Multi barreled compressed gas cannon with reusable housing

Abstract

A confetti cannon is an air gun configured to launch a payload of confetti and/or streamers. A trigger of the air gun selectively provides compressed air from a compressed gas cylinder to an outlet of the air gun in response to input from a user. A rotary housing has a plurality of base fittings, each configured to receive an end fitting from a shot tube or canister. The shot tube end fitting locks into the base fitting of the rotary housing. When fired, compressed gas from the outlet of the air gun passes into a canister aligned with the outlet, forcing a payload out of an end of the canister opposite the end fitting. The rotary housing is rotatable relative to the outlet to align a second canister with the outlet of the air gun such that the air gun is ready to expel a payload from the second canister.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air gun comprising:
 a housing configured to receive compressed gas from a compressed gas cylinder;   a base fitting supported by the housing, said base fitting configured to receive a corresponding end fitting of a canister; and   a trigger supported by the housing, wherein the trigger is configured to selectively provide compressed gas from the compressed gas cylinder to the base fitting via an output of the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The air gun of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the housing comprises a main housing; and   the main housing comprises an adapter, said adapter configured to receive the compressed gas cylinder.   
     
     
         3 . The air gun of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the housing comprises a main housing; and   the main housing comprises an adapter, said adapter configured to receive the compressed gas cylinder and pierce the compressed gas cylinder.   
     
     
         4 . The air gun of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the housing comprises a main housing and a rotary housing;   the rotary housing comprises the base fitting;   the rotary housing is supported by the main housing; and   the base fitting is one of a plurality of base fittings of the rotary housing.   
     
     
         5 . The air gun of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the housing comprises a main housing and a rotary housing;   the rotary housing comprises the base fitting;   the rotary housing is supported by the main housing;   the base fitting is one of a plurality of base fittings of the rotary housing; and   each base fitting of the plurality of base fittings is configured to receive a corresponding end fitting of a canister.   
     
     
         6 . The air gun of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the housing comprises a main housing and a rotary housing;   the rotary housing comprises the base fitting;   the rotary housing is supported by the main housing;   the base fitting is one of a plurality of base fittings of the rotary housing;   each base fitting of the plurality of base fittings is configured to receive a corresponding end fitting of a canister; and   the rotary housing is configured to rotate relative to the main housing.   
     
     
         7 . The air gun of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the housing comprises a main housing and a rotary housing;   the rotary housing comprises the base fitting;   the rotary housing is supported by the main housing;   the base fitting is one of a plurality of base fittings of the rotary housing;   each base fitting of the plurality of base fittings is configured to receive a corresponding end fitting of a canister;   the rotary housing is configured to rotate relative to the main housing; and   the rotary housing comprises a plurality of detents, each detent corresponding to a base fitting of the plurality of base fittings.   
     
     
         8 . The air gun of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the housing comprises a main housing and a rotary housing;   the rotary housing comprises the base fitting;   the rotary housing is supported by the main housing;   the base fitting is one of a plurality of base fittings of the rotary housing;   each base fitting of the plurality of base fittings is configured to receive a corresponding end fitting of a canister;   the rotary housing is configured to rotate relative to the main housing; and   the rotary housing comprises a plurality of detents, each detent corresponding to a base fitting of the plurality of base fittings;   the air gun further comprises a detent ball extending between the main housing and the rotary housing, wherein the detent ball is configured to engage a detent of the plurality of detents such that the base fitting of the plurality of base fittings corresponding to the detent is aligned with the output of the main housing.   
     
     
         9 . The air gun of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the housing comprises a main housing and a rotary housing;   the rotary housing comprises the base fitting;   the rotary housing is supported by the main housing;   the base fitting is one of a plurality of base fittings of the rotary housing;   each base fitting of the plurality of base fittings is configured to receive a corresponding end fitting of a canister;   the rotary housing is configured to rotate relative to the main housing; and   the rotary housing comprises a plurality of detents, each detent corresponding to a base fitting of the plurality of base fittings;   the air gun further comprises a detent ball extending from the main housing to the rotary housing, wherein the detent ball is biased toward the rotary housing and configured to engage a detent of the plurality of detents such that the base fitting of the plurality of base fittings corresponding to the detent is aligned with the output of the main housing.   
     
     
         10 . The air gun of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the housing comprises a main housing and a rotary housing;   the rotary housing comprises the base fitting;   the rotary housing is supported by the main housing;   the base fitting is one of a plurality of base fittings of the rotary housing;   each base fitting of the plurality of base fittings is configured to receive a corresponding end fitting of a canister;   the rotary housing is configured to rotate relative to the main housing; and   the air gun further comprises a seal extending between the output of the main housing and the rotary housing.   
     
     
         11 . The air gun of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the air gun further comprises the canister.   
     
     
         12 . The air gun of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the air gun further comprises the canister;   the base fitting is a twist lock fitting; and   the end fitting of the canister is a twist lock fitting corresponding to the twist lock fitting of the base fitting.   
     
     
         13 . The air gun of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the housing comprises a main housing and a rotary housing;   the rotary housing comprises the base fitting;   the rotary housing is supported by the main housing;   the base fitting is one of a plurality of base fittings of the rotary housing;   the air gun further comprises a plurality of canisters, each canister of the plurality of canisters configured to engage a base fitting of the plurality of base fittings via an end fitting of said canister.   
     
     
         14 . The air gun of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the air gun further comprises the canister; and   the canister comprises:
 the end fitting; 
 a cylinder extending forward from the end fitting; and 
 a payload stored within the cylinder. 
   
     
     
         15 . The air gun of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the air gun further comprises the canister; and   the canister comprises:
 the end fitting; 
 a cylinder extending forward from the end fitting; 
 a payload stored within the cylinder; and 
 a covering opposite the end fitting, said covering configured to retain the payload within the cylinder until the trigger is actuated and compressed gas is provided from the compressed gas cylinder to the output of the housing and through the canister to dislodge the payload from the cylinder via the endcap. 
   
     
     
         16 . The air gun of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the air gun further comprises the canister; and   the canister comprises:
 the end fitting; 
 a cylinder extending forward from the end fitting; 
 a payload stored within the cylinder; 
 an inlet cap at the end fitting, said inlet cap configured to retain the payload within the cylinder until the trigger is actuated; and 
 a covering opposite the end fitting, said covering configured to retain the payload within the cylinder until the trigger is actuated and compressed gas is provided from the compressed gas cylinder to the output of the housing and through the inlet cap and cylinder to dislodge the payload from the cylinder. 
   
     
     
         17 . The air gun of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the air gun further comprises the compressed gas cylinder; and   the compressed gas cylinder contains compressed carbon dioxide.   
     
     
         18 . A canister for an air gun, said canister comprising:
 an end fitting configured to engage a base fitting of the air gun and receive compressed gas from the air gun;   a cylinder extending forward from the end fitting; and   a payload stored within the cylinder.   
     
     
         19 . The canister of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the canister of further comprises an inlet cap at the end fitting, said inlet cap configured to retain the payload within the cylinder until the trigger is actuated.   
     
     
         20 . The canister of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the canister further comprises a covering opposite the end fitting, said covering configured to retain the payload within the cylinder until compressed gas is provided through the end fitting and to the cylinder to dislodge the payload from the cylinder; and   the payload comprises at least one of streamers or confetti.