Pressure charged soft projectile launcher

Abstract

A projectile launcher for launching soft projectiles. The projectile launcher features a breech loading mechanism for loading soft projectiles into the launcher. The projectile launcher includes a pressure vessel which is pressurized by a positive displacement type pump which pumps ambient air into the pressure vessel. The butt stock is integrated to the piston of the pump so that the user may pressurize the pressure vessel by sliding the butt stock back and forth with respect to the pressure vessel. A specialized release valve is provided for optimum release of the pressure charge. Operating pressure for the launcher is limited by the pump design to prevent injury.

1 . A projectile launcher for shooting a soft projectile comprising:
 a. a pressure vessel, said pressure vessel configured to contain a pressure charge of air, said pressure charge of air having a pressure greater relative pressure than air outside of said pressure vessel;   b. a pump, said pump fluidly connected to said pressure vessel and configured to produce said pressure charge when said pump is operated;   c. a valve, having a valve disk, said valve positionable in an open position and a closed position, said valve configured to contain said pressure charge in said pressure vessel when said valve is in said closed position, and release said pressure charge from said pressure vessel when said valve is in said open position, said valve biased so that said valve is normally retained in said closed position;   d. a bolt, said bolt fluidly connected to said pressure vessel and configured to receive said pressure charge when said pressure charge is released from said pressure vessel through said valve;   e. a trigger, said trigger operatively connected to said valve and configured to open said valve to said open position when pulled; and   f. wherein said valve disk is captured between said pressure vessel and said bolt.   
   
   
       2 . The projectile launcher of  claim 1 , wherein said pump is partially situated within said pressure vessel so that said pump is at least partially encapsulated by said pressure vessel. 
   
   
       3 . The projectile launcher of  claim 1 , wherein said pump includes
 a. a cylinder, having an interior, a first end, a second end, and a length therebetween;   b. a second valve, said second valve proximal to said first end of said cylinder, said valve configured to allow air to pass from said interior of said cylinder to said pressure vessel, but restricts air from passing from said pressure vessel to said interior of said cylinder;   c. a piston, having a first end and a second end, said piston situated in said cylinder, said piston configured to travel back and forth across said length of said cylinder between a fully-open intake position wherein said piston is at a first location distal said second valve and a fully-compressed compression position wherein said piston is at a second location proximal said second valve;   d. wherein air enters said interior of said cylinder distal said second valve;   e. wherein a first volume is defined by the volume within said cylinder between said first end of said piston and said second valve when said piston is at said first location, and a second volume is defined by the volume within said cylinder between said first end of said piston and said second valve when said piston is at said second location; and   f. wherein the maximum operating pressure of said projectile launcher is limited by a ratio of said first volume to said second volume.   
   
   
       4 . The projectile launcher of  claim 3 , said pump further comprising a butt stock attached to said piston proximal said second end of said piston and projecting outside said pump. 
   
   
       5 . The projectile launcher of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a. a barrel attached around said bolt and projecting outward axially therefrom, said barrel divided into a bolt portion where said barrel wraps around said bolt and a muzzle portion where said barrel extends beyond said bolt, said barrel having a hollow interior and a substantially cylindrical exterior;   b. a loading chamber within said hollow interior of said barrel, said loading chamber configured to retain said soft projectile in position in front of said bolt; and   c. a loading port in said bolt portion of said barrel, said loading port adapted for loading said soft projectile such that said soft projectile may be inserted through said loading port and received in said loading chamber.   
   
   
       6 . The projectile launcher of  claim 5 , wherein said soft projectile is loaded into said projectile launcher by sliding said barrel axially along said bolt so that said loading port extends beyond said bolt exposing said hollow interior of said barrel through said loading port, inserting said soft projectile through said loading port so that it is received within said hollow interior of said barrel, and sliding said barrel axially along said bolt so that said loading port is situated over said bolt. 
   
   
       7 . The projectile launcher of  claim 1 , said valve comprising:
 a. a flexible valve disk, said valve disk having a perimeter, a center bore, and a flexible material therebetween; and   b. a valve body, said valve body having a domed surface configured to mate with said flexible valve disk.   
   
   
       8 . The projectile launcher of  claim 7 , said valve further comprising air passages in said domed surface. 
   
   
       9 . The projectile launcher of  claim 8 , said valve moveable between said open position and said closed position, wherein
 a. whenever said valve is in said closed position, said air passages are covered by said flexible material such that air may not pass from a first side of said valve to a second side of said valve; and   b. whenever said valve is in said open position, said air passages are exposed and such that air may pass from said first side of said valve to said second side of said valve.   
   
   
       10 . The projectile launcher of  claim 1 , further comprising a barrel attached around said bolt and projecting outward axially therefrom, said barrel having a first end proximal said bolt and a second end distal said bolt, and a hollow interior. 
   
   
       11 . The projectile launcher of  claim 10 , further comprising a muzzle brake proximal said second end of said barrel, said muzzle brake having a hollow interior aligned with said hollow interior of said barrel, an exterior surface, and a plurality of vents in said exterior surface permitting air to pass therethrough. 
   
   
       12 . The projectile launcher of  claim 10 , said barrel comprising rifling proximal said second end wherein said rifling is configured to prevent the passage of improvised hard projectiles therethrough. 
   
   
       13 . The projectile launcher of  claim 12 , said barrel comprising hexagonal rifling. 
   
   
       14 . A projectile launcher for shooting a soft projectile comprising;
 a. a pressure vessel, said pressure vessel configured to contain a pressure charge of air, said pressure charge of air having a pressure greater relative pressure than air outside of said pressure vessel;   b. a pump, said pump fluidly connected to said pressure vessel and configured to produce said pressure charge when said pump is operated;   c. a valve, having an open position and a closed position, said valve configured to contain said pressure charge in said pressure vessel when said valve is in said closed position, and release said pressure charge from said pressure vessel when said valve is in said open position, said valve biased so that said valve is normally retained in said closed position;   d. a bolt, said bolt fluidly connected to said pressure vessel and configured to receive said pressure charge when said pressure charge is released from said pressure vessel through said valve;   e. a trigger, said trigger operatively connected to said valve and configured to open said valve to said open position when pulled;   f. a barrel attached around said bolt and projecting outward axially therefrom, said barrel divided into a bolt portion where said barrel wraps around said bolt and a muzzle portion where said barrel extends beyond said bolt, said barrel having a hollow interior and a substantially cylindrical exterior;   g. a loading chamber within said hollow interior of said barrel, said loading chamber configured to retain said soft projectile in position in front of said bolt; and   h. a loading port in said bolt portion of said barrel, said loading port adapted for loading said soft projectile such that said soft projectile may be inserted through said loading port and received in said loading chamber.   
   
   
       15 . The projectile launcher of  claim 14 , wherein said soft projectile is loaded into said projectile launcher by:
 a. sliding said barrel axially along said bolt so that said loading port extends beyond said bolt, thereby exposing said hollow interior of said barrel through said loading port;   b. inserting said soft projectile through said loading port so that it is received within said hollow interior of said barrel; and   c. sliding said barrel axially along said bolt so that said loading port is situated over said bolt.   
   
   
       16 . The projectile launcher of  claim 14 , said barrel further comprising a first end proximal said bolt, a second end distal said bolt, a hollow interior, and a muzzle brake proximal said second end of said barrel, said muzzle brake having a hollow interior aligned with said hollow interior of said barrel, an exterior surface, and a plurality of vents in said exterior surface permitting air to pass therethrough. 
   
   
       17 . The projectile launcher of  claim 14 , said valve comprising:
 a. a flexible valve disk, said valve disk having a perimeter, a center bore, and a flexible material therebetween; and   b. a valve body, said valve body having a domed surface configured to mate with said flexible valve disk.   
   
   
       18 . A projectile launcher for shooting a soft projectile comprising:
 a. a pressure vessel, said pressure vessel configured to contain a pressure charge of air, said pressure charge of air having a pressure greater relative pressure than air outside of said pressure vessel;   b. a pump, said pump fluidly connected to said pressure vessel and configured to produce said pressure charge when said pump is operated;   c. a valve, having a valve disk, an open position and a closed position, said valve configured to contain said pressure charge in said pressure vessel when said valve is in said closed position, and release said pressure charge from said pressure vessel when said valve is in said open position, said valve biased so that said valve is normally retained in said closed position;   d. a bolt, said bolt fluidly connected to said pressure vessel and configured to receive said pressure charge when said pressure charge is released from said pressure vessel through said valve;   e. a trigger, said trigger operatively connected to said valve and configured to open said valve to said open position when pulled; and   f. a barrel attached around said bolt and projecting outward axially therefrom, said barrel having a first end proximal said bolt, a second end distal said bolt, a hollow interior, and a muzzle brake proximal said second end of said barrel, said muzzle brake having a hollow interior aligned with said hollow interior of said barrel, an exterior surface, and a plurality of vents in said exterior surface permitting air to pass therethrough.   
   
   
       19 . The projectile launcher of  claim 18 , said valve comprising:
 a. a flexible valve disk, said valve disk having a perimeter, a center bore, and a flexible material therebetween; and   b. a valve body, said valve body having a domed surface configured to mate with said flexible valve disk.   
   
   
       20 . The projectile launcher of  claim 19 , said valve further comprising air passages in said domed surface.