Paintball marker loader apparatus
OwnerPaul Garfield Jonginventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims35
A loader apparatus for use with a paintball marker, the loader apparatus comprising:
- a cartridge,
- said cartridge including a chamber for paintballs, said chamber having a paintball outlet, said cartridge further including a flow assistor, said flow assistor having a generally funnel-shaped surface, wherein said flow assistor is rotatable, wherein said surface includes irregularities for inhibiting jams in a flow of paintballs towards said paintball outlet during rotation of said flow assistor.
A loader apparatus for use with a paintball marker having a paintball inlet, the loader apparatus comprising:
- a) a cartridge including a chamber for paintballs, said chamber having a paintball outlet;
- b) a base for connecting said cartridge to said paintball inlet for enabling passage of paintballs from said chamber to said paintball inlet;
- c) a driven flow assistor for inhibiting jams in a flow of paintballs towards said paintball inlet;
- and
- d) a motive means for driving said flow assistor, wherein said motive means is operatively connectable to said flow assistor, wherein said motive means is mounted to one of said base and said marker, so that said motive means is separate from said cartridge.
A loader apparatus for use with a paintball marker having a paintball inlet, the loader apparatus comprising:
- a cartridge, and a motive means,
- said cartridge including a chamber for paintballs, said chamber having a paintball outlet, said cartridge further including a flow assistor, wherein said cartridge is removably connectable with respect to said paintball marker for communication of paintballs from said paintball outlet of said chamber to said paintball inlet, wherein, when said cartridge is connected with respect to said paintball marker, said motive means is operatively connectable to said flow assistor for driving said flow assistor,
- and wherein said loader apparatus further comprises a pressurizing member for maintaining a force on said paintballs in said chamber to urge said paintballs towards said paintball outlet.
A loader apparatus for use with a paintball marker having a paintball inlet, the loader apparatus comprising:
- a cartridge, and a motive means,
- said cartridge including a chamber for paintballs, said chamber having a paintball outlet, said cartridge further including a flow assistor, wherein said cartridge is removably connectable with respect to said paintball marker for communication of paintballs from said paintball outlet of said chamber to said paintball inlet, wherein, when said cartridge is connected with respect to said paintball marker, said motive means is operatively connectable to said flow assistor for driving said flow assistor,
- and wherein said flow assistor comprises a generally funnel-shaped surface surrounding said paintball outlet, said generally funnel-shaped surface comprising surface irregularities for agitating paintballs.
A loader apparatus for use with a paintball marker having a paintball inlet, the loader apparatus comprising:
- a cartridge,
- wherein said cartridge includes a chamber for paintballs, said chamber defining a paintball outlet, wherein said cartridge is positionable for communication of paintballs from said paintball outlet of said chamber to said paintball inlet of said paintball marker, and a pressurizing member for maintaining a force on said paintballs in said chamber to urge said paintballs in said chamber towards said paintball outlet, wherein said pressurizing member is adapted to contact a plurality of paintballs simultaneously,
- wherein said loader further comprises a base, wherein said cartridge is removably attachable to said base,
- and wherein said cartridge includes a flow assistor and said loader apparatus further includes a motive means operatively connectable to said flow assistor when said cartridge is attached to said base.
A loader apparatus for use with a paintball marker having a paintball inlet, the loader apparatus comprising:
- a cartridge,
- wherein said cartridge includes a chamber for paintballs, said chamber defining a paintball outlet, wherein said cartridge is positionable for communication of paintballs from said paintball outlet of said chamber to said paintball inlet of said paintball marker, and a pressurizing member for maintaining a force on said paintballs in said chamber to urge said paintballs in said chamber towards said paintball outlet, wherein said pressurizing member is adapted to contact a plurality of paintballs simultaneously,
- wherein said pressurizing member comprises a spring, wherein said spring is operatively connected to said paintballs, so that said spring is adapted to act on said paintballs to urge said paintballs towards said paintball outlet.
A loader apparatus for use with a paintball marker, the loader apparatus comprising:
- a cartridge,
- said cartridge including a chamber for paintballs, said chamber having a paintball outlet, said cartridge further including a flow assistor, said flow assistor having a paintball contact surface, wherein said flow assistor is rotatable, wherein said surface has a large diameter end and a small diameter end, wherein said small diameter end is downstream from said large diameter end, wherein said surface generally tapers from said large diameter end to said small diameter end, and wherein said surface includes irregularities for inhibiting jams in a flow of paintballs towards said paintball outlet during rotation of said flow assistor.
A loader apparatus for use with a paintball marker having a paintball inlet, the loader apparatus comprising:
- a) a cartridge including a chamber for paintballs, said chamber having a paintball outlet;
- b) a base for connecting said cartridge to said paintball inlet for enabling passage of paintballs from said chamber to said paintball inlet, wherein said cartridge is removably connectable to said base;
- c) a driven flow assistor for inhibiting jams in a flow of paintballs towards said paintball inlet;
- and
- d) a motor, wherein said base includes said motor, wherein said motor is operatively connectable to said flow assistor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.