# Patent

## Title
Paintball marker with intergrated hopper

## Abstract

An integrated paintball marker having an integrated hopper in the marker body. The integrated hopper is connected by a sliding mechanism and provides for a center of gravity closer to the user's hand as well as reduced extremities for targeting by other players or for catching on foreign objects. The hopper is removable from the body using a connector and lock system that is separate from the exit port and which allows positioning on the marker while blocking the exit port from the hopper compartment.

## Background
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims priority to and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/652,461, filed Feb. 11, 2005.


STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable.
REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX
Not Applicable.
RESERVATION OF RIGHTS
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to intellectual property rights such as but not limited to copyright, trademark, and/or trade dress protection. The owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records but otherwise reserves all rights whatsoever.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of paintball products. In particular, the present invention relates specifically to the integration of a paintball hopper into the body of the paintball marker to lower the center of gravity and reduce the feed length of the paintball path from the hopper into the launching chamber.
2. Description of the Known Art
As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, paintball hoppers are utilized to feed paintballs to the breech of the paintball marker. Patents disclosing information relevant to paintballs, markers, and hoppers include U.S. Pat. No. 6,845,794, issued to Johnson on Jan. 25, 2005 entitled Paintball filling system; U.S. Pat. No. 6,763,822, issued to Styles on Jul. 20, 2004 entitled Electropneumatic paintball gun, method of making and operating, and retrofit kit assembly; U.S. Pat. No. 6,739,322, issued to Rice et al. on May 25, 2004 entitled Paintball feed system; U.S. Pat. No. 6,701,909, issued to Tiberius et al. on Mar. 9, 2004 entitled Semi-automatic-firing, compressed-gas gun; U.S. Pat. No. 6,658,982, issued to Cherry on Dec. 9, 2003 entitled Cocking knob and striker arrangement for gas-powered projectile firing device; U.S. Pat. No. 6,644,366, issued to Johnson on Nov. 11, 2000 entitled Paintball filling system; U.S. Pat. No. 6,626,165, issued to Bhogal on Dec. 30, 2003 entitled Paintball gun; U.S. Pat. No. 6,574,945, issued to Martinez, Jr. on Jun. 10, 2003 entitled Method for manufacturing a projectile containing chemiluminescent compounds; U.S. Pat. No. 6,481,432, issued to Rushton, et al. on Nov. 19, 2002 entitled Paintball hopper; U.S. Pat. No. 6,470,872, issued to Tiberius et al. on Nov. 19, 2002 entitled Semi-automatic firing compressed-gas gun; U.S. Pat. No. 6,055,975, issued to Gallegher et al. on May 2, 2000 entitled Paintball container; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,383 issued to Tippmann, Sr., et al. on Mar. 3, 1998 entitled Impeder for a gun firing mechanism with ammunition feeder and mode selector. Each of these patents is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,701,909, issued to Tiberius et al. on Mar. 9, 2004 entitled Semi-automatic-firing, has the following description in its abstract: “A paintball gun is sized and designed to appear like and operate in a manner similar to a conventional gun. A dual-action firing bolt moves forward, assisting in launching a projectile, under cast pressure. The bolt then releases the compressed gas to carry the projectile down the barrel. Return springs operate to move the bolt and its valves to a ready-to-fire position. Similarly, trigger actuation mechanisms are spring-actuated to return to the ready-to-fire position. A removable magazine stores projectiles and propellant. The magazine is small enough to fit into a handle of a pistol. A user may selectively release just the projectile portion of the magazine, in order to leave the propellant undisturbed until fully expended. The magazine can be completely removed without substantial loss of propellant.”
U.S. Pat. No. 6,481,432, issued to Rushton, et al. on Nov. 19, 2002 entitled Paintball hopper, has the following description in its abstract: “A paintball hopper for connection to a paintball launcher or marker has a counter which includes a flexible potentiometer extending into a transfer conduit that connects to the paintball launcher or marker. The hopper has a reservoir shaped for movement of the paintballs toward the transfer conduit. The hopper has a nose with slanted surfaces that are deflection engineered to enhance the deflectability of paintballs directed at the user. The counter mechanism includes a timer and an LCD display so the user can see how many paintballs have been launched and monitor time. The hopper also includes an agitator to agitate the paintballs in the reservoir.”
U.S. Pat. No. 6,470,872, issued to Tiberius et al. on Nov. 19, 2002 entitled Semi-automatic firing compressed-gas gun, has the following description in its abstract: “A paintball gun is sized and designed to appear like and operate in a manner similar to a conventional gun. A dual-action firing bolt moves forward, assisting in launching a projectile, under cast pressure. The bolt then releases the compressed gas to carry the projectile down the barrel. Return springs operate to move the bolt and its valves to a ready-to-fire position. Similarly, trigger actuation mechanisms are spring-actuated to return to the ready-to-fire position. A removable magazine stores projectiles and propellant. The magazine is small enough to fit into a handle of a pistol. A user may selectively release just the projectile portion of the magazine, in order to leave the propellant undisturbed until fully expended. The magazine can be completely removed without substantial loss of propellant.”
U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,383 issued to Tippmann, Sr., et al. on Mar. 3, 1998 entitled Impeder for a gun firing mechanism with ammunition feeder and mode selector, has the following description in its abstract: “An ammunition feed mechanism for an automatic or semiautomatic weapon which includes a mechanism for retarding the cyclic feeding of ammunition into the chamber of the weapon. The mechanism for retarding the cyclic feeding of ammunition includes an impeder which engages the bolt of the weapon. The ammunition feed mechanism also includes a magazine having a ramped bottom which directs ammunition projectiles to an exit therein where the ammunition projectiles are fed into the chamber of the weapon. The magazine includes a plurality of curved projections in the bottom which define a plurality of spaces into which the ammunition projectiles are received. The plurality of curved projections also guide the ammunition projectiles through the exit.”
Additional prior art is also known. As shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, it is also currently known to use a separate exterior hopper 14 to feed a paintball 10 into an internal loading area 18 of a separate paintball marker body 16. The majority of prior art designs utilize separate paintball hoppers 14 that are self contained units using a neck extension 20 which is friction fit connected into an external feed neck 22 located on the top or the side of the paintball marker body 16. Clamping grips have also been used on the external feed neck 22. This extended construction which locates the mass of the paintball hopper 14 and any contained paintballs 10 in an extended position above the marker provides a greatly expanded profile 24 which presents a larger target for opposing players. Furthermore, this upward neck extension 20 and 22 and the associated extended mounting of the external hopper 14 causes a higher center of gravity which results in a reduction of control when aiming the marker 16. Thus, the prior art teaches paintball markers and hopper having inherent problems such that an improved hopper and marker are needed to overcome these limitations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an improved integrated hopper paintball marker. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a paintball marker is provided using an integrated hopper located within the body of the marker that accepts a random orientation of paintballs and directs them to the loading chamber.
Of particular note is a marker body encasing both a launching device and a random orientation interior hopper. The unique construction uses an interior hopper compartment having a ramped bottom wall in proximity to the launching area. This is in contrast to the prior art that uses either a fixed orientation magazine, or a random orientation exterior hopper. Fixed orientation magazines take a long time to load such that they are not easily reloaded in the field. Random orientation exterior hoppers have bottom walls outside of the marker body such that the hopper is distal from the loading port. In contrast to the prior art, the present invention has a quick load interior magazine construction that lowers the center of gravity of the marker for increased accuracy. Further inventive aspects are found in the unique separation of the connection from the ball path area and in the angled nature of the connection so that the hopper may gravity direct paintballs to the loading port.
Also of note is the shortened length of the loading port that flowably connects the interior hopper compartment to the launch area.
Yet another advantage is found in the lower hopper compartment wall ramping upward from a position above the loading port.
A still further advantage is found in the marker body having a filling port for loading paintballs into the interior hopper compartment and a covering lid hinged to the marker body.
Another advantage is found in the interior hopper compartment having a hopper wall defining a bottom chute encouraging a serial arrangement of the paintballs.
One very unique advantage is found in the use of a hopper connector that provides for downwardly angling the interior hopper compartment toward the launch area.
Additional advantages are found in the hopper connector being adapted to secure the interior hopper compartment to the launching device in a flow prohibiting position that blocks the advancement of the paintball from the interior hopper compartment to the launch area and yet also providing a flowable position.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention, along with features of novelty appurtenant thereto, will appear or become apparent by reviewing the following detailed description of the invention.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
In the following drawings, which form a part of the specification and which are to be construed in conjunction therewith, and in which like reference numerals have been employed throughout wherever possible to indicate like parts in the various views:
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a prior art paintball marker.
FIG. 2 shows an isometric view of an integrated hopper paintball marker.
FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view of the integrated hopper mounted on the launching body.
FIG. 4 shows a cut away view of the integrated hopper to body connection.
FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of one half of the launching body, the integrated hopper, the hopper lid, and the flexible lock catch.
FIG. 6 shows an exploded view with the integrated hopper and pressure supply cover disconnected from the launching body.
FIG. 7 shows a cutaway view of the launching body.
FIG. 8 shows a left side view of the integrated hopper body.
FIG. 9 shows a back view of the integrated hopper body.
FIG. 10 shows a right side view of the integrated hopper body.
FIG. 11 shows a front view of the integrated hopper body.
FIG. 12 shows a top side view of the integrated hopper body.
FIG. 13 shows a bottom view of the integrated hopper body.
FIG. 14 shows a cutaway view of the lock in a raised position.
FIG. 15 shows a cutaway view of the lock in a lowered position.
FIG. 16 shows a cutaway view of the hopper in a flow prohibiting position.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As shown in FIGS. 2 through 16 of the drawings, one exemplary embodiment of the present invention is generally shown as an integrated paintball marker 100. The integrated paintball marker 100 has a marker body 102 including a launching body 110 and a random orientation integrated hopper 136. Several unique advantages are provided by the launching body 110 and the random orientation integrated hopper 136 of the present invention.
The launching body 110 includes a front barrel 102, a downward extending grip 104 housing a trigger 106, and a launching pressure supply 108 extending off of the back 109 of launching body 110. As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 7, the interior of the launching body 110 houses a launching device 112 adapted to launch a paintball 10 from a launching area 114. FIG. 5 provides a cutaway view with the launching device 112 removed for clarity of the launching area. The typical moving bolt and pressurized gas release launching device is adapted for use in this marker. Various other types of launching devices are well known as shown by the prior art patents that are incorporated into this specification. Thus, any of these different types of launching devices may be utilized and this invention is not meant to be limited to a particular type of launching device.
Paintballs 10 are loaded into the launching device 112 at the launching area 114 using a gravity feed from the random orientation integrated hopper 136 through a short length loading port 116. The present invention provides advantages in the preferred embodiment because the loading port 116 is less than the prior art's typical inch and half or more of length of the feed neck 20/22 above the bolt area 18 in most previous marker designs. Several unique approaches are also found in the construction of the gravity angled connection 118 and the random orientation integrated hopper 136 construction directing paintballs to this loading port 116.
The random orientation integrated hopper 136 is directly mounted to the launching body 110 using an angled sliding hopper connection 118. This is unique in both the integration of the random hopper 136 into the launching body 110 and the method of connecting the random hopper 136 to the launching body 110. Typical prior art hoppers that allow for quick load and random orientation use a completely separate hopper construction that is connected using the neck connection as previously noted. This results in the separate hopper 14 being located distally from the launching area 18. In contrast, the present invention provides a proximal placement of the bottom wall 149 of the quick load random hopper 136 in relation to the launching area 114. Furthermore, this invention provides unique characteristics by integrating the hopper 136 into the launching body 110 of the marker 100 such that the hopper 136 does not provide a catching type of extension above the marker 100. This sleek design reduces the projections so that the marker 100 does not have the tendency to catch on other items. This construction also lowers the center of gravity of the marker 100 for increased accuracy. Further inventive aspects are found in the unique separation of the connection 118 from the ball path area and in the angled nature of the connection 118 so that the hopper 136 may gravity direct paintballs 10 to the loading port 116.
The integrated interior hopper compartment 136 is constructed with a hopper wall 138 defining a body area 140 enclosing the containment area 142. The body area 140 has a front nose 144 and a bottom chute 146. The bottom chute 146 defines the ball guide 148 which directs the paintballs 10 to the exit area 178 defining the exit port 180 that releases the paintballs 10 from the hopper 136. The bottom chute 146 also has chute tabs 150 which engage the slide fingers 120 on the launching body 110.
The body area 140 has side walls 158, end wall 160, and the top wall 162 defining the shape of the body area 140. At the end wall 160 of the body area 140 is the filling area 164 which includes a filling port 166 defined by a port rim 168 having a catch lip 170. Note the large opening that provides for quick efficient random filling of this hopper. No known prior art design has integrated the random orientation hopper to provide this type of construction.
The top wall 162 has a connector area 172 with a hopper connector 174 using a connection post 176 to connect to the removable filling lid 182. The removable filling lid 182 has a spanning body 184 across a circular side rim 186. The side rim 186 has a catch lip 188 that engages the catch lip 170 on the filling port rim 168 to hold the lid 182 in a closed position. Release tabs 190 are provided at various locations around the filling lid 182 to allow the user to open the filing lid 182.
A lid connector 192 connects the filling lid 182 to the top wall 162. The lid connector 192 forms a hinge 194 by connecting a lid attachment 196 to the hopper attachment 198 using a flexible span 200. The lid attachment snaps onto the connection post 176 at the connector area 172.
The present invention uses a unique hopper 136 to launching body 110 construction that allows for movement of the hopper to provide for opening and blocking of the paintball path from the hopper's main compartment exit port 180 into the loading port 116 of the launching body 136. A flow allowance position 202 is provided when the exit port 180 and the loading port 116 are aligned. A flow prohibiting position 204 is provided when the exit port 180 and the loading port 116 are mis-aligned. These positions may be easily understood by reviewing the sliding nature chute tabs 150 and the slide finger 120 of the hopper connection 118.
The hopper connection uses chute tabs 150 on the random orientation integrated hopper 136 which engage the slide fingers 120 on the launching body 110. The set of slide fingers 120 are mounted above a slide base 122 to slidably engage the random orientation integrated hopper 136. Upon insertion of the random orientation integrated hopper 136 into the launching body 110, the random orientation integrated hopper 136 slides along the hopper connection 118 until the ramped edge 154 engages the exterior ramp 127 of the lock body 126. At this point, the friction of the slide 120/150 and the friction of the lock body 126 against the bottom of the chute 146 will hold the random orientation integrated hopper 136 in position so that the exit port 180 and the loading port 116 are mis-aligned. This allows the marker 100 to be carried with a full hopper 136 without the concerns of spilling paintballs 10 or an accidental launch of a ball 10 from the marker 100.
A simple forward push on the hopper 136 in relation to the launching body 110 will then overcome the friction of the slide 120/150 to put the hopper 136 in a flow allowance position 202 on the launching body 110. As shown in FIGS. 1 through 6, the launching body 110 houses a lock 124. The lock 124 has a flexible lock body 126 mounted using a rotatable lock support 132 and a sliding lock support 134. This allows the flexible lock body 126 to move between a raised position 130 and a lowered position 131. Upon insertion of the random orientation integrated hopper 136 into the launching body 110, the random orientation integrated hopper 136 slides along the hopper connection 118 until the ramped edge 154 engages the exterior ramp 127 of the lock body 126. Then, additional forward force on the random orientation integrated hopper 136 pushes on the ramped insertion edge 154 of the hopper lock extension 152 to flex the lock body 126 into the downward position 131 so that the random orientation integrated hopper 136 can continue its forward movement. Once the hopper lock extension 152 is past the locking extension 128 on the lock body 126, the catch edge 156 of the integrated hopper body 136 engages the blocking edge 129 of the flexible lock body 126 to hold the hopper 136 in position on the launching body 110. The exit port 180 and the loading port 116 are now aligned and the hopper 136 is in the flow allowance position 202. Also note that the angled nature of the sliding connection 118 provides for gravity feeding of the paintballs to the loading port 116.
The hopper 136 may be removed by pressing down on the lock body 126 to release the hopper lock extension 128 from the lock body 126. This allows for quick insertion and removable of the hopper body 136 from the launching body 110.
Reference numerals used throughout the detailed description and the drawings correspond to the following elements:

    
    
        paintball 10
        separate exterior hopper 14
        separate paintball marker body 16
        internal loading area 18
        neck extension 20
        external feed neck 22
        expanded profile 24
        integrated paintball marker 100
        marker body 102
        grip 104
        trigger 106
        launching pressure supply 108
        back 109
        launching body 110
        launching device 112
        launching area 114
        loading port 116
        hopper connection 118
        slide fingers 120
        slide base 122
        lock 124
        flexible lock body 126
        exterior ramp 127
        locking extension 128
        blocking edge 129
        raised position 130
        lowered position 131
        rotatable lock support 132
        sliding lock support 134
        random orientation integrated hopper 136
        hopper wall 138
        body area 140
        containment area 142
        front nose 144
        bottom chute 146
        ball guide 148
        chute tabs 150
        hopper lock extension 152
        ramped insertion edge 154
        catch edge 156
        side walls 158
        end wall 160
        top wall 162
        filling area 164
        filling port 166
        port rim 168
        catch lip 170
        connector area 172
        hopper connector 174
        connection post 176
        exit area 178
        exit port 180
        filling lid 182
        spanning body 184
        side rim 186
        catch lip 188
        release tabs 190
        lid connector 192
        hinge 194
        lid attachment 196
        hopper attachment 198
        flexible span 200
        flow allowance position 202
        flow prohibiting position 204
    
    


From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention well adapted to obtain all the ends and objects herein set forth, together with other advantages which are inherent to the structure. It will also be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims. Many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

## Claims

1. An integrated paintball marker apparatus adapted to launch a paintball the apparatus comprising:
a marker body defining a continuous undivided-lobe body shape encasing both a launching device defining a launching area and a removable interior hopper compartment having a bottom wall adjacent to the launching area, wherein the interior hopper compartment is adapted to hold a paintball load;
the marker body having an interior wall further defining a loading port flowably connecting the interior hopper compartment to the launch area such that the paintball may advanced from the interior hopper compartment to the launch area; and
a hopper connector securing the interior hopper compartment to the launching device, the hopper connector adapted to secure the interior hopper compartment to the launching device using only the interior wall and the bottom wall to form a flow prohibiting position that blocks the advancement of the paintball from the interior hopper compartment to the launch area.