Abstract:
A paintball propelling device capable of propelling paintballs using bottom feed magazine is disclosed. The bottom feed magazine, in one aspect, includes a feed tube, a paddle wheel, and multiple paddles. The feed tube is situated between the bottom of magazine and the top of magazine for guiding the projectiles or paintballs to the top of magazine. The paddle wheel is configured to have a downward sloping surface grading from the top of paddle wheel to the edge of paddle wheel. The paddle wheel is able to turn around an axis which is in parallel to projectile travel direction inside the feed tube. The paddles attached to the circumference of the paddle wheel and configured to catch one or more paintballs rolling off the downward sloping surface of the paddle wheel. The paddles are used to push the paintballs into the feed tube.

Description:
PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/882,196, filed on Sep. 14, 2010 in the name of the same inventor and entitled “Bottom Loading Paintball Feed System,” hereby incorporated into the present application by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to paintball markers. More specifically, the present invention relates to paintball feed systems. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    With increasing popularity of paintball tournaments as well as professional trainings such as military and sporting practice, more accurate and realistic looking paintball guns or markers are in demand. For example, the success of training or competition depends on how quickly an operator of a paintball marker can eliminate opponents by hitting them with paintballs or paint projectiles. A problem associated with a conventional paintball marker or gun is that the accuracy of paintball marker is relatively poor partially due to the traditional design of the paintball guns or markers. 
         [0004]    A conventional paintball gun or marker, for example, typically loads paintballs from a hopper into the paintball gun via a gravitational force. The hopper, which is mounted on the top of paintball guns or receiver, typically obstructs aiming capability of an operator. An operator usually has a difficult time taking proper aim via a front sight on the barrel. 
         [0005]    Another problem associated with a conventional paintball marker or gun with a hopper mounted on top of the receiver is that a typical paintball gun deviates from a real gun whereby using paintball marker as training exercise degrades the effectiveness of military and/or police field training. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    Embodiments of the present invention disclose a paintball propelling device capable of propelling projectiles such as paintballs using a bottom feed magazine. The paintball propelling device, in one embodiment, includes a receiver and a bottom feed magazine. The receiver, for example, has a top surface facing upward and a bottom surface facing downward at the ground, wherein the bottom surface of the receiver includes a bottom feed port. The bottom feed magazine provides paintballs to the receiver via a bottom feed port of the receiver. The bottom feed magazine, in one aspect, includes a feed tube, an L-shaped tube, and one-way paintball stopper. The feed tube transfers the paintballs from the bottom or floor of the bottom feed magazine to the top of the bottom feed magazine. The L-shaped tube assists to transfer paintballs from paintball reservoir to the feed tube. The one-way paintball stopper is configured to hold paintballs from leaving the feed tube back to the paintball reservoir. 
         [0007]    Additional features and benefits of the exemplary embodiment(s) of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description, figures and claims set forth below. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    Exemplary embodiment(s) of the present invention will be understood more fully from the detailed description given below and from the accompanying drawings of various embodiments of the invention, which, however, should not be taken to limit the invention to the specific embodiments, but are for explanation and understanding only. 
           [0009]      FIGS. 1A-C  are diagrams illustrating a bottom feed magazine in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIGS. 2A-C  are diagrams illustrating a cut-out view of a bottom feed magazine in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating an internal structure of the bottom feed magazine in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIGS. 4A-C  are diagrams illustrating various exemplary components of the bottom feed magazine in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIGS. 5A-B  are diagrams illustrating an L-shaped tube having a stopper in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIGS. 6A-B  are diagrams illustrating feeding communication between a receiver and a bottom feed magazine in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0015]      FIGS. 7A-B  are diagrams showing a bottom magazine coupling to a paintball marker in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    Exemplary embodiment(s) of the present invention is described herein in the context of a method, system and apparatus of a bottom feed magazine allowing a paintball marker to load paintballs from bottom of the marker. 
         [0017]    Those of ordinary skills in the art will realize that the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiment(s) is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. Other embodiments will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of this disclosure. Reference will now be made in detail to implementations of the exemplary embodiment(s) as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The same reference indicators will be used throughout the drawings and the following detailed description to refer to the same or like parts. 
         [0018]    References to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,” “various embodiments,” “exemplary embodiment,” “one aspect,” “an aspect,” “exemplary aspect,” “various aspects,” etc., indicate that the embodiment(s) of the invention so described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Further, repeated use of the phrase “in one embodiment” does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although it may. 
         [0019]    In the interest of clarity, not all of the routine features of the implementations described herein are shown and described. It will, of course, be understood that in the development of any such actual implementation, numerous implementation-specific decisions may be made in order to achieve the developer&#39;s specific goals, such as compliance with application- and business-related constraints, and that these specific goals will vary from one implementation to another and from one developer to another. Moreover, it will be understood that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of engineering for those of ordinary skills in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. 
         [0020]    Various embodiments of the present invention illustrated in the drawings may not be drawn to scale. Rather, the dimensions of the various features may be expanded or reduced for clarity. In addition, some of the drawings may be simplified for clarity. Thus, the drawings may not depict all of the components of a given apparatus (e.g., device) or method. 
         [0021]    As used herein, the singular forms of article “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Also, the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. 
         [0022]    Embodiments of the present invention disclose a paintball marker capable of receiving paintballs loading from a bottom feed magazine. The paintball marker, in one embodiment, includes a receiver and a bottom feed magazine. The receiver, for example, has a top surface facing upward and a bottom surface facing downward at the ground, wherein the bottom surface of the receiver has a bottom feed port. The bottom feed magazine provides paintballs to the receiver via a bottom feed port of the receiver. The bottom feed magazine, in one aspect, includes a feed tube, an L-shaped tube, and one-way paintball stopper. While the L-shaped tube assists to transfer paintballs from paintball reservoir to the feed tube, the feed tube transfers paintballs from the floor of the bottom feed magazine to the top of the bottom feed magazine. The one-way paintball stopper is configured to hold paintballs from leaving the feed tube back to the paintball reservoir. 
         [0023]      FIGS. 1A-C  illustrate a bottom feed magazine in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 1A  illustrates a diagram  100  showing a front view  102  and a back view  104  of the bottom feed magazine.  FIG. 1B  illustrates a diagram  120  showing a bottom view  122 , a top view  124 , a right side view  126 , and a left side view  128  of the bottom feed magazine.  FIG. 1C  illustrates a three-dimensional (“3D”) diagram  150  showing a perspective view of the bottom feed magazine depicting various features. The bottom feed magazine, in one aspect, can be fabricated or casted with solid or rigid materials which can stand a range of predefined stresses as well as temperature variations. The materials include, but not limited to, metal, aluminum, polymers, alloy, composite plastics, and the like. It should be noted that the underlying concept of the exemplary embodiment(s) of the present invention would not change if one or more components (or elements) were added to or removed from diagrams  100 ,  120 , and  150 . 
         [0024]    A bottom feed magazine is a paintball ammunition storage and is capable of coupling to a paintball marker for loading paintballs to the marker for repetitive propelling of paintballs. Paintballs are considered as ammunition for the paintball gun or marker and they, for example, are round or spherical shaped capsules containing dye substances. Upon an impact of a paintball, the paintball leaves a colored marker. Magazines, for example, can be fixed or removable from paintball markers, wherein a magazine can be an integral part of paintball markers. Alternatively, a magazine may be removable from a paintball marker. Note that datable bottom feed magazine may also be referred to as a magazine clip. 
         [0025]    A function of bottom feed magazine is to transfer paintballs stored in the magazine into a place or chamber of a receiver whereby the paintballs can be loaded and/or launched. Receiver of a paintball marker can also be referred to as an assembly, body, or frame which is a part of physical structure that houses various mechanical and/or operating parts or components. The terms “receiver,” “body,” “assembly,” and “frame” are hereinafter used interchangeably. 
         [0026]    Diagram  100  also includes a coupling mechanism  112 , a loading port  106 , and a feed latch  108 . Loading port  106  is configured to couple to a bottom feed port of a receiver for transporting paintballs from paintball reservoir in the bottom feed magazine up to a chamber of receiver for propelling or firing. Loading port  106 , in one embodiment, is an opening having a predefined dimension that allows conventional paintballs to pass through. 
         [0027]    Coupling mechanism  112 , in one embodiment, is structured in such a way that it allows the bottom feed magazine to be attached to a bottom portion of a receiver. The layout of coupling mechanism  112 , for example, may change depending on the applications. Applications may vary depending on which types of paintball marker are to be attached with. 
         [0028]    Top view  124  of diagram  120  depicts a more detailed view of feed latch  108  that, in one aspect, includes a loading port  106  and an optical signal receiver  130 . Depending on the applications, the shape or dimensions of feed latch  108  may change to accommodate physical structure of a receiver of paintball marker. In one embodiment, at least a portion of feed latch  108  extends into a receiver once the bottom feed magazine is attached to the receiver. 
         [0029]    Optical signal receiver  130 , in one embodiment, is an optical receiver capable of detecting a predefined wavelength and/or electromagnetic radiation. The predefined wavelength and/or electromagnetic radiation includes, but not limited to, visible light, infrared, microwaves, or ultraviolet radiations. To simply the foregoing discussion, light (visible light) is used to refer as infrared, microwaves, ultraviolet radiations, et cetera. Upon detecting a predefined a light, the bottom feed magazine provides one or more paintballs to the attached receiver in accordance with the detected light. 
         [0030]    When bottom feed magazine is coupled to a receiver (not shown in  FIGS. 1A-C ), the bottom feed magazine, which is powered by a bottom feed mechanism, generates a force which is in a direction opposite from the gravitation force to push a paintball from the magazine into a receiver of paintball marker through loading port  106 . After the paintball in the receiver is fired or released, optical lighting device located in the receiver emits an optical signal or light instructing the magazine to feed another paintball to the receiver through loading port  106 . 
         [0031]    It should be noted that various other features such as knock-outs  110  and grooves are relating to aesthetic and/or other functional values whereby they do not alter the underlying concept of the exemplary embodiment(s) of the present invention if the shape of knock-outs or a groove changes. 
         [0032]      FIGS. 2A-C  illustrate a cut-out view of a bottom feed magazine in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2A  illustrates a diagram  200  showing a cut-out view of the bottom feed magazine.  FIG. 2B  illustrates a diagram  220  showing a cut-out top view  230 , a cut-out back view  124 , a cut-out left view  234  of the bottom feed magazine.  FIG. 2C  illustrates a three-dimensional (“3D”) diagonal cut view of a bottom feed magazine. Diagrams  200 ,  220 ,  250  illustrate a bottom feeding mechanism wherein a bottom feed magazine is situated approximately below a receiver and configured to push paintballs in a direction opposite of gravity to the receiver for launching. It should be noted that the underlying concept of the exemplary embodiment(s) of the present invention would not change if one or more components (or elements) were added to or removed from diagrams  200 ,  220 ,  250 . 
         [0033]    Diagram  200  includes a magazine housing  202 , paintball reservoir  206 , and a loading system  208 . Although the shape of housing  202  is in a square or rectangular shape, housing  202  is not necessary to be a square or rectangular shape. Depending on applications, the magazine housing, for example, can be round, spherical, or triangle shape. 
         [0034]    Paintball reservoir  206  is a room for storing or holding paintballs or paint projectiles. Depending on the types of paintballs used, the capacity of reservoir can change accordingly. Loading mechanism  208  includes a feed tube  226 , an L-shaped tube  252 , a paintball deflector  224 , and a paddle wheel  222  as shown in diagrams  220  and  250 . A function of loading system is to perform the bottom feeding mechanism which generates a force capable of pushing paintballs in a direction opposite of gravity into the receiver for launching. 
         [0035]      FIG. 3  is a diagram  300  illustrating an internal structure of the bottom feed magazine in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Diagram  300  includes a housing  202 , a printed circuit board (“PCB”)  308 , a feed tube  226 , an L-shaped tube  252 , a paintball deflector  224 , an anti-chopping flow control mechanism  306 , a paddle wheel  222 , and a driving component  310 . Driving component  310 , in an aspect, includes a motor, battery, and necessary mechanical parts to round paddle wheel  222 . It should be noted that the underlying concept of the exemplary embodiment(s) of the present invention would not change if one or more components (or elements) were added to or removed from diagram  300 . 
         [0036]      FIGS. 4A-C  illustrate various exemplary components of the bottom feed mechanism for a bottom feed magazine in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 4A  is a diagram  400  showing a bottom feed mechanism capable of generating a force to move a paintball upward against gravity into the chamber of a receiver for firing.  FIG. 4B  is a diagram  410  showing a top view of the bottom feed mechanism.  FIG. 4C  is a diagram illustrating side-views of the bottom feed mechanism. It should be noted that the underlying concept of the exemplary embodiment(s) of the present invention would not change if one or more components (or elements) were added to or removed from  FIGS. 4A-C . 
         [0037]    Diagram  400  illustrates a PCB  308 , a feed tube  226 , an L-shaped tube  252 , a paintball deflector  224 , an anti-chopping flow control mechanism  306 , a paddle wheel  222 , and an optical signal receiver  130 . PCB  308  includes various circuits capable of generating loading signals to paddle wheel for turning in accordance with the optical signals received by optical signal receiver  130 . In one embodiment, PCB  308  includes controllers capable of processing digital signals. 
         [0038]    Feed tube  226 , in one aspect, is structure in vertical position perpendicular to the floor of housing capable of moving the paintballs vertically into the receiver. One end of feed tube  226  is loading port  106  while another end of feed tube  226  is coupled to an end of L-shaped tube  252 . In one aspect, feed tube  226  and L-shaped tube  252  are fabricated in a single pipe or tube. Feed tube  226 , in one example, extends approximately the entire height of the bottom feed magazine. 
         [0039]    L-shaped tube  252 , also known as elbow, is a tube or pipe turning  90  degrees and used to transfer the direction of a force from a horizontal push to a vertical anti-gravity force lifting a paintball from the floor or bottom of the housing to loading port  106 . Note that loading port  106 , in one embodiment, extends into the receiver once the bottom feed magazine is clipped into the receiver of a paintball marker. 
         [0040]    Paddle wheel  222 , in one embodiment, includes multiple paddles  402  wherein space  404  between every two paddles is configured in such a way that space  404  is sufficient for housing one (1) paintball. As such, when paddle wheel  222  turns, one paintball enters into L-shaped tube  252  for each turn of paddle wheel  222 . Note that paddle wheel  222  is coupled to a motor (not shown in the diagrams) via axis  422 . A track bowl  424  is used to guide the paintballs to paddle wheel  222  for loading. 
         [0041]    Paintball deflector  224  includes multiple small rollers to ascertain one paintball entering L-shaped tube at one time. Similarly, anti-chopping flow control mechanism  306  provides protection to entrance of L-shaped tube from chopping or damaging paintballs in the reservoir. Optical signal receiver  130  is able to detect a predefined light and instructs the motor to turn after processing. 
         [0042]      FIGS. 5A-B  illustrate an L-shaped tube having a stopper in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 5A  is a diagram  500  showing a stopper situated in L-shaped tube  252  capable of generating sufficient force to stop paintballs  508 - 581  from rolling in a direction  520  back into the paintball reservoir. In one embodiment, stop  502  is one-way stopper or one-way valve capable of holding paintballs  508 - 518  in position from touching paintball  506  which is ready to enter L-shaped tube when paddle wheel turns. In operation, when paddle wheel  222  turns and its paddle  402  pushes paintball  506  into L-shaped tube  252 , the force generated by paddle  402  is sufficient to push all paintballs  506 - 518  upward to the receiver. Top paintball  518 , in one example, will enter the chamber of receiver ready to be fired as soon as paddle wheel  222  turns. 
         [0043]      FIG. 5B  is a diagram  530  showing a 3D view of L-shaped tube  252  for the bottom feed mechanism. The one-way stopper is a v-shaped spring wherein one leg is used to attach to L-shaped tube  252  and another leg is used to hold paintballs in the tube. The one-way stopper, in one aspect, can be fabricated or casted with semi-flexible materials, such as metal, aluminum, polymers, composite plastics, rubbers, and the like. It should be noted that one-way stopper can be any other form or shape other than v-shaped spring as long as it can perform similar stopping or holding functions. 
         [0044]      FIGS. 6A-B  illustrating feeding communication between a receiver and a bottom feed magazine in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 6A  is a diagram  600  showing a bottom feed magazine communicating with the receiver using optical signals. Diagram  600  includes a feeding requester  602  capable of emitting an optical signal  614  to optical signal receiver  130  requesting loading. In one embodiment, feeding requester  602 , which is installed in the receiver, includes a controller  606 , light emitting device (“LED”)  604 , and various sensors  608 - 610 . Sensors  608 - 610  may be micro-electro-mechanical system (“MEMS”) based sensing devices capable of detecting pressure, sound, motion, temperature, moisture, et cetera. Depending on applications or types of receivers used, one or multiple types of sensors may be installed to detect each release of a paintball. Upon detecting a firing or releasing a paintball, one or more sensors send a firing signal(s) to controller  606  which will subsequently instruct LED  604  to emit a predefined or pre-programmed light indicating that a loading is needed from the bottom feed magazine. 
         [0045]      FIG. 6B  illustrates two diagram  650 - 651  showing a receiver  652  having an LED component  662  and a bottom feed port  660  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. LED component  662  includes a light activate pin  658 , battery  654 , and light source  656 . It should be noted that LED component  662  is an exemplary illustration and LED component can be constructed in various different ways. 
         [0046]    In one embodiment, a paint projectile propelling device or a paintball marker includes a feed tube, a paddle wheel, an L-shaped tube, and one-way stopper. The feed tube has a top end and a bottom end and is configured to facilitate passage paintballs from the bottom feed magazine to the paintball marker. The top end of feed tube reaches to approximately the top surface of the bottom feed magazine. The feed tube is situated in such a way that the feed tube extends approximately from the bottom of feed magazine to the top of feed magazine. The paddle wheel has multiple paddles and is configured to generate a force capable of pushing multiple paintballs in the feed tube in a direction against gravity toward the paintball marker. The paddle wheel is configured to move in a rotational direction driven by a battery powered motor. 
         [0047]    The L-shaped tube has a top end coupled to the feed tube and a bottom end coupled to the paddle wheel. The L-shaped tube is configured to guide at least one paintball from the paddle wheel to the feed tube. In one aspect, the L-shaped tube is configured to transfer a horizontal force to a vertical anti-gravitational force. 
         [0048]    The one-way stopper is installed or situated in the L-shaped tube and is configured to hold the paintballs in the feed tube. The one-way stopper is a flexible V-shaped spring capable of performing a function of one-way valve to maintain the paintballs in the feed tube from touching the paddles of the paddle wheel. The one-way stopper is a stopper fabricated in flexible materials. 
         [0049]    The paintball marker also includes a receiver having a top surface and a bottom surface. The bottom surface of the receiver includes a bottom feed port. The top surface facing upward and the bottom surface facing downward at ground. The bottom feed magazine includes a magazine housing configured to house the feed tube, the paddle wheel, the L-shaped tube, and a one-way stopper. The magazine housing includes mechanical latches configured to couple with the receiver. 
         [0050]    The receiver includes a feed sensor and an optical feed requester, wherein the feed sensor includes electronic circuitry capable of issuing a feed requesting signal upon detecting a load condition. The optical feed requester is configured to issue an optical signal to the bottom feed magazine in response to the feed requesting signal. The feed sensor may include MEMS configured to detect one of pressure, sound, and motion. Note that an optical receiver is configured to receive an optical signal for loading and it subsequently sends a loading signal to the paddle wheel for feeding. 
         [0051]      FIGS. 7A-B  are diagrams showing a bottom magazine coupling to a paintball marker in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 7A  is a diagram  700  showing a bottom feed magazine attached to a paintball marker  702  capable of accepting bottom feeding mechanism.  FIG. 7B  is a diagram  710  showing a bottom feed magazine attached to a paintball marker  702  capable of accepting bottom feeding mechanism wherein the bottom feed magazine is a different designed magazine clip which has a more realistic look. It should be noted that the underlying concept of the exemplary embodiment(s) of the present invention would not change if one or more components such as buttstock and compressed air tanks were added to or removed from diagrams  700  and  710 . 
         [0052]    An advantage of employing the disclosed embodiments of bottom feed magazine is to allow a paintball operator to replace a traditional top loading paintball marker with a bottom feed magazine. For example, embodiments of the present invention allow existing paintball guns to use the bottom feed magazines with minor retrofitting. The existing paintball guns may include, but not limited to, Tippmann98™, Tippmann A5™, Tippmann X7™, Tippmann X7 Phenom™, BT Combat™, BT Delta™, BT SWAT™, BT4™, US Army Alpha Black™, US Army Project Salvo™, US Army Carver One™, and Valken SW-1™. 
         [0053]    An advantage of using the embodiments of the present invention is to allow an operator to have a clear line of fire without obstruction such as a top loading apparatus such as a hopper. 
         [0054]    While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those of ordinary skills in the art that based upon the teachings herein, changes and modifications may be made without departing from this exemplary embodiment(s) of the present invention and its broader aspects. Therefore, the appended claims are intended to encompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as are within the true spirit and scope of this exemplary embodiment(s) of the present invention.