Assisted trigger mechanism
OwnerForest A. Hatcherinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A mechanical, pneumatic, magnetic and/or electronic method for assisting the user operation of a trigger and/or actively and rapidly returning the trigger mechanism to its firing position at the completion of a firing sequence in a paintball gun. The trigger assistance mechanism reduces the amount of force required by the user to move the trigger to begin the firing sequence. After the firing sequence has been completed, the trigger assistance mechanism provides assistance to the trigger to move it to its pre-firing resting position. Alternatively, the trigger assistance mechanism replaces the mechanical linkage between the trigger and the cocking/firing mechanism of the paintball gun such that a pneumatic actuating ram is used to initiate the cocking/firing sequence.
Claims15
A method of assisting the movement of a trigger between a firing position and a resting position to increase the rate at which paintballs can be fired from a paintball gun, the method comprising the steps of:
- positioning a primary magnet in the trigger of the paintball gun, the primary magnet being oriented such that the poles of the primary magnet extend along the line of movement of the trigger between the resting position and the firing position;
- and
- positioning a secondary magnet behind the trigger of the paintball gun, the secondary magnet being oriented such that the poles of the secondary magnet extend along the line of movement of the trigger between the resting position and the firing position;
- wherein the poles of the secondary magnet are oriented such that the secondary magnet repels the primary magnet when the trigger moves toward the secondary magnet.
A method of assisting the movement of a trigger between a resting position and a firing position to increase the rate at which paintballs can be fired from a paintball gun, the method comprising the steps of:
- positioning a primary electromagnet in the trigger of the paintball gun, the primary electromagnet being oriented such that the poles of the primary magnet extend along the line of movement of the trigger between the resting position and the firing position;
- and
- positioning a secondary electromagnet behind the trigger of the paintball gun, the secondary electromagnet being oriented such that the poles of the secondary electromagnet extend along the line of movement of the trigger between the resting position and the firing position;
- polarizing the primary and secondary electromagnets such that the electromagnets attract each other as the trigger is depressed and moved from the resting position toward the firing position;
- sensing the movement of the trigger to the firing position;
- and
- reversing the polarity of one of the electromagnets once the trigger reaches the firing position, such that the electromagnets repel each other and return the trigger to its resting position.
A method of assisting the movement of a trigger between a resting position and a firing position to increase the rate at which paintballs can be fired from a paintball gun, the method comprising the steps of:
- positioning a force element behind the trigger of the paintball gun;
- sensing the movement of the trigger from the resting position to the firing position;
- and
- activating the force element to assist the movement of the trigger from the resting position to the firing position.
A method of assisting the movement of a trigger between a resting position and a firing position to increase the rate at which paintballs can be fired from a paintball gun, the method comprising the steps of:
- positioning a first electrically actuated solenoid behind the trigger of the paintball gun;
- positioning a second electrically actuated solenoid in front of the trigger of the paintball gun;
- sensing the movement of the trigger from the resting position to the firing position;
- activating the second electrically actuated solenoid to assist the movement of the trigger from the resting position to the firing position;
- sensing the movement of the trigger from the firing position to the resting position;
- and
- activating the first electrically actuated solenoid to assist the movement of the trigger from the firing position to the resting position.
A mechanism for assisting the movement of a trigger between a resting position and a firing position to increase the rate at which paintballs can be fired from a paintball gun, the assistance mechanism comprising a force element positioned behind the trigger, the force element being operable to assist movement of the trigger between the resting position and the firing position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.