Bolt kit with independent valve for paintball marker

Abstract

The present invention provides a more efficient firing system and bolt kit design for a paintball marker. In an embodiment of the invention, a firing mechanism comprises a bolt and a valve that are not mechanically joined together, so the valve opens and closes independently of the bolt's position. The valve opens away from a seat or seal in the same direction of travel as the paintball. The valve is part of the control system for the bolt such that the valve is acted upon to initiate the firing sequence.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A firing mechanism comprising:
 a valve; and   a bolt, wherein the bolt is configured to move relative to the valve.   
     
     
         2 . The firing mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the valve is not mechanically joined to the bolt. 
     
     
         3 . The firing mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the valve opens and closes independently of the bolt's position. 
     
     
         4 . The firing mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the valve opens away from a seat, seal, or an occluded air passage between the bolt and a plunger in a same direction of travel as a projectile fired by the firing mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The firing mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the valve is configured to initiate movement of the bolt. 
     
     
         6 . The firing mechanism of  claim 1  further comprising a spring or air supply to resist forward movement of the bolt but not the valve. 
     
     
         7 . The firing mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the valve and the bolt move along a same central axis. 
     
     
         8 . A paintball marker comprising:
 a valve and a bolt movable along a common central axis from an unfired position to a fired position and back to an unfired position, the valve housing a shot chamber coupled to a regulator supplying pressurized gas;   wherein the bolt is configured to move relative to the valve during a firing cycle, and in the fired position, the bolt has moved away from the valve.   
     
     
         9 . The paintball marker of  claim 8 , wherein the valve is not mechanically joined to the bolt. 
     
     
         10 . The paintball marker of claim  81 , wherein the valve opens and closes independently of the bolt's position. 
     
     
         11 . The paintball marker of  claim 8 , wherein the valve opens in a same direction of travel as a projectile fired by the paintball maker. 
     
     
         12 . The paintball marker of  claim 8 , wherein the valve is configured to initiate movement of the bolt. 
     
     
         13 . The paintball marker of  claim 8  further comprising a spring or air supply to resist forward movement of the bolt but not the valve. 
     
     
         14 . A method of firing a projectile comprising the steps of:
 supplying a shot chamber within a valve with pressurized gas from a regulator;   using the pressuring gas in the shot chamber to drive the valve forward;   closing off the pressurized gas from the regulator;   opening a primary valve to permit pressurized gas from the shot chamber to drive a bolt forward independently of the valve; and   opening a secondary valve to permit the pressurized gas from the shot chamber to act upon the projectile.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising the steps of:
 driving the valve rearward to close the primary valve; and 
 moving the bolt rearward to close the secondary valve. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising the step of opening up the pressurized gas from the regulator to resupply the shot chamber. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising the steps of:
 filling an air sear chamber; and 
 holding the valve in a rearward position. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising the step of venting the air sear chamber to permit the valve to move forward. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of moving the bolt rearward is performed using a spring or air supply. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of opening a secondary valves comprises the step of moving the bolt forward relative to the valve.