Paintball marker with an air balanced exhaust poppet valve with bias closure

Abstract

An improved poppet valve system, preferably for use with a paintball marker. The poppet valve system includes a chamber having an inner surface and a piston having a first end and a second end substantially opposite the first end. The first end is positioned for selective contact by a hammer. The piston also includes first and second sealing faces that sealingly engage the inner surface of the chamber when the hammer is not in contact with the piston. A biasing member acts against the second end of the piston. When the hammer contacts the first end of the piston, the hammer overcomes force imparted by the biasing member against the piston in order to disengage the first sealing face from the inner surface of the chamber.

1 . A paintball marker, comprising: 
 a body;    a firing chamber for firing a paintball;    a movable mass positioned within the body;    a poppet valve positioned within the body and including: 
 a chamber, and  
 a piston positioned at least partially within the chamber and having first and second sealing surfaces, the piston having a first end positioned for selective contact by the movable mass and a second end substantially opposite the first end, the first and second sealing surfaces being in contact with an inner surface of the chamber when the movable mass is not in contact with the piston; and  
   a biasing member acting against the second end of the piston,    wherein, when the movable mass contacts the first end of the piston, the movable mass overcomes force imparted by the biasing member against the piston in order to disengage the first sealing surface from the inner surface of the chamber.    
     
     
         2 . The paintball marker of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing member comprises a mechanical spring.  
     
     
         3 . The paintball marker of  claim 2 , wherein the mechanical spring is a coil spring.  
     
     
         4 . The paintball marker of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing member comprises an air spring.  
     
     
         5 . The paintball marker of  claim 1 , wherein a cup seal is used to create the first sealing surface.  
     
     
         6 . A paintball marker, comprising: 
 a body;    a firing chamber;    a hammer positioned within the body;    a poppet valve positioned within the body and including: 
 a chamber, and  
 a piston positioned at least partially within the chamber and having first and second sealing surfaces, the piston having a first end positioned for selective contact by the hammer and a second end substantially opposite the first end, the first and second sealing surfaces being in contact with an inner surface of the chamber when the hammer is not in contact with the piston;  
   wherein, when the hammer contacts the first end of the piston, the first sealing surface is disengaged from the inner surface of the chamber.    
     
     
         7 . The blow back paintball marker of  claim 6 , further comprising a spring for biasing the hammer towards the first end of the piston.  
     
     
         8 . The blow back paintball marker of  claim 7 , wherein gas released from the poppet valve is used to move the hammer away from the piston.  
     
     
         9 . The blow back paintball marker of  claim 8 , further comprising a secondary port for permitting released gas to act against the hammer.