Paintball gun with control switches on the grip

Abstract

A paintball gun is made with a control circuit controlling the operation of the gun. The control circuit is provided substantially as a stiff circuit board installed through an opening of the gun housing. The circuit board performs some novel functions including storing and replaying sound clips from stored digital files, keeping track of the number of paintballs left and providing visual indications to a user. A button is provided on the gun handle and in alignment with a control switch on the printed circuit board. Pushing the button causes the activation of the control switch. The button may be implemented as a portion of the handle that is flexible. When this portion is depressed, it flexes inward to activate the control switch.

1 . A paintball gun comprising:
 a body with a handle carrying a trigger, said handle having a wall formed with a button;   a barrel attached to said body and selectively ejecting paintballs in response to the activation of said trigger; and   a printed circuit board mounted in said handle, said printed circuit board including a control switch associated with a function of the paintball gun and being disposed in alignment with said button; wherein said control circuit includes several modes of operation and functions selected by said control switch, said control switch being activated by depressing said button.   
   
   
       2 . The paintball gun of  claim 1  wherein said wall has a portion that is flexible to deflect toward when pressed, said portion being positioned in alignment with said control switch to form said button. 
   
   
       3 . The paintball gun of  claim 1  further comprising a visual display indicating various information from said control circuit to an operator. 
   
   
       4 . The paintball gun of  claim 3  wherein said visual indicator is an LED. 
   
   
       5 . The paintball gun of  claim 3  wherein said visual display is a screen mounted on the handle. 
   
   
       6 . The paintball gun of  claim 5  wherein in said screen is a color screen. 
   
   
       7 . The paintball gun of  claim 1  further comprising a tactile resonator generating tactile signals indicative of an operation of the gun. 
   
   
       8 . The paintball gun of  claim 7  wherein said tactile resonator is mounted on said handle. 
   
   
       9 . The paintball gun of  claim 1  further comprising an external connector providing a data path for external information between said control circuit and the outside world. 
   
   
       10 . The paintball gun of  claim 9  wherein said external connector is a USB connector. 
   
   
       11 . The paintball gun of  claim 9  wherein said external connector is a wireless connector.