Patent Publication Number: US-9429385-B1

Title: Drum magazine for loading paintballs and shaped projectiles into a magazine-fed firearm

Description:
The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 62/114,736 filed on Feb. 11, 2015. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a magazine for paintballs and similar projectiles. More specifically, the present invention is a drum magazine for loading paintballs and shaped projectiles into a magazine-fed firearm. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the sport of paintball, firearms specially designed for paintball (referred to as “markers”) are loaded with spherical gelatin capsules containing water-soluble “paint”. These paintballs are most often loaded into a paintball marker through a hopper that is mounted to the paintball marker and is able to feed paintballs into the marker chamber. Hoppers are often capable of feeding paintballs very quickly in order to accommodate the very high rates of fire that many paintball markers are capable of. However, a common alternative to competitive speedball and more casual recreational play is “mag fed” gameplay. Participants in mag fed gameplay utilize paintball markers that greatly resemble conventional firearms and take part in scenarios that are more realistic and tactical than other types of paintball gameplay. The paintball markers utilized in mag fed paintball play are often designed to resemble conventional firearms as closely as possible and as such, paintballs are generally loaded into the markers via magazines in lieu of hoppers. In addition to the more realistic and tactical nature of mag fed gameplay, the limited ammunition capacity of the magazines presents an additional challenge and layer of realism to mag fed gameplay. Magazines designed for paintballs often resemble conventional magazines and may include variants such as the STANAG box magazine and various types of drum magazines. Drum magazines are often favored due to their comparatively higher ammunition capacity relative to box magazines, lowering the frequency of reloads. 
     The present invention is a drum magazine for loading paintballs and shaped projectiles into a magazine-fed firearm. The present invention stores paintballs in a spiral arrangement and is able to feed the paintballs into a magazine-fed paintball marker. The present invention includes an adjustable internal feeding mechanism that allows the present invention to be utilized with a wide variety of paintballs ranging from very soft paintballs to very brittle paintballs by adjusting the pressure that is exerted on the paintballs within the present invention. The present invention is additionally locked when the present invention is not loaded into a firearm, preventing paintballs from feeding while the magazine is not loaded into the firearm. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded rear perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded front perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the present invention taken along line A-A of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the present invention taken along line B-B of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the present invention taken along line C-C of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the present invention taken along line D-D of  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION 
     All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. 
     The present invention is a drum magazine for loading paintballs and shaped projectiles into a magazine-fed firearm. The present invention is shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  and comprises a housing platform  1 , a spiral feed track  4 , a projectile feed assembly  7 , a feed port  19 , a modular feed adapter  20 , and a rotor protrusion  21 . Interior arrangement of components is shown in  FIGS. 3-6 . 
     The housing platform  1  is the main body to which all other components of the present invention are attached. As shown in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , the spiral feed track  4  is a pathway that holds paintballs in place in a spiral arrangement within the present invention. The paintballs are able to travel along and exit the spiral feed track  4  as the paintball marker to which the present invention is attached is discharged. The spiral feed track  4  is integrated onto the housing platform  1 , allowing paintballs to be placed directly into the spiral feed track  4  when loading the present invention. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 5 , and  FIG. 6 , the projectile feed assembly  7  enables paintballs to be pushed along the spiral feed track  4  and exit the present invention as the paintball marker is discharged. The projectile feed assembly  7  comprises a clock spring  8 , a spring rotor  11 , and radius-adjusting pusher arm  12 . In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the clock spring  8  is a flat helical spring that may be wound in order to increase the pressure exerted on the paintballs within the spiral feed track  4  by the projectile feed assembly  7 . The clock spring  8  is wound to a desired degree of pressure exerted on the paintballs. A higher pressure may be more desirable for more brittle paintballs while a lower pressure may be desirable for softer paintballs. The spring rotor  11  is a circular plate with extrusions that may be grasped by the user. The spring rotor  11  is rotated in order to increase the tension in the clock spring  8 , correspondingly increasing the pressure exerted on the paintballs by the projectile feed assembly  7 . The spring rotor  11  may be rotated manually, allowing the user to adjust the pressure exerted on the paintballs without the use of tools. An inner end  9  of the clock spring  8  is positioned adjacent to a closed central end  5  of the spiral feed track  4 . This positions the inner end  9  in a manner such that the inner end  9  may be connected to the spring rotor  11 , allowing the spring rotor  11  to increase the tension in the clock spring  8 . The spring rotor  11  is axially connected to the inner end  9 , allowing the spring rotor  11  to be rotated in order to increase the tension in the clock spring  8 . An outer end  10  of the clock spring  8  is fixed to the housing platform  1 , anchoring the clock spring  8  to the housing platform  1  and preventing the clock spring  8  from becoming dislodged while being wound. 
     Again with reference to  FIG. 5 , the radius-adjusting pusher arm  12  is a rotatable component that is able to push the paintballs within the present invention along the spiral feed track  4  as the paintball marker is discharged. The rotor protrusion  21  enables the radius-adjusting pusher arm  12  to be connected to the spring rotor  11 . The rotor protrusion  21  is peripherally connected to the spring rotor  11 , enabling the radius-adjusting pusher arm  12  to rotate along with the spring rotor  11 . The radius-adjusting pusher arm  12  is pivotally and peripherally linked to the rotor protrusion  21 , allowing the radius-adjusting pusher arm  12  to rotate along with the spring rotor  11  as tension in the clock spring  8  is released as the paintball marker is discharged. The radius-adjusting pusher arm  12  is slidably engaged into the spiral feed track  4 , enabling the radius-adjusting pusher arm  12  to drive paintballs along the spiral feed track  4  as the spring rotor  11  rotates. 
     With further reference to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 5 , and  FIG. 6 , the feed port  19  is an opening that serves as an exit for paintballs within the spiral feed track  4 . The feed port  19  is in fluid communication with a peripheral end  6  of the spiral feed track  4 . As such, paintballs that are pushed along the spiral feed track  4  by the radius-adjusting pusher arm  12  are able to exit the spiral feed track  4  via the feed port  19 . The modular feed adapter  20  allows the present invention to be loaded into a paintball marker or similar firearm. The modular feed adapter  20  may vary in terms of specific design in order to allow the present invention to be utilized in conjunction with a variety of firearms. The modular feed adapter  20  is removably mounted to the housing platform  1 , adjacent to the feed port  19 . Paintballs are thus directed through the spiral feed track  4 , the feed port  19 , and the modular feed adapter  20  before being loaded into the paintball marker. The modular feed adapter  20  may be easily swapped in order to enable the present invention to be loaded into multiple types of firearms. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the present invention further comprises a front plate  22 , a spacer plate  23 , and a rear plate  24 . The front plate  22  and the rear plate  24  cover and protect the internal components of the present invention while the spacer plate  23  provides clearance between the front plate  22  and the internal components. The housing platform  1  comprises a front side  2  and a rear side  3  that are opposing surfaces of the housing platform  1 . The rear plate  24  is removably mounted to the rear side  3  and is able to cover and protect paintballs within the spiral feed track  4  and the projectile feed assembly  7 . In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rear plate  24  is removed from the housing platform  1  in order to fill the spiral feed track  4  with paintballs. Additionally, the rear plate  24  may be transparent in order to allow the user to visually ascertain the amount of ammunition remaining within the present invention. The spacer plate  23  is removably mounted to the front side  2  and offsets the front plate  22  from the housing platform  1 . The front plate  22  is removably mounted to the spacer plate  23 , covering additional internal components of the present invention. The spacer plate  23  and the front plate  22  are removable in order to access the internal components. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the front plate  22 , the spacer plate  23 , and the rear plate  24  are attached to the present invention via fasteners such as, but not limited to, screws. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rear plate  24  is removable from the present invention without the use of tools. 
     Again with reference to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 , and  FIGS. 4-6 , the present invention further comprises a locking assembly  25  that is utilized to prevent the clock spring  8  from becoming unwound and causing the projectile feed assembly  7  to push paintballs through the spiral feed track  4  when the present invention is not loaded into a paintball marker. The locking assembly  25  comprises a ratcheting gear  26  that enables the spring rotor  11  to be rotated in a single direction when increasing the tension in the clock spring  8 . When the present invention is not loaded into a paintball marker, the ratcheting gear  26  prevents the spring rotor  11  from rotating in the opposite direction, causing the projectile feed assembly  7  to push paintballs through the spiral feed track  4 . The ratcheting gear  26  is positioned opposite to the clock spring  8  through the housing platform  1  and is axially connected to the spring rotor  11 . This enables the ratcheting gear  26  to rotate in a single direction as the spring rotor  11  is rotated when increasing the tension in the clock spring  8 . 
     The locking assembly  25  further comprises a gear locking plate  28 , a gear locking bracket  29 , and a gear locking pawl  30 . The gear locking plate  28  is a plate within which the ratcheting gear  26  is able to freely rotate in one direction as the spring rotor  11  is rotated and the tension in the clock spring  8  is increased. The ratcheting gear  26  is seated within the gear locking plate  28  and is able to rotate within the gear locking plate  28 . The gear locking bracket  29  is an enclosing bracket for the gear locking plate  28 . The gear locking bracket  29  is positioned centrally on the spacer plate  23 , positioning the gear locking bracket  29 , the gear locking plate  28 , and the ratcheting gear  26  in between the housing platform  1  and the front plate  22 . The gear locking plate  28  is slidably engaged into the modular feed adapter  20  and the gear locking bracket  29 . This enables the gear locking plate  28  to slide within the gear locking bracket  29  when the present invention is loaded into a paintball marker. The gear locking pawl  30  holds the ratcheting gear  26  in place and prevents rotation while the present invention is not loaded into a paintball marker. However, when the present invention is loaded into a paintball marker, the gear locking plate  28  slides within the gear locking bracket  29  and the ratcheting gear  26  is freed from the gear locking pawl  30 . The clock spring  8  is thus allowed to unwind and the projectile feed assembly  7  begins moving paintballs through the spiral feed track  4 . The gear locking pawl  30  is positioned within the gear locking plate  28 , enabling the gear locking pawl  30  to engage the ratcheting gear  26  when the present invention is not loaded into a paintball marker. A selected tooth  27  from the ratcheting gear  26  is removably engaged to the gear locking pawl  30 , preventing the clock spring  8  from being unwound while the present invention is not loaded into a paintball marker. As shown in  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 , the selected tooth  27  is released from the gear locking pawl  30  when the gear locking plate  28  slides within the gear locking bracket  29  as the present invention is loaded into a paintball marker. 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 , and  FIGS. 4-6 , the present invention further comprises at least one buffer spring  31 . The at least one buffer spring  31  enables the gear locking plate  28  to slide within the gear locking bracket  29  and free the ratcheting gear  26  from the gear locking pawl  30  when the present invention is loaded into a paintball marker. The at least one buffer spring  31  additionally returns the gear locking plate  28  to the original position when the present invention is removed from a paintball marker, locking the ratcheting gear  26  against the gear locking pawl  30 . The at least one buffer spring  31  is positioned in between the gear locking plate  28  and the gear locking bracket  29 . This enables the gear locking plate  28  to press against the at least one buffer spring  31  as the gear locking plate  28  slides within the gear locking bracket  29  as the present invention is loaded into a paintball marker. When the present invention is removed from a paintball marker, the at least one buffer spring  31  is able to return the gear locking plate  28  the original position within the gear locking bracket  29 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 , and  FIG. 5 , the radius-adjusting pusher arm  12  comprises a linkage arm  13 , a stabilizing arm  14 , an extension arm  15 , a forward nub  16 , a reverse nub  17 , and a single nub  18 . The linkage arm  13  is the portion of the radius-adjusting pusher arm  12  that is joined to the spring rotor  11  in order to allow the radius-adjusting pusher arm  12  to rotate along with the spring rotor  11 . The linkage arm  13  is pivotally and peripherally connected to the rotor protrusion  21 , enabling the linkage arm  13  to rotate with respect to the rotor protrusion  21 . The stabilizing arm  14  joins the linkage arm  13  to the extension arm  15  and ensures that the radius-adjusting pusher arm  12  stays engaged into the spiral feed track  4 . The stabilizing arm  14  is pivotally and adjacently connected to the linkage arm  13 , opposite to the rotor protrusion  21 . This allows the stabilizing arm  14  to rotate with respect to the linkage arm  13 . The extension arm  15  enables the radius-adjusting pusher arm  12  to push paintballs along the wider radius portions of the spiral feed track  4 . The extension arm  15  is pivotally and adjacently connected to the stabilizing arm  14 , opposite to the linkage arm  13 . The extension arm  15  is thus able to pivot with respect to the stabilizing arm  14 . 
     The rear plate  24  is removed to allow the tension to be adjusted. This is accomplished by removing the linkage arm  13 , the stabilizing arm  14 , and the extension arm  15  from the rotor protrusion  21 . The spring rotor  11  is then rotated freely in order to adjust the tension of the clock spring  8 . The linkage arm  13 , the stabilizing arm  14 , and the extension arm  15  are then reattached to the rotor protrusion  21 . By removing the linkage arm  13 , the stabilizing arm  14 , and the extension arm  15  prior to winding the clock spring  8 , the user is able to store a greater amount of tension in the clock spring  8 . This enables the user to adjust the tension in the clock spring  8  as desired for different types of soft and brittle paintballs. 
     The forward nub  16 , the reverse nub  17 , and the single nub  18  ensure that the radius-adjusting pusher arm  12  stays engaged into the spiral feed track  4  as paintballs are fed into a paintball marker. The forward nub  16  and the reverse nub  17  are connected adjacent to the stabilizing arm  14 . The forward nub  16  and the reverse nub  17  thus ensure that the stabilizing arm  14  remains engaged into the spiral feed track  4 . The forward nub  16  and the reverse nub  17  are positioned opposite to each other along the stabilizing arm  14 , ensuring that the stabilizing arm  14  stays engaged into the spiral feed track  4  at two positions on the stabilizing arm  14 . This is particularly important as the stabilizing arm  14  serves to connect the linkage arm  13  to the extension arm  15 . The single nub  18  is connected adjacent to the extension arm  15 , opposite to the stabilizing arm  14 . This ensures that the extension arm  15  to remain engaged into the spiral feed track  4  while still being able to rotate with respect to the stabilizing arm  14 . The forward nub  16 , the reverse nub  17 , and the single nub  18  are sequentially engaged into the spiral feed track  4 , ensuring that the entirety of the radius-adjusting pusher arm  12  remains engaged into the spiral feed track  4  as paintballs are fed into a paintball marker. 
     The present invention may be utilized with various types of paintball markers. While the present invention is primarily intended for use with rifle and carbine-style magazine-fed paintball markers, the physical design of the present invention may vary in order to allow the present invention to be utilized with other types of paintball markers, such as handguns. However, it is important to note that the spiral feed track  4 , the projectile feed assembly  7 , and the locking assembly  25  remain consistent throughout all embodiments of the present invention. 
     Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as hereinafter claimed.