Paint ball loader

Abstract

A loader apparatus for use with a paintball marker having a paintball inlet is provided. The loader apparatus includes a base attachable to the paintball marker, a cartridge removably attachable to the base, a motive means and a delivery conduit. The cartridge includes a chamber for paintballs. The chamber has a paintball outlet. The cartridge further includes a flow assistor. The motive means is operatively connected to the flow assistor when the cartridge is attached to the base. The delivery conduit is in flow communication with the paintball outlet of the chamber and with the paintball inlet of the paintball marker when the cartridge is attached to the base and the base is mounted to the paintball marker.

1 . A loader apparatus for use with a paintball marker having a paintball inlet, the loader apparatus comprising: 
 a) a cartridge, a motive means and a delivery conduit,    b) said cartridge including a chamber for paintballs, said chamber having a paintball outlet, said cartridge further including a flow assistor, wherein said motive means is operatively connected to said flow assistor when said cartridge is attached to said base, wherein said cartridge is removably connectable with respect to said delivery conduit for communication of paintballs from said paintball outlet of said chamber to said delivery conduit,    c) and wherein said delivery conduit is connectable with said paintball inlet of said paintball marker for communication of paintballs thereto.    
   
   
       2 . A loader apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a base, wherein said base includes said delivery conduit and said cartridge is removably connectable to said base.  
   
   
       3 . A loader apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said loader apparatus further comprises a pressurizing member for maintaining a force on said paintballs in said chamber to urge said paintballs towards said paintball outlet.  
   
   
       4 . A loader apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said pressurizing member comprises a spring, said spring being operatively connected to said paintballs, so that said spring is adapted to act on said paintballs to force said paintballs towards said paintball outlet.  
   
   
       5 . A loader apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said flow assistor comprises a generally funnel-shaped surface surrounding said paintball outlet, said generally funnel-shaped surface comprising surface irregularities for agitating paintballs.  
   
   
       6 . A loader apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said motive means is an electric motor.  
   
   
       7 . A loader apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said base further comprises a first mating surface, and said cartridge further comprises a second mating surface, which contacts said first mating surface when said cartridge is mounted on said base, and said apparatus further comprises a connector for releasably holding said first and second mating surfaces together.  
   
   
       8 . A loader apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said connector comprises a magnet, and a material that is magnetically attracted to said magnet.  
   
   
       9 . A loader apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said delivery conduit comprises at least one paintball sensor for detecting the presence of paintballs in said flow conduit, said at least one sensor is operatively connected to said motive means so that said sensor activates said motive means when said sensor does not detect the presence of a paintball.  
   
   
       10 . A loader apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said paintball outlet comprises retractable stops positioned in said paintball outlet, said stops being adapted to retract from said paintball outlet to allow the passage of paintballs when said cartridge is attached to said base, and said stops being adapted to extend into said outlet to prevent the passage of paintballs when said cartridge is unattached from said base.  
   
   
       11 . A loader apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said motive means is positioned in said base.  
   
   
       12 . A loader apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising a first driven means positioned in said base, wherein said motive means is operatively connected to said first driven means, and further comprising a second driven means operatively connected to said flow assistor, wherein said first driven means is operatively connected to said second driven means when said cartridge is mounted to said base.  
   
   
       13 . A loader apparatus for use with a paintball marker having a paintball inlet, the loader apparatus comprising: 
 a) a cartridge and a delivery conduit,    b) said cartridge including a chamber for paintballs, said chamber defining a paintball outlet, and a pressurizing member for maintaining a force on said paintballs in said chamber to urge said paintballs in said chamber towards said paintball outlet, wherein said pressurizing member is adapted to contact a plurality of paintballs simultaneously, wherein said cartridge is removably connectable with respect to said delivery conduit for communication of paintballs from said paintball outlet of said chamber to said delivery conduit,    c) and wherein said delivery conduit is fluidically connectable to said paintball inlet of said paintball marker for communication of paintballs therewith.    
   
   
       14 . A loader apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , further comprising a base, wherein said delivery conduit is connected to said base, and wherein said cartridge is removably attachable to said base.  
   
   
       15 . A loader apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said cartridge includes a flow assistor and said loader apparatus further includes a motive means operatively connected to said flow assistor when said cartridge is attached to said base.  
   
   
       16 . A loader apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said delivery conduit comprises at least one paintball sensor for detecting the presence of paintballs in said delivery conduit, wherein said at least one sensor is operatively connected to said motive means so that said motive means is activated when said sensor does not detect the presence of a paintball.  
   
   
       17 . A loader apparatus as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said pressurizing member comprises a spring, wherein said spring is operatively connected to said paintballs, so that said spring is adapted to act on said paintballs to force said paintballs towards said paintball outlet.  
   
   
       18 . A loader apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said motive means is an electric motor positioned in said base.  
   
   
       19 . A belt for use with a paintball loader apparatus having a base for the mounting of cartridges of paintballs, the belt comprising: 
 a) a strap; and    b) at least one cartridge mounting assembly connected to said strap, said cartridge mounting assembly adapted for holding a cartridge.    
   
   
       20 . The belt as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the base is adapted to receive battery packs and the belt further comprises at least one battery pack mounting assembly connected to said strap, said battery pack mounting assembly adapted for holding a battery pack.