MAGAZINE ADAPTER FOR PROJECTILE LAUNCHER
A magazine adapter for converting a hopper-fed paintball marker to a magazine-fed paintball marker. The magazine adapter includes an adapter body defining an opening that is dimensioned to receive at least a portion of a paintball magazine. An attachment assembly is provided that releasably couples the adapter body with a receiver of a paintball marker. The adapter includes a magazine latch configured to releasably couple the paintball magazine to the adapter body. The magazine adapter can be installed onto the paintball marker's receiver without any modification to the paintball marker's receiver.
The present application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/919,494, filed on Dec. 20, 2013, entitled “Magazine Adapter for Projectile Launcher,” which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety into the present application.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present disclosure relates generally to non-lethal projectile launchers, such as paintball markers; in particular, this disclosure relates to an adapter for converting a hopper-fed launcher into a magazine-fed launcher.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARYDevices 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. 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. In addition to frangible projectiles, other non-lethal projectiles, such as BBs, pellets, air-soft pellets/BBs, darts, etc., are commonly launched using compressed gas.
Many of these devices are equipped with a hopper for holding a plurality of projectiles to be propelled. Hoppers typically have a capacity to supply more than a hundred projectiles, which can be both a benefit and detraction. Since paintball games often simulate combat, paintball markers that resemble military equipment are desirable to increase the realism of the experience. For example, paintball markers have been modified to resemble assault rifles, sniper rifles, etc. Hoppers can detract from this realism—both in appearance and by holding so many more projectiles than a typical magazine used in military rifles. However, modification of markers to become more realistic can be difficult to install and remove.
According to one aspect, this disclosure provides a magazine adapter for converting a hopper-fed paintball marker to a magazine-fed paintball marker. The magazine adapter includes an adapter body defining an opening that is dimensioned to receive at least a portion of a paintball magazine. An attachment assembly is provided that releasably couples the adapter body with a receiver of a paintball marker. The adapter includes a magazine latch configured to releasably couple the paintball magazine to the adapter body. The magazine adapter can be installed onto the paintball marker's receiver without any modification to the paintball marker's receiver.
In some embodiments, the attachment assembly is structurally interchangeable to an attachment structure of a feed neck that attaches a hopper to the receiver. Embodiments are contemplated in which the attachment assembly includes a first extension spaced apart from a second extension. In some cases, a first pin extends from the first extension and a second pin extends from the second extension. For example, the first pin and the second pin could extend transversely from the first extension and the second extension, respectively. In some embodiments, the first pin and the second pin are approximately coaxial. Depending on the circumstances, at least a portion of the first extension and the second extension could be parallel with respect to each other. In some cases, the attachment assembly includes a latch configured to couple the adapter body with the paintball marker's receiver. A release button could be provided to actuate the magazine latch between a position projecting into the opening in the adapter body and a position in which magazine latch does not project into the opening. In some embodiments, a biasing member could be included that urges the magazine latch into the position projecting into the opening in the adapter body.
According to another aspect, this disclosure provides a magazine adapter for converting a hopper-fed projectile launcher to a magazine-fed projectile launcher. The adapter includes an adapter body defining an opening that is dimensioned to receive at least a portion of a magazine. An attachment assembly releasably couples the adapter body with a projectile launcher. The attachment assembly is structurally interchangeable to an attachment structure of a feed neck that attaches a hopper to the projectile launcher. A magazine latch is provided that releasably couples the magazine to the adapter body. The magazine adapter can be installed onto the projectile launcher without any modification to the launcher.
According to yet another aspect, this disclosure provides a method of converting a hopper-fed paintball marker to a magazine fed paintball marker. The method includes the step of providing a paintball marker that includes a receiver defining a breech area. The marker includes a feed neck attached to the receiver for feeding paintballs from a hopper into the breech area. The feed neck is detached from the paintball marker. Next, a magazine adapter is attached to the receiver of the paintball marker. The magazine adapter is configured to detachably receive a paintball magazine for supplying paintballs to be propelled to the breech area. The magazine adapter can be installed onto the paintball marker's receiver without any modification to the paintball marker's receiver. In some embodiments, a structure that attaches the magazine adapter to the receiver is structurally interchangeable with a structure that attaches the feed neck to the receiver.
Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the illustrated embodiment exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived.
The present disclosure will be described hereafter 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. The exemplification set out herein illustrates embodiments of the disclosure, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure in any manner.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThis disclosure relates to an adapter for converting a projectile launcher, such as a paintball marker, into a magazine-fed launcher. Although the adapter will be discussed in conjunction with a typical paintball marker for purposes of example, it should be appreciated that the present invention could be used in conjunction with other compressed or combustible gas-powered launchers. Likewise, the adapter could be used in conjunction with other types of paintball markers with different styles of feed necks. This disclosure is not intended to be limited to the specific paintball marker shown as an example, but encompasses other types of connections for converting various styles of paintball markers to magazine-fed launchers.
In the example shown, the marker 10 includes a grip 24 that is dimensioned for a user to gasp. In the example shown, the marker 10 includes an optional vertical grip 26 that a user may grasp with his/her other hand to steady the marker 10. As shown, the grip 24 and vertical grip 26 include optional surface ornamentation 25 to make both easier to grip. In the example shown, a tank adapter 27 extends from the grip 24. The tank adapter 27 may be connected to a canister of compressed gas, such as carbon dioxide or nitrogen, to supply compressed gas to the marker 10. In some cases, the receiver 18 could have internal passages that connect to a remote line for supplying compressed gas instead of using a tank adapter 27. A gas line 31 extends from the tank adapter 27 to an internal valve assembly 29 (
As shown, the marker 10 has a trigger assembly with a trigger 28 for actuation by the user to fire the marker 10. In the example shown, the trigger 28 is surrounded by a trigger guard 30. The trigger assembly is configured to vent the valve assembly 29 when the trigger 28 is actuated to propel projectiles out of the barrel 12. The example shown includes an optional rear sight 32 that may aid in aligning the marker 10 with a target.
A feed neck 33 for supplying projectiles to the breech area 34 (
The magazine adapter 100 has a body 111 that defines an opening 112 dimensioned to receive a portion of a magazine 200. The magazine adapter 100 includes a magazine latch 114 (
The latch 114 is received by a groove 202 on an exterior surface of the magazine 200 to lock the magazine 200 into place when fully seated in the magazine adapter 100. Typically, the latch 114 has an inclined surface sloped away from the direction in which the magazine 200 is inserted into the magazine adapter 100 so that the latch 114 moves to the retracted position due to the force of the magazine being inserted overcoming the biasing member 118. When the latch 114 seats into the groove 202 due to the urging of the biasing member 118, this creates a click sound to provide positive feedback for the user to know that the magazine 200 is inserted the adapter 100. To remove the magazine from the adapter 100, the user would actuate (push in this example) the release button 116, which will retract the latch 114 from the groove 202 and allow the magazine to be removed from the adapter 100.
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 spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the following claims.
Claims
1. A magazine adapter for converting a hopper-fed paintball marker to a magazine-fed paintball marker, the magazine adapter comprising:
- an adapter body defining an opening that is dimensioned to receive at least a portion of a paintball magazine;
- an attachment assembly configured to releasably couple the adapter body with a receiver of a paintball marker;
- a magazine latch configured to releasably couple the paintball magazine to the adapter body; and
- wherein the magazine adapter can be installed onto the paintball marker's receiver without any modification to the paintball marker's receiver.
2. The magazine adapter as recited in claim 1, wherein the attachment assembly is structurally interchangeable to an attachment structure of a feed neck that attaches a hopper to the receiver.
3. The magazine adapter as recited in claim 1, wherein the attachment assembly includes a first extension spaced apart from a second extension, wherein a first pin extends from the first extension and a second pin extends from the second extension.
4. The magazine adapter as recited in claim 3, wherein the first pin and the second pin extend transversely from the first extension and the second extension, respectively.
5. The magazine adapter as recited in claim 4, wherein the first pin and the second pin are approximately coaxial.
6. The magazine adapter as recited in claim 5, wherein at least a portion of the first extension and the second extension are parallel with respect to each other.
7. The magazine adapter as recited in claim 6, wherein the attachment assembly includes a latch configured to couple the adapter body with the paintball marker's receiver.
8. The magazine adapter as recited in claim 1, further comprising a release button configured to actuate the magazine latch between a position projecting into the opening in the adapter body and a position in which magazine latch does not project into the opening.
9. The magazine adapter as recited in claim 8, further comprising a biasing member configured to urge the magazine latch into the position projecting into the opening in the adapter body.
10. A magazine adapter for converting a hopper-fed projectile launcher to a magazine-fed projectile launcher, the magazine adapter comprising:
- an adapter body defining an opening that is dimensioned to receive at least a portion of a magazine;
- an attachment assembly configured to releasably couple the adapter body with a projectile launcher;
- a magazine latch configured to releasably couple the magazine to the adapter body;
- wherein the magazine adapter can be installed onto the projectile launcher without any modification to the launcher; and
- wherein the attachment assembly is structurally interchangeable to an attachment structure of a feed neck that attaches a hopper to the projectile launcher.
11. The magazine adapter as recited in claim 10, wherein the attachment assembly includes a first extension spaced apart from a second extension, wherein a first pin extends from the first extension and a second pin extends from the second extension.
12. The magazine adapter as recited in claim 11, wherein the first pin and the second pin extend transversely from the first extension and the second extension, respectively.
13. The magazine adapter as recited in claim 12, wherein the first pin and the second pin are approximately coaxial.
14. The magazine adapter as recited in claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the first extension and the second extension are parallel with respect to each other.
15. The magazine adapter as recited in claim 14, wherein the attachment assembly includes a latch configured to couple the adapter body with the projectile launcher.
16. The magazine adapter as recited in claim 10, further comprising a release button configured to actuate the magazine latch between a position projecting into the opening in the adapter body and a position in which magazine latch does not project into the opening.
17. The magazine adapter as recited in claim 16, further comprising a biasing member configured to urge the magazine latch into the position projecting into the opening in the adapter body.
18. A method of converting a hopper-fed paintball marker to a magazine fed paintball marker, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a paintball marker including a receiver defining a breech area, wherein a feed neck is attached to the receiver for feeding paintballs from a hopper into the breech area;
- detaching the feed neck from the paintball marker;
- attaching a magazine adapter to the receiver of the paintball marker, wherein the magazine adapter is configured to detachably receive a paintball magazine for supplying paintballs to be propelled to the breech area; and
- wherein the magazine adapter can be installed onto the paintball marker's receiver without any modification to the paintball marker's receiver.
19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein a structure that attaches the magazine adapter to the receiver is structurally interchangeable with a structure that attaches the feed neck to the receiver.
20. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the magazine adapter includes a release button configured to release a paintball magazine from the magazine adapter.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 16, 2014
Publication Date: Jun 25, 2015
Inventors: Hendrikus Ian Scott Pullens (Hagerstown, MD), Scott Watrous (Uncasville, CT), Andrew Puckett (Norfolk, VA)
Application Number: 14/571,783