Paint ball gun barrel with multiple compression zones

Abstract

A combination including a paint ball gun with a gun barrel has both a muzzle portion and at least two interchangeable compression zone portions of slightly differing diameters. The compression zone portions are preferably attachable and deattachable from the muzzle portion by a non-threaded connection mechanism, such as by a snap-on type connection mechanism, a cam-lock type connection mechanism or a bayonet connection mechanism. The invention allows the user of a paint ball gun to select a compression zone portion which is most optimally matched to the diameter of the paint ball ammunition to be used in the paint ball gun. The invention thereby optimizes paint ball gun performance.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A gun barrel suitable for use in a paint ball gun comprising: 
 (a) a compression zone portion having a longitudinal axis and a length of between about 4 inches and about 8 inches; and    (b) a muzzle portion having a longitudinal axis; 
 wherein the compression zone portion is rigidly and coaxially attached to the muzzle portion by a non-threaded connection mechanism.  
   
     
     
         2 . The gun barrel of    claim 1    wherein the connection mechanism is selected from the group of connection mechanisms consisting of snap-on type connection mechanisms, cam-lock type connection mechanisms and bayonet type connection mechanisms.  
     
     
         3 . The gun barrel of    claim 1    wherein the connection mechanism is a bayonet-type connection mechanism.  
     
     
         4 . A kit comprising at least two compression zone portions of a gun barrel suitable for use in a paint ball gun, each compression zone portion comprising a longitudinal axis, an internal diameter and a length between about 4 inches and about 8 inches, each compression zone portion further comprising a connection mechanism for attaching each compression zone portion to a single muzzle portion, wherein the internal diameter of each compression zone portion is different from the internal diameter of the other compression zone portion.  
     
     
         5 . The kit of    claim 4    wherein the connection mechanism is selected from the group of connection mechanisms consisting of snap-on type connection mechanisms, cam-lock type connection mechanisms and bayonet-type connection mechanisms.  
     
     
         6 . The kit of    claim 4    wherein the connection mechanism is a bayonet-type connection mechanism.  
     
     
         7 . A combination comprising a muzzle portion, a first compression zone portion and a second compression zone portion, each compression zone portion being coaxially attachable to the muzzle portion to form a gun barrel suitable for use in a paint ball gun, each compression zone having an internal diameter different from the internal diameter of the other compression zone portion, 
 so that, the second compression zone portion can be readily substituted for the first compression zone portion, and vice versa, to allow the user of the paint ball gun the ability to match the internal diameter of the compression zone portion used in the paint ball gun with the paint ball ammunition to be used in the paint ball gun.    
     
     
         8 . The combination of    claim 7    wherein the compression zone portions are attachable to the muzzle portion with a connection mechanism selected from the group of connection mechanisms consisting of snap-on type connection mechanisms, cam-lock type connection mechanisms and bayonet type connection mechanisms.  
     
     
         9 . The combination of    claim 7    wherein the compression zone portions are attachable to the muzzle portion with a bayonet-type connection mechanism.  
     
     
         10 . A second compression zone portion having a longitudinal axis, an internal diameter and a length of between about 4 inches and about 8 inches, the second compression zone portion being useable as a substitute compression zone portion in a paint ball gun barrel having a first compression zone portion and an attached muzzle portion, wherein the internal diameter of the second compression zone portion is different from the internal diameter of the first compression zone portion.  
     
     
         11 . The second compression zone portion of    claim 10    wherein the second compression zone portion is attachable to the muzzle portion by a connection mechanism selected from the group of connection mechanisms consisting of snap-on type connection mechanisms, cam-lock type connection mechanisms and bayonet type connection mechanisms.  
     
     
         12 . The second compression zone portion of    claim 10    wherein the second compression zone portion is attachable to the muzzle portion by a bayonet-type connection mechanism.  
     
     
         13 . A method for using a paint ball gun comprising the steps of: 
 (a) selecting a paint ball gun having a gun barrel comprising an interchangeable compression zone portion and a muzzle portion, the compression zone portion having a longitudinal axis, an internal diameter and a length of between about 4 inches and about 8 inches, the muzzle portion having a longitudinal axis, the compression zone portion being capable of being rigidly and coaxially attached to the muzzle portion by a connection mechanism;    (b) selecting a plurality of paint balls for use as ammunition in the paint ball gun, each of the paint balls having an external diameter;    (c) selecting a compression zone portion having an internal diameter operatively corresponding to the external diameter of the paint balls;    (d) installing the compression zone portion selected in step (c) into the gun barrel; and    (e) shooting the paint balls selected in step (b) through the compression zone portion and muzzle portion of the gun barrel.    
     
     
         14 . The method of    claim 13    wherein the compression zone portion is installed into the gun barrel in step (d) by attaching the compression zone portion to the muzzle portion using a connection mechanism selected from the group of connection mechanisms consisting of snap-on type connection mechanisms, cam-lock type connection mechanisms and bayonet type connection mechanisms.  
     
     
         15 . The method of    claim 13    wherein the compression zone portion is installed into the gun barrel in step (d) by attaching the compression zone portion to the muzzle portion using a bayonet-type connection mechanism.