IP Library Granted Patent US 8,171,925
Granted Patent B2
US 8,171,925 · App. 12/497,476 · Granted May 8, 2012

Paintball loader

Assignee: Dye Precision, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,171,925
App. No.
12/497,476
Granted
May 8, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A paintball loader, more specifically a paintball loader which rapidly and forcibly feeds paintballs to a paintball marker, comprises a rotor body having at least one rotor fin, and a drive motor for rotating the rotor body in a first direction. The paintball loader has a central outlet located radially inwards of the tip of the rotor fin and an abutment body arranged to interact with the at least one rotor fin. When the rotor body is rotated, a paintball, located in a space formed between the at least one rotor fin and the abutment body, is pushed out of the paintball loader through the central outlet.

Claims (58)

1. A paintball loader comprising:

a first member configured to rotate in a first direction and define at least a portion of a space, wherein said first member is a fin; and

a second member configured to rotate in a direction opposite said first direction and define another portion of said space, wherein said second member is an abutment.

2. The paintball loader according to claim 1 , wherein said space is configured to receive a paintball.

3. The paintball loader according to claim 1 further comprising a drive motor for rotating one of said first member and said second member.

4. The paintball loader according to claim 1 further comprising a rotor body, said first member being at least a portion of said rotor body.

5. The paintball loader according to claim 1 , wherein said first member rotates coaxially with said second member.

6. The paintball loader according to claim 1 further comprising an outlet located radially inwards of said space.

7. The paintball loader according to claim 6 , wherein said outlet is centrally located.

8. A paintball loader comprising:

a rotor body rotating in a first direction;

an abutment body rotating in a direction opposite said first direction; and

a spring member arranged to load one of said abutment body and said rotor body.

9. The paintball loader according to claim 8 further comprising a central outlet.

10. The paintball loader according to claim 8 , wherein said rotor body rotates coaxially with said abutment body.

11. The paintball loader according to claim 8 further comprising a drive motor configured to rotate said rotor body.

12. A paintball loader comprising:

a housing;

a first member disposed in said housing and configured to move from a first position toward a second position during a first time frame; and

a second member disposed in said housing and configured to move from said second position toward said first position during said first time frame, said first member and said second member simultaneously contacting a paintball during at least a portion of said first time frame.

13. The paintball loader according to claim 12 , wherein said first member and said second member rotate about a common axis.

14. The paintball loader according to claim 12 , wherein said first member and said second member rotate in opposite directions.

15. The paintball loader according to claim 12 , wherein said first member and said second member each define a portion of a space, said space being configured to receive at least a portion of said paintball.

16. The paintball loader according to claim 15 , wherein a shape of said space changes as said first member moves toward said second position and said second member moves toward said first position.

17. A paintball loader comprising:

a rotor body having at least one fin;

a drive motor for rotating said rotor body in a first direction; and

an abutment body arranged to interact with said at least one fin so that when the rotor body is rotated, a paintball located in a space formed between said at least one fin and said abutment body exits said paintball loader through a central outlet located radially inwards of said space.

18. The paintball loader according to claim 17 , wherein said central outlet is disposed along a rotational axis of the rotor body.

19. The paintball loader according to claim 17 , wherein said abutment body comprises at least one fin and is arranged to be rotatable coaxially with said rotor body.

20. The paintball loader according to claim 17 , wherein said abutment body is arranged to be driven in a direction opposite said first direction.

21. The paintball loader according to claim 17 , wherein each fin of said rotor body is arranged to make contact with said paintball on its radially outer half so that the resulting force of the fin on the paintball has a component directed towards a rotational center of the rotor body.

22. The paintball loader according to claim 17 further comprising a spring arranged to load said abutment body.

23. The paintball loader according to claim 22 further comprising stopping means arranged to inhibit rotation of the drive motor when said spring has accumulated a certain amount of energy.

24. A paintball loader comprising:

a first member configured to rotate in a first direction and define at least a portion of a space; and

a second member configured to rotate in a direction opposite said first direction and define another portion of said space, wherein said first member rotates coaxially with said second member, and wherein said second member is an abutment.

25. The paintball loader according to claim 24 , wherein said space is configured to receive a paintball.

26. The paintball loader according to claim 24 further comprising a drive motor for rotating one of said first member and said second member.

27. The paintball loader according to claim 24 further comprising a rotor body, said first member being at least a portion of said rotor body.

28. The paintball loader according to claim 24 , wherein said first member is a fin.

29. The paintball loader according to claim 24 further comprising an outlet located radially inwards of said space.

30. A paintball loader comprising:

a first member configured to rotate in a first direction and define at least a portion of a space, wherein said first member is a fin;

a second member configured to rotate in a direction opposite said first direction and define another portion of said space; and

a drive motor for rotating one of said first member and said second member.

31. A paintball loader comprising:

a first member configured to rotate in a first direction and define at least a portion of a space, wherein said first member is a fin;

a second member configured to rotate in a direction opposite said first direction and define another portion of said space; and

an outlet located radially inwards of said space.

32. A paintball loader comprising:

a first member configured to rotate in a first direction and define at least a portion of a space;

a second member configured to rotate in a direction opposite said first direction and define another portion of said space, wherein said first member rotates coaxially with said second member; and

a drive motor for rotating one of said first member and said second member.

33. A paintball loader comprising:

a first member configured to rotate in a first direction and define at least a portion of a space;

a second member configured to rotate in a direction opposite said first direction and define another portion of said space, wherein said first member rotates coaxially with said second member; and

an outlet located radially inwards of said space.

Assignments (5)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 30, 2020
From: KNOBBE, MARTENS, OLSON & BEAR, LLP
To: DYE PRECISION, INC.
Reel/Frame 054269/0080 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 6, 2015
From: DYE PRECISION, INC.
To: KNOBBE, MARTENS, OLSON & BEAR, LLP
Reel/Frame 035154/0546 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 14, 2010
From: FX AIRGUNS AB
To: DYE PRECISION, INC.
Reel/Frame 025585/0626 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 14, 2010
From: FX DEVELOPMENT AB
To: FX AIRGUNS AB
Reel/Frame 025585/0629 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 14, 2010
From: HEDBERG, DANIEL
To: FX DEVELOPMENT AB
Reel/Frame 025585/0640 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 04025414 · Oct 26, 2004 · regional
Continuity (2)
Continuation 11258100 · Oct 26, 2005
Related Publication 20090266349A1 · Oct 29, 2009