Patent ID: 7870851

Claim:
An apparatus for illuminating and propelling a plurality of optically excitable projectiles comprising: an enclosure having an interior space and an inlet and an outlet; a venturi comprising: a first tubular pipe portion having a projectile inlet connected to the enclosure outlet for receiving projectiles, an air inlet and air outlet, the projectile inlet and the first tubular pipe portion outlet forming a relatively smooth, curved projectile pathway therebetween; and s a second tubular pipe portion having an air inlet for receiving compressed air and an air outlet extending into the first tubular pipe portion for introducing compressed air thereto; the first tubular pipe portion outlet for receiving projectiles along the projectile pathway and compressed air from the air inlet, the relatively smooth curved projectile pathway being sized for allowing passage of projectiles therealong from the projectile inlet to the first tubular pipe portion outlet, and said second tubular pipe portion air outlet extending into and beyond the air inlet end of the first tubular pipe portion and the air outlet of the second tubular portion terminating immediately adjacent to and in close proximity to the projectile pathway for introducing said compressed air centrally of and into the projectile pathway for producing air flow into therein without obstructing said projectile pathway; a muzzle connected to the outlet of the first tubular pipe portion of the venturi and having an inlet for receiving projectiles and a muzzle outlet for firing projectiles therefrom; a light source positioned within the interior space of the housing between the inlet and the outlet for illuminating the projectiles in the housing to optically excite the projectiles, such that excited projectiles are fired from the muzzle; and a blower coupled to the air inlet of the venturi for moving projectiles therein to the muzzle outlet.