Powder popper

Abstract

A popper for propelling powder. In one example embodiment, a powder popper includes a hollow housing that includes an internal powder chamber, a bottom plug positioned at the bottom of the powder chamber, powder positioned in the powder chamber above the bottom plug, a seal for preventing the powder from leaking out of the powder chamber past the bottom plug, and means for propelling the powder from the powder chamber upon activation of the powder popper, which causes the powder to expand in the air into a small cloud of the powder.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A powder popper comprising:
 a hollow housing that includes an internal powder chamber;   a bottom plug positioned at the bottom of the powder chamber;   powder positioned in the powder chamber above the bottom plug;   a seal for preventing the powder from leaking out of the powder chamber past the bottom plug; and   means for propelling the powder from the powder chamber upon activation of the powder popper, which causes the powder to expand in the air into a small cloud of the powder.   
     
     
         2 . The powder popper as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the seal includes a sealed bag that surrounds the powder. 
     
     
         3 . The powder popper as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the seal includes an adhesive that seals the bottom plug to a surface of the internal powder chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The powder popper as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the seal includes perforations in the seal that are too small to allow the powder to leak through the perforations but that are large enough to provide a structurally weaker portion of the seal where the seal may more easily tear as the powder is propelled from the powder popper. 
     
     
         5 . The powder popper as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the seal is formed from a paper material. 
     
     
         6 . The powder popper as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the seal is formed from a plastic material. 
     
     
         7 . The powder popper as recited in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the powder popper further includes a combustion chamber next to the bottom plug;   the means for propelling the powder from the powder chamber upon the activation of the powder popper is a combustion source and a trigger; and   the trigger is configured, when pulled on by a user, to cause the combustion source to combust, which creates expanding gas in the combustion chamber.   
     
     
         8 . The powder popper as recited in  claim 7 , wherein:
 the combustion source includes a combustion packet that is at least partially positioned within the housing with open access to the combustion chamber; and   the trigger includes a trigger string that is configured, when pulled on by a user, to cause the combustion packet to combust, which creates the expanding gas in the combustion chamber.   
     
     
         9 . The powder popper as recited in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the means for propelling the powder from the powder chamber upon the activation of the powder popper is a compressed air container and a release trigger; and   the release trigger is configured, when actuated by a user, to expel compressed air from the compressed air container, which forces the bottom plug and the powder to be propelled from the housing.   
     
     
         10 . The powder popper as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the powder is colored corn starch. 
     
     
         11 . A powder popper comprising:
 a hollow housing that includes an internal powder chamber that defines a top opening and a bottom opening;   a bottom plug positioned at the bottom opening of the powder chamber;   powder positioned in the powder chamber between the top opening and the bottom opening of the powder chamber;   a bottom seal for preventing the powder from leaking out of the bottom opening of the powder chamber past the bottom plug;   a top seal for preventing the powder from leaking out of the top opening of the powder chamber; and   means for propelling the powder from the powder chamber upon activation of the powder popper, which causes the powder to expand in the air into a small cloud of the powder.   
     
     
         12 . The powder popper as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the bottom seal includes an adhesive that seals the bottom plug to a surface of the internal powder chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The powder popper as recited in  claim 11 , wherein each of the top and bottom seals includes perforations in the seal that are too small to allow the powder to leak through the perforations but that are large enough to provide a structurally weaker portion of the seal where the seal may more easily tear as the powder is propelled from the powder popper. 
     
     
         14 . The powder popper as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the top seal and/or the bottom seal is/are formed from a paper material or a plastic material. 
     
     
         15 . The powder popper as recited in  claim 11 , wherein:
 the powder popper further includes a combustion chamber next to the bottom plug;   the means for propelling the powder from the powder chamber upon the activation of the powder popper is a combustion source and a trigger; and   the trigger is configured, when pulled on by a user, to cause the combustion source to combust, which creates expanding gas in the combustion chamber.   
     
     
         16 . The powder popper as recited in  claim 15 , wherein:
 the combustion source includes a combustion packet that is at least partially positioned within the housing with open access to the combustion chamber; and   the trigger includes a trigger string that is configured, when pulled on by a user, to cause the combustion packet to combust, which creates expanding gas in the combustion chamber.   
     
     
         17 . The powder popper as recited in  claim 11 , wherein:
 the means for propelling the powder from the powder chamber upon the activation of the powder popper is a compressed air container and a release trigger; and   the release trigger is configured, when actuated by a user, to expel compressed air from the compressed air container, which forces the bottom plug and the powder to be propelled from the housing.   
     
     
         18 . The powder popper as recited in  claim 11 , wherein:
 the means for propelling the powder from the powder chamber upon the activation of the powder popper is a spring and a release trigger; and   the released trigger is configured, when actuated by a user, to allow the spring to release energy stored in the spring, which forces the bottom plug and the powder to be propelled from the housing.   
     
     
         19 . The powder popper as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the means for propelling the powder from the powder chamber upon the activation of the powder popper is a blow mechanism which is configured, when blown into by a user, to allow the blown air to exert force against the bottom plug, which forces the bottom plug and the powder to be propelled from the housing. 
     
     
         20 . The powder popper as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the powder is colored corn starch.