Spring Patents (Class 124/52)
  • Patent number: 11828561
    Abstract: A magazine for a firearm, including a magazine body having at least one slit in the side, a feeder comprising a slide receptacle, and a loading aid. The loading aid includes a first and second slide which are designed so as to be able to be coupled inside the slide receptacle by means of a latch, and the feeder includes at least one hole, for uncoupling the latch, in the direction of the slide receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: GLOCK TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Markus Karlo, Jürgen Gunsam
  • Patent number: 11768052
    Abstract: A break action pistol crossbow having a repeating capability. The crossbow has a loading chamber configured to house a plurality of bolts. A biasing mechanism is disposed within the loading chamber. The crossbow has a forward retainer positioned at the front of a flight rail and a rear retainer positioned at the back of the flight rail. The bowstring is configured to be drawn over a bolt loaded into the chamber. As the bowstring travels over the bolt, the biasing mechanism presses the bolt against the bowstring. When the bowstring clears the bolt, the force applied onto the bolt by the biasing mechanism presses the leading end of the bolt against the retaining bridge and presses the trailing end of the bolt against retaining brush. In this manner, the bolt is aligned with the flight rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Barnett Outdoors, LLC
    Inventor: David A. Barnett
  • Patent number: 11761727
    Abstract: A crossbow includes a magazine mounted to the top of the crossbow and the magazine includes a storage space defined through the top and the bottom top of the magazine, and the storage space communicates with the flight rail of the crossbow. Multiple arrows are loaded in the storage space. The magazine includes two first engaging members which are removably engaged with two second engaging members formed on the top of the crossbow. Two protrusion respectively extend inward from two inside walls of the storage space to restrict and guide this arrows in the storage space. A retainer has a first end thereof connected to the magazine and a resilient member is located in the storage space and biases between the retainer and the inside of the storage space such that the retainer normally pressing the arrows in the storage space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: POE LANG ENTERPRISE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chi-Chang Liu
  • Patent number: 11680769
    Abstract: An air gun magazine loading device is disclosed. The device comprises a pellet sorter including a plurality of undercuts proximal to its outer edge, a magazine interface having a base plate including a plurality of holes and a raised section with plurality of undercuts, and an elevator ring with one or more ramps at its upper surface. The pellet sorter forms a plurality of round holes in a closed position to sort a plurality of pellets into the round holes. The magazine interface positions the magazine holes in-line with the holes in the pellet sorter. The elevator ring is rotated to raise the pellet sorter to an open position and bisects the round holes, thereby creating a space for the pellets and allowing the pellets to move in the direction of the raised section where the pellets directly fall through the holes into the air gun magazine or open area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Inventor: Doug Hepler
  • Patent number: 11644270
    Abstract: A toy projectile launcher pistol having a handle with an internal projectile storage area; at least one pair of inwardly biased resilient flaps; an air piston assembly having a barrel and a plunger element; a sliding handle coupled to the barrel, the sliding handle and barrel being movable between a forward position and a backward position; a compression spring that biases the plunger element against a rear wall in the toy projectile launcher pistol; and a latching assembly that couples the plunger element to a trigger assembly when the sliding handle is moved to the backward position, and the trigger assembly, upon toggling, releasing the coupling of the latching assembly between the plunger element and the trigger assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Easebon Services Limited
    Inventor: Francis See Chong Chia
  • Patent number: 11243044
    Abstract: A toy projectile launcher pistol having a handle with an internal projectile storage area; at least one pair of inwardly biased resilient flaps; an air piston assembly having a barrel and a plunger element; a sliding handle coupled to the barrel, the sliding handle and barrel being movable between a forward position and a backward position; a compression spring that biases the plunger element against a rear wall in the toy projectile launcher pistol; and a latching assembly that couples the plunger element to a trigger assembly when the sliding handle is moved to the backward position, and the trigger assembly, upon toggling, releasing the coupling of the latching assembly between the plunger element and the trigger assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: EASEBON SERVICES LIMITED
    Inventor: Francis See Chong Chia
  • Patent number: 11079199
    Abstract: A pellet magazine for attachment to a pellet gun includes an elongate casing having opposing top and bottom walls extending between first and second ends and opposing left and right sidewalls that, together, fine a magazine channel. The bottom wall defines an outlet port adjacent the first end. The magazine channel includes pellet and spring channel portions. A plurality of pellets may be inserted into the pellet channel portion. A compression spring is included in pellet spring channel portion to urge the plurality of pellets toward the outlet port. A pellet pocket member is rotatably coupled to the casing and positioned in the magazine channel in communication with the portion channel for moving a respective pellet from the loaded configuration to the unloaded configuration when actuated. The pellet pocket member is coupled to an actuation switch to sequentially actuate the pellet pocket to urge a pellet through the outlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Inventor: John M. Helfrich
  • Patent number: 10436532
    Abstract: A firearm magazine assembly includes a magazine-body, a movable-member, a spring, a securement-member, and a key-member. The spring includes a spring-length configured for repeated selective compression and extension, as needed. The firearm magazine assembly is useful for providing a firearm magazine configured for quick loading and reloading of a firearm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Inventor: Joshua Walton
  • Patent number: 9846004
    Abstract: An easy loading magazine has a magazine tube with a follower that is spring biased to feed cartridges to a firearm. The follower has a follower engagement opening within it that is sized to fit the specific caliber cartridge being used in the magazine. The user places the cartridge within the follower engagement opening and uses the cartridge to force the follower down thus relieving the pressure against the cartridges to be loaded. After the cartridges are loaded within the magazine, the user removes the cartridge that was inserted in the follower engagement opening and this re-engages the follower. In one embodiment, a locking slot is provided that allows the user to temporally lock the follower in place while loading the magazine and then sliding the cartridge back to release the follower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Inventor: Mike Micllef
  • Patent number: 9772152
    Abstract: An ammunition storage and a magazine loading/unloading device for weapons. The apparatus provides for the rapid loading of ammunition into a magazine used for holding a number of rounds of ammunition. It is comprised of a loader body having a reservoir section, having a magwell section, and a connecting way to receive an ammunition magazine, and having a manner for connecting the magwell section to the reservoir section; an essentially rectangular block which slidably interfaces with the essentially rectangular inner space of the loader body and the rectangular block with an aperture for receiving a plunger handle; and a spring retaining clip to hold the ammunition in the inner space of the loader body. The device loader body can be a single or alternatively a two piece reservoir assembly and can be used as an unloading device as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Inventor: Jeffery N Niccum
  • Patent number: 9702645
    Abstract: A system and method for using a firearm magazine are described. One example includes a firearm magazine assembly. The assembly has a housing defining a cartridge track, the housing having a distal end having feed lips for feeding cartridges to a firearm and a proximal end. The assembly also has a follower assembly having a follower and a spring. The follower has a proximal side and a distal side and is movable between a compressed position and an extended position. The follower engages the housing in the extended position without biasing the feed lips away from each other, whereby the follower prevents creep of the distal end of the housing when the follower is in the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: MAGPUL INDUSTRIES CORP.
    Inventors: Brian L. Nakayama, Jeremy Fiester, Nicholas Kielsmeier, Michael T. Mayberry
  • Patent number: 9506707
    Abstract: A system and method for using a firearm magazine are described. One example includes a firearm magazine assembly. The assembly has a housing defining a cartridge track, the housing having a distal end having feed lips for feeding cartridges to a firearm and a proximal end. The assembly also has a follower assembly having a follower and a spring. The follower has aproximal side and a distal side and is movable between a compressed position and an extended position. The follower further has at least two angled surfaces to engage the housing and bias the feed lips towards each other when the follower is in the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: MAGPUL INDUSTRIES CORP.
    Inventors: Brian L. Nakayama, Jeremy Fiester, Nicholas Kielsmeier, Michael T. Mayberry
  • Patent number: 9383152
    Abstract: A system and method for using a firearm magazine are described. One embodiment includes a firearm magazine assembly. The assembly has a polymer housing and a follower assembly comprising a follower, a spring, and an insert. The assembly also has a floorplate removably engaged with the proximal end of the housing and the insert. The follower assembly comprises a compressed configuration and an extended configuration relative to the housing, a compression limiter, and an extension limiter. The compression limiter prevents the spring from over-compression, and the extension limiter prevents the spring from forcing the follower against the feed lips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: MAGPUL INDUSTRIES CORP.
    Inventors: Brian L. Nakayama, Jeremy Fiester, Nicholas Kielsmeier, Michael T. Mayberry
  • Patent number: 9303934
    Abstract: An ammunition loading assembly includes a magazine that has a top end and the magazine may insertably receive ammunition. A biasing member is positioned within the magazine and the biasing member urges the ammunition upwardly toward the top end. A loading unit is positioned within the magazine. The loading unit compresses the biasing member to facilitate the ammunition to be loaded into the magazine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Inventor: Daniel Kazsuk
  • Patent number: 9022015
    Abstract: A magazine for an air gun is provided with first and second shells; an internal passage; a rotatable shaft including a lengthwise groove on a surface, and a transverse slot on the surface communicating with the groove; a pulley rotatably put on the shaft and having both ends rotatably secured to the first and second shells respectively; a ratchet mechanism mounted on the pulley; a pin inserted into the pulley to dispose in one end of the groove; a line having one end wound on the pulley, the line extending through the passage to have an other end engaged with a projectile support in the passage; a spring put on the line and biased between the pulley and the projectile support; and a spring biased knob disposed on an outer surface of the first shell and secured to the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Inventor: Jui-Fu Tseng
  • Publication number: 20150059723
    Abstract: A magazine for an air gun is provided with first and second shells; an internal passage; a rotatable shaft including a lengthwise groove on a surface, and a transverse slot on the surface communicating with the groove; a pulley rotatably put on the shaft and having both ends rotatably secured to the first and second shells respectively; a ratchet mechanism mounted on the pulley; a pin inserted into the pulley to dispose in one end of the groove; a line having one end wound on the pulley, the line extending through the passage to have an other end engaged with a projectile support in the passage; a spring put on the line and biased between the pulley and the projectile support; and a spring biased knob disposed on an outer surface of the first shell and secured to the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventor: Jui-Fu Tseng
  • Publication number: 20140096755
    Abstract: A magazine for storing and feeding paintballs to a paintball marker is disclosed. The magazine includes at least one channel that is open to an opening and a follower configured to travel within the at least one channel and contact a column of paintballs. The magazine can further include a door biased to cover the opening so as to prevent the paintball from passing through the opening. The magazine can include a retainer that is movable between at least a first position and a second position. The retainer prevents the follower from moving towards the opening when in the first position and allows the follower to move towards the opening when in the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: Dye Precision, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Patrick Larmer, Gerald R. Parks, Ming-Chuan Chen
  • Patent number: 8596254
    Abstract: A toy launcher apparatus for discharging soft foam projectiles, the apparatus having a housing, a projectile launching assembly including a launching tube and a launching spring, a trigger and a cocking assembly. The apparatus also includes a magazine container for storing a stack of projectiles and having a projectile receiving opening to enable loading of projectiles into the magazine container without removing the magazine container from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Hasbro, Inc.
    Inventors: Meredith Brooks, Kevin C. Dakan
  • Patent number: 8402958
    Abstract: The wheel also includes an opening in the third portion leading to a chamber in a hollow support of the wheel. A spring-biased knob is mounted on a shaft that also mounts the wheel. Both the knob and the wheel have axially align protrusions that may engage each other to allow the wheel to be rotationally adjusted to correct any jam or misalignment of the darts stored on the wheel. A flexible arm and a pusher structure are also included with the magazine apparatus and are connected to a constant force spring, where the flexible arm and a portion of the constant force spring are lodged in the chamber of the hollow support during a dart loading process of the wheel, and the constant force spring uncoils when the wheel is rotated during the loading process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Hasbro, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Victor, Raymond Aaron Mead, Robert L. Brown, Fred D. Eddins, Meredith Brooks, Douglas C. Weiler
  • Publication number: 20120160225
    Abstract: The present invention provides a mechanism for a magazine for spherical bullets able to rapidly clear bullets from the internal space of a retaining tube, thereby quickly preparing for reloading of bullets. The present invention primarily consists of a winding wheel operationally driving a drive device through a relational disposition therebetween, and uses a pullback cord fitted to the drive device to effect a rapid pulling operation, thereby swiftly driving the winding wheel to enable clearing of the internal space of the retaining tube and speedily completing preparation for reloading of bullets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventor: Chao-Hsiung CHO
  • Publication number: 20120125304
    Abstract: A toy launcher apparatus for discharging soft foam projectiles, the apparatus having a housing, a projectile launching assembly including a launching tube and a launching spring, a trigger and a cocking assembly. The apparatus also includes a magazine container for storing a stack of projectiles and having a projectile receiving opening to enable loading of projectiles into the magazine container without removing the magazine container from the housing. This is accomplished by the apparatus having a horizontal panel operatively connected to the magazine container's upper portion and movable between a first position where the panel is retracted and does not block the projectile receiving opening and a second position where the panel blocks the projectile receiving opening during a cocking cycle of the cocking assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Inventors: Meredith Brooks, Kevin C. Dakan
  • Patent number: 8176907
    Abstract: A projectile-loading assembly (1) for an air-powered gun is configured to load projectiles (3) in a barrel (4) and includes a magazine module (10) and a slider module (20). The magazine module (10) includes a projectile chamber (11), a rail tube (14) located over the projectile chamber (11) to be aligned with the barrel (4), and a projectile-loading block (15) sheathed the rail tube (14). The slider module (20) slides with respect to the barrel (4) and includes: a spring (21) for pushing the projectile-loading block (15) to depart from the barrel (4), and an elastic piece (22) for pushing the projectile-loading block (15) to approach the barrel (4). The elastic piece (22) pushes the projectile-loading block (15) to slide toward the barrel (4) when the slider module (20) slides forwards, thereby pushing one projectile (3) into the barrel (4) while closing the projectile chamber (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Inventor: Ho-Sheng Wei
  • Patent number: 8156930
    Abstract: A cartridge box of a pneumatic toy gun includes an air lock system and a struck element disposed on the upper inside the case of the cartridge box, and further includes a control system having a pushing rod and a resisting rod, wherein a front end of the pushing rod extends into the bullet-out passage disposed inside the case. When there is no bullet in the bullet-out passage, a lateral end of the stripping rod resists upward against the front end of the pushing rod to make the back end of the resisting rod moving downward to resist against the resisting portion of the struck element, resulting that the struck element cannot push the air lock system forward. Thereby, when there is no bullet in the cartridge box, even if the trigger is pressed, the air lock system cannot moves to push the bolt. Hence, firing without bullet will be avoided and the effects of the simulate gun would be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Inventor: Shih-Che Hu
  • Patent number: 8146281
    Abstract: A link for a toy ammunition chain made up of a plurality of links hinged together side-by-side in articulated fashion includes a cylindrical body adapted to receive a soft projectile. A first hinge component extends laterally from the body and has a pair of hinge pins. A second hinge component extends laterally from the body at a position opposite the first hinge component and has a pair of recesses each for pivotally receiving a hinge pin of an adjacent link in the chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Buzz Bee Toys (H.K.) Co., Limited
    Inventor: Jeffrey C. Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20110259312
    Abstract: A projectile-loading assembly (1) for an air-powered gun is configured to load projectiles (3) in a barrel (4) and includes a magazine module (10) and a slider module (20). The magazine module (10) includes a projectile chamber (11), a rail tube (14) located over the projectile chamber (11) to be aligned with the barrel (4), and a projectile-loading block (15) sheathed the rail tube (14). The slider module (20) slides with respect to the barrel (4) and includes: a spring (21) for pushing the projectile-loading block (15) to depart from the barrel (4), and an elastic piece (22) for pushing the projectile-loading block (15) to approach the barrel (4). The elastic piece (22) pushes the projectile-loading block (15) to slide toward the barrel (4) when the slider module (20) slides forwards, thereby pushing one projectile (3) into the barrel (4) while closing the projectile chamber (11).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventor: Ho-Sheng WEI
  • Patent number: 7963280
    Abstract: There has been a problem that a projected part of a rear part of a pellet gets stuck with an end side of an attachment wall and rotation is interrupted when a rotary clip moves from a hit pin concave to an end side (i.e., attachment wall) of a magazine main body if the rear end of a pellet in a bore projects from a bore. In order to resolve the problem, there is proposed a magazine main body 1 and a magazine main body 1 having a rotary clip 2 rotatably attached to a rotary clip attachment part 3 of a magazine main body 1 characterized in that a clip opposing wall surface 33 of an attachment wall 34 of a clip opposing wall surface 33 gradually moves away from a cylindrical end surface of opposing rotary clip 2 towards an end side 31 of an attachment wall 34 within a range 35 of a rotational opposing surface positioned between a hit pin concave 32 and a side surface part 10 in the rotational direction of rotary clip 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Maruzen Company Limited
    Inventor: Tetsuo Maeda
  • Patent number: 7950381
    Abstract: A magazine has a magazine body provided with a rotary clip, and the magazine body comprises an ejector member capable of movement, an ejector elastic member provided on the ejector member and being capable of expansion and contraction, and an engagement indent section capable of being engaged with a magazine catch at the time of loading the magazine into the air gun body, and the air gun body has a magazine ejector structure with the magazine catch that is urged by a catch elastic member to the magazine holding section and capable of engaging with the engagement indent section of the magazine, and a stopper that is capable of pressing part of the ejector member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Maruzen Company Limited
    Inventor: Tetsuo Maeda
  • Patent number: 7921834
    Abstract: Paintballs are loaded into a paintball gun. The paintballs are stored within a drive tube of a paintball loader. The paintballs are loaded into the paintball gun from the drive tube of the paintball loader. A screw is rotated with respect to the drive tube so that the paintballs are constrained to travel along a helical groove of the screw and along one of multiple column grooves on an inner surface of the drive tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Ancient Innovations Corporation
    Inventor: Jared L. Hamilton
  • Publication number: 20110030667
    Abstract: An auto-loading bullet magazine includes a magazine unit defining therein a bullet chamber and a bullet-loading passage; a bullet loading unit, which has a bullet-shifting wheel mounted near the inlet of the bullet-loading passage for shifting bullets from the bullet chamber into the bullet-loading passage, a ratchet wheel and a first spiral spring that is coupled between the bullet-shifting wheel and the ratchet wheel for enabling the ratchet wheel to rotate the bullet-shifting wheel; and a power input unit, which includes a reel for rotating the ratchet wheel in one single direction, a pull rope for a user to pull to rotate the reel and a second spiral spring coupled to the reel for reversing the reel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Inventor: Nien-Chun Lin
  • Publication number: 20090235910
    Abstract: According to the present invention, by providing an extremely simple member such as a partition wall having a microscopic hole section, it is possible to reliably reduce the speed of a bullet to within a fixed speed, even a complicated decompression device such as a regulator is not provided. As a result, manufacturing time for the air gun is shortened, it is possible to lower manufacturing cost, and there is the effect of improving the manufacturing efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: Maruzen Company Limited
    Inventor: Tetsuo Maeda
  • Patent number: 7428899
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for feeding ball-like ammunition, so-called paint balls, into the projectile chamber of a sporting arm. The magazine is arranged separately from the arm and is connected to same by means of a feeder tube. A motor-driven feeder feeds the balls from the ball container into the feeder tube. In so doing, a spring element stores the traction from the motor, so that, even when the motor stops, balls can still be transported using the energy stored in the spring element. The traction from the motor is transmitted via a connection or clutch consisting of a spring element and a transmission element. Protrusions are arranged on both the spring element and the transmission element, which come to bear on each other for transmitting traction. The protrusions are at least partially flexible, so that the transmitted force is limited. This way, explosion of the balls from excessive pressure is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: KEE Action Sports I LLC
    Inventor: Heddies Andresen
  • Patent number: 7415977
    Abstract: A three-in-one high-pressure gas cylinder magazine. A high-pressure gas cylinder is installed within a holding cavity, and held firmly using a fine tuning knob and securing cover. A spring mount and a securing seat are disposed within a pellet guide cavity defined parallel to the holding cavity. When the pellets are decreasing, the inner securing seat upwardly pushes the pellets within the pellet guide cavity and secures them within a securing ring in a ready state for propelling out a model pistol. When a gastight valve within a cylinder is full of gas, then an inner piston rod is put in a pneumatic state, and the cylinder and a slide cover are simultaneously driven backward as soon as the piston rod is driven by the gas, thereby fixing a hammer in a rear position, thus achieving simplification, automatic operating functionality, and succeeding in simulating a real pistol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Speed Paintball Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: I-Chun Chen
  • Patent number: 7357130
    Abstract: A mechanism for feeding uniformly-sized spherical projectiles such as paintballs into a gun adapted to shoot said projectiles is positioned in a lower region of a paintball-holding magazine, and includes a spinning body in the form of a spool from the peripheral side of which project radial arms shaped and dimensioned to urge projectiles toward a duct leading to the ammunition intake port of the gun. The spool is driven by a switchable electrical motor. In order to avoid gaps into the row of paintballs that are urged toward the ammunition intake port when the motor is not running which could result in dry firing, a resiliently variable linkage between the propelling arms is provided by a spiral spring or a pair of stretchable coil springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: JT USA, LLC
    Inventor: Lester Broersma
  • Patent number: 7222617
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for feeding ball-like ammunition, so-called paint balls, into the projectile chamber of a sporting arm. The magazine is arranged separately from the arm and is connected to same by means of a feeder tube. A motor-driven feeder feeds the balls from the ball container into the feeder tube. In so doing, a spring element stores the traction from the motor, so that, even when the motor stops, balls can still be transported using the energy stored in the spring element. The traction from the motor is transmitted via a connection or clutch consisting of a spring element and a transmission element. Protrusions are arranged on both the spring element and the transmission element, which come to bear on each other for transmitting traction. The protrusions are at least partially flexible, so that the transmitted force is limited. This way, explosion of the balls from excessive pressure is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: AJ Acquisition I LLC
    Inventor: Heddies Andresen
  • Patent number: 7017569
    Abstract: A loader apparatus for use with a paintball marker having a paintball inlet is provided. The loader apparatus includes a base attachable to the paintball marker, a cartridge removably attachable to the base, a motive means and a delivery conduit. The cartridge includes a chamber for paintballs. The chamber has a paintball outlet. The cartridge further includes a flow assistor. The motive means is operatively connected to the flow assistor when the cartridge is attached to the base. The delivery conduit is in flow communication with the paintball outlet of the chamber and with the paintball inlet of the paintball marker when the cartridge is attached to the base and the base is mounted to the paintball marker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Inventor: Paul Garfield Jong
  • Patent number: 6978776
    Abstract: A loader stores and loads round objects is presented. The loader includes a screw and a drive tube. The screw has a helical groove. The helical groove winds in a first direction. The drive tube has multiple helical grooves on an inner surface of the drive tube. The multiple helical grooves wind in a second direction. The second direction is counter to the first direction. The screw is located within a center of the drive tube along a length of the drive tube so that round objects loaded within the drive tube are each within the helical groove of the screw and within one of the multiple helical grooves on the inner surface of the drive tube. When the drive tube rotates with respect to the screw, round objects within the drive tube are constrained to travel along the helical groove of the screw and along one of the multiple helical grooves on the inner surface of the drive tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Ancient Innovations Corp.
    Inventor: Jared L. Hamilton
  • Patent number: 6889680
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a ball feed mechanism for use in a paintball loader. The ball feed mechanism includes a feeder which conveys or impels balls toward a feed neck, and a drive member which is concentric with the impeller. The feeder is coupled to the drive member through a spring. The spring is configured to store potential energy which is used to rotate the feeder and, thus, drive the balls toward the feed neck. An electric motor is used to rotate the drive member to wind the spring. The feed mechanism includes sensors which detect the motion of the feeder and the drive member. A controller determines the spring tension based on the relative motion of the feeder and drive member, and actuates a motor when necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: National Paintball Supply, Inc.
    Inventors: James T. Christopher, Chris T. Goddard, David Michael Banks
  • Publication number: 20040134475
    Abstract: A loader apparatus for use with a paintball marker having a paintball inlet is provided. The loader apparatus includes a base attachable to the paintball marker, a cartridge removably attachable to the base, a motive means and a delivery conduit. The cartridge includes a chamber for paintballs. The chamber has a paintball outlet. The cartridge further includes a flow assistor. The motive means is operatively connected to the flow assistor when the cartridge is attached to the base. The delivery conduit is in flow communication with the paintball outlet of the chamber and with the paintball inlet of the paintball marker when the cartridge is attached to the base and the base is mounted to the paintball marker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventor: Paul Garfield Jong
  • Patent number: 6729322
    Abstract: A compressed gas powered gun provides recoil simulating the recoil of a gun firing gunpowder propelled projectiles. The valve assembly provides both consistent shot to shot pressure, and rearward gas pressure for generating recoil. Preferred embodiments of the compressed gas powered gun may include a system for adjusting the amount of recoil provided. A trigger mechanism permitting semi-automatic operation, or full automatic operation at a user selectable cyclic rate, is provided. The air gun provides consistent gas pressure behind the projectile from shot to shot. A magazine and magazine indexing system for loading projectiles into the firing chamber in a manner contributing to the accuracy of the air gun is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Inventor: Mark Schavone
  • Patent number: 6644293
    Abstract: In one aspect, the invention is directed to a loader apparatus for use with a paintball marker including a base attachable to the marker, a cartridge removably attachable to the base and a delivery conduit. The base includes a motor, which drives a driven means ending in a first gear. The cartridge includes a paintball chamber with an outlet, and a flow assistor driven by a second gear that meshes with the first gear on the base. The chamber includes a pressure plate and spring assembly which pushes the paintballs in the chamber towards the outlet. The flow assistor includes a rotating generally funnel-shaped surface having bosses and dimples to enhance the agitation of paintballs and to assist the flow of paintballs from the chamber. The operation of the flow assistor is controlled by a controller. The controller receives input from an on/off switch on the base, a second switch which senses the presence of a cartridge on the base, and a plurality of paintball sensors located in the delivery conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Inventor: Paul Garfield Jong
  • Publication number: 20030056777
    Abstract: The present invention of a high capacity bullet cartridge, more specifically, a bullet cartridge provided for a gun with color paint bullets, mainly comprises a cartridge body disposed with an U-shaped bullet channel inside the said cartridge body; the said U-shaped bullet channel is disposed with an orientation throat on one side adjacent to an open end where a bullet is released; the said orientation throat is provided for the bullet to change direction and is advantageous for assuring the smooth movement of the bullet encircling an arch portion of the U-shaped bullet channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventor: Guodong Liang
  • Publication number: 20030010330
    Abstract: In one aspect, the invention is directed to a loader apparatus for use with a paintball marker including a base attachable to the marker, a cartridge removably attachable to the base and a delivery conduit. The base includes a motor, which drives a driven means ending in a first gear. The cartridge includes a paintball chamber with an outlet, and a flow assistor driven by a second gear that meshes with the first gear on the base. The chamber includes a pressure plate and spring assembly which pushes the paintballs in the chamber towards the outlet. The flow assistor includes a rotating generally funnel-shaped surface having bosses and dimples to enhance the agitation of paintballs and to assist the flow of paintballs from the chamber. The operation of the flow assistor is controlled by a controller. The controller receives input from an on/off switch on the base, a second switch which senses the presence of a cartridge on the base, and a plurality of paintball sensors located in the delivery conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Inventor: Paul Garfield Jong
  • Patent number: 6494194
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compressed gas-operated firearms and more particularly to repeating gas cylinder pistols with conveyer feed of bullets for shooting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Zakrytoe aktsionernoe obschhestvo “Group Anics”
    Inventors: Aleksei Borisovich Shipachev, Aleksei Lvovich Petrosyan
  • Patent number: 6327953
    Abstract: A device for storing projectile balls and for feeding them to the projectile chamber of a hand weapon (1), with a ball container (3), with a conveying tube (2) which is connected at one end to the latter and the other end of which leads to the weapon (1), and with a conveyor for conveying a continuous row of balls out of the ball container (3) into the conveying tube, wherein the conveying tube (2) is designed as a flexible long conveying hose and the ball container (3) is provided with a carrying fixture (12) independent of the weapon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Armatec GmbH & CIE. KG
    Inventor: Heddies Andresen
  • Patent number: 5954042
    Abstract: A loader mountable below the barrel of a semi-automatic paintball gun for feeding a supply of paintballs into the firing chamber of the paintball gun against the force of gravity. The loader includes a mechanically driven rotating paddle wheel that moves the individual paintballs upward and out of the loader housing and into a feed tube. The feed tube connects the outlet of the housing to the firing chamber of the paintball gun such that the combination of the feed tube and paddle wheel continuously supply paintballs to the firing chamber of the paintball gun. The loader includes a motor and a drive spring for rotating the paddle wheel within the housing. The motor winds the drive spring, such that upon a demand for paintballs, the drive spring provides the driving force to the paddle wheel to rotate the paddle wheel within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Inventor: Daniel D. Harvey
  • Patent number: 5884615
    Abstract: A dual mode ammunition loading air or gas-powered gun. The gun is conceived for shooting manually loaded small bullets shot by shot, or for alternatively acting as a repeating weapon for spherical ammunition (2) fed from a loader (4), dispensed one by one into a pocket (9) of an ammunition shifting body (8) mounted in a sliding arrangement, perpendicular to the barrel (3), so as to shift the ammunition up to a position in coalignment with the barrel (3) and with an air/gas delivery hole (17), of a compression chamber. The trigger (18) of the gun, is pin-jointed with a drawing member (19) spring-loaded at one (19a) of its ends and whose other end (19b) is connected to the striking hammer (21) for its cocking and ulterior release. The shifting body (8) is linked with the trigger through an assoicated lever (23) whose first end (23a) is rotatably pin-jointed with said trigger (18) and whose other end (23b) is hinged connected with said shifting body (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Industrias El Gamo, S.A.
    Inventor: Francisco Casas Salva
  • Patent number: 5544641
    Abstract: The present invention provides an arrow storing device and an aiming device for a crossbow, the arrow storing device has a magazine in which a plurality of arrows are received, and which is replaceably engaged in a frame of the crossbow. The magazine has a plate on which the arrows are disposed and a spring is disposed under the plate to push the plate upwardly. The aiming device includes a tube having first and second ends, a convex lens being disposed in the first end thereof and a bulb being movably engaged in the second end thereof such that, at times of poor visibility, a spot of light will be projected on a target by adjusting the position of the bulb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Inventor: Chin S. Jenn
  • Patent number: 5535829
    Abstract: In order to carry out a fire extinguishing operation by ejecting a fire extinguishing gas having cooling and oxygen deficiency functions and a high fire extinguishing capacity from a plurality of cylinders in succession, a repeating injector is provided with an ejection mechanism which has a magazine containing a plurality of cylinders filled with such a fire extinguishing gas and detachably fixed to a receiver barrel constituting an injector body, and which is adapted to break a seal member on a head portion of each of the cylinders by a triggering operation and eject the fire extinguishing gas, and a cylinder renewing mechanism for discharging a cylinder, which has been subjected to the ejection of the fire extinguishing gas and become empty, by knob-pulling operation, and renewing the cylinder successively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: Glory Kiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaru Fujiki
  • Patent number: 5280777
    Abstract: An arrow holding and loading device for an archery bow has a frame to be bolted to the bow so that it can support a carriage that moves horizontally from left to right at the arrow plate side of the riser, through a window in the arrow plate side of the riser, or to the rear of the riser to automatically shift a follow-up arrow into shooting position upon release by the archer of an initial arrow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1994
    Assignee: Pugh-Zweng Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory E. Pugh
  • Patent number: 5150701
    Abstract: The body 12 of an air gun accommodates a removable magazine 16 immediately behind the breech 14, for pellets to be loaded one at a time from the magazine into the breech. The magazine comprises a drum 33 which is rotatably mounted within a housing 31 and comprises ten pellet-holding slots 38 around its axis. A torsion spring 42 urges rotation of the drum in indexing steps as controlled by an escapement mechanism comprising a rocking pawl 50. The pawl is displaced against the action of a return spring 58 by a plunger 60 which projects from a cocking arm 22 of a conventional cocking mechanism of the gun; the plunger is arranged to actuate the escapement only towards the end of a cocking stroke of the arm 22. A loading ram/air transfer tube 28 is reciprocated, in effecting the cocking action, to withdraw from one slot 38 in the drum and enter a next slot to load a fresh pellet into the breech.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1992
    Assignee: B.S.A. Guns (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Roger D. Wackrow, Kenneth W. White, Harold C. Jones