Projectile launcher with offset feed tube

Abstract

A launcher body defining with breech therein for receiving a projectile is provided. The breech defines a breech longitudinal axis through the center thereof. A feed tube is connected to the launcher body and defines a projectile feed bore. The projectile feed bore includes a projectile feed bore longitudinal axis through the center thereof. The breech longitudinal axis and the projectile feed bore longitudinal axis are configured to be offset from and not to intersect each other. A projectile is routed through the feed bore, such as from a hopper using gravity, and into the breech. The center axis of the projectile is substantially aligned with the breech longitudinal axis so that the projectile is prevented from bouncing back into the feed bore to avoid jamming of the projectile during firing.

1 . A projectile launcher, comprising: 
 a launcher body defining a breech therein for receiving a projectile; the breech defining a breech longitudinal axis through the center thereof;    a feed tube connected to the launcher body and defining a projectile feed bore; the projectile feed bore including a projectile feed bore longitudinal axis through the center thereof; and    the breech longitudinal axis and the projectile feed bore longitudinal axis being configured to not intersect each other.    
   
   
       2 . The projectile launcher of  claim 1 , wherein the breech longitudinal axis and the projectile feed bore longitudinal axis are arranged approximately 90 degrees from each other.  
   
   
       3 . The projectile launcher of  claim 1 , wherein the breech longitudinal axis and the projectile feed bore longitudinal axis being offset from each other a distance of approximately 3 mm.  
   
   
       4 . The projectile launcher of  claim 1 , wherein the breech longitudinal axis and the projectile feed bore longitudinal axis being offset from each other a distance of approximately 4 mm.  
   
   
       5 . The projectile launcher of  claim 1 , wherein the breech longitudinal axis and the projectile feed bore longitudinal axis being offset from each other a distance in the range of approximately 1 mm to approximately 5 mm.  
   
   
       6 . The projectile launcher of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a hopper connected to the feed tube; and    projectiles located within the hopper and being routable by gravity through the projectile feed bore and into the breech.    
   
   
       7 . A method of loading a projectile into a projectile launcher, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a launcher body defining a breech therein for receiving a projectile; the breech defining a breech longitudinal axis through the center thereof;    providing a feed tube connected to the launcher body and defining a projectile feed bore; the projectile feed bore including a projectile feed bore longitudinal axis through the center thereof;    positioning the breech longitudinal axis and the projectile feed bore longitudinal axis to not intersect each other;    providing a projectile for launching having a center axis therethrough;    routing a projectile through the feed bore;    routing the projectile into the breech;    substantially aligning the center axis of the projectile with the breech longitudinal axis; and    whereby the projectile is prevented from bouncing back into the feed bore.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the breech longitudinal axis and the projectile feed bore longitudinal axis are positioned approximately 90 degrees from each other.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the breech longitudinal axis and the projectile feed bore longitudinal axis are positioned from each other a distance of approximately 3 mm.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the breech longitudinal axis and the projectile feed bore longitudinal axis are positioned from each other a distance of approximately 4 mm.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the breech longitudinal axis and the projectile feed bore longitudinal axis are positioned from each other a distance in the range of approximately 1 mm to approximately 5 mm.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a hopper connected to the feed tube with projectiles therein;    routing the projectiles from the hopper into the feed tube by gravity.