Including Variable Size Air Chamber Patents (Class 446/21)
  • Patent number: 9694299
    Abstract: A bubble blowing assembly for blowing bubbles with manually pumped air includes a tubular housing that may be gripped by a user. A pump is operationally coupled to the tubular housing. The pump urges air into the tubular housing. A primary reservoir is operationally coupled to the tubular housing. The primary reservoir may contain a fluid. A nozzle is operationally coupled to the tubular housing. A fluid hose is operationally coupled between the tubular housing and the primary reservoir. The fluid hose selectively directs the fluid into the nozzle. A first air hose is operationally coupled between the tubular housing and the nozzle. The first air hose directs the pumped air into the nozzle. The nozzle generates the bubbles when the user pumps the pump. A secondary reservoir is coupled to the tubular housing. The secondary reservoir collects excess fluid from the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Inventor: Sam Kouso
  • Patent number: 9162156
    Abstract: A bubble wand includes a primary member and an auxiliary member. The primary member is substantially entirely formed in a first, single plane and defines an elongated slot and a first plurality of bubble-forming rings. The first plurality of bubble-forming rings includes a different bubble-forming ring positioned on each of at least two opposing sides of the elongated slot. Each of the first plurality of bubble-forming rings defines an opening therethrough. The auxiliary member is substantially entirely formed in a second, single plane and is coupled to the primary member such that the auxiliary member extends through the elongated slot of the primary member such that a first side portion of the auxiliary member is maintained on a first side of the primary member and a second side portion of the auxiliary member is maintained on a second side of the primary member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: TARGET BRANDS, INC.
    Inventor: Dustin M. Cripe
  • Patent number: 8123584
    Abstract: A bubble generating assembly has a housing shaped as an animal and defining a mouth, with a stationary member secured to a permanent location extending across a portion of the mouth. The assembly includes a reservoir provided inside the housing and retaining bubble solution, a trigger mechanism, a plurality of bubble generating rings positioned adjacent the mouth, a tubing that couples the interior of the reservoir with the ring, and a link assembly that couples the trigger mechanism and the rings in a manner in which actuation of the trigger mechanism causes the rings to be moved from a first position to a second position across the stationary member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Arko Development Limited
    Inventor: Douglas Thai
  • Publication number: 20080146113
    Abstract: A bubble producing device has at least one loop, with each loop having a cylindrical wall having an interior channel, a top edge and a bottom edge. A flared edge extends at an angle with respect to the cylindrical wall from a portion of the bottom edge. A connector is attached to the cylindrical wall of each loop at a location that is offset from the top edge of each loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventor: Douglas Thai
  • Patent number: 7182665
    Abstract: A bubble generating assembly has a housing with a wiping bar secured to a permanent location extending across a portion of the front opening of the housing. The bubble generating assembly further includes a container coupled to the housing and retaining bubble solution, a trigger mechanism, a bubble generating ring positioned adjacent the front opening, a tubing that couples the interior of the container with the ring, and a link assembly that couples the trigger mechanism and the ring in a manner in which actuation of the trigger mechanism causes the ring to be moved from a first position to a second position across the wiping bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Arko Development Ltd.
    Inventor: Douglas Thai
  • Patent number: 7172484
    Abstract: A bubble machine has a housing, a bubble generator positioned adjacent the front opening of the housing, a fan positioned inside the housing, and a motor positioned inside the housing and operatively coupled to the fan and the bubble generator. Actuation of the motor causes the fan and the bubble generator to be simultaneously actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Arko Development Ltd.
    Inventor: Douglas Thai
  • Patent number: 7144291
    Abstract: A bubble machine having a housing, a bubble generator positioned adjacent the front opening of the housing, a fan positioned inside the housing, and a motor positioned inside the housing and operatively coupled to the fan and the bubble generator. Actuation of the motor causes the fan and the bubble generator to be simultaneously actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Arko Development Limited
    Inventor: Douglas Thai
  • Patent number: 7086612
    Abstract: The present invention provides an assembly, sock, and method for generating foam. The assembly includes a housing having a chamber, and a first and second orifice. A fan arranged within the housing draws a flow of air into the chamber through the first orifice and exhausts the flow of air through the second orifice to form an exhausted flow of air. A nozzle is arranged within the chamber and is situated in proximity to the second orifice to allow introduction of a fluid into the exhausted flow of air through the second orifice. A permeable sock includes an inner surface and an outer surface. The sock is arranged to occlude the second orifice in a manner to receive the exhausted flow of air with the fluid at the inner surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Inventor: Gary Crawford
  • Patent number: 7056182
    Abstract: The invention is directed toward a bubble-producing toy which can be held in a user's hand, and, when activated by the user pulling on a trigger, will produce a stream of bubbles via forced air funneling through an aperture in the invention's “mouth”, over which a tongue-shaped flat disk creates a film of bubble solution through which air is forced to create bubbles. Attached to the flat disk is a funnel/catchment basin which recycles bubble solution which did not leave the invention as a bubble.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Inventor: Hoi Hung Jimmy Wan
  • Patent number: 7052356
    Abstract: A bubble producing device has at least one loop, with each loop having a cylindrical wall having an interior channel, a top edge and a bottom edge. A flared edge extends at an angle with respect to the cylindrical wall from a portion of the bottom edge. A connector is attached to the cylindrical wall of each loop at a location that is offset from the top edge of each loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Arko Development Limited
    Inventor: Douglas Thai
  • Patent number: 7021986
    Abstract: A bubble producing assembly has a housing having an outlet, an air generator positioned on the housing, a bubble producing device positioned over the air generator, a first activator coupled to the air generator, a reservoir associated with the housing for storing a liquid, a pump system coupling the reservoir and the outlet, and a second activator coupled to the pump system for delivering the liquid from the reservoir out of the outlet. Thus, a user can use the first activator to generate air to produce bubbles, and can use the second activator to generate a stream of the liquid that can be aimed at the generated bubbles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Arko Development Limited
    Inventor: Douglas Thai
  • Patent number: 7008287
    Abstract: A bubble generating assembly has a housing, an air generator associated with the housing, a bubble producing device positioned in front of the air generator to receive air generated from the air generator, and a cover or dipping cup configured as an inverted cup. The cover or dipping cup has an interior and a locking mechanism that removably connects the housing, and the cover or dipping cup retains the bubble producing device in the interior when the cover or dipping cup is connected to the housing. In addition, a bubble generating device has a loop with a cylindrical wall extending from the opening of the loop. The cylindrical wall has a plurality of ridges provided on the inner circumferential surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Arko Development Limited
    Inventor: Douglas Thai
  • Patent number: 6953376
    Abstract: A bubble blower and a bubble blower equipped vehicle includes: a case; a discharge hole adapted to discharge bubbles, the discharge hole being arranged in a front portion of the case; a detachable cartridge filled with a bubble producing liquid and affixed to a lower portion of the case; a supply path arranged between the detachable cartridge and the discharge hole and adapted to transfer the bubble producing liquid from the detachable cartridge; a blower fan arranged within an inner portion of the case and adapted to produce a stream of air, the bubble producing liquid being sprayed into the stream of air from the supply path to produce bubbles; a handle arranged on a lower portion of the case; a switch arranged on one side of an outer face of the case and adapted to operate the fan; a reflector plate arranged to encircle the discharge hole; and a plurality of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) arranged on the reflector plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignees: 505 Toys Ltd.
    Inventors: Chul-Min Kim, Haeng-Chul Shin
  • Patent number: 6620015
    Abstract: A bubble producing device has at least one loop, with each loop having a cylindrical wall having an interior channel, a top edge and a bottom edge. A flared edge extends at an angle with respect to the cylindrical wall from a portion of the bottom edge. A connector is attached to the cylindrical wall of each loop at a location that is offset from the top edge of each loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Arko Development Limited
    Inventor: Douglas Thai
  • Patent number: 6558220
    Abstract: A bubble making apparatus. The apparatus is a manually workable device having a pair of open limbs joined at a junction. A V-shaped wand, with a pair of limbs that are joined at a normally open angle alpha in a spring like, or alternately a pivotable fashion. Upon manual compression, the limbs are urged apart to a pre-selected angle. A flexible, absorbent cord is affixed at locations on each of the limbs. The flexible cord is brought together to form a bubble-making loop. A portion of the flexible cord is located to enable the user to vary the size of the bubble-making loop. The flexible and collapsible nature of the loop permits use of a long narrow container for bubble solution, which requires less bubble-making solution than a rigid wand of comparable effective diameter. This collapsible feature also facilitates the creation of and the “closing-off” of large bubbles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Inventor: Donald Y. Kadoshima
  • Patent number: 6544091
    Abstract: A bubble producing assembly has a housing having an outlet, an air generator positioned on the housing, a bubble producing device positioned over the air generator, a first activator coupled to the air generator, a reservoir associated with the housing for storing a liquid, a pump system coupling the reservoir and the outlet, and a second activator coupled to the pump system for delivering the liquid from the reservoir out of the outlet. Thus, a user can use the first activator too generate air to produce bubbles, and can use the second activator to generate a stream of the liquid that can be aimed at the generated bubbles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Arko Development Limited
    Inventor: Douglas Thai
  • Patent number: 6149486
    Abstract: A bubble producing assembly has a plurality of bubble producing devices. Each bubble producing device has at least one loop, a fan positioned adjacent the at least one loop, and a motor coupled to the fan. The assembly has a control mechanism coupled to each motor of each bubble producing device for simultaneously actuating each motor to cause separate bubbles to be simultaneously produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Placo Corporation Limited
    Inventor: Douglas Thai
  • Patent number: 6139391
    Abstract: A bubble producing assembly has a frame having a handle section and an opening, a fan positioned inside the opening, and a bubble producing device positioned above the fan and extending over the opening. The bubble producing device has a primary loop having an enclosing edge that defines an interior opening, with the primary loop disposed at a first vertical level. The bubble producing device also includes a plurality of secondary loops disposed at a second vertical level that is different from the first vertical level, the secondary loops positioned with respect to the primary loop such that the secondary loops extend into the space defined by the interior opening. In a preferred embodiment, the secondary loops are smaller in size than the primary loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Placo Corporation Limited
    Inventors: Douglas Thai, Darren D. Neuman
  • Patent number: 6102764
    Abstract: A bubble producing assembly has a frame having a handle section and an opening, a fan positioned inside the opening, and a bubble producing device positioned above the fan and extending over the opening. The bubble producing device has a primary loop having an enclosing edge that defines an interior opening, with the primary loop disposed at a first vertical level. The bubble producing device also includes a plurality of secondary loops disposed at a second vertical level that is different from the first vertical level, the secondary loops positioned with respect to the primary loop such that the secondary loops extend into the space defined by the interior opening. The secondary loop has a cylindrical wall extending vertically therefrom. The wall can have an angled configuration, with a circumference having a varying length. In a preferred embodiment, the secondary loops are smaller in size than the primary loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Placo Corporation Limited
    Inventor: Douglas Thai
  • Patent number: 5890942
    Abstract: A conventional doll receives and supports a combination diving mask and simulated snorkel unit. The combination diving mask and snorkel unit includes a mask body supporting a transparent faceplate and a snorkel mouthpiece. A snorkel body secured to the mouthpiece extends upwardly alongside the mask body and supports a resilient air bladder having a fish shape. The snorkel further includes a bubble blowing mechanism which is operative in response to squeezing of the fish-shaped air bladder to produce a plurality of bubbles emanating from the upper portion of the snorkel body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Odette M. Souza-Ferreira, Toshio Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 5269715
    Abstract: A bubble bath bubble toy. This toy with a rotatable hub for altering bubble size is designed to produce bubbles in clear, soapy or bubble bath water. For years children have been fascinated by the production of bubbles. This apparatus allows children to safely and easily produce bubbles on their own. With this apparatus, the user turns a crank which activates several gears turning a bubble wheel with aeration vanes. The motivation of these aeration vanes produces a mixing of air, water and bubble mixture sufficient to produce bubbles. This toy allows for the production of bubbles from previously utilized water containing some amounts of bubble fluid. This helps to limit the cost of bubble production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Inventors: Richard W. Silveria, Richard R. LeBourdais
  • Patent number: 5205771
    Abstract: A device or machine for producing smoke-filled soap bubbles is provided. The device includes an air pumping mechanism such as an air bellows and a smoke-generating mechanism such as conventionally found in toy trains. The air pumping mechanism and the smoke-generating mechanism are connected to a tube or conduit having an open aperture. A soapy liquid film is provided on the aperture. Then the soap-generating mechanism and the air pump mechanism are simultaneously activated to pump smoke-filled air through the conduit to inflate the soap film into a soap bubble. The resulting soap bubble is thereby filled with smoke, thus producing a desirable effect. The device is preferably configured in the shape of a toy airplane such that the smoke-filled bubbles, when produced, appear as bombs dropped from the airplane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1993
    Inventor: Anson Sims
  • Patent number: 5071382
    Abstract: A model airplane throw toy includes a tail end carried ring which may be angularly adjusted relative to the longitudinal axis of the model airplane to provide different sizes and quantities of bubbles to be produced as the model airplane is thrown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1991
    Inventor: Richard Sanford
  • Patent number: 4995844
    Abstract: A bubble blowing figure toy having a hollow torso configured with a head portion defining a mouth opening and a squeezable body portion. An operative device is arranged substantially within the torso of the figure toy for generating bubbles from a bubble forming liquid applied to the mouth opening. In response to squeezing of the figure toy, a stream of air is directed toward the mouth opening to facilitate bubble formation into either a large bubble or a series of generally uniform smaller bubbles. The operative device includes a mouthpiece, an air bladder, and an air duct. The mouthpiece is arranged at the mouth opening of the toy and to one end of which the bubble forming liquid is applied. The air bladder generates an air stream, and the air duct connects the air bladder with the mouthpiece. The air duct is configured to inhibit ingestion of bubble forming liquid into the air bladder. A valve in the air duct further facilitates bubble formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1991
    Assignee: Tiger Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. McNett, Sal Mucaro
  • Patent number: 4943255
    Abstract: Apparatus for forming and controlling bubbles formed from a bubble solution includes a continuous three segment flexible wick for storing and releasing quantities of a bubble solution, one segment of which is equal in length to the combined length of the other segments. A control wand is fixedly secured to the wick between adjacent portions of the second and third segments, and a support wand is fixedly secured to the wick between adjacent portions of the first and second segments to control the formation and size of a bubble formed from the bubble solution. A weight is fixed to the wick at a point between the first and third segments. The wands are capable of moving the wick between a bubble-initiating position and a bubble-developing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 24, 1990
    Assignee: The Big Time Toy Co.
    Inventor: Kalvin K. Klundt