Receiver/grip assembly for a paintball marker

Abstract

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.