Compressed Gas Projectile Accelerator Having Multiple Projectile Velocity Settings

Abstract

A compressed gas projectile accelerator that includes a velocity adjustment mechanism and/or method configured to allow the compressed gas projectile accelerator to expel projectiles between a first velocity setting and a second velocity setting. The velocity adjustment mechanism and/or method includes a velocity controller configured to allow a user to selectively select a velocity setting falling between the first velocity setting and the second velocity setting. The first velocity setting comprises an upper or maximum velocity setting and the second velocity setting comprises a lower or minimum velocity setting.

1 . A compressed gas projectile accelerator, comprising:
 a velocity adjustment mechanism configured to allow said compressed gas projectile accelerator to expel projectiles between a first velocity setting and a second velocity setting, said velocity adjustment mechanism including a velocity controller configured to allow a user to selectively select a velocity setting between said first velocity setting and said second velocity setting.   
     
     
         2 . The compressed gas projectile accelerator of  claim 1 , said velocity adjustment mechanism comprising a flow restriction member configured to selectively restrict an amount of compressed gas used to expel projectiles as a function of said velocity setting. 
     
     
         3 . The compressed gas projectile accelerator of  claim 2 , where said velocity controller is connected with said flow restriction member and is configured to be adjusted between said first velocity setting and said second velocity setting thereby setting said compressed gas projectile accelerator at a respective velocity setting. 
     
     
         4 . The compressed gas projectile accelerator of  claim 3 , said velocity adjustment mechanism including a dial, said dial including a plurality of apertures located about a circumference of said dial, where a first stopping member placed in a first aperture of said plurality of apertures is used to set said first velocity setting and a second stopping member placed in a second aperture of said plurality of apertures is used to set said second velocity setting, where said first and second stopping members restrict movement of said velocity controller beyond said first and second stopping members. 
     
     
         5 . The compressed gas projectile accelerator of  claim 4 , where said velocity controller comprises a selector, said selector including a detainment mechanism that engages a respective one of said plurality of apertures in said dial to prevent inadvertent movement of said selector. 
     
     
         6 . The compressed gas projectile accelerator of  claim 1 , where said velocity adjustment mechanism is located in a predetermined location, where said predetermined location is selected from the group consisting of a frame, a regulator, and a compressed gas supply. 
     
     
         7 . The compressed gas projectile accelerator of  claim 1 , where said velocity adjustment mechanism is configured to selectively adjust a volume of compressed gas supplied to expel projectiles as a function of said velocity setting. 
     
     
         8 . The compressed gas projectile accelerator of  claim 1 , where said velocity adjustment mechanism is configured to selectively adjust the pressure of said compressed gas supplied to expel projectiles as a function of said velocity setting. 
     
     
         9 . The compressed gas projectile accelerator of  claim 1 , where said velocity adjustment mechanism is configured to adjust a timed release of compressed gas supplied to expel projectiles as a function of said velocity setting. 
     
     
         10 . The compressed gas projectile accelerator of  claim 1 , where said velocity adjustment mechanism comprises a secondary velocity adjuster on a compressed gas projectile accelerator with a main velocity adjuster. 
     
     
         11 . A method, comprising:
 configuring a compressed gas projectile accelerator to expel projectiles at a user selected velocity setting falling between a first velocity setting and a second velocity setting; and   providing a velocity selector configured to allow a user to selectively choose a respective one of a plurality of velocity settings falling between said first and second velocity settings as desired by said user.   
     
     
         12 . A kit for retrofitting a compressed gas projectile accelerator, comprising:
 a velocity adjustment mechanism configured to allow said compressed gas projectile accelerator to expel projectiles between a defined range of velocity settings; and   a velocity controller for allowing a user to selectively adjust said velocity adjustment mechanism to a respective velocity setting falling in said range of velocity settings.   
     
     
         13 . The kit for retrofitting a compressed gas projectile accelerator of  claim 12 , said velocity adjustment mechanism being located in a predetermined location, where said predetermined location is selected from the group consisting of a frame, a regulator, and a compressed gas supply. 
     
     
         14 . The kit for retrofitting a compressed gas projectile accelerator of claim  48 , said velocity adjustment mechanism comprises a secondary velocity adjuster on a compressed gas projectile accelerator having a main velocity adjuster.