Abstract:
This apparatus is a helical path paintball delivery system, comprising a structure with an internal helical type cavity that interfaces between a paintball marker with unique design characteristics preventing the use of alternative hoppers and any paintball hopper, regardless of manufacturer, providing a path for paintballs residing in a player&#39;s chosen hopper to flow freely from the hopper through the helical path paintball delivery connector into the firing chamber of the paintball marker.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates generally to the field of the fast paced sport of paintball and more specifically to the equipment used in the nuances of the sport; this invention contributes a helical path paintball delivery connector. 
         [0002]    In the game of paintball, the player must carry a paintball marker or gun, a paintball propellant source, and paintballs. Players carry their primary supply of paintballs in a device known in the art as a hopper. The hopper is connected to the paintball marker via a mounting point often using an intermediate assembly. The intermediate assembly, henceforth referred to as a connector, provides sufficient retaining strength and allows for flow of paintballs between the hopper and the marker. For example, hopper to paintball marker feed connectors are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2003/0213481 A1 and 2007/0089723 A1. 
         [0003]    A multitude of hoppers are available with varying shapes, sizes, and electromechanical feed mechanisms. Each hopper style has strengths and weaknesses under certain conditions, applications, and forms of paintball play. Most hoppers available in the art have a similar design whereby a tube protruding from the hopper is used as the point of interaction for the intermediate connector assembly. This common design characteristic allows the player to use a connector designed for any given paintball marker with any of the available hoppers. 
         [0004]    Each paintball marker has a connection point that when used with an appropriately designed connector can interface with a conventionally designed hopper. The present invention is more specifically related to the field of the paintball hopper connector. 
         [0005]    Some paintball markers use an atypical hopper and connection style, which restricts users to a single or otherwise limited set of hopper options. The known art cannot connect with all paintball markers that are not designed for use with the standard hopper tube connector. 
         [0006]    One example of a paintball marker utilizing a unique hopper and connector is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,739,323 B2. The art has a mechanical paintball feed mechanism internal to the connector, which mates to the paintball marker along its surface. The feed mechanism is driven by the paintball markers propellant supply. The connector has a large diameter opening that attaches to the hopper designed for this application. A mechanical feature protrudes from the face of the marker and fits inside the connector. This feature aids in the control and flow of paintballs into the marker. The unique design of the aforementioned art does not allow players to use any other available hoppers. The present invention provides a connector for use in this and similar applications allowing players to utilize other hopers available in the field of paintball. 
         [0007]    In the sport of paintball players have innumerable options for upgrades and improvements to their paintball markers performance. A player can gain many advantages in a game by being able to fire more shots in faster rapid succession. Common among upgrades are hoppers that provide feed mechanisms capable of meeting the paintball feed rate demands of markers outfitted with components such as electronically controlled triggers and high performance valves. By limiting the hoppers available for use, players are inhibited and cannot progress with the advances of the sport. 
         [0008]    In contrast to known art, the helical path connector of the present invention is designed to bridge the gap between the unique mating features and mounting configurations of a paintball marker and other hoppers utilizing an incompatible mating design configuration. 
         [0009]    The user of the present invention can attach hoppers to the unique marker without destructive or permanent modification to the paintball marker. The design of the connector of the present invention accommodates the paintball markers unique mounting surfaces and features. The helical path and internal geometry through the connector allows paintballs to flow into the marker uninhibited by unique features and design characteristics of the paintball marker. 
         [0010]    Users of the present invention gain the freedom to utilize any of the available hoppers available in the known art with a paintball marker that does not accommodate standard hoppers. Users of the present invention can change hoppers as required or desired. By using other hoppers players can optimize their markers performance including rate of fire giving players an edge in the game. 
         [0011]    The present invention, henceforth disclosed, contributes to the art a helical path paintball delivery connection system, which makes possible the use of any hopper on paintball markers that do not otherwise permit the use of different hoppers. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    The primary object of the invention is a helical path paintball delivery connector comprising a device with an internal cavity defined by a circular cross section swept along a helical type path through the device and any additional pockets and design features necessary for interfacing between a paintball marker employing an atypical hopper mounting configuration and the multitudes of hoppers available in the art. The application of the present invention is to allow players with a marker utilizing an atypical hopper configuration to use a hopper of their choosing. The core function of the invention is to allow paintballs residing in a player&#39;s hopper to flow freely from the hopper through the helical path paintball delivery connector into the firing chamber of the paintball marker. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0013]    The disclosure herein will be described hereafter with reference to the attached drawings of illustrative embodiments of the invention which are given as non-limiting examples, in which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a paintball marker with a hopper removably attached via a helical path paintball delivery connection system; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the helical path connector assembly of  FIG. 1  showing the helical path connector body, the hopper mounting element, and a hopper; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the connector body of  FIG. 2  with dashed lines showing internal geometries and a demonstrative helical path arrow; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a portion of the paintball marker of  FIG. 1  showing mating surfaces and features with a representative helical type flow path arrow; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a rear looking partial cross sectional view at a plane perpendicular to the lower marker mounting surface  24  of the connector body  12  and aligned coincident to the vertical axis  7  in  FIG. 2 , showing the paintball path from the hopper to the marker through the helical path connector body. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a partial top cross-sectional view of the paintball marker and connector of  FIG. 1  showing the connector&#39;s helical type flow path into the breach of the paintball marker&#39;s firing chamber; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a partial top cross-sectional view of the paintball marker and connector of  FIG. 1  showing the connector body and marker&#39;s locating and mounting features. 
       
    
    
       [0021]    Corresponding references to features of the embodiment indicate corresponding parts throughout the figures. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. The disclosure of the invention illustrates best mode embodiments. However, it is to be understood that the apparatus of the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner, but rather as a basis for claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure, or manner. 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the paintball marker assembly  1 , which consists of illustrative embodiments of a paintball marker  8  and a helical path paintball delivery connector  2  with a removably attached hopper  4 . 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIG. 2  the helical path paintball delivery connector  2  consists of the helical path connector body  12 , henceforth referred to as ‘connector body,’ and the hopper mounting element  10 . The hopper  4  is removably installed onto the connector assembly  2  via the hopper mount  10  by which the hopper neck  5  is supported and fixed in position along the surface  11  comprising the inner diameter of the hopper mount  10 . The hopper  4 , hopper mount  10 , and connector body  12  are aligned axially along the vertical axis  7  where the start of the helical path  46  is tangent to the liner axis  7 . The hopper mount  10  is a component or assembly, of generic fit, form, and function established in the art, which may be removably attachable to or permanently integrated with the connector body  12 . In the illustrated embodiment the hopper mount  10  is removably attached to the connector body  12  at an attachment feature  14 . The attachment feature  14  may vary in design and employ fastening techniques such as threading shown in this embodiment, snap or rotational locks, clamps, and compression fits to accommodate design elements of the appropriately designed hopper mount  10 . 
         [0025]    In  FIG. 2  the connector body  12  may be a single body, as shown in the illustrative embodiment, or an assembly. The connector  2  could be manufactured using metals, plastics, or composite materials by means of conventional machining, molding, casting, or various forms of three dimensional rapid prototyping or any combination thereof. The connector  2  is the functional interface between the marker  8  in  FIG. 1  and a hopper  4  in the hopper mount  10  of  FIG. 2 . The connector body  12  consists of internal and external geometry uniquely tailored to the geometric features of the corresponding marker  8 . 
         [0026]    Paintballs exit the hopper  4  and flow through the connector along an internal geometric cavity  19  comprising a plurality of linked surfaces  18  shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  5  to the paintball marker  8  breach opening  50  in  FIG. 4 . The aforementioned cavity is the helical paintball delivery path  19  of the present invention. 
         [0027]    The helical paintball delivery path  19  of  FIG. 3 , henceforth referred to as ‘helical cavity,’ is a cut away sweep through the connector  12 . Paintballs from a hopper  4  removably attached to the connector  2  flow through the hopper mount  10  along the axis  7  shown in  FIG. 2  directly into the connector body  12 . Once in the connector the paintballs move along the surfaces  18  of the helical cavity  19 . The helical cavity  19  follows a complex curve  46  as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The curve  46  is continuous with a plurality of segments  46 ′ through any or all axes of a coordinate system. The curves or arc segments  46 ′ which comprise the curve  46  may have variable pitch, angle, radius, arc length, and end point locations in space. The curve segments  46 ′ are generally aligned tangentially between segments resulting in a smooth curve profile. The combination of the plurality of segments  46 ′ and varying parameters are tuned to produce a path  46  required for smooth delivery of paintballs to the marker  8  when obstacles such as a protrusion  62  shown in 
         [0028]      FIG. 4  prevent a linear path from the hopper  4  to the marker  8  in  FIG. 1 . The helical cavity  19  generally comprises of a circular cross section which is aligned perpendicular to the helical path  46  and swept along the path  46  through the connector body  12  resulting in the helical cavity  19 . A tapered lead in  16  shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5  at the hopper opening, like a chamfer, at the top of the connector body  12  provides a smooth transition between the hopper  4  and helical path flow surfaces  18  of the connector body  12  to ensure no paintball  64  damage during use as demonstrated in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0029]    The connector body  12  is removably attached to a region of the paintball marker  8  and is fixed rigidly to the marker  8  during use. The connector body  12  is designed to mate with the surface(s) of the paintball marker and rigidly attached using the markers existing features. In the illustrative embodiment of the present invention the connector body  12  curved mating surface  20  shown in  FIG. 3 , mates with the curved mounting surface  60  on the marker  8  shown in  FIG. 4 . The mating surfaces  20  and  60  in  FIGS. 3 and 4  respectively have similar profiles such that the two mating surfaces  20  and  60  rest against each other as shown in  FIG. 6   
         [0030]    A recessed pocket  30  shown in  FIGS. 3 and 6  along side of the helical cavity  19  provides adequate clearance for a protrusion  62  from the side of the paintball marker  8  illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 6 . The protrusion  62  serves no purpose in the application of the helical path paintball delivery connector  2 . The recessed pocket  30  allows use of the connector  2  without requiring removal of the protrusion  62 , which would be a destructive and permanent modification to the paintball marker  8  preventing the user from reverting back to the paintball marker  8  manufacturer&#39;s factory hopper application. The recessed pocket is aligned such that the protrusion  62  is fully encompassed in the connector body  12 . The recessed pocket  30  is comprised of a top surface  36 , bottom surface  32 , back side surface  34 , and end surface  38 . The surfaces  32 ,  34 ,  36 , and  38  are offset from the protrusion  62  such that the connector body  12  can be removably attached to the paintball marker  8  without interference or contact between the recessed pocket  30  and the protrusion  62 . The section view in  FIG. 6  shows the protrusion  62  residing in the pocket  30  with clearance for the back side  34  and end  38  surfaces. The section view also shows that the protrusion  62  does not cross into the helical cavity  19  or flow path surfaces  18 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 5  contains an illustrated representation of a series of paintballs  64  along a flow path from the hopper  4  across the tapered lead in  16  and through the connector body  12  inside of the helical cavity  19  to the paintball marker breach  48 . The varying depth of cut on paintballs  64  in the section view of  FIG. 5  is representative of their movement along the helical path  46  of  FIG. 3  in all three dimensions. 
         [0032]      FIG. 6  shows a different section view illustrating paintballs  64  winding along the helical path  46  inside the cavity  19  and passing next to a protrusion  62  then exiting through the connector exit  23  into the breach  48  of the paintball marker  8  for firing. At the end of the helical path  46  and cavity  19  is the exit port  23  from which paintballs  64  flow into the marker  8 . The exit point  23  is aligned such that the final segment  46 ′, of  FIG. 3 , of the helical path  46  is aligned to the center of the breach opening  50  for smooth transition into the marker breach  48 .  FIG. 3  illustrates the preferred embodiment of the exit port  23  as elongated from the circular cross section of the helical cavity  19  for effective mating and smooth transition of paintballs  64  into the paintball marker  8  shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0033]    The connector body  12  is removably attached to the paintball marker  8 . The connector body&#39;s lower mounting surface  24  aligns with and when attached is coincident to the marker lower mounting surface  56  shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  respectively. The connector body  12  in  FIG. 3  has two holes  22  and  28  which are positioned along the mounting surface  24  such that when installed the connector body  12  is properly aligned with all other mating surfaces and features. The two locating holes  22  and  28  of the illustrated embodiment are circular with an appropriately sized diameter to accept with minimal to no surface contact or interference, the two locating pins  52  and  58  protruding from the marker mounting surface  56  in  FIG. 4 . Between the locating holes  22  and  28  in  FIG. 3  there is a threaded bolt hole  26 , which is aligned with the bolt hole  54  on the paintball marker  8  in  FIG. 4 . The threaded hole  26  serves as the rigid mount for the connector  2 , which utilizes the original mounting hardware furnished by the paintball marker  8  manufacturer.  FIG. 7  shows an example of fit and alignment of the locating pins  52  and  58  on the marker  8  inside the mating holes  22  and  28  in the connector body  12 , as well as the general form and alignment of the paintball marker&#39;s bolt clearance hole  54  and corresponding threaded mounting hole  26  in the connector body  12 . When the connector  2  is removably attached to the marker  8  the bolt is tightened resulting in a firm marker  8  to connector  2  assembly ready for use. 
         [0034]    Exterior non-mounting surfaces not explicitly identified or defined are designed to provide an enclosure for the critical internal geometry, structural strength, aesthetic appeal, and the necessary geometric connections between surfaces.