Semi-automatic-firing, compressed-gas gun

Abstract

A pneumatic gun sized and designed to appear like and operate in a manner similar to a conventional handgun. The gun may include a removable magazine storing projectiles and propellant. The entire magazine may be small enough to fit into a handle of the gun (e.g., with a pistol grip). The magazine may be integrated with propellant and projectile portions locked together or separable. Standard carbon dioxide cartridges fit within the magazine. Projectiles may be staggered to increase the maximum magazine load. A user may selectively release just the projectile portion of the magazine, in order to leave the propellant undisturbed until fully expended. The magazine may be completely removed from the gun without substantial loss of propellant.

1 . A gun magazine comprising: 
 at least one projectile comprising a capsule;    a chute containing the at least one projectile;    a propellant reservoir containing compressed gas; and    a reservoir valve resisting the release of the gas from the propellant reservoir when whenever the magazine is not secured to a gun and permitting release of the gas from the propellant reservoir whenever the magazine is secured to a gun.    
   
   
       2 . The gun magazine of  claim 1 , wherein the capsule is formed of a polymer.  
   
   
       3 . The gun magazine of  claim 2 , wherein the polymer is a naturally occurring polymer.  
   
   
       4 . The gun magazine of  claim 3 , wherein the naturally occurring polymer is gelatin.  
   
   
       5 . The gun magazine of  claim 4 , wherein the capsule is spherical in shape.  
   
   
       6 . The gun magazine of  claim 1 , wherein the capsule contains a filler material and wherein the filler material is different from that of the capsule.  
   
   
       7 . The gun magazine of  claim 6 , wherein the filler material comprises at least one of a liquid and a granular material.  
   
   
       8 . The gun magazine of  claim 7 , wherein the filler material comprises a pigment.  
   
   
       9 . The gun magazine of  claim 1 , wherein gas comprises carbon dioxide.  
   
   
       10 . The gun magazine of  claim 1 , wherein the capsule is spherical in shape.  
   
   
       11 . An assembly comprising: 
 a gun; and    a magazine releasably secured to the gun and comprising a chute, propellant reservoir, and reservoir valve, the chute containing at least one projectile comprising a capsule, the propellant reservoir containing compressed gas, the reservoir valve controlling release of a the compressed gas from the propellant reservoir according to whether the magazine is secured to the gun.    
   
   
       12 . The assembly of  claim 11  wherein the capsule comprises at least one of a polymer, a naturally occurring polymer, and gelatin.  
   
   
       13 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the capsule contains a filler material comprising at least one of a liquid, a powder, and a pigment.  
   
   
       14 . A gun comprising: 
 a frame;    a barrel secured to the frame;    at least one projectile comprising a capsule;    a magazine releasably secured to the frame and comprising a chute, propellant reservoir, and reservoir valve, the chute containing the at least one projectile, the propellant reservoir comprising a canister containing carbon dioxide compressed to saturation pressure, the reservoir valve controlling release of carbon dioxide from the propellant reservoir according to whether the magazine is not secured to the frame; and    an action controlling feeding of the at least one projectile and propellant into the barrel.    
   
   
       15 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the capsule comprises at least one of a polymer, a naturally occurring polymer, and gelatin.  
   
   
       16 . The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the capsule contains a filler material comprising at least one of a liquid, a powder, and a pigment.  
   
   
       17 . The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the capsule is spherical in shape.  
   
   
       18 . The gun of  claim 17 , wherein the action comprises: 
 a propellant chamber controlling the amount of gas expelled per firing and comprising an entrance aperture and an exit aperture defined according to a direction of flow of gas through the propellant chamber;    an actuator selectively blocking and unblocking the exit aperture; and    a trigger operably connected to, when pulled, move the actuator contrary to the direction of flow to unblock the exit aperture.    
   
   
       19 . The gun of  claim 18 , wherein: 
 the frame comprises a handle oriented generally perpendicularly with respect to the barrel;    the magazine slides inside the handle to secure to the fine.    
   
   
       20 . The gun of  claim 19 , wherein the magazine further comprises an impeller urging the at least one projectile from the chute, a retainer resisting release of the at least one projectile from the chute when the magazine is not secured to the frame, and a release disengaging the retainer when the magazine is secured to the frame.