Trigger system for paintball marker

Abstract

A paintball marker is provided including a body, a first pneumatic component, a second pneumatic component, a first control valve for controlling the flow of gas to actuate the first pneumatic component, a second control valve for controlling the flow of gas to actuate the second pneumatic component, and a trigger. The trigger is operatively connected to the first and second control valves. The marker is configured to reduce or eliminate the likelihood of a player releasing the trigger after only actuating one of the control valves.

1 . A paintball marker, comprising: 
 a body;    a first pneumatic component;    a second pneumatic component;    a first control valve for controlling the flow of gas to actuate the first pneumatic component;    a second control valve for controlling the flow of gas to actuate the second pneumatic component, wherein the first and second control valves are free of solenoids; and    a trigger, wherein the trigger is pivotally connected with respect to the body for movement about a pivot, wherein the trigger includes a first valve actuation portion and a second valve actuation portion, wherein the trigger is operatively connected to the first and second control valves by means of the first and second valve actuation portions, and wherein the first and second valve actuation portions are proximate the pivot.    
   
   
       2 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second control valves are positioned immediately adjacent one another and are directly engageable by the first and second valve actuation portions.  
   
   
       3 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the trigger is movable along a path and includes adjustment means for adjusting where along the path the trigger actuates the first and second control valves.  
   
   
       4 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a pivot arm, wherein the pivot arm is pivotable with respect to the body, wherein the pivot arm is actuatable by one of the valve actuation portions of the trigger, and wherein the pivot arm is operatively connected to one of the control valves.  
   
   
       5 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the trigger has a finger grip portion and wherein the finger grip portion has at least one locator bump thereon, wherein one of the at least one locator bump is an uppermost locator bump, wherein the uppermost locator bump has an upper end, wherein the upper end of the uppermost locator bump is movable along a path between a rest position and a position wherein both the first and second valves are actuated, and wherein the path is between 0.2 and 5 mm long.  
   
   
       6 . A paintball marker, comprising: 
 a body;    a first pneumatic component;    a second pneumatic component;    a first control valve for controlling the flow of gas to actuate the first pneumatic component, wherein the first control valve includes a first housing and a first spool, wherein the first spool is movable for actuation of the first control valve, wherein the first control valve includes a first biasing means for biasing the first spool to extend outward from the first housing;    a second control valve for controlling the flow of gas to actuate the second pneumatic component, wherein the second control valve includes a second housing and a second spool, wherein the second spool is movable for actuation of the second control valve, wherein the second control valve includes a second biasing means for biasing the second spool to extend outward from the second housing, wherein the first and second control valves are free of solenoids; and    a trigger, wherein the trigger is movably connected with respect to the body for movement along a path, wherein the trigger includes a first valve actuation portion and a second valve actuation portion, wherein the trigger is operatively connected to the first and second control valves by means of the first and second valve actuation portions, wherein the trigger includes an arm, wherein the first and second valve actuation portions are positioned on opposing sides of the arm and wherein the arm is movable in a direction towards one of the spools and away from the other of the spools.    
   
   
       7 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the first and second control valves are poppet-style spool valves.  
   
   
       8 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein one of the first and second pneumatic components controls movement of an inlet control device for the paintball marker and wherein the other of the first and second pneumatic components controls movement of a firing valve for the paintball marker.  
   
   
       9 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the movement of the arm towards the second housing causes actuation of the first control valve prior to actuation of the second control valve taking place.  
   
   
       10 . A paintball marker, comprising: 
 a body;    a first pneumatic component;    a second pneumatic component;    a first control valve for controlling the flow of gas to actuate the first pneumatic component;    a second control valve for controlling the flow of gas to actuate the second pneumatic component;    a master valve, wherein the master valve is operatively connected to the first and second control valves, wherein the master valve and the first and second control valves are free of solenoids; and    a trigger, wherein the trigger is movably connected with respect to the body for movement along a path and wherein the trigger is operatively connected to the master valve.    
   
   
       11 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising a cylinder and a valve actuation link, wherein the valve actuation link is movable with respect to the body and is operatively connected to the first and second control valves, wherein the cylinder is operatively connected to the valve actuation link, and wherein the master valve is operatively connected to the cylinder.  
   
   
       12 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the first control valve has a first housing and a first spool, wherein the first spool is movable between a first position and a second position, 
 wherein the second control valve has a second housing and a second spool, wherein the second spool is movable between a first position and a second position,    wherein the valve actuation link is movable between a first valve actuation link position and a second valve actuation link position,    wherein in the first valve actuation link position the valve actuation link urges the first spool to the first position for the first spool and the second spool is biased to the first position for the second spool,    and wherein in the second valve actuation link position the valve actuation link urges the second spool to the second position for the second spool and the first spool is biased to the second position for the first spool.    
   
   
       13 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the valve actuation link is movable along a valve actuation link path in a first direction from the first valve actuation link position to the second valve actuation position, wherein the second spool reaches the second position for the second spool at a point along the valve actuation link path in the first direction and the first spool reaches the second position for the first spool at an earlier point along the valve actuation link path in the first direction.  
   
   
       14 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the valve actuation link is movable along a valve actuation link path in a second direction from the second valve actuation link position to the first valve actuation link position, wherein the second spool reaches the first position for the second spool at a point along the valve actuation link path in the second direction and the first spool reaches the first position for the first spool at a later point along the valve actuation link path in the second direction.  
   
   
       15 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein one of the first and second pneumatic components controls movement of an inlet control device for the paintball marker and wherein the other of the first and second pneumatic components controls movement of a firing valve for the paintball marker.  
   
   
       16 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the first control valve has a first housing and a first spool, wherein the first spool is movable between a first position and a second position and wherein the second control valve has a second housing and a second spool, wherein the second spool is movable between a first position and a second position.  
   
   
       17 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the first and second control valves are poppet-style spool valves.  
   
   
       18 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the master valve has a first outlet port and a second outlet port and wherein the second control valve has a pilot section, wherein the pilot section controls the movement of the second spool, wherein the second spool is operatively connected to the first spool such that movement of the second spool to the second position for the second spool urges the first spool to the second position for the first spool.  
   
   
       19 . A paintball marker, comprising: 
 a body;    a firing valve actuation cylinder;    a bolt actuation cylinder;    a first control valve for controlling the flow of gas to actuate one of the firing valve actuation cylinder and the bolt actuation cylinder, wherein the first control valve has a first housing and a first spool, wherein the first spool is movable between a first position and a second position;    a second control valve for controlling the flow of gas to actuate the other of the firing valve actuation cylinder and the bolt actuation cylinder, wherein the second control valve has a second housing and a second spool, wherein the second spool is movable between a first position and a second position;    a valve actuation link, wherein the valve actuation link is movable with respect to the body between a first valve actuation link position and a second valve actuation link position, wherein the valve actuation link is operatively connected to the first and second control valves, wherein in the first valve actuation link position the valve actuation link urges the first spool to the first position for the first spool and the second spool is biased to the first position for the second spool, and wherein in the second valve actuation link position the valve actuation link urges the second spool to the second position for the second spool and the first spool is biased to the second position for the first spool;    a linkage cylinder, wherein the linkage cylinder is operatively connected to the valve actuation link;    a master valve, wherein the master valve is operatively connected to the linkage cylinder, wherein the master valve and the first and second control valves are free of solenoids; and    a trigger, wherein the trigger is movably connected with respect to the body and wherein the trigger is operatively connected to the master valve.    
   
   
       20 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the valve actuation link is movable along a valve actuation link path in a first direction from the first valve actuation link position to the second valve actuation position, wherein the second spool reaches the second position for the second spool at a point along the valve actuation link path in the first direction and the first spool reaches the second position for the first spool at an earlier point along the valve actuation link path in the first direction.  
   
   
       21 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the valve actuation link is movable along a valve actuation link path in a second direction from the second valve actuation link position to the first valve actuation link position, wherein the second spool reaches the first position for the second spool at a point along the valve actuation link path in the second direction and the first spool reaches the first position for the first spool at a later point along the valve actuation link path in the second direction.  
   
   
       22 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the first control valve controls the flow of gas to actuate the firing valve actuation cylinder.  
   
   
       23 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the first control valve controls the flow of gas to actuate the bolt actuation cylinder.