Paintball loader

Abstract

A paintball loader which feeds paintballs to a paintball marker has a rotor body and a drive motor for rotating the rotor body. The paintball loader can include a latch member for selectively securing an upper shell member to a lower shell member. The paintball loader can include a ramp member inside the upper and lower shell members. The ramp member moves between a first or flattened position and a second or raised position to facilitate operation of the loader. The components of the loader are designed so that assembly/disassembly is performed with few, if any, tools to facilitate cleaning and/or maintenance.

1 .- 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . A paintball loader for feeding one or more paintballs into a paintball marker, the loader comprising:
 a housing having a first body member and a second body member, the first body member being supported by the second body member;   a cover member disposed in the housing;   a rotor member disposed in the housing and having at least one rotor fin configured to rotate about an axis; and   a drive motor disposed in the housing and below the cover member.   
     
     
         36 . The paintball loader according to  claim 35 , wherein the cover member is releasably secured to the second body member. 
     
     
         37 . The paintball loader according to  claim 35 , wherein a length and a width of the cover member generally matches a length and a width of the second body member. 
     
     
         38 . The paintball loader according to  claim 35 , wherein the cover member is generally planar. 
     
     
         39 . The paintball loader according to  claim 35 , wherein the cover has an outer perimeter that generally matches an inner perimeter of the second body member. 
     
     
         40 . The paintball loader according to  claim 35 , wherein the first body member is releasably secured to the second body member. 
     
     
         41 . The paintball loader according to  claim 35  further comprising a rotor arm member having an opening and being configured to rotate about substantially the same axis as the rotor member. 
     
     
         42 . The paintball loader according to  claim 41 , wherein the drive motor is configured to rotate both the rotor arm member and the rotor member. 
     
     
         43 . The paintball loader according to  claim 35 , wherein the first body member is releasably secured to the second body member with fasteners, the fasteners being integral with the housing. 
     
     
         44 . The paintball loader according to  claim 35 , wherein the first body member comprises an opening and a feed lid, the feed lid being configured to move between an open position and a closed position, the feed lid covering the opening when in the closed position. 
     
     
         45 . The paintball loader according to  claim 44 , wherein the second body member comprises an exit for the paintballs. 
     
     
         46 . The paintball loader according to  claim 45 , wherein the exit is aligned with the axis of rotation for the rotor member. 
     
     
         47 . The paintball loader according to  claim 45 , wherein the cover member separates the exit from the opening. 
     
     
         48 . The paintball loader according to  claim 35 , wherein the cover member includes an aperture, the aperture being disposed over the rotor member. 
     
     
         49 . The paintball loader according to  claim 48 , wherein a diameter of the aperture is greater than a diameter of the rotor member. 
     
     
         50 . A paintball loader for feeding one or more paintballs into a paintball marker, the loader comprising:
 a housing having a first body member and a second body member, the first body member releasably coupling to the second body member at a joint;   a rotor member disposed in the housing and having at least one rotor fin configured to rotate about an axis;   a cover member disposed in the housing and below the joint, the cover member having an aperture disposed over the rotor member, the aperture being configured to receive paintballs; and   a drive motor disposed in the housing and below the cover member.   
     
     
         51 . The paintball loader according to  claim 50  further comprising a ramp member having a surface configured to contact the one or more paintballs, the surface moving between a first position and a second position. 
     
     
         52 . A paintball loader for feeding one or more paintballs into a paintball marker, the loader comprising:
 a first shell member having an opening for receiving one or more paintballs;   a second shell member having an exit for the one or more paintballs;   interengaging structure on both of the first shell member and the second shell member for releasably securing the first shell member to the second shell member;   a cover member disposed in the second shell member and below the interengaging structure;   a rotor member disposed in the second shell member and having at least one rotor fin configured to rotate about an axis; and   a drive motor disposed in the second shell member and below the cover member.   
     
     
         53 . The paintball loader according to  claim 52 , wherein the interengaging structure is disposed at least on opposite sides of the loader. 
     
     
         54 . The paintball loader according to  claim 52 , wherein the cover member includes an aperture, the aperture being disposed over the rotor member.