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US 2011/0226227 A1Published application
Paintball Marker with Mode Selector
OwnerJeffrey P. Douglas, Dennis J. Tippmann, JR.inventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A paintball marker that includes both a mechanical firing mode and an electronically-assisted firing mode. In the mechanical firing mode, the marker launches projectiles without the aid of electronics and therefore does not require an energy source, such as batteries. In the electronically-assisted firing mode, an electronic circuit initiates launching of projectiles. A mode selector is provided that allows a user to select between the mechanical firing mode and the electronically-assisted firing mode.
Claims30
A paintball marker comprising:
- a receiver;
- a barrel extending from the receiver;
- a valve arrangement configured to selectively vent gas to propel a projectile out of the barrel;
- a mode selector movable between a mechanical firing mode and an electronically-assisted firing mode;
- a trigger movable between a neutral position and a firing position;
- a mechanical launch assembly configured to actuate launching of a projectile without electronic assistance responsive to the trigger moving to the firing position;
- an electronic circuit configured to actuate launching of a projectile responsive to the trigger moving to the firing position;
- wherein the mechanical launch assembly actuates launching of a projectile when the mode selector is in the mechanical firing mode;
- and
- wherein the electronic circuit actuates launching of a projectile when the mode selector is in the electronically-assisted firing mode.
7 more elements
A paintball marker comprising:
- a receiver;
- a barrel extending from the receiver;
- a valve arrangement configured to selectively vent gas to propel a projectile out of the barrel;
- a mode selector movable between a mechanical firing mode and an electronically-assisted firing mode;
- a trigger movable between a neutral position and a firing position;
- a mechanical linkage movable between a first position away from the valve arrangement and a second position that actuates the valve arrangement, wherein the mechanical linkage actuates the valve arrangement responsive to the trigger moving to the firing position when the mode selector is in the mechanical firing mode;
- and
- an electronic circuit configured to initiate actuation of the valve arrangement responsive to the trigger moving to the firing position when the mode selector is in the electronically-assisted firing mode.
5 more elements
A paintball marker comprising:
- a receiver;
- a barrel extending from the receiver;
- a valve arrangement configured to selectively vent gas to propel a projectile out of the barrel;
- a mode selector movable between a mechanical firing mode and an electronically-assisted firing mode;
- a trigger movable between a neutral position and a firing position;
- a lever including a first arm and a second arm, wherein the first arm is moveable between a first position away from the valve arrangement and a second position that actuates the valve arrangement, wherein the trigger includes a cam surface that acts upon the lever to move the first arm to the second position responsive to the trigger moving to the firing position when the mode selector is in the mechanical firing mode;
- and
- an electronic circuit including a linear actuator configured to move the lever to the second position, wherein the electronic circuit is configured to energize the linear actuator responsive to the trigger moving to the firing position when the mode selector is in the electronically-assisted firing mode.
5 more elements
A paintball marker comprising:
- a receiver;
- a barrel extending from the receiver;
- a valve arrangement configured to selectively vent gas to propel a projectile out of the barrel;
- a trigger movable between a neutral position and a firing position;
- a trigger magnet movable with the trigger;
- a first magnetic sensor configured to detect movement of the trigger;
- a mode selector movable between a safe mode and an electronically-assisted firing mode;
- a mode selector magnet movable with the mode selector;
- a second magnetic sensor configured to detect the mode selector magnet's position to determine whether the mode selector is in the electronically-assisted firing mode;
- an electronic circuit configured to actuate launching of a projectile responsive to detection by the first magnetic sensor that the trigger moved to the firing position when the second magnetic sensor detects that the mode selector is in the electronically-assisted firing mode;
- and
- wherein the mode selector includes a portion that blocks the trigger from moving to the firing position when the mode selector is in the safe mode.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.