present invention. In this case, it can be seen, such as in <figref idref="f0004 f0005 f0006">Fig. 4-6</figref> how the movement of the valve pin 34 is decreased and force imparted by the hammer/follower is increased via the pivoting of the lever element 60. The length of the lever 60 and profile shape control the force delivered to the exhaust valve 34. These parameters can also control the amount of force delivered over the course of travel. Here, the S-shaped lever arm 60 further helps control and customize the delivery of force, travel and rate that the valve pin 34 moves and, as a result, the knock-open valve 33 opens. Other shapes can be used to achieve different force profiles over time, as desired.

0024The hammer 36, serving as an actuator, and bolt 28 mechanism can be driven by numerous methods. In the prior art, the hammer 36 and bolt 28 are actuated by pneumatic force or spring force, but it is envisioned that the hammer 36 and bolt 28 could be actuated by magnetic force, electromagnetic force, ball screw, piezoelectric actuator, linear motor, hydraulics or any other type of motive force. For example, the hammer 36 is preferably a pneumatic cylinder. Also, the hammer 36, serving as an actuator, can be linear or rotary in nature.

0025The knock-open valve 33 is generally made up of a valve guide 32 with a valve pin 34 and valve seal 66 spring-biased to a closed/sealed position. The knock-open valve 33 and valve sealing face 68 on the valve guide 32 completes the sealing structure. The valve pin 34 of valve 33 can be held or biased towards the closed position in a number of ways including with air or a spring. The spring 64 may be a coil spring, or another type of spring. The closing force can be applied at either end of the valve 33 or valve guide 32. <figref idref="f0001 f0002 f0003 f0004 f0005 f0006 f0007 f0008">Figs. 1-8</figref> show a coil spring 64 applying the closing force on the left side of the valve 33.

0026Specific details of a marker equipped with the advanced gas release mechanism of the present invention are shown in <figref idref="f0007">Fig. 7</figref> and <figref idref="f0008">8. Fig. 8</figref> shows how the internal structure of the valve guide 32 directs compressed air. The valve guide 32 has an outer valve guide wall 40 that defines a valve guide transfer port 42. The valve guide transfer port 42 has a first end 44 and a second end 46. The first end 44 of the valve guide transfer port 42 is seated in an opening 48 in a valve chamber 50 containing compressed air. The second end engages a first opening of a body transfer port 52 defined in the main body 16. The bolt 28 has an outer wall 54 that defines a bolt transfer port 56 extending from a first opening to a second opening within the bolt 28. The body transfer port has a second opening that is aligned with the first bolt opening when the bolt 28 is in the launching position, as shown in <figref idref="f0008">Fig. 8</figref>. Together, the valve guide transfer port 42, the body transfer port 52, and the bolt transfer port 56 provide a path for compressed air to be delivered from the valve chamber 50 to the barrel 24 in order to launch the projectile 14 from the barrel 24, as shown in <figref idref="f0008">Fig. 8</figref>.

0027The knock-open valve 33 and the path of travel of valve pin 34 are also generally in the same orientation as the bolt 28 and hammer 36. These are normally operated on parallel planes to that of the breech 18 and barrel 24. However, it is envisioned that that through the use of a lever or cam mechanism 60 as disclosed in this invention, the valve 33, bolt 28 and hammer 36 need not be in the same orientation, the same plane or on the same axis as each other or the barrel and breech.

0028It is also envisioned that a similar lever or cam actuated valve of the present invention could be used in a system where the bolt and the hammer act and move independently of each other. This valve could be in any orientation within the marker and the cam/lever could be operated by pneumatics, electromagnetics, magnetism, hydraulics, piezo-actuator, stepper motor, linear actuator or any other force-generating element. Equally the bolt could be independently controlled by pneumatics, electromagnetics, magnetism, hydraulics, piezo-actuator, stepper motor, linear actuator or any other force-generating element.

0029In view of the foregoing, a new and novel advanced gas release system is provided that can enable the force delivered to the valve mechanism to be independently controlled compared to the speed and/or mass of the hammer and bolt mechanism.

0030It would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to the illustrated embodiments. All such modifications and changes are intended to be covered by the appended claims.