Abstract:
A device for feeding projectiles to a gun barrel includes a hopper for containing projectiles for feeding to a housing. The housing has an outlet communicating with the gun barrel and an indexed loading disk mounted at the outlet over a flat housing floor. The loading disk has a number of projectile spaces for receiving projectiles, and the disk is selectively positionable at index positions with the spaces over the outlet to gravity feed projectiles into the gun barrel. A trigger assembly is coupled to the loading disk and includes a ratchet to engage fins on the disk to sequentially rotate the disk to the index positions to drop projectiles into the barrel. The trigger also includes a projection for substantially continually engaging a corresponding slot on the disk for holding and stabilizing the disk in the housing during operation. The device is configured to be used to sequentially load a single paintball to a blowgun by successive pulls of the trigger. The device includes a tab substantially covering a hole in the disk to prevent more than one ball from being loaded at a time.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to projectile apparatus and feed mechanisms therefore. More particularly but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a paint ball blowgun and a feed mechanism for a paint ball blowgun. 
     When firing projectiles, and in particular when engaging in the sport of paintball, it is desirable to be able to rapidly fire a successive round after firing a first round. Accordingly, many weapons are adapted for automatic or semiautomatic operation such that multiple rounds can be fired in a short period of time. However, many of these prior art mechanisms are complicated and costly, requiring numerous parts and associated interconnections, and they can be unreliable and prone to failure. Others depend integrally on an explosion or other mechanical burst of air from the firing mechanism and are consequently ineffective for use with a blowgun or other human powered weapon. 
     Accordingly there is a need for a novel feed mechanism that can reliably load projectiles to a gun barrel. There is also a need for a feed mechanism that is lightweight, portable, and easily assembled and does not block the operator&#39;s line of sight. There is also a need for a feed mechanism that can load projectiles in a simple and cost effective manner. There is also a need for a feed mechanism that does not hinder the firing ability, accuracy, or range of the weapon. Finally there is a need for a feed mechanism that can be used with a blowgun. 
     Some of these needs are met by various embodiments of the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect there is provided a device for feeding projectiles to a gun barrel including; a hopper for containing projectiles, a housing communicating with the hopper and including an outlet communicating with the gun barrel, an indexed loading disk mounted at the outlet and having a number of projectile spaces, and a trigger assembly coupled to the loading member to rotate the loading member to one of the index positions having one of the spaces over the outlet to transfer a projectile to the gun barrel. 
     In another aspect there is provided a projectile feeder for a blowgun including: a housing with an outlet communicating with a blowgun barrel, a loading member rotatably mounted at the outlet to rotate about an axis substantially not parallel to the blowgun barrel, where the loading member has a number of projectile spaces and is selectively positionable with each of the plurality of spaces in communication with the outlet to load a projectile into the blowgun barrel, and a manually operated trigger assembly to sequentially rotate the loading member a predetermined amount for each operative stroke of the trigger assembly. 
     In another aspect there is provided a method of loading a gun including: providing a gun and a number of projectiles, providing a projectile feeder with a housing having an outlet, a loading member with a number of projectile spaces selectively positionable over the outlet, a projectile supply hopper, and a trigger for rotating the loading member to load the gun barrel, the trigger not also controlling the firing of the gun, sequentially indexing the loading member by activating the trigger to load projectiles to the gun barrel without also automatically firing the gun. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side assembly view of a projectile feed mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a loading disk for the FIG. 1 feed mechanism. 
     FIG. 3 is a top view of the FIG. 2 loading disk. 
     FIG. 4 is the bottom view of the FIG. 2 loading disk. 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of the housing of the FIG. 1 feed mechanism. 
     FIG. 6 is a top view of the housing of FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 7 is a rear view along line C of FIG. 6 with the barrel rotated for clarity. 
     FIG. 7A is a side view of the housing of FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 8 is a side view of the trigger assembly from the feed mechanism of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 9 is a top view of the trigger assembly of FIG.  8 . 
     FIG. 10 is a side view of the hopper of the mechanism of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 11 is a rear view of the hopper of FIG.  10 . 
     FIG. 12 is a top view of the hopper of FIG.  10 . 
     FIG. 13 is a side view of the handle. 
     FIG. 14 is a side view of a the partially assembled device of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 15 is a top view of the assembled feed mechanism of FIG. 1 with a partial cutout of the loading disk and including a mouthpiece on the barrel. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to certain preferred embodiments and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. 
     Turning now to the figures, preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated. FIG. 1 is an assembly view showing various components of a feeding mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention. The illustrated mechanism includes a housing  40  including a disk receiving portion  41 . The disk receiving portion  41  defines a chamber  42  into which loading disk  30  having a plurality of loading holes  32  is rotatably received. 
     Hopper  20  is placed over housing portion  41  and is covered by lid  28 , to be filled at least partially with projectiles, for example paintballs, pellets, or the like. The projectiles fit into holes  32  in loading disk  30 . In the illustrated embodiment, housing  40  has trigger portion  44  for receiving a trigger assembly  52  into its distal end  45 . Housing  40  additionally includes a passage  86  from chamber  42  to a barrel portion  49  (see FIG.  6  and  7 A), and, as described in detail below, trigger assembly  52  operates on loading disk  30  to rotate disk  30  to sequentially transfer projectiles from hopper  20  through passage  86  and into a firing position in barrel  49 . 
     Turning to FIGS. 2-4 more particular aspects of the loading disk  30  are illustrated. Loading disk  30  includes a generally cylindrical body including a top surface  33 , a bottom surface  35 , and a plurality of holes  32  extending through disk  30  from surface  33  to surface  35 . Holes  32  are tapered with respect to the top surface  33  and are equally spaced about the center of loading disk  30 . Holes  32  are sized as appropriate for the particular projectiles being used, preferable one projectile per hole  32 . In addition, preferably, though not essentially, holes  32  are distinct from each other, being completely separated from adjacent ones of the holes  32  by a portion of disk  30 . 
     Mixing paddles  36  extend upward from the top surface  33  of disk  30 . When disk  30  is rotated, paddles  36  serve to agitate any projectiles that are above surface  33 , for example those projectiles placed in hopper  20 , to facilitate placement of the projectiles into disk holes  32 . Generally though not essentially, mixing paddles  36 , like holes  32 , are symmetrical about the center of loading disk  30 . 
     Disk  30  is constructed for rotation within housing chamber  42  and includes cylindrical post  38  extending rigidly from bottom surface  35 . Ratchet fins  37  are rigidly positioned about the post  38  and along generally the entire length of post  38  below surface  35 . Fins  37  are removed or at least substantially diminished along a portion of post  38  to provide slot  39 . As described below, ratchet fins  37  provide an engagement point for a corresponding ratchet  54  on trigger assembly  52  (see FIG. 9) to facilitate rotation of loading disk  30  within chamber  42 . 
     As shown in FIG. 4 the underside of loading disk  30  further includes a number of index holes  34  in bottom surface  35 . Holes  34  are tapered and sized to receive a corresponding index pin  80  to yielding lock disk  30  at selected angular positions. These selected angular or index positions generally correspond to the transfer of the contents of a single hole  32 , namely a single projectile, into firing position in barrel  49 . Accordingly, generally although not essentially, ratchet fins  37 , index holes  34 , and holes  32  are of equivalent number and spacing about the center of disk  30  so as to transfer a single projectile to barrel  49  at each index position. 
     Turning now to FIGS. 5-7A with continued reference to FIGS. 1-4 more particular features of housing  40  are illustrated. As illustrated and discussed above, housing portion  41  is formed to provide chamber  42  to receive disk  30  with the bottom surface  35  of disk in contact with the lower surface of chamber  42 . Consequently, the housing  40  is provided with portion  43  below portion  42  to accommodate the lower post  38  and fins  37  of disk  30 . 
     As shown in FIG. 6 chamber  42  further includes index hole  47  for accommodating index spring  82  and pin  80 , and chamber  42  includes outlet hole  46  defining the opening of a passage  86  from chamber  42  to barrel  49 . With the disk  30  positioned in chamber  42 , index holes  34  on disk  30  and index pin  80  preferably cooperate to align one of the disk holes  32  over barrel loading hole  46 . With holes  32  and  46  at least substantially aligned, a projectile can transfer, for example under the force of gravity, from disk  30  to barrel  49 . 
     The feed mechanism of the illustrated embodiment also includes means for rotating disk  30  to load projectiles into barrel  49 . Accordingly, housing  40  includes trigger portion  44  for holding trigger assembly  52  and allowing sequential movement of assembly  52  therein. 
     With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9 trigger assembly  52  generally includes trigger body  50 , spring  76 , and retaining member  70 . Lip  72  on retaining member  70  engages slot  74  in housing  40  to hold assembly  52  in portion  44 , and portion  44  includes trigger stops  92  at the other end for containing assembly  52  therein. Portion  44  is sized to allow sequential sliding motion of trigger body  50  in portion  44 , with spring  76  normally engaged in hole  51  and biasing trigger body  50  towards stops  92 . Preferably finger portion  53  is rigidly connected to the remainder of trigger body  50  and extends beyond stops  92  to be available to be depressed by an operator to providing translational motion to trigger body  50 . 
     Trigger assembly  52  further includes ratchet  54  mounted on the side of trigger body  50  at pivot point  57 . When fully assembled, spring  55  is coupled to trigger  50  at mount  56  and biases ratchet  54  away from trigger body  50  and toward lower post  38  and fins  37  of loading disk  30 . When the trigger assembly  52  is operated, for example by an operator depressing finger portion  53 , ratchet  54  engages fins  37  to rotate disk  30 . 
     Trigger body  50  additionally includes projection  59  extending along at least a portion of its length. Projection  59  is on the same side as ratchet  54  and likewise extends towards post  38  and fins  37  of disk  30 . Projection  39  extends along the longitudinal direction of trigger body  50  and is below ratchet  54 . Projection  39  is sized and positioned to align with slot  39  on the lower portion of loading disk  30  during the entire operative stroke of trigger  50 , providing relative engagement and stabilization therebetween. 
     Housing portion  44  is shaped to generally correspond to trigger body  50  and to allow for guided lateral movement therein. Portion  44  includes slot  90  to accommodate ratchet  54  and projection  59  during sequential lateral movements of trigger body  50 , but portion  44  is otherwise in guiding or supporting relation to trigger body  50 . 
     Housing  40  also preferably integrally includes a barrel portion  49 . Barrel portion  49  communicates with chamber  42  through passage  86 . Passage  86  terminates in hole  46  and is configured for gravity feed to barrel  49 . While in the illustrated embodiment passage  86  is substantially vertical, it is understood that passage  86  can be merely inclined for gravity feeding, or a force feed assembly could be used. To facilitate use as a blowgun, barrel  49  has a mouthpiece end  94  for coupling to a mouthpiece, and barrel  49  has a distal end  99  through which projectiles can be expelled or to which an extended barrel can be coupled. In addition, while barrel  49  is generally rigid with respect to the remainder of housing  40 , it is possible to make barrel  49  moveable, for example by forming passage  86  of flexible material or by providing a rotary coupling at one end of passage  86 . 
     Turning now to FIGS. 10-12 hopper  20  is illustrated. Hopper  20  includes top surface  27  which is generally angled downward from left to right as illustrated in FIG.  10 . Top surface  27  has a lip to sealingly engage with lid  28 . Hopper  20  also includes tab member  24  that is adapted to substantially cover at least one of the holes  32  in loading disk  30 . Hopper  20  also includes supporting ring  22  that extends around the lower opening of hopper  20  for resting in supporting relation on top of portion  41 . Supporting ring  22  is absent under tab  24  to accommodate and corresponds to raised portion  97  on housing  40 , which serves to align hopper  20  such that tab  24  covers a loading disk hole  32  when that hole is in communication with barrel access hole  46 . 
     To be assembled and used, loading disk  30  is first placed into chamber  42 . Trigger assembly  52  is then inserted into housing  40  with projection  59  engaging slot  39  on loading disk  30  to anchor and stabilize disk  30  in housing  40 . Handle  60  is attached to mount  48 . 
     Hopper  20  is also placed over housing portion  41  with lip  22  resting on the top surface of portion  41  and with raised portion  97  aligned with the underside of tab  24 . Hopper  20  is friction or snap fitted on housing  40  and if needed clamped thereon. 
     With the appropriate mouthpiece installed and an elongated barrel screwed or friction fitted into end  99 , the assembly can be used as a multi-shot blowgun. Hopper  20  is filled with a plurality of projectiles, for example paint balls, and lid  28  is secured. Projectiles fill loading disk holes  32 , and a single stroke of trigger  50  causes the ratchet  54  to engage a fin  37  to rotate disk  30  from one index position to the next, where pin  80  engages a hole  34  at each index position. At each index position, a hole  32  aligns with barrel access hole  46  to drop a single projectile into the firing barrel  49 , tab  24  obstructing other projectiles from proceeding into now aligned holes  32  and  46 . 
     The operator can sight down the barrel axis and over hopper  20  and lid  28  and deliver a puff of air to mouthpiece  95  to fire a projectile out barrel end  99  towards the desired target. The operator also releases trigger  50  which recoils under force of spring  76  to draw ratchet  54  across fins  37  and become positioned for the next projectile delivery. Paddles  36  assist in agitating the projectiles to assure that the remainder of the projectiles in the hopper  20  proceed to individually fill the vacant holes  32  in disk  30 . 
     In other embodiments, disk  30  can be independently mounted in housing  40  without stabilizing slotted interaction with trigger  50 . For example disk  30  can be secured to a preformed axle extending vertically from housing chamber  42  with a cotter pin, nut, or the like, and/or disk  30  can be secured by stabilizing interaction with housing  40  or hopper  20 . 
     Likewise, trigger assembly  52  need not engage fins  37  below surface  35  of disk  30 . Rather trigger assembly  52  can be adapted to rotate disk  30  by contacting any portion of disk, for example, the sides of disk  30  between surface  35  and surface  33 . 
     Alternative configurations of a manually operated trigger assembly  52  are also contemplated. For example the loading disk can be driven by a gear activated by a pivotally mounted trigger to sequentially drive the disk. Other rotary drive assemblies are also contemplated as would occur to those of skill in the art upon reading the present disclosure. 
     In one aspect, a paint ball blowgun feed apparatus is constructed to substantially restrict the airflow from barrel  49  to chamber  41  to prevent undesirable air leakage. In this aspect, tab  24  is sized to entirely cover hole  32  when it is aligned with hole  46 , with the lower most portion of tab  24  substantially adjacent the top surface  33  of disk  30  surrounding the hole  32 . In this way, tab  24  can obstruct at least a portion of the air flow from barrel  49  out the top of the hole  32 . 
     In addition, the lower surface of chamber  42 , or at least the portion around barrel access hole  46 , is shaped to mirror the shape of bottom surface  35  of disk  30  to minimize or obstruct airflow underneath disk  30  as well. In this regard, surface  35  and the lower surface of chamber  42  are in close relative proximity, for example substantially less than the width of the disk (i.e. the size of a single projectile) and preferably substantially less than half or even a quarter of the disk. In the illustrated embodiment, both the entire lower surface of chamber  42  and bottom surface  35  are each substantially flat and abutting, though other axially symmetric shapes can be utilized as well. 
     In other embodiments, all airflow into or through chamber  42  and/or disk  30  could be substantially eliminated, for example by providing sealing rings about tab  24  or on the underside of disk  30  or by providing a separate sealing door separating barrel  49  from housing chamber  42 . At least where the rotational force for disk  30  is provided manually through manipulation of trigger  50 , frictional forces might render sealing rings unpractical. 
     It is contemplated, however, that alternative means can be used to sequentially rotate disk  30 . In one example, a battery powered stepping motor can provide the rotational force, with the motor adapted to index the disk  30  a fixed amount. In other examples, a spring or other mechanical device can store the rotational force to be sequentially released to index the disk  30 . In still other alternatives, a combination of stored or motorized forces and manual forces, for example the illustrated trigger assembly  52  or a knob rigidly coupled to the disk  30 , may be used as would occur to those of skill in the art upon reading the present disclosure. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, each of the pieces can be formed as separate pieces of any suitable material, for example metal, hard plastic, synthetic, or a combination thereof. It is also contemplated that individual pieces can be formed together as integral units. 
     While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.