Patent Abstract:
A pneumatic container and a paintball gun containing same, and a pneumatic recharging system are provided. The provided pneumatic container is a quick rechargeable air cylinder for serving as an air source for paintball guns, which can be recharged quickly by connecting a larger carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) tank to the pneumatic inlet located on either lateral end of the cylinder or at the bottom end of the cylinder by an adapter with a remote line connector. The provided pneumatic container can also be used as an air expansion chamber when mounted to a paintball gun or marker.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a pneumatic container, a paintball gun containing same and a pneumatic recharging system for a paintball gun, and more particularly, to a gun-mountable pneumatic container. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Paintball is a sport wherein a paintball gun or a marker is used to shoot spherical ball that contain non-toxic, washable paint. Players of the sport use this paintball gun to shoot their opponents with paint balls, to simulate war games and the likes. A paintball war game is generally played between two teams of players that try to capture the opposing team&#39;s flag. Each flag is located at the team&#39;s home base. Such a game is played on a large field with opposing home bases at each end. The players are each armed with a paintball gun that shoots paintballs. 
         [0003]    A paintball gun in many respects operates similarly to a normal gun as it shoots a projectile. However, rather than using gun powder propellant typically used in a normal gun to fire a bullet or projectile out of a barrel, a paintball gun uses compressed gas to shoot the paint ball out of the barrel of the paintball gun. The compressed gas most often used is compressed carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). The compressed carbon dioxide is stored in a container/cylinder that is removably attached onto the paintball gun. 
         [0004]    Most gun-mountable CO 2  containers or bottles are designed to be reusable. The CO 2  containers have different sizes and capacity. When empty, the gun-mountable CO 2  container has to be removed from the paintball gun to be refilled with carbon dioxide from a larger storage tank. 
         [0005]    It is desirable to refill the empty gun-mountable CO 2  container without having to unmount the container from the paintball gun. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    It is an objective of the present invention to provide a gun-mountable pneumatic container, which is designed for use with a paintball gun that allows carbon dioxide to be quickly inserted into the container with a quick detachable remote line connected to a larger storage tank without having to remove the container from the paintball gun. 
         [0007]    In order to attain the above and other objectives, the present invention discloses a pneumatic container for a paintball gun, comprising a container body; a pneumatic outlet mounted on a first longitudinal end of the container body; and a pneumatic inlet mounted on at least one of a widthwise end of the container body and a second longitudinal end opposing the first longitudinal end. 
         [0008]    Preferably, the pneumatic outlet comprises a receiving portion and an engaging element both mounted on an outer surface of the pneumatic outlet for being received by a pneumatic-receiving port of the paintball gun. 
         [0009]    Preferably, the pneumatic container further comprises an O-ring received in the receiving portion, wherein the engaging element is a male thread. 
         [0010]    Preferably, the pneumatic container further comprises a removable portion optionally received by the pneumatic inlet. 
         [0011]    Preferably, the removable portion has a first engaging element on an outer surface thereof, the pneumatic inlet has a second engaging element on an inner surface thereof, and the removable portion is received by the pneumatic inlet by engaging the first and second engaging elements. 
         [0012]    Still another objective of the present invention is to provide a pneumatic recharging system for a paintball gun, comprising: a pneumatic container, a blocker; and an adaptor, wherein the pneumatic container comprises a pneumatic outlet connected to the paintball, and a pneumatic inlet differ from the pneumatic outlet in position; the adaptor has a first end for connecting a pneumatic tank, and one of the blocker and the adaptor is coupled to the pneumatic inlet at a time. 
         [0013]    Preferably, the pneumatic outlet is mounted on a first longitudinal end of the pneumatic container, the pneumatic inlet is mounted on at least one of a widthwise end of the pneumatic container and a second longitudinal end opposing the first longitudinal end. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the pneumatic outlet comprises a groove and male threads both mounted on an outer surface of the pneumatic outlet and an O-ring received in the groove for being connected to a pneumatic-receiving port of the paintball gun. 
         [0015]    Preferably, the blocker has a first engaging element on an outer surface thereof, the pneumatic inlet has a second engaging element on an inner surface thereof, and the adaptor has a third engaging element on an outer surface at a second end opposing the first end thereof. 
         [0016]    Preferably, the one of the blocker and the adaptor is connected to the pneumatic inlet by engaging one of the first and the third engaging elements with the second engaging element. 
         [0017]    Preferably, the engaging elements are threads. 
         [0018]    Preferably, the adaptor has a pathway passing therethrough and further comprises a pin valve contained in the pathway. 
         [0019]    Preferably, the pin valve has a body, an enlarged semi-spherical head in comparison with the body, and an O-ring mounted on the body and next to the enlarged semi-spherical head, the pathway has a widen portion at the second end in comparison to that at the first end, and the O-ring is sized to fit within the widen portion. 
         [0020]    Preferably, the pneumatic container further comprises a valve body, wherein the one of the blocker and the adaptor is coupled to the pneumatic inlet by the valve body. 
         [0021]    Preferably, the blocker has a first engaging element on an outer surface thereof, the pneumatic inlet has a second engaging element on an inner surface thereof, the adaptor has a third engaging element on an outer surface at a second end opposing the first end thereof, the valve body has a first pathway passing therethrough, a protruding mounted at a first end thereof, and a fourth and a fifth engaging elements respectively on an inner surface at the first end of the valve body and an outer surface at an second end of the valve body, and the first pathway has a first widen portion at the first end of the valve body in comparison to that at the second end of the valve body, thus the one of the blocker and the adaptor is coupled to the pneumatic inlet by a first engaging of one of the first and the third engaging elements and the fourth engaging element and a second engaging of the second and the fifth engaging elements. 
         [0022]    Preferably, the engaging elements are threads. 
         [0023]    Preferably, the valve body further comprises a groove mounted on the outer surface thereof, and an O-ring received in the groove, where the groove is next to the fifth engaging element. 
         [0024]    Preferably, the adaptor has a second pathway passing therethrough and further comprises a pin valve contained in the second pathway. 
         [0025]    Preferably, the pin valve has a body, an enlarged semi-spherical head in comparison with the body, and an O-ring mounted on the body and next to the enlarged semi-spherical head, the second pathway has a second widen portion at the second end of the adaptor in comparison to that at the first end of the adaptor, and the O-ring is sized to fit within the second widen portion. 
         [0026]    A further objective of the present invention is to provide paintball gun comprising the above-mentioned pneumatic container. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0027]      FIG. 1  is a schematic explosive diagram showing a cross-sectional view of a pneumatic container according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 2  is a schematic explosive diagram showing a cross-sectional view of a pneumatic recharging system for a paintball gun according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 3  is a schematic explosive diagram showing a cross-sectional view of a pneumatic recharging system for a paintball gun according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0030]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram showing a paintball gun containing a pneumatic container of  FIG. 1  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0031]    The following illustrative embodiments are provided to illustrate the disclosure of the present invention, these and other advantages and effects can be apparent to those skilled in the art after reading the disclosure of this specification. The present invention can also be performed or applied by other different embodiments. The details of the specification may be on the basis of different points and applications, and numerous modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. 
         [0032]    As show in  FIG. 1 , the pneumatic container  1  has the container body  10 , the pneumatic outlet  11  and the pneumatic inlet  12 , and a removable portion  13 . The pneumatic outlet  11  is disposed at the top end  101  of the container body  10 , and the pneumatic inlet  12  is disposed on the lateral end  102  of the container body  10  as the pneumatic container  1  is upright positioned. The pneumatic outlet  11  includes male threads  111 , the groove  112 , and the O-ring  113  on the outer surface  114  thereof, and is sized and positioned for being received by female threads of a gas-receiving port (not shown) of a paintball gun or a marker (not shown). Thus, the compressed air or gas contained in the pneumatic container  1  could be provided to the paintball gun or the marker by the pneumatic outlet  11 . The distally disposed O-ring  113  is sized and configured to fit within the groove  112  for helping to seal the pneumatic container  1  within the gas receiving port of the paintball gun to prevent gas from leaking out of the gas receiving port of the paintball gun. 
         [0033]    The pneumatic inlet  12  has female threads  121  on the inner surface  122  thereof and the removable portion  13  has male threads  131  on the outer surface  132  thereof, and the female threads  121  male threads  131  are enable to engaging with each other. Thus, when the pneumatic container  1  need to be recharged, the removable portion  13  is removed from the pneumatic inlet  12  for allowing the recharging of the compressed gas or air into the pneumatic container  1  through the pneumatic inlet  12  without disengaging the pneumatic container  1  from the paintball gun. Accordingly, when the recharging is done, the removable portion  13  is received in the pneumatic inlet  12  by engaging female threads  121  male threads  131  for seal and contained the compressed air/gas in the pneumatic container  1 . 
         [0034]    Although it is not illustrate in  FIG. 1 , the pneumatic inlet  12  could also be disposed on the bottom end  103  rather than the lateral end  102  of the container body  10 , or could be disposed on both of the bottom end  103  and the lateral end  102 . 
         [0035]    Alternatively, other engaging elements, such as rubber stoppers, for the above engagings could be applied in the present inversion. 
         [0036]    Please refer to  FIG. 2 , a schematic exploded diagram for a pneumatic recharging system for a paintball gun according to a preferred embodiment of the present application is provided. As show in  FIG. 2 , the pneumatic recharging system  2  for a paintball gun or a marker (not shown) has the pneumatic container  20 , one adaptor  21  and one blocker  22 . In practical, the pneumatic recharging system  2  should have two adaptors  21  and two blockers  22 , nevertheless, only one adaptor  21  and one blocker  22  are shown in  FIG. 2  for simplifying the description. 
         [0037]    The pneumatic container  20  has a pneumatic outlet  201  to be connected to the paintball gun on the top end  202  thereof, and two pneumatic inlets  203  respectively on the lateral end  204  and the bottom end  205  thereof. The pneumatic outlet  11  includes male threads  2011 , the groove  2012 , and the O-ring  2013  on the outer surface  2014  thereof, and is sized and positioned for being received by female threads of a gas-receiving port (not shown) of the paintball gun. Thus, the compressed air or gas contained in the pneumatic container  20  could be provided to the paintball gun or the marker by the pneumatic outlet  201 . The distally disposed O-ring  2013  is sized and configured to fit within the groove  2012  for helping to seal the pneumatic container  20  within the gas receiving port of the paintball gun to prevent gas from leaking out of the gas receiving port of the paintball gun. 
         [0038]    Each of the pneumatic inlets  203  has female threads  2031  on the inner surface  2032  thereof for coupling to either one of the blocker  22  and the adaptor  21  at a time. The blocker  22  has male threads  221  on the outer surface  222  thereof. The adaptor  21  has a first end  21   a  to be connected with an external pneumatic tank (not shown) for receiving gas/air from the external pneumatic tank, male threads  211  on the outer surface  212  at a second end  21   b  thereof, a pathway  213  passing therethrough and a pin valve  214  contained in the pathway  213 . The pin valve  214  has the body  2141 , the enlarged semi-spherical head  2142  in comparison with the body  2141 , and the O-ring  2143  mounted on the body  2141  and next to the enlarged semi-spherical head  2142 . The pathway  213  has the widen portion  2131  at the second end  21   b  in comparison to that at the first end  21   a.  The O-ring is sized to fit within the widen portion  2131  to help sealing the pin valve  214  within the adapter  21  to prevent gas from leaking out of the passageway  213 . The body  2141  is sized to fit within the pathway  213 . 
         [0039]    The adaptor  21  could be a unidirectional fill port adapter and further comprises the exposed band  215  and the groove  216  that are sized and positioned to be received by the female end (not shown) of an external remote adapter (not shown). The pin valve  214  is axially movable within the passageway  213 , to allow air or gas to flow through the air passageway  213  when the pin valve  214  and the O-ring  2143  is pushed by the high pressed air or gas out of the widen portion  2131 , to allow air or gas to enter the pneumatic container  20 . 
         [0040]    The pneumatic inlet  203  on the lateral side  204  is coupled with the blocker  22  by engaging the female threads  2031  thereof with the male threads  221 , and the pneumatic inlet  203  on the bottom side  205  is coupled with the adaptor  21  by engaging the female threads  2031  thereof with the male threads  221  for showing the recharging of gas/air from the pneumatic inlet  203  at the bottom side. 
         [0041]    Alternatively, the gas/air could be recharged from the pneumatic inlet  203  on the lateral side  204  by coupling the adaptor  21  and the blocker to the pneumatic inlet  203  on the lateral side  204  and the bottom side  205  respectively. Alternatively, the gas/air could be recharged from the pneumatic inlets  203  on both the lateral side  204  and the bottom side  205  by coupling two adaptors  21  to the two pneumatic inlets  203 . Since the gas/ air is recharged into the pneumatic container  20  from the gas inlet  203  being differ from the gas outlet to be contacted to the paintball gun in position, the recharging system  2  could recharge gas/air without disengaging the pneumatic container  20  from the paintball gun. 
         [0042]    Please refer to  FIG. 3 , a schematic exploded diagram for a pneumatic recharging system for a paintball gun according to another preferred embodiment of the present application is provided. The pneumatic recharging system  3  is similar to the pneumatic recharging system  2  shown in  FIG. 2 . The pneumatic recharging system  3  further comprises the valve body  31 , and one of the blocker  32  and the adaptor  33  is coupled to the pneumatic inlet  34  by the valve body  31 , while either one of the blocker  22  and the adaptor  21  of the pneumatic recharging system  2  is directly coupled to the pneumatic inlet  203  shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0043]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the valve body  31  has a pathway  311  passing therethrough, a protruding  312  mounted at a first end  31   a  thereof, and the male threads  313  and female threads  314  on the inner surface  315  at the first end  31   a  of the valve body  31  and the outer surface  316  at the second end  31   b  of the valve body  31 , and the pathway  311  has a widen portion  317  at the first end  31   a  of the valve body  31  in comparison to that at the second end  31   b  of the valve body  31 , thus the one of the blocker  32  and the adaptor  33  is coupled to the pneumatic inlet  34  by a first engaging of one of the male threads  321  and  331  with the  314  female threads  314  and a second engaging of the male threads  313  with the female threads  341 . In addition, the valve body  31  further comprises a groove  318  mounted on the outer surface  316  thereof, and the O-ring  319  received in the groove  318 , where the groove  318  is next to the male threads  313  of the valve body  31 . The O-ring  319  is provided for helping to seal the valve body  31  within the pneumatic container  35  to prevent gas from leaking out of the pneumatic container  35 . The passageway  311  has a smaller diameter than that of the semi-spherical head of the pin valve  332  to prevent the pin valve  33  from being forced into the pneumatic container  35   
         [0044]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , a paintball gun  4  comprising a gun body  41  and the pneumatic container  42  is provided, where the pneumatic container  42  is the same as the pneumatic container  1 . 
         [0045]    The above-described descriptions of the detailed embodiments are only to illustrate the preferred implementation according to the present invention, and it is not to limit the scope of the present invention, Accordingly, all modifications and variations completed by those with ordinary skill in the art should fall within the scope of present invention defined by the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5