Editing Bill Gardner (section)

=== Electronic marker development ===

Gardner was involved in the development and commercialisation of electronic paintball marker technology.

In 1998, Smart Parts' Shocker Turbo firing mode became the subject of a dispute over tournament equipment rules.

Following protests by rival professional teams, WARPIG journalist Bill Mills visited Smart Parts' facilities and interviewed Gardner about the system's electronic operation.

The resulting technical article documented the controversy and Gardner's explanation of the design.[14]

Gardner was also named as a co-inventor on patents relating to paintball marker technology.

United States Patent 6,035,843, granted on 14 March 2000, identifies William M. Gardner Jr., Adam Gardner, David L. Smith and Raymond S. Gaston as inventors of a pneumatically operated projectile-launching device.[15]

Smart Parts subsequently expanded its product portfolio to include the [[Smart Parts Impulse]], [[Smart Parts Ion]], [[Smart Parts Nerve]] and [[Freak Barrel System]].

The company's equipment became widely used in professional and recreational paintball during the 2000s.[1]

Smart Parts also pursued patent infringement litigation concerning electronic marker technology. The disputes and subsequent commercial developments are covered separately in the [[Smart Parts]] article.