Abstract: An anti-chop system for mechanical paintball markers includes an optical sensor in the breech that detects presence of a properly seated paintball in the breech for launch. When such a paintball is not detected, a control circuit communicates with an actuatable structure that physically communicates with a paintball marker component that moves as part of the firing and launch of a paintball. For example, such an actuatable structure is a lever arm that communicates with the bolt or trigger to prevent the firing operation of the paintball marker when a paintball is not ready for launch.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an apparatus and method of directing a portion of a pressurize gas flow through a port in the breech after is leaves a bolt in a projectile launching device, such as a paintball marker, to perform additional functions in parallel with launching the projectile from the launching device. For example, the additional function can be a mechanism to prevent, or free, any potential bottlenecks of projectiles at that location when using a gravity fed hopper, for example. An agitating device is at least partially disposed in the outlet of a hopper. A bolt, having key groove or gas port, is configured to bleed air to a port in the breech that is used to fire a loaded projectile, the air is provided from a pressurized air source. An actuator moves the agitating device when air is bled through the key groove and the port.

Abstract: The latching/locking loader mechanism of the present invention provides a quick-release latch mechanism where a user can unlock and lock the attachment of the loader to the paintball gun quickly and easily without the use of tools. The latching/locking mechanism stays locked or unlocked without further use of tools. A spring-biased gate is provided in the path of the paintballs, namely, in the feed neck of the loader. When the loader is installed on the paintball marker, via a feed collar, deflection posts on the feed collar push the gate out of the paintball path in the feed neck of the loader so that paintballs may freely pass from the storage chamber of the loader and then into the breech of the paintball marker. When not installed on a feed collar, the gate blocks the path of paintballs.

Abstract: An anti-chop system for mechanical paintball markers includes an optical sensor in the breech that detects presence of a properly seated paintball in the breech for launch. When such a paintball is not detected, a control circuit communicates with an actuatable structure that physically communicates with a paintball marker component that moves as part of the firing and launch of a paintball. For example, such an actuatable structure is a lever arm that communicates with the bolt or trigger to prevent the firing operation of the paintball marker when a paintball is not ready for launch.

Abstract: The latching/locking loader mechanism of the present invention provides a quick-release latch mechanism where a user can unlock and lock the attachment of the loader to the paintball gun quickly and easily without the use of tools. The latching/locking mechanism stays locked or unlocked without further use of tools. A spring-biased gate is provided in the path of the paintballs, namely, in the feed neck of the loader. When the loader is installed on the paintball marker, via a feed collar, deflection posts on the feed collar push the gate out of the paintball path in the feed neck of the loader so that paintballs may freely pass from the storage chamber of the loader and then into the breech of the paintball marker. When not installed on a feed collar, the gate blocks the path of paintballs.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an apparatus and method of directing a portion of a pressurize gas flow through a port in the breech after is leaves a bolt in a projectile launching device, such as a paintball marker, to perform additional functions in parallel with launching the projectile from the launching device. For example, the additional function can be a mechanism to prevent, or free, any potential bottlenecks of projectiles at that location when using a gravity fed hopper, for example. An agitating device is at least partially disposed in the outlet of a hopper. A bolt, having key groove or gas port, is configured to bleed air to a port in the breech that is used to fire a loaded projectile, the air is provided from a pressurized air source. An actuator moves the agitating device when air is bled through the key groove and the port.