Abstract:
The plural option loading system for a pneumatic gun. The pneumatic gun has a receiver with the first and second loading port disposed to permit loading either by gravity or forced loading such as from a magazine. The barrel can be locked to the receiver to permit loading through only one of the two ports depending on the orientation in which it is locked to the receiver and permits selective loading through only a selected port at any time.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     Invention relates to pneumatic guns. More specifically, the invention relates to a gun and system to provide multiple loading options. 
     2. Background 
     Traditional paintball guns have a single loading option. Typically, they are either loaded by gravity feed systems or by forced (magazine) feed systems. Within typical gravity feed systems the paintballs are retained in a large hopper and enter the receiver through a gravity feed channel, which is generally either 90 degrees or 45 degrees from the horizontal. The paintball is loaded by gravity into the breach of the receiver and then ejected by a forced air charge. The magazine feeds generally use a smaller number of paint balls which are forced from beneath the receiver into the breach through a port in the bottom of the receiver and then ejected by a forced air charge. Magazine feeds tend to be more compact and maneuverable than gravity feed systems and is less reliant on the angle at which the gun is held during use. However, magazine systems tend to hold a smaller volume of paintballs before reloading is required. Accordingly, each system has its place within the paintball sport. Unfortunately, traditionally it has been necessary to completely switch guns in the context where a different loading system is desired. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that different references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a pneumatic gun of one embodiment of the invention with the barrel detached. 
         FIG. 1A  is an enlarged perspective view of the proximal end of barrel  106 . 
         FIG. 1B  is a sectional view of one embodiment of the invention with the barrel installed and the loading aperture aligned with the gravity loading port of the receiver. 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional view of a pneumatic gun of one embodiment of the invention in a gravity feed orientation. 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view of a pneumatic gun of one embodiment of the invention in a magazine loading orientation. 
     
    
    
     SUMMARY 
     The plural option loading system for a pneumatic gun is described. The pneumatic gun has a receiver with the first and second loading port disposed to permit loading either by gravity or forced loading such as from a magazine. The barrel can be locked to the receiver to permit loading through only one of the two ports depending on the orientation in which it is locked to the receiver and permits selective loading through only a selected port at any time. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a pneumatic gun of one embodiment of the invention with the barrel detached. A receiver  102  defines a gravity loading port and a magazine loading port and may be coupled to barrel  106  to permit selective loading through one of the two ports. A magazine  104  may be coupled to receiver  102 . The barrel has a distal end  105  and a proximal end  107 . Barrel  106  also defines a loading aperture (not shown in  FIG. 1 ). As used herein, distal end refers to the end of the barrel furthest from the receiver when in use and proximal end refers to the end of the barrel connected to the receiver when in use. 
       FIG. 1A  is an enlarged perspective view of the proximal end of barrel  106 . Barrel  106  defines a circumferential channel  112  and a pair of locking points  116  and  118  at opposing ends of the circumferential channel  112 . Barrel  106  further defines an aperture (not shown in  FIG. 1A ) which aligns with one of the loading ports of receiver  102  when the barrel is installed. Proximal end further defines an entry channel to permit a detent in the receiver to enter circumferential channel  112 . Locking points  116  and  118  are defined at opposing ends of circumferential channel  112 . In one embodiment, locking points are rounded depressions in the floor of channel  112 . In one embodiment, when a detent of receiver (not shown) engages locking point  116 , the loading aperture of barrel  106  is aligned with the gravity feed port of receiver  102 . When the detent engages locking point  118  the loading aperture aligns with the magazine feeding port of receiver  102 . 
       FIG. 1B  is a sectional view of one embodiment of the invention with the barrel installed and the loading port aligned with the gravity loading port of the receiver. In this view, barrel  106  is shown installed in receiver  102 . The loading aperture  120  defined in barrel  106  can be seen in alignment with loading port  130  which is the gravity feed loading port of receiver  102 . Thus, detent  132  is shown engaged in locking point  116 . A bias spring  134  maintains this engagement unless sufficient external force is applied to rotate the barrel. In this figure, the rounded cross section of locking point  118  can be seen. Circumferential channel  112  is shown between the existing engagement of detent  132  in locking point  116  and locking point  118 . Because the single loading aperture  120  is defined in barrel  106 , when locked in this orientation, feeding from magazine  104  is prevented. Barrel  106  defines an additional channel  126  to orient the barrel  106  for installation or removal from the receiver  102 . A user can supply manual force to twist the barrel  106  the rounded end of detent  132  in conjunction with the rounded sides of locking point allows the user to overcome the bias force of spring  134  with this twisting motion. This allows a transition between gravity loading and magazine loading without the use of tools, thus increasing the versatility and usability of a pneumatic gun provided with this loading system. 
       FIG. 2  is a sectional view of a pneumatic gun of one embodiment of the invention in a gravity feed orientation. Paintballs such as paintball  216  reside in feeding neck  210 . In some embodiments, the feeding neck  210  is at 45 degrees from the vertical. While in other embodiments, feeding neck  210  may be vertical. In the shown embodiment the circumferential channel  112  would extend in a 135 degree arc around the barrel  106 . For an embodiment with a vertical gravity feed, the circumferential channel would extend 180 degrees. When in this orientation, paintballs from feeding neck dropped directly into barrel  106  through the loading aperture ( 120  shown in  FIG. 1B ). Meanwhile, paintballs such as paintball  212  are prevented from entering the barrel by a solid side of the barrel  106  occluding the forced loading port that corresponds to magazine  104 . Detent  132  locks the barrel in a selected orientation until sufficient force is applied to overcome the bias of the detent  132 . 
       FIG. 3  is a sectional view of a pneumatic gun of one embodiment of the invention in a magazine loading orientation. In this orientation, loading aperture ( 120  in  FIG. 1B ) is aligned with the magazine loading port and maintained in this orientation by the detent. In this orientation, a paintball in loading neck  202  cannot enter the barrel because gravity loading port ( 130  from  FIG. 1B ) is occluded by the solid side of the barrel  106 . Meanwhile, paintballs such as paintball  314  can be forced into the barrel from magazine  104 . Paintball  316  is shown as next in line and will be forced into the barrel once paintball  314  is ejected. 
     In the foregoing specification, the embodiments of the invention have been described with reference to specific embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes can be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.