Paintball gun loading methods and apparatus

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, systems, and kits for loading paintballs into a feed tube of a paintball gun are disclosed. A loader includes a chamber for holding paintballs, a feed mechanism having a rotational feeder within the chamber that feeds paintballs from the chamber along a feed channel when rotating to fill the feed tube, and a drive mechanism that drives the rotational feeder of the feed mechanism, ceases to drive the rotational feeder responsive to stoppage of the rotational feeder, and periodically attempts to rotate the stopped rotational feeder. Paintballs are loaded from a loader into a feed tube of a paintball gun by driving a rotational feeder within the loader, the rotational feeder configured within the loader to feed paintballs into the feed tube when rotating, ceasing to drive the rotational feeder responsive to stoppage of the rotational feeder, and periodically attempting to rotate the stopped rotational feeder.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A loader for use with a paintball gun having a transmitter that transmits a signal, the loader comprising:
 a receiver for receiving the signal from the paintball gun; 
 a chamber having an opening for receiving paintballs; 
 a lid coupled to the chamber, the lid having a closed position in which the opening is covered by the lid and an open position in which the opening is at least partially uncovered; 
 a feed neck attachable to a feed tube of a paintball gun; and  
 a loader lid release coupled to the receiver that maintains the lid in the closed position until released in response to reception of the signal by the receiver. 
 
     
     
       2. The loader of  claim 1 , wherein the loader lid release comprises:
 a first magnet positioned on the lid; and 
 a second magnet positioned on the chamber, the second magnet repelling the first magnet in response to reception of the signal by the receiver. 
 
     
     
       3. The loader of claim 1, wherein the loader is configured for use with a paintball gun that includes a trigger interconnected with the transmitter of the paintball gun for transmitting the signal in response to activation of the trigger.  
     
     
       4. The loader of claim 1, wherein the signal is a radio frequency (RF) signal and the receiver is an RF receiver.  
     
     
       5. The loader of claim 1, wherein the loader is configured for use with a paintball gun that includes a switch interconnected with the transmitter of the paintball gun for transmitting the signal responsive to the switch.  
     
     
       6. A loader for use with a paintball gun, the loader comprising:
 a receiver for receiving a signal;   a chamber having an opening for receiving paintballs;   a feed neck attachable to a feed tube of a paintball gun;   a lid coupled to the chamber, the lid having a closed position in which the opening is covered by the lid and an open position in which the opening is at least partially uncovered; and   a loader lid release coupled to the receiver and configured to maintain the lid in the closed position until released in response to reception of the signal by the receiver.    
     
     
       7. The loader of claim 6, wherein the loader lid release comprises:
 a first magnet positioned on the lid; and   a second magnet positioned on the chamber, the second magnet repelling the first magnet in response to reception of the signal by the receiver.    
     
     
       8. The loader of claim 6, wherein the loader is configured for use with a paintball gun that includes a transmitter for transmitting the signal to the loader.  
     
     
       9. The loader of claim 6, wherein the signal is a radio frequency (RF) signal and the receiver is an RF receiver.  
     
     
       10. The loader of claim 6, wherein the loader is configured for use with a paintball gun that includes a switch or trigger interconnected a transmitter for transmitting the signal responsive to activation of the switch or trigger.  
     
     
       11. A loader for a paintball gun, said loader comprising:
 a chamber configured to house a quantity of paintballs to be supplied into the paintball gun;   a lid arranged over an opening to the chamber, said lid configured to prevent the quantity of paintballs from escaping from the chamber through the opening when the lid is in a closed position;   a magnetic closure mechanism configured to selectively retain the lid in the closed position over the opening; and   a magnetic release mechanism configured to selectively reverse a polarity of a magnet in the magnetic closure mechanism holding the lid in the closed position to cause the lid to open.    
     
     
       12. The loader of claim 11, wherein the magnetic release mechanism comprises:
 a first magnet positioned on one of the lid or the chamber; and   a second magnet positioned on the other of the lid or the chamber, the second magnet repelling the first magnet in response to an opening signal.    
     
     
       13. The loader of claim 12, wherein the loader is configured for use with a paintball gun that includes a transmitter for transmitting the opening signal.  
     
     
       14. The loader of claim 12, wherein the loader further comprises a receiver configured to receive the opening signal from a transmitter, wherein the opening signal is a radio frequency (RF) signal and the receiver is an RF receiver.  
     
     
       15. The loader of claim 11, wherein the loader further comprises a receiver configured to receive a signal, and wherein the loader is configured for use with a paintball gun that includes a switch interconnected a transmitter for transmitting the signal responsive to activation of the switch to open the lid.