Paintball gun and light emitting projectile-type ammunition for use therewith

• US 6,298,841 B1
• Filed: 01/07/2000
• Issued: 10/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Richard T. Cheng
• Original Assignee: James S. Cheng, Richard T. Cheng
• Inventors: Cheng, Richard T., Cheng, James S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JAKEL, KEVIN W
• Application Number:
  US09/479,201
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 102/502, 102/573, 102/513, 273/58.H, 273/418, 124/56-80
• US Class Current: 124/56
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 21/32 Muzzle attachments or glands F41A21/26, F41A21/30, F41A21/46 take precedence ; for projectile velocity measurements G01P3/665, G01P3/685
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 11/00 Compressed-gas guns, e.g. air guns; Steam guns
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 11/57 Electronic or electric systems for feeding or loading F41B11/53 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 11/71 Electric or electronic control systems, e.g. for safety purposes
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/38 of tracer type
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/40 of target-marking, i.e. impact-indicating type F42B12/48, F42B12/50 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/74 of the core or solid body

Abstract

Light emitting rigid fracturable projectile-type marking ammunition are provided. The ammunition is a phosphorescent ball in the form of a spherical pellet or capsule that includes non-phosphorescent impact diffusing materials intimately admixed with phosphorescent materials. Non-phosphorescent pigments, fillers, and surfactants may also be included. The light emitting phosphorescent ball provides a luminous trail when discharged from the paintball gun and thus, may be used effectively in the dark.

Claims

1. A paintball comprising:

a shell defining an interior chamber;

a filler contained within the interior chamber; and

a phosphorescent material mixed in said filler.

2. A paintball according to claim 1, wherein said phosphorescent material comprises a basic material and an activator.

3. A paintball according to claim 2, wherein said basic material is zinc sulfide and said activator is copper.

4. A paintball according to claim 2, wherein said basic material is selected from a group consisting of zinc, sulfide, calcium, and strontium, and said activator is selected from a group consisting of copper, manganese, and bismuth.

5. A paintball according to claim 1, wherein said phosphorescent material is suspended in said filler by a surfactant.

6. A paintball according to claim 5, wherein said surfactant is selected from a group consisting of oxazoline-type nonvolatile surface active agents;

fatty alcohol phosphates;

polyoxyethylene-sorbitane-monolaurate; and

polyoxyethylene-sorbitane-monooleate.

7. The paintball according to claim 5, wherein the weight ratio of said surfactant to said phosphorescent material is about 6:

4.

8. A painthall according to claim 1, wherein said filler is selected from a group consisting of glycerin and glycol.

9. A paintball according to claim 1, wherein said shell comprises gelatin.

10. A paintball according to claim 1, wherein said shell is impregnated with said phosphorescent material.

11. A paintball comprising:

a gelatin shell defining an interior chamber;

a filler contained within the interior chamber, said filler being selected from a group consisting of glycerin and glycol; and

a phosphorescent material suspended in said filler by a surfactant, said phosphorescent material comprising a basic material and an activator.

12. The paintball according to claim 11, wherein said basic material is zinc sulfide and said activator is copper.

13. A paintball according to claim 11, wherein said basic material is selected from a group consisting of zinc, sulfide, calcium, and strontium, and said activator is selected from a group consisting of copper, manganese, and bismuth.

14. A paintball according to claim 11, wherein said surfactant is selected from a group consisting of oxazoline-type nonvolatile surface active agents;

fatty alcohol phosphates;

polyoxyethylene-sorbitane-monolaurate; and

polyoxyethylene-sorbitane-monooleate.

15. The paintball according to claim 11, wherein the weight ratio of said surfactant to said phosphorescent material is about 6:

4.

16. A paintball according to claim 11, wherein said shell is impregnated with said phosphorescent material.

17. A phosphorescent ball used as projectile ammunition for an air-powered gun, said phosphorescent ball comprising:

an impact energy dispersing pellet formed of one or more non-phosphorescent, light transmissive pellet materials, said pellet having a substantially spherical exterior periphery; and

phosphorescent material supported by said pellet by intimate incorporation of said phosphorescent material into at least one of said non-phosphorescent, light transmissive pellet materials of said pellet.

18. A phosphorescent ball according to claim 17, wherein said phosphorescent material comprises a basic material and an activator.

19. A phosphorescent ball according to claim 18, wherein said basic material is selected from a group consisting of zinc sulfide, calcium sulfide, and strontium sulfide, and said activator is selected from a group consisting of copper, manganese, and bismuth.

20. A phosphorescent ball according to claim 17, wherein said pellet includes:

a fracturable shell defining an interior chamber; and

a filler contained within the interior chamber.

21. A phosphorescent ball according to claim 20, wherein said pellet further comprises a surfactant, said phosphorescent material being suspended in said filler by said surfactant.

22. A phosphorescent ball according to claim 21, wherein said surfactant is selected from a group consisting of:

oxazoline-type nonvolatile surface active agents;

fatty alcohol phosphates;

polyoxyethylene-sorbitane-monolaurate; and

polyoxyethylene-sorbitane-monooleate.

23. A phosphorescent ball according to claim 20, wherein said filler is selected from a group consisting of glycerin and glycol.

24. A phosphorescent ball according to claim 20, wherein said fracturable shell comprises gelatin.

25. A phosphorescent ball according to claim 20, wherein said fracturable shell is impregnated with said phosphorescent material.

26. A phosphorescent ball according to claim 17, wherein said pellet further comprises one or more non-phosphorescent pigment materials.

27. A phosphorescent ball according to claim 17, wherein said pellet material is a resilient pellet material.

28. A phosphorescent ball according to claim 17, wherein said resilient pellet material is a solid polymeric material selected from the group consisting of urethane polymers and silicone rubbers.

29. A phosphorescent ball according to claim 17, wherein said resilient pellet material is a cellular foam material.

30. A phosphorescent ball according to claim 17, wherein said phosphorescent material is provided in an amount from about 0.5 percent to about 1.5 percent by weight of the total phosphorescent ball.

31. A paintball gun for discharging phosphorescent balls, said paintball gun having an exciter coupled thereto, said exciter being adapted to excite a phosphorescent ball so that the phosphorescent ball emits light and provides a luminous trail when discharged from said paintball gun.

32. A paintball gun according to claim 31, further including a muzzle, said exciter being coupled to said muzzle.