Practical joke smoke balls or like devices and method of making same

Claim 1

A non-explosive novelty, or practical joke smoke-producing article of the pyrotechnic type comprising a. a gas-impervious, moisture-resistant, hollow, light-weight shell casing initially fabricated in at least two complementary parts of a rigid, impact and pressure resistant, nonconbustible plastic material and having a fuse aperture in at least one; b. a predetermined quantity of powder-like, non-explosive, combustible smoke-producing composition disposed within said shell casing; c. a length of ignition fuse having one end in combustioncausing proximity with said composition within said casing and the other end extending outwardly through the fuse aperture of the casing; d. said fuse being ignitable to in turn effect ignition of the smoke-producing composition, whereby the burning of said composition results in a non-explosive, profuse emission of non-lethal smoke and gas fumes from the casing out through the fuse aperture; e. said casing including initially separate portions subsequently joined in a gas-tight manner to form a unitary article, at least one of said portions adapted to receive and support at least a part of said composition of paragraph (b); and f. thin, sheet-like, flexible film means to coalesce said composition within said casing to preclude loss of said powderlike composition through any clearance around said fuse aperture and casing parts; and g. said film means includes a first sheet member adapted to at least primarily loosely wrap both said composition and the fuse end in combustion-causing proximity thereto, so as to permit atmospheric oxygen to intermix with and aid combustion of said composition, and said film measurements further including a second sheet-like member of lesser magnitude overlaying said primary wrapping and having a relatively close fitting fuseengaging aperture therein, said second sheet-like member disposed within and retained by said casing closely adjacent said fuse aperture.