Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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OIL AND POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL FILL MATERIAL
FOR USE IN PAINTBALL SHELLS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of fill materials for use in
gelatin and other
capsules, and more particularly to oil and polyethylene glycol (hereinafter,
alternately
referred to as "PEG") fill materials for use in paintball shells, and to
paintballs containing
same.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Paintball games have been played for over twenty-five years. In these
games,
paintballs are shot out of specially designed guns using compressed air,
nitrogen or C02
gases. Typically, players on opposing teams attempt to shoot the other team's
members.
When a paintball strikes an opponent, the paintball shatters and releases the
fill material or
paint onto the player, leaving a mark and disqualifying the marked player from
continuing
the game.
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[0003] There are two basic types of paintballs on the market. A first such
type of paintball
may have been comprised of PEG in an amount of over 90% by weight. Some of the
advantages associated with the use of such prior art PEG fill materials in
paintballs may have
included the following: (a) they are substantially stable; (b) they are
hydrophilic; (c) they have
relatively little tendency to become rancid, and/or (d) they are a
substantially non-irritant to
the skin, etc. On the other hand, disadvantages may also have been associated
with this type
of paintball. For example, such prior art PEG-based paintballs may have been
subject to
significant interactions which may have occurred between the PEG-based fill
material and the
paintball shell. These interactions may have resulted, for example, in
substantially brittle
paintballs, which may have been subject, inter alia, to an increased risk of
shattering whilst
being fired from a paintball gun. Many significant storage and/or handling
problems may
also have been associated with this prior art PEG-based type of paintball -- a
factor which
may also have created a tendency to require high levels of care in handling
paintballs filled
with such prior art formulations.
[00041 Another disadvantage associated with such prior art PEG-based types of
paintballs
may have been the high and/or increasing cost associated with manufacturing
such paintballs
- a disadvantage which may have been due, in part, to their fill material's
high content of
PEG. PEG may be a relatively expensive chemical substance, and/or it may be a
chemical
substance that is likely to become (even) more expensive in the coming months
and/or years.
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Accordingly, there may be a need for a paintball fill material that contains
minimal and/or
reduced amounts of PEG.
[0005] A second basic type of paintball that may heretofore have been on the
market is one
which may have been comprised of oil in an amount of about 90-95% by weight.
Though oil
may be a relatively inexpensive material (in comparison to PEG), one of the
disadvantages
associated with the use of oil-based fill formulas in paintballs may have been
a lack of water
solubility. This factor may heretofore have presented a problem for paintball
enthusiasts
insofar as the paint residue may not have been readily cleaned from objects
and/or clothing,
unless the formulas also contained, for example, relatively high levels of
surfactants.
[0006] The prior art has thus far failed to provide a cost effective and
commercially viable
system for creating paintballs that adequately addresses the aforementioned
problems.
[0007] Therefore, there exists a need for improved technology relating to
paintball fill
formulas. In particular, there may be a need (i) to provide a paintball fill
material that affords
some of the desirable attributes of prior art PEG-based fill formulae, (ii) to
provide a paintball
fill material that avoids and/or mitigates some of the disadvantages which may
heretofore
have been associated, and/or which may in the future be associated with, prior
art PEG-based
fill formulae (e.g., to provide paintballs at lower cost, with reduced
fill/shell interactions, that
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are less brittle, and/or which may be handled or stored more readily), and/or
(iii) to provide a
paintball fill material that has an improved washability in comparison to
prior art oil-based
fill formulae.
[0008] It is an object of this invention to obviate and/or mitigate one or
more of the
disadvantages associated with prior art paintballs, fill materials, and/or
methods of making
same.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] In accordance with the present invention there is disclosed a fill
material for use within
a closed iriterior chamber of a paintball capsule. The fill material includes
a polyethylene
glycol and an oil. Each one of the polyethylene glycol and the oil is present
in a respective
amount that is substantially less than about 90% by weight of the fill
material. The fill
material additionally includes at least a first additive that is selected from
the group
consisting of an emulsifier, a dye, a density agent, a thickener, and a
surfactant.
[0010] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention,
and as
aforesaid, the first additive may preferably, but need not necessarily, be a
density agent.
According to this aspect of the invention, the density agent may preferably,
but need not
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necessarily, be selected from the group consisting of starch, talc, calcium
carbonate, dicalcium
phosphate, zinc oxide, and combinations thereof.
[0011] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention,
and as
aforesaid, the density agent may preferably, but need not necessarily, be a
starch. According
to this aspect of the invention, the starch may preferably, but need not
necessarily, be selected
from the group consisting of corn starch, rice starch, potato starch, modified
starch, and
combinations thereof.
[0012] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention,
and as
aforesaid, the starch may preferably, but need not necessarily, be a corn
starch. According to
this aspect of the invention, the corn starch may preferably, but need not
necessarily, be
present in an amount between about 1% and about 20% by weight of the fill
material.
[0013] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention,
the density
agent may preferably, but need not necessarily, be present in an amount
between about 1%
and about 40% by weight of the fill material.
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[0014] According to a further aspect of one preferred embodiment of the
invention, the
density agent may preferably, but need not necessarily, be present in an
amount between
about 2% and about 35% by weight of the fill material.
[0015] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention,
the
polyethylene glycol may preferably, but need not necessarily, be present in an
amount
substantially more than about 10% by weight of the fill material.
[00161 According to a further aspect of one preferred embodiment of the
invention, the
polyethylene glycol may preferably, but need not necessarily, be present in an
amount
between about 20% and about 60% by weight of the fill material.
[0017] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention,
the
polyethylene glycol may preferably, but need not necessarily, have a mean
molecular weight
of between about 200 and about 600.
[0018] According to a further aspect of one preferred embodiment of the
invention, the
polyethylene glycol may preferably, but need not necessarily, have a mean
molecular weight
of about 400.
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[0019] According to an aspect of one preferred.embodiment of the invention,
the oil may
preferably, but need not necessarily, include a vegetable oil.
[0020] According to a further aspect of one preferred embodiment of the
invention, the
vegetable oil may preferably, but need not necessarily, be selected from the
group consisting
of corn oil, soybean oil, canola oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil, linseed
oil, and combinations
thereof.
[0021] According to an aspect of another preferred embodiment of the
invention, the oil may
preferably, but need not necessarily, be selected from the group consisting of
mineral oils,
silicone oils, aromatic oils, fatty ethers, fatty esters, and combinations
thereof.
[0022] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention,
the oil may
preferably, but need not necessarily, be present in an amount between about 5%
and about
70% by weight of the fill material.
[00231 According to a further aspect of one preferred embodiment of the
invention, the oil
may preferably, but need not necessarily, be present in an amount between
about 15% and
about 50% by weight of the fill material.
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[0024] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention,
and as
aforesaid, the first additive may preferably, but need not necessarily, be a
surfactant.
According to this aspect of the invention, the surfactant may preferably, but
need not
necessarily, include a liquid nonionic surfactant that has an HLB value lying
substantially
within the range of between about 8 and about 14.
[0025] According to a further aspect of one preferred embodiment of the
invention, the
surfactant may preferably, but need not necessarily, be present in an amount
between about
0.1% and about 10% by weight of the fill material.
[0026] According to a yet further aspect of one preferred embodiment of the
invention, the
surfactant may preferably, but need not necessarily, be present in an amount
between about
0.1% and about 2% by weight of the fill material.
[0027] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention,
and as
aforesaid, the first additive may preferably, but need not necessarily, be an
emulsifier.
According to this aspect of the invention, the emulsifier may preferably, but
need not
necessarily, include a copolymer having a major portion of a mono-olefinically
unsaturated
carboxylic acid or anhydride monomer of about 3 to about 6 carbon atoms.
According to this
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aspect of the invention, the copolymer has a minor portion of a long chain
acrylate or
methacrylate ester monomer.
[0028] According to an aspect of another preferred embodiment of the
invention, and as
aforesaid, the first additive may preferably, but need not necessarily, be an
emulsifier.
According to this aspect of the invention, the emulsifier may preferably, but
need not
necessarily, include a copolymer having a major portion and a minor portion.
The major
portion may preferably, but need not necessarily, be selected from the group
consisting of a
mono-olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acid of about 3 to about 6 carbon
atoms and a
mono-olefinically unsaturated carboxylic anhydride monomer of about 3 to about
6 carbon
atoms. The minor portion may preferably, but need not necessarily, be selected
from the
group consisting of a long chain acrylate ester monomer and a long chain
methacrylate ester
monomer.
[0029] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention,
and as
aforesaid, the first additive may preferably, but need not necessarily, be an
emulsifier.
According to this aspect of the invention, the emulsifier may preferably, but
need not
necessarily, be a cross-linked copolymer of acrylic acid and a hydrophobic co-
monomer.
According to this aspect of the invention, the cross-linked copolymer has a
high molecular
weight.
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[0030] According to a further aspect of one preferred embodiment of the
invention, the cross-
linked copolymer is acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate cross-polymer.
[0031] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention,
and as
aforesaid, the first additive may preferably, but need not necessarily, be an
emulsifier.
According to this aspect of the invention, the emulsifier may preferably, but
need not
necessarily, be present in an amount between about 0.05% and about 1% by
weight of the fill
material.
[0032] According to a further aspect of one preferred embodiment of the
invention, the
emulsifier may preferably, but need not necessarily, be present in an amount
between about
0.1% and about 0.5% by weight of the fill material.
[0033] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention,
the fill material
may preferably, but need not necessarily, additionally include water. The
water may
preferably, but need not necessarily, be present in an amount between about 1%
and about
10% by weight of the fill material.
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[0034] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention,
and as
aforesaid, the first additive may preferably, but need not necessarily, be a
thickener.
According to this aspect of the invention, the thickener may preferably, but
need not
necessarily, include a wax.
[0035] According to a further aspect of one preferred embodiment of the
invention, the wax
may preferably, but need not necessarily, be selected from the group
consisting of yellow
beeswax, white wax, paraffin wax, and combinations thereof.
[0036] According to a aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention, the
wax may
preferably, but need not necessarily, be present in an amount ranging between
about 1% and
about 10%, by weight of the oil in the fill material.
[0037] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention,
and as aforesaid,
the first additive may preferably, but need not necessarily, be a thickener.
According to this
aspect of the invention, the thickener may preferably, but need not
necessarily, include a
silica.
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[0038] According to a further aspect of one preferred embodiment of the
invention, the silica
may preferably, but need not necessarily, be present in an amount between
about 0.5% and
about 5% by weight of the fill material.
[0039] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention,
and as
aforesaid, the first additive may preferably, but need not necessarily, be a
dye. According to
this aspect of the invention, the dye may preferably, but need not
necessarily, be selected
from the group consisting of water soluble dyes, titanium dioxide, iron
oxides, colored
pigments, pearlescent pigments, fluorescent pigments, and combinations
thereof.
[00401 According to the invention, there is also disclosed a fill material for
use within a closed
interior chamber of a paintball capsule. The fill material includes a
polyethylene glycol that is
present in an amount between about 20% and about 60% by weight of the fill
material. The
polyethylene glycol has a mean molecular weight of between about 200 and about
600. The
fill material additionally includes an oil that is present in an amount
between about 15% and
about 50% by weight of the fill material. Further, the fill material includes
water that is
present in an amount between about 1% and about 10% by weight of the fill
material. Still
further, the fill material includes at least a first additive selected from
the group consisting of
an emulsifier, a dye, a density agent, a thickener, and a surfactant.
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[0041] According to the invention, there is still further disclosed a
paintball that includes a
paintball capsule and a fill material. The paintball capsule defines a closed
interior chamber,
and the fill material is provided within the chamber. The fill material
includes a polyethylene
glycol and an oil. Each one of the polyethylene glycol and the oil is present
in a respective
amount that is substantially less than about 90% by weight of the fill
material. The fill
material additionally includes at least a first additive that is selected from
the group
consisting of an emulsifier, a dye, a density agent, a thickener, and a
surfactant.
[0042] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention,
the paintball
capsule may preferably, but need not necessarily, be substantially spherical
in shape.
[0043] According to an aspect of one preferred embodiment of the invention,
the paintball
capsule may preferably, but need not necessarily, include a gelatin shell that
encapsulates the
fill material. The gelatin shell may preferably, but need not necessarily, be
constructed from
one or more gelatin shell ingredients that are selected from the group
consisting of gelatin,
gelatin substitutes, plasticizers, glycerin, sorbitol, non-crystallizing
sorbitol, water, dyes,
pigments, titanium dioxide, preservatives, and combinations thereof.
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[0044] In accordance with the present invention, there is disclosed a
paintball and a paintball
fill material which obviates and/or mitigates one or more of the disadvantages
associated
with prior art paintballs and fill materials.
[0045] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is
disclosed a paintball fill
formulation which includes both oil and PEG, and which enhances one or more
positive
attributes,, and/or reduces one or more negative aspects, associated with
prior art paintballs.
[0046] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is
disclosed a
paintball fill material which may preferably, but not need not necessarily,
provide greater
water solubility, and/or improved washability, in comparison to prior art oil-
based formulas.
[0047] In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is
disclosed a
paintball f:ill material which may preferably, but not need not necessarily,
advantageously
provide a substantially stable mixture of oil and PEG, with reduced separation
of ingredients.
[0048] In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, there
is disclosed a
paintball fill material which may preferably, but not need not necessarily,
provide a range of
viscosities, at temperatures from about freezing to about 40 C, which are
suitable for use in
paintballs.
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[00491 In accordance with a yet further aspect of the present invention, there
is disclosed a
paintball fill material which may preferably, but need not necessarily,
provide for paintballs
having reduced fill/shell interactions, minimized brittleness, and/or
diminished risk of
breakage whilst being fired from a paintball gun.
[0050] In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, there
is disclosed a
paintball fill material which may preferably, but not need not necessarily,
enable a user to
control the paintball weight, flight characteristics, and/or fill density --
preferably, but not
necessarily, through the addition of one or more density agents.
[0051] In accordance with a still further aspect of the present invention,
there is disclosed a
paintball fill material which may preferably provide suitable marking
characteristics in
paintball games.
[0052] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is
disclosed a
paintball fill material which may preferably provide suitable reflective
characteristics to
enable use in association with dyes in paintballs.
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[0053] In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is
disclosed a
paintball fill material which may preferably, but need not necessarily, be
formable
substantially at and/or near room temperature.
[0054] In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, there
is disclosed a
paintball fill material which may preferably, but need not necessarily, be a
substantially stable
mixture at temperatures at least as high as about 40 C, with little (i.e.,
substantially slight), or
no, separation of its ingredients at such temperatures.
[0055] In accordance with a yet further aspect of the present invention, there
is disclosed a
paintball fill material which may preferably, but need not necessarily, be
substantially stable
under freeze and/or thaw conditions.
[0056] It is thus an object of this invention to obviate or mitigate at least
one of the above
mentioned disadvantages of the prior art. Other advantages, features and
characteristics of
the present invention, as well as methods of making the invention, operation
and functions of
the related components and/or elements of the invention, and/or the
combination of
components and/or parts and economies of manufacture, will become more
apparent upon
consideration of the following detailed description and the appended claims.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0057] In one preferred embodiment according to the present invention, there
is disclosed a
paintball fill material for use in paintball shells. The paintball shells
(hereinafter, alternately
referred to as capsules) may be formed from one or more gelatin ingredients
and/or from any
other suitable material. Suitable gelatin ingredients may include gelatin,
gelatin substitutes,
plasticizers, glycerin, sorbitol, non-crystallizing sorbitol, water, dyes,
pigments, titanium
dioxide, and/or preservatives. It is preferable according to the invention,
though it may not
be necessary, for the paintball shells to be substantially spherical in shape.
(0058) According to the invention, the paintball fill material includes oil
and PEG, among
other things. The paintball fill material according to the present invention
includes PEG in an
amount ranging between substantially more than about 10% and substantially
less than about
90%, by weight, of the total composition. One or more polyethylene glycols
(PEGs) which are
present in the paintball fill material may preferably, but need not
necessarily, have a mean
molecular weight of between about 200 and about 600. One or more of the PEGs
may more
preferably, but still need not necessarily, have a mean molecular weight of
about 400.
According to the invention, it may be still more preferable, though not
necessary, for the
paintball fill material to include one or more PEGs in a total amount ranging
between about
20% and about 60%, by weight, of the total composition.
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[0059] Oils which may be suitable for use in the fill material according to
the present
inventior- may preferably, but need not necessarily, include one or more
natural and/or
synthetic oils selected from the group which includes vegetable oils, mineral
oils, silicone oils,
aromatic oils, fatty ethers, fatty esters, and any number of other suitable
oils and oil-like
substances. In fact, it is contemplated that some waxes (which might
ordinarily be solids at
ambient temperatures) and/or hydrocarbons may be suitable for use, in place of
oils, in the
paintball fill material according to the present invention. In some cases,
such waxes and/or
hydrocarbons may ordinarily be liquids at ambient temperatures of about 40 C
or lower,
and/or they may become liquids when mixed with one or more of the additional
ingredients
which may be used according to the present invention (and which are described
in greater
detail hereinbelow).
[0060] Vegetable oils which may preferably, but need not necessarily, be
suitable for use in
the paintball fill material according to the present invention may include,
inter alia, one or
more of the following oils: corn oil, soybean oil, canola oil, safflower oil,
sunflower oil,
linseed oil, and the like. In one embodiment which is contemplated according
to the present
invention, canola oil may be present in the paintball fill material in an
amount ranging
between about 5% and about 70%, by weight, of the total composition. In some
contemplated
embodiments according to the present invention, it may be preferable to
provide paintballs in
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which the oil is present in an amount ranging between about 15% and about 50%,
by weight,
of the total fill material composition.
[0061] In some preferred embodiments according to the invention, the paintball
fill material
may additionally comprise an emulsifier. It is generally believed, though not
essential to the
working of the present invention, that suitable emulsifiers may preferably
include starches
and/or copolymers having a major portion of a mono-olefinically unsaturated
carboxylic acid
or anhydride monomer of about 3 to about 6 carbon atoms, and a minor portion
of a
relatively long chain acrylate or methacrylate ester monomer. It is
additionally believed,
though still not essential to the working of the present invention, that
exemplary long chains
which may preferably, but need not necessarily, be suitable for use in
emulsifiers according to
the present invention may include, inter alia, chains of between about 9 and
about 31 carbon
atoms. The International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient (INCI, nee
Cosmetics, Toiletries
& Fragrance Association or CTFA) name for one such emulsifier which may
preferably, but
need not necessarily, be suitable for use in the paintball fill material
according to the present
invention is acrylates/Cio-Cao alkyl acrylate cross-polymer.
[0062] It is generally believed, though not essential to the working of the
present invention,
that suitable emulsifiers may preferably also include cross-linked copolymers
of acrylic acid
and a hydrophobic co-monomer. Where such emulsifiers are suitable, they may
preferably
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aid in forming an emulsion of oil-in-PEG (and/or PEG-in-oil). In such
contemplated oil-in-
PEG embodiments, a lipophilic portion of the emulsifier may preferably
interact with the oil
at the oil-PEG interface, and a hydrophilic portion of the emulsifier may
interact with the
PEG, forining a network of the PEG around droplets of the oil. Of course, it
will be
appreciated by persons having ordinary skill in the art that, among others,
any emulsifiers
which provide for a substantially stable emulsion and/or mixture of the oil
and the PEG, with
little (i.e., substantially slight) or no separation of the component
ingredients, may be used in
the paintball fill material according to the present invention.
[0063] It is contemplated that some emulsifiers which may be suitable for use
in the paintball
fill material according to the present invention may contain relatively high
levels of
hydrophobic groups. It may be generally believed, though it is not essential
to the working
of the present invention, that such high levels of hydrophobic groups may
enable relatively
high levels of oils to be emulsified. Preferably, though still not essential
to the working of the
present invention, these high levels of hydrophobic groups may enable
relatively high levels
of oils to be emulsified within a range of pH values from about 4 to about 5.
[0064] Some emulsifiers which are contemplated as being suitable for use
according to the
present invention may preferably, but need not necessarily, be present in an
amount ranging
between about 0.05% and about 1.0%, by weight, of the total composition. It is
further
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contemplated that, more preferably, the emulsifiers may be present in an
amount ranging
between about 0.1% and about 0.5%, by weight, of the total composition.
[0065] In addition to and/or apart from emulsifiers, additional ingredients
may preferably be
used in the paintball fill material according to the present invention. In
some embodiments
which are contemplated according to the present invention, these additional
ingredients may
preferably, but need not necessarily, include surfactants, dyes, water,
thickeners, and/or
density agents (among other things).
[0066] As aforesaid, in some preferred embodiments which are contemplated
according to the
present invention, surfactants may be used in the paintball fill material. It
may be generally
believed, though it may not be essential to the working of the present
invention, that these
surfactants may aid in reducing the particle size of the oil within the fill
material and/or in
improving washability. Though not specifically required according to the
invention, when
such surfactants are used in combination with emulsifiers, their use may
additionally aid in
reducing the particle size of droplets of the oil which may be preferably be
formed when the
emulsion is made.
[0067] It may be contemplated, though not essential, that some nonionic
surfactants having
an HLB value in the range of between about 8 and about 14 may preferably, but
need not
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necessarily, be suitable for use in the paintball fill material according to
the present invention.
It is further contemplated that, in some embodiments, it may be possible to
provide the
surfactant in a relatively low amount which may preferably, but need not
necessarily, range
between about 0.1% and about 5%, by weight, of the total fill material
composition. It is
contemplated that, more preferably, the surfactant may be present in an amount
ranging
between about 0.1% and about 2.0%, by weight, of the total fill material
composition.
[00681 In some contemplated embodiments of the present invention, a dye may be
added to
the oil and PEG formulation. The dye may preferably, but need not necessarily,
be being
selected from a group that includes water soluble dyes, titanium dioxide, iron
oxides, colored
pigments, pearlescent pigments, and fluorescent pigments (among others).
[0069] As aforesaid, water may be present in the paintball fill material
formulation. Though it
may not be essential to the working of the present invention, it may be
generally believed that
water may help to activate the reaction between the PEG and the emulsifier (if
present). It is
contemplated that, in some preferred embodiments, water may preferably, but
need not
necessarily, be present in an amount ranging between about 1% and about 10%,
by weight, of
the total fill material composition. More preferably, it is contemplated that
water may be
present in the paintball fill material in the range of between about 3% and
about 7%, by
weight, of the total fill material composition.
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[0070] It is contemplated that, in some embodiments of the invention,
thickeners may be
added to the oil and PEG fill material formulation. Though it may not be
essential to the
working of the present invention, it may be generally believed that thickeners
may
preferably, but need not necessarily, help to adjust the viscosity of the fill
material. In the
field of paintball games, it may be preferable to offer both thick and thin
paint formulations
for commercial sale, since one or the other, or both, may be requested by
paintball gaming
enthusiasts. It may be contemplated, though it is not essential to the working
of the present
invention, that suitable thickeners for use in the paintball fill material may
include starches
and/or wax thickeners. Examples of some suitable wax thickeners may
preferably, but need
not necessarily, include yellow beeswax, white wax, paraffin waxes, and/or
other wax-like
substances. In fact, it is contemplated that some oils (which might ordinarily
be liquids at
ambient temperatures), e.g., vegetable oils, may be suitable for use, in place
of waxes, in the
paintball fill material according to the present invention. In some cases,
such oils may
ordinarily be solids at ambient temperatures of about 0 C or higher, and/or
they may tend to
solidify when mixed with one or more of the other ingredients which may be
used according
to the present invention (and which are described in greater detail elsewhere
herein).
[0071] It is contemplated, though not essential to the working of the present
invention, that
wax thickeners may be present in an amount that ranges between about 1% and
about 10% of
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the amount of the oil present in the formula, by weight, of the total fill
material composition.
It is contemplated that the amount of the thickener which is present may be
selected to obtain
a required and/or desired end-viscosity for the paintball fill material.
[0072] It may be possible to use silica thickeners in the paintball fill
material formulation. It is
contemplated that, when silica thickeners are used, they may preferably be
present in an
amount ranging between about 0.5% and about 5% by weight of the total fill
material
composition. Once again, the specific amount of any silica thickener which is
present in the
fill material may be selected to obtain a required and/or desired end-
viscosity.
[0073] As mentioned above, it is contemplated that some embodiments of the
paintball fill
material according to the present invention may include density agents (i.e.,
in addition to the
oil and the PEG). Though not essential to the working of the present
invention, it may be
generally believed that the density agents (and/or mixture of density agents)
may preferably,
but need not necessarily, help to increase the density of the paintball fill
material - possibly to
meet a required and/or desired paintball weight specification. It may be
contemplated,
though it is not essential, that exemplary density agents which may be
suitable for use in the
paintball fill material according to the present invention may preferably, but
need not
necessarily, include starch, talc, calcium carbonate, dicalcium phosphate,
zinc oxide, and
mixtures thereof (among other things). It is contemplated, though not
essential to the
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CA 02584857 2007-04-12
invention, that some suitable starches may include (but are not limited to)
corn starch, rice
starch, potato starch, modified starches, and mixtures and/or combinations
thereof. Of
course, as may be appreciated by persons having ordinary skill in the art, and
number of
other starches might also be used according to the present invention. Though
not essential to
the working of the present invention, it may be generally believed that
starches (potentially
including some or all of the aforementioned starches), in addition to any
contemplated uses
as density agents, may be capable of functioning as emulsifiers and/or
thickeners (as such
terms may be used herein).
[0074] It is contemplated that, in some embodiments, the density agents may
preferably, but
need not necessarily, be present in amounts ranging between about 1% and about
40%, by
weight, of the total fill material composition. In some embodiments, the
density agents may,
more preferably, be present in amounts ranging between about 2% and about 35%,
by weight,
of the total fill material composition. In some other embodiments, and by way
of a non-
limiting example, it is contemplated that, where the density agent is corn
starch, it may
preferably, but need not necessarily, be effective (e.g., to achieve a desired
density and/or
weight spedfication for the paintball) to provide the corn starch in an amount
that ranges
between about 1% and about 20%.
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[0075] A fill formula according to the invention might be prepared by the
following general
process. An initial mixture might be prepared by adding a surfactant to a
vegetable oil. The
oil/surfactant blend might then be set aside to be used later in the process.
[0076] Polyethylene glycol might then be transferred into a suitable mixing
tank. A suitable
emulsifier (for example, possibly, a starch and/or an acrylates/Clo-C3o alkyl
acrylate cross-
polymer) might be added to the PEG and mixed. Such mixing might preferably
continue at a
speed that may preferably, but need not necessarily, range between about 800
and about 1500
RPM, preferably until the emulsifier is substantially uniformly dispersed in
the PEG.
[0077] Water might then be added to the PEG/emulsifier dispersion. Though not
essential to
the working of the present invention, it may be generally believed that the
addition of water
in this manner may preferably help to activate any interaction between the PEG
and some
(though not necessarily all) of the preferred emulsifiers. With this
interaction, the mixture
may preferably begin and/or continue to thicken. Preferably, the PEG/water
solution might
be substantially at the required pH to allow the emulsifier to swell and/or to
increase the
viscosity of this solution. Preferably, no other neutralizing agents will need
to be used to
adjust the pH.
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[0078] Dyes may be dissolved in a portion of the required water and added at
this stage of the
formulation to achieve a desired fill material color.
[0079] Preferably, but not necessarily, whilst still stirring at a speed that
may preferably be in
the range of between about 800 RPM and about 1500 RPM, the initial mixture
containing the
vegetable oil and surfactant blend might then be slowly added to the
PEG/emulsifier mixture.
The fill material formulation may preferably continue to thicken as an oil-in-
PEG emulsion is
formed.
[0080] The density agent(s) might then be slowly added to the mixture_
Preferably, mixing
will continue until a uniform consistency is reached. Preferably, but not
necessarily,
opacifiers such as titanium dioxide and/or other required pigments may also be
added at this
stage.
[0081] The resulting oil-in-PEG emulsion fill material formulation may
preferably, but need
not necessarily, be in a flowable state. As well, it will also preferably be
ready for
encapsulation substantially immediately after the mixing process. Preferably,
the formulation
will be substantially stable substantially until it is required for the
encapsulation process, and
even more preferably, it will be substantially stable substantially
permanently.
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[0082] Alternately, it is contemplated that a paintball fill material
according to the present
invention might be prepared by the following general process. PEG might be
transferred into
a suitable mixing tank, and water along with a thickener,,such as starch,
might be added
thereto and mixed. Such mixing might preferably continue at a speed that may
preferably,
but need not necessarily, range between about 800 RPM and about 1500 RPM -
preferably,
but not necessarily, until after the water and the thickener are substantially
uniformly
dispersed in the PEG. To this initial mixture might then be added a pre-mixed
blend of a
surfactant and a vegetable oil. Dyes might be dissolved in a portion of the
required water
and added of the formulation to achieve a desired fill material color.
Preferably, the mixture
of oil and PEG might thicken as the fill material is formed. The resulting oil
and PEG fill
material may preferably, but need not necessarily, be substantially stable
substantially
permanently.
[0083] Using one or more of the methods which are described hereinabove,
and/or other
methods within the scope of the present invention, it is contemplated that it
may be possible
to prepare the following exemplary fill formulas by adding the listed
ingredients in the
amounts specified Table 1 below.
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[0084] TABLE 1
Ingred'xent Example 1 (%w/w) Example 2 (%w/w)
Canola oil 15.0 31.0
Surfactant 1.0 1.0
Polyethylene glycol 400 49.0 35.0
Water 5.0 5.0
Corn starch 20.0 15.0
Talc 10.0 13.0
Total % 100.0 100.0
[0085] The invention as described references various specific and preferred
embodiments and
defines specific fill material formulation methods and/or processes. It will
be understood,
however, that reasonable modifications of such embodiments, methods and/or
processes can
be made whilst remaining within the spirit and scope of the invention.
[0086] Various other modifications and alterations may be used in the design,
manufacture
and/or carrying out of other embodiments of the oil and polyethylene glycol
fill materials for
use in paintball shells, and of the paintballs containing same, according to
the present
invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which
is limited only
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by the accompanying claims. For example, the fill formulation might be used
apart from in
paintball shells, such as, for example, in other capsules, and as a carrier
generally.
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