Bioluminescent paintball

Abstract

A Bioluminescent Paintball 10 includes a shell 12 defining an interior cavity 14, a liquefied substance 16 disposed within the interior cavity 14, a phosphorescent material 18 disbursed throughout the shell 12 for providing a visible “tracing” effect when the bioluminescent paintball 10 is ejected from a paintball discharge device, a neutralizing agent 20 disbursed throughout the liquefied substance 16 for neutralizing calcium disbursed throughout the liquefied substance 16 thereby preventing light emission before the paintball 10 impacts a target, and a photoprotein 22 disbursed throughout the liquefied substance 16 for reacting with calcium disposed upon a target after the bioluminescent paintball 10 impacts the target, thereby rupturing the shell 12 and allowing the liquefied substance 16 to engage the calcium to produce visible light.

Description

[0001] This application is based on U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 542,592 filed on Feb. 6, 2004BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Filed of the Invention [0003] This invention relates to a luminescent projectile used during night time paintball play or night time training exercises by military or police forces by which “tracer” and “marking” projectiles are utilized in low light or dark conditions. The “tracer” effect serves as entertainment or a visual reference for a line of fire, which allows for corrections and adjustments to be made. Further, in daytime paintball games or in military and police exercises, the visible “marking” of a target by the contents of a projectile generally designates elimination from play or participation. [0004] 2. Background of the Prior Art [0005] The use of Luminescent paintballs is known in the prior art. The prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,450; U.S. Pat. No. 3,774,022; U.S. Pat. No. 3,940,605; U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,568; U.S. Pat. No. 5...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] A principal object of the present invention is to provided a bioluminescent paintball that can be utilized for allowing paintball games to be played in daylight, low light or dark conditions utilizing nighttime glow and a variance of colors that would allow for vast market distribution. A feature of the bioluminescent paintball is a phosphorescent material disposed in an outer shell. Another feature is a calcium neutralizing agent and a photoprotein disbursed within a liquefied substance disposed in an inner cavity of the bioluminescent paintball, the photoprotein providing visual light when combined with calcium, the neutralizing agent preventing the production of light should calcium be present in the paintball. An advantage of the bioluminescent paintball is that the paintball provides a tracing effect upon being projected from a paintball gun, and provides a visual light marking effect and paint mark upon a target after the bioluminescent paintball impacts the target and ruptures the outer shell to allow the liquefied substance to engage calcium on the target to produce visible light.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide an alternative bioluminescent paintball that can be utilized in daylight, low light or dark conditions. A feature of the alternative bioluminescent paintball is a phosphorescent material disposed in an outer shell. Another feature is a first liquefied substance and an inner shell disposed within the outer shell, the first liquefied substance includes a protein disbursed therein. Yet another feature is a second liquefied substance disposed within the inner shell, the second liquefied substance includes an enzyme disbursed therein. An advantage of the alternative bioluminescent paintball is that the paintball provides a tracing effect when ejected from a paintball discharge device. Another advantage of the alternative bioluminescent paintball is that the paintball provides a visual light marking effect and paint mark upon a target after the paintball impacts the target thereby rupturing the outer and inner shells and allowing the first and second liquefied substances in the shells to flow together to produce light to mark the target. This alternative bioluminescent paintball provides light without requiring the presence of calcium on the target, but the alternative paintball is more expensive to manufacture than the calcium reactive paintball.

[0013] Still another object of the present invention is to provide another alternative bioluminescent paintball that provides visible light without the presence of calcium on the target. A feature of the alternative paintball is a phosphorescent material disposed in an outer shell. Another feature of the alternative paintball is an inner wall inside the outer shell, the inner wall forming a first inner cavity containing a first liquid substance with an enzyme disbursed therein, and a second inner cavity containing a second liquid substance with a protein disbursed therein. An advantage of this alternative paintball is that the paintball provides a tracing effect when projected from a paintball discharge device. Another advantage of this paintball is that the internal configuration promotes stability during flight and reduces the “bursting force” required to combine the enzyme and protein. This paintball requires the rupturing of only an inner wall upon target impact to provide visible light. The above alternative bioluminescent paintball requires the rupturing of an outer shell and an inner shell. Also, the inner shell has a tendency to move inside the outer shell during flight thereby reducing accuracy when shooting a target.

[0014] Briefly, the invention provides a bioluminescent paintball comprising a shell defining an interior cavity; a liquefied substance disposed within said cavity; a phosphorescent material disposed within said shell, said phosphorescent material providing a tracer effect when said bioluminescent paintball is ejected from a paintball discharge device; a neutralizing agent disbursed within said liquefied substance; and a photoprotein disbursed within said liquefied substance, said photoprotein producing visible light when combined with an ion such as calcium on a target after said bioluminescent paintball impacts the target thereby rupturing said shell and allowing said liquefied substance to engage the target.

[0015] The invention further provides a bioluminescent paintball comprising an outer shell defining a first interior cavity; a first liquefied substance disposed within said first interior cavity; an inner shell disposed within said first interior cavity, said inner shell defining a second interior cavity; a second liquefied substance disposed within said second interior cavity; a phosphorescent material disposed within said outer shell, said phosphorescent material providing a tracer effect when said bioluminescent paintball is ejected from a paintball discharge device; a protein disbursed within said first liquefied substance in said first interior cavity; an enzyme disbursed within said second liquefied substance in said second interior cavity, said enzyme and protein producing visible light when combined after said bioluminescent paintball impacts a target thereby rupturing said outer and inner shells and allowing said first and second liquefied substances in said first and second interior cavities to flow together to produce light to mark the target.

[0016] The invention further provides a bioluminescent paintball comprising an outer shell defining first and second inner cavities separated by an inner wall; a first liquid substance disposed within said first inner cavity; a second liquid substance disposed within said second inner cavity; a phosphorescent material disposed within said outer shell, said phosphorescent material providing a tracer effect when said bioluminescent paintball is ejected from a paintball discharge device; an enzyme disbursed within said first liquid substance in aid first interior cavity; a protein disbursed within said second liquid substance in said second interior cavity, said enzyme and protein producing visible light when combined after said bioluminescent paintball impacts a target thereby rupturing said outer shell and said inner wall and allowing said first and second liquid substances in said first and second inner cavities to flow together to produce light to mark the target.

Problems solved by technology

This alternative bioluminescent paintball provides light without requiring the presence of calcium on the target, but the alternative paintball is more expensive to manufacture than the calcium reactive paintball.

Also, the inner shell has a tendency to move inside the outer shell during flight thereby reducing accuracy when shooting a target.

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