Paintball
An improved paintball comprised of a spherical shell defining a closed interior wherein a marking material is contained. Depressions are molded into the shell to create turbulences in the air around the ball as it flies through the air. The turbulence forces the air to hug the ball closely, following the curvature of the ball to the back instead of flowing past it, therefore creating a smaller wake and less drag. The depressions are formed deep into the interior of the paintball to act as paddles. The paddles serve the purpose of moving the marking material to match the spin of the shell.
www.sciencenetlinks.org
wings.avkids.com
FIELD OF INVENTIONThe invention relates to frangible payload dispensing projectiles commonly referred to as paintballs.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONPaintballs are used in an activity in which two or more teams of players are armed with gas powered paintball guns. Paintballs are fired out of the said guns to mark or “kill” members of the opposing team in order to achieve a goal.
Traditionally, paintballs are manufactured using a gelatinous shell comprised of two hemispherical halves and a liquid dye. The two halves from a closed interior cavity for the dye to fill when joined along their edges.
This gelatinous shell has smooth exterior and interior surfaces. The smooth exterior surface of the paintball leaves a pocket of low-pressure air in its wake as it flies through the air, thereby creating drag, which slows it down and reduces its range.
When fired out of a rifled barrel, the smooth interior surface of the paintball causes the center, or liquid dye, to remain still while the shell may spin. A rifled barrel incorporates two or more helical grooves in its bore which impart a spin upon a projectile as it travels down the barrel. The consequent gyroscopic stability allows for much greater accuracy, and therefore, effective range, than would otherwise be unattainable through the use of a non-rifled barrel. The dye slows down the spin thus negating the gyroscopic stability
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is therefore the object of the invention to provide an improved paintball that overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art.
The present invention is a paintball with depressions molded in to create turbulences in the air around the ball as it flies through the air. The turbulence forces the air to hug the ball closely, following the curvature of the ball to the back instead of flowing past it, therefore creating a smaller wake and less drag.
The depressions also serve the purpose of moving the dye to match the spin of the shell. The depressions are formed deep into the interior of the paintball to act as paddles.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
With respect to the drawing, and more particularly to
Claims
1. An improved paintball comprised of a spherical shell defining a closed interior having a depression molded into the shell that follows a path on a surface of the sphere such that the resulting trough extends into the interior of the shell, thickness of the shell shall be insufficient to withstand impact forces delivered thereto upon contact when fired at a target, and a marking material contained within said closed interior.
2. An improved paintball as in claim 1 wherein said depression is U shaped.
3. An improved paintball as in claim 1 wherein said spherical shell is made with a biodegradable material.
4. An improved paintball as in claim 1 wherein said marking material is a dye.
5. An improved paintball as in claim 1 wherein said path is a continuous loop.
6. An improved paintball as in claim 1 wherein said path is broken.
7. An improved paintball as in claim 1 wherein there is a plurality of said paths.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 24, 2005
Publication Date: Dec 28, 2006
Inventor: Sung Ho Byun (Cherry Hill, NJ)
Application Number: 11/160,469
International Classification: F42B 14/06 (20060101);