Barrel attachment device for a gas gun

Abstract

A spin attachment attachable to the firing end of the barrel of a compressed gas gun and a method of using the same is disclosed. The spin attachment allows a user to control the spin on a projectile exiting the muzzle end of a barrel of a compressed gas gun, which in turn, allows the user to curve the trajectory of the projectile after it is fired from the spin attachment. The spin attachment comprises a housing having a first open end, a second end adapted for attachment to the muzzle end of a barrel of a compressed gas gun, and an inner wall defining a through passage that has central longitudinal axis with the muzzle, a deflection wall that is positioned within the housing, the deflection wall having a stationary end adjacent the muzzle and a moveable portion adjacent to the open end of the housing, and, in one embodiment, a deflection wall adjuster mounted in the housing between the housing and the deflection wall and moveable to move the moveable portion of the deflection wall and in another embodiment, a remotely-operated actuators one to the housing and the deflection wall for rotating the housing and moving the deflection wall.

1 . A device for controlling spin on a projectile exiting a muzzle end of a barrel of a compressed gas gun, the device comprising: 
 a housing comprised of an open first end, a second end, and an inner wall, the inner wall defining a through passage that has a central longitudinal axis, the second end rotatably attachable to the muzzle end of the barrel of a compressed gas gun;    a deflection wall positioned within the housing, the deflection wall having a stationary end adjacent the muzzle end and a moveable portion between the stationary end and the first open end of the housing;    a deflection wall adjuster mounted in the housing between the housing and the deflection wall, the deflection wall adjuster moveable to move the moveable portion of the deflection wall; and    an electronically-controlled actuator coupled to the housing.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the electronically-controlled actuator is in communication with a controller, the controller is in communication with a switch and the controller is coupled to a power source.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the controller comprises a microprocessor.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the switch is a toggle switch.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 2  further comprising a second electronically-controlled actuator coupled to the deflection wall adjuster.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5  wherein the second electronically-controlled actuator is in communication with the controller.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the electronically-controlled actuator is a solenoid, magnet, DC motor, single-phase AC motor, three-phase AC motor, stepper motor, linear motor, servo motor or pneumatic motor.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the electronically-controlled actuator comprises: 
 an activator;    a rotatable shaft coupled to the activator; and    a gear coupled to the shaft.    
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8  wherein the housing further comprises housing teeth engagable with the gear.  
     
     
         10 . A device for controlling spin on a projectile exiting a muzzle end of a barrel of a compressed gas gun, the device comprising: 
 a housing comprised of an open first end, a second end, and an inner wall, the inner wall defining a through passage that has a central longitudinal axis, the second end rotatably attachable to the muzzle end of the barrel of a compressed gas gun;    a deflection wall positioned within the housing, the deflection wall having a stationary end adjacent the muzzle end and a moveable portion between the stationary end and the first open end of the housing;    a deflection wall adjuster mounted in the housing between the housing and the deflection wall, the deflection wall adjuster moveable to move the moveable portion of the deflection wall; and    an electronically-controlled actuator coupled to the deflection wall adjuster.    
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10  wherein the electronically-controlled actuator is in communication with a controller, the controller is in communication with a switch and the controller is coupled to a power source.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11  wherein the controller comprises a microprocessor.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 11  wherein the switch is a toggle switch.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 11  further comprising a second electronically-controlled actuator coupled to the housing.  
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14  wherein the second electronically-controlled actuator is in communication with the controller.  
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 10  wherein the electronically-controlled actuator is a solenoid, magnet, DC motor, single-phase AC motor, three-phase AC motor, stepper motor, linear motor, servo motor or pneumatic motor.  
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 10  wherein the electronically-controlled actuator comprises: 
 an activator; and    a threaded, rotatable drive shaft coupled to the activator, the housing, and the deflection wall adjuster.    
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17  wherein the deflection wall adjuster has a projection with a threaded aperture therethrough.  
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18  wherein the threaded, rotatable drive shaft extends through the aperture.  
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 10  wherein the housing further comprises an inwardly sloping wall adjacent a slot in the housing, wherein the electronically-controlled actuator moves the deflection wall adjuster between a first position and a second position, the deflection wall adjuster is inclined toward the central longitudinal axis by the sloped wall.  
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 20  further comprising a rail positioned between the deflection wall and the inner wall of the housing, the rail engaging a portion of the inner wall of the housing, and wherein the deflection wall adjuster further comprises at least one rail extension positioned to run along the rail as the electronically-controlled actuator moves the deflection wall adjuster from the first position to the second position.  
     
     
         22 . The barrel attachment of  claim 10  wherein the deflection wall further comprises a frictional surface adjacent the passage.  
     
     
         23 . A device for controlling spin on a projectile exiting a muzzle end of a barrel of a compressed gas gun, the device comprising: 
 a housing comprised of an open first end, a second end, and an inner wall, the inner wall defining a through passage that has a central longitudinal axis, the second end rotatably attachable to the muzzle end of the barrel of a compressed gas gun;    a deflection wall positioned within the housing, the deflection wall having a stationary end adjacent the muzzle end and a moveable portion between the stationary end and the first open end of the housing;    a deflection wall adjuster mounted in the housing between the housing and the deflection wall, the deflection wall adjuster moveable to move the moveable portion of the deflection wall;    a first electronically-controlled actuator coupled to the housing; and    a second electronically-controlled actuator coupled to the deflection wall adjuster.    
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 23  wherein the first and second electronically-controlled actuators are in communication with a controller, the controller is in communication with a switch, the controller is coupled to a power source.  
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 24  wherein the controller comprises a microprocessor.  
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 24  wherein the switch is a toggle switch.  
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 24  wherein there are first and second switches, the first switch is in communication with the first electronically-controlled actuator through the controller, and the second switch is in communication with the second electronically-controlled actuator through the controller.  
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 27  wherein the first switch is a rotatable knob and the second switch is a rotatable knob.  
     
     
         29 . A compressed gas gun and barrel attachment device, comprising: 
 a compressed gas gun comprising: 
 a gun body having a first end and a second end, the gun body comprised of a breech, a grip and a trigger adjacent the grip;  
 a barrel comprised of a first muzzle end and a second end and a bore therethrough, the second end coupled to the first end of the gun body, the bore in communication with the breech; and  
 a source of compressed gas coupled to the gun body, the source of compressed gas in communication with the breech;  
   a barrel attachment device rotatably attached to the first muzzle end of the barrel, the barrel attachment device comprising: 
 a housing having a first end and a second end, the second end rotatably attached to the first muzzle end of the barrel, the housing having a passage therethrough, having a central longitudinal axis aligned with the bore of the barrel, the passage in communication with the bore of the barrel;  
 a deflection wall disposed at least partially within the housing adjacent the passage, the deflection wall comprised of a first end positioned adjacent the first end of the housing and a second end positioned adjacent the second end of the housing, the deflection wall further comprising a frictional surface adjacent the passage, the deflection wall further comprising a moveable portion and a secured portion hingedly engaging the housing; and  
 a deflection wall adjuster positioned between the deflection wall and the housing for adjusting the position of the moveable portion of the deflection wall relative to the central longitudinal axis;  
   a controller within the gun body, the controller in communication with a first electronically-controlled actuator and a second electronically-controlled actuator;    a power source within the gun body, the power source coupled to the controller;    a switch fixed to the gun body, the switch in communication with the controller;    the first electronically-controlled actuator coupled to the housing; and    the second electronically-controlled actuator coupled to the deflection wall adjuster.    
     
     
         30 . A method of imparting a spin upon a projectile using a compressed gas gun and barrel attachment device, the method comprising: 
 providing a compressed gas gun and barrel attachment device, the device comprising:    a compressed gas gun comprising: 
 a gun body having a first end and a second end, the gun body comprised of a breech, a grip and a trigger adjacent the grip;  
 a barrel comprised of a first muzzle end and a second end and a bore therethrough, the second end coupled to the first end of the gun body, the bore in communication with the breech; and  
 a source of compressed gas coupled to the gun body, the source of compressed gas in communication with the breech; and  
   a barrel attachment device rotatably attached to the first muzzle end of the barrel, the barrel attachment device comprising: 
 a housing having a first end and a second end, the second end rotatably attached to the first muzzle end of the barrel, the housing having a passage therethrough, having a central longitudinal axis aligned with the bore of the barrel, the passage in communication with the bore of the barrel;  
 a deflection wall disposed at least partially within the housing adjacent the passage, the deflection wall comprised of a first end positioned adjacent the first end of the housing and a second end positioned adjacent the second end of the housing, the deflection wall further comprising a frictional surface adjacent the passage, the deflection wall further comprising a moveable portion and a secured portion hingedly engaging the housing;  
 a deflection wall adjuster positioned between the deflection wall and the housing for adjusting the position of the moveable portion of the deflection wall relative to the central longitudinal axis;  
 a controller within the gun body, the controller in communication with a first electronically-controlled actuator and a second electronically-controlled actuator;  
 a power source within the gun body, the power source coupled to the controller;  
 a switch fixed to the gun body, the switch in communication with the controller;  
 the first electronically-controlled actuator coupled to the housing;  
 the second electronically-controlled actuator coupled to the deflection wall adjuster;  
   aiming the barrel attachment device;    activating the trigger; 
 activating the switch to rotate the housing about the muzzle end of the barrel to a user-selected position; and  
   activating the switch to move the deflection wall adjuster to a user-selected position.