Compact paintball marker trigger mechanism

Abstract

A compact paintball marker having a compact trigger assembly. The trigger assembly includes a trigger, a sear, a sear activator and a connecting cable. The sear is position distally relative to the trigger. This enables the sear to be positioned apart from the trigger. The trigger assembly also includes a sear activator, a sear activator spring and a sear biasing spring. The components of the trigger assembly can be compactly organized to enable the marker to have a smaller form factor.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a sear coupled to a housing of a marker in a first position;   a trigger pivotally coupled to the housing of the marker in a proximal position relative to the sear; and   a sear activator coupled to the trigger, the sear activator to translate movement of the trigger to disengage the sear from a striker assembly, the sear activator positioned in a distal position relative to the trigger; and   a sear activator spring coupled to the sear activator to bias the sear activator to a rest position.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a sear biasing spring coupled to the sear to bias the sear to a second position to engage the striker assembly.   
   
   
       3 . (canceled) 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a connecting cable to couple the trigger to the sear activator.   
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sear comprises:
 a slide component to engage a rail in the housing.   
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sear activator includes a tip that engages the sear through an arc of a rotation of the sear activator. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the marker has a length of less than ten inches. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is in the form of a hand gun. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a valve to release compressed air to push the striker to a cocked position when activated.   
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a ball charger that is removably coupled to the marker.   
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the housing defines a cavity to receive a compressed gas container. 
   
   
       12 . A method comprising:
 inserting a striker in a first compartment of a housing;   inserting a spring mechanism in a second compartment of a housing;   linking the striker and spring mechanism with a striker shaft, a portion of the striker shaft is external to the housing; and   coupling a trigger mechanism to that housing such that a sear is forward of the trigger, the trigger mechanism to activate the striker to propel a paintball.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 inserting a valve in the housing to release a flow of compressed air into the first compartment in response to activation by the striker.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 inserting a compressed gas canister into a handle of the housing to provide propellant to propel the paintball.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 coupling a cocking block and bolt to the striker, the cocking block including a sheath covering a portion of the housing.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 inserting a spring in the first compartment to bias the valve to a closed position.