Abstract:
A device for firing projectiles comprising a housing having a chamber for retaining projectiles positioned therein and means for expelling the retained projectiles from the housing. An inverted cup is positioned within the chamber and includes an aperture connected to the expelling means. Compressed gas is provided within the chamber by a means for providing compressed gas and a means for activating the providing means is provided as well. Upon activating the activating means compressed gas is provided within the chamber by the providing means causing the projectiles to be caught by the inverted cup and forced through the aperture for expelling therefrom by the expelling means.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to air guns and, more specifically, to, an airgun that fires round ball shot projectiles. The air gun of the present invention is operable using compressed gas provided in a cylinder separate from the airgun. The compressed gas cylinder is coupled to the housing of the airgun by means of pressure hose and fittings. A trigger valve allows the pressurized gas to pass into an air inlet jet and into a pressure canister forcing a plurality of pre-loaded ball shots into a feed cup and out through the barrel. When the trigger is not depressed, the device will not fire. A loading aperture is provided to allow a plurality of ball shot to be loaded into the pressure canister prior to use. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   While these airguns may be suitable for the purposes for which they where designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described. The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing an airgun that fires round ball shot with no moving parts (which means virtually no maintenance), such as “BBs” and operates on compressed gas such as CO2, provided in a cylinder separate from the airgun. The compressed gas cylinder is coupled to the housing of the airgun by means of pressure hose and fittings. A trigger valve allows the pressurized gas to pass into an air inlet jet and into a pressure canister, forcing a plurality of pre-loaded ball shot into the feed cup and out through the barrel. When the trigger is not depressed, the device will not fire. A loading aperture is provided to allow a plurality of ball shot to be loaded into the pressure canister prior to use. 
   SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to air guns and, more specifically, to, an airgun that fires round ball shot projectiles. The air gun of the present invention is operable using compressed gas, provided in a cylinder separate from the airgun. The compressed gas cylinder is coupled to the housing of the airgun by means of pressure hose and fittings. A trigger valve allows the pressurized gas to pass into an air inlet jet and into a pressure canister forcing a plurality of pre-loaded ball shots into a feed cup and out through the barrel. When the trigger is not depressed, the device will not fire. A loading aperture is provided to allow a plurality of ball shot to be loaded into the pressure canister prior to use. 
   A primary object of the present invention is to provide an airgun that overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art. 
   Another secondary object of the present invention is to provide an airgun that fires round ball shots, such as “BBs”. 
   Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an airgun that can shoot a plurality of different type of projectiles including but not limited to rubber or plastic projectiles for use as non-lethal force by law-enforcement or government agencies. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide an airgun that uses compressed gas to fire round ball shots therefrom. 
   Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an airgun that operates on compressed gas such as CO2, HPA, scuba air, shop air or any other pressurized gas. 
   Still another object of the present invention is to provide an airgun that operates on compressed gas that is not flammable 
   Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide an airgun that operates on compressed gas that produces at least 80 psi 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide an airgun that operates on compressed gas provided in a cylinder separate from the airgun. 
   Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide an airgun wherein the compressed gas cylinder is coupled to the housing of the airgun by means of pressure hose and fittings. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide an airgun including a trigger valve for allowing the pressurized gas to pass into an air inlet jet and into a pressure canister. 
   Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an airgun including a feed cup for catching the ball shot. 
   Still another object of the present invention is to provide an airgun wherein a plurality of pre-loaded ball shot are forced into the feed cup and out through the barrel. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide an airgun that when the trigger is not depressed, the device will not fire. 
   Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an airgun having a loading aperture to allow a plurality of ball shot to be loaded into the pressure canister prior to use. 
   Still another object of the present invention is to provide an airgun that is inexpensive to manufacture and operate. 
   One more object of the present invention is to provide an airgun that is simple and easy to use. 
   Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds. 
   The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which forms a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 
   The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
     In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: 
       FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of the airgun of the present invention in use; 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the airgun of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the airgun of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the airgun of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the firing chamber of the airgun of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the firing chamber of the airgun of the present invention attached to a gas canister and pressure valve in closed position; and 
       FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the firing chamber of the airgun of the present invention attached to a gas canister and pressure valve in open or fire position. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCED NUMERALS 
   Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the Figures illustrate the airgun of the present invention. With regard to the reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the various drawing Figures.
           10  airgun of the present invention     12  user     14  projectiles     16  loading aperture     18  loading aperture cap     20  housing     22  hose line     24  trigger handle     26  trigger     28  forward handle     30  barrel     32  jet air inlet     34  feed cap     36  pressure canister     38  valve     40  hose fitting     42  regulator     44  gas canister     46  extended projectile magazine       

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention (and several variations of that embodiment). This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments; practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to appended claims. 
   Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views,  FIGS. 1-7  illustrate the airgun of the present invention which is indicated generally by the numeral  10 . 
     FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of airgun  10 , hereinafter referred to as the “gun” of the present invention in use. The user  12  holds the gun  10  by a trigger handle  24  and depresses a trigger  26  to fire the gun  10 . When the trigger  26  is depressed, compressed gas, including but not limited to CO 2 , HPA, scuba air, shop air or any pressurized gas that is not flammable and produces at least 80 psi, flows from a hose line  22  into a housing  20  and propels projectiles  14  through a barrel  30 . When the trigger  26  is not depressed, the device will not fire. 
     FIG. 2  is a side view of the gun  10  of the present invention. The housing  20  of the gun  10  has an aperture  16  for loading a plurality of projectiles  14  prior to use and a selectively removable aperture cap  18  for retaining the projectiles  14  in the gun  10 . Positioned within the housing  20  is a pressure canister  36  which is indicated by the dotted lines. The pressure canister  36  retains the projectiles  14  therein. The trigger handle  24  extends outward from the housing  20 . The trigger  26  is attached to both the trigger handle  24  and the housing  20 . The hose line  22  is attached to the trigger handle  24  to allow the flow of compressed gas into the housing  20 . The barrel  30  extends outward from the housing  20  and includes a forward handle  28  attached to an underside thereof barrel  30 . The forward handle  28  allows for greater stability when holding the gun  10 . An extended projectile magazine  46  for retaining additional projectiles  14  therein extends outwardly from the housing  20  and is parallel to the barrel  30 . The extended projectile housing  46  is selectively removeable from the housing and is used to refill the projectiles  14  through the aperture when the pressure canister  36  has been emptied. 
     FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the gun  10  of the present invention. Shown is a sectional view of the present invention taken along the line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 2 , revealing the internal components and inner housing of the gun  10 . The housing  20  of the gun  10  has the aperture  16  for loading a plurality of projectiles  14  prior to use and the selectively removable aperture cap  18  for retaining the projectiles  14  within the gun  10 . When the projectiles  14  are loaded through the aperture  16  they are received retained within the pressure canister  36 . Also located in the pressure canister  36  is a feed cup  34  in a prone position having an opening which corresponds to a first end of the barrel  30 . The feed cup  34  is able to route the projectiles  14  received therein through the opening and into the barrel  30 . In the bottom of the pressure canister  36 , located below the feed cup  34  is a jet air inlet  32 . The jet air inlet  32  is attached to a hose fitting  40 . Extending outward from the hose fitting  40  is a hose line  22  that is attached to a valve  38 . Extending outward from the valve  38  and hence the trigger handle  24  is the hose line  22  which is connected to a pressurized gas canister  44 , shown in  FIG. 4 , for selectively providing pressurized gas to the gun  10  of the present invention. The valve  38  determines whether compressed gas is allowed to flow into the pressure canister  36 . The valve  38  is located in the trigger handle  24 . 
   The feed cup  34  is shaped like an inverted cup to catch the projectiles  14  that are propelled by the compressed gas from the jet air inlet  32  which is pumped into the pressure canister  36 . The barrel  30  extends outward from the housing  20 . A forward handle  28  is attached to the underside of the barrel  30  and allows for greater stability when holding the gun  10 . An extended projectile magazine  46  also extends outwardly from the housing  20  and is parallel to the barrel  30 . The extended projectile housing  46  is selectively removeable from the housing and is used to refill the projectiles  14  through the aperture when the pressure canister  36  has been emptied. 
     FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the gun  10  of the present invention. Shown is a sectional view of the present invention revealing the internal working components and inner housing that comprise the present invention. The housing  20  of the gun  10  has the aperture  16  for loading a plurality of projectiles  14  prior to use and the selectively removable aperture cap  18  for keeping the projectiles  14  in the gun  10 . When the projectiles  14  are loaded through the aperture  16  they are received and retained within the pressure canister  36 . Also located in the pressure canister  36  is a feed cup  34  in a prone position having an opening which corresponds to a first end of the barrel  30 . The feed cup  34  is able to route the projectiles  14  received therein through the opening and into the barrel  30 . In the bottom of the pressure canister  36 , located below the feed cup  34  is a jet air inlet  32 . The jet air inlet  32  is attached to a hose fitting  40 . Extending outward from the hose fitting  40  is a hose line  22  that is attached to a valve  38 . Extending outward from the valve  38  and hence the trigger handle  24  is the hose line  22  which is connected to a pressurized gas canister  44  for selectively providing pressurized gas to the gun  10  of the present invention. The valve  38  which determines whether compressed gas is allowed to flow to the pressure canister  36 . The valve  38  is located in the trigger handle  24 . The barrel  30  extends outward from the housing  20 . A forward handle  28  is attached to the underside of the barrel  30  and allows for greater stability when holding the gun  10 . An extended projectile magazine  46  also extends outwardly from the housing  20  and is parallel to the barrel  30 . 
   The feed cup  34  is shaped like an inverted cup to catch the projectiles  14  that are propelled by the air from the jet air inlet  32  which is pumped into the pressure canister  36 . The feed cup  34  is shaped like an inverted cup to catch the projectiles  14  that are propelled by the air from the jet air inlet  32  which is pumped into the pressure canister  36 . The hose line  22  is connected to a regulator  42 , which is attached to a pressurized gas canister  44 . The pressurized gas canister  44 , provides the compressed gas, including but not limited to CO 2 , HPA, scuba air, shop air or any pressurized gas that is not flammable and produces at least 80 psi. 
   Directional arrows representing the path of the compressed gas are shown herein. The arrows and hence the gas originate in the gas canister  44 . From the gas canister  44 , the gas flows through the regulator  42 . The gas flows through the regulator  42  and into the hose line  22 . From the hose line  22 , the gas flows to the valve  38  located in the trigger handle  24 . Herein, the trigger  26  has not been depressed and thus the valve  38  remains closed. The closed valve  38  prevents the gas from flowing further into the gun  10 . 
     FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the firing chamber of the gun  10  of the present invention. Shown is the firing chamber of the gun  10  of the present invention that fires round ball shot, such as “BBs”  14  and operates on compressed gas, including but not limited to CO 2 , HPA, scuba air, shop air or any pressurized gas that is not flammable and produces at least 80 psi. The housing  20  of the gun  10  has the aperture  16  for loading a plurality of projectiles  14  prior to use and the selectively removable aperture cap  18  for keeping the projectiles  14  in the gun  10 . When the projectiles  14  are loaded through the aperture  16  they are received retained within the pressure canister  36 . Also located in the pressure canister  36  is a feed cup  34  in a prone position having an opening which corresponds to a first end of the barrel  30 . The feed cup  34  is able to route the projectiles  14  received therein through the opening and into the barrel  30 . In the bottom of the pressure canister  36 , located below the feed cup  34  is a jet air inlet  32 . The jet air inlet  32  is attached to a hose fitting  40 . Compressed gas is introduced into the pressure canister  36  via the jet air inlet  32  when a user selectively chooses to fire the gun. The projectiles  14  are pooled in the bottom of the pressure canister  36  and as compressed gas flows through the jet air inlet  32 , the compressed gas propels the projectiles  14  upward. The propelled projectiles that are caught by the feed cup  34  are then fed through the barrel  30  of the gun  10 . 
     FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the firing chamber of the gun  10  of the present invention attached to a gas canister  44  and pressure valve  38  in a closed position. The housing  20  of the gun  10  has the aperture  16  for loading a plurality of projectiles  14  prior to use and the selectively removable aperture cap  18  for keeping the projectiles  14  in the gun  10 . When the projectiles  14  are loaded through the aperture  16  they are received retained within the pressure canister  36 . Also located in the pressure canister  36  is a feed cup  34  in a prone position having an opening which corresponds to a first end of the barrel  30 . The feed cup  34  is able to route the projectiles  14  received therein through the opening and into the barrel  30  which extends through the housing  20  as in  FIG. 1 . In the bottom of the pressure canister  36 , located below the feed cup  34  is a jet air inlet  32 . The jet air inlet  32  is attached to a hose fitting  40 . Extending outward from the hose fitting  40  is a hose line  22  that is attached to a valve  38 , which determines whether compressed gas is allowed to flow to the pressure canister  36 . Extending outward from the valve  38  is the hose line  22 . The hose line  22  is connected to a regulator  42 , which is attached to a pressurized gas canister  44 . The feed cup  34  is shaped like an inverted cup to catch the projectiles  14  that are propelled by the air from the jet air inlet  32  which is pumped into the pressure canister  36 . The feed cup  34  is shaped like an inverted cup to catch the projectiles  14  that are propelled by the air from the jet air inlet  32  which is pumped into the pressure canister  36 . The hose line  22  is connected to a regulator  42 , which is attached to a pressurized gas canister  44 . The pressurized gas canister  44 , provides the compressed gas, including but not limited to CO 2 , HPA, scuba air, shop air or any pressurized gas that is not flammable and produces at least 80 psi. 
   Directional arrows representing the path of the compressed gas are shown herein. The gas in the gas canister  44  flows through the regulator  42  and into the hose line  22 . From the hose line  22 , the gas flows to the valve  38  located in the trigger handle  24 . Herein, the trigger  26  has not been depressed and thus the valve  38  remains closed. The closed valve  38  prevents the gas from flowing further into the gun  10 . Thus, when the trigger  26  is not depressed, the device will not fire. 
     FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the firing chamber of the gun  10  of the present invention attached to a gas canister  44  and pressure valve  38  in an open or fire position. The housing  20  of the gun  10  has the aperture  16  for loading a plurality of projectiles  14  prior to use and the selectively removable aperture cap  18  for keeping the projectiles  14  in the gun  10 . When the projectiles  14  are loaded through the aperture  16  they are received retained within the pressure canister  36 . Also located in the pressure canister  36  is a feed cup  34  in a prone position having an opening which corresponds to a first end of the barrel  30  which extends through the housing  20 . The feed cup  34  is able to route the projectiles  14  received therein through the opening and into the barrel  30 . In the bottom of the pressure canister  36 , located below the feed cup  34  is a jet air inlet  32 . The jet air inlet  32  is attached to a hose fitting  40 . Extending outward from the hose fitting  40  is a hose line  22  that is attached to a valve  38 , which determines whether compressed gas is allowed to flow to the pressure canister  36 . Extending outward from the valve  38  is the hose line  22 . The hose line  22  is connected to a regulator  42 , which is attached to a pressurized gas canister  44 . The feed cup  34  is shaped like an inverted cup to catch the projectiles  14  that are propelled by the air from the jet air inlet  32  which is pumped into the pressure canister  36 . The feed cup  34  is shaped like an inverted cup to catch the projectiles  14  that are propelled by the air from the jet air inlet  32  which is pumped into the pressure canister  36 . The hose line  22  is connected to a regulator  42 , which is attached to a pressurized gas canister  44 . The pressurized gas canister  44 , provides the compressed gas, including but not limited to CO 2 , HPA, scuba air, shop air or any pressurized gas that is not flammable and produces at least 80 psi. 
   Directional arrows representing the path of the compressed gas are shown herein. The gas originates in the gas canister  44  gas and flows through the regulator  42  and further into the hose line  22 . From the hose line  22 , the gas flows to the valve  38  located in the trigger handle  24 . Herein, the trigger  26  has been depressed and thus the valve  38  is in an open position. The opened valve  38  permits the gas to flow further in the hose line  22  to the hose fitting  40  to be provided to the jet air inlet  32  located in the pressure canister  36 . The compressed gas that flows through the jet air inlet  32  forces the projectiles  14 , resting adjacent thereto, up and into the feed cup  34 . The pressure from the gas forces the projectiles  14  against the contour of the feed cup  34  until the projectiles  14  reach the opening of the barrel  30 . From the feed cup  34 , the projectiles  14  follow the path of least resistance and are propelled through the barrel  30 . Thus when the trigger  26  is depressed, the device will fire. As the projectiles  14  are forced out of the barrel  30 , additional projectiles  14  in the canister  36  fall to an area thereof adjacent to the jet air inlet  32 . This allows for the gun  10  to continually fire until the pressure canister  36  no longer has any projectiles  14  or until the gas in the canister  44  is no longer available. 
   While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
   Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.