Paintball Marker with Mode Selector

Abstract

A paintball marker that includes both a mechanical firing mode and an electronically-assisted firing mode. In the mechanical firing mode, the marker launches projectiles without the aid of electronics and therefore does not require an energy source, such as batteries. In the electronically-assisted firing mode, an electronic circuit initiates launching of projectiles. A mode selector is provided that allows a user to select between the mechanical firing mode and the electronically-assisted firing mode.

1 . A paintball marker comprising:
 a receiver;   a barrel extending from the receiver;   a valve arrangement configured to selectively vent gas to propel a projectile out of the barrel;   a mode selector movable between a mechanical firing mode and an electronically-assisted firing mode;   a trigger movable between a neutral position and a firing position;   a mechanical launch assembly configured to actuate launching of a projectile without electronic assistance responsive to the trigger moving to the firing position;   an electronic circuit configured to actuate launching of a projectile responsive to the trigger moving to the firing position;   wherein the mechanical launch assembly actuates launching of a projectile when the mode selector is in the mechanical firing mode; and   wherein the electronic circuit actuates launching of a projectile when the mode selector is in the electronically-assisted firing mode.   
     
     
         2 . The paintball marker of  claim 1 , wherein the mode selector rotates between the mechanical firing mode and the electronically-assisted firing mode. 
     
     
         3 . The paintball marker of  claim 1 , further comprising a magnet associated with and movable with the mode selector and a magnetic sensor configured to detect the magnet's position to determine whether the mode selector is in the electronically-assisted firing mode. 
     
     
         4 . The paintball marker of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the mode selector extends from an external surface of the receiver. 
     
     
         5 . The paintball marker of  claim 1 , wherein the mode selector is further movable to a safety mode, wherein the mode selector prevents the trigger from moving to the firing position when in the safety mode. 
     
     
         6 . The paintball marker of  claim 1 , further comprising a gauge port defined on an external surface of the receiver that is dimensioned to receive a portion of an external pressure gauge configured to measure an internal pressure of the paintball marker and a plug that blocks fluid communication out of the gauge port. 
     
     
         7 . A paintball marker comprising:
 a receiver;   a barrel extending from the receiver;   a valve arrangement configured to selectively vent gas to propel a projectile out of the barrel;   a mode selector movable between a mechanical firing mode and an electronically-assisted firing mode;   a trigger movable between a neutral position and a firing position;   a mechanical linkage movable between a first position away from the valve arrangement and a second position that actuates the valve arrangement, wherein the mechanical linkage actuates the valve arrangement responsive to the trigger moving to the firing position when the mode selector is in the mechanical firing mode; and   an electronic circuit configured to initiate actuation of the valve arrangement responsive to the trigger moving to the firing position when the mode selector is in the electronically-assisted firing mode.   
     
     
         8 . The paintball marker of  claim 7 , further comprising a lever moveable between a first position away from the valve arrangement and a second position that actuates the valve arrangement. 
     
     
         9 . The paintball marker of  claim 8 , wherein the valve arrangement includes an input valve with a valve stem, wherein the lever moves the valve stem in the second position. 
     
     
         10 . The paintball marker of  claim 8 , wherein the lever includes a first arm and a second arm. 
     
     
         11 . The paintball marker of  claim 10 , wherein the first arm is approximately perpendicular to the second arm. 
     
     
         12 . The paintball marker of  claim 10 , wherein the lever includes a pivotal connection with the receiver between the first arm and the second arm. 
     
     
         13 . The paintball marker of  claim 10 , wherein the first arm actuates the valve arrangement when the lever moves to the second position. 
     
     
         14 . The paintball marker of  claim 8 , wherein the trigger includes a cam surface configured to move the lever to the second position responsive to the trigger moving to the firing position when the mode selector is in the mechanical firing mode. 
     
     
         15 . The paintball marker of  claim 8 , wherein the electronic circuit includes a linear actuator configured to move the lever to the second position to actuate the valve arrangement, wherein the electronic circuit is configured to energize the linear actuator responsive to the trigger moving to the firing position when the mode selector is in the electronically-assisted firing mode. 
     
     
         16 . The paintball marker of  claim 15 , wherein the linear actuator comprises a solenoid. 
     
     
         17 . The paintball marker of  claim 7 , wherein the mode selector includes a notch dimensioned to receive a tip extending from the trigger, wherein the notch is aligned with the tip when the mode selector is in the mechanical firing mode such that the tip is in registry with the notch when the trigger moves to the firing position. 
     
     
         18 . The paintball marker of  claim 17 , wherein the mode selector is further movable to a safety mode, wherein the notch is not aligned with the tip when the mode selector is in the safety mode to block the trigger from moving to the firing position. 
     
     
         19 . The paintball marker of  claim 18 , further comprising a magnet associated with and movable with the mode selector and a magnetic sensor configured to detect the magnet's position to determine whether the mode selector is in the electronically-assisted firing mode. 
     
     
         20 . A paintball marker comprising:
 a receiver;   a barrel extending from the receiver;   a valve arrangement configured to selectively vent gas to propel a projectile out of the barrel;   a mode selector movable between a mechanical firing mode and an electronically-assisted firing mode;   a trigger movable between a neutral position and a firing position;   a lever including a first arm and a second arm, wherein the first arm is moveable between a first position away from the valve arrangement and a second position that actuates the valve arrangement, wherein the trigger includes a cam surface that acts upon the lever to move the first arm to the second position responsive to the trigger moving to the firing position when the mode selector is in the mechanical firing mode; and   an electronic circuit including a linear actuator configured to move the lever to the second position, wherein the electronic circuit is configured to energize the linear actuator responsive to the trigger moving to the firing position when the mode selector is in the electronically-assisted firing mode.   
     
     
         21 . The paintball marker of  claim 20 , wherein the cam surface acts upon the first arm when the trigger moves to the firing position. 
     
     
         22 . The paintball marker of  claim 21 , wherein the linear actuator includes a rod that is movable between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein the rod acts on the second arm in the extended position. 
     
     
         23 . The paintball marker of  claim 22 , wherein the mode selector includes a notch dimensioned to receive a tip extending from the trigger, wherein the notch is aligned with the tip when the mode selector is in the mechanical firing mode such that the tip is in registry with the notch when the trigger moves to the firing position. 
     
     
         24 . The paintball marker of  claim 23 , wherein the mode selector is further movable to a safety mode, wherein the notch is not aligned with the tip when the mode selector is in the safety mode to block the trigger from moving to the firing position. 
     
     
         25 . The paintball marker of  claim 24 , further comprising a magnet associated with and movable with the mode selector and a magnetic sensor configured to detect the magnet's position to determine whether the mode selector is in the electronically-assisted firing mode. 
     
     
         26 . A paintball marker comprising:
 a receiver;   a barrel extending from the receiver;   a valve arrangement configured to selectively vent gas to propel a projectile out of the barrel;   a trigger movable between a neutral position and a firing position;   a trigger magnet movable with the trigger;   a first magnetic sensor configured to detect movement of the trigger;   a mode selector movable between a safe mode and an electronically-assisted firing mode;   a mode selector magnet movable with the mode selector;   a second magnetic sensor configured to detect the mode selector magnet's position to determine whether the mode selector is in the electronically-assisted firing mode;   an electronic circuit configured to actuate launching of a projectile responsive to detection by the first magnetic sensor that the trigger moved to the firing position when the second magnetic sensor detects that the mode selector is in the electronically-assisted firing mode; and   wherein the mode selector includes a portion that blocks the trigger from moving to the firing position when the mode selector is in the safe mode.   
     
     
         27 . The paintball marker of  claim 26 , wherein the mode selector is movable between a safe mode, a mechanical firing mode and an electronically-assisted firing mode, wherein a mechanical launch assembly actuates launching of a projectile when the mode selector is in the mechanical firing mode. 
     
     
         28 . The paintball marker of  claim 27 , wherein the mode selector includes a second portion that limits a trigger stroke of the trigger in the electronic firing mode to prevent actuation of the mechanical launch assembly when the mode selector is in the electronically-assisted firing mode. 
     
     
         29 . The paintball marker of  claim 27 , wherein the mode selector is configured to allow a first trigger stroke length when in the mechanical firing mode and a second trigger stroke length when in the electronically-assisted firing mode. 
     
     
         30 . The paintball marker of  claim 29 , wherein the first trigger stroke length is longer than the second trigger stroke length.