Infeed connector for a paintball gun

Abstract

An infeed connector for coupling an outlet pipe of a bulk loading hopper to an inlet pipe of a paintball gun is provided comprising a pipe section having a first end for receiving the outlet pipe therewithin and a second end for receiving the inlet pipe therewithin. The first and second ends are formed with compression fittings, the compression fitting at each end further having external annular threads therearound for receiving a compression nut. First and second compression nuts are provided having internal annular threads for threading on the annular threads of each respective pipe section compression fitting and operable when fully threaded thereon and tightened to secure a respective end of each outlet pipe and said inlet pipe, within a corresponding end of the infeed connector.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An assembly, comprising: 
 a paintball gun having a firing chamber coupled with a gun barrel and having an inlet pipe, said inlet pipe joined with said firing chamber and further having a first diameter, for passing a paintball into said firing chamber;    a bulk loading hopper having a storage chamber for paintballs and an outlet pipe extending from said hopper, said outlet pipe further having a second diameter, for dispensing a paintball therefrom; and    an infeed tube for joining said outlet pipe to said inlet pipe to provide for delivery of said paintballs into said firing chamber wherein said infeed tube comprises: 
 a pipe section having a first end for receiving said outlet pipe therewithin and a second end for receiving said inlet pipe therewithin, said first and second ends further formed with a plurality of longitudinal slots disposed at substantially equal intervals therearound, each said end further having a series of external annular threads therearound and overlapping said plurality of slots for threadably receiving a compression nut; and  
 first and second annular compression nuts having internal annular threads for threading on said annular threads of each said respective pipe section compression fitting and operable when fully threaded thereon and tightened to secure a respective end of each said outlet pipe and said inlet pipe within a corresponding end of said pipe section of said infeed tube.  
   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said inlet pipe is disposed approximately perpendicular to a centerline of said gun barrel wherein further said firing chamber and said gun barrel have approximately the same centerline.  
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said inlet pipe joins said firing chamber at a side-directed angle between 25 and 65 degrees from a vertical axis passing through said centerline.  
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said outlet pipe of said bulk loading hopper extends downward from a lower extremity of said hopper.  
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of longitudinal slots extend for a predetermined distance along a wall of said pipe section from each said end of said pipe section.  
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said infeed tube provides a change of direction through it of approximately 45 degrees.  
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said infeed tube provides a change of direction through it.  
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said inlet pipe and said outlet pipe have a same diameter.  
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said inlet pipe has a different diameter than said outlet pipe.  
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said outlet pipe has a larger diameter than said inlet pipe.  
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each said compression fitting on said pipe section has at least three longitudinal slots.  
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said annular threads allow said compression nut to engage said pipe section through at least one full turn of said compression nut on said pipe section.  
     
     
         13 . An infeed connector for coupling a paintball gun having an inlet pipe with a paintball hopper having an outlet pipe, comprising: 
 a pipe section having a first end for receiving said outlet pipe therewithin and a second end for receiving said inlet pipe therewithin, said first and second ends further formed with a plurality of longitudinal slots disposed at substantially equal intervals therearound and extending for a predetermined distance through a wall of said pipe section from said end of said pipe section, each said end further having a series of external annular threads therearound and overlapping said plurality of slots for receiving a compression nut; and    first and second compression nuts having internal annular threads for threading on said annular threads of each said respective pipe section and operable when fully threaded thereon and tightened to secure a respective end of each said outlet pipe and said inlet pipe within a corresponding end of said pipe section of said infeed elbow.    
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said infeed connector provides a change of direction through it of approximately 45 degrees.  
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said infeed connector provides a change of direction through it.  
     
     
         16 . The infeed connector of  claim 13 , wherein said infeed connector provides a straight passage for paintballs from said hopper to said paintball gun.  
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said inlet pipe and said outlet pipe have a same diameter.  
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said inlet pipe has a different diameter than said outlet pipe.  
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said outlet pipe has a larger diameter than said inlet pipe.  
     
     
         20 . The assembly of  claim 13 , wherein each said compression fitting on said pipe section has at least three longitudinal slots.  
     
     
         21 . The assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said annular threads allow said compression nut to engage said pipe section through at least one full turn of said compression nut on said pipe section.  
     
     
         22 . An assembly, comprising: 
 a paintball gun having a firing chamber coupled with a gun barrel and having an inlet pipe, said inlet pipe joined with said firing chamber of said paintball gun and further having a first diameter for receiving a paintball into said firing chamber;    a bulk loading hopper having a storage chamber and an outlet pipe section extending from said hopper, said outlet pipe section further having a second diameter for dispensing a paintball therefrom wherein said outlet end of said outlet pipe section is configured with an infeed connector for coupling to said inlet pipe to provide for delivery of said paintballs, wherein said infeed connector comprises: 
 a plurality of longitudinal slots disposed at substantially equal intervals around said outlet end of said outlet pipe section and further having a series of external annular threads around said outlet end and overlapping said plurality of slots for receiving a compression nut; and  
 an annular compression nut having internal annular threads for threading on said annular threads of said outlet pipe section compression fitting and operable when fully threaded thereon and tightened to secure said inlet pipe within said outlet end of said outlet pipe section of said infeed elbow.  
   
     
     
         23 . The assembly of  claim 22 , wherein said infeed connector provides a change of direction through it.  
     
     
         24 . The assembly of  claim 22 , wherein said infeed connector provides a straight passage of said paintballs from said hopper to said paintball gun.  
     
     
         25 . The assembly of  claim 22 , wherein each said compression fitting on said outlet pipe section has at least three longitudinal slots.  
     
     
         26 . The assembly of  claim 22 , wherein said plurality of longitudinal slots extend for a predetermined distance along a wall of said pipe section from each said end of said pipe section.  
     
     
         27 . The assembly of  claim 21 , wherein said annular threads allow said compression nut to engage said outlet pipe section through at least one full turn of said compression nut on said pipe section.  
     
     
         28 . A bulk loading hopper for a paintball gun, comprising: 
 a bulk loading hopper having a storage chamber for paintballs and an outlet pipe section extending from said hopper, said outlet pipe section further having a second diameter, for dispensing a paintball therefrom wherein said outlet end of said outlet pipe section is configured with an infeed connector in said outlet pipe section for coupling to an inlet pipe to provide for delivery of said paintballs, wherein said infeed connector comprises: 
 an outlet end for receiving said inlet pipe therewithin, said outlet end further formed with a plurality of longitudinal slots disposed at substantially equal intervals therearound and further having a series of external annular threads therearound and overlapping said plurality of slots for receiving a compression nut; and  
 an annular compression nut having internal annular threads for threading on said annular threads of said outlet pipe section compression fitting and operable when fully threaded thereon and tightened to secure said inlet pipe within said outlet end of said outlet pipe section of said infeed elbow.  
   
     
     
         29 . The assembly of  claim 28 , wherein said infeed connector provides straight passage of paintballs from said hopper to said paintball gun.  
     
     
         30 . The assembly of  claim 28 , wherein said infeed connector provides a change of direction through it.  
     
     
         31 . The assembly of  claim 28 , wherein said plurality of longitudinal slots extend for a predetermined distance along a wall of said pipe section from each said end of said pipe section.  
     
     
         32 . The assembly of  claim 28 , wherein each said compression fitting on said outlet pipe section has at least three longitudinal slots.  
     
     
         33 . The assembly of  claim 28 , wherein said annular threads allow said compression nut to engage said outlet pipe section through at least one full turn of said compression nut on said pipe section.