With Control For Discharge Of Fluid Pressure Patents (Class 124/71)
  • Publication number: 20030051717
    Abstract: An automatic functioning device for distributing compressed gas comprises a jack and a distributor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Applicant: RDIH
    Inventors: Leon Hubert, Robert Hubert
  • Patent number: 6532948
    Abstract: A toy rocket set that includes a rocket and a launcher for the rocket that utilizes compressed air to launch the rocket. The upper end of the launch tube has an end cap secured thereupon by a threaded connection. An annular elastomeric element is retained between the end cap and the launch tube body. As the end cap is tightened onto the launch tube body, the elastomeric element is compressed resulting in an adjustable frictional engagement with a radially enlarged nose cone on the rocket. The centerpoint of the parachute is secured by a tether to a removable link in the rocket body. The removable link is retained within the rocket body by a slidable rod. During flight, when the rocket inverts, the rod slides within the rocket body to release the link and permit the parachute to deploy to an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Inventor: Thomas O. Grichen
  • Publication number: 20030034021
    Abstract: An improved ON-OFF control for a paintball gun comprises sidewalls defining a transverse actuator socket, a gas inlet for fluid communication to a pressurized gas source and a gas outlet, and a spool received in the socket and movable between a first position wherein an internal passage is defined between the gas inlet opening and the gas outlet opening, and a second position wherein the flow of gas from the gas inlet is blocked and the gas outlet is vented to atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Inventor: Stanely Gabrel
  • Publication number: 20030005918
    Abstract: A pneumatic assembly preferably includes a compressed gas storage area, a firing valve, and a bolt arranged along substantially the same horizontal axis. A valve retainer, a compressed gas storage area housing, and a bolt assembly are preferably arranged to form a substantially contiguous assembly housing. The firing valve is preferably configured to open when gas pressure is applied to a surface area thereof through a control valve. The bolt is preferably configured to move to a closed position before the firing valve is actuated. The control valve is preferably an electro-pneumatic valve configured to actuate the firing valve in response to a trigger pull of a paintball gun.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventor: Danial Jones
  • Patent number: 6474325
    Abstract: A gas regulator, relating in particular to a regulator for a gas or air cylinders, for supplying compressed air to a paintball gun or other compressed air powered projectile firing devices. A micro controller operably associated with the gas regulator is adapted to generate a shots remaining signal by receiving a pressure drop signal from a pressure transducer and a set of shot fired signals corresponding to the gas pressure drop signal. A method is also provided for generating the shots remaining signal using a second gas cylinder temperature signal, a temperature compensated shots remaining calibration constant and a gas regulator input pressure signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: NPF Limited
    Inventors: John Ronald Rice, Nicholas John Marks
  • Patent number: 6460531
    Abstract: A toy rocket launcher includes a rotatable, air pressurized assembly that allows for a plurality of rockets to be launched in sequence. In particular, the assembly uses a ratchet included in a base supporting member, where the ratchet is rotated by a piston included in a launch tube connected between the base supporting member and a source of pressurized air (i.e., a manually-operated bellows). The rockets are disposed on separate launch tubes, the launch tubes open at their terminations and disposed such that each tube will receive, in sequence, the pressurized air supplied by the bellows. A guard ring structure may be included with the launcher to prevent a launch should an individual get too close and disturb the set up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Inventors: Adam Z. Gourley, Gary Paudler
  • Patent number: 6450160
    Abstract: A confetti discharge device includes a tube with an air cylinder located in one end of the tube and confetti packed in the tube between the cylinder and a discharge end of the tube. A release mechanism includes a stopper located in a mouth of the cylinder and a keeper. The keeper is held in place by a latch that is manually releaseable by a user to allow the stopper to come out of the mouth of the cylinder due to air pressure so that the air in the cylinder discharges the confetti from the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Winco Fireworks International, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Jlang Ze Fu, Nie Ye Ji
  • Patent number: 6439217
    Abstract: A paintball gun in the present invention is provided with a screw hole formed in a back of a grip and extended through a chamber for being screwed with an adjusting screw whose inner end is protruded into the chamber and pressed against one sidewall surface of a magnetic-attraction plate, by which the adjusting screw is capable of being adjusted to make an inner end of the adjusting screw push the magnetic-attraction plate slightly forward or backward so that a lower end of a locking member is pushed by an outer end of a push rod of the magnetic-attraction plate to adjust the displacement height of the locking member for being fitted with different types of said gun bodies, and thus a single said grip is suited for being assembled with a gun body of different style to decrease the manufacturing of gun bodies with varied styles and lower the production cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Inventor: Pao-Tung Shih
  • Publication number: 20020092514
    Abstract: It comprises a frame (10) bearing a compressed air/gas reservoir (11) connected to an assembly of valve (12) operated by a hammer (13) striking the said valve slide (31), a trigger (14) operating the said hammer, a tilting assembly (15) on the frame comprising a barrel (16) and a detachable, rotating, cylindric loading clip (17) with a plurality of recesses for a projectile. Means for step by step rotating the loading clip (17) are mounted on the frame (10) comprising a first set of levers connected to each other, one of them being linked to the trigger (14) and another linked to the loading clip (17) when the tilting assembly (15) is in firing position. It includes means for locking the movement of the trigger (14) immobilizing a member of the said first set of levers when the said tilting set (15) is in loading position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2001
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Inventor: Francisco Casas Salva
  • Patent number: 6405722
    Abstract: A single stage regulator is disclosed wherein a piston-type configuration is utilized to regulate an input working pressure as high as 4,500 PSI, to an output delivery pressure from 200 PSI to 1100 PSI. The single stage regulator can be used on paintball guns, markers and similar devices powered by compressed gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Inventor: Daniel H. Colby
  • Patent number: 6382200
    Abstract: A trigger mechanism having a trigger plate slidably carried in a firearm frame for linear movement. The plate includes a rear cam surface on which a sear functions via a cam follower. The plate is provided with a single hole for holding a leg or pin of a firing valve L-shaped member. The frame has a pair of aligned slots separated by the trigger plate for slidably receiving the leg or pin of the L-shaped member. A stop lug is integrally provided on the trigger plate ahead of the L-shaped member mounting hole operable to engage the frame to stop forward movement by the trigger plate. An anti-frictional coating or finish is carried on external surfaces of the trigger plate and the sear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Inventor: Sergey Levkov
  • Publication number: 20020020401
    Abstract: A toy rocket set that includes a rocket and a launcher for the rocket that utilizes compressed air to launch the rocket. The upper end of the launch tube has an end cap secured thereupon by a threaded connection. An annular elastomeric element is retained between the end cap and the launch tube body. As the end cap is tightened onto the launch tube body, the elastomeric element is compressed resulting in an adjustable frictional engagement with a radially enlarged nose cone on the rocket. Fluid pressure is then increased within a chamber within the launch tube. Once the fluid pressure increases to the point where the upward force upon the rocket overcomes the frictional forces between the elastomeric element and the nose cone, the rocket is launched from the launch tube. The toy rocket has a novel and advantageous parachute deployment mechanism. The edges of a parachute are secured to the rear end of the rocket body by several links.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventor: Thomas O. Grichen
  • Publication number: 20020017286
    Abstract: A gas regulator including a microcontroller, preferably but not exclusively for use with paintball guns or other projectile firing devices, is disclosed. The microcontroller provides advanced features including a “shots remaining” feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Inventors: John Ronald Rice, Nicholas John Marks
  • Publication number: 20020017287
    Abstract: An electronically controlled pneumatic paintball gun, comprising means for monitoring and/or controlling one or more parameters of the gun's operation and alphanumeric display means for displaying data related to said monitoring or control on a display panel integral with the gun.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Inventors: John Ronald Rice, Nicholas John Marks
  • Patent number: 6343598
    Abstract: The present invention is an improved air gun. A novel lever system is employed whereby great pressure is obtained with a single pump. The length of the gun is minimized by an improved breach design. A simple breach lever with a seal is used to open the breach for insertion of a pellet and then closed (sealed) and security. A faster firing mechanism is employed utilizing the air pressure to open the valve and when the chamber becomes depressurized, the mechanism automatically returns to its initial position, ready to accept another pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Inventor: Valery Pshenychny
  • Patent number: 6318350
    Abstract: An automatic, pneumatic mock bird launcher is able to launch a plurality of mock birds utilizing compressed air from a location remote from the user/trainer. An RF link between a transmitter carried by the trainer and a receiver mounted onto the launcher and in communication therewith relays command signals from the trainer to the launcher. The launcher utilizes a rotating carousel that holds a plurality of mock birds ready for launching. Upon receipt of a command signal the launcher fires a mock bird into the air. This allows the trainer the opportunity to train a bird dog without the constant interruption of repeatedly loading the launcher. An air pressure adjustment feature allows the mock birds to be launched to varying heights. The launch elevation of the mock birds is also adjustable. The combination of adjustments to the air pressure and elevation results in varying heights and distances for the mock birds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Innotek, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew R. Williams
  • Patent number: 6311682
    Abstract: An electronically controlled pneumatic paintball gun, comprising means for monitoring and/or controlling one or more parameters of the gun's operation and alphanumeric display means for displaying data related to said monitoring or control on a display panel integral with the gun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: NPF Limited
    Inventors: John Ronald Rice, Nicholas John Marks
  • Patent number: 6311683
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for assembling and disassembling a gas rifle and a gas tank to and from each other, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Inventor: Kwang-soo Lee
  • Patent number: 6295752
    Abstract: A projectile guide for a compressed gas powered gun which includes a hollow cylindrical sleeve-like base with an axially extending projectile guiding cylindrical opening therethrough. The base has at one end thereof and extending axially from this one end a plurality of elongate and circumferentially spaced members of finite length and configured relative to each other to define a projectile guiding passageway for a projectile fired from the gun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Crossfire, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Havlock
  • Patent number: 6276353
    Abstract: A projectile launcher is provided for propelling impact-safe foam projectiles. The projectile launcher includes a launch tube sized and configured to accommodate insertion of an impact-safe projectile with substantially little or no friction between the launch tube inner wall and the projectile. A nozzle is disposed adjacent one end of the launch tube. The nozzle is adapted to receive a flow of compressed air from a source and to discharge a stream of high-velocity air which impinges upon the projectile disposed within the launch tube. A play-participant-actuated valve is interposed between the nozzle and the source of compressed air to control the flow of air to the nozzle. The valve is adapted, when actuated, to place the nozzle in communication with the source of compressed air. Upon actuation of the valve the nozzle discharges a stream of high-velocity air which transfers momentum to the projectile, propelling it down the launch tube and into the air or at a selected target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Koala Corporation
    Inventors: Rick A. Briggs, Edward James Frantz, III
  • Patent number: 6227187
    Abstract: An air chamber that increases the volume of air stored inside a paintball gun. An increased volume of air allows the use of low-pressure/high volume valves in the gun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Inventors: Aaron K. Alexander, Larry G. Alexander
  • Patent number: 6213111
    Abstract: An air chamber that increases the volume of air stored inside a paintball gun. An increased volume of air allows the use of low-pressure/high volume valves in the gun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Inventors: Aaron K. Alexander, Larry G. Alexander
  • Patent number: 6202636
    Abstract: The present invention is a pitching machine for use in batting and fielding practice for baseball and softball. The pitching machine of the present invention uses an expanding gas to propel a ball down a barrel toward the intended target. While the expanding gas could be created by a variety of means without departing from the scope of the present invention, including a piston, ignition of a combustible fuel, or a chemical reaction, the preferred embodiment of the present invention uses compressed air in a reservoir. The compressed air is held in a reservoir and released into the barrel behind the ball using a quick release valve. Spin is imparted on the ball by means of an engageable friction surface which forms a portion of the barrel, thereby allowing the pitching machine of the present invention to simulate any type of pitch. The barrel is able to rotate relative to the pitching machine to allow the engageable friction surface to contact the ball at any angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: The Lobit Partnership
    Inventor: Norman James O'Brien
  • Patent number: 6142136
    Abstract: A compressed gas gun which includes a bolt assembly which is easily removed without the necessity of disassembling the gun or special tooling. The bolt is located at the back of the gun barrel and operatively connected to the hammer assembly by a retracting pin member positioned within an aperture formed in the hammer assembly. By depressing a spring tensioned component at the rear of the bolt, the restraining pin member is caused to move along a groove, or channel, formed in a channel member, raising the pin member from the aperture in the hammer assembly from the gun and allowing the bolt assembly to be removed from the gun. The bolt assembly is reinstalled by reversing the above process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Inventor: George Velasco
  • Patent number: 6125834
    Abstract: A cutting machine includes a gun barrel for receiving a projectile. A compression tube is disposed in flow communication with the barrel and includes a piston therein. A reservoir is disposed in flow communication with the tube and receives a first gas under pressure. A second gas fills the compression tube on a front face of the piston. And, the pressurized first gas is discharged into the tube on a back face of the piston to accelerate the piston through the tube for compressing the second gas, and in turn launching the projectile through the barrel to impact a workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Brookhaven Science Associates
    Inventors: Gaby Ciccarelli, Manomohan Subudhi, Robert E. Hall
  • Patent number: 6062208
    Abstract: The invention and disclosure is directed to improvements for a pressure gun utilized to propel paint containing balls which will, when they strike, break and apply paint to a target or, as utilized in the sport of Paint or Splat Ball, an opposing player, to identify such person as having been hit and therefore out of the game. The improvements include both a retro-fit and a custom adapted monitor with visual readout for counting the number of balls which have been shot by sensing pressure drop, or through Hall effect sensing, or mechanical switch actuation; the latter two sensing propelling bolt movement. The monitor also includes a visual readout for reverse timing to show the player game time remaining and a tank pressure supply readout which will show the player remaining tank pressure. Through microprocessing of the information of shot count and time remaining or elapsed, a shooting rate is determinable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Inventors: William J. Seefeldt, John M. Amodrea
  • Patent number: 6053157
    Abstract: A fluid propulsion device is used to discharge a working fluid at a predemined variable discharge rate. The fluid propulsion device includes a fluid chamber that is expandable upon receiving the working fluid. The fluid chamber has a plurality of chamber sections that contract at different predetermined rates to discharge the working fluid from the fluid chamber at the variable discharge rate. In one example, an elastomeric bladder defines the fluid chamber and includes a plurality of bladder sections each having a different coefficient of elasticity, causing the bladder sections to contract at the different predetermined rates. In one application, the fluid propulsion device is used in a projectile launching system, such as an airgun. The fluid propulsion system controls the launching of the projectile by discharging the working fluid at the variable discharge rate, resulting in a corresponding acceleration of the projectile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Thomas A. Frank
  • Patent number: 6024077
    Abstract: A compressed gas powered gun includes a firing system capable of achieving increased firing rates. The firing system includes a regulating system by which an air or firing chamber can be charged with compressed gas from a compressed gas source to a predetermined pressure very rapidly. The firing system also includes a trigger mechanism which enables rapid actuation of a trigger by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Inventor: Thomas G. Kotsiopoulos
  • Patent number: 6003503
    Abstract: A fluid pulsator for a compressed gun (10) or water gun (30) is provided having a housing (404) with a fluid inlet (409) and a fluid outlet (410), an internal tube (405) reciprocally mounted within the housing, and a sealing member (406) reciprocally mounted to the internal tube. The housing and internal tube define a rearward fluid pressure chamber (412) and a forward fluid pressure chamber (413). The pulsator also has a variable flow fluid control valve which varies the flow of fluid passing into the forward fluid pressure chamber to regulate the action of the pulsator. The sealing member has a sealing head (431) having a first portion (432) sized and shaped to overlap the housing about the fluid outlet and a second portion sized and shaped to be received within the fluid outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Johnson Research & Development Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Lonnie G. Johnson, John T. Applewhite
  • Patent number: 6000386
    Abstract: A fluid pulsator for a compressed gun (10) or water gun (30) is provided having a housing (604) with a fluid inlet (607) and a fluid outlet (608), an internal tube (605) reciprocally coupled to the housing, and a sealing member (606) reciprocally mounted to the internal tube. The housing and internal tube define a rearward pressure chamber (632) and a forward fluid pressure chamber (631). The fluid pulsator also has means for actuating the movement of the sealing member that can be manually manipulated to vary the actuation rate of the pulsator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Johnson Research & Development Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Lonnie G. Johnson, John T. Applewhite
  • Patent number: 5908024
    Abstract: The breech block for pneumatic shooting device is utilized in weapons for expelling solid-state bodies or marking pellets. It has a simplified and easy for maintenance construction ensuring long term exploitation and minimum fluid consumption for one shot. The breech block comprises a housing 1 in which a barrel 2 is mounted. A step-shaped cylindrical bore is formed in the housing 1, and a piston 4 having two parts 9 and 10 of different diameters is placed in the bore. The step-shaped bore in the housing 1 has a portion 13 which diameter is greater than the diameter of the rear part 10 of the piston 4. The piston 4 is provided with an axial passage 14, the rear end of which being connected to radial openings 8 formed at the rear part 10 of the piston 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: Bulforce Engineering Ltd.
    Inventor: Victor S. Staev
  • Patent number: 5904133
    Abstract: A bolt-on air chamber that increases the volume of air stored inside a paintball gun. The increased volume of air allows the use of low pressure/high volume valves in the gun. The bolt-on air chamber also holds the gun together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Inventors: Aaron K. Alexander, Larry G. Alexander
  • Patent number: 5884615
    Abstract: A dual mode ammunition loading air or gas-powered gun. The gun is conceived for shooting manually loaded small bullets shot by shot, or for alternatively acting as a repeating weapon for spherical ammunition (2) fed from a loader (4), dispensed one by one into a pocket (9) of an ammunition shifting body (8) mounted in a sliding arrangement, perpendicular to the barrel (3), so as to shift the ammunition up to a position in coalignment with the barrel (3) and with an air/gas delivery hole (17), of a compression chamber. The trigger (18) of the gun, is pin-jointed with a drawing member (19) spring-loaded at one (19a) of its ends and whose other end (19b) is connected to the striking hammer (21) for its cocking and ulterior release. The shifting body (8) is linked with the trigger through an assoicated lever (23) whose first end (23a) is rotatably pin-jointed with said trigger (18) and whose other end (23b) is hinged connected with said shifting body (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Industrias El Gamo, S.A.
    Inventor: Francisco Casas Salva
  • Patent number: 5878736
    Abstract: A gas-powered paintball gun has two pressure regulators which supply two different gas pressures for gun operation: a lower-pressure gas for quickly but gently loading balls into the chamber of the gun, and a high-pressure gas for consistently and efficiently propelling balls out of the barrel. A further aspect of the invention resides in the arrangement of the bolt under a removable cover, which gives easy access to the bolt, the breech and the barrel to enable these parts to be cleaned without major disassembly of other parts of the gun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Brass Eagle, Inc.
    Inventor: Nicanor D. Lotuaco, III
  • Patent number: 5791327
    Abstract: A combination cartridge ?21! and grip ?20! for propelling a projectile ?28! having frangible walls ?89! forming a cavity ?93! for holding a disabling agent such that when the projectile strikes an object it will burst and spread the agent over the target, and wherein the cartridge includes a chamber ?27A! for receiving a projectile and the grip includes a firing assemblies ?46A!, moveable between cocked and uncocked positions, and a trigger actuator ?37A! for allowing the associated firing assembly to move from the cocked to the uncocked position, with means for latching the cartridge to the grip including cocking means for cocking the firing assembly when the cartridge and grip are latched together, and means for propelling the projectile from the cartridge towards the object in response to the firing assembly being activated by the trigger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Code-Eagle, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Riggs, deceased, Bernard K. Hymmen, Karl H. Hymmen
  • Patent number: 5785038
    Abstract: A projectile substance is pneumatically propelled. The projection substance is inserted onto a longitudinal bore of a barrel and a rupture disk is attached to a first end of the barrel. Next, the first end of the barrel is coupled to a first end of a pneumatic reservoir having a chamber therein. The rupture disk, as attached, acts to form a seal between the longitudinal bore and the chamber. Then, a gas is introduced into the chamber until a sufficient pressure is attained within the chamber to rupture the disk. When the disk ruptures, the gas in the chamber rushes into the longitudinal bore with sufficient force to propel the projectile substance out of the barrel. One or more pistons may be slidably disposed within the chamber to form more than one chamber portion. An average pressure for propelling the projectile substance may be increased by various methods of forcing the piston(s) toward the projectile substance as it is being driven out of the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: Earth Resources Corporation
    Inventor: Charles C. Mattern
  • Patent number: 5743246
    Abstract: A projectile substance is pneumatically propelled. The projectile substance is inserted onto a longitudinal bore of a barrel and a rupture disk is attached to a first end of the barrel. Next, the first end of the barrel is coupled to a first end of a pneumatic reservoir having a chamber therein. The rupture disk, as attached, acts to form a seal between the longitudinal bore and the chamber. Then, a gas is introduced into the chamber until a sufficient pressure is attained within the chamber to rupture the disk. When the disk ruptures, the gas in the chamber rushes into the longitudinal bore with sufficient force to propel the projectile substance out of the barrel. One or more pistons may be slidably disposed within the chamber to form more than one chamber portion. An average pressure for propelling the projectile substance may be increased by various methods of forcing the piston(s) toward the projectile substance as it is being driven out of the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Earth Resources Corporation
    Inventor: Charles C. Mattern
  • Patent number: 5706795
    Abstract: A multi-purpose projectile launcher including a body, a barrel forwardly projecting from the body, and a tube forwardly projecting from the body within the barrel and concentric with the barrel to form an annular-shaped space therebetween. A tubular projectile extends over the tube within the barrel and forms a seal between the barrel and the tube. A firing assembly releases gas from a cartridge into an interior chamber, which is in fluid flow communication with the space behind the projectile, to drive the projectile over the tube and out of the barrel. The gas cartridge can be a pressurized gas cartridge having CO.sub.2 or N.sub.2 or a self-generating gas cartridge having gunpowder. The projectile can be longitudinally segmented so that a deflector located at a forward end of the tube separates and deflects the segments radially outward from the tube at equal velocities. The segments can be utilized to evenly deploy hobble lines or a net.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Inventor: Phillip L. Gerwig
  • Patent number: 5645006
    Abstract: A bladder assembly for retaining and discharging a fluid under pressure iudes a first expandable elastomeric bladder member having a first annularly-shaped base end for anchoring to a foundation and defining a first fixed end, and a first dome-shaped wall portion upstanding from the first fixed end and defining a first movable end. The assembly further includes a second expandable elastomeric bladder member disposed within and contiguous to the first bladder member, and having a second annularly-shaped base end for anchoring to the foundation and defining a second fixed end, and a second dome-shaped wall portion upstanding from the second fixed end and defining a second movable end. The first and second bladder members and the foundation are joined by fixing the first and second base ends to the foundation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Paul E. Moody
  • Patent number: 5586545
    Abstract: Two embodiments of a compressed gas gun are disclosed. In the first embodiment, a slidable barrel supported by two barrel guides is employed. A thermoplastic compression sleeve provides a bearing for the slidable barrel, which impacts a valve assembly upon actuation of a trigger mechanism. The impact momentarily opens the valve thereby releasing compressed gas and expelling a projectile. An anti-rebound lock prevents rebound of the barrel and subsequent discharge of gas. In the second embodiment, a slidable bolt assembly serve the function of impacting the valve. The barrel is rigidly attached to the frame of the gun and a spring forces the slidable bolt assembly against the valve. A seal is provided between the slidable bolt assembly and the barrel for allowing slidable movement and preventing the loss of compressed gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Inventor: John A. McCaslin
  • Patent number: 5570676
    Abstract: This invention is related to a kit to retrofit a mechanically spring-powered air gun to a gas spring-powered air gun, and to a self-contained gas piston for an air gun. The gas piston has a center latch which engages the center latch operated by the trigger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Inventor: Thomas D. Gore
  • Patent number: 5553599
    Abstract: A handbill is rolled to form a coil that is retained within a collapsible cup as it is ejected from an elongated tube and delivered to its destination. The collapsible cup has a cylindrical wall and a bottom member at one end that does not contribute to the structural strength of the cup. The elongated tube is connected to a controllable source of pressurized fluid that is used to eject the handbill assembly from the tube. The handbill assembly and delivery system avoids the problems of prior assemblies and systems that projected cone-shaped paper flyers through the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Inventor: Armando W. Benavides
  • Patent number: 5542406
    Abstract: A compressed gas powered gun for firing fragile projectiles includes a bolt assembly that will retract and not fracture a projectile when it gets hung up in the breech due to misalignment with the barrel. The bolt assembly includes a front section that will come in contact with the projectile and direct gas at same, a back section for securing the bolt assembly to the cocking mechanism of the gun, a rod extending from the front section and slidable within the rear section and a spring positioned between the front and back sections about the rod so that the front section will retract when coming in contact with a projectile hung up in the breech of the gun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Inventor: Michael A. Oneto
  • Patent number: 5535730
    Abstract: A containment vessel is provided to allow the safe, environmentally acceptable release and recontainerization or other processing of hazardous contents from compressed gas cylinders or other target container. The containment vessel is used to position a gas cylinder or other target container adjacent to one or more pneumatic guns. A variety of projectiles are provided for use with the pneumatic guns to pierce the body of the target container. A pneumatic chamber and gun barrel are attached to the containment vessel intermediate the ends to fire a projectile which will puncture the target. Connections are provided for communicating with the containment vessel for evacuating and recontainerizing the contents released by rupturing the target without releasing the contents into the environment. All of the gas cylinder processing operations may be conducted remotely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: Earth Resources Corporation
    Inventor: Charles C. Mattern
  • Patent number: 5529527
    Abstract: Cannons for launching confetti into the air are disclosed in which readily removable connectors secure the elongated hollow tubes filled with confetti to a source of compressed gas. The elongated hollow tubes may be composed of plastic or cardboard, and the readily removable connectors include threaded joints, bayonet joints and quick-disconnect couplings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Inventor: James O. Watkins
  • Patent number: 5507271
    Abstract: Apparatus for propelling balls smaller than a baseball, such as a golf whiffle ball, at timed intervals from a storage bin. The bin contains a plate with a single hole that rotates at timed intervals and permits one ball to be delivered to a continuous air source to propel the ball to a batter. This small ball is then hit with a bat that is smaller and lighter in weight, than an ordinary baseball bat. By design, the storage bin has a mix unit in it to prevent the balls from forming a gridlock or jamming, thereby preventing normal timed operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Inventor: James M. Actor
  • Patent number: 5499619
    Abstract: A gun for projecting a dart underwater to inject a gas into an underwater animal. The inventive device includes a gun body having a barrel projecting therefrom. A dart having a pressurized propellant is punctured by the gun and caused to exit the gun barrel. Upon striking a fish, the dart injects a volume of gas into the fish to disable and render buoyant the fish for capture. The device can be utilized for self defense, as well as for hunting and capturing of underwater animals and/or fish.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1996
    Inventor: Joseph A. Tarta
  • Patent number: 5497758
    Abstract: A compressed gas powered gun having a spring biased slider reciprocally moveable within the breech of the gun; the slider being released by a trigger from a cocked position to a firing position. The slider includes a hammer provided with a roller having a beveled contact surface for engaging a vertically oriented valve stem to release compressed gas from a gas source into the barrel and breech of the gun for propelling a projectile and for recocking the slider, respectively. A gas control system includes an annular partition seal moveable with respect to the slider to create a partition between breech and barrel and a pair of gas release valves communicating respectively with barrel and breech to control pressure within the barrel and breech, hence controlling projectile velocity and recocking force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Inventors: Jerrold M. Dobbins, Joseph M. Dobbins
  • Patent number: 5462042
    Abstract: A CO.sub.2 powered paint ball gun is provided operative to three times expand CO.sub.2 gas as it is extracted from a container of liquid CO.sub.2 and ducted to a position behind a paint ball disposed in the barrel of said gun. The gun includes three adjustments by which the velocity of the discharge of a paint ball from the barrel of the gun may be adjusted and includes a bolt action which is gas operated. Furthermore, the gun components may be readily disassembled for cleaning and/or repair and replacement and the initial expansion of CO.sub.2 gas under pressure occurs in a passage passing through the hand grip of the gun in a manner such that the chilled first expanded CO.sub.2 gas may be warmed by the heat of the user's hand grasping the hand grip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Inventor: Andrew J. Greenwell
  • Patent number: 5460154
    Abstract: A projectile substance is pneumatically propelled. The projectile substance is inserted into a longitudinal bore (23) of a barrel (22) and a rupture disk (54) is attached to a first end of the barrel (22). Next, the first end of the barrel is coupled to a first end of a pneumatic reservoir (26) having a chamber (27) therein. The rupture disk (54), as attached, acts to form a seal between the longitudinal bore (23) and the chamber (27). Then, a gas is introduced into the chamber (27) until a sufficient pressure is attained within the chamber (27) to rupture the disk (54). When the disk (54) ruptures, the gas in the chamber (27) rushes into the longitudinal (23) bore with sufficient force to propel the projectile substance out of the barrel (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Assignee: Earth Resources Corporation
    Inventors: Charles C. Mattern, Scott A. Santora