ES2404030A1 - Bioplastic balls for the practice of war games and military training. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Bioplastic balls for the practice of war games and military training. The balls are formed by a spherical body of a biodegradable material, and with a unit weight comprised between 0.20 grams and 0.50 grams, for firing with replicas of "airsoft" type weapons, said 100% biodegradable material comprising: biopolymer of 10% to 80% by weight, mineral powder of 20% by weight to 90% by weight and less than 3% of additives in ream. The biopolymers comprise starch and/or starch derivatives, petroleum derivatives and polylactic acid (pla). (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

BIOPLASTIC BALLS FOR THE PRACTICE OF WAR GAMES AND MILITARY TRAINING. Object of the invention

The present invention relates to bioplastic balls for the practice of war games and military training, war games being understood as the sport called "Airsoft", which uses replicas of firearms, capable of firing said balls, so that its impact does not harm the human being or be lethal to it. These balls are made of 100% biodegradable material, maintaining their conditions of use during shooting.

Field of application of the invention.

This invention is applicable in the ammunition sector for sports shooting and non-lethal practice.

Background of the invention.

The quot; Airsoftquot; It is a real combat simulation sport, or war game, where replicas of firearms that shoot light balls are used, whose impact does not cause damage or are lethal on people. This quality of allowing the use of replicas of firearms very similar to real weapons and that the impacts of ammunition is not harmful has spread this sport rapidly throughout the United States, Europe and Japan among other countries of the world.

Moreover, this appearance of "realism"; makes the "Airsoft"; It is also used as military training by various armies.

The ammunition used consists of spherical balls of light materials, whose weight per unit ranges between 0.2 and 0.50 grams, and equipped with an approximate diameter of 5 to 9 millimeters.

Initially the balls were made of petroleum-derived plastic materials, mainly PVC, but their character was not

Biodegradable caused a considerable problem. Indeed, the ammo

used is in the place of combat or war game practice,

mainly scenarios in nature and buildings intended for this use.

As these balls are difficult to collect once used and scattered

on the ground, they form a source of pollution and dirt

considerable, especially in natural spaces, where they can

Stay for hundreds of years.

There are balls of partially biodegradable materials, the

which degrade easily in the environmental environment. These balls

they present the problem that their spherical constitution is more irregular and

they deform easily, so they usually get stuck inside the cannon of the

weapons replicas, causing breakdowns and malfunction of

These replicas.

In addition, said biodegradable balls that are currently used are made of materials that begin to decompose in contact with air. These biodegradable balls are supplied to the consumer in vacuum sealed containers and when the container is opened the balls have a limited time for use. This represents another problem, since the relatively old balls tend to break prematurely inside the mechanism and the barrel of the replica, thereby getting stuck and damaging said replica.

The PCT document W09964809 is known for "replica of armaquot; (LES TROIS PYLONES), and which describes a weapon replica that includes: -a removable magazine whose box contains projectiles consisting of small light balls, especially of plastic, -a housing that comprises a substantially elongated part that carries the ejection barrel of the projectiles, a bent down part that serves as a handle and a receptacle for receiving the magazine, the elongated part of the housing containing an ejection mechanism for the projectiles and an actuating mechanism connected to a trigger, and a stock

longitudinally movable mounted on the elongated part of the housing for

load

a projectile in the canyon and to assemble the ejection mechanism. This

weapon replica comprises an integrated control means to locate, without

pre-disassembly, the place of eventual blocking of a projectile in

the stock

5

and / or the housing, said control means being constituted by a part to

less than the cylinder head and the transparent plastic housing.

This weapon replica seeks to solve the problem of traffic jam.

balls inside the mechanism and the barrel through the possibility of making a

eye inspection of the replica of the weapon to detect the stuck ball. This

1 o

solution would not have been necessary if the balls had some properties

homogeneous

Y building optimal for a functioning cleansed from the

Replication, which is not possible with current biodegradable balls.

The applicant of the present invention is unaware of the existence

from

background that solve  from shape satisfactory the problematic

fifteen

exposed.

Description of the invention

The bioplastic balls to practice war games and

military training, object of this invention, present some

20 technical features aimed at enabling 100% biodegradation in the environmental environment, providing optimal conditions of use in the replicas of weapons type "Airsoftquot; with which they shoot, avoiding traffic jams inside these weapons replicas.

Bioplastic balls for the practice of war games or

25 military training are made up of a spherical body of a biodegradable material of unit weight between 0.20 grams and 0.50 grams, for firing with replicas of weapons type "Airsoft".

According to the invention, the balls comprise a 100% biodegradable biopolymer of 10% to 80% by weight, mineral powder 30 of 20% by weight to 90% by weight and less than 3% of additives in

ream.

These biopolymers have a programmed decomposition

in the environment that allows such balls to be totally harmless

to the environment, from the origin and its manufacture, until its decomposition.

Under normal composting conditions, 90% of the mass of

5

Biopolymers are biodegraded in gases, carbon dioxide, oxygen, and

water before the first six months, leaving a solid residue of

10% biomass. Thus 100% biodegradability is achieved, complying

with it with the regulations in force.

Thus in one embodiment, the biopolymers comprise starch and / or

1O

starch derivatives of plant origin.

Other biopolymers used of plant origin include:

rubber, latex, starch and / or cellulose derivatives.

In other embodiments, the biopolymers used are also

obtained from algae, tomato cutina and chitosan from the shells

fifteen

of crustaceans.

It is also planned that the biopolymers used

They include petroleum derivatives. For example thermoplastics

biodegradable and biodegradable elastomeric polymers, such as rubber

synthetic among others.

twenty

In another embodiment, the biopolymers comprise acid

polylactic (PLA)

The mineral powder comprises at least one compound a

Choose from the following: carbonates and mineral salts, such as

calcium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate or barium sulfate.

25

The mentioned biopolymers have the advantage that they are

100% biodegradable in the environment due to the effect of

microorganisms, and fully compostable. This enables your total

neutral incorporation in a natural environment, sm that occurs

contamination because the balls remain a long period of time without

30

decompose or because they spill polluting substances in that environment.

   In all these cases, biopolymers allow the balls

They are manufactured with a stable and completely spherical shape, without burrs, dents or deformations, which ensures that their operation in the replicas of weapons is perfect. Biopolymers decompose rapidly in contact with microorganisms in the

5 environment for its total composting, and the mineral dust is completely inert in that environment.

In one embodiment, the balls have a unit weight of 0.2 grams, from 30% to 80% by weight of starch and starch derivatives, from 20% to 70% by weight of mineral powder and less than one 3% additives in

1 or resin.

In another embodiment, the balls have a unit weight of 0.25 grams, from 10% to 60% by weight of starch derivatives, from 40% to 90% by weight of mineral powder and less than 3% of resin additives.

In a third embodiment, heavier, and intended to obtain

15 a more precise trajectory, the balls have a unit weight between 0.28 grams and 0.50 grams, from 10% to 50% by weight of starch derivatives, from 50% to 90% by weight of mineral powder and less than 3% resin additives.

These formulations for making the balls are also useful for making balls of other weights, such as 0.30 grams, 0.35 grams, 0.40 grams, 0.43 grams and 0.50 grams.

These 100% biodegradable balls comply with the European standard EN 13432: 2000 regarding the requirements for recovery through composting and biodegradation. Compliance with this standard is due to

The biodegradable behavior of biopolymers once these balls are scattered in the environment after use. The balls also comply with the international standard ISO 14855-1: 2005 on the determination of aerobic biodegradation of plastics and composting controlled disintegration.

Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

In a preferred embodiment a bioplastic ball for use as a projectile in a firearm replica, type "Airsoft", comprises a spherical body of approximately 6 millimeters in diameter and 0.25 grams in weight. In this case, the ball comprises 50% by weight of starch derivatives and 50% by weight of mineral powder.

Once the nature of the invention has been sufficiently described, as well as a preferred embodiment, it is stated for the appropriate purposes that the materials, shape, size and arrangement of the elements

1 Or described may be modified, provided that this does not imply an alteration of the essential characteristics of the invention that are claimed below.

Claims (9)

1 - Bioplastic balls for the practice of war games or military training, of the type formed by a spherical body of a biodegradable material of unit weight between 0.20 grams and 0.50 grams, for firing with replicas of `` Airsoftquot ;, '' weapons, characterized in that they comprise a 100% biodegradable biopolymer from 10% to 80% by weight, mineral powder from 20% by weight to 90% by weight and less than 3% resin additives . 2. Balls according to claim 1, characterized in that the biopolymers comprise starch and / or starch derivatives of plant origin. 3. Balls according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the biopolymers comprise rubber, latex, starch and / or cellulose derivatives. 4.-Balls according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the biopolymers comprise petroleum derivatives. 5. Balls according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the biopolymers comprise polylactic acid (PLA). 6. Balls according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mineral powder comprises at least one compound to choose from the following: carbonates and mineral salts, such as calcium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate or barium sulfate. 7. Balls according to claim 2, characterized in that the balls have a unit weight of 0.2 grams, from 30% to 80% by weight of starch and starch derivatives, from 20% to 70% in weight of mineral powder and less than 3% resin additives. 8. Balls according to claim 2, characterized in that the 5 balls have a unit weight of 0.25 grams, from 10% to 60% by weight of starch derivatives, from 40% to 90% by weight of mineral powder and less than 3% of resin additives . 9. Balls according to claim 2, characterized in that the
10 balls have a unit weight between 0.28 grams and 0.50 grams, from 10% to 50% by weight of starch derivatives, from 50% to 90% by weight of mineral powder and less than one 3% resin additives.