Receiver/grip assembly for a paintball marker
A receiver/grip assembly for a paintball marker includes a first casting formed to include at least a portion of a grip and a portion of a receiver, and a second casting formed to include at least a portion of the grip. The castings are formed to receive, alternatively, a mechanical trigger assembly or an electronic trigger assembly. In one embodiment, the grip and receiver are substantially bisected by the parting line when the first and second castings are joined.
1 . A receiver/grip assembly for a paintball marker comprising:
(a) a first casting formed to include at least a first portion of a grip and at least a first portion of a receiver; and
(b) a second casting formed to include at least a second portion of the grip;
(c) wherein, said castings are formed to receive a mechanical trigger assembly; and
(d) wherein, said castings are formed to alternatively receive an electronic trigger assembly.
2 . The receiver/grip assembly of claim 1 , wherein said second casting is formed to include at least a second portion of said receiver.
3 . The receiver/grip assembly of claim 2 , wherein said grip is substantially bisected to form said grip portions respectively included in said first and second castings.
4 . The receiver/grip assembly of claim 3 , wherein said receiver is substantially bisected to form said receiver portions respectively included in said first and second castings.
5 . The receiver/grip assembly of claim 1 , wherein said first and second castings are configured to accept fasteners which secure said castings to one another.
6 . The receiver/grip assembly of claim 5 , wherein at least a portion of said mechanical trigger assembly is enclosed within said castings when said first and second castings are secured to one another.
7 . The receiver/grip assembly of claim 5 , wherein at least a portion of said electronic trigger assembly is enclosed within said castings when said first and second castings are secured to one another.
8 . The receiver/grip assembly of claim 2 , wherein said electronic trigger assembly comprises:
(a) a battery;
(b) electronic circuitry;
(c) an actuator; and
(d) a switch.
9 . The receiver/grip assembly of claim 8 , wherein at least one of said castings comprises a surface, said surface being substantially flat to support said batter.
10 . The receiver/grip assembly of claim 9 , wherein at least one of said castings comprises a removable portion, wherein said battery is accessible from the exterior of said casting when said removable portion is removed.
11 . The receiver/grip assembly of claim 8 , wherein at least one of said castings comprises a recess formed to receive said electronic circuitry.
12 . The receiver/grip assembly of claim 8 , wherein at least one of said castings comprises a plurality of pegs;
(a) wherein, said switch comprises a plurality of openings disposed therethrough; and
(b) wherein, each opening is formed to receive one of said pegs.
13 . The receiver/grip assembly of claim 8 , wherein at least one of said castings comprises a knock-out formed to receive at least a portion of said actuator.
14 . The receiver/grip assembly of claim 8 , wherein said electronic trigger assembly further comprises a capacitor.
15 . The receiver/grip assembly of claim 14 , wherein at least one of said castings comprises a recess formed to receive said capacitor.
16 . The receiver/grip assembly of claim 1 , wherein said mechanical trigger assembly comprises a trigger assist apparatus.
17 . The receiver/grip assembly of claim 16 , wherein at least one of said castings comprises a groove formed to receive said trigger assist apparatus.
18 . The receiver/grip of claim 17 , wherein said trigger assist apparatus is pneumatically powered.
19 . A paintball marker comprising:
(a) a hopper for holding a supply of paintballs;
(b) a barrel through which paintballs may be sequentially discharged;
(c) a supply of compressed gas; and
(d) a receiver/grip assembly which comprises:
(e) a first casting formed to include at least a first portion of a grip and at least a first portion of a receiver; and
(f) a second casting formed to include at least a second portion of said grip;
(g) wherein, said castings are formed to receive a mechanical trigger assembly; and
(h) wherein, said castings are formed to alternatively receive an electronic trigger assembly.
20 . The paintball marker of claim 19 , wherein said second casting is formed to include at least a second portion of said receiver.
21 . The paintball marker of claim 20 , wherein said grip is substantially bisected to form said grip portions respectively included in said first and second castings.
22 . The paintball marker of claim 20 , wherein said receiver is substantially bisected to form said receiver portions respectively included in said first and second castings.
23 . The paintball marker of claim 19 , wherein said first and second castings are configured to accept fasteners which secure said castings to one another.
24 . The paintball marker of claim 23 , wherein at least a portion of said mechanical trigger assembly is enclosed within said castings when said first and second castings are secured to one another.
25 . The paintball marker of claim 24 , wherein at least a portion of said electronic trigger assembly is enclosed within said castings when said first and second castings are secured to one another.
26 . The paintball marker of claim 19 , wherein said electronic trigger assembly comprises:
(a) a battery;
(b) electronic circuitry;
(c) an actuator; and
(d) a switch.
27 . The paintball marker of claim 26 , wherein at least one of said castings comprises a surface, said surface being substantially flat to support said batter.
28 . The paintball marker of claim 27 , wherein at least one of said castings comprises a removable portion, wherein said battery is accessible from the exterior of said casting when said removable portion is removed.
29 . The paintball marker of claim 26 , wherein at least one of said castings comprises a recess formed to receive said electronic circuitry.
30 . The paintball marker of claim 26 , wherein at least one of said castings comprises a plurality of pegs;
(a) wherein said switch comprises a plurality of openings disposed therethrough; and
(b) wherein, each opening is formed to receive one of said pegs.
31 . The paintball marker of claim 26 , wherein at least one of said castings comprises a knock-out formed to receive at least a portion of said actuator.
32 . The paintball marker of claim 26 , wherein said electronic trigger assembly further comprises a capacitor.
33 . The paintball marker of claim 32 , wherein at least one of said castings comprises a recess formed to receive said capacitor.
34 . The paintball marker of claim 19 , wherein said mechanical trigger assembly comprises a trigger assist apparatus.
35 . The paintball marker of claim 34 , wherein at least one of said castings comprises a recess formed to receive said trigger assist apparatus.
36 . The paintball marker of claim 35 , wherein said trigger assist apparatus is pneumatically powered.
37 . The paintball marker of claim 19 , wherein said castings are formed of aluminum.
38 . The paintball marker of claim 19 , wherein said castings are formed of zinc.