Abstract:
A combination including a paint ball gun with a gun barrel has both a muzzle portion and at least two interchangeable compression zone portions of slightly differing diameters. The compression zone portions are preferably attachable and deattachable from the muzzle portion by a non-threaded connection mechanism, such as by a snap-on type connection mechanism, a cam-lock type connection mechanism or a bayonet connection mechanism. The invention allows the user of a paint ball gun to select a compression zone portion which is most optimally matched to the diameter of the paint ball ammunition to be used in the paint ball gun. The invention thereby optimizes paint ball gun performance.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates generally to paint ball guns and, more particularly, to gun barrels suitable for paint ball guns.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The use of paint ball guns has become a very popular recreational sport. Paint ball gun competitions are generally very competitive, demanding paint ball guns capable of high efficiency and high performance.  
           [0003]    Paint ball guns are almost universally made to propel a paint ball having an external diameter between about 0.675 inches and about 0.695 inches using a source of compressed gas, such as carbon dioxide. In the operation of a typical paint ball gun, a paint ball is deposited into the compression zone portion of the gun barrel. Thereafter, when the trigger is pulled, a short blast of compressed gas propels the paint ball through the compression zone portion and out the muzzle portion. It is important in the performance of paint ball guns that the internal diameter of the compression zone portion closely matches the external diameter of the paint ball ammunition. The internal diameter of the compression zone portion should be within about 0.002 inches of the external diameter of paint ball ammunition. Smaller diameters will tend to cause the paint ball to break up within the compression zone portion or become lodged within the compression zone portion. Larger diameters will result in decreased projecting power (because an undue amount of compressed gas will leak around the outside of the paint ball).  
           [0004]    A problem for the competitive paint ball gun user arises from the fact that the external diameter of the paint ball ammunition varies from manufacturer to manufacturer and even from production vats to production vats. Heretofore, there has been no known solution to this problem. Accordingly, there is a need for an inexpensive yet efficient combination which avoids this problem in the prior art.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0005]    The invention satisfies this need. In one embodiment, the invention is a combination comprising a paint ball gun with a gun barrel having a muzzle portion and at least two interchangeable compression zone portions having slightly differing internal diameters.  
           [0006]    In a preferred version of this embodiment, the compression zone portions are attachable and deattachable from the muzzle portion by a non-threaded connection mechanism, such as a snap-on type connection mechanism, a cam-lock type connection mechanism or a bayonet type connection mechanism. In another embodiment, the invention is a kit comprising at least two compression zone portions of a gun barrel suitable for use in a paint ball gun, wherein each compression zone portion is readily attachable and deattachable from the muzzle portion of the paint ball gun barrel. In the kit, each compression zone portion has a slightly different internal diameter.  
           [0007]    In another embodiment, the invention is a method for using a paint ball gun having multiple, interchangeable compression zone portions. In the method, the user selects a particular batch of paint ball ammunition and then chooses a particular compression zone portion most optimum for use with the paint ball ammunition. The compression zone portion is attached to the muzzle portion within the paint ball gun barrel and the paint ball gun is thereafter used to discharge paint balls with optimum power and efficiency. 
       
    
    
     DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    These features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims and accompanying figures where:  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a side view of a paint ball gun having features of the invention;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is a side view in partial cross-section of a paint ball gun having features of the invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is an exploded isometric view of a first gun barrel having features of the invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of the gun barrel illustrated in FIG. 3, taken along line  4 - 4 ;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 is a detail cross-sectional side view illustrating the operation of the gun barrel illustrated in FIG. 3;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 6 is a detail cross-sectional side view further illustrating the operation of the gun barrel illustrated in FIG. 3;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 7 is a detailed side view of the gun barrel illustrated in FIG. 3;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional end view of the gun barrel illustrated in FIG. 4, taken along line  8 - 8 ;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional end view of the gun barrel illustrated in FIG. 5, taken along line  9 - 9 ;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional end view of the gun barrel illustrated in FIG. 6, taken along line  10 - 10 ;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 11 is an exploded isometric view of a second gun barrel having features of the invention;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional side view of the gun barrel illustrated in FIG. 11 taken along line  12 - 12 ;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 13 is a detail cross-sectional side view illustrating the operation of the gun barrel illustrated in FIG. 11;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 14 is a detail cross-sectional side view further illustrating the operation of the gun barrel illustrated in FIG. 11;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional end view of the gun barrel illustrated in FIG. 12 taken along line  15 - 15 ;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional end view of the gun barrel illustrated in FIG. 13 taken along line  16 - 16 ;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional end view of the gun barrel illustrated in FIG. 14 taken along line  14 - 14 ;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 18 is an exploded isometric view of a third gun barrel having features of the invention;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional side view of the gun barrel illustrated in FIG. 18 taken along line  19 - 19 ;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 20 is a detail cross-sectional side view illustrating the operation of the gun barrel illustrated in FIG. 18;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional side view further illustrating the operation of the gun barrel illustrated in FIG. 18;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional end view of the gun barrel illustrated in FIG. 19 taken along line  22 - 22 ;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional end view of the gun barrel illustrated in FIG. 20 taken along line  23 - 23 ;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional end view of the gun barrel illustrated in FIG. 21 taken along line  24 - 24 ; and  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 25 is an isometric view of a kit having features of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0034]    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.  
         [0035]    The invention is a gun barrel  10  suitable for a gas powered gun  12 , such as a paint ball gun. In a gas powered gun  12 , a projectile, such as a paint ball, is contacted with a high pressure burst of compressed gas which propels the projectile out of the gun barrel  10  towards the target. More specifically, when the gun  12  is fired, the high pressure gas causes the projectile to rapidly accelerate to a high velocity. In the first 4-8 inches of the gun barrel  10 , the pressure experienced by the projectile is very high. As the projectile increases in velocity in this first 4-8 inches of the gun barrel  10 , the high pressure is rapidly dissipated as the pressure energy is converted into the kinetic energy of the accelerating projectile. This first 4-8 inches of the gun barrel  10  after the projectile is initially subjected to the burst of high pressure gas is referred to herein as the compression zone portion  14  of the gun barrel  10 . The remainder of the gun barrel  10  is referred to herein as the muzzle portion  16 .  
         [0036]    [0036]FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a typical paint ball gun  12  wherein the gun barrel  10  of the invention can advantageously be used. As illustrated in FIG. 1, a typical paint ball gun  12  has a main body  18  which includes an internal firing chamber (not shown) and a trigger mechanism  20 . A loading port  22  is disposed on the upper portion of the main body  18  which allows projectiles to be gravitated into the firing chamber. Compressed gas from a compressed gas canister (not shown), which is commonly attached to the rear of the main body  18 , provides compressed gas to the firing chamber via a short length of hose  24  and an internal gas conduit disposed within the foregrip  26 . In a typical operation of the paint ball gun  12  illustrated in FIG. 1, a single projectile is gravitated into the firing chamber via the loading port  22 , the gun  12  is aimed at a target, the trigger  28  is squeezed causing the release of high pressure gas from the canister to the firing chamber via the hose  24  and internal gas conduit. The burst of high pressure gas is directed into the firing chamber which propels the projectile through the compression zone portion  14  of the gun barrel  10 , then through the muzzle portion  16  of the gun barrel  10  and finally outwardly towards the target.  
         [0037]    Typically, the gun barrel  10  is attached to the gun  12  by a threaded connection  30  as illustrated in FIG. 2. Both the compression zone portion  14  and the muzzle portion  16  have longitudinal axes  32  and  34 , respectively. In the invention, the compression zone portion  14  is rigidly and coaxially attached to the muzzle portion  16  by a non-threaded connection mechanism  36 . The non-threaded connection mechanism  36  can be any of a large number of non-threaded connection mechanisms  36  known in the art. By way of example only, the non-threaded connection mechanism  36  can be a bayonet type connection mechanism  36   a,  a snap-on type connection mechanism  36   b  or a cam-lock type connection mechanism  36   c.    
         [0038]    FIGS.  3 - 10  illustrate an embodiment of the invention wherein the non-threaded connection mechanism  36  is a bayonet type connection mechanism  36   a.  In this embodiment, the distal end  38  of the compression zone portion  14  is a male connector  40  which is connectable to a corresponding female connector  42  on the proximal end  44  of the muzzle portion  16 . The male connector  40  on the distal end  38  of the compression zone portion  14  has a plurality of T-shaped grooves  46  best seen in FIGS. 3 and 7. Each T-shaped groove  46  has a coaxial stem portion  48  and opposed wing portions  50 . Preferably, each wing portion  50  has a rounded proximal edge  52 , the advantage of which is explained below.  
         [0039]    The male connector  42  at the proximal end  44  of the muzzle portion  16  has a plurality of keys  54 , each adapted and aligned to engage into the stem portion  48  of each T-shaped groove  46  in the male connector  40  at the distal end  38  of the compression zone portion  16 . In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the keys  54  are ball bearings  56 , each of which is captured within a ball bearing aperture  58 . The ball bearing apertures  58  are sized and dimensioned to allow the ball bearings  56  to be retained non-rigidly within the ball bearing apertures  58 . The diameter of each of the ball bearings  56  is greater than the thickness of the proximal end  44  of the muzzle portion  16 . A collar  60  is disposed over the plurality of ball bearings  56  to rigidly protrude the ball bearings  56  into the interior  62  of the proximal end  44  of the muzzle portion  16 . As so rigidly retained, the ball bearings  56  effectively act as keys  54  for locking into the T-shaped grooves  46  in the distal end  38  of the compression zone portion  14 .  
         [0040]    FIGS.  4 - 6  and  8 - 10  illustrate the male/female connection of the distal end  38  of the compression zone portion  14  with the proximal end  44  of the muzzle portion  16 . As can be seen in these figures, the distal end  38  of the compression zone portion  14  is inserted into the proximal end  44  of the muzzle portion  16  after aligning each of the keys  54  with a corresponding stem portions  48  of the T-shaped grooves  46 . As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the male connector  40  and the female connector  42  are thrust toward each other until each key  54  is disposed at the uppermost portion  64  of the stem section  48  of each T-shaped groove  46 .  
         [0041]    Then, the muzzle portion  16  is rotated, either clockwise or counterclockwise, to locate each key  54  into one of the wing portions  56  of the T-shaped groove  46 . By this action, the muzzle portion  16  is rigidly attached to the compression zone portion  14 .  
         [0042]    As illustrated in the drawings, it is preferable that a resilient member  66 , such as an O-ring, be disposed at the interface between the proximalmost portion  68  of the muzzle portion  16  and a shoulder  70  defined near the distal end  38  of the compression zone portion  14 . When the muzzle portion  16  is rigidly attached to the compression zone portion  14 , the resilient member  66  reenforces the rigidity of the attachment by resiliently retaining each key  54  within a rounded proximal edge  52  of a wing portion  50  in each of the T-shaped grooves  46 . Typically, the rounded proximal edge  52  in each wing portion  50  of the T-shaped grooves  46  has a depth  72  of between about 0.010 inches and about 0.050 inches, preferably between about 0.012 inches and about 0.020 inches.  
         [0043]    FIGS.  11 - 17  illustrate an embodiment of the invention wherein the non-threaded connection mechanism  36  is a snap-on type connection mechanism  36   b.  In this embodiment, the distal end  38  of the compression zone portion  14  is also a male connector  40  which is connectable to a corresponding female connector  42  on the proximal end  44  of the muzzle portion  16 . The male connector  40  on the distal end  38  of the compression zone portion  14  also has a plurality of T-shaped grooves  46  similar to those described with respect to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS.  3 - 10 .  
         [0044]    Also similar to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS.  3 - 10 , the female connector  42  in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS.  11 - 17  has a plurality of keys  54 , each adapted and aligned to engage into the stem portion  48  of each T-shaped groove  46  at the distal end  38  of the compression zone portion  14 . The keys  54  are again ball bearings  56 , each of which is captured within a ball bearing aperture  58 . The ball bearing apertures  58  are sized and dimensioned to allow the ball bearings  56  to be non-rigidly retained within the ball bearing apertures  56 . The diameter of each of the ball bearings  56  is greater than the thickness of the proximal end  44  of the muzzle portion  16 . A collar  60  is disposed over the plurality of ball bearings  56  to rigidly protrude the ball bearings  56  into the interior  62  of the proximal end  44  of the muzzle portion  16 . As so rigidly retained, the ball bearings  56  effectively act as keys  54  for locking into the T-shaped grooves  46  in the distal end  38  of the compression zone portion  14 .  
         [0045]    In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS.  11 - 17 , the female connector  42  on the proximal end  44  of the muzzle portion  16  has a plurality of detents  74 , each adapted and aligned to engage into a corresponding dimple  76  on the male connector  40  at the distal end  38  of the compression zone portion  14 . In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS.  11 - 17 , the detents  74  are also ball bearings  56 , each of which is captured within a ball bearing aperture  58 . The ball bearing apertures  58  are sized and dimensioned to allow the ball bearings  56  to be non-rigidly retained within the ball bearing apertures  58 . The diameter of each of the ball bearings  56  is greater than the thickness of the proximal end  44  of the muzzle portion portion  16 . A resilient member  66 , such as an O-ring, is disposed over the plurality of detents  74  to urge the ball bearings  56  into the interior  62  of the proximal end  44  of the muzzle portion  16 . These ball bearings  56  are not rigidly retained in the ball bearing apertures  58 , but are resiliently retained within the ball bearing apertures  58  by the resilient member  66 . By this design, each of the detents  74  can be snapped into and snapped out of a corresponding dimple  76 .  
         [0046]    FIGS.  18 - 24  illustrate an embodiment of the invention wherein the non-threaded connection mechanism  36  is a cam-lock type connection mechanism  36   c.  In this embodiment, the distal end  38  of the compression zone portion  14  is also a male connector  40  which is connectable to a corresponding female connector  42  on the proximal end  44  of the muzzle portion  16 .  
         [0047]    In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS.  18 - 24 , the female connector  42  has a plurality of detents  74 , each adapted and aligned to engage into a corresponding dimple  76  on the male connector  40  at the distal end  38  of the compression zone portion  14 . In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS.  18  -  24 , the detents  74  are also ball bearings  56 , each of which is captured within a ball bearing aperture  58 . The ball bearing apertures  58  are sized and dimensioned to allow the ball bearings  56  to be non-rigidly retained within the ball bearing apertures  58 . The diameter of each of the ball bearings  56  is greater than the thickness of the proximal end  44  of the muzzle portion  16 . Resilient members  66 , such as a pair of O-rings, are disposed over the plurality of detents  74  to urge the ball bearings  56  into the interior  62  of the proximal end  44  of the muzzle portion  16 . The ball bearings  65  are not rigidly retained in the ball bearing apertures  58 , but are resiliently retained within the ball bearing apertures  58  by the resilient members  62 .  
         [0048]    An eccentric collar  78  is disposed over the female connector  42  at the proxmial end  44  of the muzzle portion  16 . The eccentric collar  78  has a plurality of “high spots”  80  and “low spots”  82 , so that, when the eccentric collar  78  is rotated, the eccentric collar  78  is alternatively (i) in abutment with resilient members  66  proximate to the ball bearings  56  and (ii) spaced apart from resilient members  66  proximate to the ball bearings  56 . When the eccentric collar  78  is in abutment with the resilient members  66 , the eccentric collar  78  rigidly holds the ball bearings  56  protruding into the interior  62  of the proximal end  44  of the muzzle portion  16 , so as to rigidly retain the ball bearings  56  into the dimples  76  in the male connector  40 . When the eccentric collar  78  is spaced apart from the resilient members  66 , the ball bearings  56  are free to snap into and out of corresponding dimples  76  within the male connector  40 .  
         [0049]    By the design illustrated in FIGS.  18 - 24 , a user wishing to connect the female connector  42  with the male connector  40  rotates the eccentric collar  78  until the eccentric collar  78  is spaced apart from the resilient members  66  proximate to the ball bearings  56  within the female connector  42 . The male connector  40  is then thrust into the female connector  42  until the ball bearings  56  resiliently snap into corresponding dimples  76  within the male connector  40 . Lastly, the eccentric collar  78  is rotated until the eccentric collar  78  becomes in abutment with the resilient members  66  proximate to the ball bearings  56 , whereupon the ball bearings  56  are rigidly retained within the dimples  76 . When the user wishes to disengage the female connector  42  from the male connector  40 , he or she merely reverses the above-described steps.  
         [0050]    The invention is also a kit  84  as illustrated in FIG. 25. In the kit  84 , a plurality of compression zone portions  14 , each having a slightly different internal diameter, are disposed within a convenient carrying container  86 . A user wishing to optimize performance of his or her paint ball gun can conveniently use the kit  84  to select a compression zone portion  14  matching the paint ball ammunition to be used in the paint ball gun. The user then assembles the gun barrel  10  using the selected compression zone portion  14 .  
         [0051]    The invention provides the user with an inexpensive and easy-to-use method for optimizing performance from a paint ball gun or other gas powered gun.  
         [0052]    Having thus described the invention, it should be apparent that numerous structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the scope and fair meaning of the instant invention as set forth hereinabove and as described hereinbelow by the claims.