Abstract:
A loader for storing and delivering paintballs to a paintball marker comprising a removable drive unit. The drive unit is arranged within a cartridge configured to be received into a cavity provided within the body of the loader. This arrangement provides for the quick removal of the drive system from the loader, facilitating ease of repair, replacement, or upgrading of the drive unit.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/US2008/071381 filed Jul. 28, 2008, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/952,034, filed Jul. 26, 2007, the entire contents of all of which are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to the field of projectile loaders for feeding projectiles into compressed gas guns, and in particular, to paintball loaders. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The popular sport of paintball utilizes paintball markers (or guns) powered by compressed gas in order to fire projectiles. Some examples of paintball guns are those offered under the brand names 32 DEGREES™, EMPIRE™, DIABLO™, BT™ and INVERT MINI™, and others shown and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,708,685; 4,936,282; 5,497,758; and U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 11/183,548; 11/180,506; 11/150,002; 11/064,693; 10/313,465; 10/090,810, the entire contents of which are all incorporated fully herein by reference. Players use the paintball guns to shoot projectiles known as paintballs (projectiles and paintballs are used interchangeably herein). These paintballs are spherical, frangible projectiles normally having gelatin or starch-based shells filled with paint, coloring, or dye. The shells break when impacting a target, splattering the target with the paint contained therein. The sport of paintball is often played like capture the flag. A player is eliminated from the game when he or she is hit by a paintball fired from an opposing player&#39;s marker. When the paintball hits a target such as a player, a mark or “splat” of paint is left on the player. 
         [0004]    Paintball loaders (otherwise known and used interchangeably herein as hoppers, magazines, projectile loaders or loaders) generally sit atop the markers and feed projectiles into the marker. These projectile loaders store projectiles and have an outlet or exit tube (outfeed tube or neck). The outlet tube is connected to an inlet tube (or feed neck) of the paintball marker, which is in communication with the breech of the marker. During the normal operation, paintballs dropped through the outlet of the loader form a paintball stack within the outlet tube and gun inlet tube. When the paintball at the bottom of the stack is dropped into the firing chamber of the paintball marker, it is replaced at the top of the stack from the supply of paintballs remaining in the loader housing, thereby replenishing the stack. Thus, the loaders act to hold and feed paintball projectiles into the breech of a paintball marker, so that the projectiles can be fired from the marker. 
         [0005]    Many loaders contain agitators or feed systems to mix, propel, or otherwise move projectiles in the loader. This mixing is performed by an impeller, projection, drive cone, agitator, paddle, arm, fin, carrier, or any other suitable mechanism, such as those shown and described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/171,956 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,213,110; 6,502,567; 5,947,100; 5,791,325; 5,954,042; 6,109,252; 6,889,680; and 6,792,933, the entire contents of all of which are incorporated by reference herein. In a “gravity feed” or “agitating” loader, an agitator mixes projectiles so that no jams occur at the exit opening of the outlet tube. In a “force feed” or “active feed” paintball loader, the agitator (drive cone, carrier, paddle or any other force feed drive system) forces projectiles through the exit tube. As the firing rates of paintball markers have increased, active feed loaders have become extremely popular due to their ability to ensure the proper feeding of projectiles and sustain the feed rates necessary to support today&#39;s markers. 
         [0006]    Modern paintball loaders utilize projections, paddles, arms, carriers, drive cones, or other agitators to mix or advance paintballs. These agitators are operated by motors which are often controlled by an electronic control circuit. These control circuits may utilize microprocessors in conjunction with at least one sensor configured to detect any number of parameters, including the firing of a projectile from the marker or the occurrence of a jam. These components are typically powered by a D.C. power source, such as a battery. 
         [0007]    As a result of the increasingly competitive nature of the sport, as well as the rapid development in related technology, components of these feed systems are frequently upgraded by a user in order to improve the characteristics of the loader and feed mechanism. Such upgrades may include replacing various components in order to improve the feed mechanism&#39;s battery life, or to increase the speed and/or adjustability of the drive system. However, because the agitators, control circuits, sensors, and drive mechanisms are traditionally enclosed inside the body of the paintball loader, these components can typically only be reached by partially or fully disassembling the loader. This arrangement results in difficult and time consuming maintenance, repair, and upgrade procedures. 
         [0008]    Moreover, if a paintball breaks inside a paintball loader, there must be a convenient and efficient way to open the hopper and clean the paint or dye from the inside of the paintball hopper, without having to fully disassemble the loader. 
         [0009]    Thus, there is the need for a paintball loader and feed mechanism that provides quick and complete access to the feed system components in order to facilitate maintenance, cleaning or upgrading. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0010]    The present invention relates to a paintball loader featuring a removable drive system. The loader comprises a paintball hopper having a cartridge receiving area and a corresponding removable drive cartridge. In a preferred embodiment, the drive cartridge houses a feed mechanism which is driven by a motor located within the drive cartridge. The drive cartridge is removably secured inside of the cartridge receiving area through the use of tabs, snap fits, flanges, magnets, or other suitable coupling means, ensuring that a cartridge can be repeatedly removed from and inserted into the cartridge cavity. 
         [0011]    In another embodiment, an upper portion of the loader is hingedly attached to a lower portion containing the drive cartridge, wherein a user may access or remove the cartridge by pivoting the upper portion of the loader away from the lower portion. 
         [0012]    In an alternate embodiment, a second drive cartridge having a second feed mechanism is inserted into the cartridge cavity as an upgrade or a replacement for the entire first drive cartridge. 
         [0013]    In another embodiment, the feed mechanism and motor are controlled by a microprocessor, or another suitable controller, located inside of an electronics compartment arranged in the drive cartridge. The electronics compartment may also house a battery to power the motor and controller. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a side elevation view of a representative paintball loader operatively attached to a paintball marker. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of an embodiment of the loader according to the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a loader with the drive cartridge installed according to the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of a loader according to the preset invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the loader of the present invention with the drive cartridge removed. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is an isometric view of the loader of the present invention with the drive cartridge aligned for insertion into the cavity. 
           [0020]      FIGS. 7 and 8  are isometric views of the loader of the present invention with the drive cartridge installed into the loader. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0021]    As used herein, the term loader, projectile loader, hopper, or magazine refer to any apparatus which stores projectiles for use in a paintball marker. As used herein, the terms “feeder”, “feed mechanism”, or “impeller” refer to any apparatus that impels, moves, pushes, agitates, or otherwise directs and/or mixes projectiles within a loader or hopper, such as an agitator, arms, fins, paddles, paddle arms, spokes, drive cones, carriers, including, but not limited to, those shown and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,213,110; 6,502,567; 5,947,100; 5,791,325; 5,954,042; 6,109,252; 6,889,680; and 6,792,933, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein, and those used in commercially available paintball loaders such as the various HALO™ brand paintball loaders, the EMPIRE™ RELOADER paintball loaders, and substitutes or equivalents thereof. 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is a side elevation view of a paintball loader  100  attached to a representative paintball marker  20 . The paintball marker  20  includes a main body  22 , a compressed gas cylinder (gas tank or air tank)  24 , a barrel  28 , and a grip portion  26 . The paintball marker  20  also includes an inlet tube  32  (or feed neck) leading to a firing chamber  23  (or breech) in the interior of the main body  22 , and a trigger  34  for firing the paintball marker  20 . The compressed gas cylinder  24  is typically secured to a rear portion of the paintball marker  20  and normally contains CO 2  or NO 2 , although any compressible gas may be used. 
         [0023]    A plurality of paintballs  101  are stored in the loader  100 , and are supplied to the breach  23  through a dispensing or outfeed tube  154  located at the bottom of the loader, and the inlet tube  32 . When an operator of the paintball marker  20  squeezes trigger  34 , the firing mechanism of the paintball marker  20  acts so that compressed gas from the compressed gas cylinder  24  is released and fires paintballs  101  located in the breech through the barrel  28 . 
         [0024]    An embodiment of a paintball loader  100  of the present invention is shown in detail in  FIGS. 2-3 . The shell portion  106  of a paintball loader  100  according to the present invention includes an interior area  104  shaped to receive and store paintballs, a opening  102  so that paintballs can be loaded into the interior area  104 , a dispensing tube  154 , and a cartridge cavity  200  configured to receive a drive cartridge  202 . An interior wall  108  may at least partially divide the interior area  104  from the cartridge cavity  200 . The interior area  104  may be any size and shape that permits the paintballs  100  to move towards the cartridge  202  and/or dispensing tube  154 . In use, a user loads paintballs  101  into the loader  100  through the opening  102  which are then stored in the interior area  104  until fed to a paintball marker. 
         [0025]    The present invention provides a paintball loader  100  that is separable into a shell portion  106 , and a removable drive cartridge  202  for housing components of the drive mechanism  303  of the paintball loader. The drive cartridge  202  includes a paintball drive assembly  300  which includes a feed mechanism or feeder  330  and drive motor  366 . The motor  366  may be in communication with a controller  207  which may include circuitry and/or microprocessor for controlling at least one operation of the loader  100 , for example, activating the feed mechanism  330  after a projectile is fired from the marker, adjusting the rate of feeding, or stopping the feed mechanism  330  in the event of a jammed projectile, an empty loader, or when a paintball marker with which the loader is communicating ceases firing. The controller  207  is preferably located behind a faceplate  209  or cover, and may be controlled by the user via at least one accessible button  282 . The button  282  may also power the loader “ON” and “OFF”. 
         [0026]    The drive cartridge  202  may include a compartment  210  in which the motor  366 , a power source, such as a battery  217 , for powering the motor  366 , controller  107 , or any combination thereof, is housed. In another embodiment, the controller  107  or any other components may also be stored within the compartment  210  to locate such components further inside the interior  104  of the loader  100 . 
         [0027]    The compartment  210  of the cartridge  202  may be accessible via an access door  211  when the cartridge  202  is removed from the cartridge cavity  200 . The access door  211  is preferably located on the top surface  212  of the compartment  210 . 
         [0028]    The drive cartridge  202  is removably attached to the shell portion  106  by engaging elements  220 ,  221 . The drive cartridge  202  is preferably secured to the cartridge cavity  200  of the loader  100  by engaging elements such as tabs  220  located on a front portion  205  of the cartridge  202  adjacent the shell portion  106  when assembled. The tabs  220  engage with complimentary slots  221  located on the loader  100 , securing the cartridge  202  in place inside of the cavity  200 . The cartridge  202  is released from the cavity  200  by compressing the tabs  202  so that they are removed from contact with the slots  221 . 
         [0029]    It is contemplated that the depressible tabs  220  and complimentary slots  221  can be replaced by alternate engaging elements to removably secure the cartridge  220  inside of the cavity  200 . Other means for removably attaching the cartridge  202  to the loader  100  include magnets, snap fits, press fits, fasteners, flanges, or any other suitable means which facilitates efficient connection and removal of the cartridge  202 . 
         [0030]      FIGS. 2-4  show an exemplary cartridge  202  and drive assembly  300  of the present invention. The drive assembly  300  may be formed having a catch cup  312  positioned below a break in the interior wall  108  that accepts paintballs  101  from the interior paintball chamber  104  of the loader  100 . The feed mechanism or feeder  330  is positioned into the catch cup  312 , with its shaft  311  inserted through the cup  312 . 
         [0031]    In use, the feed mechanism  330  is designed to feed (move) projectiles from the catch cup  312  into the outfeed tube  322 , which, when the cartridge is positioned and aligned properly in the cavity  200 , is in communication with the dispensing tube  154  of the loader  100 . It should be noted that the catch cup  312  and/or the outfeed tube  322  may be formed integrally with the cartridge  202 , or may be separate components housed in the cartridge  202 . 
         [0032]    The feed mechanism  330  may be formed as a drive cone, a paddle wheel, an agitator, arms, fins, or any other element for mixing, moving, or stirring paintballs in the loader. The feed mechanism  330  may include a shaft  311 , and rotation of the shaft  311  will rotate the feed mechanism  330 . 
         [0033]    The motor  366  is provided to drive the feed mechanism  330  via a drive assembly  300  including a gear, gears or gearbox. The motor  366  is mounted adjacent the catch cup  312  and may comprise, but is not limited to, for example, a DC motor, although any suitable motor or driving mechanism (such as a stepper motor) may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention. The motor  366  may be controlled by a controller  207 , such as electronic control circuitry that may include a microprocessor. The paintball loader  100  may also include at least one sensor  352  in electrical or wireless communication with a motor  366  and/or controller  207  for detecting paintballs (such as by movement or position, for example) and/or movement or position of the feed mechanism  330 . The sensor  352  may be an electro-mechanical sensor, a switch, an optical sensor, a break beam sensor, and infrared (IR) sensor, a reflective sensor, a sound or Shockwave sensor, a piezoelectric sensor, or any other sensor as are known in the art for detecting paintball or feeder movement. The controller  207  can control rotation of the motor  366  in any direction, providing for a reversal of the rotation of the feed mechanism  330  enhancing its ability to clear projectile jams. 
         [0034]    In operation, the user may actuate the controller  207  via a switch plate  209  locate on the exterior of the cartridge  202 , such as by pressing a button  282  on the switch plate  209  ( FIG. 2 ). In one embodiment, at least one power source such as a battery  217  is provided to power the motor and/or additional controls or sensors. The battery  217  is preferably stored inside of the compartment  210  located in the drive cartridge  202 . 
         [0035]    In one embodiment, the drive assembly  300  comprises a belt and pulley system, with the motor operating a first pulley  328 , the first pulley driving a drive belt  334 , and the drive belt  334  driving a second pulley  332 . The second pulley  332  comprises an integral pinion gear  333  configured to drive a spur gear  336 . The shaft  311  of the feed mechanism  330  is preferably keyed into the spur gear  336 , whereby the rotation of the spur gear  336  rotates the feed mechanism  330 . 
         [0036]    It is envisioned that this combination belt drive and gear arrangement could be replaced with any other suitable means to transmit the rotational force of the motor  366  to the feed mechanism  330  including direct, gear, belt, or fluid drives. It is also envisioned that the size of respective pulleys  328 ,  332  and gears  333 ,  336  could be varied in order to change the rotational speed of the feed mechanism  330 , thereby varying the feed rate of the balls into the marker, as well as the torque delivered by the shaft  311 . The motor  366  may also directly drive the shaft  311  of the feed mechanism  330 , without the use of additional gears or belts. Any arrangement for coupling the motor to the drive shaft to operate the drive shaft is contemplated as included within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0037]    The feed mechanism  330  may have a plurality of fins  354  that push and agitate the paintballs  101 , however, the feed mechanism  330  however may include any arms (fins, paddles, or other extensions) such as those shown and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,213,110; 6,502,567; 5,947,100; 5,791,325; 5,954,042; 6,109,252; 6,889,680; 6,701,907 and 6,792,933 the entire contents of which are incorporated fully by reference herein, which are used in connection with the well known HALO™ B or EMPIRE™ RELOADER B paintball loaders. It is noted that the present invention may be used with, in place of, or as an adjunct to any other feed mechanism, agitator, paddle or impeller of any kind. 
         [0038]      FIG. 3  is a cross-section view of the loader  100  of the present invention as described above with respect to  FIG. 2  with the drive cartridge  202  positioned within the cavity  200  of the loader  100 , such as in use. The paintballs passing through the opening  102  of the loader  100  disperse through the interior area  104 , as well as into the drive cartridge  202 . In use, the feed mechanism  330 , driven by the drive system  300 , urges the paintballs  101  through the outfeed tube  322 , through the dispensing tube  154 , and into the inlet tube  32  of the paintball marker  20  for firing. 
         [0039]      FIG. 4  shows a cross-section view of another embodiment of the present invention wherein a first portion  105  of the loader  100  is hingedly attached to a second portion  103  by a hinge  107 , such that the first portion  105  can move relative to the second portion  103 , to expose the drive cartridge  202  and/or drive mechanism  330  of the paintball loader  100 , without completely disassembling the loader. The hinge  107  may be formed as complementary flanges  111  with openings  112  therethrough, and a pin  113  positioned through the openings  112 , hingedly connecting the first portion  105  to the second portion  103 . However, any suitable releasable mating means may be used. 
         [0040]    The first and second portions  105  and  103  preferable comprise a securing means  115 ,  116 , in order to secure the first and second portions in a closed state while the marker is in use. In a preferred embodiment, the securing means comprises depressible tabs  115  on the first portion  105  of the loader  100 , and flanges  116  on the second portion  103  of the loader, configured to engagingly accept the depressible tab  115 . Such an arrangement offers a quick and efficient means to quickly couple and decouple the first and second portions  105 ,  103  of the loader  100 . It is envisioned that any suitable means to secure the first and second portions together may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention, including the use of magnets, friction fits, and other mechanical fasteners. 
         [0041]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the drive cartridge  202  and/or drive mechanism  330  may be either removable or formed as an integral part of the second portion  103 . A user can access the drive cartridge  202  and at least some of its component parts by detaching (if connected), lifting and pivoting the first portion  105  of the loader  100  away from the second portion  103 . Once reoriented, the drive cartridge  202  can be removed or inspected through an opening  109  formed by the separation of the upper and lower portions  105 ,  103 . This arrangement may also be utilize in conjunction with the above-described configuration wherein the cartridge is inserted generally horizontally into the cavity  200 , thereby given the user several accessibility options to access the drive system. 
         [0042]    It should be noted that in any of the above described embodiments, a drive cartridge  202  may be replaced in its entirety by a second different cartridge  202 , allowing a user to quickly reconfigure the loader without replacing individual components of the drive assembly located within a given cartridge. For example, a first drive cartridge may have a first configuration, such as a drive assembly  300  configured in one manner, such as a certain feeder  330  with a particular motor  366  and first control circuit  207  having a first set of operating parameters. A second drive cartridge may have a second configuration, such as a drive assembly  300  configured in a second manner, with a different feeder  330 , with a different motor  366  and different control circuit  207  having different operational parameters. The present invention makes it simple and efficient to swap out differently configured drive cartridges for the different needs of a user. By use of the present invention, a user may have several user-selectable set-ups that can be easily changes, based on the needs of a user. 
         [0043]    In addition, a user may be given several different options for the shell portion  106  of the loader of the present invention. A use may be supplied with one or more drive cartridges  202 , and several different shell portions  106 , having different capacities for holding paintballs, different body shapes, different colors, different designs, different opening sizes, or formed from different materials. Accordingly, the present invention provides for a highly reconfigurable paintball loader system that may be configured to meet the user&#39;s needs. 
         [0044]      FIGS. 5-8  are views of an exemplary loader  100  of the present invention, showing attachment and removal of the cartridge  202  with the cavity  200  of the shell portion of a loader according to the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the loader  100  of the present invention utilizes a removable drive cartridge  202  having an engaging element  220  located on an end  205  of the cartridge  202 . Complementary attachment points  221  are located within the cavity  200  of the loader  100 . As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , to insert the cartridge  202 , the user aligns the cartridge with the cavity  200  of the loader  100 . Once aligned, the cartridge  202  is inserted into the cavity  200  until a positive engagement is achieved between the attachment points  220  and  221 . Removal of the cartridge  202  is accomplished by manipulating the attachment means  220 ,  221  in order to release the cartridge  202  from the loader  200 . 
         [0045]    It is appreciated that the cartridge shown in  FIGS. 5-8  could receive any type or arrangement of drive system, such as any motor, feed mechanism, power supply, control circuitry, or other combination of those elements. 
         [0046]    In one embodiment show in  FIG. 8 , the cartridge  202  is supported in the cavity  200  by means of a strap  250 , rather than a bottom wall of the shell portion. The strap  250  extends generally across the bottom  249  of the cavity  200  and acts as a support for the cartridge  202 . It is envisioned that the strap  250  may be integral formed with the shell portion, or may comprise a separate piece, fixed to the loader  100 . Moreover, it is envisioned that the strap  250 , in addition to supporting the cartridge  202 , may comprise a complimentary shape to a portion  248  of the cartridge  202 , providing for a snap or press-fit between the strap  250  and the cartridge  202 , securing the cartridge to the loader  100 . However, as described above, it is envisioned that the means to removably secure the cartridge  202  to the loader  100  can comprise any suitable method including magnetic and mechanical attachment connections without departing from the scope of the present invention. Additionally, the location of these attachment means can be varied on both the loader  100  and the cartridge  202 . 
         [0047]    Having thus described in detail several embodiments of the present invention, it is to be appreciated and will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many physical changes, only a few of which are exemplified in the detailed description of the invention, could be made without altering the inventive concepts and principles embodied therein. It is also to be appreciated that numerous embodiments incorporating only part of the preferred embodiments are possible which do not alter, with respect to those parts, the inventive concepts and principles embodied therein. The present embodiments and optional configurations are therefore to be considered in all respects as exemplary and/or illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all other embodiments and changes to these embodiments which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of said claims are therefore to be embraced therein.