Bubble Toy Device
The invention is a bubble toy device for producing air bubbles from bubble solution. The invention contains a fan and fan shroud, to produce and channel an air stream past a dispensing ring into ambient environment. The invention utilizes a pump, a film producing mechanism, attached to the fan shroud with an application bar to apply bubble solution onto a dispensing ring. Upon compression of the invention's trigger, an electric power circuit activates pump and fan motors that deliver bubble solution and blow air through said ring. A separate internal sealed container, with external contacts, wherein a battery compartment for containment of and removably-inserted batteries, which is accessible on the side of the invention's handle and a door is removeably-attached by use of an attaching device, fastener, or screw. The invention can be comprised of another lighting system and/or at least one variety of sound producing devices.
This application claims priority to Provisional Application for U.S. Patent No. 61/727,768, filed Nov. 19, 2012, which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to toys, and more specifically to a battery powered toy device that produces bubbles from a liquid solution.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThere have been many bubble toys over the years that operate in various ways. However, most such toys are hand-held rings that are blown through or hand waved by the user to produce a small amount of bubbles. It is desired to provide a toy that produces a steady stream of bubbles and also that provides safe entertainment for a child. The present invention is an improved battery powered toy device that produces bubbles from a liquid solution. In the present invention, the battery compartment can be a sealed container with external contacts which prevents fluid from penetrating the interior. The present invention also has an improved access to the battery compartment interior. Additionally, the present invention improves the quality of play pattern with the addition of lights and/or sounds in a cost-effective manner.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is a bubble toy device that produces bubbles by pulling a trigger that causes power to be applied to an electrical circuit and/or system that activates a pump mechanism (or pump) and a fan mechanism (or fan).
One embodiment of the invention has a separate sealed internal battery compartment with external, meaning exteriorly connected, electrical contacts within the bubble toy device provides the source of power that drives an electrical motor, and this electrical motor operates the pump and the fan that produces a stream of air that flows through an air channel within the bubble toy device housing. This air channel directs a stream of air towards a secondary opening of the bubble toy device housing and through a generally circular-shaped dispensing aperture defined in a dispensing ring.
In one embodiment the dispensing ring defines a dispensing surface of liquid bubble solution that adheres to the dispensing ring across the dispensing aperture. The liquid bubble solution may be obtained or sold separately or in conjunction with the bubble toy device in the same packaging or box. The bubble toy device may have threads defined in walls of a primary opening to which a typical, commercially sold bubble solution container may be removeably-attached by mating threads in the walls of the primary opening with complimentary threads defined on the outside walls of a typical bubble container. The bubble toy device pump directs bubble solution towards the dispensing ring. Pulling the trigger activates the pump, the fan, and an up-and-down, motion of a film producing mechanism. The film producing mechanism moves an application bar in an up-and-down, motion thus sweeping a thin layer of bubble solution over the dispensing aperture of the dispensing ring. At the same time that the bubble solution is swept over the dispensing ring, the airflow generated by the fan travels through the air channel and expels one or more bubbles from the secondary opening of the bubble toy device.
If excess bubble solution accumulates on the dispensing ring, a drip flange located at the base of the dispensing ring directs the excess bubble solution downward into a drip channel attached to or defined in an interior portion of the bubble toy device housing. The drip channel directs the excess bubble solution into the ambient or a bubble container when a bubble container is so removeably-attached. It is preferable for the drip channel to be funnel-shaped, being wider at the top facing the dispensing aperture and narrower at the bottom.
In one embodiment, the bubble toy device of the present invention also may have one or more light-emitting diode (LED) lights or lighting system(s) that are activated by manually pulling the trigger, or by a switch. The bubble toy device of the present invention may also have a sound-producing device that is also activated by pulling the trigger, or by a switch. These LED lights and sound-producing features taken individually or together increase the overall enjoyment of the bubble toy device and make the bubble toy device more appealing to children.
Referring to
Many types of pumps may be used for the electric pump 120, such as a gear pump, a screw pump or a plunger pump or other positive displacement pump. In the electric pump 120 shown in
Bubble solution exits the electric pump 120 through the electric pump output 158 and is transported through a feed tube 125 and exits the feed tube 125 near the dispensing ring 114. The fan 122 produces moving air that is expelled through an air channel 126 defined in the fan shroud 123 and subsequently exits through the dispensing aperture 116. Inlet air is provided to the fan 122 through a hole 129 and/or series of holes 129 at the top of the fan shroud 123. A film producing mechanism 124 is pivotally attached to the fan shroud 123.
The film producing mechanism 124 moves in an up-and-down motion next to the dispensing ring 114 to deposit a thin film of bubble solution on the dispensing ring 114. The film producing mechanism 124 is mechanically linked to the trigger 110 such that pulling the trigger 110 raises the film producing mechanism 124 and releasing the trigger 110 lowers the film producing mechanism 124. In other embodiments, pulling the trigger 110 lowers the film producing mechanism 124 and releasing the trigger 110 raises the film producing mechanism 124.
When air moves through the air channel 126 and past the dispensing ring 114, the flowing air creates a bubble or many bubbles that float away from the bubble toy device 100. If there is any excess bubble solution on the dispensing ring 114, this solution drips down a drip flange 128, into a drip channel 130 attached to or defined within an interior of the bubble toy device housing 102, and eventually returns to opening 104 which can lead to the ambient, any type of reservoir, source of liquid, or a bubble solution container (not shown).
The film producing mechanism 124 is pivotally connected to the fan shroud 123. A first end 150 of the film producing mechanism 123 has a ring-shaped portion which is attached to the fan shroud 123 by fastening it around a cross-shaped fastener 151 which projects from the fan shroud 123, though other methods of connection are possible and the method of retention is not limited to use of one or more screws, other fasteners or attachment device(s). Application bar 154 is attached to or formed integrally with the film producing mechanism 124 at the second end 152 of the film producing mechanism 124.
A center portion of torsion spring 160 is attached to rod 162 with a first spring end 164 attached to the flat plate 142 or its extension 144. A second spring end 166 is secured rigidly in place at or leans against a structure 168 defined in the bubble toy device housing 102. With this arrangement, the pulling of the trigger 110 by a user causes the flat plate 142 to slide against and displace the torsion spring 160, thus causing the torsion spring 160 to exert a restoring force on first spring end 164. When the trigger 110 is released by the user, the reactive force of the torsion spring 160 causes the flat plate 142 and the trigger 110 to return to their original position before the trigger 110 was pulled.
Furthermore, the pulling of the trigger 110 causes the horizontal post 146 to move in the elongated slot 148, such that the horizontal post 146 engages walls of the elongated slot 148 and causes the second end 152 of the film producing mechanism 124 to pivotally move upward, thus causing the application bar 154 to move from the bottom to the top of the dispensing ring 114. With the release of the trigger 110, the torsion spring 160 causes the flat plate 142 to return to its original position, which in turn causes the second end 152 of the film producing mechanism 124 to return to a down position at the bottom of the dispensing ring 114. This up-and-down movement of the application bar 154 causes the bubble solution delivered to the dispensing ring 114 to be spread across the dispensing aperture 116. Also shown in
In
The battery compartment is designed with three main goals. One is to limit the amount of moisture and bubble liquid that can flow into the battery compartment. A second goal is to have a safe chamber to house batteries. A third goal is the ability to insert batteries into the bubble toy device from the side rather than through the bottom.
The battery compartment of this embodiment is sealed to keep out liquids and moisture
In general, batteries have the ability to rapidly discharge and sometimes heat up. The kind of batteries used for the bubble toy device 100 are small and limited in power but still have the ability to overheat and/or rupture for chemical or electrochemical reasons. If a battery ruptures and bursts open, it can push into the ends of a battery compartment. Because the design of the battery compartment has the door on the side rather than the top or bottom, this design helps control and contain a battery failure where internal expansion occurs axially, thus not applying excess force to the battery door, but rather to the internal walls of the battery compartment. The batteries are small so that the impact of any break up can be contained within the bubble toy device 100.
The battery compartment has a side door that opens with a securing device 137, such as, for example, a screw, as shown in
The battery or batteries 134 may be replaced by taking each battery out individually. When a battery compartment has a door on the top or bottom, the batteries can fall out on the ground during changing. The side battery cover also closes on the battery or batteries 134 making a good tight fit. This design helps the electrical connections to be good and tight.
It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of various embodiments of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the various embodiments of the invention, this detailed description is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, and especially in matters of structure and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
Although various embodiments of the present invention have been described it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments. Rather, various changes and modifications can be made within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
PARTS LIST
- 8 Power circuit
- 100 Bubble toy device
- 102 Bubble toy device housing
- 103 Mechanism for attaching to opening
- 104 Primary opening
- 106 Secondary opening
- 108 Handle
- 110 Trigger
- 111 Switch, (formed by metal spring 133 and Contact zone on electric motor 118)
- 112 Delivery tube
- 113 Spring feed wire
- 114 Dispensing ring
- 116 Dispensing aperture
- 118 Contact zone on electric motor
- 119 Drive gear
- 120 Electric pump
- 121 Electric motor
- 122 Fan
- 123 Fan shroud
- 124 Film producing mechanism
- 125 Feed tube
- 126 Air channel
- 128 Drip flange
- 129 Hole in fan shroud
- 130 Drip channel
- 131 LED Lights
- 132 Sound producing device
- 133 Metal spring
- 134 Battery or batteries (one is pointed to)
- 136 Sealed container
- 137 Securing device
- 138 External contacts
- 139 Voltage source
- 140 Mechanical linkage
- 142 Flat plate
- 144 Extension
- 146 Horizontal post
- 148 Elongated slot
- 150 Film producing mechanism first end
- 151 Fastener
- 152 Film producing mechanism second end
- 154 Application bar
- 156 electric pump input
- 158 electric pump output
- 160 Torsion spring
- 162 Rod
- 164 First spring end
- 166 Second spring end
- 168 Shoulder
- 170 Bubble solution container
- 1001 door
Claims
1. A bubble toy device for producing bubbles from bubble solution, comprising:
- a housing;
- a battery compartment and electrical connection system;
- a trigger that operates at least one mechanism and makes at least one electrical closure;
- a fan driven by an electric motor which produces an air stream from the bubble toy device to an ambient environment;
- a fan shroud with an air channel that directs an air stream to the ambient environment;
- a dispensing ring with a dispensing aperture provided therein;
- an electric pump that receives bubble solution from a delivery tube and outputs bubble solution to the dispensing ring;
- the delivery tube emanates from the electric pump input to the ambient or bubble solution;
- a trigger operated thin film producing mechanism pivotally attached to the fan shroud, with an application bar that engages bubble solution on the dispensing ring and spreads bubble solution across the dispensing aperture; and
- an electromechanical power sequence activated by the trigger, and one of at least one electrical closure delivers electrical power from at least one power source to the electric motor that operates the fan and the pump, the delivery tube to provide bubble solution to the pump, and the pump delivers bubble solution to the dispensing ring, and the film producing mechanism is at least one mechanism operated by the trigger, and the film producing mechanism moves the application bar along the dispensing ring, and the application bar engages bubble solution on the dispensing ring and spreads the bubble solution across the dispensing aperture, and the fan blows air through the dispensing aperture to produce air bubbles from the bubble toy device.
2. The bubble toy device of claim 1 further comprising LED lights and/or lighting system.
3. The bubble toy device of claim 1 further comprising a sound producing device and/or system.
4. The bubble toy device of claim 1 further comprising a sealed container with external contacts that can hold at least one removebly-insertable battery wherein the at least one removebly-insertable battery is contained within a sealed container with external contacts.
5. The bubble toy device in claim 4 wherein the sealed container has a door on the side that is attached and separated or opened by use of an attaching and removing device, or fastener, or screw to be tightened to close and loosened or removed to open.
6. The bubble toy device of claim 5 wherein the sealed container is designed so as to allow insertion and removal of batteries from the side of a handle.
7. The bubble toy device of claim 1 wherein the housing has an animal, character, or creature style and/or is a molded shell of an animal, character, or creature.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 19, 2013
Publication Date: May 22, 2014
Inventors: Christopher Kelly (Sellersburg, IN), Christian Roos (Quito), Lori Forest (Jeffersonville, IN), Joshua Kelly (Sellersburg, IN)
Application Number: 14/084,194
International Classification: A63H 33/28 (20060101);