Paintball marker and kit of parts therefor

Abstract

A paintball marker is provided including a body, a bolt and an actuator. The body defines a chamber having a paintball inlet. The bolt is slideable within the chamber between an open position wherein the bolt permits the entry of a paintball through the paintball inlet into the chamber, and a closed position wherein the bolt prevents the entry of a paintball through the paintball inlet into the chamber. The actuator is operatively connected to the bolt. The actuator is adapted to apply an opening force to move the bolt towards the open position and a closing force to move the bolt towards the closed position. The closing force is different from the opening force.

1 . A paintball marker comprising: 
 a body, the body defining a breech, the breech having a paintball inlet, the body defining a barrel for holding a paintball;    a bolt, wherein the bolt is slideable within the breech between a bolt open position wherein the bolt permits entry of a paintball through the paintball inlet and a bolt closed position wherein the bolt prevents entry of a paintball through the paintball inlet and wherein the bolt urges the paintball to the barrel;    a firing mechanism for controlling the flow of gas at a firing pressure to the barrel, wherein the firing mechanism is pneumatically controllable by means of gas at a first pressure;    a firing pressure regulator, wherein the firing pressure regulator is connected to the firing mechanism for providing gas at the firing pressure;    a first actuator regulator, wherein the first actuator regulator is configurable to provide gas at the first pressure, and wherein the first actuator regulator is connected to the firing mechanism for pneumatic control of the firing mechanism; and    a second actuator regulator, wherein the second actuator regulator is configurable to provide gas at a second pressure, wherein the second pressure is lower than the first pressure, and wherein the second actuator regulator is operatively connected to the bolt for movement of the bolt towards the bolt closed position.    
   
   
       2 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second pressure is between approximately 10 and 50 psi.  
   
   
       3 . A paintball marker comprising: 
 a body, the body defining a breech, the breech having a paintball inlet, the body defining a barrel for holding a paintball;    a bolt, wherein the bolt is slideable within the breech between a bolt open position wherein the bolt permits entry of a paintball through the paintball inlet and a bolt closed position wherein the bolt prevents entry of a paintball through the paintball inlet and wherein the bolt urges the paintball to the barrel;    a firing mechanism for controlling the flow of gas at a firing pressure to the barrel, wherein the firing mechanism is pneumatically controllable by means of gas at a first pressure;    a firing pressure regulator, wherein the firing pressure regulator is connected to the firing mechanism for providing gas at the firing pressure;    a first actuator regulator, wherein the first actuator regulator is configurable to provide gas at the first pressure, and wherein the first actuator regulator is connected to the firing mechanism for pneumatic control of the firing mechanism; and    a second actuator regulator, wherein the second actuator regulator is configurable to provide gas at a second pressure which is lower than the first pressure, and wherein the second actuator regulator is operatively connected to the bolt for movement of the bolt towards the bolt closed position, and wherein the second pressure is selected to be sufficiently low to inhibit rupturing of a paintball if, during use, the paintball is confined by the bolt during movement of the bolt towards the closed position.    
   
   
       4 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the second pressure is between approximately 10 and 50 psi.  
   
   
       5 . A paintball marker comprising: 
 a body, the body defining a breech, the breech having a paintball inlet, the body defining a barrel for holding a paintball;    a bolt, wherein the bolt is slideable within the breech between a bolt open position wherein the bolt permits entry of a paintball through the paintball inlet and a bolt closed position wherein the bolt prevents entry of a paintball through the paintball inlet and wherein the bolt urges the paintball to the barrel;    a firing mechanism for controlling the flow of gas at a firing pressure to the barrel,    a trigger, wherein the trigger is operatively connected to the firing mechanism;    a firing pressure regulator, wherein the firing pressure regulator is connected to the firing mechanism for providing gas at the firing pressure;    an actuator regulator, wherein the actuator regulator is configurable to provide gas at a selected pressure, and wherein the actuator regulator is operatively connected to the bolt for movement of the bolt towards the bolt closed position, and wherein the selected pressure is selected to be sufficiently low to inhibit rupturing of a paintball if, during use, the paintball is confined by the bolt during movement of the bolt towards the closed position, and wherein the actuator regulator is unconnected to the firing mechanism.    
   
   
       6 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the selected pressure is between approximately 10 and 50 psi.