A DEVICE FOR DISPERSING PAINTS, DYES OR SPECIAL EFFECTS INTO THE AIR

A device for dispersing paints, dyes or special effects into the air

The invention relates to a device for generating sounds and/or for dispersing paint, dyes, smoke or similar materials into the air for simulating a range of explosive effects for use in paint-balling, the film industry or as training tool for military, police or other emergency services personnel. Alternatively the device can be used as a flare for attracting attention in both emergency and non-emergency situations.

Conventional paint dispersal or special effects or simulator devices are single use devices which are activated mechanically. However they are unreliable, dangerous and because they can only be discharged once are relatively expensive to manufacture thus limiting their usefulness for paint-balling and in training or simulation situations.

The invention provides an electronically actuated hand grenade which can be repeatedly used to discharge a variety of blank cartridges containing paints, dyes or other special effects cells. It is safe and reliable to use and inexpensive to manufacture.

Because the cartridges and the discharging device are transported and stored separately and are preferably assembled shortly before or more preferably immediately prior to discharge there is a reduced risk of the effects cell being discharged in error before the device is required. When the device is to be used as a flare in emergency situations it has the advantage that because it can be reused repeatedly large numbers of blank cartridges can be discharged using a single device making it more space efficient.

Furthermore because the device can discharge different types of blank cartridges each containing different effects cells a range of cartridges can be carried and the most appropriate selected for use in different circumstances for example at night, in heavy seas or desert conditions or with properties such as slow sustained release or noise to help maximise the chance of the flare being spotted from either the air, sea or ground.

In a first aspect the invention relates to a device comprising an electronically actuated hand grenade for discharging a blank cartridge.

In another aspect of the invention the device is reusable.

In another aspect of the invention when the device is discharged the blank cartridge emits one or more of smoke, percussion, flash, flash bang, whistle, crackle, scream, flash crackle, strobe, white phosphorous simulation or other special effect.

In another aspect of the invention when the device is discharged the blank cartridge emits a flare. In another aspect of the invention when the device is discharged the blank cartridge emits a paint, dye or stain.

In another aspect of the invention when the device is discharged the paint, dye or stain is vaporised.

In another aspect of the invention when the device is discharged the blank cartridge emits a harmless coloured or scented gas or vapour, or one or more solid or filled non-lethal projectiles.

In another aspect of the invention the blank cartridge comprises an effects cell a contact means and a detonator.

In another aspect of the invention the contact means comprise one or more circular or ring shaped connector regions.

In another aspect of the invention the device further comprises a timer for delaying the discharge of the blank cartridge.

In another aspect of the invention the timer is preset to delay the discharge of the blank cartridge by between lsec and 45 minutes. In another aspect of the invention the device further comprises a light which is illuminated when the blank cartridge has been actuated and is about to be discharged. In another aspect of the invention the device emits a sound when the blank cartridge has been actuated and is about to be discharged.

In another aspect of the invention the device a sound is emitted after the blank cartridge has been discharged.

In another aspect of the invention the device further comprises one or more openings through which the flash bang, flare, paint, dye or stain is released after the blank cartridge has been discharged.

In another aspect of the invention the device further comprises a removable casing or jacket.

In another aspect the invention comprises a removable casing or jacket for altering the appearance of the hand grenade.

Description of the drawings:

Figure 1 : provides a diagrammatic representation of the hand grenade of the present invention assembled immediately prior to discharge Figure 2: shows the disassembled component parts of the hand grenade of the present invention.

Figure 3: shows an exploded view of the components of the hand grenade of the present invention.

Figure 4: shows a circuit diagram of an embodiment of the invention

With reference to figure 1 the hand grenade of the present invention in its assembled state ie just before it is discharged comprises a body portion 1 and a conventional hinged spoon type actuator 2 held in place by a ring pull and pin arrangement 3.

Optionally the ring pull and pin 3 are attached to the body at a second point so as to allow the pin to be removed during the actuation of the device and yet still remain attached to the body to prevent the loss of the ring pull and pin 3.

Alternative actuator mechanisms can be used such as by way of example only switches, seals, strike plates, or remotely activated electronic switching mechanisms such as tripwire or booby traps to actuate the hand grenade.

The body of the hand grenade can be constructed from a variety of materials preferably it is formed from light weight aluminium, stainless steel or for increased economy from plastics preferably from shock and heat proof plastics.

The body of the grenade can be coloured to alter its appearance and/or to make it either more or less visible. Optionally an interchangeable jacket can be applied to the body of the grenade to disguise or otherwise alter its appearance and/or to provide shock resistance. Preferably the jacket is made of rubber or like material .

As shown in figures 2 and 3 the body 1 of the device is formed from two parts an upper section Ia and a lower section Ib. The two parts are fitted together and can be firmly secured by a variety of means such as by was of example only a push-fit arrangement, a snap fitting, or using clips or adhesives or as in the example shown in figure 2 by a threaded region Ic and Id.

The upper section 1 a of the body in the embodiment shown in figures 1 ,2 and 3 incorporates the actuation mechanism which comprises a conventional hinged spoon type actuator 2 held in place by a pin arrangement 3.

The lower section Ib in this embodiment houses a blast or burn disc 10 to protect the body when the device is discharged. Preferably the blast or burn disc is formed of stainless steel or a similar material which is able to withstand multiple actuations.

The body 1 is shaped to receive a cartridge enclosure 5. The cartridge enclosure 5 is formed from two parts an upper section 5a and a lower section 5b. The two parts are fitted together and can be firmly secured by a variety of means such as by was of example only a push-fit arrangement, a snap fitting, or using clips or adhesives or as in the example shown in figure 2 by a threaded region 5c and 5d. The cartridge enclosure 5 is shaped to receive a blank cartridge 6. The blank cartridge comprises an effects cell 6a, a contact disc 7 and a detonator 8 which extends from the contact disc to the interior of the effects cell.

The effects cell can be a conventional FX cartridge which are well known in the art.

Preferably the contact disc comprises one or more connector regions 9. More preferably the connector regions comprise one or more circular and or concentric rings, to ensure 360 rotary electrical connection.

The cartridge enclosure 5 has an opening to allow the connector regions 9 to complete the circuit shown in figure 4.

The effects cell can, when discharged, produce one or more of a variety of effects including sounds such as whistles, whistle/scream, bangs, crackles or percussion.

Optionally the effects cell can, when discharged, release smoke, flashes, flash bangs, flash crackles, strobe, white phosphorous simulation and flares.

Optionally the effects cell can, when discharged, release a cloud of smoke, dye, stain, paint in various colours, scents and density or any other harmless gas or vapour. Optionally the effects cell can, when discharged, release a number of solid or paint/dye filled non-lethal projectiles.

The body 1 and the cartridge enclosure 5 and optionally the blast or burn disc 10 each have one or more opening through which the flash bang, flare, smoke, paint, dye, stain, gas or vapour is released after the cartridge has been discharged.

The body further may comprises a safety warning light 4 preferably an LED which is illuminated only after the grenade has been actuated in the embodiment shown in figures 1-3 by removing the pin 3 to warn users that the grenade is about to be discharged.

In use the grenade is actuated by removing the pin using the ring pull in the embodiment shown in figure 1. The removal of the pin causes the electric circuit shown in figure 4 to be completed.

Optionally a safety warning light 4 preferably an LED is illuminated to indicate to users that the grenade is about to be discharged. It will flash to indicate sufficient battery life and provide a warning that the circuit is complete and live.

Optionally a warning sound is emitted to indicate to users that the grenade is about to be discharged. It emits a high pitched alarm to indicate that the device has been armed.

Optionally the sound is also repeated for a period after the grenade has been discharged to assist the user in finding the grenade. The ring pull attached to the pin comprises a safety mechanism which involves locking the lever handle in place and disabling the trigger switch.

A second safety micro-switch is located in the spoon lever of the embodiment shown in figures 1-3.

A timer (integrated circuit) which can be preset either by the user or during manufacture from 1 sec-several minutes can be used to delay the discharge of the hand grenade to allow the user time to move away from the device for added safety.

After the preset time has elapsed the cartridge is discharged and the desired effect or effects is achieved.

After the cartridge has been discharged the body 1 , and the cartridge enclosure 5 can be disassembled and the spent blank cartridge removed. The pin 3 is replaced in the actuator mechanism and another fresh blank cartridge comprising either the same or a different effects cell is introduced into the cartridge enclosure 5 and the body 1 reassembled to allow the hand grenade to be reused.