초록 ▼

Exemplary embodiments of a gas pressure regulator comprise a regulator body, an adaptor sleeve, a retainer and an indexing ring. The regulator body includes a proximal portion, a distal portion, a ported intermediate portion therebetween, and a main bore. The adaptor sleeve axially receives the dist

Exemplary embodiments of a gas pressure regulator comprise a regulator body, an adaptor sleeve, a retainer and an indexing ring. The regulator body includes a proximal portion, a distal portion, a ported intermediate portion therebetween, and a main bore. The adaptor sleeve axially receives the distal portion and includes an outer threading for engaging an air source adaptor of a paintball marker. The retainer threadably engages the main bore within the distal end, thereby axially securing the adaptor sleeve onto the distal end. The indexing ring receives the distal portion therethrough for resiliently biased axial movement of the indexing ring between a locking position and an unlocking position. When the indexing ring is in its unlocking position, the adaptor sleeve is rotatable with respect to the regulator body. When the indexing ring is in its locking position, the adaptor sleeve is rendered substantially non-rotatable with respect to the regulator body.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A gas pressure regulator comprising: a regulator body including a proximal portion, a distal portion and an intermediate portion generally therebetween, a main bore extending through the regulator body from the proximal portion through the distal portion, the proximal portion being adapted to be

1. A gas pressure regulator comprising: a regulator body including a proximal portion, a distal portion and an intermediate portion generally therebetween, a main bore extending through the regulator body from the proximal portion through the distal portion, the proximal portion being adapted to be received by a pressurized gas reservoir in sealed engagement therewith;an adaptor sleeve for axially receiving the distal portion and including an outer threading adapted to threadably engage a fixture of a device requiring pressurized gas for its operation;a retainer element including a threaded portion adapted to threadably engage the main bore generally within the distal portion thereby axially securing the adaptor sleeve onto the distal portion; anda thread indexing ring adapted to receiving the distal portion therethrough for axial movement of the thread indexing ring between a locking position and an unlocking position, wherein the adaptor sleeve is rotatable with respect to the regulator body when the thread indexing ring is in its unlocking position, and the adaptor sleeve is rendered substantially non-rotatable with respect to the regulator body when the thread indexing ring is in its locking position. 2. A gas pressure regulator as defined in claim 1 wherein the thread indexing ring is resiliently biased toward its locking position, the bias adapted to being overcome by direct manipulation by an operator of the device. 3. A gas pressure regulator as defined in claim 2 wherein the bias is provided by magnetic interaction. 4. A gas pressure regulator as defined in claim 3 wherein the magnetic interaction is an attractive magnetic force occurring generally between the thread indexing ring and one or more magnets. 5. A gas pressure regulator as defined in claim 4 wherein the one or more magnets are secured substantially within the intermediate portion. 6. A gas pressure regulator as defined in claim 5 wherein the thread indexing ring is made substantially of a ferromagnetic material. 7. A gas pressure regulator as defined in claim 3 wherein the magnetic interaction is a repulsive magnetic force occurring generally between the thread indexing ring and the outer threading. 8. A gas pressure regulator as defined in claim 2 wherein the bias is provided by a spring element. 9. A gas pressure regular as defined in claim 1 wherein when the thread indexing ring in its unlocking position the adaptor sleeve is selectively rotatable to any of a plurality of indexed orientations even while the gas pressure regulator remains in a pressurized state. 10. A gas pressure regulator as defined in claim 1 wherein the intermediate portion includes at least two generally radially-extending ports in fluid communication with the main bore, the ports respectively being adapted to removably receive a pressure gauge and a fill nipple assembly. 11. A gas pressure regulator as defined in claim 1 wherein the fixture is an air source adaptor of a paintball marker. 12. A gas pressure regulator as defined in claim 1 further comprising: a shuttle subassembly operably housed generally within the main bore, the shuttle subassembly including a shuttle rod and a shuttle spring; anda poppet subassembly operably housed generally within the retainer element, the poppet subassembly including a poppet element and a poppet spring. 13. A gas pressure regulator as defined in claim 1 wherein: the regulator body includes a first engagement portion;the thread indexing ring includes a second engagement portion;the adaptor sleeve includes a third engagement portion;the second engagement portion being in simultaneous non-rotatable engagement with the first and third engagement portions when the thread indexing ring is in its locking position; andthe second engagement portion being out of the simultaneous non-rotatable engagement when the thread indexing ring is in its unlocking position. 14. A gas pressure regulator as defined in claim 13 wherein the first, second and third engagement portions each have a respective generally polygonal cross section. 15. A gas pressure regulator as defined in claim 14 wherein the cross sections are substantially identical to one another. 16. A gas pressure regulator comprising: a regulator body including a proximal portion, a distal portion and an intermediate portion generally therebetween, a main bore extending through the regulator body from the proximal portion through the distal portion, the proximal portion being adapted to be received by a pressurized gas reservoir in sealed engagement therewith, the intermediate portion including at least two generally radially-extending ports in fluid communication with the main bore, the ports respectively being adapted to removably receive a pressure gauge and a fill nipple assembly;a shuttle subassembly operably housed generally within the main bore, the shuttle subassembly including a shuttle rod and a shuttle spring;an adaptor sleeve in axial receipt of the distal portion and including an outer threading adapted to threadably engage an air source adaptor of a paintball marker;a retainer element including a threaded portion adapted to threadably engage the main bore generally within the distal portion thereby axially securing the adaptor sleeve onto the distal portion; anda thread indexing ring in receipt of the distal portion for axial movement between a locking position and an unlocking position, wherein the adaptor sleeve is rotatable with respect to the regulator body when the thread indexing ring is in its unlocking position, and the adaptor sleeve is rendered substantially non-rotatable with respect to the regulator body when the thread indexing ring is in its locking position, the thread indexing ring being biased toward its locking position, the bias adapted to being overcome by direct manipulation by an operator of the paintball marker. 17. A gas pressure regulator as defined in claim 16 wherein the bias is provided by magnetic interaction between the thread indexing ring and at least one magnet secured substantially within the intermediate portion. 18. A gas pressure regulator as defined in claim 16 wherein the bias is provided by a spring element. 19. A gas pressure regular as defined in claim 1 wherein when the thread indexing ring is in its unlocking position the adaptor sleeve is selectively rotatable to any of a plurality of indexed orientations even while the gas pressure regulator remains in a pressurized state. 20. A paintball marker system comprising: a paintball marker including an air source adaptor;a reservoir for pressurized gas; anda gas pressure regulator in fluid communication between the air source adaptor and the reservoir, the gas pressure regulator including:(a) a regulator body including a proximal portion, a distal portion and an intermediate portion generally therebetween, a main bore extending through the regulator body from the proximal portion through the distal portion, the proximal portion being received by the reservoir in sealed engagement therewith, the intermediate portion including at least two generally radially-extending ports in fluid communication with the main bore, the ports respectively being in receipt of a pressure gauge and a fill nipple assembly;(b) a shuttle subassembly operably housed generally within the main bore, the shuttle subassembly including a shuttle rod and a shuttle spring;(c) an adaptor sleeve in axial receipt of the distal portion and including an outer threading in threaded engagement with the air source adaptor;(d) a retainer element including a threaded portion adapted to threadably engage the main bore generally within the distal portion thereby axially securing the adaptor sleeve onto the distal portion; and(e) a thread indexing ring in receipt of the distal portion for axial movement between a locking position and an unlocking position, wherein the adaptor sleeve is rotatable with respect to the regulator body when the thread indexing ring is in its unlocking position, and the adaptor sleeve is rendered substantially non-rotatable with respect to the regulator body when the thread indexing ring is in its locking position, the thread indexing ring being biased toward its locking position, the bias adapted to being overcome by direct manipulation by an operator of the paintball marker.