U.S. patent application number 12/457830 was filed with the patent office on 2009-10-22 for paintball and method of manufacture.
This patent application is currently assigned to Procaps L.P.. Invention is credited to Christopher Black.
Application Number | 20090260536 12/457830 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41200028 |
Filed Date | 2009-10-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090260536 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Black; Christopher |
October 22, 2009 |
Paintball and method of manufacture
Abstract
The present invention relates to a paintball comprising a shell
containing an inner filler composition. The shell comprises a
mixture of gelatin and mineral oil; the inner filler composition
comprises a mixture of starch, oil, an emulsifying agent and a
spreading and surfacting agent. The shell further comprises a
non-crystallizing polyhydric alcohol, glycerine, and water. The
inner filler composition may further comprise a pigment. The
non-crystallizing polyhydric alcohol may be sorbitol, the oil is
Soya oil and the emulsifying agent is emulsifying wax. The
spreading and surfacting agent may be Tween.RTM. 20 and the pigment
may be TiO.sub.2.
Inventors: |
Black; Christopher;
(Lasalle, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Mila Shvartsman
P.O. Box 48652
Outremont
QC
H2V 4T9
CA
|
Assignee: |
Procaps L.P.
|
Family ID: |
41200028 |
Appl. No.: |
12/457830 |
Filed: |
June 23, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11640944 |
Dec 19, 2006 |
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12457830 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
102/513 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F42B 12/40 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
102/513 |
International
Class: |
F42B 12/40 20060101
F42B012/40; F42B 12/72 20060101 F42B012/72 |
Claims
1. A paintball comprising: a shell containing an inner filler
composition; wherein said shell comprises a mixture of a gelatine
and a mineral oil; and wherein said inner filler composition
comprises a mixture of a starch an oil an emulsifying agent and a
spreading and surfacting agent wherein said mineral oil of said
shell interacts with the gelatine to create a barrier preventing
penetration into said shell of said oil contained in said inner
filler composition and wherein said mineral oil further balances
out interaction with said oil of said filler composition; wherein
said starch is used as a thickening and binding agent and provided
to completely replace a polyethylene glycol; wherein said
emulsifying agent acts as a binding and stabilizing agent between
said starch and said oil of said filler composition and is provided
to keep heavier particles of said filler composition in suspension
and to improve washability; wherein said spreading and surfacting
agent acts as an additional binding agent between said starch and
said oil of said filler composition and provided to improve
washability; and wherein the proportions between said starch and
said oil in said filler composition are precisely balanced and
formulated to achieve maximum performance, thickness and stability
of said filler composition in extreme cold weather conditions,
ranging from 30% starch and 65% oil at the lower level to 50%
starch and 45% oil in the upper level, and wherein said emulsifying
agent and said spreading and surfacting agent contain the remaining
5% of the total mixture;
2. Paintball according to claim 1, wherein said shell further
comprises a non-crystallizing polyhydric alcohol, glycerine, water
and a pigment.
3. Paintball according to claim 2, wherein said non-crystallizing
polyhydric alcohol is non-crystallizing sorbitol solution.
4. Paintball according to claim 1, wherein said oil is Soya oil,
said emulsifying agent is emulsifying wax and said spreading and
surfacting agent is Polysorbate 20.
5. Paintball according to claim 2, wherein said pigment is
TiO.sub.2.
6. Paintball according to claim 2, wherein said shell contains
39.29% gelatine, 4.34% non-crystallizing polyhydric alcohol, 6.89%
glycerine, 8.16% mineral oil and 41.33% water.
7. A paintball comprising: a shell containing an inner filler
composition; wherein said shell comprises a mixture of a
gel-forming agent and a barrier agent; and wherein said inner
filler composition comprises a mixture of a starch a carrier agent
an emulsifying agent and a spreading and surfacting agent; wherein
said barrier agent of said shell interacts with said gel-forming
agent of said shell to create a barrier preventing penetration of
the carrier agent of said filler composition into said shell and
wherein said barrier agent is provided to balance out interaction
with said carrier agent of said filler composition; wherein said
starch is used as a thickening and binding agent and is provided to
completely replace a polyethylene glycol; wherein the proportion of
said starch and said carrier agent in said filler composition is
precisely balanced and formulated to achieve maximum thickness,
performance and stability to withstand extreme cold weather
conditions; wherein said emulsifying agent facilitates binding
between said starch and said carrier agent and provided to keep
heavier particles of said filler composition in suspension thus
improving stability of said filler composition; and wherein said
spreading and surfacting agent further acts as an additional
binding agent between said starch and said carrier agents.
8. Paintball according to claim 7, wherein the proportion of said
starch and the carrier agent in said inner filler composition is
from 30% starch and 65% carrier agent at the lower level to 50%
starch and 45% carrier agent in the upper level, and wherein said
emulsifying agent and said spreading and surfacting agent contain
the remaining 5% of the total mixture.
9. Paintball according to claim 7, wherein said shell further
comprises a humectant rubberizing agent, a diluting agent,
glycerine and a pigment.
10. Paintball according to claim 9, wherein said humectant
rubberizing agent is a non-crystallizing polyhydric alcohol.
11. Paintball according to claim 9, wherein said gel-forming agent
is gelatine, said diluting agent is water, said carrier agent is
oil, said emulsifying agent is emulsifying wax and said spreading
and surfacting agent is Polysorbate 20.
12. Paintball according to claim 10, wherein said non-crystallizing
polyhydric alcohol is non-crystallizing sorbitol solution.
13. Paintball according to claim 11, wherein said oil is Soya
oil.
14. Paintball according to claim 9, wherein said pigment agent is
TiO.sub.2.
15. Paintball according to claim 11, wherein said shell contains
39.29% gelatine, 4.34% non-crystallizing polyhydric alcohol, 6.89%
glycerine, 8.16% oil and 41.33% water.
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-the-part of
application Ser. No. 11/640,944 filed on Dec. 19, 2006. The present
invention relates to paintballs, and more particularly to a new and
improved shell and paintball filler composition and method of
manufacture.
[0002] For years, the paintball industry's standard ingredient for
paintball filler has been polyethylene glycol as the base for all
ingredients, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,393,054 to Rouffer
issued Feb. 28, 1995. There are several grades of polyethylene
glycol used for filler, but most common are polyethylene glycol 300
and 400.
[0003] Depending on formulae, the percentage of polyethylene glycol
used in paintballs ranges from 75% to 95%. Additives that thicken
the filler vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Polyethylene
glycol "PEG 3350", starches, pigments, dyes and other ingredients
have been added to enhance the thickness and marking ability of the
filler. Glycerine, titanium and water are also used.
[0004] To produce a filler using these ingredients, it is necessary
to first heat up the polyethylene glycol. After it reaches set
temperature, polyethylene glycol PEG 3350 is added. When it
dissolves to clear liquid, water, glycerine, blended dyes and
titanium are added. Then the mixture must to be cooled down to
become more viscous.
[0005] The primary disadvantage of these previously known
paintballs is that they are costly due to use of polyethylene
glycol. Attempts to use substitutes such as starches, oleic acid,
and other cheaper ingredients have been unsuccessful due to the
fragile balance between the paintball's shell and contents.
Chemical incompatibilities caused the various fillers to dissolve
the shell, rendering the paintball useless.
[0006] There is known U.S. Pat. No. 6,375,981 describing
film-forming composition for capsules comprising a waxy starch,
water, plasticizer and gum that may be used for production of soft
gel for food, pharmaceutical and industrial applications. However,
such composition may be not compatible with some fillers.
[0007] The present invention overcomes the above disadvantages; it
relates to a new, less expensive paintball shell formula and a
substantially cheaper filler formula.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
New Shell and Method of Manufacture
[0008] The main obstacle in producing a less-expensive filler is
its instability with the conventional gelatin shell. Prior attempts
to reduce the filler cost have yielded paintballs whose fill
attacked the shell, resulting in complete paintball disintegration
inside their packaging thus rendering themselves useless. Thus, it
is of importance to the present invention that the gelatin shell be
chemically stable with the filler.
[0009] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a more
stable product where weather and temperature is concerned while
also having benefits of provided cost stability by eliminating
commodity driven PEG from the equation.
[0010] In the preferred embodiment, the paintball shell comprises:
[0011] Gelatin (39.29%) [0012] Sorbitol (4.34%) [0013] Glycerine
(6.89%) [0014] Drakeol 7.TM. (8.16%) [0015] Water (41.32%) Sorbitol
plays the role of humectant or rubberizing agent, and is related to
a preferred non-crystallizing polyhydric alcohol. Other
non-crystalline forms of sorbitol are "Sorbo" and "Sorbitol
Special", each of which is available from ICI Americas. Other
useful non-crystallizing polyhydric alcohols include
pentaerythritol, glycerol, propylene glycol, and
low-molecular-weight polyethylene glycol.
[0016] Drakeol 7.TM. pays the role of barrier agent and is related
to a commercial brand of white mineral oil. Examples of suitable,
commercially available mineral oils include Sonneborn.TM. and
Carnation.TM. white oils from Witco, Isopar.TM. K and Isopar.TM. H
from Exxon, and Peneteck.TM. white mineral oils from Penreco.
[0017] Gelatin plays the role of a gel-forming agent and water is a
diluting agent.
[0018] The method of preparation of the preferred embodiment of the
gelatin shell used in the encapsulation of the present paintball is
as follows:
[0019] water, glycerine, sorbitol, and Drakeol 7.TM. are added into
the reactor. The mixture is heated to 162.degree. F. and the
gelatin is added to the mixture. The mixture is heated further to
172.degree. F. and mixed for 20 minutes. After appropriate mixing,
the gelatin is chilled to 143.5.degree. F. and ready for use.
[0020] Additional ingredients used in manufacturing of the shell
according to the present invention, such as mineral oil, allow to
balance shell composition with new filler of the present
invention.
[0021] Mineral oil of the present invention (barrier agent) is used
only inside the shell formulation. This mineral oil interacts with
the gelatine of said shell to create a barrier against natural
tendency of vegetable (Soya) oil (carrier agent) from the filler to
penetrate inside the shell and to soften it, which is highly
undesirable condition. Mineral oil of the present invention is
provided to balance out the interaction of the vegetable oil from
the filler with the shell, which is very important aspect of the
present invention. In simple terms it helps to act as a barrier
agent against the carrier agent (Soya oil) inside the
paintball.
Method of Manufacture of Paintball Filler
1. One Phase Method:
[0022] The method of manufacture of paintball filler is the most
important component of the present invention. Although a range of
proportions and methods may be used (as described further), the
preferred embodiments method comprises the following:
[0023] Starch (41.86%)
[0024] Soya Oil (52.23%)
[0025] Pigments (1.15%)
[0026] Tween.RTM. 20 (1.15%)
[0027] Emulsifying Wax (3.61%)
[0028] Starch acts as a thickening and binding agent, and various
possible types of starch may be corn starch, potato starch, rice
starch, wheat and tapioca. Starch is used to completely replace
PEG, which is one of the most important features of the present
invention.
[0029] Soya oil acts as a carrier agent and is the preferred oil;
one may substitute corn oil, canola, peanut oil, olive oil, palm
oil, linseed oil, or any combination thereof.
[0030] Tween.RTM. 20, also known generically as Polysorbate 20, is
a surfactant and spreading agent. It also acts as an additional
binding agent between starch and vegetable oil of the filler
composition and provided to improve washability. The use of
Tween.RTM. 20 is to bind the Soya oil with the first water
particles it encounters. Being a part of the starch, water leeches
from the shell and binds with Tween20. This helps not only in
stabilizing the product, but also to improve washability.
[0031] Emulsifying wax acts as an emulsifying agent and
additionally is used as a binding agent between two usually
non-compatible materials, in this case, the starch and oil. It also
keeps heavier particles of filler composition in suspense.
Emulsifying wax of the present invention plays the role as a
stabilizing agent and allows the final product to be washable,
which is highly desirable feature of the present invention. Both
ingredients Tween.RTM. 20 and wax bind the materials, but the
emulsifying wax has the added property of keeping the heavier
particles in suspension.
[0032] The content of starch and vegetable oil in the inner filler
composition of the present invention is precisely balanced and
formulated to achieve maximum performance, thickness and stability
in extreme cold weather conditions, such as winter. It could
perform when temperature outside is up to -10.degree. Celsius,
which is very advantageous feature of the present invention.
[0033] Such combination of the above ingredients is stable from
leeching and degradation over time as all known fillers. Because of
the above and because precise stability in formulation such
paintball filler allows to withstand extreme cold temperature up to
-10.degree. Celsius.
[0034] Starch of the present filler play the roll of binding agent
to bind the oil to help Polysorbate 20 in its function: helping to
carry water to the oil and helping its dispersion when washing.
Also starch has hydrophilic properties that allow it to leech and
hold onto excess water in the shell further stabilizing the end
product--the paintball.
[0035] The procedure for making the filler begins with half the
Soya oil being introduced into the reactor. The starch is mixed in
at high speed; once the mixture has been thoroughly mixed for 30
minutes, the remaining Soya oil is slowly introduced. Once the
mixture is homogenous, Tween.RTM. 20 is slowly mixed in at high
speed for 60 minutes to be integrated into the mixture. The mixture
is then heated to 55.degree. C. and the emulsifying wax is added.
The mixture is again thoroughly mixed for 30 minutes at high speed
to be integrated. Further, the mixture is chilled to 27.degree. C.,
and pigments are introduced at high speed and mixed for 10 minutes.
Once the mixture is smooth, it is ready for use.
[0036] While the above formula illustrates the preferred
embodiment, it is understood that many variations are possible
using starch and oil. In experimentation, the following limits have
been discovered to produce acceptable results:
[0037] Lower: 30% Starch to 65% Oil
[0038] Upper: 50% Starch to 45% Oil
[0039] 5% pigments, Tween.RTM. 20, dye and wax
Two Phase Method:
[0040] The above describes the preferred embodiment of the present
invention. However, a two-phase variation is also possible:
Phase 1:
[0041] The ingredients for this phase are as follows: [0042]
TiO.sub.2 (14.29%) [0043] Tween.RTM. 20 (81.57%) [0044] Dye (4.14%)
Tween.RTM. 20 and dye are thoroughly mixed at high speed and high
shear and filtered to remove any solid mass. When the mixture is
completely clear pigment agent, such as TiO.sub.2 is then slowly
added in an emulsification procedure and mixed for an additional 10
minutes.
Phase 2:
[0045] The ingredients for phase 2 are as follows: [0046] Starch
(53.50%) [0047] HPFU (a blend of oils) (37.50%) [0048] TiO.sub.2
(1.00%) [0049] Phase 1 mixture (3.00%) [0050] Emulsifying Wax
(3.87%) While ingredients of Phase 1 are mixing Phase 2 is in
process:
[0051] HPFU is poured into the reactor and starch is slowly added
while mixing at high speed with HPFU in the reactor for 60 minutes.
TiO.sub.2 is added slowly into the mixture and mixed for 10 minutes
to facilitate complete blending of all ingredients. Further, all
ingredients of Phase 1 are added at high speed and mixed for
another 60 minutes Then mixture is heated to 65.degree. C. and
emulsifying wax is thoroughly blended into the pre-warmed mixture
for 30 minutes at highest speed. Mixture is cooled down until the
product is at room temperature and is ready for encapsulation.
[0052] Non-limiting examples of suitable oleaginous liquids used
instead of Soya oil include mineral oils; natural oils such as
castor oil, cottonseed oil, olive oil, almond oil, peanut oil,
rapeseed oil, corn oil, sesame oil, safflower oil, hemp oil,
linseed oil, tung oil, oiticica oil, jojoba oil, meadowfoam oil,
and the like. Other suitable oleaginous liquids may include
synthetic oils such as homo- and inter-polymers of C2-C12 olefins,
carboxylic acid esters of both monoalcohols and polyols,
polyethers, silicones, polyglycols, silicates, alkylated aromatics,
carbonates, thiocarbonates, orthoformates, phosphates and
phosphites, borates and halogenated hydrocarbons. Representative of
such oils or homo- and interpolymers of C2-C12 monoolefinic
hydrocarbons, alkylated benzenes (e.g., dodecyl benzenes, didodecyl
benzenes, tetradecyl, benzenes, dinonyl benzenes,
di-(2-ethylhexyl-)benzenes, wax-alkylated naphthalenes); and
polyphenyls (e.g., biphenyls, terphenyls). Alkylene oxide polymers
and interpolymers and derivatives thereof where the terminal
hydroxyl groups have been modified by esterification,
etherification, etc., constitute another class of synthetic
oils.
[0053] Preferably, but not necessary paintballs of the present
invention are manufactured by means of an encapsulating method
which is known in the art.
[0054] There are some drawbacks to the above paintball, such as:
[0055] reduced surface area of the resulting paintball hit because
the filler of the present invention is thicker in consistency than
the prior art paintballs; [0056] the use of the paintballs of the
present invention is limited mostly for cold or cool weather since
the filler starts to deteriorate when temperature is above
25.degree. C.
[0057] Thus, it can be seen that the objects of the present
invention have been satisfied by the structure presented
hereinabove. While in accordance with the Patent Statutes, only the
best mode and preferred embodiments of the present invention have
been presented and described in detail, it is to be understood that
the invention is not limited thereto or thereby.
* * * * *