Patent Abstract:
An adapter assembly for releasably interconnecting a pressurized bottle with a paintball marker, wherein the adapter assembly includes a piercing pin moveable between retracted position and an extended position. The adapter assembly includes an internally threaded female socket for releasably engaging the pressurized bottle, and an externally threaded male head for releasably engaging a corresponding female connector on the paintball marker. The spacing of the threaded connections and the travel of the piercing pin are selected such that the piercing pin punctures a frangible seal of the pressurized bottle subsequent to fluid interconnection of both the pressurized bottle and the paintball marker with the adapter assembly.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     REFERENCE TO A “SEQUENCE LISTING” 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a paintball marker, and more particularly to an adapter assembly for operably connecting a pressurized propellant source to the marker. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Paintball markers employ compressed gas to provide the motive force (propellant) for the paintballs. The compressed gas is retained in a pressurized container, wherein the size of the container generally determines amount compressed gas available for projecting the paintballs. Thus, paintball marker user must balance the larger capacity of rechargeable, large volume tanks with their relative bulk and weight against smaller, lighter disposable tanks having less capacity. 
     As the volume of the pressurized bottle increases, the energy stored within the bottle increases. This increased energy can create handling concerns. 
     Therefore, the need exists for an assembly for enhancing the operable interconnection of a pressurized bottle with a paintball marker. A need further exists for a method by which disposable pressurized bottles can be selectively and releasably engaged with a paintball marker. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an adapter assembly for interconnecting a pressurized bottle with a paintball marker, wherein pressurized fluid within the bottle is not exposed to the marker until the adapter assembly is engaged with both the paintball marker and the bottle. That is, the adapter assembly is directed to reducing venting of the pressurized bottle, unless the bottle is engaged with the adapter assembly and the adapter assembly is engaged with the paintball marker. Thus, the adapter assembly can cooperatively engage a disposable pressurized bottle, and fluidly connect the bottle to a paintball marker prior to puncturing (opening) the bottle. 
     Generally, a configuration of the adapter assembly includes an adapter body having a female socket for receiving a portion of the pressurized bottle, a male head for engaging the paintball marker and a passage through the head, and a piercing pin movably connected to the adapter body between a retracted position and an extended position. The female socket can include means for releasably engaging the pressurized bottle and the male head can include means for releasably engaging the paintball marker. 
     In a further configuration, it is contemplated the female socket of the adapter body is internally threaded and the male head is externally threaded. A configuration of the adapter assembly also provides the piercing pin is movably disposed within a portion of the passage. In a preferred configuration, the female socket and the male head form a sealed interface with a corresponding surface of the bottle and the paintball marker, respectively. 
     One configuration of the adapter assembly provides for releasably engaging an adapter body having a movable piercing pin with a pressurized bottle, and subsequently releasably engaging the adapter body with the paintball marker so that the piercing pin then punctures the pressurized bottle. That is, in its intended use, the adapter body cooperatively engages the pressurized bottle without puncturing the bottle and the coupled bottle and adapter body are then engaged with the paintball marker such that the piercing pin of the adapter body punctures the pressurized bottle after the adapter assembly is cooperatively engaged by the marker and a sealed interface has been created. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevational view showing a paintball marker cooperatively engaged with the adapter assembly, and the adapter assembly cooperatively engaged with a pressurized bottle. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view showing the pressurized bottle and a female connector of the paintball marker cooperatively engaged with the adapter assembly. 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged cross sectional view showing the adapter assembly operably engaged with the pressurized bottle and the female connector of the paintball marker. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of a portion of the pressurized bottle, the adapter assembly and the female connector of the paintball marker. 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged cross sectional view of the adapter assembly. 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded view of a portion of the pressurized bottle, the adapter assembly and the female connector of the paintball marker. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a paintball marker  10  is shown operably interconnected to a pressurized bottle  30  by an adapter assembly  40 . 
     Paintball Marker 
     The paintball marker  10  generally includes a grip  12 , a hopper for retaining a plurality of paintballs to be discharged, a barrel  16  and a trigger  18 . 
     The paintball marker  10 , as seen in  FIGS. 3 ,  4 , and  6  includes female connector  20  for engaging an external propellant source. In one configuration the female connector  20  preferably includes internal threads  22 . A duct  23  extends from the female connector  20  to a firing mechanism of the paintball marker  10 . As seen in  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  6 , an actuating stand off  24  projects from an inner end of the female connector  20 . The stand off  24  is located to align with a predetermined portion of the adapter assembly  40  upon operably engagement of the adapter assembly with the female connector  20 . The female connector  20  includes a transverse vent  25 . The female connector  20  further includes a sealing portion  26  for contacting a portion of the adapter assembly  40  to form a sealed interface therebetween. 
     Further, although the female connector  20  of the paintball marker  10  is shown adjacent the grip  12 , it is understood the female connector can be located at any of a variety of locations relative to the paintball marker. That is, the female connector  20  can be attached to any available portion of the marker in either a permanent or releasable connection. 
     Pressurized Bottle 
     The pressurized bottle  30  is constructed to retain a propellant such as a compressed gas or a combination of gases. While the pressurized bottle  30  can be any of a variety of sizes, various governmental rules and regulations apply to various modes of transport of certain bottle configurations. Thus, the particular size, weight, capacity and configuration of the bottle is often, at least partially dictated by these regulations. 
     The pressurized bottle  30  can be referred to as a container, tank or vessel and can be disposable, single use, rechargeable or refillable. For purposes of the description, the pressurized bottle  30  is set forth as a disposable bottle retaining an initial amount of pressurized propellant. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the pressurized bottle  30 , in relevant part, includes a male connector  32  having an external threaded surface  34  and a frangible, or pierceable seal  36  located on an annular seat  38 . The pierceable seal  36  and the attachment of the seal to the annular seat  38  are known in the art. That is, the seal  36  can be limited to an overlying seal, or can be incorporated into a cap structure. The pressurized bottle  30  further includes a seating surface  35 . The seating surface  35  is generally frustoconical, but can be any of a variety of shapes that can cooperate with a corresponding portion of the adapter assembly  40 . 
     Adapter Assembly 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5 , a configuration of the adapter assembly  40  includes an adapter body  50  and a piercing pin  80  moveably connected to the adapter body between an extended position and a retracted position. 
     The adapter body  50  includes a female socket  60  for engaging the pressurized bottle  30  and a male head  70  for engaging the paintball marker  10 . In one configuration, the female socket  60  includes internal threads  62  and the male head includes external threads  72 . A passage  55  extends from the female socket  60  and through the male head  70 . 
     The female socket  60  includes a positive stop  64  for limiting penetration of the bottle  30  into the socket. The positive stop  64  can have any of a variety of configurations, but is shown as an internal shoulder. The female socket  60  also includes an annular groove  67  longitudinally intermediate the positive stop  64  and the open end of the female socket  60 . It is understood the longitudinal direction extends along the axis of the adapter body, and is coincident with the axis about which the body rotates during threaded engagement with the pressurized bottle  30  or the female connector  20 . An O-ring  68  is disposed in the groove  67  for forming a sealing interface with the sealing section  35  of the pressurized bottle  30 . The female socket  60  of the adapter assembly  40  includes at least one, and preferably a plurality, such as four or more radial vents  63 . As seen in  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5 , the radial vents are longitudinally intermediate the O-ring  68  and the open end of the female socket  60 . 
     The male head  70  defines an outer surface having the threads  72  and a sealing section  74 , wherein the threads are intermediate the sealing section and the female socket  60 . The sealing section  74  includes a peripheral groove  75  into which a seal  76 , such as an O-ring, is disposed. 
     A terminal end of the male head  70  includes a recess  77 , such that the passage  55  terminates in the recess. The recess  77  is sized to provide fluid communication from the passage  55  to the duct  23  in the paintball marker  10  upon any rotational orientation of the adapter assembly  40 . The recess  77  is at least partially defined by an annular ridge  78 , thereby defining a central floor  79 . 
     As seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the piercing pin  80  is disposed within the passage  55  and moveable between an extended position and a retracted position. In one configuration, the passage  55  and the piercing pin  80  are sized to provide a generally annular flow path therebetween. An end of the piercing pin projecting into the female socket  60  is configured as a penetrating surface  82  for selectively contacting and piercing the frangible seal  36  of the pressurized bottle  30 . The penetrating surface  82  can be faceted or angled for enhancing puncturing of the frangible seal  36  on the pressurized bottle  30 . The piercing pin  80  has a driven end  84  for contacting the stand off  24 . 
     The piercing pin  80  can be moveably coupled to the adapter body  50  by any of a variety of mechanisms. Grooves, slides or guide ribs can be used to define the travel of the piercing pin  80  relative to the adapter body  50 . As seen in  FIGS. 3-5 , the piercing pin  80  includes a longitudinally extending bulbous portion  86 . The passage  55  in the adapter body  50  includes a pair of spaced shoulders  52 A and  52 B to capture the bulbous portion  86  therebetween. The distance between the shoulders  52 A and  52 B and the sizing of the bulbous portion  86  dictate the range of motion of the piercing pin  80  between the retracted position and the extended position. In one configuration, the components are selected to locate the driven end  84  of the piercing pin  80  in the retracted position substantially flush with an adjacent portion of the central floor  79  of the male head  70 . In this configuration, the driven end  84  is depressed from the central floor  79  upon the piercing pin  80  being disposed in the extended position. 
     The shoulders  52 A and  52 B can be formed in any of a variety of configurations. For ease of manufacturing one of the shoulders  52 A can be formed from a flange or flanges  54  that are deformed or bent into operable position. Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the adapter body  50  includes an annular deformable flange  54  at the terminal end of the passage  55  in the female socket  60 . The flanges  54  are formed in an open position allowing the piercing pin  80  to be disposed within the passage  55 . The flange  54  is then bent to form the shoulder  52 A for limiting travel of the piercing pin  80  into the female socket  60 . The shoulder  52 B can be integrally formed in the adapter body  50 . 
     Although not required, it is contemplated the adapter assembly  40  can comply with an industry standard, such as ASTM F 1750-96, Standard Specification for Paintball Gun Threaded-Propellant Source Interface, herein incorporated by reference. In part, the Standard dictates male and female threaded connectors for interfacing a propellant source and a paintball gun (marker). The standard requires the female connector is configured as part of the paintball gun and the male connector is configured as part of the propellant source. The male and female connectors are made form materials compatible with carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). The materials and processes used to manufacture the male and female connectors result in items with mechanical strength sufficient to pass 3000 psig proof pressure check without failure or degradation to function. 
     Operation 
     In a preferred operation, the adapter assembly  40  is initially engaged with the female connector  20  of the paintball marker  10 , and the pressurized bottle  30  is then engaged with the adapter assembly. In this process, the external threads  72  of the male head  70  are cooperatively engaged with the corresponding internal threads  22  of the female connector  20 . As the adapter assembly  40  is threadingly engaged with the paintball marker  10 , a sealed interface is formed between the O-ring seal  76  of the male head sealing section  74  and the sealing portion  26  of the female connector  20 . In addition, the stand off  24  is aligned with the passage  55  and hence the piercing pin  80 . 
     As the terminal end of the male head  70  approaches the closed end of the female connector  20 , the stand off  24  contacts the driven end  84  of the piercing pin  80 , thereby initiating movement of the piercing pin toward the extended position. Upon fully engaging the adapter assembly  40  with the female connector  20 , the stand off  24  contacts the piercing pin  80  and disposes the piercing pin in the extended position. Subsequently, the internal threads  62  of the female socket  60  in the adapter assembly  40  are threadedly engaged with the corresponding threaded external surface  34  of the pressurized bottle  30 . Prior to the piercing pin  80  contacting and puncturing the seal  36 , the O-ring seal  68  contacts the seating surface  35  of the pressurized bottle  30  and forms a sealed interface therebetween. Continued threaded engagement at least maintains, or can increase the capacity of the sealed interface between the adapter assembly  40  and the pressurized bottle  30 . Preferably, a plurality of additional turns of the adapter assembly  40  (or bottle  30 ) are required for the piercing pin  80  to contact and puncture the seal  36 . After penetration of the seal  36 , continued engagement of the pressurized bottle  30  and the adapter assembly  40  is limited by contact of the bottle and the positive stop  64 . 
     Thus, upon operably engaging the adapter assembly  40  with the female connector  20 , a fluid interconnection is formed therebetween. As the pressurized bottle  30  is then engaged with the adapter assembly  40 , a sealed interface is formed between the bottle and the adapter assembly prior to the piercing pin penetrating the seal  36 . 
     Alternatively, the adapter assembly  40  can be initially engaged with the pressurized bottle  30 , and the adapter assembly then engaged with the female connector  20  of the paintball marker  10 . In this approach, the internal threads  62  of the female socket  60  in the adapter assembly  40  are threadedly engaged with the corresponding threaded external surface  34  of the pressurized bottle  30 . Continued threaded engagement causes the O-ring  68  to contact the seating surface  35  of the pressurized bottle  30  and formation of a sealed interface therebetween. After the sealed interface is formed between the seating surface  35  and the O-ring  68 , further threaded engagement continues until the pressurized bottle  30  contacts the positive stop  64 . As the adapter assembly  40  is threaded onto the pressurized bottle  30 , the piercing pin  80  may contact the pierceable seal  36 . Contact of the piercing pin  80  with the seal  36  urges the pin toward the retracted position. Thus, the piercing pin  80  travels toward the male head  70  of the adapter body  50  and does not puncture the seal  36 . As the piercing pin  80  moves toward the retracted position a sufficient distance to preclude penetrating the seal  36 , the driven end  84  is substantially flush with the adjacent portion of the central floor  79 , and is thereby partially protected by the annular ridge  78  from unintentional contact which could urge the pin toward the extended position, and possible penetration of the seal  36 . Movement of the piercing pin  80  toward the retracted position prevents the pin from puncturing the seal  36 . The pressurized bottle  30  is thus fully engaged with the adapter assembly  40 , thereby fluidly connecting the passage  55  and the seal  36 , and the piercing pin  80  is moved to the retracted position and does not puncture or penetrate the seal of the bottle. 
     The coupled adapter assembly  40  and pressurized bottle  30  are then engaged with the paintball marker  10 . Specifically, the external threads  72  of the male head  70  engage the internal thread  22  of the female connector  20  of the paintball marker  10 . As the adapter assembly  40  is threadedly engaged with the paintball marker  10 , a sealed interface is formed between the O-ring  76  of the male head sealing section  74  and the sealing portion  26  of the female connector  20 . In addition, the stand off  24  is aligned with the passage  55  and hence the piercing pin  80 . 
     As the terminal end of the male head  70  approaches the closed end of the female connector  20  and after the sealed interface has been formed between the adapter assembly  40  and the female connector  20 , the stand off  24  contacts the driven end  84  of the piercing pin  80 , thereby initiating movement of the piercing pin from the retracted position toward the extended position. The penetrating surface  82  of the piercing pin  80  contacts the pierceable seal  36  of the pressurized bottle  30 . 
     At this position, the O-ring  68  in the female socket  60  has formed a sealed interface with the seating surface  35  of the pressurized bottle  30 . In addition, the sealing section  74  of the male head  70  and the sealing portion  26  of the female connector  20  have formed a sealed interface. Thus, fluid communication is provided from the duct  23  to the pierceable seal  36 . 
     Continued rotation of the adapter assembly  40  relative to the female connector  20  further urges the penetrating surface  82  of the piercing pin  80  to penetrate the pierceable seal  36 . Further rotation of the adapter assembly relative to the female connector  20  is terminated upon contact of the annular ridge  78  with the end of the female connector. As the seal  36  is penetrated, the pressurized propellant then flows from the disposable bottle  30  through the ruptured seal  36 , through the passage  55  of the adapter assembly  40 , the recess  77  and into the duct  23  of the paintball marker  10 . 
     If a partially pressurized, or empty bottle  30  is removed from the adapter assembly  40 , as the adapter assembly is engaged with the female connector  20 , both the bottle  30  and the paintball marker  10  will bleed or vent to ambient pressure. Specifically, as the bottle  30  is unthreaded from the adapter assembly  40 , any remaining pressure in the bottle will vent through vents  63  in the adapter body  50 . Pressure from the paintball marker  10 , expressed in the duct  23 , will urge the piercing pin  80  to the fully extended position. In the fully extended position, the bulbous portion  86  contacts the shoulder  52 A in the female socket  60 . Contact of the bulbous portion  86  with the shoulder  52 A does not form a sealed interface precluding fluid flow through the passage  55 . The shoulder  52 A is formed to preclude a sealed interface between the shoulder and the piercing pin  80 . That is, less than the entire flange  54  can be deformed to form the shoulder  52 A. Those portions of the flange  54  that are not formed into the shoulder  52 A are thus spaced from bulbous portion  86  and provide a flow path therebetween. The flow path through the passage  55  can also be provided by any of a variety of structures including a longitudinally extending groove or channel  87  in the bulbous portion  86 . In a further construction, the piercing pin  80  can be a hollow member having a central passageway therethrough. 
     If the adapter assembly  40 , with a connected partially pressurized bottle  30 , is removed from the female connector  20  of the paintball marker  10 , the paintball marker will vent to ambient pressure, and the bottle may bleed to ambient pressure or remain substantially sealed to the adapter assembly. Specifically, when the adapter assembly  40  and a partially pressurized bottle  30  are removed from the paintball marker, pressure in the duct  23 , will vent to ambient pressure through the vent  25  in the female connector  20 . Pressure remaining in the bottle  30  will urge the piercing pin  80  to the fully retracted position, such that the bulbous portion  86  contacts the shoulder  52 B. The interface between piercing pin  80  in the retracted position and adapter body  50  can be constructed to provide either a relatively slow bleed of the pressure in the bottle  30  along the interface, or a substantially sealed interface. In the bleed configuration, the interface allows pressure to bleed without creating a significant propulsive force on the bottle. In the relatively sealed interface, the coupled adapter assembly  40  and bottle  30  could be removed from a first paintball marker and engaged with a second paintball marker, without significant loss of propellant. The interface between the piercing pin  80  in the retracted position and the adapter body  50  can include at least one groove or channel to provide the bleed, or be mating surfaces substantially forming a seal therebetween. 
     Although the adapter assembly  40  has been described in terms of male and female threaded interfaces, it is contemplated any of a variety of releasable mechanisms such as bayonet, detent snap, rings or even friction fits can be employed. Alternatively, or additionally clamps or external retainers can be employed. 
     The adapter assembly  40  thus provides that the frangible seal  36  of the pressurized bottle  30  is not compromised (punctured) until the adapter assembly  40  is sufficiently engaged with the paintball marker  10  to preclude unintended separation of the bottle from the adapter assembly (and hence paintball marker  10 ). Therefore, upon puncturing the pierceable seal  36 , the adapter assembly  40  is sufficiently engaged with both the bottle  30  and the paintball marker  10  to reduce occurrence of uncontrolled puncturing of the pressurized bottle. 
     It is understood there is a relation between the length of travel of the piercing pin  80  (between the retracted position and the extended position) and the sealing interface formed between the male head  70  and the female connector  20 . That is, the male head  70  and the female connector  20  define a sealed interface of sufficient longitudinal distance to allow the piercing pin  80  to travel a sufficient distance to puncture the pierceable seal  36 . Conversely, upon the adapter assembly  40  being operably engaged with the female connector  20  (thereby disposing the piercing pin  80  in the extended position), the adapter assembly is configured to form a sealed interface with the seating surface  35  of the pressurized bottle  30  prior to the piercing pin penetrating the seal  36  and exposing the adapter assembly to the pressurized propellant. 
     While the invention has been described in connection with a presently preferred embodiment thereof, those skilled in the art will recognize that many modifications and changes made be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which accordingly is intended to be defined solely by the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8