Paintball Markers

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are disclosed of paintball makers. In an exemplary embodiment, a paintball marker generally includes a housing including a wall defining a chamber having an axis and an open end. A valve assembly is within the chamber. The valve assembly may be coaxial with the chamber. The valve assembly may be configured for rotation about the axis of the chamber. The valve assembly may be configured to seal compressed gas while at rest and configured to seal and release compressed gas while in motion. Additionally, or alternatively, the revolving valve assembly may have a start position and a stop position which is located one revolution from initial movement out of the start position.

1 . A paintball marker comprising:
 a housing including a wall defining a chamber having an axis and an open end, the wall including a first opening and a second opening; and   a valve assembly within the chamber and coaxial therewith, the valve assembly configured for rotation coaxially about the axis of the chamber;   whereby a revolution of the valve assembly about the axis of the chamber includes the valve assembly being rotated between a plurality of positions including:   a first position in which the valve assembly closes the second opening while permitting entry of a ball into the chamber through the first opening;   a second position in which the valve assembly closes the first opening while permitting entry of compressed gas into the chamber through the second opening for expulsion of the ball from the chamber through the open end of the chamber; and   a third position in which the valve assembly closes the second opening while permitting entry of a ball into the chamber through the first opening.   
     
     
         2 . The paintball marker of  claim 1 , wherein the paintball marker is configured such that the third position is located one full revolution from the first position. 
     
     
         3 . The paintball marker of  claim 1 , wherein the paintball marker is configured such that:
 the second position located one-half of a revolution from the first position; and/or   the third position is located one-half of a revolution from the second position.   
     
     
         4 . The paintball marker of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the valve assembly includes a valve body having an axis aligned with the axis of the chamber;   the first and third positions are start and stop home positions of the valve body; and   the revolution of the valve assembly comprises a three hundred sixty degree rotation of the valve body about the axis of the chamber.   
     
     
         5 . The paintball marker of  claim 1 , wherein the valve assembly comprises a revolving valve body configured to seal compressed gas while at rest and configured to seal and release compressed gas while in motion, the revolving valve body having a start position and a stop position which is located one revolution from initial movement out of the start position. 
     
     
         6 . The paintball marker of  claim 1 , wherein the paintball marker is configured such that a ball is discharged solely with a revolving operation of the valve assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The paintball marker of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the valve assembly is operated by an assisted rotational device; and/or   the valve assembly is constructed of an injection molded ball-bearing grade material.   
     
     
         8 . The paintball marker of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the valve assembly comprises a valve body having an opening therein for permitting entry of the compressed gas when the valve assembly is in the second position; and   a time during the revolution which the opening of the valve body is at least partially aligned with the second opening is characterized as a dwell time for flow of the compressed gas into the chamber and thence toward the ball.   
     
     
         9 . The paintball marker of  claim 1 , wherein the valve assembly comprises a valve body and a scoop for holding the ball, the scoop attached to the valve body and coaxial therewith, the scoop configured to receive the ball entering the chamber when the valve assembly is in the first and third positions and to close the first opening when the valve assembly is in the second position, the scoop being open at a front end thereof to permit movement of the ball as it is expelled and having an opening at a back end thereof to communicate with an interior of the valve body, so that the compressed gas flows through said opening toward the ball when the valve assembly is in the second position. 
     
     
         10 . The paintball marker of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the chamber includes a breech portion communicating with the first opening into which the ball drops when the valve assembly is in the first or third position, the breech portion having the scoop disposed therein so that the ball drops into the scoop; and   the paintball marker further comprises a hopper coupled to the breech portion via the first opening for holding the ball prior to dropping into the breech portion.   
     
     
         11 . The paintball marker of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the paintball marker further comprises one or more electronic break beam eyes for monitoring and for sensing the position of the ball; and   the scoop is formed of a transparent material to permit the one or more electronic break beam eyes to monitor and sense the position of the ball.   
     
     
         12 . The paintball marker of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor for sensing a position of the valve assembly during revolution about the axis. 
     
     
         13 . The paintball marker of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the valve assembly comprises a valve body having an opening therein for permitting entry of the compressed gas when the valve assembly is in the second position;   a plurality of sealing members are disposed externally about the valve body, including at least two sealing members circumferentially disposed about the valve body on opposite sides of the opening in the valve body, and at least one sealing member disposed about a perimeter of the opening in the valve body.   
     
     
         14 . The paintball marker of  claim 1 , wherein the paintball marker is configured such that delivery of the ball to the housing and delivery of compressed gas to expel the ball requires only a single moving part, which is the valve assembly revolving in the chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The paintball marker of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the paintball marker further comprises a tube positioned within the housing;   the valve assembly is positioned within the tube; and   the tube comprises a low friction material.   
     
     
         16 . A paintball marker comprising:
 a housing including a wall defining a chamber having an axis; and   a valve assembly within the chamber and coaxial therewith, the valve assembly configured for rotation coaxially about the axis of the chamber, the valve assembly including a revolving valve body configured to seal compressed gas while at rest and configured to seal and release compressed gas while in motion, the revolving valve body having a start position and a stop position which is located one revolution from initial movement out of the start position.   
     
     
         17 . The paintball marker of  claim 16 , wherein the paintball marker is configured such that delivery of a ball to the housing and delivery of compressed gas to expel the ball from the housing requires only a single moving part, which is the valve assembly revolving in the chamber. 
     
     
         18 . The paintball marker of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the chamber has an open end;   the wall includes a first opening and a second opening; and   the valve assembly is configured such that during one revolution, the valve assembly is rotated between a plurality of positions including:
 the start position in which the valve assembly closes the second opening while permitting entry of a ball into the chamber through the first opening; 
 an intermediate position in which the valve assembly closes the first opening while permitting entry of compressed gas into the chamber through the second opening for expulsion of the ball from the chamber through the open end of the chamber; and 
 the stop position in which the valve assembly closes the second opening while permitting entry of a ball into the chamber through the first opening. 
   
     
     
         19 . The paintball marker of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the revolving valve body includes an opening therein for permitting entry of the compressed gas when the valve assembly is in an intermediate position between the start and stop positions; and a plurality of sealing members are disposed externally about the revolving valve body, including at least two sealing members circumferentially disposed about the revolving valve body on opposite sides of the opening in the valve body, and at least one sealing member disposed about a perimeter of the opening in the revolving valve body; and/or   the paintball marker further comprises a tube positioned within the housing, the valve assembly is positioned within the tube, and the tube comprises a low friction material.   
     
     
         20 . A paintball marker comprising:
 a housing including a wall defining a chamber having an open end, the wall including a first opening and a second opening; and   a valve assembly within the chamber, the valve assembly configured for rotation about the axis from a start position to a stop position which is located one revolution from initial movement out of the start position, the valve assembly is configured such that during one revolution, the valve assembly is rotated between a plurality of positions including:
 the start position in which the valve assembly closes the second opening while permitting entry of a ball into the chamber through the first opening; 
 an intermediate position in which the valve assembly closes the first opening while permitting entry of compressed gas into the chamber through the second opening for expulsion of the ball from the chamber through the open end of the chamber; and 
 the stop position in which the valve assembly closes the second opening while permitting entry of a ball into the chamber through the first opening; 
   whereby the paintball marker is configured such that delivery of a ball to the housing and delivery of compressed gas to expel the ball from the housing requires only a single moving part, which is the valve assembly revolving in the chamber.