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US-20260126262-A1 - COMPRESSED GAS PROJECTILE LAUNCHING DEVICES

US20260126262A1US 20260126262 A1US20260126262 A1US 20260126262A1US-20260126262-A1

Abstract

Various projectile launching devices are disclosed herein. In one aspect, the projectile launching device includes a gas-powered projectile agitator, an anti-jam assembly, and a compressed gas canister frame positioned below a body of the device. In another embodiment, the projectile launching device includes a rear-loading hopper and a projectile agitator which is actuated by mechanical power via a linkage with a pump handle.

Inventors

  • Louis Spicer
  • Mark Pearce
  • Robert W. Ambrose
  • John Ronald Rice

Assignees

  • KORE OUTDOOR (US), INC.

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20250811

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . A projectile launching device comprising: a hopper configured to retain projectiles; a body including a projectile agitator assembly configured to selectively protrude into the hopper; and a grip assembly including a handle and a trigger assembly arranged below a rear portion of the body, and a frame arranged below a front portion of the body, the frame being dimensioned to hold a compressed gas canister.
  2. 2 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the projectile agitator assembly is gas actuated.
  3. 3 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the body includes an anti-jam assembly.
  4. 4 . The device according to claim 3 , wherein the anti-jam assembly includes a linkage and an anti-jam spring.
  5. 5 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the frame includes an opening dimensioned to receive the compressed gas canister.
  6. 6 . The device according to claim 5 , wherein the opening has a longitudinal axis (X 1 ) extending parallel to a longitudinal axis (X 2 ) of the body.
  7. 7 . The device according to claim 5 , wherein the opening of the frame is positioned below the hopper.
  8. 8 . The device according to claim 5 , wherein the frame is positioned below the trigger assembly.
  9. 9 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the frame is positioned longitudinally inward from a projectile launching opening defined on the body.
  10. 10 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the hopper includes a housing defining an interior chamber configured to retain the projectiles, a lid attached to the housing, and a fill volume limiting wall arranged within the housing that blocks a portion of the interior chamber.
  11. 11 . The device according to claim 1 , further comprising luminescent projectiles that are configured to be launched by the device.
  12. 12 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the projectile agitator assembly includes an agitating surface that partially forms a base of the hopper.
  13. 13 . The device according to claim 12 , wherein the projectile agitator assembly further includes a piston configured to displace the agitating surface into the hopper.
  14. 14 . The device according to claim 13 , wherein a compressed air supply line is connected to the piston, and the compressed air supply line provides a predetermined amount of compressed air to the piston each time a trigger of the trigger assembly is engaged.
  15. 15 . The device according to claim 12 , wherein the agitating surface is connected to an interior wall of the hopper via a pivot connection, and a return spring is provided to bias the agitating surface to a non-actuated position.
  16. 16 . The device according to claim 12 , wherein the agitating surface has a length (L) that is at least half of a total length of the hopper.
  17. 17 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the hopper further comprises a fill volume limiting wall arranged within an interior of the hopper and connected to a lid, wherein a linkage is provided between the lid and the fill volume limiting wall such that the fill volume limiting wall is displaced when the lid is opened.
  18. 18 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein at least portion of a housing of the hopper is transparent such that an interior chamber of the hopper is visible.
  19. 19 . A projectile launching device comprising: a hopper defining an interior chamber configured to retain projectiles; and a body including a projectile agitator assembly configured to selectively move within the interior chamber, wherein the projectile agitator assembly includes a projectile agitator that is configured to move forward and backwards within the interior chamber.
  20. 20 . The device according to claim 19 , further comprising a pump handle configured to load a projectile for firing, wherein the pump handle is linked to the projectile agitator assembly.

Description

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE This application is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional Application No. 18/029,564, filed Mar. 30, 2023, which is a U. S National Stage patent application under 35 U.S. C § 371 of International Application No. PCT/US2021/052575, filed Sep. 29, 2021, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/085,750, filed on Sep. 30, 2020, the entirety of all of which are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. FIELD OF INVENTION The present disclosure relates to the field of projectile launchers. BACKGROUND Various types of projectile launching devices are well known. Such projectile launching devices are shown and described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 10,704,859, 7,975,683, 9,658,027, and 8,950,387, the entire contents of all of which are incorporated by reference herein. Projectile launching devices can be configured to shoot paintballs, foam balls, pellets, or other types of projectiles. The energy required to fire projectiles in these devices can be supplied in a variety of ways. For example, some projectile launching devices rely on compressed gas to fire the projectiles. Other devices require manual pumping of a handle or mechanism to build up air pressure and load a firing spring. One persistent issue with these devices includes jamming of projectiles in the hopper. This can result in the device malfunctioning or misfiring. Another common issue for these devices involves the safety of the user and any bystanders, particularly during loading and reloading of the projectiles. It would be desirable to provide a projectile launching device that reliably fires, does not jam, and also includes safety features. It would further be desirable to provide a projectile launching device that is easy to load with projectiles. It would further be desirable to provide a projectile launching device that accommodates soft projectiles and does not cause such projectiles to jam on firing. SUMMARY A projectile launching device is disclosed herein. The projectile launching device includes a body, a grip assembly, and a hopper. In one aspect, the body includes a projectile agitator assembly configured to selectively protrude into the hopper. The projectile agitator assembly can be gas actuated. In one aspect, the body includes an anti-jam assembly. The anti-jam assembly can include a linkage and an anti-jam spring configured to allow the linkage to move rearward if a bolt of the device engages a jammed projectile. In one aspect, the grip assembly includes a handle and trigger assembly arranged below a rear portion of the body, and a frame arranged below a front portion of the body. The frame is dimensioned to hold a compressed gas canister. Specifically, the frame includes an opening dimensioned to receive the compressed gas canister. In one aspect, the opening has a longitudinal axis (X1) extending parallel to a longitudinal axis (X2) of the body. The opening of the frame can be positioned below the hopper. The frame can be positioned below the trigger assembly. The frame can be positioned longitudinally inward from a projectile launching opening defined on the body. Preferably, an opening of the frame is circular and configured to be shaped so as to snugly hold a compressed gas canister of appropriate size. In one aspect, the hopper includes a housing defining a container for projectiles, a lid attached to the housing, and a fill volume limiting wall arranged within the housing. In one aspect, luminescent projectiles are also provided that are configured to be fired or launched by the projectile launching device. In another embodiment, a grip for a compressed gas projectile launcher is provided. The grip includes a handle including a trigger assembly, and a frame attached to the handle. The frame defines a sleeve dimensioned to receive a compressed gas canister. Another projectile launching device is disclosed that includes a body, a grip assembly, and a hopper. A lid is attached to a rear surface of the hopper. This device also includes a projectile agitator configured to: (i) extend at least partially inside of the hopper, and (ii) move relative to an interior chamber defined by the hopper. Additional embodiments are disclosed herein. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing Summary and the following Detailed Description will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the disclosure. In the drawings: FIG. 1A is a side cross-sectional view of a projectile launching device in a non-firing state or ready-to-fire or rearward state. FIG. 1B is a side cross-sectional view of the device of FIG. 1A in a firing state or forward state. FIG. 2A is a side view of a hopper for the device of FIGS. 1A and 1B with a lid in an opening state. FIG. 2B is a side view of the hopper for the device of FIGS. 1A and 1B with a lid in an open state. FIG. 3A is a side view of the hopper with the lid in a closed