Spring loaded feed mechanism for paintball loader
A spring-loaded feed mechanism for a paintball loader. The feed mechanism includes an inner spool and an outer spool. A torsion spring is positioned between the inner and outer spools. The outer spool includes a pressure wall, from which the torsion spring is located on one end of the spring. A retaining wall is attached to the inner spool and is located at the opposite end of the torsion spring. When an operator of a paintball gun using the spring-loaded feed mechanism discontinues firing paintballs, the feed mechanism is stopped. Simultaneously, during the deceleration of the feed mechanism, the torsion spring is compressed, which allows the mechanical energy of the rotating feed mechanism to be stored within the compressed spring. When the operator desires to fire the paintball gun, the feed mechanism is accelerated to the requisite rotational speed. The compressed spring is release, thereby allowing the spring to assist in accelerating the feed mechanism to the necessary rotational speed.
Latest GI SPORTZ DIRECT LLC Patents:
This application is a continuation-in-part of a co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/949,440, entitled “Drive Cone for Paintball Loader,” filed Sep. 7, 2001 in the names of James T. Christopher and Chris T. Goddard, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/689,573, entitled “Rapid Feed Paintball Loader With Pivotable Deflector,” filed Oct. 12, 2000 in the names of James T. Christopher and Albert G. Schilling, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent Ser. No. 09/465,440, filed Dec. 16, 1999 in the names of James T. Christopher and Albert G. Schilling and now U.S. Pat. No. 6,213,110, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Technical Field of the Invention
This invention relates to paintball loaders, and more particularly, to a spring-loaded feed mechanism feeding paintballs into a paintball gun.
2. Description of Related Art
Games utilizing paintball guns have increased in popularity over the past few years. Players of these games normally shoot paintballs at each other through paintball guns. The paintballs are gelatin-covered spherical capsules filled with paint. During play of the game, the players on each team advance toward each other. A player is eliminated from the game when the player is hit by a paintball fired from an opposing player's gun. When the paintball hits a player, a “splat” of paint is left on the player.
Normally an existing paintball loader includes a housing which is placed on an upper portion of a paintball gun. The housing is shaped to hold a large quantity of paintballs. At the bottom of the housing is an outlet tube through which the paintballs drop by the force of gravity. The outlet tube leads to an inlet tube located on the upper portion of the gun.
During the operation of existing paintball loaders, paintballs sequentially drop by gravity through the outlet tube into the inlet tube of the gun. The inlet tube directs each paintball into the firing chamber of the gun, where the paintball is propelled outwardly from the gun by compressed air.
The paintball gun and accessories have increased in performance and complexity over the years. Players demand high rates of fire of paintballs from the paintball guns with little or no jamming. However, existing paintball guns are limited in how fast they can accelerate to a rapid firing rate by the performance of the motor driving the paintball loader. In addition, if a loader is feeding paintballs at a high rate of balls per second, when the paintball gun discontinues firing, the loader rate of feeding paintballs must be immediately stopped, primarily through a braking mechanism to instantly stop the rotation of the loader. But such abrupt changes in the loader's rotation rate oftentimes results in paintball jams, as well as subjecting the paintball loader to undesirable forces. A paintball loader is needed which efficiently converts the mechanical energy present at a high feed rate into potential energy for use by the loader during rapid startups. A paintball loader is specifically needed which utilizing a spring-loaded feed mechanism within the paintball loader to increase the performance of the loader.
Co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/689,573 ('573) describes a paintball feed system providing enhanced performance over existing paintball feed systems. Additionally, '573 discloses a paintball loader which reliably and forcibly delivers paintballs to a paintball gun at a rapid, selectable rate, while actively preventing paintball jams. The paintball loader utilizes a drive cone to actively feed the paintballs to the paintball gun. However, when paintballs are no longer required to be fed to the paintball gun, the drive cone must be immediately stopped through the use of a braking mechanism. The braking mechanism rapidly slows the rotation of the drive cone, which subjects the drive cone to undesirable forces. These forces cause wear and tear on the paintball loader. Additionally, when an operator wishes to immediately fire paintballs at a fast rate, the drive cone must accelerate from a stationary position to a high rotation speed. Obviously, the time necessary to accelerate to a high rotational rate is limited by the torque provided by the motor driving the drive cone. Over-driving of a feed mechanism may also introduce undesirable forces on the paintballs located within the loader, resulting in paintball breakage or jams.
It would be a distinct advantage to have an apparatus which increases the performance of the paintball loader by decreasing the acceleration time necessary to rotate the drive cone at a high rate, while deceasing the undesirable forces on the loader when stopping the rotation of the drive cone. It would also be advantageous to have a mechanism which can be used in any paintball loader, enabling the simple modification of the feed mechanism used by the paintball loader. It is an object of the present invention to provide such an apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn one aspect, the present invention is a feed mechanism for use on a paintball loader. The feed mechanism includes an axial member longitudinally positioned about a center axis. The axial member is rotated by a motor. In addition, a spring communicates with the axial member. The spring compresses during rotational deceleration of the axial member and assists in the rotational acceleration of the axial member.
In another aspect, the present invention is a feed mechanism for use on a paintball loader. The feed mechanism includes an agitating device for feeding paintballs from the paintball loader to a paintball gun and a spring communicating with the agitating device. The spring is compressed when the agitating device is rotationally decelerated and released to assist in the rotational acceleration of the agitating device prior to the initiation of the rotation of the agitating device.
In still another aspect, the present invention is a rapid feed paintball loader for use on a paintball gun. The paintball loader includes a container for holding a plurality of paintballs, a feed mechanism rotatably mounted on a bottom portion of the container and at least one fin affixed to the feed mechanism. A motor is used to rotate the feed mechanism. An exit tube exits from the bottom portion of the container and leads to an inlet tube of the paintball gun. A spring is contained within the feed mechanism. The spring compresses during rotational deceleration of the feed mechanism and releases to expand prior to acceleration of the feed mechanism.
The invention will be better understood and its numerous objects and advantages will become more apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the following drawings, in conjunction with the accompanying specification, in which:
A spring-loaded feed mechanism for use on a paintball loader for rapidly delivering paintballs is disclosed.
In operating the paintball gun 20, the trigger 34 is squeezed, thereby actuating the compressed gas cylinder to release bursts of compressed gas. The bursts of gas are used to eject paintballs outwardly through the barrel 28. The paintballs are continually fed by the paintball loader 40 through the inlet tube to the firing chamber. Although
The rapid feed paintball loader 40 includes a paintball container 42 having a container wall 44 forming an interior area 46. The container is divided into an upper portion 48 and a lower portion 50. An exit tube 52 leads from the bottom portion of the container to an outlet opening 54. The exit tube is positioned on top of the inlet tube 32 of the paintball gun 20.
With reference to
When the operator desires to commence firing the paintball gun, he squeezes the trigger 34, which allows a paintball to enter the breech of the paintball gun. The removal of the paintball allows the release of the spring tension of the spring prior to the rotation of the drive cone. During rapid rotational acceleration of the drive cone, the startup is enhanced by the release of the outer inner spool, causing the spring 116 to assist in rotationally driving the inner spool in a counter-clockwise fashion. Thus, when the outer inner spool is released, the retaining wall 124 is rotationally forced in a counter-clockwise direction with the assistance of the spring expanding from its compressed configuration, thus enhancing the acceleration rate of the drive cone.
The spring configuration may be utilized by any agitating device for a paintball gun. For example, the dual spools with the spring may be utilized in a drive cone such as that disclosed in patent application Ser. No. 09/949,440.
Likewise, the spring assembly may be utilized in any agitating device.
The present invention may be incorporated on any agitating or feed (gravity or active) mechanism for use in a paintball loader. In particular, the present invention has the advantage of merely requiring the modification of the feed mechanism housed within the paintball container without any additional modifications to the gun, inlet/exit tubes, or the container.
Although a simple torsion spring is illustrated and described above, the spring/dual spool configuration is but one of many different configurations which utilize a spring to store mechanical energy. For example a coiled spring may be utilized.
With reference to
Still referring to
Although a coiled spring and a torsion spring are described, it should be understood that any spring may be utilized which stores the rotational energy during the deceleration of the feed mechanism of the paintball loader, as well as releasing the stored energy by allowing the spring to assist in increasing the acceleration rate of the feed mechanism during commencement of rapid fire of the paintball gun.
The present invention provides many advantages over existing paintball loaders. The present invention reduces the undesirable forces sustained by the paintball loader when firing of paintballs ceases from a rapid rate. Existing paintball loaders must utilize a braking mechanism to immediately stop rotation of the feed mechanism. However, by utilizing a spring, the rotation of the feed mechanism is not required to be immediately stopped. Rather, the feed mechanism may be allowed to continue to rotate for a specific angular distance to allow compression of the spring. Thus, the braking mechanism is not required to brake the feed mechanism so abruptly. In addition, the acceleration rate of the feed mechanism is increased when the spring is released during rapid accelerations of the paintball loader. Thus, the performance of the loader is dramatically enhanced.
It is thus believed that the operation and construction of the present invention will be apparent from the foregoing description. While the apparatus shown and described has been characterized as being preferred, it will be readily apparent that various changes and modifications could be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.
Claims
1. A feed mechanism for use on a paintball loader, the feed mechanism comprising:
- an axial member longitudinally positioned about a center axis, said axial member being rotatable by a motor;
- a first spool independently rotatably mounted about the center axis, said first spool being driven by the motor, said first spool including a retaining wall on an exterior wall of the first spool;
- a second spool surrounding said first spool, said second spool independently rotatably mounted about the center axis from said first spool being driven by the motor, the mounting of the second spool forming a void between said first and second spools, said second spool including a pressure wall located on an interior wall of the second spool;
- a spring positioned within the void, said spring being compressed by the pressure wall and the retaining wall, said spring adapted to compress when the agitating device first spool rotationally decelerates relative to the second spool, and said spring assisting in the rotational acceleration of the axial member first spool.
2. The feed mechanism of claim 1 wherein said spring assists in the rotational acceleration of the axial member first spool by expanding prior to initiation of the rotation of said axial member first spool.
3. The feed mechanism of claim 1, wherein said spring is a torsion spring, said torsion spring having a first end and an opposite second end.
4. The feed mechanism of claim 1, wherein said spring is a coil spring wrapped around the first spool, said coil spring having a first end adjacent an exterior wall of the first spool and an opposite second end adjacent an interior wall of the second spool.
5. The feed mechanism of claim 1 further comprising a drive cone positioned over said axial member.
6. The feed mechanism of claim 1 further comprising an agitating device positioned over said axial member.
7. The feed mechanism of claim 6 wherein the agitation device includes a plurality of elasticized fins.
8. A feed mechanism for use on a paintball loader, the feed mechanism comprising:
- an agitating device for feeding paintballs from the paintball loader to a paintball gun, said agitating device including an axial member longitudinally positioned about a center axis, said axial member being rotatable by a motor;
- a first spool and a second spool;
- a the first spool rotatably mounted about the center axis, said first spool being driven by the axial member adapted to independently rotate about the center axis relative to said second spool, said first spool including a retaining wall on an exterior wall of the first spool;
- a the second spool surrounding said first spool, said second spool being driven by the axial member and adapted to independently rotate about the center axis relative to said first spool, said second spool forming a void between said first and second spools, a pressure wall located on an interior wall of the second spool, said spring being compressed by the pressure wall and the retaining wall;
- a spring positioned within the void, said spring adapted to compress when the agitating device rotationally decelerates, said spring being compressed by the pressure wall and the retaining wall, and whereby said spring releases and assists in the rotational acceleration of the agitating device prior and during initiation of the rotation of the agitating device.
9. The feed mechanism of claim 8, wherein said spring is a coil spring wrapped around the first spool, said coil spring having a first end adjacent an exterior wall of the first spool and an opposite second end adjacent an interior wall of the second spool.
10. The feed mechanism of claim 8, wherein the agitation agitating device includes a plurality of elasticized fins.
11. A rapid feed paintball loader for use on a paintball gun, the paintball loader comprising:
- a container for holding a plurality of paintballs;
- a feed mechanism rotatably mounted on a bottom portion of said container;
- at least one fin affixed to said feed mechanism;
- said feed mechanism including an axial member, a first spool engaged with the axial member for rotating in combination with the axial member about a center axis, said axial member and said first spool being driven by the motor, and a first spool being independently rotatable about the center axis relative to said second spool, said second spool surrounding at least a portion of said first spool, a second spool surrounding at least a portion of said first spool, said second spool being independently rotatable about the center axis relative to said first spool engaged with the axial member for rotating in combination with the axial member about a center axis, said axial member and said second spool being driven by a motor, a void located between said first and second spools, and a spring positioned within the void;
- a motor adapted to rotate said axial member of said feed mechanism;
- an exit tube exiting from the bottom portion of said container and leading to an inlet tube of the paintball gun;
- means for actuating said motor upon demand;
- said first spool including a retaining wall on an exterior wall of the first spool, said second spool including a pressure wall located on an interior wall of the second spool, said spring being compressed by the pressure wall and the retaining wall, said spring adapted to compress when the agitating device rotationally decelerates, and said spring adapted to release and assist in the rotational acceleration of the agitating device prior and during initiation of the rotation of the agitating device.
12. The feed mechanism of claim 11, wherein said spring is a coil spring wrapped around the first spool, said coil spring attached on a first end to an exterior wall of the first spool and attached on an opposite second end to an interior wall of the second spool.
13. The feed mechanism of claim 11, wherein said fin is an elasticized fin.
14. A feed mechanism for use on a paintball loader, the feed mechanism comprising:
- an axial member longitudinally positioned about a center axis, the axial member adapted to engage with and be rotatable by a motor;
- a first spool and a second spool;
- a the first spool engaged with the axial member so as to be rotatable about the center axis in combination with the axial member being mounted so as to be independently rotatable about the center axis relative to the second spool;
- a the second spool positioned adjacent to the first spool, the second spool being mounted so as to be independently rotatable about the center axis relative to the first spool engaged with the axial member so as to be rotatable about the center axis in combination with the axial member, the mounting of the second spool defining a void between the first and second spools;
- a spring positioned within the void, the spring having a first free end and a second free end, the first free end being positioned adjacent but unattached to the first spool, the second free end being positioned adjacent but unattached to the second spool, the first and second free ends adapted to connect with the first and second spools respectively upon activation of the feed mechanism.
15. The feed mechanism of claim 14, wherein the first spool includes a retaining wall on an exterior wall of the first spool, and wherein the second spool includes a pressure wall on an interior wall of the second spool, the first free end of the spring positioned adjacent to and adapted to contact the retaining wall, and the second free end of said spring positioned adjacent to and adapted to contact the pressure wall.
16. The feed mechanism of claim 15, wherein the second first spool is formed as the a lower surface of a drive cone, said pressure wall extending downwardly from the second spool.
17. The feed mechanism of claim 14, further including a drive cone positioned over said axial member.
18. The feed mechanism of claim 14, further including an agitating device positioned over said axial member.
19. The feed mechanism of claim 18, wherein the agitation agitating device includes a plurality of elasticized fins.
20. A feed mechanism for use on a paintball loader, the feed mechanism comprising:
- an agitating device for feeding paintballs from the paintball loader to a paintball gun, said agitating device including an axial member longitudinally positioned about a center axis, said axial member adapted to engage with and be rotatable by a motor;
- a first spool and a second spool;
- a the first spool rotatably mounted about the center axis, said first spool adapted to rotate in combination with said axial member independently from said second spool;
- a the second spool positioned adjacent to said first spool, said second spool adapted to rotate independently from said first spool adapted to rotate in combination with said axial member, the first and second spools defining a void between them; and
- a spring positioned within the void, said spring having a first free end and a second free end, said first free end positioned adjacent to said first spool and formed so as to releasably engage with the first spool, said second free end positioned adjacent to said second spool and located so as to releasably engage the second spool.
21. The feed mechanism of claim 20, wherein said first spool includes a retaining wall on an exterior wall of the first spool, and wherein said second spool includes a pressure wall on an interior wall of the second spool, said first free end of said spring is positioned to contact the retaining wall and said second free end of said spring is positioned to contact the pressure wall, wherein the relative movement of said retaining wall and pressure wall with respect to one another controls winding of said spring.
22. The feed mechanism of claim 21, wherein the second first spool is formed as the lower surface of a drive cone, said pressure wall extending downwardly from the second spool.
23. The feed mechanism of claim 21, wherein said spring is a coil spring wrapped around the first spool, wherein the first and second free ends are legs that extend radially outward from the coil spring.
24. A rapid feed paintball loader for use on a paintball gun, the paintball loader comprising:
- a container for holding a plurality of paintballs;
- a motor for feeding paintballs;
- an exit tube exiting from the bottom portion of said container and leading to an inlet tube of the paintball gun;
- means for actuating said motor upon demand; and
- a feed mechanism rotatably mounted on a bottom portion of said container, the motor being engaged with the feed mechanism, the feed mechanism including: at least one fin affixed to said feed mechanism, said feed mechanism including an axial member engaged with the motor, a first spool and a second spool, athe first spool slidably disposed on the axial member for rotating in combination with the axial member adapted to rotate independently from the second spool, a the second spool adjacent to the first spool, said second spool adapted to rotate independently from said first spool slidably disposed on the axial member for rotating in combination with the axial member, the first and second spools defining a void between them, and a spring positioned within the void, said spring having a first free end and a second free end, said first free end positioned adjacent to said first spool and formed so as to releasably engage with the first spool, said second free end positioned adjacent to said second spool and located so as to releasably engage the second spool.
25. The feed mechanism of claim 24, wherein said first spool includes a retaining wall on an exterior wall of the first spool, and wherein said second spool includes a pressure wall on an interior wall of the second spool, said first free end of said spring is positioned to contact the retaining wall and said second free end of said spring is positioned to contact the pressure wall, wherein the relative movement of said retaining wall and pressure wall with respect to one another controls winding of said spring.
26. The feed mechanism of claim 25, wherein the second first spool is formed as the a lower surface of a drive cone, said pressure wall extending downwardly from the second spool.
27. The feed mechanism of claim 25, wherein said spring is a coil spring wrapped around the first spool, wherein the first and second free ends are legs that extend radially outward from the coil spring.
28. The feed mechanism of claim 24, wherein said fin is an elasticized fin.
1332992 | March 1920 | Moore et al. |
1332993 | March 1920 | Moore et al. |
1403689 | January 1922 | Hyndman |
1403719 | January 1922 | Szepe |
1404689 | January 1922 | Fairweather |
1743576 | January 1930 | Smith |
1867513 | July 1932 | Lahti |
1954093 | April 1934 | Nelson |
2064888 | December 1936 | Dickinson |
2307015 | January 1943 | Boynton |
2338984 | January 1944 | Van Horn et al. |
2357951 | September 1944 | Hale |
2398263 | April 1946 | Trimbach |
2451521 | October 1948 | Uglum |
2526969 | October 1950 | Powers |
2568432 | September 1951 | Cook |
2639904 | May 1953 | McMaster |
2641412 | June 1953 | Byberg |
2676633 | April 1954 | Lohre et al. |
RE23951 | February 1955 | Graham |
2716973 | September 1955 | Desi |
2900972 | August 1959 | Marsh et al. |
3089476 | May 1963 | Wolverton |
3134301 | May 1964 | Even |
3248008 | April 1966 | Meierjohan |
3273553 | September 1966 | Doyle |
3384354 | May 1968 | Migule et al. |
3410453 | November 1968 | Lawrence |
3467073 | September 1969 | Rhodes |
3610223 | October 1971 | Green |
3630118 | December 1971 | Stoner |
3695246 | October 1972 | Filippi et al. |
3724437 | April 1973 | Halstead |
3745687 | July 1973 | Koon, Jr. |
3766901 | October 1973 | Cleary et al. |
3777732 | December 1973 | Holloway et al. |
3788298 | January 1974 | Hale |
3789891 | February 1974 | Bosch |
3807379 | April 1974 | Vodinh |
3814283 | June 1974 | Cioth |
3844267 | October 1974 | Mohr |
3855988 | December 1974 | Sweeton |
3867921 | February 1975 | Politzer |
3894657 | July 1975 | Eckmayr |
3930486 | January 6, 1976 | Kahelin |
3978841 | September 7, 1976 | Yarur et al. |
3990426 | November 9, 1976 | Stokes |
4021036 | May 3, 1977 | Nelson et al. |
4027646 | June 7, 1977 | Sweeton |
4034644 | July 12, 1977 | Hupp et al. |
4044290 | August 23, 1977 | Gullo |
4073280 | February 14, 1978 | Koehn et al. |
4112911 | September 12, 1978 | Petrick, Sr. |
4116192 | September 26, 1978 | Scott |
4148415 | April 10, 1979 | Florida et al. |
4185824 | January 29, 1980 | Natwick |
4207857 | June 17, 1980 | Balka, Jr. |
4280697 | July 28, 1981 | Yuasa |
4299383 | November 10, 1981 | Yuasa |
4332097 | June 1, 1982 | Taylor, Jr. |
4391264 | July 5, 1983 | Abrham et al. |
4396193 | August 2, 1983 | Reinhardt et al. |
4481862 | November 13, 1984 | Wiethoff et al. |
4487103 | December 11, 1984 | Atchisson |
4502455 | March 5, 1985 | Stokes |
4563999 | January 14, 1986 | Miehlich |
4646709 | March 3, 1987 | Kholin |
4676137 | June 30, 1987 | Stockton et al. |
4695954 | September 22, 1987 | Rose et al. |
4745842 | May 24, 1988 | Shou-Fu |
4748600 | May 31, 1988 | Urquhart |
4759435 | July 26, 1988 | Cedrone |
4765223 | August 23, 1988 | Beckmann |
4770153 | September 13, 1988 | Edelman |
4817955 | April 4, 1989 | Hickson et al. |
4819609 | April 11, 1989 | Tippmann |
4834060 | May 30, 1989 | Greene |
4850330 | July 25, 1989 | Nagayoshi |
4896646 | January 30, 1990 | Kahelin et al. |
4923066 | May 8, 1990 | Ophir et al. |
4926742 | May 22, 1990 | Ma et al. |
4930400 | June 5, 1990 | Brandl et al. |
4936282 | June 26, 1990 | Dobbins et al. |
4951548 | August 28, 1990 | Wixon et al. |
4951644 | August 28, 1990 | Viviani |
4965951 | October 30, 1990 | Miller et al. |
4986251 | January 22, 1991 | Lilley |
4993400 | February 19, 1991 | Fitzwater |
5042685 | August 27, 1991 | Moulding, Jr. et al. |
5061222 | October 29, 1991 | Suris |
5063905 | November 12, 1991 | Farrell |
5070995 | December 10, 1991 | Schaffer et al. |
5097816 | March 24, 1992 | Miller |
5097985 | March 24, 1992 | Jones |
5166457 | November 24, 1992 | Lorenzetti |
5233125 | August 3, 1993 | Bouver |
5251906 | October 12, 1993 | Heller et al. |
5282454 | February 1, 1994 | Bell et al. |
5322283 | June 21, 1994 | Ritchie et al. |
5335579 | August 9, 1994 | David |
5337726 | August 16, 1994 | Wood |
5353712 | October 11, 1994 | Olsen |
5361746 | November 8, 1994 | Szente |
5383442 | January 24, 1995 | Tippmann |
5456153 | October 10, 1995 | Bentley et al. |
5464208 | November 7, 1995 | Pierce |
5490493 | February 13, 1996 | Salansky |
5497758 | March 12, 1996 | Dobbins et al. |
5505188 | April 9, 1996 | Williams |
5507271 | April 16, 1996 | Actor |
5511333 | April 30, 1996 | Farrell |
5520171 | May 28, 1996 | David |
5542570 | August 6, 1996 | Nottingham et al. |
5555662 | September 17, 1996 | Teetzel |
5561258 | October 1, 1996 | Bentley et al. |
5600083 | February 4, 1997 | Bentley et al. |
5673812 | October 7, 1997 | Nelson |
5675110 | October 7, 1997 | Gyre et al. |
5722383 | March 3, 1998 | Tippmann et al. |
5727538 | March 17, 1998 | Ellis |
5736720 | April 7, 1998 | Bell et al. |
5749797 | May 12, 1998 | Sunseri et al. |
5755056 | May 26, 1998 | Danner et al. |
5771875 | June 30, 1998 | Sullivan |
5784985 | July 28, 1998 | Lodico et al. |
5791325 | August 11, 1998 | Anderson |
5794606 | August 18, 1998 | Deak |
5809983 | September 22, 1998 | Stoneking |
5816232 | October 6, 1998 | Bell |
5819715 | October 13, 1998 | Haneda et al. |
5836583 | November 17, 1998 | Towers |
5839422 | November 24, 1998 | Ferris |
5881962 | March 16, 1999 | Schmidt et al. |
5887578 | March 30, 1999 | Backeris et al. |
5947100 | September 7, 1999 | Anderson |
5954042 | September 21, 1999 | Harvey |
6032395 | March 7, 2000 | Bentley et al. |
6055975 | May 2, 2000 | Gallagher et al. |
6062208 | May 16, 2000 | Seefeldt et al. |
6083105 | July 4, 2000 | Ronin et al. |
6085735 | July 11, 2000 | Cheek, Jr. |
6109252 | August 29, 2000 | Stevens |
6206562 | March 27, 2001 | Eyraud et al. |
6213110 | April 10, 2001 | Christopher et al. |
6220237 | April 24, 2001 | Johnson et al. |
6305367 | October 23, 2001 | Kotsiopoulos et al. |
6311682 | November 6, 2001 | Rice et al. |
6325233 | December 4, 2001 | Harris |
6327953 | December 11, 2001 | Andresen |
6347621 | February 19, 2002 | Guthrie |
6349711 | February 26, 2002 | Perry et al. |
6374819 | April 23, 2002 | Ming-Hsien |
6408836 | June 25, 2002 | Ming Hsien |
6408837 | June 25, 2002 | Johnson et al. |
D459767 | July 2, 2002 | Rushton |
6415781 | July 9, 2002 | Perrone |
6418919 | July 16, 2002 | Perrone |
6425781 | July 30, 2002 | Bernstein et al. |
6460530 | October 8, 2002 | Backeris et al. |
6467473 | October 22, 2002 | Kostiopoulos |
6468879 | October 22, 2002 | Lamure et al. |
6481432 | November 19, 2002 | Rushton et al. |
6488019 | December 3, 2002 | Kotsiopoulos |
6502567 | January 7, 2003 | Christopher et al. |
6520854 | February 18, 2003 | McNally |
6526955 | March 4, 2003 | Juan |
6588412 | July 8, 2003 | Ferrara et al. |
6591824 | July 15, 2003 | Hatcher |
6609511 | August 26, 2003 | Kotsiopoulos |
6615814 | September 9, 2003 | Rice et al. |
6644293 | November 11, 2003 | Jong |
6644295 | November 11, 2003 | Jones |
6644296 | November 11, 2003 | Gardner, Jr. |
6666203 | December 23, 2003 | Madea et al. |
6684873 | February 3, 2004 | Anderson |
6701907 | March 9, 2004 | Christopher et al. |
6701909 | March 9, 2004 | Tiberius et al. |
6708685 | March 23, 2004 | Masse |
6722355 | April 20, 2004 | Andrews, Jr. |
6725852 | April 27, 2004 | Yokota |
6729321 | May 4, 2004 | Ho |
6729497 | May 4, 2004 | Rice et al. |
6739322 | May 25, 2004 | Rice et al. |
6739323 | May 25, 2004 | Tippmann, Jr. |
6742512 | June 1, 2004 | Ho |
6752137 | June 22, 2004 | Brunette et al. |
6792933 | September 21, 2004 | Christopher et al. |
6802306 | October 12, 2004 | Rice |
6860258 | March 1, 2005 | Farrell |
6889680 | May 10, 2005 | Christopher et al. |
6899328 | May 31, 2005 | Halliburton et al. |
6915792 | July 12, 2005 | Sheng |
6978776 | December 27, 2005 | Hamilton |
6981493 | January 3, 2006 | Poteracku |
7000603 | February 21, 2006 | Steenbeke |
7017569 | March 28, 2006 | Jong |
7021302 | April 4, 2006 | Neumaster |
7040505 | May 9, 2006 | Hashimoto et al. |
7077118 | July 18, 2006 | Lewis |
D535339 | January 16, 2007 | Broersma |
7159585 | January 9, 2007 | Quinn et al. |
7210473 | May 1, 2007 | Jong |
7216641 | May 15, 2007 | Friesen et al. |
7222617 | May 29, 2007 | Andresen |
D544047 | June 5, 2007 | Bell et al. |
7231914 | June 19, 2007 | Hatcher |
7234456 | June 26, 2007 | Andresen |
7270120 | September 18, 2007 | Broersma et al. |
7270121 | September 18, 2007 | Lubben |
7322347 | January 29, 2008 | Broersma |
7322348 | January 29, 2008 | Chen |
7343909 | March 18, 2008 | Christopher |
D567302 | April 22, 2008 | Choi |
D567303 | April 22, 2008 | Neumaster |
7357129 | April 15, 2008 | Neumaster et al. |
7357130 | April 15, 2008 | Broersma |
D572318 | July 1, 2008 | Broersma |
7428899 | September 30, 2008 | Andresen |
7441556 | October 28, 2008 | Friesen et al. |
7445002 | November 4, 2008 | Christopher et al. |
7458370 | December 2, 2008 | Chen |
D584776 | January 13, 2009 | Stevens |
7487769 | February 10, 2009 | Lubben |
7490597 | February 17, 2009 | Hatcher |
7568478 | August 4, 2009 | Hedberg |
7591260 | September 22, 2009 | Mu |
7617817 | November 17, 2009 | Kulp |
7624726 | December 1, 2009 | Wood |
7654255 | February 2, 2010 | Spicer |
7673627 | March 9, 2010 | Higgins et al. |
7694669 | April 13, 2010 | Campo |
7762246 | July 27, 2010 | Telford |
7770569 | August 10, 2010 | Andresen |
7770571 | August 10, 2010 | Tippmann, Jr. et al. |
7779825 | August 24, 2010 | Estrate |
7832389 | November 16, 2010 | Christopher et al. |
7841328 | November 30, 2010 | Italia et al. |
7854220 | December 21, 2010 | Neumaster |
7921835 | April 12, 2011 | Campo et al. |
6213110 | April 10, 2001 | Christopher et al. |
8047191 | November 1, 2011 | Christopher et al. |
8104462 | January 31, 2012 | Christopher et al. |
8251050 | August 28, 2012 | Christopher et al. |
RE43756 | October 23, 2012 | Christopher et al. |
8356589 | January 22, 2013 | Karnis |
8387607 | March 5, 2013 | Christopher et al. |
8448631 | May 28, 2013 | Spicer et al. |
20020014230 | February 7, 2002 | Christopher et al. |
20020020402 | February 21, 2002 | Kotsiopoulos |
20020059927 | May 23, 2002 | Woods, Sr. |
20020117159 | August 29, 2002 | Kotsiopoulos et al. |
20030024520 | February 6, 2003 | Dobbins |
20030047173 | March 13, 2003 | Juan |
20030079731 | May 1, 2003 | Dobbins |
20040074487 | April 22, 2004 | Christopher et al. |
20040074489 | April 22, 2004 | Neumaster et al. |
20040112356 | June 17, 2004 | Hatcher |
20040134475 | July 15, 2004 | Jong |
20040194772 | October 7, 2004 | Hamilton |
20040211402 | October 28, 2004 | Christopher et al. |
20040245276 | December 9, 2004 | Hashimoto et al. |
20050028801 | February 10, 2005 | Lewis |
20050121015 | June 9, 2005 | Postorivo, Jr. |
20050188974 | September 1, 2005 | Pedicini et al. |
20050188978 | September 1, 2005 | Tiberius et al. |
20050217653 | October 6, 2005 | Christopher et al. |
20050241628 | November 3, 2005 | Hatcher |
20050274370 | December 15, 2005 | Lubben |
20050274371 | December 15, 2005 | Lubben |
20050284456 | December 29, 2005 | Chipley |
20050284457 | December 29, 2005 | Hatcher |
20060005823 | January 12, 2006 | Quinn |
20060032488 | February 16, 2006 | Telford |
20060037597 | February 23, 2006 | Wood |
20060054151 | March 16, 2006 | Christopher et al. |
20060086347 | April 27, 2006 | Hedberg |
20060124118 | June 15, 2006 | Dobbins |
20060130821 | June 22, 2006 | Hamilton |
20060157041 | July 20, 2006 | Freisen |
20060196489 | September 7, 2006 | Campo |
20060249131 | November 9, 2006 | Broersma |
20060254572 | November 16, 2006 | Hall |
20070012303 | January 18, 2007 | Christopher et al. |
20070012304 | January 18, 2007 | van Dorsser et al. |
20070017494 | January 25, 2007 | Andresen |
20070017495 | January 25, 2007 | Andresen |
20070056573 | March 15, 2007 | Campo |
20070062506 | March 22, 2007 | Bell |
20070081233 | April 12, 2007 | Andresen |
20070101981 | May 10, 2007 | Chen |
20070113834 | May 24, 2007 | Spicer |
20070137631 | June 21, 2007 | Christopher |
20070175463 | August 2, 2007 | Higgins et al. |
20070181117 | August 9, 2007 | Tippmann et al. |
20070215137 | September 20, 2007 | Jones et al. |
20070246479 | October 25, 2007 | Andresen |
20070256676 | November 8, 2007 | Orvis et al. |
20080017178 | January 24, 2008 | Marques et al. |
20080047535 | February 28, 2008 | Handel |
20080047536 | February 28, 2008 | Chen |
20080047537 | February 28, 2008 | Kulp et al. |
20080087264 | April 17, 2008 | Postorivo |
20080178859 | July 31, 2008 | Moore et al. |
20090000608 | January 1, 2009 | Christopher et al. |
20090025700 | January 29, 2009 | Andresen |
20090133680 | May 28, 2009 | Christopher et al. |
20090178659 | July 16, 2009 | Spicer |
876370 | May 1953 | DE |
2035097 | August 1982 | DE |
3721527 | January 1989 | DE |
4343870 | June 1994 | DE |
4343871 | June 1995 | DE |
19922589 | December 2000 | DE |
0075970 | April 1983 | EP |
01054228 | November 2000 | EP |
01653189 | May 2006 | EP |
921527 | May 1947 | FR |
470201 | August 1937 | GB |
551077 | February 1943 | GB |
2 322 438 | August 1998 | GB |
1179898 | July 1989 | JP |
6325233 | November 1994 | JP |
M255391 | January 2005 | TW |
WO98/13660 | April 1998 | WO |
01/44745 | June 2001 | WO |
02/42708 | May 2002 | WO |
03087698 | October 2003 | WO |
2007/035601 | March 2007 | WO |
2007033309 | March 2007 | WO |
2007044546 | April 2007 | WO |
2007044822 | April 2007 | WO |
2007/098554 | September 2007 | WO |
2008104061 | April 2008 | WO |
2009/009748 | January 2009 | WO |
- Reissue Application Filed Oct. 22, 2012 U.S. Appl. No. 13/657,749 Entitled: Rapid Feed Paintball Loader With Pivotable Deflector.
- U.S. Appl. No. 13/657,749 Non-Final Office Action dated Dec. 12, 2012.
- U.S. Appl. No. 13/657,749 Reply to Office Action Filed Jun. 12, 2013.
- U.S. Reexam No. 90/009,794, Filed Jul. 30, 2010 Notice of Intent to Issue a Reexam Certificate dated Sep. 28, 2011.
- U.S. Appl. No. 11/031,952, filed Jan. 7, 2005 Non-Final Office Action dated Apr. 26, 2011.
- U.S. Appl. No. 11/031,952, filed Jan. 7, 2005 Reply to Office Action filed Oct. 26, 2011.
- U.S. Appl. No. 11/031,952, filed Jan. 7, 2005 Final Office Action dated Nov. 29, 2012.
- U.S. Appl. No. 11/031,952, filed Jan. 7, 2005 Reply to Final filed Feb. 29, 2012.
- U.S. Appl. No. 11/031,952, filed Jan. 7, 2005 Notice of Allowance dated Jun. 7, 2013.
- U.S. Appl. No. 13/657,749 Final Office Action Dated Sep. 5, 2013.
- WARPIG—World and Regional Paintball Information Guide, http://www.warpig.com/paintball/technical/loaders/halo/index.shtml, warpig.com, Odyssey Readies Halo for Production, by Bill Mills, Jun. 2001, pp. 1 to 5.
- WARPIG—World And Regional Paintball Information Guide, http://www.warpig.com/paintball/technical/loaders/halo/review.shtml, warpig.com, Odyssey Halo, by Bill Mills, Dec. 2001, pp. 1 to 7.
- Odyssey Halo B Paintball Hopper Review, http://www.paintball-gun-review.com/hopper-reviews/odyssey-halo-b . . . , Paintball Gun Review, Odyssey Halo B Paintball Hopper Review, 2004 Paintball-Gun-Review.com, pp. 1 to 4.
- www.odysseypaintball.com, http://web.archive.org/web/20030205112543/http://www.odysseypain . . . , Odyssey Paintball Products, Understanding Halo B, pp. 1 to 3.
- WARPIG—World and Regional Paintball Information Guide, http://www.warpig.com/paintball/technical/loaders/evlution/evlution . . . eVLution 2 Sneak Preview, by Bill Mills, Aug. 2001, p. 1 to 4.
- WARPIG—World and Regional Paintball Information Guide, http://www.warpig.com/paintball/technical/loaders/evlution/index.shtml Brass Eagle's eVLution Loader, by Bill Mills, Aug. 2000, pp. 1 to 7.
- WARPIG—World and Regional Paintball Information Guide, http://www.warpig.com/paintball/technical/labs/revytimes/index/shtml WARPIG Ballistic Labs Report: Revolution Response Times, by Bill Mills, copyright 1992-2010, pp. 1 to 4.
- U.S. Appl. No. 11/031,952, filed Jan. 7, 2005 Reissue of U.S. Pat. No. 6,502,567, issued Jan. 7, 2003 Entitled: Rapid Feed Paintball Loader With Pivotable Deflector.
- U.S. Appl. No. 11/031,952, filed Jan. 7, 2005 Office Action dated Apr. 23, 2008.
- U.S. Appl. No. 11/031,952, filed Jan. 7, 2005 Office Action dated Apr. 21, 2009.
- U.S. Appl. No. 11/031,952, filed Jan. 7, 2005 Office Action dated Apr. 26, 2011.
- U.S. Appl. No. 11/031,952, filed Jan. 7, 2005 Housekeeping Amendment In Response to Decision Sua Sponte Merging Reissue and Reexamination Proceedings Dated Oct. 29, 2010.
- U.S Appl. No. 90/009,715, filed Jun. 3, 2010 Housekeeping Amendment In Response to Decision Sua Sponte Merging Reissue and Reexamination Proceedings Dated Oct. 29, 2010.
- U.S. Appl. No. 90/009,715, filed Jun. 3, 2010 Order Granting/Denying Request For Ex Parte Reexamination Dated Jun. 11, 2010.
- U.S. Appl. Nos. 11/031,952 (Reissue) and 90/009,715 (Reexamination) Decision Sua Sponte Merging Reissue and Reexamination Proceedings Dated Sep. 30, 2010.
- U.S. Reexam No. 90/009,715, Filing Date: Jun. 3, 2010 Request for Ex Parte Reexamination of U.S. Pat. No. 6,502,567, issued Jan. 7, 2003 Title: Rapid Feed Paintball Loader With Pivotable Deflector Date: Mar. 31, 2010.
- U.S. Reexam No. 90/009,794, Filing Date: Jul. 30, 2010 Request for Ex Parte Reexamination of U.S. Pat. No. 6,213,110, issued Apr. 10, 2011 Entitled: Rapid Feed Paintball Loader.
- U.S. Reexam No. 90/009,794, Filing Date: Jul. 30, 2010 Reexamination Ordered, dated Sep. 1, 2010.
- U.S. Reexam No. 90/009,794, Filing Date: Jul. 30, 2010 Office Action dated Dec. 3, 2010.
- U.S. Reexam No. 90/009,794, Filing Date: Jul. 30, 2010 Amendment filed Feb. 3, 2011.
- U.S. Reexam No. 90/009,794, Filing Date: Jul. 30, 2010, Final Office Action dated Feb. 14, 2011.
- U.S. Reexam No. 90/009,794, Filing Date: Jul. 30, 2010 Supplemental Amendment filed Feb. 16, 2011.
- U.S. Reexam No. 90/009,794, Filing Date: Jul. 30, 2010 Amendment After Final filed Apr. 18, 2011.
- U.S. Reexam No. 90/009,794, Filing Date: Jul. 30, 2010 Advisory Action dated May 4, 2011.
- U.S. Reexam No. 90/009,794, Filing Date: Jul. 30, 2010 Notice of Appeal filed Jun. 15, 2011.
- U.S. Reexam No. 90/009,794, Filing Date: Jul. 30, 2010 Amendment After Appeal filed Aug. 12, 2011.
- U.S. Reexam No. 90/009,794, Filing Date: Jul. 30, 2010 Supplemental Amendment filed Aug. 14, 2011.
- U.S. Reexam No. 90/009,794, Filing Date: Jul. 30, 2010 Appeal Brief filed Aug. 15, 2011.
Type: Grant
Filed: Mar 9, 2006
Date of Patent: Apr 26, 2016
Assignee: GI SPORTZ DIRECT LLC (Sewell, NJ)
Inventors: James T. Christopher (Sachse, TX), Chris T. Goddard (Aubrey, TX)
Primary Examiner: Patricia Engle
Application Number: 11/372,450
International Classification: F41A 9/61 (20060101); F41B 11/00 (20130101); F41B 11/53 (20130101); G06F 3/14 (20060101); G09B 23/00 (20060101); G09B 23/28 (20060101); F41B 11/57 (20130101);