Abstract:
An electro-pneumatically operated kit assembly is provided for connection to a paint ball gun body, the kit assembly having a trigger initiating a programmed electrical control unit which actuates a first solenoid valve to move a hammer to open an air distribution path to allow pressurized air into the barrel to fire a paint ball sitting within the barrel of the gun body. The first solenoid valve then closes and a second solenoid valve opens to move a bolt away from the path of projectile storage path to release the next single paint ball into the barrel to await another trigger actuation. The first solenoid valve controls the movement of the hammer while the second solenoid valve controls the movement of the bolt so that the hammer and bolt move independently from each other.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a kit assembly adaptable for a connection to a paint ball gun body to change a mechanical pneumatically powered paint ball gun to an electro-pneumatic powered paint ball gun. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Paint ball guns are widely used in various recreational environments, such as simulated war games wherein it is the intent to shoot an opposing member with the paint ball gut and hit the opposition with the paint ball. 
     Paint ball guns using compressed air or gas are well known. Until recently, most paint ball guns were mechanical pneumatically powered guns. The entry of electro-pneumatically powered paint ball guns provided a more consistently top performing device for the recreational market. An electro-pneumatic paint ball gun provides improved performance with less component malfunctions than the mechanical-pneumatic paint ball gun. The electro-pneumatic paint ball gun shoots faster and more consistently in a lighter and more compact package than the mechanical pneumatic paint ball guns. 
     The cost to purchase the new electro pneumatically powered paint ball guns can be high. It would therefore be desirable to provide a paint ball kit assembly which could be simply retrofitted onto an existing paint ball gun body that would change a mechanical pneumatically powered paint ball gun into an electro-pneumatically powered paint ball gun easily and at a significant cost savings. The current electro-pneumatically powered paint ball guns are specifically manufactured to fit with a specific paint ball gun body. The electro-pneumatic system on existing electro-pneumatically powered paint ball guns can not be easily adapted to the current “over and under” bore design of the mechanical-pneumatically operated paint ball guns. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention addresses the aforementioned concerns by providing an electro-pneumatically operated paint ball kit assembly for connection to a paint ball gun body and especially a paint ball gun body having an “over and under” bore design. A paint ball gun body has a barrel for receiving a paint ball and a cylindrical bore located parallel to the barrel and directly below the barrel. There is a through passageway between the barrel and the bore. A feed inlet connected to a supply of paint balls is open to the barrel. The electro-pneumatically operated kit assembly comprises a moveable bolt configured for disposition and movement within the barrel for selectively sealing and unsealing the feed inlet. A first valve means is provided for positioning the bolt to seal the feed inlet when the first valve means is deactivated and to unseal the feed inlet when the first valve means is activated. The electro-pneumatically operated assembly further comprises a moveable hammer configured for disposition and movement within the cylindrical bore and for selectively sealing and unsealing the through passageway. A second valve means is provided for positioning the hammer to seal the through passageway when the second valve means is deactivated, and to unseal the through passageway when the second valve means is activated. Means is provided for selectively activating each of the first and second valve means independently. 
     Other objects, advantages and applications of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the following description of the best mode contemplated for practicing the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The description herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the paint ball gun assembly according to the present invention showing certain interior components in phantom; 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines  2 — 2  in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines  3 — 3  in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the paint ball gun assembly according to the present invention connected to a paint ball gun body shown in phantom; 
     FIGS. 5A-E illustrate the movement of a pneumatically activated bolt and hammer sequence of the paint ball gun assembly when the trigger is pulled. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, the paint ball kit assembly  10  includes a handle frame  12  having a hollow interior  14  for housing an electrical source such as a battery  16 . The assembly further includes a pivotally mounted trigger  18 , a microswitch  19  and a programmed circuit board  20 . The microswitch  19  is activated by the pull of the trigger  18  and thereby actuates the programming cycle as specified in the programmed circuit board  20 . 
     The assembly further includes a bolt  22  having a generally cylindrical configuration and positioned on one end of a rod  24  which is slidably secured in a center cylindrical aperture  70  in a first cylinder  26 . The rod  24  has a piston  25  on the other end. The rod  24  is extendable beyond the first cylinder  26 . A second cylinder  28  having an associated rod and hammer  30 ,  32 , respectively, are positioned parallel and below the cylinder  26  and bolt  22 . The hammer  32  is connected to the rod  30  at one end. The other end of the rod  30  is slidably secured to a piston  27  within a center cylindrical aperture  74  in the second cylinder  28  such that the rod  30  is extendable beyond the second cylinder. The piston, rod and hammer  27 ,  30 ,  32 , respectively have reciprocal movement relative to cylinder  28 . As will be discussed hereinafter the bolt  22  has reciprocal movement for selectively opening and closing an access inlet  29  into the gun body  50  for a paint ball. The hammer  32  has reciprocal motion to selectively open and close a fluid passageway  60  for the high pressure gas to pass into the barrel  52  and thereby propel the paint ball out of the gun. 
     The paint ball kit assembly  10  further includes an air passage distribution system  36  having separate solenoid valves  38 ,  40  for independent air distribution control to the bolt  22  and hammer  32  respectively. Each cylinder includes air passageways communicating with the air passage distribution system  36  to selectively move the associated rod along with its bolt or hammer. Cylinder  26  has a center cylindrical passageway  70  and offset passageway  72  communicating with each other via path  71  and with the rod  24 , as shown in FIG.  2 . Cylinder  28  has a center cylindrical passageway  74  and an offset passageway  76  communicating with each other via path  75  and with rod  30  as shown in FIG.  3 . The center cylindrical passageway  70  and  74  also slidably receive rod  24  and  30  respectively. The paint ball kit assembly  10  further includes an air supply regulator  41  and a supply line  42  communicating to the air passage distribution system  36 . An air supply line fitting  43  connects the regulator  41  to the supply line  42 . 
     The paint ball kit assembly  10  is connected to a typical paint ball gun body  50  by a retaining bolt  51  as seen in FIG.  4 . The paint ball gun body  50  has an axially extending first bore or barrel  52  for receiving cylinder  26  and its associated bolt  22  and rod  24 . The bore  52  communicates with a paint ball hopper  54  connected to a supply reservoir (not shown) of paint balls via a feed inlet  29 . The bore  52  also has an open end  56  for the paint ball exit upon firing. The gun body  50  includes a second axially extending bore  58  essentially parallel to the bore  52 . An air passage  60  communicates bore  58  with the bore  56 . A valve assembly  62  is normally closed to block the flow of air through passageway  60 . The valve assembly  62  is open to allow the flow through passage  60  when hammer  32  is actuated and displaces the valve assembly  62  from its seat  63 . A source of compressed air (not shown) is connectable to an air inlet  66  of the gun body  50 . 
     Solenoid valves  38  and  40  selectively open and close the air distribution passages  36  to either retract or extend the bolt  22  and hammer  32  respectively relative to their respective cylinders  26 ,  28  and to route exhaust air through ports  39 . The bolt  22  and hammer  32  move independently and are each controlled and actuated by their individual solenoid valve. Solenoid valve  38  controls the movement of bolt  22  and solenoid valve  40  controls the movement of the hammer  32 . Pressurized air regulated to a predetermined pressure by the pressure regulator  40  is sent to the air passage distribution system  36  via the supply line  42 . When solenoid valve  38  is deactivated or “off”, the bolt  22  and its associated rod  24  are in the extended position. The regulated air from the supply line  42  moves through the air passage distribution system  36  and flows through center aperture  70  of the cylinder  26  and against one side of piston  25  to extend bolt  22 . When solenoid  38  is activated, the bolt  22  and associated rod  24  are retracted by distributing the regulated pressurized air through passageway  72  and connecting path  71  to pressurize the other side of piston  25 . 
     Similarly, the hammer  32  is extended and retracted by distributing the regulated pressurized air into cylinder  28 . When solenoid valve  40  is deactivated or “off”, the hammer  32  is in a retracted position as shown in FIG.  1 . The hammer  32  is retracted by directing the regulated pressurized air from supply line  42  to cylinder  28  through passageway  76  and connecting path  75  to pressurize one side of piston  27 . Then solenoid valve  40  is activated the pressurized air is distributed into passageway  74  and against the other side of piston  27  to extend the hammer  32  and its associated rod  30 . Exhaust ports  39  are provided to exhaust the air from the cylinders  26 ,  28 . 
     FIGS. 5A through 5E show the sequence of movements of the bolt  22  and hammer  32  during the firing process. The air supply regulator  41  of the assembly  10  is connectable to the air inlet  66  of the gun body  50  at passageway  67 . Before the trigger  18  is pulled, the paint ball gun is at rest as shown in FIG. 5A, wherein the solenoid valve  38  for the bolt  22  is “off” or deactivated so that the bolt  22  is in its forward or extended position covering the paint ball inlet  29 . Solenoid valve  40  for the hammer  32  is also “off” or deactivated. The hammer  32  is in its retracted position when solenoid valve  40  is deactivated. 
     When the trigger  18  is pulled, switch  19  is activated to send an electrical impulse to the programmed circuit board  20 . The program in the circuit board  20  actuates solenoid valve  40  for hammer  32 . Solenoid valve  40  directs regulated air from the supply line  42  and through the air passage distribution system  36  into the center passageway  74  of cylinder  28 . The hammer  32  extends forward (the direction of arrow in FIG. 5B) by the pneumatic force on the rod  30  and hammer  32 . The forward movement of hammer  32  unseats valve assembly  62  and allows the compressed air through passage  60  and into the barrel  52 . If a paint ball is located within the bore or barrel  52 , the force of the compressed air ejects the paint ball from the gun. 
     After the hammer  32  has cycled forward to unseat the valve assembly  62  to allow the passage  60  between the bore  58  and the barrel  52  to open, the program in the circuit board  20  immediately deactivates solenoid valve  40 . As shown in FIG. 5C, when the solenoid valve  40  to the hammer is deactivated. The regulated pressurized air is routed through passageway  76  and connecting path  75  against piston  27  so that the hammer  32  retracts to again close the air passageway  60 . During this time the solenoid valve  38  to the bolt  22  has remained deactivated so that the bolt  22  remains in an extended position. 
     Once the passageway  60  is again closed, the program in the circuit board  20  activates solenoid valve  38  which causes the bolt  22  to retract as shown by the arrow in FIG.  5 D. As the bolt  22  retracts, the paint ball inlet  29  is unseated to allow a paint ball to drop within the bore  52 . When the solenoid valve  38  is activated the regulated air from the supply line  42  and into the air passage distribution system  36  is directed through the offset passage  72  and connecting path  71  in cylinder  26 . The air pressure moves the piston  25  of the rod  24  along with the bolt  22  to the retracted position. 
     After a paint ball has dropped into the barrel/bore  52  of the gun body  50 , the program in the circuit board  20  deactivates solenoid valve  38 . With the solenoid valve  38  in the “off” position, the regulated pressurized air is routed in the air passage distribution system  36  to be directed into the center passageway  70  of cylinder  26 . The air pressure forces the piston  25 , rod  24  and bolt  22  to the extended position as indicated by the arrow in FIG.  5 E. The bolt  22  extends forward to close the inlet  29 . At this time, the bolt  22  also positions the paint ball for firing when the trigger  18  is again activated. This cycle is the same “ready” condition as shown in FIG. 5A so that the firing process can be repeated. 
     Other optional features may be provided such as a mechanical on/off switch  80  to disengage the circuit board  20  to provide a safety switch for the paint ball gun. A low power LED signal  82  may also be available to warn the user when the battery  16  charge is low. Another option is a sensor  84  which senses whether the bolt  22  is fully forward after loading a paint ball in the barrel  52 , such as in the position shown in FIG.  5 E. If the bolt  22  is not fully forward, the sensor  84  will signal the programmed circuit board  20  to recycle the bolt  22  before allowing pressurized air through passageway  60  and into the barrel  52 . This prevents damage to the barrel if a paint ball has not fully loaded into the barrel  52 , but has been caught between the feed inlet  29  and barrel  52 . 
     The invention provides for a kit assembly that can be easily connected to a paint ball gun body having an “over and under” bore design to change a mechanical pneumatically powered paint ball gun into the more compact and better performing electro-pneumatically powered paint ball gun. 
     While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law.