Toy blaster ammunition formulation

Abstract

Ammunition for a toy blaster may be infused with or otherwise contain a bittering agent, such as denatonium benzoate. Addition of denatonium benzoate to ammunition formulations may reduce the likelihood that the ammunition may be ingested by children. Ammunition may be formed of a superabsorbent polymer or hydrogel. By introducing a non-toxic bittering agent into the superabsorbent polymer or hydrogel that may form the ammunition, it may be more likely that children may spit out the ammunition instead of swallowing the ammunition. Denatonium benzoate may comprise approximately 50 parts per billion of the superabsorbent polymer or hydrogel, but may comprise approximately 1 to 100 ppb. When used in these low concentrations, the ammunition may be safe for a child to put in his/her mouth, but given the taste of denatonium benzoate, its inclusion as part of the ammunition formulation may act as an aversive agent.

1 . A toy blaster ammunition formulation comprising:
 a superabsorbent polymer containing a non-toxic bittering agent, wherein inclusion of the non-toxic bittering agent reduces likelihood that a child will swallow the formulation.   
     
     
         2 . The toy blaster ammunition formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the non-toxic bittering agent is denatonium benzoate. 
     
     
         3 . The toy blaster ammunition formulation of  claim 2 , wherein denatonium benzoate comprises approximately 1 to 100 ppb of the formulation. 
     
     
         4 . The toy blaster ammunition formulation of  claim 2 , wherein denatonium benzoate comprises approximately 30 to 100 ppb of the formulation. 
     
     
         5 . The toy blaster ammunition formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the non-toxic bittering agent is infused in the superabsorbent polymer. 
     
     
         6 . The toy blaster ammunition formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the formulation is in the form of absorptive gel balls. 
     
     
         7 . The toy blaster ammunition formulation of  claim 6 , wherein the absorptive gel balls are formed of sodium polyacrylate, water, and denatonium benzoate. 
     
     
         8 . The toy blaster ammunition formulation of  claim 7 , wherein sodium polyacrylate forms approximately 90% of the formulation and water forms approximately 10% of the formulation. 
     
     
         9 . The toy blaster ammunition formulation of  claim 7 , wherein denatonium benzoate is introduced into a slurry formed of sodium polyacrylate and water. 
     
     
         10 . The toy blaster ammunition formulation of  claim 7 , wherein denatonium benzoate comprises approximately 50 parts per billion of the formulation. 
     
     
         11 . A toy blaster ammunition formulation comprising:
 a superabsorbent polymer formed of sodium polyacrylate and water, the superabsorbent polymer containing a non-toxic bittering agent, wherein inclusion of the non-toxic bittering agent reduces likelihood that a child will swallow the formulation.   
     
     
         12 . The toy blaster ammunition formulation of  claim 11 , wherein sodium polyacrylate forms approximately 90% of the formulation and water forms approximately 10% of the formulation. 
     
     
         13 . The toy blaster ammunition formulation of  claim 11 , wherein the non-toxic bittering agent is denatonium benzoate. 
     
     
         14 . The toy blaster ammunition formulation of  claim 13 , wherein denatonium benzoate is introduced into a slurry formed of sodium polyacrylate and water. 
     
     
         15 . The toy blaster ammunition formulation of  claim 13 , wherein denatonium benzoate comprises approximately 50 parts per billion of the formulation. 
     
     
         16 . The toy blaster ammunition formulation of  claim 13 , wherein denatonium benzoate comprises approximately 1 to 100 ppb of the formulation. 
     
     
         17 . The toy blaster ammunition formulation of  claim 13 , wherein denatonium benzoate comprises approximately 30 to 100 ppb of the formulation. 
     
     
         18 . The toy blaster ammunition formulation of  claim 11 , wherein the non-toxic bittering agent is infused in the superabsorbent polymer. 
     
     
         19 . The toy blaster ammunition formulation of  claim 11 , wherein the formulation is in the form of absorptive gel balls.