Soft- projectile magazine refill apparatus and methods

Abstract

A method of refilling a magazine with projectiles formed from a super absorbent polymer, the method comprising the steps of: hydrating the projectiles in a container; mating the magazine with the container; and transferring the projectiles from the container to the magazine.

Description

FIELD

The present patent document relates to soft-projectile magazine refill apparatus and methods. More particularly, the present patent document relates to soft-projectile magazine refill apparatus and methods that refill magazines with soft-projectiles formed from a super absorbent polymer.

BACKGROUND

A variety of different types of projectile launching toys, toy weapons, and guns are available in the current markets. It may be desired to have the projectile launching devices use only soft-projectiles as ammunition. Restricting the ammunition to soft-projectiles is advantageous in reducing the chances of injury associated with the projectile launching devices.

However, a consumer may be able to use a soft-projectile launching device to launch projectiles that are not soft. Unless adequate steps are taken, there may not be anything from preventing a consumer from loading a soft-projectile launching device with objects that would not be considered soft. Consequently, it would be desirable to have apparatus and methods that may prevent a consumer from using a soft-projectile launching device to shoot anything other than soft-projectiles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object of the present patent document is to provide apparatus and methods for loading soft-projectiles into a soft-projectile launching device. Another object of the present patent document is to provide apparatus and methods for refilling a magazine with soft-projectiles made from a super absorbent polymer. To this end, in one embodiment, a method of refilling a magazine with projectiles formed from a super absorbent polymer is provided. The method comprising the steps of: hydrating the projectiles in a container; mating the magazine with the container; and transferring the projectiles from the container to the magazine.

In another embodiment, the method further comprises the step of releasing a locking mechanism on the magazine wherein the locking mechanism is designed to restrict access to an interior of the magazine.

In yet another embodiment, the method further comprises releasing a locking mechanism on the container wherein the locking mechanism is designed to restrict access to an interior of the container.

In other embodiments, the corresponding locking mechanisms may include a key and/or a key receiver. For example, the magazine may contain a key received by a key receiver on the container or the container may have a key received my a key receiver on the magazine. In another embodiment both the magazine and the container each have a key and key receiver.

In yet another embodiment, the method further comprises the step of adding dehydrated projectiles to the interior of the container prior to the hydrating step. In certain embodiments the dehydrated projectiles are added to the interior through an opening with a significantly smaller diameter than the diameter of a hydrated projectile. In certain embodiments the opening is less than 2 mm in diameter. In certain other embodiments the opening is a plurality of openings in the form of a screen or grate.

In another embodiment, a system for hydrating soft-projectiles made from a super absorbent polymer is provided. The system comprises: a container including an interior and an exterior; a locking mechanism arranged on the container and designed to restrict access to the interior of the container; and soft-projectiles made from a super absorbent polymer located in the interior of the container. In one embodiment of the system, the locking mechanism is designed to mate with a magazine.

In yet another embodiment of the system, the container includes a lid and a base. In certain embodiments including a lid and a base, the lid may be temporarily locked to the base.

In yet another embodiment, the container further includes a liquid inlet designed to allow liquid to be added to the interior of the container.

Generally, the locking mechanism may be constructed in numerous different ways. In one embodiment the locking mechanism includes a slideable door operatively arranged to obstruct an opening designed to receive a soft-projectile.

In another embodiment a kit for refilling a magazine with soft-projectiles made from a super absorbent polymer is provided, the kit comprising: a container; a plurality of dehydrated pieces of super absorbent polymer; and instructions describing how to hydrate the pieces of super absorbent polymer in the container.

In one embodiment of the kit, the kit container of the kit includes a locking mechanism designed to mate with a magazine.

In yet another a method of refilling a magazine with soft-projectiles is provide. The method comprises the steps of: mating the magazine to a container; causing a locking mechanism on the container to allow access to an interior of the container; causing a locking mechanism on the magazine to allow access to an interior of the magazine; and transferring the soft-projectiles from the container to the magazine.

In another embodiment, the method further comprises the step of inserting a key on the magazine into a key receiver on the container. In anther embodiment of the method, the method further comprises the step of inserting a key on the container into a key receiver on the magazine.

In some embodiments, the soft-projectiles are formed from a super absorbent polymer. In embodiments where the soft-projectiles are formed from a super absorbent polymer, a further step of adding a liquid to the interior of the container to hydrate the soft-projectiles may be included.

The apparatus and methods for refilling a magazine with soft-projectiles made from a super absorbent polymer described herein will help improve the safety of soft-projectile launching devices. Further aspects, objects, desirable features, and advantages of the devices and methods disclosed herein will be better understood from the detailed description and drawings that follow in which various embodiments are illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the claimed embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of an embodiment of a system for refilling a magazine with soft-projectiles.

FIG. 2 illustrates an isometric view of a container for use with the system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates an isometric top view of a container for use with the system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4A illustrates an isometric view of a magazine for use with the system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4B illustrates an side view of the magazine of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 4C illustrates a bottom view of the magazine of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 4D illustrates a cross-sectional view of the magazine of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5 illustrates a isometric view of an embodiment of a locking mechanism of a container for use with the system of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The term “magazine” is used herein to refer to any container that holds soft-projectiles for a projectile toy gun or other projectile weaponry. In particular, magazine as used herein includes any container that holds soft-projectiles made from a super absorbent polymer (SAP). The magazine could be of any shape size or volume and have any number of openings as long as it holds soft-projectiles in a useable manner for a corresponding launching device.

Super absorbent polymers (SAP's) were first invented by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in the 1960's and are commonly used in personal disposable hygiene products such as diapers, protective underwear, and sanitary napkins. SAP's are polymers that can absorb an extremely large amount of liquid relative to their own mass. SAP's absorb aqueous solutions through hydrogen bonding with water molecules.

The present patent document discloses and teaches a container designed for refilling a magazine for use with projectile launching devices, such as toys, amateur guns and weaponry that use soft-projectiles. More specifically, the container is designed for use with magazines that hold soft-projectiles formed from a super absorbent polymer (SAP). The purpose of the container is not only to refill the magazine with soft-projectiles but to restrict the ability of a user to refill the magazine with anything but soft-projectiles.

Once hydrated, the unique properties that SAP's exhibit give the soft-projectiles several advantages over current projectile materials such as paint balls, plastics, and foams. For example, hydrated SAP projectiles can maintain their shape under modest pressure. The ability of SAP projectiles to maintain their shape allows them to be projected with a reasonable force and velocity without breaking apart. However, under excessive pressure, hydrated SAP projectiles will break down and lose their shape. Because SAP projectiles break down under excessive pressure, the force at impact is spread over a much wider surface area, thus reducing the likelihood of injury.

SAP projectiles can also be designed to break down at different pressures based on their composition. This allows them to be tailored to have specific qualities as soft-projectiles. The total absorbency and swelling capacity of a SAP varies depending on the degree of cross-linking within the polymer. The lower the density of the cross-linking the higher the absorbent capacity of the SAP. Thus, low density cross-linked SAP's generally have a higher absorbent capacity and swell to a larger degree than more highly cross-linked SAP's. Low density cross-linked SAP's also have a softer and more cohesive gel formation. High cross-link density polymers exhibit lower absorbent capacity and swell. The gel strength is firmer and can maintain particle shape even under higher pressures.

Consequently, by using a SAP with a higher cross-link density, a soft-projectile can be made to fly farther and faster without breaking apart and have a stronger impact. In contrast, soft-projectiles made from a SAP with a lower cross-link density will break apart more easily and have a much softer impact. Depending on the level of safety required, different SAP's with different cross-link densities may be used. For example, SAP's can be constructed that would be considered “highly compliant” by industry standards.

Soft-projectiles made from a SAP are preferably round but may be of other shapes as well, including, for example, dart shapes, cylinder shapes, bullet shapes, oval, square, rectangular or any other shape. Round is a preferable shape not only because it has fairly good ballistic characteristics but because SAP's are easily formed in round shapes.

Soft-projectiles made from a SAP can be any size. Preferably, however, the soft-projectiles made from a SAP are between about 3 millimeters (mm) and about 15 mm in diameter when hydrated and more preferably between about 5 mm and 8 mm in diameter when hydrated. Typically, the soft-projectiles are about 1 mm or less when the SAP forming the projectile is dehydrated.

Larger soft-projectiles made from a SAP are possible. For example, rounds having a diameter of 30 mm have been created. However, there is approximately a 20% tolerance on the final diameter of the hydrated SAP soft-projectiles and therefore, the larger rounds are more difficult to make consistently uniform in diameter.

The SAP projectiles may be colorless to prevent any staining upon impact. Alternatively, soft-projectiles made from a SAP may also have additives added during the formulation of the SAP or during hydration that will create a temporary or indelible signature upon hitting a target. For example, soft-projectiles made from a SAP may be colored by adding a die to the SAP or the aqueous solution during the hydrating process. Depending on the die employed, the resulting signature may be of any desired color. Further, the employed die compound may be visible under normal lighting conditions or only under an ultra violet black light. Other additives may also be used including those that give the soft-projectiles a tracer effect such as glow-in-the-dark additives or other materials with luminescent properties.

Soft-projectiles made from water absorbing polymers, classified as hydrogels, will absorb aqueous solutions through hydrogen bonding with the water molecule. A SAP's ability to absorb water is a factor of the ionic concentration of an aqueous solution. Consequently, soft-projectiles made from a SAP are preferably grown in water with a PH of 7. More preferably soft-projectiles made from a SAP are grown in distilled water, where they may absorb 500 times their weight, and from 30-60 times their dehydrated volume.

The unique properties of soft-projectiles made from SAPs gives them a number of advantages. For example, soft-projectiles made from SAPs gain a significant portion of their weight and volume from absorbing water or other liquid. Consequently, SAPs may be shipped or transported in their dehydrated form to reduce cost and increase convenience. Because ammunition for projectile launchers is often purchase in large quantities the reduced volume and weight of the ammunition made from a SAP may produce significant shipping and distribution cost savings.

In addition, it is desirable to prevent consumers from using foreign objects, anything other than ammunition made from a SAP, in projectile launchers designed to shoot soft-projectiles made from a SAP. From a business stand point it is beneficial to restrict a soft-projectile launcher from using ammunition made by a competitor for economic reasons. It is also advantageous for safety reasons to prevent consumers from launching objects that are not specifically designed for the projectile launcher being used. For example, projectile launchers designed to launch soft-projectiles such as ammunition made from a SAP, may be used by consumers to launch nonconforming objects unless the necessary precautions are taken. The present patent document discloses a container designed to mate with a magazine of a soft-projectile launcher and methods to restrict the use of non-conforming ammunition in soft-projectile launchers.

FIG. 1 illustrates a system for refilling a magazine with soft-projectiles 10. The system embodied in FIG. 1 includes a container 20 with a magazine 50 connected thereto. Although in FIG. 1 the magazine 50 is connected to the container 20, the magazine is not permanently attached and is removable. For example, the magazine may be detached from the container and attached to a projection device designed to launch soft-projectiles.

In operation, the container would contain soft-projectiles specifically designed for use with a series of soft-projectile launching devices. For example, the container would contain a plurality of soft-projectiles formed from a SAP. A person playing with a soft-projectile launching device who was desirous of obtaining additional soft-projectiles to launch from his device would: remove the magazine 50 from the soft-projectile launching device; attach or mate the magazine 50 with the container 20; and transfer soft-projectiles from the container to the magazine. Once the desired number of soft-projectiles where transferred into the magazine and/or the magazine was full, the user could disconnect the magazine 50 from the container 20 and reattach the magazine to the soft-projectile launching device.

FIG. 2 illustrates a container 20 designed for use with system 10. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the container is comprised of lid 26 and base 24. Lid 26 is secured to base 24 with clamp 22. Preferably, clamp 22 is a form of a lock to prevent lid 26 from being easily removed from base 24. In some embodiments clamp 22 may require a key to open, a combination to open, or may not open at all.

In other embodiments, container 20 may be constructed from a single piece or from multiple pieces permanently attached. Container 20 and/or lid 26 and base 24 may be made from plastic, rubber, metal or any other suitable material. In the preferred embodiment container 20 and/or lid 26 and base 24 are made from injection molded plastic.

FIGS. 3 illustrates an isometric top view of one embodiment of a container 20 for use with the refill system of FIG. 1. The top of container 20 includes a locking mechanism 40 designed to prevent access to the interior of the container 20 through opening 32. Opening 32 is obstructed by a door 33 slideably contained behind the opening 32. The door 33 may only be retracted by mating an appropriately designed magazine 50 with a matching interface to the top of container 20.

Because the interior of the container 20 is only accessible through the opening 33 when a corresponding mating magazine 50 is attached, foreign objects may not be loaded into the container. However, it may be desirable to reload the container with conforming soft-projectiles once all the soft-projectiles originally loaded into the container 20 have been transferred into the magazine 50.

In embodiments of the container 20 designed for use with soft-projectiles made from a super-absorbent polymer, container 20 may include a second opening 35 designed to allow access to the interior by soft-projectiles made from a SAP that have not been hydrated yet. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the second opening is comprised of a plurality of smaller openings in the form of a grate or screen. However in other embodiments, the second opening may be just a single small opening or a few small openings. By restricting the second opening to be of a significantly small diameter, or a plurality of openings of a significantly small diameter, access to the interior of the container is restricted to objects of a small diameter. Objects of a significantly small diameter than the soft-projectiles designed to work with the soft-projectile launchers do not work well and thus loading them into container 20 for use with such a launcher would be less desirable.

The diameter of the second opening 35 may be preferably less than 3 mm or preferably between 1 mm and 3 mm, however, any size opening 35 or plurality of openings 35 may be used. In a preferred embodiment, the size of the opening 35 is substantially smaller than the diameter of the soft-projectile designed to be transferred from the container to the magazine and/or substantially smaller than the preferred diameter of the soft-projectile designed to be used with the projectile launcher of the corresponding magazine 50.

However as explained above, dehydrated soft-projectiles made from a SAP may easily grow to 30-60 times their volume and thus are extremely small in diameter in their dehydrated form, often less than 1 mm. Consequently, soft-projectiles made from a SAP in their dehydrated form may be loaded into the container 20 through the second opening 35. Once the dehydrated SAPs are within the container, water or another aqueous solution may be additionally added to the container through the second opening to hydrate the dehydrated SAPs. After the appropriate amount of time has passed, the dehydrated SAPs will absorb the water and swell to their appropriate volume for use with as soft-projectiles. Subsequently, a magazine 50 designed for use with a projection device designed to shoot soft-projectiles made from a SAP may be attached to the container and the soft-projectiles may be transferred into the magazine. Consequently, the embodiments of the system 10 designed for use with soft-projectiles made from a SAP may be used to restrict the use of soft-projectiles to only those formed from an SAP.

In embodiments that receive dehydrated soft-projectiles, water or another aqueous solution will need to be added to container 20 in order to hydrate the SAPs and form the soft-projectiles into their desired volume and shape. Once the water is added to the container, the container may need to be left for a period of time to allow the dehydrated soft-projectiles to absorb the water. Once the dehydrated SAPs are fully hydrated, any additional water may be drained from the container 20.

In another embodiment, container 20 does not have the second opening 35 designed to allow dehydrated SAPs to pass into the interior. In embodiments without second opening 35, the number of soft-projectiles that may be extracted from the container may be limited to the number of soft-projectiles that were originally provided with the container 20. This type of embodiment may be considered a limited refill container or a disposable refill container. In such an embodiment, the container may still hold a significantly larger number of soft-projectiles than a typical magazine. In addition, the SAPs may come in the container 20 hydrated or dehydrated. If the soft-projectiles made from an SAP are dehydrated, some form of access to the interior of the container 20 to allow water to be added must be provided.

Container 20 is restricted to mating with only a magazine 50 that has a similar interface and/or locking mechanism. FIGS. 4A-4D illustrate a magazine 50 with a corresponding locking mechanism 60. FIG. 4A illustrates an isometric exterior view of a magazine 50. FIG. 4B illustrates an exterior side view of the magazine of FIG. 4A. FIG. 4C illustrates an exterior bottom view of the magazine of FIG. 4A. FIG. 4D illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the magazine of FIG. 3A.

In order to make sure that only the authorized soft-projectiles, such as ammunition made from a SAP, are used with the corresponding projection device designed to launch such ammunition, complimentary locking mechanisms 60 and 40 may be used as part of both the magazine 50 and the container 20, respectively. The complementary locking mechanisms 60 and 40 are designed to prevent access to the interior of the magazine 50 and/or the container 20 except when the two are mated together. The locking mechanism 60 prevents loading of foreign objects into the magazine 50 and locking mechanism 40 prevents foreign objects from being loaded into the container 20. Numerous types of locking mechanisms may be used for complimentary locking mechanisms 60 and 40 without departing from the scope of the present patent document. The complimentary locking mechanisms 60 and 40 of the magazine 50 shown in FIGS. 4A-4D and the container 20 shown in FIG. 5 are explained below as examples of the types of complementary locking mechanisms that may be used for magazine 50 and container 20, respectively

FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of a container 20 including a locking mechanism 40 designed to mate with the complimentary locking mechanism 60 of magazine 50 in FIGS. 4A-4D. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the features of the locking mechanism 40 are integrated into the lid 26. However, the locking mechanism 40 may be integrated into any part of the container 20. Both locking mechanism 40 and 60 are designed to prevent unauthorized access to the interior of their respective devices.

The embodiment of the magazine 50 shown in FIGS. 4A-4D includes an opening 52. The mating container 20 includes a corresponding opening 32 meant to mate with the opening 52 of the magazine 50 when magazine 50 is engaged with container 20. When the two parts are not engaged, both the opening 52 in the magazine 50 and the opening 32 in the container 20 are blocked by door 69 and door 33 respectively. Both door 69 and door 33 are slideably connected behind the corresponding openings, 52 and 32. For example, the door 69 of the magazine 50 would be slideably contained within slot 64 of magazine 50 shown in FIG. 4D. Preferably the doors are biased by a spring or some other biasing element to force them over their respective openings 52 and 32 when the magazine 50 is engaged with the container 20.

When the magazine 50 is correctly mated with the container 20, the doors 69 and 33 are both retracted against the biasing force of the springs so that they no longer block their respective openings 52 and 32, and soft-projectiles may thus pass between the container 20 and the magazine 50.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the magazine 50 initially engages the corresponding locking mechanism 40 of the container 20 forward of its final position and is then slid back into its final position. However, when the user desires to release the magazine 50 from the container 20, the user may reverse the process by sliding the magazine forward so that it may be removed from corresponding locking mechanism 40 of container 20.

The tabs 58 located on the bottom of the magazine 50 correspond to a set of flanges 38 on the corresponding locking mechanism 40 of container 20 such that the magazine 50 must be initially engaged forward of its final position and then slid back into place. Once the magazine 50 is slid back into place on the container 20, the tabs 58 are under the corresponding flanges 38. The tabs 58 and the flanges 38 secure the magazine 50 to the container 20.

As may be, seen by FIGS. 4A-4C, magazine 50 includes a key 61. As shown in FIG. 5, the corresponding locking mechanism 40 of the container 20 includes a key 31. Furthermore, both the locking mechanism 60 of magazine 50 and the corresponding locking mechanism 40 of the container 20 have a mating slot 63 and 43 respectively designed to mate with keys 61 and 31. When the locking mechanisms 40 and 60 are initially mated, each of the keys 61 and 31 extends through the corresponding slot 63 and 43 on the other locking mechanism. More particularly, the key 61 located on the locking mechanism 60 of magazine 50 extends through the slot 43 on the locking mechanism 40 on container 20 at one end of the slot 43. The key 31 located on the locking mechanism 40 of container 20 extends through the slot 63 on the locking mechanism 60 on magazine 50 at one end of the slot 63. Each of the keys 61 and 31 extends through the corresponding slot and engages a key receiver in the door 33 and 69 of the other part specifically designed to mate with the key. Accordingly, when the magazine 50 is slid back into its final mating position on the corresponding locking mechanism 40 of container 20, the key 61 on the magazine 50 pulls open the door 33 on the container 20. Similarly, the key 31 located on the container 20 pulls open the door 69 on the magazine 50. Thus once the complimentary locking mechanisms 60 and 40 of magazine 50 and the container 20 are mated, both doors 33 and 69 are pulled back against the bias of their respective springs and the openings 52 and 32 are aligned and soft-projectiles may pass through without interference by the doors 33 and 69.

Although as illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4D and 5 and discussed above the key is shaped as a simple post and the doors 33 and 69 contain a key receiver in the shape of a hole, more complicated key and key receiver combinations are possible. For example, similar to the sophisticated notches on a car key or a house key, keys 61 and 31 may contain a more sophisticated design to further ensure that the doors 33 and 69 are not open without the parts being engaged to an authorized mating component. Similarly, the mating key receiver for keys 61 and 31 may include the required sophistication to ensure they are mating with a proper key. Furthermore, more than one key may be incorporated into each part such that a plurality of keys must mate in order to release the door.

In general, any type of keying system may be used to ensure that the openings 52 and 32 remained blocked and are only opened when complimentary locking mechanisms 60 and 40 are mated with an approved corresponding part. As just one example, additional steps may be required such as turning or sliding an additional switch after the complimentary locking mechanisms 60 and 40 are engaged to open doors 69 and 33. In yet another embodiment, the opening and closing of the doors 69 and 33 are controlled by electronics and a digital key may be exchanged when the complimentary locking mechanisms 60 and 40 are mated to signal to a door driver to open the doors 69 and 33 or allow the doors 69 and 33 to be opened.

A similar complimentary locking system to the one described above between the magazine 50 and the container 20 was describe in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/973,897 which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. The complimentary locking mechanism in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/973,897 was described with respect to a magazine and a projectile launching device but is equally applicable for use between a container and a magazine.

In one embodiment, the refill system described herein may be sold in the form of a kit. The kit may include a container and instructions for how to hydrate soft-projectiles made from an SAP in the container. Other embodiments may also include a plurality of pieces of dehydrated SAP for use as soft-projectiles once hydrated in the container. Other embodiments of the kit may not come with instructions at all but may simply be the container or the container in combination with dehydrated pieces of SAP.

Although the inventions have been described with reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples, it will readily be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many modifications and adaptations of the methods and devices described herein are possible without departure from the spirit and scope of the inventions as claimed hereinafter. Thus, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation on the scope of the inventions as claimed below.

Claims

1. A method of refilling a magazine with projectiles formed from a super absorbent polymer, the method comprising the steps of:

hydrating the projectiles in a container;

mating the magazine with the container; and

transferring the projectiles from the container to the magazine.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

releasing a locking mechanism on the magazine wherein the locking mechanism is designed to restrict access to an interior of the magazine.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of:

releasing a locking mechanism on the container wherein the locking mechanism is designed to restrict access to an interior of the container.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

mating a key on the container with a key receiver on the magazine.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of:

mating a key on the magazine with a key receiver on the container.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

adding dehydrated projectiles to the interior of the container prior to the hydrating step.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the dehydrated projectiles are added to the interior through an opening with a significantly smaller diameter than the diameter of a hydrated projectile.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the opening is less than 2 mm in diameter.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the opening is a plurality of openings in the form of a screen.

10. A system for hydrating soft-projectiles made from a super absorbent polymer, the system comprising:

a container including an interior and an exterior;

a locking mechanism arranged on the container and designed to restrict access to the interior of the container; and

soft-projectiles made from a super absorbent polymer located in the interior of the container.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the locking mechanism is designed to mate with a magazine.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the container includes a lid and a base.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the lid and the base may be temporarily locked.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the container further includes a liquid inlet designed to allow liquid to be added to the interior of the container.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the locking mechanism includes a slideable door operatively arranged to obstruct an opening designed to receive a soft-projectile.

16. A kit for refilling a magazine with soft-projectiles made from a super absorbent polymer, the kit comprising:

a container;

a plurality of dehydrated pieces of super absorbent polymer; and

instructions describing how to hydrate the pieces of super absorbent polymer in the container.

17. The kit of claim 16, wherein the container includes a locking mechanism designed to mate with a magazine.

18. A method of refilling a magazine with soft-projectiles, the method comprising the steps of:

mating the magazine to a container;

causing a locking mechanism on the container to allow access to an interior of the container;

causing a locking mechanism on the magazine to allow access to an interior of the magazine; and

transferring the soft-projectiles from the container to the magazine.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of:

inserting a key on the magazine into a key receiver on the container.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of:

inserting a key on the container into a key receiver on the magazine.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the soft-projectiles are formed from a super absorbent polymer.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of:

adding a liquid to the interior of the container to hydrate the soft-projectiles.