Patents by Inventor Bruce Crites

Bruce Crites has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Active feed paintball loader with flexible impeller
    Patent number: 7357129
    Abstract: A paintball loader has a motor-driven impeller with a plurality of resilient arms that engage and move paintballs in the loader housing. The resilient arms preferably are spaced to accommodate paintballs therebetween. The arms are sufficiently flexible to yield so as not to rupture the paintball shells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Inventors: Terry Neumaster, Bruce Crites, Michael Jezdimir
  • Active feed paintball loader with flexible impeller
    Publication number: 20070023025
    Abstract: A paintball loader has a motor-driven impeller with a plurality of resilient arms that engage and move paintballs in the loader housing. The resilient arms preferably are spaced to accommodate paintballs therebetween. The arms are sufficiently flexible to yield so as not to rupture the paintball shells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Inventors: Terry Neumaster, Bruce Crites, Michael Jezdimir
  • Active feed paintball loader with flexible impeller
    Patent number: 7021302
    Abstract: An impeller for an active-feed paintball loader has resilient arms that engage paintballs in the lower portion (well) of the loader and advance them to and through the outfeed tube. The resilient arms are sufficiently stiff to move unobstructed paintballs located between the arms, and sufficiently flexible to yield when forced against stationary paintballs so as not to rupture the paintball shells, the arms substantially returning to their original shape when the obstruction is removed. Accordingly, when the motor is shut off, the arms will simply flex backward as they encounter stationary paintballs. Should a paintball jam occur in the vicinity of the impeller, the arm(s) can flex around the jammed ball without breaking it, and help to dislodge it so as to clear the jam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Brass Eagle LLC
    Inventors: Terry Neumaster, Bruce Crites, Michael Jezdimir
  • Active feed paintball loader with flexible impeller
    Publication number: 20040074489
    Abstract: An impeller for an active-feed paintball loader has resilient arms that engage paintballs in the lower portion (well) of the loader and advance them to and through the outfeed tube. The resilient arms are sufficiently stiff to move unobstructed paintballs located between the arms, and sufficiently flexible to yield when forced against stationary paintballs so as not to rupture the paintball shells, the arms substantially returning to their original shape when the obstruction is removed. Accordingly, when the motor is shut off, the arms will simply flex backward as they encounter stationary paintballs. Should a paintball jam occur in the vicinity of the impeller, the arm(s) can flex around the jammed ball without breaking it, and help to dislodge it so as to clear the jam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Applicant: BRASS EAGLE, INC.
    Inventors: Terry Neumaster, Bruce Crites, Michael Jezdimir