Patent ID: 8375931

Claim:
A combination compressed gas operated gun, projectile cartridge, and adapter, the gun comprising: a butt; a firing mechanism mounted in the butt and including a compression chamber which uses compressed gas to eject one or more projectiles; and a barrel that is pivotally mounted to the butt, wherein the barrel can be pivoted with respect to the butt to an open position at which the cartridge or adapter can be inserted into the barrel, and wherein the barrel can also be pivoted with respect to the butt to a closed position which brings a rear end of the cartridge or adapter in the barrel adjacent to the compression chamber such that compressed gas in the compression chamber can be used to eject the one or more projectiles from the cartridge or adapter and down the barrel; wherein the end of the barrel adjacent the butt comprises a widened internal diameter portion; the projectile cartridge comprising: a first generally cylindrical outer shell comprising a first expanded diameter hoop on a rear of the cartridge, configured to be received in the widened internal diameter portion of the barrel to prevent the cartridge from moving down the barrel when the gun is fired; a generally circular rear cover that is detachably mounted inside the rear of the cylindrical shell; a generally cylindrical front cover that is detachably mounted inside the cylindrical outer shell such that a first space is formed between the front and rear covers; and at least a first one of the projectiles mounted in the first space, wherein the cartridge is configured such that when the cartridge is inserted in the gun, and compressed gas in the compression chamber is released to fire the gun, the front cover, rear cover and first projectile all separate from the outer shell and travel down the barrel; the adapter comprising: a second generally cylindrical outer shell comprising a second expanded diameter hoop on a rear of the adapter, configured to be received in the widened internal diameter portion of the barrel to prevent the adapter from moving down the barrel when the gun is fired; and a hollow, cylindrical interior extending the length of the adapter; the adapter being configured for at least a second one of the projectiles to be placed in the interior by an end user such that the adapter holds the second projectile adjacent the compression chamber when the barrel is in the closed position such that compressed gas in the compression chamber can be used to fire the second projectile down the barrel; wherein the adapter and the projectile cartridge are interchangeable with one another within the gun.