Trigger guard puncture mechanism

Abstract

A puncture mechanism for piercing a gas cartridge of a pneumatic launcher. The puncture mechanism has a trigger guard that surrounds a trigger of the launcher. The trigger guard has a first end connected to the frame of the launcher, and a second end connected to the handle of the launcher. The trigger guard moves from a first normal position to a second actuated position upon actuation of the trigger guard by a user. When the trigger guard is moved to the actuated position the gas cartridge is pierced by a puncture needle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A puncture mechanism for piercing a gas cartridge of a pneumatic launcher, the pneumatic launcher having a handle connected to a frame, the puncture mechanism comprising:
 a trigger guard connected to the launcher and surrounding a trigger of the launcher, the trigger guard moving from a normal position to an actuated position;   a pivot arm that is pivotally connected to the launcher, and that is actuated by the trigger guard, the pivot arm moving from a normal position to an actuated position;   a puncture needle in the launcher, wherein when the trigger guard moves from the normal position to the actuated position the puncture needle moves in the launcher toward the gas cartridge, and wherein the trigger remains surrounded by the trigger guard when the trigger guard is in the normal position and when the trigger guard is in the actuated position; and,   a bias member biasing one of the pivot arm and the trigger guard to normal position.   
     
     
         2 . The puncture mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the trigger guard is slidingly connected to the launcher. 
     
     
         3 . The puncture mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the trigger guard has a track to receive a follower of the pivot arm. 
     
     
         4 . The puncture mechanism of  claim 3 , wherein the track is linear and is open to a trigger area. 
     
     
         5 . The puncture mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot arm comprises a follower arm having a follower, an engagement arm, and a pivot member. 
     
     
         6 . The puncture mechanism of  claim 5 , wherein the pivot member engages a receiver in the frame to allow the pivot arm to pivot about the pivot member. 
     
     
         7 . The puncture mechanism of  claim 5 , wherein the follower of the pivot arm is a cam follower that mates with a track in the trigger guard. 
     
     
         8 . The puncture mechanism of  claim 7 , wherein the cam follower comprises a roller members that moves linearly within the track of the trigger guard from a first position, wherein the trigger guard is in the normal position, to a second position, wherein the trigger guard is in the actuated position. 
     
     
         9 . The puncture mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the trigger guard has a first end slidingly connected to the frame of the launcher, and a second end slidingly connected to the handle of the launcher. 
     
     
         10 . A puncture mechanism for piercing a gas cartridge of a pneumatic launcher, the pneumatic launcher having a handle connected to a frame, the puncture mechanism comprising:
 a trigger guard surrounding a trigger of the launcher and having a first end slidingly connected to the frame of the launcher, and a second end slidingly connected to the handle of the launcher, wherein the trigger guard moves from a first normal position to a second actuated position; and,   a puncture needle in the launcher that moves from a first position outside the gas cartridge, to a second position piercing the gas cartridge, and wherein the puncture needle moves from its first position to its second position when the trigger guard moves to the actuated position.   
     
     
         11 . The puncture mechanism of  claim 10 , wherein a first male member extends from the first end of the trigger guard and slidingly mates with an opening in the frame, and wherein a second male member extends from the handle to slidingly engage a female receiver at the second end of the trigger guard. 
     
     
         12 . The puncture mechanism of  claim 10 , further comprising a pivot arm pivotally connected to the launcher, wherein the trigger guard actuates the pivot arm when the trigger guard moves from the normal position to the actuated position. 
     
     
         13 . The puncture mechanism of  claim 12 , wherein the pivot arm actuates the puncture needle to move the puncture needle from its first position to its second position. 
     
     
         14 . A puncture mechanism for piercing a gas cartridge of a pneumatic launcher, the pneumatic launcher having a handle connected to a frame, the puncture mechanism comprising:
 a trigger guard surrounding a trigger of the launcher, the trigger guard having a first end connected to the frame of the launcher, and a second end connected to the handle of the launcher, wherein the trigger guard moves from a first normal position to a second actuated position upon actuation of the trigger guard by a user, and wherein the gas cartridge is pierced when the trigger guard moves to the actuated position; and,
 a bias member operably engaging the trigger guard to move the trigger guard to the first normal position after it has been moved by the user to the actuated position. 
   
     
     
         15 . The puncture mechanism of  claim 14 , wherein the first end of the trigger guard is slidingly connected to the frame of the launcher, and wherein the second end of the trigger guard is slidingly connected to the handle of the launcher. 
     
     
         16 . The puncture mechanism of  claim 14 , further comprising a pivot arm and a puncture needle, wherein when the trigger guard is moved to its actuated position it actuates the pivot arm, which pivots, and which engages the puncture needle to move the puncture needle to puncture the gas cartridge. 
     
     
         17 . The puncture mechanism of  claim 16 , wherein the pivot arm comprises a follower arm having a follower, an engagement arm, and a pivot member, and wherein the pivot member engages a receiver in the frame to allow the pivot arm to pivot about the pivot member. 
     
     
         18 . The puncture mechanism of  claim 17 , wherein the trigger guard has a track, wherein the follower of the pivot arm moves linearly within the track of the trigger guard from a first position, wherein the trigger guard is in the normal position, to a second position, wherein the trigger guard is in the actuated position. 
     
     
         19 . The puncture mechanism of  claim 17 , wherein the follower of the pivot arm is a cam follower that mates with a track in the trigger guard. 
     
     
         20 . The puncture mechanism of  claim 14 , further comprising a puncture needle in the launcher that moves from a first position outside the gas cartridge, to a second position piercing the gas cartridge, and wherein the puncture needle moves from its first position to its second position when the trigger guard moves to the actuated position.