Firearms – Barrels
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-14
2001-12-04
Carone, Michael J. (Department: 3641)
Firearms
Barrels
C042S075020, C124S081000, C124S083000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06324779
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to guns. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a gun having a slightly curved bore that applies a spin onto a frangible generally spherical projectile, without causing the projectile to rupture.
BACKGROUND ART
A variety of guns for firing frangible, generally spherical projectiles are known in the art. Marking guns, (commonly referred to as paint ball guns) for example, use pressure from compressed gas such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide to fire a gelatinous capsule containing a marking material (usually paint). The capsule breaks on impact with a target dispersing the material thereby marking the target. A popular recreational use for marking guns is in “survival games,” a kind of mock war where opposing sides attempt to seek out and “shoot” one another with paint balls. Paint ball guns have also been used to segregate cattle within a herd and for a variety of other marking purposes.
Paint balls fired from such guns may have a limited trajectory because of the flight characteristics imposed on them by the amount of force that can be applied and by the configuration of the bore. In some applications, restrictions may exist on the velocity with which the ball may be expelled from the barrel. Consequently, there is a need for a gun that can affect the trajectory of the paint ball by changing its flight characteristics through changes in the gun bore rather than by increases in force applied to the ball.
It is important to note that paint balls are relatively frangible. It is, therefore, necessary that the structure or method used to improve the trajectory of the paint ball does not cause premature rupture of the ball.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a gun that applies a spin to a generally frangible projectile to improve its trajectory without causing it to rupture. One embodiment of the invention includes a firing mechanism that fires the projectile through a bore. A barrel having a breech end is coupled to the firing mechanism for receiving the frangible projectile. The bore extends longitudinally between the breech end and a muzzle end in the barrel and is slightly curved so as to impart a spin to the frangible projectile as the projectile travels through the bore.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the gas powered gun has a breech end connected to the firing mechanism at an angle such that the muzzle end is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the firing mechanism. Alternatively, the breech end may be angled perpendicular or non-perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the firing mechanism irrespective of the muzzle end. Corresponding threads on the breech end and firing mechanism cooperate to connect same.
In a further embodiment, the gas powered gun has a muzzle end that can be positioned either perpendicular or non-perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the firing mechanism. The gun may also have a shroud to mask at least a portion of the slightly curved barrel.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1187218 (1916-06-01), Wister
patent: 1348987 (1920-08-01), Fischer
patent: 3329063 (1967-07-01), Ehrenburg et al.
patent: 3610222 (1971-10-01), Hartman
patent: 4250862 (1981-02-01), Speer
patent: 4345578 (1982-08-01), Speer
patent: 5450838 (1995-09-01), Nakahigashi et al.
patent: 5640945 (1997-06-01), Slonaker et al.
patent: 5655510 (1997-08-01), Kunimoto
Popular Science, p. 172, Mar. 1952.
Barnes & Thornburg
Carone Michael J.
Mun Kyongtaek K.
Tippmann Pneumatics, Inc.
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