Throwable chemiluminescent device suitable for impact activation

Abstract

One embodiment of a chemiluminescent device, suitable for impact activation, has the external form of a spherical tube structure with a length to width ratio of 0.5:1 to 3:1 and an internal brittle ampoule floating freely within an external tough shell. This form of the chemiluminescent device is very suitable for use in throwing, especially for fixed point throwing and limited space throwing.

1 . A chemiluminescent device suitable for impact activation and use for throwing, comprising:
 a tough outer shell having a maximum dimension of at most about 3 times its minimum dimension;   a brittle inner shell smaller than the outer shell and free to move within the outer shell;   a first liquid within the inner shell; and   a second liquid between the outer and inner shells, wherein the first and second liquids react to produce light when mixed;   wherein the device is so constructed that the inner shell can be caused to break, permitting the two liquids to mix, without the outer shell breaking, by impact with a flat hard surface.   
   
   
       2 . A chemiluminescent device according to  claim 1 , wherein the interior surface of the outer shell is everywhere concave. 
   
   
       3 . A chemiluminescent device according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner and outer shells are so dimensioned that the volume of the space within the inner shell and the volume of the space between the inner and outer shells are in a ratio between about 1:10 and about 10:1. 
   
   
       4 . A chemiluminescent device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the inner and outer shells has a volume greater than the volume of liquid it contains, so as to permit free movement of the liquid within the shell. 
   
   
       5 . A chemiluminescent device according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer shell is spherical, spheroidal, polygonal, cylindrical, or oblong. 
   
   
       6 . A chemiluminescent device according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer shell has a longitudinal axis, and has a ratio of length along the axis to diameter perpendicular to the axis between 0.5 and 3.0. 
   
   
       7 . A chemilumninescent device suitable for impact activation and use for throwing, comprising:
 a tough outer shell having a maximum dimension of at most about 3 times its minimum dimension;   a brittle inner shell free to move within the outer shell;   a first liquid within the inner shell; and   a second liquid between the outer and inner shells, wherein the first and second liquids react to produce light when mixed;   wherein the device is so constructed that the inner shell will break, permitting the two liquids to mix, if the device is dropped onto a flat hard surface from a height of two meters and the outer shell will not break if the device is dropped onto a flat hard surface from a height of ten meters.   
   
   
       8 . A chemiluminescent device according to  claim 7 , wherein the inner shell is spaced from the outer shell and free to move within the outer shell. 
   
   
       9 . A chemiluminescent device according to  claim 7 , wherein the interior surface of the outer shell is everywhere concave. 
   
   
       10 . A chemiluminescent device according to  claim 7 , wherein the inner and outer shells are so dimensioned that the volume of the space within the inner shell and the volume of the space between the inner and outer shells are in a ratio between about 1:10 and about 10:1. 
   
   
       11 . A chemiluminescent device according to  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the inner and outer shells has a volume greater than the volume of liquid it contains, so as to permit free movement of the liquid within the shell. 
   
   
       12 . A chemiluminescent device according to  claim 7 , wherein the outer shell is spherical, spheroidal, polygonal, cylindrical, or oblong. 
   
   
       13 . A chemiluminescent device according to  claim 7 , wherein the outer shell has a longitudinal axis, and has a ratio of length along the axis to diameter perpendicular to the axis between 0.5 and 3.0. 
   
   
       14 . A chemiluminescent device suitable for impact activation and use for throwing, comprising:
 a tough outer shell having a maximum dimension of at most about 3 times its minimum dimension;   a brittle inner shell free to move within the outer shell;   a first liquid occupying a first chamber within the inner shell; and   a second liquid occupying a second chamber between the outer and inner shells, wherein the first and second liquids react to produce light when mixed;   wherein at least one of the first and second liquids only partially fills its respective chamber;   wherein the device is so constructed that the inner shell can be caused break, permitting the two liquids to mix, without the outer shell breaking, by impact with a flat hard surface.   
   
   
       15 . A chemiluminescent device according to  claim 14 , wherein the interior surface of the outer shell is everywhere concave. 
   
   
       16 . A chemiluminescent device according to  claim 14 , wherein the inner and outer shells are so dimensioned that the volume of the space within the inner shell and the volume of the space between the inner and outer shells are in a ratio between about 1:10 and about 10:1. 
   
   
       17 . A chemiluminescent device according to  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the inner and outer shells has a volume greater than the volume of liquid it contains, so as to permit free movement of the liquid within the shell. 
   
   
       18 . A chemiluminescent device according to  claim 14 , wherein the outer shell is spherical, spheroidal, polygonal, cylindrical, or oblong.