Paintball marker with configurable supply line

Abstract

A paintball marker with a barrel that is coupled to a receiver. A valve arrangement is provided to selectively vent gas to propel projectiles through the barrel responsive to actuation of a firing mechanism. The marker may be configured to provide fluid communication between the valve arrangement and a compressed gas source through either a first supply line passageway or a second supply line passageway.

1 . A paintball marker comprising:
 a barrel;   a receiver with a front portion coupled with the barrel and a rear portion configured to receive a rear stock, wherein the receiver includes a grip portion for a user to grasp during operation;   a hopper configured to provide a supply of projectiles to the receiver;   a valve arrangement configured to selectively vent gas to propel projectiles through the barrel;   a firing mechanism adapted to actuate the valve arrangement;   a first internal passageway defined in the receiver that is configured to provide fluid communication between the valve arrangement and a source of compressed gas, wherein at least a portion of the first internal passageway extends through the grip portion; and   a second internal passageway defined in the receiver that is configured to provide fluid communication between the valve arrangement and a source of compressed gas, wherein the second internal passageway extends to the rear portion of the receiver.   
   
   
       2 . The paintball marker of  claim 1 , further comprising a tank adapter coupled with the grip portion, wherein the tank adapter includes an adapter passageway that is configured to provide fluid communication between a compressed gas source and the first internal passageway. 
   
   
       3 . The paintball marker of  claim 2 , further comprising a coupling at least partially received in the tank adaptor that is configured to provide fluid communication between the first internal passageway and the adapter passageway. 
   
   
       4 . The paintball marker of  claim 2 , wherein the first internal passageway defines an opening in a bottom surface of the grip portion. 
   
   
       5 . The paintball marker of  claim 4 , wherein at least a portion of the adapter passageway is aligned with the opening in the bottom surface of the grip portion. 
   
   
       6 . The paintball marker of  claim 1 , further comprising a rear stock coupled with the rear portion of the receiver, wherein the rear stock includes an internal passageway that is configured to provide fluid communication between a compressed gas source and the second internal passageway. 
   
   
       7 . The paintball marker of  claim 6 , wherein the internal passageway in the rear stock extends approximately along a longitudinally axis of the rear stock. 
   
   
       8 . The paintball marker of  claim 7 , wherein the internal passageway in the rear stock extends substantially an entire length of the rear stock. 
   
   
       9 . The paintball marker of  claim 6 , wherein the second internal passageway defines an opening in the rear portion of the receiver. 
   
   
       10 . The paintball marker of  claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of the internal passageway in the rear stock is aligned with the opening in the bottom surface of the grip portion. 
   
   
       11 . The paintball marker of  claim 1 , wherein the first internal passageway and the second internal passageway merge into a third internal passageway defined in the receiver that is in fluid communication with the valve arrangement. 
   
   
       12 . A paintball marker comprising:
 a barrel;   a hopper configured to provide a supply of projectiles to the receiver;   a valve arrangement configured to selectively vent gas to propel projectiles through the barrel;   a firing mechanism adapted to actuate the valve arrangement; and   a receiver coupled with the barrel, wherein the receiver includes a grip portion for a user to grasp during operation, wherein the receiver defines an internal passageway that extends between the valve arrangement and the grip portion to provide fluid communication between the valve arrangement and a source of compressed gas.   
   
   
       13 . The paintball marker of  claim 12 , wherein the internal passageway defines an opening in a bottom surface of the grip portion. 
   
   
       14 . The paintball marker of  claim 12 , further comprising a tank adapter coupled with the grip portion, wherein the tank adapter includes an adapter passageway that is configured to provide fluid communication between a compressed gas source and the internal passageway. 
   
   
       15 . The paintball marker of  claim 14 , further comprising a coupling at least partially received in the tank adaptor that is configured to provide fluid communication between the internal passageway and the adapter passageway. 
   
   
       16 . The paintball marker of  claim 14 , wherein at least a portion of the adapter passageway is aligned with an opening in a bottom surface of the grip portion. 
   
   
       17 . A paintball marker comprising:
 a barrel;   a hopper configured to provide a supply of projectiles to the receiver;   a valve arrangement configured to selectively vent gas to propel projectiles through the barrel;   a firing mechanism adapted to actuate the valve arrangement; and   a receiver with a front portion coupled with the barrel and a rear portion configured to receive a rear stock, wherein the receiver defines an internal passageway that is configured to provide fluid communication between the valve arrangement and a source of compressed gas, wherein the internal passageway extends from the valve arrangement to the rear portion of the receiver.   
   
   
       18 . The paintball marker of  claim 17 , wherein the internal passageway includes an inlet port that extends through the rear portion of the receiver. 
   
   
       19 . The paintball marker of  claim 17 , further comprising a rear stock coupled with the rear portion of the receiver, wherein the rear stock includes an internal passageway that is configured to provide fluid communication between a compressed gas source and the internal passageway defined in the receiver. 
   
   
       20 . The paintball marker of  claim 19 , wherein the internal passageway in the rear stock extends approximately along a longitudinally axis of the rear stock. 
   
   
       21 . The paintball marker of  claim 20 , wherein the internal passageway in the rear stock extends substantially an entire length of the rear stock. 
   
   
       22 . The paintball marker of  claim 19 , wherein at least a portion of the internal passageway in the rear stock is aligned with an inlet port that extends through the rear portion of the receiver. 
   
   
       23 . A paintball marker comprising:
 a barrel;   a receiver coupled with the barrel, wherein the receiver includes a first supply line passageway configured to provide fluid communication between a compressed gas source and the valve arrangement, wherein the receiver includes a second supply line passageway configured to provide fluid communication between a compressed gas source and the valve arrangement;   a hopper configured to provide a supply of projectiles to the receiver;   a valve arrangement configured to selectively vent gas to propel projectiles through the barrel;   a firing mechanism adapted to actuate the valve arrangement; and   wherein the receiver is configured to provide fluid communication between the valve arrangement and a compressed gas source through either the first supply line passageway or the second supply line passageway.   
   
   
       24 . The paintball marker of  claim 23 , wherein the first supply line passageway extends through at least a portion of the grip. 
   
   
       25 . The paintball marker of  claim 24 , wherein the second supply line passageway extends to the rear portion of the receiver. 
   
   
       26 . The paintball marker of  claim 25 , further comprising a rear stock that is configured to be connected with the rear portion of the receiver, wherein the rear stock includes an internal passageway that is configured to be in fluid communication with the second supply line.