Shooting device

Abstract

A paintball marker ( 10 ) comprises a barrel ( 11 ), through which paintballs may be fired by a firing mechanism (not shown). A handle ( 12 ) is provided to allow a user to comfortably grip the marker ( 10 ) and a trigger ( 13 ) is provided, for activating the firing mechanism. A trigger guard ( 14 ) is also provided to help prevent accidental activation of the firing mechanism. A hopper ( 15 ) is also provided for loading the marker ( 10 ) with one or more paintballs. The marker ( 10 ) with one or more paintballs . The marker ( 10 ) is fitted with a switching means ( 20 ) operative to switch the marker ( 10 ) between two modes, a live mode in which the firing mechanism can be activated and a safe mode in which the firing mechanism cannot be activated. The device is switched between said modes in response to signals received by a signals receiving means from a remote source.

1 .- 54 . (canceled)  
   
   
       55 . A shooting device for firing a projectile, the device having a live mode wherein the device is able to fire a projectile and a safe mode wherein the device is temporarily inhibited form being able to fire a projectile, the device comprising signal receiving means and means for switching the device between the live and safe modes, in which the switching means and the signal receiving means are configured to enable the device to be switched from the live mode to the safe mode and from the safe mode to the live mode in response to signals received by the signal receiving means from a remote source.  
   
   
       56 . A shooting device as claimed in  claim 55 , wherein the switching means is connected to the signal receiving means and the switching between live and safe modes takes place in response to control signals outputted by the signal receiving means in response to the signals from the remote source.  
   
   
       57 . A shooting device as claimed in  claim 55 , wherein the signal receiving means is adapted to receive radio frequency (RF) signals.  
   
   
       58 . A shooting device as claimed in  claim 57 , wherein the frequency of the RF signals are 315 MHz; 433 MHz; or 816 MHz,  
   
   
       59 . A shooting device as claimed in  claim 57 , wherein two or more different coded signals on the same RF frequency are used.  
   
   
       60 . A shooting device as claimed in  claim 56 , wherein the signal receiving means comprises an aerial and a processing unit, the processing unit operable to process signals received by the aerial and thereby output suitable control signals to the switching means.  
   
   
       61 . A shooting device as claimed in  claim 55  wherein: 
 the switching means comprises an engaging element and a locking bar, the engaging element being spring biased and projecting toward the back of the trigger such that it engages with the trigger if a user attempts to pull the trigger and the locking bar being movable from a safe position wherein it locks the engaging element in position and a live position wherein it does not lock the engaging element in position, such that when the locking bar is in the live position, operation of the trigger causes the engaging element to engage the trigger;    sufficient force applied to the trigger overcomes the spring bias of the engaging element and permits full operation of the trigger, and    when the locking bar is in the safe position, it locks the engaging element in position and prevents full operation of the trigger.    
   
   
       62 . A shooting device as claimed in  claim 61 , wherein movement means are provided to move the locking bar between said live and said safe positions in response to signals outputted by said signal receiving means.  
   
   
       63 . A shooting device as claimed in  claim 62 , wherein the locking bar is spring biased such that it is maintained in the safe position unless a force is applied by the movement means.  
   
   
       64 . A shooting device as claimed in  claim 62 , wherein the locking bar is moved between said live and safe positions by a solenoid.  
   
   
       65 . A shooting device as claimed in  claim 64 , wherein the distal end of the locking bar is connected to a metallic rod or similar, said rod projecting into a solenoid such that when a current flows in the solenoid, the rod is drawn further into the solenoid, thereby moving the locking bar from the safe position to the live position.  
   
   
       66 . A shooting device as claimed in  claim 61  wherein a power source is incorporated into the shooting  
   
   
       67 . A shooting device as claimed in  claim 55 , wherein the shooting device is a paintball marker and the projectiles are paintballs.  
   
   
       68 . A shooting device as claimed in  claim 67 , wherein the shooting device is a mechanical paintball marker.  
   
   
       69 . A shooting device as claimed in  claim 67 , wherein the shooting device is an electric paintball marker.  
   
   
       70 . A system comprising: 
 a shooting device for firing a projectile and a remote control unit, said shooting device having a live mode wherein the device is able to fire a projectile and a safe mode wherein the device is temporarily inhibited from being able to fire a projectile;    said shooting device comprises control means including means for receiving a signal from the remote control unit; and    said control means being configured to switch the device between the live and safe modes on receipt by the signal receiving means of a signal from the remote control unit wherein the remote control unit is operable by someone other than the user of the shooting device to cause the control unit to transmit a signal to switch the shooting device between the live and safe modes.    
   
   
       71 . A system as claimed in  claim 70 , said system comprises a plurality of said shooting devices, the system being configured such that all active shooting devices of the system within range of the remote control unit are switched between live and safe modes on transmission of a signal from the remote control unit.  
   
   
       72 . A system as claimed in  claim 70 , said system comprising a plurality of said shooting devices, in which the signal transmitted by the remote control unit is addressed to selected individual shooting devices in the system such that only the selected shooting devices of the system within range are switched between live and safe modes on transmission of a signal from the remote control unit.  
   
   
       73 . A method of remotely controlling the use of a shooting device, said method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a shooting device having a live mode wherein it is able to fire a projectile and a safe mode wherein it is temporarily inhibited from firing a projectile;    providing a control means within said shooting device including means for receiving a signal from a remote control unit, said control means being arranged to switch the device between live and safe modes in response to receipt by the signal receiving means of signals form the remote control unit; providing said remote control unit with a transmitter, the remote control unit being selectively operable to transmit a signal to switch the shooting device either from the safe mode to the live mode or from the live mode to the safe mode; and    actuating the remote control unit to cause the remote control unit to transmit a signal to switch said at least one shooting device either form the safe mode to the live mode to enable the shooting device to be used or from the live mode to the safe mode to prevent the shooting device from being used.    
   
   
       74 . The method as recited in  claim 73 , wherein said method comprises the step of enabling said remote control unit to be operated by a person other than the user of the shooting device.