Projectile launcher with offset feed tube

Abstract

A launcher body defining with breech therein for receiving a projectile is provided. The breech defines a breech longitudinal axis through the center thereof. A feed tube is connected to the launcher body and defines a projectile feed bore. The projectile feed bore includes a projectile feed bore longitudinal axis through the center thereof. The breech longitudinal axis and the projectile feed bore longitudinal axis are configured to be offset from and not to intersect each other. A projectile is routed through the feed bore, such as from a hopper using gravity, and into the breech. The center axis of the projectile is substantially aligned with the breech longitudinal axis so that the projectile is prevented from bouncing back into the feed bore to avoid jamming of the projectile during firing.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is related to and claims priority from earlier filed provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/628,855, filed Nov. 17, 2004.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to projectile launchers, including paintball markers. More specifically, the present invention relates to a new bore and feed tube configuration for projectile launchers, and, more specifically, paintball markers.

It should be understood that the present invention relates to the general loading of a projectile into the breech of a projectile launcher. The present invention can be used in connection with any type of projectile launcher but is particularly well-suited for use in a paintball marker environment for launching paintballs. While reference may be made specifically to paintball markers for launching paintballs, this is just one of many different types of devices that can employ the present invention. It should be understood that the scope of the present invention is intended to encompass all type of projectile launchers for launching any type of projectile.

By way of example for ease of illustration and discussion, the prior art and the present invention will discussed in detail in connection with a paintball marker and its breech system.

In the prior art, it is well known to feed paintballs individually from a hopper which is commonly gravity fed. As seen in FIG. 1, a prior art paintball marker 10 is generally shown to include a main body 12 with a grip 20, trigger 18 and barrel 14. Within the main body 12 is a breech 22 with a bolt 24 that actuates back and forth therein. The bolt 24 is retracted to allow a paintball 16 at position 16A to enter the breech 22 from a supply of paintballs in a gravity-fed hopper 26, for example, via feed tube 30, in preparation for launching. Once the ball 16 is within the breech as shown at position referenced as 16B, the bolt 24 can be moved forward, as in well known in the art, to prevent further projectiles to enter breech 22. Then, the projectile 16 within the breech can then be launched in the normal fashion from the barrel 14 at position 16C, such as by the delivery of a blast of compressed air behind the projectile 16. However, the paintball 16 may bounce back up either fully or partially back up into the breech 22 as shown at position referenced as 16C.

The desire for faster cycle times and firing rates has required that the loading and launching sequence be sped up considerably. This requires that the paintball 16 be loaded and prepared for launching much faster. In the prior art, breech sensors, such as the sensor 28 shown in FIG. 1, are typically employed to sense when the paintball 16 is in the breech 22 and ready to be launched. This sensor 28 is electronically connected to the operating system and the pneumatics of the marker 10 to fully control the timing of loading and launching. Thus, if a paintball 16 is sensed within the breech 22 because it has reached position 16B, then it is perceived by the operating system that the paintball 16 is suitable for immediate launching.

However, there are significant problems that can arise in current markers that have increased firing rates. There are further problems that arise when a breech sensor 28 is relied upon to determine whether there is a paintball 16 in the breech ready for launch at position 16B. More specifically, as will be discussed below, it is possible that a paintball 16 may enter the breech 22, set off the breech sensor 28 indicating that a paintball is in the breech at position 16B when it is, in fact, still moving within the breech, namely, bouncing upward at position 16C. If a launch sequence is initiated when the paintball 16 is bouncing, rather than settled in the breech at position 16B, it will likely be chopped by the bolt 24 when it moves forward.

Turning now to 2a, 2b and 2c, a prior art system is shown in detail. In FIG. 2A, the breech 22 of prior art marker 10 is shown receiving a paintball 16, in position 16A, from a vertically positioned feed tube 30 emanating downwardly from a feed hopper (not shown in FIGS. 2A-C). A paintball 16 is shown moving downward into the breech 22 of the marker 10 in the direction of the indicated arrows. As can be seen, the longitudinal downward path of travel of the paintball 16 is directly aligned with the center floor position of the breech 22 marked by an “x” in FIG. 2A where the center point P of the paintball passes substantially exactly through the longitudinal axis B of the breech 22. Thus, the lowermost point of the paintball 16 contacts the floor of the breech 22 as if the paintball 16 were hitting a flat surface. FIG. 2B illustrates a position of the paintball 16 just before it impacts with the floor of the breech 22 which is at position 16B. At point, the breech sensor 28 can sense the paintball 16 believing that it is suitable to be launched. However, the paintball 16 then bounces directly upward, as shown in FIG. 2C, as indicated by the arrow, up to position 16C. Since the upward bounce path is aligned with the downward travel path solely within a Y axis, all energy of the travel is directed to the upward bounce path thereby causing bounce-back back up into the feed tube 30 thereby risking chop of the paintball 16.

This bounce-back, of even only a few millimeters, is very problematic because the breech sensor 28 perceives that the paintball 16 is in the breech 22 when it sees it for the first time. However, it will not likely fully reside within the breech 22 during the bounce back period, namely, when it is at position 16C. When the breech sensor 28 senses a paintball 16, it allows bolt cycling, namely, the movement of the bolt 24 to a forward position in preparation for launch. If a paintball 16, which has been sensed within the breech 22, is in fact bouncing back and a pull of trigger 18 is executed, subsequent cycling of the bolt 24 will chop the ball in half, thereby damaging it resulting in serious problems. It is possible that the marker will completely jam due to the presence of paintball shards within the breech 22 thereby prevention further cycling of bolt 24. Thus, detection of a paintball 16 within the breech 22 does not mean that the paintball 16 will still reside in the breech 22 to stay in a proper launching position at 16B when the bolt cycles next for launching.

There have been many attempts in the prior to address the foregoing bounce-back problem associated with vertical feed tubes. In one example, the breech sensor may be programmed to only permit bolt cycling if a paintball is sensed continuously for a given period of time to ensure that it has settled down from bouncing. However, this prior art attempt to solve this problem by waiting for the paintball to settle undesirably increases cycle time.

There have been various other attempts to speed up firing rates in the prior art where paintballs are pre-loaded with a side positioned hopper/loader. The “pre-loading” system of these markers position paintballs to be later launched within a cam or similar structure for later controlled loading into the breech. Due to this “pre-loading”, cycle times are slower than those than can be achieved with gravity fed hoppers. Also, these pre-loading systems do not use breech sensors. The use of breech sensors can dramatically speed up cycle time because the bolt system can be cycled as soon as a paintball is sensed within the breech without having to wait for the pre-loader to cycle.

In view of the foregoing, there is a need to improve a marker construction to increase firing rates and cycle times without requiring extended wait times for paintball to settle prior to bolt cycling or custom pre-loading systems. Thus, there is a need for an improved breech and feed tube construction to deaden the travel of a paintball upon entry into a breech to ensure that the paintball is properly positioned when the bolt cycles for launching.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention preserves the advantages of prior art projectile launchers and projectile feed systems, devices and methods. In addition, it provides new advantages not found in currently available systems and methods and overcomes many disadvantages of such currently available systems, devices and methods.

The invention is generally directed to the novel and unique projectile feed tube configuration that enables faster launching cycle times while avoiding jamming of projectiles during such launching.

The present invention includes a launcher body that defines a breech therein for receiving a projectile is provided. The breech defines a breech longitudinal axis through the center thereof. A feed tube is connected to the launcher body and defines a projectile feed bore. The projectile feed bore includes a projectile feed bore longitudinal axis through the center thereof. The breech longitudinal axis and the projectile feed bore longitudinal axis are configured to be offset from and not intersect each other. A projectile is routed through the feed bore, such as from a hopper using gravity, and into the breech. The center axis of the projectile is substantially aligned with the breech longitudinal axis so that the projectile is prevented from bouncing back into the feed bore to avoid jamming of the projectile during firing.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved marker construction that prevent unwanted bounce-back of paintballs caused by gravity fed hoppers. There is a need to increase firing rates and cycle times without requiring extended wait times for a paintball to settle in the breech prior to bolt cycling or custom pre-loading systems. Thus, there is a need for an improved breech and feed tube construction to deaden the travel of a paintball upon entry into a breech to ensure that the paintball is properly positioned before the bolt cycles for launching.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The 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:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a prior art paintball marker;

FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view through the line 1-1 of FIG. 1 when a paintball is traveling through a feed tube from a hopper;

FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view through the line 1-1 of FIG. 1 when a paintball is bottoming out in the breech and being sensed by the breech sensor;

FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view through the line 1-1 of FIG. 1 when a paintball is bouncing back up into the feed tube after being sensed by the breech sensor;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a paintball marker equipped with the feed tube and breech construction of the present invention;

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view through the line 3-3 of FIG. 3 when a paintball is traveling through a feed tube from a hopper;

FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view through the line 3-3 of FIG. 3 when a paintball is entering further into the breech;

FIG. 4C is cross-sectional view through the line 3-3 of FIG. 3 just before a paintball bottoms out on the floor of the breech;

FIG. 4D is a cross-sectional view through the line 3-3 of FIG. 3 when a paintball is bottoming out on the floor of the breech; and

FIG. 4E is a cross-sectional view through the line 3-3 of FIG. 3 when a paintball is deflected laterally into the breech without further bounce-back.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Turning first to FIG. 3, and in accordance with the present invention, an improved paintball marker 110 construction is provided. The marker 110 of the present invention includes an improved breech 122 and feed tube construction where the feed tube 130 is offset relative to the breech 122 a distance O, as shown in FIG. 4A.

A paintball, as an example projectile, is typically approximately 17.5 mm. For this sized projectile, an offset of feed tube 130 to breech 122 is preferably in the range of 1-5 mm but can be greater or smaller depending on the application. For example, the offset can be 1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm, 5 mm or greater.

Turning now specifically to FIGS. 3 and 4A-E, the marker 110 construction of the present invention is shown. In FIG. 3, the marker 110 of the present invention is generally shown to include a main body 112 with a grip 120, trigger 118 and barrel 114. Within the main body 112 is a breech 122 with a bolt 124 that actuates back and forth therein. The bolt 124 is retracted to allow a paintball 116 to enter the breech 122 from a supply of paintballs 116 in a gravity-fed hopper 126, for example, in preparation for launching from position 116A. Once the paintball 116 is within the breech 122 at position 116B, the bolt 124 can be moved forward, as in well known in the art, to prevent further projectiles 116 to enter breech 122. Then, the projectile 116 within the breech 116 can then be launched in the normal fashion, such as by the delivery of a blast of compressed air behind the projectile, through barrel 114 at position 116C. The present invention specifically provides an improved feed tube 130 and breech 122 to prevent the paintball 116 from bouncing back up into the feed tube 130, either fully or partially, to remain seated in the breech 122 at position 116B.

In FIG. 4A, a paintball 116 is shown descending vertically from a feed hopper (not shown in FIGS. 4A-E) by the assistance of gravity. As can be seen, the vertical centerline 132 of the paintball 116 is aligned with the vertical centerline 134 of the feed tube 130. Thus, the travel of the paintball 116 is initially along this vertical path. FIG. 4B illustrates further downward movement of the paintball 116 along this vertical path. As the paintball 116 further drops, as shown in FIG. 4C, an off-center portion of the paintball 116 first contacts the side wall of the breech at contact point 136. Such an off-center impact causes the paintball 116 to deflect laterally (i.e. to the left), as shown in FIG. 4D and indicated by the arrow. With this lateral movement, the deflection forces of the paintball 116 are distributed in both the Y and X directions as opposed to solely in the vertical Y direction as in the prior art shown in FIGS. 2A-C. FIG. 4E illustrates further lateral deflection of the paintball 116 to bring it to a deadened stop resting within the breech 122 without any bounce-back where the center point 138 of paintball is now aligned with the centerline 138 of the breech 122 rather than aligned with the centerline 140 of the feed tube 130. In fact, the center point P of the paintball in FIG. 4E is substantially on the longitudinal axis running through the breech 122 and through the centerline 138 running therethrough. At this point, as shown as position 116B in FIG. 3, the paintball 116 can be is sensed within the breech 122 by breech sensor 128 to accurately indicate that there is, in fact, a paintball 116 in position 116B which is ready for launch. Then, cycling of bolt 124 can immediately begin with confidence because the paintball 116 is ready for launching and not bouncing within the breech 122, as in the prior art paintball constructions.

The feed tube 130 is positioned offset relative to the breech 122 to achieve the desired results discussed herein. It is preferred that the feed tube 130 is integrated into the main body 112 of the marker 110 for improved precision control of the movement of paintballs 116 as they enter the breech 122 of a marker 110.

In view of the foregoing, a paintball marker 110 is provided with an improved breech 112 and feed tube 130 construction. The offset positioning of the feed tube 130 relative to the breech 122 causes a paintball 116 to come to a stop faster at position 116B than in prior art constructions thereby allowing bolt cycling to begin sooner with the assistance of a breech sensor 124.

It would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to the illustrated embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. All such modifications and changes are intended to be covered by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A projectile launcher, comprising:

a launcher body defining a breech therein for receiving a projectile; the breech defining a breech longitudinal axis through the center thereof;

a feed tube connected to the launcher body and defining a projectile feed bore; the projectile feed bore including a projectile feed bore longitudinal axis through the center thereof; and

the breech longitudinal axis and the projectile feed bore longitudinal axis being configured to not intersect each other.

2. The projectile launcher of claim 1, wherein the breech longitudinal axis and the projectile feed bore longitudinal axis are arranged approximately 90 degrees from each other.

3. The projectile launcher of claim 1, wherein the breech longitudinal axis and the projectile feed bore longitudinal axis being offset from each other a distance of approximately 3 mm.

4. The projectile launcher of claim 1, wherein the breech longitudinal axis and the projectile feed bore longitudinal axis being offset from each other a distance of approximately 4 mm.

5. The projectile launcher of claim 1, wherein the breech longitudinal axis and the projectile feed bore longitudinal axis being offset from each other a distance in the range of approximately 1 mm to approximately 5 mm.

6. The projectile launcher of claim 1, further comprising:

a hopper connected to the feed tube; and

projectiles located within the hopper and being routable by gravity through the projectile feed bore and into the breech.

7. A method of loading a projectile into a projectile launcher, comprising the steps of:

providing a launcher body defining a breech therein for receiving a projectile; the breech defining a breech longitudinal axis through the center thereof;

providing a feed tube connected to the launcher body and defining a projectile feed bore; the projectile feed bore including a projectile feed bore longitudinal axis through the center thereof;

positioning the breech longitudinal axis and the projectile feed bore longitudinal axis to not intersect each other;

providing a projectile for launching having a center axis therethrough;

routing a projectile through the feed bore;

routing the projectile into the breech;

substantially aligning the center axis of the projectile with the breech longitudinal axis; and

whereby the projectile is prevented from bouncing back into the feed bore.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the breech longitudinal axis and the projectile feed bore longitudinal axis are positioned approximately 90 degrees from each other.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the breech longitudinal axis and the projectile feed bore longitudinal axis are positioned from each other a distance of approximately 3 mm.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the breech longitudinal axis and the projectile feed bore longitudinal axis are positioned from each other a distance of approximately 4 mm.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the breech longitudinal axis and the projectile feed bore longitudinal axis are positioned from each other a distance in the range of approximately 1 mm to approximately 5 mm.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

providing a hopper connected to the feed tube with projectiles therein;

routing the projectiles from the hopper into the feed tube by gravity.