Paint ball gun kit assembly

• US 6,532,949 B1
• Filed: 06/19/2001
• Issued: 03/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey D. Mckendrick
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey D. Mckendrick
• Inventors: McKendrick, Jeffrey D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zerr, John W.
• Application Number:
  US09/884,768
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 124/58, 124/73, 124/74, 124/75, 124/77
• US Class Current: 124/77
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 11/57 Electronic or electric systems for feeding or loading F41B11/53 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 11/71 Electric or electronic control systems, e.g. for safety purposes
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 11/722 for controlling gas pressure for loading or feeding only
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 11/723 for controlling gas pressure for firing the projectile only
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 11/724 for gas pressure reduction

Abstract

An electro-pneumatically operated kit assembly is provided for connection to a paint ball gun body, the kit assembly having a trigger initiating a programmed electrical control unit which actuates a first solenoid valve to move a hammer to open an air distribution path to allow pressurized air into the barrel to fire a paint ball sitting within the barrel of the gun body. The first solenoid valve then closes and a second solenoid valve opens to move a bolt away from the path of projectile storage path to release the next single paint ball into the barrel to await another trigger actuation. The first solenoid valve controls the movement of the hammer while the second solenoid valve controls the movement of the bolt so that the hammer and bolt move independently from each other.

Claims

1. An electro-pneumatically operated kit assembly for connection to a paint ball gun body, said body having a first bore for receiving a paint ball, a second bore with a through passageway therebetween, a feed inlet open to the first bore and communicating with a supply of paint balls, said assembly comprising;

a first and second rod;

a moveable bolt connected to one end of the first rod and configured for disposition in the first bore and for selectively sealing and unsealing the feed inlet;

a moveable hammer connected to one end of the second rod and configured for disposition in the second bore and for selectively sealing and unsealing the through passageway between said first and second bores;

means for selectively moving the bolt within the first bore and means for selectively moving the hammer within the second bore, wherein said bolt and hammer move independently relative to each other, wherein the means for selectively moving the bolt and hammer comprises a gas distribution system having a pair of solenoid valves, one of the pair of solenoid valves adapted for selectively directing pressurized air to one side or other side of said first rod for driving said bolt between an extended and retracted position, and the other of the pair of solenoid valves adapted for selectively directing pressurized air to one side or other side of said second rod for driving said hammer between an extended and retracted position.

2. The kit assembly of claim 1 further comprising a programmable circuit adapted for operating said pair of solenoid valves.

3. The kit assembly of claim 2, further comprising a trigger communicating with a switch for activating said programmable circuit.

4. The kit assembly of claim 1 further comprising a pressure regulator connectable to a supply of pressurized gas.

5. The kit assembly of claim 4, further comprising a gas supply line from the pressure regulator to the gas distribution system.

6. The kit assembly of claim 1, wherein the bolt has gas passages allowing gas to pass through the bolt to propel the paint ball through the first bore.

7. The kit assembly of claim 1, wherein another end of the first rod is slidably connectable within a first cylinder.

8. The kit assembly of claim 7, wherein the first cylinder has an axial length and a concentric passageway extending the axial length of the first cylinder and an offset passageway communicating with the concentric passageway, wherein said concentric and offset passageways communicate with said gas distribution system.

9. The kit assembly of claim 1, wherein another end of the second rod is slidably connectable with a second cylinder, wherein the second cylinder has an axial length and a concentric passageway extending the axial length of the second cylinder and an offset passageway communicating with the concentric passageway, wherein said concentric and offset passageways communicate with said gas distribution system.

10. An electro-pneumatically operated kit assembly for connection to a paint ball gun body, said body having a barrel for receiving a paint ball, a cylindrical bore parallel to said barrel and a through passageway therebetween, a feed inlet open to the barrel and communicating with a supply of paint balls, and assembly comprising:

a moveable bolt configured for disposition and movement within the barrel and for selectively sealing and unsealing the feed inlet;

first valve means for positioning the bolt to seal the feed inlet when the first valve means is deactivated and to unseal the feed inlet when the first valve means is activated;

a moveable hammer configured for disposition and movement within the cylindrical bore and for selectively sealing the unsealing the through passageway;

second valve means for positioning the hammer to seal the through passageway when the second valve means is deactivated and to unseal the through passageway when the second valve means is activated;

means for selectively activating each of the first and second valve means independently.

11. The kit assembly of claim 10 wherein the means for selectively activating the first and second valve means includes a programmed electronic circuit.