Paintball marker

Abstract

A pneumatic paintball marker has, for example, a bolt assembly with a boost feature. The bolt assembly has multiple air supply chambers which apply force to move the bolt towards the firing position. Preferably, the air supply chambers push the bolt in series. The marker includes a handgrip frame that has a rear portion that flows into the base of the body. The material of the rear portion preferably is a rubber. The bolt assembly includes a set screw so as to prevent the bolt assembly from rotating within the body. A pin depth of the airport component is user adjustable.

1 . A pneumatic marker comprising: 
 a bolt configured to move between a first position and a second position;    a first chamber disposed so that pressurized gas in the first chamber moves the bolt towards the second position during a first time period; and    a second chamber disposed so that gas entering the second chamber moves the bolt towards the second position during a second time period, the second time period beginning after the first time period begins.    
   
   
       2 . The marker of  claim 1 , wherein the second time period partially overlaps the first time period.  
   
   
       3 . The marker of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second time periods end when the bolt reaches the second position.  
   
   
       4 . The marker of  claim 1 , wherein the bolt is moving towards the second position before the gas in the second chamber further moves the bolt towards the second position.  
   
   
       5 . The marker of  claim 1 , wherein the gas entering the second chamber accelerates the bolt towards the second position during the second time period.  
   
   
       6 . The marker of  claim 1  further comprising a manifold, the bolt being configured to reciprocate within the manifold.  
   
   
       7 . The marker of  claim 6  further comprising a recharge chamber, at least a portion of the recharge chamber being formed by the manifold.  
   
   
       8 . The marker of  claim 7  further comprising a gas inlet, the gas inlet connecting the recharge chamber to the second chamber after connecting the recharge chamber to the first chamber at least when the bolt moves from the first position to the second position.  
   
   
       9 . The marker of  claim 1 , further comprising an exit channel in flow communication with the first chamber at least when the bolt is in the second position, at least some of the gas entering the exit channel from the first chamber propelling a paintball from the marker.  
   
   
       10 . The marker of  claim 1  further comprising a third chamber disposed so that gas entering the third chamber moves the bolt towards the second position during a third time period, the third time period beginning after the second time period begins.  
   
   
       11 . The marker of  claim 1 , wherein the bolt is a sleeve.  
   
   
       12 . A marker comprising: 
 an outer member having a receptacle disposed generally axially therethrough and a transfer passage;    an inner member configured to move relative to the outer member between a first position and a second position;    a first chamber being in flow communication with the transfer passage when the inner member is in the first position; and    a second chamber being in flow communication with the transfer passage when the inner member is at an intermediate position between the first and second positions.    
   
   
       13 . The marker of  claim 12 , wherein pressurized gas within the first chamber moves the inner member axially from the first position and toward the second position.  
   
   
       14 . The marker of  claim 12 , wherein gas entering the second chamber accelerates the inner member toward the second position.  
   
   
       15 . The marker of  claim 12  further comprising a third chamber being in flow communication with the transfer passage when the inner member is at a second intermediate position between the intermediate position and the second position.  
   
   
       16 . The marker of  claim 12 , wherein the second chamber is pressurized after the first chamber is pressurized.  
   
   
       17 . The marker of  claim 12 , wherein the inner member and the outer member are configured such that a gas begins pressurizing the first chamber before the gas begins entering the second chamber.  
   
   
       18 . A marker comprising: 
 an outer member;    a transfer passage extending through the outer member and configured to route pressurized gas through the outer member; and    a member configured to slide between a first position and a second position, the member having at least a first pressure surface and a second pressure surface, the first pressure surface and the second pressure surface being configured to move the member towards the second position, the second pressure surface being exposed to pressurized gas at a time after the first pressure surface is exposed to the pressurized gas.    
   
   
       19 . The marker of  claim 18  further comprising a manifold having a recharge chamber, the recharge chamber routing the pressurized gas to the second pressure surface after routing the pressurized gas to the first pressure surface, the member being configured to reciprocate within the manifold, wherein the transfer passage routes the pressurized gas to the recharge chamber.  
   
   
       20 . A marker comprising: 
 an outer member having an axially extending receptacle, a transfer passage, and a first engagement member, the first engagement member being disposed on a surface of the receptacle;    a bolt assembly having a manifold and a bolt configured to slide with respect to the manifold; and    a second engagement member configured to engage with the first engagement member so as to inhibit rotation of the manifold with respect to the outer member.    
   
   
       21 . The marker of  claim 20 , wherein the first engagement member is a slot and the second engagement member is a set screw.  
   
   
       22 . The marker of  claim 20  further comprising a recharge chamber disposed between the outer member and the manifold, the recharge chamber being substantially aligned with the transfer passage when the first engagement member is engage with the second engagement member.  
   
   
       23 . The marker of  claim 22 , wherein the recharge chamber extends for less than 360 degrees around an outer circumference of the manifold.  
   
   
       24 . An airport adapter for attaching to a handgrip frame of a marker, the airport adapter comprising: 
 an upper engagement surface disposed so as to engage with a handgrip frame;    a rear-facing connection for engaging with a gas tank; and    a pin depressor having a first end and a second end, the first end facing in a generally forward direction and being configured to allow a user to change the extension length of the second end by rotating the pin depressor from the first end while the gas tank is connected to the airport adapter.    
   
   
       25 . The airport adapter of  claim 24  further comprising a groove configured to slide within a dovetail shaped bottom surface of the handgrip frame.