NON-LETHAL PROJECTILE LAUNCHER WITH SPLIT RECEIVER
A non-lethal projectile launcher (such as a paintball marker) having a clamshell type receiver. One side of the receiver may be split into a front portion and a rear portion that can be independently detached from the other side. This allows the rear portion to be detached to provide access to internal components without requiring removal of the entire side of the receiver.
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This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/025,194 filed Jan. 31, 2008, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present invention generally relates to an apparatus for launching projectiles. In one aspect, the invention relates to a split clam-shell receiver for a projectile marker that provides easy access to internal components. In another aspect, the invention relates to a connection between a gas inlet line and valve assembly. In a further aspect, the invention provides a mechanism for maintaining the alignment of a valve assembly with a sleeve surrounding the valve assembly.
BACKGROUNDDevices that fire frangible projectiles are known in the art. For example, marking guns (commonly known as paintball guns or paintball markers) typically use compressed gas or combustible fuel to propel frangible projectiles that break upon impact. The frangible projectiles commonly have a gelatinous or plastic shell designed to break upon impact. Typically, the shells are filled with marking material, such as paint or an immobilizing material, such as a noxious chemical.
These types of devices have a wide variety of applications. For example, a popular recreational use is in paintball games, in which opposing sides attempt to seek out and “shoot” one another with paintballs. Frangible projectiles have also been used to segregate cattle within a herd. Likewise, law enforcement personnel employ frangible projectiles with immobilizing materials for crowd control.
From time to time, internal components of the device need to be accessed for maintenance purposes. This requires disassembly of the device, which can be cumbersome and time consuming.
SUMMARYAccording to one aspect, the invention provides a paintball marker (or other projectile launcher) having a clam shell-type receiver. In some embodiments, one side of the clam shell receiver may include multiple portions. For example, the side may have a front portion and a rear portion that may be independently decoupled from the other side. This may be used to allow access to different internal components of the paintball marker.
According to another aspect, the invention provides a connection between a gas inlet line and valve assembly. In one embodiment, an external surface of the valve may include a cone-like shape that is mated to fit in inverted flare connection on the gas inlet line.
According to a further aspect, the invention provides a mechanism for maintaining the alignment of a valve assembly with a sleeve surrounding the valve assembly.
The present disclosure will be described hereinafter with reference to the attached drawings which are given as non-limiting examples only, in which:
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Components in the Figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. The exemplification set out herein illustrates embodiments of the invention, and such exemplification is not meant to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSIn the example shown, the marker 100 includes a barrel 102 with a muzzle end 104 and a breach end 106. The breach end 106 of the barrel 102 may include threads (
As shown, the marker 100 includes a tank adaptor 114 adapted to be in fluid communication with a supply of compressed gas or combustible fuel, such as a canister of carbon dioxide or propane, for example. In this example, the tank adaptor 114 is attached to the bottom of the receiver's 108 grip 120. It should be appreciated, however, that the tank adaptor 114 may be located anywhere on the marker 100, so as to provide the marker 100 with a supply of compressed gas or combustible fuel. Embodiments are contemplated in which the tank adaptor 114 could be optional. For example, the receiver 108 may include a port that allows for remote installation of a canister of compressed gas or combustible fuel. In the example shown, a conduit 116 allows flow between the gas tank adaptor 114 and a valve assembly 118 (as best seen in
As shown, the receiver 108 includes a grip portion 120 that is dimensioned for a user to grasp. In the example shown, an optional foregrip 122 is attached to the receiver 108 so a user may grasp with his/her other hand to steady the marker 100. By way of another example, the marker 100 may be formed without a grip 120. For example, the marker 100 may be shaped like a rifle in which the user holds the marker 100 via the receiver 108 and buttstop. In this example, an optional rail 129 is attached to the top of the receiver 108 for mounting accessories, such as a scope, handle, site, etc. Although this example shows a picatinny rail, it should be appreciated that other types of rails or other accessories could be attached to the top of the receiver 108. As discussed below, a portion of the receiver 108 may be detached to provide access to internal components without requiring removal of the rail 129. Likewise, as discussed below, the receiver 108 can be opened to access internal components without removing the tank adaptor 114.
In the example shown, the receiver 108 is of the clamshell type with a first side 124 (the left side in this example) and a second side 126 (the right side in this example). The term “clamshell type receiver” means a receiver that is split approximately along the receiver's longitudinal axis into a first side and a second side. In the example shown, the first side 124 and the second side 126 extend longitudinally along the entire length of the receiver 108. The first side 124 and second side 126 are coupled together in this example using a plurality of bolts 128 and 131. It should be appreciated that other types of fasteners may be used to couple the first side 124 and the second side 126 together. In this example, the first side 124 of the receiver 108 is split into a front portion 130 and a rear portion 132 that can each be detached from the second side 126. In the example shown, the rear portion 132 may be detached from the second side 126 by removing bolts 128. The front portion 130 could then be detached from the second side 126 by removing bolts 131. Although this example shows five bolts 128 connecting the rear portion 132 to the second side 126, it should be appreciated that more or less bolts 128 could be used. By splitting the first side 124 of the receiver 108, the user may detach only the rear portion 132, if desired, to provide access to internal components for maintenance, installation of accessories, or other purposes.
As best seen in
Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to particular means, materials, and embodiments, from the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of the present disclosure and various changes and modifications may be made to adapt the various uses and characteristics without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention as set forth in the following claims.
Claims
1. A non-lethal projectile launcher comprising:
- a barrel having a bore dimensioned to receive a projectile;
- a firing mechanism configured to propel a projectile through the bore in the barrel;
- a clamshell type receiver comprising a first side and a second side, wherein the first side comprises a front portion and a rear portion that are attachable to the second side;
- wherein the front portion is adapted to receive a portion of the barrel; and
- wherein the rear portion is independently releasable from the second side with respect to the front portion to provide access to internal components disposed within the receiver.
2. The projectile launcher of claim 1, wherein the front portion and the rear portion are separate, unconnected pieces.
3. The projectile launcher of claim 1, wherein the front portion and the rear portion define a substantially uninterrupted exterior surface.
4. The projectile launcher of claim 1, wherein the front portion and the rear portion in combination extend longitudinally substantially an entire length of the receiver.
5. The projectile launcher of claim 1, wherein the receiver includes a grip portion adapted to be grasped by a user, wherein the rear portion defines the grip portion on the first side of the receiver.
6. The projectile launcher of claim 1, further comprising a foregrip extending from the front portion.
7. The projectile launcher of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the firing mechanism is disposed between the rear portion of the first side and the second side.
8. The projectile launcher of claim 1, wherein the front portion includes threads adapted to be coupled with threads on the barrel.
9. The projectile launcher of claim 1, wherein the firing mechanism includes a valve arrangement configured to propel a projectile with compressed gas.
10. The projectile launcher of a claim 1, wherein the firing mechanism includes a valve arrangement configured to propel a projectile with a combustible gas.
11. A receiver assembly for a projectile launcher, the receiver assembly comprising:
- a first side comprising a front portion and a rear portion that in combination extend longitudinally between a barrel receiving portion and a grip portion;
- a second side extending longitudinally between the barrel receiving portion and the grip portion;
- wherein the second side is attachable to the front portion and the rear portion, and
- wherein the front portion and the rear portion are separate, unconnected pieces.
12. The receiver assembly of claim 11, wherein the front portion and the rear portion define a substantially uninterrupted exterior surface.
13. The receiver assembly of claim 11, wherein the first side and second side include complementary portions along a longitudinal axis.
14. The receiver assembly of claim 13, wherein the second side includes a plurality of spaced apart connection points for attaching a rail to the second side.
15. The receiver assembly of claim 14, wherein at least a portion of the second side connection points comprise a recess dimensioned to receive a nut.
16. The receiver assembly of claim 15, wherein the nut is configured to receive a bolt extending through an opening in the rail.
17. The receiver assembly of claim 11, wherein the rear portion defines a grip portion adapted to be grasped by a user.
18. The receiver assembly of claim 17, wherein the front portion is configured to receive a foregrip.
19. The receiver assembly of claim 11, wherein the front portion includes threads adapted receive threads on a barrel.
20. A non-lethal projectile launcher comprising;
- a receiver;
- a barrel coupled with the receiver;
- a supply of compressed gas;
- a valve arrangement operative to selectively allow flow from the supply of compressed gas to propel a projectile out of the barrel;
- a trigger operative to actuate the valve assembly;
- a coupling in fluid communication between the valve arrangement and the supply of compressed gas, wherein the coupling is movable between a first position that engages the valve arrangement and a second position out of engagement with the valve arrangement; and
- a fastener configured to selectively fix the coupling in the first position.
21. The projectile launcher of claim 20, wherein the coupling substantially reduces lateral movement of at least a portion of the valve arrangement when in the first position.
22. The projectile launcher of claim 20, wherein the fastener is spaced apart from the valve arrangement.
23. The projectile launcher of claim 22, wherein the receiver defines a recess spaced apart from the valve arrangement and the fastener is disposed within the recess.
24. The projectile launcher of claim 23, wherein the coupling extends through the recess.
25. The projectile launcher of claim 24, wherein at least a portion of the coupling is disposed between the linear actuator and the valve arrangement.
26. The projectile launcher of claim 20, wherein a leading end of the coupling is seated in a portion of the valve arrangement.
27. The projectile launcher of claim 26, wherein the leading end has an approximately inverted flare shape.
28. The projectile launcher of claim 27, wherein a portion of the valve arrangement that receives the leading end has a tapered portion.
29. The projectile launcher of claim 28, wherein the leading end and the portion of the valve arrangement is a direct connection.
30. The projectile launcher of claim 20, wherein the coupling includes external threads that are received by internal threads of the fastener.
31. The projectile launcher of claim 31, wherein a portion of the coupling that engages the valve arrangement does not include threads.
32. The projectile launcher of claim 20, wherein the fastener comprises a nut.
33. A non-lethal projectile launcher comprising;
- a receiver;
- a barrel coupled with the receiver;
- a supply of compressed gas;
- a valve arrangement operative to selectively allow flow from the supply of compressed gas to propel a projectile out of the barrel;
- a trigger operative to actuate the valve assembly;
- a coupling operative to provide a sealed connection between the valve arrangement and the supply of compressed gas; and
- wherein the coupling is configured to lock at least a portion of the valve arrangement in a substantially fixed position with respect to the receiver.
34. The non-lethal projectile launcher of claim 33, wherein the coupling directly engages at least a portion of the valve arrangement.
35. The non-lethal projectile launcher of claim 33, further comprising a nut spaced apart from the valve arrangement, wherein at least a portion of the coupling passes through the nut.
36. The non-lethal projectile launcher of claim 35, wherein the coupling includes external threads that mate with internal threads of the nut.
37. The non-lethal projectile launcher of claim 36, wherein the nut is disposed in an internal cavity of the receiver.
38. The non-lethal projectile launcher of claim 37, wherein the nut has a fixed position within the receiver.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 30, 2009
Publication Date: Aug 6, 2009
Applicant: TIPPMANN SPORTS LLC (Fort Wayne, IN)
Inventors: Dennis J. Tippmann, JR. (Fort Wayne, IN), Bryce A. Carrico (Fort Wayne, IN)
Application Number: 12/362,820
International Classification: F41B 11/00 (20060101); F41B 11/32 (20060101); F41B 11/06 (20060101);