Link to a prior patent

[georgeyew]

I posted this on PBN but I didn't get much response, or maybe they don't know how to respond.

I searched Google and found a patent for an electronic trigger that was granted in 1988. It was designed for a firearm, but does taking the idea and moving it to a paintball gun really make it different enough for a new patent?

http://www.patents.com/Electromechanical-firing-mechanism/US4727670/en-US/

[xero28]

I didn't read through the whole thing, but it does sound similar. I don't know if you could argue that it is the same though. Unless the patent was renewed though, it looks like it is past the 20 year mark and is expired, so I don't know if anything would be done.

[Spider-TW]

I posted this on PBN but I didn't get much response, or maybe they don't know how to respond.

I searched Google and found a patent for an electronic trigger that was granted in 1988. It was designed for a firearm, but does taking the idea and moving it to a paintball gun really make it different enough for a new patent?

http://www.patents.com/Electromechan...4727670/en-US/

I believe that is the argument on both sides. And even if it is enough, who really came up with the paintball version?

I think it was Remington that had the electronically fired primers about then also. "The Man with the Golden Gun" has a sensor operated rifle in it, how old is that?

[athomas]

There was an electronically triggered air gun quite a while ago as well. Despite that, the paintball electronic patent still got granted. The patent office is very weak if you know how to play the system.